THE FREE PRESS
Issue 2 | Nov. 1 2024 | Edition 28
by Neylana Haque
Pg. 12-13 | Who is to Blame?
Illustration
NEWS STAFF CONTENTS
FEATURE
Pg. 13 - History of Gun Violence
Pg. 17 - Just Ask Johnston
Pg. 20 - Kansas Welcomes You
Pg. 23 - Cut Loose With the Cast
NEWS
Pg. 5 - Vice Presidential Picks
Pg. 10-11 - Bending Boundaries
Pg. 16 - Fourth Year Finalists
Pg. 19 - Looking Through the Net
Pg. 21 - Embracing Your English
OPINION
Pg. 4 - What is the Media?
Pg. 12 - Who is to Blame?
A&E
Pg. 8 - Fall Word Search
Pg. 9 - Fall Cookbook
Pg. 22 - Must Watch Horror Movies
SPORTS
Pg. 18 - The Participation Dilemma
ABOUT THE COVER
This cover is meant to represent our package story. In America, 12 children die due to gun violence daily while another 32 are injured. Because of impacts from environmental factors to lax gun laws, gun violence has become normalized in American culture. With no end or solution visible in the near future from officials, the responsibility to prevent these shootings comes down to everyday members of society. Illustration by Neylana Haque
SOCIALS MISSION STATEMENT
Curious Free State journalists will amplify voices, gather superior sources and tell pivotal stories of our community in a visually creative way in order to serve our audience and foster quality scholastic journalism in Lawrence, Kansas.
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Lilly Wall
Nick Sprecker
Phoebe Morris
MANAGING EDITORS
Evie Chancy
Maria Mosconi
DESIGN EDITOR
Geneva Sabatini
PHOTO EDITOR
Mallory Thompson
CAPTIONS EDITOR
Elinor Russo
SPORTS EDITOR
Rakshan Ossen
COPY EDITOR
Elliot Skillman
ONLINE
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Simon Williams
Ember Klein ONLINE
MANAGING EDITOR
Baila Love
SOCIAL MEDIA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Katie Campbell
ASST. SOCIAL
MEDIA EDITOR
Delaney Bayliss
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Miles Beaty
Liam Butler
Chloe Cook
Kinley Gigous
Ebi Hegeman
Julia Velasco
Lilly Wall
Eden Weber
Amelia Wiles
REPORTERS
Katie Campbell
Harper Finck
Jonah Frye
Owen Gerrish
Eula Heriford
Lauren Jackson
Rakshan Ossen
Avery Smiley
Emi Stone
Amelia Wiles
DESIGNERS
Katie Campbell
Evie Chancy
Kouri
Demelash
Harper Finck
Neylana Haque
Zoe Kaul
Willow Marable
Allison McCall
Lucas Smith
Abbie Veeder
BUSINESS TEAM
Ainsley Linhos
Amanda McCall
Piper Northrop
Collected by Evie Chancy
JOURNALISM JOURNALISM APPLY TO
Positions available:
Reporter
• Have your writing published on the website, newspaper and yearbook.
• Interview interesting people and tell stories from around the school.
• Recommended prerequisite: 21st Century Journalism
Designer
• Express your creativity with vibrant, interesting designs for the yearbook, social media and newspaper.
• Use Adobe Indesign and Illustrator to compliment stories and photos to create cohesive pages.
• Recommended prerequisite: Graphic Design 1
Photographer
• Capture moments and tell a story through a camera lens at a variety of events.
• Learn to edit photos and gain skill in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
• Recommended prerequisite: Photography 1
Video Production
• Capture visually enticing moments at various different events and programs through video.
• Build an understanding of the available equipment and professional editing software to allow for elevated, complex projects.
• Recommended prerequisite: Video Production 1
Business
• Sell advertisements to various local businesses
• across Lawrence
• Learn how to apply business and communications skills that will help you beyond graduation.
• Work with others to boost Free State Journalism as a program.
Apply by Nov. 22
• Requires a teacher recommendation
• Submit a portfolio for better odds
• Interviews will be held in December
Fill
Illustration by Neylana Haque
WHAT IS THE MEDIA?
Navigating the Complex Landscape of Modern Media
In an era of unprecedented information flow dependent on modern media, it is no question that news outlets and entertainment channels are crucial to keeping the human population informed. However, as the digital age has progressed, it has become increasingly common for individuals to become skeptical of the mainstream media carrying ulterior motives beyond just information.
Sweeping statements such as “The media is brainwashing everyone,” or “That’s what the media wants you to think,” imply that news outlets shape public opinion and political views. Some even take it further, insisting that media outlets are puppets, controlled and influenced by some higher intelligence, whether it be the government or giant conglomerates, stemming from the fact that a few large corporations own a significant portion of the media industry.
While these claims can’t necessarily be debunked, they oversimplify the diverse and complex nature of media and don’t take into account the variety of sources, perspectives and journalistic ethical standards that come into play. It is important to define just all that the “media” encompasses and to fairly evaluate the media’s influence in shaping — or not shaping — political and social landscapes.
The term “media” encompasses a wide range of channels, from traditional outlets like newspapers,
television and radio to digital platforms such as social media and podcasts. Each medium serves distinct purposes, with traditional journalism aiming to adhere to ethical standards directed at accuracy while smaller digital platforms have the choice to blur the lines between news and opinion.
Given the definition of the media, it should be nearly impossible to generalize the “media” as its landscape encompasses information that is both democratized and distorted. Even still, a 2018 Gallup poll found that 62% of Americans believed that the “media” was biased one way or the other. Another Gallup poll in 2023 collected that only 27% of independents and 14% of republicans had a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the media.
When Gallup asked the same question in 2003, only 1 in 10 expressed “no confidence” while more than half expressed confidence — what happened?
The decline in trust of a free press creates a dangerous spiral; the lack of shared and established news can result in a society unable to engage with each other around a common set of facts— something that has been evidently proven by the increased polarization of today’s world.
Disengagement with news often draws parallels to disengagement with politics, voting and civic life.
by Kouri Demelash
As the world becomes ever digitized, opportunities for the erratic consumption of misinformation grow larger. Digital media sprouts concerns of authenticating what is reported in the media; with the emergence of artificial intelligence, concerns of deep fakes, manipulated images and automated article generation grow larger for everyday news consumers. This is something that wasn’t possible decades ago — if people can’t trust what they’re seeing, how could they possibly trust the news?
Illustration
In today’s world more than ever, there is a noticeable discrepancy between the amount of republicans who “trust the news” (14%) in comparison to democrats (70%), as referenced by Gallup earlier. Social media echo chambers, occurring when algorithms prioritize content that matches users’ beliefs, create a worrying feedback loop that often drives polarization by ringing out opposing viewpoints. Another danger created through social media — party members become entrenched in their viewpoints, making common ground harder to find. As a result, people are weary of news that doesn’t align with their political stance. Former President Donald Trump significantly increased this mistrust during and after his tenure by criticizing the “fake news” media, frequently attempting to discredit negative headlines about him.
So? — Major, established news outlets like CNN or MSNBC aren’t as biased as some claim. While it is important to beware of small underlying biases that may exist, journalists work to uphold a professional standard and provide accurate information. While editorial choices may reflect certain perspectives, their commitment to fact checking and responsible reporting shouldn’t be understated.
To get a blanched view of the news, try to read from multiple sources with different perspectives. Be critical of the information you consume, but not without reason. By taking these steps, you are working toward creating a more well-rounded version of yourself and of society.
Collected by Lilly Wall
VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICKS
HARRIS’S VP PICK: TIM WALZ
AGE: 60
CURRENT ROLE: Minnesota Governor (since 2018)
BORN: Nebraska
VIEWS AND BELIEFS:
• Voted in favor of the Affordable Care Act
• Voted to continue funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Supported tighter vetting of refugees entering the U.S.
TRUMP’S VP PICK: J.D. VANCE
AGE: 40
CURRENT ROLE: U.S. Senator from Ohio (since 2022) and author
BORN: Ohio
VIEWS AND BELIEFS:
• Described his stance as pro-life but said he would like the issue to be left to the states
• Sponsored legislation that would ban access to gender-affirming care for minors
• Called for funding and construction of a border wall
student news of lawrence free
VIDEO: POWDERPUFF FOOTBALL
StuCo hosted Powderpuff Football on Sept. 25, 2024. In the final round, the juniors beat the seniors 12-6.
Scan to watch the Powderpuff video on our website.
NEWS: SAY GOODBYE TO THE SCANNER
Lawrence police scanner is taken away
Scan to read about the legacy of the police scanner.
Celebrating a touchdown, the sophomore team huddles around Tessa Nover-Estes as she clutches the football. The sophomores lost their game to the seniors. Photo by Anders Benson
Checking the X page, a student looks at the Lawrence Police Scanner. Due to the Lawrence Police Department encrypting their radio station, the Police Scanner is now nonfunctioning. Photo by Miles Beaty
Video by Nathan Kramer
Story by Lilly Wall
state high school
INFOGRAPHIC: CANDIDATES CLASH
Examining the policy differences between the two options for president
Collected by Logan Dinges
Scan for a breakdown of the candidates’ policies.
FEATURE: ONCE
UPON A FESTIVAL
Behind the scenes of the annual Renaissance Festival
Story by Ebi Hegeman
Scan to read more about this annual event.
Visitors stroll through decked out buildings in a variety of costumes. Since the festival’s beginnings, everyone was encouraged to dress up for the weekend’s theme. “I like walking and looking at people’s outfits,” sophomore Emmett Henry said. “It feels like in modern day, we don’t get to experiment as much with older styles of dressing.” Photo by Ebi Hegeman
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will face off in the presidential election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Illustration by Neylana Haque
Design by Geneva Sabatini
By Nick Sprecker
FALL WORDSEARCH
MINI PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE DONUTS
Recipe by Amelia Wiles
Coating Ingredients
• ¼ cup crushed graham crackers
• ¼ cup white sugar
• ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice
Steps
1. Whisk together warm milk, yeast, sugar and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
2. Add in sugar, pumpkin puree, vanilla, butter, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
3. Add flour gradually and knead dough until sticky.
4. Let dough rest for 2 hours (sorry, patience is key!)
5. Use a piece of twine to form dough balls into a pumpkin shape.
6. Fry donuts at 350°F for 3 minutes on each side in a pot of boiling cooking oil.
7. Take out donuts and snip twine to remove.
8. Toss warm pumpkins in the graham cracker sugar mixture.
9. Whisk together cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar, pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice until fluffy.
10. Make a hole in the side of the pumpkin for filling with the cinnamon stick.
11. Using a piping bag or a make-shift Ziploc piping bag, pipe in the filling.
12. Place a small cinnamon stick in the top as the stem.
13. Enjoy your hard work!
Dough Ingredients
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 cups flour
• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 ½ tsp active dry yeast
• 2 tsp sugar for yeast
• 1 ½ tbsp white sugar
Filling Ingredients
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temp.
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
10 BENDING BOUNDARIES
Story by Lauren Jackson
High school boundaries revised for balanced enrollment
Lawrence Public School Board’s Boundary Committee is discussing a revision to the high school boundary that currently resides on Bob Billings Parkway. The committee initially proposed four plans including grade-level schools but has since narrowed the decision to two.
The first plan, the “Lawrence L,” sends students north of Bob Billings and west of Massachusetts Street to Free State while the “Middle School Feeder Pattern” has Free State consisting of students from West Middle School and Central Middle School and Lawrence High comprised of students from Southwest Middle School and Billy
Mills middle school. School Board Vice President GR Gordon-Ross said a change is necessary as the board has concerns regarding equitable opportunities provided by each school due to a 350-student difference between Free State and Lawrence High.
“Over the last 25 years, the growth pattern in the city has shifted north and west creating an imbalance in the city,” GordonRoss said. “Free State now has more students, thus they have more staff, and they’re able to offer classes that Lawrence High can’t offer.”
Alongside the equity issues, following the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) division regulations, LHS is at risk of being demoted from 6A to 5A. The board does not foresee this issue resolving itself, making a boundary change imperative to preserve LHS’ 6A status.
“There’s a possibility that within not too many years, Lawrence High would drop from 6A to 5A,” Gordon-Ross said. “Managing one high school that’s 6A and one high school that’s 5A is concerning to us; we’re drawing a boundary that brings balance back to the two high schools.”
= Student will attend Lawrence High = Student will attend Free State
Many parents and students have expressed concern about the effects this change will have on Free State. Assistant Principal Matt Renk feels that like any change, the building must adjust to this shift.
“Anytime you lose students, that’s going to affect programs and offerings,” Renk said.
While the board will allow students currently at either school to stay where they are, there aren’t the same guarantees for younger siblings. Students and parents including junior Breahna Randall feel that a boundary change will cause logistical issues for their families.
“I live in West Lawrence, near Langston Hughes which is close to Free State, . . . it’s much more convenient to drive my sister and I to Free State,” Randall said. “If the district decides to change the boundaries, we would not only have to become accustomed to driving across town to get to school and extracurricular activities, but we would also have to completely adjust our lives.”
With this in consideration, the board is open to making transportation accommodations for those affected. Even with this, GordonRoss feels this will ultimately benefit the community as a whole.
“We’re going to impact a lot of people, but it’s in the best interest of everybody,” Gordon-Ross said. “We have to make decisions that are in the best interest of the district, even though we may impact some smaller subset of the district.”
The board will vote in December on which plan will take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Learn more in upcoming board meetings or visit Lawrence Public Schools’ website: usd497.org
MeghPatel
Design by Katie Campbell
“It would affect parents because they’d have to drive more, and that’s a bad idea because it will lead to kids being late to school. The amount of kids that are going to have to transfer next year will be a big chunk, especially because of how they’re taking North Lawrence.”
“The
boundaries changing
will hurt the students already in high school and the future students. My brother might end up going to a different school because of an
SigneHoke
unrelated sports issue.”
SteveHeffernan
“The true feeder schools would impact Student Council a lot. About two thirds of our kids went to Southwest, so they’d be going to Lawrence High if that is put in place.”
“It worries me that my sister might have to switch schools after her freshman year because that will be really hard for her.”
RowanGlendening
Photos by Amelia Wiles, Lilly Wall, Liam Butler and Mallory Thompson
WHO IS TO BLAME?
Editorial by Maria Mosconi
children die from gun violence per day in America 12 12 live in a home where at least one gun is kept loaded and unlocked.
On Sept. 4, just weeks after students and staff returned for the new school year, America was again burdened by gun violence in classrooms. Early that morning, 14-year-old Colt Gray armed himself, killing four individuals and leaving seven injured at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
Of American children, 4.6 mil 4.6 mil
There have been at least school shootings so far in 2024 as of Sept. 19. 50 50
Black youth are more likely to be killed with guns than their white peers. 4 times 4 times are age 19 or younger Of gun deaths, 1 of 10 1 of 10
A quarter century after the Columbine High School shooting, Apalachee High School joined the growing list of 416 other school shootings that have taken place since 1999, according to the Washington Post.
The aftermath of these attacks leaves frightened students, parents, staff and community members searching for who is to blame. However, the responsibility doesn’t completely lie with the person that pulled the trigger.
Unregulated gun ownership has become a long standing debate in American politics; many American’s national identity is associated with their right to bear arms. While other countries restrict gun rights following shootings, American politicians have been less keen to enact strict laws in favor of earning votes.
In fact, 32 states allow for teachers to carry concealed arms in case of a shooting. If lawmakers are more willing to arm teachers than to compromise on gun restrictions, then they are not interested in preventing shootings. When you have the power, why wouldn’t you use it to prevent a person from becoming a shooter instead of relying on teachers to shoot first?
Lax gun ownership laws make weapons easily accessible, with 68% of guns used in schools being taken from home or known personnel, according to the Sandy Hook Promise. In the second case where a parent has been charged following a shooting, the legal system held Colin Gray accountable for giving his son the murder weapon.
The Free Press
A HISTORY OF GUN VIOLENCE
START
Even without directly providing access to weapons, children are exposed to violence from a young age through video games, movies and media. Research has repeatedly shown this leads to violent tendencies in children, desensitizing students to guns and how deadly guns are.
While parents and politicians hold part of the responsibility when students and staff are murdered, society is the last deterrent before a shooting.
Before the shooting, Gray’s mother called the school to inform them of an eerie text she received from her son reading, “I’m sorry, Mom,” and urged them to check on her son. Later that morning, two teachers and two students were dead.
According to the Sandy Hook Promise, four out of five attackers' plans are known and unreported.
Yet, understanding the signs potential shooters often exhibit could eliminate the possibility of future gun threats all together. Following the shooting, Gray's classmates described him as reserved. While the majority of the time being quiet doesn’t correspond with being violent, 75% exhibit behaviors that concern bystanders, according to the Sandy Hook Promise.
Society's treatment of children that don’t “fit in” leaves them feeling isolated and often depressed. These traits are overlooked in men who are conditioned to suppress their emotions and receive less mental health resources, resulting in the inability to express or process their struggles. According to The Violence Project, men are responsible for 98% of mass shootings.
As a nation, we need to stop leading our lives as if children being murdered in school is inevitable: it’s not. Society would rather turn the other way than report or take action on a threat. Gun violence is not taken seriously. Children being murdered in school is not taken seriously. Society needs to start taking the warning signs seriously.
1886: Presser vs. Illinois Supreme Court case that decided the Second Amendment prevents states from prohibiting citizens to bear arms.
1929: United States vs. Schimitter Supreme Court case that enshrined citizens have the right to carry arms whenever necessary to defend the country.
1934: The National Firearms Act is placed. Limits the use of machine guns, sound suppressors (silencers) and other weapons that were commonly used by criminals in the Prohibition Era.
1990: Gun-Free School Zones Act imposes penalties for possession of firearms in a school zone.
2010: McDonald vs. The City of Chicago Supreme Court case legalizes carrying a handgun for self defense within a house.
2022: New York State Rifle and Pistol Association vs. The Bruen Supreme Court case rules that an individual has the right to carry a gun outside the home for selfdefense purposes.
Story by Eula Heriford
FOURTH YEAR FINALISTS
Performing arts programs become finalists for the fourth year at KSHSAA events
For four consecutive years, performing arts programs such as debate and forensics, theater, choir, band and orchestra have made it to the finals at Kansas State High School Activities Association competitions for performing arts.
KSHSAA organizes a multitude of events in sports and performing arts. These events are open to high schools throughout Kansas, and several can lead to national competitions and recognition. When making it to the regional or statewide finals, students must score higher than other teams and contestants to make it further.
Activities Director Matthew Renk oversees students’ involvement with KSHSAA. Renk said he has admired students’ perseverance as they have made it to the finals the last four years despite numerous staff turnovers at the head director position in orchestra.
“One of the really neat things here is we’ve had some turnover in our teaching positions in those marching bands, orchestras and even vocals,” Renk said. “Yet we continue to win that award, which shows how great and amazing our students are and how the standard has been set.”
SeniorAnwen Williams has participated in events for debate, forensics and band for four years. Williams has taken part in national competitions after placing first in State events for KSHSAADebate and Forensics.
“I really liked [the competition], because I didn’t really expect to do well,” Williams said. “It’s really nice because the school shows you exactly what to do to get to those opportunities, so you don’t have to seek anything out yourself. It’s very structured.”
Additionally, choir competes in State Large Group Festival, where they have received the top score consistently for years. Associate Director of Choral Activities, Olivia Henning, has been teaching for eight years. While teaching, Henning said she has seen choir students grow into their place and expand their abilities.
“This is a place where a student can feel like they belong. It’s something to get involved in. That’s what it was for me when I was in high school. It was a place to be involved in something and belong to a group, and then it just became what I love to do,” Henning said.
English and theater director Bryce Jones has been teaching for four years at the school and 14 years in total. Free State’s theater program has won awards very consistently at KSHSAA provided events as well as the Blue Star Awards. At the Blue Star Awards, the cast of last year’s musical “Bright Star” received many nominations, including Outstanding Orchestra and Outstanding Ensemble.
Although Jones started teaching theater at Free State fairly recently, he said he has been able to watch his students develop several skills that will help them perform and lead them towards success and recognition for their achievements.
“Those recognitions are really cool for individuals,” Jones said. “So that they understand that their hard work is seen by other people, and not just those here in the school building, but also regionally or even statewide.”
JUST ASK JOHNSTON
Collected by Avery Smiley and Katie Campbell
Q
What is a Common App essay?
Q
English department co-chair Kylee Johnston shares her advice for students writing their Common Application essays
A: It is the hub that a lot of state colleges use. They give seven prompt choices, 650 words max, and you write about one, such as ‘Describe an experience that made you have an important realization or change your mind about something.’ You submit it on the Common App website, and it goes to all the schools you have put on your list. It's very handy.
What do you say to students who think they're behind?
A: I always reassure them, because there are some who start before their senior year, but that doesn't have to be you. You don't have to apply to an Ivy League school, and thus, if you're still trying to decide what state school to go to, March 1 is a perfectly fine deadline.
Q
Q What point of view should the essay be in?
A: It should be in first person because it's a personal narrative.
Q
Q
What do you think colleges look for?
A: They do want to see voice uniqueness. Especially these days, anybody could write with AI, and you can tell, they're just not quite human. They're not specific enough, and colleges want to know what makes you, you.
What do you think makes an essay stand out?
How would you advise a student on how to get started?
A: I have a list of brainstorming topics that I use, so I would have them start thinking about who they are: strengths, weaknesses, pet peeves, opinions about the world and memories from elementary to freshman year.
A: I do appreciate humor. It’s hard to do when you're writing something as important as a Common App essay, so you tend to go serious with it, but if you can show humor, even about hardships in life, that can be a unique take. I also think it's really effective if somebody is just vulnerable and honest. It doesn't have to be a trauma dump, but you can tell when it's real.
Q Do you have any other advice to give?
A: Come to the Writing Center for help on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school or Wednesday ECT in the library. It's student-led, but you can also contact an English teacher you trust. It's a good idea to check in with them and say, ‘Hey, I have a goal for myself of getting my rough draft done by this date. Could you read it for me?’ If you have that set up with them, it makes you get it done.
Photo by Eden Weber
Photo by Eli Roust
ITHE PARTICIPATION
Coaches and athletes lead the charge to revive participation
DILEMMA
Story by Rakshan Ossen
n the past, female athletic programs at Free State have maintained steady participation; however, recent involvement in girls sports has become noticeably low. Because of this, coaches and athletes have taken the initiative to recruit more players for their teams.
One of the programs most affected by this is the girls basketball team. Two years ago, when Summer Frantz took the position of head coach, her goal was to rebuild the program and get them to winning ways; however, due to decreased participation, she said this is becoming a slower process.
Frantz said the main reason for the lack of participation is because students decide to specialize in other sports and compete in them year round. With basketball being part of the winter season, the overlap between club sports such as volleyball, soccer or swimming replaces it.
“The last few years, we’ve seen a lower number of girls basketball players, not just here, but in Lawrence in general … and we’ve really tried to address that by starting them young and doing some community outreach camps that sort of deal with the younger players,” Frantz said.
For Frantz, engagement with the community is what she hopes will be the solution for the issue. Recently, the team has been working on building a community with middle school basketball players.
”Our high school girls have done a really good job of building relationships with some of those middle school players and younger players,” Frantz said.
Furthermore, role models often inspire young athletes to pursue sports. Whether that is someone close like family, someone from the local community or a professional athlete, the aspirations of young athletes come from these people.
When senior Daijah Preston, a third-year varsity wrestler, started her wrestling campaign during her freshman year, she was inspired by alumnus Madyson Gray, a threetime high school state champion. Like Gray, Preston said she hopes to be in her position someday and inspire other young girls in the Lawrence community.
Over the four years Preston has been on the team, it has grown from three to ten wrestlers. Despite still being a small unit, Preston said that the dynamic was tight knit. Preston and her teammates make it their duty every season to spread the word to their underclassmen to join the team.
“I like to advocate for [wrestling] because… it’s one of the fastest growing sports in America right now in high school sports,” Preston said.
In the pool, after adding only three freshmen out of the 20 total swimmers on their roster last season, the two-time state championship winning girls swim and dive
program also finds itself competing with popular sports for the spring season.
“We have really just tried to reach out to anyone we know that might be interested. For boys swim and dive, it’s very popular because it’s a winter sport and there’s not a lot of sports going on at the time. For girls, it’s a lot harder because we’re competing with track and girls soccer, so it’s challenging for us to get girls,” varsity swimmer and senior Jocelyn Wilson said.
Wilson said it is the community support and sports culture at school that pushes an athlete to succeed. When Wilson swims at a home meet, among her supporters are her teammates, family and close friends; however, what she felt missing was the student support she knows when comparing it to student sections for programs like boys football and soccer.
“Compared to football and soccer, everyone’s there, everyone’s cheering. It’s like a big deal, and [for us] it’s just not as big of a deal,” Wilson said.
Frantz, Preston and Wilson all said they will continue to advocate for recruiting athletes despite the challenges they face. For students who want to try out a sport in high school for the first time, Frantz shared a piece of advice.
“I would just say, try it, you’ll never regret things that you try, you’ll just regret the things that you don’t try,” Frantz said.
The Free Press
After last year’s 3-7 record season in the Sunflower League, volleyball is on the up with their 8-5 SFL record as of Oct. 21. The team, consisting of 11 players, said they are determined to fight back after last fall’s hard loss at substate. Junior Annika Lintecum reflected on the season so far.
Whatgirlsvolleyballhas beenuptothisseasonLOOKINGTHROUGH THENET
“This year’s team feels a lot closer than previous years teams,” Lintecum said. “From watching films to practicing every day after school. We get in the gym and we get after it. Everyone has the same goal: to win.”
Design by Abbie Veeder
From attending summer weights five days a week to watching film, senior Karsen Chapman said their goals were to beat LHS, win substate and go to state.
“Along with just having fun and ending on a positive note, I know me and the team really want to work to get to the state tournament this year,” Chapman said.
With five varsity returners, Lintecum said that volleyball on the court feels like a friend group, but with more focus.
“Off the court we just act like a little friend group. On the court we still have a great connection but with a little more focus. Sometimes it can be a struggle because we have a really funny team but when we need to focus we do,” Lintecum said.
In addition to the varsity returners, the team consists of five seniors this year: libero Karsen Chapman with a total of 336 digs, middle blocker Ainsley Linhos with a total of 33 blocks, defensive specialist Allie Linder, manager Tessa Fritts and defensive specialist Lilly Wall.
Junior Kennedy Flaschbarth said that the senior presence on the team is strong this year, and that the group has worked hard to make the team a family from early on.
“The seniors did an amazing job this year of getting to know everyone early on,” Flaschbarth said. “During the summer, talking to everyone and making it fun definitely carried over to our season.”
year, which is helping contribute to their success of being sixth in the district.
“Culture is one thing that never stays the same. It’s something that we work on daily. Overall, culture in this program is usually very strong. It’s very positive, and that’s what we try to keep,” Savage said.
This year, head coach Jayme Savage explains how the culture on and off the court is much stronger than last
Photo By Chloe Cook
ADASTRA PER ASPERA
WELCOMES YOU! Kansas
Foreign exchange student shares experiences of life while abroad
On Aug. 10, junior Matthew Trefil arrived in Lawrence from the town of Vsetin in the Czech Republic, and will stay in Lawrence with Laura Higbee and Sam Milner until the end of the school year.
Trefil was assisted in travel by two agencies, CET USA on the United States side, and Studyline on the Czech side. He arrived alone and said it is prohibited to meet someone he knew from the Czech Republic.
A major difference for Trefil is the length of passing periods and breaks throughout the day. For instance, he said in the Czech Republic they have a 45-minute lunch compared to the 25-minute lunch in Lawrence.
“Here we have four and seven-minute breaks. [In the Czech Republic] we have breaks that are usually 10 minutes, our second break is 20 minutes and then from after 5th break there is only 5 minutes,” Trefil said.
Regarding school, Trefil said in the Czech Republic they are more traditionally focused with less group work and more lectures built into the curriculum.
He also said that exams are more challenging in the Czech Republic, but
students receive less homework, unlike his experience in the U.S. where exams are easier but the homework load is heavier.
For Trefil, something that has remained very constant between cultures is the intrigue in video games. He said he and his friends from the Czech Republic really got into video games during the pandemic and have kept it up since. However, in the Czech Republic, he likes to do something with friends that isn’t as common in the U.S.
“We sometimes do a tour when we pack our backpacks and just go somewhere. We either go across the hills, or we just hop on a train [and go] a few hundred kilometers from our town and be in the town there for one day,” Trefil said.
Aside from traveling with friends, one of Trefil’s main hobbies is math and science. When he isn’t in school, he said he sometimes participates in tech competitions.
Story by Jonah Frye
“I usually go to competitions such as math, physics, Olympiad or something like that. And not to brag, but I’m usually really good at it,” Trefil said.
In the Czech Republic, Trefil likes to run for fun and decided to join cross country at Free State. He said that he noticed how much more of an emphasis is placed on sports. He said that in the Czech Republic, they would play sports in their breaks throughout school, and the more serious kids would play on a local club team, and occasionally on the school team.
“There is much more emphasis on sports. For example, I was absolutely shocked when I went to cross country and there were 100 people there,” Trefil said.
In addition to the differences in sports, Trefil said that if he were telling a friend back home one thing about the U.S., he would tell them about the number of traffic lights.
“The crosswalks with stoplights are, for me at least, really annoying [since the] wait is about 30 seconds. The town that I lived in is three times smaller than Lawrence, and we have one traffic light out there. Everything else is handled with roundabouts and so on,” Trefil said. “It is, for me, more comfortable to live there.”
Story by Lauren Jackson
Free State introduces its first English Honor Society chapter
EMBRACING YOUR ENGLISH
Free State recently introduced a chapter of National English Honor Society sponsored by English teachers Kylee Johnston and Sophia Coen. Johnston and Coen said they worked to create the chapter with the goal of encouraging students to get more involved with reading and writing this year.
NEHS has more than 1,250 chapters in 36 countries, with 36,000 students enrolled between March 2023 and March 2024. Coen stated that the foundations of NEHS
events, student leadership and exposure to different facets of English. Additionally, NEHS gives students easier access to English-focused scholarships.
“There’s [lots of scholarships] related to reading a specific common book, and once you’ve read that common book, there’s essay prompts, and you can discuss it with your other members and then write an essay,” Coen said. “There’s also creative scholarship opportunities; for instance, monologues or screenplays. There are also
“We have a giant officer board,” Sellet said. “There are historians that find creative ways to keep track of what we’ve done in our chapter; we have a secretary, [a treasurer] and we have a PR chair.”
Talking about a book, seniors Anwen Williams and Gillian Sellet smile during a meeting. Williams, the vice president, and Sellet, the president, both organize and uphold meetings for the National English Honor Society chapter. Photo by Mallory Thompson
MUST WATCH HORROR MOVIE
By Lilly Wall and Phoebe Morris
Our editors’ favorite horror movies for the month of October
Indie Horror
• Skinamarink
• Suspiria (2018)
• Blair Witch Project
• Pearl
• Bones and All
Classics
• Halloween (1978)
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
• The Shining (1980)
• Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• The Conjuring (2013) Psychological Horror
• Midsommar
• Black Swan
• Hereditary
• Sinister
• Us
• Marrowbone
59% Of students have watched a horror movie as of Oct. 21 Of an Instagram poll of 185 11% 38% 51% Of students prefer Indie Horror Movies Of students prefer Classic Horror Movies Of students prefer Psychological Horror Movies
Illustrations by Lucas Smith
CUT LOOSE
Collected by Owen Gerrish and Harper Finck
LivBrack WITH THE CAST
by Kinley Gigous
Q: What made you come back after your first show?
A: I did my first show in 4th grade and I fell in love with performing right away. I loved the community of people working toward a common goal: putting on a good show.
Q: What is your pre-show routine?
A: Before doing a show, I usually like to do something to relax like listen to music or play an instrument. I also review my lines and music before a show.
Q: What made you come back after your first show?
A: The friends and community that theatre brings is unmatched which made me want to return and when I heard what the musical was I thought it would be really fun to participate in another show here.
Q: What made you come back after your first show?
A: The people! Everyone is so welcoming and supportive and it makes for a really fun environment!
Q: What is your pre show routine?
A: My process for shows is to practice my part in each song and run through my scenes with my sister. As for any rituals before performing, I like to listen to my favorite songs while getting ready for each show.
Meet the cast of “Footloose” Shows on Nov. 7, 8 & 9 at 7 p.m.
Photos
Club in the air, senior Merrit Hale competes in a golf meet at Lawrence Country Club on Sept. 23.
Photo by Mallory Thompson
Mouth open, sophomore libero Mary-Grace Bradford screams in celebration after a score during the JV volleyball City Showdown game on Oct. 3. Photo by Nathan Friedman
Before the Platte River Rumble JV girls race, a team huddles around for team spirit during Free State cross country’s annual Nebraska trip. Photo by Julia Velasco
Revealing her secret identity, junior Harper York performs in Black Box Theatre Festival.
Photo by Evie Chancy
Hyping up the crowd, senior Asher Zelvy shouts into the student section before the traditional third quarter performance of “Hey Baby.”
Photo by Miles Beaty
Leaning out of a Jeep, senior Crow Bengoa throws candy to people attending the homecoming parade.
Photo by Miles Beaty