Issue 6 | March 13 2025 | Edition 28
Illustration by Lucas Smith
Pg. 14-15 | Government For Sale
Flip to page 14 to read more about modernday politics
NEWS STAFF CONTENTS
FEATURE
Pg. 7 - Encore Gallery
Pg. 16-17 - Committed to Community
Pg. 18-19 - (Lie)censed to Purchase
Pg. 20 - Future Nurse at Work
Pg. 22 - Advice from Seniors
Pg. 24-25 - Law, Legacy and Lasting Relationships
Pg. 6 - Choir Chosen for KMEA
Pg. 12-13 - Scaling back Staffing
Pg. 21 - Pardoned Parking
OPINION
Pg. 3 - Letter from the Editor
Pg. 14-15 - Government for Sale
Pg 23 - Paddington in Peru
A&E
Pg. 4 - Jerdscapes
Pg. 5 - Buy a Yearbook!
Pg 10-11 - Photo Gallery
Pg. 27 - Ads
SPORTS
Pg. 8 - March Madness
Pg. 9 - Winter Sports Wrap Up
ABOUT THE COVER
Covering his face with a fan of 100-dollar bills, President Donald Trump sits at his desk in the oval office symbolizing the power money currently holds in our government. At Trump‘s inaguration ceremony, some of the most exclusive seats were filled with the richest CEO‘s of America, with the act resulting in backlash from millions of Americans. Flip to page 14 to begin reading. Illustration by Lucas Smith
SOCIALS MISSION STATEMENT
Curious Free State journalists will amplify voices, gather superior sources and tell pivotal stories of our community in a visually creative way in order to serve our audience and foster quality scholastic journalism in Lawrence, Kansas.
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Lilly Wall
Nick Sprecker
Phoebe Morris
MANAGING
Evie Chancy
Maria Mosconi
DESIGN EDITOR Geneva Sabatini
ASST. DESIGN EDITOR
Willow Marable
PHOTO EDITORS
Mallory Thompson
Nathan Kramer
ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
Julia Velasco
CAPTIONS
Elinor Russo
SPORTS EDITOR
Rakshan Ossen
COPY EDITOR
Elliot Skillman
Lauren Rosen
Meredith Shryock
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Simon Williams
Ember Klein
MANAGING
Baila Love
SOCIAL
Bayliss
BUSINESS EDITOR
Piper Northrop
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brozik
Roust
Friedman
Aleia Kemp Dylan Tenbrink
Colvin REPORTERS
Abbie Veeder
Allison McCall
Amanda McCall
Bella Lylo
Elinor Bisby
BUSINESS
Ainsley Linhos
Harper Finck Katie Campbell
Neylana Haque
Zoë Kaul
McCall
Hi Firebirds,
Thanks for taking a look at Issue 6! Please know that what is inside is created and designed for you, and that you are placed at the forefront when we are considering what to cover. It is the students who create the flurry of activity inside and outside of our walls; who make this place hum. You all make our news magazine possible and worthwhile.
It is no secret that we explore some difficult and controversial topics in our paper. I also understand that not everyone may agree with what we have to say, and that’s okay. However, I implore you to be an open book and listen to what we have to say through an unfiltered lens.
Let’s face it: we are living amid a constitutional crisis.
It’s impossible to talk about all of it inside of a page, and that’s by design; the zone is flooded. The collapse of Congress, meaning their refusal to perform their check and balance role, allows our president to do whatever he pleases.
Our great grandparents and grandparents fought tyranny overseas. Unfortunately, we have to fight it here. In America. In what’s supposed to be the land of promise. In what
By Nick Sprecker
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Senior editor-in-chief highlights the political landscape of the United States
you’ve been told since you were a little kid was the land of opportunity. Unfortunately, right now that promise and opportunity is strictly accessible to the 1%. The world’s richest men are taking on the world’s poorest children.
I understand that it’s overwhelming, or it upsets you that our generation is left to put out raging fires and weather high tides, but there’s no time to sulk over what is happening in our country. That is the only sure way to promise our demise. We have to fix it.
Now more than ever, you carry the responsibility to seek and expose the truth. You must stay informed and engaged, differentiating between what is true and false. This is a call to action to my generation. Please act now; there is no time left to wait.
To my staff — a free and independent press is going to become one of the last guard rails. That is becoming more obvious every day. Continue to fight with all you have.
Best,
PLUTOCRACY
A plutocracy is “a country or society governed by the wealthy,” according to Oxford Languages. Editorial cartoon by Geneva Sabatini
Sitting in the library, senior Nick Sprecker smiles for the camera. Photo by Sydney Brozik
JERDSCAPES
Inspired by the word puzzle video game, Wordscapes, find the words using only the ones found in the circular word bank
Answers to Jerdscapes on page 27!
T E X U A L T
As spring approaches, the sun shines onto the school track field. Photo archived from Isabelle Prô
One of less than 20 yearbooks selected by Varsity Yearbooks across the country for a showcase tour Only book selected in Kansas Choose from four different covers on Distribution Day
Design and illustrations by Avery Smiley
by Amanda McCall
CHAMBER CHOIR CHOSEN FOR KMEA
Chamber Choir earns prestigious spot at Kansas Music
Convention through selective audition process
For the first time since 2016, Chamber Choir was offered the opportunity to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association. Being chosen for KMEA, the state music convention in Wichita, requires choirs to send in audition tapes and be selected from a pool of auditioners. Only a few choirs in the state of Kansas are selected.
Senior Neely Morrison said that the prestige and competition surrounding KMEA make Chamber Choir’s invite significant.
Educators
“Your ensemble has to be invited on merit and talent alone,” Morrison said. “The KMEA spectators are a very discerning audience, everyone watching the performance is a musically educated individual, who will be able to tell how well prepared your ensemble is.”
Chamber Choir performed eight pieces this year at KMEA, all of which vary in sound and style. Senior Kiefer Bullock said an extreme amount of practice went toward the KMEA performance.
“We didn’t do this last year, and by this time, we were working on a lot of our Encore songs and other things like that,” Bullock said. “But the focus has been on this concert this year because we really want to represent Free State well and represent our choir teachers really well.”
After performing at KMEA, singers will perform some of these pieces at the KSHSAA Large Group Festival and will receive feedback to help them improve for future years. Junior
Story By Odelia Colvin
Natalie Narum said that the critiques are an important part of helping singers learn and improve.
“It’s a really good opportunity to grow as a choir, we work hard each day to eventually perform in front of a panel of judges and get feedback and a rating on how our work has paid off,” Narum said.
This year, KMEA performances took place in the Mary Teall Theater. Once at KMEA, performers had the choice to use whatever background music they wanted or sing acapella, as long as they stayed within the 30 minute time limit. Choir director Joshua East said Chamber Choir has been preparing since August for this concert.
“It’s a pretty prestigious thing to get to be selected for,” East said. “It’s one of those events that you plan for the whole school year, and that finally happens in February… It’s really the whole year that works towards 30 minutes of time.”
Free State students were selected to perform with the All-State Choir on March 1.
Veeder
ENCORE!
Holding a microphone,
Surrounded by his group holding flashlights, junior Kouri Demelash raps a part in “Classic.”
Photo by Mallory Thompson
Singing “Lift You Up,” the entire cast of Encore! welcomes the audience with the opening number.
Photo by Mallory Thompson
junior Katherine Stancil sings “Skater Boi” with her group.
Photo by Nathan Friedman
Raising her arm, junior Abby Cothern performs in her class song, “Don’t Stop Believing.” Photo by Mallory Thompson
Hugging, junior Piper Bonner and seniors Gwen Fowler and Vivi Riffel perform “Wildflowers.”
Photo by Nathan Friedman
NCAA BASKETBAL L TOURNEMEN T PREDICTIONS
Students make predictions on who will win March Madness
Collected by Griffin McDonnell
Charlie Griffith (9) picks the Auburn Tigers to win the men’s tournament and the South Carolina Gamecocks to win the women’s tournament.
Jackson Fike (9) picks the St. John’s Red Storm to win the men’s tournament and the Kansas State Wildcats to win the women’s tournament.
The tight-knit girls wrestling team had a triumphant season with a small roster. Though much of the program’s success was through individual wrestling bouts, the Firebird grapplers earned a ninth place Sunflower League finish and sent three of their wrestlers to the state tournament. The team placed 26th at state to conclude their season.
Owen Garber (10) picks the Houston Cougars to win the men’s tournament and the North Carolina Tar Heels to win the women’s tournament.
Greyson Rawls (11) picks the Kansas Jayhawks to win the men’s tournament and the South Carolina Gamecocks to win the women’s tournament.
Chloe Clossen (12) picks the Kansas Jayhawks to win the men’s tournaments and the UConn Huskies to win the women’s tournament.
Amid another successful season for the boy’s swim and dive program, the team returned to the pool with high aspirations. Capturing a fourth place league finish and having multiple swimmers surpass the state cut and consideration times, the squad showed potential for a great postseason performance. The team concludes with a 13th place finish at state.
BOYS SWIM AND DIVE GIRLS BOWLING GIRLS WRESTLING
The girl’s bowling program had a successful season, fostering a competitive squad throughout. The team’s highlights include a commanding win against city rivals Lawrence High School and a fourth place finish in the Sunflower League. Their post season ended after placing ninth at the regional tournament.
Photo by Nathan Friedman
Photo by Nathan Friedman
Photo by Nathan Kramer
Firebirds shine across the lanes, court, mat and pool
WINTER SPORTS WRAP UP
Collected by Rakshan Ossen
BOYS BASKETBALL
The basketball team had mixed results this season. After enduring several losses early on, the team bounced back with league wins and delivered a dominant performance at the McPherson Invite. Facing tougher competition from the east region, the program finds itself currently seeded No. 9 in the 6A West Subdivision. The boys team won the first round against Wichita East on March 4.
BOYS BOWLING
The boys bowling team is enjoying one of its most successful seasons in program history, averaging an impressive 2382 points per meet. Securing a fourth place finish in the Sunflower League, the team hoped for some success at state to conclude the season. Despite their efforts, the team concluded their season after placing sixth at the regional tournament.
BOYS WRESTLING
As Sunflower League champions, the wrestling team proved their dominance by securing a “threepeat” at the Johnson County Classics and earning multiple tournament placings. The team remains a powerhouse and is consistently among the top 10 teams in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association’s rankings. The team concludes the season with a sixth place finish at state.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The girls basketball team returned to the court with aims to improve from last year’s season. Early victories and competitive efforts for closepoint games proved a forward momentum for the program. Despite tough matchups in the Sunflower League, the team held the No. 14 seed of the 6A West Subdivision. The girls team lost its first round against Washburn Rural on March 5 to end the season.
Photo by Kinley Gigous
Sydney Brozik
Photo by Nathan Friedman
PHOTO GALLERY
Participating in a game, seniors Sean Ruddy and Cooper Hefty perform at the Valentines Improv show on Feb. 13.
Photo by Eli Roust
Performing a piece, junior Alex Kerr plays trombone in the symphonic band for a concert on Feb. 24.
Photo by Nathan Kramer
Grabbing food, Principal Amy McAnarney fills her plate with a barbecue provided by Student Council on Feb. 13.
Photo by Lilly Wall
Bowling for a strike, Boston Baker faces off against LHS on Feb. 6. Photo by Nate Willems
Raising her pom, junior Jacie Butler cheers at the rivalry basketball game against LHS on Feb. 21.
Photo by Mallory Thompson
Looking at the referee, senior Blaine Larkin prepares to continue his match at KSHSAA 6A State Competition on March 1.
Photo by Nathan Friedman
Watching the referee, senior Daijah Preston and her opponent prepare to begin the second period of their wrestling match at the KSHSAA 6A West Regionals on Feb. 15.
Photo by Nathan Friedman
Playing their cellos, Symphonic Orchestra performs at the Prairie Fire Festival on Feb. 15.
Photo by Nathan Kramer
Conducted by teacher Joshua East, Chamber Choir performs at the All City Choir concert on Feb. 4.
Photo by Nathan Kramer
Looking for a teammate to pass to, junior Addie Fulscher goes up against the Olathe South defense on Feb. 10.
Photo by Nathan Friedman
SCALING BACK
Haskell suffers with losing staff due to Trump’s cut of probationary workers
On Feb. 14, Haskell cross country coach Clay Mayes walked into a meeting with Haskell athletic director Zach Wilkerson not knowing what to expect. He walked out of the meeting unemployed and worried about what the future would look like.
“I didn’t say anything besides tear up. I think my only words were just, ‘My family.’ I didn’t say anything else,” Mayes said.
According to a press release from the Haskell Board of Regents interim president Dalton Henry, 35 members or 23% of the university’s staff were laid off, all on Feb. 14. These layoffs come from President Donald Trump’s executive order demanding the firing of all probationary workers in the federal workforce, including Mayes.
Probationary staff generally includes any staff that has been on the job for less than a year. Unlike other public universities, Haskell is funded by the federal government as a part of the Bureau of Indian Education, subjecting them to federal oversight. Haskell and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute are the only two tribal colleges run by the Bureau of Indian Education in the nation.
To facilitate these layoffs, the Bureau of Indian Education stated that there were “poor performance” reports. In another meeting with Wilkerson, Mayes and former head women’s basketball coach Adam Strom met to get clarification on their reasons for removal.
“Our women’s basketball coach [Strom] was heated, but not disrespectful … [Wilkerson] said my evaluation was bad. He goes, ‘No, I didn’t do those [evaluations]. Those are all carbon copies. Everyone’s termination letter. It says the exact same thing,’” Mayes said.
After Mayes’s men’s and women’s teams won conference titles in the Continental Atlantic Conference, he was frustrated by being told he had a “poor performance.”
“They said it was a poor performance for me. That’s fine, but that’s not true. We’ve had the best performances for men and women. That was the first time we won both the men’s and women’s conferences in over 30 years. So what would define a good performance?” Mayes said.
These mass firings at Haskell come a month after U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Tracey Mann of Kansas proposed legislation to
change leadership away from the Bureau of Indian Education toward the Board of Regents at Haskell. An anonymous source with connections to Haskell said that these firings only affected Haskell and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, and not the greater Bureau of Indian Education. The source said they believe the firing of workers only at these two schools comes as retribution for seeking selfgovernance.
During a community meeting aimed to help those who lost their jobs, Dan Wildcat, a Haskell faculty member and
STAFFING
Story by Ember Klein
Yuchi member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma, shared updates relating to the administration; however, he stated he was not speaking on behalf of the university. He said the layoffs have damaged the Haskell community.
“At least I know two, maybe three, of the people fired on the academic side, you know what the sad part is? A year ago, they were contractors,” Wildcat said. “And they wanted, desperately, to be permanent employees at Haskell, because they love our institution so much. And we had just hired them with the promise of a career at Haskell Indian Nations University, and they were
terminated. If they had stayed as contractors, they’d still have a job.”
Not only has this been difficult for the fellow faculty members of those who were fired, but students as well. Haskell Junior Hehaka-Hoksila Annis says this has affected his fellow upperclassmen harshly.
“It’s hard. We build relationships with our teachers because it is such a small, knit school and community. So it definitely puts a lot of strain on your academic standpoint, especially when you’re a junior and a senior,” Annis said.
In the past, Haskell has been able to contract temporary educators to fill positions, but Wildcat said there is a hiring freeze due to
the executive order. To combat shortages in teachers and coaches, those who got fired have been stepping up in volunteer roles. Mayes has come back as a volunteer coach for the cross country and track team. Strom has also come back to volunteer as the head women’s basketball coach.
“I have a lot of faith in our Haskell community; so many people are volunteering and jumping in.” Mayes said. “People that got hurt are still volunteering for the students. My faith in the community is stronger than ever … I keep hearing about new teachers volunteering and no longer getting paid. It’s pretty amazing, the fact that you know your livelihood is threatened, and you’re still willing to sacrifice something for the students.”
To support Haskell at this time, Mayes says that donations to the Haskell Foundation are more than welcome. These funds are used to pay teachers who will be able to come back to part-time positions. Additionally, he says that calling representatives and senators to push for Haskell to be excluded from the firing of probationary workers is another way to support Haskell at this time.
The Haskell sign welcomes students and visitors to Haskell’s campus. Amid federal budget cuts, Haskell laid off around 25% of its faculty and staff.
Photo by Mallory Thompson
GOVERNMENT FOR SALE
After spending half a century in politics, former president Joseph R. Biden bid farewell in an Oval Office address on Jan. 15 warning that “an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy.”
As I’ve watched events in this country unfold in the weeks following, I’ll take Biden’s statement a step further and claim that what’s undeniably taking shape in America is a plutocracy: a country or society governed by the wealthy.
This became alarmingly evident when tech billionaire Elon Musk, the richest man on the planet who gave nearly $300 million to President Trump’s campaign, marched into the White House, unchecked and unelected, to head Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.
How wealth is influencing politics and policy in America
Opinion by Nick Sprecker
At the 74th inauguration, Trump’s exclusive front row seats were reserved for powerful tech CEOs who happen to be the world’s richest men. Seats so close to the president are usually reserved for the president’s family, past presidents and other honored guests.
Next to Musk ($379 Bn) sat Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ($249 Bn), Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos ($246 Bn) and Google CEO Sundar Pichai ($1.31 Bn). That seems ironic, especially for a president who feebly claims to champion the working class.
Of political appointments announced by the Trump administration, 26 appointees exceed $100 million in personal fortunes; 12 are billionaires. His appointees, most of which are now confirmed, have a combined net worth of close to half a trillion dollars.
Sure, plutocratic practices have existed in America since its founding. In the Gilded Age, robber barons gripped our economy with an iron fist. Monopolies such as Standard Oil and Carnegie Steel entirely controlled our market. The structure of the U.S. tax system has always favored the wealthy.
However, the difference between now and then is that there is no longer any need for plutocrats to weave their influence through lobbyists and hold conversations behind closed doors. The age of political subterfuge is over. In the new Trump administration, the ultrawealthy personally occupy positions of power. They are inside the walls of our government rather than influencing from outside.
It’s happening right in front of our faces, and Trump is taking a laugh at the masses he’s manipulated. We’re transitioning toward plutocratic, Christian nationalism; dark times ensue.
If you are like I was up until recently, feeling blanketed by our government and its system of checks and balances, convinced that money alone couldn’t topple a government designed and hardwired to resist the assumption of a king, then I warn you to be wary.
Super Political Action Committees allow billionaires to pour unlimited amounts into campaigns, drowning out the voices of ordinary Americans. Dark money groups mask the identities of their donors, preventing voters from knowing who’s trying to influence them. Races for a congressional seat regularly attract tens of millions in spending.
With Musk heading DOGE, he will receive as much as $8 million per day from taxpayers through the federal government for his contracts, said Rep. Greg Casar.
Meanwhile, the average person in America who leans on social security is surviving on just $65 a day. There are indisputable conflicts of interest within these powerful figures occupying our government — Musk wouldn’t sniff near politics if there wasn’t personal financial gain attached to it.
Today’s plutocrats possess a different form of wealth compared to the aristocrats of the past.
The fortune of Trump’s circle is generated and stored in financial markets; their net worth relies on the trust others place in their power, and he’s manipulating that trust in frightening ways.
It’s moving effortlessly and can secure citizenship, protection, and influence almost anywhere.
The power of the few is drowning out the voice of the many, and if we don’t act now, democracy as we know it will slip away. This isn’t a conspiracy or a distant problem — it’s one that will shape your future and impact our generation.
The decisions made today will affect your opportunities, your freedom, and the very system you’ll have to live under.
Story by Simon Williams
COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY
Students and staff discuss the social, academic and athletic benefits of community colleges
While many students have yet to commit to universities and colleges across the country — awaiting decision letters, financial aid awards, scholarships and more — some students have already committed to more local institutions.
Committing to a community college is one way senior Delaney Bruhns is alleviating concerns that traditionally delay or prevent students from committing to schools.
Bruhns, who plans on attending Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas, said sports and affordability are her biggest pulls to community college.
“I wanted to go to college for softball, and [there is] also the fact that it’s going to be way cheaper to be there on a sports scholarship,” Bruhns said.
Bruhns said that the greater abundance of community colleges makes it easier to find a good fit — both in sports programs and scholarships.
Counselor Marc Conover said finances play a large role in the appeal of community colleges. Conover said that for students who are unsure what they want to study or know their career field doesn’t require a four year degree, a junior college might be the best choice.
“Maybe they don’t know what they want to major in. Instead of spending all this money at a four year college trying to figure that out, maybe they spend a year or two at community college,” Conover said. “There’s the pull of not every career needs four years of college. If there’s only certain things that you need, the certification or whatever it might be, a community college could be a better fit.”
Senior Cayman Cook, who will attend Barton County Community College, discussed the unique community of junior colleges and the benefits of smaller class sizes.
“[Community colleges are] a lot smaller, so you know most of the people there. It’s a community,” Cook said. “You can get a lot closer with the teachers and a lot closer with everyone in your class.”
Since community colleges typically have smaller student bodies, Conover said community college can be a good transition for students to get introduced to the college experience and begin getting college credits before transferring to complete their degree at a four year institution.
“The transition to a two year college is just a step above high school. You’re getting college credits, and you’re getting your feet wet with college courses without jumping in full force,” Conover said.
“If that jump to a four year college is intimidating, that transition might be helpful.”
Government teacher Jeff Haas, who attended Johnson County Community College, said he chose community college for affordability and location, among other factors. Haas also said that his experience at JCCC prepared him well to transition to a larger university.
“Part of [my decision] was that at that point, going to a four year college wasn’t really on my agenda,” Haas said.
Haas, who completed his undergraduate degree at University of Kansas before attending Baker University for his masters, said that community colleges offer a unique teacher-student experience.
“One thing that sometimes happens at KU, is that the day to day teaching can get partially or almost fully outsourced to teacher assistants,” Haas said. “If you’re talking about just taking classes day to day, the instructors I had [at JCCC] were outstanding instructors, and they’re focused on teaching exclusively.”
Bruhns said that the smaller community of junior colleges allows for more extensive peer-to-peer and teacher-student relationships, adding that these are aspects of community college she is looking forward to.
“[Community college] will help me be more comfortable to ask questions, and get more one-to-one time with my teachers,” Bruhns said. “I look forward to knowing a lot more people than I would going to a big school, and making new friends.”
Design by Allison McCall 17
In the 2020-2021 school year,
43.7%
of the total U.S. undergraduate students were enrolled in community colleges according to the Department of Education
In the 2023-2024 school year, community colleges gained
118,000 students according to Community College Daily
Two Kansas community colleges — Manhattan Area Technical College and Pratt Community College — are ranked in the top 20 community colleges in the nation according to WalletHub
The average in-state tuition and fees at a public four-year college is $10,440 while the average at public community colleges is $3,730 according to Research.com
(LIE)CENSED TO PURCHASE
Accessibility of students owning a fake ID in a college town
With a quick flash of a false identification card, minors nationwide can enter the college party scene. According to a study by Veriff, 15% of pre-college teens in the United States owned a fake ID in 2022.
To buy a fake, anonymous source “Pixie Cunningham” said they paid $90 via Venmo to a college student at KU.
After being added to a group chat with 20 other strangers, they sent their ID information — their real name, real address, real height, real age, a fake zip code and fake state — to the seller. Within two weeks, they received their fake ID.
Consequently, Cunningham said they feel strongly that the lenient culture locals have regarding underage drinking affects being able to access a fake as well.
“[Underage drinking] has more to do with the culture of Lawrence as a whole than it does with the fact that we’re a college town. Lawrence is one of the more laidback cities [in Kansas]. We’re very open with substances,” Cunningham said.
Especially in a college town with easy access to numerous bars, Cunningham said that it’s normal for the many upperclassmen to party like college students.
*Editor’s Note: The names Pixie Cunningham and Coop Risby are fake in order to protect the privacy of students with fake IDs
Story by Phoebe Morris
“Everybody in my grade right now is making that transition of ‘I’m in high school, but I’m going to start living like I’m in college,’ and ‘I want to kind of get ahead and beat that kind of freshman stigma of never going to the bars,’” Cunningham said.
Anonymous student “Coop Risby,” who does not own a fake ID, said they have witnessed friends feel peer pressured into owning a fake ID to purchase alcohol. Cunningham said that this is also prevalent in the college party atmosphere.
“If I’m joining a fraternity, it’s pushed by the frats to get a fake to be able to be more social. There’s more peer pressure for us to get one so you can get into places and be more social with them,” Risby said.
While underage drinking may seem to have social benefits, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says waiting until the legal drinking age helps lower the risks of developing alcohol substance use disorders.
School Resource Officer Bailey Salsbury said that the legal drinking age, 21, ties back to human health.
“If you’re drinking at that younger age, especially in higher amounts, it can stunt your developmental growth, and therefore you never really have the full ability to form. Your brain is still forming at that time,” Salsbury said.
The punishment for being caught with an unlawful identification card in Kansas is a class B nonperson misdemeanor, which would include up to six months of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000. The punishment for selling fake IDs is a federal felony.
Despite the severe charges, Cunningham has said they have witnessed multiple friends get caught with a fake ID; however, they never recall receiving any type of punishment except a stern talk and a taken fake ID.
“Every single time, it’s the same encounter. They will take it, they will fold it in half and that’s the end of the night. You’ll get kicked out from where you are. Then you pull out your second fake ID and go to the next bar,” Cunningham said.
While Salisbury said that fake IDs are becoming much harder to catch, no matter what, owning a fake ID will still damage future opportunities.
“It’s at the discretion of the officer, and even if they don’t get physically arrested at the time you receive the citation stating that you have to appear in court, then it’s still considered an arrest,” Salsbury said.
Despite the risk, Cunningham said they have seen benefits such as creating college friendships, pledging to Greek life and understanding how much alcohol their body can handle since purchasing a fake.
“Having fakes makes it a lot easier to be tied into that college lifestyle. It’s easy to get an early pledge to a sorority or a frat because they can bring you to bars,” Cunningham said. “They can take you out over the summertime, and then when you’re going into rush, you already have a pledge.”
by Neylana
Haque
about learning the personal boundaries of substances.
They said they would rather understand what works for them now rather than freshman year in college when there are many more opportunities to be taken advantage of or put in more dangerous situations.
“Having the experience of knowing here’s how I act when I’m drunk, here’s how I’m going to react when somebody comes up to me, and how to care for yourself while having a good time and not entirely focus on not getting laced,” Cunningham said.
On the contrary, Salsbury said sexual assault cases often increase when minors are in potentially dangerous environments.
She also said she hopes that minors will ultimately learn the punishments of purchasing a fake ID and stay healthy as long as possible.
F L O R I D A
Additionally, Cunningham said that their mindset of partying in high school is partly
“IDs are incredibly dangerous because most of the time I encounter a youth that uses them to get into bars, and that puts kids in a situation that they are not prepared for. There are a lot of sexual assaults that can happen based on that, because they get too intoxicated and their bodies physically cannot handle it, especially with their age and their mentality,” Salsbury said.
Design
During the first semester, many students received tickets for one of three reasons: parking in a reserved area, parking without a visible permit or parking in an incorrect manner, such as pulling through. However, far fewer tickets have been given during the second semester, and this is due to a lack of enforcement in the eyes of many students like junior Laura Turner.
Regardless of whether her car had a permit, Turner said she only received a ticket during the first semester, making the difference evident.
“Our school likes to tell us that
[they]
are going to enforce the rules,” Turner said, “and then they do it for one semester, and then the second semester, nothing happens, and there are no repercussions.”
Junior Chloe Perkins received five parking tickets for not owning a parking permit during the first two months of school. She said she also disagrees with the parking lot regulations, especially since they don’t
serve a purpose when they are no longer monitored as the school year progresses.
“They assumed they fixed the problems, but I don’t think anything was a problem to begin with,” Perkins said.
With the inconsistency of parking lot monitoring, Turner said she believes the school security staff should dedicate more time to areas inside the school.
“We need to keep the SROs and the security guards in the building, keeping us safe instead of watching over private property outside,” Turner said.
Student Resource Officer Bailey Salisbury, who has been working at Free State since the second week of February, said she believes otherwise. Salisbury said that with the number of security staff at Free State, there should be more people outside ticketing cars.
“The amount of time that’s spent in the school is actually pretty well covered … so it gives them the option to be able to still go outside while the school is still maintained,” Salisbury said.
The school administration will continue to follow their parking permit guidelines for the rest of the 2024-2025 school year.
PARDONED PARKING
Students share frustrations over inconsistent enforcement of parking policy at Free State
Story by Aleia Kemp
Parking tickets
$10 per infraction The first parking pass purchase costs $10
To buy an additional parking pass, it costs $5
Photo by Kinley Gigous
FUTURE NURSE AT WORK
Senior certified nurse aide Hazel Powers reflects on caring for residents in assisted facility
Every Wednesday and Sunday, senior Hazel Powers clocks into work like many other teenagers do throughout the week. For Powers, the job is more than just practice — as a certified nursing assistant, the health of many is sustained by her care.
During Powers’s eight-hour shifts, she helps in aiding the residents of 52 different rooms from both the assisted living facility and memory care facility.
In between the rush of assisting residents and running from room to room, Powers said she has the time to get to know, form bonds with and discover the personalities of the people she’s taking care of.
“I have certain residents that I love and that I find myself hiding out in their rooms and having long conversations with,” Powers said. “The women are my favorite because of the advice that they give, and they’re so funny; it’s the best thing.”
While Powers said she enjoys getting to know patients, she said it makes it more difficult working with people closer to the end of their life, and the grief can take a toll on her.
Senior Hazel Powers stands home where she uses her nurse aide certification to assist residents with various daily tasks.
Photo by Lilly Wall
ADVICE FROM SENIORS
Collected by Dylan Tenbrink
Gage Monse
Do what you enjoy. Make senior year one that you remember and don’t regret, do things that are fun. Just set yourself up for success, and just have a good time.
Kaitlynn Sedich
All underclassmen should learn how they work best.
Sofia Bourdo
Learn how to have good time management.
Adele Buren
Something that I wish I would have internalized sooner is to go at my own speed and go at my own pace and stick to what I know is best for me, and not necessarily follow things. Progress is different for everybody, and even for yourself, it’s not going to be linear.
Raphael Queiroz
Try not to become a person of success, but rather a person of values.
PADDINGTON
Review by Elliot Skillman
After a seven year hiatus, Paddington Brown, voiced by Ben Whishaw, has returned to theaters in time for Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
Following the same charming, marmalade-loving, fictional bear, “Paddington in Peru,” captures the light storytelling feel author Michael Bond formed in the original books.
With this third installment, the beloved series continues with some of the same sweet-natured elements the previous movies have.
Despite that, the film doesn’t quite illustrate the well-spoken bear’s life to the standard we are used to with
PADDINGTON IN PERU
Paddington threequel is charming but does not live up to previous movies past adaptations — “Paddington 2” even awarded a rare 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, “Paddington in Peru” is by no means a bad watch.
In the threequel, we dive more into Paddington’s origin. The Peruvian bear, taken in by the Brown family — mother Mary (Emily Mortimer, replacing Sally Hawkins from previous films), father Henry (Hugh Bonneville) and children Judy (Madeleine Harris) and Jonathan (Samuel Joslin) — starts in London, where he receives a worrisome letter about his Aunt Lucy.
The Browns, after some convincing, decide to take a “family vacation,” as Mary Brown put it, to Peru in light of the news.
As the movie progresses in the jungles of Peru, Paddington faces several events allowing for an enticing plotline, and falls victim to his frequent clumsy mistakes — including the well-known hammock scene that had viewers overcome with laughter in my theater.
As someone who became an unexpected fan of the series this past summer, this movie was definitely an enjoyable
watch, but the beginning feels a bit sluggish, lacking a consistent pace and a hook to mix with some following hectic scenes.
The later part of the picture redeems the slow start, however. Here, new director Dougal Wilson is able to truly catch a rhythm, and pull together each aspect of the narrative.
After an emotionally sound ending, I was left fulfilled knowing the latest movie addition to the Paddington franchise did not negatively affect the legacy of a heartfelt series. While the picture did not live up to its predecessor, the witty humor and enjoyable themes make the 106-minute film well worth a watch for any age.
According to deadline.com, StudioCanal CEO Anna Marsh said a fourth movie adaptation is already in the works, and more information will come out soon.
Final rating:
8/10
LAW, LEGACY AND RELATIONSHIPS
SRO Kacey Wiltz leaves Free State for KCKCC, emphasizing relationships over ramifications
After four years of working as a Student Resource Officer, Corporal Kacey Wiltz left at the end of February to work as Chief of College Police at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
For Wiltz, working at Free State was a fouryear assignment; she chose to be an SRO rather than go back to patrol. Continuing her work with students was what motivated Wiltz’s decision to work at KCKCC.
“Every adult in this building is important, and you never know what single student you’re going to have an impact on,” Wiltz said. “We don’t go around thinking, ‘Well, I’m going to make sure she graduates.’ It’s kind of just a relationship that forms on its own.”
Wiltz said that leaving will not be easy, and she will miss
connecting with students and watching them graduate.
“The coolest part is I got to see a lot of the seniors come into the building as freshmen, and just watching them grow up and kind of mature is really cool,” Wiltz said.
Wiltz said that the time she spent at Free State was extremely impactful to her. She said the students have taught her as much as she has taught them.
Monitoring the school, School Resource Officer Kacey Wiltz works in her office to help make Free State a safer place. Over the past four years as an SRO, Wiltz has discovered a passion for the work as well as the community. “Once I became a school resource officer, [I found my niche] and I didn‘t ever want to do anything different,” Wiltz said. Photo by Liam Butler
Story by Odelia Colvin
“Last year at graduation, there was a student that graduated, got her diploma … and she came straight off the stage and ran all the way back to where I was sitting and gave me a hug, and she said she couldn’t have done it without me,” Wiltz said.
Wiltz said that the impact she has tried to leave is an understanding and respect between cops and students, and that being a cop is just another job.
“The kids that I’ve kind of built relationships with are those who, in the past, have not really liked or respected police, so I feel like I’ve impacted them individually,” Wiltz said. “I hope then they go back to their friends and say … ‘This is the SRO’s office, she’s pretty cool.’ I’m not here to get anybody in trouble. I hope I can just show everybody here that we’re just people too.”
LEVELING UP
Learning more about how the responsibilities of Corporal Wiltz’s old and new roles compare to one another
KCKCC FSHS
Present law-related curriculum to students, faculty and parents
Be a positive role model for students
Deter violence and theft
Oversee all police operations at KCKCC and manage department’s budget
Oversee crime investigations, provide first aid and connect with community
Direct operations of connections between the college, media and law enforcement
Bella Lylo
Collected by Odelia Colvin
/ploo ’ täkrəsē/ noun government by the wealthy.