The Budget Issue #5

Lawrence High School Established 1893 1901 Louisiana St. Lawrence, Kansas 66046 Volume 123, Issue 5 February 11, 2016

State accused of disenfranchising young voters with new laws

Page 5

IN THIS ISSUE:

Lawrence High School Established 1893

State accused of disenfranchising young voters with new laws

1901 Louisiana St. Lawrence, Kansas 66046

Page 5

Volume 123, Issue 5 February 11, 2016

Cover by Kansas Gibler

COVER STORY

Local groups have been visiting government classes to encourage youth voting.

However, many young people still aren’t registered or are not able to register as a result of state voting policies.

Story on page 5

Voting low among young people ....... page 5 Young Democrats resurrected............ page 8 Scholar’s Bowl bigger than ever......... page 9 Sophomore in cancer remission........ page 11 Lauxman named master teacher....... page 16 Girls basketball improves record........ page 18 Girls bowling rolls toward state.......... page 20 Poetry club performs slam.................. page 22 ‘Godspell’ signals change.................... page 24 Tech switch not universal ................... page 26 Arts students should letter.................. page 28 Annex is inadequate............................. page 30

LHSBUDGET.COM VIDEO Roxy the therapy dog in action

PHOTO SLIDE SHOWS Theater students put on ‘Godspell’ REC

Chesty: At LHS, there are many courses with lots of great students....

Hello and welcome to LHS. I’m Chesty Lion and this is Jacinda, one of the Budget’s graphic designers .

I’m going to tell you how AMAZING LHS is!

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

Chesty, What are you doing?

BO OK

NEWS IN BRIEF

2 • FEB. 11, 2016

Chesty: ... With GREAT personalities!

A day at LHS comic Students with unusual pets What to do if you get pulled over

Hi guys, Dan here to remind you all about how blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah bmblah blah blaha blah blah blah blahblbalbalbalhblahblahjfdkhsfkldjsh blah bla hfksj

There are tons of clubs and activities here too and- what do you mean you didn’t put any background in this comic?

Can’t do it.. I have a busy schedule...

SHUT UP DAN. A busy schedule?

For what?

Well, you see... this comic..

Takes a ton of time and PRIDE to make!

...And what you witnessed right there is what I deal with on almost a daily basis.

SUBSCRIBE TO US Subscribe to us on YouTube to catch all the latest videos by the Budget. youtube.com/lhsbudget

Students rank as finalists in state art competition

By Kira Auchenbach Eight students were selected as finalists for the “Kansans...As Talented As You Think!” art competition.

Seniors Samuel Dykes, Isabelle Schmidtberger, Nia Rutledge and Caroline Baloga, and juniors Dusty Morris, Clara Severn and Ella Denson-Redding had their photos and drawings selected to continue to the second round of judging.

Kansas high school students could submit their work into eight categories: painting, black and white, pastel, freedom-inspired, mixed media, drawing, portrait, and color photography.

Rutledge, Morris and Denson-Redding won their categories. The winners in each category received $300 scholarships, while the other finalists received $100 scholarships.

Morris, won in the still-life category, submitted a pastel still life using red and green as the main colors.

“I like red,” he said. “Personally it’s just got a lot of red on it, and the contrast between the red foreground and

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

the dark green background with the lighter green glass plate underneath for the lower foreground just looked cool.”

The award banquet for the finalists was on Jan. 29 at the Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City building. The finalists’ work was displayed and scholarships were awarded. There, they had the opportunity to sell their winning pieces.

FREEDOM — This piece by senior Isabelle Schmidtberger was a finalist in the photography category in the “Kansans...As Talented As You Think!” art competition. “I sent an image that I titled ‘Seeing the Future’ and it features my friend Peter and the American flag,” Schmidtberger said. “It is actually three photographs that I put together to make one image.” Courtesy of Isabelle Schmidtberger

FEB. 11, 2016 • 3

Fundraising campaign started for sophomore hospitalized after stroke

McNair, Youth of the Year

By Meredith Chapple On Jan. 14, junior Jazmyne McNair won the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year Competition.

The Youth of the Year program honors high school students who have a positive influence in their community.

Senior Verneisha Jackson accompanied McNair in the competition.

For the competition, the finalists volunteered, wrote essays and practiced speech writing and public speaking. The last step for the nominees was giving a speech about a personal experience with Boys and Girls Club during at a

reception at Liberty Hall on Jan. 14.

McNair said the process she went through for Youth of the Year has helped her re-discover things about herself and her ability to lead. McNair will advance to the state competition on March 4.

“I think I’ve gotten a lot of insight about myself and more understanding how to relate to other people and how to treat other people,” she said.

HONORABLE — Junior Jazmyne McNair smiles proudly as she gives her speech before being awarded the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year. Photo by Cooper Avery

Skyward’s inconsistency out of district’s hands

By Kira Auchenbach This school year Skyward has been down frequently, causing problems for students and teachers.

The district platform for the website that teachers use to enter and calculate students’ grades crashes periodically, and has made it impossible for many teachers to keep gradebooks updated.

“It seems like it always goes down right when we’re trying to figure out grades for the end of the nine weeks,” math department chair Pamela Fangohr said. “A lot of us take homework home on the weekends and we don’t really get any information as to when updates [are] going on.”

Over winter break, the Jan. 5 deadline for entering final grades in the district had to be extended because the Skyward website was down.

The issue can be attributed to several causes, district senior network analyst Ron Fowler said. One of the issues was a new update in the Skyward system.

“Skyward had us consolidate our web server and database server into a single server over the break, as they felt it would improve performance,” he said “When they made that change, they updated the Skyward software to a new version.”

The district is unable to interfere with the updates. Skyward engineers are taking over as they try to bring the server and database together.

“Until they can resolve the issue it will continue to have problems,” Fowler said. “They’ve attempted multiple changes to the system to attempt to resolve the issue.”

By Abby Percich Travis Barfield is a sophomore football player who is a friend to many in the school.

On Jan. 3, Barfield’s heart stopped, he suffered a stroke, and has been in a coma since. He remains at the hospital in a stable condition and has been visited by friends and faculty.

“I am sad, and I do miss him very much.

When I first saw him I started to cry,” sophomore Alaina Barnes said. “His condition is better than it was. When you see him he knows you’re there and can hear you speaking to him he just can’t speak back or anything. His eyes can barely open, but they open.”

Barnes and Barfield have been close friends since elementary school and she visited him on Jan. 30.

To show support for Barfield and his family, numerous fundraisers have been created to help pay for medical bills. A GoFundMe was created, which is an online TRAVIS BARFIELD website where people can donate to help pay for their needs.

“I donated because...I know his medical bills are going to be high and he’s my friend so I have to help him out somehow,” Barnes said.

T-shirts that say ‘Travis Strong”are also being sold on booster.com under the title ‘Travis Strong” to help Travis’s family pay medical bills.

“Other people can help him by donating a couple [of] dollars to the GoFundMe, I’m sure his [family] would appreciate it very much,” Barnes said.

While Barfield’s condition is stable yet uncertain, friends and family remain optimistic.

“He’s like a brother to me, but I do know he will get better because he is a strong guy, and it’s going to be OK,” Barnes said.

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

Too cold for a Juice Stop smoothie?

Not with this HOT deal! $0.25 off Small $0.50 off Medium $0.75 off Large

Three Lawrence Locations and Crown Center in KCMO

$$$ FOR COLLEGE

Expires: 3/1/2016

Let the competition know you're serious... ... about protecting your teeth!

Because we are!

Could you use extra money for college?

Call for an appointment for a custom LHS Red & Black athletic mouthguard.

Mention this ad and get it for 25% off — just $45.

Seniors, enter to win our $1,000 scholarship. Just apply online with our easy application before 4 p.m. on Friday, March 18.

TruityCU.org/Scholarships 3400 W 6th St | 1300 W 23rd St | 2221 W 31st St

Wilkerson, Saunders & Anderson, DDS 831 Vermont Street • (785) 843-6060 www.thedentistsinlawrence.com

NEWS

State laws hinder students from voting

FEB. 11, 2016 • 5

CASTED AWAY — Kansas voter identification laws passed in 2013 disallowed the use of a driver’s license as form of identification while registering to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles. As result, fewer young people are getting registered to vote or participating in elections. Photo illustration

by Cooper Avery

Young people among least active group for voter participation, critics say recent identification laws are partially to blame PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

6 • FEB. 11, 2016

VOTING So...How do

I Register to Vote ?

Pick up a registration form at...

School DMV Douglas County Clerk’s Office Audio-Reader Network Cottonwood, Inc. Lawrence-Douglas Count Health Department ECKAN Independence Inc. Dillon’s (Treasurer Satellite) Lawrence City Clerk SRS Office

First-time registers must submit proof of citizenship...

Birth Certificate

Birth Certificate U.S. Passport U.S. Naturalization documents

Passpo

rt

Turn in your completed registration form to the County Clerk’s Office, and submit your proof of citizenship.

+

Birth Certificate

Passpor

t

NOTE: To vote in the Primaries, in the state of Kansas, you have to register as either a Democrat or a Republican. If you register as Independent you will not be able to vote in the Primary election

Infographic by Anna Marie Turner

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

State Laws, Continued from Page 5 not registered to vote.”

By Amanda Coatney In a more recent regulaSeniors in U.S. Governtion supported by Secretary of ment classes were visited by State Kris Kobach, once somethe League of Women Voters one brings in a completed this fall to learn about and voter registration form, they participate in voter registrathen have 90 days to provide tion. proof of citizenship. During “All you had to do was those 90 days they are put on bring in a form and your a suspense list. birth certificate and then your “[After the 90 days] they passport if you had it,” senior Darian Barr, who signed up to have to go fill out another half page form and still will vote with the LWV in Robert need to provide proof of Conlon’s government class, citizenship,” McCullah said. said. “That was it.”

“If an individual fills out the Though some had no trouregistration form again, they’ll ble with the process, statistics have shown that young people get another 90 days to provide proof of citizenship.” have some of the biggest County election offices call obstacles while registering for and send mail to those on the and participating in elections suspense list to remind them in the state of Kansas. that their registration is not Out of the 319 students complete. that Lucille King, the vice “The benefit of having a 90 president of the Douglas day deadline is so county elecCounty League of Women tion offices can stop wasting Voters, spoke to at LHS, Free time and money contacting State and the College and Capeople who haven’t, and probreer Center, only 92 were able ably don’t intend on, completto complete their registration. ing their voter registration,” “We’re finding often that McCullah said. less than half [of young peoStatistics provided by the ple] will register to vote, and League of Women Voters then less than half of those show that as of Oct. 30, 2013, will actually vote,” King said. of 827 people on the suspense This low rate of voting list in Douglas County 55 among young people has stirred a controversy over Kan- percent of them were younger than 25. sas voter identification laws.

Paul Davis, who ran for Kansas voter identification governor in 2014, argues that laws that were enacted in 2013 the reason for these statistics require anyone who registers is that the laws put a burden to vote to complete a registraon citizens. tion form and present proof “It’s not to say you can’t of citizenship, such as a passhave the proof of citizenship port or birth certificate, when law,” Davis said. “But I think registering. Before the 2013 the fundamental problem it law, people who registered to has is it places the burden [of vote did not need to provide proving citizenship] on the proof of citizenship. individual when it should be “This is Kansas law; it was placed on the government.” passed by the Kansas LegisIn September, Davis filed lature,” Craig McCullah, the a lawsuit against Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State’s claiming that removing people Director of Public Affairs from the suspense list was and Human Resources, said violating the National Voter in an email. “If you do not Registration Act that set guidecomplete both steps you are

FEB. 11, 2016 • 7 lines for why someone can be removed from the list. Davis is also hoping to strike down the law that states that proof of citizenship is necessary.

“I think what a lot of this comes down to is there’s a sort of school of thought that Kris Kobach and others have subscribed to,” Davis said.

“That voting is a privilege and that if you have to run through some hoops and be able to do that then that’s OK [...] I can subscribe to the view that voting is a right.”

Currently, Davis argues that the right to vote is being suppressed.

“There’s no doubt that it’s disenfranchising young people,” Davis said. “There’s also some evidence that it is having an adverse effect on minorities and people that are low income who just don’t have the ability to go out and find their birth certificate as easy as others do.”

While young voters are shown statistically to have a harder time making it to the polls, when they do, they can make a considerable impact.

“All the data we’ve seen is that millennials are generally more concerned about civil

Political priorities

rights, environmental protections, equal pay and pay that provides enough to live on,” King said. “And they care about those things a lot more than older people, so if more young people were voting... I think it would change who is elected and what the policies are.”

Data such as this demonstrates that government classes taught in high schools by teachers like Conlon have make an impact on students’ lives and encourage them to take part in their communities.

“I think overall they [students] are excited that they have a say so and they understand, from my class and other classes, why we talk about issues and why they should be important to them,” Conlon said.

While statistics may show that voter turnout among youth is low, many students understand the weight of their vote.

“Of course it does [matter],” senior Amber Jameson said. “It’s a civic duty, it’s about being heard, and if you don’t vote, you’re not going to be heard.”

Presidential caucuses set for next month With the both the Democratic and Republican caucus set for March 5, eligible voters should register and determine the location of their party’s caucus

Democratic

Caucus at Central Middle School Registration from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

All eligible voters must be in line by 3 p.m.

Republican

Caucus at Southwest Middle School Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All eligible voters must be in line by 2 p.m.

Infographic by Anna Marie Turner

Infographic by Claire Robinson, Poll by Clara Severn

The Budget surveyed 113 students about their three biggest priorities in choosing a presidential candidate for the 2016 race Student loans/financing Gun control Social issues

Environment

$ 62%

Healthcare Immigration

+ 52%

45%

40%

Foreign policy Religious issues

35%

29%

19% 16%

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

8 • FEB. 11, 2016

YOUNG DEMOCRATS

Club returns to pique political interests Young Democrats Club returns after three years of dormancy to promote student activism

By Gabriel Mullen The 2016 presidential election season is heating up fast as excitement from the first caucuses continues into the spring. Across the country, new voters are beginning to choose their candidates.

Among the most captivated by the election are America’s young voters. While candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton fight for their support, Millennials are taking notice, not least of all students here at LHS. The Young Democrats Club is being brought back after a few years of dormancy. Its goals are to gather self-identifying Democrats to-

gether to discuss current political issues and events and to get people interested in government.

Club founder junior Emma Posler has been interested in politics and saw an opportunity in reviving the club to get herself and others involved in the political process. “[The Young Democrats Club] used to be a thing a while ago, then the leadership just kind of wasn’t there anymore,” she said. “So a few months ago, I came up with the idea [to get it started again].”

Posler and other club members wanted to bring a forum to discuss politics back to the forefront to encourage discussion about government within the school.

“When I heard that Emma was starting the club again, I knew that I wanted to get involved,” junior club member Bridget Smith said. “Having my dad being interested in politics and then also having

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

taken debate, it was just another outlet to talk about the democratic process.”

One of the political issues the club is taking on is low participation by young voters.

“Younger voters have the lowest turnout in elections, and I would really like to see [those rates] to jump up,” junior club member Noah Mercer said. “Even though it’s a small percentage, I would really like to see LHS kids get involved.”

The club has discussed hands-on strategies to get students more interested in the presidential race.

“We brainstormed a few ideas to actually get people to go out and to exercise [the right to vote],” Posler said.

“We thought about being on the announcements and reminding people on election week to go vote. [We also thought about] handing out non-biased brochures about each of the candidates just to keep people informed.”

As for the other side of the political aisle, a Young Republicans Club was active in the past but has not been revived in the same way the Democrats have.

While the political dynamics in Topeka are shifting increasingly toward a hardline conservative bend, the city of Lawrence is a rare example of a community that is solidly liberal in Kansas. Whether a Young Republicans Club can be brought back at LHS given these dynamics remains to be seen.

“Having more educated voters on both sides would be good, instead of people just following other’s beliefs,” Mercer said.

ADVOCATES — Senior Kai Blosser, junior Noah Mercer, junior Emma Posler, junior Darius Hart and senior Joaquin Dorado Mariscal are a few members of the Young Democrats Club, which was restarted this year. Photo by Meredith Chapple

FEB. 11, 2016 • 9

CLUB GROWS

Scholars Bowl adds new members Students compete against area schools in academic trivia competitions, participation numbers higher than ever

By Macy Landes When students choose to participate in Scholars Bowl, they’re asked to know all sorts of information, ranging from the year the Titanic sank to the names of Snow White’s dwarfs.

Scholars Bowl is a competition of academic trivia in which students compete for medals against other schools’ teams. Students practice twice a week after school in math teacher Matthew Ellis’ room, asking each other trivia questions and writing their own to ask opponents.

“I like just the whole learning aspect, and it’s more about retention than just trying to get an A on things because, if you remember it, then you do better in Scholars Bowl,” junior club member Noah Mercer said.

Ellis has been sponsoring the club for four years, and it was active before that as well.

However, since he took it over, the number of members has grown from eight to 28. The club has seen more participants this year than ever before.

“I think, finally, the word is starting to get out,” Ellis said. “When I took over the program four years ago, I had eight participants, and, you know, it’s hard to get to com-

petitions with eight. But I just hope it keeps growing....I’d love to keep having more and more [participants], it’s a great activity to do.”

Area high schools host Scholar’s Bowl competitions on a weekly basis, usually hosting 15-20 teams at each.

LHS hosted its tournament Jan. 27. Scholars prepared for the tournament by simulating 16-question rounds during their practices.

The categories for competition are language arts, social studies, science and health, math, fine arts, year in review, and foreign language. Teams compete head-to-head in 16-questions rounds. Participants must use a buzzer before giving their answer.

At the end of the round, whoever has answered more questions correctly wins.

“The students write questions,” Ellis said. “We have to read over them several times to make sure the answers are

right. Then, I kind of drop some brackets, invite schools.

We had 18 schools come, which is a big tournament, and that’s actually how we make money, is by hosting.”

Ellis said he took over the club because he was involved in Scholars Bowl when he was in high school.

“I participated in high school, when I was at Topeka West, and it’s kind of addicting when you get into the moment and try to see what you know,” Ellis said. “And I still love it. I love to see this aspect of students. You don’t always get to see their academic side, so it’s nice to see their academic side.”

Five club members competed in the regional Scholars Bowl competition in Topeka.

Senior Alexus Molina, Stefan Petrovic, Ethan Doores and Jacob Parnell and junior Mary Reed-Weston placed eighth at the Feb. 4 meet.

While winning is the

BUZZED IN — Seniors Ethan Doores and Kai Blosser participate in a Scholars Bowl practice round on Dec. 3. “I started going to Scholar’s Bowl last year, but I didn’t get to any meets because of cross country. But this year I went to a lot of meets,” Blosser said. The club hosted 18 teams at its annual tournament on Jan. 27 at school. Photo by Cooper Avery

objective when competing in Scholars Bowl, Ellis made it clear that LHS likes to have fun, too.

“What I’m most proud of is the diversity that we bring to this kind of competition,” Ellis said. “I think we have one of the most fun teams that I see at competitions. We are always having fun. Some teams, I think, either take it too seriously, or don’t care one way or the other, but we always have the most fun.”

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

BIRD

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Go Lions!

535 Gateway Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049 785-331-0106

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS AND STAFF Jerry Coatney Enrolled Agent

LIBERTY TAX SERVICE

810 W 23rd St Lawrence, KS 66046

(785) 856-7811

Small Business • Estates & Trusts • Individuals

GET A $50 DISCOUNT ON TAX PREPARATION FEES WHEN YOU BRING IN THIS AD VALID TILL MARCH 15, 2016 NOT TO BE INCLUDED WITH OTHER PROMOTIONS

Need $ for college?

Check out JCCC scholarships.

Visit jccc.edu and search for "scholarships" for more details.

12345 College Blvd. | Overland Park, KS

Facing challenges

Sophomore wins fight against ovarian cancer, in remission

By Amanda Coatney In the summer, while students enjoyed their sun-filled break, sophomore Izzy Ginavan started her battle with stage one ovarian cancer.

“I was scared,” Izzy said. “My step mom’s a surgeon and so she helped me out a lot and told me that it was going to be OK.” On May 5, Izzy woke up with a severe pain in her lower abdomen. The same morning she went to the emergency room and got a CT scan. They thought the pain was caused by appendicitis.

What the doctors found was much more serious. The CT scan found a tumor on her ovary and two days later when it was removed, they discovered that the tumor was a 10 by 10 in immature teratoma, a rare ovarian germ cell tumor. Continued on page 12 REMISSION ACHIEVED — Standing in the entryway of the hospital after her last chemotherapy session, sophomore Izzy Ginavan finished her treatment on Aug. 25. “That was my last day of chemo, so they got me balloons and stuff since I was the youngest,” Ginavan said. “I am now going through remission, and I’ll be cancer free in five years.” Photo courtesy of Izzy Ginavan

12 • FEB. 11, 2016

Remission Continued from Page 11 “I asked her a couple days before chemotherapy started what she thought, and she said, ‘We just have to get through this, I don’t have a choice,’” Izzy’s mother Michelle Ginavan Hayes said. “She was tough on the outside, but as scared as anyone would be on the inside.”

Izzy went through a 12-week chemotherapy treatment from June 8 to Aug. 25. She spent the better part of her summer at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

At St. Francis, she followed a vigorous three-week cycle for her treatments, the first week consisting of four to six hours of chemo five days a week, and the following weeks having a few hours of the treatment on Tuesday mornings.

“She would start out strong on Monday,” Michelle said. “Then each day would bring her down more and more. It was hard to come back [for treatment]

by Thursday.”

Although not knowledge-

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

able previously, step-sister Mado Hayes, along with other friends and family, soon learned more about the cancer and treatment to help Izzy through the process.

“Chemo is basically poison,” Mado said. “And so that affected her both physically and emotionally.”

People close to Izzy learned to deal with the effects the cancer had on her and their relationship.

“It was hard to see her go through it,” friend Kyler Kelley said. “She had chemical reactions with some of the medicines they gave her. So some things she

wouldn’t let me see because of those. And she was always so tired.”

Dealing with the effects of the treatment, she lacked the energy for simple everyday tasks.

“She definitely couldn’t do anything physical,” Kyler said. “So going on a walk... she couldn’t do that, she wouldn’t last.”

Not being able to participate in physical activities, like basketball, was one of the many effects that the treatment had on Izzy.

“It made me lose my hair, which that was the main thing I didn’t like about it,” she said. “I [also]

FEB. 11, 2016 • 13

couldn’t do anything with anybody all summer.”

Though dealing with the cancer was tough, Izzy had support from her friends and family.

“Most people give up on it and dwell on having the cancer,” Kyler said. “[but] she was strong and confident, always.”

Her step-mother, being a surgeon, also provided another level of comfort for her and her family.

“Her step-mom was a wealth of knowledge and knew a lot of the doctors that were involved with Izzy’s treatment,” Michelle said. “It was comforting [being] with people who knew her and who were going to take care of my daughter.”

Now in remission, Izzy is back attending school with her friends. “[With cancer] you totally kill all the cells in the body, and that can totally change the mindset of someone,” Kyler said. “But she stayed the same, she’s still the same

girl that she was when I met gain friendships, knowledge, her.” and new perspectives from Though back to her prethe experience. vious schedule and activities “I met lots of people Izzy will have periodic checkin their 20s that had breast ups to make sure that the cancer,” Izzy said. “And I’ve remission is going smoothly, met girls my age that live far every few away that have months for ovarian cancer, years to and we get in come. touch.”

“There is Her mother no sign of Michelle also the cancer shared some now,” Izzy’s positives she mother, Mitook away from chelle, said. the difficult “[But] it’s situation. hard to let “We met lots ­—Michelle Ginavan-Hays, Izzy’s mother your guard of people,” she down.” said. “Nurses Izzy’s who cared mother for her in the shares her opinion on her hospital and in the cancer daughter’s experience. center, doctors and social “She has learned a lot and workers, and strangers in the she has experienced a lot Cancer Center in the same -- more than anyone should situation.” have to learn,” Michelle said.

Despite the difficult situ“Especially a high school ation, Izzy overcame and is sophomore.” now thriving.

Though through undesir“I am amazed by the able circumstances, Izzy did strength my daughter has,”

“She has learned a lot and she has experienced a lot--more than anyone should have to learn.

Especially a high school sophomore.”

These photos are courtesy of Izzy Ginavan’s Instagram CHOPPED — Posing for comparison, sophomore Izzy Ginavan cut her hair to minimize the mess of her hair loss. “I cut it so when it started to fall out I didn’t have long hair everywhere,” she said. Photo courtesy

of Izzy Ginavan COZY — Ginavan takes a selfie with her hair-free head during her chemo treatment. “I just liked that picture because I [am] bald,” Ginavan said.

Photo courtesy of Izzy Ginavan RECOVERY — Capturing the beginning and the end of her chemotherapy treatment, Ginavan spent a large part of her summer at the hospital for her treatment. “[My last] chemo [treatment] was three months ago” she said. Photo courtesy of Izzy

Ginavan Michelle said. “She has been through an awful experience, and she came through shining on the other side.”

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

14 • FEB. 11, 2016

VOLUNTEERING

Students lend a helping hand

By Abby Percich

Students devote time to volunteering with local organizations, share experiences Cyara Le, junior

Chase Odgers, senior

Claire Walther, sophomore

Where do you volunteer?

Where do you volunteer?

I volunteered at the Brandon Woods Retirement Home during the summer.

What sorts of work do you do/ what do you help out with?

I would visit with the residents, lead activities, and perform small office duties.

Why do you volunteer?

I did it to widen my perspective, be productive and helpful, and to gain hours for NHS.

What is your favorite part about volunteering?

It’s honestly so rewarding being able to give something to other people without expecting something in return.

Why should more people volunteer?

People become more involved and active in their community, which is essential to a strong and trustworthy environment.

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

I’ve volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, the build site, I’ve helped pick up stuff for NHS. For the Socktober drive I Helped take stuff to the Ballard center, and I also volunteer at the Humane Society.

What sorts of work do you do/ what do you help out with?

For the Humane Society if you are a volunteer you just get to take the dogs out and play fetch with them and stuff, just hang out with the dogs. At the Habitat for Humanity build site what they do is they build a house for somebody in the community and that person has to have 200 hours of service on their house and another Habitat house.

Why do you volunteer?

Well, initially I got involved in volunteering through boy scouts, and after I quit Boy Scouts I got in NHS, which is what kind of rekindled my interest in volunteering. And now it’s just enjoyable.

Where do you volunteer?

I volunteer for a non-profit, called BuildOn, that works to implement schools and infrastructure in developing countries.

What sorts of work do you do/ what do you help out with?

Right now we’re fundraising to go build a school in Haiti, summer 2016.

Why do you volunteer?

Volunteering is fun, it gives you opportunities to travel, meet people, and help out.

Why should more people volunteer?

How does the community benefit from volunteering?

It makes you feel good, it’s nice to help somebody else out besides just yourself. You are giving back to your community via humans or animals, just helping out another life.

Volunteers are cool people, so not only are good things being done, but volunteering creates an optimistic atmosphere.

How did you find out about volunteer opportunities?

Why should more people volunteer?

Actually my babysitter when I was really little she took me volunteering at the Humane Society, so that’s how I knew about that. And I’m president of Habitat for Humanity Club, so that’s how I got involved with that.

Volunteering restored my faith in humanity, anything you do makes a difference and that’s important.

FEB. 11, 2016 • 15

TROPHIES

A history of victory LHS trophies old and new line the hallways in cases, hide in classrooms

By Mary Carr For decades, Lawrence High has maintained a steady tradition of winning. Whether it be a junior rifle trophy from 1947, or a girl’s track state championship trophy from 2015, the amount of trophies displayed, as well as hidden within the walls of the school, are endless. These are a few of the most memorable trophies of the school.

LHS students excelled far before moving to Louisiana street. Students at formerly-known-as Liberty Memorial High School, won a junior rifle trophy in 1947.

The club was affiliated with the National Rifle Association, following all their rules and practice procedures in preparation for competitive shooting.

The rifles used belonged to the Senior Rifle Club of Lawrence and a $2 membership fee was required to join.

Most recently, the girls track team earned a state title for the third year in a row with help from the girls’ 4x4 relay team made up of senior Kyleigh Severa and 2015 graduates Leah Gabler, Jensen Edwards and Marissa Pope.

“Holding up the first place trophy felt amazing,” Severa said. “All of our hard work had finally paid off, and it was even better because I had my sisters by my side holding it up with me.”

The girls won the 4x4 relay for the third year in a row, clocking in at a 3:55:55 time.

“I’ve never felt more proud to be a Chesty Lion than in that moment. It’s one of my greatest memories, and I will never forget it.”

Jo Huntsinger is not a stranger to the LHS community, and she has not always just been a Human Anatomy and Physiology teacher here, either. Huntsinger was a state champion athlete for the 1977 girls volleyball team.

“The tournament was at Wichita North and at that point we had played Shawnee Mission North six times during the season,” Huntsinger said. “This was our seventh time playing them, and it was the state championship game. Our records were tied, so the pressure was on.”

LHS played three nerve-wracking games against SMN and finally pulled through and beat them for the state title.

“When we got the trophy we actually dropped it and broke the arm off,” Huntsinger said. “But it just made it even more memorable.”

Debate coach Jeff Plinsky keeps LHS’s oldest debate trophy in his classroom. The trophy was won in 1925 and is used for motivation for debaters today.

“Our squad uses it every year at the beginning of the year to talk about how long this program has been in existence, and the idea that tradition at Lawrence High isn’t just about excellence in athletics, but excellence in co-curricular activities and academics,” he said.

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

16 • FEB. 11, 2016

English teacher recognized by district for classroom innovation

Lauxman receives 2015 Master Teacher Award for involvement at LHS, to move on to state-level competition

By Macy Landes English teacher Keri Lauxman’s classroom is different than most.

Room 212 is an eccentric mix of new technology used for blended learning as well as a relaxed atmosphere set by lots of natural light with plants lining the windowsill.

Her students have the option of sitting in a raised metallic desk or at a circular table with their classmates. Roxy, Lauxman’s 6-year-old therapy dog, makes her class especially hard to forget.

The unique teaching environment Lauxman creates for her students is only one of the reasons she has been recognized as a superior teacher in the district.

Lauxman accepted the USD 497 Master Teacher Award at a staff meeting on Dec. 9. The recognition came with a check for $2,500 from Truity Credit Union as well as the chance to compete for the Master Teacher Award at the state-level.

When Superintendent Rick Doll announced Lauxman’s

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

name, she was shocked, she said.

“The department called an impromptu department meeting...we all went down thinking that we needed to talk about assessments and things,” she said. “The superintendent and the whole crew of administrators and teachers and colleagues arrived, accompanied by my family, so at that point it was really surprising and shocking. I was just overwhelmed.”

Lauxman has taught at LHS for nine years, and was

MASTER — English teacher Keri Lauxman teaches an English 9 class. Photo by The Budget staff. nominated for the recognition by students, staff and school administrators. The the final decision was made by the Doll. “[We recommended Lauxman because of] her innovation in the classroom,” principal Matt Brungardt said.

LHSBUDGET.COM

Go online to check our video about Lauxman’s service dog.

FEB. 11, 2016 • 17 “She’s implemented blended learning — a district initiative — she’s on the AVID site team, she’s always doing professional development to show different types of AVID strategies to the staff.”

Her students said she deserved the recognition because of the learning environment she creates.

“She’s very kind and affectionate,” sophomore Brandon Lawrenz said. “She also does a great job of being inclusive, and she also teaches her students really a good way to learn as well.”

Lawrenz also said she deserved the award because she pushes her students to be the best they can be.

“Ms. Lauxman gave me the opportunity to challenge myself [to get] into the AVID program,” he said.

Not only is there a citywide recognition, but a statewide one, too. On Feb. 2, she submitted an application for the Kansas state Master Teacher Award, which is facilitated by Emporia State

University.

The recognition was established in 1954 by ESU’s Teacher’s College. It is annually-awarded to a small handful of applicants from the winners of each school district who choose to apply. Applicants must have won at their district-level and have at least five years of teaching experience.

The winners will be announced on April 6 at the ESU campus.

To apply for the state award, Lauxman wrote a 35-page paper and created an extended portfolio to exhibit her impact at LHS. Lauxman said putting together her application has given her a chance to look back on her time at Lawrence High.

“It’s quite an undertaking, but it’s been really a rewarding process seeing

“She’s very kind and affectionate. She also does a great job of being inclusive and teaches her students really a good way to learn as well.” ­—Brandon Lawrenz, sophomore

letters of recommendation from students and parents and colleagues,” she said. “The process of reflecting back on my career has been [an] award enough.”

Though Lauxman was on the receiving end of the award, she credits her co-workers for helping her develop as a teacher.

“I think there’s a long list of people who get us to where we are as teachers,” she said. “Certainly my department, the English department, as well as other colleagues here at Lawrence High, inspire us as teachers to do better every day and to collaborate and share ideas and grow in the profession. So I certainly give credit to professional colleagues.”

Lauxman said the culture at LHS has also inspired her teaching career.

“We have so many opportunities for students to connect with classes that they love, opportunities for teachers to teach what they love and work toward their strengths,” she said. “I’m just thankful to be a part of Lawrence High where we have that culture of acceptance and opportunity. It truly is always a great day to be a Lion.”

The Journalism Staff thanks our supporters Lending a Lion Paw Red & Black Donors Dick & Kathy Stuntz Edmonds Duncan Advisors Sprint Strickland Constuction

YEARBOOKS PRE ORDER AND SAVE

WWW.YEARBOOKORDERCENTER.COM PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

ON THE RISE

New beginning for the Lady Lions

FEB. 11, 2016 • 19

Girls’ basketball bumps up record from previous seasons

By Ethan Parks New uniforms, new coaches and new talent signal a new beginning for the girls basketball team.

The team has taken the opportunity for a fresh start to improve their record and their postseason prospects beyond those of previous seasons.

Last year’s team went 7-15, with no advance in the postseason. But with experienced players and young talent working together, the team has improved its performance to a 7-7 record as of Feb. 5.

“Every season is different,” said head coach Jeff Dickson, who is in his second year coaching the team. “They continue to build on the foundation of former teams.”

The team began improving its game even before the season began. The group started conditioning soon after last season ended, and

IN THE PAINT — Junior Olivia Lemus goes up for a free throw on Dec. 14 against Topeka West.

The Lions won 50-24. Photo by Cooper Avery

many played on the same club team.

Veteran players like senior Alexis Boyd said team members’ cohesion and camaraderie have made a positive impact on their record.

“I feel like they play really well,” she said. “We all play together and don’t take selfish shots.”

The team will be looking to improve its record further and pick up a high post-season seed.

The team is being helped along by their experienced varsity players like juniors E’Lease Stafford and Skylar Drum. Dickson said Stafford is one of the highest scoring players in the state of Kansas.

The team underwent a change in coaching, with Naura Cosker coaching the freshmen team and social studies teacher David Platt.

Cosker is the new to the program, while Platt has coached basketball in the past.

As far as rivals go, the LHS girls view Free State as their biggest competition. The Lions narrowly beat Free State 49-48 at the Dec. 18 match-up.

Although the team lost to Wichita Heights 49-51, freshman Chisom Ajekwu said Wichita was one of their favorite places to play.

She said walking around the Wichita State campus was a huge bonding experience for the girls.

Ajekwu attributes some of the team’s bright outlook to

UPCOMING GIRL’S BASKETBALL GAMES FEB. 9 FEB. 12 FEB. 16 FEB. 19 FEB. 23 FEB. 26

the new uniforms. The uniforms are a black background with crisp, red lettering.

“I love the new uniforms,” she said. “It’s always great to have new uniforms. Everyone feels great when you put them on.”

Everyone on the team has high hopes for the this year’s group of freshmen players.

“I love the new people on the team,” Ajekwu said.

“I played with all of them in basketball club.”

Overall, the team is expecting big things from this

ON D — Freshman Hannah Stewart guards a Topeka West player during their showdown on Dec. 14. The team shot 40 percent from inside the paint and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds. Photo by Cooper Avery season, with familiarity on their side.

“I think my teammates are awesome players,” Ajekwu said. “Great people. No one feels excluded. We’re all really helpful, we’re all really good friends.”

Infographic by Nia Rutledge

Shawnee Mission Northwest Olathe Northwest Shawnee Mission North Olathe North Shawnee Mission East Free State

Away Away Home Home Home Away

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

Team strikes success

First and second-place finishes poise bowling team to succeed at state

By Shayla Brillhart After a third-place finish at state last season, the girls’ bowling team aims to return and make a mark in the postseason — this time bringing the boys team with them.

“Our team is doing really great for the start of the season,” sophomore varsity player Diamonique Vann said “I have really high hopes for the rest of the season.”

The girls kicked off their season with success while rolling into first place at Free State invitational on Jan. 8, beating out 18 teams including Washburn Rural in the final game.

The girls ended with a total of 3450 points overall.

The boys varsity team ended with a final score of 2525, landing it in 10th place.

The team hit the lanes again at the Lawrence quad tournament Jan. 21. Both girls and boys varsity teams finished with the first place title. Girls ended with the total score of 2343 and

boys with the total of 2350.

The girls team finished first the Olathe South tri, Topeka Seaman quad, and Olathe East tri, and finished in second place in the De Soto quad.

“It’s really a team effort” senior Isabelle Schmidtberger said. “You’re always doing the best you can and feeling like you’re not letting the team down.”

Both the boys and girls teams are working hard to prepare for upcoming tournaments.

“Last year I was on JV so I had to practice more and push myself harder to get on varsity,” Vann said.

Vann finished off the Lawrence quad with an individual total of 595 points landing her in second. Sophomore Holly Evans followed shortly behind with a total of 574.

“The goal for the season is to make it to state again,” Krom said “And to hopefully get first this time.”

STRIKE — Junior Nico Carlson lines up his ball at Royal Crest Lanes. Carlson bowled 353 out of three games last week at Olathe Lanes. Photo by Cooper Avery.

B WLING DATE

OPPONENT RESULT

01/08/2016

FREE STATE BOYS INVITATIONAL

01/09/2016

1st

FREE STATE BOYS INVITATIONAL10th

Graphic by Amanda Stinnett

Call ahead & we’ll have it ready!

1601 W. 23rd St.

$1 off!

842-1212

With any walk in Food Purchase COUPON REQUIRED Expires 2/29/2016

ARTS

22• FEB. 11, 2016

New club makes a slam

Unofficial poetry club allows members to express opinions, share work through spoken word

By Zoie German-Martinez Standing before her peers, most of which sit while sharing their work, junior Tatyana Younger slams a poem about experiencing racism.

It’s a reoccurring theme among the poets, along with mental illness and other topics. Some days, the discussions, or slams, are sparked with heated passion. Other days, group members are laid back, comfortable with each other and debating peacefully. The serious topics are talked about with students who trust each other enough to bring up harsh conversations.

This all happens in the Poetry Club, which meets every Thursday.

The group focuses on slam poetry, performing pieces in front of each other, and preparing for competi-

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

tions.

When describing the new club, several members, including Younger, compare it to a family.

“We’re a close-knit club,” she said. “It’s kind of like a family. We do a really good job of cheering each other on and helping each other with our poems.”

She said that members focus more on spoken word and slam poetry.

“It’s a way for people...to say what they want to say and still in an art form,” Younger said. “Slam has a sort of emotion behind it that you can’t find in other things.”

Slam poetry is typically emotionally or politically driven and is usually performed with a lot of passion.

Sophomore Claire Walther sees the club as an opportunity to grow.

“It’s something out of my comfort zone, so I’m excited to try it,” Walther said. “I think it’ll be a good branching out of skills that I already have.”

Members of the club use their meetings as times for them to share their feelings without judgment, whether or not the feelings are

positive.

“It does a good job of really letting people do what they want and making them feel comfortable, like this is a safe space to share your thoughts and ideas,” sophomore Mia Romano said. “Slam poetry isn’t always a happy thing.”

Developed in the 1990s, slam poetry depends on the oral presentation of poetry, channeling intense emotions to make the poem more relateable to listeners. Slam poetry called to young minorities, such as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Since then, slam poetry has spread across the country and is performed around Lawrence. Even Free State has had a slam poetry club for two years. Now, LHS has its own Poetry Club, sponsored by English teacher Jeannie Merritt.

“I had heard what was going on at Free State and then [Jeff] Plinsky had said, ‘Hey, Free State does this really cool thing with the slam poets,’” Merritt said. “So… [when] Alexus approached me and said, ‘Hey, could we do this?’ and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, let’s get this going.’”

FEB. 11, 2016 • 23 SLAMMED — Delivering a poem he wrote, freshman Lex Moulder preformed at a reading hosted by the new, unofficial Poetry Club in the library on Feb. 2. Photo by Cooper Avery Despite being unofficial, the club has had good attendance so far, with the same 10 to 13 people returning for regular meetings every Thursday. For the members and Merritt, the club is a learning experience since it’s in its early stages of development.

Members receive prompts that are presented at their weekly meetings, and the group discusses whatever is on their minds. The topics discussed usually end

up in each poet’s work.

“It’s so diverse and so much fun,” Walther said. “The whole idea of Poetry Club has always called me in.”

Merritt said the Poetry Club has been interested in competitions since the beginning.

The major competition, which starts on March 10 in Kansas City is called Louder Than A Bomb. The poetry competition started in Chicago and spread across the country before coming to the area only three years ago.

“It has a philosophy, and what it’s kind of looking for,” Merritt said. “They want to hear students talk about their own personal stories through poetry but

really use their own voice and get their own ideas out.”

Slam poetry competitions start with preliminaries in March, then lead to finals later on in the year. At finals there are five rounds, four of them individual and scored by a group of judges. Before the competition, school clubs rehearse their pieces and workshop them into a satisfactory slam poem. Romano said the club meets with Free State and Olathe South to share their works, all leading up to their first competition.

“They bring [their poems] in and it’s been fun to watch the club develop… to make them better poets,” Merritt said.

Music department to make mark at state A Capella to perform at Kansas competition for first time in 25 years, individuals also make cut

By Luna Stephens For the first time in more than two decades, a full LHS choir will be performing at the Kansas Music Educators Association state music festival.

Not only will individual students be going to this year’s KMEA state orchestra, band and choir festivals, but the A Capella choir will be front running as a performance at the convention.

The last time an LHS choir performed at the KMEAs was about 25 years ago. With the greater-than-average number of students participating in the competition, this year is a big one for the music department.

The choir will perform their program “A Matter of Life and Death” at the convention on Feb. 27 in Wichita.

“The songs all have to do with the ideas of maintaining joy and hope even though we may be surrounded by and afraid of death,” choral director Dwayne Dunn said.

Getting chosen for the convention will give the A

Cappella choir the honor of having all eyes on them when they perform alongside the other top choirs, bands, and orchestras of Kansas.

“While they are beginning to understand the magnitude of the honor and the type of audience they will be singing for, I don’t think it will really hit them until they get to Wichita and see the performance hall,” Dunn said.

To get chosen for the performance, recordings of last year’s A Cappella choir were screened by a committee of choral directors, who did not know what school they came from while they were judging. In the end, 40 musical ensembles were chosen for the convention, 16 of those choral, and only five of them high school choirs. Both LHS and Free State will have choirs at the convention.

Along with the A Cappella choir’s performance, 11 individual musicians will represent LHS at KMEA. In choir, junior Braxton Darrow, junior Bryce Dunn, senior Elizabeth Godinez,

sophomore Gavin Jones, senior Reagan Kanter and junior Cameron Stussie. In band, sophomore Adelaine Horan and junior Mary ReedWeston. In orchestra, senior Laura Berghout, senior Maya Roth and junior James Taylor.

All of the individuals were chosen from district ensembles, and it was a long process to finally make it into state.

“Six is the most [choir students who have qualified] in a while,” Dunn said, “But it fluctuates a lot from year to year.”

Auditions for the state ensembles were in late January, and auditioners said it was nerve-racking leading up to it, and that it took a lot of practice to finally feel ready.

“We had to learn three excerpts, and then we had to sight sing something on the spot,” Jones said. “I felt pretty relieved [making it in], because I really thought that I didn’t make it.”

Students are eligible to go as sophomores and some audition all three years for a place in state ensembles.

“It felt really nice to get in as a senior,” Roth said. “I was really excited that I made it because I didn’t make it junior year, and I was really kind of bummed about that, but when I made it this year, I was really happy, so I can be like ‘So I have gotten better,” that I can still achieve things like this.”

Going to state is an opportunity for students grow as musicians because they get to play with other highly-accomplished students in the state, Dunn said.

“Performing in an all-state ensemble is a life changing type of musical experience,” he said. “[You have] the chance to perform together with other musicians who have demonstrated their high level of ability through the audition process… Add to that the chance to work on difficult literature that a student might not ever be able to perform at their home school with a nationally-prominent conductor, and it becomes a very magical and memorable experience.”

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

24• FEB. 11, 2016

‘Godspell’ marks first consecutive musical LHS students have done, performed with small, tight-knit cast

Students cast a spell

By Izzy Hedges Capitalizing on the modernization of the Bible, students in the theater department took to the stage to perform their second play of the year.

It was also the first time LHS has put on a musical two years in a row.

Despite the common practice of LHS and Free State trading years for putting on musicals, theater director Jamie Johnson and choral director Randall Frye decided to break tradition and put on another musical following last year’s production of Seussical, The

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY KANSAS GIBLER

Musical.

“Musicals are quite expensive to put on, so we share [funding] with Free State, so this was our off year,” Frye said. “We first off had to do a small musical purely for budget reasons, and then also when we get rights for these shows.”

Ultimately, Frye said he and Johnson would like to direct musicals every year, but under budget constraints, had to start small.

Of the 36 students who tried out for Godspell, only 13 were cast, whereas last year’s musical had 55 students in it.

“It was a huge difference in size,” Frye said. “Thirteen students are on stage the entire time. With ‘Seussical’ last year, you would be on stage for five minutes... These students were on stage all the time. You had to just be present and involved...It was awesome for me to get to work with students as well as other colleagues, and it was just completely different, and I loved it.”

Because of the small cast, students got more time in front of the audience and became a close-knit group.

“It made me a lot more

FEB. 11, 2016 • 25

LHSBUDGET.COM

Go online for a slide show of the performance

JAMMIN’ OUT — Sophomore Mia Romano plays the ukelele in the dress rehearsal of “Godspell”. Photo by Hannah Gaines THESPIANS — Senior Jesse Belt and sophomore Mia Romano interact expressively during the dress rehearsal of “Godspell”. Photo by Hannah Gaines CASUAL — “Godspell” cast ditches costumes for final dress rehearsal. Photo by Hannah Gaines

comfortable singing in front of people, and also it helped me meet a lot of new people and all of us have just gotten really confident,” freshman Olivia Rothrock said.

Godspell is a musical about the stories of the Bible in modern day.

The only two named characters from the Bible in the play were Jesus and Judas. The rest of the cast were called by their real names or names from the original script.

“Well Judas and Jesus are the named characters and the rest are just basically people who

act as themselves, and so I play a person named Lemaur but no one calls me Lemaur,” sophomore Gavin Jones said. “They can call me by Gavin or Lemaur, it doesn’t matter, but I just play kind of a goofy character.”

In this production, freshman Jack Foster played the role of Jesus and junior Crosby Dold played Judas.

Godspell was written in the ‘70s

by Stephen Schwartz, some may know him as the writer of “Pippin” and “Wicked.”

“Godspell kind of developed into a show based on using the Bible as a base for literature. They chose to set literature from the Bible, specifically from Matthew, they chose it as literary work, and that’s what they set the music to,” Frye said.

Despite the religious themes, Rothrock said the play could be related to by everyone.

“I think because it’s just really fun and if you’re not religious, it’s not really about religion, it’s about a group of people coming together, and they’re united by something common we all have, but also we’ve worked really hard on it,” she said.

For a majority of the cast, “Godspell” was one of the greatest productions to take part in.

“Because we worked really hard on it, it’s really meaningful,” Jones said. “It’s probably been one of the best musicals I’ve ever been in.”

PAGE DESIGN BY KANSAS GIBLER• LHSBUDGET.COM

OPINION

26 • FEB. 11, 2016

TECHNOLOGY

Transition to tech-based learning doesn’t suit every single student Online text reliance typical in one-to-one device model isn’t for everyone

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

By Kansas Gibler As the industrialized school system finally catches up to the society surrounding it, the district has begun looking at its options for going one-to-one with devices for students.

The decision will ultimately lie within the parameters of what the district can afford to do, but many students are pushing for MacBook Airs, like the ones in blended classrooms, as the device to provide to high school students.

The idea most districts have when going one-to-one is that textbooks will be online-only from then on, cutting costs in that part of the yearly budget.

As someone who learns best in a very old-school way — meaning lectures and physical texts — the

idea that all of my classes would then be blended is dissatisfying.

On top of students exhausting their eyes with chapters of texts — sometimes spending up to two hours straight doing notes — the light from a computer screen only intensifies the work that their corneas are enduring.

And, as someone who wears bifocals, having to physically move my head up 90 degrees to read the screen in between jotting notes down is more than inconvenient.

Beyond that, studies have shown that reading comprehension is lower and can be significantly lower when information is read in an online text.

The information can stick even less in the long term when it

FEB. 11, 2016 • 27

comes to taking notes on a computer as opposed to in a notebook.

Instead of a forced one-to-one system, students should be given the choice between a standard textbook and online texts.

Something about the physicality of moving from a screen to a notebook and moving from a book to a notebook is the line that keeps me from my highest level of academic success.

One of the models being considered was implemented in the Shawnee Mission district in the fall of 2014, though initially only about a third of elementary schools were supplied with iPads for every student while all middle schools had one iPad for every student and high schools one MacBook Air per student.

This option would be nice but would be stronger if it included an opt-out with a number of physical texts available. Or, an option to have a physical text for home while using classroom laptops to access the texts at

school.

Where ebooks feel more appropriate in college settings, as the information in them can be edited and updated by the publishing company, the loss of portability is not worth it.

Additionally, a computer costing upwards of $500 feels like more of a liability than a $100 textbook.

As advanced as technology is, devices still die and internet connections to update or download texts are not omnipresent.

This year’s shift to more online text reliability felt like yet another misstep in the way our district but more importantly our school has handled technology this year. Our reliability on services like Skyward has resulted in more chaos than was projected or needed.

Most importantly is the simplicity of the idea that many students cannot and will not be able to learn effectively with online texts, and for that reason physical texts should not be carted away so quickly.

What’s on your mind?

Students and teachers share their thoughts about the district checking out a device to each student “I think this is a great idea. However, how would we get the budget for this, and if we already have it, why aren’t we already using it. So I think this is a great idea but it needs to be fixed somehow because there’s flaws.”

—Davis Reed, freshman “I think having MacBooks for like the school would benefit lots of people because they don’t have some of the accessibilities to do what they have to in the classes that we have at home.”

—Zarintaj Ramaley, sophomore “I think it would be a good idea because the laptops we have now are kind of slow and out of date, and it would probably be a good idea to get new equipment to use.”

—Quinton Hamm, junior

“It would be awesome so that all kids have equal access to computers, however I have some concerns about what kind of device they are going to choose and what kind of limitations it could put on us. So that is my biggest concern, I hate to see us spend a lot of money on something that teachers don’t really get to have a lot of input on. So hopefully teachers will get to have a part in that process of deciding.”

—Lisa Ball, biology teacher Graphics by Ella Denson-Redding and Nia Rutledge

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

OPINION

28 • FEB. 11, 2016

Letters should be awarded for art School should allow fine art students avenues to earn activity letters

By Zoie GermanMartinez It’s the end of a pep assembly. You’re sitting on the bleachers with your friends and surrounded by random, obnoxiously loud people.

Over the course of almost an hour, sports team after sports team has been exalted and recognized for their achievements, with forensics and debate rushed into the mix. You don’t want to go back to class but you don’t want to be in an overcrowded gym, either.

Suddenly, another teacher walks into the middle

of the gym floor. They tap the mic to gather the student body’s attention and begin to talk about the latest competition for art students. While they list off the winners, the audience tunes the teacher out and socializes instead.

This is the situation for visual art students at LHS. All they get is a display case in the rotunda while sports teams are the main attraction during pep assemblies. Sports teams get the wild, frenzied energy of the school and the art students get ignored.

Art isn’t seen as a legitimate accomplishment

like being an athlete is, not only by schools but by society as well.

The mistreatment of visual art students extends out to administration, and this is clearly seen with the recent situation of photography students trying to get art letters.

Orchestra and band members get letters, yet proficient visual art students don’t, even though all three are part of the fine arts program and are just as qualified as athletes and forensics/debate students.

Some students in portfolio classes have dedicated their a large part of their school schedule and extracurricular time to art.

For many, it equates to the commitment athletes make while they’re in season.

The dilemma boils down to high schools adequately recognizing the accomplishments of art students.

We go ballistic when a

sports team has a winning streak, as could be seen in the hype regarding both our football and basketball teams this year. Not to say the hype isn’t deserved.

They did an amazing job, and they should be recognized. We recognize the winners at debate and forensics tournaments and students for musical accomplishments, but when a photography piece

by Lawrence graduate Nina Friesen was selected for a national art tour, few students ever found out.

With the amount of talent that is in the program, they deserve a lot more recognition. Art is difficult and takes years of practice.

It takes hard work and perseverance, along with lots of patience — especially patience — just like an athlete conditioning their body to a sport.

You wouldn’t get a letter just for taking one art class, however. It would go to a student who is in a high-level art class, like portfolio or AP studio art.

To earn the letter would take a lot of work, just like it does for an athlete or a music student. It would take winning district or state competitions where visual art students represent LHS, just like athletes do. The balance would be equal, yet how the qualifications would work is essentially up to the art department.

Graphic by Inez Robinson

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

FEB. 11, 2016 • 29

Proceed with caution while inquiring about someone’s gender, sexuality Members of LGBTQ community often faced with inappropriate questions; here are better ways to ask

By Addisson Thornsbury “You’re pansexual? Does that mean you’re attracted to kitchenware?”

The first time I heard this I was utterly dumbfounded. I wondered whether I should’ve felt offended or if I should’ve felt guilty.

While asking questions is an important part of becoming educated about the spectrum of sexuality and gender identities, remarks like these would make anyone feel as if they are an outcast. I know I felt that way.

Despite how shocking this was to me, members of the LGBTQ+ community hear ridicule like this all the time.

These comments are hurtful and could leave the recipient confused, guilty, and possibly even make them feel dysphoric.

Gender dysphoria happens to transgender people when their identity is questioned or when people point out physical qualities that they don’t identify with.

No one should be placed in a situation where they feel distressed with their gender or sexual identity.

These are already internal issues that people in the LGBTQ+ community deal with, so others making those issues external isn’t helping.

Maybe it’s that people perceive it as a simple ques-

tion and they don’t mean to offend anyone. Maybe they think that people are overreacting when they’re upset about being asked about their gender or sexuality.

But if you were asked about something that you struggled or felt uncomfortable with, wouldn’t you be reluctant to answer?

Although gender and sexual identity should be embraced and revealed to people at personal discretion, the difference between someone telling you and you asking is that they are doing it on their own terms.

While your intent when inquiring about another person’s sexual orientation may be well-meaning, it’s still a personal question that is none of your business unless the person decides to confide in you.

The same idea applies to gender. There is a difference between “What pronouns do you use?” and “What is your gender?” and it’s monumental. Pronouns are a public issue while gender identity isn’t public information.

When you ask someone about their pronouns for the first time, you should make sure that you are in a quiet setting, and it’s one on one.

Asking someone for their pronouns should be more of the norm, but at our age, the person you are asking might not be out. Another highly recommended question to ask is if they are comfortable with you letting others know what pronouns to use for them.

If the person is uncomfortable with answering, don’t force them to. If a person confides in you about their

gender or sexual identity, respect their privacy and don’t tell anyone else.

If you don’t know what the definition of someone’s identity is, you should politely ask them what it means.

You could also look it up, a reliable source can be found on the student life spectrum center on the University of Michigan’s website under International Spectrum.

In addition and as well as a rule of thumb, if you are in a situation where you have to question whether or not something is offensive, you should keep your mouth shut.

Overall know that if you are not part of the LGBTQ+ community, you are unable to dictate what is offensive and what isn’t.

Education is the key to success when it comes to understanding the spectrum of gender identity and sexual orientation. To ensure that you are able to get educated properly, learning to replace potentially harmful questions with appropriate and meaningful ones is very important. You taking action will remove a burden from your LGBTQ+ peers shoulder and give them a more supportive environment.

Graphic by Ella Denson-Redding

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

OPINION

30 • FEB. 11, 2016

GUEST EDITORIAL

Annex building makes problems for students, changes needed The Annex building houses a variety of structural problems, needs updates

By Chloe Thornton The Annex was never meant to house students.

Ever.

There have always been issues. Health concerns.

Structural problems. Safety issues.

Recently, these have become unable to ignore and questions about the annex’s safety and security have risen.

The problems start as soon as you walk in. That’s just it. There is nothing stopping anybody from coming into the building off the street, and people do. Both debate and Spanish classes have been disrupted by people who did not belong there. This is obviously not safe for Lawrence High’s students and teachers both who have to be in the annex.

However, it's easier for everyone to have these doors unlocked. If everyone had to wait for someone to open the door every time they went in and out of the annex, passing periods would have to be substantially longer.

Students must also think about how they would feel if all the doors around them were locked at all times. It would seem like less of a school and more of a prison. To please

THE BUDGET • PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE

everybody, administrators would have to find a happy medium between student attitudes and student security and when even the students can’t all agree with each other, this is impossible.

The security of the building is not the only concerning issue. At the beginning of this school year, classrooms in the Annex had been emptied and then put back together again, which caused a confusion among students.

However, it soon came to light that the Annex had been treated for asbestos over the summer. Asbestos is a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) and if disturbed, it can also lead to lung disease.

A more obvious problem is the bathrooms.

They are outdated and extremely small. If you think more than one person can wash their hands at the same time or people can walk past each other comfortably, think again.

In the hallways, the floor is uneven, there are stains everywhere and they are so narrow that three people can barely fit. The state of the classrooms is not much different. However, considering all of these issues, students don’t see these as the matters that most concern themselves.

Getting to the Annex seems to be the largest concern among my peers.

“Walking there sucks when it’s cold or rainy,” sophomore Kacee Truong

said.

The walk to the Annex is one of the most dreaded parts of my day and from what I hear on the walk over there, I am not alone. The grumbles have become normal and a part of my daily routine.

Even if the physical conditions are fine, as soon as I step outside, my mental attitude falls because having to walk outside to get to a class at 9 o’clock in the morning does not appeal to my body.

Along with the weather, the path from the east doors to the Annex does not serve a helpful purpose when a couple hundred students are trying to squeeze past each other at the same time. In the dry seasons this generally doesn't affect us too much because we just walk on the grass to make more room for others. However, when Lawrence has had three straight days of rain, the soggy, waterlogged grass is not the most appealing option. If you're going to make students walk to an outside class in less than satisfactory conditions, then at least provide means for them to do so.

Students know when it starts getting cold, the walk to the Annex somehow gets longer and longer. Running there seems like the only option but with the amount of

students passing each other, it’s basically impossible.

Having to go outside to get to the Annex when it is raining or snowing is also a struggle for many. Some students carry laptops for classes and most carry notebooks, if these get wet and destroyed, the consequences could be costly. If you ask a student how they would fix this, most suggest a hallway or “tunnel” between the two buildings. Others simply say we should just get rid of the Annex all together.

Actually achieving these solutions is easier said than done.

I understand how the school cannot just add a new wing to the main building at the drop of a hat. It's taken workers at least four months just to replace a wall and a door that was supposed to be done over the summer.

Nobody expects the Annex problem to be fixed any time soon. We all speculate about plans for something to happen. But the district only just hired an architect to look at problems. It could be years before any physical action is taken, if they even decide to do anything.

These plans of action need to be fast-tracked so that our school can be safer for everybody.

“...the annex had been treated for asbestos over the summer.”

FEB. 11, 2016 • 31

JOURNALISM

LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL

MISSION STATEMENT The Budget is committed to providing the Lawrence High School community with objective, inclusive news coverage that ensures relevance to its readers. The staff devotes itself to the exercise of First Amendment rights and upholding the highest of journalistic standards. While the paper is a vessel to publish student voice, it conjointly acts as an educational entity holding the intent of bettering student journalistic ability and reader’s access to information.

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

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

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

STAFF Editors-in-chief: Zia Kelly & Kansas Gibler Design & Layout Editor: Nia Rutledge Online Editor: Meredith Chapple Graphics Editor: Joaquin Dorado Mariscal Photo Editor: Cooper Avery Captions Editor: Hannah Gaines Zenfolio Editor: Ian Jones Webmaster: Jacob Parnell

Video Editor: Griffin Nelson Sports Editor: Colton Lovelace Ad Sales Representative: Nicole Owens Journalism staff members: Nicole Aqui, Kira Auchenbach, Shayla Brillhart, Amanda Coatney, Veda Cobb, Tristan Delnevo, Ella Denson-Redding, Harrison Easley, Abby English, Allie Fischer, Shyanne Garcia, Emily Gordon-Ross, Zoie German- Martinez, Isabella Hedges, Krista Hopkins, Trey Hulse , Lourdes Kalusha- Aguirre, Caitlynn Kliem, Ahnya Lewis, Macy Landes, Kenneth McLaughlin, Jaycee Mountain, Gabe Mullen, Ethan Parks, Abigal Percich, Mason Phelps, Kaitlyn Preut, Jennifer Pomes, Kate Rettig, Claire Robinson, Susan Rockhold, Sofia Rommel, Aidan Rothrock, Alicia Ruder, Connor Schmaus, Gary Schmidt, Clara Severn, Carli Stellwagon, Nick Steichen, Skylar Steichen, Luna Stephens, Amanda Stinnett, Coulter Strauss, Addison Thornsbury, Anna-Marie Turner, Jacinda Warren, Eric Wheatman and Julia Wilson.

Adviser: Barbara Tholen

New Year, new me Students share their New Years resolutions Samantha Torres, sophomore

What’s your new year, new me plan?

“My new year new me plan is to live my life like it’s the last day.”

Is your plan working out so far?

“Yes it is. I am waking up every day and saying I’m going to live today like it’s the last and just do everything great exciting and fun that I do in a day.”

Carson Jumping Eagle, sophomore

What’s your new year new me plan?

“I am trying to stop eating Doritos.”

What are you throwing out about 2015 and keeping in 2016?

“I’m throwing out Doritos, so I can be better in sports and because it’s bad for my health. But it hasn’t worked out so far.”

Lilian Khan, junior

What’s your new year new me resolution?

“I am going to try eating more healthier.”

Why did you choose this? “ A fresh start it’s like starting from the beginning again, sort of like a clean slate.”

Graphic by Ella Denson-Redding

PAGE DESIGN BY NIA RUTLEDGE • LHSBUDGET.COM

You make my heart

NIA’S

R.O. A.R.

GUIDE TO

VALENTINE’S DAY

R- Respect 0- Our Best Efforts A- Academic Achievement R- Responsiblity To:

11:11 PM

From:

69%

Messages To:

Contact

what are u doing for valentines day?

A playlist for people who are alone this Valentine’s Day:

probably just going to suffer by myself, as per usual.

1) “This is not a love song” by Public Image Ltd. 2) “Not in love” by Talking Heads 3) “Single Girl” by Lush

Netflix & chill?

4) “Meaningless” by The Magentic Fields 5) “I can see myself alone forever” by The Field Mice

Send

iMessage

Q W E A

S D Z

123

R

T

Y U

F G H

X C

V

I J

O P K

B N M

space

6) “I’m in love with a girl who doesn’t know I exist”

by Another Sunny Day 7) “Lonely Boy” by King Khan and The BBQ Show 8) “Tonight” by The Spits

L x

return

9) “Love will ruin your mind” by Lungfish 10) “Past, Present & Future” by The Shangri-Las 11) “What Do I Get” by Buzzcocks 12) “Goodbye To Love” by Carpenters

Graphics by Nia Rutledge