Free Press Issue 9 by FSJournalism

free press 2011-2012

the

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We Are Still In Kansas?

4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, Kansas, 66049

edition 15 issue 9 march 15, 2012

story on pg, 4-5

2012-2013 schedule The 2012-2013 schedule won't see many changes to the 0-7 period school day.

revenge of the nerds Nerds: Who are they and why are they always portrayed wrongly?

Lawrence Guide Middle of The Map Fest comes to Kansas bringing all kinds of music to the Area.

news

More Changes?

march 15, 2012

Busting the rumors about the 2012-2013 school year

by sarah rohrschneider

This school year has been full of change and excitement. The use the hashtag #fptoptweets to have your freshmen came up from the junior highs, an additional class period tweet receive 140 characters of fame. was added and more than 30 new teachers were added to the @WendysProblems: thank you @Jenna_Marbles: There has to be Firebird family. for coming through the drivea more efficient way of getting Next year may bring another thru to let me know that you're bugs than manually poking a batch of changes, but when it coming inside to order. I was hole in a tree with your face as comes to discussing the daily concerned. #WendysProblems loud and fast as possible. schedule, rumors have been floating around the school for @charliemcdowell: Dear @TFLN: (704): The kid across weeks. The school district’s GAM, "Snooki is pregnant!? the hall found me in the Leadership Committe was looking You know what, good for her. hallway using a hot pocket to bring back elements of last She's proving all of her haters box as a pillow. I said its okay year’s schedule such as seminar, wrong." Right, she's proving I live here. and making new changes such as them very RIGHT. eliminating late arrival. However, after attending a Professional Learning Community Meeting at LHS in March, the committee decided that seminar is not going to return and late arrival 10. Manage your time wisely. time will stay. 9. Use your planner. You might have Instead, a testing center where to dust it off first. students will be able to make up 8. Create an inspirational playlist on missed tests will be established on Thursday mornings from eight to your iPod. nine. 7. Wear something cute--no more The committee hopes the sweatpants! testing center will compensate for 6. Destroy your phone. the continued absence of seminar, 5. Duct tape yourself to a textbook. whose deletion from this year’s schedule has shown just how 4. Lock yourself in your room. valuable that extra time could be 3. Delete your social networking to students and staff. profiles. “The feeling amongst some 2. Check Skyward. … was, yeah, we miss that time,” 1. Battle what? principal Ed West said. “Maybe we gave it away too fast.” For some teachers, clarification On the Cover of what will happen with the new schedule has been difficult to find. “If one word characterizes [the idea of a new schedule], it would be confusion,” science teacher David Reber said. “Communication hasn’t been good.” West understands why some teachers may have these concerns. The general consensus is that the Lawrence High staff has gotten The map shown of Kansas, can help guide spring breakers on adventures if they do together or at least discussed in a not leave the state. clearer manner what changes will be made to next year’s schedule. Photo by megan engleman

Whatever changes LHS makes to its schedule, Free State scheduling must follow accordingly. “I think there was probably more formal conversation over at Lawrence High than there was here,” West said. He believes some teachers may have been frustrated that he did not know “where this [was] going.” “Most members [at LHS] got the [proposed] schedule presented to them through department meetings,” LHS teacher Mark Rickabaugh said. “Prior to that it was presented in the FAC meeting, to department heads." Teachers were worried a seminar would only add extra stress, especially with the current schedule, which added a seventh hour and cut every class short to 51 minutes. “Many of the teachers I know are worn out from the seven period day," Rickabaugh said. "Our Friday absences of teachers are at an all time high at LHS. Teacher morale is also at an all time low. I've taught 17 years in this district [and] have never seen teacher absences like this.” Even at Free State the stress from the added class period is strong. The idea of bringing back seminar arose in the Leadership Committee due to students experiencing more work from an extra class period, and a higher failure rates at LHS. “I don’t think the additional class period is helpful for a lot of students,” Reber said. “For teachers, teaching another class means about 20 percent more work. With the additional workload, I can’t do as thorough a job as I did before. " Nevertheless, West has made clear that the additional period is here to stay. “Getting rid of the seventh hour hasn’t been talked about at all,” he said. “That’s not going away.”

the free press staff

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.

#toptweetsoftheweek

Top 10 Ways to

Miranda Davis Editor in Chief

Ian Patterson Cartoonist

Ryan Loecker Editor in Chief

Taylor Augustine Designer

Megan Engleman Design Editor

Natalie Hiebert

Designer/Reporter

Allison Harwood Copy Editor

Sarah Whipple Designer

Battle Senioritis?

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

Kyle Freese Reporter

2011-2012

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. Darian White Photographer

When senior Lucas Mehl ﬁrst learned he had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, he was in sixth grade. Still a young boy, he didn’t know what to think. “I was diagnosed and I really didn’t know what it was,” Mehl said. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is rare and generally affects only boys. One out of every 3,600 males experience this kind of muscular degeneration, which can affect one’s abilities to

walk and to breathe. Even with his disease, Mehl has been managing the basketball team for three years. Although Mehl has been in a wheelchair since sixth grade, he manages the boys basketball and the football team; however, basketball is his favorite. On top of taking time away to attend the

by ciara sayler

practices and be involved in the games, Mehl also has a senior year to keep up on. “In terms of balancing sports and school, I basically just have to concentrate in school and make time for sports as well,” he said. “It’s hard sometimes, but sports and school are very important to me.” While most people take simple things such as walking or sitting up for granted, Mehl will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. As of yet, there is no cure for muscular dystrophy; however, doctors can reduce or minimize the pain of patients suffering from the disease through the use of powered wheelchairs, canes, physical therapy and sometimes even surgery. As hard as it can be for Mehl to do the same things kids without muscular dystrophy do, he isn’t letting that get him down from doing what he loves. “I always just stay concentrated and realize why I’m doing what I am,” Mehl said. Football coach Bob Lisher appreciates Mehl’s commitment. “Everyone has different challenges they have to overcome and different strengths and weaknesses,” Lisher said. “And Lucas' strength is of the supervisory leadership role. He does a great job of being positive and assisting the managerial staff and making sure everything is where it is supposed to be.” During basketball season, Mehl manages the team from the sidelines while players like senior Brett Frantz sprint and shoot across the court. To Frantz, however, this contrast is irrelevant. “He’s always with us,” Frantz said. “Nothing’s

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.

march 15, 2012

LUCAS BY THE #'S

1 3600 Ratio of boys affected by muscular dystropy:

Years Lucas has been a manager at Free State

HOME

PERIOD

Age Lucas was diagnosed with muscular dystropy

VISITOR

different.Yes, he has a disease, but in my eyes he’s still just like me.” Frantz said that Mehl’s main job is to run the game clock. But in Frantz’s eyes, he does a lot more. “Lucas has provided so much inspiration for me because he is never down, he’s always happy, and he never gets upset,” he said. “To me, that means a lot, considering his condition.” Since Mehl and Frantz are both seniors, which means they will likely not be together next year, Frantz is trying to spend as much time with Mehl as he can. “On senior night, it really hit me,” Frantz said. “I realized that Lucas and I won’t be together anymore and that made me incredibly sad.” For now, though, Mehl and Frantz can share a special connection on the basketball court. “Before the game, Lucas holds my Duchenne wristband I wear for him since we can’t wear them during the game,” Frantz said. “It may not be a lot to some, but to me it means the world.”

sports

LUCKY LUCAS

Senior proves nothing can stop a student athlete from following his dreams

Are You Smarter Than a Firebird?

feature

ansas, the land of corn fields, savory and sweet barbecue, mid-fifties men walking around rocking farmers tans, and a local vacations paradise. From zip lines to the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, we have some new definitions for the word “Kansas.” So let’s rise above the stereotypical barrier, and become something a little different than “The Land of Oz.”

by katie guyot

Gov. Sam Brownback can rest assured that his name will be permanently imprinted upon the minds of today’s young Kansans, but poor old Betsy Ross is probably wishing she had sewed her initials into the American ﬂag so her name would not be lost in history. After watching the YouTube video entitled “Lunch Scholars,” commonly known as “kids can’t answer basic questions,” in which students from an Olympia, Wash., high school give migraines to history teachers across

by catherine prestoy

the nation, the Free Press staged impromptu interviews of its own with students wandering the halls of Free State. Like the so-called Lunch Scholars, these Firebirds were asked questions primarily pertaining to American politics and history. However, unlike the Lunch Scholars, the freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors representing Free State managed to maintain a solid C average -- with only a few embarrassing blunders along the way.

4 Paintball:

Drop Zone Paint Ball is located in Topeka. It is also the largest and oldest paintball park in Kansas, so, don’t worry: everybody has plenty of room to have the epic paintball ﬁght of their dreams. Players have to be at least 10 years old to play, but if the player is under 18, they have to have a parent with them at all times. Other than that, paintball away. Location:1224 N 1 Rd, Overbrook, KS

1 2

Is Africa a country? right 11

wrong 6

yes

24 % %

5 Stull, Kansas:

Stull is just a few miles from Lawrence and is supposedly one of the gateways to hell. Cue the bum bum buuum. People believe that every Halloween at midnight, Stull’s cemetery is visited by the devil. Although, every year when people try to get to the cemetery, they are either disappointed or shooed away for trespassing. Location: Stull Road, Stull, KS

march 15, 2011

1 Who is the current gove rnor of Kansas? 2 How many GOP candida te left in the ra ce for the Rep s are ublican nomination (o n 3 How do you Feb. 23) spell the curr ent president's n ame? 4 How many sta States can you tes in the United name that st with the lett art er "i"? 5 Why are th ere 13 stripes on the American fla g? 6 Who sewed the first Amer flag? ican 7 What coun tries border th e United States? 8 Which ocea n is to the w est of the United State s? Which is to the east? 9 Is Africa a country? See how you did by going to www.fsfree pr

essonline.com

6 World’s Largest Ball of Twine:

Let’s be honest, this couldn’t have been a Local Vacations story without mentioning the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. This ball of twine was born when a man decided it would be tidy to roll all of his extra twine into a ball to minimize space, and thus after years of rolling, the World’s Largest Ball of Twine was born.Visitors to the World’s Largest Ball of Twine can pick up the spool and add as much twine as they want to it. Location: Wisconsin St., Cawker City, KS

1 Truckhenge:

Truckhenge isn’t exactly your high-end art gallery. It’s located in Topeka and is home to a few artistic pieces of (for lack of a better word) junk. Truckhenge is just like Stonehenge, but with trucks. Trucks are suspended from their fronts and are spray-painted with messages, such as “Freedum Isn’t Lost,” “If These Trucks Can’t Stand Why Do We Fight The Taliban?” and “A Memorial For Liberty. Rome Didn’t Kill Jesus Bureaucrats Did.” Location: 4124 NE Brier Rd, Topeka, KS

2 Zip Lines:

Greenbush Education Service Center offers a challenge rope courses for schools, scouts, athletic teams, businesses, corporations, clubs, service leagues and church groups. Greenbush also offers many other programs and workshops that are located in Topeka.

7 Botanica Gardens:

Locations: Southeast Kansas Education Service Center, Greenbush, 947 W. 47 Hwy, Girard, KS, 66743; Greenbush of Topeka, Forbes Field 6700 SW Topeka Blvd., KS 66619; Greenbush Resource Center, Eudora, 1310 Winchseter Eudora, KS, 66025

After all of the adventures, it’s time to wind down. Botanica Gardens has several gardens that are perfect for relaxing, sitting back and smelling the roses. They always have a list of upcoming events, so there’s always something to look forward to. Location: 701 Amidon St Wichita, KS

JCCC in Lawrence: Spring Classes

3 Laser Tag:

Advanced laser tag is located in Olathe, and is open seven days a week (excluding holidays). Tuesdays are high school and college night, which offers soft drinks and four games for $14 including tax. However, reservations are recommended. Location: 2026 East Santa Fe Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062

• Perspectives of • Career and Life Planning Hospitality Management • PC Applications: MS Office • Workplace Skills • Introduction to Writing • Nutrition and Meal Planning • Fundamentals of Mathematics • Food Service Sanitation

• • • •

Elementary Algebra Business Math Technical Math I Reading Skills Improvement

Enroll today! Classes fill quickly. For more information, contact Student Services at 913-469-3803 or search for credit classes by location (LCS–Lawrence Centennial School) at www.jccc.edu

Johnson County Community College in Lawrence at Centennial School, 2145 Louisiana St.

Lawrence Vs. Olympia How'd we do?

Go check out the video with all the questions and answers online @ www.fsfreepress.com!

free state lunch scholars

which is a solid (or not so solid)...

C+F

feature

march 15, 2011

What Oceans are on the east/west of the United States?

65% got it right

march 15, 2012

opinion

6 Revenge by hannah moran

of the Nerds

The kind of teenagers who actually enjoy debating infrastructure implementation and nuclear weapons are not the same kind of teenagers who you’d expect to be engaging in questionable activities on the dance ﬂoor. Being a nerd is not all it’s cracked up to be. People perceive “nerds” as typically spending Friday nights doing homework or maybe playing Dungeons and Dragons. Such preconceived notions about nerds often detract from individuals’ actual personalities. Contrary to popular belief, “nerds” know how to have a good time. A primary example would be the Model United Nations delegate dance, an event which occurs every February at the luxurious Palmer House hotel in Chicago. One of two scenarios could play out at this conference culmination, which constitutes a dark room, loud music and 1,200 other teenagers. First, everyone could just awkwardly stand around. Or second, all the building sexual tension could burst in a mad pit of moshing bodies. Typically, the second scenario prevails. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the delegates from all across America, the highly motivated students who solve all the world’s problems in four days, were indeed, tearing up the dance ﬂoor. The glasses/

Despite the sterotypes, being a "nerd" has its hidden advantages

suspenders/nose spray/socially awkward stereotype is really no longer pertinent.

"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the delegates from all across America, the highly motivated students who solve all the world’s problems in four days, were indeed, tearing up the dance floor." Activities such as debate, leadership conferences and Model United Nations usually require the participants to wear suits. As a female, I am a bit biased, but boys -- suits are good. Suits are very, very good. Smart boys in suits make for a nerdy yet highly enjoyable extra curricular experience. There are other advantages to being an active participant in extra-curricular activities. Being involved allows you to be exposed to a vast range of enlightening enrichment opportunities. Translation: nerds get to go on lots of field trips. In fact, due to the copious amount of opportunities to leave school, they probably spend less time in class than their school-hating classmates. Usually the field trips are more than just an exit strategy. Often, a profusion of learning occurs, whether it’s about World War II or monkey brains. Field trips will also include the opportunity to purchase a high quality lunch. Another common misconception is that nerds are all helplessly un-athletic. While this may hold

some element of truth, Harvard graduate Jeremy Lin proves this false by being deemed athletic enough to play in the NBA. For those of us who are not nerdy enough to hold an economics degree from Harvard or are not athletic enough to play in the NBA, we still ﬁnd ways to ﬁll our letter jackets. Debate and Scholars’ Bowl, for example, are just as rigorous as any typical varsity sport, except with a much lower rate of injury (usually). The same competitive mindset is required, and in no other sport is screaming at the opponent encouraged. Being a nerd has incredible advantages. Fraternizing with guys (or girls) in suits, leaving school, determining our generation’s future and most importantly, shattering stereotypes -- it’s all in a day’s work.

So-Called Nerd in Real Life

The Stereotyped Nerd

illustrations by ian patterson

Birds Word Delanie Cook

freshman

Q: What would you consider a nerd?

Gavin Kirk "Somebody who not only does well in school, but likes school for the academic purpose."

junior

Patrick Budenbender

sophomore

"I consider a nerd as someone who probably isn’t athletic and takes too much pride in school."

"Ginger with thick glasses."

Let us know!

senior Avery Beck Hannah Oberrider senior

"Someone ... who studies a lot and has nerd-like qualities."

Have any ideas? Go to fsfreepressonline.com or mention us on twitter with your suggestions!

Brad Greenwood

teacher

"Me. I teach math, science and computers. I am the epitome of geekness."

march 15, 2012

Unlike my experience with hot yoga, this is a fitness program for your grandmother. On Wednesday, Feb. 29, I started my day earlier than I ever do (6 a.m.) to try a deep water aerobics class in the diving well at the Indoor Aquatic Center. Before the workout started, I expected “Water Warriors” to be something similar to a Richard Simmons video. After participating in the class, I am confident Simmons would have fallen asleep in the pool. Besides myself, there were only five other people in the session, the last of an eight-week course. One was my newspaper adviser, Laurie Folsom, and the other four were women who appeared to be my grandmother’s age.I was told when the session started, there were 16 participants. I’m not sure if the class was too rigorous for the other 11, or if they just decided to take a day off. While I am a satisfactory swimmer, I have always had trouble floating. This proved to be a problem at the beginning of the class. As the session was starting, I noticed my instructor Susan Pomeroy was looking at me with a puzzled look on her face. “Can you even swim?” she asked. Apparently my flotation belt was not doing a very good job of keeping me above water. We switched it out, and I still sank. I was so “water-logged” that I also had to wear the adult version of water

photo illustration by ryan leocker

wings. The hardest and most unique part of the class took place when my instructor paired me with Sally, a 75-year-old ex-exhibition swimmer. I had no idea what was going on, and the next thing I knew, we were tied together with rope. “I can see the headline now,” Pomeroy said. “Senior hooks up with senior citizen in the pool.” In a sort of weird competition, we were told to “run” in opposite directions to see who would pull who. Even though I wasn't great at running in the water, and the other swimmers were hyping her up, I was confident I would be pulling her with ease. Although it pains me to say so, that is not how it went down. Thankfully I was able to beat her, but it took everything I had. After the class had ended, I found myself paying more attention in class, and I felt more energetic. I’m not sure if that justifies getting up at 6 a.m., but it was definitely a plus.I respect any elderly woman (or man) who can spend an hour working out in the pool.

ian's inspiration: "Legal Plagiarism"

by ian patterson

saw the way the senior class reacted, and they fought for us. They had to go all the way to Principal West. But they won. The administration did try and sneak this past us, and if the student body hadn’t learned about it, then they wouldn’t have reacted until it was too late. However, we should note West’s attitude towards studentled change. He always has a listening ear and will genuinely consider the student voice before making a decision. So while we sit around and complain about the general problems that plague our time in this building, let’s take a minute to thank the administration for responding to the student voice. We also have a very active StuCo. This school has two senior class presidents who care about the legacy they leave behind and who want to make their senior class proud. We take this for granted, but a lot of schools do not have this privilege. It’s hard to be in charge 1,400 students. Our administration strikes the right balance between a dictatorship and letting the inmates run the prison. I’ve been informed that the plans for Homestretch are still tentative, but even if they fall apart, the senior class can at least say they tried. It seems little, not very important, but the Homestretch classes give us a change to take a break from the day to day standard classes we take. It also gives us a chance to learn new things. So from at least one senior: thank you.

Miranda Davis:

Tradition Troubles

opinion

t'Ryan #8: Water Aerobics

Last week we almost lost another Free State tradition. Almost. Homestretch nearly saw the same fate as Fall Jamboree, Great Green Help and Raise the Roof. Even though Homestretch had been cancelled for a while, word got out to students recently, as student council organized their back-up plan, because they still wanted to do a senior-only event. Well, as could be expected, the senior class became upset. The logic behind it ending made enough sense. The original reason Homestretch was created because every other grade in the school had to take state assessments on the same day with pencil and paper, and they needed something for the seniors to do so they wouldn’t disrupt the testing. Now that those tests are computerized, there is no longer a day speciﬁcally set aside for this testing. The administration didn’t want to take teacher-student contact hours away, if they didn’t have to. I can understand this reasoning. But there is something to be said about tradition. There is something to be said about making high school an experience, not just a diploma. There is something to be said about students having a say in the decisions of their education. That’s why I’m so impressed with our student council. They

march 15, 2012

lawrence guide

8 the

by sam boatright

As the epicenter of culturally hip music in Kansas, Lawrence has hosted to slew of notable music fests--Scion Garage Fest and North Vs. South Festival to name a couple. Unfortunately, both of these music festivals have been either a one time deal or travel from city to city.

Middle of the Map Fest @ Westport in KC April 5-7 Following 2008, Lawrence was left with a bitter taste in its mouth. Its beloved, hippie-friendly micro-sized Woodstock--Wakarusa Music Festival-departed from the Clinton Lake grounds and trekked its way down to Ozark, Ark in its wornout Birkenstocks and tie-dye shirt. As a cumulative representation of Lawrence’s affable music scene and arts appreciation, many Lawrencians were saddened by the festival’s sudden exit, praying to the music festival gods that another joyous festival would reveal itself.

Filling Lawrence with Music

Lawrence had still been waiting for a large scale indie music festival when the gracious music festival gods answered Lawrence’s prayers in the form of “Ink’s” Middle of the Map Fest in Kansas City, MO. The second annual Westport-based festival ﬂaunts an impressive line-up this year, hosting

indie darlings such as Neon Indian, White Denim and Fun, exposing just the tip of the indie iceberg that is the festival. From highly-praised up-andcomers Friends to racket-producing punks F***ed Up to Midwest crooner Beau Jennings, the musicale holds strong in both depth and variety. With over

Middle of the Map Fest has...

Middle of the Map Fest is...

CLASSES FORMING NOW!

BRING A FRIEND & GET $50 OFF!

4920 Legends Dr. Lawrence

www.educate.com

Where to go

Unfortunately, due to age limits, the only all-ages shows will be at The Beaumont More than 80 local, national and international bands, Club on April 6-7 and at the Westport eight venues and10 stages! Coffeehouse Theatre on April 6. If you are 18+, then you can see shows at The Record Bar. But, don’t let the age constraints dissuade you from seeing some awesome music. The Beaumont Club is a wonderful $20 for a one day pass or $35 for all three days! venue--a little bigger than The Bottleneck-and the bands their are some of the coolest at the festival--Neon Indian, Mates of State 80 bands--stateside and across the pondto name a couple. -and a potpourri of genres, music lovers A cultural and technological forum also takes can rejoice in the haven that is Middle of place on April 5-6, mimicking Austin’s SXSW multithe Map Music Fest. interest oriented festival. One-day passes for April Founded by Nathan Reusch--owner 6-7 are an incredibly low $20; three-day passes of KC record label The Record Machineare $35; forum passes are $50, and a pass for -the festival also focuses on spotlighting everything is $75. multiple local indie and hip-hop acts. The The Middle of the Map Fest is truly a special festival hopes to “promote community event, especially for Kansas City; rarely do concertamong the Kansas City music scene,” goers have the opportunity to experience so many a scene rich with talented rap artists intimate and exceptional shows, put on by the coagulated with Lawrence’s prominent coolest contemporary acts at a breadth of venues. indie rock scene. The success of last year’s festival brought 30 more bands, four more venues and a third day, just so concert-goers have enough time to catch all their favorite acts.

Middle of The Map Fest bands on the right: White Denim. Below is the band Fun

785-842-6284

Sponsored by Kansas City’s lifestyle magazine “Ink” and other Kansas City venue performers will play at venues in and around Westport, a tasteful nightlife section in Kansas City’s midtown.Venues include The Beaumont Club, The Record Bar, Westport’s Coffeehouse Theatre, The Riot Room and others.