LHS Budget Issue 8

the budget

Executing a takedown, senior Isaias Rojo wrestles an opponent to the mat. For more about wrestling, see Page 9.

Lawrence High School Est. 1897

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Four students make debut in independent film

BY ASHLEY HOCKING Four students debuted on the big screen as audiences snacked on popcorn and sipped soft drinks at the premiere of the independent film “Jayhawkers” on Feb. 14.

Junior Christian Espinosa, senior Matt Rood, junior Clara Lehr and sophomore Tristan Delnevo auditioned locally for director, producer and screenplay writer Kevin Willmott.

“We wanted to use younger actors because basketball players in the 1950s appeared younger then than today,” Willmott said. “They all worked very well in the film. They were very cooperative and

1901 Louisiana St., Lawrence, KS 66046

worked hard. I treated them like all the other actors.”

A-listers, Blake Robbins from “The Office,” Kip Niven from “Walker, Texas Rangers” and Jay Karnes from “Burn Notice” also starred in the film.

Espinosa played the role of Gene Elstun, a University of Kansas basketball player. As an athlete on the Lawrence High basketball team, he was excited to portray a collegiate-level basketball player.

“To be a part of it was something really special to me because I cherish basketball and Kansas tradition,” Espinosa said.

On the other side of the basketball court, Rood played the role of a North Carolina basketball player in the championship game.

Dribbling a basketball, junior Christian Espinosa acts in the independent film “Jayhawkers,” which premiered at the Lied Center on Feb. 14.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Willmott

“I was really excited because it was my first on-screen acting thing ever, and I got some really cool experience working on set of a film,” Rood said. “I really enjoyed seeing the back part of a film. I’d never been on a movie set. It was cool to watch the people work and to go around and see the monitors of exactly what was happening before it all came together.”

Continued on Page 2

Vol. 124, Issue 8, MAR. 12, 2014

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Mar. 12, 2014

the

Budget Letter from the editors-in-chief

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 (Opinion Editor) Kendall Pritchard Kate Rettig Alexis Riner Matt Roe Peter Romano (Copy Editor) Aidan Rothrock Nia Rutledge (Assistant Opinion Editor) Advertising designer Nico Palacio Adviser Barbara Tholen Business manager Pat Treff 2 the

budget

Dear Readers, We realize this issue of “The Budget” could be deemed our most racy issue thus far. In our first column, we explained that we do not intend to be “controversial.” Our goal is to write about what our readers — the students — care about.

In this issue, we covered a range of topics including religion, drugs, virginity and sexuality.

The story, “Twitter parallels debate in KS Legislature,” touched on the topics of sexuality and religion.

We decided to cover this Twitter fight because although seemingly outdated, the argument over same-

sex relationships continues across the country. As we learned more about the recent Kansas House bill, we wanted a discussion of our own to happen at LHS. Though we were thankful that the bill did not become law in Kansas, we were disappointed that a similar bill passed in Arizona before being rejected by that state’s governor. Like the Kansas bill, it would have allowed businesses to deny services to gay and lesbian customers based on religious beliefs.

Although in liberal Lawrence, most individuals would view this bill as preposterous, there are still local advocates for a bill like this.

As mentioned in “Drugs directly affect audiences at concerts,” our generation seems to need substances to enjoy otherwise fun experiences. It’s gotten to a point where some can’t even attend school without being under some kind of influence. Although we’re not surprised that some of our peers are seeking additional “help” in enjoying their lives, we are disappointed to see this change.

One of the toughest subjects to discuss was tackled by one of our opinion writers in “Virginity isn’t a state of body.” Even as we walk through the hallways of LHS we hear about the sexual exploits of strangers that weekend. Because the average age to lose your

virginity is 17, we’re not surprised to hear this topic frequently discussed by our peers. However, we want to end the stigma attached to the concept of “virginity.”

As illustrated in the story, “Sexting victim says stop it with the pics,” a staff member was victimized when his phone number was scrawled across the walls of a local coffee shop. In the piece, we made the decision to reference the explicit words written next to his phone number to paint a true picture of his experience. Though it might have seemed like a harmless prank to the culprit, it has legal implications due to the fact that the staff member is a minor.

As stories are pitched each issue, we try to pick ideas that aren’t just racy but important to our generation’s societal development. We ultimately hope that our newspaper launches a discussion among our classmates.

Sincerely,

Ashley Hocking and Kendra Schwartz

‘Jayhawkers’ independent film: Student actors play characters in Kevin Willmott film Continued from Page 1 Rood’s fondest memory of the film was suiting up in a tank top and hot shorts.

“The championship game was filmed in black and white,” Rood said.

“We look like we’re wearing the typical powder blue North Carolina basketball uniform. But in reality, the fabric that they chose to make it look like blue on the black and white screen, was really different. I was wearing a bright red tank top and these hot pink silk short shorts with blue trim.”

Though Rood has an extensive theater background, taking on the role of an athlete was an obstacle to overcome.

“I was nervous because I’m not a basketball player,” Rood said. “I told them that I was uncoordinated.”

Though being on the basketball court was a new experience for Rood, it was not for current KU basketball player Justin Wesley who portrayed Wilt Chamberlain.

“We didn’t know he had the acting in him,” Espinosa said. “Bill Self actually recommended for him to be Wilt Chamberlain in the movie. It was cool to actually see him take on Wilt Chamberlain.”

Both Rood and Espinosa were nervous to execute plays alongside a collegiate athlete.

“I was basically scared of messing anything up, so I tried to stay out of his way,” Rood said. “I stood near him a few times in the free throw part of the movie, which made it into the film.”

Basketball was a major element

in the film, but “Jayhawkers” overall ess who greets Chamberlain at the was a commentary on the modernizarestaurant. Though Lehr prefers being tion and desegregation of collegiate behind the camera, she embraced the athletics that paralleled the Civil Rights opportunity. movement in the 1950s.

“It was fun getting to see what “It’s about one of the greatest basbeing in a film is like,” Lehr said. “It’s ketball players of all time, civil rights fascinating to be in front of the camera. and segregation,” Espinosa said. “It It really is.” represents Lawrence as a town. I hope Working with Willmott was Lehr’s the audience realizes that this is what favorite part of the movie because of Lawrence was at one time.” his easy-going nature.

Willmott initially was inspired to “It’s fun to be in his stuff becreate the film shortly after Chambercause he’s easy to work with,” Lehr lain died. said. “He’s just a nice guy. He takes “Several news stories appeared that everything very slow, and makes sure discussed his effect on civil rights in everybody is comfortable about what Lawrence and the they’re doing.” region,” Willmott Although Delnevo said. “When [fellow had a small role, he Zachary Spears, art screenplay writer] was delighted to be a production assistant on the Scott Richardson part of the production film and web developer of started to research as an extra. lhsbudget.com, interviews the story, it quickly “I was only on evolved into a great screen for like a quarter students who were a part narrative.” of a second, but it was of the production.

One scene fun to see and underhttp://bit.ly/lhshawks that stood out to stand how the whole the student actors process of movies was a depiction of work,” Delnevo said.

Chamberlain being kicked out of a The movie has been a work in restaurant because of the color of his progress for more than a decade, but skin. the filming process didn’t begin until “Wilt Chamberlain desegregated last summer. “Jayhawkers” is WillLawrence’s culture because he’s a mott’s sixth independent feature film. celebrity,” Rood said. “They basically “It’s great to see your ideas come used him to force people to integrate. to life,” Willmott said. “It is hard work, They’d take him to a restaurant, and and it takes a long time. There are they’d be like ‘You can’t eat here.’ And many obstacles, but when you get to he’d be like, ‘I’m Wilt Chamberlain.’ show it to the audience it is well worth Then, they’d be like, ‘Oh, you’re pretty it.” cool. You can eat here.’”

The “Jayhawkers” premiere was In the scene, Lehr played a hostheld at the Lied Center to spark inter-

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Page Design by Kendra Schwartz and Ashley Hocking

est within the community.

“We had tremendous crowds selling out several times. It couldn’t have gone any better,” Willmott said.

“It has been a tremendous experience, and well worth the 10 years it took to make the film.”

After the movie’s initial success, the film premiered for a second time on Feb. 28 at Liberty Hall.

Willmott plans to tour “Jayhawkers” in theaters throughout Kansas soon. The film will also, eventually, be available for purchase locally, on Netflix and on iTunes.

For the student actors, the movie’s influence is significant. Working with big Hollywood names inspired Espinosa to strive to become an actor one day. Rood also hopes to continue his on-screen acting career, too.

“I’ve had really good experiences with on-screen acting,” Rood said. “I was in [Tech N9ne and Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Fragile’] music video. I’ve taken a few classes, and I want to continue some screen acting classes, as well as my on-stage acting classes in college when I go to study theater.”

Though it is no small accomplishment for a high school student to be a part of an independent film, the four student actors involved with the film have not let their 15 minutes of fame go to their heads.

“People at school that I don’t even know come up to me and say, ‘Hey, I saw you in the movie,’ ” Espinosa said. “It definitely feels special. I don’t feel different about myself. As a joke, I signed some autographs, and it was kind of silly.”

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MAR. 12, 2014

Twitter parallels debate in KS Legislature Bill fails to go ahead as religion-based fight about LGBT rights ensues on Twittersphere

BY KENDRA SCHWARTZ In matter of seconds and in only 140 characters, one tweet on social media launched the Twittersphere into debate and then spread like a virus.

Late Feb. 13, discussion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights cluttered students’ Twitter feeds.

A tweet by a recent graduate denouncing homecoming king, senior Matt Rood, set many students aflame.

This debate mirrored that of Kansas legislators, who similarly discussed what role religion plays in the rights of LGBT individuals.

The former student’s tweets began by referencing the music video for Tech N9ne and Kendrick Lamar’s “Fragile” in which Rood played a character who was profusely bullied. The individual rejected the notion of Rood having ever been bullied because Rood had been crowned homecoming king in September and went on to say being gay is a sin.

Senior Matt Carmody joined the debate when he noted what he believed to be a misinterpretation of the Bible.

“I just think that everyone is bound to their own opinion, and if it’s belittling to someone then you should keep it off of Twitter,” Carmody said.

Quickly, discourse became centered around the theological views of the individuals who were tweeting.

“I think religion can play positively and poorly,” Carmody said. “I think it can be taken too far by someone who is a Christian and who tries to force their opinion on other people. I also believe people can take the Bible out of context and cause arguments.”

Senior Jacob Nation decided to get involved and guide the discussion away from religion and toward human rights.

“I just saw what was happening, and I felt like I just wanted to voice my opinions since everyone else was,” Nation said.

However, the more religious individuals kept the Twitter disagreement centered around their differing interpretations of biblical scriptures.

Although the former student did not speak directly to Rood the night of Feb. 13, his condemnation of the actions of Rood and of other openly gay students caused many individuals to step in on Rood’s behalf.

“I don’t want to say it’s OK from my religious standpoint, but I want to say that none of us have the right to judge, not specifically Matt, but people everywhere who make that choice,” Carmody said. “And I don’t know that it’s a choice, but those who have the decision to be gay, we can’t judge them because we all have our own sins and flaws.”

Although Rood had missed the Twitter quarrel to have an early Valentine’s Day celebration with his boyfriend, the argument was brought to his attention the following day.

“My first gut reaction was I was really thankful to all the members of choir and the school who immediately stepped up and were like, ‘No that’s not right,’” Rood said. “And I was like, that’s really cool that so many people are actively trying to end discrimination instead of just like being like, ‘Nah. I’m for it, but not gonna do anything about it.’”

Some believe social media to be the appropriate forum for religious debate, but others are concerned about the potential for cyber bullying in this debate.

“You can easily be attacked through social media and then never see that person in real life,” Nation said. “You can easily gang up on someone over the internet.”

While the online debate extended only a few hours, the LGBT rights dialogue has continued for years, especially in Kansas.

On Feb. 12, the Kansas House passed a bill that would have allowed religious individuals, groups and businesses to deny services specifically to same-sex couples. Although the House passed the bill 72 to 49, The bill was met with quick dissent and wasn’t taken up by the Senate.

Although sophomore Hanna Hall was not involved in the debate over Twit-

ter, her strong beliefs have prompted her to become a loyal member of the Gay-Straight Alliance at LHS. “To be honest, when I first heard about [the bill], I was infuriated and literally felt sick to my stomach,” Hall said.

“I felt that this is us taking steps back and that it wasn’t fair. It was basically like segregation again. And I felt, even though I didn’t live through the original [racial] segregation, that it shouldn’t be happening again. We should’ve learned from our past experiences.”

Though Rood is no longer bullied as regularly as his character in “Fragile,” school was not always safe space for him.

“I mean, it’s a character and I’m an actor,” Rood said. “I got bullied in early elementary school when I rode the bus, but I’m not bullied here at LHS. I was an actor in that video and I wasn’t trying to pretend I was; I was just doing my job, which I get paid for.”

And while bullying based on sexual orientation is a rarity at LHS, this bullying is customary and inevitable elsewhere.

Page Design by Kendra Schwartz

“I wish there was something I could do,” Hall said. “However, I’m 15 years old and as much as I want to help, I may not be able to help. Especially since people who get bullied feel like they cannot come and speak to other people.

They feel like that puts them in a more vulnerable situation.”

Whether students want to be a part of the debate or to avoid it completely, religion will always be central to the beliefs of many.

“Our country is founded on very Puritan beliefs,” Rood said. “And we’ve always been a religiously-affiliated country. I mean, we pride ourselves on freedom of religion, but there’s a lot individuals who would want to be more [free to practice their religion].”

Although religion and gay marriage aren’t always interconnected, this bill provided more concrete proof of the overlap that exists in the eyes of some Kansas lawmakers.

“I feel like religion has its own stigma that people assume all religions are against homosexuality or anything like that,” Hall said. “However, I don’t

Looking at the initial tweet that sparked debate, a student reflects on the Feb. 13 conversation. Photo illustration by Kendra Schwartz

exactly think that’s true. It’s just kind of another way we are pushing away from each other when there are so many of us trying to get people together to show that Christianity and other religions aren’t really against gay marriage or anything of that sort.”

As a result of this era and this state’s involvement of religious ideals in political conflict, social media will inevitably follow the trends of government. While individuals from other cities in Kansas who are against equality for LGBT individuals are the minority, in Lawrence, those who do not embrace equity are the dissenters.

“I know a lot of students at LHS are religiously affiliated, but I think that it’s not a big deal,” Rood said. “I mean, everyone has intellectual discussions.

Every has their own beliefs, and it doesn’t matter what you believe in. I think it’s more about what you bring as a student here at LHS.”

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MAR. 12, 2014

Bill could prohibit minors from tanning

House Bill 2435 has potential to disallow Kansas teenagers to using ultraviolet tanning equipment

By Zia Kelly Whether to get ready for formal, prepare for a spring break trip or get a sun-kissed glow in the doldrums of winter, teens go to tanning beds without restriction in Kansas.

However, a bill discussed this year by the Kansas Legislature would have compromised teens’ legal ability to get bronzed skin indoors. House Bill 2435 would prohibit people younger than 18 from using UV tanning equipment, thus affecting LHS students who frequent tanning salons. Businesses could face a $250 file for violating the law.

It isn’t the first time the issue has come before the Legislature, and it may not be settled this year. The bill has bounced between House committees and seems unlikely to advance this session.

In recent years, the use of UV tanning equipment by minors has skyrocketed. In a recent testimony to the House Committee on Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) said 38.6 percent of teenage girls have, at some point, gone to a tanning bed.

“This bill represents a very important public health issue,” said Dr. Dirk Elson, president of the AADA. “There is no such thing as a ‘safe’ tan. UV radiation damages the skin’s DNA, which is the beginning stage of skin cancer.”

For this reason, six other states have already passed bills similar to what is proposed in Kansas. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made it one of their objectives by the year 2020 to reduce tanning practices in adolescents.

Currently, there are limits on tanning by minors although some tanning businesses require permission of parents when minors come to tan. Such limits are self-imposed, and the American Suntanning Association actually supported the proposed change to state law while acknowledging that many tanning businesses would oppose it.

Sophomore Lexi Mason has been going to tanning beds about once a month for two years, she said it’s because she doesn’t get very tan in the summer. Her parents consent.

Local tanning facility Mango Tan has always upheld this require-

ment for teenagers wanting to use UV tanning devices.

“It’s always been the policy at Mango Tan that anyone under the age of 18 must have parental permission for UV tanning,” salon owner Kristi Lawrence said. “UV tanning under the age of 14 is not permitted.”

Lawrence ensures that each client has a health consultation before they begin tanning, and anyone who cannot tan outside cannot do so indoors.

While tanning beds are used to mimic the effects of being in the sun, the elevated levels of ultraviolet radiation can be more harmful, according to Elson.

It’s no secret that overexposure to sunlight or a simulated replica damages skin and can cause long-term health problems, but what is not as publicized is that it can also cause failure of other bodily functions.

“Indoor tanning equipment, which includes all artificial light sources, including beds, lamps, bulbs, booths, etc., emits UVA and UVB radiation,” Elson said. “The amount of the radiation produced during indoor tanning is similar to the sun, and in some cases might be stronger.

Indoor tanning has been classified a class 1 carcinogen, can cause basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, molecular damage of the skin and damage to the eyes. However, the most detrimental effect of UV tanning is the elevated chance of developing the most deadly form of skin cancer: melanoma.

Melanoma is becoming the most common cancer among 15-29 year olds. Between 2005 and 2009, its prevalence increased by 12 percent, the AADA said. The use of tanning equipment increases one’s susceptibility to developing the cancer by 40 percent.

While the correlation between tanning and increased likelihood of skin cancer has been made, early detection is difficult, as melanoma has the tendency to show up years after UV exposure.

Those testifying also questioned the credibility of the indoor tanning industry, citing that it has a history of advertising false safety claims.

An industry representative actually supposed the law while

Graphic by Joaquin Dorado

also defending the practice of indoor tanning.

The American Suntanning Association testified before lawmakers that while it supported the bill, it said some concerns were overstated.

According to Joseph Levy, the scientific advisor for the ASA, limiting access for teens could result in young people using unregulated and dangerous home-tanning equipment.

Levy noted that tanning is the body’s way of protecting itself from sunburn, and that the human body was designed to withstand large amounts of sunlight. He testified to lawmakers that the risk for melanoma is much more reliant on heredity than on UV exposure.

Coupled with the dispute over health, is the question of whether or not the Legislature has the authority to regulate teens tanning.

“This should not be the decision of our state government to decide if a teenager can tan before prom or to prepare their skin for a spring break trip,” Lawrence said. “This should be left for the parent to decide. Just like the law states for body piercing or tattoos, you must have parental permission under the age of 18.”

Drugs directly affect audiences at concerts Substances continue to play a predominant role at concerts

By Kansas Gibler The band walks out to a crowd that won’t be this energized until the encore. The music begins and then, the familiar concert smell breezes in.

The presence of drugs at concerts is inescapable. There will always be at least one person in the GA section smoking pot, as smoke spirals toward the venue’s ceiling.

But the drug use isn’t anything new.

“In the ’70s, early ’70s, whenever I would go to a concert — and I went to a lot of concerts — there was a pervasive smell of marijuana and usually you could see someone passing a marijuana joint down the rows,” gifted facilitator Janette Michaels said.

Not only is marijuana use characteristic of the typical concert experience, but at some shows the use of molly (the “purer” form of MDMA), ecstasy, ketamine, GHB, LSD, acid, roofies and other prescription opiates is just as common. In some instances, harsher drugs such as methamphetamines,

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cocaine and LSD, have been blended into a cocktail sold as molly.

“Anything you could imagine [is used],” school resource officer Mike Cobb said. “Marijuana, LSD, ecstasy, heroin, opium — anything you could imagine, this town has — meth, there is a high variety of what is used everywhere.”

Roofies, GHB and ketamine are regarded as date rape drugs and their presence at concerts is shown to be directly affecting women and some men in negative ways.

“I haven’t really seen any drug use at concerts besides marijuana, although I could surmise that people were under the influence of some other drugs, hallucinogens,” Michaels said.

Celebrity Miley Cyrus is currently touring her album, “Bangerz.” She has added additions to her merchandise that most wouldn’t have expected from her since the ex-actress started on Disney Channel. Not only is the songstress promoting marijuana use, but she is now selling 24-karat gold rolling papers on tour.

Other musicians promote drug use by using drugs in front of audiences.

“At Liberty Hall, I saw George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic, and joints were going into the crowd and back up to the stage,” gifted facilitator Tom Birt said. “I saw some Lawrence High kids

there, too.”

Though some artists advocate drug use, fans see drug use at concerts as a disadvantage.

“I think personally, [drug use] blurs and ruins the experience,” sophomore Jill Baer said.

There are fans who specifically avoid drug use or the use of any mind altering substances.

“I’m a straight edge, so I don’t believe that drug use is for me,” freshman Griffin Nelson said.

Those who are ‘straight edge’ are typically interested in punk music, and have a goal of purity.

This purity being of the body and mind, resulting in avoidance of alcohol and drugs — even over-thecounter aspirin.

Harder drug use has classically belonged to the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll lifestyle.

“It’s my wife, it’s my life,” Velvet Underground singer Lou Reed crooned in the Velvet Underground’s 1967 song “Heroin.”

The glorification of drug use by musicians influences young people whose perceptions of drugs are permeable, especially when full medical information isn’t available.

“My concerns are that I think that a lot of people hear music and watch music videos and figure that it’s not so bad because someone is doing it,” Cobb said. “They don’t always see the background of a drug. They don’t see the daily uses and the

Page Design by Kendra Schwartz

daily problems associated like [police] do. While it seems like a good idea to use it at a concert or use it as a musician, the reality is that most musicians later on in life have to go to rehab or don’t last very long in life.”

Paper Buffalo drummer Kainen Spooner, who performs with LHS students, sees concert drug use in a more personal, philosophical way.

“It’s not my body, not my damn business,” Spooner said. “I think concert drug use is absolutely fine. Drugs may be harmful to your body and mind, but no one can deny that they heighten an experience, or take one away in the case of alcohol or benzodiazepines. Really, if you’re the only one using drugs to have fun, and not due to some sort of escapism or independence, then I really see barely any harm at all.”

Whether or not it’s someone else’s body or one’s own, Cobb warns that knowledge is the best way to handle the situation.

“There’s dangers to each and every drug, so if you’re planning on trying to use something it might not be a bad idea to research to see what bad things happened to people,” Cobb said. “As a police officer, I can’t tell people that these are things that people can use legally, they’re all illegal. I’d basically say don’t do it, but in reality if you choose to do it, you might want to know what the risks are.”

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Mar. 12, 2014

Enclarde teaches boxers Boxing grows in popularity among students, faculty

By Kate Rettig When Armond Enclarde steps into the ring, he is aided by both passion and years of training.

Enclarde, a security guard at Lawrence High, brings that same focus on training to the classes he teaches as an instructor at Title Boxing on 15th and Wakarusa. Twelve years ago, he started boxing in Topeka.

“To compete is always in my nature,” Enclarde said. “I’ve done football, basketball and track in high school. It’s just in me to be competitive. Being in boxing is a little different than a team. It’s just you and another individual in the ring.

Win or lose, it’s up to you. Some of it has to do with your coaching and the people that help you train, but it’s really up to you to get in the ring. I enjoy that one-on-one competition.”

Enclarde’s classes are at 6 a.m. on Thursdays and 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Each class is about 90 minutes and follows Title Boxing club’s prescribed curriculum. It starts with cardio as a warm up, followed by 30 minutes of boxing and ending with a cool down. Enclarde occasionally changes up the structure by adding 10 minutes of weights or drills “Most of my students are burning between 800-1000 calories in my class,” Enclarde said. “In an hour, that’s a lot of calories. My class can be pretty intense.”

His classes include a variety of people from high school students to working professionals.

Although the sport’s popularity has been slowly decreasing since the 2000s, the training is still widely used for working out and becoming fit.

“You want to be as good as shape as you can be in all times,” Enclarde said.

“You work on lot of technique, skill

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drills and things that will make you a better as a fighter.”

Senior Gretchen Hierl, who trains at Title Boxing, was surprised by the cardiovascular exercises that were involved.

Her class consists of running, abdominal workouts and one-on-one boxing with the trainer.

Hierl has found boxing to be a good complement to playing soccer for LHS. “It works muscles you don’t really use,” Hierl said.

Senior Victoria Kaufman was introduced to boxing a year ago. She is currently training at The Summit on 9th and New Hampshire.

Each class is different. Trainers provide circuits unique for each individual

Crossing his arms, security guard Armond Enclarde poses in front of punching bags at Title Boxing Club, where he teaches a boxing class three days a week. Photo

by Joseph Anderson

class. A circuit is a series of exercises with time intervals in between.

“I like that it’s not just running or just doing one thing,” Kaufman said.

“Each class is different, so you don’t know what to expect.”

Her training involves running and doing stairs as a warm up, followed by circuits in the ring with the instructor and ending with push ups and planks.

“I do dance, but boxing helps me stay fit, and it’s different,” said Kaufman.

Students battle over knowledge

By Aidan Rothrock

Complicated algebra, famous historical events and human anatomy are some of the topics involved with the trivia event, Scholar’s Bowl. When it comes to knowing random trivia, the Lions were on top most of the season.

“We did pretty well this semester,” sponsor Matt Ellis said. “We took second and first place at six of the nine invitational tournaments that we went to this year.”

Ellis attributed the success to a strong team.

“We have some really great, smart and all-around wonderful students this year,” Ellis said.

Students involved with Scholar’s Bowl must be multi-talented in order

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to perform well. The categories include world language (French, German and Spanish); social studies (geography, economics, government, history and psychology); language arts (anything from British literature to Greek myths); mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus and statistics); and science (chemistry, physics, biology, earth science and astronomy). Students can also be asked current event questions.

Sophomore Nick Steichen said sophomore Stefan Petrovic was a strong part of the team.

“He gets a lot of the social studies questions or geography questions, which helps a lot,” Steichen said.

Teamwork was a large part of the competition, too.

“I think that sometimes in competitions I was a little scared to hit the buzzer,” junior Ivan Davidson said, “but my team was always there for me, and that’s why we did so well.”

Questions vary. Some cause even the most skilled students to draw blanks or rely on educated strategies.

“There are a lot of weird ones,” Steichen says. “Sometimes when there are questions about body parts that you have no idea, just answer the kidney and you’re probably going to get it right.”

Students have their reasons for wanting to join the extracurricular activity, and they have to have the brains to do it.

“I thought that it would be fun and I’d be able to learn some things and maybe show off some knowledge,” Davidson said.

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● 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 25. ● At pre-tryout clinic, work on skills to be evaluated at tryouts: cheer and dance technique, stunting, jumps, and tumbling. ● Wear workout clothes and tennis shoes/dance shoes. No physicals or forms due for pre-tryout clinics.

Tryouts & tryout clinics

●Tryouts will be Thursday, April 3. ●Tryout clinics will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, March 31; Tuesday, April 1; and Wednesday, April 2. ●Parent informational meeting will be 7 p.m. Monday, March 24, in the LHS cafeteria.

Questions?

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

sports

Two wrestlers win state Individuals compete, earn prestigious titles of state champion in their weight divisions

Mar. 12, 2014

Participation in intramural basketball grows Friendly intramural competition sticks as a school-wide tradition

BY PIPER HUBBELL

BY ZACH SPEARS AND BROOKE BRAMAN Two Lions claimed individual state championships at the state wrestling meet in Wichita, leading to the team to a 10th-place finish.

Sophomore Alan Clothier won the 182-pound state championship. Senior Alex Jones claimed the title for the 285-pound weight class. Below, they answer questions about the season.

Sophomore Alan Clothier Q: Did you expect to win?

A: I knew the match was going to be hard, but I just went out there and wrestled.

Q: Do you have a strategy to win?

A: I don’t know. I was really nervous, so I just went out there and wrestled like I never had wrestled. I’ve been wrestling for the past year or so.

Q: What is it about wrestling that drives you to the sport?

A: If I lose it’s on me, and not on anyone else. I can’t go and blame somebody else for it. Losing, it’s on myself. I can blame myself and work harder, so I can determine how good I am or how poorly I’m going to do that year.

Q: Do you think of Alex [Jones] as “Yo-Yo”?

A: He’s great at it. It’s fun to watch.

He goes to a lot of tournaments and people just stare at him because does yo-yo, and it’s pretty funny.

Q: What was your favorite moment from wrestling?

A: Getting my hand raised for

ONLINE EXTRA

Check out a slideshow of wrestling photos and an audio interview. http://bit.ly/1gctsM1 winning the state championship was pretty amazing.

Senior Alex Jones Q: What was your favorite moment?

A: My favorite moment was making that kid cry.

Q: What is it about wrestling that drives you to the sport?

A: Having friends on the wrestling team is the best part.

Q: Do you have a technique to intimidate opponents?

A: I swung [a yo-yo] above my head and around my legs, then jumped over it. It threw [my opponent] for a loop.

He didn’t know what to say. He had a blank expression on his face.

Q: What do you think of your nickname “yo-yo?”

A: It was my name for a couple of years. No one knew my first name.

Everyone called me yo-yo. It’s an easy name to remember.

Q: How did you feel when you won?

A: I was ecstatic. I did a cartwheel as everyone knows. It was an unbelievable moment. It was something I just can’t forget.

Q: Was that the best moment from your wrestling experience?

A: Winning is a rush, but winning state when you’re not even ranked that’s just something that everybody recognizes.

(Top) Maneuvering a cross face, senior Alex Jones gains wrist control over his opponent at a home meet earlier this season. Jones won the 285-pound state championship on March 1. Photo by AnnaKate Kleiböhmer (Above) Attempting to wear his opponent down, sophomore Alan Clothier executes a power half on Jan. 23. Clothier won the 182-pound state championship on March 1. Photo by Joseph Anderson

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the tournament if you don’t have a team to win the tournament Lawrence High has offered with,” Stevens said. many extra-curricular activities The growing popularity in past, and some have even can be credited to its stressstuck as traditions. One of the free, low-pressure and friendly most popular traditions is intracompetition. It has allowed mural basketball. It has proved students to play basketball with itself to be a wildly popular their friends in a competitive activity with the students over setting, but without the skills the years. and commitment of high school Intramural basketball started basketball. about 30 years ago and has Sophomore Matt Ramaley made itself into a much-anticiwas also a participant in this pated part to the winter sports year’s intramural basketball tourseason for students. nament, but his season ended Games consist of two 20 short due to his team’s early minute halves that don’t get losses in pool play. stopped unless the score is close “I play basketball a lot, so toward the last five minutes of this is a way for me to have fun the games, in which case, the and prove my skill,” Ramaley clock stops for free throws. said. “Also for the top level It’s a short three-week season college scouts.” that starts with a pool play of 16 Coach Adam Green has teams divided into four pools headed the organization of the of four teams each. Each team intramural basketball tournaplays all of the other teams in its ment for the past five years and pool. The has observed the winner of students’ creative “I play basketball a lot, so each pool team collaborathis is a way for me to advances tion. have fun and prove my to the tour“[Intramural skill. Also, for the top level nament basketball is popcollege scouts.” shortly ular because of] after. the camaraderie —Matt Ramaley, sophomore One that they have,” friendly Green said. competitive “They can decide addition to the tournament is a the team that they are on and the team that consists of only faculty different uniform they can wear, members. Even the security so I think that’s why kids like it guards get involved in the fun. the most.”

The tournament then follows A major part of intramural a single elimination rule that basketball’s popularity can be will end in two teams playing accredited to the freedom of in the final game. This friendly things like team name, team competition has shown to be outfits and the team players consistently filled up with excitthemselves. ed students.

Not only do the students The teams are created by a have positive feelings toward student who fills out a form as intramural basketball, but also the team captain. They must the staff enjoys participating in have a minimum of seven the popular activity. players on their teams. Junior “The feedback that I have Sam Stevens was a key player gotten from it has been very posand team captain of his team, 50 itive, and I think that anything Shades of Great in this year’s inthat can get the kids involved tramural basketball tournament. outside of school and give them “I want to win the tournasomething positive to do is good ment this year, and you can’t win with the staff,” Green said.

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opinion

Virginity isn’t a state of body The word virginity is used in hurtful, oppressive ways and is not necessary

BY NIA RUTLEDGE Ever since my parents gave me the sex talk when I was 7 years old, I’ve been accustomed to the term “virginity.”

Granted, I also thought that kissing, hugging and holding hands counted as sex, but my definition for virginity at 7 is just as incorrect as society defines and uses virginity today.

At first glance, many people believe that virginity is an easy concept to understand.

However, among the endless ways to define virginity, hurtful heteronormative standards, trans-exclusionary concepts, and religious beliefs are tied into the concept of virginity.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines virginity as, “The state of never having had sexual intercourse.”

For many, this definition consists of vaginal intercourse between heterosexual and traditionally male and female people.

“It’s a very heterosexist perspective, which refers mostly to sexual intercourse between a male and a female,” said Dennis Dailey, a sex therapist and retired University of Kansas professor. “I think for most people that is what it’s all about so you can do almost anything else sexually, and it doesn’t dare on whether you are or are not a virgin.”

One of the problems with virginity is that how virginity is defined, the definition often only includes heterosexual people and often disregards if someone’s gender traditionally aligns with the gender they are assigned at birth.

Over the years, a female person’s virginity has been the main area of concern when virginity is a part of the discussion.

“The concept as it exists in our society is a profoundly sexist concept,” Dailey said. “I believe that it is aimed primarily at women. For females, virginity is much more important in our culture than male virginity.”

Often, they face a warped belief that hymenal breakage and bleeding is supposed to occur once they have had vaginal intercourse for the first time.

This is violently referred to as popping the cherry.

In most cases you do not break a hymen from intercourse. In fact, you do not break a hymen at all.

It is rare for a female person to have a full hymenal covering, thus most people can not break their hymen.

The hymen can only be stretched or maybe ripped, which is not limited to penetration. The hymen can also be stretched from athletics, horseback riding or any similar activities.

Often bleeding after penetration, is most likely the cause of lack of lubrication during sex, or the person being tense and nervous during intercourse, causing vaginal walls to constrict or cause friction.

Upon review, the usage of the term “virginity” and “virgin” seems to be damaging and unnecessary in multiple ways when used socially and medically.

It seems as if the only place that the term virginity should be used is when it comes to

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Sexting victim says stop it with the pics

Phone number posted on wall leads unwanted photos

BY PETER ROMANO

religious beliefs.

“I believe the Bible completely, and I am going to believe that completely that marriage should be between a man and a woman, and that you should only have sex when you are married,” senior Grace Hoy said. “That is what I was taught and was raised to believe.”

But even used religiously, virginity has the power to put a crushing amount of shame and guilt on a person’s mentality if they do not refrain from having sex, because it is seen as a sin.

Even if we take religion out of the equation, the usage of virginity has deep roots in shaming and guilting people in various ways.

“We know that human beings are designed to reproduce,” Dailey said. “We know how that happens, so the act of sexual intercourse does not result in any physical change to the body.”

That makes virginity a concept that is formulated of only the mental parts of having sex. Yet, having sex is probably one of the main things that humans do right beside breathing and eating. Having sex is what we do. So the amount of stigma and the taboo attached to sex is purposeless.

“I think that the concept is primarily used to oppress mostly young people,” Dailey said.

“The primary target is people your age. I think it is, as strange as it sounds, a social conspiracy, to socially control women, and they do it by creating fear, negative attitudes toward body,

Graphic by Alexis Riner shame and guilt.”

For a long time, a woman’s chastity has been an issue of concern, whether it be an arranged marriage or if a woman is openly expressive of her sexuality.

“I think it just comes from a patriarchal society,” junior Emily Laughlin said. “The man is worth so much more that there’s only so much a woman can hold on to make herself worth something. That’s definitely changing, which is awesome.”

Not to say that men are not pressured by the concept of virginity, as well. It is often used to pressure men in a reversed way. They are supposed to have sex frequently and carefree, with giving no regard to their partner.

However, I do think that there is more emphasis on a woman’s virginity than a man’s.

The concept of virginity is a misconstrued, wrongly exclusive, damaging and an unneeded concept.

“I don’t think that it’s a big deal,” Laughlin said. “I think that we’re teenagers, we have hormones. But I think that sex with somebody you love is sacred. But it’s a physical act, and it’s a human act.”

Now, the 16 year old version of me has a better grasp on the concept of virginity. However, the continual hetero-centric concepts, sexism, misogyny, shame and erasure of trans identities taxed on with the word forces me to question its usefulness.

Page Design by Nia Rutledge

“Send me pictures of your d**k and call me kiddo,” is scrawled across the wall in the back room of Java Break along with my cell phone number.

I have no idea who wrote it or if I gave that person my number. Obviously, it was someone who thought it would be really funny to have random people torment me or someone who doesn’t like me very much.

Shockingly enough, there are actually people out there who would send pictures like that to random phone numbers they see written on the wall. Because they did. And they called me kiddo.

Sexting is defined as the act of transmitting sexually explicit messages or pictures through cell phone text messaging. From what I’ve seen in articles about sexting, the general idea is that sexting is a growing trend mostly among teens who are dating or flirting.

Personally, I am not into that sort of thing.

However, 20 percent of teenagers in the United States are, according to a 2008 study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl. com. As of 2010, the United States Census Bureau estimated that there are 21.5 million teens between the age of 15 and 19 in the country. That means 4.3 million teens have sent a nude or semi-nude picture of themselves over their phones or posted it on the internet.

The numbers are even bigger if you look at how many teens have sent sexual text messages but not sexual pictures. Thirty-nine percent of all teenagers have sent sexual text messages. That’s 8.4 million teens.

Now, think about this: 15 percent of teens who have sent sexual pictures say they sent them to people they exclusively knew online. I don’t understand the reasoning behind it.

Perhaps some of these teens didn’t want to send these pictures at first. Fifty-one percent of girls cite pressure from a boy as their reason for sending a sexually explicit picture.

Only 18 percent of boys cite pressure from a girl as their reason for sending such a picture.

Peer pressure is one of the reasons teens send these pictures, but it’s not the only one. Forty percent of teenage girls say they sent a sexual picture or message as a joke. A joke! How is something like that a joke?

If both participants are underage, there may be no legal consequences. If one is over the age of 18, though, then he or she should worry. Sexting can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor. If it is charged as a misdemeanor, consequences can be hundreds of dollars in fines and up to one year in prison. If it is charged as a felony, fines can be $500 to $1,000 dollars and a minimum of one year in prison. Probably more. And you will probably be registered as a sex offender.

Even though I don’t know who sent me the sexually explicit pictures, I could easily find out because I had their phone numbers. I potentially could have pressed charges for sexual harassment. Some people probably would have.

The fact is, the number of teen sexters is growing and it will likely continue to grow. The best advice is cliché: think before you send or post something. Just because a picture or message is deleted does not mean it’s gone.

USD 497 should set bar higher for grads Standards lag behind most state districts

BY HARLEY PHELPS High school graduation: the epitome of a 13-year-long public education.

This prestigious honor, however, isn’t all that hard to come by. School policies almost ensure that as long as students stay the course, they will graduate.

It’s become even easier for seniors to have reduced schedules since the district added an extra hour to the day. The hour was added with no move to increase the number of credits students need to graduate.

That means students can flunk several classes along the way with time to make them up, making the path to graduation an ease. In fact, it’s easier to graduate in Lawrence USD 497 than many school districts in the state.

USD 497 requires 23 credit hours to graduate while most other districts require more, according to numbers from a 2011 overview by the Kansas State Department of Education. Out of more than 290 school districts, 263 required more credits to graduate. The average number required was 25.

As is, the coursework required each year accumulates so that by senior year, seniors have few classes left to pass and graduation is almost promised.

“The school requires students to take required classes and breaks them down by semester so that no one is left needing eight semesters of English, six semesters of math, science. . . . during the senior year,” counselor Lori Stussie said.

All high school graduates deserve to be applauded for their efforts and dedication to education, however, the recognition should equal the effort. It seems unfair that students who take more challenging classes receive the same honor as students who do not.

Yes, there are different tassels to represent valedictorians and other high honors, but the rigorous amount of work required for AP classes and challenging electives should not equate to a schedule of basic-level classes with easy electives. There is nothing wrong with taking less time-intensive electives — to each their own — but it doesn’t seem fair to either party to have the

two equated.

“There are students who do not want to challenge themselves, and there are students who do want to challenge themselves and increase their knowledge,” senior Sarah Smoot said. “People who take harder classes should get more recognition than those who do not.”

Perhaps these lackadaisical ways are most exaggerated during second semester of senior year in which many seniors find themselves with an easy workload. They often look forward to second semester of senior year as their “joke” semester. They often enjoy the perks of a reduced schedule during this semester as well.

To me, this should make us question of the legitimacy of a second-semester schedule. What are senior students who choose to load their five-class day with “easy” electives really getting out of the school day? Most importantly, how can this sort of schedule be compared to seniors who finds themselves in multiple AP classes along with time-intensive electives in the home stretch of their 13-year education?

For each student, their reason for continuing on into their second semester is different. For some, it is the extra activities, such as mud volleyball, that they couldn’t otherwise participate in.

For others, it is a desire to further their education or hang out with their friends.

“I could have graduated early, but I wanted to take forensics and finish in my AP courses,” Smoot said.

It is important for a high school diploma to be attainable for everyone, but it is of equal importance that the diploma have a real meaning. With the district requiring less credit hours than most other districts in the state and the lax schedules some students choose, it is hard to find the legitimacy in an USD 497-earned diploma compared to other districts.

At a minimum, USD 497 needs to require more credit hours for graduation to ensure a purposeful senior year. As students, we need to make sure we finish our senior years with the same enthusiasm we had 13 years ago.

opinion

MAR. 12, 2014

Athletes break barriers Professional, collegiate athletes make public their sexual orientation

BY KENDALL PRITCHARD Society’s norms changed before our eyes recently when society began to see celebrities become comfortable enough to put their sexuality on society’s radar. Whether it be in writing or on the television, you’ve seen professional and collegiate athletes begin to break their silence.

Society as a whole has begun to embrace gay and lesbian relationships for awhile now. Accepting athletes on the field has been a whole other story. Until recently, athletes have lived in the closet in fear of coming out.

Who knew that sexual orientation could determine a player’s worth on the field?

Horrified at the thought there might be a gay athlete entering the National Football League, lobbyist Jack Burkman wants to see gay athletes banned from playing entirely. This move, he says, is necessary to prevent American society from sliding into “indecency.”

In the ’40s people looked at players like Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball’s color barrier, as a disgrace to that sport. Now we look back and find society’s behavior toward those individuals appalling.

Fifty years from now, we are going to look back on gay and lesbian athletes and think: Did we really treat them that way?

As an avid sports fan, it blows my mind when people give so much attention to players’ sexualities. Gay athletes are not a new phenomenon. Coming out and facing the fears of society is the phenomenon.

NFL prospect Michael Sam made a splash in the sports world when he revealed that he is gay. Sam came out early in the season to his University of Missouri teammates with no problems.

Perhaps it’s a more accepting mindset from college and high school athletes that will bring greater openness.

“Trying to ban gay athletes is outrageous,” senior Tim Schraad said.

“If people are solely trying to ban them because of their sexual preferences then they should really reconsider everything they know.”

If Sam were to be signed by a NFL team, which analysts think is likely, he would become the first openly homosexual NFL player.

MU students have shown tremendous support for their classmate. On Feb. 15, the students joined hands and formed a human wall to block out angry gay protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church.

Students held signs saying, “Stand by Sam” and sang the alma mater until the protesters eventually dispersed.

President Barack Obama has even weighed in on the situation in an inter-

view with Charles Barkley before the National Basketball Association All-Star Game.

“I really like the fact that Michael did it before the draft, because his attitude was, ‘You know what? I know who I am. I know I can play great football and judge me on the merits,’” Obama said in the interview.

After Sam’s announcement, NBA center Jason Collins took the court as the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues. Collins came out as the 2012-2013 season concluded and was not picked up by another team until Feb. 13 — more than six months after the season had begun. Eventually, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver openly support Collins.

“I’m excited for Jason. I’m honored, in so many ways, that the NBA presented to him a comfortable environment in which he both felt comfortable coming out last April, and one in which an NBA team felt comfortable signing him based on his ability, and in no way to make a political statement,” Silver said in an interview with Bleacher Report.

Out of the 88 countries competing in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, it baffles me that there were only six openly gay athletes.

It’s no secret that Russia has no tolerance for the gay and lesbian community. Once the Olympic torch arrived in Russia, so did the gay activists.

After unveiling a banner quoting the Olympic Charter’s ban on any form of discrimination, Russian police shortly gathered the activists and arrested four gay activists in St. Petersburg. According to Russian law, any unsanctioned protests and violators may face fines or prison sentences.

So what is the big deal about gay athletes? The way teams and fans respond to gay athletes’ sexuality raises questions of where society’s morals really lay. Is it really OK for an athlete to drive drunk, physically assault his or her partner or take performance enhancing drugs, but not OK for an athlete to be homosexual?

Athletes should be judged for their talents and not for their sexual orientations.

Page Design By Ashley Hocking

Graphic by Alexis Riner

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photo page

Java N’ Jazz event raises money for program School’s jazz program puts on performance to raise money for the All-City Middle School Jazz Band (Right) Playing trombone, senior Marshall Rials participates in the Java N’ Jazz event on March 5 in the band room at Lawrence High School. Rials is a member of the Jazz II band.

Photo by Ashley Hocking

(Below) Beating a drum set, middle schooler Jalen Atkinson plays a song with the All-City Middle School Jazz Band. The Jazz N’ Java event raised a total of $1,375 for the jazz program, according to band instructor Tom Hunt. Photo by Ashley Hocking

(Far left) Reading sheet music and playing trombone, middle schoolers Tiffany Smith, Natalie Struve, Owen Gonzalez, Kyleigh Leslie and Derek White participate in the Java N’ Jazz event at Lawrence High in the band room on March 5. They are all musicians in the All-City Middle School Jazz Band. Photo by Michaela Durner

(Left) Blowing into a mouthpiece, freshman Tucker Wilson, junior Reagan Kanter and sophomore Andrew Slimmer play the saxophone. Bassett, Kanter and Slimmer are members of the Jazz II band at Lawrence High School. Photo

by Ashley Hocking

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