March 2017

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Red & Black Newspaper 03.16.17 • Volume 86 • Issue 7 Jefferson City High School Jefferson City, MO

Prom THROW DOWN Red & Black goes head-to-head on the impending prom situation p. 25

CONTENTS 03.16.17 NEWS 4

Presidents’ Day in the age of Trump

SPORTS 12

Yoga club: a peaceful practice

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Training for spring athletics

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Athletes prepare for baseball season

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Girls basketball senior night

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Scholar bowl: “Real life Trivia Crack”

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Lady Jays basketball districts

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Nichols culinary program gets a taste of victory

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If you can’t play nice, play rugby

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Cafeteria and Jay Bar calendar for March

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Featured athlete: Joseph Travis The lifestyle of club volleyball

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Jays light up the night at blacklight dance

SPOTLIGHT 10-11

Places to eat in Jefferson City

IN-DEPTH 18-19

The truth about teeange depression

FEATURES

change for prom 20 The is met with petition only female 20 The wrestler at JCHS

21 21

JCHS students 22 How will be spending Spring Break

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An inside look into Carson Ridgeway’s afternoon music choices Jefferson City celebrates Lent

The history of St. Patrick’s Day

03.16.17//CONTENTS

OPINION 24 25

Editorial: How do we talk about politics?

H2H: Prom here vs at Capitol Plaza

26 Enrollment encourages

independence

JCHS charge 27 Should for school events? at JCHS 27 Courses challenge students

A&E 28

An exquisite gallery of crazy socks

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Tribute to Dr. Seuss

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DIY: St. Patrick’s Day decorations

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Reviews: The Lego Batman movie, Ed Sheeran’s new album, McDonald’s slushies

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How to avoid getting pinched on St. Patrick’s Day

scared - these are all natural feelings. One thing my therpist taught me that’s really stuck with me is that if you don’t accept the negative feelings along with the positive, you’re going to bottle it all up, and it will eat you away.

So scream. Cry. Rip up papers, throw your pillows across the room, throw open the windows and yell as loud as you can. Do whatever it takes, because as long as you’re still alive, you’re triumphant over your problems. You’ve leapt the hurdles and you can do it again, no matter how hard it might seem. And always, always ask for help when you need it.

There’s no shame in it.

It’s our last term. You’re almost there. Keep going. I believe in you.

- Madi Baughman

FROM THE EDITOR

Hey, JC. I know I’m usually pretty upbeat or optimistic in these letters, but this month I really wanted to talk about something serious that I thought needed to be addressed.

As a person living with multiple mental illnesses myself, I know how hard it can be to think the future will be bright. Even when you’re happy, and you think things might be getting better, you can never quite allow yourself to completely accept that, because you know that sooner or later, everything will come crashing down again. Trust me. I know.

I’ve lived with this constant internal monologue for years.

What people don’t tell you is that it’s okay if you’re not happy all the time - nobody is, honestly. Society doesn’t teach you that it’s okay to be sad, it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be

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March 16, 2017 Volume 86, Issue 7

Red & Black is a student led newspaper that serves as a public forum for the school and the community. Opinions expressed in the paper are not necessarily those of JCHS nor the faculty, staff or administrators.

Editors: Madi Baughman Abbi Gierer Brooklynne Propes Gillian Burks Kaylee Klosterman Makenzie Baldwin Veronica Townsend Staff Reporters: Kelsie Backues Maddy Bergstrom Ali Beza Megan Cassels Sidney Johnson Matt LeCure Devan Palmero Emily Rush Salem Sanfilippo Solindas

WEB EXCLUSIVES

• To Kill A Mockingbird review • A look into March Madness • Getting a job in high school • Wrestling ditricts and state

Check out all of these stories and stories from past issues exclusively at jcredblack.com!

• Backpacks: the boulders on our shoulders • Boys basketball season wrap-up • Top Tweets • Jazz Band hosts annual Spaghetti and Jazz dinner

Adviser: Timothy Maylander Jefferson City High School 609 Union Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 659-3050 redblack.jchs@gmail.com

@jcredblack

www.jcredblack.com 03.16.17//NEWS

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NEWS

[photo credit to The New York Times]

Current President Donald Trump shakes hands with former President Barack Obama in the oval office. While Trump and Obama were holding their meeting, the two discussed trying to ensure there would be a smooth transition of power.

Presidents’ Day in the wake of a new presidency Maddy Bergstrom

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residents’ Day is a national holiday first established in 1885 in honor of the United States first President, George Washington, and is now used to recognize all Presidents, past and present.

In the United States’ most recent election it welcomed President Donald Trump to the White House and has since seen many changes within its borders as new policies are implemented and feelings of nationalism entered the hearts of its people.

For those who support the Trump presidency, like senior Samuel Denson, Monday Feb. 20 was a time to look toward the next four years with hope.

“There’s just a lot of views I share with Trump,” Denson said.

For some citizens; however, the election of Trump was not something to celebrate. There are those who

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protest his new policies and even coin the phrase “Not my President.” For

these citizens, such as junior Christian Nietupski, this Presidents’ Day was

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used in honor of the United States previous President, Barack Obama.

“Trump being elected has shown the true colors of our ‘great’ country,” Nietupski said.

“Having gone from someone with such grace, class, and elegance to someone who takes out all his problems over Twitter is the biggest downgrade in history.”

And for others, Presidents’ Day is not a time to celebrate or chastise the United States current president, but more of a time to reflect on its past and how far the American people have come since the first President.

Whether for or against Trump, this is a difficult time for the country and the citizens of the United States have to come together, on Presidents’ Day and every day after to work towards what this country was built on: freedom and equality.

Scholar Bowl is “Real life Trivia Crack” Salem Sanfilippo Solindas

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ooking for a place to talk about Frank Ocean, quadratic equations, and the French Revolution all in the span of five minutes? Scholar Bowl has you covered.

Every Monday and Thursday, a few clever students gather in room N164 with popcorn to answer questions about everything from atoms to black holes, and everything in between.

“Scholar Bowl is like Trivia Crack, but in real life,” sophomore Diya Divyakumar said.

Sophomore Braden Cook typically reads the questions for others to answer, but he says his role on the team is different from what you might expect.

“Everyone has their own expertise. each team is balanced out because

[photo by Salem Sanfilippo Solindas]

Students Diya Divyakumar and Kaira Podadera members of Scholar Bowl, pose together at a meeting. everyone has their own knowledge, but we’re all friends,” Cook said. “At tournaments I [answer] everything about current events and pop culture, so there’s this joke that I’m the ‘trash person’, since I do everything that’s not history or literature.”

The team has one tournament in March and has already competed in four since the new year. Typically, a busy schedule creates a lot of stress, but the members of Scholar Bowl see their busy practice and competition schedule differently.

“I’m kind of excited, because there’s a lot more of us [going to them now].

It’ll be a little more competitive, since there’s more teams and more schools,” said sophomore Kaira Podadera, who has been a part of the team since late

Want to join Red & Black?

We are always looking for talented writers, photographers, designers, business managers, social media experts and others to join our family. Preference is given to those who have taken Journalistic Writing or an Honors English class, but experience in photography, web design or a general interest in reporting is considered. Stop by Room 141 or email us at redblack.jchs@gmail.com today!

last year.

Along with the cpmpetitions the team competes in, Scholar Bowl is holding a tournament of its own.

Schools from across the state will come to Jefferson City High School to compete for a first place trophy on Apr. 1. Though JC’s team will not be competing in this one, it will be very busy, running rounds and calculating scores throughout the day.

“We would like to have some scorekeepers, so if you guys can come, that’d be really great!” Divyakumar said.

High school students can volunteer and help is greatly needed. Contact Shelly Kiesling or come to JCHS on Apr. 1 if you are interested in helping run the tournament.

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[photo from @NCCculinaryarts Twitter]

[photo from @NCCculinaryarts Twitter]

Left: Junior Sidney Schroeder ices her cake for the performance portion of the Skills USA competition.

Right: The competing students approach the building in which they will undergo six hours of intense cooking.

Nichols Culinary Arts program gets a taste of sweet victory at Skills USA Abbigail Gierer

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n Saturday, Feb. 11 the Nichols Career Center Culinary Arts program sent two teams to compete at the Columbia Career Center for their first Skills USA competition. These teams each consisted of four individuals who would take a written exam and then perform a cooking portion. The baking team consisted of juniors: Samantha Gierer, Sophie Marreel, Sidney Schroeder, and Jacob Scrivner. The culinary team consisted of juniors: Kurtis Boucher, Shayan Myers, Kord Pearson, and Hudsen Lee. While all students competed individually, they all worked together to represent Nichols Career Center.

“It was a great experience to compete against other students my age. I know now what I need to improve on for next year’s competition and I wish good luck to the ones going to state!” Schroeder said.

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Each student was given six hours to make many different dishes.

The bakers had to make pineapple

pie, eclairs, cream puffs, blueberry muffins, a white bread, sugar cookies and decorate a cake.

The culinary side had to make chicken cacciatore, sauteed chicken

03.16.17//NEWS

breast and perform cuts.

The students had a large screen with a timer, counting down the seconds they had left to add to the pressure.

“It has been an honor to win gold for our program.” senior Leslie Steenburgen said, “We will meet at the information technology center to test over our craft and join in the award ceremony afterwards to see who makes it to nationals.”

This being their first year competing in the Skills USA ring of events, for the cooking portion none of the JCHS kids made it to state; however, in the written performance six are headed to state. The students who will compete at state on Apr. 6, at Linn Technical University are: for baking; Samantha Gierer, Sophie Marreel, Rachel Cooley, and for culinary, Kurtis Boucher, Hudsen Lee, and Leslie Steenburgen.

What’s for lunch?

Kaylee Klosterman

March Monday

Are you wondering what is for lunch? Do you wait until you walk through the lunch line to see what you will be having each day? Here is a quick and easy look at the Jefferson City High School lunch menu.

*Jay Bar Menu

Tuesday

Wednesday

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Bosco Mozzarella Breadsticks Tuna Casserole

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Hot Dog Bar

Pepperoni Bosco Breadsticks

Crispy or Spicy Chicken Fillet

BBQ Rib Sandwich

Broccoli Cheese Soup w/Muffin

Quesadilla

Toasted Ravioli w/Garlic Toast

Chips w/Meal

* Hot Dog

* Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Taco Crunch * Popcorn Chicken

13 Mozzarella Bosco Breadsticks Hamburger or Cheeseburger Hot Dog Bar * Popcorn Chicken

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No School

Chicken Nuggets

* Crispy Chicken Sandwich Tacos

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Garlic Parmesan Grilled Chicken Sub

* Crispy Chicken Sandwich

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BBQ Chicken w/Biscuit

Mexican Bar

Enchiladas

Hot Roast Beef Sandwich

Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwich

Crispitos

Popcorn Chicken w/Bread

Hot Wings w/Biscuit

Ice Cream w/Meal

* Spicy Chicken Sandwich

* Crispy Chicken Sandwich

* Pepperoni Bosco Breadsticks Choice of Pizza

Reubens St. Patrick’s Cookies w/Meal * Mozzarella Bosco Breadsticks

S P R I N G20-24B R E A K 28

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Crispy or Spicy Chicken Fillet

Golden or Spicy Chicken Strips

Enchiladas

Meatball Sub

Chili & Crackers

Pepperoni Bosco Breadsticks * Popcorn Chicken

Chili Mac w/Cornbread * Toasted Ravioli

Breaded Mozzarella Sticks w/Garlic Toast * Spicy Chicken Sandwich

BBQ Pork Sandwich

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Pork Stew w/Hot Roll

* Mini Corn Dog

Hamburger or Cheeseburger

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General Tso’s Chicken w/Rice

Tornados

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Choice of Pizza Spicy Tuna Sliders

Crispy or Spicy Chicken Fillet

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3

Mini Corn Dogs

Chips w/Meal

* Spicy Chicken Sandwich

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2

Friday

Pizza

Crispitos

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Thursday BBQ Pork Sandwich

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Corn Dog

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Choice of Pizza Tuna Casserole w/Hot Roll

French Bread Pizza

Crispitos

Chips w/Meal

* Pepperoni Bosco Breadsticks

* Crispy Chicken Sandwich

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Jays light up the night at Kelsie Backues

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Jays glowed all through the night at the Blacklight dance on Friday, Jan. 24.

Dubbed “the most underrated dance of the year,� students glowed all night wearing bright neon and white clothing. Students involved in STUCO also set up stations for glow-in-the-dark face paint. One student even had light-up shoes!

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this year’s blacklight dance

WWW.JEFFERSON-BANK.COM | 573-634-0800 Mobile carrier data rates may apply.

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Love Sushi

Eclectic Japanese cuisine 2201 Missouri Blvd

“As far as places to eat in Jefferson City goes, my favorite by far is Love Sushi.

The food there is fantastic, the workers are always very nice and it’s not all that much money to go out and eat there when you want to.”

- Senior Triston Nanney

Yo-Yums

Frozen yogurt bar 122 East High St.

“It’s a really fun place to hang out with your friends and get some great frozen yogurt!”

- Junior Samantha Gierer

A few more hot spots to grab a bite

Madison’s Cafe

Italian style resturant 216 Madison St.

Central Dairy

Ice cream parlor 610 Madison St

Das Stein Haus

German and French dishes 1436 Southridge Dr

Jefferson City High School 609 Union St.

Prison Brews 305 Ash St. Sawadee Thai 103 E High St. Coffee Zone 130 East High St. West Main Pizza 1913 West Main St.

Mi Pueblo

Mexican Bakery 510 Ellis Blvd

Ria’s Restaurant 3550 W Edgewood

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03.16.17//SPOTLIGHT

China Wok

Quick and easy Chinese food 520 Ellis Blvd

Abbigail Gierer and Gillian Burks

Jefferson City is full of places to eat, except some are better than others.

This map shows great places to grab a bite with friends, go on a date, or have a family get together.

These resturants were recommended by our staff and reviewed by students.

Places to eat in Jefferson City

Mel’s Country Cafe Retro home style food 2421 Industrial Dr

“El Espolon is a great place to eat and hang out with friends or family. They have great food and everyone who works there is very nice.” - Junior Audrey Warbritton

El Espolon Mexican Resturant 915 Eastland Dr.

“I like Oscar’s because of how great the service is and how amazing the food is. Everyone there is absolutely friendly and my food comes out in a timely fashion. I enjoy everything there, plus the atmosphere Oscar’s Classic Diner is amazing, welcoming, and Retro home styled food friendly.”

2118 Schotthill Woods Dr - Senior Lorie Wilson

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SPORTS

Yoga club: Peaceful practice in JCHS Gillain Burks

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efferson City High School has recently welcomed a new addition to its collection of clubs and activities. Six students with a love of yoga have banned together to form a club where they can meet and practice yoga together on a weekly basis. This yoga club meets at seven every thursday morning in room 140, they welcome all and provide yoga mats for those who join them.

The six students Bailey Conrad, Lily Tharp, Hannah Kempker, Emily Brauner, Lauren Bergstrom, and Mak Baldwin had to undergo a small process in order to start the club. This included creating their own constitution and contacting multiple faculty members.

“To start this club, we had to find a sponsor and we found Becky Pfenenger, the Health and Wellness coordinator for the school district,” senior Bailey Conrad said.”Then we had to find a location. Last we had to get signatures from an administrator and athletic director, Mark Caballero.”

As cliché as it sounds, the founding group created the club with the pure intention to share their mutual love of yoga.

“Another creator, Lauren, and I have been going to yoga at the Y for a couple months and we’re showing some of our friends the moves, and we all thought it would be cool to

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bring the peaceful feeling you get from yoga to some of the JC students!” junior Emily Brauner said.

With good intentions and a little hard work came a judgement free zone. A place for anyone seeking to find their inner peace, work on their flexibility or simply try something new.

“There are no requirements or dues to join yoga club!

Everyone may come and go as they wish.” junior Hannah Kempker said.

Yoga offers the opportunity to improve upon yourself.

Enhanced flexibility, muscle tone, and even a faster metabolism are just a few benefits of practicing yoga on a regular basis.

“I love how be peaceful yoga is, it really helps you destress. It helps me stay calm throughout the day.” junior Lily Tharp said.

Whether you prefer to play sports, hideout with the books in the library, or study your time away, the yoga club would love to have you join them. There is no commitment to the club, anyone can come just once or if they enjoy it they can continue to come. Yoga mats are supplied and the instructions and projected onto the board in front.

Athletic trainers lifting athletes up Veronica Townsend

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hen athletes are injured on the floor, teams count on Jefferson City High School athletic trainers Josh Little or Ben Kuster to take charge of the situation.

Both Kuster and Little work for Peak Sport and Spine. The company provides athletic trainers at the sporting events.

In July 2016, Peak Sport and Spine hired Little as JCHS’ fulltime trainer. When he was in high school, he suffered several knee injuries and got to know his athletic trainer, which made him interested in athletic training. To pursue his dream, Little went to the University of Missouri to study athletic training.

“Athletic training was everything I wanted out of my future career,” Little said. “I took the job at JCHS because I knew this would be the perfect location to start my career.”

Along with Little, Kuster helps out when there are multiple games going on or when Little is unavailable. For Kuster, he knew he wanted to become an athletic trainer because he was good at science and involved

in athletics.

“The games I like the most are the ones that I do not have to do anything,” Kuster said.

As JCHS’ full-time trainer, Little works directly with athletes to ensure safety on the field and court and is available when injuries arise.

“Athletic training is an amazing profession where you grow a strong bond with your athletes and help them be the best and healthiest athletes they can be,” Little said.

One of the athletes helped to recovery was senior Bailey Conrad. She fractured both of her fibulas in cross country. The trainer helped her cope with her injuries. Since it was a fracture, he could not do anything about it but contact her healthcare provider.

“The trainer was very good in checking on me and asking how it was feeling,” Conrad said. “He told me not to overdo it when I was recovering.”

Even though teams hope for an injury-free game, when an injury occurs, JCHS’ trainers Little and Kuster are valuable assets to the team.

Baseball trains for winning season Veronica Townsend

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or four days a week, Jefferson City High School baseball players wake up early to prepare for the opening day of the baseball season, which was on Mar. 11.

When training, many players show their dedication and readiness for the baseball season. One of those players people might see training is senior Cole Aherns. According to Ahrens, he says he wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to join his team at weight lifting and speed training at 6:15 a.m. Later on in the day, the team practices pitching and hitting.

“We all are in great shape for the

long season, before it starts,” Ahrens said. “I’m very confident with all the hard work we put in.”

Another player at training is senior Jacob Weirich. Although he does not train as much as other teammates, he believes training helps makes him a better player. Weirich says playing with his teammates is like playing with brothers.

“It is a lot of hard work, but we do it anyway,” Weirich said. “[This season] is going to be the best ever.”

To make the season successful, Head Coach Brian Ash says that the players train at a lighter rate during the spring

because they can play up to six games a week. When playing six games a week, the coaches have allowed, on game days, time for players to recover and rest. On lighter weeks, the coaches try to fit in some weightlifting and conditioning in for players.

“I think our players for the most part do a great job of making it a priority to become better baseball players,” Ash said. “Our players know this, so the effort they put forth will benefit them in the long run.”

After the players put in a lot work in the off-season, the team looks forward to actually playing the baseball games.

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Lady Jays celebrate the end of an era

Brooklynne Propes On Feb. 21, the Lady Jays played their last official home game for regular season. They have been quite successful this season, and have had a lot of support. During the senior night celebrations, there were smiles and tears. The seniors know they are leaving the team in good hands with the underclassmen. The Lady Jays played for sectionals on Wednesday, Mar. 8.

[photo by Makenzie Baldwin]

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If you can’t play nice, play rugby Devan Palmero Out of all the sports Jefferson City High School has to offer, football is by far the most physical. Tackling your opponents and sprinting from one side of the field to another, football has earned a reputation for the most physical sport. However, rugby blows that out of the water.

A game of high school rugby consists of a constant thirty-five minute match with no down time and little to no protective padding. You have to pass the ball backwards or laterally (to the side), and the only way to go forward with the ball is by running with it or kicking it. In order to gain points, a team has to make a try, which consists of getting the ball across the try-line and touching it down. In fact, this is where the term “touchdown” comes from in American football.

Senior Kyle Mitchell has been on

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the team since his freshman year. To Mitchell, rugby is a sport that brings people together. It’s not so much the thrill of the game as it is the connections made which makes it worthwhile.

“I think the best part is making friends with everybody because they become family, really,” Mitchell said.

Independent from JCHS, the Jefferson City Rugby Club offers kids from all around the Cole county area to experience an activity with students from other schools and towns. Their team, the Nightmare, has been together since 2006, and the teammates come together in weather ranging from frigid cold to scorching heat to practice at the 63 Sport Complex twice a week.

They had their first game on Mar. 4 in Springfield and their next game is Apr. 1 on their home field.

As for the element of safety in

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rugby, coach Tom Smith believes that, while rugby is by far not the safest sport, it isn’t any more dangerous than those offered at JCHS or other schools.

“You’re not wearing pads, but there’s an element of self preservation,” said Smith, “you’re not going to go out there as fast as you can and hit the guy as hard as you can, because you know if you do that, you’re gonna hurt yourself.”

Though not the most popular sport in the U.S., rugby has a sort of cult following. If you watch or play rugby, you live it. The odd rules and gameplay customs make it hard for outsiders to become immersed, but the fans in Scotland and New Zealand make American football fans look civilized in the stands.

FEATURED Athletes play year-round ATHLETE Madi Baughman

Joseph Travis Baseball Junior

Years on team: 3 Background: “I grew up with a baseball family and I’ve loved it since I can remember.”

Favorite part: “Being on the field having fun and not getting yelled at with your friends. “ Role model: “My uncle, he was in the MLB and pretty much why I love baseball so much.”

Favorite memory: “When I was a chubby 11 year old I hit an inside the park home run, this was a great accomplishment because I’m probably the slowest black kid you’ve ever met.”

Least favorite part: “Losing, that stuff sucks.”

Interesting fact: “After taking an L in Georgia last season, JV came back to Jeff and went undefeated.”

Awards: “I got awarded the name big cat freshman year by coach Womack, I don’t know what he meant by that.”

Best game: “Beating Rockbridge last season 11-4, even though I got a dong hit off me I still pitched good and hit well too.”

Future: “I am looking to play baseball in college. After that I should be famous, I’m not sure how yet.”

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hen the regular school volleyball season ends, some dedicated players keep the game going with a different team. Club volleyball teams in the area, such as Central Missouri and Central Area Volleyball Club, hold practices, games, and tournaments even after the season is over.

On a club team, players try out to get a spot on one of the teams, which are organized by age and skill. If a player makes it on the team, they then go through weeks of practices to perfect their lineup and teamwork before starting tournaments.

Freshman Hannah Reid has been playing on a club team ever since she was 10, when she wanted to play in a more competitive league. She now plays for Capital Area Volleyball Club on their 15-2’s team. On the court, you can usually see her playing the position of right side, libero, or setter.

“It’s nerve racking for the first couple of points of the game,” Reid said.

“But after that, I settle in and it’s just fun.”

A lot of preparation goes into playing at the tournament level, not only during practice, but at outside levels as well.

Because most tournaments in this league are in Kansas, athletes and their family members have to coordinate hotel booking in advance, figure out

what time to leave, and pack food that will keep them energized during the day. Freshman Grace Bailey, who plays either left back or libero on the CAVBC 15-2’s team, tries to be as ready as possible before taking to the court the day of the tournament.

“I make a list of things to pack,” Bailey said. “At the hotel, or wherever I’m staying, I roll out and stretch and eat a healthy breakfast [to get ready].”

However, out on the court, all outside distractions disappear as the girls get ready for an intense day filled with brackets and rankings. Usually before tournament play, there are earlier games in what’s called pool play to determine which bracket the teams will be competing in and who they’ll be up against. To get into a medal-scoring spot, the team must win more sets than the other teams in their bracket.

“A rush of adrenaline goes through my body, and I get excited,” Bailey said.

“It’s so much fun to win that point as a team. Even when I fail, I just remember that it’s over with, and all I can do now is fix the mistake.”

After the games are all played and the girls’ time on the court is done, they take the win or the loss as a team and start the practicing process all over again. For these girls, volleyball is more than just a sport - it’s a way of life.

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The truth about teenage depression Abbigail Gierer Maddy Bergstrom Madi Baughman

T

he topic of mental illness and suicide is never an easy one to address, but it’s a conversation that is necessary.

People may think they know what’s going on in teenagers’ heads, but this may not be the case, as we are starting to see.

An alarming number of students struggle with mental illnesses that aren’t being taken as seriously as they should be, which prevents them from reaching out when they need help. In fact, suicide is the leading cause of death in teenagers and young adults.

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Jefferson City is not excluded from this issue, either. The sad truth is that we have lost many of our own; from football players to gamers, jaybirds have taken their own lives.

Many think that it is just something that happens to other people, but the truth is 20% of teenagers have experienced depression before reaching adulthood and 15% have experienced symptoms - which means that at least one in five people that one might meet are secretly struggling under the

03.16.17//IN-DEPTH

surface. This number is startling when we think of how scared that much of our population must be.

What’s especially terrifying is the thought that this might not even be the full statistic. Many cases of depression go underdiagnosed, or worse, or not diagnosed at all, based on the stigma society holds for it.

With this In-Depth, we want to encourage anyone who may be struggling, or know someone that is struggling, to reach out and ask for help, because you are not alone, and you are very important.

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FEATURES

The announcements bring music to JCHS Matt LeCure

T

he Focused Academic Study Time announcements are there to inform the students of Jefferson City High School on what is going on.

They are there to spark the interests of everyone listening. They are there to display what Jefferson City Public Schools has to offer. What gets the students hooked? The opening song played.

Ever since Robert James, the principal of Jefferson City High School, started opening his announcements up with a song, students have become used to that custom. Now, in FAST, the student body president Carson Ridgeway holds the spotlight, along with the vice president Brittany Patrick. The two pick a tune to open up the daily announcements.

According to both Patrick and

Ridgeway, the song for the day is chosen thirty seconds before the announcements. Each song is chosen depending on what is going around in the area, or if a specific holiday is occurring soon. For example, Winter Sports Week had songs that had something to do with space.

Homecoming had songs based on the sea. In December, the announcements were started with Christmas songs.

The two also stated that one week, just for fun, songs had been based on someone’s name.

“I think the overall [music choices] are good,” Patrick said. “There’s definitely some bad songs, but we can’t all be similar, so it’s okay.”

The songs played each day have differing effects on different people.

Some bop their head to the beat, enjoying the tune. Others laugh, recognizing the humor being played

out. Some groan, similar to a reaction to a bad pun. some are just sleeping and don’t realize what’s happening.

Each day in the beginning of third block, Ridgeway and Patrick call out to the students who refer to them as the president and vice president of the Jefferson City High School student body. The two have everyone’s attention as they read through the announcements. And the quickest way to lure the students in is to serenade them with a song. Each day is a new chance to play a different song, and each song is chosen with a certain mood in mind. Whether it’s a song meant to joke around or to set a mood for a good day, Ridgeway is quick to decide what track to wake up the FAST-Sleepers.

“If any student wants any songs on the announcements,” Ridgeway said.

“Feel free to contact us.”

Jeff City High School’s only female wrestler Emily Rush

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here was a total of 36 wrestlers on the team for the season. Only one of them is a girl, Cameron Brunette. Brunette is a freshman at Simonsen Ninth Grade Center.

Being younger than most people and being the only girl on the team may sound very intimidating, but Brunette would beg to differ.

“Being the female wrestler is no different than being one of the guys, I like being treated the same as everyone else,” Brunette said.

“It is not harder to coach a girl over a boy.

When they come in the room we tell them that gender goes out the door, it doesn’t matter boy or girl, they are all wrestlers,” head coach Phil Cagle said.

Treating all of the players in the program equally is a very important feature to being a coach. Jefferson City High School’s athletics have a wide variety of diversity in the program.

It is important to not classify sports to only certain genders and leave the option up to the kids of what sport they would like to play.

Cagle also mentioned that it is not the first time they have seen a girl join the program.

“It is becoming more prevalent throughout the program.”

Brunette enjoys being on the wrestling team, even though she is the only girl, that is something that isn’t important to her.

“I love being on the wrestling team because I love the challenge,” Brunette said.

Brunette has been wrestling since 7th grade and plans to continue wrestling throughout high school.

“My favorite part about wrestling is winning because when you get your hand raised it is a great feeling,” Brunette said.

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03.16.17//FEATURES

Bring this ad for $50 off a regular priced prom dress in store!

Come visit us at 223 E High Street.

Contact us: 573-636-1060

The big change for prom is met with petition A Makenzie Baldwin

recent dispute at Jefferson City High School has students taking action. For the past couple of months, word has spread around JCHS that prom would be held at the high school this year. This is contrary to years prior, where it has been held at Capitol Plaza in downtown Jefferson City. Also new to JCHS this year is a dance held specifically for freshman and sophomores. This new dance will be held at Capitol Plaza. The concept has made some students at JCHS step forward and voice their opinion on the matter. Junior Tylee Ciolli decided she would create a petition in hopes to get the junior-senior prom moved back to Capitol Plaza.

“It started out as a joke, but then it sort of escalated into a real idea,” Ciolli said. She wound up with a total of 500 signatures on the petition, but once she took it to the prom committee, the dispute was settled. Members of prom committee explained why prom would be better if it was held at the high school and got Ciolli on board with the idea.

“I was upset at first, but I think once the situation is explained it’ll calm things down,” Ciolli said.

Members of prom committee told Ciolli that they would share their plans with the student body as well and try to get everyone else in on the concept.

Junior and prom committee member, Cydnee Durk thinks that having prom at the high school would be beneficial for several reasons.

“The original date for prom at Capitol Plaza was Easter weekend, so the date itself was an issue,” Durk said. She also added that the space at Capitol Plaza would not be available until 5:30 pm, which leaves minimal time for the prom committee to portray the theme. In addition to this, the types of food that can be catered to Capitol Plaza are limited, while there is the option of Nichols Career Center Culinary Arts Program catering at the high school.

“Ultimately, prom at the high school is more cost effective, we have more options for food, and more decorating space,” Durk said. Prom committee has

talked to the principals about the issue and have thought to hold some kind of meeting with the student body in order to address it. The date for this has not been set yet, but they hope it will happen soon.

On the other hand, senior Lexy Haug says she doesn’t enjoy the idea of hosting prom at the high school at all.

“I think it takes away the importance of prom and makes it just like any other dance, which it isn’t,” Haug said. Haug also added that she feels like she is especially bothered by it because she’s a senior and it will be one of her last school events as a student of JCHS. “Prom is supposed to be something you look forward to when you are a freshman and sophomore,” Haug said, “but instead they are giving the underclassmen a dance where prom is supposed to be held and it makes prom feel less special.” Haug thinks the petition is a great way to showcase how many people disagree with the idea of hosting prom at the high school.

Ash Wednesday is considered the first day of Lent. On this day, people go to Mass, which is where the priest wipes ashes on people’s foreheads in the shape of a cross to signify “from ashes to ashes” and to show their humility.

People are asked to give up meat on Friday’s, with the exception of fish and participate in a full fast on Ash

Wednesday and Good Friday. During Lent, people also do good deedsW of charity, also called Almsgiving. Some symbols seen around contributing to Lent are the color purple, praying hands, pretzels, and butterflies. Above are a few results from students and staff in Jefferson City High School who celebrate Lent as well.

Jeff City community members discuss Lent Megan Cassels

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ent is celebrated by a variety of religions such as Christianity and Catholicism. Lent is a forty day period of praying, fasting and deep thought about religion. It was originally the forty day retreat for those preparing for baptism. Fasting is giving up something well liked for a period of time in order to become closer to God.

www.jcredblack.com 03.16.17//FEATURES

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Sidney Johnson

Vacatiom

Out of state

Starting

A new series On Netflix

Getting In Shape

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Many people travel around school breaks.

A majority of the students surveyed said they would be visiting the state of Florida.

Many students gave possible series they were going to start or ones they think others should start. Some of the series were Grey's Anatomy, The 100, and the Following.

With summer being just around the corner some students will be at the gym working on their summer bods.

03.16.17//FEATURES

The history of Saint Patrick’s Day Megan Cassels

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very year, on Mar. 17, the general rule for people is to wear green, the consequence is to be pinched if they’re not. St. Patrick’s day is a global celebration in the Irish culture but also celebrated by many types of people around the world.

Though St. Patrick’s day is a celebration of the Irish culture, St. Patrick himself was born in Britain around 35 A.D. and, unbelievably, his name wasn’t originally Patrick. It was Maewyn Succat.

St. Patrick was originally a pagan up until the age of sixteen, which is entirely different from what he is known for. This was also the age he was taken back into slavery by a group of Irish pirates who also attacked his village in Britain.

The pirates took him to Ireland with them and sold him to his “master” where he served six years to him.

During Maewyn imprisonment he converted to Christianity.

Story has it, in this imprisonment, St. Patrick heard what he described as a “voice” calling him to leave Ireland and find a ship that waited for him back to Britain, that’s when he fled the coast of Ireland and went back home.

At home, he stayed at the monastery and studied there for two years which he decided that his calling was to convert the pagans into Christianity.

This is when he eventually adopted his name Patricius (also known as St.

Patrick) and gained the title of the bishop and went back to Ireland.

Considering his calling, St. Patrick was very successful at converting the pagans to Christianity. This upset the Celtic men so much they arrested him several times, but he somehow managed to escape each arrest. St. Patrick traveled through Ireland and built monastery schools and churches.

There are a lot of legends about St. Patrick, some say he raised people from the dead, others say he drove snakes out of Ireland, but because there are no records of snakes in Ireland a that time, it is not very believable; unless he drove out the fossils as well.

Many people say that snakes are a symbolism for paganism and that he drove paganism out of Ireland. Patrick worked in Ireland for 30 years and eventually died on Mar.17, 461 A.D. The annual celebration of St. Patrick’s day is the day of his death because back then, celebrating death was ritual, and not disrespectful; however there wasn’t a celebration service when he died because that didn’t come up until the 12th century.

Green wasn’t the original color associated for St. Patrick’s day.

Originally it was blue. It eventually changed for multiple reasons, one of which being the colors on the Irish flag, which are green, white and orange, and the color green is generally associated with Ireland itself.

[thepracticingcatholic.com] Depiction of Saint Patrick in a cliche silly T-shirt.

So, today, when people think of St. Patrick, they think of a leprechaun in a green jacket, with a pipe and a pot of gold, standing at the end of a rainbow.

Not a man who devoted 30 years of his life to teaching or helping the Irish.

www.jcredblack.com 03.16.17//FEATURES

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OPINION

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The Red and Black Editorial: How do we talk about politics?

n President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office, the amount of executive orders and appointments coming through makes Washington seem more chaotic than ever before. Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike have all been thrown for a loop at the pace in which we all have to digest this information.

Some people are excited, some people are terrified and some do not have an opinion leaning toward one way or the other. One thing that is the same for everyone, is that it is nearly impossible to escape discussion when all of our phones are buzzing with news updates every hour.

This brings up a question that many people have been wondering: How do we talk about politics in school?

Jefferson City High School is a place that is filled with different people, and therefore vastly different worldviews. It may feel like walking on thin ice when you are trying to have your voice heard and not offend someone at the same time.

The answer is simple: we express our opinions, but we also learn from the opinions of others.

Of course, there are unspoken rules to this solution. Being respectful is an absolute must, no matter how much

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you might disagree with someone.

Not only is it kind of a no-brainer, but when someone explains something to you, you are more likely to listen to them - and actually get something out of it - when they are not insulting you or screaming in your face. We all have different ways that we see the world based on our own personal experience.

Because of this, you will probably never truly be able to “walk in someone else’s shoes,” but you can do your best to see why someone has a certain worldview

by listening to them.

In fact, a Cornell University study has proven that predominantly aggressive stances do little to nothing to make someone change their opinion.

Think about it. If someone is insulting you and putting down your beliefs in an attempt to make you see a different side to the story, you are going to think, “this person is crazy, this is just another reason why I am right.” We are predisposed to believe things that

03.16.17//OPINION

align with our worldview because of confirmation bias, so the most effective way to get someone to see what you are saying is through logic or emotion.

People who are quick to defend their beliefs without real evidence are stuck in a state of what psychologists call cognitive dissonance, which is an inconsistency in their thoughts or beliefs, especially as they relate to attitudes and decisions. Basically, this means that they have conflicting thoughts, and in an attempt to preserve self-identity, their brain will cling tightly to a certain belief or idea. This is a real problem when trying to discuss politics with an open mind, as you might imagine. Deep canvassing is one way to try to combat this, but not everyone is going to be swayed, and that is just a reality we have to face as opinionated citizens.

There is nothing wrong with expressing your political views; in fact, it is probably better to be able to have a healthy discussion instead of keeping everything to ourselves. It allows us to broaden our viewpoint and gain valuable knowledge about the diversity of people’s lives and ideologies. Just remember to keep it respectful, and to allow your own ideas to be challenged.

Head TO Head Keep the tradition alive

Prom There vs Prom Here

Brooklynne Propes

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radition is the handing down of information, beliefs, or customs. Jefferson City as a community and Jefferson City High School revolve around tradition. Whether the tradition has been going on for 65 years or 5 years.

This year, we are breaking tradition. Prom is being held as the high school instead of Capital Plaza, where it has been held for the past few years. Upperclassmen, seniors in general, are not very pleased with this recent development.

Seniors Seth Ward and Lexy Haug understand that it was a mistake, but are still upset about the matter.

“When I heard prom was going to be at school this year, I was disappointed,” Ward said. “I also heard that it was a mix-up and would most likely be fixed next year, but that doesn’t help the seniors now.”

Growing up, especially if you have older siblings like many of us do, prom is definitely something you look forward to. Senior prom in Jefferson City is supposed to be when you dress up, take pictures, go to dinner, and go to a fancy hotel that you probably wouldn’t get to go to otherwise.

“Having prom at Capital Plaza makes it feel special and more important than any other dance. That is definitely something you look forward to while you are an underclassmen,” Haug said.

While not having prom at Capital Plaza is frustrating, it is equally frustrating that the underclassmen have a dance that the upperclassmen did not get, and cannot attend.

“The dance for the underclassmen should be on a different night than prom, and everyone should be allowed to go. The freshman and sophomores weren’t affected by the prom mixup,” Ward said.

So, since JCHS is all about tradition, I feel as though there should’ve been something done to fix this. I am not blaming anyone nor do I think this has “ruined prom” but it did put a damper on things at first. I’m sure the decorators and prom committee will put in more work to make it feel more special. It doesn’t feel like prom, you do not feel like the dance is any more special, and it is breaking a tradition in Jefferson City.

R

Change is benificial Ali Beza

umors and emotions have been spread amongst Jefferson City High School as talk about this year’s prom has aroused. I am sure we are all aware it will be here at JCHS instead of Capital Plaza. A majority of juniors and seniors are not happy with the location this year, but frankly, it seems to have a lot of benefits for everyone involved.

In previous years, prom has always been at Capital Plaza.

Emili Smith, the teacher in charge of prom committee, said it was going to remain at capital plaza until the prom committee realized the dates and times were not do-able.

“Capital Plaza first gave us Easter weekend, which would have been a bad weekend for prom,” Smith said. “The back up plan for that was Apr. 1 and we can’t actually get into the full space for prom until 5:30 pm.”

That being said, there are still ties that are binding JCHS to Capital Plaza.

“We are bound by a contract which means money.”

Smith said. “We have to pay them a certain deposit whether we are going to do the dance or not.”

With the obligation, and the fact the freshmen and sophomores do not have a third dance of their own, the idea of a mixer was introduced. Freshman and Sophomores will get to [photo by Kaylee Klosterman] interact in the spring, allowing them to get to know each other before they return to school.

Sophomore Hope Lewis expressed her excitement for the upcoming events.

“It’s a great way to connect with the freshman as a sophomore,” Lewis said. “I think it will be fun for everyone.”

Bringing the focus back to prom, the upperclassman is sure to see many great things at their dance as there are many benefits to this year’s location.

“We will be able to use the space however we want. We’re going to be able to transform and use the school as a canvas,” Smith said. “There will be a bigger dancefloor in the gym than we would have at Capital Plaza. We can use outside vendor options which we could not do at Capital Plaza as a contract bind.”

With all that prom committee has planned, the dance is sure to be even more than expected. Rather than sell our students short with the hand the school was dealt this year, members of the prom committee are working hard to make the dance just as exceptional as any other year.

www.jcredblack.com 03.16.17//OPINION

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Enrollment encourages independence Kaylee Klosterman

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eenagers are expected to grow up and mature. It should not come as a shock to anyone that high school is the time to prepare ourselves for the rest of our lives.

That being said, as we progress through high school we are forced to be more and more independent. A major change throughout a student’s years at Jefferson City High School would be enrollment.

Freshman year is filled with generic classes which we have to have in order to graduate, but as years fly by, we are given more elective options to fit our interests and possible career paths. Senior Carson Ridgeway feels as though times have changed throughout his four years at JCHS. Our options for different classes have grown and our schedules have become less uniform.

“In middle school it was more basic classes and everyone took the same classes. Simonsen was basically the same,” Ridgeway said. “As I progressed through high school the courses available became more diverse and we were provided with less help throughout each year.”

Although it is kind of nice to believe the reason enrollment has evolved so much over the years is because of the growth students at JCHS make, that is not the only reason. The director of

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counseling, Carrie Welch explains that enrollment is less guided as students move into higher grade levels because it becomes harder to distribute enrollment packets. It is not guaranteed that every student at JCHS will be in an English or math class throughout the day unlike students at the middle school or freshman level.

Due to the laid back and flexible schedules that upperclassmen are fortunate enough to have, enrollment packets are simply dropped off to our F.A.S.T. teachers and then handed to us. Although we do not have someone guiding us through the process of picking our classes out for the next year, we do have the chance to ask

03.16.17//OPINION

any questions we may have.

Since it is nearly impossible for our counselors to guide us through selecting our classes for the next year at the sophomore through senior level, they still make time for each and every one of us. Counselors find a way to meet with each of us individually in order to go over the classes we picked and the classes we need. It is definitely a change from middle school and freshman year, but it is definitely still an efficient way to meet with every student.

The courses we are able to take is not the only thing that changes overtime.

Many students at JCHS have endured three different bell schedules. This changes the classes we enroll for by forcing us to choose more or less classes depending on what bell schedule we have for that year.

Ridgeway sees the benefits to suffering through so many bell schedule changes.

“The three different bell schedules we have had through our high school career has really helped us grow and adapt to the changing world that we may face with life after high school,” Ridgeway said.

Changes are not always easy, especially for confused and hormonal teenagers. However, change will not hurt us. Change will only push us to mature and gain independence.

Students struggle to pay for school events J Makenzie Baldwin

efferson City High School hosts events throughout the year for several different clubs and organizations. These events include fundraisers, dances, sporting events, and several other activities. In order for these events to be successful, the amount of JCHS students in attendance is something that must be taken into consideration. Typically, there is some kind of payment that must be made in order to get into any of these events. I understand why it costs money to get into these events because it obviously costs money to put them on, so it makes sense that whoever hosted the event would get that money back somehow. However, the prices for some events went up last year and the students of JCHS definitely noticed this change.

“I would say cut the prices, but I’m aware that there’s a reason why they are the amount they are,” senior Katy Bohanan said.

Bohanan thinks that a good solution to the complaints about paying to get into school events would be to let people know that the money goes back to the school in order to make the events better for them, which is a pretty valid point.

That being said, I still think it can be a little inconvenient, considering I never carry cash and I never know when my activities pass is going to work or not. It is also pretty

inconvenient that I can’t get anything less than $20 out of the ATM when I do go to get cash and school events typically cost somewhere between $3 and $7.

Junior Cole Biesemeyer agrees that this can be a frustrating task.

“Students hardly have money as it is. I don’t want to have to pay money to get into a basketball game when I’d rather get pancakes at McDonald’s,” Biesemeyer said.

However, Biesemeyer said that the money goes toward our school, so in the end he thinks it’s a pretty good thing, which I agree with.

Going back to the topic of activities passes, I think they are a great idea, but it gets kind of frustrating when they don’t work for certain events. Junior Cici Jamison agrees with this.

“Instead of constantly having to pay for dances and other events, I think the passes should work for those too,” Jamison said. “Most kids don’t realize when they show up to games that aren’t a part of the regular season, even with the activities pass, they still have to pay.”

Although it can be a pain sometimes, I understand why we have to pay to get into school events. At least we have the privilege of knowing where that money is going and it benefits us in the end.

Courses at JCHS challenge students Emily Rush

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efferson City High School offers a huge variety of courses that students can choose to enroll in. In addition to the regular high school level courses, there are dual enrollment courses. Typically, the dual enrollment and AP classes are when school work becomes challenging for students. Junior Noah Gernander believes that an AP course called AP European History has been his hardest class yet.

“AP Euro was the hardest class for me because there was so much studying,” Gernander said. “There were also many outside readings that took up a lot of my time.”

Gernander knew the class was going to be difficult when he signed up for it, but he took it anyway.

“I chose to take AP Euro because it is a weighted credit,” Gernander said. “All AP classes look good on a resume.”

On the other hand, there are some courses at JCHS that are not AP and can still be difficult. For example, junior Cole Biesemeyer feels as if Chemistry is by far the most complicated class he has taken in high school.

“If you take Chemistry, it is practically like you’re taking another math class,” Biesemeyer said. “Also the tests are really hard and you usually have no clue what will be on

them.”

A lot of the time, high school kids take AP courses because it looks good on resumes and some colleges require you to take Chemistry.

A math class that mainly everyone struggles with is Algebra II. Junior Benny Dixon failed this class two times, but finally passed on the third try.

“Algebra II is the most difficult class because there is so much material to cover in such a short amount of time,” Dixon said.

Also Algebra II is usually the last math course credit that kids need to graduate. Juniors typically have the most difficult year in high school, because they tend to take the hardest classes that third year. There is an unbelieveable amount of classes that students at JCHS can choose from when enrolling. There are some very hard classes at JC and also some very simple ones. AP European History, Chemistry and Algebra II are the most common classes that students usually complain about being hard. Although, just because these classes are hard for some people, does not mean they are not a good fit for you.

www.jcredblack.com 03.16.17//OPINION

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Arts &Entertainment

Check out more Red & Black staff suggestions on our website at www.jcredblack.com

Students participate in Crazy Sock Day

Jefferson City High School students have thoroughly expressed their personality through socks. Little do they know, wearing crazy socks is a Down Syndrome support act. The global crazy sock day is March 21. This year is the 12th annual celebration of World Down Syndrome Day. These are some photos of students who participated.

Megan Cassels

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03.16.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The man behind the pen: Dr. Seuss Devan Palmero

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is pictures have colors, of stunning variety, Embedded from culture, in modern society, From war propaganda, to Green Eggs & Ham, There’s much more to know, than what’s known of this man.

His pen name was Doctor, but his real name was Theo, His passion was almost As big as his ego, He didn’t like children, But he liked to write for them, His books gave us joy, For we did quite enjoy them.

But in World War II, He had ample ambitions, To draw for the Army He made it his mission!

In memory of Theodor Seuss Geisel, March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991

He made propaganda To fight in the war, And little did he know A career was in store.

Twenty years later, After writing some books, He was offered a bet, And one that he took!

For a grand $50, And with just 50 words, He had to write a story That must be absurd!

But a story he wrote, It was no epigram, But his best-selling “novel”, “Green Eggs & Ham”.

And so it is told, The story let loose, The magical saga Of our dear Dr. Seuss.

Emily Rush

www.jcredblack.com 03.16.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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REVIEWS I

Did you see a good movie? Read an interesting book? Hear a great song that’s stuck in your head?

Stop by room 141 with your suggestion.

Madi Baughman

t might not exactly seem like a high school senior’s idea of a fun weekend night out, but I was more than excited to go see The Lego Batman Movie. Having seen its predecessor, The Lego Movie, I already knew what I’d be getting into, and the movie ended up being a cute way to take a load off my shoulders for a while. The premise of the movie is the story of Batman in the Lego world, a crime-fighting vigilante that works alone - but is secretly very lonely. Enter the butler,

Alfred, the new city commissioner, Barbara, and Bruce Wayne’s accidentally-adopted son, Robin. When the Joker decides to take over Gotham City with a whole new horde of villains, Batman has to learn what it means to work as a team in order to save the people he cares about. The humor from the first movie carried into this one, and while I think the plot timeline could have been developed better, it was a cute escape from daily life that I would recommend seeing for all ages.

Kelsie Backues

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hen I first tried a McDonald’s Frozen Drink, I was satisfied to say the least. I wasn’t expecting much, because they didn’t offer any out-of-this-world flavor that I was really attracted to. I ended up going with the Fanta Cherry flavor, because they were out of Coke.

Honestly, I wasn’t wowed, but I wasn’t exactly let down. It was good, but it wasn’t something special that I couldn’t find at the gas station or movie theater. On the bright side, they’re

only a dollar, so that makes them more appealing. The best part is when all the ice melts and all the flavoring is left over. If you need something to quench your thirst, they’re good in a snap.

They definitely don’t beat Sno Biz, but they also don’t have an overwhelming amount of flavors. Overall, they’re widely accessible with several McDonald’s locations in Jefferson City, cheap, and refreshing for those hot summer days (hopefully) coming soon.

Gillian Burks

E

d Sheeran has given us a new album to cherish and hold dear.

It’s pop beats in addition to his own Ed Sheeran-esque blend of folksy and sad-guy lyrics. The well known song “Shape of You” shows his capability to scale the charts as the song debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart on Jan. 13, just above the #2 spot which was held by “Castle on the Hill”. The album also shows his more sensitive side with the song

“Supermarket Flowers,” which Sheeran revealed in a recent interview was inspired by his grandmother’s passing.

“Bibia Be Ye Ye” is a fun upbeat song which was written in Ghana with one of his London based colleagues, Fuse ODG. The translation for the title is “All will be well”. The mixture of upbeat tunes and well-made lyrics brings his album to be another success, a medley of songs that we can all enjoy.

Check out our web exclusive review of To Kill a Mockingbird!

Go to www.jcredblack.com.

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03.16.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Avoid getting pinched on St. Patty’s Day You’re never too old for St. Patrick’s Day fun, with the decorations, green colored food, and, of course, the pinches. However, at some point you do get too old for the t-shirts with cheesy sayings on them. To combat this issue, we have put together a St. Patrick’s Day style guide that is sure to keep you looking good and pinch free!

Ali Beza

If hipster looks are your style, this is the outfit for you this St. Patrick’s Day. The vintage flannel adds just enough green to keep you from getting pinched, and allows you to pair it with fun jeans and cute boots!

Are you not ready to retire your vest for the winter season? Pair it with a scarf and a top, as long as it’s green.

Don’t forget to check the weather, it might be too warm out after all!

Everyone owns a cute army green button up shirt, which will, in fact, make you pinch proof this St. Patrick’s Day! Style it with sandals and a pair of school appropriate ripped jeans.

www.jcredblack.com 03.16.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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