May 2023 - Volume 42, Issue 6

Protests in Schools and What are the Consequences?

gun control legislation.

by Mya Roberts reporter

Consequences of protests

Across the U.S. students of all ages walked out of class at noon on April fifth raising awareness on gun violence and demanding gun violence legislation.

12-13

DeMaree expresses that he feels protests like these are good opportunities for students to have agency in the culture of our community as long as students are executing it in the right way.

Barbie Movie Page 18 A.I on the rise

“The student participants spanned geographical location—from Oregon to Texas, to Massachusetts—and age, ranging from elementary school to high school and beyond,” digital editor at Ms., Roxy Szal said.

A few students joined in, taking a stand on their beliefs, walking out of class at noon on April fifth.

Fitness takes over Page 22

“I went outside during the walkout, and counted five total students who participated, with four of the five returning to class about a half hour later,” Vice Principal Sean DeMaree said.

DeMaree explains that there aren’t very many hard rules or policies in relation to school walkouts and protests due to these events not being school orchestrated.

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Editoral board: Sydney Slaton, Hudson Marmon, Maggie Flannery, Brooke Burbidge, Abbt Wallace, Tim Wood, Kai Magana, Reporters: Dalton Roberts, Quinton Coats, Makenna Aiello, Addison Bell, Serinity Bishop, Xander Cha, Kailey Donnell, Mj Garcia, Mildred Garza, Mia Pham, Mya Roberts, Mia Rollins, Riley Story Artists: Sylvia Grimsley, Ashley Rottinghaus, Jackie Small, Riley Story

“Participating in a protest or walkout while still in school is a great way to safely participate and learn about how to express thoughts, emotions, and concerns with the climate and policies of our nation,” DeMaree said.

Many of the students who participated in the walkout didn’t get any punishments for protesting. Addie Posch, a sophomore who participated in the walkout explained that some of her teachers were pretty supportive throughout the whole thing.

“I just went ahead before class and told them what I was going to do and asked what I was going to be missing so I could make it up,” Posch said.

Facts on School Gun Violence

“If the walkout becomes destructive, disruptive, or chaotic, the purpose of the walkout is lost, and the poor behavior decision is all that gains attention, and what could lead to violation of school rules,” DeMaree said.

The only punishment that may occur due to participating in a walkout would be the consequences of missing a class, only proving to be a problem for students who frequently don’t show up.

“As long as the protest remains peaceful, the biggest consequence would be that the students would be marked with an unexcused absence from their class,” DeMaree said.

Peacefulness in protests is a major factor in whether or not students will be punished. DeMaree explains that if protests become chaotic, students can be punished for violating the code of conduct.

“What’s important to remember, is that when the protest becomes unpeaceful, the power of the protest is lost and all that is remembered is the behavior of the students,” DeMaree said.

Why do we protest?

According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, in 2010 there were a total of 15 school shooting incidents. In this year alone, there have been a total of 126 school shooting incidents with a total of 1,312 in the last 13 years.

“Schools are statistically the

“There have been 380 school shootings since 1999, according to Post data”

-Washington Post

“Since Columbine in 1999, more than 338,000 students in the U.S. have experienced gun violence at school.”

- The Sandy Hook Promise Organization

On April fifth, 2023 students join together walking out of class demanding

safest place for our students,” principal, Dale Longenecker said.

Alicen Silva, a student who participated in the walkout, disagrees with Longenecker and is tired of always having school shootings and ALICE drills in the back of her mind.

“This isn’t normal, I am tired of hearing about people my age, and even younger going through the unimaginable and I wanted to do something about it,” Silva said.

Junior Gunnar Galloway, explains that he chose to walk out because he felt that it was a simple, but effective way to stand up for what he believes in.

“What pushed me to walk out was the fact that it was a harmless yet, in my opinion, effective way of protesting issues around gun violence and show ing the schools that it’s ridiculous the amount of measures not being taken and how easy it is to walk out, and walk in,” Galloway said.

Posch explains how she had

dark, trying to do their school work. Posch doesn’t think that any student should have to ever experience that.

“I was lucky and was never in an actual school shooting and I know there’re many kids and adults in the world who have had to go to school and not know if they will get to come home,” Posch said.” I wanted to do it for them.

Many students didn’t know about the walkout, while other students heard about it from siblings or on social media.

“None of us really knew much about it at the time but we learned more about what it was about and when and all the details,” Posch said.

Those who participated explained that it felt good to participate in something like this.

“I just felt empowered in a way, like I finally am doing something important,” Silva said.

Junior Bryan Swilor explained that many people were harsh towards him, and felt that because nobody knew about the walkout, that it just simply didn’t matter.

“I get not wanting to [participate]

yourself, no problem with that, I was just a little taken aback by how some people kept arguing that no one was going to participate, so it doesn’t matter anyway, but that’s why I chose to participate,” Swilor said.

Posch explains that at first it was a bit awkward, walking out in the middle of class, due to not very many people participating.

“But it felt really good in the end to be able to stand up for something I believe in and get to participate in something that meant a lot to me and get to do it with others who felt the same as me,” Posch said.

Through all the worry about receiving consequences for the protest, and the happiness with getting to leave school a little early, Galloway couldn’t stop thinking about how crazy the whole situation was.

“I just wish that it wasn’t this easy. I wish I didn’t have to have fears like this run around in my mind that someone, literally anyone, could walk in. No student ID or anything. And commit many heinous acts,” Galloway said. e

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-K-12

“In 2022, 34 students and adults died while more than 43,000 children were exposed to gunfire at school.”

-

The Sandy Hook Promise Organization

“More mass shootings in 2023 so far than at this point in any year since at least 2013.”

CNN Politics

“If trends from the past five decades continue for the remainder of the year, there would be about 400 shootings in 2023, outpacing last year’s record high of 273.”

Dive Senior Reporter

Naaz Modan

illustration by | Ashley Rottinghaus

Accident Turned Fatal

16 year old, Ralph Yarl shot at wrong house by a “fearful” resident

by Addison Bell reporter

Doorbell Leads to shots

Sixteen-year-old Ralph Yarl intended to pick up his younger siblings but ended up at the wrong house with a shot to the head.

On what seemed like a normal evening, Yarl made his way to Northeast 115th Street expecting to pick up his twin younger brothers. What he didn't know was he had the wrong address. With his brothers just one block away, he wound up on the doorstep of eighty-four-year-old, Andrew Lester. It was then that the white homeowner pulled out his .32 caliber handgun and shot through the glass door striking Yarl in the forehead. One more shot went off as Yarl hit the ground, wounding his right arm. Yarl managed to escape, running to a nearby neighbor who called the police. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Two Sides to every story

When interviewed by the police Lester claimed he saw a black male “pulling on the exterior storm door handle,” and concluded that Yarl was trying to break in. Reports say Yarl explained he never touched the handle but he only rang the doorbell. No words had been exchanged between the two. Lester was originally taken into custody for 24 hours but was released on bond. Lester is currently charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

under the law

The Stand Your Ground Law states: A person may use physical force upon another person when he reasonably believes such force to be necessary to defend himself. The Stand Your Ground Law has been quite the debate among the citizens of Missouri with Republicans in high support and Democrats opposing the law. But why does this matter? Lester's defense says he thought he was in harm's way, therefore he lawfully used physical force. Yarl's attorneys will counter this with the fact that Yarl said he did nothing to make the homeowner believe he was in danger. Senior Deborah Kelecha sides with Yarl, claiming the house was never in danger.

“It's not even an opinion, it's true the house was never in any danger, the kid didn't have any intentions. I think taking the time to figure that out is significantly important,” Kelecha said.

Missouri's Castle Doctrine also plays a factor in the case. The Castle Doctrine states: If a person believes there is a risk of death or serious physical injury, that person can use deadly force to defend themselves without breaking the law. Similar to the Stand Your Ground Law, there are exceptions and it can be a complicated boundary. Ultimately it will be up to the jury to take both these laws into account and decide Lester’s ultimate fate. Senior Kyler Gibbens acknowledges the laws Missouri has put into place.

“Tough situation obviously [Lester] shouldn't have. Legally he can. It’s his property. Doesn't mean he should,” Gibbens said.

sparking outrage

The case is sparking debates all across America. Was race a factor?

Citizens argue that Yarl was a defenseless child and was armed with nothing

other than the color of his skin. Others say Lester had the right to protect his home. There has been a national outcry for justice including viral social media posts, high school students staging walkouts, sports teams playing in his name, and activists protesting for a higher charge. Kelecha feels as though this case was racially motivated but thinks people's efforts in getting justice for Yarl can be improved upon.

“I think pushing the narrative of how good and how wholesome a person he is is kind of not as productive as people think it is because racism is

bad regardless of who the racism is directed at,” Kelecha said.

This isn't the first time we have seen a controversial and heartbreaking incident play out in the media. Kelecha thinks the outroar is necessary yet shouldn't be something we forgive and forget.

“I just think it's too common. This happens all the time. There are always such surges of protests and Instagram posts when things like this happen. They happen all the time. I just think a good consistency in terms of coverage and caring for people would be really valuable,” Kelecha said.

Stand your ground law by US jurisdiction

Stand your ground by statute

Stand your ground by judicial decision

Duty to retreat except in ones home

Duty to retreat except in ones home or workplace

Middle ground approach

photo courtesy of | St. Louis Post-Dispatch

photo courtesy of | Creative Commons

photo courtesy of|LosAngeles T i m se e

Final Season is Stress Season

Finals

put to much unneeded stress on students

by Dalton Roberts reporter

The last quarter of the year is a stressful time for students. This is due to finals and homework. Teachers can give students big finals that can make or break their grade but they also cram a lot of work in a few weeks. This causes a lot of stress on students who are pressured.

Students shouldn’t get the study guide for the final after the final lesson. This makes them go to find information from the start of the class year and students don’t always keep papers from over 2 months ago due to it causing too much space.

“All the same classes should be on the same schedule,” Hannah Buran said.

This is true for the start of the year but near the end it could vary. This means that students in different classes could know more than others before the finals. This would also mean that teachers need to cram other students more.

Teachers instead should give students the study guide at the start of the class year. This is so students can plug in accurate information when they get it. It will also lessen the amount of work around finals. This will also help keep classes on track throughout the year with knowing where they are in the study guide.

Another reason students stress about grades is because for all classes the grade system is different. Some classes tests could be more meaningful than

homework so it won’t have as much of an impact on grades. While other classes homework could be more meaningful and could have a bigger impact on the grade.

Students could have a test and get 100 percent but go from an 89 to 91 but if they get a 70 they could go from an 89 down to a 75 in that class. This leaves students confused and wondering why their grade got so low from one test even if they did good on others.

To avoid issues and students not knowing why their grade won’t go up even after doing a good amount of homework, teachers should tell students how much homework and tests weigh on their grades at the start of the year. This will let students know what their priori-

ties should be at the start of the year to get a better grade.

Students have a lot of stress to deal with over the school year and it all piles up near the end of the year. Chronic stress can cause both physical and psychological effects. It can cause stomach problems, chest pain, anxiety, high blood pressure, and even affect sleep.

The pressure students have on them during finals can be a lot for them. This is due to needing to juggle 7 different classes that have huge impacts in a short amount of time. Some might say that it prepares students for the real world.

“Sometimes [teachers] don’t realize how much other work you have in your other classes,” Mrs. Buran said.

This shows how in a bubble teachers can put themselves in or they don’t see

photo by | Myles Morant

how much stress students are in. This is unhealthy if students get 7 assignments a night especially with extracurricular activities and jobs.

Some ways to help with stress during finals week can vary from eating to getting outside and exercising. This will help calm your mood and can decrease stress levels. Doing things that decrease your stress levels can also help you do better for finals. For tips on how to decrease stress look to the chart on the right.

The way the district helps both students and teachers have a break during finals is by splitting up odd hour finals for half days. This gives students a rest while it gives teachers more time to grade.

“The current finals schedule has been in place for many years. Finals are stressful for our students and we try to break those up a little bit with some time to prepare for the next one,” Dr. Longenecker said.

“[Teachers are not] purposely giving extra work to stress kids out. They are just trying to fit everything in at the end,” Mrs. Buran said.

This is due to the fact that teachers need to meet a curriculum. There is no penalty for not completing it but they

might get in trouble with their assistant principal.

Students have a lot on their plate already and it could affect their effectiveness during finals. When students get a lot of work it makes their head spin and they could get classes confused and lost. With stress and the amount of work students need to work on at the end of the year.

“You could argue that it teaches them time management and real life skills, because they have to juggle all their finals. If they plan on going to college, they definitely need to learn that now,” Mrs. Buran said.

This is true for students who are going to college but everyone has a different path after high school. This is also untrue if students have to get piled on with a bunch of work because not many jobs would put a lot of paperwork on you either.

While teachers will give a lot of work there are others who give less realizing that there is a lot of work for students. This gives students a breath to work on less while finishing more.

“I think that y’all are already stressed enough and so I try not to pile everything on,” Mrs. Buran said. This helps when a student has a teacher who recognizes that students get a lot of work because they will help their students by not piling up on work.

Over the school year teachers should check how much work students are getting, as well as giving students the final study guide at the start of the year. This will help students juggle extracurricular activities, school, and work.

1. Take a break and get active

Exercise is a natural form of antidepressant. It releases endorphins that help promote a positive mood, increases focus and helps reduce stress. Pick a physical activity you enjoy.

2. Make meals a priority

Increasing evidence suggests that the gut and brain are connected and that eating can affect your mood. Don’t skip meals, Try to eat a balanced diet at each meal.

3. Get some fresh air and sunlight.

Nature captures our attention and can calm our nerves. If you don’t have much time in your schedule to get outside. As you walk, take your time, move slowly, breathe deeply and observe your surroundings.

4. Prioritize your goals and take them one at a time

Focusing on everything you have to accomplish before finals week can be overwhelming. Instead, break down big projects or test preparation activities into bite-sized to-do items. Write them down in a list and check them off as you go.

This will help you reach your goals and boost your confidence as you conquer your list one item at a time.

“I think that y’all are already stressed enough and so I try not to pile everything on,”

Mrs. Buran

The image above is a class with a 100 percent grade. The weight of the test can make the grade lose over 40 percent even with three other assignments that have the same weight.

TikTok’s Time Running Out

Potential bans on TikTok and what they could look like

by Sydney Slaton editor-in-chief

Last month, Montana passed a bill banning the popular social media application TikTok due to concerns that its parent company ByteDance could give China American user’s data. This is becoming an issue worldwide as well, with nine countries -- including the U.S. -opting to also ban the application.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has yet to say if he will sign the bill into law, but if he does Montana will become the first state to pass such a bill. A statement provided to The Associated Press by spokesperson Brooke Metrione says the governor “will carefully consider” this piece of legislature. If this bill passes, it will be illegal to download TikTok and any application stores allowing any downloads of the application will be fined $10,000 dollars per infraction. This could upset many Montana citizens, as there are many content creators there along with many users. TikTok spokesperson Brooke Obberwetter promises legal action if the bill becomes a law.

“[TikTok] will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach,” Oberwetter said in an interview with The Associated Press.

From what legislatures are saying, the main concern with TikTok is the possibility that the Chinese government could get access to user data through a 2017 law that encourages companies to cooperate with the Chinese government regarding national security. Misuse of data

has happened in ByteDance before, this December they had to fire four employees for accessing the IP addresses of journalists trying to look into a separate leak in the company.

The data lawmakers are worried about getting in the hands of the Chinese government isn’t just what you watch either. To create an account user’s have to share information such as: user’s device’s IP address; user’s location; cookies -- a way for websites to store information in web browsers to retrieve next time users visit; and your devices metadata. And TikTok has access to more than that, they know any profile information entered, any content uploaded, direct messages and any information used to purchase things through the application -- that includes card information.

However, officials at TikTok say they

are working to address these concerns by partnering with an American company, Oracle for Protect Texas. This project means user data will be stored on U.S. soil and taken care of by an independent agency, TikTok U.S. Data Security, also monitored by a third party.

“The basic approach that we’re following is to make it physically impossible for any government, including the Chinese government, to get access to U.S. user data,” general counsel Erich Andersen said in an interview with The Associated Press.

TikTok released a statement that outlines all the ways the company has tried to reach out to the Biden administration. The company maintains they have tried multiple times to engage with the government on this issue, but the administration wasn’t willing to help.

“What we encountered instead was that the administration paid no attention to facts, dictated terms of an agreement without going through standard legal processes, and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses,” TikTok’s statement said.

TikTok isn’t alone in thinking these bills are rushed, lawmakers have their concerns as well. One of the bills needed to ban TikTok, the Deterring America’s

Technological Adversaries Act (DATA), has just been passed through committee and is up for approval for debate on the House floor and many democratic representatives, like Rhode Island Democratic Rep. David Cicilline said to CNBC, are confused why “we are being asked to sort of jam this through.” They are hoping for more consideration on this bill.

“[There is] broad and maybe universal support on this committee to do exactly what this bill attempts to do. But it’s incredibly important that it be done right, and that it be done well,” Ciclline said to CNBC.

There are two bills being presented to Congress right now, the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act (RESTRICT) and the DATA Act. If passed, these bills would get rid of the legal barriers president Trump encountered in 2020 when he tried to ban TikTok.

These bills may be unnecessary as the government already has oversight of the application through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CIFUS. This committee is run under the U.S. Treasury Department and is able to review foreign transactions. In fact, TikTok has made a deal with CIFUS and the administration has been reviewing it for six months.

As of now, it is unclear what Congress’s decision will be or if the bills will even make it to them. What we do know is that zvcv is trying to come to an agreement with the different government agencies involved with the potential ban.

illustration by | Sylvia Grimsley

Anti-Trans Laws: How Are They Affecting Us?

by Mj Garcia reporter

illustration by | Sylvia Grimsley

Anti-transgender laws have increased in numbers country wide in recent years, a topic many are aware of but few are informed about. So, what is happening now and how will these laws affect people’s lives?

What’s Happening in Kansas? In Kansas, a bill to ban use of bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding to gender identity has just been passed. This same bill also bans transgender people from changing the name or gender on their driver’s license.

Kansas is not the first state to create such restrictions, as Arkansas passed a similar law in March of this year, however Kansas takes it a step further to include “prisons and jails, rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and other spaces where biology, safety or privacy prompt the separation of men and women” says The Associated Press.

It needs to be sent to and approved by Gov. Kelly before it can become a law, and seeing as this is not the first time the senate has pushed for a bill like this, it seems likely the governor will choose to veto, just as she has in the past. However, support for this bill is large enough now that the senate may be able to override Gov. Kelly’s possible veto.

Supporters of the bill have framed it as a bill aimed at women’s rights and although that may shed some light on the “safety and privacy” portion, it may also leave questions regarding the restriction of name and gender changes regarding licenses. Further, if the senate’s goal is to protect women, it would only be reasonable to include all women.

In addition to this, a law that has already been passed will ban male to female transgender people from joining women’s sports teams; this takes effect July 1. This law is aimed specifically at students, elementary to college, and could open the door for genital inspection in order to join a team.

Republican lawmakers in Kansas also are pursuing a bill aimed at stopping gender-affirming care for minors,

something at least 11 states have done, according to Daily Mail.

What’s Happening in Missouri?

These pursuits align with the restrictions on transgender healthcare placed in Missouri earlier this month.

General Andrew Bailey, a republican, said it was necessary to put up “substantial guardrails” around such medical treatments because they were considered “experimental”, according to The New York Times. Such guardrails would include at least 18 months in therapy with a psychologist or psychiatrist, as well as three years documenting “persistent and intense” gender dysphoria before gender affirming care can begin.

Bailey uses the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act in his reasoning for placing these restrictions, an act that “is designed to protect consumers from untruthful, misleading and unfair business practices” Waddell Law Firm said. In Bailey’s own words, the attorney general “is charged with protecting consumers, including minors, from harm.” So how harmful is gender affirming care, especially when compared to the benefits it can bring?

In 27 different studies accounting for 7,928 transgender patients who received any form of gender affirming surgery, less than 1% of these patients regretted their surgery. That is less than 80 people and only 34 of those people had major regrets about their surgery.

If regret is out of the equation, take a moment to look at the physical risks of gender affirming surgeries. In any surgery, there is a risk for complications such as bleeding, infection or complications with anesthesia. If these are the only physical threats posed when undergoing gender affirming surgery, and they are the same for any other surgery, it leaves many people confused as to why there wouldn’t be so many restrictions on any other surgery.

“Different procedures carry different risks. For example, individuals who have bottom surgery may have changes to their sexual sensation, or trouble with bladder emptying. In general, significant complications are rare, as long as an experienced surgeon is performing the procedure,” Cleveland Clinic said.

What’s Happening Nationwide? Nationwide, these recent events have been compared to the steps of genocide, a system that has been used to identify genocide throughout history. The steps are as follows; classification, symbolization, discrimination, dehumanization, organization, polarization, preparation, persecution, extermination and denial.

Following this system, the United States would be somewhere around step seven, preparation. To put that into perspective, that would mean we are 70% through with a genocide. Step seven of course comes after step six, polarization, which entails the spread of propaganda against the specified group of people, and before step eight, persecution, which essentially makes it illegal for this group of people to exist.

Step eight seems to be nearing particularly close, as The Huntington News said in an article published last March, “There are 43 states that have proposed anti-trans bills so far this year, with 378 bills introduced.” According to a study done by the UCLA Williams institute school of law, only 1.4% of American youths and 0.5% of American adults identify as transgender, this leaves some wondering why go through the trouble of creating so many bills for such a small group of people?

Gender-Free Flights

Insight into the new gender-neutral bathrooms at KCI, and what it means for the future of Kansas

by Mia Rollins reporter

As the world is constantly changing, Kansas City is on its way to change as well. The new terminal at KCI is open to the public, and many are taking in the modern, contemporary look of it. Although many new locations were added to the new terminal such as a kid’s play area, airplane simulator, and quiet/ multisensory rooms, the one getting the most attention is the new gender neutral bathrooms.

“The department is hopeful the all-gender restrooms will give passengers a better perception of Kansas City,” director of aviation Justin Meyer said.

The new bathrooms were an addition to the new terminal that is meant to give a more welcoming and comfortable environment for the people who come to the airport. Although they were created to be gender neutral, they do not replace the already gendered bathrooms.

“On each concourse there are three restroom cores, two of which are gender-specific and one of which is a multiuser all-gender facility,” Build KCI said.

The gender neutral bathrooms have the walls of the stalls go all the way to the floor, unlike single gendered stalls which stop around 12 inches above the floor.Alongside this, there are lights above the stalls that flash red and green respectively to indicate if the stall is occupied or not. There are 16 stalls on each side, so there are a lot more stalls and space in the gender neutral bathrooms compared to bathrooms that are gendered.

“There are women-only bathrooms in the terminal as well as men-only bathrooms for those who aren’t up for mixing of the sexes, but they’re much smaller bathrooms.” editor-in-chief of the Community Voice newspaper Bonita Gooch said.

One of the traits of the gender neutral bathrooms that many appreciate is the baby changing table that is available. One of the main complaints for most of

male bathrooms is that there aren’t any baby changing stations if they have to change their child’s diaper.

“Although more men’s restrooms now include diaper changing tables, it’s still not a requirement,” a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Dipesh Navsaria said. “Not to mention it fails to address entire subsets of men who could need to change a baby’s diaper at some point in public―single dads, stay-at-home dads,

illustrations by | Jackie Small

a cordial conversation in a public restroom with an elderly gentleman,” Gooch said. “I found myself talking to an elderly gentleman in the all-gender restroom. When he saw me approaching, he asked ‘did I go to the wrong side?’”

The inclusion of gender neutral bathrooms in public and established locations is something that many Kansasans welcome. Despite the change of the norms that some may be wary of, the introduction of more modern qualities to Kansas City is something that further represents what Kansas City is.

twodad families, grandpas, uncles, male babysitters, etc.”

Many use the gender neutral bathrooms to avoid the lines of the gendered ones if it suits their situation. Despite that, people who aren’t used to sharing the bathroom with the opposite gender are finding the bathrooms to be strange.

“Never in my life did I believe I would be having

“We really want to make sure the entire experience for all passengers in the Kansas City International Airport, whether they are from the Kansas City area or from out of town and visiting our city, or just transiting through on a connecting flight,” Meyer said. “That they do experience the hospitality and care that Kansas City is all about.” e 113430

Seniors Leave The Team

The Season is Coming to an End

by Peyton Walls reporter

The year is coming to an end and that means it’s time for the seniors to leave for their journeys through life. They will be leaving classes, teams, and clubs.

“It’s sad to see [the seniors] leave because I’ve formed friendships with them,” sophomore Taylor Nielsen said.

Meeting people and forming relationships with the people you meet is what highschool is for. Being on a sports team grows people closer, building those relationships stronger because a team works, loses and wins together all season.

“It’s a weird feeling to leave a team that I treat and look at like family,” senior Danielle Desmarteau said. “I won’t be able to talk to them as much anymore, and they are my support system right now so it’s just hard to even think about leaving right now.”

People come and go, each teaching lessons along the way. Teammates will teach life lessons but also lessons that correlate with the sport being played.

“Just play your game, relax and have fun,” Junior Riley Braden said. “Enjoy every minute of the season.”

Even though teams lose people the teams gain new pictures of how things work. Others step up and take leadership roles and value what was lost but also make something new.

“I’m a leader right now and when I’m gone I want the team to take on that role and excel at it,” Desmarteau said. “I want them to take what they have seen from me and other leaders and make it better.”

Each year the athletic trainer sees seniors leave, they care for them all season and then just watches them move on. This year is a little different for athletic trainer, Cooper Sax, this class of seniors holds a special place in his heart.

“Since this is my fourth year at South, this senior class has a little extra special something,” Cooper Sax said. “I’ve been with them since they came to

and the Seniors

are Saying Goodbye

thing is something everyone has done. It can be noticed more from an outside perspective.

“I think that they try to be locked in but knowing that it’s the last high school game and will potentially never play again.” Sax said.

Even though the seniors are leaving, the school they go to is still their school and they will always still support their school. That is shown when they come back for important games or events to support their teams.

high school so I’ve watched them grow throughout the years.”

Even not getting as much playing time as everyone else on the team still makes you a part of the team and a part of the people on the team. Being remembered for how you played or how you acted isn’t always what people want, some like to be remembered for their position.

“I want to be remembered as the best benchwarmer in the league,” senior Daniel Palacio said.

Coaches have had an important role in making the seniors who they are going to be in college. They teach the kids new things in an outside of school and life environment.

“Schmitt has already been there for me and she is an amazing hype woman for games,” Desmarteau said. “I like being able to have a coach that I can talk to and see everyday outside of soccer related things.”

High school sports are a place that isn’t school and isn’t everyday life. School sports are a place to go and be with people you see everyday and not have to be the best at the sport but be able to share a common goal with others.

“I’m really sad to leave this team,” Palacio said. “We all came together wanting to play the same sport and do good at it but once we started we got so close and I know I wont have relationships like that again.”

Hiding true feelings towards some-

“I definitely think some [seniors] will come back,” Braden said. “Especially for those bigger games.”

When teammates leave the team loses something; a leader, a passer, a hitter, or a friend. Gaps are filled eventually but the teammates who were close with the seniors that leave know what they are missing and what they need for the mechanics of the team to flow properly.

“Losing their knowledge of the game and their leadership that they bring,” Nielsen said. “They have so much experience but I also think that players grow so the incoming seniors will also have new experience to bring.”

High school sports are coming to an end and so is this year. You don’t have to be the best to participate in the sports high school offers to be able to play, it’s all about the experience and the relationships that are built.

“Just go out and have fun,” Palacio said. “As long as you put some drive and work into what you’re doing it will be the best time of your high school experi-

"I want to be remembered as the best benchwarmer in the league.”

Daniel Palacio, senior

illustrations by | Ashley Rottinghaus

by Mildred Garza reporter

“I’m going to California for a softball tournament this summer. Even though I guess it’s not fully a vacation we get time to do fun things on our own so I’m super excited because I’ve never been there before. I hope to make more core memories and visit the beach, after years of not going, and eat a lot of good food and do fun things like that with people I love and appreciate,” senior Ashlee Jackman said.

Leaving Kansas

Graduation Vacations

“I might go to Hawaii this summer. My dad said that since we haven’t been anywhere in like 3 or 4 years Hawaii would be a nice place to go to. I’m really excited to get out of Kansas and explore Hawaii, making good memories knowing that this is the first summer that I won’t be returning to high school. I want to just lay under the sun and finally relax and just celebrate finishing high school,” senior Brandon Dikerson said.

“This summer I’m going to the north west area of the United States so like the Oregon and Washington area maybe even, hopefully, a part of the Canada area. This is a trip that my friends and I have been planning since like last year because we’re obsessed with Twilight and we want to visit Forks Washington. This trip is really special to us, I’m really excited to just spend time with my favorite people and make more amazing memories,” senior Ava Jackson said

“I’m going to my lake house in Arkansas, I usually go every year with my Aunt and cousins so it’s a really special place that holds a lot of great memories for me. It’s really relaxing during the summer, everything looks so pretty and peaceful. It’s the best place to go to after many stressful months of school. We have a hot tub and obviously the lake that we can swim in and it’s just a great experience,” senior Kylie Mullen said.

“My cousin’s family and my family are all going to Colorado. I think it’s the Colorado Springs area. I’m super excited because this is our third year going and I just love the environment. The views are amazing, everywhere you look there’s mountains and you automatically feel peaceful just admiring nature. We’re just going to go hiking and just chill on top of the mountains,” senior Jackson Werth said.

“I’m going to Chicago this summer. I’ve been there many times but I love going to food places and I think it would be really fun to go with friends. I’m super excited to go with friends and just get to know the city more. Compared to other cities like Dallas, Chicago is the most walkable city which is something I love about it, there’s so many simple tourist sights like the bean,” senior Katie Sirridge said.

Ashlee Jackman

Brandon dickerson

Ava Jackson

Kylie Mullen

Jackson werth

Katie Sirridge

Bud light drowning in drama

All the drama between Dylan Mulvaney and Bud light “scandal”

by Serinity Bishop reporter

On April 1 Dylan Mulvaney posted a video on her Instagram account to promote a Bud Light contest. Bud Light in return sent a handful of beers to Mulvaney, one of those cans had her face on it. It was part of a paid sponsorship deal and promotion for some sort of sweepstakes challenge where people can win $15,000 from Bud Light by sending videos of themselves carrying a lot of beers. This action from Bud Light led to a scandal between Bud Light and its supporters.

Dylan Mulvaney is popular on TikTok, and through TikTok has been documenting her transition. She has been sharing her journey on TikTok from the very beginning, bringing new insight and a new light to those part of the LGBTQ+ community, especially the transgender community. Mulvaney has very recently celebrated her 365 days of being a woman and is continuing to share her life with others through social media.

Unfortunately, many of Bud Lights’ supporters started boycotting Bud Light due to the fact that Bud Light is support-

ing a transgender woman. It also led the executive of Bud Light Alissa Heinerscheid to be replaced by Todd Allen, vice president of global marketing for Budweiser. Bud Light ended up changing their commercial to two men enjoying a Bud Light beer together happily. Bud Light claims that their brand is made for people to share happy memories together. Bud Light did not mean for this situation to happen and for the hate to be created toward Mulvaney and trans-gender people in total. Bud Light and Mulvaney have received a lot of controversy, this hate toward a member of the transgender community has escalated to the point where Mulvaney has taken a break from social media altogether.

It isn’t just Mulvaney facing this prejudice, transgender hate occurs in more situations than just this one. Texas lawmakers this year are considering several bills that could bring major changes to the lives of gay and transgender Texans. Republicans have filed bills that would restrict when sexuality and gender identity are taught in schools, where people can perform in drag, and what kind of healthcare is available to transgender children. Many people in the LGBTQ+ community have reported stating that because

of all the bills being passed their mental health is being affected. Showing another example of unfair prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community.

This situation lies deeper than what went down with Mulvaney. It highlights the importance of respecting people for how they choose to live their lives while still having a different opinion. e

School Lunch

by Maggie Flannery Layout editor

Students often have mixed directions to the food served for lunch, so we need to know from the students! Students share stories about what is served in the lunch line.

Chicken nuggets are normally a favorite for many, but some students, like senior Kyla Fitterling, aren’t a fan.

“Half the time they still look pink,” Fitterling said. “It’s like it always has this tinged almost like tinted green.”

Sophomore Jonah Kierre agrees with Fitterling on that front. “Green meat? Not at this school. Just mama’s cooking,” Kierre said.

A popular staple in school lunch is chocolate milk or regular milk, although getting frozen milk is a new one.

“I got the milk and it was completely frozen through,” Fitterling said.

It’s not just the milk students have had problems with, there have been issues with the macaroni as well. “It’s rubbery macaroni, it tastes like rubber,” Kierre said.

The apples are another example of students’ problems.

“The apples, half the time they’re rotten. They’re discolored and black and green on the inside,” Fitterling said.

But never fear, good food that can be found. The funnel cake, teriyaki

chicken and the ordered out pizza are among the favorites.

“The funnel cake thing, it’s a classic option,” Kierre said Even with the good things about school lunch, students feel that there are still issues.

“School lunches are just disgusting,” Fitterling said. e

Students share stories about what is served in the lunch line.

illustration by | Riley Story

The Par Four Eagle, The Dynamic Duo, The Strong Twins

Blake and Tyler Strong are two of the top golfers in the state looking to make their name known

by Quinton Coats Reporter and Fun Facilitator

It is an honor for any high school to have just one top golfer in the state, let alone two. Golf is considered the most mentally challenging sport on top of the physical demand that it takes too. The Strong Twins have battled against these challenges and it has made them two of the top golfers in the state of Kansas.

Blake and Tyler Strong are twin brothers who are two of the top golfers in the state. They have been on varsity three straight years and have played at a very high level. Golf is in these two’s blood. Every weekend, you can catch these two working at the golf course or playing rounds. It isn’t just limited to the weekends, the work continues during the week. After school they have practice or competition rounds to grind out. Golf is a tough sport to latch onto, so starting out early helped these two.

“My dad played golf quite a bit and so did our mom so we pretty much grew up in the sport” Tyler said.

Having your brother by your side in sports can really be beneficial to

one’s game. Not only in golf can it be beneficial, but in life as well. The Strong twins, as mentioned before, started playing golf when they were young. They were born in Colorado before moving here to the Kansas City area. Golf in Kansas, especially on the east side of the state, is very competitive. They have grown in the game and seen what it takes during high school golf and rounds outside of school to become the best in the state. Having each other learn and grow in the game is something that has helped these two majorly

“It has been nice to have someone to play with and although I always beat him, I can base my game off his,” Tyler stated.

Tyler and Blake throughout their time in Middle School and onto High School have always been involved in sports and rhythm. Blake played basketball and was in percussion which both takes concentration and skill to get good at. Tyler also played basketball along with

throwing shot put which takes the same amount of concentration and rhythm. These skills and techniques learned and practiced in outside events helped the twins become the excellent golfers they are today. Golf isn’t an easy sport so having a built-in coach and critic in your brother can help.

“He has given me tips and just has always been someone to play with over the course of our lives,” Blake said.

They are allowed to critique, judge, and build up. The ups and downs in Golf are some of the hardest in any sport, so having each other has been a bonus all their lives.

The statistics are what people look at to see how a certain golfer played on any given day. The stats for these two are well above the high schools average in the nation. Blake on average shoots a 76.7 through 18, which is 14 strokes above average with the national average being give or take 90. Tyler on the other hand shoots an

" “My dad played golf quite a bit and so did our mom so we pretty much grew up in the sport”

Tyler Strong, Junior

Left: Tyler

Right: Blake

an average of 73, shattering the national average by an astonishing 17 strokes. The statistics speak for themselves. The Strong twins are locked in on the present, trying to bring home a state title after finishing third in 2022. Although third is quite the achievement, the twins along with the rest of the golf squad and coaches Andrew Meile and Brandon Schwarz. The twins are also looking ahead into the future.

“Hopefully play college golf and then pursue some sort of career in golf,” Tyler said.

Blake also looks forward to the future golf has in store for him as “I hope to get a scholarship to play golf in college,” Blake said.

The statistics and the moral of these two young golfers are sure to catch the eye of college coaches, teams, and scouts across the nation.

What is your dream college for golf?

Tyler: Arizona State or Missouri State

Blake: Doesn’t know but is looking to play somewhere in college

What is your favorite course you’ve played?

Tyler: Prairie Dunes, Hutchinson, Kansas

Blake: Grayhawk Golf Club, Scottsdale, Arizona

What is your favorite club to use?

“Probably my lob wedge since it is what keeps scores low”

Junior, Tyler Strong

“Probably driver because it goes the furthest”

Junior, Blake Strong

Tyler Strong Statistics (As of May 1st, 2023)

This Season

Average Front: 36.3

Average Back: 36.7

Average Total: 73

Season Low: 70

Career Averages

Average Front: 37.6

Average Back: 37.5

Average Total: 75.1

Low Score: 69

Blake Strong Statistics (As of May 1st, 2023)

Averages Current Season

Average Front: 38.3

Average Back: 38.3

Average Total: 76.7

Season Low: 74

Career Averages

Average Front: 40.2

Average Back: 41.2

Average Total: 81.4

Low Score: 74

Photos courtesy of the Strong Twins

Barbie Movie to make long-awaited debut

All the recent information we have on the barbie movie.

by Brooke Burbidge Layout editor

The newest movie in the longstanding and iconic Barbie movie series will finally be released to theaters on July 21 with director Greta Gerwig’s interpretation of the series. Margot Robbie will be starring as Barbie, while Ryan Gosling will be performing the role of Ken. It is the first movie in the franchise to be live-action, as all of the previous installments were animated. Also appearing in the movie in various roles will be Dua Lipa, Will Ferrell, and John Cena. Not a lot about the film is known about the plot of the movie, as all that has been confirmed is that Barbie was kicked out of Barbieland for not being an absolutely perfect doll and she is going to set off into the real world to find her real happiness. Additionally, Warner Bros. tweeted character posters for 24 characters that will be featured, including at least ten iterations of Barbie herself, ranging from President Barbie, Lawyer Barbie, and Journalist Barbie.

The film will be released after a long and tumultuous production history; it was originally announced in September 2009 by Universal Pictures, but nothing came of the project until early 2015, when it was revealed that Sony had taken over production rights to the movie. Finding a lead actress to play Barbie was another struggle, as actresses from Amy Schumer to Anne Hathaway were considered for the title role, but again, nothing came to fruition. However, after “confirmed” release dates were scheduled for different times in May and June 2017, June and August 2018, and May 2020, the final release date of July 21, 2023 was settled on, this time with Warner Bros. producing the movie.

Also releasing alongside the movie will be the Barbie apparel collection, which will presumably feature the bright pastel colors that the Barbie dolls have become known for over the years. This will also take advantage of the “Barbiecore” aesthetic trend that has appeared since mid-2022. Vogue Maga-

zine made note of this aesthetic, saying that 2023’s hottest clothes trends will probably be comprised of “neon pink and yellow, with the related postmodern revisionism of the classic fashion palette.”

Simply titled “Barbie,” it will be the 43rd overall movie to be released by Mattel to feature Barbie. The notable thing, aside from the sheer number of animated movies, is that all of them were released after the turn of the millennium, with “Barbie in the Nutcracker” being the first movie released in October 2001.

illustration by | Sylvia Grimsley

Artwork above based off barbie movie poster.

illustration by | Dalton Roberts

Prom; what’s with the cost?

Prom tickets and why they have to cost so much.

by Xander Cha Reporter

Are prom prices too high? Well yes and no.

Prom is expensive to host for any school. There’s an array of costs from music to venue rental, on top of that there is the matter of getting everything else organized. Which is why the cost of prom tickets by themselves are not extraordinarily high.

Our school, and the majority of other schools, are responsible for planning and funding the entirety of prom, from a DJ to venue rental, all of it has to be paid for by the school. Which is why charging students $40 - $20 is at all illogical. The current pricing for school tickets is, in simpler terms, cheap, because the memories that are made at prom, arguably, are priceless.

However there are an array of other outside costs for a student planning on attending Prom, such as renting a tux or buying a dress, renting a car, planning dinner, after-parties etc… All of this can, at the very extreme end, reach hundreds of dollars, so the additional cost of $40 does not help very much.

Even so, most people don’t go with just themselves and their dates. So the cost can easily be spread out over multiple people, especially the afterparty and dinner aspect.

In modern days traditions are being broken down including Prom traditions, there is no need to rent expensive dresses or tuxedos, many people go to Prom in much more casual outfits,

especially with modern fashion having both traditional and non-traditional styles that still look formal.

For dinners it is tradition for the one who asked their partner to the dance to pay, however with inflation and in general increased living expenses, that tradition has gradually taken the wayside in turn for more frugal ideas such as the splitting of costs. Again this is another reason why Prom is not at all expensive. Yes, it would be if you were to do this everyday however, it is just one night, and for many, the most memorable night of their lives. So regardless of the final cost I’d recommend splurging a little, if not just for the memories, then for yourself. Trust me it is most definitely worth it. However, these are just some of the costs that make up the night. There is still transportation, parties, etc… Which can easily cost hundreds of dollars just by themselves. For the more frugal of you, you may already see the basic solution which as always, is splitting the cost. However, there’s other options if you’re not willing to do that, for example you could always borrow a car from a relative or use a public space, that is if you’re comfortable with such an option. Parties aren’t typically the most expensive aspect of Prom especially with modern day streaming services and party games. There is no longer a need to rent out an entire movie theater or rent out a venue, granted that

would be a fun party. However, parties are still great places to meet new people and in general have fun, regardless of whether or not they’re some elaborate gala or simply a basement gathering. But typically it’s good to have some food and entertainment, they don’t have to be anything fancy either. The party is going to be late at night regardless of where it is, at that point people just want to eat, so don’t worry about what you get.

It’s not that Prom is expensive in itself, it’s that people are expensive, people want to be normal, and want to live by tradition, regardless of the cost. However, Prom is your night and as long as you don’t bother anybody else I see no reason why you should live by tradition. Make your own memories whether they be fun or romantic, it is truly up to you.

illustration by | Jackie Small

illustration by | Ashley Rottinghaus

To The Right Photo by Danielle Desmarteau

While introducing seniors Samuel Moore and Emma Augustine during the prom assembly on April 27, Moore pulls out an Alabama hat which was a nod to his spoofed football commitment post from earlier in the year. Though Moore is not attending Alabama, he maintained the joke throughout while throwing out a signed football and t-shirts to the crowd. “I work hard at school and at everything I’m involved in so I felt honored being nominated for prom court,” Moore said. “It was really great to see all the ‘bama fans turn out and the support was incredible. I give all credit to my trainer Emma Augustine and it was an honor to represent Alabama football.”

Above Photo by Allie Elton

Senior dance team co-captain Molly Curry shouts in the front of the group dance on April 22. “The energy and the music is so fun to dance to. My favorite part of the spring show is dancing together with my team for the last time and just having fun!” says Curry.

safe for her teammates and get another run, so we can get ahead”.

Top Left Photo by Sydney Peterson

Addison Zuzenak, sophomore at Olathe South High School, steals the ball from Blue Valley North High School in a JV girls soccer game at ODAC on April 7th. Addison says “being on Olathe South’s soccer team takes a lot of dedication, we practice everyday and have two games a week. It’s a lot of work, but being on the team has allowed me to make new friendships.”

Bottom Left Photo by Blaine Leyden

Sophomore

Above Photo by Megan Proberts

Sliding, senior Ashlee Jackman steals third base to score moments later, against Boner Springs on April 14. Jackman is the shortstop for the Olathe South girls varsity softball team. This is Jackman’s third year playing for varsity, due to her first year being canceled due to COVID-19. The Falcons went on and won their game 3 to 1. When running the bases Jackman says she “has to be

Jamya Haynes goes through her windup to home as she strikes the batter out. Haynes pitched on Apr. 28 against Olathe North at ODAC, she came in relief to finish this game.

Fitness on the rise

Students go into detail on there fitness plans for the summer and the future

by Tim Wood Managing Editor

Over the past few years the fitness industry has boomed. With more and more people turning to fitness to better themselves for overall better health for themselves, or to get in better shape for the sport that they may play.

“Sports and playing soccer kind of brought me into working out and fitness, you know I wanted to feel strong and be fit for my sport,” senior Kate Widler said.

After his commitment to Baker university Senior Tucker Armstrong has been and will still be going down to Baker to do basketball conditioning and to also workout with the team and coaches.

“When I decided I wanted to play college basketball I knew I had to change my body for the sport… I’ll workout three times a week as far as weight lifting goes, and then I’ll have basketball workouts five days a week,” Armstrong said.

Junior Ashton Smith gives his explanation on why he started his workout and fitness journey.

“When I was a little kid I was always on the bigger side. So these past few years I was tired of being the bigger kid,I decided to make a change, to

better my health, and fitness while also getting stronger,” Smith said.

Sophomore Noah Mabie shares his fitness plan, meal prep, and the type of training he will be doing over this next summer.

“I’ll probably do some weight training in the morning, Monday through Friday. Probably some cardio later in the day. For my diet I’ll try to keep it to a whole foods diet. I will keep working out five days a week with Saturday and Sunday as rest days because it’s always important to let your

body recharge and refuel itself after like an hour and a half workout,” Mabie said.

Junior Logan Sell explains his fitness and the types of muscle group he works. Fast twitch muscles help for explosive movements for sports like baseball, wrestling and football.

“We workout a lot of explosive muscle/fast twitch muscles. I will be working out about six to seven times a week for wrestling . Even if I do take a rest day it won’t be a true rest day. I will do some type of cardio. Wrestling will take up about half of my day then soccer will take up the rest,” Sell said

Armstrong gives a description on the types of things he will work on for basketball, while at Baker University.

“You know obviously I work on my explosiveness. I will also work on my shooting and also do just some other basketball related stuff. Our lifts will be an hour and a half everyday, and then we will have team workouts which will be two and a half hours.” Armstrong said. e

"When I was a little kid I was always on the bigger side.”

Ashton Smith, Junior

photo courtesy of | creative Commons

illustrations by | Sylvia Grimsley

Easy Vacation Ideas

Pillsbury Crossing, located near Manhattan, Kansas, is a shallow river with a few surrounding waterfalls.

“The falls are just a few dozen feet down river from the crossing and can be reached from parking spots next to the east side of Pillsbury Crossing,” according to Kansas Travel.

The river is a busy spot during the summer, with several visitors making it an activity spot.

“The site gets a fair number of local partying teens, as well as fishing, hiking, canoeing visitors in the summer,” according to Kansas Travel.

There’s a variety of different fish to catch and a few trails to hike on.

“There is a short hiking trail or hikers may follow the sides of Deep Creek. There is good channel cat fishing both above and below the crossing. Other species include spotted bass, largemouth bass, bullhead catfish and carp,” according to Kansas Travel

Manhattan is also about a two hour drive from Olathe, making it a relatively short drive.

by Mia Pham reporter

This old villa in Atchison, Kansas is said to be haunted by spirits of many different people.

“Over the course of its existence, the house has been the location of nine documented deaths,” according to NPR in Kansas City.

Allegedly, sounds, noises, and the movement of inanimate objects have been encountered while visiting the villa.

“Footsteps, voices, babies crying, a creaking rocking chair, figures in the windows, cabinets that open after they’ve been closed, a shadow figure in the hallway,” according to NPR in Kansas City.

Besides just the McInteer Villa, Atchison itself is known to be the city with the most haunted houses.

“Atchison is just an hour north of Kansas City. It’s famous as the birthplace of Amelia Earhart, and as home to one of the nation’s most haunted houses,”according to NPR in Kansas City.

Although it isn’t Halloween, the house is still open for night time ghost tours and sleepovers.

The Konza Prairie is 8,616 acres of tallgrass prairie filled with tons of different species of plants and animals. While you aren’t able to freely roam around the prairie, the nature trail is available for tourists.

“The Konza Prairie Trail offers many things to many people -- runners, hikers, photographers, and those interested in nature,” according to The Outbound.

Although it is available for tourists to hike the trail, the prairie is also used as a place for ecological research for students of Kansas State University.

This means that there are rules for visiting, and they should be followed to keep the prairie in good condition.

“Continued public access to the Konza Prairie depends on everyone’s cooperation by observing the following rules,” The Outbound wrote. Similar to Pillsbury Crossing, in the yellow box, the Konza Prairie is located in Manhattan Kansas and is free to visit.

Pilsbury Crossing

McInteer Villa

Konza Prairie

What’s going on with the other districts?

What is teacher life like at other districts?

by Kailey Donnell reporter

Education as a whole is struggling in a post-pandemic world. Teachers are quitting or disappearing and funding is running low. Is it this generation, or was it bound to happen?

“It would probably be the same as here. There’s always a certain amount of turnover and I think younger teachers are kind of pulling the lever quicker,” substitute teacher Roger Ramseyer said. “So there’s a certain amount of people that get into teaching and realize this isn’t really what they want to do. They don’t realize how hard it is. And so that’s true of all districts.”

Ramseyer thinks that teachers are not going to subject themselves to the worsening conditions of students’ behavior.

“Teachers have decided that some things that they put up with in the past are worse now than they used to

be. And some of the changes in students’ attitudes have had a change in that too,” Ramseyer said.

Junior Maddy Angell thinks that teachers leave early in their career because there isn’t a lot keeping them there.

“I think there tends to be not great benefits for teachers in public schools. They don’t get good incentives to stay. It’s a lot of work and a lot of effort and for very little reward, and typically very little respect,” Angell said.

Ramseyer hears more and more talk of retirement around the halls than there used to be, and decrease of effort in the substitutes.

“This walking [out] is not good, they just disappear,” Ramseyer said. “In this building I was subbing for a sub who just walked out, and didn’t send in a lesson plan. They were only after a paycheck honestly.”

Ramseyer said.

At Gunnar Galloway’s old school, it was a lot smaller and poorer compared to Olathe South.

“It was interesting. It was a poor school so it wasn’t a lot of the lunches weren’t as extravagant and it was not the best money wise. There weren’t a lot of things to do in classes. It was mainly just core classes, not a lot of electives,”

Gunnar Galloway said.

“It would probably be the same as here. There’s always a certain amount of turnover and I think younger teachers are kind of pulling the lever quicker so there’s a certain amount of people that get into teaching and realize this isn’t really what they want to do. They don’t realize how hard it is. And so that’s true of all districts.” Roger Ramseyer said.

photo by | Kailey Donnell

Almost Friday

by Abby Wallace managing editor

Almost Friday Instagram pages started as a thrend the account “Friday Beers” created as a recap of the week to basically say that it’s “Almost Friday” and the week is over. The “Almost

Friday” posts have gained a lot of popularity now. Friday Beers has made an account specifically for the “Almost Friday” posts. They even did a feature for March Madness where they said “This

is March” instead of “Almost Friday”. Now other schools like KU and the high schools around the state have created their own Almost Fiday accounts to recap each week.

Almost Friday Instagram post of K-State for march madness special

Almost Friday Instagram post of Hasbulla dressed as a cowboy

Almost Friday Instagram post from barstookku after the girls basketball team won the championship game.

“almostfridayonw” Instagram post on January 12

“almostfridayon” Instagram post on April 6.

“odubalmostfriday” Instagram post March 16

“falconsalmostfriday_” Instagram page.

Summer Superiority

Why is summer so beloved?

by Makenna Aiello reporter

Ah, summer, as Olaf once said, “oh, I don’t know why, but I love the idea of summer, and sun, and all things hot.” It’s on the horizon, announcing its presence by turning the grass green, gently tugging up the daily temperature highs, and grazing the blooming flowers with sweet spring breezes.

Summer is the go-to season, the automatic favorite, beloved by all people, everywhere, and who can blame them? Summer is the season of bright sunshine absorbed by the poolside, ice cream cones devoured rapidly on the blazing sidewalk and vain attempts to avoid sunburns.

“I’m definitely a summer person. My favorite part of summer is not having school, but that’s why everybody likes it. It’s also my birthday season and I love being able to swim and spend time with all my friends,” Allen said. “Although, I think in some ways, people believe that summer will take away all your stress, but I disagree. All your worries aren’t going to disappear just because it’s summer and there is no school.”

Sophomore Marin Janes is also a huge fan of the summer season and a true lover of all things warm and sunny, but does agree that summer has its downsides…. We can all agree that flying creatures are certainly not one of the best parts of summer.

“I love summer because it’s warm, and you can go outside and do anything. I love swimming, hanging out with friends, and not having school,” Janes said. “But I hate the bugs, and sometimes I miss the activities that winter offers.”

Despite the obvious love of all things related to this bright and joyful season, there are others who share a different viewpoint, who prefer snow and hot cocoa to sunshine and iced lemonade. Sophomore Hafsa Jalil argues the less common opinion -- that winter is the best season for many reasons.

“I think in some ways, people think that summer will take away all your stress, but I disagree. All your worries aren’t going to disappear just because it’s summer and there is no school.”

And, of course, summer vacationprobably the main reason summer is as adored as it is. Those beautiful three months of blissful freedom after nine months of endless English essays and science studies are the saving grace for many teenagers teetering on the brink of education-derived insanity.

Summer is favorable, but does its superiority originate only from students’ love for all things not related to school? Freshman Ani Allen admits that her favorite part of summer is the complete absence of school, but there is so much more to the season that contributes to her love for it, not including its downsides.

“I’m 100% a winter person. I love the snow, the vibes, the fashion, the weather and the activities. I mean, ice skating? Who doesn’t love ice skating? There’s so many activities you can do in the wintertime, and it’s simply the best season,” Jalil said. “Summer is too hot, and the weather just completely ruins it all. I have a summer birthday, so I’m not biased or anything, but it’s just way too hot to do anything outside or have fun. I

understand people who believe any season is superior to the others, but for me, winter is hands-down the best.”

Sophomore Aubrie Thomas’ opinion is similar, but derives more from the downsides of summer than the upsides of winter.

“I’m definitely not a summer person, so I’d say winter. I hate bugs, I don’t like wearing shorts, and summer is just not fun for me, because school is out, and I love school. Summer gets so boring because there’s nothing to do, and I don’t want to go outside because it’s too hot to do any outdoor activities. Everyone likes summer because they don’t have to go to school and they have nothing to worry about, and a lot of people get involved with friend drama because they have nothing else to do,” Thomas said. “Winter is so much better, and a lot easier. I love the winter fashion, the weather, and all the holidays. Being able to see my family and have just a little time off school is amazing.”

Despite obvious differences and unsubtle favoritism, all seasons have their own special traits that make them beloved, and each season deserves unique praise for what they have to offer. Rather than spending winter wishing for summer, or spending summer wishing for winter, enjoy each season for what it is.

Enjoy winter for snow days and hot chocolate sipped by the fireside. Enjoy fall for beautiful vivid leaves and gentle breezes wisping through the open window. Enjoy spring for blooming dogwoods and replenishing April showers. Enjoy summer for days spent by the poolside and unlimited free time.

As for now, though, summer is approaching on wings of sunshine, and it’s time to start getting excited. Put aside all thoughts of other seasons, and enjoy the one that’s coming up. Prepare for sunshine and ice cream cones and freedom, and cherish it while it’s here. e

illustrations by | Sylvia Grimsley

Ani Allen, freshman

Summer Jobs for the “young, dumb and broke”

What are you gonna do just sit there all summer?

by Riley Story reporter

Lifeguard Lawn mowing

Like going to the pool and getting the perfect tan? Being a lifeguard can be very fun in the summertime, but there are a few minor regulations. You have to get trained with CPR and first aid training so you know what to do in an emergency situation. You have to be able to swim a certain distance continuously in a certain amount of time, in Kansas it’s 300ft and you need to be able to tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs. Lifeguards get paid around $10-13 an hour.

Do you have spare time in the summer? Do you enjoy the outdoors and helping others? Lawn Mowing is a great option. It’s good for younger teens to start working and doing simple tasks like lawn mowing because it gives them sort of a jump-start on work ethics and customer service/social skills. Especially for the younger bunch. You can usually do this on your own time and pick your own hours and prices that you want to charge. This could include small to big yards and if you’re into landscaping.

Carwash camp counselor

Working at a car wash can be fun but can also be tiring. It entails helping people wash their cars, You don’t have to be really detailed with it but people prefer you do. You can get an arm workout while using the pressure washers for a long period of time. You can make really good tips as well in addition to around $14 an hour, and you can get fresh air!

Do you like taking care of a bunch of kids and being outdoors? A camp counselor is a good choice, the YMCA is a very good program. The average pay is around $11-15 an hour and working with kids ranging from ages 5-14, elementary school through middle school. Being a camp counselor means being a leader and supplying kids with fun activities like sports, crafts, hobbies and obviously camping. Training requires CPR training and first aid for emergencies.

Top Photo by Blaine Leyden

Juniors Quinton Coats (left) and Tim Wood work on their page designs to prepare for print publication. Students are required to interview students and teachers, create their page design, and finally import their article onto their page. Students are required to do all these things but they all rely on eachother as a team. “I thought it would just be another class I would go to, but it ended up being a place where I created friendships that will last through high school and beyond high school,” Coats said.

Left Photo by Adalyn Sparks

Senior Joshua Lee attacking the ball at CBAC, during his tennis match on April 24th. Josh has been playing tennis since 6th grade and says he “enjoys the game.” He also describes tennis as a mental game,” and says “it helps [him] focus.” Joshua ultimately won the match he was in.

Bottom Photo by Megan Proberts Junior Caleb Mitchell writes down the statistics of the town as junior Easton Echols presents them to the audience. Echols portrayed Professor Willard who “ teaches at the university in the town. He just kind of knows everything about the town in a way, I guess. He’s the one who knows everything that is happening,” Echols said.

Above Photo by Andy Forest

Lexie Ngo from the OS Varsity Girls Swim and Dive team does the backstroke in her 200 IM with a 50 down and back against St. Thomas Aquinas on Apr 19, this is her second year on varsity and, though she “was getting tired,” she says “I just had a song playing in my head and I was trying to keep going”.

Left Photo by Devon Schmidt

Senior Anish Shivarajan stands for applause after the orchestra concert. Noticing the camera Shivarajan looked over and smiled at the camera. People in the crowd stood clapping for the musicians whooping and hollering. The concert took place on April 11th and lasted only an hour, a much shorter concert than normally. Shivarajan said at the event that he ”had a lot of fun, even though it was a smaller concert and we didn’t exactly sound the best.”

Bottom Photo by Audrey Stover

Fireworks go off as the juniors and seniors dance at prom. Music blared as the sparklers shot into the air. Guest Sophomore Gabbey Brachtenbach danced with her friends, she stated, “One of my favorite parts of prom was seeing everyone dressed up and having fun with their friends and dates.” She said.

AI On the Rise

by Hudson Marmon editor-in-chief

Since its debut late in the first semester, Chat GPT -- an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot -- has been gaining popularity among students as a quick and easy way to complete written assignments. But with its exponential rise in popularity, teachers are met with another problem to face in the classroom. Senior English teacher Gary Glenn hasn’t come in contact with any AI generated work, but he is already planning on how he will handle the topic next year.

“Currently, I haven’t had any experience with it other than just being aware of what it is and knowing that students know what it is,” Glenn said. “I think next year, it may change the way I introduce academic honesty -- I might include that in my syllabus. I will plan to do more in-class essays versus out of class.”

tion software to combat the use of AI in written assignments.

“I do use turnitin.com, and there is a Chat GPT searcher in there now,” Glenn said. “I have used turnitin.com prior to this, so that’s nothing new; [students] always submit their papers to turnitin. com.”

Despite the development of AI detection software, sophomore English teacher Marc Gibbens believes the use of AI in general is a greater issue.

“There’s a series of underlying assumptions when a student goes to use software like that I’m not even sure students are aware of but that the implications of which are extremely negative for a school environment,” Gibbens said. “Namely, it implies that

While AI technology is evolving at a rapid pace, trusted assignment submission websites such as turnitin.com have premiered AI detec-

the purpose of school is to earn as high a score as possible while doing as little actual work as possible.”

While many students justify the use of AI by saying the assignments they are given are busy work, Gibbens chal-

How long will it be till the robots take over?

"I think next year, it may change the way I introduce academic honesty,”

Gary Glenn

changed the definition of busy work itself.

“Oftentimes, students and teachers don’t have the same understanding of what busy work is,” Gibbens said. “Students think busy work is work that takes time, which is not busy work. There’s a lot of good work that takes a lot of time to complete. My understanding of what busy work is, is that it is an assignment whose sole function is to take time.”

bens explained one of his biggest frustrations with the development and use of AI technology.

"...It implies that the purpose of school is to earn as high a score as possible while doing as little actual work as possible.”

Marc Gibbens

Additionally, he gave an example of what, in his eyes, buy work would be.

“So when I

“I don’t, as a teacher, want to have to be suspicious all of the time of all of my students,” he said. “The goal is always to build an environment that’s conducive to deepening the study of English and reading and writing and thinking. And so, all of the structures in my room are designed to promote that, they’re not designed to catch students in the act of academic dishonesty.”

experience with having to verify his work was original.

“[My teacher] put it into an AI checker, and it came back as positive.” Burda said. “Then I submitted some original work and it also came back as positive. So I showed them, made the argument, and they said the writing style was similar enough.”

Despite this incident, Burda is still a proponent for the use of AI, and explained some of the ways he has used AI outside of school.

“I used it to help generate

think, ‘what is an assignment that I could give students that would meet that criteria?’ I think of a word search,” Gibbens said. “That would keep them busy, but literally would teach them nothing. Like, that’s a waste of time. I think students tend to make the category of busy work much broader than what it actually is.”

From a teacher’s perspective, Gib-

To deepen this frustration, confronting students whose writing is flagged for being AI generated isn’t at all simple. Turnitin.com has reported a 1% false detection rate in their AI detection software, so the possibility of a false accusation can be frightening for many teachers.

Junior David Burda explained his

some thank you letters after I had interviews for internships, [and] I used it to help me with some ideas for some specific [projects],” Burda said. Similarly, junior Brody Salmonson has used AI to assist him in various classes.

“Certain things like writing, sometimes I’m not very creative. I can use it to help brainstorm. I mean, I know I can use it to make a whole paper if I need to, but pretty much I just use it if I need ideas and things like that.” Salmonson said. e

News paper seniors

The Eyrie and photography team changed a lot over the last four years. From having to do everything online during COVID to getting All Kansas publication. The photo team has gone from being a class inside a newspaper with no more than 5 people to having its own class of over 20 photographers.

“You gotta prioritize yourself above school and others sometimes, it’s not selfish to want to be happy” this is a term we came up with when we thought about what we learned. We knew that it was something some people struggled with even some of us but having someone to talk to like we did helped.

We all can lean on each other for help and if we just need a person to talk to. It made this team have felt like a family for the past four years and we have stuck together for all the highs and lows. There won’t be many experiences like this so we enjoyed it while it lasted.

Photo journalism seniors