April 2022 by Liberty Public Schools

THE BELL VOL. 98, ISSUE 8

LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL

APRIL 2022

LHSNEWS.NET

Contents

Staff

Mission Statement

Editor in Chief & Opinion Editor | Sarah Blankenship Managing, Copy & A&E Editor; Co-Social Media Manager | Caty Franklin Online Manager, Indepth & Asst. Copy Editor | Derek Katzer News & Features Editor; Co-Social Media Manager | Lejla Aganovic Spotlight & Sports Editor; Social Chair| Lucas Kilgore

Reporters DJ Binns

Kiran Deol

Kaiya Lynch

Kymon Warman

Lucy Boyle

Brodie Jobe

Hadley Cotton

Brayden Buzzell

Victorya Wilkinson Jenna Shores Brodey Hutton

Photo Jay Emma McDonald Brynna Namanny

The goal of The Bell is to consistently report the news in an unbiased way. We treat everyone with fairness, honesty and professionalism. It is important to us to represent the diversity of the school as accurately as possible, in both our stories and staff members. We work to maintain the highest standards of the ethics of journalism through our responsibilities under the First Amendment. We value respect, independence, curiosity and above all, integrity.

Letter from the Editor April is a very important month for The Bell staff. Interviews are done, and the transition of positions are happening for the next issue, the senior issue. But for now, The April issue is the main focus. Juniors and seniors, it’s officially prom season and The Bell has all the information you need (pg 6-7). The theme is Met Gala, so come red carpet ready for Arrowhead Stadium. There is also information about how students can save money for the night out. The Lip Dub tradition is coming back to LHS (pg 8). The event usually happens every four years, but COVID-19 put a damper on that plan. Leadership will be conducting the Lip Dub on Apr. 18 for students involved in clubs, sports or organizations at school. The Russian and Ukraine conflict has been in the headlines for months (pg 25-27). After talks of Ukraine possibly aligning with NATO, Russia has gone on the offensive to try and prevent NATO expansion. SpongeBob, Blues Clues and Hannah Montana (pg 1819). Nostalgic T.V. shows from student’s childhoods are highlighted to bring back the memories. Sitting down in front of the T.V. and laughing with friends brings back the reminiscing on childhood happiness. Because this is my last issue as Editor-in-Chief, I’m so grateful for this opportunity to lead this amazing staff. I’m very optimistic about the new staff ’s success.

Erynn Sly Chloe Gerardy Richard Burns Connor McLain 02

THE BELL | APRIL 2022

On the Cover Students gathered in the cold morning before school to protest anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in both Florida and Missouri. The students shared emotional stories of their experiences with discriination while highlighting how to combat it. When asked the purpose of the walkout, senior Addison Langhorst said, “It’s important to teach people who are not members of queer communities that queer people exist. That’s what we’re fighting for, for recognition and acceptance.” COVER BY KYMON WARMAN

NEWS

FEATURES

Is FLEX a Fad?

Working for a Win

SPOTLIGHT

Sophomore Paiton Hodges

Senior Jackson Harrison

Rooting for Knowledge

Returning to Familiarity

A&E

PHOTO BY BRYNNA NAMANNY

Sync Up the Times

PHOTO BY CHLOE GERARDY

Get Red Carpet Ready

FEATURES

A&E

PHOTO BY ERYNN SLY

FEATURES

PHOTO BY RICHARD BURNS

contents TABLE OF

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Contents

Design by Aryonna Straws

Want to read more stories? Check out The Bell’s website at lhsnews.net or scan the QR code.

Editor-in-Chief Sarah Blankenship sbla1297@lps53.org Advisor Jamie Gumina (816)-736-5353 jamie.gumina@lps53.org Twitter & Instagram @TheLHSBell Online lhsnews.net

Time for a Change/Sleep

Rugby Rumble

OPINION

on It/Parking LOTS Bring

SPORTS

LOTS of Consequences/LU

More Than a Walkout

War Like Never Before

FEATURES

THE BELL | APRIL 2022

INDEPTH

Questions, Comments or Concerns? If you have any questions, comments or concerns or a topic you want The Bell to respond to, write a letter to the Editor-in-Chief. Letter must be the maximum of 250 words and be appropriate for an underage audience. Writing a letter to the Editor does not mean it is guaranteed to be published. Submit your letter to:

Opinion Editor and Editor-in-Chief Sarah Blankenship sbla1297@lps53.org

Games

SHOW ME MISSOURI

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FARMS INTERSTATE LAKES LIBERTY MIDWEST MISSOURI OZARKS

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Features

Get Red CARPET READY A look into what prom will look like and how students can prepare for the festivities. Reported by Victorya Wilkonson| Designed by Lejla Aganovic | Photos by Brynna Namanny

akeup on, hair done, dress and heels with a handbag in clutch. Hair gelled, suit on, tie knotted, dress shoes slipping on under a pair of freshly pressed dress pants. The glory and popularization of prom through movies and shows create a picture-perfect scenario. Student council works to provide so each student will receive the experience they have been wanting to experience for such a long time. Prom will be held at Arrowhead Stadium, 1 Arrowhead Dr, Kansas City, MO 64129, It is a formal attire dance and will be held on Apr. 30 from 8-11 P.M. Ticket prices are still being determined but are estimated to be around $30 per student. Prom is for the junior and senior class. Each student may only receive two tickets which includes their choice of soda or water to drink. As of now, the guidelines for COVID-19 are not completely clear but are assumed, due to current mandates, it will be a mask optional event. This year’s theme will be Meet Me at the Met [Gala] so strap on those shoes and get red carpet ready. To accommodate this students will dress in formal attire as if they would be attending a red carpet event. The prom committee thought this theme would stand out the most. Then, the prom comittee voted on which idea they liked most out of the Met Gala, cottage-core, 70’s disco and night at the museum. This year’s theme was originally pitched by junior class president Nico Vargas along with a few other students in his group. “This theme was actually the idea I pitched with some other students and it got voted, which was really cool,” Vargas said. Decorations have not been finalized, but they will have a fancy look to them to go along with the theme. Student council must be creative in order to come up with the needed ideas for the decorations since they are not allowed to hang

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anything from the venue; it all has to be free-form. “I’m really excited for the decorations and I also think it will be really great for photo opportunities,” Vargas said. Prom is hosted by Student Council, but specifically the junior class of 15, in years previous it had always been just the Student Council until 2020 when it was opened to anyone in the junior class that wanted to help host. “It’s always a really fun night and getting to see everyone dressed up is awesome,” Student Council Advisor Leslie Muench said. “ It’s nice to see how excited they are to be there. Since there are less people than at homecoming. It’s easier to mingle with them which is also nice.” Some students have already started preparation for their prom including senior Lindsey Bahr who has already picked out her dress for this year’s extravaganza. It is a long, v-neck, open back dress in a shade of a purple-blue covered from head to toe in sparkles, which she plans on matching with her date’s outfit. “I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends and having fun at Arrowhead Stadium,” Bahr said. “I don’t have a big plan, but I’m hoping it will be a good night regardless.” Prom is an event put in place to create a memorable experience for upperclassmen students. Purchases of items like their tickets, dresses, suits, shoes, jewelry, dinner, limo rides

Features and so much more spike during this time. With the buying of these items comes a hefty price, according to DoSomething.org for all these things, on average, students spend over $1,100. This of course is not ideal for everyone and there are many ways to save money such as reusing a suit or dress from a family member or friend, thrifting a dress or checking clearance racks at a store like Dillard’s for example, getting ready at home with friends instead of a salon, renting a cheaper party bus instead of a limo, or even doing DIY corsages with friends an instead of going out to eat, everyone in students prom group could make something and one person can host a huge pot-luck where each person of the party can bring a different dish to put together for ne big dinner. “Prom can get pretty expensive with the outfits, food, tickets and more,” Bahr said. “I think it’s definitely worth it in the end, but it’s also always nice to be able to save money and still have fun.” Another common event is the after party, most students spend a lot of money on food and drinks and throw a huge party at one of the students houses, this isnt for everyone though. Students can also have a fun, lowkey night after prom with a cozy night by the fire, snuggling up with blankets and making some delicious smores. Another option to try would be going out and playing a team competition between the group whether this be a game of football, soccer, mini golf or bowling in places such as Parkville Mini Golf which is 10 per person over the age of 11 or bowling at Main Event which is about 40 per person including shoes. In the end, it is good for students to know there are options for pocket friendly alternatives that way all students have the opportunity to have a good time regardless of their budgets, there is flexibility of ticket cost if help is needed with cost students can reach out to their counselors for help.

It’s prom season, with the theme of “The Met Gala.” Juniors and seniors pick out the perfect dresses and tuxes to wear to the dance held at Arrowhead. “I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends and having fun at Arrowhead Stadium,” senior Lindsey Bahr said. “I don’t have a big plan but I’m hoping it will be a good night regardless.” Some of the most popular places to find your dream dress include Dillard’s, Windsor, Macy’s, Mimi’s Prom, David’s Bridal, Camille La Vie, and JCPenney.

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Features

Sync Up The

TIMES

How the leadership team preps and changes the Lip Dub, a lip syncing music video, from the most recent one in 2018. Reported by Jenna Shores

Photos by Emma McDonald

eminiscing on old songs from the past four years, the thrill of students being recognized because of the clubs there in, then at the very end, hearing the roar of the crowd while riding the roller coaster in the fieldhouse with the spirit leaders. Every four years the leadership has been making the lip dub but due to COVID-19 there hasn’t been one in eight years, this one is to commemorate the past eight years of music, trends and overall events at LHS. On December 14, 2006, Jakob Lodwick, the founder of Vimeo, a website to create videos using templates, record video messages or record any moment, coined the term “lip dubbing” in a video titled Lip Dubbing: Endless Dream. The

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first lip dub was made around 12 years ago when it originally became a trend, and was originally hosted by the spirit leader that created the roller coaster and from there leadership decided to make it an every four-year thing. “It’s all the clubs and sports, but if you don’t have a club or sport, it’s not to make you feel excluded, you can still find a spot and line the hallways,” senior Adeline Herrman said. “Maybe you could be holding up a German flag if you take German, or if you are really into science, you could be with the science teachers.” Different leadership students will leading the lip dub while the camera moves around the school and highlights the new areas in the school that past ones haven’t yet. All while students will be line the halls creating a pathway for the leadership. “It’s the seniors and the leadership class and there are a couple that help with the leadership class and those will be the people who are singing the songs, and of course spirit leaders,” Goodwin said. “Then the clubs and sports will be on the side. Some of the ideas we have are the cheerleaders doing a stunt, we’re going to have volleyball players setting and making a tunnel so people can run through, the basketball players being in Coakley shooting hoops, and some people lifting in the weight room. Everyone is going to be included as much as we can.” The planning of the lip dub started in midFeburary. Leadership has to figure out who they want to be involved, what songs, a route and what the theme is going to be. The songs are from the past four years that are going to be included. Out of these eight to ten songs, only 30-second clips of each of them will be included so the best part of the song can be highlighted. All of the student body will be there for the spring fling assembly, when the filming of the lip dub is taking place, so nobody will miss out. “When we’re filming it we’re going to get everyone set up, email out where the clubs are

going to go, we’re going to have the route set up and everything laid out,” Goodwin said. “First, we’ll do a run-through, then the actual take and then it’s going to be cut before we go into the fieldhouse for the rollercoaster where the whole student body will be.” The upcoming lip dub is something the entire student body can partake in and feel included Watch the 2018 lip dub here- https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=WbQtKcGbOv4

Twelve years ago a new Liberty High tradition began, alongside the iconic roller coaster chant students started the quadrennial tradition of the Lip Dub video. Leadership class is currently in the works of organizing production of the video which will feature clubs, sports, students and faculty alike. “It’s something to get everyone recognized and I think it’s a really cool thing that once it gets done someone can be like, ‘Oh my gosh there I am!’” senior Adeline Herrman said.

Games

INTO THE MIDDLE

April Maze

Solve the below maze puzzle and make it to the center of the circle.

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News

Is FLEX A FAD?

Recent complaints about FLEX cause a need for reevaluation by administration. Reported by Kaiya Lynch | Designed by Lejla Aganovic | Photos by Erynn Sly

ccording to author Roger Von Oech, “flexibility is a requirement for survival.” With this in mind, Liberty Public Schools introduced FLEX hours to high school students’ schedules for the 2021-2022 school year. While upperclassmen, whose parents filled out permission forms at the start of the year, had the ability to leave campus during their designated hour, the majority of underclassmen stayed in the school building and worked on assignments or socialized with peers. After hearing of complaints from nearby restaurants and businesses regarding students’ behavior during their free blocks, questions have arisen regarding FLEX’s viability at LHS. “The goal of FLEX was to give students time to work on what they need to and allow them

freedom to connect with the community,” said assistant principal David McDorman. “This included service projects and internships. We just wanted to provide students time to do extra things that were necessary to meet their graduation goals.” McDorman felt students received more opportunities with FLEX periods than without. In previous years, students were constrained to making up missing assignments or meeting with teachers during Liberty Hour or before or after school, they can now sign up for ELA, science and math FLEX labs during their assigned hour. FLEX also provides students with more opportunities for socialization during the school day. “FLEX is like recess for older kids and we need it,” said sophomore Aidon Waggoner. The mission statement for FLEX was originally defined as giving students access to ACT prep and opportunities to meet with professionals for sessions on resume building and interview skills, but this has yet to happen due a lack of volunteers. The main benefit students have found from FLEX is it allows more autonomy and, true to its name: flexibility. “I really like FLEX because it gives us our own time during the break,” said senior Aidan Pendergraft, who visits CVS, LaMar’s Donuts and Coffee, QuickTrip and Charlie’s Car Wash frequently during his free period.

Students who have found more downsides to FLEX are underclassmen as they don’t have the same privileges as their upper-class counterparts. “If you can drive, you should be able to leave,” said sophomore Logan Seever. Many sophomores who are of driving age agree with this statement and have recently started leaving school during their FLEX periods without prior approval, according to an anonymous source. While school officials claim this hasn’t occurred and there are safeguards against it, like check-in stations and locked doors, students with 8th hour FLEX have no need for reentry. Liberty Public Schools has yet to decide whether FLEX will continue in the 2022-2023 school year. If the hours remain, it’s not definite they will continue to give upperclassmen the same autonomy due to recent complaints from local businesses regarding the students’ behavior during the school day. One local store manager, who wants to remain anonymous, said students have congregated at their store more frequently this school year than in years past, often loitering until they have to return to school. Based on Liberty Public Schools’ past decision patterns, the conclusion will not likely be revealed to students and parents until mid-summer. “I think that we could offer more opportunities for students to get more connected with our school whether that’s with FLEX labs or meeting with teachers. Communication would be the best thing we could work on,” said McDorman. “Students should use FLEX time wisely and find something they can plan for the week and think, ‘How can I use this for my best outcome?’”

The school year granted students the opportunity of a FLEX hour. FLEX was meant to be used as a period for students to work on any assignments, receive extra instruction or volunteer within the community. While the majority of students and faculty enjoyed FLEX, some local businesses feel it to be more of a hindrance. A local store manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said students had congregated at their store more frequently this school year than in previous, often loitering until they had to return to school.

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Features

Photos Courtesy of Alicia Romanowski In the second week of April, the Color Guard traveled to Dayton, Ohio to compete in nationals. The team is one of three in Kansas City. “There are four categories they score on: equitment, dancing and general effect.” Junior Abbi Shores said.

Working for A WIN Varsity Winter Guard travels to Dayton, Ohio to compete at Nationals against over a hundred teams. Reported by Hadley Cotton | Designed by Lejla Aganovic

ears of joy and frustration stain the worn wooden floors while a friend and mentor soothes the mind with comforting words. Hearts tumble while the team takes in the other Winter Guard team’s final toss before exiting. The Liberty Winter Guard team has spent the entire year mastering their tosses, synchronization, dance and equipment skills will be noticed during the national competition during the 6th and 7th April in Dayton, Ohio. Guard is a sport which specializes in musical dance with equipment such as sabres, rifles and flags. Nationals will take several days, first starting with prelims, semi-finals and closing off with the finals. 2022 is the first time in three years the Liberty Winter Guard has been able to compete at the national level due to the lifted COVID-19 restrictions and different choreography they have included. “There are only three groups from Kansas City going, two of which are probably going to make something out of prelims.” coach Jennifer Cannon said. Prelims is the performance which dictates

whether or not the team makes it into semis and ultimately finals. 32 teams from prelims will go into semis and 20 will make it to the finals. The team would perform the same show they have been perfecting all year and be judged on their equipment use, choreography and emotion. “ Last year, we could only compete virtually,” sophomore Katie Wolhetz said. “So I didn’t get to experience the high school level of competition before this year.” To meet the high level of competition, the coaches have conditioned the performers with over 6 training hours per week at their Discovery Middle School rehearsal space along with rerunning the show to pick out imperfections. “We try to get them into the thinking that we have to overcome obstacles. You drop and you move on. We don’t get a score based on one person dropping,” Cannon said. “That’s not how it works. It’s overall, so trying to keep them in the game.” The team has been running the show over and over to correct even the tiniest of mistakes. They run an average of two times a night while recording to find their mistakes. The dancers

have been working on throwing higher and longer tosses to hopefully impress the judges. “You can’t let the pressure get to you.” Wolhetz said. “[she thinks] You have done it before. You can do your tosses or just choreography. You know you can do it. Along with the mental and physical challenges that come with preparing for a win, financial issues have appeared when competing at the national level. To compete in the Dayton, Ohio nationals, it could cost up to $1200, travel alone costs around $800. “Even though everyone’s worked really hard to get us this rehearsal space [at Discovery],” Cannon said. “Getting the right equipment, getting new floors, costume shortages.” The Guard has spent over a hundred hours training for their time at Nationals and doing fundraisers to make the money to compete. With the heightened stress and work that goes into practice, the Guard has grown a support system within their group. “Guard is just like a big family and we all really love it and are very passionate about it,” freshman Malea Thomas siad. “We all love each other and try to build each other up and just always have a positive attitude coming into it.” Guard performs at several local competitions throughout the year starting with the Jan. 22 MCCGA Battle in Columbia, Missouri to the MCCGA Championships in Springfield, Missouri. Along with these shows, the team performs during the football halftime shows in the fall. To watch the team, there is a free send off performance on March 30, 2020 at Liberty Highschool’s Cokely gym. According to Wig.org, they are currently ranked 12 out of 94 in the country. The team has used their three years to expand their skills with the equipment while also gaining recognition for their movement skills. To get involved, go to BlueJaypridebands.com website. LHSNEWS.NET

Spotlight

Sophomore PAITON HODGES Hodges adores volleyball, and especially enjoys playing with her teammates. Hodges’ time is also spent at EDGE. Reported by Kiran Deol | Designed by Lucas Kilgore | Photos by Chloe Gerardy and Erynn Sly 12 T H E

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thletes never forget the adrenaline rush before a big game: tying their shoes, warming up their muscles, feeling the blood pump through their veins and the buzz of excitement. Adrenaline; excitement; eagerness. These are all feelings sophomore Paiton Hodges feels before every volleyball game. Many athletes pick a sport when they are young and stick with it. This was not the case for sophomore Paiton Hodges who, despite being known as a volleyball player, was initially a gymnast. She started volleyball in sixth grade. Fast-forward four years, Hodges is now an outside hitter and a defensive specialist. “I enjoy my positions because they allow me to stay on the court longer and contribute more of my skills to the team,” said Hodges. “I enjoy passing the most because it is a significant part of the game of volleyball.” Playing volleyball at the dig-for-the-cure game against Liberty North is one of Hodge’s fondest athletic memories. This is not only because her team played well but also because she enjoyed the fundraising component of the game. Besides games, Hodges enjoys practice and cherishes her moments with her teammates. She strives to be a teammate on and off the court. “I love the practices because they are a fun time, and the team bonds well together,” said Hodges. “My teammates call me ‘Momma P’ because I act like a mom and I try to always be there for them; I view my teammates as my friends.” While Hodges wants to continue her volleyball career, she does not consider it a do-or-die situation because she has other hobbies which keep her active. Hodges runs track to stay in shape, paints to express her emotions, spends time with friends and is involved with the school’s Technology Student Association. This year, Hodges has also been a student of the new global microschool, EDGE. She joined EDGE to advance the way she learned, and intends to continue it next year. “I enjoy EDGE and will continue EDGE because it has been good preparation for college,” said Hodges. “In EDGE, you are left on your own, and so EDGE learns to keep you organized.” EDGE science teacher Elise Carpenter has known Hodges since the beginning of the school year. She has her as a student in

Spotlight

chemistry, and recognizes her intelligence. “As a student, Payton is attentive in class, asks questions and has an easy time acquiring the information and making a product out of it,” said Carpenter. “She would be a good person to lead the kids into how to do EDGE next year.” It was in EDGE that Hodges met some of her closest friends, including freshman Malia Cabuyaban. Hodges has known Cabuyaban since elementary school, but both gew close in EDGE. Both also bonded over playing sports. “For someone who doesn’t know her, Payton is nice and outgoing,” said Cabuyaban. “She knows who she is, and she refuses to change for anyone else. I love that about her.”

LHSNEWS.NET

Spotlight

enior Jackson Harrison has been a part of the Liberty School District all of his life. Outside of his stellar academics and community involvement, Harrison prides himself on music. His noticeable abilities distinguish him as a musician with talents far beyond what’s average for his age. In 6th grade, as most other students did, Harrison picked up his first instrument for band class. With dozens of musical devices to choose, Harrison’s instrument of choice was the tenor saxophone, a decision he doesn’t regret. “It was my dad who convinced me to choose the saxophone,” Harrison said. “He claimed it was the coolest instrument out of them all and now I can confidently say he wasn’t wrong.” Aside from convincing him to play the saxophone, Harrison says his dad was one of his biggest influences and inspirations throughout his music journey. “My dad played the guitar and has always had great taste in music, which I always appreciated and I really think helped me,” Harrison said. “Plus, he’s just a really fun guy.

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I do music for myself but also love making him proud.” With the support of his dad and his own unrelenting dedication, Harrison has proved himself an exceptional individual both with and without a reed. “Jackson is super sweet and always makes me laugh. He’s always been considerate towards other people and shows that he cares. Plus, his growth as a saxophone player has amazed me. It is crazy that he is only 18 and he is probably better than most people twice his age.” Harrison’s friend, senior Sydni Meyer said Despite Harrison’s sense of compassion and humility, it doesn’t come at the expense of his recognition. Ranging from a full ride scholarship to Kansas City Kansas Community College to winning second place at All-state Jazz Band, Harrison has made a name for himself. Outside of school, Harrisons participates in other talent-enriching activities such as a youth music program called Jazz Academy in downtown Kansas City, UMKC Jazz camp and many other local music festivals. In fact,

Harrison says that the majority of his musical involvement is outside of school, including his own ways to profit off of his talents. “He started playing for gigs and getting paid, which makes me so happy for him because he’s following his dream no matter what,” Meyer said. “I think that his dedication to music has mostly been with jazz music now, which I don’t blame him because he is so good at it. I could listen to him play forever because he is so talented.” Harrison’s musical capabilities have given him many opportunities, but one he notes was most valuable was understanding the history behind his craft. “I honestly think the coolest thing that I’ve learned during my experiences is learning about the importance of African American culture, especially its importance in jazz music,” Harrison said. “Kansas City’s relationship with jazz is super important too and jazz is very prominent here. There’s so much I could talk about, but learning what music means to certain people and the history behind it is one of the most valuable things I’ve attained.” Harrison’s dedication to understanding the entirety of his passion makes him a likely individual to become a part of the history, which he admires so much now. Meyer said, “I can’t wait until he is famous and I can say that I went to high school with the ‘Jackson Harrison.”

Spotlight

Senior JACKSON HARRISON Student musician cultivates his passion for jazz music into award-winning abilities.

Reported by Kymon Warman | Designed by Lucas Kilgore | Photos by Richard Burns LHSNEWS.NET

A&E

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A&E

ROOTING

FOR KNOWLEDGE Tips and tricks for gardening this spring. Reported by Lucy Boyle | Designed by Caty Franklin | Photos by Erynn Sly

seed is planted in the ground, which sprouts a bud, and with the right amount of water, sunlight and time, a beautiful plant will form. When gardening, there are many steps to grow a plant. Spring is the perfect season to start a garden. Gardening is a great hobby because it is something that can be done for years and years. Gardening is also a creative and relaxing way to create something beautiful. Gardening can be beneficial in many ways like improving the environment and the people in it. According to Green Matters, “Gardening is good for a great many things. It can be good for your health, good for your soil, and good for the wildlife in your backyard.”

Depending on your location, the season and weather may or may not be suited for a garden. Gardens can be put in many places. Gardening is perfect for a backyard, as well as inside or in a greenhouse. Gardens need enough water and sunlight to survive, so the usually best time to start a garden is in early spring. “For some plants, you need to start in May, if you’re going to plant the tomatoes, you need to observe the seasons and weather around you,” Spanish teacher Astrid Ruiz.

Starting a garden requires some tools and equipment to start. Some things you will need are gardening spears, soil, seed, and a space to use or even a pot. Many of these things can be found at stores like Home Depot and Lowes. According to Garden design, “Gardening can take up a lot of space and cost a lot of money, but staying focused on the basics can keep your shed or storage area from becoming overcrowded. There’s always bigger and better, but buying the best quality tools that your budget will allow, and maintaining them, can go a long way in getting the most out of your investment,”

“ONE BENEFIT OF GARDENING IS THAT IT HELPS YOU WITH YOUR STRESS LEVEL, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT THEY ARE SO STRESSED, AND WHEN GARDENING, THEIR STRESS LEVEL GOES DOWN.”

For some people, gardening can be a safe place to relax. Gardening can relieve stress and anxiety because it can become therapeutic to people. There are many steps “One benefit of to starting a garden. gardening is that it helps All of these steps are -greenhouse coordinator and Spanish teacher Astrid Ruiz you with your stress level, essential to creating a something that we have thriving, healthy garden. seen in a lot of students that we have here that “A major factor required for plants is Gardens don’t only affect us, but our planet and they are so stressed, and when gardening, their photosynthesis. One thing that could be done is the animals in it. Gardens are important to the stress level goes down,” Ms. Ruiz said. to place your plants under indirect bright light in planet because, despite being human-made, they a bright spot. The moisture of the plant is related represent a natural environment. Plants can be With some of the benefits, starting a garden can to the hydration of the soil which is achieved by very beneficial to our environment. create a new hobby, improve your health, help simply watering the plant. Here, you must take “Plants and trees grow there, taking in carbon the environment and create something beautiful care not to commit the mistake of overwatering and releasing oxygen. The roots of these plants and long-lasting. or under watering,” GKVK states. stabilize the soil and filter water,” Green Matters said.

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A&E

Returning to

FAMILIARIT Y

Young adults in the community are rewatching their favorite childhood tv shows to regain a sense of comfort during uncertain times. Reported by Lejla Aganovic | Designed by Caty Franklin

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lipping through television channels. The bright lights and sounds of the latest and greatest T.V. show or movie popping out as it becomes increasingly difficult to decide what to watch. The sheer amount of choices is overwhelming. Is a comedy or an action movie the best choice? A heartbeat rises and a pulse quickens as the never-ending number of selections continue to flash across the screen, the anguish seemingly impossible to aleve. Then, an old movie from a time far, far away appears in the line of sight. A time without stress, without the pressures of adulthood looming behind the corner. The potential embarrassment of watching media made for children fades as the movie begins to play, a sense of comfort rising out of the darkness and making everything feel just as it is supposed to be. “They were simpler times and we had less responsibilities, less things to worry about,” junior Cade Ranum said. “It’s just a lot more fun to think about nostalgic things, like Blue’s Clues and Spongebob, because you have such a fondness for them and you can always go back to them to feel happy.” This is the experience people face when they decide to rewatch or look back upon their favorite childhood T.V. shows. The nostalgia that television and memories of childhood can offer to stressed-out, anxious young adults during a time of great uncertainty is an opportunity too miraculous to pass up. “Nostalgia is important because it allows people to recall some of their favorite moments from watching their favorite T.V. shows,” sophomore Cooper Poitras said. According to Vogue.com, returning to old favorites rather than facing the unknown has become the preferred coping mechanism of those struggling during the pandemic. London-based psychological coach Lucy Spicer stated that the familiarity of shows people loved provides them with a necessary feeling of familiarity, greatly

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reducing their anxiety. “Sameness and repetition can help reduce anxiety as we can have an existing knowledge of how things are likely to be and, in turn, dial back uncertainty and worry,” Spicer said. “We can watch what we know over and over again without any surprises, thereby giving us the control and predictability we need in an unpredictable global situation.” Despite the reprieve that rewatching television from times of childhood can offer, many people choose not to relive the experience of watching them in fear of embarrassment or judgment. There are those who claim that these shows are only for children, and therefore adults should not waste their time engaging in them. However, this idea is inherently problematic and false. Nostalgia and the reminders of a better time can bring true happiness to those drowning in their own despondency. “The neural activity activated by rewatching a T.V. show that we like causes the release of feel-good chemicals, like dopamine, and we are left with that warm, soothing feeling in our bodies,” Spicer said. “Our brains like to make paired associations, which means that when you watch something specific, it can remind you of a particularly happy time in your life and re-evoke some of the happy emotions you felt at that point.” Furthermore, Spicer went on to explain how it is far less cognitively demanding to watch something that people are familiar with than to watch something for the first time. Many shows that are popular amongst young adults, such as Grey’s Anatomy, adapted their plotlines to discuss issues related to the pandemic. However, this was incredibly triggering for a large portion of its audience, and many people found themselves choosing instead to return to the magic of the memories of their childhood. “I think rewatching tv shows from when we were kids helps people remember that they were

young once before and they have something to hold onto from that,” freshman Cailyn Steelman said. The rise in nostalgia has not gone unnoticed. In fact, it almost appears as if little has changed at all. Studios and streaming services, such as Disney Plus, have rebooted old franchises, evident in movies such as the recent hit, Cruella, which dives into the origin story of the wellknown villain from 101 Dalmations. According to a poll sent out by the LHS Bell, many of the most popular childhood T.V. shows among students in the school include Magic School Bus, Curious George, Sesame Street, Blue’s Clues, Teen Titans and The Backyardigans. Senior Elle Evans consistently watched Blue’s Clues as a child and loved the show. When she saw that its former host, Steve, released a message on Twitter directed towards teenagers who had grown up watching the show, she was filled with

a sense of comfort and nostalgia. Many were brought to tears upon hearing Steve’s words: “ I never forgot you — ever.” “I remember loving Blue’s Clues and I loved Steve,” Evans said. “When I saw his message on Twitter, it was really emotional. It made all the kids who watched Blue’s Clues when we were younger really happy just to see him again.” It is important to remember that there is no age limit on reliving the magic of the past. If anyone would like to revisit their favorite childhood T.V. shows, they can find many of them on popular streaming services, such as Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu and more. Subscriptions for Netflix range from $9.99 a month to $19.99 a month, depending on the purchase of the Basic, Standard or Premium plans. Disney Plus is $8 a month. Hulu’s prices range from $6.99 a month for ad-supported plans, and its no-ads plan is $12.99 a month. LHSNEWS.NET

Opinion

Time for a Change

Sleep on It

The Bell is transitioning to staff positions for the 2022-23 school year. Reported and Designed by Sarah Blankenship | Photo by Erynn Sly s Editor-in-Chief, I have seen our staff grow and improve over the last year and like all senior leaders transferring over their teams. I am very optimistic about next year’s staff and their success. According to hbr.org, “People fear that after change, the organization will no longer be the organization they value and identify with — and the higher the uncertainty surrounding the change, the more they anticipate such threats to the organizational identity they hold dear.” Although change is hard for some to adapt to, the change for the newspaper staff always. All seniors are making big changes soon whether that’s college or workforce. It allows for the new staff to alter what they believe will benefit them the most. When I became EIC, I underestimated how many hours I would spend working on this class. I built close friendships with everyone on staff, it’s going to be hard to let go of this class. I will miss everyone on staff and I hope to come back and visit next year. Unfortunately, there were times where I had to make my staff do tasks they don’t enjoy, make them meet deadlines and not teach them what they fully need to understand. That’s apart of the job, and it needs to be enforced. According to freshbooks.com, the new staff will bring new ideas and they improve morale and mental health. I definitely agree both of these factors will improve our staff next year. There will also be brand new staff members coming in from the middle schools. These underclassmen will be reporters the first year, just like freshmen joining a school team for the first time. I will miss being on staff and being EIC greatly, but I’m very excited and optimistic about the future of The Bell. Next year will be different for everyone, and seniors will be transitioning to freshmen in college.

THE BELL | APRIL 2022

Insomnia and lack of sleep is something that many students struggle with, and it can negatively affect their lives.

Reported by Caty Franklin | Photo by Richard Burns he clock ticks later and later, and although my eyes feel heavy and I’m exhausted after a long day, I still can’t seem to fall asleep. This has been my reality for a long time, and according to the Cleveland Clinic, it’s the reality for up to 50% of the adult population that experience insomnia symptoms. There are many different types of insomnia, but the Mayo Clinic defines it generally as a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. My sleep issues started in middle school, and are directly correlated with how stressed I feel. The busier I am, the less sleep I tend to get. According to Healthline, sleep deprivation has many adverse effects, like memory issues, trouble thinking and concentrating and mood changes. We as human beings have the inherent need for sleep. But, especially in teenagers, sleep isn’t as much of a priority as it should be. Teens in particular can fall victim to issues with their internal clock, or circadian rhythm. According to WebMD, teens biologically produce melatonin, the chemical that helps one fall asleep, about two hours later than children and adults. Other things that factor into the sleep schedule of teens include their schedule and school, caffeine intake, medications they are taking and how much they use devices or how much screen time they get. Between all of these things, sleep either isn’t a priority for teens or is more difficult to get because of insomnia symptoms they suffer from. After identifying this problem, how should people go about fixing it? The answer isn’t simple, but WebMD has some advice. Try to create a restful atmosphere before going to bed, like listening to music or reading a book. Set a screen schedule to shut off devices at least thirty minutes before going to sleep. Avoid stimulants like coffee and other sources of caffeine after 4:00 p.m.. Sleep may not feel like a priority in the midst of so many busy and stressful things, but it’s important to make time for a healthy sleep schedule to allow your brain to function to the best of its ability.

Opinion

A Lot of Problems

Fake Who?

“

Parking facilities have negative economic, environmental and aesthetic impacts on our cities.

Reported by Derek Katzer | Photo by Emma McDonald People can have the Model T in any color – so long as it’s black,” Henry Ford once said. The Ford Model T was the world’s first affordable car, due to being the first produced on an assembly line. Between 1913 and 1927, Ford factories produced more than 15 million Model Ts. Cars are widespread in our culture, for better or worse. There is even a comical cartoon in which the joke is if aliens visited Earth, they would think cars are the dominant species. And with lots of cars, comes lots of parking. There are somewhere between 800 million and 2 billion parking stalls in the United States; that is between 3 and 8 stalls for every registered vehicle. Many commercial buildings, such as Walmart, have parking lots bigger than the actual store itself. Land use analysis makes it plain as day that parking, not buildings, is the dominant feature of the landscape. Even looking at our school, the space used for parking is similar in size to our actual school itself. Parking lots present many issues: parking pavement can’t absorb stormwater, leading to flooding and pollution problems from runoff, parking pavement absorbs heat from the sun and contributes to the deadly urban heat island effect, parking lots generate no wealth for cities and take away potential; what could cities put there instead? The city of Liberty requires for “all other business uses: One space per two hundred fifty (250) square feet of floor area.” Since parking spots are required to be “a minimum of nine (9) feet wide and eighteen (18) feet long,” a 2500 square feet commercial building would require 10 parking spots, which would take up 1620 square feet of space; parking takes up 39% of the entire lot. That’s not including the space to drive around in a parking lot, which would increase that 39%. However, parking lots are the symptoms, not the problem. Lots of parking means our land use policies require people to drive. Our perceived need for parking has been inflated. Policies that reduce road space by allowing more bicycles or buses, or the introduction of walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that allow for walking distance to home, the office, the gym, the grocery store, a place of worship, etc.

How the perception of journalist has changed in regard to fake news. Reported by Lucas Kilgore | Photo by Richard Burns

elling people I do journalism always warrants mixed reactions. Some think it’s great, others not so much. My family and friends have always pushed me to do what I want and in a way, journalism has always been up my alley. My uncle, who stayed at home, was always watching the news day and night. My uncle always handed me the newspaper when he was done reading it. This is where my love of journalism began. Today my uncle encourages my love for journalism and wants me to continue with it past high school. Not everyone shows the same support. Recently my journalism was brought up between my coworker and I. When I told her she became slightly uneasy. The talk and presence of fake news and untrustworthy journalists has really gotten to her. How did the way journalists were viewed change? In short, fake news always existed in some facit. Today, social media has a much greater influence on the minds of people than credible news organizations. Many won’t check a source that they found on facebook and instagram. This has helped conspiracies peddled by some extreme ends of the political spectrum like Qanon explode while also claiming that many mainstream sources are fake news. According to the Center for Information Technology and Society at UC Santa Barbara, “They (social media) collect and present news stories from a wide variety of outlets, regardless of the quality, reliability, or political leanings of the original source.” Social media gives people a comfort that regular media doesn’t show, however, sometimes people become too comfortable. We’ve seen this with election misinformation and even the January 6th insurrection. I don’t blame people for being weary of mainstream sources. On the other hand, individual news sources could skew sources more than the other. Whether it’s my uncle pushing me to do journalism after high school, or my coworker thinking I’m crazy for considering it, it’s up to the individual to make good choices about information floating around them.

LHSNEWS.NET

Sports

Rugby RUMBLE How the rugby season has impacted its players

Reported by Brodey Hutton | Designed by Lucas Kilgore | Photos by Emma McDonald

he sound of cleats hitting the turf is a familiar one, but many wouldn’t associate this with the sport of rugby. Rugby is a sport which draws many comparisons to football but differs in many ways from how the game is played, to the gear the players wear. In rugby, there are no helmets or pads, there is no passing forward, and the ball must be given up when tackled. “Rugby is a great sport that brings people together,” junior Connor Finn said. “After games, the home team brings food for both teams and they just talk. After the games, we take a big picture with the other team which is great too. Rugby brings everyone joy knowing that you have your teammates’ back and they have yours.” The varsity team has played four games so far against St. Thomas Aquinas, Little Rock and St. Martins Academy. They have won all three games as well. “This season is different because last year we

THE BELL | APRIL 2021

were struggling to get a full team going,” Finn said. “This season we have two teams and in our JV games we have had three people on the field that have ever played before, so it’s great seeing people expand on their comfort zone and come out to play rugby.” Last year, COVID-19 made rugby more difficult than usual. The players wore masks during practices, couldn’t have water brought out to them on the field, and had issues getting games due to many players not participating. “A challenge the team faced is the number of players,” senior Treven Crowly said. “After Covid, the number of guys who usually come out to play has dropped significantly. In past seasons, we have barely been able to travel or we haven’t been able to travel but this year we’ve got some tournaments/games planned.” The team has had success in past years but are still looking to replicate their success from 2018 where the team won the State Championship but hasn’t won another since.

“We haven’t had a State Championship since 2018 and I think this is the team to bring one back to Liberty,” Crowley said. The team still has five games to play plus the State tournament held on May 7-8 with no announced location. With over half of the games left to play, the season is far from over. “I like how many people we have gotten out for rugby and it’s great how we can show more people this great sport that we have all grown to love,” Finn said “My favorite part about this season is how great we started off with how many new people we have this year. I hope the rest of the season goes great and we continue to work hard as a team because I know great things can happen. My expectations are that we grow as players and mainly as people because of how much discipline it takes to play rugby” To receive updates on the team, follow them on Twitter at @BlueJayRugby or visit their website at https://www.bluejayrugby.com/.

Sports

Senior Jerimiah Areguin runs right past the 20 yard line as he is followed by Seniors Alex Wexler, Caden Krutsinger and Justin noll to secure the ruck, preventing the other team from stealing the ball.

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Features

More Than a WALKOUT One group of students brought a national protest to existence locally. Reported by Lucas Kilgore | Designed by Lucas Kilgore | Photo by Kymon Warman

ue to the recent passage of a Florida bill which “prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity” —otherwise known as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill”—senior Addison Langhorst took to the Liberty High School football field at 7:45am in below freezing weather with nearly one hundred other students to protest similar legislation in Missouri. These nation-wide conglomerate student-led protests pursue the ongoing, and similarly related, debate which stirred national tension earlier in the year and ultimately caused many schools to question whether or not a multitude of books surrounding topics of sexuality, gender and race should be kept on school library shelves due to their depictions being graphic. “Education has huge impacts by allowing people

THE BELL | APRIL 2021

who are queer to understand that they are not broken,” Langhorst said. “So many of us feel like we are broken— that we are in the wrong or that there’s something fundamentally wrong with us just because of who we are. It’s important for that educational piece to teach us that we are not broken. We are human.” As the protest continued through the morning, several students stood on bleachers and gave emotion-filled testimonies of their experiences with discirimantion—many highlighting the homophobia and transphobia present within their own homes. Junior Kayna Carroll was one student who shared a personal story at the protest and highlighted the importance of using voice to be an advocate in everyday life. “Be who you are— be unapologetically you,” Carroll said. “Don’t let anyone quiet your voice,

especially as an LGBTQ+ person. I know that it can be hard, but keep speaking against the problems that we face in our community.” Throughout the month, Langhorst gathered tens of interested students to lead the We Say Gay campaign, all of who put in hours of work, yet the walkout was only a portion of the group’s ultimate goal. The group drafted a list of demands to send to various school administrators and Missouri legislators which included: A written commitment from the district to not uphold any legislation that specifically disenfranchises LGBT+ students. Written commitments from state senator Lauren Arthur and state representatives, Doug Richey and Mark Ellebracht, to vote against legislation which harms LGBTQ+ youth, including, but not limited to, legislation that could prevent queer students from seeking support for issues of mental or physical health without a parent’s consent. Lessons about LGBTQ+ history and/or LGBTQ+ issues in high school social studies classes. A written commitment from the district not to out (or tell a third party about someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation without their knowledge or consent) students to parents without direct consent from the student. A commitment from teachers to privately ask for students’ preferred names and pronouns at the start of the year. Columns listing students’ preferred pronouns and what name to use when contacting parents will be added to existing rosters and registration forms. “Legislation in Florida has huge impacts in the rest of the country because the rest of the country takes that legislation and says, ‘we could pass that here,’” said Langhorst. “We’re seeing that in Missouri, where 16 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been proposed.” Additionally, the group created a letter writing campaign, which was responsible for sending letters to more than 60 Missouri politicians to persuade them to take a stance against discriminatory legislation. Similarly, in an effort to reach the student population, the group created a social media presence to promote LGBTQ+ education and inform students on how they can get involved. “It’s important to teach people who are not members of queer communities that queer people exist,” Langhorst said. “That’s what we’re fighting for, for recognition and acceptance.” While most students either stood either in support or impartial to the walkout, it wasn’t taken lightly by some others. Several screenshots surfaced on social media of students using homophobic slurs and language to caption pictures of the walkout. “Honestly, the vitriol was expected,” Langhorst said. “ This is, after all, a wedge issue. The hate is what we’re protesting. We know it’s social, not personal. The hard part for me was not being able to have face-to-face conversations with people about what they believe and why. That lack of communication is what got us here.”

History between the two countries

Russia’s money trail

The two countries have a deep history together and their relationship goes...

U.S. and Europe see the effects

Russia is the third largest exporter of gas, and half of it goes to Europe. However, Americans see impacts...

25-26

InDepth The fight continues

Although U.S. citizens aren’t fighting, they are experiencing mild...

Russia has been commiting war crimes in Ukraine. The Russian military has been targeting schools...

26-27

“Putin thinks that Ukraine should be part of the greater Russian state. He is extremely hostile to NATO and Europe in general” - Jasperson

War Like Never BEFORE A look into the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Reported by Lucas Kilgore | Designed by Derek Katzer |

Photos courtesy of AP Photos

n Feb. 24, 2022, President Putin would approve and commence an invasion into Easteren Ukraine based on humanitarian efforts. Ukrainian citizens have lived with exploding bombs, burning houses and crying children for the past two months.

History between the two countries The two countries have a deep history together and their relationship goes farther than just a

shared border. “Ukraine was the original core of the Russian state, all the way through the middle ages in Kiev,” History teacher Damon Jasperson said. “Long story short, there is a Ukrainian identity but they didn’t have their own nation state until 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. Putin thinks that Ukraine should be part of the Russian state.” Although Putin is trying to grow Russian territory, the reasons for this invasion are muddy. One of these reasons is to build a border between the Russian capital, Moscow and NATO.

“He (Putin) is extremely hostile to NATO and Europe in general,” Jasperson said. “He didn’t start off that way, but 20 years later, he is extremely hostile to NATO, the EU, to democracy.” When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 Russia lost a significant amount of territory, it had become the smallest it had been in a long time. New nations, such as Ukraine, were created out of the new territory. This has caused some Russians to take a nationalist stance on politics. Some, including Putin, want to reestablish a Russian Empire. This isn’t the first time Russia has

“For God’s Sake, this man cannot remain in power.” - President Biden

LHSNEWS.NET

InDepth apartment buildings, hospitals,

Dec. 1, 1991: Ukraine becomes independent

Apr. 21, 2019: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Elected President of Ukraine

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian people voted to become a sovereign state.

Zelenskyy defeats the pro-Russia incumbent Petro Poroshenko in a presidential election. Zelenskyy promises to end the war with Russia and root out corruption in the Ukrainian government.

Dec. 5, 1994: The Budapest Memorandum is Signed An agreement from Ukraine to transfer its nuclear weapons to the Russian Federation; prior to this, Ukraine had the world’s third largest nuclear stockpile

Nov. - Dec. 2004: The Orange Revolution Overturns Election Results Election results in Ukraine declared Viktor Yanukovych, a Russian supported candidate, victor. The election, however, was widely seen as fraudulent and a revote resulted in victory of Viktor Yushchenko, a western orientated candidate.

Feb. 2014 to Mar 2014: Russia Seizes Crimea Russia seizes Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula; the annexation prompts international outrage and is comdemned by the UN and EU.

THE BELL | APRIL 2022

invaded Ukraine. In 2014, Russia seized a southern portion of Ukraine called Crimea. This invasion had reasons of its own. “Putin’s annexation of Crimea was very much driven by undermining Ukraine’s energy and gas diversification strategy.” Dr. Frank Umbach said in an article on NATO Review. “For the strategy to work, the Crimean peninsula was of strategic importance. It has vast offshore oil and gas resources in the Black Sea, estimated between 4-13 trillion cm of natural gas.”

Due to economic sanctions the oil market is much tighter. Combine this with growing inflation, and countries are seeing some of the highest gas prices in years.

Nearly $100 billion in infrastructure damage since the Russia invaded Ukraine; the war risks seeing 90 percent of Russia’s the country money trail free fall into Russia is the third poverty, largest exporter of gas, and half of according to a it goes to Europe. However, Americans UN report on see impacts in the United States. Mar. 16 According to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), The U.S. only imports 3% of its oil from Russia. So why has the U.S seen such a spike in gas prices?

U.S. and Europe see the effects Although U.S citizens aren’t fighting, they are experiencing mild effects from conflicts across the globe. The invasion could inflate food and gas prices. Russia is a major producer of oil and natural gas and Russia and Ukraine are responsible for 30 percent of global wheat exports. The conflict has sent prices of both higher in recent weeks.

The fight continues

Russia has been committing war crimes in Ukraine. The Russian military has been targeting schools, hospitals and civilians. “The Russian military has targeted civilian infrastructure including

Dec. 2021: Putin Demands Security Guarantees Putin deploys troops near the Ukrainian border and pbulishes an article claiming that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people.” Putin demands to NATO that Ukraine never be admitted.

Feb. 21, 2022: Russia Recognizes Breakaway Ukrainian Regions as Sovereign l

Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk broke away from Ukraine. Putin recognized these territories as independent states and sent troops to keep the peace.

Feb. 24, 2022: Russia Launches Invasion of Ukraine: l

The invasion began in eastern Ukrainian territory of Donbas. Zelenskyy declared martial law in Ukraine and Putin’s actions were comdemned across the world.

InDepth

Ukraine

Estimated armed forces Soldiers: 255,000 Tanks: 2,430 Aircraft: 285 Warships: 25 Nukes: 0

General information President: Volodymyr Zelensky Prime Minister: Denys Shmyhal Government: Republic Capital: Kyiv (Kiev) Population: 143M Size: 233,032 Sq Mi

Russia

Estimated armed forces Soldiers: 1M Tanks: 13,000 Aircraft: 4,144 Warships: 603 Nukes: 6,400

General information President: Vladimir Putin Prime Minister: Mikhail Mishustin Government: Oligarchy Capital: Moscow Population: 143M Size: 6M Sq Mi

With over a month into the invasion, Russia has still not taken Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

Ukrainian civilian death toll reaches 1119, U.N. says (Mar. 27).

apartment buildings, hospitals, factories, stores, churches, schools, and cultural sites,” David Scheffer said in an article in the Council of Foreign Relations.” With over a month into the invasion, Russia has still not taken Ukraine’s capital, Kiev. This was a surprise to many around the world due to Russia’s superior military. According to CNN, Ukraine has 21.8% of Russia’s active troops, 45% of their reserve personnel, 20.9% of their armored vehicles. 9.5% of their aircrafts and 10.3% of their spending. Ukraine is at a disadvantage in all assets. Somehow, Ukraine stands strong. Part of this is because of the lack of commitment in Russian forces. Some may call it “punching with one hand.” Russia also did not send their troops with the correct intel, or supplies for a successful invasion. For instance, Russian tanks are running out of gas and soldiers are running out of food. They are taking food from locals so they can eat. The faulty intel provided to the Russians has a drastic effect in their current struggle. They did not expect such strong resistance from Ukraine. On the first day of the invasion, Russia attempted to seize Kyiv’s Hostomel airport. Ultimately they

failed to take it. This has been a theme throughout the invasion. Russian soldiers have also been told different claims about their purpose in Ukraine. Many were told they were on a training exercise, and they were not supposed to be in combat at all. Some were told that they would be welcomed as liberators with open arms. This idea has been backed up by Putin claiming that Ukranians are suffering and they are lead by a Nazi, genocide commiting regime. Russians have mixed feelings about the invasion themselves. Thousands are protesting and many are being jailed because of it. This suppression of citizens not only hurts the morale of Russians, but also shows the condition of life in Russia. Along with outrage in the streets, Russia’s economy has collapsed. The ruble, Russia’s currency, is worth significantly less and prices have inflated. Many can’t get money out of banks and ATMs. The Russia/Ukraine conflict is different to any conflict recently seen. The advantages Russia holds over Ukraine doesn’t seem to harm Ukraine’s morale, But the Russian morale has fallen significantly. The winner of this war is hard to predict, but all the world can do is wait. Until then, the fighting will continue. LHSNEWS.NET