Free Press: Issue 6, Edition 19

THE FREE PRESS ISSUE 6

25 February 2016

EDITION 19

Photo by Sam Goodwin Cover design by Drake Riner and Juliana Wilches

CONTENTS

Page by Adelaide Wendel

STAFF

print editors in chief online editors in chief design editor photo editors

assistant photo editor copy editors

multimedia editor managing editor assistant managing editor social media editor business editor senior ad design editor designers

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Sydney Gard student info clerk Trenna Soderling photographers Maame Britwum Libby Stanford Adelaide Wendel Christina Craig Morgan Edman Sam Goodwin Ali Dodd Madi Engnehl-Thomas Hala Hamid reporters Kaya Shafer Jake Clark Haley Van Vleck Lacey Windholz Elizabeth Patton Sydney Vogelsang Julia Pfannenstiel Caroline Kelton multimedia Simon Larspers Qvist Drake Riner Atticus vonHolten Juliana Wilches

Will Cook Sophia Bone Rebecca Calderon Anna-Maya Hachmeister Kylie Hawkins Alexis Luinstra Nicola Santangelo Klaire Sarver Tierney Thompson Gabrielle Wheeler Chloe Board Lauren Brittain Evan Frook Darby Gilliland Maya Hodison Mariah Houston Juna Murao Reagan Sullivan Jackson Barton Jordan Hauber Aubin Murphy Samantha Spencer

Orc hestra Takes New Or leans

Oscars Boycott 3 Foreign Languages 4 School Funding 8 Editors’ Columns 12 Bird’s Word 19 Profiles 20 Reviews 22 Life-changing Words 24 Style Column 26 Artists of the Month 28 Photo Essay 30

Support-ism

Womens sports draw smaller crowds despite level of play

Mixed ensembles prepare to perform at National World War II Museum

Written by Evan Frook

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Written by Darby Gilliland

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Paraguayan Perspectives Exchange students share thoughts on Lawrence, trip experiences

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Interviewed by Sydney Gard

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES Pivotal moments change students’, teacher’s lives Written by Trenna Soderling and Kaya Shafer Cover: Ever since leaving the Mormon church, senior Ana Donley has felt more free. “I think I’m a pretty ‘staying firm in your opinion’ person,” Donley said. “I didn’t like people trying to fit me in a box.”

OUR MISSION The Free Press is an open forum that accepts letters to the editor and guest writings. They must include the writer’s name and telephone numbers. Articles may be edited due to space limitations, libel or inappropriate content. Letters may be submitted to Room 201 or sent in care of Free Press to Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, Kan. 66049.

The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Free Press staff, the high school administration or that of the USD 497 Board of Education.

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25 February 2016 Page by Adelaide Wendel

News

OSCARS SO WHITE

Lack of Oscars diversity leads to concerns, boycotts Written by Sydney Gard

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hen the Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the 2016 Oscars nominees on Thursday, January 14, Twitter users were outraged at the names they saw. For the second year in a row, all 20 nominees in the major four categories are white.

While sophomore Saraya Windibiziri does not plan on boycotting the Oscars this year, she may do so in the future.

“I would consider boycotting it if they don’t change and make it more versatile if someone’s gay or lesbian or black,” Windibiziri said.

“I think that should be taken into consideration.”

Celebrities from Will and Jada Pinkett Smith to Spike Lee have publicly boycotted the February 28 event, but host Chris Rock has not acknowledged the boycott.

The Academy acknowledged the disapproval by changing their nominating board to include more women and minorities by 2020.

However, social studies teacher Phil Mitchell thinks the Oscars could be diversified by diversifying the entertainment industry as a whole.

“The issue is without access, we can’t recognize achievements,” Mitchell said.

Additionally, black actors who do win Oscars tend to win them for certain roles according to Windibiziri.

“It shouldn’t just be like, this black person is being nominated for best actor because they were in ‘The Help,’” she said. “It should be because they’re in any other movie that isn’t just focusing on some black issue.”

While some have argued against the boycott by saying the Oscars shouldn’t be a prioritized issue, senior Joseph Esparza disagrees.

“It shows that everybody has a chance to be successful,” Esparza said. “Winning an Oscar is what determines if you’re successful in the movie business.”

Esparza and Mitchell both do not plan on boycotting because neither of them watch the Oscars anyway.

According to Mitchell the ability to have equal access is not just important in the entertainment industry, but in education as well.

“It’s hard to recognize great achievements when you’re not given an opportunity to achieve,” he said.

The Oscars are being boycotted because of the lack of diversity in its nominees. Social studies teacher Phil Mitchell sees this as an example of social injustice. “It’s about access,” Mitchell said. “It’s about who’s valued. Because of what you look like, you’re not as valuable, or because traditionally white people have had control of this little microcosm, they get to maintain that control and decide who gets to play and who doesn’t, and who we’re going to recognize and who we don’t.”

Photo illustration by Kylie Hawkins

4 MORE THAN “ENGLISH WITH 25 February 2016 Page by Lacey Windholz

News

DIFFERENT WORDS” Farming, the Aeneid, truth-or-dare find place in foreign language Written by Lauren Brittain

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uggling an essay for English, flashcards for French and 10 ents’ first language, so it’s the easiest way for them to communicate.” sentences to write for her Spanish 4 class, junior Audra Nepstad Aside from her parents, all of Xie’s relatives live in China or work often considers screaming. She keeps confusing Spanish subin Japan. To speak to them, she must practice and speak Chinese. junctive endings with French conjugations. Her head hurts, and she While Xie is able to deftly switch between English and Chinese, wants to give up for the night. most native English speaking high schoolers are not so fortunate.

“It’s hard because you want to be able to express yourself as well Most American foreign language classes start so much later as you can in your home language,” Nepstad said. “That’s when I just than those of other countries that enthusiastic high school foreign have to take a deep breath and realize, okay, in a couple years this language departments can only teach students so much about a lanwill be a joke.” guage before a wall of frustration is drawn up according to Gipson.

Nepstad, who aspires to be a translator as well as volunteer for “Look at our foreign exchange students that come here, they are the program World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, has taken 16 years old and they’re absolutely fluent in English with no trouble,” Spanish, French and Mandarin Chinese in high school. She strives Gipson said. “Our kids are always so impressed by that, [but] they to be able to communicate enough to get a job and be successful started learning English when they were seven. By the time you’re wherever she goes.

16 or 17 years old, it gets to be really difficult to form those new Although taking a foreign language class is not a requirement to language patterns.” graduate high school, some colleges require it according to counselLanguage patterns such as the sounds English speakers are used or Tina Mitchell. to forming, as well as word order and conjugation, don’t always “We strongly encourage that students take two match up with those of other languages. LatI want people to years of foreign language in high school, and that two in teacher Zachary Puckett noted that foreign come into the next years should be of the same language,” Mitchell said. languages are not simply English with different level of their language words.

Students are also able to test out of the starting journey with a joy in level college language classes by scoring well enough “It’s not a perfect one to one correlation speaking the language. on exams, saving time and money. In a multilingual between one word in Latin or Spanish and - teacher Stu Strecker another word in English,” Puckett said. world, students are noticing benefits to learning another language. Mitchell noted enrollment in recent years has Puckett hopes to see Latin and other languages increased. offered at the middle school level to diversify the high school pro“People want to hire those who know more,” senior and French gram and alleviate some frustrations.

4 student Di Xie said. “One of the hardest things to learn in life is a Freshman Zach Hill has only been taking Spanish for two years, language, so the more languages you know, the more people you are but his teachers, Anna Jackson at West Middle School and Paul Rosgoing to be able to understand and the more willing people will be en at Free State, have already made an impact. to hire you,” “What has impacted me the most … that I see a lot in language There are more benefits than just these according to Gipson. teachers, is how much they care and how much they want you to “Respecting our fellow humans’ different cultures, well … it’s learn about this because obviously it’s very important to them,” Hill important to understand that everybody has a different perspective said. on life,” French teacher Karen Gipson said. “It is important to be Gipson uses games such as “translator truth or dare” and cake respectful and mindful that somebody might have a different world- walk to get students moving, and Puckett’s students read Virgil’s view than you.”

Aeneid in the original Latin. Spanish teacher and department head Xie, who was born in Japan to two Chinese parents and was Stu Strecker is famous for not allowing his students to sit down until recently naturalized as a United States citizen, understands this they answer a question in Spanish. importance of learning a language.

“I want people to come into the next level of their language jour“Speaking [Chinese] is a way that I am able to connect with my ney with a joy in speaking the language, but also, more than anything, heritage and connect to my culture,” Xie said. “But also it’s my parwith a sense of self-reliance in a language,” Strecker said. “Especially

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25 February 2016 Page by Lacey Windholz

News

in the age of cell phones, students want to fall back [to translators] first thing … if you immediately go to the phone, you’ll never be automatic with the language. You have to develop that yourself without that kind of crutch.”

Stecker uses games and content to keep students on their toes.

The Spanish 4 and 5 classes each watch two movies per year and read multiple books.

“The one thing that I tell students and parents always is that your level of focus and engagement are the biggest determiners of how much you’re going to progress in the language,” Stecker said.

Having been a student of German at an American military base in England and at Free State, senior and German 4 student Jacob

Schepp cited Stecker has one of his most impactful teachers.

“Mr. Strecker had the most gusto,” Schepp said. “He made you speak all the time, which in my opinion it really helps to repeat stuff … he wouldn’t yell them at us, but he would be speaking loudly and we would repeat the phrase back and then we’d watch foreign films so we could hear it.”

To anyone considering giving up for the night or forever, Gipson offers a final word of advice.

“You can always come to me or any of your language teachers for assistance,” she said.” We are always happy to help you. We want you to be successful, but we want you to feel comfortable to make mistakes in our classroom.”

While junior Audra Nepstad is enrolled in her third language study so far, sophomore Abi Hummel has never taken a foreign language. Nepstad has taken French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.

“I can go travel and be anywhere in any situation and understand what’s going on,” Nepstad said about why she chose to study multiple languages.

Photo by Sophia Bone

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25 February 2016 Page by Sydney Vogelsang

News

Above: While in orchestra, junior Madeline Nachtigal practices her music on her violin.

Nachtigal started orchestra in sixth grade and has been a part of it ever since then.

“I am excited for New Orleans because I have been there twice already and I miss it and can’t wait to be back,” Nachtigal said. “I’m especially excited for the food.”

Opposite page: During her symphonic orchestra class, senior Sydney Combs plays concert pieces. Combs plays the viola and has been in orchestra since she was in sixth grade.

“When we are done with concert pieces, we will work on American patriotic pieces that we will take to New Orleans and then some swing pieces,” Combs said.

Written by Darby Gilliland

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hree years ago, senior Jamie Souders spent a week in Chicago sight seeing, eating deep dish pizza and performing orchestra music at the Field Museum under the shadow of a giant T-Rex replica. She is going into her second and last orchestra trip with expectations of an interesting environment, performing music of an unfamiliar genre and a good time with her orchestra.

The week before Spring Break, sophomores, juniors and seniors in orchestra will board a charter bus armed with suitcases and instruments to arrive 13 hours later in New Orleans.

“The orchestras will combine to make two different ensembles, and will be performing at the National World War II Museum,” orchestra teacher Judy Erpelding said. “They will also have the opportunity to have the conductor of the Louisiana Youth Symphony work with them on their contest music.”

Each ensemble will get a thirty minute time block to perform for the guests at The National World War II Museum.

“All of the people lined up have certain music that we play, we can only play patriotic music,” senior Riley Bane said. “We get to play for the entertainment of the guests in the museum.”

They will also be receiving guidance from the conductor of the Louisiana Youth Symphony on this year’s contest music.

Students will also spend time experiencing the rich culture of

the French Quarter like Jackson Square and the French Market, Mardi Gras world, the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, Destrehan Plantation (one of the oldest documented plantation homes in the lower Mississippi Valley, a Mississippi River Cruise on the Creole Queen, and of course partaking in all the food options that New Orleans has to offer.

“We’re going gator hunting and getting on a swamp boat. We’re obviously going to visit Bourbon Street,” Bane said. “We’re just going to do a lot of tourist-y things, like eat a lot of cajun food.”

Junior Madeline Nachtigal is looking forward to progressing personal relationships with people she has only spent time with in class.

“I think you get to know people better when you live with them for a while or spend the night with them,” Nachtigal said. “I’m excited to get to know people on the trip.”

Despite the obvious concerns a teacher might have when bringing students to a big city, Erpelding is confident in her students’ abilities to keep each other safe.

“I can’t change the city, and there are many things that could be considered dangerous or inappropriate,” Erpelding said. “However, students going on this trip know expectations and I believe we have a mutual respect and trust for each other.”

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25 February 2016 Page by Sydney Vogelsang

News

ORCHESTRA TAKES NEW ORLEANS Mixed ensembles prepare to perform at National World War II Museum Photos by Klaire Sarver

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25 February 2016 Page by Sydney Vogelsang

News

EDUCATION LEGISLATION Recent Kansas legislative activity involves changes to education Written by Evan Frook and Sydney Gard

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n the face of the upcoming nationwide elections, legislation of “In Lawrence, the impact is maybe not as big as it is in districts all kinds is being passed, killed and proposed, much of which that are less wealthy as far as the property that’s in the district that concerns education. gets taxed,” Kimball said.

“This year and last year the pace of proposals has picked up, and If these districts can’t pass these bond issues, local taxes may have I’ve seen a couple of possible explanations for that,” school board to be raised to compensate for state aid. member Shannon Kimball said. “One is that it’s an election year, so “I think the real objection for me is that this is yet another way representatives want to be able to say, ‘well, we did this and this and for legislators in Topeka to take decision making out of my hands as a this.’ Plus, they’re talking about a lot of things that really are just de- board member,” Kimball said. signed to be backdoor ways to cut funding ... They really are scraping Most legislation regarding education would be affected by this for every dollar they can find.” change, such as a bill requiring financial literacy be taught to all stuOne such proposal currently on the floor of the Kansas House dents. Kimball says that this could come in the form of a mandated of Representatives is a bill that could limit the material teachers can class, limiting elective choices, or in sweeping curriculum change to discuss in the classroom based on the possibility of it offending stu- an existing class, entailing expensive retooling and retraining. dents. If this bill passes, teachers could be prosecuted for offending “So far in our district, we have not talked about mandating an students. additional class for high school students or middle school students, “It adds a layer of fear to teachers when planning lessons and but that could be a possible outcome of them imposing that,” Kimwould likely lead them to be more conservative about the types of ball said. critical engagement that they do with students,” school board presiAnother such bill suggests that teachers be taught to recognize dent Vanessa Sanburn said. signs that a student may be at risk for suicide. While this idea is easy Another bill to establish a bond project review board could to support, it is harder to implement monetarily, especially under the redefine the manner in which schools and districts receive funding, threat of broad changes to funding. and Kimball says this is an example of backdoor tax “The real question for us comes from who’s going They really are cutting. to pay for the professional development and how scraping for every “What [lawmakers] are trying to do is reduce the much is it going to cost us to do that and how are dollar they can find. amount of state equalization aid they give to districts we going to fit that into the professional develop- board member Shannon Kimball ment that we already have in place,” Kimball said. when we do bond issues… they’re only going to give us equalization aid for instructional spaces, but they don’t define Almost no change to education, even an objectively good one, can instruction and they leave it to the political appointees to define be made without the assistance of money. The source of this money instruction, and I’m not at all confident that they would apply that is a much more complicated issue. standard fairly or consistently,” Kimball said.

“I think what’s happening is that there’s a huge need that’s been The Topeka-based board would review plans for improvements identified to better figure out school funding,” Sanburn said. “There like school renovations and new sports facilities, most of which are quite a few people in the legislature, and the current governor, would include some application of equalization aid, funding from the who believe that … education should be less costly for the state. state government designed to help balance differences between tax They’re looking for a lot of different ways to pass legislation in order revenue of districts. Kimball doubts the successful application of this to get at some of those funding issues without having to politically standard due to how the review board would be arranged. say, ‘we want to underfund education.’”

“Our plan for improvements… would have to go before a comMany recent bills, including a dropped proposal to cut gifted mittee that’s made up of basically the legislative leadership,” Kimball education spending, are ways for the state to save money according said. to Sanburn.

Kansas’ property-poorer school districts are more susceptible to “They don’t want to deal with the overall educational funding changes in equalization aid. According to Kimball, USD 497 receives formula because they think it’s too big of a nut to crack, so they’re only about 4.5% of its total bond payment from the state, while other looking for… other, more creative ways that don’t make a lot of sense districts may receive more than half. to people who actually are paying attention,” Sanburn said.

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25 February 2016 Page by Sydney Vogelsang

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25 February 2016 Page by Lacey Windholz

Sports

SUPPORT-ISM

Womens sports draw smaller crowds despite level of play

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Written by Evan Frook

ven as the girls basketball team successfully executes a play, they are met with muted cheers. The stands are half filled with parents and students saving seats until the boys game later that night.

Despite a 17-5 record last year and one game shy of a trip to state, the stands are still empty. Coach Bryan Duncan believes the team is ranked in the top five in the state, and they expect to reach state this year.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt, at least in number of people in the stands, there’s going to be more people at the boys game than the girls game,” Duncan said. “Some of that is start time… it would be interesting to see if we flipped the times, boys played first and girls played second, but I don’t get caught up personally in the gender stuff.”

Womens sports are only 1.6% of televised sports coverage, a 2009 study by USC and Purdue said. Encouraged by the media and prevailing culture, students emphasize mens sports over womens and fewer fans attend these games.

While she acknowledges the boys and girls teams have differences, sophomore varsity player Cameryn Thomas would still like to see fans at girls games.

“Guys and girls play differently, but it’s still the same game and I think people should still come,” she said.

Junior varsity player Jacob Pavlyak, is proud of and grateful for the amount of encouragement the boys team gets from the student body, but estimates less than half of the students that regularly attend his games attend the girls games. Such a disparity between the attendance of the boys game and the girls can be disheartening to the female players, while increased turnout could greatly motivate them. “[When fans come], it’s more fun, it’s more intense,” Pavlyak said.

“I’d say [that’s the norm for all athletes], for sure.”

The reason the imbalance exists is because of a commonly held belief that girls sports are less exciting. Most spectators believe they

are slower paced and more fundamentally focused, making them less interesting as a spectator sport.

“I do think in a lot of ways they’re two different games at the high school level. It really starts with - there are two different sized basketballs,” Duncan said. “Everybody talks about ‘Everything’s the same,’ actually, we play with a different basketball. They are a different game, it is a different pace. There are some different strategies involved, but at the same time, the concepts are all very similar.

Good shooters are still good shooters, good defenders are still good defenders.”

Senior Kendell Fritzel, who regularly attends games of both varsity teams, says he understands this concept.

“I feel like sometimes the boys games are a little faster paced,” Fritzel said. “It’s more intense, more hyped overall.”

He still thoroughly enjoys the girls games however.

“I think [girls games are] still pretty hype,” Fritzel said. “It’s not as hype as boys varsity, but girls varsity is still good. I think they deserve as much support as boy’s varsity. Everybody deserves as much as they can get in sports.”

As a basketball player, Pavlyak notices the subtler moments in girls play. He concedes that the games may be slightly slower, and that girls don’t dunk, which is exciting for a fan. However, the slower pace allows for more complicated plays based more in technical skill, rather than frequent fast breaks.

Still, Duncan says he is not angry or upset with the difference in support.

“Rather than make it a gender issue or even a basketball versus softball or any other sport issue, I think it would be great if we could get more support from our school for all of our varsity athletics,” Duncan said.

Thomas agrees that while the guys tend to be faster, the girls play is still impressive and deserves attention from the student body.

“The girl’s team is also your team,” Thomas said. “Come and support your team.”

Below: During a girls basketball game, juniors Noah Kema, Payton Gannaway, senior Aric Trent, junior Wesley Zhang and sophomore Reagan Sullivan look at their phones.

A noticeably larger amount of students attend the boys basketball games than the girls.

“The amount of hype the guys team gets outweighs the girls team by a lot,” Trent said.

Opposite page: Jumping in the air, junior Madison Piper takes a shot against Mill Valley.

Free State came back in the last half of the game and won 55-46. “I really enjoy the camaraderie we have on the team,” Piper said. “I love playing with my friends.”

Photo by Rebecca Calderon

25 February 2016 Page by Lacey Windholz

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Sports

Photo by Sam Goodwin

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25 February 2016 Page by Adelaide Wendel

Editorial

SPINES AND STAGES

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coliosis has been a huge part of who I am for a long time. In middle school, I wore a painful, tight plastic back brace. It was supposed to stop my back from getting worse while I was still growing, but my x-rays kept getting worse. I stopped wearing it before high school and hoped for the best.

I avoided thinking about my back for my freshman and sophomore years, but had to go back get x-rays the summer before 11th grade. I had awful back pain that started when I wore the brace but became impossible to ignore. I discovered my spine, which was shaped like an S, had developed a curve of slightly over 50 degrees.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but with my surgeon’s recommendation, I decided to have surgery the next summer.

The nine months between planning my surgery and actually having it were awful. I cried myself to sleep most nights and had nightmares that still freak me out. I had the support of everyone in my life, but every day was hard. I was so scared.

Finally, I had my surgery on May 27. I was in surgery for nine hours and the hospital for five days. They made me walk around the hall and even up stairs before I could go home, but every step I took sent shooting pains up my spine. I also had problems lifting my right leg and spent most of my time sleeping.

When I got home, I couldn’t even eat by myself. I had to be rotated at night and given medication every couple hours, as well as take walks every day. I made it to the bottom of my driveway, then to the end of my street and finally, weeks later, around my block.

Now, I feel like a new person. I no longer look weirdly asymetrical and my back pain is essentially gone. My right leg is at 100% and, while most of my back is totally numb, the feeling might still come back.

There are many things that have changed my life, but I’d be lying if I said scoliosis wasn’t the biggest. Surgery was simultaneously humbling and empowering, and I was so lucky to have friends and family with me every step of the way. It was a long, painful journey, but now, two rods and 20 screws later, I’m healthy and strong. The worrying wasn’t worth it, and I don’t think it ever is. I’m so ready to go to college next year with a straighter spine and new sense of who I am and what I can achieve.

SYDNEY GARD Co-Editor in Chief

Photo by Ali Dodd

Editors discuss what changed their lives

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heater kids are notorious for a variety of things, whether it be the dramatic nature of some, the slight strangeness or the constant singing. While I do admit that all of these are probably true, theater has an additional meaning for me. I’ve been stumbling over the stage since I was six, and not only have I learned how to memorize lines and dances and lyrics, I’ve also learned a variety of lessons.

1. “Yes, and” is an improv phrase to embrace what someone else has said or done and then build off of it. Saying “yes, and” when you’re faced with an obstacle is a reminder to take every day as it comes, and then change it for the better.

2. From the “Little Mermaid,” I learned that “positoovity” is an important step to overcoming challenges. In the face of what seems impossible, a positive attitude (and a dance number) can drastically change the outcome of the situation.

3. “Oliver!” taught me “you’ve got to pick a pocket or two.” On second thought, maybe this isn’t the best advice.

4. “Hamilton” showed me I cannot throw away my shot. You’re given one life, and you’ve got to make the best of it.

5. “The Book of Mormon” taught me to “Man Up.” Sometimes you just have to, even though it sucks.

6. I learned “rain will make the flowers grow” after seeing (and reading) “Les Miserables.” Difficulty and sadness are a reality, and so many times it’s hard to understand what we could possibly gain from our challenges. Wish for the best, but grow from the tough times.

7. “Kinky Boots” showed me “you change the world when you change your mind.” Opinions are hard to change, but it’s important to greet the world with an open mind.

8. “Into the Woods” promised me “no one is alone.” It may be hard to find the person who understands what you’re dealing with or who gets your humor or who is willing to listen to broadway soundtracks 24/7, but there’s always someone.

9. I learned “anything can happen if you let it” from “Mary Poppins.” Don’t spend too much time trying to engineer your life. Set yourself up for success as best you can, and then let life happen to you.

10. Live theater teaches you (pretty quickly) that the show must go on. The audience has no idea what’s happening behind the curtain, but they expect a good show, so the actors must deliver. Life is so similar. The world doesn’t know what’s happening to you, but it continues to spin. And so must you.

Of course, I’ve learned much more that I can’t put into words.

Growing up in theaters teaches you a multitude of lessons (and superstitions) you can’t learn anywhere else. Although I may have embarrassed myself in front of lots of audiences, I’ve learned so much from so many amazing people and shows, and I can’t wait to see what theater will teach me next.

TRENNA SODERLING Co-Editor in Chief

25 February 2016 Page by Adelaide Wendel

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News

PARAGUAYAN PERSPECTIVES

Exchange students share thoughts on Lawrence, trip experiences

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Interviewed by Sydney Gard

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It is so different.

For example, lunch is very different. The people, organization, transportation in the city. I really like it here.

I really improved my English. Now I learned more about American culture.

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- Hector Moser

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Here, you have a lot of things to do. You have a variety of stores.

You have a lot of places where you can find art that is very hard to find in Paraguay, because people don’t give too much attention to artistic expression. Now, I can speak more fluently, and when I hear someone talking I can understand them much easier than I did before.

- Sara Martinez

The weather is very different. In Paraguay, there is no snow. Here, there is snow. I met many people. This travel was very important to me because I met others.

The high school is very different. I like it a lot.

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- Lucia Godoy

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[Lawrence is different because of] the school, the food, the people. You know other things and you see more things.

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- Leticia Figueredo

Photo by Nicola Santangelo While playing a game of Uno, Marile Fernandez, Denis Sitzmann, juniors Blake Burgess, Victor Cano and Aramí Cubilla all laugh.

Fernandez, Sitzmann and Cubilla were Paraguayan exchange students. “I like the snow, the houses and the big stores [in America],” Fernandez said.

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25 February 2016 Page by Drake Riner and Juliana Wilches

Feature

CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES Pivotal moments change students’, teacher’s lives Written by Trenna Soderling and Kaya Shafer

ANA DONLEY

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year ago, someone walking around the Church of Jesus ears, get tattoos or drink caffeine.

Christ of the Latter Day Saints would have seen senior “I love tea, and you’re not supposed to have that!” Donley said.

Anastasia Donley seated in the pews. Now, on Sunday’s When she heard an idea she didn’t agree with, Donley wasn’t she foregoes her spot, a signal she’s turned 18 and gained religious afraid to stand up for what she thought was right. autonomy.

“Everyone was really polite, most of the time,” she said. “Some“My parents are married, but my dad’s not a member and my times I would get in trouble if I was being a little too ‘outspoken.’ My mom is,” Donley said. “They have the rule that you have to stay with mom would sometimes tell me to reign it in.” [the church] until you turn 18. Technically, it’s 18 and ‘til the summer Although Donley tried to listen to leaders in her church, she had and you’re out of the house. But I’ve caused too many problems for a difficult time combining the ideals in her head with the ideals of [my mom] within the church so she was like ‘18: you can be done.’” the community around her.

After being a member of the Mormon church her whole life and “I had some talks with some of my youth leaders about my being enrolled in gender specific classes within the church for about opinions and about my statements and how to put that aside just to two years, Donley began to question the principles get on with the classes,” Donley said. “But I couldn’t the church taught her. really do that, because it was the same idea being I had been so “When I was around 14 I just decided that I against it for so long taught to me the whole time.” didn’t really like what I was learning and it wasn’t Although she might not have been able to set her that while trying not really for me,” Donley said. to be what the church personal beliefs aside, Donley was able to recognize It was the suggestions on how to act, what clothes wanted me to be I everyone was entitled to their own opinion. to wear and what to eat and drink that compelled “If anything, it opened up my mind, and made became my own self.

Donley to break away from the church she had been me aware that just because I don’t get on with an - senior Ana Donley raised in. idea doesn’t mean that other people don’t as well,” she “I didn’t like people trying to fit me in a box,” Donley said. “Some said. “I know there are some people that do love the religion. I promof the ideas they had about being a woman or how you should beise the Mormon Church isn’t that bad, it just wasn’t for me.” have based on your appearance or what you should do with your life While she may not have enjoyed every moment she was a part of based on your sex isn’t something I think people should be subject- the church, Donley does acknowledge she learned important lessons ed to.” from being a member.

Although she could understand the appeal for some, Donley felt “I had been so against it for so long that while trying not to be the church didn’t allow her the freedom her independent personality what the church wanted me to be I became my own self,” Donley desired. said. “If anything, it made me really strong. I’m just not afraid to be “Every religion is for certain people, but they were just a little old who I am and I’m really unapologetic about it. I like that that hapfashioned in their belief that ‘You’re always modest,’” she said. pened. I really like knowing who I am.”

Additionally, the church suggests its members don’t pierce their

“

”

25 February 2016 Page by Drake Riner and Juliana Wilches

Feature

15

EMMA JOHNSON

F

eb. 25, 2015 marked a pivotal moment in freshman Emma Johnson’s life. Johnson had an obsession with Ariana Grande that had stemmed from sixth grade.

After hearing Kansas City would be the first stop on Ariana Grande’s tour, Johnson’s mother knew she had to get her daughter tickets to not only the show, but to Grande’s meet-and-greet as well.

“My mom got [tickets] because she knew how much she meant to me,” Johnson said.

An avid listener of Grande’s, Johnson was inspired by the singers personality and talent.

“She inspired me to be a better person because she’s a really good person,” Johnson said. “[She also inspired me to] just go for what I want. And I like to sing, but I don’t think I’m good, but she makes me feel like I can do it if I want to.”

Even after her mom took her out of school and drove her to the venue, Johnson couldn’t believe the moment was real.

“It didn’t feel like it was happening,” she said. “We were in line waiting, and I didn’t feel like I was going to meet her so I was just standing there.”

Despite Johnson’s initial calm, one second changed it all.

“They pulled the curtain back for the person in front of me and I saw her hair and I instantly started sobbing,” she said.

Then, after hours of waiting, Johnson faced her idol.

“When I got my chance to meet her I hugged her and told her how much she meant to me and she was really nice,” she said. “It was really crazy. She’s prettier in person and she smelled really good.”

The meeting was short, but it was long enough that Johnson could snap a few pictures with Grande.

“I was crying in the pictures so they’re not cute,” Johnson added.

Although the moment was brief, it was a milestone for Johnson that she described as crazy, intense and awesome.

“Meeting her after having seen pictures of her for four years … kind of made me more obsessed with her,” she said.

Photo contributed by Emma Johnson Freshman Emma Johnson got the chance to meet Ariana Grande when she was in sixth grade at a concert in KC. “It was really crazy,” Johnson said.

“She’s prettier in person and she smelled really good and she told me she loved me too and she called me cute.”

25 February 2016 Page by Drake Riner and Juliana Wilches

Feature

17

CALEB MERCER

A

fter having pains in his leg for a week, sophomore Caleb Mercer knew something was wrong. Although he initially thought it was a pulled muscle, the constant intense pain soon convinced him it was something more

serious.

“I went back to my mom’s house and she took one look at me and said we’re going to the emergency room,” Mercer said.

After the visit to the hospital, Mercer learned what had really happened to his leg.

“I had osteomyelitis in my right femur and I also had a septic femur (basically fills with staph infection) and a foot long blood clot in my right thigh-which is still there,” he said.

He was admitted on July 4 to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he stayed for two weeks.

“I was on 12 pills a day,” he said. “I had a central line in my arm and I would have to do this thing everyday, kind of like chemo. I had to get shots everyday in my stomach twice a day everyday. [I would] get so many it would bruise and [I’d] have to keep doing it in the bruises.”

During his first visit, he had a surgery to drain Mercer’s femur of infection.

When he was finally released, the infection and surgeries rendered Mercer wheelchair bound.

“When I got home I used a walker like an old person,” he said. “When I went anywhere I had to use a wheelchair. Your arms get really strong when you wheel yourself around but you find out there’s not a lot of wheelchair accessible places and it changes everything.”

In addition to navigating in the wheelchair, Mercer faced other struggles.

“It was definitely hard for my mom,” he said. “I had to relearn how to walk and it was very emotional.”

Mercer also had to learn how to communicate with friends and other people under his new conditions.

“It was difficult to incorporate myself into my friendships,” he said. “My “friends” didn’t really want to hang out with me because I was in a wheelchair, so I made new friends. It really showed a lot about the people I was hanging out with.”

After all this, Mercer learned the previous surgery to his leg had not been successful. The second time, he was subjected to two surgeries. Although they believe the surgeries were successful, Mercer is still affected by the pain.

“My leg aches sometimes and I have to wear a compression stocking ‘cause I have a blood clot still,” he said. “I get really dizzy and my foot swells up really big.”

Overall, it has permanently altered Mercer’s life.

“I don’t really remember much about myself before then,” he said. “It changed my personality.”

Photo by Ali Dodd After the doctors found out sophomore Caleb Mercer had osteomyelitis and a foot long blood clot in his right thigh, he had to be in a wheelchair. He relearned to walk several months later. “The first [surgery] was a near death experience and it changed my view on a lot of things,” Mercer said.

“

I had to relearn how to walk and it was very emotional.

”

- sophomore Caleb Mercer

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25 February 2016 Page by Drake Riner and Juliana Wilches

Feature

MATTITHYAH BERGERSEN

I

n high school, science teacher Mattithyah Bergersen was heavily involved in school and extracurricular activities. A conscientious student, she never missed a day of school and had her sights set on becoming a doctor. However, her life was altered when she developed systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and was forced to spend a week and a half in the hospital.

“I went from a normal high school student who was worried about classes and grades and involved in a million different sports and activities to being in constant pain and not being able to walk or open doors or jars or water bottles or write or sit or pretty much do anything,” Bergersen said.

There are varying theories over what causes the arthritis, but the cause is unknown.

“Something triggers it, and then it just starts,” she said. “Some people say genetics is involved and some people say it’s environment but they don’t really know.”

The autoimmune condition has changed the way Bergersen interacts with people due to the severe pain she feels.

“I can’t really be like a normal person who makes plans for their life and follows through,” Bergersen said. “I’m in pain 100% of the time for over most of my body for the last seven, eight years.”

The constant change has altered the way Bergersen interacts with people.

“It changes everything about your outlook, about how you interact with people,” she said. “I get really really grumpy sometimes because I’m in so much pain I don’t know how to communicate very well.”

Although communication can be hard at times, Bergersen has found solace through online communities. The groups are filled with people struggling with similar issues.

“I’ve discovered this community of people who deal with my illness, illnesses really similar to mine, and just chronic pain in general, online,” she said. “It never ceases to amaze me how strong it makes me feel to know that other people are going through the same thing.”

Although it’s altered how she operates day-to-day, Bergersen acknowledges there have been some benefits to the pain.

“I think it’s filled me with compassion towards people,” she said.

“It made me realize how much is underneath the surface that you don’t see.”

Bergersen also believes it’s affected her teaching in a positive way.

“It made me more understanding when people come to me with issues because I’m like ‘I do, I do understand what that’s like,’” she said. “When I was going through college I was so appreciative of the professors who were willing to listen to me when I had a really bad semester healthwise.”

Bergersen, who had always planned on being a doctor, had to change her plans for her future after her arthritis emerged.

“Even after I got sick I kept thinking ‘oh, it’s just going to go away.

I’ll just keep my life plans,’” she said. “The more I got into it, the more I was like ‘I really can’t make it through medical school, but I have this passion of teaching that I want to look into.’ I’m so thankful I’m a teacher. I love what I do, and while sure, I would have loved being a doctor too, it’s nice to have found a passion that will work

Photo by Sam Goodwin After being diagnosed with arthritis in high school, science teacher Mattithyah Bergersen decided to look on the bright side. “I think it’s softened me a lot and made me a lot more approachable,” Bergersen said. “It’s filled me with compassion towards people.”

with my illness.”

In addition to finding a passion through teaching, Bergersen has been able to reflect on herself.

“I would call it positive not because it itself is positive but because who I’ve become because of it is positive,” she said. “It’s been a good agent of change in my life even though it really really sucks. I’ve come to realize what matters most is who I am inside, not what I’m capable of doing. I may be held back by my illness but I’m still going to be the best person that I can out of that.”

19

25 February 2016 Page by Juliana Wilches

Profiles

BIRD’S WORD

Should students be required to take a foreign language course?

Interviewed by Sydney Gard Photos by Rebecca Calderon

“No. Most people don’t have to learn a foreign language unless they’re going somewhere else, like out of the United States, but I’m pretty sure not a lot of people are going to do that in their lifetime.”

- freshman Desirae Edmonds

“Yes I do. It’s a very useful skill … because there are a lot of people that in this country can’t speak English.

So foreign language is a great skill.”

- junior Brooklin Tetuan

“Yeah. I think that it’s an important skill to have as you leave high school because it can help you get a job. There’s a lot of people that speak many languages, so it’d help you communicate more.”

- sophomore Chris LaPointe

“I don’t think it should be required. I feel like it’s a personal option if you want to take part in a second language or not, but I think that it should definitely be there for people who want to take it.”

- senior Ryan Lavery

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25 February 2016 Page by Adelaide Wendel

Profiles

Photo by Klaire Sarver

HILARY MORTON

CHOIR DIRECTOR JUGGLES NODULES, BUSY SCHEDULE Written by Maya Hodison

N

odules are small blisters formed on the thin folds of the vocal cords caused by overuse of the speaking voice, improper singing, a prolonged cold or just weak vocal cords to begin with. Choir director Hilary Morton has struggled with nodules for 17 years.

Morton noticed the prolonged hoarseness and inability to sing normally in late July and was diagnosed with polyps on her vocal cords in October. Polyps are nodules, but fluid-filled and harder to get rid of. Because of this, Morton has to go on vocal rest as much as she can at work and all of the time outside of work.

“Being a choral director who can’t sing and can barely talk is more frustrating than I can answer in words,” Morton said.

Morton had surgery to remove the nodules on Dec. 11. She was completely silent for five days, then amped up the talking by 25% each week. By the time she came back to school, she was at 75%.

“It was a learning experience for both Morton and the class as we tried communicating a couple of ways,” senior Tucker Click said. “I’m glad she is able to speak again.”

The surgery got rid of the polyps, but not the nodules.

“I’m very frustrated, as this surgery was supposed to really help, and I have sat in silence for so long trying to recover,” Morton said.

Juggling her busy schedule is hard for Morton with vocal restrictions. An average day for Morton is jam packed. She arrives at about 7:45 a.m. to do the administrative part of running the choral department. She then spends the rest of the day directing, along with accompanist Jamie Bone and co-director Maggie Burk, the seven

choirs at Free State.

“Without Ms. Jamie and Ms. Burk’s help I couldn’t do this,” said Morton. “They get things done when I have no voice to give.”

In addition to the choir rehearsals during school she has Chamber Singers rehearsals Monday nights and Feminist Club every other Wednesday. With Encore, she works Wednesday and Thursday nights and attends rehearsals throughout the weekend.

“Encore is an additional full-time job, but it’s such a great experience for the kids,” Morton said. “I love doing it, but it definitely exhausts me.”

Although there are difficulties that come with her career, there are also great rewards. Morton says the most fulfilling thing about her job is the kids.

“Working hard with 380 of the best people in the world every single day and making beautiful music together is the best feeling,” Morton said.

Morton’s hard work despite difficulties has paid off according to Click.

“As a person looking to pursue music as a career, she is an ideal role model for pursuing the arts with dedication and fervor,” Click said. “I have been taught to work hard and to only be satisfied with the very best.”

Above: During Concert Chorale, Hilary Morton conducts her students as they sing “White Horse.” Morton has been a choir director at Free State for nine years. “I have Chamber Singers Monday nights, Feminist Club every other Wednesday and now with Encore, I work Wednesday and Thursday nights and come to rehearsals throughout the weekend,” Morton said.

25 February 2016 Page by Adelaide Wendel

Profiles

21

Photo by Anna-Maya Hachmeister

FCCLA

CONSUMER SCIENCE CLUB TEACHES REAL-LIFE SKILLS Written by Darby Gilliland

W

hen sophomore Miranda Meyer stepped off the plane in Washington D.C. last July, she was ready for the challenges awaiting her. As the first Free State students to ever qualify for the National Leadership Conference, Meyer and her partner spent four days competing, meeting leadership students from all over the country, learning about scholarship opportunities and attending seminars. Meyer left the NLC with silver medals and the honor of reaching heights in FCCLA that no Free State student has before. “[Nationals] is really fun,” Meyer said. “We had to go to some seminars, but other than that we got to go sightseeing with Mr. Henderson and we got to do what we wanted.”

FCCLA stands for Future, Career and Community Leaders of America. It is a club for students who want to learn real-life skills.

Students involved are competing in events that will equip them for everyday situations they will face after high school.

“Students put together presentations or speeches and these are called Students Taking Action and Recognition [STAR],” Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Nolan Henderson said. “[There are] events for community outreach and community needs.”

There are three types of STAR events: cooperative, individualized and competitive. Cooperative events are group projects. Individualized events are speeches or job interviews. Competitive events can be group or individual and they are usually used to focus on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner and community leader.

“STAR events are over very open topics, so you take it your own

way,” Meyer said. “Last year I planned a wedding.”

Every Wednesday, club members meet with Henderson to discuss upcoming events, fundraisers and things they are doing to benefit the community. “[I would recommend the club] to someone who works hard and still wants to have fun and wants to be a leader,” freshman Taylor Hamby said.

As a group the club is working on a book drive and a business clothing drive. Henderson is particularly passionate about the business clothing drive.

“I don’t think young men are taught how to dress properly,” Henderson said. “There’s a need for good dress clothes and to be taught to dress properly for business occasions, weddings and job interviews.”

The club is proud of how far they have come, and plan to continue growing and contributing to the community with every opportunity they get. For Meyer, the club has grown into a meaningful part of her life.

“I joined the club because my friend said we could get scholarships, but I really enjoyed it and I wanted to really take part in the club,” she said. “Now I’m the president so I’m making my way.”

Above: During a work night before the district STAR event competition in Tonganoxie, sophomore members Destiny Downing, Jade Byer and Kaylan Benton prepare to present their projects. At the District Competition almost all of the projects were given Gold ratings and will present at the state competition in April. “I joined because I heard it was a good thing to put on your resume and I was curious about what it was, and now it’s kind of become a second family,” Byer said.

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25 February 2016 Page by Lacey Windholz

Reviews

BASIL LEAF BLUES

Editor reviews downtown restaurant Written by Sydney Gard

M

y first impression of Basil Leaf Cafe was that it was closed.

When I drove by, the lights were so dim they didn’t look like they were on. My next step after realizing the restaurant was open was attempting to find a parking spot.

A small lot behind the cafe, located at 616 W 9th St., was packed on my first loop around, but after almost parking in several reserved spots I finally found one where I wouldn’t get towed. Located where the beloved Joe’s Bakery used to be, the restaurant is in a convenient place near, but not directly on, Mass Street.

A now unused door still had the smiling Joe’s Bakery logo; l appreciated the owners had chosen to keep this part of Lawrence history. The interior of the cafe was just as dark as it had appeared from the outside, the walls were paneled with old wood and there were candles everywhere. There was almost as much bar seating as table seating, giving the room a classy sports bar-like feeling.

We were greeted by seemingly the entire staff, though there were several other couples eating, and told to sit wherever we pleased.

We received menus immediately, and I was immediately disappointed: almost nothing was vegetarian, and absolutely everything was expensive.

The rich, dark atmosphere meant I wasn’t expecting a fast foodpriced meal, but considering Basil Leaf was in a gas station until its move to its current location in 2013, I wasn’t expecting a plate of macaroni and cheese to be almost $20.

Unfortunately, the only vegetarian pasta or entree option was the $17 mac n’ cheese, so I didn’t have much of a choice. I was tempted to also try the Parmesan Basil Portabella Bites appetizer or Caprese Photo by Sophia Bone Walking into Basil Leaf, customers are greeted by a pleasant ambiance. Basil Leaf has been in the rustic building since 2013 and has attracted customers from all over. The restaurant has been named “Little Italy” by the Lawrence Journal World and fans of the genuine Italian culture.

salad, but the prices squashed those cravings quickly. I also considered ordering a pasta dish without meat, but a small note on the bottom of the menu politely asked customers not to change orders.

We ordered this meal, which comes with a breadstick, to share, and spent another $1 on an extra breadstick. After receiving the food a mere five minutes later, we did not regret this choice. The breadsticks were buttery, covered in herbs and absolutely delicious: definitely worth the extra dollar.

As for the macaroni, I think it looked pretty good. I couldn’t really tell, considering there wasn’t a single lightbulb in the restaurant.

However, it tasted incredibly unique. The shells were covered in a creamy, cheesy sauce with “a pinch of chef’s red spice.” The menu also said the sauce had seven - yes, seven! - cheeses. I was in love.

The speedy service and fancy-ish atmosphere contributed to a very nice meal. If you’re starving and by yourself, this may not be the best deal for your money. However, if you’re splitting with someone else and neither of you are ravenous, it’s a decent deal for a good amount of food.

Apparently, Basil Leaf is more well-known for its take out. We saw several orders going out during the course of our meal. I may try Basil Leaf take-out next year in college when I’m tired of Kraft mac n’ cheese and comfortable with splurging $20 on a meal.

Until then, though, I don’t plan on returning to Basil Leaf. The downtown location is certainly a lot nicer than the old one, but I’m not enough of a rich foodie to become a regular there. However, if you’re looking for a cool place to eat overpriced and tasty Italian food, Basil Leaf is definitely the place to go.

23 LAWRENCE’S SECOND-RATE 25 February 2016 Page by Lacey Windholz

Reviews

ESCAPE ROOM Unique attraction opens in Lawrence with mixed results Written by Lauren Brittain

T

here were 26 minutes and 30 seconds left on the clock. The room was growing hotter. As we opened the last lock in the room we hoped to find the four numbers needed to unlock the keypad on the door. Instead, we peered inside the cabinet to find a hidden room, full of more locks and clues we had to solve in time to make it out. We had no idea where to start and 25 minutes to figure it out.

Locked In Lawrence, the city’s newest form of amusement, was not like anything I have experienced before. Having grown up watching Jason Bourne movies, the chance to test my knowledge of code-cracking and escaping was one I couldn’t pass up.

I rallied three of my friends into coming with me, and we showed up with only five minutes to spare. They ask groups to arrive 15 minutes early in order to debrief them, but the building is in a tricky spot. We could hardly find it wedged inside the strip mall near the Dunkin’ Donuts on 6th Street.

Upon arrival, we were all asked to use the restroom beforehand. There were two stalls and no gender assignments to them, so my friends and I crowded in. Props to Locked In for keeping things gender-neutral.

Once inside the room, a video was played for us explaining the situation. We were stuck inside some crazy scientist’s apartment and had 60 minutes before he came home. We would get three hints sent via the television screen.

The game is set up so you are constantly cracking a code to find a key which will unlock a box leading you to a clue for unlocking another box. The clues seemed to grow in difficulty as time ran out. Towards the end they would give us more and more hints as time ran out. Locked In doesn’t want you to fail. Succeeding with two minutes to spare is just enough victory to keep you coming back.

However, I probably will not try Locked In again. Aside from the lousy location, the room didn’t feel involved enough. It was still my three friends and I in a room in Lawrence. I wanted to be yelling across the room at my friends with five seconds on the clock and someone pounding on the door as the “mad scientist” returned home. In short, escape rooms become a bunch of locks and keys if there’s no follow through.

In the last five minutes, one of the employees actually had to pause our game to come in and unlock a box for us, as the lock

Photo contributed by Lauren Brittain was broken. It ruined the effect of really being locked in.

The live-action escape game has a rival in Kansas City: Breakout KC. Though I’ve never been to Breakout, I can give a few comparisons provided by friends and the venue websites that have convinced me I might find a better experience there.

From the get-go I was drawn toward the KC location. The website’s impressive design immediately draws the customer into the localized experience, while Locked In’s website still needs work. Breakout has four themed rooms, compared to Locked In’s one. According to what I’ve heard, Breakout also creates more of a host-customer connection.

Previously the only escape room in town, Locked In may not find their business as profitable as they thought. Breakout KC opened a second location, Breakout Lawrence, inside the old Mass Street Sweet Shoppe location on Friday, February 12.

Nevertheless, the $30 price tag on Breakout may sway some towards Locked In’s $15 fee. For half the price, Locked In seems like a quick and cheap alternative to going to a movie or Chipotle this weekend. For a real night out, I look forward to seeing what Breakout Lawrence offers.

24

25 February 2016 Page by Lacey Windholz

Graphics

CHALK WALL THOUGHTS

What words have changed the lives of Free State students? people PIANO GIRLS EXPRESSION DIVORCE pineapples love FASHION FAMILY grandma MATH PAIN ADOPTION 5SOS Depression DJ KHALED BOOKS ART memes GOD SONG CANCER SPORTS Pentatonix PILLOWTALK PEACE Jayhawks HOPE history dad READING CHEESE JESUS myself FRIENDS MOM dance ANGST music soccer Anxiety Twenty One Pilots

25 February 2016 Page by Sydney Vogelsang

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25 February 2016 Page by Adelaide Wendel

Style

MODEL STUDENTS sophomore ANINA SUPERNAW Where do you shop?

“Goodwill and ATC.” Do you have any style icons?

“Not really, mostly just people I see around in general.”

How would you describe your style?

“I like to color coordinate with shirts and shoes and stuff.”

What is your favorite clothing item?

“I bought this new green sweater that I really like.”

How do you think your personality influences your style?

“I like to wear bright colors sometimes, and sometimes really dark colors.”

How did you find your style?

“Mostly just seeing what other people are wearing.”

What is your favorite color to wear?

“Green or blue.”

What is your spirit animal?

“Cat.” What kind of music do you listen to?

“It depends.”

What fashion trends do you love?

“I like mom jeans.”

What fashion trends do you hate?

“Camo.”

What is your dream job?

“Writer maybe.”

Tell us a secret.

“I don’t particularly have any secrets.”

Photos by Nicola Santangelo

25 February 2016 Page by Adelaide Wendel

Style

Students show off their personal styles Interviewed by Sydney Gard

Where do you shop?

“American Eagle.”

Do you have any style icons?

“No.” How would you describe your style?

“I just dress how I feel.”

junior Wesley Zhang

What is your favorite clothing item?

“I like my belt.”

How do you think your personality influences your style?

“I like to dress in bright colors.”

How did you find your style?

“From shows and commercials and stuff.”

What is your favorite color?

“Navy blue.”

What is your spirit animal?

“A walrus.”

What kind of music do you listen to?

“Rap and hip-hop.”

What fashion trends do you love?

“None.”

What fashion trends do you hate?

“I don’t like hipster.”

What is your dream job?

“Archaeologist or something.”

Tell us a secret.

“I wore a skirt when I was little.”

27

FEATURED ARTISTS senior Mayzie Herreman Artist’s Statement: We’re doing concentrations in art right now, so mine was on the contrast between life and death. I wanted to show that it’s not always scary and it can be very peaceful. I wanted to blur the lines between life and death by creating a more sleek-like, peaceful state.

Below: freshman Quincy Grove Top right: senior Lydia Palmer Bottom left: junior Elena Berti Bottom right: senior Julia Wang

25 February 2016 Page by Drake Riner

29

Artists of the Month

30

25 February 2016 Page by Adelaide Wendel

Photo Essay

“YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL” a photo essay by Christina Craig

25 February 2016 Page by Adelaide Wendel

Photo Essay

In 1970, 40 people were photographed at the exact instant after the photographer said, “You have a beautiful face.” Inspired by this, I told 40 students that I was doing a project where I photographed beautiful people. A moment after I told them, I took their photo.

Our self-worth often relies on what others think of us. Being called beautiful by a stranger evokes surprise, gratitude and confusion.

31

Left to right: Shayna Phillips, Thomas White, Jaylyn Womer, Asa Ortega, Isabelle Krones, Monica Wilcox, Jeseung Lee, Joy Bradshaw, Jake Sexton, Sandhya Ravikumar, Tre Byers, Di Xie, Maxwell Lillich, Parker Defelder, Alex Krannawitter, Breanna Wray, Isaiah Williams, Anna Bial, Jackson Bermel, Khady Ndiaye, Alexandra McMillen, Sam Allen, Ashley Giago, Jared Lieberman, Marie Boncella, Amelia Carttar, Charlie Hamer, Erica Christensen, Sawyer Nickel, Sarah Hood, Rowan Laufer, Grace Rockers, Jack Kelsey, Richa Joshi, Keenan Garber-Turner, Blue Brooks-O’Leary, Leonjay Mack, Ayalah Robarge-Silkiner, Goldie Schmiedeler, Dacia Starr

Apply by March 3 to be on the journalism staff next year.

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