Issue 5, LHS Budget, 2017-18 by LHS Budget

LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL

• LAWRENCE, KANSAS • VOLUME 125 • ISSUE 5 • FEB. 8, 2018

“THE GOAL REALLY IS TO CREATE STUDENT-CENTERED ENVIRONMENTS” —MIKE NORRIS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

IN THIS ISSUE •04 Construction to update Lawrence High •10 Students join Lawrence Women’s March•16 Lawrence paras unionize

2 • THE BUDGET

IN THIS ISSUE 04 10 20

Construction changes planned for school

Women’s March returns to Lawrence New games go viral

08 12 24

LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL

• LAWRENCE, KANSAS • VOLUME 125 • ISSUE 5 • FEB. 8, 2018

New superintendent selected Paras move to unionize Meet the 2018 Winter Court

“THE GOAL REALLY IS TO CREATE STUDENT-CENTERED ENVIRONMENTS” —MIKE NORRIS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

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IN THIS ISSUE •04 Construction to update Lawrence High •10 Students join Lawrence Women’s March•16 Lawrence paras unionize

ON THE COVER — Administrators

reveal proposed construction changes for the school, thanks to the 2017 bond issue. Illustration by Sami Turner

DANCING AWAY FROM HOME BY ELYZABETH WORKMAN

STAFF WRITER

With twinkling stars above, Winter Formal will be held in KU’s Lied Center on Feb. 10, rather than the school’s rotunda like previous formals. Everything else, from the DJ to the formal attire, will be the same. Ticket sales have been increasing every year, and Student Council members say they expect that to continue. Traditionally, Winter Formal, Lion’s Leap and Homecoming GLOW — The KU Lied Center lights up in school colors at night. The building will be the site of Winter Formal this week. Photo by Nathaniel Kearney

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER

were held at the school while prom was held elsewhere. Student Council members began to discuss making a change in meetings. “I personally was really pushing that, because Free State has their [formal] elsewhere,” said senior Graham Edmonds, student body president. Last school year, StuCo members called places around town about hosting the event. StuCo decided that the Lied Center would be the best option for Winter Formal. They then started investing their funds on the effort to take the dance off campus. “I think the idea for going back to school for a dance might not be as appealing as going to some cool venue in the community,” Edmonds said.

THE BUDGET

PUBLICATIONS HONORED BY ELYZABETH WORKMAN

STAFF WRITER

The Lawrence High newspaper, The Budget, and yearbook, the Red & Black, have been honored this year for being among the best in the nation. The 2017 newspaper in November book year k Blac & Red 2017 was one of just 25 schools nationally to receive a Pacemaker award from the National Scholastic Press Association. The yearbook is a finalist for the same honor. Yearbook winners will be announced in April. In the newspaper division, the NSPA selects several different issues of a newspaper from different months and judges them. This is a challenge because some of the issues being judged might be more news-heavy. The NSPA has recognized the hard work that the LHS has put into The Budget.

BE THE BEST DATE

“I can see this real continuous stream of different people and their inputs and what they’ve done to put us where we are,” journalism adviser Barbara Tholen said. There are about 50 different papers selected to be finalists in the competition, and half go on to gain an award. Four different papers from across the state of Kansas were selected as finalists and half won an award. “It’s very important because they are recognizing the work that the staff has put in to creating these really big publications,” senior yearbook coeditor Harry Easley said. Tholen said she is proud of the journalism students for having two publications honored nationally. “I think that anytime you have students doing work that’s being recognized nationally, it’s 08 something 15 to step back and 20 take note of,” Tholen Issue 1, The Budget, 2016-17 said.

BUDG ET

Lawrence High School

Volume 124, Issue 1 — Sept.

Teachers ask for preferred pronouns

22, 2016

Sophomore Katie Williams offers five tips for being a good Winter Formal date

Don’t ditch!

Coordinate your outfit with your date or you won’t look like you are supposed to be a pair.

Be on time. Starting off on the wrong foot is a big yikes.

Be present in the moment. It’s important to capture pictures, but at times, it’s best to focus on creating the memory, not recording it.

Get groovy with them. If you can’t break it down and have fun, find a new date.

Students get involved in Black Lives Matter

Travis Barfield honored by teammates

•3

SAVE THE DATE: FIVE EVENTS YOU SHOULDN’T MISS

1 FEB. 9

Winter Court Basketball Games 5:30 p.m. Main Gym

2 FEB. 10

Winter Formal Dance 8:30-11 p.m. the Lied Center

FEB. 15

MARCH 1

Band Concert 7:30 p.m. Auditorium

Blood Drive 8 a.m.-2 p.m. West Gym

5 MARCH 5

Choir Winter Postlude Concert 7:30-10 p.m. Auditorium

PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER• FEB. 8, 2018

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THE BUDGET

•5

BUILDING PLANS

After 2017 bond vote, the question remains: ‘Can we build it?’ Yes, we can! BY CONNOR SCHMAUS

EDITOR

ollowing the renovation of a new main entrance, Lawrence High has once again taken on a large-scale construction project. Over winter break, one classroom from each core department received remodeling to test ideas for the upcoming bond remodeling. Story continued on page 6

PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER & ANNA PARNELL • FEB. 8, 2018

6 • THE BUDGET Continued from page 5 Each class was fitted to a set of guidelines determined by a committee of staff, architects and administrators. While the foundation of the classes remained the same, new furniture, layouts and technology was added to fit the district’s new approach of a student-centered classroom. Assistant Principal Mike Norris is part of the committee along with Principal Matt Brungardt. “The goal really is to create student-centered environments,” Norris said. “Technology is part of that.” The other goal of the refurnishing is to unify classes within a department, allowing for a more departmentalized approach to the layout of the school. Students are optimistic that this organization will help them and other students feel more comfortable in unfamiliar rooms. “[Students] might be able to learn in the future in like a different teacher’s class because of familiar surroundings,” junior Emily Haynes said. The implementation is not without problems. Installation of some new technology has come more slowly than originally expected, to the inconvenience of the teachers. “It’s not finished correctly,” science teacher Penny Kramer said. “There’s still some pretty big problems.” However, some aspects have worked well, enhancing the abilities of the class-

Plans are still in the works, but here’s a peek at changes being planned for the school REPORTING BY NATHANIEL KEARNEY

Sources: Assistant principal Mike Norris and Whitney Lang, Gould Evans senior associate

room. “The new projector is fantastic,” Kramer said. “It gives me an 80-inch screen for showing videos or assignments, and that’s just wonderful.” The committee aims to take input from these teachers as they finalize plans for furnishing the departments. The process will be very gradual and no major changes will occur until the 2018-2019 school year. Similar to the construction in the elementary schools, teachers may have to double-up on rooms or relocate to temporary add-ons. “You only have so much space and can only fit so many in there,” Norris said. “That’s where some of the additions come in.” Overall, students and staff are anxious for the upcoming changes, and the pilot program has given them a glimpse of some fixes to the outdated facilities of Lawrence High. “They really cleaned it up,” sophomore Colton Khatib said. “[The classes] used to look old and dirty, but now they’re clean.” SOLVING THE EQUATION — Junior Adelai Spears uses the new smart board in math teacher Greg Farley’s classroom. The new update comes as a sneak peak to what all the classrooms at Lawrence High will look like after the school renovation. Photo by Aidin Manning

NEW ENVIRONMENTS

Learning pods are small rooms for students to use as they need. Each of the different sizes can hold four, six or eight people and have windows looking out toward neighboring classrooms and hallways. Some may be equipped with monitors or other technology for students to collaborate or make presentations. Photo by Sam Webb

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY NATHANIEL KEARNEY

MAKING ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES

Sports and physical education will also receive changes. Specialized lockers that can hold large sports equipment and larger locker rooms for athletes are a priority. The pool will be expanded to create more space, and locker rooms are expected to move. A larger weight room and a new cardio room are also on the agenda. Photo by Emily Kruse

THE BUDGET

SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT

Classrooms will be remodeled to let more natural light into every area possible. Multiple small, accessible courtyards will line down the middle of the main building with classrooms surrounding each of them. Some classrooms will make the use of new technology, such as interactive short-throw projectors or large monitors. Illustration courtesy of Gould Evans

LOCKERS GOING AWAY

Because of the space lockers take up and their cost to maintain, they will be removed from the main hallways to accommodate each classroom with a front porch, where benches or small tables will allow students to continue to be productive with their work while being in close proximity to their classes. Photo by Emily Kruse

•7

CLOSING UP CAMPUS

Security on campus is a high priority. Students will be able to use outside areas to socialize, study or eat in safety. Outdoor areas will be surrounded by buildings and fences to provide a distinct barrier between what is outside and inside of school. Doors will remain locked to the outside during the day. The annex will be connected so students won’t have to go outside between classes. Illustration courtesy of Gould Evans

PAGE DESIGN BY NATHANIEL KEARNEY • FEB. 8, 2018

8 • THE BUDGET

SUPERINTENDENT SELECTED BY BOARD

Anthony Lewis set to begin this summer, bringing experience in improvement BY ANAHITA HURT

ONLINE CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

nthony Lewis, a Kansas City, Mo., school official, will be the next superintendent of Lawrence USD 497. USD 497 school board members finalized his hiring on Jan. 29. He will join the district on July 1. Lewis is currently the assistant superintendent in Kansas City, Mo. “Dr. Lewis’ passion for education and his commitment to putting students first was abundantly clear to the board,” school board president Shannon Kimball said in a press release. “He has a proven record of improving student

achievement while building strong relationships with students, families, teachers and the community.” Lewis holds four degrees, including two in special education, one in educational leadership, and one in educational leadership and policy analysis. He has worked as a special education teacher, science teacher, vice principal, principal and assistant superintendent. “I chose to become an educator because I spent time during the summer working at a school for the deaf and blind,” Lewis said during an interview. “I would listen to some of the comments that people would say about students with disabilities and that kind of ignited a fire in me to become a special education teacher, to advocate. I’m always an advocate for the underdog. That’s really why I became an educator.” Lewis has a track record with school improvement. Within three years of being principal of E.D. Nixon Elementary School, the school went from being on the verge of a state takeover to ranked 18th out of 706 schools in Alabama. “I’ll tell you that a plan that I do have is to just get out into the community, into different schools, listening to parents, listening to students,

listening to community members, to see what you guys would want to improve,” Lewis said. “Of course, I’ve looked at the data, and there are somethings that sort of stand out, but I want this to be a collaborative effort, to ensure that we are improving on the areas that we need to improve on.” Lewis comes most recently from Kansas City, Mo., which is a more diverse school district. This background could be beneficial as USD 497 continues to pursue open conversation about race and the LGBTQ community. “To ensure we are all educating ourselves, to ensure we are creating those spaces where students or anybody feels comfortable about talking about these issues because this is Lawrence, these are our students, these are our families,” Lewis said. “We have to create those spaces to ensure that one, we’re able to talk without it being hostile, and then we’re able to address the issue and together develop a plan to ensure that everyone feels included here in Lawrence.” Lewis has six children and said his favorite things to do with them are fish and wrestle. His favorite TV show is the “Andy Griffith Show.” Even before being officially named to the post, he was envisioning himself in Lawrence, riding around town with a realtor. “I think I can bring my ability to build relationships with people, my knowledge of what it takes to improve student outcomes,” Lewis said, “my ability to forge relationships with students as well, to ensure students like coming to school, to ensure that teachers are highly effective teachers as well.” HIRED — Anthony Lewis will start work this summer as superintendent in Lawrence USD 497. Photo courtesy of USD 497

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY ALICIA RUDER

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10 • THE BUDGET

THE STORY — Feminists rally in protest against the Trump administration on Jan. 20 in South Park, recreating last year’s Women’s March for Equality. The crowd championed reform of all manner, promoting civil rights and gender equality. Photo by Emily Kruse UNITED— Protesters come together to stand up for equal rights for women. Speakers at the Lawrence Women’s March included City Commissioner Lisa Larsen, former Kansas Poet Laureate Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Haskell Indian Nations University administrator Julia Good Fox and Lawrence NAACP chapter leader Ursula Minor. Photo by Emily Kruse YOUTH — Citizens of all ages rally together for the march. The first Women’s March in 2017 was a way to protest the Trump administration and the inequality women face. Photo by Emily Kruse WE CAN DO IT — Unique signs were seen throughout the march, which attracted thousands. Photo by Emily Kruse TEACHER — Art teacher Wendy Vertacnik participates in the Women’s March. Vertacnik said she enjoyed the march. “I thought the speakers were all good, and I was really impressed that so many people attended, and it was the most attended in the region,” Vertacnik said. Photo by Emily Kruse

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER

THE BUDGET

• 11

WOMEN GATHER FOR SECOND

MARCH Thousands join Lawrence Women’s March BY JACKSON HOY

COPY CHIEF

housands gathered in South Park on Jan. 20 for Lawrence’s 2018 Women’s March, and many LHS students were among the group. “There were speeches at the beginning and a lot of people had signs, and then about after an hour, we walked up Mass Street and then down,” junior Adi Spears said. “We didn’t have a permit so we had to walk on the sidewalk.” Many who attended the march did so to protest actions of President Donald Trump, as the march was scheduled on the one-year anniversary of his inauguration. Others also chose to stand for issues that mattered to them. “I would call myself a pro-choice individual, so that’s really important to me, and I was also trying to be there to stand up for trans rights because I know there were several women there that were transphobic or not interested in promoting total equality,” senior Satori Good said. Freshman Amanda Earnhart called the opening speeches “inspirational” and said they were her favorite part of the gathering. “The atmosphere was, I think it was powerful, especially because Lawrence is such a Democratic city in such a red state,” Earnhart said. “I think people really enjoyed getting together and listening to people make powerful speeches.” Senior Allison Day, who witnessed the march but did not attend, noted that the issues represented at the march are applicable to LHS. “The same issues of women’s equality can be present at Lawrence High,” Day said. “In sports and things, the girls’ sports aren’t always as well-attended... Part of the issue surrounding the Lawrence march, they were

marching for equality obviously and didn’t include everyone that could have been included. They were pretty predominantly white women that were marching, and I think that same kind of exclusion is still a problem at Lawrence High with things that we do.” Day’s concerns about total inclusion at the march were echoed by Good, who said that “there were a couple signs that were not thought out in terms of LGBT representation, but other than that, those are individual people and I think the collective community did pretty well.” Despite concerns about some of the ways it was advertised, students were unanimous that the march was successful. “There was a really good turnout and a lot of people saw us,” Spears said. “As we were walking downtown, people were honking their horns at us and waving.” Spears, who attended the march last year in Topeka, said she noticed a difference in the atmosphere. “I felt like I saw more men last year and more signs,” she said. “People seemed a lot more excited last year.” Students interviewed mentioned different issues that mattered to them most, a reflection of the diverse causes represented at the march. For Good, it was the wage gap. Day and Spears emphasized the importance of protecting Planned Parenthood and access to women’s healthcare. Earnhart said that the “pursuit of truth in this country and the ability to treat everyone equally” mattered to her most. Day said she wished a wider variety of people had felt more welcome to take part. “I think the reason that people... [who] were trans folks or people of color didn’t go, is because they felt that they wouldn’t be welcome, and so I think it could have been advertised and promoted in a more inclusive way,” Day said.

PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER • FEB. 8, 2018

12 • THE BUDGET

PARAS

UNITE Paraprofessionals work with the teachers union to improve employment rights

BY FREEMAN SPRAY

COPY CHIEF

hat started out as one paraeducator’s complaint with the district’s current system for management and treatment of paraeducators quickly blossomed into a strong movement, supported by the Lawrence Education Association. Bargaining for a better work environment, many paraprofessionals across the district have recently become involved in a mission for professional equality. The paras involved with the movement worked with key members of the Kansas National Education Association and the Lawrence Education Association to voice their complaints. They are working to get improved job security, better wages, and overall better treatment and respect for paras across the district. Many feel they are not being treated with the same respect that other faculty members are. “Some paraeducators feel like second class citizens in their own buildings,” LHS paraeducator Jennifer Stock said. “We really want to build a climate of respect and inclusion.”

The paras held multiple public hearings with LEA to work out a solution to their concerns, and soon partnered with the LEA to join the organization as a separate branch. Although they have made an important step toward having their

“ SOME PARAEDUCATORS FEEL LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS IN THEIR OWN BUILDING.” —JENNIFER STOCK, PARA voices heard, the paras are still trying to obtain the same privileges as teachers have and are fighting for the right to bargain their contracts. Being able to bargain would give them greater freedom and would make it much easier for them to perform and keep their jobs. “You have probably noticed that we still have signs in front hiring paras,” LEA member and LHS SPED teacher Claudean McKellips said. “The district has a hard time retaining them.” The district struggles to keep

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY PAM VUE

paraeducators employed and constantly has to hire new ones, largely because paras work what is essentially full time for an unlivable wage, supporters of the effort to organize said. Many are forced to work another job in order to continue working in the district. “People who work with children, especially in the education sector, shouldn’t have to be on public assistance just to survive,” Stock said. Moving forward, the paras are attempting to further organize themselves to qualify for privileges. Through support from teachers and the district, they hope to make substantial progress this year. “We’ve gotten a lot of support from the teachers union, which is great,” Stock said. “Right now we are working on setting up our goals and what we want to get done.”

THE BUDGET

• 13

THINGS

YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PARAS UNIONIZING

REPORTING BY FREEMAN SPRAY

What is the LEA?

The Lawrence Education Association is an organization designed to protect and support members of the Lawrence school district through programs like the teachers union, which guarantees members better opportunities and job security by giving them the option to bargain their contracts.

What benefits do the paras want?

Paras have successfully joined the LEA as a separate union branch but lack some of the benefits teachers have in their union, namely the ability to bargain their contracts. They want to negotiate for a higher wage, job security and equality in the workplace.

What do paras do?

Para’s perform a variety of jobs. Often, they work one-on-one with special needs students to ensure success in a classroom environment. Some also work in classrooms to instruct individual students or groups. HELPING HAND— Paraprofessional Jennifer Stock helps freshmen students work in English class. Photo by Emily Kruse HARD AT WORK — Para Diane Owen helps a senior finish their worksheet. Photo by Aidin Manning

How long do paras work on average?

Typical weeks are 37.5 hours, but their job is not considered full-time despite their long hours.

What do paras need to do to meet their goals? Fifty percent plus one of all paras in the district must back the movement in order to begin negotiating for the right to bargain.

PAGE DESIGN BY PAM VUE • FEB. 8, 2018

GET R

E ADY FOR 2018-19

Cheer & Pom TRYOUTS

Pre-tryout clinic (cheer only)

For freshmen and new participants only 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 26

Clinics for all

THANK YOU

JOURNALISM SUPPORTERS

LENDING A LION PAW

6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 28

Tryouts

4 p.m. Thursday, March 29 Cheer first, then Pom

Get the details

Tryout packets available in the Athletic Office

Parent information meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 13

Questions?

Contact Gwen Wedd: 785-330-4728 or gwedd@usd497.org

RED & BLACK DONORS

Edmonds Duncan Advisors The Easleys Melody McKenzie

THE BUDGET

• 15

REPLICATING SUCCESS Girls bowling team members continue to roll their way to victory

BY TREY HULSE

CO-SPORTS EDITOR

he girls bowling team hopes for an even more successful campaign this season, having as much talent and potential as last year. This is a high yet attainable goal, as the Lions are reigning Sunflower League champions. “My goal is to go back to Sunflower League and reclaim our title,” returning varsity bowler Diamonique Vann said. The start of the year was slow and left the team anxious for competition. Two of the first three meets were postponed, stalling the start of the season and leaving the girls with only having played three tournaments halfway through the season. The girls team looks forward to displaying its talents throughout the season. “Our goal is to win as many

tournaments as possible and to just improve our score overall,” senior Holly Evans said.

“ WITH EACH FRAME, WE NEED TO BUILD OFF OF EACH OTHER.” —DIAMONIQUE VANN, SENIOR

In the Free State Invitational, three individuals placed in the top 10 as senior Holly Evans placed fifth (610), sophomore Emilie Rodman placed sixth (598) and senior Diamonique Vann placed seventh (567). In the Olathe South Quad, the team placed first overall. In the following tournament, the Topeka Seaman Invitational, Vann shot out of the water,

scoring a 619 and placing first in scoring between the entire girls and boys programs. “We still have to work on building together as a team and accumulating our scores, but we are getting there, and we have a strong team,” Vann said. Regardless of the team’s early season success, it still needs to improve if the Lions plan on winning the league for the second year in a row and making it to state. Standout scores — such as Vann’s 619, Evans 610, Rodman’s 598 and junior Skylar Scrivner’s single game score of 223 — add to the term’s arsenal on the road to the postseason. “With each frame, we need to build off of each other,” Vann said.

STRIKING A POSE — Senior Diamonique Vann bowls at Royal Crest Lanes at the Lawrence Quad tournament. She finished with a 695 series. Photo by Jacob Lashley

PAGE DESIGN BY TREY HULSE • FEB. 8, 2018

16 • THE BUDGET

INTO SUCCESS

Senior sets goal to break six school records BY GARY SCHMIDT

EDITOR

t started with a pair of fins. In the 11 years in between, it has been countless hours in the pool, numerous school records and one historic career. Senior Stephen Johnson started swimming at the young age of 7, more concerned with his attire than how he competed. “It was when I was 7 years old and my mom told me I could get a pair of fins if I joined swimming,” Johnson said. “That would be the first thing.” It was not long, according to Johnson, before his competitive nature took over, and he fell in love with the sport. “I was about 10, and I went to what was a championship meet for me at the time,” Johnson recalled. “I won my heat, and it was the best I have ever done in swimming, and it just pushed me forward and made me want to do better.” His successes — four school records already to his name — are met with equal sacrifices. Often times, Johnson has to say no to hanging out with friends in order to better prepare himself for races. “There are so many times that I have told my friends, ‘I can’t hang out, sorry, I have swimming practice.’ Or, ‘I have a swim meet this weekend,’ ”Johnson said. “It’s a lot of a time commitment. After a workout, I will be there in school and just be dead, not wanting to move or do anything.” His work is not only reflected in the record books. Teammates and coaches alike rave about how Johnson’s work is a positive influence on the program. Fellow senior Treyton Trujillo went as far as to say Johnson “is the program.” “I feel the fact that we have such a dedicated swimmer that consistently places in the top three places is a solid foundation for the team,” Trujillo added. Head coach Kent McDonald places Johnson in the top two swimmers he has ever

coached. “I think his work ethic, how hard he tries in practice [is what makes Johnson special],” McDonald said. “His races have all been impressive. You can count on him to swim well every time he swims. It’s fun watching him start a relay behind and catch the team ahead of him, pass and beat him. But his work ethic at practice is probably the most important thing.” Amid the success, Johnson remains focused at bettering himself in order to prepare for swimming in college. He is committed to the University of South Dakota. “I always look for the person who is better than me, and I always strive, thinking, what are they doing in practice, what are they doing in swim meets?” Johnson said. “I push myself to their level, and if I overcome them, then I push myself to the next person. A lot of it is competition, and I want to be successful later on in college, so it is thinking about that.” Post-secondary, Johnson aims to either go into nursing or attend medical school. However, he plans to carry traits he has learned from swimming into whatever he pursues. “Swimming has always given me this break for my mind, because I can go swim or workout,” Johnson said. “If I am not needing the break, I can think about everything I have been studying through the day. [Swimming] helps me think about and go over things, and it has given this work ethic that I will always have with me.” BACK IN ACTION— Senior Stephen Johnson swims the backstroke as part of the team’s intra-squad meet in November. Photo by Emily Kruse SENIOR NIGHT- Senior Stephen Johnson smiles as he is announced in front of the home crowd as part of the Senior Night festivities. Johnson won the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle in his final home meet, the Lawrence Invitational on Jan. 18. Photo by Emily Kruse

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY GARY SCHMIDT

THE BUDGET

• 17

SCHOOL OF STEPHEN RECORD BOOK

IN HIS SIGHTS

As of Feb. 7, Johnson already owns four of 10 possible school records.

With the state meet remaining, Johnson aims to break two records, and this is how close he is to achieving it.

200 Free 1:41.91

200 IM 1:59.46 100 Back 54.75

500 Free 4 seconds 100 Free 45.48

100 Butterfly .3 seconds

PAGE DESIGN BY GARY SCHMIDT • FEB. 8, 2018

18 • THE BUDGET

CRACKING THE ROTATION Zeke Mayo improves quickly for the Lions

BY JACKSON HOY

COPY CHIEF

ew freshmen earn varsity minutes for head basketball coach Mike Lewis, but Zeke Mayo is breaking that trend. “I think it was Gardner Edgerton or something, he threw a pass from like the opposite free throw line through like three people’s legs, and I was like, ‘Yeah he’s going to be good,’ ” said senior Jake Rajewski, one of Mayo’s teammates. Seventh-year JV/varsity assistant coach Matthew Stiles saw it in practice. “He is coachable,” Stiles said. “He doesn’t come in with any ego whatsoever. Although he has quite a reputation built up about how good he is and how good he could be, he doesn’t act that way. He’s very quiet and listens, and he remembers what you’re telling him… and he actually implements that into the game.” During the summers, Mayo perfects his skills playing for KC Run GMC on the elite Under Armour Association circuit. The program has produced close to 100 Division 1 basketball players, and Mayo hopes he is next. He says he has interest from the University of Kansas, a significant development for a player who is only halfway through his first year of high school. “He’ll be compared to Justin [Roberts] and AB [Anthony Bonner] probably by a lot of people, because they’ve been so recent, and that will be something that will be good for him but also necessary for him to carve his own little route and just be Zeke Mayo,” said Stiles, referring to the Lions’ most recent Division 1 basketball products. Stiles himself compared Mayo to

those two, citing that they were the only freshman during his time with the program to earn significant varsity minutes, but he was also quick to point out differences in Mayo’s game. “[Zeke] doesn’t force anything; he’s really smooth,” Stiles said. “They’re smooth in that same way. He might be a little bit better at the pull-up game. He’s a really good midrange, floater, from really any spot, whereas AB was probably just a little bit better, purer shooter.” Mayo knows what it will take from him to reach the next level as a player. He said leadership is his biggest point of improvement on the court and that “I’ll definitely have to get stronger.” Rajewski lit up when asked about the type of player Mayo could be. “His offensive game is just going to keep getting better,” he said. “If he gets that quicker step on defense, he’s going to be an amazing player.” It didn’t take long for coaches and teammates to recognize Mayo’s talent. “Honestly tryouts, we saw that pretty quickly, that… he was in the conversation right away as JV/varsity, wasn’t varsity right away, but it became pretty clear in that week and then in the weeks of practice leading up to our first game it was clear he could hold his own with them,” Stiles said. Rajewski was similarly impressed by Mayo early on. “Everybody else, we have been around each other and know what we can do, but when Zeke came in, we didn’t know how exactly he’d fit, and then immediately we knew how he would after that first game,” he said. Long-term, Mayo has visions of where basketball could take him. He said he first started dedicating

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY NOAH GINSBERG

himself to the game “because role models I see on TV, how far they’ve gone, just thinking of what I could do to improve myself, and I could get my family to where they need to be and help out other people.” Mayo certainly has the potential to ride his game to the professional level. If he ends up at a program like KU, NBA scouts will get to know his name. However, Stiles was quick to emphasize focusing on Mayo’s present and letting the future work itself out. “[His trajectory is] totally up to him,” Stiles said. “He has a lot of potential for sure… He’s really talented so the sky’s the limit — that old cliche — but it’s probably true for him.” For now, Mayo brings the right attitude: focus on working hard now and worry about the future later. “We talk to him a lot about being more aggressive, finishing at the rim, being more physical, and that will come for sure,” Stiles said. “He’s so composed and lets the game come to him that sometimes, we’re pushing him to be more aggressive. We’re really wanting him to get out of his comfort zone and be more vocal, but he’s got time for that.” With such a talented freshman, the program is excited to see how Mayo’s game develops. But right now, he and his teammates are focused on this season. “We know his game and what he can do,” Rajewski said. “We can put trust in him.”

STRIVING FOR GREATNESS — Freshman Zeke Mayo shows off his ability at the City Showdown on Dec. 15 at Allen Fieldhouse. “Being vocal on the court, that’s really helped me,” Mayo said. Photo by Addisson Thornsbury

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

These high-scoring Lions had contributed the following points this season as of ---- Jan. 30 at Shawnee Mission East SAVONNI SHAZOR

BRETT CHAPPLE

130

ANTHONY SELDEN

112

PAGE DESIGN BY NOAH GINSBERG • FEB. 8, 2018

20 • THE BUDGET

NATHAN STODDARD, JUNIOR What is Fortnite? “It’s like a battle royale game, so it’s like you versus everyone else in the game. So basically it’s like one versus a hundred people. Your goal is just to win.” How many times have you won? “Like, 50 times.” Why is Fortnite fun? “I like to play with my friends because I’m not necessarily that good, but it’s just kind of fun to socialize with your friends and just try to win.”

NICK MILLER, SENIOR Why is Fortnite fun? “This is going to sound horrible, but, it’s fun to shoot people in the game.” How many times have you won? “17.” How often do you play? “An hour or two a day.”

LORAN LITTLE, SOPHOMORE Why is Fortnite difficult? “Basically just the outnumbers of how many people play it and how much they play so they have more skill than you, and they know how to play.”

GET SMART. GET RICH. REPORTING BY SYMON KNOX HQ Trivia is a live game show that takes place right on your phone where you can win real money. Players are presented with 12 questions of increasing difficulty. Each player who answers all 12 correct will receive a portion of the cash prize (usually around $2,000). Game times are normally 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays.

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL

ALLIE GRAMMER

SOPHOMORE

“My cousin told me about it around Christmas time. My favorite part is the guy at the beginning and his jokes. After question four, it gets really difficult. The farthest I’ve gotten to is question six.”

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GOT GAMES? Students get their game on with ‘Fortnight’ COOPER COTTRELL, FRESHMAN Why is Fortnite fun? “It’s just interesting to play. It’s like a new game. You just drop in and load up, like guns and gear, and you’ve got to survive. It’s a cool game.” How many times have you won? “56.” How often do you play? “All day, every day.”

JACKSON HEWINS, JUNIOR What is Fortnite? “You can play by yourself or with your friends. You can play with two people, three people. You drop with nothing, and the goal is to find stuff before other people and kill all the other teams.” How often do you play? “Probably close to every day.” How many times have you won? “I’ve only won like, eight times.”

RAEF LANDES, FRESHMAN Why is Fortnite fun? “I like the concept of the storm moving in because nobody can camp the entire game. It’s very fun. There’s a variety of weapons. It’s pretty wellrounded.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAEF LANDES

DANTE’ JACKSON

SENIOR

“I won like 10 bucks, because so many people won that game. I guess it was an easy one. The hardest part is getting all the answers right because they range from easier to hard and the harder ones you’ve got to guess pretty much unless you’re smart as can be.”

MALKA HAMPTON

JUNIOR

“I started playing HQ when I saw someone playing next to me. My favorite part is sometimes the host gives good jokes, and you get to win money. The furthest I’ve gotten is question nine.”

PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL • FEB. 8, 2018

22 • THE BUDGET

SPELL IT OUT

Students act out, improv with spelling-themed winter musical BY DANIEL DAVIDSON

STAFF WRITER

udience members took the stage for the winter musical performance of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling

Bee.” The comedic play focuses on a spelling bee in a small town middle school and the students’ awkward struggles associated with growing up. After the more serious production, “Infinite Black Suitcase,” stage director Jamie Johnson wanted to shake things up. “You definitely want to balance the seasons so you’re not just doing a bunch of bummers,” Johnson said. “And I try to… make students feel like they have had a variety of experiences on stage. Giving students the opportunity to explore different sides of themselves in acting.” A unique element to the production was audience involvement and the use of improvisation by the cast. Four volunteers each night were cho-

sen to participate in the spelling bee and become the center of the play’s jokes. The cast had to practice their improvisation skills and deliver offscript jokes on the spot based upon who came up from the audience. “There were some times where they would just say lines that weren’t in the script,” senior cast member Jackson Maher said. “I struggled to maintain my character. I wanted to crack up the entire time.” Audience involvement in the show was fun for everyone in the theater and brought positive challenges for the actors. “Every show was great,” Maher said. “Each one we got a little something different. The little improvs we do change every night, so it’s really a different show each night.” The musical was set in a gym, with only a few props, such as bleachers, a table and microphone. Senior Liam Romano was the student technical director for the set, helping to create bleachers that could spin for one of the musical’s songs. Romano’s responsibilities went

FROM THE PIT

AINSLEY AGNEW Senior cellist Do you prefer accompanying or being the main focus? “Definitely background. I do not enjoy being the center of attention when performing anything.”

further than just designing and building. “During the dress rehearsal we kind of program them in, so all we really have to do is press go, but if something does go wrong and the spots, I’ve got to make sure they’re doing it right,” Romano said. Such preparations led to successful performances, Johnson said. “When people come to see productions, they don’t really see the hours and hours and hours of work that go into it,” Johnson said. “I’m super proud of all our students because, as busy as they are with a million other things, they devote themselves. The proof comes out in the great performances.” SINIGING AWAY — Senior Emily Lepine sings “My Friend the Dictionary” in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, performed Jan. 26-28. “It became my favorite musical ever,” Lepine said. “I’d do it again, and I’m so sad it ended. I loved the cast I loved the play. I loved the humor. I loved Ms. [Jamie] Johnson, and I loved Mr. [Randy] Frye.” Photo by Jacob Lashley

Students participate in pit orchestra for musical

CONNOR JONES Freshman pianist How often did you have to practice the music? “I had to practice a lot. it was a lot of music.”

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY TAEGHAN SHARPE

ELIJAH RUPPRECHT Senior drummer How does the music compare to normal band music? “It’s a lot harder...Mr. [Randy] Frye plays piano and conducts, and it’s difficult to follow along, especially with musical cues from actors.”

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CHECKING THE LIST — Junior Jack Foster checks the spelling of a character on stage in the winter musical. “It was a really fun show,” Foster said. “It was awesome to have audience volunteers, and my brother was there.”Photo by Jacob Lashley PLAYING THE PART — Senior Jackson Maher gets into his character of the comfort counselor during the winter show. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a show this funny before,” Maher said. “All the lines that Jack Foster and Ally Rood made up on the spot were really funny, and made it really hard to stay in character.” Photo by Jacob Lashley

PAGE DESIGN BY TAEGHAN SHARPE • FEB. 8, 2018

24 • THE BUDGET

Winter Court candidates share what constellation they would be PHOTOS BY EMILY KRUSE / REPORTING BY EMILY GORDON-ROSS

AINSLEY AGNEW “According to a quiz I took, I would be the Big Bear. I’m loyal and trustworthy. I would do anything to help my loved ones and can be fierce when necessary.”

GWENTESSA ALFIE LUTHER FULLER “My zodiac sign in cancer and “The Big Dipper: I understand it although the personality traits of is very useful, as it has allowed a cancer are very similar to mine, countless people to navigate.” my favorite constellation is the Phoenix.”

ISABELLE GINAVAN “I would be Andromeda because it’s a spiral-shaped galaxy. It’s also the farthest celestial object that you can see without a telescope..”

SATORI GOOD “Andromeda, somewhat due to its shape, but mostly because it reminds me of Andromeda Tonks from Harry Potter and I love her.”

CALEB HOGAN “I would definitely be the Canis Major the Great Dogo. I love dogs! They just make me so happy!”

JACKSON HOY “The Big Dipper, because I’m a lot like Wilt Chamberlain.”

MARIAH KAUFMAN “I took a quiz online. Apparently, I’m The Big Dipper for my skills at helping people navigate. I do like helping people.”

NICHOLAS MATTHEWS “I would be a season of love constellation.”

GRAYSON RODRIQUEZ “My sign is Aries, so I imagine that that’s what I’ll be.”

TAEGHAN SHARPE ELIJAH RUPPRECHT “I would be the Phoenix because “Sagittarius because it’s my sign I am energetic. People are drawn #November 22. I’m also very good at archery, and it repto me.” resents the archer.”

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER

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PICTURE PERFECT

Photography student wins national art competition

BY MACY LANDES

EDITOR

veryone knows what it’s like to look at a photo and be transported to another world, or at least feel a little sense of wanderlust. Senior Belle Ray’s photography has provided them with the opportunity to get out of Kansas in real life. As a 2018 National YoungArts Merit winner, they’ll take an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles to work alongside renowned artists and former winners, as well as receive a cash award of up to $10,000. When they got the email notifying them of the award in December, they were ecstatic. “I ran all the way down here [the art hallway] from my English class,” Ray said. Photography teacher Angelia Perkins, who has worked with Ray since their freshman year, was excited too, especially about how accommodating YoungArts is in terms of paying for the trip. “Sometimes with these competitions, if you win, you still need to pay for airfare and so it’s still pretty limiting,” she said. “I was shocked, but so proud of them.” Picking pieces to enter was no small feat. Ray had years of work to choose from and narrow down to just 10. “The first five are a series, and that was my series that I did for [the AP test],” they said. “And it was about my life as a child and how that influenced me now. It’s like the breaks that happened when I was young and how that affects me. The other five were the best works from my portfolio.” Beyond their work at school, Ray works at VanGo Inc., an arts based job training program in town, which exposes them to a broader range of media and people in

the art business. “There is often a lengthy period of skill building and personal exploration that must happen before many young artists are capable of finding direction or continuity to their work,” Van Go’s Art Director Rick Wright said. “Belle seems to be ahead of that curve. I see passion, introspection and a genuine journey in their work.” Naturally, when VanGo staff found out about Ray’s success, they were elated as well. “At the time, I recall thinking ‘This is a pretty big deal,’ ” Wright said. What is Ray looking forward to most? The master classes and the West Coast. “I spend the whole week taking classes, so that’s kind of exciting, and I’ve also like never been away and alone for that long, so that’s exciting too,” they said. They’ll always foster their love for photography, even though it’ll probably become more of a hobby when they go to college in Colorado to become a veterinarian. “I might minor in it, take a few classes or something, but it’s not my main focus,” Ray said. Still, Perkins knows they’ll continue to pursue their passion however they can. “They’re a little bit more of a quiet person around other people, but I think they really have that loud, strong voice when it comes to communicating that through their art,” Perkins said. PORTFOLIO — The 10 pieces Ray submitted were taken from their portfolio and from their 2017 AP Studio Art: 2-D Design Test, and reflect on their life as a child. “It took a really long time to narrow it down to the five [from the portfolio],”they said. Photos courtesy of Belle Ray

PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER • FEB. 8, 2018

26 • THE BUDGET

OPINION

THIRD LUNCH

MADNESS

Students are avoiding the lunchroom due to overwhelming crowds BY NIKKI AQUI

STAFF WRITER

magine being given 25 minutes to go to the cafeteria, choose your meal, find a place to sit, eat your meal and go to your next class. The task seems simple enough, right? Anyone who has third lunch knows the task is a nightmare. It is truly horrifying, and it pains me to even have to write this. Imagine that, within the 25 minutes you are given to eat lunch, the cafeteria is so crowded it takes five minutes to even make it to the front of the lunch line to reach the food. Choosing your meal and checking out? You think that is a simple task? I laugh at your ignorance. The action of getting the meal and going to pay takes another five minutes. Still have plenty of time, you say? Wrong. You are foolish. By the time you have your food and are finally checked out, the cafeteria is so full that it’s difficult to find a space sit. Your teacher let you out late to hand out homework. You are now at the bottom of this third lunch food chain. Even the food being consumed is happier than you are. If you are lucky enough to find a seat, you are crammed in the crowded lunchroom. You are shoulder-to-shoulder with

the people around you. Despite how close everyone is, the room is so loud no one is able to hear one another. Jessica is getting her hair in your food. Bradley is crying because he is claustrophobic. This is now absolute chaos. It is miserable. Personally, I usually skip lunch and take the 25 minutes given to hang out with friends from other classes. That is problematic. I am hungry and far too broke to go out to get Chipotle every day. I do not actually know who I need to yell at about this, but to whoever was in charge of creating that lunch schedule: We have beef. And I’m not talking about hamburgers. I have crafted a solution to end this miserable time of 12:51-1:16 p.m. The plan goes

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY CECILIA SANCHEZ-VARGAS

as follows: split it up evenly. It is so easy. I know you have a student locator list. You very well know how to make classes switch from third to first lunch. Please, for the love of Chesty Lion, let me eat. GRAPHIC BY CECILIA SANCHEZ-VARGAS

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THE MEANING

BEHIND THE JOKES

Dark humor is normalizing the very real problems of mental health BY CHISATO KIMURA

GUEST EDITORIAL

efore I start, I would like to issue a trigger warning due to the sensitive material I’ll be talking about. Mental health is a topic that affects many of us and if you’re having suicidal thoughts please talk to someone that you’re comfortable with, or call the National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255. Recently, attention has been brought about our generation’s use of metaphors to death and suicide. There is an overwhelming number of students who make these statements every day. There needs to be sensitivity when these comments are made. When these “jokes” are left undisputed, it normalizes mental illness and makes those with real problems feel as though they can’t reach out. Instead of automatically criticizing someone who makes comments about suicide, maybe we should be thinking about why they are being made in the

first place. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among teens. Approximately one in five teens experience depression at some point. This could be one of many reasons as to why there are so many comments, metaphors and jokes about death among teens. There are so many aspects of our lives that feed into depression and suicide. As teenagers we face extreme pressures from school on top of the complicated social lives we lead. It is a lot to handle. Maybe that’s why those numbers are so high. When we make comments about wanting to die, it could be a way for us to empathize with others who we think might feel similarly. Comments like these may be a cry for

help disguised in a “joke,” and when we delegitimize that, the voices are taken away and people may feel like they can’t reach out for help. We should be working to decrease the causes of depression and suicide or ask peers privately if they need support instead of calling out people who make those comments and assuming that they are joking. I’m not writing this to create more division in our school or to cause problems. I am exhausted by assumptions being thrown at me; I’m tired of teachers putting me in a place where I am embarrassed for “not understanding” people who are suicidal, or being forced to admit in front of classmates that I have, in fact, gone through what they claim I am joking about. We need to be kinder and more sensitive about this “eh”subject. But please, don’t shut down our way of coping with our obstacles.

APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 5 TEENS EXPERIENCE DEPRESSION AT SOME POINT.

GRAPHIC BY CECILIA SANCHEZ-VARGAS

PAGE DESIGN BY CECILIA SANCHEZ-VAGRAS• FEB. 8, 2018

28 • THE BUDGET

OPINION

FREE THE INTERNET

A free market in broadband is the key to lower costs, more choices BY WILLIAM YANEK

ONLINE CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

f you’ve been anywhere near social media lately, you’ve probably heard about net neutrality and viewed alarming posts such as this one: “Twitter: $14.99/month, Snapchat: $9.99/month, Youtube: $19.99/ month, Netflix: $9.99/per movie, Google: $1.99/per search.” Let me ask you: Was this the reality before 2015 when net neutrality was implemented? There are strong arguments both for and against net neutrality. But misleading posts like these don’t do justice to this complex issue. The FCC was right to dump burdensome net neutrality regulations. But that is only the first step. To create a truly free broadband market, entry barriers for new competitors must be removed. On Dec. 14, the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal 2015 net neutrality regulations. The idea behind these regulations is that Internet Service Providers, known as ISPs (Verizon, AT&T, Midco) should treat all internet content equally. Some of the practices banned included throttling or blocking content and paid prioritization. With paid priority, content providers can choose to pay for faster internet for their websites. However, government rules rarely spark innovation. The modern internet came about because entrepreneurs were free to test the bounds of what was possible. Similarly, we should allow ISPs to continue to come up with innovative pricing plans as well as new broadband technology without the interference of net neutrality regulations. We can see the effect of regulations on investment in network growth among the 12 largest

ISPs. According to economist Hal Singer, when comparing the first six months of 2014 and 2016, investment fell by $2.7 billion. When government makes it harder to implement improvements, investment inevitably decreases. Regarding blocking or throttling, in a free market, this type of censorship would be quickly punished by consumers. In a world of many different broadband providers (which does not exist at the moment), if one ISP decides to censor a website for monetary or political reasons, angry consumers would quickly move to another provider. Such ISP censorship, however, is largely theoretical. The real censors of today are the biggest supporters of net neutrality, and some of them are part of the ISP market themselves. Google, for example, has been accused of blacklisting certain words and phrases in the autocomplete feature of the search bar as well as banning news sources that don’t fit their agenda. Facebook has been known to censor news that is critical of certain foreign regimes. So, when these companies claim they are crusaders for free speech, don’t believe them. Finally, net neutrality assumes the concept of “pay for play” in paid prioritization is inherently bad. However, one must understand bandwidth is limited. The internet can only run so fast, so some applications need to be prioritized. For example, you would probably prefer your connection to Netflix be faster than, say, your junk email. The beautiful thing about a free market

GRAPHIC BY CECILIA SANCHEZ-VARGAS

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY ALEX LANE

is if one ISP doesn’t want to absorb costs of certain websites, another one will. Net neutrality supporters are correct that little competition in the industry exists today. But the way to improve the market is by creating an environment where companies can compete. So, how do we create this “free market”? Well, Klint Finley, in his article “Want Real Choice in Broadband? Make These Three Things Happen” on wired. com gives us some options. First, we could allow different ISPs to lease internet infrastructure and compete on “... price and customer service.” Other ideas focus on making it easier for companies to lay new lines and speed up permitting for new infrastructure. In net neutrality we have a fundamental choice before us. We can let unelected bureaucrats decide how internet content will be delivered, turning the industry into a government-sanctioned monopoly. Or, we can create a free marketplace for broadband, as imperfect as it can be, because free enterprise is the reason the internet is as wonderful as it is today. Government will never be able to move fast enough to regulate internet technology because by the time they have regulated, the landscape will already have changed. Steve Jobs didn’t wait for a government commission to approve his idea for the iPhone, so we should not let the next revolution in broadband be hindered by the FCC.

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GRAPHIC BY ELIJAH JACKSON

CONFLICTS PERSIST

Students must learn that businesses can’t overrule good science BY CONNOR SCHMAUS

EDITOR

ast year, the electoral college chose a businessman, a billionaire to become the face of the United States. Immediately, he began dismantling Obama’s science and education administrations, not uncommon in the transition of power from one party to the other. But he didn’t replace them. Instead, he appointed ex-fossil fuel mogul Scott Pruitt to head the EPA, an organization established by former President Nixon in the ’70s to balance the needs of the natural environment with our capitalist economy. Additionally, he appointed Betsy DeVos to lead the Department of Education, a position which oversees funding and legislation for public schools. DeVos consistently maintains that public schools are inferior to private school corporations. See a common theme? The Trump administration has con-

tinued to promote personal business interests through its staff, instead of acting as chief of command in a government that impacts roughly 380 million people. Not to mention, these people are far from qualified to fill those jobs. This is teaching my generation and future generations that short-term business goals are the best interest of our planet. Some would say business ties are necessary, as government organizations do not provide nearly enough finances to keep themselves afloat. While it is true that the government gives science divisions the short end of the stick (NASA only receives 0.5 percent of the federal budget as of 2017), these individuals are not promoting support from business for the good of the division, but for the gain of the wealthy. In my AP Environmental Science class, we discussed the concept of the triple bottom line — the balance between ethics, the environment and the economy — when considering sustainability of society. We are far

from creating a self-sustaining society, much less a global one based on this hypothetical balance. And the issue lies in the connection of science and greedy business practices. No longer are these issues about political parties or petty belief differences. Maintaining this approach will spell doom for the planet. We must teach people to appreciate scientific evidence, even if it means dismissing some of the limitless gain from destructive economic opportunity. Business is necessary for our society to function and for research to thrive, but it is through the growth of business and increased power to those who orchestrate it which dilutes the effectiveness of truth and advancement. Education on this issue must start early. We need to teach the importance of separation between scientific integrity and business endeavors before students form polarized political views that damage the approach to a common good, both for our planet and its citizens.

PAGE DESIGN BY ALEX LANE • FEB. 8, 2018

30 • THE BUDGET

WHEN SECURLY STRIKES

CARTOON BY ELIJAH JACKSON

FEB. 8, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY GARY SCHMIDT

THE BUDGET

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Spring semester editors embrace new roles BY CONNOR SCHMAUS, GARY SCHMIDT & MACY LANDES EDITORS IN CHIEF

s we transition from 2017 to 2018, lots

of things change with the new year. New construction plans for the school, a new superintendent announced for the district and a new editorial staff announced for The Budget. Though the first couple months can be unusual and uncomfortable, change usually brings good with it. As a school, we leave behind years of tradition in a historic building, but we look ahead to years of new traditions being created and cultivated in a state-of the-art facility. As a district, we look to the past and see the lineage of superintendents who have led this district, and place hope in a new leader. And as a paper, we will continue to build upon the success we have seen in recent years with newfound confidence, and upon the historic triumphs we saw in 2017. Though change brings awkward transitions, we embrace it.

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THE STAFF MISSION STATEMENT The Budget is committed to providing the Lawrence High School community with objective, inclusive news coverage 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 vessel to publish student voice, it conjointly acts as an educational entity holding the intent of bettering student journalistic ability and reader’s access to information. ABOUT US The Budget is published every four 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. STAFF Shayla Brillhart, Abby Brown, Ashlee Brown, Mary Carr, Daniel Davidson, Emmy Easley, Abigail English, Noah Ginsberg, Emily Gordon-Ross, Izzy Hedges, Dil Hicks, Elijah Jackson, Nathaniel Kearney, Symon Knox, Emily Kruse, Alex Lane, Jacob Lashley, Brian Myers, Tabby Peters, Allison Ramaley, Mia Robinson, Nadia Sanburn, Cecilia Sanchez-Vargas, Taeghan Sharpe, Mira Simms, Monica Steffes, Pam Vue, Samuel Webb, Andrew Williams, Alex Wilson and Elyzebeth Workman. 2018 EDITORS THE BUDGET NEWSPAPER Gary Schmidt ��Editor in Chief Connor Schmaus ��Editor in Chief Macy Landes ��Editor in Chief Emily Kruse ��Photo Editor Aidin Manning ��Assistant Photo Editor Nikki Aqui �� Opinion Editor Anna Parnell �� Design Editor Sami Turner �� Design Editor RED & BLACK YEARBOOK Harry Easley ��Editor in Chief Kira Auchenbach ��Editor in Chief Addisson Thornsbury ��Photo Editor McKenna White ��Assistant Photo Editor Luna Stephens �� Managing Editor/Writing Emma Howard ��Managing Editor/Design Skylar Steichen ��Senior Ads Editor Maya Weslander ��Portraits Editor LHSBUDGET.COM William Yanek ��Editor in Chief Anahita Hurt ��Editor in Chief Izzy Hedges ��Assistant Editor Anna D’Ercole ��Webmaster Sahra Barker-Hastings �� Zenfolio Manager JOURNALISM EDITORS Alicia Ruder �� Special Projects Jackson Hoy �� Copy Chief Freeman Spray �� Copy Chief Nola Levings �� Video Editor David Obadare �� Video Editor Cooper Wright �� Sports Editor Trey Hulse �� Sports Editor Sydney Pritchard �� Captions Editor Veda Cobb �� Business Manager

PAGE DESIGN BY GARY SCHMIDT • FEB. 8, 2018

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

WAITING ON THE WHISTLE — Senior Ja’Relle Dye eyes the referee during the middle of his match against Baldwin High School. “We lost to them, but I did well,” Dye said. “I pinned my guy in the third period.” Photo by McKenna White