Free Press | Issue 5 | May 2023

THE FREE PRESS

Pg. 18-19

Fighting Food Waste, Helping Hunger

USD 497 creates donation agreement to partner with JustFood Environmental Impacts

Great Green Help volunteer partnered with local organizations who work on creating effective and sustainable environments

Pg. 20-21

The Willow Project: What is it, and What Can We Do?

The Willow Project creates sweeping concern among young Americans and spurs activism online

Free Ride?

Lawrence Public Transit starts new program to have free bus rides in 2023

Pg. 22-23

Consumerism’s Contributions

Consumerism holds authority over society, creating negative environment impacts

Thrift Store Review

Staff members review St. John’s Rummage House, Wild Man Vintage and Ditto

Digital Illustration by Chloe Cook

Socials

FSFREEPRESSONLINE.COM

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.

Photo by Eleanor Roust

STAFF LIST

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Allison Mayhew

Lilly Wall

MANAGING EDITORS

Ember Klein

Jayne Landers

COPY EDITOR

Stella Mosier

DESIGN EDITOR

Sarah Masterson

PHOTO EDITOR

Lady Ortega-Perez

Mallory Thompson

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Maile Hickman

Farewell Free State Journalism...

Joining journalism staff in high school may have been the best decision I’ve made. Randomly walking by room 203 and grabbing an application has led to countless memories, learning what it means to be a student-journalist, discovering my love for journalism and most importantly meeting the most incredible people.

I am so proud of all we have accomplished through three advisers, doubling our staff at semester, last minute board meetings, commuting to Lawrence High when we didn’t have an adviser (shoutout Mrs. Tholen), five issues, one yearbook, 105 online stories and a slew of technology issues, we have transformed this program.

Although I may be wearing different colors and singing a different alma mater next year, I love you all dearly and cannot wait to see what the future holds for you guys. Jerds, I love you all. Allison, “we did it joe!”

Love,

ASST. SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Elizabeth Hare

SPORTS EDITOR

Nick Sprecker

REPORTERS

Conrad Hill

Emi Stone

Emma Wiley

Evie Chancy

Greyson Heiman

Maeve Nichols

Maria Mosconi

Natasha Torkzaban

Phoebe Morris

Simon Williams

Thomas Patton

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Amelia Wiles

Ashanti Riccardo

Chloe Cook

Eleanor Roust

Elinor Russo

Geneva Sabatini

Isabelle Pro

Keat Hockenbury

Maddie McIntire

Riley Williams

Taylor Stone

Wyatt Dodds

DESIGNERS

Evan White

Katie Campbell

Mylie Brillhart

Maile Hickman

Raelynn Keefer

Viviana Riffel

BUSINESS

Drew Rosenthal

Jayne Landers

Raelynn Keefer

Thomas Patton

ILLUSTRATORS

Chloe Cook

Geneva Sabatini

Design By Sarah Masterson | Photo by Chloe Cook, Eleanor Roust

Junior Natasha Torkzaban reports at a Save Our Schools rally regarding school closures. Torkzaban has been an editor-in-chief alongside junior Allison Mayhew for one year and has been on journalism staff for two. “I will miss everyone so much, but I am so excited to see what they accomplish,” Torkzaban said.

Photo by Chloe Cook

MASS SHOOTINGS, MASSIVE FAILURES

Gun violence is rampant in schools and legislators should be held accountable

Opinion by Natasha Torkzaban

Firearm deaths occur five times more than drownings. Instead of teaching your child how to swim, you might consider firearm defense training and school shooter drills.

According to CNN, there have been 172 mass shootings as of April 23, reaching a record amount of mass shootings at this point in the year. Regardless of your political agenda, you cannot deny this issue — at least not to the 11,500 people that died from it in 2023.

So many students are outraged, afraid and frankly numb from the constant fatal shootings, myself included. You would think hearing such an act of violence would push students into some sort of disarray, but so many are desensitized because of the constant danger. However, the government has yet to take legal accountability for the complicit negligence that the lack of gun safety has brought.

The Protecting Our Kids Act, introduced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (DNY) in June 2022, called for common sense gun laws and the restriction of firearm purchases for individuals under 21 years of age in its Statement of Administration Policy.

Although government officials say they want to protect children, the state government has been preoccupied with controlling my uterus and banning my transgender classmates from playing sports, both of which have no impact on the safety of children across the state.

According to an article from the Kansas Reflector, the Kansas GOP has plans to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of an National Rifle Association-backed gun program for public schools. The program would encourage elementary and middle school students to participate in an NRA-developed child gun safety curriculum. The curriculum would essentially use colorful cartoons to teach “safe” gun use to students K-8.

This further proves that students’ well-being isn’t the top priority for the Kansas government, nor state governments across the nation. Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay’’ bill and Oklahoma State Sen.

14,965 deaths from gun violence this year

Student holds sign stating “0 days since a mass shooting.” A mass shooting, according to the Gun Violence Archive, is any event in which four or more people are shot and killed. As of May 9, there have been 208 mass shootings as of this year. Photo by Geneva Sabatini

“The President has called on Congress to act now to reduce gun violence and save lives. This legislation would make significant progress toward delivering on that call to action,” Nadler said in the statement.

208 mass

shootings this year

Nathan Dahm’s disdain towards effective gun registries are two of many examples of a political football the government has been throwing. The reality is that those issues won’t matter if students across the nation are dying from bullets in their schools.

In an interview with comedian and political commentator Jon Stewart, Dahm said that the government has the duty to protect children, so drag shows should be banned — but not guns. He also insists that any form of security checks would violate a person’s constitutional right.

Eliahna “Ellie” Amyah Garcia, Eliahna A. Torres, Annabel Guadalupe Rodriguez, Jackie Cazares, Uziyah Garcia, Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, Mite Yuleana Rodriguez, Jailah Nicole Silguero, Irma Garcia, Eva Mireles, Amerie Jo Garza, Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, Alithia Ramirez…

Say their names, and say all of the ones that are bound to happen if we don’t fix this issue now.

The editorial board voted unanimously in favor of this decision.

All statistics updated as of May 9, 2023, according the Gun Violence Archive.

Typically, I would try to argue the opposing side or provide some sort of alternate opinion, but in this instance, I cannot debate against my own right to live safely.

The government has been negligent on the issue of gun safety and should be held accountable. I contin ue to wonder how such a preventable act of violence still lives on in students’ lives.

I ask for you to see us and how scared we are. I ask for you to hold those accountable for neglecting to protect Katherine Koonce, Cynthia Peak, Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, William Kinney, Alyssa Alhadeff, Martin Duque Anguiano, Scott Beigel, Nicholas Dworet, Jaime Guttenberg, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup, Peter Wang, Maken na Lee Elrod, Layla Salazar, Maranda Mathis, Ne veah Bravo, Jose Manuel Flores Jr., Xavier Lopez, Tess Marie Mata, Rojelio Torres,

Design by Mylie Brillhart | Photos and Illustrations by Geneva Sabatini

“Certain of their tools that they’re using would be infringements upon the people’s right to keep and bear arms, upon their con stitutional rights, upon due process and other things,” Dahm said in the interview.

SHERRON COLLINS: I’LL ALWAYS BE A FIREBIRD

Basketball coach Sherron Collins reflects on time at Free State after accepting new job

Story by

“To the community — I’ve been a part of the Lawrence community for a long time, from playing at KU to now coaching, and the love from there to now hasn’t changed,” Collins said. “I know this ended probably quicker than we all wanted, but I’ll always be a Firebird, and Free State will always be close to my heart.”

Nick Sprecker

Collins says this was one of the hardest decisions he has had to make, but that he will always love Free State. “I simply enjoyed building relationships on and off the court, basketball is easy but being there for your players is most important,” Collins said.

Photo by Chloe Cook

Head boys basketball coach Sherron Collins will not be returning to Free State next year and has accepted a position at Oak Park High School, he confirmed in an interview on April 27.

Collins, a first-year high school coach, is a name known to many in the Lawrence area. His number sits in the rafters at Allen Fieldhouse, and he helped lead the Jayhawks to a National Championship in 2008. This time around, Collins returned to the basketball scene in Lawrence on the sidelines. Despite his short tenure at Free State, Collins said he cherishes the relationships he made and will miss his players.

“[District issues] played into it because obviously there are some struggles with money, and they are having to cut jobs and close schools, so there is a lot going on [in Lawrence],” Collins said. “But at the same time, it’s not their fault — I’m not mad at anybody. There were a lot of little things that we don’t have here that worked into it. Teachers don’t know the security of their jobs.”

Whether in Lawrence or not, Collins hopes to act as a positive light to the people around him and be an impactful coach, teacher and individual. By striving to give back and spread love, he has felt a reciprocated love thrown back at him. After all, it is the personal aspect of coaching that he said is the most dear to him.

Deciding to leave the school has been a bittersweet journey for Collins. When talking about his new job, he noted that although his departure will be hard, he is leaving for all of the right reasons — to create a better life for his family, and to eventually coach collegiately.

“The whole thing came out of the blue,” Collins said. “I talked to the people closest to me to help get an opinion of the job. There was an opportunity to make money for my family, and the program there is ready to compete for a state championship. I want to coach at the college level, and I think I can do it, but these years are preparing me for that. It felt like the right place for me and my family, and that’s what weighed into it.”

Collins noted that if there is one thing that he will take into his next job, it’s the virtue of patience.

“As a coach you want to do well and win every game, but you can’t win them all. Having patience with the kids and different attitudes is important. You coach a 17 or 18-yearold kid, and some of those times you’re dealing with stuff at home or dealing with stuff off the court, and that’s where I exceeded because I was there for them. It’s always been bigger than basketball with me.”

Collins’s departure comes at a time of ongoing turmoil in the USD 497 district. Budget cuts and school closures have prompted many teachers to take other positions in neighboring districts where pay is better. Although this has been a pressing issue for many teachers, Collins reports that the budget cuts and school closures haven’t played a direct role in his departure, but they certainly influenced the decision.

Design by Raelynn Keefer | Photos by Chloe Cook, Lady Ortega-Perez

“All of the memories will stick out because it was my first year — my first group of seniors, my first everything,” Collins said. “I built relationships with my students and players here, and the community is unbelievably supportive.”

“To our student body — I just want to say thanks for the support. Thanks for the relationships I have built. With this being my first year, these kids will stick with me forever. I will always remember the love and support. That’s why I work and got into coaching and this business, for the relationships, and touching kids’ lives,” Collins said.

Coach Sherron Collins discusses with his players as they prepare to going in after a timeout. Collins has recently annouced that he will not be coming back next year and will start his new journey at Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by Lady Ortega-Perez

SENIORS MAKE A SPLASH

Keith Popiel wins 2023 Water Warriors

On April 3 at dawn, the 2023 Water Warriors began and the competing seniors were after their first targets. Water Warriors, though not affiliated with Free State, consists of the participating seniors trying to shoot their weekly target with a water gun. If shot, they’re out; this goes on until there is one competitor left.

Each contestant paid an entry fee of $5 adding up to the prize money. Three weeks after the start, Keith Popiel won against Matthew Marcum and Olivia Goeser for the prize of around $200.

Popiel teamed up with Marcum to eliminate Goeser before shooting Marcum.

Goeser was tricked into going into a house hoping to find her target, but her trust turned out to be what took her out of the game.

Popiel’s strategy was to always be alert whenever going out and to avoid drawing attention to himself for three weeks, so when he won he was relieved to be able to go out worry free.

“It was super relieving because I didn’t have to worry about everywhere I went. It got stressful at the end,” Popiel said.

Although he ended up winning, he didn’t think he had a chance until he made it past the first round when he started to take it more seriously.

Story by Maria Mosconi

“I wasn’t going to lose, but… I wasn’t confident I was going to end up winning,” Popiel said.

Goeser’s reaction to the results showed less relief.

“I’ve gone this far, I have to win now. And when I didn’t, it was just really devastating,” Goeser said.

Overall, the 2023 Water Warriors came to an eventful end and everyone can now go outside without being shot by a water gun.

Armed with a multitude of water guns, seniors begin the battle known as Water Warriors on Monday, April 3. This competition is a spring tradition among Free State seniors, with one winner claiming the ultimate prize of the collective entry fees and recognition of being the last warrior remaining. Photo by Amelia Wiles

“[My strategy was] not trusting anyone which failed me in the end because then I was too trusting,” Goeser said.

“We’ve been talking about this since like our freshman year so it was fun to actually get to do it with your class and just do what everyone else has been talking about for the last four years,” Alyx Wood said.

WARRIOR Q&A

Q: What was your favorite thing about water warriors?

A: “Getting chased around and stuff with all my friends and camping out in front of someone’s house to get them out .”-Londyn Miller

Q: What would you have done if you would have won the Water Warriors prize? A: “I would have bought summer swimsuits.”-Alyx Wood

Q: What would your advice be to underclassmen playing in water warriors next year?

A: “Don’t feel too rushed to get your target out the first couple days, you definitely have some time. Definitely avoid social media. Be very secretive. Don’t let people know your next move. Turn your snap off weeks in advance. Don’t tell anybody where you live; don’t trust anybody.”-Michael Bido

Collected by Evan White

Design by Mylie Brillhart | Photos by Amelia Wiles

A senior student prepares for the annual Water Warriors by perusing the assortment of artillery at the local Walmart. This lively battle creates a friendly competition among the senior class in the month leading up to graduation. Photo by Amelia Wiles

ERPELDING’S LEGACY

Judy Erpelding resigns after 11 years as Director of Orchestras

After serving as the Director of Orchestras program for 11 years at the school, Judy Erpelding has announced her resignation, effective May 26.

With this position being her first teaching job, she has grown the program from two ensembles to seven and has led ensembles to earn I ratings for a total of 15 performances at the KSHSAA State Large Group Festival.

“The students who are in my classroom are extremely high achieving, and we have won so many awards together. We have this tradition of excellence that we want to continue,” Erpelding said.

Not only has Erpelding’s work been recognized by ratings and achievements, but by many students who say she has made significant contributions in their lives.

For Annah Steele, who is the only freshman to take part in Symphonic Orchestra, Erpelding is a bright light in her life; she has been a support system throughout her first year in high school.

Story by Lilly Wall

While Erpelding initially informed students of her resignation during class, she additionally released the letter of resignation addressed to Free State Orchestra students and families.

In the letter, Erpelding addresses the financial difficulties USD 497 is facing. Through the letter, she calls out to parents in distress about the difficulties that are affecting the Performing Arts program district-wide.

One of Erpelding’s main concerns lies with the loss of numerous teachers, and the economic struggles USD 497 is facing. Erpelding expressed that teachers may begin to teach part-time at multiple schools across the district to fill empty roles–all these implementations she believes will eventually land back on students.

Furthermore in the letter, she gave gratitude and respect to the program. Despite the worries the teacher holds, she gives credit to the support she has felt in class, in the hallways, on social media and from school administration after this consequential decision.

“She is someone that always puts the students first and she will make sacrifices and try so hard just to really please everyone and make it the best experience for everyone,” Steele said. “She has made so many sacrifices and worked so hard this year for [the program] and for us. It shows you just how selfless she is.”

“Directors have very unique talents that [the district] specifically hired them for, and to ask them to be directors in multiple buildings is not an effective way to have successful programs. It will lead to even more burnout and more teachers resigning and they will have a hard time recruiting good teachers after that,” Erpelding said.

During Symphonic Orchestra, director Judy Erpelding works on running pieces. Erpelding has expressed a lot of sympathy towards the students in the arts program due to district cuts. “We have just as many students in the arts as we do sports, I love sports,” Erpelding said. “My children are all athletes, my husband is a coach, it’s a huge part of my life. I believe very strongly that the performing arts and fine arts are just as important to students.”

Photo by Eleanor Roust

After expressing her feelings in the letter of resignation, she hopes to gain one thing out of this: to educate the public and help convince the leadership in the district to change how they are approaching the staffing changes in the Fine Arts department.

Next year, Erpelding will take a new teaching job at a different school but has chosen to not disclose further information yet. She said she hopes to keep the attention of her resignation off of her and continue to focus on the seniors and the program that she loves and holds dearly to her heart.

Taking the podium, orchestra director Judy Erpelding conducts the class. After rising district issues due to cuts, Erpelding announced her resignation on May 8, 2023. Alongside her is retiring band director Randall Filmore. “I know it’s not a realistic expectation that we aren’t going to have cuts, cuts have to happen,” Erpelding said. “They’re going to have to happen somewhere, but I hope that they will look at the arts and think because we’ve been hit hard after COVID.”

After receiving advice from her students, orchestra director Judy Erpelding marks her music. Although the director normally makes the artistic decisions, Erpelding will often consult her students and hear their opinions on what sounds good and what they should try out. “[The students] are the heart of the program, not me,” Erpelding said. “I know they will carry that on and I will miss them. Making great music with them, being able to challenge them, taking their inspiration.”

by Eleanor Roust

Design by Sarah Masterson | Photos by Eleanor Roust

“The students at Free State and my orchestra program have inspired me every day to bring my A game because they bring theirs. Every time I set the bar, they always exceed it by a long shot so I will miss having eager students who want to learn, who are creative, artistic and just wonderful people to be around every day,” Erpelding said.

Photo

Photo by Eleanor Roust

TRIBUTE TO EXITING TEACHERS

Teachers Randal Fillmore, and Rita Phillippi retire.

FILLMORE

After teaching at Free State for 17 years, band director Randal Fillmore announces his retirement. He shared his decision with his students at the conclusion of their winter concert. As the school year comes to a close, Fillmore reflects on his experiences with students.

“I’m really proud of the quality of students we have here at Free State and what they’re able to accomplish. They believe in themselves,” Fillmore said.

PHILLIPPI

Throughout Fillmore’s years of teaching, he has faced challenges such as COVID-19. COVID-19 hit the performing arts hard with not being able to practice or have concerts. These challenges have made him adapt to new situations and find ways to innovate in his work.

“[This job has] made me learn new skills to be able to do the things we have done over the years,” Fillmore said. “It’s just been a job that you couldn’t sit back on.”

Although Fillmore has faced roadblocks in his career, he continued to teach here for many years. After his many years here, Fillmore said that after he retires he will start “a new adventure.”

After disagreements with the district, math teacher Rita Phillippi announces her retirement. Phillippi has been a math teacher at Free State for six years, but after issues with how the district is handling budget cuts, such as cutting positions, limiting salaries and closing schools, Phillippi decided to retire.

After her over half a decade teaching, Phillippi said that she will spend her retirement, “Doing whatever I want whenever I want.”

Stories by Ember Klein, Elizabeth Hare

Other than issues with the district this year, Phillippi has enjoyed her time teaching.

“The first year was very scary... But after about the third year, I felt like I was a part of the school,” Phillippi said.

Conducting, Randall Fillmore, runs a section with Symphonic Band. Fillmore, who has taught at Free State for 17 years, has enjoyed working with fellow staff members. “The quality of staff that we have to work with in the whole school,” he said. “The academic, the athletic, the fine arts people are superb.” Photo by Eleanor Roust

During the winter band concert, director Randall Filmore announces his retirement. Not only were members of the audience shocked, but gasps could be heard from students onstage. “He didn’t tell us beforehand. A lot of us were sad and we’re going to miss him,” sophomore Mallory Rogers said. Photo by Eleanor Roust

During her Algebra 2 class, math teacher Rita Phillippi works through a problem with her students. Throughout her six years of working at Free State, she has grown to love working with other teachers in her department. “I am most proud of the fact that we worked in teams,” Phillippi said. “The Algebra 1 team works together, the Algebra 2 team works together, and then we all come together as a team, a math department Photo by Eleanor Roust

“I did not plan to retire this year until everything was happening with the district,” Phillippi said. “It was just too much for me at this time in my life.”

WOOLFOLK

For six years at Free State, and 30 years in total, Laura Woolfolk contributed her service in teaching English to juniors and seniors. After her long hours and late nights, she has come to the decision to retire. She reported that she has loved the last 30 years, and is sad to walk away from something she has identified as for so long.

“I love the kids. And I know that sounds sort of cliche, but honestly, I have loved the last 30 years of my life. There was a time when I swore I would never ever retire, that they would carry me out one day. That would be it,” Woolfolk said.

LLOYD

Bryan Lloyd, ceramics teacher, will be leaving us after this year to take a job teaching ceramics at Mill Valley High School, as it’s a significantly shorter commute.

Lloyd is sure to leave a lasting impression. He made many aspects of the ceramics department relevant, when doing things like featuring student artists on the @ freestateceramics instagram page.

Although she never saw herself being a teacher, she ended up teaching English. A friend of hers got her into substitute teaching, and then she said it just “clicked.” Even though she didn’t plan on teaching, she truly thought of them as “her kids.”

“Their excitement is contagious. I’ve just learned joy of life from them… I really liked them as individuals and as people, and I’ve always treated them with respect and in return they treat me with respect,” Woolfolk said.

Although she has stated how much she loves her job, she realized it was time for another path. A legacy she hopes to leave is never quitting, and never slowing down. She has loved the past 30 years, but understands that it is her time to find a different future.

“There just comes a point where you realize that you’ve done really good work. You’ve contributed to this noble profession. And it’s just a time where I am ready to explore some other things,” Woolfolk said.

“I’ve learned a lot about students and their lives and students have learned a lot about me and my life. Really, I value human connection over everything.” .

Lloyd will leave quite the legacy on the school. Students share many memories, including making breakfast, playing frisbee and making friends in his class.

“He’s a really good teacher because he knows how to make a good environment and make sure everyone is safe, comfortable and has fun,” junior Lawson Garcia said.

Design by Raelynn Keefer | Photos by Eleanor Roust, Maddie McIntire

Students express their love for teachers during teacher appreciation week by creating and displaying signs to hang on their classroom doors. Retiring English teacher, Laura Woolfolk, will soon be departing Free State, as she has contributed thirty years of her life to teaching and inspiring students. Photo by Eleanor Roust

“The people and the students are my absolute favorite. While it was only just for a year or two, the relationships that are formed are very important,” Lloyd said.

Listening to his students, ceramics teacher Bryan Lloyd helps them pick a color for their projects. “Something that’s been very rewarding is hearing about students going into art education or knowing that students have a great sense of satisfaction from making work with clay,” Lloyd said. Photo by Maddie McIntire

Ceramics teacher Bryan Lloyd gives advice to senior Willow Sapp on her project. Lloyd is going to miss the students and his coworkers. “I love all the people here, and If I didn’t feel like I really needed to [leave], I would still stay,” Lloyd said. Photo by Maddie McIntire

TURNS OUT TO BE BURNOUT

Academic burnout affects many, especially seniors, resulting in “senioritis”

According to a poll from @fsjournalism on Instagram, 94% of Free State students have experienced academic burnout. Normally towards the final stretch of the year, students want to leap into summer, but overwhelming workloads pile up.

Seniors tend to get hit the hardest when it comes to academic burnout. Most have spent four years in the same building, and senior Naheen Jamal is ready to move on.

Whether it’s college plans or end of year goodbyes, “senioritis” is talked about amongst students. Jamal is one of many who believes her senior schedule has made it even more difficult to get work done.

Compared to last year, seniors aren’t allowed as much independent studying time. Jamal preferred the extra homework blocks because the school gave her plenty of time to get all the work done. Though, this year students only have 30 mins of ECT to catch up on their sometimes heavy workload.

“I wish somebody had told me not to take as many classes because when I was a junior full of energy,”Jamal said. “Nobody told me I was going to get hit in the face with a pile of bricks.”

The pandemic paused student to teacher interactions and limited school activities. Online learning created a disruption in schools academic abilities, but more importantly their social skills.

Story by Phoebe Morris

“We haven’t had as much time with our community, especially since high school is one of the most essential parts of your life in terms of learning social skills,” Jamal said.

While the pandemic may play a huge part, counselor Marc Conover explains academic burnout as multiple “to-do” lists overlapping each other. Students tend to see every stressful task at the same time, instead of focusing on the present moment. This leads to a loss of energy and many students ultimately give up.

“For all of those cases, it’s important for students to stay present and focus on one thing at a time, while other people will look at their assignments for the whole semester,” Conover said.

Stressing about multiple classes takes time away from sitting down and actually completing each assignment. But, for picking out classes, students may not realize the amount of work needed from each one. And it allows limited time for extracurriculars outside of school.

“Honestly, I come to school and I zone out all day,” Jamal said. “I like having the library’s quiet workspaces, but I feel like every time I’m at school, I’m put into autopilot mode.”

Extracurricular work and activities can lead to students feeling overwhelmed by their academic demands. Junior Rachel Bruffett sometimes feels overworked when having loads of homework and studying for upcoming tests. “During the week it’s just really fast paced and I only get to recover over the weekend, then do it all over again,” Bruffett said. Photo by Ashanti Riccardo

“They are taking more than they can handle,” Conover said. “Whether it’s too many college level classes, or a combination of too many high level classes with a lot of extracurriculars that they are involved in, they just run out of time to do things and get overwhelmed.”

When students are loaded with stress, there is a possibility that their attendance can decrease. Senior Annabelle Hurst said that last year she might have skipped a class to catch up, but then missed work from that day which led her into the same ongoing loop.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Column by Simon Williams

next one.”

Due to the decrease in attendance rates, the school counselors have tried giving students resources to help during these overwhelming times. Conover has noticed that strategies such as planning small breaks can help students tremendously during studying.

Hurst recommends using planners, going to coffee shops and getting small rewards after each finished assignment.

Even with these techniques, schools continue to see students struggle. But overall, Conover believes students should be prepared for future burnout.

“It’s really a life issue. It’s important to be able to put some thought into why it’s happening and kind of analyze what you need at the moment,” Conover said.

May, the hectic month bridging the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation, has been a month dedicated to increasing awareness around mental health for over 70 years. There is still much to be improved upon when it comes to mental health awareness and resources, as the National Institute of Health cites mental health as an area in which current care falls short. This is especially true in a month where 31% of students report that course finals are the biggest source of strain on their mental health. While May is undoubtedly one of the most academically demanding months of the year, with students referring to finals and AP exams as major sources of academic strain, prioritizing mental and physical wellness by getting enough rest, exercising and taking available downtime away from academics or school-related activities can help mitigate stress and anxiety, according to the American Youth Policy Forum.

Finals and midterms are top source of stress for 31% of US students

1 in 5 adults and 1 in 6 children experience mental illness annually

“Once you skip one class it’s really easy [to continue doing it] because there were no repercussions for that,” Hurst said. “Then, you can’t stop yourself from skipping the

“You can make a plan where you’re going to do homework for 25 minutes, take a five minute break, then do homework for another 25,” Conover said.

Design by Katie Campbell | Photos by Ashanti Riccardo

KU RELAYS

Free State Track and Field athletes receive an invite to compete at the 100th Anniversary of the KU Relays

Story by Thomas Patton

The 100th Anniversary of the KU Relays was hosted on April 13-15. After a four year absence due to COVID19, the University of Kansas Track and Field program returned to host the event at Rock Chalk Park.

The relays were filled with college and high school athletes from around the Midwest. Among them were several Free State athletes who were invited to participate in this competition. Junior Gretchen Weinkauf spoke about the experience and the feeling of being selected.

Because there were so many high-profile athletes competing at this event, college scouts were everywhere evaluating the athletes. Athletes who desire to compete at a higher level have the opportunity to show their skill set to local colleges.

“There are always college coaches watching,” junior Cooper Stone said. “If you perform well, they will see and can start recruiting you.”

Senior Michael Romito reflected on the impact this event brought for those athletes seeking to be recruited. It brought a chance to take a look at the type of competitions college athletes participate in.

However, some athletes received a tough draw because of the weather. Throughout the weekend, conditions shifted from hot to stormy which resulted in seven events being canceled due to rain.

“It was a rough weekend as far as weather goes with the first day being windy and hot and the second day being cold and rainy,” Romito said. “Our boys and girls 4X400 team didn’t get to run due to weather which was really disappointing.”

Free State ended the weekend with some notable outcomes. Senior Reese Hulcher finished seventh in girls’ high jump and both the boys’ and girls’ 4X800 teams broke school records. The athletes will use this experience to help them prepare for the state competition coming at the end of May.

“It’s crazy to compete with people from all over the country,” Weinkauf said. “Knowing that you’re competing with some of the best athletes around pushes you like never before. It’s an incredible feeling.”

“[The relays] definitely benefit anyone hoping to compete after high school,” Romito said. “The meet gives you a window into competing at the collegiate level, and the atmosphere of the meet is a lot different than we are used to. It can be inspirational for anyone wanting to pursue the next level.”

Earning the privilege to compete at the KU Relays, Senior Olivia Goeser soars with passion for her team and her race. When competing, her mind is in the race to win and have fun competing with her fellow peers. Photo by Isabelle Pro

Junior Gretchen Weinkauf smiles while talking to fellow athletes during at the KU relays. “It was definitely a lot of fun and it was a great experience with lots of people.” Weinkauf said. Photo by Isabelle Pro

LEAPING OVER THE COMPETITION

Senior Reese Hulcher leads all classes in girls high jump

Standout high jumper senior Reese Hulcher has had a strong season, after finishing runner up at state, she is currently leading all classes for girls high jump with a jump of 5 foot 7 inches.

Hulcher’s high jump journey originally began in 7th grade, but later picked it up again when she found success sophomore year. In November of this year she officially announced her commitment to The University of Kansas to continue her athletic career.

It’s not always easy Hulcher explained, high jump is a sport filled with ups and downs, and it mainly comes down to mentality.

“A lot of it’s mental, you just have to tell yourself you can get over the bar.” Hulcher said.

Hulcher expressed the importance her teammates and coaches have had in her career when it comes to helping her break past barriers, and supporting her on her off days.

“They always just push me and are positive influences in my life,” Hulcher said. “They don’t let me really get down on myself and I can just tell that they care about how I perform.”

Although high jump is Hulchers main focus, she also competes in long jump, 110 meter hurdles, and the 400 meter relay. Next year she will compete in the heptathlon at KU.

“She’s been a great part of this team, her personality and character that she’s brought to the team will make her a great asset at KU.” High jump coach Maresa Cuevas said.

Design by Katie Campbell | Photos by Chloe Cook, Isabelle Pro

Column by Greyson Heiman

Junior Blake Wohler runs the 3200 meter race at the KU Track and Field relays. Wholer enjoyed the atmosphere at the meet. “The hardest part was having to race against really fast people,” Wholer said. Photo by Isabelle Pro

Photo by Chloe Cook

FIGHTING FOOD WASTE, HELPING HUNGER

USD 497 creates donation agreement to partner with JustFood Story

During April, 855 pounds of leftover lunch food from both public high schools were repurposed to feed the community through just one partnership. Starting in the fall of 2022, USD 497 looked locally to collaborate with the non-profit JustFood to eliminate food waste and feed the Lawrence community.

Since its opening in 2009, JustFood’s mission has been to face hunger and to ensure the Lawrence community is fed adequately. Out of their main pantry located at 1000 E. 11th St, they serve food to 300-600 families everyday, free of charge.

At both Free State and Lawrence High, a combined 909 students eat school lunch every day. On Wednesdays and Fridays at the end of lunch, the leftover food that will not be re-served is prepared for pickup.

From there, JustFood picks up the food donations at 1:30 p.m, where they are transported to their main pantry location at 1000 E. 11th St. On those days, all donations are gone, taken by individuals who utilize the JustFood pantry by their pantry’s closing hour of 3 p.m.

As for donations, JustFood accepts numerous types of food donations such as baked goods, packaged perishable foods and more.

To rule how the food will be used, the organization operates off the Environmental Protection Agency food recovery hierarchy, which is based on how to best prevent and divert wasted food.

by Lilly Wall

Sticking to the integrity of this hierarchy, Hartford said they repurpose any version of food in whatever level of usage they can, overall eliminating food waste.

“We can re-utilize literally everything… As an organization for the past two years we haven’t had to throw away any food of any kind because we’re able to utilize it within that hierarchy,” Hartford said.

Although JustFood accepts various categories of food donations, the USD 497 Nutrition and Wellness Director Julie Henry said the most typical foods they contribute are items that will not stay fresh over a weekend or ones that will not be re-served due to their quality such as pizzas or burgers.

With the district’s donations, Hartford believes there are benefits in providing people with more nutritional, healthier meals that are already prepared beforehand.

“[Pre-cooked meals] are really helpful for some of our community members that may not have a safe place to cook,” Hartford said. “They might be experiencing homelessness… or [not have] a way to cook something in a stove or oven.”

Henry said she finds significance in supporting a non-profit that strives to eliminate food waste and feed the community, and moving forward, hopes to expand the program to other schools to combat hunger.

On the other hand, through this program, Hartford hopes to see his organization stay true to “the overall concept of why JustFood is what it is.”

“[The community] is able to save money and refocus their money on things that lead to more life, like housing and being able to make sure their kids are taken care of,” JustFood executive director Brett Hartford said. “Anytime we can do something around food recovery, that means that more people have a chance to live.”

“We’re trying to tell a story that lowers the barriers for people to receive help, and that people don’t feel like they have to exchange dignity for food,” Hartford said. “You never know when you’re going to need a little bit of extra help and when we all come together and normalize asking for help, we lower the stigma and make access to services easier and less polarized in our community.”

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Great Green Help volunteers partnered with local organizations who work on creating effective and sustainable environments

Story by Phoebe Morris

As the weather warmed up and the spring came around, senior Michael Bido organized Great Green Help [GGH] with the goal of promting strudents to give back to local organizations.

Juniors had the opportunity to volunteer for the Great Green Help event held on April 7. Students partnered with local organizations to create a lasting impact from environmental practices.

Some volunteers were able to help organizations who focus on sustainability and accessible food resources. Bido wanted to make sure GGH gave the most possible help within just a few hours.

Even though students only helped out for one day, they still had a profound impact on the community.

“The most important benefit of the event is it creates a ripple effect for the volunteers,” Bido said. “After just a couple hours of trying something new with an organization, they might feel inspired to come back on their own or try working with even more people!”

Design by Evan White | Photos by Mallory Thompson, Ashanti Riccardo

“Working with Prairie Park Nature Center and other outdoor spaces to pick up trash creates an immediate positive effect on our environment,” Bido said.

Picking up boxes of hambuger buns, Just Food Warehouse Manager Wayne Briggs collects donations of leftover food from the cafeteria. Briggs picks up extra, unopened food from the kitchen twice a week. These donations, often at least 50 pounds, are taken to the pantry, where anyone can take food free of cost. Photo by Mallory Thompson

Awaiting for a JustFood donation, cafeteria worker DJ Brockway stands with the cafeteria’s contributions of hamburger buns and juice. After lunch on Wednesdays and Fridays, the kitchen staff prepares and packages uneaten food to be collected by a Just Food employee. Photo by Mallory Thompson

Juniors Rowan Banker and Emily Barkley stand working with boxes on the day of Great Green Help. The event, which ran all morning, provided various tasks for students to get involved with the community. Photo by Ashanti Riccardo

THE WILLOW PROJECT: WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT CAN WE DO?

The Willow Project creates sweeping concern among young Americans and spurs activism online

Throughout the month of March, students and teachers across the country scrolled through TikTok and Instagram, met with numerous posts addressing concerns about The Willow Project.

The Willow Project is an oil drilling project that was initially proposed in 2020 by the Trump administration – which has now been approved three years later by President Joe Biden.

The approval sparked many questions concerning the ethics of the plan. Nathan Dodson, co-president of University of Kansas Environs club, acknowledges why the plan may be viewed as necessary, but also feels that it did not align with Biden’s other views on climate.

“There is a push post-COVID for the US to establish a more ‘self-sustaining’ reliance on oil so as to prevent massive economic repercussions,” Dodson said. “This is still a step in the wrong direction, and goes against what the Biden Administration advocated for in their campaign.”

Although the mission of the project is to access Alaska’s abundant oil reserves, the project has multiple non-political subsequent effects that have led to concerns among some Americans.

“With any oil transport system, like with the Alaska pipeline, there’s all kinds of problems such as interrupting the flow of the migration of animals in that

Story by Stella Mosier

area,” environmental science teacher Julie Schwarting said. “It also does mean a lot more carbon will be released into the atmosphere.”

According to the National Resources Defense Council, the Willow Project has the potential to emit 9.2 million metric tons of carbon pollution into the atmosphere, which is equivalent to the amount that would be produced by the use of two million cars.

Carbon emissions are the cause of global warming, which leads to glaciers melting and sea levels rising and ultimately is extremely dangerous for both wildlife and humans alike, according to The National Wildlife Foundation.

With the news about The Willow Project’s effects on wildlife and the atmosphere catching the attention of Gen Z, many students are voicing their opinions about it online.

Petitions are a common resource that many people use to protest an issue online, which is why social media plays a large role in promoting them.

“Social media influenced a lot of people. Through it, different people online learned about the project and we got 3.2 million people to sign a petition,” freshman Megan Green said.

The petition has now reached over five million signatures and seeked to gain the attention of the Biden Administration.

“It’s a very powerful tool for rallying what we need, which is grassroots support,” Schwarting said.

The Willow Project is set to be in effect over the course of the next 30 years now that it has been approved, which leaves a large window of time for activists to continue fighting for change.

“Educate yourself and speak out,” Green said. “It’s very important that we just keep fighting for what we think is right.”

Digital Illustration by Chloe Cook

FREE RIDE?

Lawrence public transit starts new program to have free bus rides in 2023

Story by Conrad Hill

On Aug. 16 2022, the Lawrence City Commision approved the Fare Free Pilot Program which includes free rides on all Lawrence transit services all throughout 2023.

According to public transit and parking manager Adam Weigel, the program was requested by the community for many years.

“Fare free transit has been a community-driven desire for several years, and the time is right to give it a try,” Weigel said in a City of Lawrence article.

The main objective of the program was for regular transit riders to put that money into other resources, for drivers to have a better and faster work environment and making it more beneficial to the community in general.

“It was really the combination of community interest and then us having some available funds to be able to cover that operational cost,” Weigel said.

According to Wegiel, with the electric, eco-friendly buses, Lawrence benefits from the increase in bus riders since the pilot program, which in turn leads to a decrease in the amount of carbon emissions.

The free bus rides affect many people across the school. On an Instagram poll from @fsjournalism, 17% of students of 149 said that they take Lawrence public transit, and according to Hegeman, it’s important not just for kids who cannot afford bus fares, but also for kids who do not have rides to or from school.

“It’s really helpful for other kids, especially underclassmen,” Junior Magali Rodriguez said, “It’s a really good way for them to get to school.”

Looking forward, Wegiel hopes to continue the program saying that it would be a main goal for the public transits.

Design by Evan White | Photos by Keat Hockenbury

“With free public transit more people are using it and therefore there’s less overall cars releasing those fossil fuels into the environment, which is great,” freshman Ebi Hegeman said.

CONSUMERISM’S CONTRIBUTIONS

Consumerism holds authority over society, creating negative environmental impacts

Gallons of water, miles of transportation, hours of labor and a variety of materials exhausted to manufacture one simple product– just to repeat the process all over again, creating an endless loop. As a society, we have the responsibility to break the cycle of overconsumption and become more aware of purchasing power in order to create a more sustainable society.

According to Merriam Webster, consumerism is defined as a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods.

Consumerism has an authority over society that successfully creates a normalized loop, working against the best interest of consumers. The enticement to purchase “new” or “better” goods is continual, and the basic ability to appreciate what you already have is lost behind the constant absorption of what you may need or want.

In an era where social media and advertisement are deeply engraved into everyday life, there is a constant influence to consume; there is an unending amount of content giving the illusion that material goods can provide a sense of happiness, leading to a never-ending cycle of the need to accumulate masses of items.

The constant trend cycles of clothing, makeup, products and more promotes an unfeasible culture where items are designed to be disposed of and replaced quickly. Keeping up with the cycle is an unreasonable and unsustainable practice that will continue on for the sake of capital growth, disregarding the immense damages being done environmentally.

Story by Allison Mayhew

When entering a grocery store or shopping online, hundreds of items are presented in front of you, presented to perfection seemingly effortlessly. It is easy to lose sight of the extensive production process behind every item.

Having any product you could need readily available allows for consumers to become increasingly dissociated from the process behind the production of their goods, depending on a blindness to the fact that the resources being used are finite and take hard labor to produce.

Even with the already existing awareness surrounding consumption practices, there is a societal aversion to taking action. Often, when discussing the importance of practicing sustainability, consumers may find comfort in the fact that they have little power over the establishments that are mass producing items.

Though this mindset remains harmful, consumers have the power to restrict their purchasing while still living a life in comfort. Being aware of the problems surrounding consumption while continuing to consume without moral regard for sustainability perpetuates harmful practices and contributes to the depletion of the environment.

Consumerism has become a destructive force that has far reaching consequences for individuals, society and the plant as a whole. We must reject the idea that our worth as humans is defined by what we own, or else future generations will be deprived from the resources the earth provides.

“In this generation every move is anticipated, tracked, bought and sold before it has even happened,” Mark Fisher said in “Capitalist Realism”, a book exploring the morals and alternatives to capitalism.

THRIFT STORE REVIEW

Review by Lady Ortega-Perez, Lola Cloud & Maile Hickman

St. John’s Rummage House

St. John Rummage House is located on the Northeast corner of 13th St. and Kentucky St. They sell CDs, toys, books, movies, housewares, and other products. This is an excellent place to browse for low-cost apparel. They are only open twice a week, on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and they do not accept credit cards.

3/5

Vintage is the focus of Wild Man Vintage. With a wide variety of denim clothing, they have been in business at 939 Massachusetts St. since 2004. They frequently provide items from the 1920s to the 1950s. They are slightly more expensive, but overall the store stands out thanks to its bright green interior walls and green building exterior.

Wild Man Vintage Ditto

4/5 4/5

If you don’t like vintage style, Ditto is a great option. They provide fashionable, high-quality men’s, women’s, and plus-size clothing located at 4000 W. Sixth St. If you’re looking for low-cost, in-season clothing, Dittos is your best bet. They sell Levi, Lululemon, Tory Burch, Urban Outfitters, Vans, Zara, and Adidas, among other brands.

Design by Sarah Masterson | Photos by Riley Williams, Keat Hockenbury

Products use an eye-catching color or design onto their products, such as bags, to make people stop and look at the cheap things to buy. They make each product trendy so it can catch on to other people feeling influenced to buy from them.

Photo by Riley Williams

With designs that are used to pull people in, Target has clothing with bands and sports teams that will lure people into buying from them. This is a common method of getting people to buy fast fashion because of their passion for these styles.

Photo by Riley Williams

The overindulgence connected to fast fashion is at one of the highest points in history. Many fall into the trap of overconsuming fast fashion because of uprising trends and the course of fashion changes consistently. Photo by Riley Williams

In Target they have a variety of different styles that anybody can choose from and enjoy. Through the aisles are many different types of fast fashion. Many brands will try and make clothes that will fit anyone’s style. Photo by Riley Williams

THE CHESS EPIDEMIC

Sudden chess frenzy sweeps through schools, gaining the interest of students

Story by Nick Sprecker

The game of chess has been around for over 1500 years and has remained popular throughout its duration; however, the game has recently experienced a tremendous surge in popularity. Short chess clips are appearing everywhere on social media platforms like Tiktok, and chess streamers are taking over the YouTube world.

hess.com stated that traffic on its website has nearly doubled since December of 2022, and has continued to grow since. Every day since Dec. 5, at least one million people have solved their “daily puzzle.”

It doesn’t end there – chess is affecting schools as well. At the 6-12 grade levels, chess has a butterfly effect. Kids see their friends playing chess, so they decide to give it a try, and become hooked. Chess is easily accessible from a mobile device on various chess websites, leading to a potential distraction in class.

This is not the only time that chess has taken over the world. A few years ago, Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit fascinated viewers from English speaking countries, sparking a chess frenzy. The show ended over two years ago, so it begs the question: why is there a new chess epidemic? Is there any external influence?

A significant contributing factor to the growth of chess is the rise of American chess International Master Levy Rozman, also known as Gotham Chess. Rozman is a chess streamer and content creator who has amassed over 3.5 million subscribers on YouTube. His entertaining but informative content has brought a fresh and fun new perspective to the game, especially to the younger audience. He has a unique way of making chess fun to watch and even more fun to play.

Rozman isn’t the only internet personality who has contributed to the growth of chess. Twitch Streamer and Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, female FIDE master Anna Cramling, and internet personality Alexandra Botez are massive contributors to the growth of chess through social media.

PogChamps, an online amateur chess tournament hosted by chess.com, is another big entertainment outpost for online chess. Large internet personalities compete in a single elimination chess tournament over the span of two weeks. The most recent edition, PogChamps 3, gathered 19.2 million total views over the span of the tournament.

Referencing the hit October 2020 miniseries, sophomore Gillian Sellet says that “The Queen’s Gambit” seems to have kicked off society’s newfound obsession with chess. Now, with students frequently using class time to play the game, many teachers have expressed frustration with the effects of the craze on their classrooms. “People use it as a form of competition and it can be good for hanging out with friends but it’s pretty disruptive during class time,” Sellet said. Photo by Mallory Thompson

With these factors at play, it is safe to say that chess has been popularized by social media algorithms, but how does this affect learning?

Junior Max Polson, an avid chess player and enjoyer, thinks that chess is a beneficial way to relieve stress and keep the brain involved in school.

“It’s amazing for downtime during class,” Polson said. “I can still keep my brain involved and have fun with friends.”

Polson further specifies that chess has made him a smarter, sharper thinker.

Logan Mackay, an English teacher and sponsor of chess club, was pleasantly surprised at the sight of kids playing chess in their downtime.

“Chess is a great mind exercise,” Mackay said. “I would rather see students playing chess than mindlessly scrolling through a feed – it shows me that they are actually using their brains.”

As long as it doesn’t interrupt instruction time, Mackay says that he is willing to accept any challenge to a chess match from his students.

“I enjoy chess, but I’m not great at it. I’ve played one of my student’s before, and I lost immediately,” Mackay said. “It’s a cool way to build relationships with students, to be able to do something with them that’s not tied to content or academic things.”

On the other extreme, chess during instruction time can be hard for teachers to manage, especially during lecture. Social studies teacher Phillip Mitchell gives his opinion on the topic.

“When we have more time to work in class, that’s when I am able to walk around the room and see what’s on everyone’s screens. It’s during that time where it’s probably more acceptable,” Mitchell said. “When it is not the best time to play chess is when I’m doing direct instruction or lecture. It does end up being a situation where I do tend to, especially in advanced class, put it on the kids to make the right choice.”

Even though Mitchell is not necessarily an advocate of chess in class, he advises kids to pursue whatever their passions may be.

“For my kids interested in chess, I encourage them to do more with that,” Mitchell said. “Get involved with our chess club. But you know, if it’s a passion you pursue, just do it at the right times.”

Design by Sarah Masterson |

Photo by Mallory Thompson

“It’s given me a positive outlook,” Polson said. “I have to protect those who are dear to me, like the king and queen. It’s helped me further my critical thinking skills. Chess is intellectual warfare.”

PAVING WAY FOR NEW ART

Lawrence schools held annual the District Art Show at Lawrence Art Center

Story by Evie Chancy

Art teachers from across USD 497 curated the best works from their students to be displayed at the annual District Art Show on April 28 at the Lawrence Art Center.

When the art teachers began accumulating art for the event months prior, they stated they were trying to collect as much of a variety of Lawrence talent as possible.

Free State’s own art teacher, Rachel Downs-Doubrava, invited over 50 students to display their art free state ceramic teacher, Bryan Lloyd, was asked to advertise the event in every class to find students interested.

Downs stated the collective goal amongst the teachers was to fill the exhibit with as much student work as possible.

According to Wood, many people attended the exhibit, especially on the opening night. She went on to say there were many people who went to support loved ones or to experience the works for themselves. Lloyd stated he was glad so many people went out of their way to attend.

“It’s really fun to see everyone come out and come together and look at the artwork,” Lloyd said.

Student artists appreciated the opportunity to share their work with the community. Junior Natalie Riley said she thought it was a great experience to have her work on display because of the kind and engaged crowd.

“I was really excited about it because it’s like the first time that my work was shown in an art show and it did not disappoint,” Riley said.

The art teachers wanted to create a unique experience for guests and students. Downs said she wanted to do this by organizing her display differently than she did in previous years. She commissioned artists from all classes to make self portraits of themselves.

Lloyd stated that he and the other art teachers wanted to give their students a taste of what the real art world is like.

“It gives artists an opportunity they wouldn’t normally have to be on those big gallery walls and see the work under the lights,” Downs said. “It’s a pretty magical experience to have your work in galleries.”

“It was such a wide range of talent,” freshman Mimi Wood said. [It was] really special to see such a wide array of talent in Lawrence.”

Senior Caroline Börk smiles as she works on one of her art pieces on display at the Lawrence Arts Center. Börk began her art journey at a young age by taking classes at the Arts Center Preschool. “Funny enough, that is where the [previous] exhibition was held...so, I both started and ended my Lawrence artist journey at the arts center,” Bork said.

Photo by Chloe Cook

The portraits on display, made by Free State art students, show different art styles that showcase the artist’s emotions, preferences and processes. Freshman Willow Marable has her own self portrait on display. “I discovered oil painting as my favorite one and self portraits as my favorite thing to do with them. So naturally this assignment was really fun for me,” Marable said.

Photo by Chloe Cook

NEW THIS SUMMER

Upcoming movies and TV shows out this summer

Collected by Vivi Riffel

“THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY”

SEASON TWO Comes out July 14

“HEARTSTOPPER”

SEASON TWO

Comes out August 3

“THE LITTLE MERMAID”

Comes out May 26 “BARBIE”

Comes out July 21

Design by Vivi Riffel | Photos by Chloe Cook

PART TIME POOL PARTY

Pool partners looking forward to get back to summer job

When nice weather comes out and pools open up, seniors Keith Popiel and Ben Williams come in. For the past four years, Popiel has been working for a family pool business and invited Williams along the way.

The job is a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that runs from early April to late May, making about $7,000 over the summer.

“It’s a good seasonal job, and it pays a lot,” Popiel said. “It’s nice just not having to work in the school year.”

Although it’s a good seasonal job according to the duo, they also agree that there can be frustrations. Williams said that even when doing the job right, factors still can go wrong depending on the pool.

“When you are doing everything you’re supposed to do for the pool you can balance it perfectly chemically with the equipment, but it’s just green for some reason. That’s the most annoying,” Williams said.

At the beginning of their day, the pair checks in with their boss and gets their equipment. Afterwards, they get their list of houses and work on all the houses and some commercials pools until about 5 p.m. Popiel added that no matter how long their day is, the duo still has fun.

“We have a nice time looking at houses that are incredibly nice,” Popiel said.

Because of the harsh conditions, this job is not easy. Though according to Popiel and Williams, it’s the perfect summer job with lots of money. Popiel expressed the differences of working a hands-on job in the sun, rather than working inside behind a register.

Story by Emi Stone

Stepping into this job, it has been the first work experience for both Popiel and Williams. As Popiel started working during freshman year, he said he has gained experience through the larger responsibilities put on him with the job.

“It really does have a lot more responsibilities than other jobs. Obviously we’re going into these more expensive houses and backyards of these families and they’re letting us go in their backyard trusting them with serious pool equipment and chemicals,” Popiel said.

With this experience, Popiel and Williams grew closer together all while fixing pools. Even with the struggles, they still could find entertainment through working.

Senior Ben Williams and Senior Keith Popiel are going to be working in the pool cleaning business once again this summer. Photo by Wyatt Dodds

“I basically just drive around for eight hours cleaning pools listening to music with Ben. So that’s pretty easy. You just kind of sit, talk, listen to music, “ Popiel said.

CUTTING EDGE MOWERS

Lawn mowing businesses boom during beginning of spring Story by

Maeve Nichols

When first starting a business, getting clients to start coming to your business may be a big task.

“This summer is going to get pretty busy, I doubled my client load by taking on a commercial subcontracting job,” Wheat said.

Making this step for Wheat is a big step for his smaller business. There are many seasons in Kansas ranging for lawn care. The busiest times of the year for these businesses are the fall and summer.

“I am super busy in the fall but in the summer we have about thirty yards to cover,” Jones said.

As summer is starting and classes are coming to an end, students are searching for ways to make some cash. For sophomore Spencer Wheat, mowing lawns has been a big part of his life for eight years now. Spencer was young when he started mowing, and now independently runs his own business.

With the summer coming up, these businesses have goals they want to reach. Both Wheat and Jones said they hope to benefit themselves, their business and the clients they have.

His business, All City Lawn & Landscape, has been an official business for two years in the state of Kansas. Wheat expressed how transforming as a young business man going from nothing to having loyal clients is quite an advance. He has been networking with his workers and clients for years now, and building that up was major progress for him.

For sophomore Jeremiah Jones, he has been mowing lawns for three years now, volunteering for his fathers company: Jones Mowing.

Settling into these swamped seasons of working, it may be difficult to get into the flow. Going from not much work in the winter months to 10 hour days can be a big jump according to Wheat and Jones.

“Definitely the first month or so of mowing season, it’s hard to get settled into working close to full time,” Jones said.

To get these services, there are lots of different tasks to be done and equipment to be used. The cost of these services differs from each yard and workers on the job.

“I have one full time employee who works circles around me, and some other college kids who help on big time jobs,” Wheat said.

This upcoming spring, these two students are working hard to make their summer full of mowing lawns.

Design by Vivi Riffel | Photos by Wyatt Dodds, Taylor Stone

“I started from nothing, taught myself everything I know,” Wheat said.

Sophomore Jeremiah Jones works hard while mowing lawns to make money for the summer. “Mowing lawns is a great and easy summer job for high school students,”Jones said. Photo by Taylor Stone

“I always want to keep growing my business and continue making my clients satisfied,” Wheat said.

P H O T O

G A L L E R Y

PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY TAKES MORE THAN A FOUR-DIGIT CODE

You may think there’s nothing more responsible than a weekend spent programming the security system of your home. But you may have missed the most important step to keeping your family with a roof over their head: Life insurance.

With a Life insurance policy from Farmers Life®, you can help make sure that your family can stay in your home, even if something happens to you.

Design by Sarah Masterson |

Photos by Mallory Thompson, Elinor Russo, Eleanor Roust, Ashanti Riccardo, Isabelle Pro, Lady Ortega-Perez, Chloe Chook