The Budget, Issue 4, 2023-24 by LHS Budget

The Budget

Lawrence High School Lawrence, KS Volume 131 Issue 4 December 2023

Happy Festivus

We explain an unusual holiday and the origins of this opinionated issue Page 2

Locked doors create problems

Looked doors on south end of building create problems Page 6-7

The Budget News

IN THIS ISSUE

Hateful Speech at school events harms us all

Power plant north of town must close

Confessions accounts harm students

The Budget

Lawrence High School Lawrence, KS Volume 131 Issue 4 December 2023

Staffers sound off with their airing of grievances

WE’VE GOT MORE ONLINE FOLLOW @lhsbudget

Happy Festivus

We explain an unusual holiday and the origins of this opinionated issue Page 2

Locked doors create problems

Looked doors on south end of building create problems Page 6-7

@lhs.budget

Cerenity Hardy banks shot to win basketball game in final seconds

Math teacher practices jiu jitsu

Santa makes the rounds at LHS for “Angie Attempts”

As yummy bites of news, these gingerbread men have had a big year. They’re decorated to represent graduation hopes, the zombie-themed fall play, culinary classroom challenges, local elections, the girls gymnastics second-place finish at state and more. Graphic by Lily Norton

Welcome to

FESTIVUS

The airing of grievances has arrived with the newspaper BY SAMA ABUGHALIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

he Festivus season is upon us, and we’re pretty sure you don’t know what we’re talking about, so let us explain. Festivus is a fictional holiday featured on the TV show Seinfeld. It’s an old show. Its final episode aired before we were born, so you may not be familiar with it, but we were inspired by a holiday episode featuring the made-up celebration of Festivus. One key component of the holiday is a part known as the “airing of grievances.” That is when you tell all the people around you how they’ve wronged you throughout the year. We’ve got a lot of problems, and as Frank Costanza says, “You’re gonna hear about ‘em.” This issue is full of…well, issues. Once you leave this spread, we’re dedicating the rest of this newspaper to the passionate opinions of our staffers and contributors.

2 DECEMBER 2023

At the end of this issue, we have given our staff the opportunity to share their personal grievances — whether it be internal strife or peeves about other drivers. But you should know we’re not always complaining. It’s been a great year. This is the fourth issue of The Budget this year — our most aggressive publishing schedule since COVID-19. We’ve won lots of awards as a program this semester. In November, The Budget received third place Best of Show at the National High School Journalism Convention in Boston. The Red and Black yearbook took second place Best of Show. The journalism program also received numerous individual awards this year, including National Convention contests, Best of SNO, and KSPA monthly contests. And we’re proud of the work we’ve done this year and the work planned for next semester. So there will be lots to celebrate as we gather one last time around the Festivus pole in Room 306 before heading out to break.

Natasha Torkzaban, Zana Kennedy and Sama Abughalia, editors-in-chief of The Budget

(The pole is real. It’s weird. It’s Festivus.) We wish you the best in airing your grievances this holiday season.

LEARN MORE

Watch this quick video about Festivus so you can understand its roots.

The Budget News

Festival of Trees contribution helps students

GIVE BACK

Donation of decoration tree goes to event benefiting O’Connell Shelter BY ASHLYN TELL REPORTER

fundraiser as an LHS teacher. “What we continued to think over the years is this is a really good n old Lawrence High intro service project to engage tradition is back and students at the high school that bigger than ever. makes a difference at the This year, “It’s cool how community level as well,” Student council decorated Platt said. it all CAME and donated its very own When Platt retired in LHS-themed Christmas tree TOGETHER.” to the Lawrence Festival —David Platt. 2022, the tradition faltered. This year, he suggested the of Trees, a tradition dating retired LHS donation to a few student back nearly 30 years. teacher council members including In the past, various senior Emily Brandt, student body teachers and student groups have co-president, offering to provide participated, each collectively purthe tree if StuCo would decorate it. chasing a tree and decorating it for “We thought it was a great idea,” donation to the festival. Proceeds Brandt said. support O’Connell Children’s Shannon Livingston, a clinical Shelter, a foster and youth shelter specialist at the shelter, works serving northeast Kansas. closely with the festival, and said Retired LHS teacher David Platt all proceeds go directly to fund was instrumental in promoting the

programming for youth in their care. That programming reflects its commitment to serving the community. “When you’re talking about keeping kids in school, keeping them on the right path, that only positively influences the community,” Livingston said. This year, the LHS tree was auctioned for $700. And it was one of more than 70 trees. The festival had its biggest year yet. “It’s cool how it all came together,” Platt said. “And it still comes around and serves the students.” On display, the student counsel-decorated tree sparkles during public tour times for the Festival of Trees, which took place at Maceli’s. Photo by Eliza Naumann

Classes and groups help with family

ADOPTIONS

Groups adopt families, get gifts on wishlists to help community BY RHUBARB BRUBACHER REPORTER

n the final weeks leading up to winter break, Lawrence High’s clubs, teams, and second hour classes wrapped up their Adopt-a-Family donations. The culminating group shopping trips tied a finishing bow on the project. Student council, which is in charge of organizing everything from dates to gift distribution, has led the school to this prominent position for more than three decades.

Jaina Poettker, junior class vice president, mentioned the posterity of maintaining that tradition, but stressed the ultimate goal of the program as its top priority. “I think it’s just nice to know that you helped someone,” Poettker said. Junior Katelyn Daugherty, who participated for the first time this year through IPS, also emphasized the philanthropic aspects. “I think everybody deserves to get presents and everybody deserves to be happy,” Daugherty said.

Another group, a collaboration between first hour social studies classes lead by Tracy Murray and Valerie Schrag, took their shopping trip after about a month of preparation and donations of all sizes. “The shopping part is really exciting to get to see, but even seeing students digging through their change, just seeing students being engaged,” Murray said. “It’s watching students get so excited to go find things, knowing they’re going to make something better for someone else.”

DECEMBER 2023 3

The Budget Opinion

Hateful speech at school events

HARMS US ALL

Inappropriate language in the student section needs to be punished and stopped BY MAYA SMITH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, RED & BLACK

@?!*

#$? @&! ??!#%! !?@%? ?!%# ?!&! !?%*# @&$?! ?!# @!?&*! @!?% &#!? %@! ?!%! %?#$?

earing a Lawrence High student say the words “burn them at the stake” about an LGBTQ+ student was not even the most shocking example of things I have heard in the student section, but it is definitely one that should not have been brushed off so lightly. The same goes for the handful of students known for their use of the F-slur. This behavior is nothing new and has become a typical occurrence at school sporting events. Most attribute this to the competitive nature of the game, getting caught up in the moment or even just joking around. But at what point do we stop ignoring the damage done to our community and those made to feel unsafe? This year, it’s been impossible to ignore inappropriate language, obscenities and slurs yelled in the student section at games. This isn’t new nor is it exclusive to Lawrence In the last year, many schools around the High School by any means, but it’s become country have faced similar issues with things more normalized over the last few years. said at games. Racially-charged allegations During the Oct. 3 boys soccer game, LHS around the behavior of Valley Center High students were particularly rowdy. The interSchools students during a game against actions with Shawnee Mission Northwest Topeka High exploded into a national news players as well as referees ended with angry story. Immediately, petitions were players and frustrated parents from This made in an attempt to ban their the other bench. school from attending games, making behavior Athletic Director Mike Gillman headlines across the state. That’s is not us. It communicated concerns with leaders what one would assume the reaction in the student section, but the messhould not should be for offensive language like sages that got passed along secondbecome us, this towards players or students. hand to the rest of the student body ever, and Sometimes outrage is needed. through GroupMe were confusing. At IT’S ON Students deserve more than a one point, the student section buzzed EVERYONE minor warning for calling classwith concerns that students now had mates slurs. Our administrators and TO FIX IT. to sit with parents at soccer games. At teachers should start giving warnings another point, students relayed that and punishments to specific students and go they would be breathalyzed at games and through with punishments, rather than crealso needed to cut out homophobic slurs at ating a culture where punishments become football games. empty threats. Students who marginalize All were empty threats. Nothing changed. their peers at a game shouldn’t be able to do And what were students most concerned the same at the next game. about? The threat of being breathalyzed. Not Going forward, we also need to hold ourthe question of slurs or language.

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Graphic by Emily Hurd selves as students more accountable for our actions as well as the actions of our peers. Students should not feel scared to report a fellow student just because they are older or sit in the front row. Anyone who uses this kind of language should be reported and punished, every time. Because this has to stop. The environment of our building, whether that’s on the field, the court, or at an away game, is built by us as students. We do not want to become known for having students using that language anywhere, especially when we are representing our school. More importantly, even if students who say slurs don’t face consequences, the victims of those slurs still feel the impact of being targeted at school events. This behavior is not us. It should not become us, ever, and it’s on everyone to fix it. It is time to stop saying people won’t change, or dismissing it because, “that’s just how they are.” Instead, we need to hold each other accountable. Every single time.

The Budget Opinion

It’s time for Lawrence to

FIRE COAL

Closing Lawrence’s coal plant is an important step to ending climate change BY BRENDAN SYMONS GUEST WRITER

don’t believe in vegetarian “bacon”, I keep my heat 2 degrees warmer in the winter than you do, and though my car would probably fail any extensive emissions test, I drive it anyways. I’m bad at recycling, my phone was made through the artisanal craftsmanship of toddlers in a Congolese Cobalt Mine, and I probably take international flights more frequently than I take the bus. All of my fashion is fast — and all of my consumption is conspicuous. I love plastic bags, and I hate paper straws. If there was a checklist of carbon cardinal sins, I’d probably cross off most of its boxes. Of course I recognize climate change as a serious problem — maybe even the most dire one facing our generation, but often it seems as though my individual actions won’t impact the outcome of a seemingly inevitable climate catastrophe, and my lifestyle mirrors that. I’d love to say that I’m carbon neutral, but I’m positively carbon positive. Regardless of whether I one day become the household eco-warrior I aspire to be, it’s important to recognize that none of our individual carbon footprints compare to that of the Shaq-Sized shoes being worn by the fossil fuels industry. Personal responsibility is one thing, but collective responsibility is far more important. In order to stop the worst impacts of climate change, we need to start holding our worst offenders responsible. Recently, Evergy Power reversed course on its promise to phase out Lawrence’s coal power plant for renewables — despite coal being the most polluting source of electricity generation. This reversal presents a number of challenges not only in the

fight against global climate change, but also as a dangerous risk to our local community. According to a study published in November by researchers from George Mason University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the fine particulate air pollutants generated from coal power are uniquely associated with more than double the risk of death from other sources. Alarmingly, the researchers estimate that our town’s coal plant can be associated with around 180 deaths since 1999, not to mention its countlessly-uncountable impacts on respiratory health. Additionally, coal presents a potential ecological threat for our local ecosystem, as explained by the Sierra Club. “These plants not only poison our air, they leach heavy metals into our water supply that devastate local wildlife and undermine the purity of our drinking water sources,” the environmental group said in a press release on its website. The Sierra Club notes that coal power is economically inviable. “While the cost of renewables has trended downward over time, fossil fuel prices have skyrocketed,” the Sierra Club wrote. “Last year alone, solar and wind energy were a whopping 40% cheaper on average than fossil fuels.” In reversing course on its decision, Evergy Power is asking our community to pay more, to endanger our natural ecosystem, and risk our lives with dirty air. Let’s start treating fossil fuel companies with the same standards to which we hold ourselves. You’d probably be angry if your neighbor was dumping trash into your yard, so why wouldn’t you be if they were giving you asthma? Let’s get real bleak here for a moment. That study that I mentioned

earlier — the one that showed 180 deaths associated with Lawrence’s coal power plant — nationwide, that death toll reaches 460,000. Though I’m sure it would benefit our local ecosystem and ease some strain on our pocketbooks, closing down the plant here is not going to be the deciding factor for a worldwide fall or rise of a degree or two. There’s something about the idea of caring about climate change that, to many of us, can seem incredibly lame. Slow, incremental progress toward a nebulous goal is not the most exciting clarion call for a movement. Yet, it needs to happen. Personally, I’ll keep trying to be better at recycling. Hell, I might even use a paper straw — though you’ll never catch me eating vegetarian “bacon.” You should try to be conscious of your own impact as well. But until we all start taking our collective incremental steps more seriously, we’re going to need to accept that we’ll be left in a situation where it may be too late to take drastic action. We need to stop climate change well before it’s too late to say, “It’s now or never.” On the other hand, we could always not. After all, it would be unfair to the Emir of Qatar: He has palaces to maintain, exotic animals to train and superyacht parties for hosting. The Emir has worked so hard for his generational wealth, and it’s not his fault that you weren’t born into a royal family in the Persian gulf. Anyways, I heard that he’s thinking about buying his 11th plane, and under no circumstance should he be forced to compromise his selfcare routine for you. And if climate change truly is as bad as all those scientists say, then the Emir sends his regards. From Mars

DECEMBER 2023 5

The Budget Opinion

6 DECEMBER 2023

The Budget Opinion

Students are getting stuck

OUTSIDE

LHS parking in south lot needs better access to the building all day BY MAESLYN HAMLIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, RED & BLACK

to get to class without breaking these rules and without risking our safety. Because the current systems are not working. No matter how strict adminwas one block into the istrators think they are, no matter two-block walk to the front how vigilant they think they can of the building when I be, for generations students have slipped on the ice-covered proved teenagers are sneakisidewalk along Louisiana. er than adults can be With no first hour, I For vigilant. have no shot at a spot in generations We have almost 610 the front parking lot and students student parking spots no chance at entering have proved and nearly 615 student the doors near the larger teenagers are drivers, using poll inforparking lots on the south mation and disregarding SNEAKIER side of LHS. Those doors parking pass numbers, as lock during first hour and than adults do the majority of student aren’t accessible again can be drivers to LHS. As the until lunchtime. VIGILANT. main lot fills by the beginThe temptation to ask a ning of second hour, late start stufriend to open a door is real. dents have no choice but to find a Yet that’s exactly what we’re different spot, whether that be the not supposed to do. And I get it. back-lot, the annex lot, Veterans I was in first grade when Park — which now threatens to the letter came home that we tow — or teacher parking. would start practicing lockdown If a student parks in the annex drills in class. I was at Hillcrest parking lot, they will have to walk Elementary School, far away from around the building to get to Newtown, Conn., when I learned class. This means walking more of the Sandy Hook Elementary than a third of a mile to the front School shooting. door. From there, they might find I had the conversation with themselves walking all that way my parents that while I was back to their class in the former learning about fractions and how annex. This in no way aligns with to read those big scary words the push by administrators to like security, the first graders in have kids in class earlier. Newtown were forever 6 and 7 After the lockdown on Nov. years old. They didn’t know it, but 6, students and staff received an they had a permanent impact on email from Principal Quintin Rials public school children across the reminding us to “keep all outside country. doors locked. Do not prop open So I get why we don’t want to any doors, or let any students or prop doors, why we don’t want adults in a door. If a student or to let “just anybody” in. But we adult needs to enter LHS after must make it possible for students school starts they will need to

Illustration by Neva Livingston

enter through the front office.” It’s just another reminder of the inaccessibility of our building. Students were told that if we see anyone opening a door, we should call the office and report it, and that the student opening secure doors would face consequences. Students regularly have to come to school at different time during the day. Some have no first hour while others are returning from the College and Career Center or appointments. They need a way to get to class without walking so far through the cold, rain or whatever else Kansas weather subjects us to. And despite threats of discipline, many students won’t. Up until this school year, we have had student ID cards that let us into the building. Without access to the card readers, it’s more common to see people opening outside doors. While the district wrote off chipped student IDs as a security risk, taking them away has actually proved a detriment to student safety. District administrators and district officials hope that by locking doors through the 10-minute passing period between first and second period will aid student safety. In reality this decision is only hindering punctuality, attendance and overall security of the building If administrators are going to preach to students about being present and on time, the district needs to invest in methods to create better accessibility to our building.

DECEMBER 2023 7

The Budget Opinion

Far too many

EYES ON US

New AI software causes controversy as it begins widespread scans of student accounts BY JACK TELL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, LHSBUDGET.COM

ild rumors spread quickly around LHS on Dec. 1 when Free State High School initiated a brief lockdown over a piece of student-written content flagged by Gaggle. The new AI-driven software had only been in place for about two weeks, and it had operated largely behind the scenes. Administrators were kept busy with several student meetings and interventions, but the rest of the school was largely unaware that anything new was happening. Science teacher Zachary Casey noted that the district only sent an explanatory email nearly two weeks after Gaggle was implemented. And even after that, there were still questions. “I think everybody is still a little bit confused on exactly how it works. I’m not entirely certain on how it works,” Casey said. That is a problem. Because on that Friday, teachers were tasked with responding to student questions that they didn’t have answers for. Students wanted to know what was being monitored, and how. Gaggle only monitors school Google accounts, but that was not the narrative that spread. There were stories being passed around about all sorts of illegal surveillance — none of which were true. One misguided student even tried to organize a walkout, claiming that Gaggle was surveilling everyone’s phones and personal social media accounts. It’s not. Digital monitoring is nothing new for the district, but it has never been done before at this scale and with this amount

8 DECEMBER 2023

of precision. Gaggle is very efficiently create serious personnel problems for the scanning all district Google accounts and district, and there are no clear guidelines sending reports of any concerning matefor who is going to deal with reports sent rial straight to school administrators. For at night. many students, the idea of this vigorous Another problem with Gaggle is that it online scrutiny is alarming, even if it is has no bounds on what it monitors within meant to ensure safety. the district’s Google Suite. This includes “When I’m typing things out in terms material that the journalism staff producof not actually making a threat es, like sensitive interviews, “It makes me but it perceives things as a confidential sources, and feel a little bit threat,” senior Henry Keeler important data. said. “It makes me feel a little These journalism mateUNCOMFORTABLE bit uncomfortable knowing rials are protected under the knowing that that they’re scanning everyKansas Shield Law, which they’re scanning thing that I’m writing and prevents journalists from everything.” reading it.” having to disclose their sourc—Henry Keeler, This is exactly the es. This is where Gaggle is senior problem. That little bit of problematic. The Shield Law discomfort. Gaggle is going specifically requires a court through students’ deepest misgivings and hearing before any confidential informadarkest secrets and sending them straight tion is released. If Gaggle prompted the to school principals. Of course students district to look at any document containcan understand that it is meant as a ing our notes, that would be illegal. Gaggle safety measure. But given the sensitivity has the potential to allow both Gaggle of the software, there should have been a employees and district administrators to massive communication effort executed violate our rights as journalists. before it was put in place to ensure that All of these issues with Gaggle stem this kind of panic and discomfort doesn’t from a lack of foresight on the part of the happen. Instead, there was no commudistrict. nication. Online surveillance is already a They spent $162,000 on software that touchy subject, and being secretive about helps them fulfill a legal requirement it isn’t helping. under the Children’s Internet Protection Gaggle is also putting pressure on Act, without thinking deeply about the administrators responsible for dealconsequences. The school board voted ing with reports that are sent. The legal unanimously at the beginning of the year concept called “duty of care” is related to to buy Gaggle. There was no discussion proving negligence and liability, and when with the community or the students and Gaggle sends a report about a threat to the staff impacted. They overlooked that fact district, the district and the school now that monitoring students on this massive have an obligation to respond in a timely scale has real impacts on real students. and appropriate manner. Regardless of Like usual, the money came before the the time of day or night. This is going to thinking.

The Budget Opinion

DECEMBER 2023 9

The Budget Opinion

OPINION

Anonymous accounts cause

HARM *

Students deserve better than hateful, targeted messages BY DELANEY HAASE REPORTER

that should never have been discussed with anybody except the writer and I. Not only did this person share a private event with the internet, but they took the oppor’m walking with my boyfriend to get tunity to viciously lie and dehumanize me slushies at a gas station. I let go of his in the process. hand, pull out my phone and open Nearly every class I go into, I hear Instagram. somebody talking about the confession “DELANEY HAASE IS THE B****IEST account. The drama and gossip is exactly B***H ALIVE,” are the words at the top of what our brains crave, almost like an my feed. addiction. When people mention the idea Wait, me? What did I do? of the account being shut down, there “DELANEY U ARE F***ING IRRELEis an immediate, aggressive response of VANT” disagreement, which scares me. The way Who wrote this? people take enjoyment in the hate being “EVERYONE WOULD BE BETTER OFF posted makes me sick to my IF U LEARNED TO JUST STFU” stomach. Why would someone post As I read There are some innocent posts, something like this on Instagram? the post, MY but the majority are disgusting I was shocked and then laughed EYES BEGIN and downright cyberbullying, it off, thinking it was a one-time TO WATER such as one that read “i hate fat thing, not knowing it would be my and my tears b****es Fat b****es are annoying first look at Lawrence High’s new asf.” The content on the confesobsession. turned into sion account appalls me every Instagram accounts created by sobs. time I see it, not only the things students intended to interact with about myself, but what is being the student body are becoming said about others. Even though I’ve been increasingly popular. Lawrence High has able to shake off things other people have had a few, but the most prominent by far said, some can’t. is the “confession account,” where anyOne of the posts showed the sad realone can respond to a Google Form with ity of the way some students feel at our anything they see fit, such as complaints, school. It read, confessions and lies. One of the main “I don’t know why I keep trying anyattractions of the account is the option to more,” and “I seriously doubt I’m gonna have your submission be anonymous. make it to graduation.” If this alone isn’t After brushing off the post about me, I enough to open somebody’s eyes, the went on about my day. It wasn’t until later comment that reads “skill issue” on the that night that I realized how much of a post should be. problem this was starting to become. Cyberbullying on the internet is nothI opened Instagram and on my feed ing new. As of 2021, 45 percent of students was another confession. About me. said they had been cyberbullied. AccordAs I read the post, my eyes began to ing to the Suicide Prevention Resource water, and my tears turned into sobs. The Center, people younger than 25 who are contents of the confession contained exvictims of cyberbullying are twice as tremely personal and private information

10 DECEMBER 2023

! *

likely to engage in self harm and suicidal behaviors. The perpetrators of cyberbullying were also found to have an increased risk in these behaviors. A 2016 study led by Christopher Bartlett of Gettysburg College surveyed college students and found that people who felt that their identity was hidden online were more likely to report engaging in cyberbullying behavior and holding positive attitudes toward cyberbullying. School should be a place for learning and education, not a place that somebody, like myself, dreads going to every single day. The anxiety of wondering who is posting what about you or your friends is just one more added stressor to my life.

The Budget Opinion

* Graphic by Arabella Gipp Knowing the statistics and the content of this page, who are we holding accountable? Of course, the first people to blame are those who spread hate or cyberbullying through this outlet. However, bullies will be bullies, and that doesn’t usually change. There are two entities that in my opinion, hold just as much or more of a responsibility for this page than anybody submitting an anonymous Google Form. The first of those is Instagram. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, is currently in a 33-state lawsuit over its “addictive” features. Piling addictive, dramatic content onto an already addictive platform is a recipe for disaster. The main reason

Instagram needs to be held accountable is its community guidelines, or rather its lack thereof. Meta defines hate speech as “dehumanizing speech; statements of inferiority, expressions of contempt or disgust; and calls for exclusion or segregation.” Many of the posts remaining on this account that violate these community guidelines have been reported, reviewed, and approved to stay up on the platform by Instagram. Some of these posts include the text: “why do we let cripples live,” “i wanna fight that b**** if he see this meet me in the f****in boys locker room,” and “Stop being yourself and maybe you’ll be likable.” These posts are direct violations of Ins-

tagram’s guidelines and deliberate attacks, yet they were still approved by Instagram’s moderation team to stay on the platform. The account owner also needs to be held responsible. The argument, “don’t shoot the messenger” because “it isn’t their fault” is an idiotic justification. They created an anonymous space that is actively used for speech that humiliates, dehumanizes and harms others. They have control over what speech is posted. I urge the account owner to delete the account for the better of our community at Lawrence High. We are such a talented, diverse group of people capable of doing so much good. This is holding us back. Let our community shine.

DECEMBER 2023 11

The Budget Opinion

A new chapter of fun in

FORTNITE

OG Fortnite will be missed, but let's check out Chapter 5 BY NATASHA TORKZABAN AND DANNY PHALEN EDITORS IN CHIEF

s Fortnite connoisseurs, the loss of the OG map was felt greatly. It was devastating. A nostalgic joy was robbed from us just before the holiday season (thanks a lot, Santa). During Fortnite OG, we spent hours frolicking through Pleasant Park, Lazy Links, and Paradise Palms. We captured screenshots of our Jetpack trick-shots, posted 40-kill squad victory royales, and tagged our friends in our boastful Snapchat stories. The reemergence of the OG Map was a

Collab Skins

glorious time that was stripped from us all. It brought an emotion that we have yet to feel since the fall of the OG map. It brought us happiness. Epic Games, please bring back the OG map — at least as a mode. We promise it will get the recognition and love it deserves, especially from dedicated players like us. But as the honorable players we are, we would still like to review the new Chapter 5 Season 1, whole heartedly. It will be reviewed without bias, but with grief of the life that we once lived, the splashes that we once carried, the POI’s that we once visited. OG map, we miss you. But here are some of the most noteworthy new features in Fortnite Chapter 5.

Chapter 5 gained multiple iconic collaboration skins recently. An Eminem skin was released as promotion for the Big Bang Live event, as well as The Weekend to promote the new Fortnite Festival mode. The collab skins are hilarious. The variety of characters in Fortnite is impressive. We may just have to go invest in a Ninja Turtle one.

Battle Pass

The Chapter 5 Season 1 Battle Pass features some classic-style items, as well as some new editions. Some of these contemporary collectibles include futuristic vehicles, Lego variants of classic skins, and even a Peter Griffin skin — unlocked at level 70 for 950 V-bucks. We enjoy this Battle Pass and will be spending copious amounts of time grinding for the Peter Griffin Skin.

Society Medallions

A “Society Medallion” is an item you can pick up after defeating one of the five big bosses scattered across the map. When held, medallions grant you regenerating shield, but also show your location on the map. They are very fun, but can be problematic for the amount of regenerating shields it provides.

12 DECEMBER 2023

The Budget Opinion

New Map

After the Fortnite OG event, there was a completely new map in Fortnite Chapter 5. Some of the new locations include: Snooty Steppes - a lake side old Italian-style town, also one of the many weapon case locations. Rebels Roost - An abandoned mansion that is home to a weapon case. Ritzy Riviera - a humble coastal town with Vault and keycard areas.

The Train

The Chapter 5 map features a fully functioning train that travels the entire map, without stops. It can serve as a quick escape from combat, as well as grant extra loot to players. The train has become a unique mode of transportation in chapter 5, unlike anything we have seen before.

New Weapons

Chapter 5 features a completely revamped weapons department, including: Grapple-Blades, Striker AR, Nemesis AR, Hammer Pump Shotgun, Frenzy Auto Shotgun, Ballistic Shield, Reaper Sniper Rifle, Hyper SMG, Cluster Clinger, Ranger Pistol, and Thunder SMG. The new guns definitely were an adjustment at the beginning, and one of the more controversial changes of the chapter.

Weapon Mods

These modifications can include reduced recoil, increased bullet capacity, and different scopes. You can find these weapons by picking up general loot, or going to a Weapon Mod Bench to customize guns to your liking. Overall, the weapon mods seem somewhat unnecessary but still provide some benefit.

DECEMBER 2023 13

The Budget Opinion

WE’VE GOT PROBLEMS “When Declan and Finn both leave me on read in the social media editors group chat.” —Bryndal Hoover, social media video/photo editor

“Gingers. Sometimes I like them but most of the time I don’t, no offense. ” —Maison Flory, Red and Black photo editor

“The Adderal shortage, prescription only of course. It’s plagued the Budget staff quite a lot the past few weeks.” —Maya Smith, Red and Black coeditor-in-chief

“When people move up closer to me when I move up at a stoplight. The reason I am moving is because you’re too close. I don’t want to be rear ended. Please stop.” —Delaney Haase, reporter

“People who chew with their mouths open. I don’t need to hear every single smack your lips make. Shut up. Please.” —Bea Johnson, Red and Black managing editor

“I cannot stand those people who push their friends around in the hallway into other people. Or just being stuck behind people who walk the speed of a narcoleptic tortoise. MOVE!” —Caleb Carver, reporter

“Freshman who don’t understand the concept of walking on the right side of the hall.” —Declan Patrick, social media coeditor-in-chief

“I am sick and tired of the amount of people who do not wash their hands after using the bathroom. I see you walking out of that stall. We all see you. No one is fooled.” —Finn Lotton-Barker, social media co-editor-in-chief

“Little kids that get rice and lo mein all over the floor at Encore, it’s so hard to sweep up. It looks like a tornado came through the restaurant half the time.” —Lily Norton, designer

“Yellow lights on streets 45mph and above are too fast and they should be longer than lights on normal streets. Even if they are already longer they need to be longer than they already are because my car is a piece of junk and can’t break quick enough for those lights going that fast.” —Zana Kennedy, The Budget coeditor-in-chief

“What is up with people who cannot seem to take no for an answer in customer service? If I tell you I cannot make the item, you don’t need to ask me to find a work around 50 more ways. I just can’t do it!” —Silas Brush, photographer

“People that come to Subway thinking you can make the sandwich from Scooby-Doo. You’re evil, and if you ask for if you ask for extra lettuce or sauce after you’ve gotten every topping you’re even more evil. It’s impossible to make a sandwich with everything on it because you can’t close it.” —Sparrow Mock, reporter

14 DECEMBER 2023

The Budget Opinion

In the spirit of the Festivus holiday, journalism staff members are airing their grievances

“Brandon Parnell is my biggest grievance… and the 65 times he’s been fired.” —Arabella Gipp, designer

“I wish I wasn’t fired so many times. Like OK, maybe once or twice was funny, but 65 times? Is that really necessary?” —Brandon Parnell, The Budget design editor

“Sama Abughalia.” —Natasha Torkzaban, The Budget co-editor-in-chief

“Natasha Torkzaban.” —Sama Abughalia, The Budget coeditor-in-chief

“When people park in the pro staff parking at Home Depot but aren’t pro or need the spot.” —Koen Myers, Red & Black senior ads editor

“When Will Hendricks runs off in Fortnite, dies like a bot, and then wants [Natasha and I] to help.” —Lydia Folks, lhsbudget.com photo editor

“Being told, ‘The tables hinge from the middle.’ ” —Maeslyn Hamlin, Red & Black coeditor-in-chief

“Having to tell people to stop sitting on tables because they hinge in the middle.” —Barbara Tholen, adviser

THE JOURNALISM STAFF MISSION STATEMENT

The Budget is committed to providing the Lawrence High community with objective, inclusive news that ensures relevance to its readers. The staff devotes itself to the exercise of First Amendment rights and upholding the highest of journalistic standards. While the paper is a tool to publish student voices, it works to help students grow as journalists and help readers access information.

ABOUT US

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

Natasha Torkzaban.................. Co Editor-in-Chief Jonas Lord................................... Managing Editor Brandon Parnell............................... Design Editor

STAFF

Danny Phalen......................... Co-Editor-in-Chief Jack Tell................................... Co-Editor-in-Chief Lydia Folks......................................... Photo Editor Kellar Musser.............................. Managing Editor Jean-Luc Esperance ��308 Connection Manager

Alaa Abourkis, Aaminah Ahmed, Ridley Beard, Jada Big Eagle, Sara Bointy, Rhubarb Brubacher, Silas Brush, Caleb Carver, Alexis Clark, Ruby Flanner, Andie Garrett, Elise George, Arabella Gipp, Kennedy Glasgow, Ellie Goans-Heinz, Delaney Haase, Ethan Hanratanagorn, Presley Hoesch, Emily Hurd, Piper Journey, Aminah Kaeser-Wadud, Aaliysah Lanning, Jack LaRue, Ava Lee, Andrei Lefort, Neva Livingston, Sparrow Mock, Channing Morse, Eliza Naumann, Lylah North, Lily Norton, Emily O’Hare, Juliet Outka, Malcolm Paul, Nyasia Ramos, Oliver Reynolds, Mimi Rosado-Schmitt, Morgan Salisbury, Avery Sloyer, Audrey Stock, Ashlyn Tell, Fin Tholen, Dylan Wheatman, Cymone White, Selah Wolfe, Anne Woolverton

THE BUDGET EDITORS

Sama Abughalia....................... Co Editor-in-Chief Zana Kennedy.......................... Co Editor-in-Chief

LHSBUDGET.COM EDITORS

RED & BLACK EDITORS

Maeslyn Hamlin...................... Co Editor-in-Chief Maya Smith............................. Co-Editor-in-Chief Maison Flory...................................... Photo Editor Bea Johnson................................ Managing Editor Koen Myers................................Senior Ads Editor Owen Ackley.................................Captions Editor

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS

Declan Patrick.......................... Co Editor-in-Chief Finn Lotton-Barker.................. Co Editor-in-Chief Bryndal Hoover...................... Video/Photo Editor Barbara Tholen ��Adviser

DECEMBER 2023 15

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Playing Silent Night in the dark, junior Cayj Sutherland takes part in the Dolce Dicembre concert on Dec. 12. This performance, which involved orchestra members decorating their bows with Christmas lights, has proven to be longstanding tradition for the orchestra. Photo by Bryndal Hoover