STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF AGOURA HIGH SCHOOL WWW.AGOURACHARGER.COM OCTOBER. 2011

INDEX 2- Features 4- Center3- A&E 7- Op/Ed 8- Sports

A & E 3

“Senior Miriam Levenson’s artistic talents go beyond the steryotypical paint on

paper ...”

Opinion 7

Hating The Charger?

Features 2

Meet John Menges: The Man With A Plan

by Jessica KovacEditorial Staff On Tuesday, Sept. 13, a meeting was held in A-1 by school board representative, John Menges, to talk about news regarding our school and the school district. There are three major projects in the process of taking place that will affect the students of Agoura High School this year. The first is a new community service requirement that will go into effect next year. Each student will be required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of community service per school year. It will be part of the graduation re-quirement, meaning that if students have not completed these hours by the end of their senior year, they will not graduate. There are exceptions, though. The coun-seling office will be keeping a log of how many hours each student has completed on Aeries. If students come close to finish-ing, they will still be able to graduate. The students will probably have the option to complete their community service hours during the summer, but that is still up for discussions since the minimum require-ment is not difficult to complete. The next issue discussed was having a parcel tax at AHS. A parcel tax is an assess-ment on each parcel of property that must be passed by at least two-thirds of voters in a school district. The point of having a par-cel tax is that the money can only be used

for our school, and it could be used to get teachers back and help reduce budget cuts. To pass, the district needs a 67% major-ity vote. The tax lasts seven or eight years, and if it is successful, the district can vote to renew it. Since a large number of people is needed for the majority Menges is call-ing on the AHS students to vote. Anyone who is 18 or older can help by voting in favor of the parcel tax. The last issue talked about at the meet-ing was the 2012-2013 calendar. There are currently two options being discussed. The first option is the calendar currently in use by the Las Virgenes Unified School Dis-trict. The second option is to start August 15, end 1st semester before winter break, and get out of school May 31. The pros to Option 2 mostly apply to AP students who would be able to take their final exams in May without having to wait an extra week with nothing to do after AP tests. As for everyone else, by the time we take STAR tests in May, we will be further along in our curriculum and even more prepared for the test. These are all important issues that af-fect us as AHS students, so please con-tact Menges at johnmenges@ahsasb.com if you have any questions or ideas. And make sure to keep yourself informed and involved with the changes ahead!

by Madeline Lester and Rebecca LeeStaff Writers You may have 500 friends on Face-book, but what truly defines friendship? Peer Counseling may help you find the answer. Peer Counseling is “a great way for people to connect and get to know each other,” said Lior Ayalon, one of the group’s four presidents. It is also a way to promote an affable and welcoming envi-ronment on the sprawling Agoura High School campus. From Oct. 3 to Oct. 7, Peer Counseling held Friendship Week, just one more way the club established its presence among the student body. The special week-long event, however, was not just propaganda for Peer Counseling. “We are not con-cerned about how many people we have, Peer Counseling is about creating a posi-tive atmosphere. This is the first year we are sponsoring Friendship Week and with luck and student participation, hopefully not the last,” said Ayalon. “Last year we sponsored a few seminars and had stu-dents from Cal Lutheran come and talk about different problems that often con-front high school students, and we had a great turn-out.” Peer Counseling also sets itself apart from other clubs like ASB and Link

Crew. “It’s all student run and even though we have two advisors, they’re just there to give us ideas and super-vise. It’s basically something like ‘by the people for the people.’ That’s kind of what we are trying to be. We want to in-spire students to care about themselves, because we care a lot.” Why would stu-dents want to participate in Friendship Week if they already have an established group of friends? “It’s a great way to ex-pand your social circle! Everyone wants friends,” said Johannsen, one of the Peer Counseling presidents. Friendship Week activities included seminars, making friendship bracelets, and an abundance of pledges that were available around the school. “The pledges are like…’I pledge to be friendly and tolerant and awesome and whatnot,’” said Johannsen. Students seemed enthusiastic about the event and Peer Counseling kept busy all week with their continuous stream of activities. “I thought it was a really nice opportunity to meet new people,” said freshman Vani Bhardwaj. All in all, Friendship Week in-cluded plenty of fun-filled activities for all grades in an attempt to connect and bring students together. Get involved with peer counseling by visiting room V-1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Students change the AHS Atmosphere with friendship

Meet the new freshman representatives

New incentives push API scores upby Matt SpectorMagazine Editor Agoura High School’s new API score is 866, a staggering 14 points greater than last year’s numbers. Last year’s STAR incen-tives, including the notorious implemen-tation of the potential taking away of the off-campus pass, controversial to say the least, have seemed to work tremendously where API is concerned. What exactly is an API score? “API stands for Academic Performance Index. In California, all high schools are rated with their API. 800 is the goal to be considered a strong academic

school. Parents moving into the district will look at the API as a measure of one school against another. It’s a full package. The API not only represents our STAR scores, but also our High School Exit Exam results. It’s the combination of the two,” Assistant Principal Sherry Bronow said. Increasing steadily over the past five years, AHS’s improving API score, ad-ministration believes, is a result of a com-bination of STAR incentives and the dedi-cation students and faculty have shown. “I feel [the students are] taking it more seriously. I feel ultimately it’s helpful be-

cause when we send our profile out to the colleges where students are applying, that number is on there” Bronow said. Princi-pal Larry Misel agrees with the fact that the API score proves to be an important number where higher education is con-cerned. “We have a great reputation among colleges and universities, not only about getting kids in, but staying in and being successful. A few years ago, a representa-tive from UCLA came out and said that the average GPA to get into UCLA for every-body at that time was a 4.2, but for Agoura graduates, it was 3.9. Now what they’re

doing is looking at the rigor of the school based on the STAR scores,” Misel said. What is the idea behind the off-campus pass incentive? Bronow said, “The idea behind it is we want to be able to get the most authentic results that we can because we’re making curriculum decisions [...] So, when some students just bubble in ran-dom patterns, how are we going to make these important decisions? We decided that we would implement the off campus pass, already a privilege, as an incentive. Misel communicates that the decision was not meant to be -cont. on page 2

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THE CHARGER

photos by Lucinda Laurence

community service, calendar, parcel tax all upcoming issues

by Alex Berson Staff Writer The lights flash, the crowd jumps, the beat comes in, and the party goes

on. This is the life of electronic duo DJ Develup. DJ Develup consists of Agoura High School seniors, Ari Gootnick and Noah Johnson. They frequently perform

at events spanning from kickbacks to weddings and even AHS events such as the Welcome Back Dance. They have built up an outstanding reputation throughout the Conejo Valley community and said they wish to keep that reputation up. But who exactly is DJ Develup? We know their names, but we don’t know them. DJ Develup started out of Gootnick’s fascination with his brother’s DJ career. Gootnick’s older brother soon went off to college and took his DJ equipment with him, which forced Gootnick to experiment and invest in

his own. After becoming familiar with the equipment, he recruited Johnson to help him produce the songs that were in his head. Both Gootnick and Johnson said they listen to an eclectic variety of music from Mash-Up artist Girl Talk to the legendary Old School Hip/Hop Rap collective, A Tribe Called Quest. If you listen to their DJ sets, you can hear this influence as a driving force behind DJ Develup’s growing sound. Now you may ask: How do two high school boys who are in their most serious semester also manage a prosperous DJ career? Both Gootnick and Johnson said that school is the first priority, and although they sometimes have to choose making a set list over typing a college application, they still know that they want to be successful in music as well as in school. They said they both hope to continue DJ Develup into their adult lives and obtain recognition as great electronic artists. Gootnick said he is very interested in the business side of music. As the real world comes closer and closer, DJ

Develup will morph and shift into a new entity because, who knows, without that high school mindset, it might fall apart. DJ Develup’s live sets are a spectacle of their own. It’s pure energy. With the bass pumping and people all around dancing, it’s something everyone should experience. Over time, DJ Develup has, well, for lack of a better word, developed. They have incorporated many of the popular songs into their set and mashed them up with original beats. In the future, Gootnick and Johnson said they both wish to incorporate more extravagant lights and a video display to go along with the music. As of now, though, they love performing live. They love seeing the excitement in the audience’s face when “The Drop” hits. “The audience really meshes with the music,” Gootnick says. Who knows what will become of DJ Develup? For right now, Gootnick and Johnson are both embracing every moment that their business gives them. If anything, we can embrace them for the talent that they are, right here at AHS.

by Lucinda Laurence Staff Writer Senior John Menges may look like the average hard-working kid at Ago-ura High School. He’s diligent without a doubt, but average is a complete un-derstatement. Last year, Menges was elected School Board Representative by the AHS student body. He participates in school board meetings every other Tuesday night to represent AHS inter-ests and student concerns to the board. This officially makes him a member of the Las Virgenes Unified School District School Board. Even though the title may sound glam-orous, the job is really time-consuming. Menges said, “It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of reading the board materials and being familiar with them.” The School Board gets an agenda before every meet-ing and Menges said that the shortest he’s seen has seen was about 80 pages! “[The agenda] is always very dense. It’s

a lot of information that you have to process and be able to speak about,” said Menges. It’s no shock that Menges was elected to represent AHS. He said that he’s always had an enthusiasm for government and poli-tics. Menges said, “I used to intern for a state senator, so I think this is just moving along towards a career path in policymaking or government related things.” He said this is exactly what he would like to do in the future. What does Menges do during the little free time he has? “I actu-ally enjoy watching the

news. The first thing I do when I get home is turn on CNN,” said Menges. Other than watching the news, Menges said he likes reading Politico, a po-litical newspaper based in Washington D.C. Menges said, “That’s what I consider fun.” On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Menges held a school meeting to share and discuss news that impacts our school and school district. One of the issues dis-cussed concerns the organization of the 2012-2013 school year calendar. Two options were under review by the School Board. Op-

tion 1: Maintain the traditional calendar. Option 2, which Menges supports, is to commence school on August 15. The first semester would end before winter break and school would end May 31. His rea-soning? Menges said it is “more academi-cally attuned to what we are trying to ac-complish.” This includes giving students taking STAR tests a week’s more time to prepare. The School Board approved Op-tion 1. Supposedly the vote is final, but Menges is working to put together a write-in campaign because he thinks the students feel strongly about this matter. If Menges does not succeed in reversing the vote this time, Menges said he will advocate for a change to policy in subsequent years. Menges said he would definitely like to see more student involvement, so he’s planning to hold similar meetings on a monthly basis to give our students more of a voice and a say in their future. For more about John Menges and the issues concerning our school, see page 1.

FeaturesOctober 2011Page 2 www.agouracharger.com

People john menges III: Representin’ the student body

Music DJ develup brings “the drop” to agoura High School

How to show Charger Pride in ten easy stepsby Kinsey McLaughlin and Shayne KrasovichCommissioners of Spirit, Special to The Charger

1. Dress up wearing your Blue Crew shirt and also wear blue and gold.

2. Attend Blue Crew BBQs and get free food with a Blue Crew shirt.

3. Buy a Blue Crew shirt and the other apparel we offer (socks, dog tags, head bands, and pom-poms).

4. Earn a rare Blue Crew Gold shirt by being outstandingly spirited and going all out by wearing head to toe blue and gold.

5. Attend all home sport games and cheer on your Chargers.

6. On the day of home games, go all out in wearing blue and gold.

7. Dress up on all dress up days.

8. Go to pep rally rehearsals (which are the night before the pep rally) and deck out your class section.

9. Wear your class T-shirt and class color to pep rallies.

10. Always be smiling and having fun!

API SCORESa punishment. “It was never meant to be punitive. I know it got kind of twisted out of that. Kids have to have some sort of a stake in this. We also did not invent [the off-campus pass incentive]. Westlake does it, Newbury Park does it, and Thousand Oaks does it. It wasn’t our first choice to make it feel like you were going to lose something, but it’s the game we’re in,” Misel said. Bronow said that while AHS may not have the highest scores compared to local high schools (Oak Park: 905), the school is greatly improving and gaining more interest each year. “This year, we had to shut down Agoura to outside permits from other school districts. The word is out that Agoura is a fantastic school and I’m sure the rising STAR scores have helped [...] The more students we have, until we reach capacity like we did this year, helps us be able to hire more teachers and get more sections for the master schedule. It’s very helpful to us to have strong reputation.” Bronow said. Both Bronow and Misel claim that although the STAR incentives may seem self-serving, the real purpose is student-motivated. Bronow said, “We are trying to educate students to have them know their strengths and weaknesses based on these exams. It’s to

measure how they’re doing so they can look to see [...] I want to say it is a reflection of their ability, and our goal is to get students ready for college and the stronger skills they have, the better they’ll do.” Misel added that in order to know our status academically, we must gain the most accurate information possible. Misel said, “The other reason that information becomes important to us is we can’t get better unless we know where we aren’t good. We try to use this information to actually improve instruction.” While Bronow does give credit to the STAR incentives, she also praises the AHS community for giving their time and effort to necessary preparation. “I just really always appreciate the teachers, students, and staff giving their all to STAR. Many teachers now have started giving STAR practice questions. Several teachers have started using STAR assessments. It is definitely a combined effort. We just want the best for our students.” In the future, it is important to continue all the effort that we, as the AHS community, have given to STAR and our API score. Misel said, “We’re kind of on that cusp from going from good to great, but it’s going to take an us, not a them. I think if kids will just do their best on the STAR, so that we can see how we’re doing, they’re in the game.”

Photo courtesy of John Menges

Photo courtesy of Facebook.com

CONTinued from page 1

by Aya DiazEditorial Staff My choice for the best icy drink is the Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks. Although more expensive and with less of the drink, it’s quick to order and has a lower amount of calories. It doesn’t look as appetizing as the Ice Blended, but it definitely has a better taste. The Ice Blended is delicious as well, not to mention, it’s bigger and less expensive. But the overwhelming amount of ice makes it less creamy and the consumer has to wait for the ice to melt before completely finishing the drink. In spite of that, both drinks are great tasting and excellent choices for a hot day.

Price: $4.80Size: 12 oz (Tall)Prep Time: two minutesCalories: 280Taste: Very sweet and chocolaty, rich mocha flavor.Presentation: Doesn’t look as appetizing as the other drink.

Coffee Bean & Tea LeafStarbucks

by Alex SimonStaff Writer Ceramic ware such as vases and plates can not only be found in your local retail store, but also in the hands and creative minds of AHS students. Meet senior Miriam Levenson, who’s artistic talents go beyond the stereotypical paint on paper. “I make art that’s usable, that’s touchable.” said Levenson, “Art that appeals to all your senses.” It’s clear that Levenson’s finger-painting days are past her, and that her opinion toward art is completely

her own. “I don’t look much to the work of professional artists, because I don’t like old art that much. I’m [...] a fan of contemporary art. I feel like people in older cultures were chained to their cultural standards of art. But now, we have all of their styles, all of their cultures, and we’re still in the process of creating one.” Levenson said her parents have come to a mutual agreement with her, and that her dedication is something they have simply come to accept. Unlike most seniors, Levenson’s schedule is completely full, from zero to sixth period, and her only escape happens to be Ceramics class, where she can just sit down and let go. “When I get to third period I focus solely on art, and that’s really relaxing.” Levenson’s house is enriched with her creations. She loves see others using and learning from them, as she believes everything can be learned through art. “From the time we’re babies and we see our mother’s

faces, we see the beauty of our mother’s faces, the art of them. Babies love their mothers and can distinguish them from other people. As we grow we’re taught in pictures, in pointing and saying, seeing objects and naming them, learning what they are. Without art there would be nothing; there’s art in everything we do.” Levenson’s creations and artistic insight proves that practical objects don’t have to be plain or boring, and that art can be used in any way, shape, or form.

the story more. When asked the same question, freshman Charlotte Laurence said, “Personally, I like suffering in the silence of the great unknown.” Ninth grader Jordan Kerns has a different view, saying, “I don’t wanna be worried about the characters’ [outcome], you know?” Just because you find out the end does not mean you need to stop reading the book. All the students who participated in the school survey read their books cover to cover, regardless of spoilers. And books are not the only types of media that can be applied in this study. Movies labeled with specific genres give away the plot. And there is a plethora of spoiler websites for popular TV shows like 90210 and Glee. Perhaps you are reading this sentence before the rest of the article, which, according to Christenfeld and Leavitt’s study is not as far-fetched as it may seem. I confess, I checked the last 10 pages of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to make sure he did not die. But if there is one thing to gather from this article it is that no matter the circumstances, reading is universal. Enjoy books, with spoilers or without!

From the first gleaming notes of the Beatles’ “I Feel Fine,” it is clear that The Electric Starfish is not just another garage band. At their show on September 24 at The Rack in Woodland Hills, the unsigned band played a mix of covers and originals, and managed to sound more professional that a lot of current pop. The harmonies were spot on, and all the different instruments meshed flawlessly into one glorious sound: the music of the sixties. I am someone who has given

up on most modern music. The Electric Starfish gave me hope. Formed in late 2010, the band includes singer Ryan Wilkins, guitarists Bruce Matis and Michael Mosbeck, bassist Masa Nishimura, and drummer Paul Niedzwiecki. Their onstage compatibility is obvious. Each member perfectly complements the others. Wilkins and Mosbeck said “Our goal is to have fun really, that’s why we started this, just to make really happy music.”The Electric Starfish succeeded in their goal of joyful music. Heavily influenced by the folk-rock

group The Byrds, The Electric Starfish took that classic sixties sound and made it their own, often adding a heavier beat and louder instruments, filling out the song more. A high point of the night was their tribute to bluesman John Lee Hooker, their heavier instrumentation almost more compelling than Hooker himself. Dressed in matching Beatles’ inspired suits, they covered everyone from folkie Donovan to classic rock band The Who, but their original songs shined the most. “A Girl Like You” and “What’s A Boy To Do”, both available on iTunes, were huge

successes.Wilkins said, “It started out as a way to have fun, and getting a chance to create the music that we love so much. But it’s evolved a little bit. I mean, all these people are going to be dead soon! And I don’t want this music to die with them. So if I can help in any way to carry that torch, then I’ll be happy.” In all honesty, there is nobody I’d trust more to carry this torch than The Electric Starfish.

Check out the band at their website! www.theelectricstarfish.com

A&EOctober 2011Page 3 www.agouracharger.com

by Beverley LooStaff Writer Do you find yourself reading the last several pages of a book before you have even seen the first page? You are not alone. We go through a lot of trouble in order to keep the outcome of a book a mystery, including methods like plugging our ears our yelling at a friend to stop telling us what happens. However, this may be a waste of time due to new research from the University of California, San Diego. In all twelve cases of the Spoiled And Unspoiled Stories Study by UCSD psychology professor Nicholas Christenfeld and psychology doctoral student Jonathan Leavitt, students enjoyed short stories more after reading spoilers prior. This thought-provoking study tested readers with three options: reading the story unspoiled, with spoilers, or spoilers in the preface. At Agoura High School, some students who have tried reading backwards experience the same feeling. When asked if reading spoilers enhanced their enjoyment of a book, seven out of ten AHS students said they enjoyed

BOOKS SHOULD WE BEWARE SPOILERS? ARTISTS MIRIAM LEVENSON

Photo by Aya Diaz Photo by Aya Diaz

Price: $3.95Size: 16 ounces (Regular)

Prep Time: three minutes and 40 secondsCalories: 350

Taste: Bold coffee taste, less sweet and less chocolaty. Very icy, and watered down.

Presentation: In special Ice Blended cup!

Courtesy of www.ucsd.edu

A recent study suggests that spoilers do not always affect enjoyment of a book or movie.

Photo Courtesy of Miriam Levenson

An example of Levenson’s materful ceramics.

Starbucks vs. Coffee Bean: Iced drink battle Royale

The Electric Starfish provides a Blast from the Pastby Noa DaneshStaff Writer

CenterOctober 2011Page 4 www.agouracharger.com

WILA: Why I Love Acronymsby Katie PersonsManaging Editor I don’t have a lot of time these days. Between school work, college applica-tions, and being generally obnoxious with friends, the amount of time left over each day is nonexistent. So, to solve this problem, I use acronyms. WTH (what the heck, of course!) you might say. One might LOL (laugh out loud) at how strange this seems, but I really do have a deep appreciation for acronyms. Since YOLO (you only live once), I decided to share my love of acronyms with you. I don’t exactly remember when my use of acronyms took off, as time sure flies when you’re having fun. However, this year I have come to the realization of just how often I use acronyms. I’m pretty sure that my response to just about everything this year is YOLO. I have been known to have full conversations with my friend Ashley, TWFYG (this one’s for you girl!) using only acronyms. If I could use them in essays, I would. I am very passionate about my acronyms, and I am not the least bit sorry about it. Unfortunately for me, acronyms are not yet a universal language. One might argue that in the time it takes to explain what a certain acronym means, it would have been faster to say or spell out the whole phrase. TISR (That is so ridicu-lous). Once you are armed with the pre-cious knowledge of an acronym’s mean-ing, you are capable of infinite good. You

are a better person. The world is a better place. Just think of all the cool new ways you can use that acronym! You could use it in casual conversation, say it in a his-tory presentation, or even set it as your Facebook status. Nothing is cooler than a Facebook status with an acronym, or even better, multiple acronyms. Everyone would ‘like’ your status; I know I would. And just for the record, there is no such thing as an excessive use of acronyms. Use them all the time, ADE (all day, ev-eryday). There’s a famous saying that goes “an acronym a day keeps the doc-tor away,” or something ATL (along those lines). Now, I don’t have anything against ab-breviations. They are perfectly acceptable in getting one’s point across in a short amount of time. But abbreviations just do not pack the same punch as acronyms. Sure, abbreviations are useful in things such as Dr., Blvd., St., etc… but that’s boring. And if you are the type of person to consider abbreviations and acronyms the same thing, that’s just wrong. It’s like saying Coke and Pepsi are the same, and they most definitely are not. I just love ac-ronyms. What can I say, I’m biased. I strongly urge you to use acronyms, ASAP. What could go wrong? As far as I’m concerned, acronyms can provide you with the joy of self-expression with-out all the frilly nonsense! So, LIU (live it up), AHS. I love acronyms, and so should you.

The Charger StaffManaging EditorKatie Persons

Newspaper EditorLior Ayalon

Magazine EditorsBailey ByersMatt Spector

Video EditorMelanie Abramoff

Editorial StaffAya DiazJessica KovacBrooke KramerByron Rackow

Faculty AdvisorLorelei Hollister

Staff WritersEmily AitkenAlex BersonKristen BurnsNoa DaneshNate EdelmanLucinda LaurenceRebecca LeeMadeline LesterBeverley LooAlex Simon

Is the death of the school dance upon us?by Lior AyalonNewspaper Editor I could not be more excited for Homecoming 2011. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Because everyone actually goes to Homecoming, right? No one just dresses up in their ridiculously expensive outfits, does their make-up, takes their group pictures, gets on their party bus and just does not go to the dance. Right? Oh wait, that’s EXACTLY what happens. Homecoming, once a landmark school event, is dying. Most kids seem content spending the evening partying with 40 or 50 of their closest friends. Why bother going to a lame school dance? Well, it doesn’t have

to be so lame. Clearly, if you are the type of kid who enjoys a party, you could also be the type of kid who enjoys Homecoming. After all, what is Homecoming except a giant party? I’m not an expert in the area, but I’d have to guess that the difference is mainly due to the school’s event policies. The school has a strict policy on drugs and alcohol at Homecoming, as should be the case. According to the official Homecoming 2011 Rules and Regulations, found on the Agoura High School website, “students and/or guests found in possession or under the influence of drugs or alcohol are subject to severe disciplinary action, including a call to the parents

for pick-up, suspension from school, and arrest by law enforcement officers. Possession includes any vehicles that are brought to the school’s event location.” To all the students who ditch the dance to party, I’d like to remind you of all the hard work student council puts into setting up the dance. Why would they spend so much time slaving over decorations and other arrangements? Surely dances are not just for students on student council. They do it for us, the AHS student body. And when we show up for a few minutes to make an appearance, then take our party somewhere else, we are basically telling student council that their dance sucks. In fact, it sucks so

badly that we would rather do what we could do any old weekend on that special, once in a lifetime night that they set up just for us. Personally, I love Homecoming. It’s one of the few times a year I can get dressed up all fancy and listen to obnoxious pop music without feeling like a total dork. But, attendance at school dances has been so low, that for me, it’s beginning to lose some of the fun. Am I alone in this opinion? Possibly. However, I’m still hoping that this year, my senior year, attendance will be at an all-time high. Homecoming is one of the few school events that almost everyone can attend and enjoy. Don’t let it die.

Halloween Horror Nights Provides Chills and Thrillsby Katie PersonsManaging Editor Blood makes me queasy. Strange smells make me instantly gag. I flinch in response to pretty much any sudden movement. So, one might ask, why would I attend Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights, let alone spend $73 on it? I’m going to be honest, I still don’t quite know the answer to that question. But what I do know is that I had a night full of high-pitched screeches, frightful encounters with strange costumed men, and tons of laughs with my friends. Even though Horror Nights may not typically be my “scene,” my first experience with it is something to remember. On the way down to Universal Studios, my friends kept trying to describe Horror Nights. It still didn’t make sense to me. I would constantly switch between feelings of excitement to that thought of “oh no, what have I done to myself?” So, obviously, I tried to cope with these mixed emotions by dancing like crazy to the radio and waving obnoxiously to passing cars. It helped... for just a little. As we arrived, it finally came time for me to face the facts. I mustered up all the confidence I could, which immediately went down the drain when I spotted the gigantic werewolf-devil crossbreed towering above the crowd on wobbly stilts, surrounded, of course, by

three chainsaw-wielding clowns. My first interaction with one of these terrors was shortly after, when the group was waiting for our front of the line passes (which I highly recommend). The man approached us, and our only reaction was to silently lean over the counter as he swung the chainsaw over our heads. Over the course of the night, many of these terrors came up to us, many of whom mimed the act of cutting off our hair or eavesdropping on our conversations. I had heard many times before that if you pretended you weren’t scared, these figures would not pester you so much. But of course I didn’t listen. When one of these frightening ghouls comes right up to your face, with the incredibly realistic smell of the chainsaws’ gasoline filling the air, it’s scary enough. But, on top of that, if you think that under all of the eerie costumes there is a complete stranger whose job it is to creep on the general public, that makes it ten times worse. I still cannot exactly describe why I enjoyed Horror Nights so much. There are many memories from just those couple of hours that will keep me laughing each time I think of them. Horror Nights gives everyone the excuse to scream like a little girl and be generally obnoxious without being frowned upon. And honestly, what could be better than that?

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HalloweenOctober 2011Page 5 www.agouracharger.com

Trick or treat? The history of a Holiday

by Alex Simon Staff Writer October is a month known for its chilly weather, rusty colors, and the popular celebration of Halloween. On the night of Oct. 31, children run around neighborhoods dressed up in cute costumes begging strangers for candy. However, current activities associated with this seemingly innocent festivity differ drastically from the way it was practiced more than 1,000 years ago. Originally called All Hallow’s Eve, it was believed to be the one day where the dead could return to Earth and terrorize all its inhabitants. This made it hardly a day for celebration, and most people lived in fear. If people were out and about on this superstitious night, they would often wear masks and costumes to disguise themselves from unruly ghosts and spirits, hence today’s costume-wearing tradition. As the holiday moved from Europe

to America, its celebration was even further limited by Protestant beliefs. However, as the colonies began to grow populated with immigrants from other countries, the holiday’s popularity grew, as everyone seemed to celebrate it in their own special way. In fact, today’s “trick-or-treat” originated from the Irish and English tradition of going around from house to house asking for food or money. At one point Halloween was made out to be more of a friendly community celebration, and all frightening subjects were advised to be removed from festivities. Because of this, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious meaning by the turn of the twentieth century. It’s interesting to see how the human’s perception of Halloween has changed from a night known for malicious tricks and blood-curdling terror into a friendly escapade for free candy and midnight parties.

Halloween word search

Courtesy of midco.net

Have a happy, safe Halloween!! -The Charger

AdsOctober 2011Page 6 www.agouracharger.com

by Jessica Kovac Editorial Staff Librarians have been a part of our lives since we started school. They were the ones who taught us to love reading and watched us transition from picture book to chapter book. They have been with us every step of the way, supporting us and offering their help, but that is about to change. In the Los Angeles Unified School District, discussions have risen about plans to lay off library aides in an attempt to save money. If the plan goes through, LAUSD will let go of half of their librarian aides before the end of the semester. As a teenager, I will be the first to admit that this does not seem like big news. My first thoughts were, “we still have teachers. They can read to the kids. What do we really need librarians for?” But then I thought back to my trips to the library in first grade. Every day my first grade teacher, Mrs. Brilliant, would announce “library time,” and everyone in my class would go crazy. When we got there, the librarian, Ms. Nokelby, would greet us and start the story. Story-time was magical. She would transform herself into the characters, going from an evil voice to a princess voice, from a shout to a whisper. By the end, I was hooked. When it came time to find our own books, I was determined to find a book just as interesting as the one Ms. Nokelby read, and learn to read as well as she did. Librarians opened me up to the world of books, and my life was never the same. As I got older, the role of my librarians started to change. It became more about helping students with technology and projects assigned by teachers. With new tools like the Kindle and the iPad, students are less likely to check out books from the library. Bookstores like Barnes and Noble and Borders also tend to take a lot of business away from librarians because of their advertising. On the outside, it looks like Barrnes and Noble offers everything a library has and more. They have books, places to sit down and read, refreshments, and employees to help you. Knowing that, why would someone choose a library over Barnes and Noble? Well, you have to look closer. Can a Barnes and Noble employee really help you with your DCE? Are they educated about all the books in the store? No. They are just there to help you find where something is and check you out at the register. That is where we underestimate a librarian. At the end of the day, we may want the Starbuck’s drink at Barnes and Noble, but we will not find anyone there who can help us find the perfect DCE author with the most criticism. Think for a minute about how many times we use our librarians at AHS each day, whether it is a question on how to use our databases, or information on a book, or even a question on how to use the printer. It adds up over time. If nobody was there to answer these questions, what would we do? Use Google? How can we be sure it is legitimate information? If LAUSD passes this, our district could be influenced by their choice. So now, I sit and wonder, how is this a debate? How could anyone possibly consider getting rid of the only people left keeping the love of reading alive in schools? We need to focus on keeping the passion alive, not destroying it.

by Byron Rackow Editorial Staff The United State’s military has been present in Afghanistan since shortly after the terrorist attacks against against the US on September 11, 2001. Within months, in an effort to eliminate Al Qaeda, US troops invaded Afghanistan. Shortly after the deployment of troops, most of Al Qaeda was chased out of Afghanistan, their primary training ground. America’s top prioritized goal had been accomplished. That all happened in 2001. Now, in 2011, more than 1800 troops have died in Afghanistan alone since 2001 and the death toll continues to rise. What could possibly be the reason for allowing our brave troops to continue fighting in Afghanistan, 10 years after the fact? A quick look at a world map will show that Afghanistan lies on the northern border of Pakistan, our ally. North of Afghanistan lies Turkmenistan, a country home to one of the few remaining natural gas and oil fields in the world. To the east and west lie Iran and China. In 1998, the US firm Unocal proposed a project to run a pipeline from Turkmenistan’s abundant oil reserves, through Afghanistan, to the growing economies of Pakistan and India. In the same year, this project was postponed

indefinitely due to the turmoil that took place in Afghanistan because of the US’s knowledge of the terrorist training grounds located in Afghanistan. It would have been impossible to propose an oil transportation project to a country that was so greatly influenced by the terrorist group Al Qaeda. In order for America to establish an oil pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan, Afghanistan would need to have a stable and cooperative government. When most of Al Qaeda was chased out of the country, Afghanistan had a chance to rebuild and restructure their government with a little bit of help from the US To give support to Afghanistan, the US set up military bases throughout the country. If observed closely, one can see that these army bases are positioned in prime locations along the proposed pipeline route. These military bases have been placed strategically to defend and protect the future construction of the multimillion dollar pipeline. Given this evidence, it is obvious the existence of oil in the region weighed heavily in discerning whether or not to stay in Afghanistan for an indefinite amount of years and secure an alliance with the country. This claim can be further supported by taking a closer look at the incentives for America’s need

to run an oil pipeline through Afghanistan. Oil is a natural resource and is not replenishable. Higher oil costs caused by an increase in world demand and decline in supply could spell an economic disaster and even war (which it has done already). Because of the power granted with control over such a precious resource, it is no wonder that the US would want control of one of the biggest remaining oil reserves in the world. Control over a natural resource does not come without competition, however. It is in America’s best interest to secure the territory that the oil pipeline will have to travel through so that Iran, Russia, and China will not have an influence on the distributing and selling of oil. With America’s major competition out of the way, the only goal that remains unaccomplished is the construction of the pipeline; a project that will take even more years to complete. There is seldom any talk about the US’s current actual reasons for remaining in Afghanistan. The media has said that the U.S. military has been fighting under the headline “war on terrorism”. The media’s claim that the US is only there to fight terrorism is false. All the evidence of America’s interest in oil makes it clear that a more fitting headline is “war for oil.”

Op/EdOctober 2011Page 7 www.agouracharger.com

World What are we really fighting for?

by Matt Spector Magazine Editor Around campus, people are talking. The topics change day to day. Some students are talking about school, while some are talking about music. Others discuss yesterday’s scores as well as the upcoming game. Still, some students are talking about themselves. What is nobody talking about? The Charger. It is no secret that Journalism isn’t the most popular class on the Agoura High School campus. When sharing that I write for The Charger, most people either laugh or just completely ignore me. This reaction doesn’t surprise me nor make me angry in any way, probably because I am so used to this kind of negativity and pessimism. Why are the Journalism class and Charger publications so looked down upon and discriminated against? This answer I don’t have. What I do have is a message to all those Journalism haters out there dying to see the next issue of The Charger so they can tear it to pieces, literally (you know who you are). First, let me just say that not everyone hates on The Charger. But wait. Let’s go back in time for a minute. There was a time when The Charger’s name might as well have been “mud,” when virtually no one but a few loyal supporters read it with enthusiasm. Times have changed, and even in my first three years in the class I have noticed more support for our efforts. There are definitely people out there who are supportive and eager to read the publication once it is dispersed across campus. Recently, it is rumored that the Chinese class cheered when Journalism students delivered the paper.

This is the kind of enthusiasm Journalism kids live for! Additionally, after the Journalism class won eight awards at the Ventura Country Star High School Journalism and Internet Awards last year, we received an unbelievable amount of kind words, emails, and support. Over the years, the class has been blessed with a monumentally supportive administration, including last year’s Mr. Resnick and this year’s Mrs. Marsilio. Mr. Misel has always praised our efforts and given us his support. Senora Wallace encourages her students to read the paper in her classroom, and then afterward, she economically recycles it (shout out to the Recycling Club). To these students, teachers, and administrators, thank you for giving us a chance to freely express our opinions and voices through our writing. But, not everyone is so enthusiastic. One common misconception about the class and its publications is that Journalism is easy. Not true. It’s not like we just think of a story, put it down on paper, and expect you to read it with glee. There is a much bigger process behind the scenes that readers do not know about. First, editors brainstorm different ideas and concepts that we believe would be interesting for our readership. That’s you guys. There is nothing more comforting than seeing someone reading The Charger. It means we are doing our job well. It leaves us with complete satisfaction; unfortunately, that does not happen as often as we’d like. After editors plan the paper’s content, we assign stories to staff writers, many who are new to the class. You’ve got to start somewhere. The staff writers take their stories home and prepare several drafts.

Then, section editors, also people who are doing their jobs for the first time, edit them and give them further fine-tuning. This includes issues with content as well as with typos. I know what you’re thinking: “The Charger is filled with typos, though.” Although this may be true at times, we try our very best to have the least amount of errors possible. During this entire process, there is an enormous amount of room for error as each story is passed from staff writer to editor, then back to staff writer, and finally to our advisor, Mrs. Hollister. Then, the editors face the difficult task of laying out their pages, which then go through a similarly rigorous editing process via editor and advisor before they are completely finished. Meanwhile, each student, editors included, is required to write two online stories per month. I know what you’re thinking: “We have an online version?” Additionally, the magazine editors force the poor newbies to come up with their own page ideas and design for this semester’s magazine. I know what you’re thinking: “We have a magazine?” Our publications, whether they be The Charger Newspaper, The Charger Rag magazine, or our brand new online edition, are meant for you. It sucks to see that stray paper in the trashcan, or that one “person” ripping it to shreds. Although we do welcome critiques of the paper, there comes a point when criticism becomes disrespect, and we’re not hearing enough of the former. If you love The Charger, or even read The Charger, bless you! But, if you do love hating on The Charger and just get a kick out of seeing it on the floor, maybe we should write a story about you! Because everyone loves drama.

In defense of the librarian

Don’t be hatin’, xoxo, The Charger

SPORTSOctober 2011Page 8 www.agouracharger.com

by Kristen BurnsStaff Writer Tragedy struck Agoura High School’s football team, on September 9th, 2011, when Agoura’s star slot receiver, Kyle Lon-don, was injured during the 3rd quarter of their game against Ventura. After colliding with a player from Ventura, London found himself trapped underneath him and tried to stand up. It was in that movement that Kyle realized he was in an overwhelming amount of pain. “I knew I was seriously injured, but the worst part was that after all the hours of work that I put into football this year, they were all gone,” London said. He was then rushed to the emergency room and after many x-rays, the doctors told him that he has a torn ACL and a broken femur. So far, two screws have been put into his femur af-ter undergoing surgery that night. London has another surgery coming up in October where they will need to use his patellar ten-don as his new ACL. London will be out for 5 to 6 months and will not be returning for the remainder of the football season. He

is questioning if he will play next year as well, that “it depends on how well I rehab and how long it takes me to heal,” he said. However, the game had to go on. His teammates kept pushing to keep the game alive. Unfortunately, varsity football coach, Charlie Wegher, said, “With Kyle off of the field it was harder to compete because the players were emotionally de-flated to see one of our best players, and friends, injured.” After the game, with over ten of his teammate’s waiting with him at the hospital, and even more help-ing him and his family at his home, Kyle never felt unsupported or abandoned. “We were very disappointed to see one our best players, and one of our leaders, get injured. Kyle is one of the [football] family, so we cared for him like a brother,” said Coach Wegher. The team is very upset to see Kyle out with such an injury, but he said, “There are about another ten guys out with injuries as well, so the team needs to keep playing hard no matter what the score is.” The following week, the team had to face Oaks Christian’s enormous varsity team. Although physically out matched, the football team played a hard and in-spired game. Coach Wegher said he was “pleased with their effort and emotion be-cause they kept improving.” Because of their immense size and talents, Kyle said, “I was expecting a loss because they are such a good team.” Filling in for Kyle are Shawn Kagen and Dylan George, who nat-urally have a certain amount of pressure on them to keep performing to the best of their abilities and to pick up the slack to keep moving the team forward. There is no doubt that they will do well and play

FOOTBALL Crisis Strikes

by Nate Edelman Staff Writer It is never too early to think about basket-ball. If you haven’t heard, there is a new leader in town coaching the Agoura High School’s boy’s basketball team. Agoura’s English teacher and former girl’s basket-ball coach, Steve. Scifres, has been named varsity coach. “This will be my sixth year coaching basketball. I coached one year of boy’s Soph-Frosh at my first year at Ago-ura. Then I spent the last four years as the head coach of the girl’s program,” he said. Scifres is now in charge of an up and com-ing team whose varsity program eventually slid into the playoffs last year. Still, the team looks to improve its skills. Scifres said, “Our main goal is to get better each and ev-ery day, each and every practice. When we get closer to league, or to the season, we’ll establish specific goals as to where we want to finish and what we want to accom-plish. The main thing for us is to work hard and get better every day.” Scifres is proud of his team’s strengths and is more than happy to work on the team’s weaknesses. “Our strength is speed. I think we’re going to be a fast team as well as a shooting team. I think we are going to be aggressive, and people are going to like how we play. We

have an up-tempo style, trying to press and force turnovers and I think it will lead to some good games,” Scifres said. Scifres thinks his team could use more size, and wants his kids stron-ger and better conditioned. He continues to incorporate his same style of basketball. “To be hon-est I don’t pay much atten-tion to my pre-decessors. I’m going to coach the same way I always have. What I like to do is to enhance team chemistry for the kids, all while hav-ing them working their butts off,” he said. It has always been a dream for Scifres to be the head coach of the boy’s pro-gram. He said, “My interest in changing to boys basketball was that becoming the head coach of the boys program had been a goal of mine ever since I began coach-

ing at Agoura High. It was very difficult to leave the girls program because I was leaving behind such great kids, however I

didn’t want to turn down the opportuni-ty to build the boys program into an ev-ery year Marmonte League contender.” Overall, Coach Sci-fres wants his team to be as successful as possible. “To me, success is making the most of what you have. It is not necessarily about wins and losses. It’s about if the team improved, or ac-complishing any-

thing,” he said. He wants the team to be better off than they started. Junior Cole Pokard, who is on the var-sity squad for the second year in a row, is excited under the new leadership of Ago-ura Basketball. “ I think we are more to-gether as a team, and more of a program. He (Scifres) focuses on the whole program more than the individual team,” Pokard

says. He also says they are a fast team, but have little size. “Our biggest thing we need to improve in is rebounding. Since we don’t have much height, other teams have more length on us. But, this won’t stop us from working hard for rebounds,” he said. Pokard predicts the varsity team will be successful this year, competing for sec-ond, third, or fourth place in the Marmonte League. Cole’s favorite part about being on the team is having fun with his teammates. Working with Scifres this year is Coach Pickett, the JV coach. He has taught here for numerous years and was even Scifres’ JV coach when Scifres was a student here. Coach Jason Ancrum is leading the Soph-Frosh team this year. Ancrum was also a former player here, graduating in 2006. He was an assistant coach for the freshman team last year, and is given the opportunity to be the Soph-Frosh coach. The freshman coach is Mr. Shipley. He has been a teacher on campus for eight years and was the head coach of the girls program for three years. Scifres is looking forward to having all these great coaches on staff this year. It’s a new year. It’s a new season. Coach Sci-fres hopes it’s a new student body show-ing their support rooting for their team.

BASKETBALL New coach, new team, new year

Photo courtesy of www. agourahills.patch.com

Photo by Nate Edelman

“Our main goal is to get better each and every day, each and every practice” Scifres said.

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Fall Sports CalendarOctober 24: *Boys Water Polo (Varsity & Frosh/Soph) @ Moorpark HS October 25: *Girls Volley Ball (JV & Varsity) @ Calabasas HS *Girls Tennis (JV & Varsity) @Calabasas HS

*Girls Golf C.I.F. Team Regionals*Girls Tennis (JV & Varsity) @ Westlake HS*Girls Volley Ball (JV & Varsity) @ Westalke HS*Boys Water Polo (JV & Varsity) @ Westlake HS*Football (Freshman) @ Calabasas

October 26: *Boys Water Polo (Frosh/Soph & JV & Varsity) @ Thousand Oaks HS

*Football (JV & Varsity) @Calabasas*Cross Country @ Ventura Co. Champs

*Boys Water Polo (Frosh/Soph) @ Westlake Tourn.

*Girls Golf @ C.I.F. Individual Region

*Football (JV & Varsity) @ Westlake*Boys Water Polo (Frosh/Soph & JV & Varsity) @ Laguna Beach HS

*Football (Freshmen) @ Westlake HS*Cross Country @ Marmonte League Finals*Girls Tennis (JV & Varsity) @ Newbury Park HS*Girls Volley Ball (Frosh/Soph & JV & Varsity) @Newbury Park HS

*Girls Tennis (JV & Varsity) @ Simi Valley HS*Girls Volley Ball (Frosh/Soph & JV & Varsity) @ Simi Valley HS*Boys Water Polo (Frosh/Soph & JV & Varsity) @ Calabasas HS

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hard to keep the crowd and Kyle proud. Having an injury to the extent of London’s is very hard to deal with, mentally and physically, as Kyle will be on crutches for the next 5 months. For the time being, our football team will have to continue on with-

out Kyle’s leadership on the field and strive to get better with each game. Although we will not see Kyle London’s excellent foot-ball plays for the rest of the season, we can expect to see him out there on the field, cheering on his friends and teammates.