LHS Budget Issue 10

Performing a solo, junior JD Tyron belts out the song “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. For more photos of Showtime, see Page 12.

the budget Lawrence High School Est. 1897

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Baseball team honors former player

BY BROOKE BRAMAN In late October, 2008 LHS graduate and baseball star Travis Sanders struck a deer while driving on Interstate 35. After the collision, he left his vehicle and walked into the road at which point he was hit and killed by an oncoming car.

“It was devastating to wake up and have a bunch of missed calls and texts,” baseball head coach Brad Stoll said. “When I finally figured out

what it was about, I broke down. He had so much to offer and was such a good person. I miss him everyday.”

At age 23, Sanders left behind family, friends and an outstanding legacy.

Playing on the LHS team, Sanders was known for his small size, work ethic and impressive batting average.

“As a player, he was a grinder,” Stoll said. “He was an overachiever. He was small in stature, but

1901 Louisiana St., Lawrence, KS 66046

he played really, really hard.”

Senior, varsity baseball player Drew Green remembers watching Sanders play during his time at LHS. “I came to a game and saw this little dude get into the box, and I was thinking that this kid didn’t stand a chance,” Green said. “Then he hit one pretty far and started hobbling toward first base.

Someone I knew told me he tore his ACL, and I was amazed that he had enough courage to get in there

Running to first base, sophomore Parker Kirkpatrick dons a black patch on his sleeve to honor former player Travis Sanders during the varsity baseball game against Shawnee Mission East on April 21. Sanders died earlier this year. Photo by Ashley Hocking after that.”

Sanders’ talent and dedication to the sport are acknowledged even by those who were not his teammates.

Continued on Page 2

Vol. 124, Issue 10, Apr. 30, 2014

news

Apr. 30, 2014

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

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

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

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

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Letter from the editors-in-chief

Dear Readers, Although racial tensions don’t always run rampant in the halls of Lawrence High, racism is still inevitable here in Kansas.

In an effort to bridge the gap, the district allots a great sum of money to the Pacific Educational Group to instruct teachers regarding how to have “Courageous Conversations” about race. The goal of this program is to create equality and discuss racial disparities, but it has proven to have adverse effects.

One of the most difficult issues with this program is how it is being handled. Most teachers aren’t recieving significant training. Instead of teachers volunteering their time to participate in these workshops, teachers must find substitute teachers for the days they attend. However, there isn’t a large enough budget and there aren’t enough substitutes for all of the teachers to be able to go.

Additionally, white students are not given the opportunity to get involved in these conversations.

Students of color, however, are invited to attend leadership symposiums with individuals of their respective race.

Because discourse regarding race is rare in the classroom, some white students go as far as to vocalize how they feel “left out” and “disadvantaged.”

Some individuals have even complained about the lack of a White Leadership Symposium.

Such comments are absurd — especially against the backdrop of the upcoming 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education case in which public institutions were desegregated. While this was a step forward, progress still needs to be made.

Baseball: Team honors graduate, ex-baseball player who recently died

was working as a paraprofessional at South Middle School at the time of his death, though he had goals to become a police officer. He often returned to LHS, however, as a guest speaker for the baseball team.

Because he contributed greatly to the baseball program, this year’s baseball teams have chosen to honor Continued from Page 1 him in several ways. “[We] are wearing patches on our “He was one of Coach Stoll’s right shoulders that have the numfavorite players,” varsity baseball ber one, which was Travis number,” player, senior Bryce Montes de Oca varsity baseball player, junior Luke said. “He was a big part of Lawrence Zenger said. “I think we’ve retired High. He embodied the athletic his number to honor him. We took program here.” our team picture with his jersey in Sanders was more than just a the middle just to show that his baseball player, though. He was a spirit is with us all year.” caring person and hard working In addition to wearing patchstudent. es bearing “As a Sander’s initials person, he and number, was off the “It puts things in team members charts,” Stoll perspective. Things can distributed said. “He happen and everything wristbands was polite, change. It makes you value during their dependevery day.” off-season and able and held a moment reliable.”

—Bryce Montes de Oca, of silence for After senior him at their first graduating, game.

Sanders Though his continued death is a difficult subject for all who his baseball career at Pratt Commuknew him, the LHS baseball players nity College where he played for have graciously honored his legacy. two years. Sanders later worked as “He deserves it,” Zenger said. “I a strength coach for several minor think it’s a really good thing to do to league baseball teams including the honor his memory.”

Pittsburgh Pirates and LA Dodgers.

These memorial services have “Had he not fallen in love and given players the opportunity to realized he wanted to be a family honor Sanders’s life and reflect on man, he would probably still be dotheir own. ing that,” Stoll said. “Being a minor “It puts things in perspective,” league coach is not very conducive Montes de Oca said. “Things can to being a family man.” happen and everything change. It Having ended his time in the makes you value every day.” dugout and on the field, Sanders

Page Design By Ashley Hocking

In the hallways, we still hear racial slurs and stereotypes during every passing period. The n-word is even used frequently enough that students using that language fail to understand the meaning and history behind the derogatory word.

As illustrated in “Film industry blatantly whitewashes characters of color,” non-Caucasian people don’t get the same opportunities. Out of the 2,809 statues that have been presented for the Oscars, only 85 have been awarded to people of color. While this fact may not demonstrate blatant racism, it does show the inequities that persist, even today.

So here at Lawrence High, we have the ability to diminish some of these inequalities as we collaborate in the classroom. As we work together to make LHS a good place, let’s work to embrace our differences rather than denouncing those unlike us.

Sincerely,

Kendra Schwartz and Ashley Hocking

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Apr. 30, 2014

Fire takes two seniors from their home Boye-Doe twins forced to move during their final semester at LHS

BY KENDRA SCHWARTZ Instead of coming home to dinner after their athletic practices on Mar. 28, seniors Panyin and Kakra Boye-Doe returned home from tennis and track to smoke, debris and a blazing fire.

The fire likely originated from a sauce pan left on the stove, and it spread from the kitchen to the Boye-Does’ living room, destroying valuable possessions and memorabilia.

“My mom . . . might have left it on, but she came home from grocery shopping and saw that it was still on, and she tried to stop it,” Panyin said.

Although the Boye-Does were not home at the time the fire began, their exchange student from Ghana, Arnold Coffie, was in the house, unaware of the disaster.

“Our exchange student was downstairs,” Kakra said. “I guess he didn’t know what was going on, so he stayed there until some firemen came in and knocked down the window.”

The Boye-Doe twins were similarly unaware of the fire until they were contacted by neighbors.

“My neighbor called me and they were like, ‘Do you need anything?’ And I was like, ‘What are you talking about? I’m at a track meet,’” Kakra said. “And then they called me again and they were like, ‘Your house is on fire.’ But it didn’t hit me that my house was really on fire until I got there.”

From South Middle South, the twins’ younger brother, Ekow BoyeDoe, could see smoke coming from their neighborhood.

“I was just worried about who was in the house,” Ekow said. “ I didn’t care much about the house because you can always get a new house and new clothes, but you can’t get another life. So when I got to my house and saw my mom and the exchange student outside the house, I ran and gave them hugs.”

When Kakra and Panyin arrived at the scene, they were surprised to see their street blocked off by firetrucks and ambulances. The boys were even more shocked when they saw the effects of the fire.

“Most of the upstairs was affected, except for the bedrooms,” Panyin said. “Smoke got in there, but there was no damage. Our ceiling actually got damaged.”

Because of potential hazards, the Boye-Does made alternate living arrangements, staying with friends and in hotels, until they found a house to rent.

“For me, it’s affected my whole lifestyle,” Panyin said. “Like in the first few days, we didn’t have a permanent place to stay or like a routine. When people talk about going home, I’m like, ‘I’m going to my hotel room.’ I guess that’s the hardest part. So it’s just a really weird time.”

Although the twins had lived in their home for the majority of their lives, they are anything but eager to return to their house in its current state.

“It’s really weird. It’s really hard,” Kakra said. “I kind of try to avoid getting close because it’s weird seeing your house like that because we’ve lived there most of our lives. We’ve lived there since we were eight.”

The house is still being rebuilt, but the Boye-Does are optimistic as they finish their senior year.

“You don’t expect it to happen to you until it happens to you,” Kakra said. “It’s tough, but I think we’ll live through it. I guess we learned to not take things for granted.”

After a kitchen fire destroyed Panyin and Kakra Boye-Does’ home, they were forced to temporarily relocate while their home was reconstructed.

Photo courtesy of Panyin Boye-Doe

Student-run auto shop planning to open on campus Graphic design, marketing, business and automotive classes to collaborate to operate Rivals Auto

BY KATE RETTIG In the fall, Rivals Auto will be rotating tires and changing oil as part of a student-run auto maintenance business at Lawrence High.

The automotive classes that combine LHS and Free State students inspired the name “Rival’s Auto.”

The new business will bring together students from four very different subjects: automotive, accounting, marketing and graphic design. The Automotive III class will work on cars while accounting students will do bookkeeping. Marketing students will help promote the program, while graphic design students will create designs for the shop, including a logo.

“The idea is to get teachers from very different areas but to get us together to collaborate on something,” graphic design teacher Barbara Tholen said.

“You don’t just work isolated, you have something in common.”

The goal is to give students experience in the fields they study, such as working as a car technician. By running the automotive shop, they’ll communicate with customers, not just with teachers.

“We are trying to get the students in the class get ready for real world,” engineering teacher Charlie Lauts said. “Like if they go work for somebody, they are going to have to do it efficiently and correctly. Another thing is to able to interact with the customers. They’ll have to get the keys and talk about what needs to be done and communicate with them, so they’re not just doing the car.”

Services at the automotive shop will be limited to smaller maintenance tasks such as alignments, minor electrical issues and brakes. Profits made from the auto shop will go toward funding student participation competitions, such as the Skills USA competition.

Since it’s on school campus, other students and staff will benefit from the shop. Rival’s Auto will service student and staff cars at lower prices

than those of other automotive shops. Sophomore Anthony Harvey said he likes the idea of students getting hands-on practice by working on cars.

“It would be good because they could practice what they would want to do,” Harvey said. “Also, it would have cheaper prices, and I wouldn’t have to go anywhere,” Several details of the business need to be determined such as pricing, hours and management.

“We have to talk to the people at the ESDC to let them know the logistics of what we are doing,” automotive teacher Luke Lang said. “The people here at the school to let them know how to run their own shop. As of right now, we can’t tell the students because we don’t even know. We have to get there, but we aren’t quite there yet. We have big plans.”

Lang originally came up with the idea for the auto shop. His class already worked on maintaining cars, but he felt the simulation didn’t compare to the real world. The students rarely interacted with

the customers, for example, which is an important skill to have as a technician.

Lang also wanted his classes to collaborate so not only the automotive students get a job experience, but the accounting, marketing and graphic design students as well.

“He wanted to run it like a business,” Tholen said. “He wanted to have marketing people market it and other people accounting like accounting class. I said my graphic design class could do the logos for it and some of the design for advertising.”

Like other student run businesses, such as The Lion’s Den, students will not be paid for their services. However, they will receive knowledge in a field in which they are interested.

“I think it’s a good idea,” graphic design and automotive student Kailyr Dey said. “The third class really get hands on experience with basically all of basic and standard maintenance as well as some rare maintenance. The Auto Shop we have here can already do that.”

Roles at Rivals Auto Students will play a central role in running the new auto shop. Here’s a look at the hands-on experience they’ll get: Graphics by Matt Roe

Page Design by Kendra Schwartz

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Apr. 30, 2014

Powwow makes comeback Inter-Tribal Club brings a Native American tradition back

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The Inter-Tribal Club held a powwow on April 12 for the first time since 2011.

“A powwow is a gathering of people,” senior Kaseani Stands said. “It’s to have a good time and reminisce about the past.”

The club held powwows before 2011, but lacked a sponsor to help organize its usual activities in recent years. This year, Andrea Spotted Horse has stepped up as a club sponsor and helped organize the powwow. Spotted Horse works for the Native American Student Services at Centennial Elementary School.

“When you pick a date, you have to think about the other powwows that are [being planned] too because you don’t want to overlap with any of them,” Spotted Horse said.

The University Of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University have been known to hold powwows as well, but this year, KU canceled its powwow. Those in charge worried about attendance due to conflicting events. Haskell, however, according to Spotted Horse, has about four powwows a year -- two of which focus more on the Haskell students themselves and the other two are open to the public.

Planning the powwow was no small task for the Inter-Tribal Club.

“You have to get like the head staff, which means someone who runs the powwow,” Stands said. “The emcee, someone who announces during different dances; the head drum group; the main drummers; and vendors.”

In order to hold the powwow, the club had to raise sufficient funds.

“It [takes] about $2,000,” Stands said. “Most of it comes in from our taco sales. We get like $900 every time.”

To earn this money, the club sold tacos on Haskell’s campus. During the winter, members also sold scarves. The money pays performers and travel costs, as well. “[It’s] for travel time, too,” Spotted Horse said. “Travel, hotel, meals. It covers all that stuff.”

This year, the two heads of staff didn’t have to travel far, however. These titles belong to Lawrence High seniors Quanah Wilson and Altethia McKinney.

“It’s an honor given to me by whoever starts the powwow, and this year since I’m a senior and I’m graduating, the honor was given to me and since I do dance,” Wilson said. “What it means is that I’m being recognized for my actions and what I’ve done. I kind of lead as well, but it’s just an honorary title mainly.”

Though Powwows have long been a part of Native American tradition, they have been slightly altered.

“We’ve been modernizing in the events in the powwow.

There’s like street dancing, you can do that and win prizes,” Stands said. “There’s the potato dance where you hold a potato [on] your forehead and you do everything they say like ‘hop on one leg’ and what not.”

The powwow held in the west gym on April 12 was open to the public.

“That’s actually one of the huge misconceptions that people have is that it’s natives only,” Spotted Horse said.

The powwow was meant for anyone to come and experience a piece of Native American culture and have a good time.

“It’s welcoming,” Stands said. “It’s a warm feeling. You walk in and you hear the powwow drums and the announcer going on. It’s busy. Nobody wants to be lonely. You go there and you know you’re gonna see somebody there. It’s a really friendly atmosphere.”

Coach leaving to teach abroad in Oman Business technology teacher, coach will take two year hiatus overseas

BY VAIL MOSHIRI

Follow @lhsbudget on Twitter and Instagram for live updates, stories, videos and photos!

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Next year, instead of memorizing new students’ names, students will be memorizing coach Nick Wood’s. Business technology teacher and girl’s basketball coach, Wood, is leaving this August for the American International School of Muscat in the country of Oman.

The school district approved Wood for a two-year teaching leave of absence.

The English speaking school in Oman follows a typical US schedule. It has winter, spring and Thanksgiving breaks.

“We have an opportunity to come back over the holiday break, because we have three weeks for that, and during the summers we’ll be back for sure as well,” said Wood, who will be teaching physical education at the new school.

Engineering teacher Charlie Lauts said she’s very happy for him and his family, but she is sad to see him go.

“All the growth he’s gotten in our computer science program over the last few years has been tremendous, and I just hope that the expectations stay just as high when he’s not here, and the kids get all the quality learning like they would from Mr. Wood,” Lauts said.

Wood said he would like to thank the administration for the opportunity to come back to Lawrence to teach and coach when the contract is up.

“My wife and I have always been interested in the idea of traveling and teaching internationally, and so we would kind of look at different opportunities that are out there. We kind of put our name in the hat to just see,” Wood said. “I was reach-

Page Design By Ashley Hocking

ing out to schools and schools reaching out to us, and they [the American International School of Muscat] kinda found us and recruited us a little bit.”

Besides Oman, Wood had the opportunity to teach in other locations like Thailand, Venezuela and Dubai.

“We settled on going to the school in Oman because we felt like it was the right fit for our family...We’re really excited about it, nervous at the same time,” Wood said.

In two years, when he and his family return, the district may place Wood at any of the schools in the district.

Junior Marissa Pope said she has been playing basketball for him for several years. Wood invited Pope to play after watching her eighth grade tryouts, and she has been playing for him since.

“We even joked about Skyping [Wood] my senior night, so he would be there,” Pope said. “He helped us through a lot and he stuck it out even through all the bad criticism. He helped me make my game better, he’s helped me become more of a leader and even as a person, he’s helped because he’s built up my confidence in a lot of different ways.”

Every year teachers and students come and go, but coach Wood will definitely be missed.

He leaves the students with this message, “To the students of LHS: Embrace each day and make the best of it. Find a passion, care for others, get up if you get knocked down and find a way to improve yourself each day. If you can do that you are probably heading in the right direction. Also, it doesn’t hurt to locate yourself as close as possible to a Taco John’s and Pizza Shuttle. They can get you through some trying times.”

feature

Apr. 30, 2014

Student Council Executive Board takes office Four students elected by student body to organize events such as dances, blood drives and assemblies COURTNEY NOTTINGHAM Position: Student Body Treasurer Current grade: Junior Student Council experience: Freshman Class President Sophomore Class President Junior Class President Extracurriculars: Drum Major for band, Bellissima Choir, LINK Crew Why did you run for Student Council?

“With the new activities we’ve included at events that have gone on a long time at the school, such as Laser Tag at Rally ‘Round the Lion.

I really thought that the addition of those activities really helped boost the turnout of those events, so I wanted to kind of be in track of the budget so I can make sure those things come back.”

Photos by Joaquin Dorado

LIZZY McENTIRE Position: Student Body Secretary

STEFAN PETROVIC Position: Student Body Vice President

SADIE KELLER Position: Student Body President

Current grade: Junior

Current grade: Sophomore

Current grade: Junior

Student Council experience: Freshman Class Treasurer Sophomore Class Secretary Junior Class Secretary Extracurriculars: Assistant Editor of the Red & Black yearbook, Soccer, Cross Country, LINK Crew Why did you run for Student Council?

“Well, I’ve been on Student Council for three years, and I just wanted a larger leadership role. Just, you know, I think it will be a good experience and hopefully we can do a lot to help the school.”

Student Council experience: Freshman Class Rep. Sophomore Class Rep. Extracurriculars: Cross Country, Swimming, Club Tennis, Debate, Forensics, Geography Club, Model United Nations Why did you run for Student Council?

“I want to help our growing and diverse school become better, be more inclusive and include more people in student events. I’ve noticed there’s sometimes a division between people who go to events, people who don’t, people who are involved and people who aren’t. I just want to include more people into the student body.”

Student Council experience: Sophomore Class Treasurer Student Body Vice President Extracurriculars: Soccer, Marching Band, A Cappella Choir, History Day, Volleyball, Habitat for Humanity Club, Young Feminists Club, LINK Crew Why did you run for Student Council?

“I’ve always been interested in Student Council. Last year, I was Student Body Vice President, so I saw what the president does. You know, what was good, what could be improved and everything like that. It made me want to run for president.”

INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY AIDAN ROTHROCK

World’s largest waterslide will open in Kansas City Next month, Schlitterbahn’s newest attraction will tower over the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, Golden Gate Bridge

BY ZIA KELLY This summer, the Kansas City waterpark, Schlitterbahn, is unveiling an exciting new waterslide that will attract thrillseekers everywhere.

Schlitterbahn will be home to the world’s largest waterslide, Verrückt, which will open to the public on May 23. Named after the German word for “insane,” the ride is anticipated to be a major Kansas City attraction.

The 17-story engineering feat broke the world record for waterslide height. It stands two stories taller than the previous record holder, the Brazilian waterslide called the Kilimanjaro.

After a 264 step climb to the top of the structure, the four-seater ride takes daring riders on a downward plunge in near-vertical chute that is enclosed by a net.

If the initial drop isn’t heart-stopping enough, riders are taken up and down another five-story hill, that, while less steep, extends the excitement of the ride.

Graphic by Joaquin Dorado

Page Design By Ashley Hocking

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sports

Individuals on the tennis team stand out Leaders, senior Thomas Irick and sophomore Elliot Abromeit help the Lions to wins this season

BY PIPER HUBBELL Led by young players as well as experienced seniors, the boys’ tennis team is serving up a strong start to the spring sports season.

The team won or tied in its first four competitions, led by senior Thomas Irick and sophomore Elliot Abromeit.

Boys’ tennis coach, Chris Marshall, has watched Irick’s improvements and achievements throughout the past four years. He has high hopes for Irick this season.

“Thomas has put a lot of work into his serve is getting a higher percentage of first serves, which will help him this year and will hopefully help him finish in the highest he has in all four years,” Marshall said.

Irick, a senior singles player, has proven himself to be one of the best to come through the program. Irick has been part of the tennis program since his freshman year when ninth-graders were still part of the junior high schools. Since then, he has played through the program and made a name for himself.

He plays an important role on the team not only as a leader by example, but also as a leader through success.

“Sophomore year, I took seventh at state, and last year I took eighth at state and fourth in Sunflower League,” Irick said.

With these past achievements, he not only plans to add more successes to his individual record, but also to help the team as a whole in their successes, too.

“Every time at practice, I am looking around to see who is struggling, and try to help how can,” Irick said. “I help them with their technique and help them become a better player.”

Irick signed a letter of intent to play tennis at Baker University on April 23.

Another player who has been a standout on the team is Abromeit.

Even though he is only a sophomore, he still has a positive impact on the team’s performance. He is a singles player who has had many successes and has set an example for others to follow.

“Last year at a high level of competition, I didn’t perform as well, but this year I should do better since I am more matched in the competition,” Abromeit said.

His forward-thinking attitude plays a part on the team’s performance as well as their mental game. He is helping to prepare players through his past experiences.

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“Ensuring that the other players are mentally prepared for all of the matches because that is a really big step in the performance,” Abromeit said.

This season, Irick and Abromeit have won nearly every singles matches they competed in.

“Elliot’s consistency has gotten much better, and he is beginning to understand his game and how to use his strengths to his advantage,” Marshall said. “He is gaining more ability to win over the mediocre players, so as a team we are getting more points.”

With both Thomas and Elliot willing and determined to help the

Page Design By Ashley Hocking

Returning a lob, sophomore Elliot Abromeit prepares to score a point in a singles match at Free State on April 15. Photo by Ashley Hocking team, they plan to make inexperienced players into players who can build and utilize their strengths.

“Unfortunately, a lot of the kids we have playing do not have a lot of tennis experience, so we are trying to get them in as many matches as we can to build upon that and develop their strengths and utilize their strengths,” Marshall said.

opinion

APR. 30, 2014

Selfies consume the lives of teenagers ‘Me Generation’ is obsessed with documenting their every move, keeping record of themselves over time

BY KANSAS GIBLER

Graphic by Alexis Riner

“But first, let me take a selfie.”

Selfies have become culturally commonplace. It’s no longer unusual to look across the classroom and see students stop working to lean in and document that day’s science lab.

Besides biology class, selfies exist on the internet.

There isn’t a social media site that hasn’t had pixels in the form of a human face grace at least one of its pages.

Not only do the people you see in class and on the streets take selfies, but most celebrities and public officials have posted at least one on the internet as well.

Ezra Koenig, singer of the indie-rock band Vampire Weekend, has publicly advocated for selfie-taking, although he opts for the alternate spelling “selfy.”

“I’m definitely pro-selfy. I think that anybody who’s anti-selfy is really just a hater,” Koenig said in an interview with Rolling Stone. “Because, truthfully, why shouldn’t people take pictures of themselves? When I’m on Instagram, and I see that somebody took a picture of themselves, I’m like, ‘Thank you.’ I don’t need to see a picture of the sky, the trees, plants. There’s only one you.”

Koenig illustrates a positive outlook on selfies. He claims that they benefit people and has faith in “selfie culture.”

The Chainsmokers, however, are two New York residents who received public attention due to their 2014 single “#SELFIE.” The song compiles stereotypes suggesting that selfie-takers have a narrow, self-centered mindset, but also illustrated the undeniable popularity of selfie-taking.

Valid arguments against selfies exist, but they can easily be dismantled with reason. Many people slander the self-centered side of selfies, but a picture of oneself is nearly impossible to make unselfish.

In the past year, more people have often referred to teenagers as the “me generation,” when really humans

have been obsessed with themselves for ages.

Wealthy people in the Renaissance sat for hours on end, while artists immortalized their likeness on canvas. They, like people who often take selfies, wanted their likeness to be something that others could examine and even praise.

To me, sitting for the better part of a day to have an image of oneself is a more self-centered task than the 30 seconds a person spends taking a picture of themselves.

With hundreds of students capturing their daily lives in a square photo with a Lo-Fi filter, it’s tough to say that selfies don’t matter.

The value of the “selfie culture” is of exponential importance to the development of our generation as well as generations to come. Being able to look back on yourself as a teenager is one of the best gifts of current technology, seeing how you changed on a daily or weekly basis through an old Facebook or Instagram account.

“It’s important to document yourself at the time and document what changes you’ve gone through over the years,” sophomore Lydia Caldwell said.

Selfies allow people to keep a record of themselves over time, some even create video compilations of those photos to show a change or progress over time and share them on social media sites. The videos show people in transitions, such as going through phases or recovery after an eating disorder.

Having a documented account of your face over the months and years of transition between teenage years and adulthood online is much like a digital scrapbook of yourself, which some adults don’t realize.

So take a picture with your friends when your teacher walks out and have your significant other lean in on a date and get a picture and have something to smile at later, because no one should feel guilty for needing evidence of what they’ve looked like and the things that they’ve done.

Alcohol, teens merge dangerously on party buses Many teens spend prom night drunk on party buses

BY KENDALL PRITCHARD Prom is a rite of passage for transitioning into adulthood.

The idea of prom, however, is changing. Students no longer want to go to a school event with breathalyzer tests and chaperones. Though they still dress up, take pictures and go to dinner, many avoid the dance and get drunk — often on party buses.

“More of the higher times of alcohol and drug activity is around this time of year and leading into the summer when kids aren’t in school and don’t have those kinds of responsibilities and are unsupervised,” Jen Jordan, of Draw The Line, said.

Over the years, party buses have become the backdrop for excessive drinking and tragic

accidents. One of the most horrific events took place in 2006 when partiers rode on top of a party bus going to at KU football game. John Green, a passenger, died when his head smashed into the bridge under which the bus was passing. Another passenger, Chris Orr, was critically injured in a similar manner.

Green’s widow later sued the party bus owners, manufacturers and operators. Nearly all of the defendants in the case settled, but the gruesome accident exposed the dangers of party buses.

The incident showed both the lax safety regulations on party buses and the poor choices people make when under the influence of alcohol.

If 30-year-olds, can’t control themselves on party buses, how are teenagers suppose to control themselves? If you believe that seniors on their way to prom are focused on following the law, you’re crazy.

Proponents of party buses say that buses help keep drunk teenage drivers off the road. Drunk teenager drivers, as recent history has shown, pose

safety threats to themselves and others. According to Kansas Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free, drivers between ages 15 and 20 were involved in 69 fatal crashes in 2013, with 25 drivers cited as alcohol impaired.

At the same time, however, the case can be made that party buses encourage drinking.

“We can get wasted tonight,” teens brag. “We don’t need a driver tonight. We have a party bus.”

As sad as it sounds many students justify themselves with those kinds of statements.

Students drinking is also encouraged since party bus drivers are known for looking the other way when it comes to underage drinking. Usually adults are unwilling to drive drunk minors, but on prom night it’s common.

Students have to worry about the risks they are taking when stepping on a party bus or anywhere else for that matter, drunk.

“Party buses are a way to have fun and be with your friends,” sophomore Meshayla Garcia said.

“It’s not fun when someone throws up from drink-

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ing too much alcohol though.”

Students on party buses must also consider the risk of arrest while partaking in underage drinking on party buses as they could be pulled over by law enforcement if probable cause exists.

If caught, students may be charged as minors in possession.

“Bottom line is you have to be responsible,” school resource officer Michael Cobb said. “People need to be careful about the alcohol being on the bus and being consumed.”

Though party buses are a way to let loose and have fun, is getting an MIP or losing your life worth it? I bet we all know someone who has dealt with the legal consequences associated with underage drinking on party buses, and I can almost guarantee they wish they could take back their actions that night. I’m sure teenagers can find something else better to do than endanger their lives.

I value my life and my future, and I’m not willing to risk either for a one night that I might not remember. Are you?

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Apr. 30, 2014

Film industry blatantly whitewashes characters of color Americans take pride in how progressive and multicultural we are, yet the film industry says otherwise

BY NIA RUTLEDGE As time progresses, film has become a stronger medium to convey various ideas, lifestyles, inventions and predictions around the globe.

Film is one of the strongest, most widespread ways to share ideas worldwide. With the integration of the internet, access to these films has never been easier.

“I think that we are not always aware of how much film and TV can dictate the way we live subconsciously,” senior, Film III student Maya Brinton said.

We have extravagant annual events that are broadcasted across the nation where people come together and award the best films and their creators with golden awards and the winners, alongside their supporters, hold these prizes dearly. Among these events, one of the most popular is, The Oscars.

However, the problem with this affair, a ceremony to award to those involved in the film industry, is that it is predominantly white people who are involved and awarded for their involvement.

A 2013 study conducted by “Los Angeles Times” revealed that the members of The Academy are 93 percent white and 76 percent male.

Academy Award members have awarded four Asian, six Latin American and 15 black actors with Academy Awards over the course of 85 years that The Oscars have been held.

Some may argue that the minuscule amount of awards given to actors of color is due to the lack of actors of color in the film industry, but I believe that it is due to the lack of chances that actors of color are given compared to their white counterparts.

“I typically see a lot more white actors,” junior, Film III student, Jack Rischer said. “But recently there’s been more diversity in the film industry than 50 years ago.

But [there are] still a lot more white actors. When I think about actors, I think like Brad Pitt or something.”

White actors dominate the film industry.

I believe this is a cause of the glorification of European beauty and racial preference within America.

“I think that it is bad when someone would cast a

white actor for a person of color’s role,” Brinton said. “I think it is done a lot because it is a very white-dominated industry.”

Often, white actors are chosen to play characters who were historically, or described as, non-white.

This act of “whitewashing” has been seen commonly across the timeline of film history.

In the past, Paul Muni and Luise Rainer in “The Good Earth” (1937), Burt Lancaster in “Apache” (1954), Mickey Rooney in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) and Elizabeth Taylor in “Cleopatra” (1963), were all non-white characters portrayed by white characters, often using crude makeup and special effects to make the actors look more ethnic rather than just picking an actor who is the real deal.

However, this disgustingly insulting act has not been left in the past.

More recently, Jake Gyllenhaal in “The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” (2010), Johnny Depp in “The Lone Ranger” (2013), Benedict Cumberbatch in “Star Trek: Into Darkness” (2013), and Rooney Mara in “Pan” (2015) have all been recent acts of whitewashing in the film industry.

Actors of color are overlooked and diminished to racial stereotypes, supporting roles and extras in the film industry. You’d think that roles so blatantly of a person of color would actually be given to an actor of color who is not only visually accurate, but does their job well, but sadly this is not the case.

“It’s very easy for white producers and white directors to connect with white people first and get their representation across through that white actor,” junior, Film III student, Clara Lehr said. “I think that a lot of the time there is a root of the role that would come across much better, but isn’t displayed because it feels dangerous to a lot of people in Hollywood or the film industry.”

In movies in which the leading character is a person of color, the audience is given a white actor for the role or the person of color is a character with negative traits.

For example, hero movies are probably the utmost example of glorifying a specific character in film, but

when we think of our superheroes, all of the well known ones are white.

The only superhero movie that I am familiar with that features a non-white actor is Hancock, in which Will Smith played the leading role. However, Hancock started as a drunk that everyone hated only to be rehabilitated by a white family after which, he is loved and admired as a hero.

I am no film buff by any means, but what I’ve found is that when a person of color is in a film, their character has to be written around the fact that they are not white.

I have not seen a movie about a quirky, teenage black girl who falls in love with an enigmatic Latino boy from her math class. But how many movies have been written around the basis of quirky, young, white love?

I have no superheros who look like me or cheesy romantic roles I can imagine myself as.

The only movies I have seen myself largely represented in films are in movies about slavery, gang violence and domestic abuse, but I will never seen myself in films similar to “Juno” (2007) or “Submarine” (2010) or a film directed by Wes Anderson. Those roles are reserved for white actors.

The only time feature films have a person of color as the leading actor is when a plot is centered around how black, or how Asian or how Latino the actor is. Rarely are films made about a person who does interesting things, who just so happens to be a person of color. It’s as if being white is seen as a default of a person, but with all non-white characters, the audience needs some sort of clarification as to why they are not white.

White actors are given an abundance of narrations and variations to their lives and plots within films. All the while, non-white characters are left to marginalized stereotypical mannerisms and lifestyles, or as useless characters who would not make a difference if their character were taken out the film.

Graphic by Alexis Riner

Lawmakers miss the mark on teacher tenure bill Kansas Legislature uses poor practice to pass controversial bill involving teacher rights

BY HARLEY PHELPS We high school students know it well — our best work is never done in the last hours before something is due. Perhaps the Kansas Legislature could take that lesson from us.

In recent weeks, the Legislature passed a controversial bill eliminating teacher tenure and due process, which Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law.

In addition to the bill itself being poor, so was the merit upon which it was passed. Lawmakers waited until the last hours of session to even initiate the bill, giving the public no time to respond.

“The bill should have been given more floor time,” math teacher Greg Farley said. “Passing legislation in the middle of the night seems shady.”

Giving the people no time to respond is a clear indication of how little obligation the legislature feels it has to the people. The legislature is a body

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that works for the people, and if its members don’t think they do, they should look into new careers.

The bill is based on the idea that schools are unable to fire bad teachers. That’s not true. Under the previous law, administrators could still fire teachers but with the possible step of a due process hearing.

If a teacher was bad, they would still be fired.

But if teachers were targeted for personal reasons, like refusing to change a star athlete’s grade to a passing mark or being pursued by overzealous parents, they had a chance to make their case and keep their jobs.

The new law is antithetical to teaching. Why teach if you can’t give an honest grade or punishment without fear of being fired?

“Teachers may choose to ignore problems to avoid confrontation or job loss,” Farley said.

The bill will only discourage quality teachers from coming to teach in Kansas, because there is no longer job security for teachers here.

“It may impact teacher recruitment by reducing the pool of quality teachers willing to teach in Kansas,” Farley said.

In North Carolina, teacher tenure was revoked, but a new system was implemented. Top teachers in districts could be offered four-year contracts while other teachers would only be offered one- or two-year contracts. This system still allows for some gratitude toward its best teachers.

The Kansas bill is the most unfair to teachers who have already earned their tenure.

“I was a little shocked,” senior Chase Oehlert said. “It even took away teachers’ tenure that had already received it.”

Giving tenure to teachers not only ensures that the best quality of teachers will be drawn to the state, but it also allows for teachers who have put time and hard work into their careers to be rewarded for these efforts for education.

“If a teacher has held a job for that long, they

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obviously are doing something right,” Oehlert said. “They deserve the tenure, especially wanting to continue on a teacher salary with the current economy.”

Perhaps lawmakers would have been able to better discuss and understand the negative effects their bill would bring had they spent the proper amount of time and energy to learn about it. The kind of effort the public expects of them. The kind they get paid for.

In my eyes, the bill ceases to have any benefits but a long list of faults: poor practice precedents were set by the Legislature, good teachers will seek job security elsewhere, teachers will hesitate in necessary disciplinary measures and administrators will gain more undeserved powers. While teachers are losing the ability to fight for their jobs, most lawmakers will be doing just that this November.

Voters should consider such irony when walking into the polls.

Apr. 30, 2014

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photo page

Showtime cast hits a high note Juniors and seniors find harmony on stage in their performances in the spring variety show (Left) Working on a car dressed as grease monkeys, senior boys surround Alex O’Brien as they perform the song “GTO” by Ronnie and The Daytonas at Showtime. Photo by Ashley Hocking (Bottom left) Performing as the characters from “Friends,” seniors Lindsay Kelly, Abbey Berland, Tucker Sutter, Drake Truscello, Meredith Johnson and Ryan Bellinger sing “I’ll Be There For You” by The Remembrants. Photo by Ashley Hocking (Bottom right) Portraying bombshell Marilyn Monroe, junior Maggie Wiseman soaks in the limelight during the Bellissima choir’s performance of “Let Me Be Your Star” from Smash. Photo by Ashley Hocking (Below) Belting out in song, senior Michaela Mack performs “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar during a Showtime performance. Photo by Lizzy McEntire

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news

Apr. 30, 2014

Community shows support for Lewis Citizens of Lawrence attend school board meeting in protest of terminated coach

BY BROOKE BRAMAN Every seat was filled. The crowd spilled into the hallway. Security guards stood nearby. No, this wasn’t a Beyoncé concert. This was Monday night’s school board meeting.

Students, parents and concerned citizens converged at the school district office to protest head basketball coach Mike Lewis’ recent contract nonrenewal and ask for an investigation into the matter.

“I’m honestly very overwhelmed,” Lewis said about the turnout at the meeting. “I had no idea that me being the basketball coach at Lawrence High and the PE teacher at Southwest had such a big impact on the community.”

School board members opened the meeting by explaining that they could not answer questions nor respond to comments but would yield the floor to audience members — all of whom railed against the decision to fire Lewis from his coaching job. He continues to teach at Southwest Middle School.

Toni Brou, mother of sophomore and varsity basketball player Fred Brou, was the first to address the board. Brou described Lewis as a man of “integrity and high moral character.” She said he is a man invested in his players on and off the court, and someone who “brought out the best in people.”

Brou ended her address with a reminder that “our long-term mentors are not disposable.”

The portrayal of Lewis as an upstanding man and outstanding coach was echoed in each testimony.

“He’s an exceptional coach, leader and mentor,” said Sebastian Bonner, father of LHS varsity basketball player, junior Anthony Bonner. “[He] impresses upon his players integrity, scholarship, family, courage and community service.”

It was clear many attendants at the meeting viewed Lewis in high esteem.

In addition to advocating on behalf of the coach and teacher, parents said their attendance was motivated by a desire “to show their children how to stand up against inequities.” After expressing displeasure over these so-called “inequities,” many called for his reinstatement.

Kristin Mallory, a former LHS coach and mother of varsity basketball player, freshman Jackson Mallory, described the dismissal as a “misuse of power.”

“Reconsider this action for our boys, our community and our schools that deserve more coaches like Mike,” Mallory said.

Other parents shared their “devastation” and confusion regarding the situation in which Lewis has said he was unexpectedly reevaluated after an initial, positive review. It was this second evaluation that apparently led the LHS administrators to excuse him from his post. Lewis said he got the call at 7 p.m. on April 21.

“I was informed by our athletic director, Mr. [Bill] DeWitt, and no, I did not see it coming,” Lewis said. “I was surprised.”

When approached by “The Budget” on Tuesday afternoon, DeWitt refused to answer questions. In an interview last week with the “Lawrence Journal World,” he said, “I wanted to make a change.”

“I’m new,” DeWitt told the LJWorld. “I have a new perspective. I consulted with some people I work with. I didn’t go blind into the night, but at the end of the day, this is my decision.”

Lewis said he was told only that, “Lawrence High wanted to go a different direction with the basketball program.”

This “different direction” argument was used as a quip by audience members at the meeting who

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Packed in at the district office building, members of the community voiced their opinions at a school board meeting on April 28 about the dismissal of coach Lewis. Photo by Gage Nelson

asked why the school would move in a direction away from a dedicated coach with a 17-5 winning season.

While Lewis guided the players through a victorious season, supporters also credit him with helping players cope with the death of assistant coach Kermit Aldridge earlier this year.

“Coach Aldridge would be devastated that these boys have had their hearts broken twice in two months,” said Lisa Shields, Aldridge’s fianceé.

Whatever the reason for Lewis’ termination, it is an unpopular action in which many of the most vocal opponents are LHS basketball players.

Members of the basketball team prepared and read a collective statement expressing their heartbreak and disappointment over Lewis’s dismissal.

One by one, nearly all the varsity basketball players walked to the podium and repeated what would become their mantra of the night: “I’m a Lion. Mike Lewis is our coach, and we want him back.”

Parents and other students — even some of whom are not affiliated with the basketball program joined in.

With such staggering public protestation, many eagerly await a response from either the school board or school administrators. Lewis, however, seems less hopeful.

“I look at last night’s meeting as something that is an eye-opener to everybody,” Lewis said. “As of now, I don’t think there is a possibility of me coming back.”

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Guest Editorial

Players say, ‘we want our coach back’ At school board meeting, basketball team speaks out against coach’s dismissal

BY BEN RAJEWSKI Editors’ Note: Junior Ben Rajewski and other players read this letter at the Monday night school board meeting.

I would like to thank the School Board for this chance to speak on behalf of our team. The content of this speech has been prepared by members of the Lawrence High basketball program.

We are utterly disappointed in and thoroughly shocked by the actions taken by the administration of Lawrence High in firing OUR basketball coach, Mike Lewis.

We are confounded by the decision. OUR coach is an outstanding basketball coach. He adapts both offensively and defensively to ever changing game situations. OUR coach thoroughly prepares us for each opponent with both skills and knowledge to be victorious. His steady, calm demeanor on the sidelines is an example to us as players on how to conduct ourselves on the court. OUR coach is humble in defeat and, more importantly, OUR coach is humble in victory, a quality we witnessed many times this season.

Coach Lewis is a great man and a great role model for us, his players.

OUR coach acts as a father figure for multiple members of the team who do not have another person in their lives who could assume that role.

OUR coach holds family values in high regard, a virtue that is clearly evident in his own family. His wife, Kristel Lewis, is unselfishly supportive of this program and has done so much for our team family. His children, Kate, Luke and Mac, look up to the players on the Lawrence High School basketball team.

At the beginning of each season, OUR coach lays out a hierarchy of importance for the team. At the top of the hierarchy is FAMILY, just below that SCHOOL, and under school, basketball. Before we can lace up our shoes, we need to make sure the situation at home and the situation in the classroom are taken care of, and then and only then can we play basketball.

OUR coach makes sure that WE are treating our community with respect, and maintaining a good standing in the classroom. He always checks up

on our grades and is the first one to It has been said by the administell us if we need to make a change in tration that they want our program to our studies. move in a different direction. For the OUR coach holds each one of his 2013-2014 basketball season, OUR players accountable for his actions, team returned three players with making sure that we are learning to significant varsity experience. This make smart choices and representing undersized, inexperienced, guard ourselves, our school and Lawrence heavy team went on to post a record in the best way possible. of 17 wins with only five losses, claim OUR coach is dependable and a Topeka Invitational Tournament we know he is always there for us. title, take second place at the Blue He said to us that if we ever need a Valley Shootout, defeat perennial place to stay, to call him and let him powerhouse Rockhurst High School, know. Even if it is one and hand Highland in the morning, he will Park its first loss in two “We are utterly share his home. He has years. Four years ago, disappointed in and been a National Honor this program had a thoroughly shocked by Society reference for 4-17 record; from there the actions taken by players on the team the records have only the administration of and is willing to do improved, with two Lawrence High.”

—Ben Rajewski, junior anything for his family 12-win seasons capped and his players. OUR off by this year’s 17-win coach has touched the season. If that does lives of many people in this communot constitute movement in the right nity through his coaching, teaching direction, we are not sure what does. position at Southwest Middle School, None of these accomplishments and through his continual work with would’ve been possible without OUR basketball camps for young players. coach. To win a state championship, Working with Coach Law from Free we need OUR coach.

State this past summer, OUR coach As the leader of our program, provided the opportunity for middle OUR coach has put us in a posischoolers to learn and have exposure tion to bond with one another and to the game through a city wide to create team chemistry, a major basketball league. contributor to our success this past

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Front row: junior Anthony Bonner, junior John Barbee. Second row: junior Ben Ra-

jewski, junior Kyle Hoffman, sophomore Justin Roberts. Third row: junior Logan Applegate, sophomore Price Morgan. Fourth row: freshman Jackson Mallory, sophomore Fred Brou. Photo by Joseph Anderson

season. He has helped us in the recruiting process for college, talking to coaches and sending out highlight tapes among many other actions.

When Justin, Solomon and Tae came to our program, he welcomed them with open arms and integrated them smoothly into our system. OUR coach makes us feel comfortable on the court; he is in touch with his players. If we came off a tough and physical game, he devises a practice to recuperate our bodies while further progressing our skills; in contrast, he knows when we need to be pushed hard.

After the passing of Kermit Aldrich, one of our coaches, OUR coach talked to us as a team and each and everyone of us individually to make sure everything was all right and to know that he had our backs.

We have his too. At this time we would like everyone who is here to support OUR coach, Coach Lewis, to stand.

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