Free Press: Issue 4, Edition 18

Free Press the

cover by Addie Wendel and Darian Koenig

photo by Mary Brady

Going Green Lawrence schools’ recycling plan still in transition

page 6

Season in Review

Athletes, coaches look back at past season

page 10

Applying to College

Prep for life after high school

page 18

Suffering in Silence Students open up about mental illnesses

page 12

Issue 4

Edition 18 20 November 2014

2Free Press page by Sydney Vogelsang

20 November 2014

Table of Contents

5 16

5

Remembering Bingo

6 12 20

Editor addresses concerns of growing older

16

6

Lawrence schools’ recycling plan still in transition Written by Lauren Brittain

12Feature

Suffering in Silence

Students open up about their struggles with mental illness Written by Libby Stanford and Kenneth Palmer

Behind the Scenes: Brown Bag Edition Artists comment on school’s unique fashion show Written by Erin Friedrichsen

Written by Kyra Haas

Going Green

22 23

20

Artists of the Month

22

Concert Schedule

23

Movie, Book Reviews

This month’s featured Firebird art

Upcoming events such as: The Black Keys and Tech N9ne Written by Juliana Hill

Gone Girl and ‘Eleanor & Park’ Written by Cathrine Prestoy and Maria Carrasco

Follow us @fsfreepress on Twitter or Free State H.S. Free Press on Facebook for current information about school happenings!

2014-2015

News Briefs

Free Press Staff Editors

Kyra Haas Ryan Liston Maria Carrasco Catherine Prestoy Darian Koenig Kristina Foster Fiona McAllister Kenneth Palmer Mary Brady Kaitlyn Foster

Designers

Caylee Irving Sydney Vogelsang

Reporters

Evan Frook Hala Hamid Trenna Soderling Libby Stanford

Editor in Chief Online Editor in Chief Social Media Editor/ Print Managing Editor Online Managing Editor Design Editor Asst. Design Editor Co-Copy Editor Co-Copy Editor Photo Editor Business Editor

Drake Riner Addie Wendel

Juliana Hill Maddie Birchfield Lauren Brittain Erin Friedrichsen

Photographers Nick Popiel

20 November 2014

Sam Goodwin

Our Mission

The Free Press is an open forum that accepts letters to the editor and guest writings. They must include the writer’s name and telephone numbers. Articles may be edited due to space limitations, libel or inappropriate content. Letters may be submitted to Room 115 or sent in care of Free Press to Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, Kan. 66049.

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

Page by Sydney Vogelsang

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Lawrence’s ice rink is being built between the Lawrence Public Library and parking garage on Vermont Street. The ice rink will be open to the public during Lawrence’s Winter Festival in mid-December.

Photo by Nick Popiel.

City Set to Open Downtown Ice Rink Written by Hala Hamid

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his winter, junior Christopher Toalson and his fellow lifeguards will switch out their swimming suits for large winter jackets and their whistles for ice skates.

From Nov. 28 until mid-January, the Lawrence Aquatic Center (LAC) will run a new city ice rink in downtown Lawrence. The rink will be located in the new plaza area between the Lawrence Public Library and its neighboring parking garage. The 80 by 60 foot area will be surfaced with synthetic ice which is unaffected by weather conditions.

The rink does come with a price tag, however.

According to the Lawrence Journal-World, the bid for the rink passed the city council with a 3-2 vote and will cost around $80,000, coming mainly from the city’s guest tax fund.

The rink will provide ice skating lessons, hold special events and serve as a place for all ages to skate for fun.

“It’s something that is just very Lawrence,” Jimmy Gibbs, recreation operations manager of the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department, told the University Daily Kansan.

While anyone is eligible to work at the rink, LAC will operate the ice rink, and the lifeguards and cashiers, specifically, will work and do various tasks

there. “(The lifeguards) have familiarity with the Parks and Rec system,” aquatic programmer Mike Escalante said. “It’s a seasonal offering and bringing on employees who are already in our system works very effectively for us.”

The lifeguards will work mainly as skate rental personnel and skate marshals. Personnel will rent out and retrieve skates and sharpen skate blades, and the marshals will circle the rink and ensure safety.

The rink will offer a convenient alternative to Kansas City’s Crown Center.

“I think it will be good because it used to be if you wanted to go ice skating, you’d have to go out to Kansas City,” Toalson said. “So, I think a lot more people will stay around Mass Street and do it there.”

The rink will give both children and adults a chance to exercise outdoors during the winter months.

“It’s another fun holiday family gathering venue for the City of Lawrence, at a very affordable cost of $3 per person,” Escalante said. “It will provide families bonding time and lasting memories … and some great photo opportunities.”

Average SAT scores reflect school’s high standards Written by Ryan Liston

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idgeting with No. 2 pencils and calculators, 64 Free State and 44 LHS students sat down to take the SAT this past year.

According to the College Board, the average scores from Lawrence and Kansas high schools were higher than the national average.

Free State posted higher scores than the Lawrence and Kansas averages, with a critical reading score of 627, a math score of 609 and a writing score of 602 amounting to a composite score of 1838.

In comparison, the national averages are 497 in critical reading, 513 in math and 487 in writing for a composite score of 1497.

Principal Ed West attributes this success to USD 497’s academic focus and rigor.

“We’ve got great students, great community (and) great teachers—there’s no doubt about that,” West said. “This is my fifth district that I’ve (worked) in, and I can tell you that our district values education and takes it more seriously than any place I’ve ever been.”

West added having higher education opportunities like the University of Kansas, Haskell Indian Nations University and Johnson County Community College nearby gives students a better understanding of the high standards required for post-high school education.

4 Staff Editorial page by Darian Koenig

20 November 2014

Fighting to Regain Myself Editor recounts battle with depression Written by Fiona McAllister

“

What happened to your leg?” asks a senior girl, now a former student. I quickly throw out a lie and say I slipped while shaving. She doesn’t press the issue, believing me. This is the first of many times I will lie about the cuts on my arms, legs and hips. And the Band-Aid wrappers littering my room.

I was excited for sophomore year. I filled my schedule with intense, advanced classes. I ran my hardest every day at cross country practice, getting better and better. I thought I could do it all.

Not long after school started, I took a turn for the worst.

I was struggling at home to get along with my family and struggling at school to find where I fit in.

Between the pressure from external factors and my own internal voice, I started to feel like my life was out of control. My parents wanted me to get straight A’s, my classmates wanted to make fun of me and I wanted to be perfect.

I started isolating myself from my friends and family. I didn’t want to get up in the morning, although I forced myself to. On the weekends, I opted to stay home and sleep rather than go hang out with friends. Eventually, I resorted to self-harm to handle my emotions. I needed to feel in control, and the cuts on my skin were the only things I had complete control over. I was depressed.

My perfectionist personality made it difficult for me to give up completely. I tried and tried to make myself stop caring about my grades and everything else, but no matter how bad I felt, I still cared.

Ultimately, my inability not to care is probably what saved me. I knew what I was doing to myself was not okay and that I needed help. I was miserable with how I went through each day, but trying to work through the depression seemed daunting.

One day in October of my sophomore year, I finally worked up the courage to speak up. I went to my cross country coach’s office and told him everything. He was understanding and took me to the school social worker, who called my dad.

My dad handled the news very well, all things considering.

He helped me find a therapist I was comfortable talking to, and he drove me to my weekly appointments. He even rushed home one day from work to take care of me after I called my sister, sobbing hysterically and scared because of all the blood coming from my fresh cuts.

Opening up about being depressed was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Dealing with my family once they knew wasn’t easy either. I was extremely uncomfortable talking about my depression, and it was even more painful to discuss the self-harm.

I blame my own difficulty speaking up on the lack of open conversations about mental illnesses. Talking about what it means to be mentally ill in school and at home would change the way society views mental illnesses. There would be less stigmatizing and more acceptance.

It’s been almost a year since I last cut myself. The exact date is Dec. 1, 2013. continued on next page

Photo by Sam Goodwin

Remembering Bingo

Opinion 20 November 2014

page by Darian Koenig

5

Editor addresses concerns with growing older Written by Kyra Haas

I

t’s Thursday, 3:02 p.m. I’m shuffling my giant bingo cards. Yes, the numbers are on giant cards instead of small, easily randomized plastic balls. Contrary to my original hope, I don’t get to spin a big metal contraption and pull out a Ping-Pong ball with “B-6″ written on it.

For the past year, I’ve called bingo a few times a month at an assisted living home, putting me around quite a few older individuals on a semiregular basis. Throughout the weeks, I’ve observed one resident in particular, and she’s changed my perspective about the longevity and meaning of life as I watched her live hers.

“Hello, honey! What’s your name?” Margie* asks me for the second time that day. My name isn’t the only one she forgets—she doesn’t always remember her name is Margie, either.

“Kyra,” I answer. I then tell her I’m 17-yearsold because I know from experience this will be her second question.

“Seventeen!” She exclaims. She grabs my arm quite tightly for a woman of her age, but I find it surprisingly endearing. “Why! You’re just starting out! I’m 96 … Well, I’m ninety-something.”

My mathematically-disinclined brain immediately begins its calculations … Ninety-six minus 17 … Carry the one … Pull out phone …

Bring up calculator app … type … Holy cow. When I was born, Margie was 79.

Margie is one of my favorite residents. She compliments me every time she sees me. Given, it’s the same compliment, but still thoughtful.

She gets bingo at least once each time I’m there, but she rarely notices. Once, I looked over at her table and saw she had not one, not two, but three

different bingos. When I brought her success to her attention, she laughed and said, “Oh, goodness. So I have. I just got so busy visiting I almost forgot I was playing!”

I often wonder if, in 1996, the year I was born, Margie was already a resident at the assisted living home, or if she already knew she had Alzheimer’s. According to my calculations, when she was born, the year was 1918 or 1919.

World War I was ending, segregation was normal and women didn’t yet have the right to vote.

She lived through the Roaring ‘20s, the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War, the invention of the internet, 9/11 and the election of a black president. Now, she hardly remembers any of it.

I find it incredibly disheartening that someone can live a rich, full life and then spend the last 15 or so years stuck in a care facility. What is the point of trying to live a full life if, at the end of it all, you don’t even remember your own name?

I heard once people in the last stages of Alzheimer’s hold onto who they truly were at the other stages of their lives. While I wanted to believe that for my own comfort, I was skeptical for a long time. Meeting Margie made me less pessimistic. If today’s Margie is a reflection of 50-years-ago Margie, then she retains the remnants of a meaningful life. I’m sure other people remember her effect on their lives, even if she doesn’t. While the impact of old age still frightens me, Margie invoked a strong desire to live to be a person of whom I can be proud when the rest fades away. *name has been changed

Photo By Lindsey Pratte

Fighting to Regain Myself continued...

That doesn’t mean that I’m happy 100 percent of the time or I never think about cutting, because I do, but I’ve learned how to cope.

I exercise almost everyday to manage stress and to improve my mood. At one point, my family thought I had an eating disorder because I spent so much time at the gym. However, working out has always been my outlet, and when I was in the midst of the worst of the depression, going to the gym kept me sane, or, at the bare minimum, controlled.

My support system played a key role in my recovery. At first, I kept the depression a secret from everyone except for the initial people who knew—my coach, family and one friend. But then, I slowly started to reach out to one person at a time, and, while still small, my support system grew into a community of some of the most loving people I know.

Despite the support, I still deal with the

stigma of mental illness on a regular basis. Most of the comments I receive are unintentionally hurtful and show a lack of understanding.

I’ve had members of my support system blame me for my depression. They have told me that I can control feeling depressed. However, anyone who has struggled with depression knows it is not controllable. Depression comes and goes as it pleases. Stigmatizing individuals with depression or any mental illness is not okay.

Behind every stigma is an ignorant, scared person.

For instance, one of the first people I told about my cutting initially seemed incredibly supportive. He told me to call him anytime I felt the urge to cut. The first few times I reached out to him during one of my destructive episodes, he was great. But after that, he started to get angry with me.

He said I was putting my depression on him.

Which, yes, I probably projected my pain on to

him a little too much. While the things he said to me about my illness hurt at the time and still do, I know it wasn’t his fault. He wasn’t equipped to handle the extremes I was experiencing. However, his actions did show how little even the most wellmeaning people can know about depression and mental illness as a whole.

Ultimately, I hope that by talking about mental illness more people will be inclined to be open about what they may be going through.

Mental illnesses are nothing to be ashamed of.

I am not ashamed to admit that I struggle with depression, and I hope someday others won’t be either.

I’ve had my share of struggles. I’m not going to lie. It isn’t easy, and it never will be. I will fight my tendency to gravitate toward depression for the rest of my life. I may be depressed, but my depression is not who I am.

6News

page by Darian Koenig

20 November 2014

Going Green Lawrence schools’

recycling plan still in transition

A

Photo illustration by Mary Brady

Written by Lauren Brittain

t 5 p.m. on a Saturday, sophomore Kahler Wiebe prepares to leave Free State after an all-day volleyball tournament. She turns to grab her water bottle. She stops. A slew of bottles litter the table. Wiebe dutifully scoops the abandoned plastic containers to recycle, but when she looks around, all she sees are trash cans.

“There are no boxes anymore,” Wiebe said. “Where are the boxes with the little holes in center? I haven’t seen those.”

Some have noticed Free State’s halls missing the large cardboard recycling bins placed around the school. This is due, in part, to the previously contracted company, Deffenbaugh, pulling their contract to fulfill the school district’s recycling needs.

Difficulties stemming from Lawrence’s new city-wide recycling program have left the Lawrence school district without a reliable recycling system; however, city officials are working to make permanent mixed recycling containers available to the schools by Jan. 1.

Each middle and high school will eventually be provided one recycling container the same size as the ones Deffenbaugh removed. The elementary schools’ recycling needs will be met on a case-by-case basis.

In previous years, Inter-Personal Skills (IPS) students picked up recyclables each day.

Patrick Dipman, the work experience coordinator for the IPS program, assists students in finding work opportunities and enhancing their social skills.

One of these opportunities is collecting recycling.

According to Dipman Deffenbaugh’s previous contract with the school required his students to gather the recycling every day and put it in a large dumpster for the company to pick up.

Dipman’s students killed two birds with one stone, as the school then did not need to assign custodians to collect the recycling.

“The custodial staff, they already have a ton of stuff on their plate,” Dipman said. “I don’t know, if we didn’t do it, who else would.”

When Lawrence announced their city-wide recycling plan, Deffenbaugh ended their contract with the schools. Due to the absence of a wide-scale recycling collector, IPS’s recycling involvement decreased substantially, as did the chance to build the students’ work experience with the daily activity.

Wiebe worries the new recycling system will decrease the number of environmentally conscientious young people.

“I think building awareness now (in high school) so that they can know it for the rest of their lives would be really helpful,” Wiebe said. “We can’t do that without recycling.”

Shedding light on the importance of recycling is a goal of all parties involved, and the school does not completely lack recycling services between now and the end of the year. Continued efforts from the IPS students and Environmental Club have improved the transition.

Environmental Club helped acquire two residential-size containers and one large dumpster intended for cardboard for recycling from the city.

News 20 November 2014

“What we can recycle right now is cardboard and office paper,” said Julie Schwarting, Environmental Club sponsor.

The club has outlined plans for solar energy and an outdoor lunch space for students, but their main focus lately is devising a plan for the school to recycle a broader spectrum of items.

“We’re trying to figure out a way that we can easily sort plastic bottles and aluminum cans,” Schwarting said. “At Wal-Mart, they will take pretty much whatever we can give them, but … we’re going to have to find a way to get it there as well.”

However, the schools can only work with the resources provided. Teachers and principals don’t make the contracts, the city facilities do.

Originally, the city planned to phase in the recycling program, but under that plan Deffenbaugh would eventually lose profits made in Lawrence.

“I don’t want to entirely criticize them (Lawrence city recycling) because what they’re doing is going to give local jobs to people,” Dipman said. “But they should have been prepared if Deffenbaugh pulls out commercially, then who is going to be the fallback for that.”

Both Dipman and Schwarting conversed with people involved in implementing Lawrence city-wide recycling and helped make school recycling a higher priority.

“We’re right up there on their list of who will

get containers and who will have service first,” Schwarting said.

Lawrence Public schools is currently working with the City of Lawrence Solid Waste Division to finalize plans for school recycling implementation.

Despite this step forward, the school board will still have to pay recycling fees. The city will be unable to provide free recycling to the schools, but the district does not have enough money in their budget to pay for the city services. They expect to acquire these funds before the first of the year.

The city also noted once recycling is returned to the schools, the bins provided will be placed in a more enclosed space.

This placement will prevent community members from utilizing the school’s bins for personal recycling. They hope this will curb the expenses of recycling and keep the district costs as low as possible.

While Lawrence schools may have lost their own recycling for a time, Lawrence as a whole is gaining more environmental opportunities with the new curbside plan.

Around mid-September and early October, houses across Lawrence received blue waste containers with the Lawrence Recycles logo.

The residential recycling program became a city ordinance in April 2013. By state law, the city was “required to wait a period of 18 months

Be an environmental Trying to go as green as you “ can, well, you’re not always

page by Caylee Irving

7

before implementation.”

Oct. 21 was the first official day of collections, and residential recycling will continue to be collected on the same days as regular trash collections on a biweekly basis.

The city accepts mixed paper, newsprint, glass, tin, steel and aluminum containers and small amounts of scrap metal and plastics marked with recycling labels one through seven.

Though Wiebe agrees the school needs similar services, she noted her own excitement at what she sees as a simple, stress-free way for her family to begin recycling.

“The first week we had it, it got filled,” Wiebe said.

Schwarting is also a proponent of the plan for the city overall.

“There really is a huge market for recycling … so I’m glad Lawrence is getting involved,” Schwarting said.

Schwarting noted how vital she believes it is that recycling opportunities continues to grow and thrive both locally and at school.

“As I get older and I learn more about it, it’s really so clear to me how we’re a part of the environment,” Schwarting said. “We use all the resources that exist in the environment, and if we don’t take care of those resources, it’s going to harm us in the long run. I think it’s our ethical duty to take care of and maintain what exists here naturally.”

superhero

perfect, and it’s not overnight.

Little steps are important.

“

- Biology teacher, Julie Schwarting

Be aware

“The first step, always, is just being conscious of it,” Schwarting said. “You have choices.”

Designate a space in or outside your home

for other recyclables the city won’t be taking. You can take these to a recycling location whenever you run errands.

Find out what you can recycle in your area and where.

1.

2.

3.

The school accepts mixed recycling, for other recycling locations, check their sorting guidelines.

Other recycling locations include Wal-Mart, 12th and Haskell Recycle Center, AAA Old Man’s Recycling, Advantage Metals Recycling Recycling will be collected every other week on the same day as your trash day

Make environmentally friendly purchases • • • • • •

Use compact fluorescent lightbulbs Turn off and unplug lights and electronics not being used at night Take your own mug to the coffee shop Buy used books, e-books, or borrow from your local library Use reusable water bottles Repurpose and DIY items

8 News

page by Darian Koenig

20 November 2014

‘Glee’king Out

Senior cast as ‘Warbler’on hit TV show Written by Kyra Haas

O

n a Tuesday morning in September, senior Jake Landgrebe fumbles for his ID at the gates of Paramount Pictures Studios. After the guard buzzes him in and hands him a ticket, Landgrebe enters a studio lot currently filming shows such as “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” “Dr. Phil” and “Glee.”

Cast as a “Warbler”—a member of fictional Dalton Academy’s a capella glee club—Landgrebe frequently flies to LA to rehearse and film scenes for Season 6, Episodes 1, 2 and 5 of the tv series “Glee.” Season 6 is set to air in early 2015.

Jeremy Finney, lead choreographer for professional performance group TigerStyle! has trained Landgrebe for a number of years, and advocates Landgrebe’s ability to work in timesensitive, professional environments.

“I don’t think there are too many dancers out there—not even in his age range—just dancers just out there, period, who can pick up choreography and perform it at such a high level as quickly as Jake does,” Finney said. “… Jake has a knack for getting the choreography and keeping it in context of what the choreographer wants, as well as adding in his own artistic manipulations to the movements.”

A week before Landgrebe’s 18th birthday, Brooke Lipton, an associate choreographer for “Glee,” contacted him about auditioning for an unspecified spot on the show. Lipton noticed Landgrebe’s dancing talent during yearly events, notably the PULSE on Tour, and she routinely asked for his birthdate. “(Lipton) told me that once I turn 18, I would be on the show,” Landgrebe said. “And it was kind of just like, ‘Oh, thanks. That’s really nice of you to say that.’ But she wasn’t kidding.”

Two days after his audition, Landgrebe’s phone rang, and he was instructed to return to LA because he was going to be a “Warbler” dancer for Season 6.

Landgrebe flew back to LA and rehearsed one day before he was told he wasn’t needed for two weeks. Since then, his schedule has varied greatly.

Usually filming takes place over the course of a couple long days in the studio.

“It all depends,” Landgrebe said. “We’ll … (have) like 8 a.m. call, then (we) don’t leave ‘til 9 (p.m.) But they can’t legally hold us there longer than that without extending our paychecks.”

The rehearsal environment is fairly relaxed, with long breaks between sets. A snack bucket offers an assortment of junk food, and performers scramble for the elusive fruit snacks, which rarely

Senior Jake Landgrebe looks forward to his upcoming appearance on Glee. “Long term goal, I just want to be a professional entertainer. I want to entertain in the industry.”

The episodes of “Glee” with Landgrebe airs in early 2015. photo by Mary Brady

last past the first hour.

Performers and dancers spend the day learning their routines, practicing lip-syncing and filming scenes. Filming requires performers to be “on their game” at all times because one mistake could cause the entire scene to be deleted and replaced with another segment. “(Filming) is very difficult when you have cameras circling you or on big cranes that will hit you … or you (can) hit the guy on the Steadicam,” Landgrebe said.

In addition to avoiding moving cameras and crew, performers must lip sync correct lyrics—or at least give that impression.

“The coach will just say, ‘Make sure you know know your lyrics, and if you don’t know your lyrics, make doo-bop sounds and make it seem like you’re singing the right part,” Landgrebe said. “Just don’t sing when it’s silent, and not sing when it is not silent.’”

Landgrebe’s professional work and school times overlap, which has been more of a challenge this year than he anticipated.

“I’ve taken on an AP class this year, … AP Statistics, and being gone has been very difficult,” Landgrebe said. “… But I’m still passing the class, and I’m not disappointing my parents, so … that’s fine with me.”

After graduation, Landgrebe plans to continue dancing. He sees his spot on “Glee” as one of many stepping-stones in his career.

“My ultimate goal short-term—I like to say ‘short-term’ because … my body will give out eventually—I want to be a tour dancer,” Landgrebe said. “I want to, you know, travel the world and dance with an artist of some sort.”

Several of Landgrebe’s friends already tour with artists and can be in Japan one day and on the other side of the world the next. Finney believes Landgrebe can attain that level of success.

“I think he’s got a super bright future,” Finney said. “I think he’s going to be one of the most successful dancers to come out of the Midwest, and I really feel like eventually he’s going to change the game for dance in the long run.”

While Landgrebe hopes to live this worldtraveler lifestyle for awhile, he is already planning for life after dance. He considers being a director, photographer or choreographer as possible career paths.

“Long-term goal, I just want to be a professional entertainer,” Landgrebe said. “I want to entertain in the industry … We’ll see how it goes.”

News 20 November 2014

9

page by Kristina Foster

Athlete Advisory Committee Committee formed; students represent athletic programs Written by Maddie Birchfield

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thletic director Mike Hill sits at his desk, looking over files for new athletic facilities, students in need of guidance and the usual jumble of school administrator necessities.

One of Hill’s main focuses is improving school programs. In an effort to enhance athletics, he started the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. The committee focuses on bringing a higher student influence into the school’s athletic programs.

“The notion is to have a group of student athletes who can represent their teammates and communicate with the administration through me,” Hill said.

Hill wants to make changes that will enhance students’ athletic experience, and he hopes to do so by getting athletes involved in athletic department decisions.

“There might be ideas that the kids have that would enhance what we’re doing, and I think it’s worth looking at that,” Hill said.

Senior Randall Schmidt is a representative for the boys’ varsity soccer team and already has some ideas to throw around at upcoming monthly meetings.

“The grass field that the JV and C-team practice (on), that’s just something to improve,” Schmidt said.

Hill decided to create the Advisory Committee after witnessing its success at the college level. Senior Karen Campbell, a representative for girls’ golf team, thinks it will benefit the athletic programs.

“I think what this program hopes to accomplish is not to put more attention on sports, but to put the same attention that we have on the big sports on some of the smaller sports as well,” Campbell said.

The first meeting on Oct. 15 pulled members together to lay out the organization’s purpose and consider how to move forward with the program.

“We were assembled to talk about issues within budgetary needs and team spirit,” Campbell said.

Along with Campbell and Schmidt, sophomore Madison Piper, representing girls’ basketball, was also chosen to be on the Advisory Committee.

“Coaches pick representatives from each sport, and they go and meet with Hill to talk about whatever they want to address athletics-wise,” Piper said.

Although the committee is still in its beginning stages, athletes and Hill are hopeful about what they will be able to accomplish with its creation.

“We feel like we’re in a pretty good position now to maybe shift the gears in terms of our vision and what we’re trying to accomplish, and (the Student Athletic Advisory Committee) would be a component of that,” Hill said.

Speaking to student athletes in the library classroom, athletic director Mike Hill holds the monthly Athlete Advisory Committee meeting. “[Students] get to communicate with their coaches, but to be able to communicate with the administrator of the program, I think has benefits,” Hill said. Student representatives from various school sports teams attended the meeting on Nov. 11. photo by Mary Brady

10 Sports

page by Kristina Foster

Football

As of Nov. 16, the football team is in a post-season winning streak.

“I’d like to say we’ll get to the state championship,” senior Joel Spain said. “Everyone knows it’s possible for us to do it. We just have to perform.”

In order to do that, the football team will have to hone certain skills.

“Our defense needs to be at the top—the best it’s been all season,” Spain said. “Everyone says, ‘Defense wins championships.”

Spain felt less confident about

20 November 2014

Season in Review

the season when it started because the team is comprised primarily of younger players. His fears may have been unnecessary.

“It’s difficult being a senior and having to be a leader and teach these guys,” Spain said. “ … But they’ve picked it up real easily so it hasn’t been too hard for us. I think they stepped up and made big contributions.”

The team hopes to continue their undefeated postseason in the games leading up to the state championship on Nov. 29.

The soccer team finished the season with a 9-8-1 record. They significantly increased their number of goals compared to last year, with 40 instead of eight for the season.

“Our defense was a little lacking this year, but offensively we were able to fix what we weren’t able to fix last year,” senior Daniel Clarke said.

The two wins against LHS were also strong points for the boys, who hadn’t beaten the cross-town rival in four years.

Although the team saw

In addition to winning regionals and league, the cross country team’s hard work throughout the season led to the girls placing second and the boys placing fourth at State.

Junior Ethan Donley was the top finisher for Free State, in sixth place.

“I felt energized and excited (when I crossed the finish line),” Donley said. “I was really excited that everything had paid off throughout the year.”

Junior Tanner Hockenbury and seniors Thomas Becker, Colton Stallard, Connor Ballenger and Curtis Zicker also contributed to the fourth place State finish.

The girls finished in second place at State, and sophomore Emily Venters defended her spot as State champion for the second consecutive year, rounding out her undefeated season.

Sophomore Kiran Cordes, juniors Claire Sanner, Rachel Witt and Liv Lyche and seniors Marlee Yost-Wolff and Allyson Hertig also competed at State.

Cross Country The gymnastics team finished the season defending their State title for the third time in the last four years. This was also the second consecutive title for the girls. “(People) put a lot of pressure on our whole team,” senior Grace Bartle said. “But I think we took it well.”

Bartle placed

Gymnastics

in the top five in vault and took fifth place at State all-around. She was also the State champion in floor exercise.

Senior Haley Johnson placed sixth on her beam routine and earned high enough scores to take ninth all-around.

Junior Callie Hicks also placed in the top five for vault and finished fourth place on the uneven bars.

Gymnastics

Senior Carrie Howland tied for sixth place in floor exercise.

Bartle attributes the team’s first place title to collaborative effort and dedication.

“Free State (gymnastics) would go to practice … then the gymnastics team would all meet up at open gym and then practice ‘til 11,” Bartle said.

“That was a lot of hard work.”

Bartle will miss the tiring hours the team put in leading up to the final results.

“Free State High School gymnastics means the world to me,” Bartle said. “I have never had a greater experience in my life.”

Boy’s Soccer major improvements, they faced an unfortunate end to the season in a loss against Olathe East in regional finals.

“They came out hard, like we knew they would, because we played them earlier in the year, and they beat us 5-1,” Clarke said. “I think we felt overpowered by them because they were all really big, and we’re a pretty small team.”

In the end, the soccer team stood by their recurrent theme “Ubuntu,” meaning “I am who I am because of who we are.”

Sports

Girl’s Golf To end the season, senior

Emily Bermel earned first-team AllSunflower League honors for girls’ golf. Senior Karen Campbell earned honorable mention as well.

The girls’ golfers had their ups and downs throughout the season, but qualified for State. “(Campbell and I) felt like we

Volleyball The volleyball team’s results varied throughout the season.

“During practice we were really inconsistent,” sophomore Payton Gannaway said. “We’d work together sometimes, and sometimes it wouldn’t be very serious.”

Despite these troubles, they were able to defeat LHS in the city showdown.

“Everyone felt pretty great,” Gannaway said. “We were all just working together. Everything was working.”

Unfortunately, when paired against Olathe East in the sub-state tournament, they could not beat the defending state champions.

were kind of a big reason for why we got there,” Bermel said. “We really put everything into it.”

In addition to Campbell and Bermel, seniors Erin Meyers, Savannah Reeb, Sydney Buller and sophomore Anne Goebel contributed to the team’s tenth place finish at State.

Girl’s Tennis

Senior Taylor Hawkins and junior Rachel Walters finished 12th in doubles at State.

In addition, they placed first at the Emporia Invitational in an all Free State finals round, third at regionals and fourth at league.

Hawkins was overjoyed at placing in State.

Looking Ahead Boys’ Basketball

Basketball had a strong season last year, winning a little over half of their games.

Junior Darian Lewis hopes to improve this record in the upcoming season. “(One of our goals is) to overcome everyone’s expectations because a lot of

people don’t think we’re going to be that good,” Lewis said.

He also had a more specific goal in mind.

“For me, at least, I’d like to beat LHS.” The first varsity game of the season is Dec. 4.

Girls’ Basketball The girls started out last year’s season with four losses in a row, but they were able to make a comeback and end with a season record of 10 wins and 12 losses.

Head Coach Bryan Duncan envisions a season

20 November 2014

with more wins.

“My goal is to win every game we play,” Duncan said. “I think this year we’ll have players in positions of leadership that can help push each other a little more.”

11

page by Darian Koenig

“It was a really great feeling to know that everything you worked for, you finally got.” Hawkins said.

Junior Caitlin Dodd and freshman Ali Dodd also competed in doubles on the first day of State, but were eliminated after a tough round and did not play in the second day of the meet.

Boys’ Swimming/Diving The boys had a consistently strong season last year and placed fifth at State. “(Our goal is) to move up from fifth place to be in the top three,” Coach Annette McDonald said. “We want to bring home some hardware.”

Bowling

Overall, both the girls’ and boys’ teams did well throughout last year’s season, often placing first at invitationals. At regionals, the boys placed ninth and the girls placed fifth.

As for the upcoming season, a major goal will be improving the playing environment.

“I think we all just want to be there for each other more, and we want to work harder,” senior Bri Martin said.

Wrestling

The Wrestling team made it to quarterfinals at the state tournament last year.

“We were hoping to get a championship,” junior Cameron Shanks said. “Hopefully (we’ll make it) to State this year and get a place.”

Qualin Fowler, Sid Miller, Colton Steele, Sam Skwarlo and Tyler Sampson all competed.

12 Feature page by Addie Wendel

Feature 20 November 2014

20 November 2014

13

page by Addie Wendel

Anxiety Disorder Written by Kenneth Palmer and Libby Stanford

A

year ago, senior Kayla Clark felt inexplicably sad. Every day something seemed wrong, but she thought she was simply overreacting. Her situation progressed to the point of suicidal thoughts and self-harm, and she knew she needed help.

Clark, like many students, suffered from depression and anxiety.

Mental illness can be difficult to discuss, particularly for adolescents already concerned with being “normal.” Teens feel the expectation to be healthy, independent and flawlessly social.

The secrecy surrounding mental health issues often serves to make the issue worse because people neglect their illnesses. Even if people try to avoid acknowledging they have an issue, the issues often boil over anyway.

“There’s nothing else to describe it besides just being very dark the whole time and feeling like you deserve it,” Clark said.

Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder have an impact on students’ day-to-day functions, and these issues can completely derail a person’s goals.

Having also struggled with mental illness, senior Olivia Embry attests to its pervasive nature. “(Mental illness) really affects every part of your life,” Embry said. “Going to school, going home, being with your family, being with your friends.

Everything you do is affected by mental illness and needs to be looked at.”

In the past, professionals often dismissed potential signs of illness in adolescents as temporary moodiness. This neglect is partially due to the stigma attributed to mental illness and an unwillingness to give kids a label that might affect their future.

However, undiagnosed cases can be linked to a lack information.

Psychological research has improved, and experts now know 11 percent of teenagers have had a major depressive disorder by the time they turn 18, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Other mental illnesses are prevalent besides depression however. Bipolar disorder, for example, is common among young people. According to NIMH, at least half of all bipolar cases start before age 25.

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. These shifts in mood are much more extreme than typical moodiness, and they are categorized as two separate phases, the manic phase and the depressive phase.

The manic phase is characterized by feelings of excitement and happiness. During the manic phase, a person is more likely to engage in risky behavior. This period of “happiness” can foster a false sense of security, and the recklessness and sudden ambition can have consequences. Often people will have an unrealistic sense of their abilities, and they will take on new tasks which overwhelm them during a depressive episode.

The depressive phase is the opposite of the manic phase. Intense feelings of sadness and despair

• Overwhelming feelings of panic

and fear • Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts

• Flashbacks • Recurring nightmares • Physical symptoms:

> “butterflies” in the stomach,

> heart pounding

> muscle tension

Depression Disorder • Changes in appetite that result in weight losses or gains unrelated to dieting • Insomnia or oversleeping • Loss of energy or increased fatigue • Restlessness or irritability • Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt • Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions • Thoughts of death or suicide or

attempts at suicide

Photo by Mary Brady

take over, and negative thoughts can dominate a person’s life. Those with bipolar disorder have difficulty concentrating and making decisions in the depressive phase, and they tend to lose interest in activities and people in their lives.

Both of these periods can be extremely destructive, and they can make it challenging for sufferers to connect with peers and family. If someone with bipolar disorder is undiagnosed or if his or her peers do not know about the diagnosis, it can be difficult to make sense of the sudden, shifts in moods, attitudes and behaviors.

Teens often struggle to find ways to handle their disorders, and teachers sometimes act as confidants for students. However, teachers are required to report any kind of self-harm or threats to the safety of others, and while this may be beneficial in the long term, it can cause students to find other outlets or completely avoid discussing feelings.

Other than teachers, students may feel there are few opportunities to reach out for help at school.

“I feel like (mental illness issues) are not really handled in school, as far as big groups that offer support,” senior Sophia Coen said. “I feel like it’s

like, ‘Oh yeah, call this hotline,’ but there’s not a real community for it.”

However, Free State does have social workers to help students in need.

“There is a team here called the health resource team,” social worker Cindy Trarbach said.

“It’s their job to be the point for kids who are exhibiting some kind of health issue—that includes mental health—and provide in-school supports.”

Trarbach and her counterpart, Jillian Fitzmorris, can be found in room 128.

Outside of school, friends can help to alleviate or aggravate the effects of mental illness. Social media can be a way for students with mental illness to feel connected, but it can also set unrealistic expecatations about what is “normal.” In this way Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook can be both beneficial and detrimental to a person with mental illness.

Social media can be a way for people to connect with each other, which can facilitate the recovery process. However, social media can also open students up to bullying which can be harmful to a person’s already fragile mental health.

“Social media can be a really awesome thing,”

junior Olivia Boldridge said. “It can be good for helping get the word out there about positive things, and it’s just good to connect yourself with other people. But it can also be a really bad thing when it’s taken to a different level that it really shouldn’t be used for.”

Cyber-bullying can be incredibly destructive, and the combination of cyber-bullying and preexisting mental illness can have devastating effects, including self-harm and suicide.

For some, interacting with peers is the biggest source of stress, but for others, the workload from school and other activities can lead to self-destructive behaviors. The resulting pressure can cause mental breakdowns and increase the likeliness of a person developing a mental disorder.

“In moderate doses, stress for most of us is just a part of life we can handle,” said Stephen Ilardi, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Kansas. “For people to undergo extreme levels of high stress for a long period of time (is) a recipe for psychological disaster.” continued on next page

Manic Phase • Feeling on top of the world.

Bipolar Disorder

A sensation of sheer and utter happiness that nothing can change.

• Sudden or extreme irritability or rage • Grandiose delusions.

Imagined special connections with God, celebrities or political leaders.

• Invincibility or unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities.

• Hyperactivity.

• Excessively risky behavior.

Such as reckless driving or outlandish spending sprees • Uncontrollable racing thoughts/ rapid speech.

• Less need for sleep.

Depressive Phase

• Intense sadness or despair.

The person feels helpless, hopeless, and worthless.

• No interest in activities they once enjoyed.

• Loss of energy, fatigue.

• Sleep difficulties.

Either sleeping too much or not at all.

• Changes in appetite.

Either a noticeable increase in appetite or a substantial weight loss unrelated to dieting.

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions.

• Thoughts of death or suicide.

12 Feature page by Addie Wendel

Feature 20 November 2014

20 November 2014

13

page by Addie Wendel

Anxiety Disorder Written by Kenneth Palmer and Libby Stanford

A

year ago, senior Kayla Clark felt inexplicably sad. Every day something seemed wrong, but she thought she was simply overreacting. Her situation progressed to the point of suicidal thoughts and self-harm, and she knew she needed help.

Clark, like many students, suffered from depression and anxiety.

Mental illness can be difficult to discuss, particularly for adolescents already concerned with being “normal.” Teens feel the expectation to be healthy, independent and flawlessly social.

The secrecy surrounding mental health issues often serves to make the issue worse because people neglect their illnesses. Even if people try to avoid acknowledging they have an issue, the issues often boil over anyway.

“There’s nothing else to describe it besides just being very dark the whole time and feeling like you deserve it,” Clark said.

Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder have an impact on students’ day-to-day functions, and these issues can completely derail a person’s goals.

Having also struggled with mental illness, senior Olivia Embry attests to its pervasive nature. “(Mental illness) really affects every part of your life,” Embry said. “Going to school, going home, being with your family, being with your friends.

Everything you do is affected by mental illness and needs to be looked at.”

In the past, professionals often dismissed potential signs of illness in adolescents as temporary moodiness. This neglect is partially due to the stigma attributed to mental illness and an unwillingness to give kids a label that might affect their future.

However, undiagnosed cases can be linked to a lack information.

Psychological research has improved, and experts now know 11 percent of teenagers have had a major depressive disorder by the time they turn 18, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Other mental illnesses are prevalent besides depression however. Bipolar disorder, for example, is common among young people. According to NIMH, at least half of all bipolar cases start before age 25.

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. These shifts in mood are much more extreme than typical moodiness, and they are categorized as two separate phases, the manic phase and the depressive phase.

The manic phase is characterized by feelings of excitement and happiness. During the manic phase, a person is more likely to engage in risky behavior. This period of “happiness” can foster a false sense of security, and the recklessness and sudden ambition can have consequences. Often people will have an unrealistic sense of their abilities, and they will take on new tasks which overwhelm them during a depressive episode.

The depressive phase is the opposite of the manic phase. Intense feelings of sadness and despair

• Overwhelming feelings of panic

and fear • Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts

• Flashbacks • Recurring nightmares • Physical symptoms:

> “butterflies” in the stomach,

> heart pounding

> muscle tension

Depression Disorder • Changes in appetite that result in weight losses or gains unrelated to dieting • Insomnia or oversleeping • Loss of energy or increased fatigue • Restlessness or irritability • Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt • Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions • Thoughts of death or suicide or

attempts at suicide

Photo by Mary Brady

take over, and negative thoughts can dominate a person’s life. Those with bipolar disorder have difficulty concentrating and making decisions in the depressive phase, and they tend to lose interest in activities and people in their lives.

Both of these periods can be extremely destructive, and they can make it challenging for sufferers to connect with peers and family. If someone with bipolar disorder is undiagnosed or if his or her peers do not know about the diagnosis, it can be difficult to make sense of the sudden, shifts in moods, attitudes and behaviors.

Teens often struggle to find ways to handle their disorders, and teachers sometimes act as confidants for students. However, teachers are required to report any kind of self-harm or threats to the safety of others, and while this may be beneficial in the long term, it can cause students to find other outlets or completely avoid discussing feelings.

Other than teachers, students may feel there are few opportunities to reach out for help at school.

“I feel like (mental illness issues) are not really handled in school, as far as big groups that offer support,” senior Sophia Coen said. “I feel like it’s

like, ‘Oh yeah, call this hotline,’ but there’s not a real community for it.”

However, Free State does have social workers to help students in need.

“There is a team here called the health resource team,” social worker Cindy Trarbach said.

“It’s their job to be the point for kids who are exhibiting some kind of health issue—that includes mental health—and provide in-school supports.”

Trarbach and her counterpart, Jillian Fitzmorris, can be found in room 128.

Outside of school, friends can help to alleviate or aggravate the effects of mental illness. Social media can be a way for students with mental illness to feel connected, but it can also set unrealistic expecatations about what is “normal.” In this way Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook can be both beneficial and detrimental to a person with mental illness.

Social media can be a way for people to connect with each other, which can facilitate the recovery process. However, social media can also open students up to bullying which can be harmful to a person’s already fragile mental health.

“Social media can be a really awesome thing,”

junior Olivia Boldridge said. “It can be good for helping get the word out there about positive things, and it’s just good to connect yourself with other people. But it can also be a really bad thing when it’s taken to a different level that it really shouldn’t be used for.”

Cyber-bullying can be incredibly destructive, and the combination of cyber-bullying and preexisting mental illness can have devastating effects, including self-harm and suicide.

For some, interacting with peers is the biggest source of stress, but for others, the workload from school and other activities can lead to self-destructive behaviors. The resulting pressure can cause mental breakdowns and increase the likeliness of a person developing a mental disorder.

“In moderate doses, stress for most of us is just a part of life we can handle,” said Stephen Ilardi, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Kansas. “For people to undergo extreme levels of high stress for a long period of time (is) a recipe for psychological disaster.” continued on next page

Manic Phase • Feeling on top of the world.

Bipolar Disorder

A sensation of sheer and utter happiness that nothing can change.

• Sudden or extreme irritability or rage • Grandiose delusions.

Imagined special connections with God, celebrities or political leaders.

• Invincibility or unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities.

• Hyperactivity.

• Excessively risky behavior.

Such as reckless driving or outlandish spending sprees • Uncontrollable racing thoughts/ rapid speech.

• Less need for sleep.

Depressive Phase

• Intense sadness or despair.

The person feels helpless, hopeless, and worthless.

• No interest in activities they once enjoyed.

• Loss of energy, fatigue.

• Sleep difficulties.

Either sleeping too much or not at all.

• Changes in appetite.

Either a noticeable increase in appetite or a substantial weight loss unrelated to dieting.

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions.

• Thoughts of death or suicide.

14 Feature page by Addie Wendel

20 November 2014

Stress can cause major anxiety for students, sometimes resulting in self harm or depression.

Certain mental illnesses can develop from pressure and stress. For example, anxiety, eating disorders and depression are linked to high stress environments.

“I think school AND the pressure put on students to be perfect AND do everything that they possibly can AND be involved AND get straight A’s—it strains people,” Boldridge said.

Experts believe these issues, especially when self-harm comes into play, should always be dealt with via professional help, and many advocate use of medication to expedite recovery. Regardless of the method by which they are addressed, feelings of depression and instability should always be taken seriously. Prolonged stress of any kind can lead to more serious consequences.

Getting help can be difficult for teenagers, especially when they do not want to discuss the possibility of therapy with their parents. Talking to parents or guardians should be the first choice, but Ilardi does offer advice if that option is not possible.

“Another option would be to see if they could make an appointment directly with their family practice doctor or pediatrician,” Ilardi said. “Very often it’s possible for a teenager to schedule that sort of appointment directly, and then their family practice doctor or pediatrician very often can make an appropriate referral.”

Clark found this kind of professional help,

and she eventually recovered using medication and therapy. It was a difficult process for her, however, and professional help was part of her long-term recovery, not an immediate solution.

“It takes a lot of convincing to be like, ‘No, I can be happy. I can do this. I can do this,’” Clark said.

People who suffer from depression often struggle intermittently for most of their lives, but many find methods of managing their illness so that they can live regular, productive lives.

The stigma around mental illness is especially powerful for teenagers attempting to contend with insecurities that already exist.

“It’s such a taboo thing that a lot of people are very scared to talk about it in the first place, so … a lot of the time, it’s hard,” Clark said.

Often people who are “emo” or “goth” are stereotyped as the ones who are expected to struggle with mental illness, but mental illness is never that cleanly delineated.

People of all backgrounds, classes, ethnic groups and social groups experience mental illness, and the way someone dresses or behaves, at least at a superficial level, is never enough to make that judgment.

People often struggle to determine whether their negative feelings are just a slump or something more serious, and that leads to neglect of potential mental illness. While Ilardi believes talking to a professional is the best option, he thinks using online resources may help one recog-

nize the severity of an issue.

“I’m not the biggest fan in the world of people going online and trying to make a self diagnosis, but there are some things that are really straight forward and intuitive,” Ilardi said. “You can just go online and look at the criteria. They’re laid out in a document called DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), which is kind of the fields diagnostic bible (in which) you can look up the formula for major depressive disorder.”

Ilardi was clear this method is not adequate to make a legitimate diagnosis; however, one can use the DSM as a tool to find out if you should seek professional help. Using these references, one may have a better idea of what is afflicting them, and he or she may find therapy to be a more productive process by providing a starting point for the therapist.

As a whole, fixing issues with mental illness comes down to transparency. All people need to be informed about the signs of mental illness, and providing comfortable spaces for discussion about these issues can help to make problems visible and accessible so they can be solved rather than hidden. People are beginning to understand the need to get rid of the stigma surrounding mental illness.

“I think we need to tell students that their feelings are valid; their emotions are valid,” Embry said. “No matter your class or your social standing or anything like that, your race, your gender, your sexuality, your problems are valid.”

11.5% of people aged 11-16

have some kind of a

Mental Illness EVERY

2 Hours

and 11 Minutes

EVERY

someone under the age of 25

commits suicide

11

DAY

teens commit SUICIDE

November

20 November 2014

Check out our featured Artist of the Month, freshman Luke Bosco, and his artwork.

Ads

15

page by Addie Wendel

16 Free Press page by Drake Riner

20 November 2014

Behind the Scenes: Brown Bag Edition

Artists comment on school’s fashion show Written by Erin Friederichsen

O

n a Sunday afternoon, senior Lindsay Rapp spends hours on her brown bag fashion piece, cutting and sewing her paper bags based on extensive research and detailed sketches.

“Lots of them (the AP art students) came in before and after school,” art teacher Rachel Downs-Blair said. “I would say maybe eight to ten hours outside of class was probably spent doing the work.”

The AP art, Photo Studio, Jewelry Studio, Spanish 3, French 4 and German 4 classes held a Brown Bag Fashion Show on Oct. 23. Artists used brown paper bags exclusively to create outfits worn by either themselves or volunteer models.

The artists started work two weeks before the show, heavily researching the artist from whom they planned to draw inspiration. “(Brown Bag) is kind of a process,” senior Preston Nye said. “First, we had to find influences. Mine was Otto Dix. And then we had to do a research paper on (the artist).”

As his own model, Nye put a masculine spin on his brown bag piece, donning cargo shorts and a t-shirt for the show.

Nye and the other artists looked to Downs-Blair for inspiration and assistance.

As a “facilitator of creativity,” Downs-Blair asserts that it is important to research meticulously and plan in order to make the show a success.

“I want it to be something meaningful, so I think it’s important that they have that research component,”Downs-Blair said. “So, research comes first. Then sketching—lots of sketching … Then the costume just kind of comes with those components.”

This year, the Brown Bag Fashion Show was not featured in an all-school assembly, instead taking place on a late arrival Thursday.

Junior Cadence Learned, who has participated in Brown Bag for two years as a model and designer, voiced her opinion about the show not being featured in an all-school assembly.

“I think it made me and all the other artists upset,” Learned said. “Because it seems like all the other things in school get their time to do their thing, and I kinda feel like we were just pushed off to the side. We put in weeks of work into our art and then only a total of about 100 people got to see it.”

Like Learned, Downs-Blair thought it was harder to draw viewers to the show than in past years.

“It was definitely more convenient to do it during an assembly because the whole school was there,” Downs-Blair said.

“It’s hard to get people to come in before school to see a Brown Bag show.”

Nye thought the show was successful, even though it was not in an all-school assembly.

“I was kind of bummed because we had late arrival that day, but we had to show up early,” Nye said. “But there was still a pretty large crowd at the show.”

Despite difficulties drawing attendance, many artists appreciated the people who came to support. Rapp hopes to have more viewers and participants next year.

“I definitely think more people should go,” Rapp said. “...

People spend hours and hours on their work.”

Profile 20 November 2014

17

page by Drake Riner

Rowing Around the World

From New Zealand to America, Finley White shares her rowing experience Interviewed by Evan Frook

S

ophomore Finley White has lived in four continents and five countries, having moved five times in her life.

Frook: Where are you from?

White: “I was born in South Africa, then I moved to England … Then (I moved) here for a couple of years, then Australia for three, New Zealand (for) four, then back here nearly five months ago.”

F: What are the biggest differences?

W: “Between here and New Zealand, everything is really different … It’s so different that there’s not really much to compare … It was kind of an easy move because it’s so different.”

F: What do you mean by a move that’s very different being very easy?

W: “If it was really similar, I’d probably find it harder because you cling to the things you find similar, but here it’s so drastically different that it’s simple. Nothing is the same.”

F: Do you like moving?

W: “I kind of hate moving, but if I hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t be who I am now. I find it quite easy to get to know people because I’ve got some things to say.”

F: What do you miss?

W: “(I miss) rowing, I guess, because I rowed like twice a day in New Zealand, because it was out of my school. I miss my club, and I miss my friends a lot.”

F:Why did you start rowing?

W: “My dad used to row, and so ever since I was (young), he said, ‘You should do rowing, you should do rowing.’ So when I got the opportunity, I took it. It was quite hard to start with.”

F: Is rowing a bigger thing in New Zealand?

W: “It is quite big, like it’s big here as well, but maybe (more) on the coasts, just because we’re in the Midwest and there isn’t a lot of water for it and not a lot of publicity.

But in New Zealand, pretty much every school or place had a club.”

F: And there’s a rowing club here now?

W: “I’ve sort of started one. There was one in Topeka …, but it’s 25 miles there and 25 miles back, and I wouldn’t get back until like 9 at night.”

F: Now that it’s too cold to go out on the water, how is the club progressing?

W: “Now we do fitness. I don’t know how it will work because there are winter sports, … but there are some people who are continually coming.”

F: What time is your season?

W: “Here … halfway through summer is when our first regatta was, and this weekend (Nov. 1-2) was our last.”

F: What is a regatta?

W: “It’s like a meet, kind of.”

F: What will your next season be like?

W: “In Lawrence, we’re just building up knowledge of it, spreading awareness and getting people interested.

Hopefully we’ll be able to go to some regattas, but it’s just getting the practice up.”

F: Why did you want to start the club?

W: “It’s just such a big part of my life, because I literally did homework and rowed, pretty much. I really love it … In a sprint race, when you get the boat moving properly, it’s just the best feeling in the world.”

18 Graphics page by Kristina Foster

20 November 2014

Tips from guidance counselor Tina Mitchell Google is your friend. Use the internet to search for online resources such as collegeboard.org and actstudent.org for more information about college applications, standardized tests and anything else college related.

DEADLINES, DEADLINES, DEADLINES.

Be aware of and meet deadlines for applications, scholarships, dorm room assignments, etc.

Missing out on these deadlines severely limits your opportunities.

Be aware of the admission criteria.

How to Apply to College

by Ryan Liston

10 9 8

11

12

7 6

1

5

Helpful Websites

2 3 4

actstudent.org

Check out the academic support offered at the

college.

Figure out the type of school you want to go to based on size, distance from home and potential major options.

Keep your grades up because most scholarship awards are based on grades and standardized test scores.

cappex.com

Most students are unable simply to write a check for college and require some form of financial aid. Look for scholarships that you are eligible for and apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

You don’t need to know exactly what you want to major in; however, you should come

up with a plan to determine your interests and strengths and find a major that combines both and will lead to an enjoyable career. (Remember that college is not the only choice. Some jobs only require an associates degree or certification of some sort.)

collegeboard.org

Talk with teachers, counselors, parents and other adults who have been through the college experience. Ask about the factors that go

into the application and selection processes. Also, talk to adults in career fields that interest you to get ideas about the courses you will need to take in college.

Timeline for juniors Fall

Take PSAT and start a list of colleges

Stay involved, organize college lists and prepare for standardized tests

Winter

Spring

Search for scholarships and gather recommendations

Visit colleges and work on application essays

Summer

parchment.com

Ads 20 November 2014

Free State

Journalism Supporters Q: What is a Free State Journalism Supporter?

A: Businesses or people that want to support the mission of the Free Press through a donation. Funds from the supporters go toward staff development opportunities like workshops and contests, printing and any supplies the staff needs.

First Amendment Supporters

Antonio and Mary Andrade Scotch Fabric Care Services Joda and Friends John and Daleen Reed

Go Green Donors Railroad Signal Design Barrister Books Jellystone Park

Fueling the Fire Friends

Thompson Financial Group, LLC

ABS Legal Advocates, P.A.

page by Kristina Foster

19

20Photos

page by Sydney Vogelsang

20 November 2014

Artists of the Month “Untitled”

freshman Luke Bosco

As art department-named “Firebird Artist of the Month,” freshman Luke Bosco doesn’t cite a particular source of inspiration for his work, instead hoping to create pieces warranting more than a cursory glance from viewers. His featured piece, a spirit animal, took him about four days. “ In my spirit animal, I like my big rock thing going on in the background,” Bosco said. “No one understands what it means.”

“I Can’t Hear You” senior Jordan Winsor

“Mechanics”

junior Lydia Palmer

Arts and Entertainment

20 November 2014

Profiles

21

page by Sydney Vogelsang

Bird’s Word

? d r o W hose

W

The Free Press staff sought out random students’ definitions on the question:

What is the definition of mental illness?

“I guess I would say that it would be something that you have that you can’t get rid of and that detaches you from other people even though you don’t want to (be)” - freshman Jonathon Chuckluck

“I know it’s a really serious thing, and a lot of people don’t really think about it as a medical condition. They’re like, ‘You’re just sad. Get over it.’ But, I’ve known people who have had depression … It makes you feel different than you normally would. ” - sophomore Marie Boncella

“I’d say the definition of mentally ill is someone who has a medical disability, diagnosed by doctors.”

- junior Mikey Corbett

“It’s any condition that affects your thoughts or emotions.”

- sophomore Charles Sedlock

Photos by Nick Popiel Interviews by Evan Frook

“Something that prevents someone from owning up to their full potential.”

- freshman Sidney Cavner

“A mental illness is when somebody has an intellectual or emotional affliction in their brain.

There’s so many different kinds it’s hard to pinpoint.”

- junior Ellie Houston

“I think mental illness is basically when your brain has a different way of perceiving, not necessarily in the same developmental state as an ‘average’ person would be.”

- senior Lev Comolli

22A&E

Page by Drake Riner

20 November 2014

photo by MizeryMade

December concert schedule Written by Juliana Hill

Tech N9ne

Granada $30-$35 8 p.m.

Supporting bands Krizz Kaliko and Stevie Stone American rapper Aaron Dontez Yates, known as Tech N9ne, is coming to the Granada on Dec. 6 and will be supported by fellow rappers Stevie Stone and Krizz Kaliko. Tech N9ne

photo by Bill Ebbesen

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started rapping in 1991 with a group called Black Mafia, and his dynamic schemes, fast rapping and “old-school” influences have gained him popularity ever since.

photo by Simon Fernandez i

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The Night the Buzz Stole Christmas is a two day festival presented by radio station 96.5 The Buzz. It is a diverse festival that includes many punk rock, hard rock, alternative and pop acts. This year, the festival will

The Night Buzz Stole Xmas Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland $89.99- 97.90 include Cage the Elephant, Cold War Kids, The Orwells, Beautiful Bodies and The Architects on the first day. On Dec. 20, Glass Animals, Bleachers, Banks and MisterWives will perform.

photo by thisisbossi

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American duo The Black Keys will play the Sprint Center on Dec. 21. Vocalist and guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney began recording music independently in basements and have since evolved into one of the most

The Black Keys

The Black Keys Sprint Center KS, MO 8 p.m. popular modern rock bands.Their singles “Tighten Up”and “Lonely Boy” have both won three Grammys. Their music is often described as rock with blues influences, and strong influences include blues artists Howlin’ Wolf and Robert Johnson.

Don’t see your favorites? Tweet us @fsfreepress to let us know about your upcoming concert.

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On their Winter Tour 2014, Trans Siberian Orchestra will perform their album “The Christmas Attic” for the first time. “The Christmas Attic” is a rock opera based on the adventures of a young boy exploring a strange attic on Christmas Eve. Trans Siberian Orchestra is well known for their orchestral cover of “Carol of the Bells” and their extravagant live shows that often feature lasers, light shows and live string

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Sprint Center KC, Mo. $38- 72.50 4 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

orchestra accompaniment. Their music is progressive rock with many classical influences, and they have been described by The Washington Post as “Pink Floyd meets Yes and the Who at Radio City Music Hall.” The founder of Trans Siberian Orchestra is producer, composer and lyricist Paul O’Neil, who is joined by Jon Oliva, Al Pitrelli and Robert Kinkel. All members are former members of Savatage, a heavy metal band from the eighties.

A&E: Reviews 20 November 2014

page by Drake Riner

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photo by Global Panorama

‘Do Not See Gone Girl with Your Mother’ written by Catherine Prestoy

D

o not go and see “Gone Girl” with your mother. Heed my advice. I speak from experience. I made the terrible mistake of going to see “Gone Girl” with my mother.

“Gone Girl”—based off of Gillian Flynn’s New York Times best seller I didn’t actually read—is a suspenseful two-and-a-half hours that leaves one questioning the concept of marriage. At least, that’s what I got from it.

“Gone Girl” takes its time with a somewhat generic introduction of the main characters and drawn out setting of the scene. Then everything takes a sharp left to Crazytown.

Nick Dunn (Ben Affleck) comes home to find a glass coffee table smashed on the floor and his wife Amy Dunn (Rosamund Pike) missing. What follows is a bunch of plot thickeners, flashbacks and racy scenes in which my mother would turn to me and say, “Close your eyes, Catherine.”

Neil Patrick Harris takes on a new role as the

past-boyfriend-now-creepy-stalker. After seeing him as Barney Stinson one too many times, it was hard for me to take him seriously. Pretty much everyone is a psychopath in this movie.

Affleck’s acting is usually quite hollow, but it fits perfectly with this role. He never needed to be dripping with emotion, if anything, being absolutely hollow during the film just brought more depth to his character. I’d never heard of Pike prior to “Gone Girl”; however, her acting blends with Affleck’s to create the illusion of a loving couple one second and then a psychopathic couple the next.

Ending with a cliffhanger, “Gone Girl” skews your perception of trustworthy and makes you question just how dysfunctional the main characters’ relationship actually is.

I’d recommend “Gone Girl” for a Netflix night to yourself. Just do not see it on a date or with your mother. Especially not with your mother.

‘Eleanor and Park Breaks Barriers’

written by Maria Carrasco

A

photo by www.readanybook.com

t a camp I went to this year, someone posed the question: “Who is your fictional dream boy?” Girls around me screamed, “Augustus Waters!” or, “Edward Cullen!” I replied with “Holden Caulfield.”

See, I’ve never been into young adult romance books; I hate romance. I hate it even more when it’s weaved into some cheesy, unrealistic story that turns into a mainstream hit. But then I read Rainbow Rowell’s “Eleanor & Park.”

Set in 1985 Omaha, Nebr., “Eleanor & Park” follows two lonely teenagers who find comfort in each others’ differences. This novel does not embody the quintessential best-seller love story, instead creating a beautiful tale dealing not only with Eleanor and Park’s love, but also racism toward Park, domestic violence toward Eleanor and every hot topic in between.

Eleanor and Park meet on a school bus.

Park pities Eleanor and lets her sit with him. The relationship progresses from there. Eleanor takes interest in Park’s comic books, and Park notices the band names on Eleanor’s journal.

Eleanor is not your classic “Bella Swan” or “Hazel Grace.” She’s an obese redhead who is new to town. Kids pick on her relentlessly, and her low socioeconomic status isn’t helpful.

On top of all that, Eleanor’s mother recently married a violent alcoholic who abuses Eleanor and her five siblings. Her sharp contrast to the

stereotypical female protagonist makes the book compelling.

Half Caucasian, half Korean, Park is bullied because of his mixed heritage. While Park’s home life is ideal, he suffers at school. He reads comic books, listens to alternative music and wears all black with eyeliner—all deviating him further from the norm.

Park feels out of place in Omaha. He wants to express himself, but believes everyone in his life is hindering his full potential.

Park’s character is refreshing. He’s not just that one jock who secretly writes poetry. His pain is realistic, but it doesn’t overtake the plot. Park doesn’t hide his differences. While he sometimes tones down his distinctions, he remains true to himself.

Eleanor and Park invest in each other and soon become each other’s emotional outlets. This story isn’t about romantic love but rather a best friend relationship.

When Eleanor and Park are together, they block out the world. The story doesn’t move fast. It doesn’t need to.

“Eleanor & Park” relates to teens’ struggle in finding themselves. It is a story that shows how outsiders can become confidants and how not every young adult romance novel needs attractive vampires or stunning, flawless female protagonists.

INVENTORY LIQUIDATION

SALE

Date

Discount

November 7th - November 16th

20% OFF ALL MERCHANDISE

November 17th - November 26th

30% OFF ALL MERCHANDISE

November 28th - December 14th

40% OFF ALL MERCHANDISE

December 15th - December 24th

50% OFF ALL MERCHANDISE

December 26th - December 28th

60% OFF ALL MERCHANDISE

December 29th - December 31st

75% OFF ALL MERCHANDISE DECEMBER

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All sales are final! No returns on any purchases in November or December. Additional school & club discounts cannot be used on top of the sale prices. Sale prices are off all in stock merchandise only.

You must be present to take advantage of the discounts.

731 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, KS 66044