February 2017

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Red & Black Newspaper 02.14.17 • Volume 86 • Issue 6 Jefferson City High School Jefferson City, MO

The Nichols Center through the years Nichols Career Center celebrates its 40th anniversary at JCHS p. 18-19

CONTENTS12 02.14.17 NEWS 4 4

#Hey Admin: Why is there standing water in the bathrooms?

Lincoln University’s new rec center

SPORTS

13

Pep band: the story behind your favorite pump-up crew

24

14

Basketball: the Helias edition

25

15

A look at the Kansas/ Mizzou rivalry

15

A preview of spring sports

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How sports evolve over time

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Featured athlete: Ria Totsikas Cheerleaders take the floor

5

Winter driving: a slippery situation

6

A behind the scenes look into theatre

6

February and March upcoming events

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Marching toward progress

world of A+ 20 The tutoring

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More to love with J-City Riot’s new show JCHS puts the FUN in Fundraisers

20

Raising awareness for autism

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Let’s talk about memes

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SPOTLIGHT

10-11

JCHS blasts off for Winter Sports

IN-DEPTH

the 18-19 Celebrating 40th anniversary of Nichols

2

OPINION

Central Bank basketball shootout

18

FEATURES

solo on 22 Riding Valentine’s Day with Type I 22 Dealing Diabetes: Allie’s story

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Special gifts from the heart

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Who is Cupid?

02.14.17//CONTENTS

Editorial: Clubs struggle to make a buck H2H: Sadie Hawkins vs Winter Sports

early bird gets 26 The the parking spot work their 27 Students way through high school

young love too 27 Is young?

A&E 28

Inside the Culinary Arts program

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Quick and legal ways to make money

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Quick and easy Valentine’s Day gifts

30

Reviews: Hidden Figures, A Dog’s Purpose, Big Sean’s new album

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Valentine’s Day movie ideas Read All Over - #5

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me is also going to miss it here.

There’s a lot of people I don’t want to leave behind, not to mention the memories I won’t get to make again.

To both seniors and underclassmen, this is my advice: make the most of high school while you can. We don’t have a lot of time left. Even an introvert like me realizes that I’ll be missing out if I don’t do something to remember.

It doesn’t have to be something big. It can be going to a dance, being in a school play, attending one of the fundraiser nights - anything, really. I know that, for me, I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by people here in Red & Black who make every moment memorable.

- Madi Baughman

FROM THE EDITOR

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Even if you’re not celebrating it this year (or any year), Valentine’s Day can still be fun (hello, friends and Netflix exist.

Thankfully.)

But besides that, a lot of big things are happening here at JCHS. Not long ago, we took to space for Winter Sports, which is featured in this month’s Spotlight. Nichols Career Center is also celebrating 40 years of providing extensive methods of education for the Jefferson City community, which you can read more about in our In-Depth.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot on how this is going to be my last semester at JCHS. Part of me is excited to move on to bigger things, but part of

An apology to our readers The Red & Black Staff In our Jan. 10 issue of the Red & Black, we printed an infographic titled “On the road to Trump’s inauguration” in the News section on page four. The infographic featured a factual timeline of what happens in between Election Day and the president’s inauguration.

At the bottom of that infographic, a comment which read “And now we wait for our inevitable demise” was printed inadvertently.

The comment should not have been printed, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the entire Red & Black staff, its adviser or the administration of Jefferson City High School.

We would like to humbly apologize for making this error. As a newspaper which prides itself on objectivity and valuing all voices, we understand how one inadvertent comment can destroy the credibility and reputation we have built over the last 86 years of publishing the news for JCHS. We hope you will continue to trust us as the news source for Jaybirds of all feathers. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and integrity, and we didn’t meet those standards last issue.

Again, we apologize for our mistake, and we’re doing everything we can to do better moving forward. Thank you, our readers, for your continued support.

WEB EXCLUSIVES • Friendships between teachers • Reviews: Train’s new album and New Celebrity Apprentice • How are early releases going?

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

• What’s the point of Valentine’s Day? • Coaching for the rivals

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February 14, 2017 Volume 86, Issue 6

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 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 02.14.17//NEWS

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Taking a look at LU’s #HeyAdmin new Rec Center NEWS

Ali Beza

Got any questions for administration? Tweet them to us @jcredblack with the hashtag #HeyAdmin and your question just might get answered! Here’s our question to the principals:

Is there anything that can be done about the standing water present in the restrooms at JCHS?

Jacob Adams JCHS and JCPS strive to provide facilities for students that are clean, up to date, and in great working order.

The JCHS building was built in 1964 with the Nichols Building being added in 1976. Although the facilities have been updated on an extremely frequent basis, it is true that our current facility is lacking in some of the systems that most other high schools across the state enjoy (air conditioning being one). As a district we are currently investigating a plan to upgrade systems at the high school.

In regards to the specific restroom issue, I can tell you that our facilities department has been working on a solution for some time that has just recently been tested and deployed. Our building maintenance is working in tandem with our district maintenance to implement the solution that has been deployed in one restroom already.

Whenever a facility issue arises, our best line of defense in keeping issues under control is to be made aware of them quickly. I would encourage students who see a facility issue to meet with me, as I’m the principal assigned to deal with these issues.

As always, we rely on every link in the chain to make this place work. It is always a help when students and staff partner with our maintenance and facilities departments to make our facilities the best they can be.

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or months, Lincoln University has been in the process of building what we now know is a Wellness Center. With all of the rumors of what this building may consist of, many students, teachers, and other Jefferson City residents are curious; who and what is this thing for? Parks and Recreation assistant director Aaron Grefrath was able to give some insight as to what this recreation center will consist of.

“The Wellness Center is a joint collaboration between the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation and Lincoln University,” Grefrath said. “It will be operated by both parties and utilized for recreational activities, community education, civic activities, and wellness for the community.”

The collaboration between the two invites many opportunities for the community. With its four full size basketball courts, a fitness center with exercising equipment, indoor walking track, meeting rooms, classrooms, concessions, and the LU President’s game room that overlooks the football field, the Jefferson City community can look forward to a lot of great experiences.

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“Programs to be held in the future are, but not limited to: youth and adult sports leagues and tournaments, group exercise classes, personal training services, basketball camps and much more,” Grefrath said.

A lot of these events are closely related to the Parks and Recreation’s programs to fit their need of gym space, as the organization has relied on other facilities for space in the past. Nevertheless, LU was in need of space for students to participate in activities, increase student engagement on campus. The lower level of the facility will serve as a space for Lincoln University Athletics, and the LU sponsored events such as the President’s Gala and graduation will be held here.

“The goal is to enhance the quality of life of the community, surrounding residents, and the university,” Grefrath said. “By coming together as one, we have created a facility that will serve as a great recruiting tool for the community and future Lincoln students for many years to come. Exciting times certainly lie ahead for the Jefferson City community.”

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!

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[photo by www.stlouis.cbslocal.com]

The capitol - and all of Jefferson City - becomes a slick winter wonderland when it snows.

Winter driving: A slippery situation Megan Cassels

T

he 2016 and 2017 winter has left the state of Missouri entertained. In December we were shocked by a winter storm that kept busses from leaving schools at the proper times, businesses were closed down early and more. In January, Missouri was also threatened by an ice storm that closed down many businesses and schools anywhere from a day to two days before even hit.

During this time, many inexperienced drivers were left in confusion and in shock when the storms hit because some were in the situation that they had to go somewhere when the streets were covered in black ice.

If ever in the situation to leave home during a winter storm, there are a few things to know: make sure to pack the vehicle with a flashlight and extra batteries, a first-aid kit, medications if necessary, blankets, an extra pair of gloves, socks, a warm hat and rain gear. It’s useful to keep a small baggie of sand for traction under tires, as well as a small shovel, basic tools,

nonperishable foods and bottled water.

With weather in Missouri, you will never know what to expect, so be prepared.

“Be very careful, and make sure to use your turn signals,” junior Sam Burkybile said.

“Warm up your car about 15 or 20 minutes before you leave and make sure to keep an ice scraper in your back seat. A warning to all my fellow peers: stay safe.”

According to www.thecarconnection. com, never use cruise control on wet, slippery, snowy or icy roads. Make sure to avoid using the emergency brake in

cold, snowy, wet or slippery weather.

Never drive when you’re sleepy and be sure to drive slowly.

If ever in the situation that you’re sliding on ice, it’s important to never slam on your brakes, guide your car into the direction you want to go and ease on your brake. MoDOT tries to keep the roads clear as much as they can.

“Snow plowing during the winter is a 12 hours on and 12 hours off type of shift, that way it’s conserved 24 hours a day,” Courtney Jefferson, snow plowman from Team MoDOT, said.

“There’s always someone out there with a tow plow trying to make sure the roads are clear so that people can have safe travel from work and school and any other place they need to go.”

Though the roads are attempted to be clear 24 hours a day, try not to go anywhere unless it’s mandatory. Stay safe, stay inside, but stay prepared.

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Megan Cassels

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02.14.17//NEWS

Marching toward progress Madi Baughman

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icture this: streets filled with thousands of people, marching in solidarity - not in violence, not in hate, but to raise awareness for human rights. This was the reality of not only the country, but the entire world, on every continent (yes, even including Antarctica) on Jan. 21, when the Women’s Solidarity March took place.

What started as a small, grassroots idea to peacefully protest in Washington, D.C., quickly caught fire and spread across the nation. Buses full of supporters of the cause left from major cities across America to organize at the nation’s Capitol.

“Going to the march was an extremely last minute decision I made after talking with a few of my friends that were going or thinking about going,” Physics Teacher Kristen Thurman said. “I had never marched or been involved with activism before the Women’s Solidarity March, so I wasn’t going by myself. So when I knew of others going, I got a little bit more courage to go.”

The Women’s Solidarity March is now being called the largest march in history, not only with its turnout at our nation’s capital, but also with its millions of participants across the globe. One of the marches taking place occurred close to home, in Columbia.

Thousands of people of different

genders, races, sexualities, and religions attended the event to band together for one purpose: to promote civil rights and liberties.

“I heard about the event through a Facebook group, COMO for Progress, that I joined before the election,” a JCHS faculty member who wished to remain anonymous said. “As an American, as an educator, as a female, and as a mother, there are many issues that are important to me, and I feel that it’s important in a democracy for people to stand up and be heard.”

Activism is an important part of keeping citizens involved with politics, so that the people will have a say in how they are governed. Even though America is divided about the results of the election and the new presidency, there is solace in knowing that other people are willing to stand up for the same issues as one’s self.

“I would just tell someone to pick just one issue that hits home with them, and be a proactive voice for that issue,” Thurman said. “Being proactive would entail knowing, understand, and respecting the opposition’s point of view as well. So make sure you’re well educated on both sides of that issue.”

Right: Women congregate in Columbia Missouri to fight for their rights.

[photo by Madi Baughman]

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More to love with J-City Riot Maddy Bergstrom Right: Senior Destiny Turner practices at the Miller Performing Arts Center with the rest of J-City Riot.

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t’s a lot more than just singing and dancing in the Jefferson City High School show choir. These students have been working hard to put their show “It’s Complicated” on stage since August, coming to school at 7 a.m three times a week and then two hour practices after school twice a week. Some students, like junior Taylor Horn, find themselves waking up at 5:30 a.m to make it to practices and not getting home until 5:30 p.m from a rehearsal, but feel it is more than worth the effort.

“I think all of the long practices are really pulling us together as a team,” Horn said.

At the beginning of the school year the choir students were introduced to their new instructors Shawna and Jarrod Hendricks. The transition may have been a difficult one, but nothing save positive remarks have been said about the teachers as they’ve created a fun and meaningful environment for the students to do what they love.

“I have really enjoyed getting to know the kids here at JC,” Shawna said. “We have some extremely talented singers in all of our choirs, they have been very helpful and encouraging as they transition to a new teacher and I am grateful for that.

I feel like I am still learning something everyday and I work hard to challenge them to be learning new things daily as well.”

For their performance the show choir will present songs that deal with love and high school relationships including; “Rumor Has It”, “Love Is Here”, “When the Heart Rules the Mind”, “I Won’t Give Up”, and “Tainted Love.” Unlike in previous years where the Show Choir based their performance on a story like Mary Poppins or James Bond, they wanted to give their audience something to connect with. Through their theme, not only will the audience be able to reminisce about the love they have in their life, but the team themselves have been able to feel love within their group, as is with sophomore Olivia Petty.

“I have built so many good relationships with different people that I probably wouldn’t know otherwise,” Petty said. “At the beginning of the year, there weren’t as many bonds with people because a lot of people were new or didn’t know each other previously. Now, I personally feel like our relationship as a team has become very strong and we have a lot of fun times together.”

If you’re looking for a good show that will really capture the feel of Valentine’s Day, show choir’s next performance will be the Heart of America competition in Kansas City on Feb. 18, so come and support these talented performers.

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02.14.17//NEWS

[photo by Maddy Bergstrom]

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

Upcoming Fundraisers 2 17 Spaghetti and Jazz Paint the People 5K Organization: Key Club Proceeds: Our local United Way What can I do?

At Binder Park on Saturday, Apr. 15 at 10 a.m. for a great and affordable color run. More information at jckeyclub.com.

Organization: Jazz Band Proceeds: Jay Band What can I do?

Attend Jay Band's Spaghetti and Jazz for dinner and a show, on Mar. 2, at First United Methodist Church, 201 Monroe St, starting at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cookie Dough Sales

Dodgeball Tournament Organization: Softball Proceeds: Lady Jays Softball What can I do?

Get a team together. It costs five dollars per person, and teams can be 6­8 people. The game is Feb. 17 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at JCHS. Find a softball player for more information.

Organization: Jay Band [photo by Maddy Bergstrom] Proceeds: Jay Band What can I do?

Find a band student starting Feb. 17 and order some tasty cookie dough to support instrumental music in our school.

By: Abbigail Gierer

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Winter Sports:

JCHS took to the skies for Winter Sports with an intergalactic theme this year. With themed days like Time Warp Tuesday, War of the Worlds Wednesday, and. Space Jammie Thursday, the possibilities to have fun were out of this world!

Photos by Ali Beza, Brooklynne Propes and Kaylee Klosterman

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Top Left: Sophomores Marcel Johnson and Albert Essel pull out their dance moves.

Top Right: Court members Alexis Hudson, Amber Runkle, Alaina Allsbury, Brittany Patrick, and Rachel Holt watch the assembly.

Bottom Right: Sophomore Quinten Strobel holds sophomore Payton Burcham after performing with dance team.

02.14.17//SPOTLIGHT

The final frontier Top Left: Seniors Emily Wilkerson and Ali Robinson serenade the boys’ court.

Top Right: Seniors Carson Ridgeway and Brooke Reinsch get down on the dance floor.

Bottom Left: Juniors Andrew Schmitz and Christa Kiesling have fun dancing together.

Bottom Right: The show choir boys get into position before beginning their number.

02.14.17//SPOTLIGHT

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SPORTS

Jays fly high at Central Bank Shootout Veronica Townsend

Sophomore Caitlin Anderson pulls up for a shot.

Senior Addison Brown rallies the crowd by hanging on the rim after a dunk.

Head Coach Brad Conway instructs the team on the next play during a timeout.

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JCHS DaMani Jarrett and a Kansas City East player tip off the game.

Senior Lexy Haug shoots the basketball, but it was blocked by a defender.

Basketball from Pep Band’s perspective Abbi Gierer

On a typical Pep Band night, the students arrive at the high school two hours before the game begins.

They then warm up in the band room and practice their pep tunes before going up to the big game.

During the game, when they are not playing, they chat with their friends or do homework. They play during pregame, at halftime and after the game is over they wrap things up with the Alma Mater.

www.jcredblack.com 02.14.17//SPORTS

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Jays provide a crosstown beat-down On Jan. 17 and Jan. 23, the Jefferson City Jays and Lady Jays faced off against crosstown rivals, the Helias Catholic Crusaders. The Lady Jays came out on top by a final score of 45-29, while the boys team lost, 53-62.

The rivalry does not stop with the players - both student sections also get very involved. The theme for the student section was “parting the Red Sea,� which was followed by almost everyone that night.

[photo by Makenzie Baldwin]

[photo by Brooklynne Propes]

[photo by Brooklynne Propes]

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[photo by Makenzie Baldwin]

[photo by Makenzie Baldwin]

Mizzou and Kansas: Then and now Salem Sanfilippo Solindas

T

he Mizzou and Kansas rivalry is a long-standing tradition in both places. What do people get out of fighting over a cartoon bird and some angsty looking tiger? The answer is actually pretty deeply rooted in American history.

Back in the 1850’s, Kansas was more a battleground than our own state. According to KCUR, those fighting to abolish slavery were referred to as ‘jayhawkers.’ The KU football team took the name in 1890, reclaiming the relatively rude nickname to be one of power.

In Missouri, the story was a bit different. Confederate soldiers

liked to ambush small groups of Union fighters. The problem got bad enough that small towns built their own miniature militia to protect themselves from the ambushes. One group founded in Columbia, called itself the Tigers, and the name stuck with MU. Though it oversimplifies things to say, the rivalry is really just a continuation of the fight against slavery our country faced in the 1800’s. The Jayhawks symbolise the Union, while the Tigers represent the Confederates. With a rivalry so vicious as the one between the two teams, considering how rooted in blood and

slavery it is paints an unpretty picture of both sides.

Nowadays,since MU left the Big 12 conference, the Tigers and Jayhawks have missed opportunities for an annual game, leading a lot of the hype to die out pretty fast. That said, there will always be fanatics, and we can rest assured that the rivalry will never truly end.

After all, the rivalry is called the Border War. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the history is a very bloody one, and if Americans are anything, it’s prideful. Don’t count on the competition to truly end anytime soon.

Spring Sports Preview Kaylee Klosterman

Spring is just around the corner, which means spring sports are too. You may be wondering when you can come out to support our Jays. Below are the first home games of our varsity spring sports, listed with the date, time and opponent. Information was provided by athletics and activities secretary Jenny Pearson.

Baseball

Track & Field

Golf

April 6th thru April 8th

Monday March 20th

Monday April 24th

Time: TBA

Time: 4:00 p.m.

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Capital City Invitational Helias High School

Soccer

Capital City Invitational

Tennis

Tuesday March 21st

Monday March 27th

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Time: 4:00 p.m.

Osage High School

Camdenton High School

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JCHS sports: Past and present Brooklynne Propes

Makenzie Baldwin

The Red & Black staff has photographed Jefferson City High School sporting events for over 50 years.

Some of the oldest retrievable photos date back to 1964. They are showcased below alongside photos from the 2016-2017 school year to show the similarities and differences between then and now.

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FEATURED ATHLETE

Cheering up students

[photo by Brooklynne Propes]

Ria Totsikas

Emily Rush

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Sport: Soccer Grade: 11 Years on team: 3 Background: “I have been playing since I was a kid and I kind of fell in love with it.”

Favorite part: “The memories I make with my teammates.”

Role model: “My mom because she is at every game cheering me on.”

Favorite memory: “Scoring a goal in the district game freshman year.”

Least favorite part: “Pre-season conditioning.”

Interesting fact: “I scored the winning goal for the semi-final game in 9th grade.”

Awards: “Started every JV game freshman year and lettered all three years.”

Best game: “Beating Helias last year when everyone doubted us.”

Future: “I am going to go to school to be a nurse practitioner in dermatology.”

he Jefferson City High School cheer team consists of 14 girls.

There is a mix of freshman, sophomores, juniors, and senior girls all participating on the same squad.

Not only do JCHS cheerleaders perform at school sporting events, but they also participate in events like school assemblies, pep rallies, community events and parades. Some of the members of the team include Taylor West and Caitlyn Miller.

Every time the cheerleaders perform at the JCHS assemblies, they always get the audience involved. They do at least two to three cheers at the assemblies that most the students know.

“My favorite events to perform at are the assemblies because we really get to show off our skills in front of the student body,” West said.

When the JCHS student body participates with the cheerleaders, this shows a lot of school spirit. “I think it is good the cheerleaders get us involved because honestly, if we didn’t, Jay Pride wouldn’t be what it actually is,” junior Joni Lehman said. “The cheerleaders work very hard to get us hype for any type of event and I think that is super awesome.”

The cheerleaders are always on the sidelines of football and both girls and boys basketball games. They also

make an appearance at senior night for baseball and soccer, as well as state for cross country.

“My favorite events to cheer at are the football games because the student body participates a lot,” Miller said.

Lehman is a perfect example of someone who has school spirit. ”I love being involved and having JC spirit,” Lehman said.

Cheerleading, just like any other sport at JCHS, is made up of team members. When a student participates in a sport, they usually get very close with the other people that are interested in the same sport as them.

Cheerleaders practice every Tuesday and Thursday and they occasionally have extra practices on the weekends.

After all the practices and games together, they create a bond.

“My favorite part about being on the team is being with all the other girls,” West said, “I have made some of my closest friends just from cheer.”

The cheerleaders participate in so many events for the high school. The girls stay very busy between practices and attending events. Many students think that the cheerleaders are one of the main reasons for Jay Pride at JCHS and the student body can thank them by getting involved in their cheers during all the school events.

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Nichols Career Center celebrates its 40th year Kelsie Backues

R

ight across the street from your own Jefferson City High School, Nichols Career Center has been preparing students for future success for 40 years. Whether you have a class or two at Nichols, you know someone involved in a program, or you’re involved in one yourself, almost everyone has heard about the Career Center and the good it brings to the community.

It is obvious that the NCC has changed over the past 40 years, as new jobs for graduates become available and new opportunities are created.

Sharon Longan, Director and Counselor, has been in the district for 16 years, with 14 of those spent at NCC. “The Career Center opened it’s doors spring semester, 1976,” Longan said.

“Since then, there’s been numerous changes in regards to what we offer or how our programs have evolved to keep up with industrial, community, and workforce needs. One thing that has changed is we used to offer adult education, and we no longer do.”

As the industry evolves, NCC has done their best to keep up with the times. They try to prepare students for their path driven future, whether that be going to college to further their training, or going straight into the workforce.

Counselor Travis Plume has been with NCC for four years, and in the district for six. He previously taught as a science teacher for 10 years.

“We are a consortium, which means we serve several schools, and it would not be economically feasible for any one of these individual schools to provide the type of equipment we have here,”

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Ali Beza Plume said. “It would just be way too expensive. Each of these students that come here from these schools pay tuition, so those funds help support what we do here.”

“We strive to provide industry ready equipment that students can train on, practice on, and make mistakes on,” Longan said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have additional funding, besides local funding, that helps career technical schools.”

As NCC developed their programs and made an overall better environment for their driven students, they have tried to keep one thing constant: the connection that makes it a career center.

“One thing that’s been constant throughout the years is our connection to business and industry,” Plume said. “We provide our students with internship opportunities, so that they can go out into the community and work in the career field that they’re training for. About a third of our students will move directly into the workforce upon graduation, and about two thirds of those students will move on to getting additional training.”

“A goal for us every year is to look at a program and look at what we can do to enhance it, what can we do to improve it, what do we need to cycle out, what is beyond repair,” Longan said.

As plans to expand and add new programs unfold, the future for NCC is looking bright.

“We would love to see, first and foremost, the programs that we already offer to be able to expand upon them and augment them, but we are hampered by space. There are career

02.14.17//IN-DEPTH

centers which have three times the space we have in one area for our auto tech,” Longan said. “We would also like to look at expansion. We would love to be able offer additional programming that is of interest to students, and that would be supported by the community.

The connection we have with business and industry is huge because that is who we are also serving.”

If you are interested in something that NCC doesn’t already have a program for, you might be in luck. The current issue of the building of a second high school leaves hope for NCC. “The bond issue that’s going on in April would benefit us because we would gain some space ‘back’ because we would be moving kids across town,” Longan said.

“When we’ve got requests on the table, we have to think about how that fits within this campus,” Longan said, “we have to share space and polices and procedures with the high school.”

As this year comes to a close, NCC is excited to announce a new program, Broadcast Media.

“We’ve decided through that consortium group of counselors, we asked if they would have an interest in seeing students in a Broadcast Media program here,” Plume said, “We’ve got requests, and we’ll have students coming in next year.”

Since NCC shares their building with JCHS, you might already be familiar with it and its programs.

However, if you haven’t already considered joining a program, you might start, as you could kickstart your career in something you love to do.

[photo by Kelsie Backues]

Ladies in the Health Science program imitate working in a real health field scenerio.

Graphic Communications students had their shirts and mugs on display at the celebration.

The Agricultural program places plants in Nichols Career Center to give the place a splash of life.

[photo by Kelsie Backues] KRCG does their first mobile live weather broadcast with meteorologist Zach Paul and declares Feb. NCC month in JC.

Two students in the Technology program tamper with a circuit board to learn about the inner workings of the electronic device.

[photo by Ali Beza] Students in the automotive programs work on cars during class for real life skills.

Students in the recently established Culinary Arts Program assemble samples for guests at the celebration.

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FEATURES

A+ tutoring opens opportunities to seniors Emily Rush

J

efferson City High School offers an A+ tutoring class to the seniors.

This class consists of choosing a teacher in the Jefferson City Public Schools district to assist in their daily classroom routines. The class is one term long for one class period per day.

Students at JCHS even have the option to go back to their elementary school or middle school to help out one of their old teachers. This means that the student has the ability to leave class and get away from the high school if that’s what they desire.

Senior Nick Nangole took A+ tutoring during 1st period earlier this year.

“I did my A+ at Callaway Hills for my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Miller,” Nangole said.

Since Nangole did his A+ during first block, he had the opportunity to leave his house in the morning and go straight to Callaway Hills.

“I chose Callaway hills because my favorite teacher works there,” Nangole said. “And it is about two minutes away from my house.”

There are many advantages to enrolling in the A+ class. One interesting aspect of being a tutor is that students have the option to leave JCHS or they can stay at school and A+ for any teacher they desire. Students usually help teachers with passing out papers and answering students’ questions. When teachers have an extra set of hands in the class, it can help them out a lot.

“I recommend A+ because it is very enjoyable and it is a great feeling when you know you are helping others,” Nangole said. “When I showed up to Callaway Hills, some of the fourth graders I helped got super happy and would run up to me to give me hugs.”

Senior Kyle Mealy decided to do his A+ tutoring at Thomas Jefferson

Middle School with an 8th grade history teacher.

“I help talk to the students in group projects and help kids with problems that I can actually answer,” Mealy said. “The A+ tutoring course has personally made me better with my communication skills.”

The A+ tutoring course can help kids become more interactive with people and take them out of their comfort zone. Students can easily learn life skills from taking this course. One way a student could learn life skills is by helping the teacher out almost as if it is their job. Another way is by interacting with the other kids in the class. This could help teach basic life skills.

A+ tutoring is an option for seniors who are signed into the A+ program at JCHS, and is a great way to get involved with teachers, kids and fellow class members.

whole. Freshman Sandra Kumassah, an allistic teenager who says she does not personally know anyone autistic, says she recognises the problem, but is unsure of what autism really is.

“Some people treat [autistic people] differently, because they’re regarded as ‘slow’ and not really that smart, but I mean, maybe they can’t get all those ideas out,” Kumassah said. “Autism kind of acts like a cage.”

Studebaker, however, argues that the problem is less with how autism limits people and more with how others limit those who have it.

“An overwhelming majority of autistic people are just not happy with their lives,” Studebaker said. “What autistic people want more than being ‘cured’ is being understood.”

Despite being an outsider looking in, Kumassah agrees with this. “[People] should know that it affects everyone differently. Everyone’s different, so you can’t just base [everyone off what little you’ve seen],”

Kumassah said.

Both students agreed that autism is not some copy-and-paste disorder that causes people to scream and clap their hands in distress; it works on a spectrum, and no two people are affected in the same way. Without the immense amounts of research a complicated disorder like autism calls for, stereotypes are formed very easily.

Admittedly, not much research has gone into autism. Science has a long way to go before we truly understand it.

That being said, we have no excuse to treat those who have it like they have something wrong with them.

“Autism is a really complex issue and they shouldn’t stereotype it. They should try to learn more about it,” Studebaker said.

It is the responsibility of all of us, autistic and allistic alike, to challenge ourselves to understand. Autism should not be seen as a cage, but a brand new color painting the human mind that we have the opportunity to finally see.

Autism Awareness: Moving past the ‘cage’ Salem Sanfilippo Solindas

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espite the vast information at our fingertips every waking moment, many human tend to be somewhat ignorant when it comes to autism. With Missouri Autism Awareness Day on Feb. 21, it is time to start learning. Many allistics, or those who are not autistic, have a very inaccurate view of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Senior Parker Studebaker is diagnosed with Asperger’s and claims the reason so many people misinterpret autism is because they have no interest in learning.

“People don’t understand autism because there hasn’t been an effort to teach people the facts,” Studebaker said. “When someone is super different, even if that difference is good, unless the overwhelming majority can understand that difference and work off of it, all [it] is is a hinderance.”

With the word autistic so often used as an insult, it seems pretty clear that people know very little about ASD as a

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02.14.17//FEATURES

Let’s talk about the science behind memes Devan Palmero

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hat do a sad frog, a Shiba Inu puppy, and the invention of fire have in common? It might sound like the setup to a bad joke, but by the title of this article, you’ve probably already figured it out: memes.

Memes are everywhere: in our news, the comment sections of videos, even on the Hollywood sign. Some say that memes are the evolution of human stupidity, while others think they are an algorithm of the internet allowing people to connect over an image and a caption.

A meme, as many know it, is a photo, video, trend, person, or phrase which virally encompasses the internet; however, this is only one definition. The Oxford Dictionary definition of a meme is “an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, especially imitation.” This basically means that memes as we know it are older than the internet; in fact, they’re as old as the history of mankind.

Iconic cave paintings such as the Lascaux Caves, also known as the Prehistoric Sistine Chapel, were the memes of their time. By definition, a meme serves the purpose of passing down information without the use of genes. Cave paintings, hieroglyphics,

figurines and jewelry all held that same purpose in the start of the human race.

Fire itself is speculated to be the first meme. There’s no genetic code that tells us how to make fire. There’s no instinct that tells us to invent. All of this is passed down through generations by enforcing lessons our ancestors learned.

So if a meme is just information being spread through groups of people, what are internet memes? Well, they are the product of humans wanting to relate to each other and connect to others with common values. The first internet memes were usually cute cat photos. Before the internet, most memes consisted of pop songs and references to movies. These were all successful memes because they spread on the basis of common knowledge and common values. It’s almost like saying, “Hey, I like this thing, and I like anyone else who likes it too!” In terms of psychology, memes bring people not only amusement, but intimacy with others.

The social aspect of memeology is amazing (yes, there is a science of memes). Memeticist Tim Tyler describes the spread of an internet meme like a virus. They are transmitted much like a disease in how they infiltrate our conscious minds every time we go on the web. We build

up immunities to a meme as it gets older and more overused and memes stay relevant by mutating into different versions of themselves. This method of communication is so vital that it may dominate the near future.

“The internet is an environment created by memes for memes, so it is not that surprising that it has become highly effective at distributing them,” Tyler said. “However, these are still early days for computer networks. It seems likely that meme propagation will continue to accelerate as the bottleneck represented by the human brain is bypassed and memes are transmitted directly from one machine to another with little human intervention.”

We could eventually get to a point in which texting and emails are obsolete: Salt Bae and Öats will dominate the communication networks of the future.

Not really though. See, even though memes are excellent at passing down information, in the end they aren’t everything we depend on to connect with others.

Sometimes it’s important to professionally tell your boss that you’re going to be late rather than sending him an “I hate Mondays” meme and have him interpret it as he may.

[memes from trendingcurrentevents. com, onsizzle.com, memes.com]

www.jcredblack.com 02.14.17//FEATURES

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What it’s like to “ride solo” on Feb. 14 Sydney Johnson

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alentine’s Day has been around for hundreds of years. The holiday’s roots come from ancient Rome. During the festival of Lupercalia, Pope Gelasius declared this festival as a Christian feast day on Feb. 14, circa 496. This was a fertility celebration, which was named St. Valentine’s Day. It wasn’t until the 14th century when Valentine’s Day became an actual holiday for couples. Jewelry, chocolate, and teddy bears are all things some couples purchase for each other in today’s society. A nice, quiet and personal dinner could be planned out for a couple’s evening. Valentine’s Day, for some that are single, can be a dark time. For others, it is just a another day. Joni Lehman, a junior at Jefferson City High School, could care less about all the sappy couples celebrating their so-called love for each other and can’t wait for some good deals on candy.

“Of course, you can have your moments where you feel down, but you have to realize that Valentine’s Day is just like every other day of the

year, so what’s the big deal?” Lehman said.”Plus, after Valentine’s Day, you can buy lot of chocolate that will be on sale.”

Valentine’s Day can single out those who aren’t in relationships.

This can have a lot to do with the advertisements for this particular day. This is one of the most advertized holidays of the entire year. Florists, greeting card companies, jewelry stores, and chocolatiers are all known to be a lot more busy and advertize a great amount more for this holiday.

Jake Nowack, a senior at JCHS, sees right through what the society makes up to seem so important to have a picture perfect valentine’s day. Nowack thinks of Valentine’s Day of a good way to get things done and get ahead while everyone is distracted with festivities.

“It’s a really great down time to get stuff done for yourself,” Nowack said.

“Sit back and relax, catch up on some reading, clean the house, whatever it might be.”

Being in a relationship during Valentine’s Day can seem like a dream

come true, but some say its over hyped. Valentine’s Day is still known as a day to show your appreciation towards someone you love and are committed to. Whether you are single or in a committed relationship there are different up sides to both during Valentine’s Day.

A diabetic pediatric nurse in the making Maddy Bergstrom

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fter being diagnosed with Type I Diabetes after just 22 months, senior Allie Chapman knows how difficult it can be to live with the highs and lows of blood sugar. On Wednesday afternoons, she travels to Thorpe Gordon to talk to London Hearn, who was diagnosed in October of 2012. They talk about her blood sugar and what foods she should be eating as well as playing games to get to know each other better.

“Being diagnosed when you’re in elementary school can be really difficult on a kid,” Chapman said. “[It’s] having to change the way you live and eat.”

Kristin Verslues, the school nurse at Thorpe Gordon, noticed one of her younger students, Hearn, was having difficulties with her new diet after being diagnosed with Type I Diabetes.

Verslues asked a senior student from the high school to mentor the young

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girl to help her understand how important eating right is. This past year, she again asked Chapman to talk with Hearn and mentor her through her fourth grade year.

Having Type I Diabetes means a lot more than just cutting down on sugars; it is changing the way you eat as well as the way you live. With Type I Diabetes, the body does not produce enough of the hormone called insulin that is needed to get glucose from the bloodstream to the body’s cells to produce energy.

London’s mother, Tammie Hearn, would like there to be more awareness of this condition throughout the school district as well as the community. Type I diabetes has changed London’s life as well as the lives of those closest to her. “[A struggle is] knowing that she could have died due to her having diabetes lots of restless nights,” Hearn

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said. “However, some of my biggest blessings that I have received is that London pulled through, and knowing that my daughter can still live a long, strong, and healthy life.”

With only 5 percent of people who have diabetes having Type I, it can be difficult to find someone who understands your struggles as well as your triumphs. Chapman has had a powerful impact on the Hearn family with the help and support she has provided for London in the past months, and will continue to help the young girl, as well as others as she enters the health field to become a diabetic pediatric nurse.

“It’s always good to know that you’re not alone,” Chapman said. “That you have someone who knows what you’re going through to help and support you.”

The best gifts you can give to show you care F more touching gifts: Madi Baughman

rom the biggest package to the smallest gesture, many people have a present that will always remain special in their memory. Whether it’s from a friend, a family member, or a significant other, when a lot of thought is put into a gift, it can mean the world to somebody.

“The best gift I have ever received was a necklace I got from my boyfriend last year for my birthday,” senior Liz Blomberg said.

“It’s important to me because it’s one of the first times he told me he loved me, and I can wear it all the time.”

When the pressure to find the perfect gift can be stressful, fear not - sometimes, the simple things are really what matter to people. It might not be extravagant, but coming from someone with truly good intentions with the right timing, it can make the receiver very happy. “[My friend] Liz got me a perfume set for Christmas, and it was a really nice perfume,” senior Ally Robinett said. “I didn’t expect it, so it was a nice surprise.”

However, not everyone is lucky enough to be able to live close to the people they care about to give them gifts all the time.

For many people in the Jefferson City community, being far apart from loved ones is a lonely reality a lot of us must face.

Of course, this doesn’t stop people from going out of their way to make the important people in their lives feel loved.

Even if a person you’re close to is far away, having something they really put a lot of hard work into can make the distance not seem so bad.

“One time, my best friend from 7th or 8th grade made a scrapbook of funny pictures and captions and inside jokes,” senior Heaven Chavez said. “It was really heartfelt and thoughtful and creative. We’re still friends, even though she lives in North Carolina.”

“The best gift I ever got was a KitchenAid mixer from my grandma.” - junior Samantha Gierer “[My boyfriend] Adam gave me a notebook for Christmas with a long letter written inside telling me how important I was to him. It meant a lot because he doesn’t usually write, so I felt extremely special.” - senior Stephanie Scott

www.jcredblack.com 02.14.17//FEATURES

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OPINION

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The Red and Black Editorial: Clubs stuggle for a buck

ore often than not, club advisers are forced to tell their students, “Great idea, but we don’t have the funds for that.”

The idea either disappears or members brainstorm ways to increase funding.

Since the activities department has a limited budget, clubs are reluctant to ask for more funding; therefore, they choose the option of fundraising.

According to Activities Director Mark Caballero, clubs sell everything from pencils to t-shirts.

“Most people raise funds when they need funds,” Caballero said. “If they do not have a need to do a fundraiser, they wouldn’t do it.”

From my experience, club funding can be difficult.

Not every member in a club will be comfortable with fundraising. When clubs receive funding, they are expected to deliver. Not delivering could cost a club a lot of money. On the other hand, successfully delivering can greatly increase funding.

For example, Student Council has proven they are able to deliver. They are an awesome role-model for funding. According to Josh Jay, the treasurer of StuCo, most of the funds come from school events including Homecoming and Winter Sports.

“I’m glad StuCo has the funding it does,” Jay said. “Over the past year, we’ve donated nearly $9,000 to charities.”

Sadly, not all clubs are as successful

with funding as StuCo, but cost should not scare people from forming new clubs because there are always avenues to help out. Likewise, Jackie Johnson, the sponsor for Future Health Leaders (HOSA), is thankful for Principal Bob

front, so that we could start fundraising even before the club began. Once we get started we will always have funding for the next year.”

Conversely, Tabletop Gaming, which Johnson is also a semi-sponsor of, does not require much funding. Johnson says the club only requires a room, and the students supply the gaming. Similarly, according to Bri Bechtel, the treasurer of National Honor Society, students pay induction and yearly fees.

“The dues go to cover the cost of initiation and senior dues are more to cover the cost of cords for graduation,” Bechtel said.

Although it is great that some clubs do not require funding, fundraising is a necessity for many clubs.

According to Stephanie Grant, the treasurer of Future Business Leaders of America, food is a great choice because everyone likes food. This year, FBLA received funding through annual dues, a Culver’s night, a popcorn fundraiser and more.

“I like the amount of fundraising we do because I have to pay less out of pocket,” Grant said.

All in all, clubs should not let funding stop them from pursuing their goals. If members want a club to succeed, they will do whatever it takes to keep it running. The most important part of a club is not funding but having fun.

Where does the money go?

Mark Caballero, activities director, said money is distributed to clubs in three different ways: Supplies, transportation and miscellaneous.

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James’ help with providing coverage on transportation cost along with other expenses. HOSA is a new medical club at JCHS where students compete in different medical competitions.

“I was not completely aware how expensive HOSA was going to be,” Johnson said. “I wish I’d known that up

02.14.17//OPINION

Head TO Head Switching things up

Sadie Hawkins vs Winter Sports

Emily Rush

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t Jefferson City High School, there are a total of three formal dances a year: Homecoming, Winter Sports and Prom. For all three of these dances, it is known that the boys ask the girls to be their date. On the other hand, Helias High School has a dance once a year that they call “Sadie Hawkins.” The difference between this dance and any of the JCHS dances is that the girls get the chance to ask a boy. Some students, such as Helias senior Greta Lariosa, believe JCHS should have a Sadie Hawkins dance.

“I like the Sadie Hawkins dance because it gives girls a chance to ask in whatever creative way they’ve always wanted to ask a guy,” Lariosa said.

In many ways, Sadie Hawkins is similar to Winter Sports.

They are more casual dances, unlike Homecoming and Prom.

Helias has their Sadie Hawkins dance at the Mill Bottom instead of at their school. They still have a top ten boys and girls court and all the fundamentals are the same. The only difference is that the girls are expected to ask the boys in a creative way.

“I think JC should have a Sadie Hawkins dance,” Lariosa said. “It can be very fun coming up with cute ways to ask a guy.”

Stereotyping is a huge problem when it comes to high school events. Junior Kylie Kummer agrees that stereotyping can be a problem.

“Formal dances are always stereotyped that boys should ask girls and that it isn’t normal for the girl to ask the guy,” Kummer said. “It would be fun to change it up a bit and break the stereotype.”

Not only would girls enjoy asking the boy, but the boys would also enjoy it. A Sadie Hawkins dance would give boys a break from always having to ask the girl. Many times boys feel pressured to ask in a romantic way to make the girl happy. Boys need a break from this stress and give the girls a chance to come up with a creative idea. Junior Baylor Rimiller brings up a point that girls may be more creative than boys.

“Since Winter Sports is more of a casual dance it would be exciting to have a Sadie Hawkins dance and mix things up,” Rimiller said. “Girls are more creative when it comes to coming up with ideas.”

JCHS should look at turning Winter Sports into a Sadie Hawkins type of dance. Girls deserve the chance to ask the boys at least for one of the three dances a year. This would make the winter dance a little more interesting for everyone because switching things up can always be a fun adventure.

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Keeping the tradition Sidney Johnson

s generations grow, the world is changing and the normal now is not what the normal was thirty years ago.

One thing that has remained a tradition is guys asking girls to school dances - for the most part. For some girls, finding a date is stressful and can be difficult sometimes, but imagine being on the other side. Finding someone who is up for grabs, asking them in an original way and having the guts are some of the things boys go through to get a date to a dance. However, some say this should be no different than guys asking girls on a regular date; it’s the guy’s job to pursue the girl.

Winter Sports is a high school dance where all grade levels are welcome. It’s during the wrestling and basketball season, and the boys always ask the girls to this dance. At Helias, the dance is called the Sadie Hawkins, where the girls ask the guys. Some argue that is this a favored interest because it is different than other dances. In some cases, dance proposals are only accepted to prevent upset feelings. Switching the roles could cause this to occur more often. I don’t know about you, but I want a date that actually wants to go with me.

Former Jefferson City High School student Zoey Gore, has attended his fair share of school dances and had a pretty crucial point when asked about switching roles.

“I would never have a date if that happens,” Gore said. [photo by Kaylee Klosterman] If switching roles was to become the norm for all school dances, where would the line be drawn? Would the girls purchase the corsage, instead of a boutonniere; would they pay for dinner? I think Winter Sports is a well kept tradition and I personally wouldn’t want to change or tamper with something that is already so great.

Kara Gerard, a junior a Jefferson City High School, likes “going the less awkward route.”

“Winter Sports is overall better than Sadie Hawkins,” Gerard said. “It would be awkward to have to ask guys to a dance and our dance isn’t on Sundays.”

If you have the same mindset as me, not having a date to a dance really isn’t that important and can sometimes be a blessing. Going with friends can make for a more drama free and laid back night. So, if a guy doesn’t ask you to one dance, don’t sweat it; you have so many more chances to have a date.

Sadie Hawkins may be different, but Winter Sports is a JCHS tradition and puts less stress on the girls.

www.jcredblack.com 02.14.17//OPINION

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The early bird gets the parking spot Kelsie Backues

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veryone knows about the parking situation— there are just not enough spaces for the thousands of students at Jefferson City High School. The wait list is a mile long and those who do have a parking spot often do not bother showing up.

The problem is, the system is complicated and long and no matter how much they try to make it fair, it isn’t. You have to be one of the first people to show up on the very first day of registration to be guaranteed a parking spot, and even then, you don’t get to choose where it is.

Junior Aubrie Cardon is involved in choir at JCHS and often has to stay after school.

“It would be safer if students could park next to their friends,” Cardon said.

“When coming home from a school activity, it can be scary walking to your car alone in the dark when your friends are all parked on the other side of school.”

If you don’t have a parking spot, which most students don’t, you have to park on Union St. or elsewhere, which means walking in freezing weather during the winter months or blazing heat towards the spring and summer months. Not only that, but you have to get there before or at 7:15 a.m. if you want to park on Union. For some students that live farther away, this means getting up way earlier than normal. At JCHS,

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the early bird gets the parking spot.

Sophomore Lily McCutchen was on the waitlist since the beginning of the school year.

“I live somewhat far away and some days I pick my friend up, so those days I would have to get up even earlier,” McCutchen said. “It sucks because I have to plan ahead

and if I end up oversleeping, I have to rush to school to get a parking spot. Even then I have to drive to the very end of Union to get a spot.”

Not to mention the price of a parking pass is a whopping $40. For families with more than one child, that is a cost upwards of $80 or

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more. In addition to this, if you get a parking spot this year, you don’t get to keep it. You have to pay another $40 for every year you plan to drive a car to school and would like a parking spot.

“I feel like some students get [robbed] because they pay $40 and get a bad spot,” Cardon said. “They should be able to choose a spot that works well for them, or at least be able to refuse a spot that doesn’t.”

If you are a sophomore, junior or even senior that was put on the waiting list, there is hope for you. The parking spots that belonged to seniors who graduated early are now up for grabs.

But you can’t just go to the office and say you want one; they have to come to you, as they go in order of the waiting list. McCutchen was one of the lucky students on the waitlist to get a spot.

“I have an actual parking spot now, which is nice,” McCutchen said.

“It’s one less thing I have to worry about in the mornings.”

As the school year is coming to a close, you might be frustrated and losing all hope of ever receiving a parking spot, and trust me, I hear you. My best advice to give you is to plan ahead next year and make sure you are in line waiting for the doors to open on registration day. This might seem somewhat extra, but I say do what you can to get an allbeloved parking spot.

The pros and cons of working as a student Gillian Burks

A debated topic, especially within schools, is whether or not students should hold jobs during their high school years. It is unfair to say that no student should have a job. Some families hit rough patches, so sometimes the kids are doing everything they can to help. There is nothing wrong with trying to help and be a productive member of your family. Some students don’t need to financially help their families, but still pile on a job on top of school and extracurriculars.

Jobs provide many life skills that are otherwise not learned throughout their high school years. An excessive amount of activities can be stressful to some, but it provides practice of time management and prepares students for future busy lives.

Workplace etiquette and basic knowledge of the workplace also prepares students for later careers and allows them to ready themselves as best they can for that jump into adulthood. As another benefit, having a job allows students to begin saving for college living or just saving for the future in general.

Even though work may seem like a great time eater for high school students, just like sweets and coffee there must be moderation.

According to an article from Concordia University, students who work more than 15 to 20 hours a week see a decrease in academic performance. As a student, it is our job to keep good grades, and so having another job can be deterring from what should be our number one priority.

15 year olds are barred by federal rules from working more than 18 hours a week and more than three hours on school days,

but 16 year olds may work unlimited hours as long as the job is not considered hazardous. This puts a lot of weight on 16-18 year olds to be able to manage time for school as well as work.

Parental figures should also make sure to check that their job is not expecting late or excessive hours. Managing the time spent at work will be the best way to allow yourself the needed time for school work so you can maintain your grades.

Stress is another factor when it comes to an overbearing lifestyle for teens. Having extracurriculars, school work and a job puts a lot of pressure on a teen and creates an anxiety ridden life.

Teachers at Jefferson City High School have a first-hand view of how work affects students. They speak to us, grade our work and see the way we act. If anyone would be able to describe the impact of having a job on top of school on the majority of students it would be one of them. David Gale, a history teacher at JCHS, sees hardworking students everyday in both his regular and AP classes.

“I’m worried that a lot of kids are burning the candle at both ends,” Gale said.

I think that the issue over high school students and work does not have one clear answer. Some students can handle time management and some cannot. Some do not even have a choice in the matter. A first job can be a stressful addition to an already busy lifestyle, so, with a deep concern, I advise those who are unable to manage their time to steer away from working during their high school years.

How young is too young for true love?

Matt LeCure

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ow is the perfect time to show your significant other that you love them - if you have a significant other. Romance is a major part of our society and it has been evolving more than ever. People of all races, genders and religions are not afraid to love who they want. I see no problem with that, but when my 12-year-old brother asks me how to ask a girl out, I start to get worried.

Some people adore young love. Other people, such as junior Monica Lewis, are happy with their younger siblings being single.

“She’s only 10,” Lewis said, referring to her younger sister.

“I’m glad that she’s not in one yet only because she’s too young for boys.”

A big issue with this is that children are not as mentally stable as us. If they do not get what they want, they throw fits.

Whether it is envy or greed, children are not known to take certain things lightly. There are some children who are calm and humble, but that will not protect them from social problems.

Since children cannot drive or pay for food, dates can be pretty limited. This is a minor problem because you can still be in a relationship without being able to drive, but that might cause trouble if the amount of time the couple has together is limited.

Drama is also a worrisome subject. Not all relationships last forever. A breakup can be unexpected and heartbreaking and some breakups happen because of the strangest things, such as befriending an ex. This can lead to some serious depression, and I do not think children should have to go through that. As rude and selfish as some children are, they should not have to experience those feelings so soon.

So what is a good time to start dating? I assume it would be the time where children learn how to be less selfish and more respectful. Sophomore Kayla Ritchey thinks this time would be at age 15.

“They are in high school,” Ritchey said. “And high school kids should be able to start dating.”

High school is a good place to start a relationship because you then have enough responsibility to handle a healthy relationship. As children, your dates are just playdates. Parents are pushed into the relationship, as the children are too young to be alone. In high school, people are less dependent on their parents.

With all that said, romance can be filled with surprises.

Children should not experience those yet, but they will when they are ready.

www.jcredblack.com 02.14.17//OPINION

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Arts &Entertainment

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

Culinary arts program participates in big competition Maddy Bergstrom

On Jan. 17, the baking program tried out for Baking and Pastry Skills USA. They had one hour to make both a dozen cookies and a dozen blueberry muffins. The event took place at 3:15 p.m. in Nichols Career Center room 172.

Above: Culinary Arts students spend the first part of the competition in “Mise en place,� which is making sure you have all your ingredients together before you begin cooking.

Above: Jacob Scrivner (junior) gets all his equipment together before he gathers his ingredients for the competition.

Above: Samantha Gierer (junior) and the other bakery students prepare for their tryouts to make it on the Baking Skills USA team that will compete in the following months.

Right: Bethany Farris (senior) & Sophie Marreel (junior) measure out their ingredients using a scale to make sure their recipe turns out perfect.

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02.14.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Madi Baughman

Not only does The Snob Shop have low prices on retail­brand clothes, but you can sell your gently­used clothing there!

www.jcredblack.com 02.14.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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REVIEWS

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.

Sidney Johnson

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hen I first heard about Big Sean dropping another album, I knew he wouldn’t disappoint.

During the intro song, I could feel chills shoot down my spine and butterflies in my stomach. From that point on, I knew it was going to be another amazing album. Big Sean released his album called “I Decided” on Feb. 3. In the songs, Big Sean is talking about how he has grown through his experiences and what he did to become successful. He talks about the struggles of temptation and relationships that never had closure. One thing very

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Makenzie Baldwin & Brooklynne Propes

f you cried at Marley and Me, then this movie may be a bit of an emotional experience. However, once you get past the emotional rollercoaster of having to watch a dog die - not once, but several times - the movie winds up being pretty heartwarming. The story follows a dog named Bailey who lives with his owner, Ethan. As their lives unfold, it shows Ethan growing up with his beloved dog and all of their adventures together.

After a long life of being a loyal best friend to Ethan, Bailey grows too old to

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go on and must be put down at the vet, which definitely made us cry like babies in the middle of a crowded theater.

Once Bailey passes, everything changes and he is reincarnated as a different dog with a different purpose. The story continues on this loop where the dog lives a bunch of different lives and finds new purpose in each one, whether it is to save lives as a K-9, or help his owner find true love. Overall, the concept is pretty touching and emotional, but the story does have plenty of humorous and uplifting moments as well.

Madi Baughman

’d been waiting so eagerly to see Hidden Figures that I drove out during the supposed ice storm weekend to go see it - and let me be the first to tell you that it was totally worth it. I went into the theater with high expectations, and the movie far exceeded anything I could have expected. The plot of the movie follows three African-American women working at NASA in the 1960s, a time when a whole world of odds were stacked against them. When Russia

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unique about Big Sean’s music is his ability to rap to a slow tempo. He also incorporates the feel of a gospel church choir, which, I think, adds a little bit of flavor. In some songs, such as “Inspires Me” and “Same Time Pt. 1,” Big Sean showcases his soulful voice, but for the most part he sticks to inspirational rap in songs like “Sunday Morning Jetpack,” “Voices in my Head,” and “Owe Me.” Overall, “I Decided” was thoroughly impressive vocally and lyrically. You can find the album on Spotify, Itunes, and Spinrilla. This album isn’t one you want to pass up.

pulled ahead in the space race, NASA was in trouble, and the only way to make it possible for a man to orbit the Earth was by tapping into these three incredible minds. These women, along with many other female colleagues, were able to make shooting for the stars a reality. Hidden Figures kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire time I was in the theater. The movie is a gripping, intriguing, and overall amazing depiction of a true story that is almost always overlooked.

Check out our web exclusive reviews of Train’s new album and the New Celebrity Apprentice! Go to www.jcredblack.com.

02.14.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

I got you a Valentine’s Day gift!

The Princess Bride

This thrilling romantic comedy combines the classic princess and knight story with the action of pirates, beasts and assassins. If you’re looking for a movie that keeps your significant other holding you close in anticipation, this is the show for you. Grab some popcorn, a sword, and some vengeance for your father and get ready for the action and joke-packed cornucopia of entertainment (Also, the title is the same upside-down.)

You shouldn’t have!

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

I got you something too!

The early bird gets the worm!

Aww... you shouldn’t have...

www.jcredblack.com 02.14.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Have a suggestion for next month’s comic? Tweet us @jcredblack or stop by room 141 to submit your idea!

50 First Dates

This romantic comedy is about Henry (Adam Sandler), a sailor and marine biologist unwittingly attempting to win over Lucy (Drew Barrymore), who suffers from short-term memory loss. A challenge is faced when Henry and Lucy try to have a steady relationship when they both know she won’t remember him the next day. This film is a light-hearted take on an often serious topic, and gives a new definition to ‘timeless love’.

Devan Palmero

This movie is based around a magazine writer (Kate Hudson) conducting an elaborate experiment in which she gets a less-than-ideal guy (Matthew McConaughey) to like her. She then goes to extreme (and hilarious) measures to get him to break up with her. On the flip side, McConaughey’s motivation is to stay with her because of a bet he placed. This movie is good for a laid-back date with your significant other.

R ead all over No. 05

Valentine’s Day movie ideas Devan Palmero

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