Pittsburg High School's The Booster Redux March 2015

the power of SOCIAL MEDIA TWITTER CONNECTS PEOPLE Page 3D

sMART TEAM TO BOSTON MCAFEE GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO REASEARCH WITH SCIENTISTS Page 5D

PINK TO BLUE STUDENT TRANSITIONS FROM GIRL TO BOY Page 7D

The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762 Vol. 98, Issue 8 www.boosterredux.com

Friday, March 27, 2015

NEW LAW ‘PROTECTS’ STUDENTS FROM HARMFUL MATERIAL JOSHUA LEE @iAmTheJoshLee aiting for further action after passage through the Senate, SB56 has the potential to completely change the education system within the state of Kansas.

Just one of many newer bills introduced in Kansas legislature, according to the Christian Science Monitor, this bill passed the Senate on Feb. 25 and is meant to protect students from harmful and offensive material.

The bill itself defines “material” as “any book, magazine, newspaper, pamphlet, poster, print, picture, figure, image, description, motion picture film, record, recording tape or video tape,” and “harmful to minors” as the “quality of any description, exhibition, presentation or representation, in whatever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement or sadomasochistic abuse.”

English teacher Lyn Schultze believes that the bill will not go any further than passing the Senate because of its flaws and misguided ideas.

“I will actually be really shocked if the Legislature passes this bill, and I think it is completely unnecessary,” Schultze said. “I think teachers are professionals, and teachers can decide what is relevant and what is pertinent to use in their classroom.”

Because of what the bill defines as harmful or offensive, what teachers believe is necessary for class material may have to be censored or removed from the curriculum.

“If [the bill] passes, and if they really put it into effect, I think that half the books in our library will

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disappear and so will maybe half of unnecessary and unreasonable. the curriculum,” Schultze said. ”Who decides what gets left out According to Schultze, the amount and what doesn’t? Who decides of literature remaining non-harmful what the definition of ‘offensive’ or according to the statutes in the bill ‘harmful material’ is?” Giffin said. will decrease because of the subjects “I’m not sure what the intent of the and topics that are included in what bill is, because society changes. What many would consider classic novels.

I might find offensive, if it’s history “The Scarlet Letter deals or art, it’s still history and art. Do you with adultery and witchcraft, or now censor that? And who decides Huckleberry Finn, which deals with what should be censored? Because to racism, or Of Mice and Men, which me, that’s the old ‘burning of books deals with murder and attempted and taking them out of the library’ rape,” Schultze kind of thing.” said. “[The Like many bill] will have educators, senior a huge impact Priscilla Ruiz on thwarting believes that this teachers’ ability bill wouldn’t be to bring other helping students, materials into but rather that their classroom the bill would be to present to harming students their students.” instead.

Not only “In some classes, does Schultze you absolutely claim that the need controversial bill would material,” Ruiz decrease said. “If you the amount keep these high - LYN SCHULTZE of teaching schoolers in a box, resources once they’re out available to teachers, she also believes there in college, they’re going to be that the bill is making a fruitless presented with all these ideas and attempt at protecting students. they’re not going to know what to do “I think anything [that students] with them.” can access on cable [television] Junior Sebastian Johns shares the or the internet is going to be way sentiments of Ruiz, claiming that the worse than anything that we have at bill is too far overreaching. school,” Schultze said.

“There is so much room for gray In accordance to Schutlze’s belief areas and exploitation, and it could that high school students do not need be a problem at our school. Kids like to be sheltered by the bill, history attention, and if they want to say teacher Marjorie Giffin believes that that something is offensive and start the bill’s protection of students from a huge controversy over something harmful and offensive material is that somebody said in class, people

“

I think teachers are professionals, and teachers can decide what is relevant and what is pertinent to use in their classroom.

”

ENROLLMENT CLARIFICATION ATHLETES ‘STRONGLY RECOMMENDED’ TO ENROLL IN WEIGHTS

BY MIRANDA MOORE

strength meet mengarelli and hobbs return as 5a state champs Page 8D

@mirandamoore24 As enrollment approaches, students are under a misconception that enrollment in a weights class for all athletes is mandator y.

“A lot of people who are involved in spor ts are academically based where their schedules are already full. I’ve heard a lot of people who are like ‘It will be easier to not do that spor t than take the weights class,’” sophomore Kayla Clark said. “So there are a lot of people thinking about not doing that spor t because they don’t want to take the weights class.”

However, many students do not realize that the weights class is not mandator y.

“The biggest issue of this whole entire thing is ‘You’re telling me that if my kid doesn’t take this class, or can’t get into this class, that he or she cannot par ticipate,’ and that is absolutely not the case,” Principal Jon Bishop said.

New athletic director Brannon Kidd has enacted a policy that highly recommends athletes to take a strength and conditioning class based off obser vations throughout the year.

The new enrollment description states that the weights class is “highly recommended” for all students par ticipating in athletics.

“The coaches have always told the kids ‘We recommend that you be in the weight room so you can help prevent inju-

ries and build a better athlete,’ but has never been highly recommended as far as from the athletic director on down,” guidance counselor Jessica Stegman said.

Both Kidd and Bishop hope that the increased emphasis on weights training will not only build the strength of athletes, but help with injur y prevention as well.

“Through my playing and coaching weight training, strength training, flexibility and agilities are all going to help with injur y prevention,” Kidd said.

According to Kidd, the weight class will consist of both genders of athletes and focus on core lifts such as squat, bench and powerclean, to benefit a broad range of upper and lower body muscles. Flexibility training will also be incorporated as well as additional exercises may be added for specific spor ts.

According to both Stegman and Kidd, the goal is to offer a weights class ever y hour, excluding lunch, to increase the oppor tunity for athletes to be able to enroll.

A zero hour, star ting before the regular school day, is also being proposed. Grades and attendance will be tracked and credit will be earned.

“If a kid cannot get the class to fit in their schedules because of the singletons they are taking, they may have to place it that zero hour if that’s the only

time they can get that training in,” Bishop said.

For the past 14 years, head football coach Tom Nickelson has trained athletes before school during the spring.

“Most of them are athletes who could not get into a weights class due to scheduling conflicts,” Nickelson said.

Over the past two years there has been an increase in athletes attending and par ticipation has exceeded 20 athletes for the first time.

Kidd recognizes that many kids cannot par ticipate in the program because of other activities throughout the school day.

While there will be no formal consequences for not adhering to this recommendation, Kidd cites natural consequences of athletes not training their bodies as a concern.

“The natural progression is this: those that are involved in a strength and conditioning program are going to become better,” Kidd said. “It’s just natural it is going to happen, so they need to understand it.”

Junior Shelbi Heikes feels she cannot drop anything to join a weights class. Heikes is involved in numerous school activities including encore, Spanish, soccer and track, along with off-season traveling soccer and coaching.

“I feel like we are almost getting to the point where we are valuing spor ts over educa-

Continued onto page 2D

are just going to eat that up,” Johns said.

Additionally, Johns believes that the bill would take away from education as a whole and that if the bill passes, future generations of students will not be able to receive proper education growing up.

“They [would not] be exposed to as much material, and the more that we restrict our teachers and put them in handcuffs, the less knowledgeable our future generations are going to be,” Johns said. “We are going to be hurting our future generations… because teachers will not be able to give real-life applications and truly teach students the lessons that they need to teach them.”

According to Assistant Principal Rhonda White, teachers normally have what is called the Affirmative Defense, which protects teachers and mitigates the effect of the consequences on the teachers if they are prosecuted. However, in addition to limiting the amount of available teaching material, the bill would also remove the affirmative defense rights from teachers. “[The bill] criminalizes the teachers’ lessons and teachings... the parts of the bill that criminalize a teacher’s teaching in the classroom is unnecessary,” White said.

Principal Jon Bishop shares the arguments of other educators with the belief that the bill is unnecessary and an obstacle to the learning process.

“I think we’re going down the wrong road,” Bishop said. “We need to be able to support our teachers, we need to be able to trust our teachers, and I think most of the public would agree with that.”

COSTA RICA Chaos Students’ trip interrupted by volcano CORAL VANBECELAERE @ @CVanbecelaere

The morning of March 12, eleven students accompanied by seven adults were en route to Costa Rica when their trip came to an abrupt halt.

“We thought it was a joke at first, honest to tell you,” Spanish teacher Angie Pallares said “We were about 45 minutes out of Dallas in the air when the pilot comes over the announcement and says we have to turn back because the volcano [San Jose] erupted in Costa Rica.

We thought he was literally joking.”

When they returned to the airport, Pallares gave the students the option to stay and continue the trip or return home. Two students decided to return home while the rest stayed and continued to Costa Rica. After staying a night in Dallas, flying to Miami the group departed.

Saturday morning, March 14, the group began their trip to Liberia, Costa Rica. Their first full day in Costa Rica was filled with activity.

The first day of activities included, ziplining, horseback riding, kayaking and a trip to an all natural spa.

“My favorite part of the trip was the spa. It was a five star spa and it looked beautiful. They served beverages, and there were hot springs heated by a nearby volcano,” sophomore Kagan Cole said.

The hot springs were a popular attraction among the students and adults.

Continued onto page 2D

2 NEWS changes improves class attendance

Friday, March. 27, 2015

www.boosterredux.com SECTION D

Policy amendment decreases tardies GINA MATHEW @gmmathew13 winging his keys around his fingers, math teacher Kris Mengarelli yells, “One minute!” along the hallways as the warning bell sounds.

This daily occurrence comes after a new bell schedule was put into effect earlier this year.

At the star t of the semester, a policy was created in an effor t to reduce the number of tardies attained by the student body.

This was met with some resistance from the student body, with consequences, such as time in In-School Suspension, seen as too harsh.

The cause for change was brought to Principal Jon Bishop’s attention by the students. Student Government adopted a resolution advocating for change with the newly-established tardy policy.

“The initial reason for the tardy policy was that we had a lot of kids who were coming to school or getting to classes late. Student Government drafted a resolution of things that they would like for us to consider,” Bishop said.

“Representatives met with

S

the MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Suppor t) team and they were able to go through some of the policies that were put in place.

They didn’t have any problems with the consequence, but it was the fact that, ‘If you’re going to have this, would you please allow a little more time?’”

Administration considered the resolution and later implemented five minute passing periods, compared to the previous four

to senior Kaylie Duncan.

“I like it more than I did before because the extra minute is helpful for people who are tardy often,” Duncan said.

While the students have grown accustomed to the change in the bells, Bishop agrees the problem is not completely extinguished.

“It took a little while to get used to it, but now ever yone understands that the shor t bell means you have one minute. Preliminar y data shows that tardies have definitely gone down.

Have they gone away?

No, but the consequences for it make a little more sense now that there’s an extra minute. No - PRINCIPAL JON BISHOP one can really minutes, with a one minute debate why you shouldn’t warning bell, ultimately re- [get to] class on time now.” sulting in a shor ter Dragon Freshman Chase Johnson Time. believes there will always Over a two-week span, be opposition to policies. the student body has since “There are always going attained 439 tardies com- to be those kids that just pared to 1,366 tardies from want to be tardy and want the previous schedule in the to hang out in the hall. I same time span, amounting don’t think a given amount to a nearly 68 percent de- of time is going to change crease in tardies acquired. that. That’s an attitude The bell schedule change change. We’re always going has had a positive effect on to have a cer tain amount the student body, according of tardies, but I definitely

“” alli in all, we want to see the tardiness go down and kids getting to class on time.

link crew: staff members trained for new program over spring break MEGHAN BAKER & KALI POENITSKE @MeghanBaker11 & @Kali_Poenitske

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itting in a conference room for three days learning about a new program is how five staff members, including Assistant Principal Rhonda White, English teacher Melissa Fite Johnson, chairperson for the School Climate Team Chrystal Long, freshmen advocate Kristin Thomas and math teacher Rashell Yockey spent their spring break at a Link Crew training.

Although this does not sound like a very fun way to spend the spring break, the participants enjoyed the experience finding it worthwhile for students and the school culture.

The five staff members that attended the conference in Temecula, California are now qualified to be Link Crew coordinators and will train the students as Link Crew leaders by May. The Link Crew leaders will help with freshmen orientation and continuing activities/events throughout the year.

Staff members that volunteered traveled to Temecula on Sunday, March 15 and returned Thursday, March 19.

Even though there are several budget cuts, they will not affect this new program, according to White.

“The training costs will be funded through the Safe and Supportive Schools grant that our school received,” White said. “The S3 grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Education and is intended to improve academic achievement by addressing the conditions for student behaviors and making healthy choices.”

They learned about a new mentor

program that will be implemented by next year.

“Link Crew is a program that provides schools with the structure to support the freshmen students, [so they have] a smooth and successful transition to high school,” White said.

This new program is not only for freshmen; upperclassmen will have the opportunity to mentor them.

“The program is designed to be a freshman orientation program that is implemented by junior and senior student leaders,” Long said “Student leaders will be chosen on their abilities to be leaders. Students will be allowed to apply for mentor positions or they can be nominated,” Thomas said.

Since Link Crew has never been a part of the curriculum, the staff members did not know what the conference would be like.

“I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was very informative and very well organized,” Yockey said.

All 100 teachers and administrators had to participate in the activities that the freshmen would be doing.

The staff members participating in Link Crew learned how to teach Link Crew leaders (students) to initiate and maintain meaningful conversations between students in small groups.

“We would go across the giant room to a big open space and be grouped up to do these activities that were fun, but that really served a deeper purpose,” Johnson said. “After only three days together, there were plenty of new friends made, many of whom teared up while hugging good-bye at the end of the conference.”

ENROLLMENT CLARIFICATION

Students walk crowded halls after the passing period was extended, allowing kids to have more time to make it to class. PHOTO BY ABBY HARRIS

think [the bell schedule change] has helped.”

Teachers have also voiced their opinions of the new bell schedule change. Some feel there are still issues with the matter that could be looked at.

“I’m not sure if the time provided for Second Oppor tunity Breakfast is sufficient for students to have a true second op-

por tunity to eat breakfast,” math teacher Rhonda Willis said. “Also, it would be nice if the one-minute warning bell had a completely different sound than the tardy bell.”

Social studies teacher Marjorie Giffin said, “I believe the issue is not with the time, [but] with the cross-hallway congestion due to visiting during

the passing period.”

Administration has taken these issues, such as distinguishing between the bells and crowding, into consideration.

“We’ll look at the data [for] the rest of the year and tr y to fine-tune some things a little bit,” Bishop said. “All in all, we want to see the tardiness go down and kids getting to class on time.”

DECA,HOSA PLACE AT STATE COMPETITIONS ALLI BADEN @AlliBaden

DECA: The top 10 are announced and senior Claire Caffrey makes her way to the stage at the Kansas state DECA Career Development Conference(CDC). She waits in anticipation as they announce the lineup for her event, Retail Merchandising. As they get closer to the top three, her name is not called. Then she hears her name being announced to the entire ballroom. Caffrey received second place and qualified for the International Career Development Conference(ICDC).

“I was not expecting to place at all,” Caffrey said. “ I was so happy because I thought I was up on stage getting like tenth place or something. Then all the sudden it came to third place and when they named another Blue Valley school that is when I knew I had placed and qualified for ICDC. “ Caffrey, along with senior Logan Chatman attended the CDC March 8-10 in Overland Park where they competed in individual event series. Caffrey’s competition consisted of two role plays in which professionals in Retail Merchandising would give her situations and she would have to come up with a business plan. She would then present her plan to the professionals and they would ask her questions about it. Caffrey then had to take a 100 question exam about retail merchandising given an hour’s time.

“I was a little stressed but since there were only two of us going I was like, it is senior year and I am just going to have fun and try to do my best,” Caffrey said. “The atmosphere was so friendly and so awesome that I just felt like I prospered in it a lot better than I thought I was going to.”

Chatman was also impressed with the environment of the conference.

“It is just an amazing place to go, see, and meet other people who are business minded,” Chatman said.

DECA sponsor Linda Turner was not surprised that Caffrey placed at the state conference.

“When Claire moved in September, I had a feeling that if anyone would win it would be her. And she did,” Turner said.

The ICDC features schools from all over the world including the United State, Canada, China and Germany. It will be held in Orlando April 24-28. Caffrey is eager for this opportunity. “[I am excited] just for the experience,” Caffrey said. “[The state conference] has really

opened my mind on the business world. I never thought I would have potential in it and now I see that I do.”

HOSA: Nine students have the opportunity to attend the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) national conference June 24-27 in Anaheim, California, due to their success at the state conference.

The state HOSA conference was held March 9-11 in Wichita. Along with the high school, 14 other schools across the state of Kansas were in attendance. The conference allows students to participate in team and individual competitions.

Of the twelve that attended the conference, nine placed third or higher, allowing them qualification for the national conference.

Freshman Reece Willis placed third in Physical Therapy, sophomore Kelsey Fuchs placed second in Biomedical Laboratory Science, sophomore Morgan Burns placed second in Medical Law and Ethics, the team of Willis and senior David Su placed second in Creative Problem Solving, the team of juniors Suhani Mendpara, Motrina Kattil, and Carla Salas placed first in Community Awareness and the team of seniors Daniel Munguia and Bill Lackamp placed first in EMT. HOSA sponsor Jim Foresman was impressed by the success of the students at conference and believed it was their hard work in preparation for the conference.

“Students have to be pretty independent and self motivated in order to get ready for their events,” Foresman said. “Many of the events involve information they have learned in school and then have a chance to apply that knowledge. Students have to do a lot of preparatory time on their own time.”

Mendpara and her partners spent time after school and over the weekends to prepare for their project.

“We spent weeks over last semester and this semester so we could do different activities for the community,” Mendpara said.

Even though nine students qualified for nationals, Foresman is not certain if any students will be able to attend the national conference.

“Financial constraints may prevent a trip to compete at Nationals,” Foresman said.

Even though nationals may not be in the future for the HOSA students, Mendpara is still pleased with the outcome of state.

“I hope I can go [to Anaheim],” Mendpara said. “But we still got first.”

Continued from page tion,” Heikes said. “I do plan on playing a sport in college, but I don’t want to sacrifice my other interests.”

She also fears being viewed differently by coaches and having her playing time affected.

“I’m just worried that if [other athletes] do and I don’t then its going to be ‘Well she’s not committed and she’s not serious about it,’ when I am,” Heikes said. “I already spend so much time for sports, I don’t know why I need to sacrifice my time for other things, especially for education, and put it towards sports.”

However, according to Bishop and Stegman, many of the factors for the weights program hinges on enrollment, which begins in April.

“Right now, we are going through our enrollment piece to see what are needs

our, where we might need to have additional staff, who might have to teach this class versus this class,” Bishop said. “It usually is [a puzzle] at this point because we are combatting growth, and I don’t want to use the word combatting because it’s a good problem to have.”

Regardless of the logistics of enrollment and participation, the goal to Bishop is clear.

“We want to make kids better athletes by giving them opportunities to get into the weights classes they need to help them perform,” Bishop said.

“We do a lot of good things for our programs that we have, from academics to athletics to activities, but we are trying to provide that extra ‘oomph’ for our kids that really don’t have the opportunity for the weights class.”

COSTA RICA CHAOS: TRIP INTERRUPTED Continued from page 1D “The hot springs [were my favorite]. It looked like the Garden of Eden; it was just so lush and beautiful. Each pool, the closer you got to the volcano, became hotter. We went to see how much we could stand,” Pallares said.

Costa Rica is different in many ways from America according to Cole.

“The fruits, vegetables and salads were very fresh, much more fresh than back home in America,” Cole said, “Every meal had rice and beans, even breakfast. I enjoyed the food a lot.

I also enjoyed the rice and beans; the seasoning was mouth watering.”

Level four white water rafting was also on

the agenda for the group. Senior Katy Short found the experience exhilarating.

“It was pretty intense. You sit on the edge of the boat, so its a little scary, but you wedge your feet in and you just kind of row. It gets really intense at times because the waves are huge. I got wedged onto a rock and we had to bounce on the boat [to get unstuck]. It was weird, but fun,” Short said.

Students returned home on Saturday, March 21, in preparation for the start of school.

“I didn’t have a favorite part, I loved all of it,” senior Camille Wallace said, “I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and I did. I already want to go back.”

SECTION D

Booster Redux staff and policy Editors-in-Chief

www.boosterredux.com

OPINION

Friday, March. 27 2015

3

Kansas reverts to wild west Relaxed regulations on conceal and carry laws

Alli Baden Josh Lee Morgan Plank

Managing Editors Molly Graham Miranda Moore Coral VanBeceleare

Design Editors Reagan Rink Kailey Curtis

Copy Editor Megan Munger

Online Editor Kailey Curtis

Staff Lily Black Katy Brown Maddie Baden Meghan Baker Alivia Benedict Morgan Burns Ashley Henderson Ethan Hawn Journey Jaramillo Josh Jarvis Joseph Mathew Trina Paul Kali Poenitske Ivan Walter Jake Webb Kaylah Wilson Lydia Winters

Adviser Emily Smith

The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School Student Publications 1978 E. 4th St. Pittsburg, KS 66762

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ART BY ALIVIA BENEDICT

Kaylah Wilson @wilsonkaywil If you have not heard, the Kansas Senate recently passed a bill to allow concealed carry guns without a permit, and it looks like the House of Representatives will approve it too. This is an awful idea. Since when did Kansas become the Old West again? Is it really so bad out there that Kansans only feel safe with a gun? I do not believe so.

First of all, I have to say that I don’t own a gun myself, but several people in my family do. Also, I am not trying to argue for gun control, just for rules on concealed carry. Arguing about gun control is an argument no one will win, and it is just a distraction from this topic.

For about eight years now, Kansas has had laws concerning concealed carry. This is about to change. Instead of making people spend money, time and the effort of going through a process to have the right to carry a concealed gun, now anyone will be able to do that. Again, this sounds like an awful idea.

Here is a little history of concealed carry laws in Kansas and the rules you currently need to follow (http://ag.ks. gov/public-safety/concealedcarry).

Basically, conceal carry without a permit was not allowed before 2007. On January 3, 2007, Governor Sebelius’ Attorney General began to issue concealed carry permits to people who qualified.

Qualifying for a concealed carry

permit isn’t easy.

To qualify for a permit, you must be a current resident of the county you are applying for in Kansas for at least six months and be at least 21 years of age. You must also pass an eight hour weapons safety and training course and obtain a certificate of completion.

Also providing fingerprints for a criminal history check and having no felony convictions or diversions as well.

According to uscarry.com, you cannot be convicted or diverted for the previous five years for driving while intoxicated, domestic violence, or been arrested for carrying a concealed weapon while under the influence; be in contempt of court for failure to pay child support; been ruled disabled; have a restraining order against you; been required by law to obtain counseling for alcohol or substance abuse, or been required to receive treatment for mental illness; or been dishonorably discharged from the military. The whole process will cost $150, plus the fee for the safety and training course , in addition to the cost of the passport photo that is also required. That’s a lot of work, time and money. I’m surprised that people ever apply for one, because I even hate waiting in line at Starbucks for a double chocolate chip frappé!

Sure, there are some good reasons for concealed carry, or are they good reasons? You can look at this website for more: http://concealedguns.procon. org/ One argument is that most adults

who carry are law-abiding and do not misuse their firearms. But, if this bill passes, that may not be the case because no one will know who has a gun, especially the police and the state government. How does this make anyone feel safe?

Another argument is that people are less likely to attack someone if they think they are armed. Now, you would think this would be true, but its not. If you look at the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s crime statistics from 2003 through 2013, which gives us the years before and after concealed carry permits were issued, you’ll find a few low numbers and high numbers of crime rates. But basically the rate of murders, rapes, robberies and assaults have stayed about the same. So, people are just as likely to attack someone whether they think they are armed or not, at least in Kansas.

However, here is the big one: the Second Amendment. It allows people to keep and bear arms; pro gun people always cite it quickly as their biggest argument.

I said I wasn’t going to debate gun control, but just think about this: the Second Amendment does not say anything about concealed weapons, and it does not say anything about regulating the way in which citizens can keep and bear them.

Also, the Second Amendment is an amendment, so it was not part of the Constitution to begin with. This means that it can also be removed; an amendment is only as permanent as

the will of the people want it to be.

And remember that when the Second Amendment was written, guns could only fire once and then they had to be reloaded. Back then, they really had to practice gun control to make their shots count.

This means that the Founding Fathers had no concept of weapons that could reliably fire dozens or even hundreds of times a minute; would they still have made the Second Amendment as broad as it is knowing what we know now?

Obviously, we will never know, but I would bet they would at least be more specific.

Finally, I’ll talk about how crazy the idea that our society is so dangerous that only a gun can save us. Crime rates are either going down or staying about the same,depending on what kind of crime you’re talking about, according to accesskansas.org. So, where is the sudden danger? That’s just it, there isn’t any. If the murder rate is the same as it was a decade ago, then the problem is that we’re imagining the danger. Maybe it is too much media in our lives, maybe we are just more willing to be afraid.

Kansas used to be one of the most dangerous places in the Wild West.

The solution ended up not being more guns, but a better society with better law enforcement and, yes, even some gun control.

This new bill can make us into the Wild West again and I think it is an awful idea.

social media portrays limited viewpoint Posts online can offer a false glimpse into real life JOSEPH MATHEW @jmath06 Sunbathing on the sandy beach in Hawaii.

Downhill skiing on the snow-topped mountains of Colorado.

Posing in front of the Eiffel Tower at sunset.

As you scroll through your news feed, you are bombarded with pictures of your friends, all of them obviously having the times of their lives. And here you are, scratching your belly under the covers of your comfy bed, wishing your life was as interesting or spectacular as those of your friends.

It’s social media envy at its finest.

Social media envy is a feeling that most of us are used to, but not all of us recognize. It’s what happens when you compare your ill-behaved pet with that hilarious talking dog on Vine or your vacation in Kansas City to your friend’s getaway trip in Europe.

The Huffington Post specifically defines this online envy as “a condi-

tion that causes you to see one single fabulous out-of-context moment of someone else’s life and compare their one great moment against the totality of your own life.”

Obviously, this comparison is bound to hurt your self-esteem.

According to UK charity Scope, almost half of 18-34 year-olds said their various social media feeds made them feel ‘ugly or unattractive’, while 30% said it also made them feel lonely.

It becomes a cruel irony when social media applications, that claim to connect their users, only serve to isolate them.

As much as we are unwilling to admit it, seeing picture after picture of our peers in fantastical situations can leave us with a feeling of mediocrity.

After all, our lives aren’t nearly that exciting, right?

Social psychologists term this feeling “relative deprivation”: the judgment that one’s life is worse off than

one’s peers, even if one is not actually deprived. This is usually accompanied by feelings of jealousy and frustration.

Unfortunately, clinical studies are finding the same conclusion. The New York Post writes, “Study after study shows that our jealousy spikes with our use of social sharing sites.”

As a generation of students that has grown alongside social media, social media envy may seem somewhat inevitable.

However, we can take proactive measures to minimize its effect.

According to the New York Post, “The proper response to irrational jealousy isn’t to coddle it, but to condemn it.”

In other words, we need to stop sulking in our envy. Be grateful for what you have and resist feeling jealous of what other people have.

Another helpful tip is to realize that what is on social media is not the full representation of someone’s life.

It simply features the best moments of others’ lives. I bet a lot of people

would use Facebook less if all of the posts were similar to “LOL, taking out the trash again!” or “OMG everyone, I just got home from school again…

Third time this week!.”

When we weaken the grasp that social media envy has over our emotions, we become more confident and self-assured.

After all, there will always be something for us to feel envious about on social media. The key is how we orient ourselves to these pictures and videos.

I hope you don’t think that I am trying to scold you for using Facebook or Instagram. Social media has its obvious benefits. However, we should try to minimize the negative effects that come with it to ensure a truly fulfilling experience online.

So lean back, relax and sink deeper into your bed. Your life is fine just how it is. There’s nothing to worry about.

Unless of course, you don’t happen to own a golden retriever named Sparky who can talk to humans.

Staff Editorial: the weight of enrollment The booster redux staff @PHSStudentPub As enrollment approaches, the discussion of athletes being required to take a weights class was misinterpreted, when in fact it is highly recommended.

Next school year, more weights classes may potentially be offered to cater to the needs of athletes. The option has been discussed to offer seven weights classes and possibly a zero hour, but this decision hinges on enrollment numbers.

We understand the reason behind such a new opportunity, and we as a staff support the decision that instead of being required, the new weights classes are simply “highly recommended.”

While it is a good idea to allow athletes another opportunity to improve their athletic ability and prevent injury, the potentially implied pressure from

before school hours, has been discussed to avoid scheduling conflicts.

The zero hour would only be offered for a weights class and would be a regular class with grades and attendance While the zero hour is obviously a part of the new changes with good intentions, ART BY ALIVIA BENEDICT it may be difficult to get students to come at an early hour unless they are self-motivated.

In addition, the students who do not necessarily have scheduling conflicts may not want to put themselves through the rigor of lifting weights

peers, parents and coaches may cause students to pick a weights class over other possible electives.

This especially poses a

prob- lem for incoming freshmen who have a limited amount of electives.

However, the idea of offering a zero hour, a period that would take place

ART BY ALIVIA BENEDICT

during the day, due to already having sports practice after school.

Depending on the student, with the addition of lifting weights during his or her schedule, an athlete may partake in up to five hours of physical activity a day.

This amount of physical activity can be good for students, but sometimes, the demands of the physical activities, combined with the academic and social pressures of school, can be too much.

The weight program will prove beneficial to athletes who take advantage of it. Since the policy is not required, students who are looking to improve their athletic performance will enroll in a class or zero hour.

By making the course an option, it will prevent students who do not necessarily want to be there from ruining the experience of others.

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Paul’s perspective: being vegetarian Trina’s experience and challenges without meat for two weeks Trina Paul @trpaul1998 iving in Kansas, one encounters things like cattle, “eat beef” license plates and barbecue on an almost daily basis. So when I challenged myself to go vegetarian for two weeks, I inevitably struggled.

For me, being vegetarian had its challenges, but it also had its incentives. While not eating meat, I was compelled to become more creative with what I did eat.

As opposed to eating more junk food, I started eating more healthy food. I began to embrace the ability to compose a real meal without meat. I even had an inclination to try new foods. I discovered goat cheese, avocado, spinach, and a new appreciation for food that did not come from a package.

Going meatless not only gave me a new perspective on food, but it also gave me a new insight on where the food I eat comes from.

According to a study by The Vegetarian Times, the majority of vegetarians cited animal welfare as their motivation for becoming a vegetarian.

As a meat eater, I am aware of the prevalence of animal cruelty in the meat industry. However, I believe the majority of us, myself ART BY AILIE FORESMAN included, would recoil at exactly what “animal cruelty” entails.

Companies like Tyson, Butterball and Smithfield have all been in the spotlight for videos showing workers mistreating animals. An undercover investigation by the Humane Society at a Smithfield pig farm found the bars of pigs’ crates covered with blood from attempts to bite their way out.

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Another undercover investigation by Mercy for Animals at a Butterball turkey farm found many turkeys covered in flies and living in their own waste.

I still eat meat, but I hope, that by illustrating how thousands of animals are treated everyday, to raise an awareness of animal cruelty in the food industry.

The effects of animal consumption can even be seen in the environment. Recently, a UN report stated that a shift towards a vegan diet would save the world from the impacts of climate change. Livestock production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions trap heat in the atmosphere, thus causing global warming.

Nevertheless, vegetarianism has its own drawbacks. Eating a diet without meat can lack convenience.

Following a vegetarian diet can be difficult if restaurants or cafeterias are unaccommodating.

When going out to eat, meatless options are sparse. At school, I had to pick the individual pieces of pepperoni off of a slice of pizza.

Alas, I must address the very popular protein question. How do vegetarians get protein? Most vegetarians can get their protein from various plant or dairy sources such as beans, milk, soy, legumes, nuts and eggs (if you’re a vegetarian that eats them).

Since many consume meat as their major protein source, it can be an arduous task to obtain protein from other sources. Another inconvenience of being vegetarian.

Going meatless started as a challenge, yet it became a learning experience for me.

Suddenly, I knew what animal cruelty was. I ate fresher and healthier food. I found out how difficult it was to eat at a restaurant.

And most importantly, I learned that I was not a vegetarian.

Brownback turns back on education Recent legislation has detrimental effect on local school districts Ethan Hawn @ethanhawn888 hen a politician promises lower taxes, it can be music to the ears of prospective voters.

In Kansas, Governor Sam Brownback’s first-term tax cuts and the promise of continued cuts were likely the greatest contributors to his reelection. And, as a whole, Brownback has seemed to follow through. ve Governor Brownback’s monumental tax cuts have been cause for celebration... unless, by chance, you ic are, know, or in any way care for the 486,000 public school students of Kansas.

The governor’s economic policy relies on deregulation and considerable income tax cuts to businesses and the upper class.

This supply-side economic policy is supposed to bolster industry, while simultaneously collecting enough tax revenues to balance the state budget (which is federally mandated).

But, it should come as no surprise mathematically that when you eliminate the tax revenues of the society’s richest contributors, the amount of money that the government has to work with is far less.

Thus, after a hefty tax cut for the rich, the governor must find an area within the state budget from which he can appropriate funds.

In Kansas, funding for public education has become a nearly unending reservoir of money for use in balancing budgets, as well as giving back to the ones that need it ‘most’: the 1 percent.

According to the Wichita Eagle, Brownback has set out to cut $127.4 million from K-12 education within the next fiscal year as a means of chipping away at

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the state’s massive deficit, now numbering just short of $350 million.

If Kansas were to increase income taxes, most notably on businesses that, in many cases, pay $0 or close to $0 annually, it is likely that there would be more funds to draw from while balancing state budgets. However, adhering to Brownback’s Reagan-

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THE FIRST STEP IN THIS VENTURE IS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION - ETHAN HAWN

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ampions mpions omics-esque economic policy, our state champions the businesses at the expense of the students. nts Although nobody loves to pay their taxes, education is clearly a worthy recipient of state funds.

Though excessively high spending on education is not always correlated with better performance, gutting the budget with a machete will hardly fare students any better.

In addition to Brownback’s initiative to ravage public school funding, his position on the state income tax has seen fairly significant changes.

According to the New York Times, in a forced effort to recollect some of the funds cut in his first term, Brownback is now slowing his income tax reductions and raising sales taxes. Stark tax hikes for Kansas farmers also signify a bit of a turnaround for Brown-

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back’s policies.

Brownback’s plan was to create an economic model of conservatism for the rest of the nation. Yet, in the face of the state’s astronomical budget deficit, it seems as though Sam Brownback himself has begun the question the validity of his economic experiment.

People oftentimes complain about overtaxation, saying that they don’t want to give their hard-earned money to a government that runs inefficiently, which is understandable.

However, inefficiency is simply part of the complicated system given to us by the Founding Fathers of our government.

Our republic has many moving parts, and that is why it can become wasteful. Yet, some waste is a necessary evil to upholding the democracy that Americans are so proud of.

Government’s cost doesn’t mean that voters ought to slash funds that are crucial to maintaining services.

It is the responsibility of today’s citizens to preserve the future of our nation. The first step in this venture is to ensure that students receive an adequate education.

The status quo is rife with indicators that our government is moving in the wrong direction, as educators and their students are continually deprived of resources necessary to effectively teach and learn.

Thus, the next time a politician promises lower taxes, voters should be knowledgeable of what that implies. No one should be elected if the first cut they intend to make comes from the education of future generations.

Twitter utilizes unique characteristics to connect people globally

miranda moore

@mirandmoore24

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his week marked nine years since Twitter was created.

Four years ago I was listening to the radio hosts on the way to school talking about an up-and-coming social media called Twitter.

Now, at the time, the only subject they related it to was celebrities, giving the impression that it was basically a log of their day-to-day activities.

I immediately formed my opinion on the new platform: it was stupid.

However, two years ago I retracted that opinion and instead became an advocate of its usage for a variety of purposes for all different ages.

Too often in today’s society the mention of social media, or even more specific - MIRANDA MOORE platforms such as Twitter, have generated immediate negative reactions among adults.

While I’m not trying to argue that some of the perceptions they have are unwarranted, instead I want to urge people to look past them for the numerous benefits the platform has to offer.

Twitter is a unique form of social media that has immeasurable bounds for a variety of communications purposes. Its capabilities are far reaching and constantly evolving, as with social media and technology in general.

According to Jack Dorsey (@jack), the co-founder of Twitter, via the platform this week, journalists were a key reason Twitter usage exploded so quickly. This perfectly illustrates Twitter’s first capability: to inform.

The design of the news feed shows tweets from only seconds before the last refresh, make it enable journalists and citizens to break news, link

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recent articles and keep followers informed on developing stories.

Yet the informative tendencies of Twitter reach beyond that.

Each individual can tailor their news feed to their personal interests.

Whether wanting to learn about the latest medical news from The American Medical Association (@ AmerMedicalAssn), or keeping up to date with a favorite sports team, it can all be done on Twitter without the hassle of separate websites.

The second capability is more unique T Th to Twitter’s specific platform: to connect.

While all social media does this to an extent, such as Facebook being known to reunite old high school or college buddies, the connection power of Twitter is made much stronger by hashtags.

The hashtags, identified by the pound symbol allows a traceable search.

For example, #SuperBowl allowed people from all over the country to see each others tweets, connecting millions of people to each others thoughts and ideas.

But hashtags serve other professional purposes, going beyond mass events. Teachers from across the world have taken to the platform through education hashtags, such as #edchat

Twitter’s unique Tw characteristics create a tool like no other in today’s society.

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or #elearning, to share professional development tools, teaching resources or advice on different situations concerning anything from technology implementation to classroom management.

Being able to connect to such a mass group of people created another unique characteristic: marketing.

National companies are using Twitter to market their product or brand name.

It’s rare to watch a commercial where the company doesn’t list a hashtag. In fact, according to CNN, over half of the commercials during this year’s Super Bowl included hashtags.

Numerous businesses, organizations and school districts in our area have taken to Twitter. From @Pinamontipt sharing their daily Wellness Center classes to @ JocksNitchPSU advertising new inventory or @ PHSActivityDept sharing final scores of games the local shift in marketing and announcing information on Twitter is consistently growing.

People are using it to market themselves as well. Sunday Republican Ted Cruz officially announced his campaign for the 2016 presidential election via Twitter according to USA Today.

Also, many news sources predict that social media will play a key role in the upcoming presidential race.

Twitter’s unique characteristics create a tool like no other in today’s society. While there may be a learning curve to entering a new social media platform it can be worth the time investment to utilize the power of Twitter for your personal use.

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Adapting the arts:

Feature

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students of various abilities work together on projects

Alli baden According to Folk, the @allibaden main objective of the class One-by-one students is to not only to teach art, trickle into art teacher but to teach manners and Monica Collins’ classbehavioral aspects as well. room. Sophomore Karen While Folk thoroughly Campbell, juniors Rachel enjoys working with these Folk, Megan Smith and students, she understands senior Katie Richey are that she has to be ready there to greet all of the for anything. students with a big smile “I would say the bigon their faces. gest challenge that I have With Disney music had to work with is being blasting in the backable to be flexible in all ground, they guide a aspects of the class. You couple of the students can have a certain plan for to their assigned seats, the day and you can have while asking how they a plan for how the art are and explain what class is going to go, but they are going to do to it sometimes won’t go as that day. planned,” Folk said. “You The Adaptive Art class have to be able to be flexwas designed to help ible and change.” students with special The challenges that are needs communicate art Senior Allie Lopez works with junior Rachel Folk on a necklace in Monica Collins’ adaptive art class. PHOTO BY MEGAN SMITH faced with helping the through crafts, paintings, class are all worthwhile around them everyday,” Campbell Folk was one of those students music and dance. according to Campbell. said. “Most of the time we do not get approached by Collins to be a menCollins has been instructing the “How they act once they get comto spend time with them because they tor. class for two years. The class was have to go straight to their classes, so fortable with you [is rewarding], there Originally, Folk was not thrilled at originally taught by previous art are [students] who will constantly tell it is just a good opportunity.” the idea, believing that she did not teacher Tom Wheeler, being the first you that they love you,” Campbell Adaptive Art student Morgan have to ability to work with the stuof its kind in Kansas. Once Wheeler said.

Rewerts enjoys having the four mendents, but soon decided to enroll in left the high school in 2012, Liz Folk also knows that whenever tors in the class. the class.

Darling took over the class, followed she is in Collins’ classroom helping “[I like having the mentors in the “I had no interest in it at all

by Collins.

Adaptive Art students, her day is because I have never dealt with those classroom] because they are my At the beginning of last years’ instantly better. friends, they help me with my projkids before, and I never had that spring semester, Collins wanted to “I think the most rewarding part ects,” Rewerts said. experience,” Folk said. “When I did add student mentors to get to know is just seeing them smiling and how During the month of March, the get in the classroom, I realized it was the Adaptive Art students and aid happy they are. I could have a terclass focused on Johnny Appleseed. something that anyone can do. It is them in creating art. rible day, and I know as soon as I They made an apple core craft out of just a matter of having a heart and “I wanted people who were walk into that classroom, my mood a toilet paper roll, as well as paintwanting to help and see a change in enrolled in the class to work with the is going to immediately change just ing trees and then gluing cutouts kids.” students,” Collins said. because [the students] are always of Johnny Appleseed to the paintCampbell was enthusiastic for Collins goal, with adding the mensmiling, always happy and they are ing. The finished the unit by making the opportunity to work with the tors, was to give the Adaptive Art applesauce. The class has also done a always happy to see you walk in,” Adaptive Art students. students a chance to connect with Folk said. “Everyone else could be Dr. Seuss unit, plus plenty of others.

“They are all really sweet and nice, high school students they normally mad at you and everyone else could “You get to make cool stuff,” and they go out of their way to be would not be around.

Rewerts said. “[We get to make] peo- be putting you down, but when you kind to you. So, it is a way to do “I wanted the [Adaptive Art stuwalk in there it is like you are a hero ple, Cat in the Hat, we get to have a whatever you can do to help them. dents] to be able to interact with to them and that is the happiest thing dance party and make maracas.”

I just really enjoy being able to be other students,” Collins said. ever.”

students Qualify for ‘SMART’ conference morgan plank @momoplank For five days, the Students Modeling A Research Topic (SMART) team will have the opportunity to meet, greet and present research in front of professional scientists.

The SMART team consists of a select group of college biology students. Seniors Bill Lackamp, Sierra Loveland, Adrian McAfee, Marie Montague, Daniel Munguia and Keaton Wilber spent the first semester working on their research project. This is how they qualified for this opportunity.

“The ultimate goal is to take a protein, that has been researched, and find some aspect about that protein that is unique or tells a story,” science teacher Jim Foresman said. “The students tell the story by writing an abstract that highlights the amino acid residues that are important to their story. Then, they model that protein on a 3D model in a computer to show that.”

The interest in research is what caused McAfee to join.

“I had some past experience with molecular modeling in a different research project, and I’m really interested in the biological sciences,” McAfee said. “So, I really was interested and wanted to be a part of the SMART Team.”

Due to the complexity of the protein and research paper, this is the first year there has been a SMART team.

“It takes a lot to try and understand a scientific paper that from the outside is pretty complex and difficult to understand,” Foresman said. “[It] takes a lot of tenacity. To stick with it and try to understand the story does take a lot of work.”

The protein selected, due to the recent outbreak of this disease, was the glycoprotein of Ebola.

McAfee’s mother, Dr. Irene Zegar, who works in the PSU Department of Chemistry, helped in choosing this protein as well.

The team has worked in collaboration with the PSU Department of Chemistry and

Flat-rate tuition. More than 150 programs.

Pittsburg State University www.pittstate.edu

•

Pittsburg, Kansas

PSU Department of Graphics and Imaging Technologies, who is printing the model, to complete this project.

“We had some great mentoring with Zegar,” Foresman said. “She is very supportive of the concept and she helped plot us along.”

The team will be showcasing their work on a poster at the Governor’s Scholars Recognition Program, in addition to the conference they qualified for.

The team submitted their abstract and were chosen, among various other SMART teams throughout the nation, to present their research at the annual American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) meeting. This year, the conference will be held in Boston March 28 to April 1.

Due to other events being the same day, McAfee will be the only SMART member in attendance.

“I’m super excited about being amongst so many talented high schoolers and getting to see the project that they have done,” McAfee said. “I also cannot wait to experience the city of Boston.”

According to asbmb.org, the plenary speakers for this year’s ASBMB meeting will be scientists C. David Allis, Bonnie Bassler, Zhijian James Chen, Rachel Klevit and Ian Wilson.

Among the scientists will be graduate schools looking to recruit.

At the conference, McAfee will be presenting the poster and explaining their research to any interested in their work.

“This project means so much to me, because it has helped me realize my passion for doing research,” McAfee said. “Completing this project has definitely boosted all of my college applications, and has helped me get into some schools.”

The success this team has brought makes Foresman hopeful for a repeat next year.

“It is a pretty exciting opportunity,” Foresman said. “I’m hoping we can gather a team together Seniors Keaton Wilber, Sierra Loveland and Daniel Munguia work on a project in Jim and work on something [again] next year.

Foresman’s class. PHOTO BY SHERRICK ROGERS

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Battling between bad and good Hardline gives a new look to the classic cops and robbers game Josh Jarvis @JJarvis52 etting online for a few hours with my friends is how I most enjoy my Xbox.

With Battlefield: Hardline, I don’t need to know anybody in the game to have a good time.

That is the aspect of the Battlefield series that pleases me the most, and it is especially applicable in Hardline.

In Hardline’s multiplayer, there is plenty to do and even more ways to do it.

With the “cops and robbers” play style, the game feels different than militar y shooters, but also feels ver y familiar, with each side of the law being fully equipped with weapons and gadgets.

Many weapons are available for purchase from the beginning of the leveling process, making obtaining money through in-game actions, like killing an enemy or capturing an objective, your main personal goal.

There are hundreds of weapon attachments that make customizing the large number of guns in Hardline fun and addicting.

There are also interesting gadgets and melee weapons that look and work like cop and criminal tools. Using the maps and gadgets together can give players an advantage over their enemies.

The enormous maps in Hardline allow the 32-versus-32 player Conquest matches to be excellently spaced and playable. When the player count drops to ten total players, the maps’ barriers tighten, restricting the space and forcing the action to be closer.

Each spatial change provides the per-

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fect balance between open space to be able to do what you want, and number of players so you don’t go an entire match without seeing an enemy.

The destructible environment, like the crane falling on Downtown, or busting through building walls on most maps, makes each map unique and offers a cer tain sense of strategy. Plus, a ravaged city block lined with decaying skyscrapers looks awesome in the middle of a game.

Ve h i c l e s make it easier to traverse the large maps while also adding excitement with high-speed chases and dangerous escapes. From dir t bikes to helicopters, each vehicle can be used as speedy transpor tation, or a deadly weapon.

Hotwire, a new game mode that focuses on capturing vehicles and main-

taining high speeds in order to gain points, is the most effective at utilizing vehicles and can be extremely intense.

It is also the quickest way to award players cash they need for purchasing weapons, gadgets and attachments.

The game mode that feels the most like cops and robbers is Heist mode, where criminals break into policeguarded vaults full of cash tr ying to make it to the getaway point with the money in hand. In this mode, vehicles are prohibited, and the large maps are shrunk for more head-to-head action.

Two new modes, Rescue, where the cops tr y and secure a hostage in criminal hands, and Crosshair, a ver y similar mode where criminals attempt to assassinate a VIP before the cops can safely extract him. Each mode consists of small maps and ten total players, making the rounds shor t but the action fast and dangerous.

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-JOSH JARVIS

Each game mode and map feels fun and original, and makes me want to play each one over and over again until I’ve got them mastered. As for the off line play of Hardline, it feels less like a game and more like a fast-paced, action-packed blockbuster movie.

Each level is thrilling, including breaking out of prison and blowing up a meth lab. It was much more enter taining with the cops and robbers plot than the much overused “you’re-the-onlyperson-that-can-save-the-world-froma-corrupt-militar y-force” stor y line, which has become horribly boring and predictable over the years.

Overall, Battlefield: Hardline is a spectacular first-person shooter that feels original and well-designed. The campaign is a good distraction from the multiplayer, but for Hardline, the money lies with the competitive online play with enjoyable new modes and crazy weapons and gadgets that will have you earning mountains of cash in order to buy them. I will be playing it for many more hours, both breaking the law, and upholding it, but having a great time either way.

Cinderella rebooted IVan Walter @ivanthehoss56 Disney sticks to the stor y.

Before going to see this movie, I figured that I would see some crazy Cinderella spinoff with Cinderella being a hero and having to save the kingdom.

But gladly, it was not that kind of film.

The stor y was just Cinderella, the one we all know and love. With the glass slippers, the evil stepmother, the fair y godmother; you know, just all things Cinderella.

Of course there were some small changes; how they met, it was not a musical, but it was refreshing to just see Cinderella. It was definitely enjoyable.

Hold on a tick, I hear you all say. Where’s the funny quip about how something wasn’t right with this movie and how is it Ivan actually enjoyed something for what it was, you say?! Well, yes, I did.

The stor y, if you know it, is ver y easy to follow, although they do change her name to Ella.

In typical Disney fashion, the stor y star ts with a loving family that is quickly torn apar t by the death of a parent. Ella(Lily James) and her father live on with a loving memor y of the mother/wife they have lost.

Soon after Ella’s father chooses to remarr y.

Then he meets his untimely demise as well, leaving Ella a slave in her own house to her stepmother and two stepsisters.

She falls for the prince(Richard Madden) who falls for her in return. There’s a ball to find the prince a bride. Ella spends the night

with the prince until she must leave at midnight, but leaves her glass slipper. Surprising right?

They then proceed to go to ever y maiden in town and make her tr y on the glass slipper.

They get to Cinderella’s house and,well, the rest is mostly what you’d expect.

There is a happy ending, with marriage you know the whole love thing happens.

The entire film is filled with so many different kinds of color and designs. The dresses all look original and are just gorgeous.

The set designs create such an amazing scope. The farm looks rustic and the house is so intricate. Whether it be the glasswork, or the spiral staircase in the attic, the way it looked was just spectacular.

The palace was breathtaking and the chandeliers were amazing. The amount of detail in them was just crazy.

The floors were a different design in ever y room and they always caught my attention. I read in an ar ticle from Enter tainment Weekly that it took at least eight people to light them all.

Ever y scene was breathtaking in so many ways.

The main problem I had with the movie was the Frozen shor t in the trailers. It was a lame grab for money that was unnecessar y.

From the hear t-wrenching emotions to the high flying triumph of love and life; from the fantastical scener y and magic to the cute and humorous moments; this movie was just what its heroine was, good through and through.

Cinderella

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Converting from pink to blue Student reveals true identity by breaking social barriers with gender transition MOLLY GRAHAM @molllygraham

The name of this student has been changed to protect their identity due to the sensitivity of the topic.

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n anxious feeling sets over junior Charles Cormier as he stands between the girls’ and boys’ rest rooms. He decides on the more familiar, more comfortable choice and heads into the girls’.

As he is washing his hands, a lady walks in, immediately apologizing, thinking that she has just walked into the boys’ rest room. “[Using the girls’ rest room] makes me really nervous. I sort of just push through it, though,” Cormier said. “If anyone confronts me, I’m out of there really fast.”

Cormier’s nervous feelings stem from the fact that he was born female, and almost two years ago, came to the realization that his conventional gender was not the gender that he identified with.

“I did not always enjoy the ‘girly things’ and I always just thought that I was a tomboy,” Cormier said. “After a while I met the transgender community, and they said, ‘This is what we do, what we are,’ and I was like, ‘That actually does sound like me, I do feel like that.’”

According to Assistant Principal Rhonda White, Cormier is not the first transgender student to walk through the doors of the high school. And for the comfort of not only him, but transgender students in the future, White has recommended the addition of family or unisex bathrooms to the high school be proposed

in the future as the school undergoes enough to do this.”

Cormier has kept his hair short since additions and remodeling.

“We need to be proactive… with mak- the end of his eighth grade year, which ing sure that transgender students, as well was the start of his gender identity exploas all students, are afforded the same ration.

Since, he has developed anxiety and a access to the building and its facilities, to activities, and to the classes and programs depression disorder from dealing with the without embarrassment, harassment, social aspects of being transgender.

Having depression and anxiety are intimidation or bullying,” White said.

As a New Year’s resolution for 2015, common finds in transgender people.

According to USA Today, four in every Cormier came back to school the second semester and made the decision to tell 10 transgender teens commit suicide and, his friends, peers and teachers that he according to PubMed.gov, 48.3 percent wanted to be addressed as “Charles” and of transgender males have depressive symptoms wanted to while 47.5 be referred percent to by male have anxipronouns. ety.

One of “[I feel the very anxious and first teachdepressed] ers Cormier because of told of his how I’m transition seen and was English not really teacher an interMelissa Fite -CHARLES COMIER personal Johnson. conflict,” Johnson stated that she finds it wonderful to be Cormier said. “I always get told, ‘Oh, able to work in an environment that they’re never going to see you as a boy,’ accepts so many people and openly or ‘They don’t see you as a boy.’ It puts me down.” embraces their differences.

Although Cormier identifies as male, “I was really insecure in high school and I was not really comfortable in my keeps his hair cut short and wears genderown skin, so I cannot really imagine just neutral clothing, as he gets older his body how much harder [high school] would be will start to catch up with him.

He will never be able to naturally grow in [Cormier’s] situation,” Johnson said.

“I just think the world of him. He’s a facial hair, develop a deeper voice or really sweet student, and he works real have more noticeable masculine features. hard. I’m glad that he felt comfortable His body, nevertheless, will continue to

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BY TRANSGENDER INFORMATION COMPILED BY MOLLY GRAHAM DESIGN BY REAGAN RINK

40% 1 IN 10 85%

OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH ATTEMPT SUICIDE TRANSGENDER TEENS HAVE BEEN EVICTED

OF FEMALE TO MALE REPORTED VERBAL ABUSE

ACCORDING TO TRANSGENDERLAW.ORG

“

I did not always enjoy the ‘girly things’ and I always just thought that I was a tomboy.

”

mature as female.

Because of this, Cormier has already decided that he wants to some day take the male hormone testosterone.

However, he says that he is unsure about having any gender reassignment surgeries, especially below the belt.

“I do plan on taking hormones mostly because I do want my facial features to be more masculine and I do want a deeper voice,” Cormier said. “But, as far as surgery goes, I’m pretty happy with my body.”

Before coming out as a transgender boy, Cormier said he had feelings of being confined, and that those feelings came from being insecure about making his transition from female to male.

According to a survey taken in 2009 by Gay, Lesbian and Straight Network, 89 percent of approximately 300 transgender youth have said that they endured harassment while being at school.

Cormier’s mom, while she and the rest of Cormier’s family are very supportive of Cormier, declined to comment.

“I was really worried that people wouldn’t accept it as well as they have.

I was definitely really worried that people would react badly,” Cormier said. “I did feel sort of trapped. I felt like I had to hide away.”

But, all of Cormier’s feelings of insecurity diminished after he came out and saw just how positive everyone whom he had told reacted.

“I feel so much more free. I was used to keeping things pent up or [cringing] every time someone [used my female name],” Cormier said. “[Coming out] is very liberating, it’s very nice.”

ACCORDING TO DICTIONARY.COM

TRANSGENDER: Noting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond to that person’s biological sex assigned at birth.

ACCORDING TO DICTIONARY.COM

cisgender:

Noting or relating to a person whose gender identity corresponds with that person’s biological sex assigned at birth.

ACCORDING TO DICTIONARY.COM

dysphoria:

A psychological condition marked by significant emotional distress and impairment in life functioning, caused by a lack of congruence between gender identity and biological sex assigned at birth.

8 SPORTS

www.boosterredux.com SECTION D

Friday, March 27, 2015

TAKING AIM Students embrace new archery team MADDIE BADEN @MaddieBaden

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KATY BROWN AND REAGAN RINK

n the third f loor of the middle school, senior James Clark stands 15 meters away from a target, focusing on the bulls eye that the arrow will soon settle upon. As Clark lets go, the arrow flies from the bow, sinking into the target.

Archery club is a newly introduced activity in which 25 students participate. The club consists of a team that practices weekly shooting bows and arrows to compete in competitions sponsored by the National Archery School P r o g r a m (NASP).

Sponsors science teacher Mary Packard a n d math teacher Kris Mengarelli are in charge of the teams practices and coordinating competitions.

“In the spring of 2014, [wrestling] coach [Scott] Rieck found a deal with the NASP. They would come and train people in our school[to be archery sponsors]. If enough from your own school were there [at the training], then the NASP company, through Kansas Wildlife and Parks and the Turkey Federation, basically got us equipment,” Packard said.

The team received a dozen bows, five arrows, five targets, a curtain and a box to fix the arrows and bows from the NASP company. “[The club] was originally hooked in with outdoor club. Since then, it has evolved into its own club and team, meaning you can go and shoot recreationally or you can also choose to compete,” Packard said.

Clark is one participant on the team. However, archery has been apart of his life for around six or seven years. “[Archery] is a skill that sets me apart from other peo-

ple. Not many people shoot a bow in the school, and it is something that I can do,” Clark said. “It is fun to get out and shoot bows. At the end of the day you can go to archery practice and be yourself. You are relaxed afterwards, and it takes a lot of stress off your shoulders.”

Senior Lucas Redd is another member of the club. Archery has also been a major part of his life, and he has been hunting with a bow for six years.

“I decided to join because it would be something fun and new to try out and another activity to get involved in. I figured that I’m going to be a natural at it anyway, so might as well do it,” Redd said.

The archery team attended its first competition in Buffalo, Mo. However, only Clark and Redd attended. Redd received third place with a score of 268 out of 300, and Clark placed first with a score of 277.

This was the first time for Clark and Redd to compete in an archery competition. Even though they are experienced, they still thought archery was very different than recreational shooting.

“The [archery competition] was a little bit more nerveracking, especially when you are shooting next to somebody at the same target. Others arrows are in your line of vision rather than just your own,” Redd said.

In NASP sponsored events, competitors use a different bow, rather than a hunting bow, which Clark and Redd are used to, according to Packard.

The team attended a competition in Joplin on March 14.

They placed fourth as a team in the competition. From the 12 students that attended, freshman Madison Vogel had the team-high score of 269.

The club has brought out individuals in the school that are not involved in any activities.

“We have kids that aren’t involved in anything and they have been drawn to this sport. It is a lifetime sport,” Packard said.

Along with being a sport that participants will be able to participate long term, Packard also believes that archery builds up their self esteem.

“It allows you to work and have a goal,” Packard said.

“When you have a good round, your self esteem builds because you did it, you made your accomplishment. I think that has been real important for all of the kids.”

Even though the club is new, Packard feels that it will continue to grow in the future.

The archery club will continue their season throughout the end of the school year participating in charity events and state competition.

“There is something that is every month, year round, called the St. Jude Charity Shoot Off. The kids come in and shoot, and then we turn their scores in. They are trying to get people to donate money for St. Jude. This will take place at the middle school,” Packard said. “On April 19, in the Megan Mallatt gym, we are going to do something where their families can come and watch. It is going to be like a walk-a-thon, but it is going to be a shoota-thon. People can donate a penny an arrow, a penny a point, a dime a point or flat donation to raise money for St. Jude. Our state competition is in Clearwater, on March 28, and about 15 students will be attending.”

Coaching knows no gender Coaches, athletes feel litte difference in coaching boys, girls JOURNEY JARAMILLO & ASHLEY HENDERSON @JourneyButcher & @PHSStudentPub

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Winning the weight class of 200-220 lbs. junior Will Mengarelli squats 485 lbs. Mengarelli placed first in his weight class. PHOTO BY SHERRICK ROGERS

Mengarelli, Hobbs earn first placings Students travel to Valley Center to compete in strength meet LILY BLACK @PHSstudentpub

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hey walk into the weight room at a different school, surrounded by other lifters and coaches. It is an enjoyable and laid back atmosphere but, despite that, their adrenaline is still pumping.

“It is more relaxed [than] a sports competition,” senior Austin Hobbs said. “There is not a bunch of cheering fans, but the athletes are still pumped up and ready to go.”

Hobbs and junior Will Mengarelli both placed as state champions at the powerlifting meet in Valley Center.

“I was surprised [when I won], like ‘Hey, I got it!,’” Mengarelli said. “It was nice to see that my hard work paid off.”

Mengarelli and Hobbs are not the only ones who are proud of their success. Powerlifting coach Leroy O’Bray is, too.

“I think it is very impressive and it shows the dedication and hard work that they put into it,” O’Bray said. “Austin worked hard for four years and Will has put in numerous years of

work. It was a nice pay off [for them].”

Mengarelli enjoys powerlifting meets and finds them rewarding, in more ways than one.

“It is good to see how much you’ve improved over the years, or just throughout all of your training,” Mengarelli said. “It’s good to see what you were able to accomplish and to see yourself get stronger progressively. It also feels good to know that everyone around you worked hard to achieve their goals.”

Students have many different reasons for taking part in powerlifting meets, one of them being the difference between the meets and regular sports games.

“You don’t have that constant adrenaline rush like you do in a football game,” Mengarelli said. “[The meets are] fun because you have everybody up in your face yelling at you, so that helps you out whenever you are lifting.”

As far as practice goes, powerlifters put in time in the weight room either before or after school.

“The coaches give us a work out,” Mengarel-

li said. “They will help us, spot us, or tell us if we are doing something wrong.”

Practicing with the coaches helps Mengarelli improve, motivating him to set his goals high. “[Will] is going to [work harder] and [hopefully be] next year’s champion,” O’Bray said. “He is working towards that goal.”

Along with having a goal set for next year, Mengarelli has a smaller, more personal goal to reach.

“I want to get new personal records,” Mengarelli said. “So I think that is the goal, to work hard and get a little better.”

In addition to his state title and his hopes for the future, brotherhood is a huge factor in Mengarelli’s motivation and success. “[The other powerlifters] have been really supportive. They are the ones who drive me to do it. That is why I do the stuff I do, for my teammates. They all cheer me on and it is really cool,” Mengarelli said. “My family was also really proud of me and they support me in everything that I do.”They will help us, like spot us, or tell us if we are doing something wrong,” junior Will Mengarelli said.

ome stereotypes may cause people to think that coaching boys may be easier. Stereotypes such as, “girls are too emotional” and “boys are more athletic and stronger than girls”. However, many students and teachers would disagree.

The way a student is trained basically depends on the ability level of each student as an individual. Some students, such as sophomore Conner Lehman, believe this to be true. “[Everyone] trains at the same intensity, but it comes down to how much work you choose to put in each day.” Lehman said.

According to multiple students involved in coed sports, including freshman Cade Southard, coaching methods, as well as the way they are trained, remains the same for both genders.

“I think our track and cross country coach, [Gary Ausemus], treats and coaches everybody equally, no matter who you are,” Southard said.

Others, such as coach Keith Matlock, believe that coaching methods should not be done based on anything besides a single’s own athletic ability and work ethic. Matlock coaches volleyball, baseball, and girls basketball.

“If you have athletes with different calibers, you got to set up different drills,” Matlock said. “It really just depends on the athlete and their physical ability.”

Even though most of the students believe that coaching methods remain the same between each gender, some students, like sophomore Jayden Hammond, may oppose this theory when it comes to practicing with males.

“I think that [the boys] intensity level is a little higher,” Hammond said. “Training with them gives us a different insight on the way we run and the things that we could do that help.”

Coaching does not really depend on what gender it is, but the ability of each athlete.

Track and Cross Country coach Gary Ausemus has always coached both genders at the school and feels that training students should not be decided by what gender they are.

“I believe that the intensity level is not based on boy or girl but rather based on the individual,” Ausemus said. “I do not coach [boys or girls] any different. I have the same expectations for all of the athletes I coach.”