February2018 printissue

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Low budget date night ideas for your significant other.

p. 20

Red & Black Newspaper 02.15.18 • Volume 87 • Issue 4 Jefferson City High School Jefferson City, MO

JCHS spreads the love around JCHS staff and students write little notes to their valentines p. 12-13

CONTENTS 02.15.18 NEWS

The truth about net neutrality The weather debacle & how JC is affected Nichols Career Center & the skills gap

4 4 5 6 7

Lunch staff makes a difference Another Coffee with Larry review

7

11th annual Ice Bowl

FEATURES

8

Pride, History and Legacy: Black History Month

8

The A+ Program

9

Featured artist: Bri Nelson

10

A new kind of gaming comes to JCHS

10

Get those New Year’s resolutions to stick

11

Featured Faculty: Kenny Thomas

SPOTLIGHT 12-13

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SPORTS

14

How student athletes prepare before a game

15

Basketball, Wrestling gear up for districts

16

Preview of JCHS spring sports

OPINION

17 17

We say no taxation without representation Are courts a popularity contest?

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Editorial: the sexualization of teenage girls is gross

19

H2H: Are tardy sweeps good or bad?

Suggestions?

Email us at RedBlack.JCHS@gmail.com, call us at 573-659-3310, or come stop by room J141.

We’d love to hear your ideas or even publish your work.

We accept freelance writers, photographers, and cartoon artists. Come be a part of your student newspaper.

A&E

20 21

Date night ideas on a budget Billboard vs JCHS

21

How to dress properly for class presentations

22

Reviews: Forever My Girl, Here Today, Hello Neighbor

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What is your idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day date?

JC spreads the love

02.15.18//CONTENTS

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT

We’d like to graciously thank all the couples that volunteered to be a part of the spotlight and cover of this issue.

Your contributions helped this issue come together and we’re happy to include our audience.

Dear Diary,

- Gillian Burks

FROM THE EDITOR

The month of love is upon us and it is in every hallway, classroom, doorway, staircase…

It’s just everywhere. I think this one boy is just the cutest. He’s got that adorable smile, teddy bear hugs, and the cutest nose.

The best part is his hair. Ode to the gingers of the world. With flaming hair and unyielding freckles, you give me literal strength. Oh, how I hope to be his Valentine. Well, with how long we’ve been together, I’d be pretty mad if he made someone else his Valentine. Jarek, if you’re reading this, you better be getting me the best gift ever for Valentine’s day.

Anyhow, what’s up guys? We haven’t talked in forever. Are these really talks? Do you ever think about how you have a little voice in your head reading for you, and when I TALK LIKE THIS, the voice gets louder. But, it’s just a voice in your head, so how does it do that? Crazy.

Let’s take it back to the cool stuff. It’s February, and we have another issue of the Red & Black for you. It’s great, just a jolly ol’ time. There’s some stuff about weather, cutesy love stuff, and some opinions about sex.

Oh? Caught your attention for a second? Ha ha, gotcha.

No, but really, the editorial this issue voices an opinion on the

sexualization of teenage girls.

Which just grinds my gears, in case anyone was wondering.

Stop sexualizing youth and remind yourself that that is gross.

I got a little off topic, whoops.

February, whoot, it’s a new year.

I have less than a semester left of high school. That’s a spooky idea. I think I’ve got college figured out, but honestly I have no idea what I’m doing with my life. Double spooky.

I never know what to talk about in these things. I’ve mentioned the paper, mentioned my personal life, and now I’m out of ideas. What about that weather? It’s been crazy. I’d just like to state that I greatly appreciate every late start we’ve had. The extra two hours are a blessing. I don’t have any need for FAST with all the free time in the morning to get my homework done. Plus, I don’t fall asleep in any of my classes with the extra sleep. Please, give me more of these.

Well, I guess I’ll wrap things up. Thank you all for reading not only my letter, but also the rest of the paper. I can’t stress enough how much it means to me that you all take the time out of your day to open this and read it. Thank you so much.

&

February 15, 2018 Volume 87, Issue 4 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: Gillian Burks Sidney Johnson Matt LeCure Salem Sanfilippo Solindas Staff Reporters: Yessnia AustinDixon Madison Behrens McCayla Hartman Kayla Hensley Emalee Murdock Tyanna Robinson Adviser: Kathleen M. Turner Jefferson City High School 609 Union Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 659-3050 redblack.jchs@gmail.com

@redblackjc www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//NEWS

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NEWS Net neutrality: the fight for freedom

Matt LeCure

E

ver since the end of last year, people have been losing their minds over the thought of losing net neutrality. But like everything on the internet, the facts tend to be a little scrambled.

Net neutrality is the idea of equal access to every site on the internet, regardless of the content available on said website. This means that the internet provider has no say in what someone can or cannot do on the web. It is the idea of a free internet. With the fact that this generation uses the internet on a daily basis, net neutrality plays a big role in the modern lifestyle.

Over the past few years, net neutrality was not much of a controversial subject until the Federal Communications Commission set out to repeal it.

This news infuriated people all across America, since the internet is such a massive aspect of life. Despite the shouts and pleas, the Federal Communications Commision voted to repeal net neutrality on December 14, 2017.

While net neutrality gives freedom to the consumers, the lack of net neutrality gives more power to the internet providers. That way, if someone wants to watch a video the internet provider isn’t fond of, the provider has the ability to decrease the resolution of the video, slow down the loading, increase the price to view the video or block it entirely. This isn’t limited to videos, as

certain websites can also be affected. This might impact websites that cater to the political party that the internet provider doesn’t side with, if the provider has a strong bias.

While most websites don’t do this, there are some who have a party they side with. Before, this wasn’t an issue.

However, the repeal of net neutrality limits what one can do on the internet if the provider says so.

As expected, many people are upset. With how much of a huge impact the internet has had on modern society, America has come to grow quite fond of the easy access of knowledge. The internet has given more people the opportunity to connect with each other across the world.

Many Americans see the repeal of net neutrality as a threat to their way of life. As the human race moves toward the future, the online world keeps getting bigger.

The shift in power the repeal strives for will not directly cancel this out, but it will provide a more controlled environment. This environment can be seen as either good or bad by different sides, which is common in business.

Over the years, many different Americans have been fighting for different things. Some of those things are still being fought for. Net neutrality is a simple addition to the mountain of controversies in America. It’s a battle in which the end result has yet to reveal itself. Different people have different ideas and opinions, and those thoughts clash.

The outcome of the fight for the internet might go on for decades, as both sides of the coin are strong.

What’s happening with the weather?

W

ith the amount of poor weather Jefferson City has encountered recently, the Jefferson City Public School administrative team has already had their fair share of decision making. In the last month alone, two half days and one snow day were both administered to JCPS staff and students as safety precautions due to the weather.

With such an increase in school cancellations, interest in how or if these cancellations will affect the calendar at the end of the year has become a more frequent discussion.

The phrase that is commonly used when talking about snow days is “snow days are built into the schedule.” After speaking with new JCPS Assistant Superintendent Gary Verslues, he explained how this phrase may be interpreted to some people.

“I think this phrase means two different things to people. People think we have snow days that are built into the calendar meaning those are days we don’t have to make up”, said Verslues, “We are a district that identifies five days in the order in which we’ll make snow days up.”

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02.15.18//NEWS

Sidney Johnson

With each snow day that is administered, JCPS staff and students will be making the day up by attending the built in snow days at the end of the school year. The last day of the 2017-2018 school year will now be May 17th.

On the other hand, early releases and late starts work differently. The JCPS district counts these as days that don’t have to be made up.

These days are very convenient, say the weather was getting bad one afternoon and we could decide to administer an early out and not worry about making it up,” said Verslues,“Three hours counts as a full school day.”

Another matter administration has to take into consideration is how the senior class at Jefferson City High School will be affected. The seniors’ last day has consistently been the Wednesday prior to graduation. This matter does not affect the entire district, so this is a decision that is finalized only by JCHS administration.

Principal Bob James explains the current plans for this year senior class.

“The snow day make-up affects the last of school for seniors but will not have an impact on the graduation date,” said Mr. James.

Nichols Career Center fights the skills gap Gillian Burks

T

he skills gap we face is characterized by a lack of trained workers to file into the empty spots in technical positions throughout our community. Almost anyone can go get a job at a grocery store or as a secretary because those jobs include on-site training. However, professions such as welding or auto body repair usually require prerequisite training.

The Nichols Career Center is working to relieve the skills gap by sending trained men and women out into the workforce right after high school.

Many staff members at the NCC are passionate about helping students become certified in their programs so that they may enter the workforce right out of high school. Travis Plume is a counselor at NCC and vows for the effectiveness of the programs. He states that in 2016 the NCC had a 98 percent placement rate in its graduating students.

“Baby boomers are retiring and there’s no one to replace them,” Plume said, “There’s a constant flow of demand.”

Stacy Buschman works as a Vocational Resource Educator for the NCC and is working on a dissertation about the skills gap. She not only understands the impact of the skills gap on the community, but also knows how NCC is helping to fix that.

problem.

“We’re actually preparing our students, we give them an Industry Ready Credential through our programs,” Buschman said. This allows the students to have the skills needed to enter into jobs that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

NCC offers a variety of programs to meet needs for many desirable industries, and even offers other ways to benefit the students and community.

Competitions also allow the students to show off their skills to employers and possibly further technical schools. The auto repair programs work in part with Working Wheels for Working Families to help contribute the students’ hard work back into the community.

[Photo by Gillian Burks]

[Photo by Gillian Burks]

Victoria Williams, a student from California High School, cooks up a storm.

[Photo by Gillian Burks]

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//NEWS

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Jefferson City High School Lunch Staff proudly wins the Difference Makers Award Yessnia Austin-Dixon

R

[Photo by Yessnia Austin-Dixon]

The Jefferson City High School cafeteria staff proudly poses in the kitchen, where they work hard every day.

The cafeteria staff attending the Board of Education meeting where the Difference Makers Award was given to them.

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02.15.18//NEWS

ecently, Jefferson City High School's cafeteria staff received a Difference Makers award on Dec. 11, 2017 at a Board of Education meeting. The cafeteria staff earned the award for the amount of time and energy they put in to their job every day, going above and beyond as they strive to provide a meal for each person on the high school campus.

Currently, there are 19 food service employees. During the school day, these 19 men and women work 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sometimes, they even work over-time to cater to different events, wrestling fund raisers or teacher/staff meetings for example.

Dana Doerhoff, the Director of Food Service, recognized the JCHS Cafeteria staff for the award with great confidence.

"They do a fantastic job," Doerhoff siad. "They work as a team; they help each other when needed, [and] this is important in a kitchen where they serve as many meals each day as they do."

As the Cafeteria staff received this award, all of the members felt a vivid sense of accomplishment and pride.

Janie Bratcher, the cafeteria staff manager, says they won the award, “For going above and beyond our duties because we do extra stuff and a lot of us stay late at night for catering [events] for football banquets and stuff like that.�

The JCHS Cafeteria staff has truly out done themselves by continuously providing the students and staff of Jefferson City High School with plenty of nutrients to get them through the day, as well as taking time to do extra things for the school. It is a duty that may seem simple and could be taken for granted, but what these 19 heroes do is a big part of life at Jefferson City High School.

Coffee with Larry: the sequel

A

nother Coffee with Larry has come and gone,and the Red & Black is here to give the Jefferson City High School body a recap of what they missed.

This meeting’s topic was Boundary Line discussion. With the location for the new high school set, boundary lines and completing designs is next on the to-do list. The new high school’s designs are to be completed around mid-February, and the construction on the currently existing high school is scheduled to begin April 16.

Larry Linthacum, the Jefferson City Public Schools’ superintendent, spoke about the different boundary line plans being discussed. The main goal in finding a boundary line for the new school is to maintain an equal poverty rate between the new and old high school. A committee was formed with representatives of the different middle schools that would be affected by a new high school, and this committee discussed propositions for the new boundary line.

All of these propositions can be viewed online on the JCPS website, the page is listed in the quick links.

Gillian Burks Ultimately, the decision will be decided by the school board, but Linthacum wanted it be clear that they are trying to involve the community and work towards a common goal of keeping equal poverty rates.

“We need to give students the same opportunities,” said Linthacum.

The next of these public meetings will take place the first Friday of March, in the Miller Performing Arts Center, from 7a.m. to 8a.m.

Jefferson City Ice Bowl's 11th fling Jefferson City 11th Annual Ice Bowl was on Saturday, February 3rd at Binder Park. The cost to enter in the tournament it was $15 a person, along with some form of donation to the Jefferson City Samaritan Center. This year there was a total of 93 players who showed up to play one round of disc golf on an 18-hole course.

[Photo by Sidney Johnson]

Disc golfers warming up before the first round begins.

[Photo by Sidney Johnson]

Teammates joking around before introducing themselves to the opposing team.

Sidney Johnson

[Photo by Sidney Johnson]

Trying to prepare for the tournament while fighting the blistering cold.

[Photo by Sidney Johnson]

Hole one golfers try dodging the trees while aiming for their basket.

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//NEWS

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Features

PRIDE, HISTORY, AND LEGACY

Yessnia Austin-Dixon

B

lack History Month is a celebration of the achievements

by African Americans and people of African descent in American history.

The celebration began half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States, in 1915. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard trained historian, and Jesse E. Moorland, a prominent minister, established Black History Month.

It was first named National Negro History Week, and thousands of African Americans across the country came to see exhibits that highlighted the hard work their people had made since the abolition of slavery.

The reason why Black History Month is in February is because Carter G. Woodson had reason for traditions and reform. February includes the birthdays of two Americans that played a prominent role in forming African American history: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. After Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, many Republicans and black communities celebrated Lincoln’s birthday. Also,

black communities started celebrating Frederick Douglass’ birthday in the late 1890s.

Everyone has different views on the true meaning of why Black History month is important.

For example, football Coach Lerone Briggs says, “It gives everybody an opportunity to recognize that African Americans are more than just rappers and athletes. I think, just off the top of my head, it would be a way to show African Americans that their history is important too.”

Black History Month is about creating a certain understanding or connection to a specific part of African American history. Since there is so much black history, one month can not cover it all.

Coach Briggs thinks,“It makes me excited that it is an opportunity for black people to be recognized for more than just criminal activity, but at the same time to cover it all.” The point is that history happens every day, and because there is so much black history, it doesn’t make any since for it to be

just one month.

Every part of it is important enough for people to learn about it.

Jordan Chapman, a history teacher, agrees by saying, “It’s something that we need to make sure that we’re teaching. It’s something that we need to make sure we reflect upon and talk about and don’t forget about.”

Black History Month was created on the traditions of celebrating people that have made an impact on African American history. For other people, Black History Month was created for other things.

Chapman, says, “ I think it was created for us to look back on a big part of the history of our country.”

Many people lose the true meaning of why Black History Month was created and they fail to realize that it isn’t about knowing the facts and the dates of famous African Americans, it’s about the statement African Americans make when they’re creating history and how it affects other people.

what is required to qualify for a scholarship. First, the student must be a U.S. citizen. The student then has to sign a written agreement with the High School prior to graduation, and attend the A+ High School for three or more years. Students must also graduate with a 2.5 grade point average or higher, and must have a 95% attendance record. Fifty hours of unpaid tutoring are also required, and the program provides students with the opportunity to become an A+ tutor in their favorite subject. Maintaining a record of good citizenship, and avoiding unlawful use of drugs and alcohol is another factor of qualification. Lastly,

the student must achieve a score of proficient or above on the Algebra 1 EOC. It may seem as if the program requires a lot, but over the span of three years the qualifications are easy to knock out. The program offers a wonderful opportunity for students to get a head start on their community college education. The requirements also give students the qualifications that are required for the workforce after High School. Over all, the A+ program is something that provides students with needed experience, and creates a pathway with many different opportunities to choose from.

What is the A+ Program and what does it mean?

Kayla Hensley

T

he words “A+ program” are often heard around the school, and the importance of the program is emphasized by teachers, but what is it? The A+ program was established in 1993 and is a part of the Missouri Outstanding Schools Act. The program provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated schools.

This means that any student who participates in the A+ program will receive a scholarship to surrounding schools and community colleges in the Missouri area.

There are many aspects of eligibility that come along with this program.

If students are interested, here’s

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02.15.18//FEATURES

Shining the light on a hidden artist in JCHS Bri Nelson Kayla Hensley

J

efferson City High School is full of talented artists. Many expand their talents through all departments.

This month the Red and Black would like to feature an exceptional artist at JCHS. Bri Nelson is a talented artist who has expressed herself through her work.

The inspiration for Bri’s art “comes from anything” she said, “sometimes I just feel like drawing and find a picture of someone, and other times I put my emotions on the paper. There is usually no in between.”

Bri generally prefers to sketch people because the concept that no two people are the same fascinates her. Bri also enjoys drawing on people. She does a lot of zentangles when she has strong feelings and wants to take them out on something.

When Bri draws, her emotions usually come into play “I usually lean towards triangles when I’m upset and circles when I’m happy.” said Nelson.

She uses the shapes to represent her feelings.

Many JCHS students can learn from Bri and her amazing art. “I really just want to leave an impact on someone, even if it is just one person. I judge my own art constantly, but I don’t create it completely for myself. To me, art can be anything that makes you feel something without physically touching you.

Whether it be a painting, a song, or even a person,” said Nelson.

See more @jakkthecat

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//FEATURES

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A whole new kind of gaming comes to JCHS A Tyanna Robinson

new club, called E-Sports, has been introduced to JCHS. E-Sports is dedicated to providing a fun and safe environment to learn and participate in computer gaming, along with learning teamwork and interpersonal skills.

The club has formed a team that will compete against other high schools in tournaments and provide students with scholarship opportunities through local colleges.

The E-Sports adviser is Ms. Leah Johnson, a teacher at JCHS who teaches Accounting and Intro to Business.

“E-sports is a video gaming club.

We compete against other schools, and it’s a nine week season. We’re playing against three schools at the

end of February and play our finial johnson@jcschools.us or just show up tournament in May” says Johnson, “We after school on Mondays or Wednesday currently have 45 members and meet in room 108.

Mondays and Wednesdays after school to practice.”

Atul Krishnadas, sophomore member of E-Sports,enjoys the competitive nature of E-Sports.

“E-sports means competition, it’s basically a competitive gaming club.

Last meeting we had a scrimmage, five people on one team and five on the other, and we competed against each other. Right now we’re trying to get a varsity and junior varsity team set up.

My favorite thing about E-sports is the cool opportunity to do something you [Photo by Leah Johnson] always thought about doing, and that cool thing is competitive gaming.”

E-Sports members plan and practice If students want to join, please strategies and skills-based tactics at contact the adviser of the club leah. their weekly practice.

Get those New Year’s resolutions to stick McCayla Hartman

W

ith the year starting everyone always makes a New Year’s resolution or something that they would like to do better in the new year. For a lot of people, they usually make the same resolutions that they made the year before. If you want to be successful in keeping your resolution, then you need to be committed to it and make sure that you’re going to follow through. You want to make sure

“My New Year’s resolution is to workout daily and eat healthier,” - Emily Rush

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that you start with something small that will be easy to do. For example, if your resolution is to lose weight, your first goal might be to start working out every Tuesday and Thursday. Once you start following through with that, then it will most likely be easy to change bad eating habits. If you have one goal at a time, it will be easier to start living the life you want or be the person you want to be. You also want to make sure that

you’re talking to someone, like a friend or family member, who can relate to your experiences, that way you are able to share your success. If you set a goal for a certain day, and you aren’t where you want to be by then, don’t get mad at yourself and give up, keep going. Yes, New Year’s resolutions can be hard, but if you follow through with them, the reward can be so much better than you ever thought.

“I want to eat better and work out more before I go to the Navy,” - Ryan Thordson

“My New Year’s resolution is to stop procrastinating on my homework,” - Greta Haarmann

02.15.18//FEATURES

Featured Staff Member: Kenny Thomas Gillian Burks

K

enny Thomas is the welding instructor at NCC, the same program he graduated from years ago. He was born in Stratford, New Jersey, then he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and from there he moved with his family to a small town in West Plains. It wasn’t until his dad was offered a job that he and his family took up new roots in Jefferson City. He took welding as a Jefferson City High School student, and from there he went to sheet metal school where he worked for years as part of the union.

It wasn’t long before Thomas moved on start his own welding business, which he proudly owned for about ten years, until he got a call from his old welding teacher at the JCHS. Just a short time after returning to Jefferson City, his old welding teacher gave him a call and offered him a job as a substitute teacher. This sparked interest in teaching, and even as he moved away from substituting and back into his welding business, he still continued to miss teaching. So when the opportunity arose for him to take the position as the nighttime instructor, he took it and worked as a nighttime instructor for seven years. Eventually, his welding teacher called him up and offered him the fulltime position as the NCC welding instructor. He applied and got it, and now he has been working as the NCC welding instructor for 11 years. His newfound love of teaching spread out to not only NCC, but many other facilities as well.

“I’ve also taught welding in other facilities, like for the union trades. I’ve taught welding for the electric union, the carpenters, the bricklayers believe it or not, and I also taught here at night for the

factory and maintenance people,” Thomas said.

Teaching so many people for so many years has never been a burden to Thomas. Building relationships with his students is one of his favorite aspects of the job.

The sort of relationships he builds with his students last far out of high school.

“I have a lot of students that after they graduate, they send me pictures of their first kids. I get invited to their weddings. A lot of them come over and visit with me and still give me a lot of phone calls,” Thomas said.

He treats his students like family, but he also has a family apart from teaching. Life has brought him a wife whom he has been married to for 33 years and three children. His son is following in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a welding career. Along with his wife and kids, there is also a furry member of the family named Suzie. Thomas enjoys spending much of his time outdoors with his family.

“My wife and I love camping.

We love to do things outside. I love to barbeque, she does the inside cooking and I do the outside cooking,” Thomas said.

Thomas is very passionate about the things that matter most to him. He is always trying to lead his students in the right direction. As a teacher and mentor, he makes sure to stress what he thinks is important for the students to understand not only in welding, but in life.

“I always use the word you.

‘You’ are responsible for your future. ‘You’ are responsible for your own actions. ‘You’ are responsible for getting to school and work on time. I use that very heavily in here,” Thomas said.

Fun Fact:

“I like to joke around a lot.

I like to make people feel good about themselves, show them that people care.”

Do you have a staff member you think more people should know about? Contact us with your suggestion and we may do a bio on them!

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//FEATURES

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Love is spread from here

Notes from your peers and teachers

To my sweetheart,

Three years ago you were just a stranger to whom I did a doubletake; two years ago you became an acquaintance I didn’t really know; one year ago you became a friend -- then a best friend. I think some of the best things in life happen unexpectedly, so swiftly you hardly even notice. I bet you that you couldn’t eat two whole boxes of Mott’s fruit snacks in three days; I had bet you that you couldn’t beat me in Wii Sports Bowling. I had bet that I wouldn’t end up dating my best friend. I lost everyone of those bets. But now I think, “Who better to lose to than someone as confident, as intelligent, as humorous, and as supportive as you?” Someone whose chocolate-colored eyes, cheesy charm, cute compliments, and trust in me cause me to fall for him over and over. You’re the blue lantern to my green lantern, the Prince Phillip to my Sleeping Beauty, the ninja to my turtle; but above all, I’m glad you’re mine, Malcomn Debroeck.

Your Angel-eyes, Christa Kiesling I love Brady bunches and oats,

I love you more than Dragon Kitchen and chicken nuggets. I love you more than all the bands, and I love you more than coffee. I love you more than all our CDs and vinyls. I love you more than short cats and room temp pizza. I love you more than comics, movies, and dramas.

Dear Husband Greg,

When you first started working at JCHS last January, I’m not gonna lie, I thought it was a little weird. Even now, seeing you around the school from time to time often catches me off guard; however, I am infinitely glad that you made the choice to change careers and become a teacher. I am continually inspired by your patience and dedication to the students you work with. You are a wonderful husband, father, teacher, and ultimately my best friend. Never forget that I love you!

XOXO, Abigail

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02.15.18//SPOTLIGHT

to every corner in JCHS Special notes from R&B staff Dear Mr. Ledgerwood, I admired you when you threw that first bowling ball on the faculty league in 2002. And then I am oh so grateful that you insisted you knew me at that Christmas party just 13 years later and that you stayed and talked to me by the fireplace for hours, laughing at my stories of life in Mississippi and since.

And later for our first date where we never could stop talking, and I never want to stop talking and telling you everything and hearing everything you have to say. I’m grateful for every moment since that we have spent together. It’s always worth it. My love for you grows with each day and I look forward to the moments and years spread out before us. So with all my love, I ask, will you be my Valentine?

Love, Dr. Turner

Dear Josh,

Four years of dating each other and you still surprise me everyday. We are the definition of high school sweethearts, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You and I have consistently grown together, never losing touch. The only thing left to say is that I love you so much.

Happy Valentine’s Day, baby.

P.S. Sorry for the rhyming, I couldn’t help myself. Love, Ariana.

Dear Jarek,

I’m not sure if you fully comprehend how happy you make me. How happy it makes me to see your face in the morning, or to get that text right after you get off work. Back in freshman year, when I was supposed to be tutoring you in math, I had no idea that this was where we were headed, but I wouldn’t have asked for anything different. I thank you for all the time we’ve had together, and I can continue to thank you for much more to come, Much love, Gillian Burks Dear Alexzander,

When you first asked me out (over Facebook one hour before April Fools), I didn’t think we’d make it a week. Our first date at the skating rink I fell, like, face-flat in the middle of the floor. I was convinced you were way out of my league. But look at us... we’ll be three years on April 3rd, and I couldn’t be happier! You’re the light of my life, and even though I’m still pretty sure you’re too good for me, I can’t wait to spend the rest of my days with you.

P.S. Get a haircut, nerd! You look like a hippie!

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//SPOTLIGHT

13

SPORTS

How student athletes prepare before a game Yessnia Austin-Dixon

Corey Suttle

F

or every athlete there is a different way you have to prepare before a game.

Getting your mind right and staying focused are the key factors to playing successfully.

For some athletes like junior Corey Suttle, preparing for a game or tournament is really simple. Suttle is involved in track and football.

Suttle said, “I stay focused and listen to music because it gets me pumped.” On the other hand, others find it more challenging to be mentally prepared.

Multiple student athletes use certain strategies to help them get mentally prepared for a game. Amaya Bell is a Junior and she is first base and outfield for the Lady Jays Softball team.

Before a game, Bell tells herself, “Amaya, it’s game time. You just need to get ready and focused.” Bell believes that the way you prepare affects the way you play because it can be hard to play at your best when you make a mistake and something in your mind is telling you otherwise.

“It affects the way I play because if I mess up one time then I get in my head, but then I’m like ‘Amaya you still have a few innings to go. You can

14

Amaya Bell always get better,’” Bell said.

Depending on the way you prepare can not only affect you, but it can also affect your teammates.

Elijah Jackson is a senior football player and this is his first year being involved in wrestling. Jackson said, “Wrestling is a little different than football because in football you’ve got a whole team to rely on and you have to try your best to lead them. In wrestling, it’s more about me just knowing that I’ve worked hard, and I’ve been coached the right way.” Some teams have their own way of preparing before a game. Senior Corrin Lepper is a part of Varsity Volleyball team. Lepper feels teamwork can help with the chemistry between her teammates.

“Before every home game we do this thing called locker buddies. It’s kind of like a secret santa kind of thing but we do it through the whole season. And you get your partner a gift before the game,”

02.15.18//SPORTS

Elijah Jackson said Lepper, “You try to keep your locker buddy a secret until the end of the banquet.”

Lepper feels that this activity is a good way to help the team get pumped before a game and help the team get to know each other. If a team doesn’t have good chemistry, then they can’t play the game successfully.

In order for athletes to play their sport effectively, being in the right mindset and being around their teammates can really improve the way athletes prepare before a game.

Basketball, Wrestling gear up for districts Emalee Murdock

T

he boy’s varsity basketball team started the season strong, winning 6 games in a row before facing 7 losses. They came back from these losses with a win against Union 58-28 another against the Kewpies 66-53.

Sophomore small forward/shooting guard Kaidyn Johnson has been playing basketball since sixth grade.

“This year I set some goals for myself to average total points in the double digits, to step up the team’s intensity in games, have fun this year and to improve as a player. I have achieved all of these goals and I’m very proud of my team and I,” Johnson says.

The season has had ups and downs for the boy’s team. They had some pretty close games, including a loss to Rolla 57-51, a loss to Tolton 64-62 and Craigmont 59-54.

“The season has been a little rough at times, there were some games we shouldn’t have lost, but as a team we learned from that. It’s been a good season... hopefully we win these final games,” Johnson says.

Girl’s varsity basketball has had a good season. At the beginning of the season, they won two and lost two games repeatedly, until they started an amazing winning streak. The

V

arsity Wrestling has had a season with plenty of wins.

Their record was 13-6 going into districts.

Missouri has been hit hard with the flu this year. Fox St. Louis reports over 40,000 cases of flu in the state. Some of the wrestlers unfortunately also suffered from the flu.

“We have had a really up and down season because we have had a lot of injuries and a lot of sickness because of the flu, but our kids have done a great job of handling the adversity and handling the tough times that we have had.” said the head wrestling coach, Phil Cagle. Cagle went on to explain that some of the best wrestlers have gotten sick or suffered injuries.

Girl’s Varsity team has won games against Union, Lebanon, Helias, Webster Groves, Camdenton, and Saxony Lutheran. They beat Lebanon 74-42 and Helias 63-43.

Junior Greta Haarmann is very proud of her teammates and their hard work. “Collectively, I think we have learned how to make adjustments and are able to learn from our mistakes, as a team we have are striving to get better at practice and in games,” Haarmann says.

Haarmann also sees the importance of working together as a team and she often thinks of one of Coach Conway’s catch phrases: “defense creates your offense.”

Nevertheless, the Varsity and JV teams have pulled out some amazing wins.When up against Smith-Cotton, Varsity won 63-12 and JV won 58-15.

The JV team took first place in the tournament against Hickman. Varsity got second place in the Seckman tournament on February 2.

Senior varsity wrestler Peter Kuster has set high goals for his season. “My season hasn’t gone as expected but that’s ok because it continues to motivate me to get better everyday knowing that my goal is just within reach,” Kuster says.

Wrestling has been doing well and state is coming up soon. “I have set many goals this year, but my biggest one was to get stronger and to win

state. I haven’t reached this goal yet because it’s not the end of the season,” Kuster says.

Sophomore Brandon Backues, despite having a bout of the flu, also looks forward to placing at State. “I did good in the regular season, and I feel confident that I can place in state.”

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//SPORTS

15

A look into JCHS upcoming spring sports Tyanna Robinson

Track

Baseball

Soccer Tennis Soccer

Golf

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02.15.18//SPORTS

Tennis

Opinion

We say no taxation without representation I Gillian Burks

f you have already entered the work force, then you have noticed the chunk of your paycheck that disappears each payday. While some of that goes to medicare and social security, which can easily be argued as beneficial, a large portion goes to the state and federal government.

While I have graduated into adulthood, I would still like to stake my claim with the minors for a moment.

“No taxation without representation” is such a simple and historically significant idea. I began working at the age of sixteen, and have been affected by income taxes ever since my first paycheck. To have a piece of the money that I earned pulled into a system that I am not allowed to vote for was insulting and invasive. I do not write this to

bash on the government or downplay its importance, only to argue for a necessary justice I thought we had accepted years ago.

The legal voting age in the United States of America is 18, which is completely understandable. I wouldn’t want freshmen voting for the president (no offense). However, seeing as minors have no voice in electing leaders, I find it entirely unfair that they are taxed just like voting citizens. Of course as a minor, you hardly ever make enough money for your taxes to not be refunded after the beginning of the year, but that does change the fact that you were taxed in the first place?

In most homes, the caretakers pay their taxes just like every other adult in the U.S., so as a minor your house-

hold is still being taxed. You still pay sales tax on everything you buy, so you are also still contributing for the services you use that are supplied by the government (roads and such). To have to pay taxes from your own hard earned money taken when you cannot be fairly represented as a tax paying citizen crosses a line.

This is definitely an oversimplification of a solution, but the point still stands. Don’t tax a minor’s income.

Most minors don’t start working until they are sixteen, some fifteen, and hardly make any income as it is. That’s only two years (three at most) of nontaxable income, then you can tax away when they can represent themselves.

Most of the court members fit this category.

Senior Abigail Kiesling is aware of how what someone’s eye wants to see plays a part in who is or is not on court.

“I feel that people choose who they want to see wear the crown, not necessarily who deserves it.” Kiesling said.

“It’s about who is most popular or who can put on the best show and that clearly reflects in the candidates being chosen.”

If you aren’t enjoying yourself that much at this school, my best advice is to join a club. Not only do you experience more, you also make more friends.

Most court members are involved in a number of clubs, so they build up a reputation. Playing an active role in the school year is a great way to achieve popularity.

Remember that just because someone is well-liked, that doesn’t make them a good person. Many quiet people are kind, but they don’t get the chance

to show it. Senior Mitchell Houston identifies with this.

“I think that at first glance,” Houston said, “it seems fair because it is a democracy. But I think that people usually on vote for people that they know or like and those that truly deserve to be on court or as king and queen don’t get the opportunity. Court should be based on someone’s character, not on [popularity]. I think that a lot of the less “popular” kids don’t even go out to vote simply because they believe that whoever they vote for won’t win so it won’t matter. If we address that, we might actually be able to see some diversity on the courts, AKA a little more color.”

Social status plays a big part in self-esteem and overall outlook on life.

You may be a court member yourself, or you could be sitting alone right now.

Whether you get on court or not, you are still a valid and living thing, as cheesy as that sounds.

Are courts just big popularity contests?

Matt LeCure

W

hen you look at the people chosen as Homecoming or Winter Sports court members, there is an aura of popularity surrounding them. Each of these individuals were voted on by the student body, and played a major role in the celebration.

Out of all possible seniors, these men and women were selected, leaving the other students in the dust.

I knew ever since I was a fetus that I would never be on court. I may be wellknown in this school due to my rather interesting face and my position on the Red & Black, but I don’t talk too much.

However, I have a good understanding on what makes someone popular.

Nowadays, physical appearance is a huge deal. Because of this, one is more likely to gain a following if they look attractive. Different people have different preferences of what they find attractive, but it is usually similar.

Men should be tall and muscular, and women should be thin and elegant.

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//OPINION

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The Red and Black Editorial: the sexualization of teen girls H

ave you ever been too scared to wear something to school?

Maybe something as simple as your favorite pair of pants, or a new shirt you got over the weekend. Young women across the country face this problem every day, but their struggle goes deeper than worrying about what their peers think. They face humiliation, prejudice, verbal and physical assault. Yet these struggles go largely unnoticed amongst public school populations.

Which is why it is time to realize that the sexualization of teen girls is not okay.

The idea of being sent home for your outfit choice looms over every young woman’s “offensive” bare shoulders. This, and the idea of being targeted by male peers circulate in the minds of most teenage girls. Rules that dictate the length of your shorts or the width of your tank top straps often give way to the overused excuse that a woman’s body is a distraction. This also reinforces that men deserve a higher place in an educational social structure. Here’s why: if a girls shoulders are exposed, she is often asked to leave, change or cover up at the expense of a someone’s education. This shows that a female student’s legs or shoulders are seen

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as sexual appendages, and therefore distracting to other students. If a male student wears a muscle shirt or shorts far above the knee, it is tolerated and often ignored. Why would a male student’s education be valued more than a woman’s? How could a woman’s body be more offensive than a man’s?

If the same body parts are being shown

targeted through social media and normal everyday activities.

Being told to go to the office for your outfit is only mildly humiliating compared to being cat-called in the hallways. As girls are being told what to wear, they also face harassment from most male students. This harassment isn’t only faced in a high school setting, but throughout everyday activities.

Women are sexualized through every social media outlet, even for things as simple as a V-neck shirt. Many are so desensitized to this sexualization that they believe it is okay in social settings.

Female students are often inappropriately touched or spoken of, and the blame is put on their choice of dress. These young women are often too afraid to speak up about these situations in fear of being called an attention [image by Kayla Hensley] seeker or liar. appropriately, why exclude one gender.

This is extremely unfair, as a male Where is the equality in exposed student should not be touching or shoulders? saying such things. The sexualization Yet it is not only women that receive of teenage girls is a prominent problem. harassment. The catcalling and sexual It needs to be realized and taken innuendos are faced by transgender care of properly. No girl should fear teens and boys. While women are coming to school; no boy should fear faced with the most obvious factors of coming to school. That being said, the inappropriate sexualization, boys are sexualization of teens is a continuous often forgotten. The struggle often goes problem that needs to be faced with both ways, yet women are prominently discipline and equality.

02.15.18//OPINION

Head to Head

Unfair and too harsh

Kayla Hensley

A

Are tardy sweeps okay?

t the beginning of the 2018 school semester, administrators introduced a new policy to JCHS students. Hall sweeps, according to administration, are meant to reduce the amount of tardies within JCHS. Teachers are scattered throughout the hallways on each floor of the main building and Nichols Career Center. When the bell rings, these teachers ‘sweep’ remaining students who are either on their way to class or about to be in their classroom.

The swept students are then taken to the office to get a tardy pass and are escorted back to class. After three sweeps, a meeting occurs with administration and a phone call home is made.

[Photo by McCayla Hartman] To teachers hall sweeps are a holy grail, but to most students they’re another burden faced in the halls.

Disapproval spread quickly amongst students. Many believe this policy isn’t effective at all, and that it takes away from learning time in the classroom.

Often students are stopped and taken all the way back to the office or library, where they then have to find their ID and wait for a pass to be written.

During this time, important instructions could be given and said student could end up behind.

Another problem factor with the tardy policy is that it disrupts normally on time students’ tardy records. Most are usually feet away from the door when they are swept, coming from across campus. These students, who may usually never be tardy, will be swept if they do not have a pass. This unfair strategy is supposed to target those who are constantly tardy, yet greatly affects those who try their best to be on time. Newer and even older students still find it difficult to locate the quickest paths to class, and can always expect slow walkers here and there. Running through the halls to make it to class only to be stopped and taken back to where you came from can be a pretty frustrating experience, not to mention the escort back to class is quite demeaning. Why expect students not to return to class when they were just about to get there? As hall sweeps remain a stern policy, students will continue to look down on them with disgust.

Beneficial and necessary

Joseph Lauchstaedt

W

hy tardy sweeps? Well, let’s take a look at some numbers. During the first semester of this school year there were a total of 11,268 recorded tardies; 5374 external (late to first block) and 5894 internal tardies (late to blocks 2 - 5).

If on average you figure each tardy causes two minutes of lost instruction that’s 375.6 hours, or 53.7 school days, of missed instructional time due to tardies!

That lost instructional time doesn’t just affect those who are tardy, it impacts the entire class due to the constant interruption of students entering the classroom.

As a result of the interruptions excessive tardies were having on classroom instruction, a faculty committee was formed during the fall semester with the task of creating a solution to the tardy problem and tardy sweeps were reinstated.

Tardy sweeps are intended to reduce the number of internal tardies and since implementation on January 5th, we’ve seen a 40% reduction in internal tardies. When applied over the course of the semester, that represents 78.6 hours or 11.2 school days worth of instructional time. Those 78.6 hours of instruction would otherwise be lost due to the interruptions caused by excessive tardies! So while it may seem counterintuitive to some, the time spent performing tardy sweeps is actually reducing the amount of instructional time lost.

Now to address the commonly heard “we don’t have enough time to get to class,” statements. We’ve walked all the possible routes during passing times, and it is possible to get to any location on campus in less than five minutes without running. In fact, I have walked from the mobile classrooms, through the main office corridor, and down to the basement classrooms in less than five minutes during passing time.

Finally, we’ve analyzed the schedules of students who frequently received tardies and there is no evidence that the locations of the classrooms caused their tardiness. The simple fact remains, attending school and being on time must be a priority!

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//OPINION

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Arts &Entertainment Sidney Johnson

Date night ideas

to fit your budget

Video game night Try out “Fortnite,” “Call of Duty” or “Horizon Zero Down” and throw in a pile of junk food to really set the mood.

Visiting the animal shelter Plan a day to go volunteer together, or maybe take a visit and adopt one of the many lovable pets.

Picnic in the park

Dig out the old basket and grab a blanket before heading to one of the many beautiful outdoor parks Jefferson City. (McClung has a really nice hill that looks out on the city.)

Paint date Go take a couples’ painting class, or find your old brushes and watercolors and make each other paintings as your Valentine’s Day gifts to one another.

Make a couple’s bucket list Sit down together and plan out some litte dreams and some big dreams. Create a timline to go along with your list to ensure you and your significant other follow through.

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02.15.18//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

VS

JCHS Students

Salem Sanfilippo Solindas

#1 God’s Plan- Drake

#1 God’s Plan- Drake

#2 Perfect- Ed Sheeran

#2 Rockstar- Post

#3 Havana- Camila

Cabello ft. Young Thug

#4 Rockstar- Post

Malone ft. 21 Savage

Malone ft. 21 Savage

#3 Thunder- Imagine Dragons

#4 No Limit- G-Eazy ft.

A$AP Rocky & Cardi B.

#5 Finesse- Bruno Mars #5 Perfect- Ed Sheeran & Cardi B.

Staff Suggestions

#1 I- Kendrick Lamar

#2 Love- Lana del Rey #3 You- The 1975 #4 Endlessly- Muse #5 Baby- Justin Bieber

How to dress properly for class presentations Salem Sanfilippo Solindas

T

his is it: the big day. You’ve got a huge project to present to the class. Everything looks okay… until you realise you’re in sweat pants and a dirty t-shirt!

Suddenly, you feel a lot less confident than before. How can you possibly fix this in time? Luckily, you’ve got Salem here to help. Here’s five handy tips on looking the best you can for the big day.

1. Make sure your clothes fit.

As a debater who’s seen it all when it comes to presentation wear, I can assure you that nothing is worse than ill-fitting slacks or too-tight heels.

There are guides scattered across the internet on how to tell if your clothes fit right, so be sure to consult those before you invest in nice clothes.

2. Avoid clashing colors. The best way to do this is buy some staples, like navy and black, and look up guides on how to make them

match. If you’re looking for a cheap way to get a surplus of clothes, definitely consult Goodwill. I couldn’t tell you how many sweater vests I’ve gotten from that amazing store.

3. Carry a lint roller wherever you go. This one can feel a little unnecessary at times, but when your clothes look crisp, you’re sure to feel better. Look for a travel-sized lint roller to carry in your backpack.

4. Wash your clothes! This one may seem obvious, but if you are enrolled in a class or club that requires dressing up often, you may feel tempted to wait until the second or third presentation in the same shirt before you throw it in the wash.

As nice as it might be to put off laundry another day, formal clothes are a special breed. They need as much detergent-based-TLC as feasible (just make sure you’re not using harsh settings).

5. Hang it up. I have extremely limited closet space, so I understand wanting to fold your dress shirts and cardigans, but wrinkles look bad no matter the occasion. Use that valuable space to store your nicer things; your future self will be grateful!

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//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.

Emalee Murdock

C

ountry music superstar, Liam Page (Alex Roe), had it all in his quiet hometown of St. Augustine, Louisiana. The admiration, the talent, the girl, until one sunny afternoon he left his high school sweetheart, Josie (Jessica Rothe), at the altar choosing fame and fortune instead. However, Liam never got over Josie, his one true love, nor did he ever forget his southern roots in the small community where he was born and raised Now, almost a decade later, the funeral

of a close friend finds Liam back in the same small town from which he fled.

This time he can’t run away.

Liam is left on the doorstep of his childhood home where he must face the pastor, his father, the love of his life and the daughter he never knew he had. The road to redemption is never easy. Liam soon learns that no amount of fame can erase the memory of what he’s done or the past he’s been running from his entire life.

Salem Sanfilippo Solindas

R

eplacing Hastings is not an easy feat, and Here Today came to Jefferson City at a major disadvantage. Hastings, for many, has stood as a haven for everyone in town.

When the company liquified, a hole was left, not only in Missouri Blvd, but in our hearts.

Luckily, I feel like it’s safe to say the replacement wasn’t too bad. While Here Today is no Hastings, it never intended to be, so even if it hurts, after over a year of a world without our favorite book store, it’s time to hold this newcomer to a different standard.

You first trip to Here Today probably won’t impress you. A lot of the food items have badly damaged packaging,

which, while not affecting the food inside, looks a little suspicious. This is because imperfect packaging can be sold at a cheaper price, but it still seems odd.

Your second trip will, hopefully, be a little better. On my second excursion, I started noticing how unbelievably cheap everything is. In addition, the selection was fantastic. I managed to score some awful, gaudy, metallic gold boots for just $20. As awful as they may be, they’re now a wardrobe staple that I would have never found anywhere else.

I have a feeling Here Today will become an important part of Jefferson City’s shopping culture in due time.

Yessnia Austin-Dixon

H

ello Neighbor is a survivalhorror video game that creates an eagerness to uncover what your mysterious neighbor is hiding. The purpose of the game is for the player to quickly sneak into their neighbor’s basement to discover his secret. The game reveals the neighbor’s story and the actions he made in the past as you play through the game. Also, Hello Neighbor reveals the changes in the neighbor’s behavior. For example, the neighbor will start setting traps where the player tried to attempt to get in the basement. Not only does Hello Neighbor create emotions of fear and suspicion, but the story and amazing

22

art style is very unique. The alpha build game of Hello Neighbor released in 2015. Unfortunately, the full game didn’t publish until Dec. 8, 2017.

During the time “Hello Neighbor” first released and when it was published, the game came out with more and more updates. It created a lot of confusion on the actual story line of the neighbor.

The interesting part of playing “Hello Neighbor” was the different tasks you had to do in order to pass on to the next update. With each task, it was more difficult, which made me want to play the game more because I wanted to know what the neighbor was hiding.

02.15.18//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

What is your idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day Date?

Sidney Johnson

“Slow jazz and a milk chocolate fountain with my beautiful girlfriend Hanna Watson.”

- Jeff Dodson

“Going ice skating and eating Yoyums ice cream.

And finsihing the night watching movies with my boyfriend all day.”

- Gigi Alonso

O

verall, I’d give “Justice League” a resounding “meh.” Maybe it was because I’m such a Marvel fanboy, I don’t know, but a lot of the movie left me take with an “Odering Chinese outaftertaste of disappointment. and watching movies all One big issue I had with “Justice night League” with mywas significant The Flash. The character other .” is relatable and funny, but I kept - Emily Rush vibes. The two had getting Quicksilver very similar scenes in “Justice League” and “X-Men: Apocalypse” respectively, and it seemed that the writers at DC wanted to cash in on Marvel’s marketability. A key difference between The Flash and Quicksilver is that Barry had almost no serious moments. It made him seem like he was just prsent for comic relief.

Another thing that annoyed me to no

“Hitting off at the batting cage, make her a nice dinner, and then four hours of ‘Fortenite.’”

- Ryan Sturm

www.jcredblack.com 02.15.18//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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