LHS Budget Issue 6

the budget

Releasing the bowling ball, senior Campbell Drake bowls with a speed of 12.1 mph. For more photographs of winter sports, see Page 12.

Lawrence High School Est. 1897

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Boys’ basketball team shoots for success

Experienced varsity team continues to excel, looks forward to post-season

BY ZIA KELLY

Students, parents and alumni file into the east gym lobby to get their tickets. It’s an hour before the game starts, but the student section is already packed. The team crowds the locker room door to catch the end of the girl’s varsity game and anxiously await their own game.

Although they have experienced some success in previous years, this season has been particularly fortuitous for the boys basketball team. With experience, a strong work ethic and team chemistry, the varsity team has earned a 7-2 record and fifth seed from the Kansas High School Basketball Coaches Association.

“It’s been going really good,” junior, shooting guard Anthony Bonner said. “I think this is the best season that we have had in awhile.”

As the girls game hits the last buzzer, the varsity cheerleaders pump up the crowd to the fight song, and the team runs out onto the court to take some casual layups and jump shots before warm-ups. Cameramen from local news stations line set up on the west side of the gym.

This year’s team was highly anticipated in the preseason by both the coaching staff and the players. Head coach Mike Lewis, who has been part of the staff for nine years and head coach for five, said this is the most successful team he has seen.

“I was really excited about this group,” Lewis said.

“We spent a lot of time outside of our basketball season together. We have a good camaraderie about us. The guys are coachable. They love basketball, and they are an easy group to coach.”

Lewis attributes this partially to the experience level of the team.

“We have guys that are coming back after last year that were new to varsity basketball,” Lewis said. “So now they have a year under their belt, and that contributes to having confidence.”

The pep-band plays “Smoke on the Water” while the cheerleaders mingle with the crowd on break. The team is going through warm-ups on their half of the court as their opponents do the same. The Chesty mascot makes his first appearance eight minutes before the jump ball.

Continued on Page 2

Sandwiched between two Olathe East basketball players, junior Anthony Bonner attempts to shoot a basket on Jan. 17.

Photo by Jacob Parnell

1901 Louisiana St., Lawrence, KS 66046

Vol. 124, Issue 6, JAN. 29, 2014

JAN. 29, 2014

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The Budget is published every three weeks and distributed free of charge to students and faculty at Lawrence High School, 1901 Louisiana, Lawrence, Kan. 66046-2999.

The Budget is produced by students in the Digital Journalism and Digital Design and Production courses with occasional contributions from 21st Century Journalism and guest columnists. The newspaper’s goals are to inform, entertain and present a forum of expression for students, faculty, administrators and community members. The newspaper is financed through advertising and staff fundraising.

The editorial staff is solely responsible for the content of this newspaper, and views expressed in The Budget do not necessarily reflect those of the administration of Lawrence High School or USD 497.

Co-Editors-in-Chief Kendra Schwartz and Ashley Hocking Webmaster/lhsbudget.com Zach Spears (Online Webmaster) Staff Joseph Anderson Charles Backus Roscoe Bradt (Assistant Webmaster) Brooke Braman Courtney Cooper Joaquin Dorado (Graphics Editor) Michaela Durner Kansas Gibler Piper Hubbell Zia Kelly (Online Copy Editor) Gage Nelson Vail Moshiri (Social Media Manager) Harley Phelps (Opinion Editor) Kendall Pritchard Kate Rettig Alexis Riner Matt Roe Peter Romano (Copy Editor) Aidan Rothrock Nia Rutledge (Assistant Opinion Editor) Advertising designer Nico Palacio Adviser Barbara Tholen Business manager Pat Treff

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Letter from the editors-in-chief

Dear Readers, As we co-editors-in-chief delve into second semester, we’ve begun to realize that this stretch to the finish line is what we make of it. This is the beginning of the end. With reduced schedules and core class credits already completed, we seniors have had to make a conscious effort not to let senioritis affect us.

However, we’ve had additional pressures to apply for admittance to a number of universities and to craft essays in application for a substantial amount of scholarships. As mentioned in the article “Rising tuition yields creative solutions,” there are a plethora of ways to ease the burden of the expenses

of college.

Even though the deadlines for some national scholarships have already passed, a multitude of local scholarships became available to Lawrence High School seniors on Jan. 24.

Students who plan on attending out-of-state institutions are still eligible to receive any of the local scholarships. Information regarding these scholarships can be viewed on the school website, http://lhs.usd497.org/StudentServices/. Local scholarship applications are due 3:30 p.m. Feb. 21, so get started on those essays.

Although we encourage all of our peers to pursue these scholarship opportunities, there are a number of other ways to pay for college. For some students, this can mean taking out student loans.

Others may choose to attend community college for a few years before moving on to a four year school.

Whatever you choose, make sure you have chosen a path that will ultimately prepare you for your ideal career.

Beyond scholarships, we seniors will participate in a number of “lasts.” For choir students, as illustrated in “Choral students prepare for Showtime,” many seniors will sing their last chords at LHS in Showtime. For senior participants, this year will be

their last opportunity to splash around in the mud at the annual Mud Volleyball event. And for seniors, Winter Formal marks their last all-school dance at Lawrence High.

So, despite the slowly approaching end to our senior year, seniors, let’s make the most of our last semester at Lawrence High. As alluded to in the Q&A “Get to know Winter Court,” candidates were each asked, “What will your legacy be at LHS?” And although many of these candidates had their own unique perspectives, we’d like to ask this same question to the senior class as a whole.

What will our legacy be? Don’t let the class of 2014 be remembered for school vandalizations or senior pranks that went too far. Seniors, let’s go down in history for being the class that underclassmen could truly look up to. Let us be the graduating class that made LHS a more positive, accepting place for our fellow classmates to attend.

Seniors, let’s make this semester count.

Sincerely,

Ashley Hocking & Kendra Schwartz

Boys’ basketball: Team thrives with new coaching staff Continued from Page 1 “Going into it, we wanted to win as many games as we could obviously,” junior, shooting guard Ben Rajewski said. “Game by game, we’ve got to stay hungry.”

While state regulation restricted the team from official practice before the end of October, members put in time before the season to improve their game and build valuable skills.

“I think our offseason programs are good,” Lewis said. “I think the combination of not only their own work ethic, but the things we do as team contribute to their success.”

As the clock ticks down to five minutes to game, “Seven Nation Army” rings through the gym, and an unsettling air washes over the student section as the teams retreat to the locker rooms for pregame talks.

Both teams take advantage of the little time they have to go over plays, but the players have been preparing all week.

“It’s a process,” Lewis said. “I tell the guys on Monday if we are preparing for a Friday game, everything from making sure their shirt and tie is ready for Friday, to making sure they are getting enough sleep and taking care of themselves and their schoolwork. My big thing is to limit distractions.”

The teams run back out, and with 90 seconds left before the game, they finish warming up to “Welcome to the Jungle,” before circling up one last time.

The bass drum sounds and the referee releases the jump ball. The first few shots bounce off the backboard, but

another teammate is always there to get the rebound and make the layup.

While every game is important, every season has its climactic moments.

“Our Free State game stands out,” Lewis said. “Any time you can beat Free State it’s a good thing. It’s a good feel and a good momentum game.”

LHS defeated Free State at home on Dec. 20, finishing the game 67-48.

Both the players and the student body held the victory proudly, but couldn’t let it get in the way of the rest of the season.

“You play that game in December and you let it go,” Lewis said.

“Whether you win or lose, you have to move on because there is just so much basketball and so much more to look forward to . . . We encourage our guys to not get caught up in the other things that can distract you with a rivalry game.”

After a basket, their opponents coach calls a brief time out. Ahead, the team shows their enthusiasm as their coach calms them down for some notes.

Team members have to stay focused after their initial success and continue to build on their record.

“As we’ve been going a lot of people are thinking that we are pretty good,and we have to keep proving them right,” sophomore, forward, Price Morgan said.

The Lions received a fifth-seed ranking from the Kansas High School Basketball Coaches Association, as well as similarly impressive ones from other state entities.

“The Final Countdown” plays out

Page Design By Kendra Schwartz

the half, and both teams jog back to the locker rooms. The ten minute break provides vital recovery time, while also giving the team a chance to touch base and gear up for the second half.

The players recognize their team composition and dynamic as their primary factors.

“When we are on the court we are a pretty fast team,” Morgan said.

“We’ve got some really good shooters. Off the court we are all really close, hanging out, messing around and having fun. I think that goes hand and hand with how we play on the court.”

More than anything else, the team attributes its success to their work as a unit.

“The skill set that each player brings to the table, while it’s different. It blends so well,” Rajewski said.

Coach Lewis capitalizes on team relationships as a necessary factor for the game.

“Our guys have bought into the concept that ‘we’ is bigger than ‘me’, Lewis said. “And that we really focus on really getting better as a group and taking it week by week, and not getting too caught up in some of the other fluff.”

While the team has its starting varsity players, different players step up each night. Lewis concentrates on the performance of the team as a unit.

As the clock ticks down the final minutes and tension builds with a teeter-tottering score, play becomes more anxious in both teams, and some begin to stumble. However, once they gather

Jumping up for a rebound, sophomore Justin Roberts blocks a shot in a tournament against Blue Valley on Jan. 6.

Photo by Gage Nelson

themselves, LHS continues to swing the ball around the three point line at top speed, looking for a winning shot.

Lawrence High won its last boys basketball state championship in 1995, before they had a town rival school and the LHS population was overflowing with possible players.

However, 19 years later, this season’s team is enthusiastic about the upcoming post-season.

“The ultimate goal is always to win a state championship,” Morgan said. “I mean that’s what we want to do. But you have to take it step by step. You’ve got to win the next game, then win substate, make it to state, and just keep progressing.”

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JAN. 29, 2014

Polar vortex shifts from Arctic region to US

Multi-decade old temperature records shattered earlier this month by frigid winter, dense air

BY ASHLEY HOCKING Subzero temperature records were shattered in first weekend of January when the cold reached a new low. A frigid whirlpool of dense air, known as a polar vortex, gripped the nation when the core of the vortex shifted downward from its usual home in the Arctic region.

“It’s not a new word for any meteorologist, but the term sure did catch on in the public the last couple weeks,” said Erin Little, a meteorologist from KMBC 9 News. “From the moment we saw the dangerous cold in the forecast, we tried to warn the public as much as possible. Public safety is the most important part of my job.”

USD 497 students enjoyed an extended winter break when school was canceled Jan. 6 due to safety concerns with frigid temperatures.

The cold dipped to -10° degrees, which was the lowest recorded local temperature in the past 20 years. When wind chills reach -15°degrees, frostbite and hypothermia can develop on exposed skin within ten minutes.

While some students stayed indoors, others picked up a shovel and seized the opportunity to make extra cash. Junior Christian Espinosa operates a snow shoveling business during the winter to help out the elderly and families who are unable to do it themselves.

“It was about an eight-hour day and 11 degrees when we started,” Espinosa said. “I wore about five shirts, and I [had] to pull out the long underwear.”

On average, he earns $25 per driveway. On Jan 6, he racked up more than $200 in one day.

But, snow shovelers aren’t the only ones affected. Many employees whose jobs involve outdoor labor were also impacted by icy obstacles.

Senior Nick Lewis, a courtesy clerk at Hy-Vee on 23rd Street, braved the cold as he pushed carts in the parking lot in nothing but khakis and a light company jacket.

“It’s expected,” Lewis said. “Carts, bagging, cleaning, it’s all part of the job. You don’t get paid extra for going out in the cold.”

When ice covers the gravel of the parking lot, precaution is a necessity.

“I just have to be really careful,” Lewis said. “If there’s ice, I have to make sure I don’t slip because if I slip, the carts will go everywhere and hit cars.

That’s a mess.”

But nearly as soon as temperatures reached dangerous levels, the outside temperatures began to climb steadily.

“I was glad because I don’t like the cold. It makes my eyes hurt and tears come out,” senior Jack Clark said. “It also makes my hair freeze.”

Some experts theorized the polar vortex was due to global warming, though it has not been proven.

Because the Arctic region is experiencing a warmer climate than usual, the ice is melting and a larger surface area of water is being created.

“On occasion, this air mass can dip much well into the United States, just like it did a couple weeks ago,” Little said. “Colder air [masses] can always dip into our area.”

This is not the first time the borders have shifted. However, the vortex’s boundaries rarely shift

this drastically.

While the United States is experiencing the coldest winter in 20 years, the other side of the globe is encountering the polar opposite: a summertime heat wave. In Sydney, Australia, temperatures have peaked to 114° degrees this year.

The worst is over for now, but that does not

Graphic by Joaquin Dorado

mean the polar vortex is gone for good. Though the dangerous cold the polar vortex brought this winter was rare, it has happened before.

“It’s Kansas, so pretty much anything could happen,” Espinosa said.

Portfolio students raise money to host famous photographers Photographers collects funds by selling artwork, baked goods, knick-knacks at sales

BY COURTNEY COOPER

Graphic by Michaela Durner

While some students are raising money for sports teams or organizations, photo portfolio students have been working to get two professional photographers to teach their class.

At the beginning of every semester, photography teacher Angelia Perkins assigns students to research their favorite photographers. Many students, like junior Kearston Mohney, have shown interest in the work of photographers Alex Stoddard and Brian Oldham.

“We were looking on Flickr and a lot of the people in the class knew them,” Mohney said. “Ms. Perkins knew them before any of us did, so it was kind of a unanimous decision.”

After getting into contact through email with Stoddard and Oldham, the class agreed to start fundraising to bring them to Kansas. “[The] students have got a lot of interesting work already,” Stoddard said. “I love that some of them are already addressing deep concepts and are developing their own styles. Brian and I look forward to hearing how the fundraising goes over.”

Perkins believes having individuals who are closer to the age of her students will be a benefit.

“All of them had started all of these images. A lot of them were created when they were in high school, when they were 17 and at a younger age. It automatically made a connection to the students,” Perkins said.

basketball, so everybody is hitting up the same individu“They’re like, ‘This isn’t some Ansel Adams somewhere als,” Perkins said. “Everybody’s going to teachers saying that’s 100 years old or dead. These are actually people do you want to buy this card or do you want to buy this who are the same age and going through some of the same things that we are.’” picture. I think everybody is trying to compete a little bit for the same funds, so that makes it a little difficult.”

While the photographers are here, students like However, the students have benefited from the phojunior Alice Kelsey will get two view points. tographers’ presence beyond collaboration and advice.

“The two people that are coming are very different “I think learning from them and photographers,” Kelsey said.

“We’ve both been wanting to “One of them is more of a having them talk to them about how start teaching others and sharing would you motivate yourself, how do commercial photographer and inspiration for some time now” you get yourself to just go out and the other is still going to college - photographer Brian Oldham shoot pictures when you don’t feel like to make his own business. There it will be really good,” Perkins said. are two different sides of the The students aren’t the only ones photography world represented.” who will benefit from this experience.

Many of the students see this as an opportunity to “[Perkins’] passion and dedication to her students consult someone in their creative field of interest and and their artistic growth is wonderful and refreshing,” get advice on their art.

“One of the photographers goes to an art school and Oldham said. “We’ve both been wanting to start teaching others and sharing inspiration for some time now, the other one doesn’t, so I’d get two different perspecso this seems like a perfect opportunity. I think that tives, and that’d help me with my future decisions,” Alex’s and my different experiences with school could Mohney said. “I would like them to critique my work be insightful to your students in regards to which path and make some suggestions and just to hear about their they choose to take.” experiences with photography.”

Even though the students have some more fundraisThe students have been selling their own photoing to do, Perkins feels like this is a lesson she wants her graphs, hosting bake sales and organizing garage sales students to learn. to raise their $1,000 goal. The class currently has raised enough money to pay for some expenses, but still has “You can have a goal and set that goal for yourself and find a way to do it and problem solve, which is more to raise. It hasn’t been easy. exactly what art is all about,” Perkins said.

“Everyone has fundraisers going on from softball to

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JAN. 29, 2014

Choral students prepare for Showtime

Junior and senior choir members begin to hold practices and learn music for the spring show

BY KANSAS GIBLER The weather is still cold and winter sports are still competing, but the choral department is warming its -vocal chords for a springtime highlight: Showtime.

Showtime, the annual showcase of choir students’ talents is planned for April 24-26, but students are already preparing their acts for auditions in February.

“Some of [the preparation] is fun, but some of it’s not at all,” senior Katie Gaches said.

Senior and junior choral students have begun the process of forming groups to audition for Showtime.

The process includes establishing groups, beginning practices, assigning parts and getting an early start on memorization.

“You have to first decide what songs you want to do, you have to get music and recording for them, then you have to get people together and find times to rehearse,” junior Brian Chang said. “Then you sign up for audition times and audition and hopefully you make it in.”

Once students have selected music, groups are formed and sheet music is doled out. The students are asked by their peers to participate in a group, whether the sheet mu-

sic has a sufficient number of parts or not.

After groups were formed, practices started.

“Usually per group [practices are] once a week for about an hour, an hour and a half,” Gaches said. “So, if you’re in eight groups, plan on having about eight rehearsals every week for an hour or hour and a half. And then, as it gets closer, they might be longer.”

Gaches is one of many seniors who performed in Showtime last spring.

“This is my second year,” Gaches said.

“Last year, I was in 13 numbers so I was pretty involved. I enjoy it.”

Dwayne Dunn, second-time Showtime director, sees students’ anticipation for the performance.

“It is one of the highlights of their year,” Dunn said. “Some of them have been working on their acts for more than a year to get ready for auditions. Knowing the high quality that the show has had over the years, they feel a lot of responsibility to maintain that quality , so they put in a lot of time and effort.”

Students pride themselves in the quality of their annual production.

“I think Showtime is really neat because it seems very professional and well done,” Randolph said. “It’s nice because everyone in choir is involved, well, every junior and

senior.”

Seniors see this as the perfect cast-off as they leave high school.

“I think for me, it especially ends my senior year on a strong note, whereas I don’t really have a whole lot to do this semester with the exception of academic work,” Gaches said. “All of my college applications are done.

I’m just waiting. I have all of my credits, but Showtime is the reason I didn’t graduate early.”

Seniors will celebrate their send off with a final ensemble where they don the apparel of the college they will be attending in the fall.

Many students’ parents participated in Showtime when they were at LHS. “In a few more years, we will start having our third generation of performers,” Dunn said.

Second generation performers, first generation performers and anyone else can see this year’s production on April 24, 25, and 26 in the auditorium. Tickets will be $7. “[Being in Showtime] feels special,” Chang said.

Senior Abigail Schmidtberger practices for Showtime during a weekend rehearsal. Although the big choral event is in May, students begin preparing early for auditions. Photo by Kendra Schwartz

The Budget finds printing alternative After LJ World closed its presses, the student newspaper partners with Osage Graphics for printing

BY ROSCOE BRADT This year, the “Lawrence Journal World” moved their printing operation to the “Kansas City Star’s” printing facility. “The Budget” printed all of its issues at the Journal World’s downtown printing location for nearly five years, but it has now been forced to find an alternative.

“We wanted to stay at least close by,” said journalism adviser, Barbara Tholen. “We talked to printers in town and some of them were definite possibilities and would have been really good to work with. It ended up price-wise that [Osage Graphics] was a really good solution for us.”

“Kendra Schwartz and I met with the head of

another printing company,” said senior Ashley Hocking, co-Editor-In-Chief of “The Budget.” “After discussing cost, size and format, we ultimately decided to print with Osage Graphics after careful consideration because it is a more cost-efficient route.”

As opposed to the Journal World printing location, which was a handy 10 minutes away from Lawrence High, Osage Graphics is nearly an hour away from the school.

“Although Osage Graphics will provide us with delivery of the newspapers, rather than Ashley Hocking or I having to pick the papers ourselves, there will be a service charge that is added to our costs,” said senior Kendra Schwartz, co-Editor-In-

Chief of “The Budget.” “I can’t say I’ll miss those cold days waiting outside the doors of the printing press.”

Along with the changes in the production, there will be a slight change in the physical paper as well.

“We are thrilled to be working with Osage Graphics because not only is the cost to print less than we were previously paying, but also the papers will end up being a little larger,” Schwartz said. “Both of these changes will be particularly advantageous in meeting our ad sales goals while maintaining our content.”

“The Budget” is solely funded by advertising sales. This change could bring a monetary gain and help the newspaper add a larger span of content.

Even though there will be a change in the procedure of “The Budget’s” creation, the student body will still receive the same style of paper they are familiar with.

“We sought out a printer that would enable us to stick to the format our student body knows and loves,” Hocking said. “The size of each individual page will be slightly larger than before and the material of the pages will be thinner.”

“The Budget” will have many upcoming internal changes, but the staff will be doing their best to keep the paper up to the quality that the study body has grown accustomed to.

“We’re looking forward to our future experiences with Osage Graphics,” Hocking said.

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JAN. 29, 2014

Rising tuition yields creative solutions

High school seniors turn to alternative funding sources to avoid the high cost of college education

BY BROOKE BRAMAN Years ago, the annual cost of tuition at the collegiate level averaged between $500 and $1,000 dollars. Today, tuition rates can run as high as $60,000 per year. Teachers have noticed the ever-increasing cost of a college education.

Though recently year-to-year increases in tuition have slowed, the reality for many students remains the same: the cost of higher education is intimidating.

The University of Kansas, for example, raised tuition rates and fees by 4.4 percent this year.

Although this was the smallest price hike in recent history, the annual cost of tuition nears $19,000.

This is an especially hefty price tag as the median household income in the state totals just over $51,000, according to the US Census Bureau.

Though college bound students should be aware of the high cost of a college education, they should not be discouraged as faculty, staff and students shared advice for making higher education more affordable. Five of the most popular suggestions are the following: Fulfill prerequisite degree requirements at community colleges “The cost of education is increasing every year,” guidance counselor Lori Stussie said. “What I’ve begun to notice is that many students at LHS have begun to take their prerequisite courses at Johnson County. JCCC is about one third the cost of KU. Some students will begin taking these classes as early as senior year... It’s very cost effective.”

Gifted coordinator Janette Michaels shared further benefits to attending community college as a cost-effective alternative to four-year universities.

“I think that people should consider community college because when you go to a college like JCCC you’re going to have professors, most of whom have PhDs, that don’t have the same kind of pressure as the professors that you might encounter during your first couple years at a public university,” Michaels said. “When you go to a community college, you have very highly educated people whose main concern is teaching; that’s their main focus.”

Take AP classes Advanced Placement or AP classes are certified college-level classes offered at high schools throughout the nation. Standardized examinations are administered the end of every academic year. Many universities will offer college credit to students who

score well on AP exams.

“There are lots of ways students can bring the cost of college down,” Latin teacher Jason Lichte said . “One of those ways is to take a lot of AP classes, study hard and do well on those AP exams, so they can go into college with credit.”

Take a gap year or join the workforce before entering college “Really give some thought to whether or not you’re ready for college. The perception is that many students feel they need to go directly from high school to college, and for some students that might not be the case,” Stussie said. “Some students might want to work, save some money and figure some things out before going to college. Explore your options.”

Perhaps due to the high cost of tuition, the decision to wait to go to college has become increasingly popular.

“What I’ve noticed is more and more students taking a gap year between high school and college as they try to figure out what the really want,” Lichte said. “Maybe it means joining the Peace Corp for a year or AmeriCorp or even joining the military for a year.”

The idea of joining the military after high school may be an interesting and viable option for students with the development of programs like military tuition assistance in which branches of the US military will pay up to 100 percent of college tuition who for active duty persons. For those not interested in joining the armed forces, a gap year could be spent working.

Working to save money for college is a concept senior Madison Ruder knows well. Ruder, who will be paying for her college education by herself, advises students in similar situations to get into the workforce.

“What I’ve learned is that you have to work as much as you can,” Ruder said. “It’s not fun to hear, but it’s helpful.”

Consider the Midwest Student Exchange Program The Midwest Student Exchange Program is a regional tuition reciprocity program in which member universities offer tuition breaks to out-of-state students from the midwest.

Attending a university involved in this program represents a more affordable way to attend an outof-state college. Other students choose to establish residency in another state before starting college,

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thus allowing for in-state tuition for those who may not want to attend a Kansas college.

For students looking to get even further away from home, universities abroad can be surprising inexpensive. Even for international students, tuition at Brandon University in Manitoba, Canada, is a mere $6,000, according to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

Scholarships, scholarships, scholarships “It’s been my experience that the vast majority of scholarships will come from the colleges themselves,” Michaels said. “The small private schools have endowments that they can give out as scholarships. There are a few big ones like the Byrd Scholarship and the Gates Millennium Scholarships.”

Though many colleges today offer financial aid packages, private scholarships can be extremely valuable to the lucky few who win.

“I went online and looked up scholarships,” senior AnnaKate Kleiböhmer said. “I applied for about 10 of them. Even though they were only $500, everything helps since college is so expensive.”

Scholarships can easily be found on websites

Graphic by Joaquin Dorado

like scholarships.com or cappex.com. Large private scholarships like the Siemens Math, Science, and Technology Award Scholarship, are worth between $10,000 and $100,000. Additionally, the guidance office offers financial aid information through monthly scholarship newsletters and federal financial aid night.

“The four counselors collect information from various sources and gives it to Kris Bradfield, the guidance office secretary,” Stussie said. “She complies a scholarship newsletter every month for seniors. College fairs and financial aid night are other good opportunities to learn about colleges and scholarships.”

Financial aid night is a yearly event in which parents are invited to learn about financial aid assistance like the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This financial aid program, based off of demonstrated financial need and family income, can be completed online at the US Department of Education’s website.

“The FAFSA deadline is coming up next month,” Stussie said. “The sooner you turn the forms in, the better. Money is on a first come, first serve basis. You’re more likely to get money if you turn it in sooner.”

12 students will be chosen to earn $1,500 each!

Scholarships may go toward ALL post high school educational programs — not just two- or four-year schools.

Lawrence Lion Alumni Scholarship applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be involved in school activities.

Page Design by Zia Kelly

See lhs.usd497.org/StudentServices for application information. the

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feature

Couple overcomes adversity

Senior Hunter Ramer and her boyfriend Evan Byers cope in a mature way about Byer’s Crohn’s disease

BY KENDRA SCHWARTZ While most couples will be elated to receive a box of chocolates or flowers from their significant other on Feb. 14, senior Hunter Ramer and her boyfriend Evan Byers will be thrilled not to be inside a hospital room this Valentine’s Day. At age 9, Byers was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract.

“There were just extreme symptoms right off the bat,” Byers said.

“It was really scary, and I didn’t have any warning of it coming on, and after that it just got really bad.”

With supportive parents, Byers was able to stay strong through countless surgeries.

“Luckily, my mom was unemployed and my dad worked from home, so my mom was always with me. I was never alone in the hospital,” Byers said. “And they would always come over and visit, and their friends would come to visit, and they would bring my friends up to see me.”

His parents, Brian and Dana Byers have been overwhelmingly helpful throughout his journey with Crohn’s disease and have made a conscious effort to give their son a normal life.

“He has gone through more in 18 years than I ever will in my lifetime,” Brian Byers said. “I struggle with the balance between being compassionate and being his father. I know that his life is rough, but at the same time, I still have to do my best to raise him for the real world, which means I have to discipline him when situations call for it. But I also try to remember what he’s going through.”

Despite his condition, Evan Byers remains appreciative of the more positive aspects of his life.

“They are very understanding and comforting and strong for me.

I know it’s hard for my mom. It always seemed to me since I was a young kid that it was harder for them than it was for me,” Evan Byers said. “As a young kid, I wasn’t set in a routine. I wasn’t set in my ways yet, so I was easy for me to mold to that being my life. I mean, even the surgery — I was ready for it — but my parents wanted to . . .wait until the doctors said it was necessary.”

It wasn’t until Dec. 4, 2011, however, that Ramer came into his life.

“I was aware of [his disease] when I first met him, but I didn’t realize how bad it was until the day after our first kiss, he went to the hospital,” Ramer said “I was a bit overwhelmed, but I knew I really liked him, so I visited him as soon as possible.”

Ramer visited Children’s Mercy Hospital, and although she

was sad to see Byers hooked up to tubes in a hospital bed, she was excited to see him. During one of her visits, Byers informed Ramer of another patient in the room next door who never had visitors.

“It was hard, but it helped me become a stronger person,” Ramer said. “And I figured out what I want to do as a career because of it. I want to be a nurse. So it was overall worth it...I wanted to be there for kids like that who don’t have anybody.”

Now, visits to the University of Kansas Medical Center, although still frequent, are more routine for the couple.

“After surgeries...it is a really long recovery,” Byers said. “The best part about having her was that she could do a lot of stuff for me. Like I wasn’t supposed to go up and down stairs a lot and she helped me with that. And I know we can’t do a lot of stuff.”

While most teenage couples break up after one fight, Ramer and Byers conquer mature problems.

“We talk about surgery and how it might affect me in the future, and how this is possibly a reoccurring thing for the rest of my life,” Byers said.

Ramer acts as a positive influence in Byers’ life both in and out of the hospital. After numerous surgeries, Ramer provides Byers with company, both in walks around the hospital building and watching movies all day in his room.

“Anything I can do to help,” Ramer said. “I try not the let him think negatively about anything. I try to keep him as happy as possible.”

“After surgery she gets me a lot of things because I just move like an old person after surgery,” Byers said.

Despite Ramer’s help, Byers is still discouraged by recurrent hospital visits recently.

“The first surgery is called a colectomy. They took my whole colon out,” Byers said. “Then, I had an ostomy bag. Then that worked for a year, but then basically it failed. So I had to have a couple surgeries to reconstruct things back, and then I had an ostomy again. It’s been a year and a half since then, so now the problems have just been recurring.”

As a result of his disease, Byers has to be wary of common illnesses.

“Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease so the body attacks itself,” Byers said. “So the way to treat it is to kill the immune system, so I have a really hard time with infections.”

Although his surgeries are trying, the biggest obstacle in the eyes of Byers is missing out on time with Ramer.

“Whenever we can’t do something we want to do, it’s hard,” Ra-

Photo by Kendra Schwartz mer said. “He has really bad insomnia. Sometimes we can’t do things because he’s just too tired but that’s really not a big deal for me.”

Despite hurdles, both Byers and Ramer look to their future with optimism. With new medicine prescribed to Byers, they hope for fewer surgeries in 2014.

“I like to keep hope that it won’t be really bad forever,” Ramer said. “They’ll solve it and he’ll been in remission for a really long time.”

Students attack peers anonymously

Subtweeting takes over the Twitter feed as individuals elude to fellow classmates on social media

BY KANSAS GIBLER In the past, slanderous things were said in the hallways and on bathroom walls. Now, things like “so-and-so is a whore,” are no longer scrawled on painted brick, but are typed furiously and posted on social media. This is the trend of confrontational statements on Twitter — but with a catch. “[Subtweeting] is tweeting about someone but not tagging them in it,” freshman Emma Reynolds said.

Urban Dictionary defines a subtweet as, “the shortening of ‘subliminal tweet,’ which is directly referring to a particular person without mentioning their name.”

Students support the act of subtweeting, as it is non-confrontational, and if the subject of the tweet discovers the tweet, it could be beneficial.

“Bullying is kind of a part of childhood development,” sophomore Caden Henry said. “I’d say that [subtweeting] is more of a form of

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criticism and fitting everyone into social hierarchy.”

While some subtweeters say it’s a good way to vent, others aren’t as supportive.

“It goes back to what I tell my 6-year-old everyday, you know, treat everyone how you want to be treated,” guidance counselor Natalie Konkel said. “The moral code of don’t say something about somebody unless you would say it to their face. Our biggest issue nowadays with technology is this invisible shield, but the reality is it’s out there for everybody to see, and it can still be really hurtful.”

Last school year, freshman Julia Randolph was a victim of subtweets.

The subtweeting occurred about three times over the span of a week. Randolph never received an apology for the tweets, but she is willing to forgive and forget.

“The person who did it did it about everyone, so it seems a little less cruel because I know she wasn’t just targeting me,” Randolph said. “I probably would have been more offended had she said it in

Page Design by Kendra Schwartz

person.”

Though the subtweeter may not have felt guilty, Randolph did when she retaliated.

“The same person who subtweeted about me, I subtweeted back,” Randolph said. “No one saw it, but I deleted it because I didn’t want to start anything again.”

The opportunity to anonymously vent about others could cause problems and spark a question about online anonymity and cowardice.

“A lot of people can be anonymous or make anonymous Twitter [accounts], or on forums they can be anonymous and just hate on people,” Randolph said.

People who victimize others on social media can risk losing others’ trust and respect.

“It made me initially dislike her. At first, I didn’t like her, but it made it a deeper dislike,” said Randolph. “I resent her, but I [no longer] dislike her.”

opinion

JAN. 29, 2014

Attendance policies miss the mark

Punishing students for absences by making them miss more class hurts students

BY MICHELA OXFORD Illnesses, dentist appointments, extracurriculars and just plain exhaustion. A student misses class for many reasons, but missing class as a punishment shouldn’t be one of those.

Attendance in high schools is an issue, but Lawrence USD 497 handles it the wrong way. As is, students who rack up tardies and unexcused absences are pulled out of class to sit in In-School Suspension (ISS). Escorts to classes and detentions or other punishments should be provided to enforce attendance in high schools instead of ISS and OSS, which cause students to miss even more school.

The saying, “Don’t fight fire with fire” should apply here. The Lawrence High planner says, “The most common cause of academic failure is absence.” This being true, the school should not suspend students for missing class.

With the current attendance policy for USD 497, after the tenth tardy or the sixth unexcused absence, ISS and OSS are possibilities for punishment. Sure, missing class or coming in late to class

diminishes both the experience for the student and the rest of the class.

But pulling those students out of class and forcing them to sit in ISS — where they may or may not work on homework and are missing the discussion or lesson -- is worse for their academic careers than coming in a few minutes late to class.

Being tardy includes being even just a minute late, depending on how strict the teacher is. The first few minutes of class are used for salutational things that do not affect the success of students.

Missing your teacher say “good morning” or telling the class what you are doing that day, no matter how often, shouldn’t cause a student to miss an entire day of classes or more.

Students also are absent for many reasons.

Every case is different so this has to be taken into consideration by the administration. Some students don’t have a way to school or frequently get sick.

Not all students are just skipping class.

OSS, or Out of School Suspension is for any amount of time seen fit for the amount of offenses that have occurred, decided by the student’s vice

principal. The amount of days assigned are to be consecutive making it harder to catch up. Missing full days or even weeks of school is very difficult to make up because you miss whole projects or assignments.

One solution to this issue would be to assign escorts to and from classes or detentions. Some might say that this is just more work for both the school and the staff but after all, their first job is student success.

Imagine missing an episode of your favorite show. You can watch the one next week and fill in what you missed easily, but if you missed five consecutive episodes and tried to jump right back in you would never be able to catch up on your own.

If the school provided escorts for repeat offenders to their detentions or other community service projects around the school, then the students would be forced to go and receive their punishment but wouldn’t have to miss more class than they already do.

If a student is skipping class frequently, assigning them a punishment that makes them miss more

class is not a punishment at all. Escorting them to do physical work or even homework after school would be a better incentive for students to go to class.

Some other ideas from schools around the country such as Prior Lake high school in Minnesota that once a students gets the seventh absence they can lose the credit for that class unless they fix their attendance and complete the class with good standings.

Also a more dramatic approach is Florida Driver’s License Law which states that a student with 15 or more unexcused absences within a 90-day period will have their driver’s license or permit revoked. To get reinstated, a student must attend school regularly in the time specified by the law or may be required to wait until their 18th birthday to be reinstated.

Every approach to this issue has pros and cons but escorts to classes, detentions and community service projects at the school if necessary have only one con and that is more work for staff and administration, whose job is to make students successful.

Increased technology nets decreased social skills

As technology advances, social and scholarly skills of students show signs they are beginning to lack

BY HARLEY PHELPS Spot any group of high school students together, and most of them will have phones in hand, eyes glued to the screens — not paying attention to what’s happening in front of them.

People feel empowered behind the keys of a message board, slurring hate they never would have the confidence to say in a face-to-face confrontation. Yet, they struggle to communicate in person.

“On the negative side, some students feel empowered to hide behind anonymity in addressing other students and may not use the same courtesy they would when looking another person in the eye,” guidance counselor Lori Stussie said.

Students often feel they have the ability to hide behind an account user name, even if their names still remain linked to their accounts.

This ignorance is what leads to the most hurtful comments.

“I have had friends who have had mean comments posted online,” freshman Allie Fischer said. “It just makes people’s self esteem go down. It makes people feel unsafe when they try to use anonymous accounts because they don’t know who posted it.”

Technology does not always create negative relationships. Sometimes, an e-mail or text is just the ice breaker a student may need to feel confident when first approaching a teacher or peer.

“Technology can help students break that initial hurdle in communication,” Stussie said. “It might help eliminate that initial awkwardness of a first time face-to-face conversation.”

But texting creates a fake sense of progress in a relationship. What students may feel comfortable texting about often would never be easy to address in person. Students seem to forget that they will eventually have to see that person face-to-face again, while both remember awkward or perhaps rude texts.

“I think that people think they can text about personal issues without it having to be dealt with in person,” Fischer said. “ But eventually they have to addressed because some problems can’t just be solved through text.”

Not only are text messages not always heart-felt, but the act of texting itself lacks authenticity. I find myself feeling like texting is more of a hassle than a joy. It becomes more of a daunting task than a

Graphic by Gage Nelson

way to communicate.

“I myself don’t text that much,” senior Darren Rawlings said. “I just prefer to talk face-to-face than over text. Even just over the phone.

Texting takes too much effort, just to say something little.”

I often find myself wishing I paid less attention to my phone, but I also find myself not able to put it down.

The instant access to friends and the internet has created a generation that feels entitled and impatient.

“Students think that when they have to look things up more than just on their phone. It is inconvenient,” Fischer said.

Students now have the internet, which holds endless amounts of information and distractions right at their fingertips since most have smartphones or computers nearby.

“The internet is the most useful,” Rawlings said. “It’s just mass amounts of information. You can literally almost find any information about anything.”

However, this instant access to the internet and such technologies

Page Design by Harley Phelps and Nia Rutledge

is not always bad. Technology can find many benefits in the classroom. Classes, such as graphic design and engineering, rely heavily on technology for the progress of their class.

“Wi-fi, Smart boards, laptops, printing devices that can scan, copy, enlarge, and print in 3D, robotics, electronics, computers, 3D drawing programs, are some specifically for architecture, engineering, graphic design, photography, video editing etc,” engineering teacher Charlie Lauts said.

Technology, however, may not be the problem, but the way it is used, or in some cases misused.

“I think the effects aren’t really the technology, but rather how people choose to use it,” Fischer said.

Technology by itself stands a great opportunity for advancement, but once in the hands of society possesses an entirely different set of possibilities. We have to ensure we don’t misuse this technology to bully or hide behind our screens, costing us the opportunity for real interactions.

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opinion

Expectations cause weak self esteem makes me wonder: if so many people Self worth wavers against are Which interested in being smart or having confidence, why do most advertisements focus on looks rather unreachable standards than advertising that their product will make your

BY NIA RUTLEDGE As a woman, I feel constant pressure to be as visually attractive as possible.

Protruding bones, airbrushed skin, a thin waist and large breasts.

It’s a facade I feel expected to put on, and everyone wants to tell me how to do it.

Contour here, highlight there, push this up, cover your flaws and highlight your true beauty.

Women’s magazines bombard readers with “Dressing for your body shape” infographics and which kinds of swimsuits are acceptable to wear.

Men’s magazines pressure them to have shredded muscles and bulging veins and advise how to achieve a flat stomach with washboard abs in a mere two weeks. Seventeen-inch arms, that are seemingly cut from stone. Extensive workouts to carve your abs and protein shakes to bulk up.

A constant boulder of expectations crushing self-esteems by the minute.

Let’s be honest here: Society values beauty over intellect.

Society glamorizes celebrities based on appearances, and if they are intelligent, that’s just a plus.

“Humans are so visual,” senior Sabina Caldwell said. “Every movie and magazine and everything that we encounter has a visual component to it.”

Humans are innately analytical creatures, but it can be argued that it is in our nature to notice appearances first. However, the alluring factor of visual beauty fades quickly.

“In my opinion, I think that being intellectual or smarter is way more important,” freshman Blake Nelson said. “Beauty’s not going to get you anywhere in life, but being intellectual can help you with your future.”

People may be more smitten with an attractive personality than an attractive appearance.

IQ go up ten points in two months?

“Acne commercials use people with pimply faces, and they’re like, ‘You can look like this movie star,’” junior Charley McGraw said. “They can profit off of people’s insecurities pretty easily.”

It takes a toll on one’s self esteem and mental stability. A study by skin care company Dove concluded that 1540 out of 2,000 girls ages 10 to 14 years considered themselves to be ugly or to have many negative traits.

It is so easy to judge one another based on appearances because it is the first thing we see.

Corporations capitalize on that.

“A lot of companies push that no matter what you look like you can always do better than that,” Caldwell said. “You’re never done improving yourself.”

If we find knowledge attractive, you would think more companies would take advantage of that. Yet, the beauty industry is dominant: a $382 billion business globally, according to Forbes.

“We have built entire industries on people looking good, just visually,” Caldwell said. “I think people are just more friendly to people who are more stereotypically attractive.”

From “Business Insider,” various studies report that physically beautiful people are assumed to be healthier, more intelligent, more persuasive, and more likable and trustworthy, purely based on their appearances.

“I think you have a better chance of your intelligence being recognized if you’re attractive,” senior Taylor Pascalar said. “However, I think we are slowly moving away from that.”

Appearances do have some value. If you want a job, it’s a good idea to wear your professional clothes, brush your hair and iron your slacks.

Still, I believe when you’re meeting new people, you shouldn’t stop at their body or attire. You shouldn’t appraise people’s appearances before

actually getting to know them. When you put appearances aside, you might meet people you have real connections with.

Constantly feeling pressured to shave your body hair, modify your face with makeup and wear shape-flattering clothing, can lead a girl to believe the natural state of her body is something to be ashamed of.

It is OK to do these things if it makes you feel good about yourself, but it is not OK to degrade or think lesser of someone who chooses not to shave their legs or wear make up.

It is OK for everyone to have body hair. It is natural. It is not dirty.

It is OK to not have bulging, defined muscles.

People shouldn’t have to go to extreme measures to be attractive when these ideas of physically-based beauty is really just a grand scheme created by corporations.

It should be all about doing what makes you happy and comfortable with your appearance and everyone should accept that rather than pressuring each other to change themselves to what society sees fit.

“When beauty is being focused on more important things that would better the world like kindness, open-mindedness and not judging people can be seen as less important,” Caldwell said.

Graphic by Alexis Riner

Movies give students wrong impression of ideal relationship Teenagers face unrealistic relationship expectations

BY KENDALL PRITCHARD Relationships are a big part of the average high school student’s life — constantly on their minds and their televisions.

But when the real-life experiences don’t match the Hollywood images, students are set up for disappointment.

Before entering high school, teenagers begin to form ideas of what they hope to find in a relationship.

“I just want a guy who is handsome, funny, has a great personality and is a follower of Christ, which is hard to find,” freshman Chandler Sells said.

Many girls begin settling in high school, as they realize they will never find that all-around perfect guy they grew up hoping for.

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always seems to come up roses and rainbows. UnGuys looking for a relationship soon come to realize they are dealing with impractical standards fortunately, Disney always depicts a perfect ending. from girls.

“It’s our job to filter through these movies and Questions like, “What should I buy them?” and decide what has influence on us,” senior Eddie Wilson said. “We shouldn’t believe everything we see, “Where should I take them on a date?” run through a high school boy’s head. even though there are some stupid people that do.”

Many Hollywood blockbusters glamorize In addition to portraying improbable relationthe idea of a high school ships, Disney and other big relationships into something motion picture companies “I think that if having a relationship fail to address the idea of a seemingly unrealistic, but becomes a chore, then it isn’t in the end, all it hurts is the same-sex relationships. teenagers and their relationMost Disney movies worth it,” ships. display a “Prince Charming” -senior Eddie Wilson In 2006, Disney introcharacter and an “everything will end up perfect” motto. duced a love story involving two high school students, “In the movies, there was “High School Musical.” The movie shows two such a thing as Prince Charming and everything students on opposite sides of the high school social works out perfectly, which isn’t always the case,” sophomore Katie Murrish said. scene: Gabriella, who excels in science and math, and Troy, who excels on the basketball court.

Not only has Disney introduced the topic of unrealistic perfect relationships, but Summit EnterIn their relationship, they go through ups and downs and face many barriers, but everything tainment has joined the bandwagon.

Page Design by Harley Phelps

The phenomenon “Twilight” displays a fictional love story.

“I don’t see Twilight as being realistic. If the guy is hot of course I’ll fall in love with their looks instantly, but it’s all about personality [in the long run],” said Murrish, who is currently enrolled in a chemistry class.

The contrast between talking to a freshman girl about relationships and a senior guy is substantially different.

You see many innocent freshman girls coming into high school with an idea of a relationship that Disney and Summit Entertainment gave them.

Instead of portraying impractical standards, these movies need to show what high school relationships actually deal with. Insecurities, jealousy, hectic schedules, homework, preparing for college and working a part time job.

“I think that if having a relationship becomes a chore, then it isn’t worth it,” Wilson said. “Relationships should be fun. If it’s too much to handle, it’s probably time to just rethink things.”

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photo page

Winter sports teams make a splash Athletes thrive on the court, in swimming pools and at bowling alleys for sports seasons

(Left) Gliding through the water, sophomore Jack Ryan swims in the 200 Freestyle on Jan. 11 at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. Photo by Ashley Hocking

(Below) Preparing to shoot a free throw, junior

Marissa Pope keeps her eye on the net of the basket.

The varsity girls’ basketball team played Olathe East on Jan. 17. The team lost 44-35. Photo by Joseph Anderson

(Above) Executing the fight song, sophomore Ashley Ammann, junior Emily Easum and freshman Sydney Haralson pump up the student section at a basketball game on Jan. 14. Photo by AnnaKate KleibĂśhmer

(Far left) Winding up to release the bowling ball, sophomore Lauren Schulteis participates in a bowling meet at Royal Crest Lanes on Jan. 23. Schulteis is a member of the JV bowling team.

Photo by Ashley Hocking

(Left) Grappling on the mat, senior Xavier Kenney wrestles in the Olathe South duel, which took place at Lawrence High School on Jan. 23. The lions defeated Olathe South 58-18.

Photo by Joseph Anderson

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Page Design By Ashley Hocking