Free Press Issue 8

free press 2011-2012

the

fsfreepressonline.com

@fsfreepress on Twitter

4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, Kansas, 66049

edition 15 issue 8 february 23, 2012

Senior Athletes Commit to Colleges

the race is on

stall wall quotes Students still express themselves with a Sharpie and a bathroom stall

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As the 2012 election season heats up, a look at the presidental canidates

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story on pg, 3

home grown talent Members of the indie folk rock band Quiet Corral speak about their style and building a band

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Crushed Dreams

news

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february 2, 2012

Foreign exchange student denied the dream of graduation

#toptweetsoftheweek

use the hashtag #fptoptweets to have your tweet receive 140 characters of fame. @gingerproblems:

@hipsterproblems: my

cat just doesn't want to be the internet star i know he could be#hipsterproblems

Dude, where's my soul? #GingerProblems

@mmitchelldaviss: well

@jaimelynbeatty: My

the apartment is gonna be empty for the next few hours#GoodbyePants

all-time favorite iPhone auto-correct is "awwww" to "sewer". As in, "sewer! Your baby is so cute!"

Top Ten Awkward Moments..

10. Your parents are friends with your teacher 9. Your grandama thinks it is "hip" to buy you "Kidz Bop" CDs 8. When the person you like ask's you who you like 7. When you hug a girl taller then you 6. When you shout out the wrong answer in class with confidence.

5. You take your date to the same movie your parents are in 4. Your favorite article of clothing is a "Forever Lazy" 3. Having a conversation with someone with a "bat in the cave" 2. When someone waves at you and you wave back and then realize they're waving to the person behind you 1. You almost run into a couple in the middle of PDA

On the Cover

Seniors Kylee Loneker, Ryan Patterson and Sean Knighton sign and elebrate the beginning of the college athletic careers. photos by tori crawford

by ciara sayler

When seniors think about Barbosa echoed Rasmussen's graduation, it is about walking regret but understands she isn't across the stage and seeing being singled out. their family waving and cheering.

“I feel kinda sad because I One senior, however, will not don’t get a chance to graduate experience the cheers of her and I feel left out,” Barbosa said. loved ones.

“I understand though. It’s all Brazilian Camila Barbosa is the exchange students. When I a senior exchange student who first found out, I was surprised will not be allowed to graduate because I always thought all of with the rest of the senior class the seniors were allowed to even though she is taking senior walk.” classes, has Principal Ed been here West presented the since the first “She is coming school's policy on day of the exchange student here, taking school year graduation. and is keeping “None of our legitimate classes at least a “C” exchange students and actually average. are allowed to getting credit for graduate,” West said.

Barbosa will not be “They do everything them, but she walking along else from Prom, to isn’t considered side her Homecoming, but friends at one they do not get a real student. I of the biggest high school think it’s more of their moments of a diploma. Not just a not wanting to senior’s high Barbosa, but all school career. exchange students change the rules When her in general.” host family, the thing.”

While the Rasmussens, school has a policy and Barbosa that explains first found out about the school's why Barbosa can’t earn a Free graduation policy for exchange State diploma, Rasmussen and students their immediate Barbosa do not understand why reaction was to talk to principal [Camila] can’t at least walk in the Ed West. graduation ceremony.

“It ended up that she “They don’t even give [Camila] can’t walk with us,” host [seniors] an actual diploma,” sister senior Ashley Rasmussen Rasmussen said. “It’s just a piece said. “ I was really annoyed, and of blank paper.” confused because she missed her While Barbosa can not graduation at her high school in graduate here, her senior classes Brazil so she doesn’t get a high transfer to her high school school graduation. She is coming in Brazil. Although she won't here, taking legitimate classes participate in graduation, she is and actually getting credit for still happy about her exchange them, but she isn’t considered a experience. real student. I think it’s more of a “It’s a great school and I really not wanting to change the rules love the teachers and students,” thing.”

Barbosa said.

the free press staff

Miranda Davis Editor in Chief

Ian Patterson Cartoonist

Ryan Loecker Editor in Chief

Taylor Augustine Designer

Megan Engleman Design Editor

Natalie Hiebert Designer

Allison Harwood Copy Editor

Sarah Whipple Designer

Katie Guyot Copy Editor

Victoria Crawford Photographer

Amani Safadi Managing Editor

Sam Boatright Reporter

Emma Machell Hannah Moran Social Media Editor Reporter

Kimberly Messineo Ciara Sayler Reporter Reporter

Catherine Prestoy

Reporter

Sarah Rohrschneider

Reporter

John McCain Designer

Sean Chilcoat Designer

2011-2012

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 115 or sent in care of Free Press to Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66049.

The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Free Press staff, the high school administration, nor that of the USD 497 Board of Education.

Sporting the

february 23, 2012

sports

by catherine prestoy

Student athletes sign letters of intent to pass, dunk and score in college Senior football players Ryan Patterson and Shawn Knighton sign their letters of intent to play football in college. Knighton committed to Dodge City Community College and Patterson to Highland Community College. photo by tori crawford

Somewhere, some kid is kicking a soccer ball or throwing a football and telling his family and friends, “Someday, I’m gonna be a college sports player!”

To be honest though, in six months he’s probably going to let his sports equipment rot in their garage, moving on to his new dream of being an astronaut or a rock star.

But seniors Kylee Loneker and Shawn Knighton are different from “some kid.”

Both have recently been signed to college teams -- Loneker for soccer and Knighton for football -- and are ready to take their talents from the Firebird fields to fields of higher learning.

“I’m going to Fort Hays State University,” Loneker said. “I loved the team and the school, and the town had a nice atmosphere. Since this is the second year they have soccer there, I just want to make a name for Fort Hays.”

Loneker’s father, Keith Loneker, motivates her to keep going.

“My dad played football when he was in the NFL, so I’ve been around sports my whole life, but soccer just stuck,” Loneker said. “I’m excited and nervous for college sports. I really want to do well.”

Now Keith Loneker substitute teaches at Free State. In the future, his daughter

Senior Kylee Loneker with Free State soccer coach Kelly Barah after commiting to Fort Hays State University where she will be playing next year. photo by tori crawford

wants to be a teacher as well, maybe even at Free State, or possibly be the coach of the soccer team.

Knighton, who played football and basketball, is headed about two hours southwest of Fort Hays to Dodge City Community College to play football.

“It would be more fun to be in college,” he said. “More freedom.”

Knighton hopes to continue on to a four-year college in the future, but for now, he is looking forward to playing for Dodge City.

“After basketball season, I’m going to start training,” he said.

Like Loneker, Knighton draws inspiration from his father.

“My dad used to play high school football and had a scholarship to play,” he said. “My father motivates me the most, [and] football is just fun for me to play.”

For younger students hoping to follow his path, Knighton has a piece of advice: “Just work hard, stay focused and don’t let anyone discourage you.”

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feature

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february 23, 2012

Writing on the Wall “Smile your beautiful ”

FP Response

A nice sentiment, but I can’t smile: you’re ungrammatical.

Location Both women’s restrooms on the east side of the building.

“If you could live the next 24 hours and then erase it and start over just once, what would you do?”

FP Response

For starters, I would take a Sharpie to “Smile your beautiful” to add an apostrophe and an "e."

Location Second-floor women’s restroom nearest the Commons.

“Red Hood was here.”

Interesting pieces of restroom graffiti and the FP response

FP Response

by katie guyot

Bathroom stalls are like hotel guest books: patrons scribble their names and thoughts in indelible ink for strangers to read, to contemplate, to judge for spelling and grammar as they consider adding comments of their own.

The difference is that hotels want guests’ feedback. They even provide the paper and pens. Writing on bathroom stalls, on the other hand, is technically vandalism

and is therefore punishable by law.

At least, it would be if the perpetrators could be identified by the ink in their Sharpies.

But since the authors of bathroom stall novels are unfortunately (or, in many cases, fortunately) anonymous, the least the newspaper can do is give them a page of publicity -- and perhaps a healthy dose of constructive criticism as a bonus.

It appears Little Red Riding Hood got a little lost on her way to Grandma's house...

Location First floor men's room nearest the Commons.

“Bad Wolf” FP Response ...and found the wolf awaiting her in the men’s room.

“Don’t forget to smile.

You never know whose falling in love with it.”

Location First-floor men's room nearest the Commons.

FP Response

...And you don’t want to know.

If someone is falling in love with your smile from the inside of a public restroom, scowl immediately (for safety’s sake).

Spelling error: who’s Location First-floor women’s room on east side of the building

“This is just a random inscription pay no mind.”

“Your mom was here.”

FP Response I’m not surprised.

She was here for parent-teacher conferences, and those things take a while.

Location First-floor women’s restroom nearest the Commons.

FP Response

It must have taken a good 20 to 30 seconds to write this on a tile surface.

Then there’s the obvious... the author had to make a conscious decision to bring a pen with him to the restroom (unless that’s just a normal object to carry around in bathrooms).

If there is no reason to “pay mind” to this run-on, then why did so much effort go into its composition?

Location Second-floor men’s room nearest the Commons

“I

”

you” FP Response

See? It’s already too late.

Now there’s a stalker leaving you love notes on the doors of bathroom stalls.

It's probably because of your smile.

Location First-floor women's room on east side of the building.

ian's inspiration:

february 23, 2012

"The Day We All Rued"

dedicated to h.g.wells

End of the quarter!

Run home and change your password before your parents get back!

It's Skyward!!!

5

Comic

by ian patterson

731 Massachusetts, Lawrence, KS • 785.843.4191 Hours: Mon.-Fri 9 am - 7 pm • Thursdays 9 am - 8:30 pm Saturdays 9 am - 6 pm • Sundays Noon - 5 pm

All Free State students, faculty & staff • Receive 35% off all adidas footwear • Receive 40% off all adidas apparel, bags, socks and accessories.

Must present your student, faculty, or staff ID at time of purchase.

by kyle freese

-Would cut $5 trillion in spending in 5 years if elected president

Mitt Romney

-Against gay marriage

by hannah moran

-Pro-gay marriage groups and people accuse him of being a hypocrite, trying to express the sanctity of marriage.

-Strongly supports the U.S.’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan

Party: Republican Age: 64 Issues: -Pro-life -Pro-Bush tax cuts -Supports the Iraqi War -Only edge over the other candidates seems to be his hair

Future Politicians of America

Young Democrats

Junior Statesmen of America

WHO As for Barack Obama, the Young Democrats are Junior Statesmen of America is a group confi dent in his re-election.

WHO who loves to debate. They meet to discuss “He has a lot of support among the Every Monday of each month, roughly five politics and current events, but most minorities and the minorities to 10 young Democrats gather in Linda Wedge’s importantly, they draft bills to present to a are becoming ... more classroom for a hearty conversation about politics. mock congress in Washington DC next important,” Bailey said.

WHAT month.

“We feel confi dent “It’s more of a discussion about the issues rather “Schools from across about the Latino an activist sort of deal,” junior Austin Bailey said. the country submit bills,” vote because Events like Wikipedia’s controversial day-long sophomore Logan Brown said. the Republican shutdown often spark discussion during a Young “We introduce and debate the immigration Democrats meeting. In addition to discussions, bills just as the real Senate or policy is the club members will occasionally play an activist House would.” alienating to role. Most recently, the Young Democrats emailed WHAT them.” congressional representatives, listing specific areas JSA members in Lawrence However, where budget cuts have cut too deeply. usually lean more toward Republicans “When you’re emailing a congressperson, you the democratic side, but they are welcome have to be precise,” Bailey said.

“It’d be a lot more fun if more people factor in many perspectives. at Young The favored topic of the Young Democrats’ came,” Ghijsen said. “Then we could In November, when college Democrats club is the 2012 election. They closely examined students in California gathered to meetings., the Republican primaries, analyzing swing states like actually have full debates and we’d protest the police’s use of pepper We’d debate California and Florida. have more things to talk spray, JSA members discussed both the issues with them “Primaries have split, which leads to more about.” students’ rights and the police’s rights. respectfully,” Bailey said. competition between republicans which leads to “What I like about JSA is that we talked more attack ads, which makes them look bad in the “We’d not make personal about issues and take it from both sides,” attacks, just conversation about the eyes of the independents,” Bailey said. senior Reuben Ghijsen said. issues.”

YD'S TAKE ON THE 2012 ELECTION

Get Involved

Cain and Perry have all fallen under the pressure of the GOP race. There is still a long road ahead in deciding who will lead us through the next four years in America.

Party: Republican Age: 68 Issues: -Criticized for his 2 divorces

JSA'S TAKE ON THE 2012 ELECTION JSA members do their research.

However, they often look beyond the typical dry, stuffy, political drudge.

“We watch the Daily Show or the Colbert Report to get their view on the situation, but we also watch Fox News,” Ghijsen said.

They also visit websites such as politico. com, which boasts headlines such as “GOP Readies Contraception Offensive” and “Obama’s Assault on Religious Freedom.”

Newspaper articles and news programs assist JSA members in formulating their opinions.

“Gingrich and Romney both have their flaws,” Ghijsen said. “We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Like the Young Democrats’ club, most members of JSA would like to see Obama re-elected.

“He should come off a little stronger and take more action on a few issues, but it’s hard with Congress when all the Republicans are against you,” Ghijsen said. “We just need to avoid a bipartisan stalemate.”

Party: Democratic Age: 50 Issues: -Wanting to end the economic crisis -Ended the war in Iraq -Believes small businesses should get more tax breaks -Thinks college tuition should be reduced

Ron Paul

Newt Gingrich

Party: Republican Age: 53 Issues: -Against bringing the troops home from Iraq

republican candidates’ main goal is to get into office and get Obama out, but the President’s approval rating seems to be going up as the GOP candidates slowly knock one another other out. Bachman, Huntsman,

Barack Obama

Every presidential election, it seems as though the candidates can’t be any more ruthless and competitive than the campaign before. They attack each other on their personal lives, their finances and moral values. The

Rick Santorum

feature

R h g o u ad to the Presidency The Ro

february 23, 2012

-Reformed the college loan system

Party: Republican Age: 76 Issues: -Wants to help keep peace, having the U.S. stay out of world conflicts -Thinks Iran should be left alone -Wants to give power to the states

Make Your

Count

by sarah rohrschneider

Nov. 6, 2012: The next presidential election. With a new election cycle comes new 18-year-old voters.

The question usually is, “Okay, now I can vote.

But, how do I register?”

With new technology, it is easier to vote than it has ever been: online.

If new voters want to register as a Kansan voter, a quick visit to www.kdor.org/ voterregistration with a valid ID or driver’s license will suffice.

Once one begins registration, the prompt will help navigate

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feature

6

february 23, 2012

through the four easy steps.

If a new voter would rather register with a form, a PDF file can be downloaded and printed out from the same website, and sent into the county election office.”

When it comes down to it, registering to vote really is not that hard.

The real question now is who to vote for.

“I’m excited to vote,” senior Michelle Stockwell said. “I will finally have some input in the political process and feel capable of contributing to change.”

Register to vote online at...

https://www.kdor.org/voterregistration/Default.aspx

Closest voter registration sites...

Dillon's (Treasurer Satellite) 3000 W. 6th Street Douglas County Clerk's Office County Election Office 1100 Massachusetts

Register for the 2012 election by...

October 16, 2012

feature

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february 23, 2012

An Interview With by john mccain

An introduction to Lawrence's most prominent up and coming bands, Quiet Corral with guitarist and '09 FS alum Isaac Flynn Quiet Corral

music in. People are so supportive of the arts in this town, and they have been incredibly supportive of what we are doing.

Another advantage about being from Lawrence is the university. The KU student How do you describe body has backed us heavily, your music? and it has really helped propel us into other college I'd like to think that our sound is a combination markets. We’ve seriously been blessed with some of traditional Americana/ amazing opportunities, and folk music mixed with Lawrence is at the heart of a hint of modern rock/ all it. pop. Since that is such a broad spectrum, we hope What sort of things that there's something for has Quiet Corral everyone to enjoy in our been up to? music.

We have been writing, recording and How has Lawrence touring a lot. The three influenced your of those things at once music? are somewhat demanding, Lawrence is one of the but we’re enjoying having most unbelievable towns the opportunity to try to to grow up in and to play pursue music full time.

Jesse Braswell RobertsVocals/Acoustic Guitar/Mandolin Isaac Flynn-Guitar/Vocals/Drums Matt Green-Bass Zach Mehl-Guitar/Piano Garrett Childers-Vocals/Guitar Jim Barnes-Drums/Vocals

Q

Q

Q

We recently released a new single, “City Steep,” and we have been recording a new album that will be out at some point later this year.

Q

What advice would you give ambitious young musicians?

Believe in what you are doing. A band has to have a great balance of confidence and humility to be successful.

Q

How does the songwriting process usually go?

Songwriting is very tedious for us. Jesse or myself will bring the skeleton of a song to the band, and then the we will refine everything in the practice room. Jesse

writes all of the lyrics and the rest of the guys give their input to finalize the song. Everything is very collaborative for us.

Q

out of town for a while, and then we are going to finish our new album. Lawrence is hands down the most fun city to play.

When is your next More from Quiet Corral show in Lawrence? online at It looks like we will be fsfreepressonline.com playing Lawrence around Stop Day (last day of KU classes) this year. We are going to be

february 23, 2012

by ryan loecker

Let’s get this straight: this is not an article about SOPA. Within the past two months, three major file sharing websites (Megaupload, BTJunkie and FileSonic) either have been shut down or have ceased function in an attempt to prevent the illegal downloading of music. Although this may make it more difficult to download pirated music, it will also harm the music industry.

Anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can easily share files with the rest of the world. Once a file exists on a user’s computer, they are able to upload it to a multitude of different websites, most free of charge. Once said file is uploaded, it is available for download to anyone who searches online or has the proper URL. This concept was appealing to everyone, until they started losing money.

The legal use for file sharing is to help businesses store and share information with each other (i.e. spreadsheets, presentations, etc.). To put it as simply as possible, these websites serve as an online flash drive, where any file can be downloaded anywhere.

Here’s where things get illegal: instead of using these sites to share business information, they are now being used to share music. People quickly learned that these sites could be used to share their mixtapes and favorite songs without ever having to leave their homes, or burn CDs. This brings us to where we are today. Basically, every album or song that you might want is available for free download, and there is huge portion of people that take advantage of this.

To be brutally honest, in this day and age there is a group of people that simply isn’t willing to pay for music. Once people get used to having something for free, they aren’t going to be willing to suddenly start paying. It’s like those fake Facebook pages that threaten, “In 30 days Facebook will start charging all of its users.”

If that happened, the majority of users would log off and search for another website that fulfills their social networking needs. Shutting down file sharing websites isn’t going to increase record sales; it will have a reverse effect.

Although it is morally wrong that people are downloading music without paying, that is where we are, and things aren't going to change. By refusing to accept this, record labels are hindering undiscovered new artists and the music industry. For example: say

it is morally "Although wrong that people are downloading music without paying, that is where we are, and things aren't going to change.

"

I start a band, and want to get my music out there.

How do I do so? Make a demo tape and hand it out to my friends at school? No. I upload it to a file sharing website, so people can download it, then pass it along to their friends. In a society where only a small amount of music exists on the radio, and on music television, new artists rely on file sharing to gain exposure. Once I stopped relying on iTunes’s short samples of songs, and their “Recommended Song of the Week,” I discovered music I wouldn’t have otherwise.

One might ask: “If record labels embraced file

sharing, how would anyone make any money?”

Record labels should view file-sharing as a sort of strange investment. Restaurants give away free food all the time; why can’t labels do the same with music?

By allowing music to circulate illegally, it will in turn gain attention. People will post it on their blogs, play it at parties, and book these artists for concerts. In today’s world, it won’t take long for the good music to break into the mainstream, which is where the money starts getting made.

Artists will gain exposure through various television appearances and magazine write-ups, which will grab the attention of people who do pay for music. Artists and the labels they are under are able to make money off of their music by simply allowing a portion of society to download it for free.

Now the question is, “How do labels make money off of this portion of society that doesn’t pay for music?” The answer lies with Steve Jobs. Before he died, he was working on a new type of sound file with a quality much higher than the current MP3.

The only flaw with file-sharing is storage space.

Because these websites limit the amount of storage space for each account, songs and albums are often compressed, lowering the sound quality.

Regardless of what company continues this project, even the most steadfast illegal downloaders have to agree that songs with a quality exponentially better than MP3 are definitely something worth paying for.

Even though it is morally and ethically wrong that people are able to download music without paying, that is the way things are. Instead of ruining a great idea, record labels need to change with the times, and find new ways to make money off of their music.

If file sharing websites continue to get shut down, record sales will not go up, and many up-and-coming artists will not receive the attention needed to make it in the music industry.

Birds Word

Will Severson

Megan Irons

Anna Patterson

freshman

Q: How do you download music?

"I download music off of CDs from the library."

junior

Connor Smith sophomore

"For free with an app on my phone called Easy MP3 Downloader."

"iTunes, and I take music from my friends' playlists."

Spencer McGlachlin senior

Let us know!

"I usually just listen to Pandora, or I buy CDs."

Have any ideas?

Go to fsfreepressonline.com or mention us on twitter with your suggestions!

teacher

"I use iTunes, and my wife buys CDs."

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opinion

(File) Sharing is Caring

Illegal music downloading and file sharing have continued to be an issue in recent months, causing an outbreak of Internet drama.

opinion

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february 23, 2012

when

private becomes public by sam boatright

Reporter explains the complicated mess of sharing intimate details on public social networking sites

In our teenage years, we expect drama. Angsty attitudes, bitter break-ups and passive-aggressive sneers at ex-best friends all feed into what teens consider normal.

Often, students hear about drama secondhand and think little or nothing of it; or, students will make cynical, petty, offhand remarks regarding the dramatized affair.

Either way, the drama is often forgotten as though we all have short-term memory loss concerning juicy gossip. If you’re like me, you think, “It’s none of my business,” and stay out of it.

However, recently, students have been expressing their often frank and unrelenting opinions on unfolding events regarding a particular group of freshman girls; this group often refers to themselves on Twitter as #TeamHoes.

Supposedly, the posse’s name originates from a demeaning nickname given to them by Lawrence High senior guys.

Their alleged brash conquests caused quite a stir around the Free State and Lawrence High communities. Which leaves me questioning: why are these freshman girls subject to such crass and plentiful opinions?

For many students, the first time they have to make choices about sex, alcohol and drugs is in high school. Social drinking and having sex is not uncommon for students to be involved in. So, the question remains: why are these girls being targeted for doing “ordinary” teenager activities?

The answer to this question is somewhat complex.

Members of Team Hoes occasionally post suggestive tweets, ranging from risque photos and heated Twitter battles with their “haters” to sexual, winky-faced-donned shout-outs to senior men (see Tweet Boxes). The results formulate into drama and continuous targeting by students.

By updating their Twitter feeds with suggestive

and scandalous posts, members of Team Hoes are inviting gossip into their lives, being judged and criticized with blunt opinions. It’s safe to assume that even a social media rookie would know that anything posted on the web stays there. Forever.

Team Hoes is being gossiped about because they set themselves up for the onslaught of judgmental tweets and candid opinions by publicizing their actions. The result is a selfdeprecating, hypocritical, vicious cycle.

Complaining about being the victim of spiteful speech after posting a picture of yourself in a skimpy dress may as well be the definition of hypocrisy, a weirdly idealistic mindset where one can say or do what one wants and not face the repercussions.

If you’re going to post pictures and tweets about suggestive things, then expect others to weigh in on the controversy To use a cliche: social media is a two-way street.

Therefore, student expression regarding Team Hoes is completely justifiable. Because such tweets are posted publicly on Twitter--these accounts are not private--this even gives us the right as a newspaper to write about it.

Heed the warning, readers: If you brag, boast or simply mention an anecdote from a wild, outof-control, extravagant night of partying--especially on the Internet--be prepared to receive forthright opinions.

A recent study out of Temple University placed teenagers in a simulated driving experience while simultaneously having their brains scanned in an MRI machine.

The amount of risk a subject was willing to take within the simulated driving experience increased when they thought another teenager was watching their automotive performance.

Accordingly, the section of the subject’s brain

that measures impulses and rewards lit up more when it thought another teenager was watching.

Combine the teenage impulse to show off within eye shot of other teens with the highly publicized nature of social media, and the answer to why this group of freshman girls tweet about their every thought or desire could be due to the want for attention.

And what tweets get the most attention and rate highly on the gossip scale? Controversial, dramatic, surprising comments that make for interesting lunch-table talk.

The availability of social media allows people to share any comments that spring into their minds, whether they are funny, ridiculous or controversial.

Teenagers’ filters as to what is appropriate to be shared online are starting to decay, as we are bombarded with inappropriate pictures on Facebook and suggestive, profanity-laced tweets.

Being mindful of the tweets that we twitter and the statuses that we update will help create a more suitable and pertinent social media culture. Tweeting for sheer shock value or for desiring attention will often produce negative outlooks on you and can damage your reputation.

Phases come and go just as drama does. The important thing is to not let drama and mistakes lead to poor reputations that can follow you for much longer than you would like.

As teenagers, we are entitled to mistakes and flaws as we learn the rigorous, confusing and often impressive realities of growing up.

However, sometime in our teenage years, we must start taking responsibility for our actions and become aware, morale and conscious adults, leaving behind the immaturity of believing that the peak of our maturity has already come.

february 23, 2012

by ryan loecker

Dear whoever is saying bad things about me behind my back: I’m watching out for you.

Just kidding, this is one of the many words of advice I was given at the Lawrence Metaphysical Psychic Shop located at 727 Mass. St. Although I could relate to many of the things the psychic said, I was probably just trying to convince myself this whole experience wasn’t bogus.

The night before we went in, junior Madi Branstrom and I called the psychic to see what their hours were.

Usually, when you call a business, you hear something like: “Hello, so-and-so business, how may I help you?” All we heard was a simple “Hello?” followed by an incredibly awkward phone conversation. I spoke to a woman who never gave me her name, and except for the price, which was $35, she mumbled almost everything she said. Let’s just say this didn’t help any uneasiness either of us were having about this experience.

The next day, I awoke to a voicemail from the psychic. She explained she was making a special trip just for us, and she wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to “just not show up.”

Even though our phone conversation and her voicemail made me extremely uncomfortable, I was still very excited to have my palm read.

Before we went to see the her, I expected the psychic’s store to look something like the one in “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.” Dark, smoky and draped in beads. That was not the case, except for the smoky part. The entire room smelled like it had been hot-boxed with cigarettes. Sadly, that was not the only thing that didn’t live up to my expectations, as the psychic herself was not in the stereotypical gypsy-style attire. It may just be me, but half the fun of seeing a psychic should be for the atmosphere and weird clothes.

Once the psychic was ready, I left my friend Madi and entered a

photo illustration by ryan

separate, loecker more “private” room to have my palm read. After entering this room, seeing the rest of the building and hearing a television in the background, I became convinced she lived there.

The first thing she had me do was stick my hands out and make two wishes; telling her one and keeping the other to myself. After I did so, she immediately began to read my palm, never touching my hands in the process. Things started off rather vaguely, as she spoke about my personality traits. She explained I don’t take myself too seriously, but I have to make sure not to let others control my mood. At the moment, this sounded like great advice, but with more thought I realized almost anybody could relate to that.

As our session progressed, she began to get more specific. Like I mentioned earlier, she told me I am close to a friend who is two-faced (something I will have to keep an eye out for), and also that I have a career change coming in the future. Then she went on to tell me I will soon have to choose between two women in my life, and the second week of June will be very lucky for me.

After some thought, I realize a psychic is more of a magician than someone who can foresee the future.

With advice about friends, my current job and women, she tried to trick me into thinking what she said was special to me. But in reality, the majority of what she said could relate to almost any guy my age. It doesn’t take a genius to notice I am a teenager, or to figure out the problems a typical high school student has. Basically, unless I get fired from Dillons, suddenly have two women interested in me and get really lucky in June, I no longer believe in psychics.

many disenfranchised young Americans argue against the power of that single vote. “It doesn’t matter how I vote, it will be canceled out by someone else.”

Even though you only get one vote, that is the magic of the system; everyone gets one vote. The 1 percent, the politicians, the elderly, the youth voters, everyone only gets one vote.

Though this country is far from being socioeconomic equal, this is one way we get an even playing field in the decisions that affect our government.

So I encourage my generation to get out, register (learn how to register on pages 6 and 7) and change this election. While the country may not become radically different overnight just because you waited in line at a voting center, you made a statement.

That statement says a lot about you, and what you want to see over the next four years. Most of the class of 2012 will be 18 by the next presidential election. That's big. It's a gift the senior class receives only once every four years.

So get online, do some research (politico.com, thedailybeast.com, and factcheck.org are all great places to start) and make an informed decision at the voting booth. Send a message to our politicians, and set an example for future generations.

Your Vote Counts

by miranda davis

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11

opinion

t'Ryan #8: Psychic

One of the many misconceptions of your teen years is that “everything changes” when you become 18. At least in my experience, that’s not very true.You still live in your parent's house, you still have to go to school.

People look at this birthday with special emphasis, but in reality, the only difference is being able to buy lottery tickets and cigarettes (I have been 18 since September and have yet to do either). One of the few noticeable perks, however, is being able to vote in our first election.

Some people don’t see the point in voting, or they don’t see it as an opportunity; which is exactly what it is. It’s an opportunity to impact our government, to voice our opinions and to personally uphold our little piece of democracy.

Voting is a right we are granted as citizens of a democratic country. It is a privilege that many around the world are fighting for this very moment. The countries of Egypt, Syria and Libya have struggled through the Arab Spring in their tumultuous fight for a say in their respective governments. While the citizens of these countries have lost their lives for this right, we don’t seem too concerned about our right to vote.

One vote. Just a single vote. So

lawrence guide

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february 23, 2012

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