Issue 7, The Budget, 2017-2018

LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL

• LAWRENCE, KANSAS • VOLUME 125 • ISSUE 7 • APRIL 23, 2018

“GENERALLY, I THINK PEOPLE DON’T CARE, BECAUSE THE WAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT’S MORE EFFICIENT FOR ONESELF ISN’T GENERALLY THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.” —MIA WATERS, SENIOR IN THIS ISSUE •08 Drinking water tested for lethal chemicals •10 Students advocate for firearm reform•12 Students robbed on trip

2 • THE BUDGET

IN THIS ISSUE 06 09 15

Comparing LHS to the top green schools Low funding harms science labs Evaluating the math department’s grading

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LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL

• LAWRENCE, KANSAS • VOLUME 125 • ISSUE 7 • APRIL 23, 2018

Girls softball kicks off to a great start Students form the first recorder Ensemble Student weighs in on March for Our Lives

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“GENERALLY, I THINK PEOPLE DON’T CARE, BECAUSE THE WAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT’S MORE EFFICIENT FOR ONESELF ISN’T GENERALLY THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.” —MIA WATERS, SENIOR IN THIS ISSUE •08 Drinking water tested for lethal chemicals •10 Students advocate for firearm reform•12 Students robbed on trip

ON THE COVER — With Earth

Day coming up on April 22, The Budget takes a closer look at environmental practices in the building. Photo Illustration by Sami Turner

CHANGING UP THE VENUE

BY ELYZEBETH WORKMAN

STAFF WRITER

Symphonic Orchestra and Philharmonic Orchestra students performed at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Mo., on March 27.

While there, the student also listened to performances from Park Hill South High School and the Kansas City Youth Symphony. The Kauffman Center is home to the Kansas City Symphony.

“It’s a privilege to go to it, and it’s not everyday that you get to perform at the Kauffman Center,” sophomore violinist Lisa Yang said.

After the performances, Youth Symphony conductor Steven Davis held a clinic for the orchestra where he critiqued their performances of Aaron Copland’s “Hoe-Down” and

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER

Ralph Vaughan Williams “Phantasia.”

“He’s really loud and really energetic and funny, but also terrifying cause he’s loud and energetic,” junior violinist Andrea Maack said. “He just be screaming, ‘Energy! Energy! Energy!’ ” Orchestra conductor Rachel Dirks set up this event to help the students prepare for future competitions.

This is the first year the orchestra has ever done this event at the Kauffman Center.

“Being one of four schools and being able to play with Ms. Dirks was the best experience in my life,” Maack said.

PERFORMING — Lawrence High School’s Philharmonic Orchestra performs March 27 on the Kauffman Center stage. Some parents of the students attended. Photo courtesy of Lori Hanson

THE BUDGET

•3

SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL TAKES ON A NEW NAME

BY DANIEL DAVIDSON

STAFF WRITER

In February, the Lawrence school board unanimously voted to rename South Middle School as Billy Mills Middle School.

This follows board meetings considering a name change to honor Native Americans. The discussion began with community member Carole Cadue-Blackwood, who sent a letter to the board urging the change in June. Blackwood argued the change was appropriate considering the land South Middle School is built upon was originally donated by Haskell Indian Nations University.

After listening to community speakers and considering several proposed options, the board voted to name the school in honor of Olympic gold medalist, Billy Mills. Mills is a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe as well as an alumni of Haskell University and the University of Kansas.

The name change will go into place on July 1. Board president Shannon Kimball said most visual changes, such as uniforms, will happen at previously-set replacement dates to reduce cost.

“Most kids really don’t like it, and I don’t know why,” sixth-grader Jack LaRue said. “I think the name change is good because of, you know, the land.”

LATER START TIME CONSIDERED

BY IZZY HEDGES

ONLINE EDITOR

The Lawrence school board is considering pushing back the start time at district high schools by 25 minutes.

A decision on a later start time is to be decided in October.

“In theory, students should have more time to sleep in and get a better night’s sleep,” Scholars Bowl head coach and math teacher Matthew Ellis said. “However, I think we all fit our activities into our day where we can, so student’s will be just as busy and go to bed later.”

The school board will be hosting listening and informational forums with students, parents and staff this spring,

regarding the proposed change in schedule. While some students would not mind sleeping 25 minutes later, some have concerns a changed schedule would affect extra curriculars.

“I think a lot of students will do better in school, but the students who are in sports probably won’t have anything change,” senior Leah Merritt said. “They are spending just as much time at school and then doing homework at night.”

Transportation appears to be a concern, as district transportation costs are estimated to increase by $100,000 per year with later start and dismissal times as the schedule time would require more buses.

Research demonstrates later start

times can improve academic performance, graduation rates and attendance rates. School board member Rick Ingram encouraged later start times, which led the board to run an online and phone survey in November of parents and staff. The phone survey showed that 78 percent were in favor of the board making later start times a priority or further studying later start times, according to the Lawrence Journal World.

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THE BUDGET

•5

New program converts used expo markers into energy source

BY SYMON KNOX

STAFF WRITER

C

rayola launched the ColorCycle initiative in 2013 to take advantage of discarded markers, and this year, LHS participated in the program.

ColorCycle is a program where teachers across the nation set up stations to collect used markers. Science teacher Lisa Ball started the initiative at Lawrence High.

“I was able to find the program be-

cause I’m a part of an online community of teachers that teach AP Environmental Science, and it was circulating on there,” Ball said.

To recycle markers, visit the collection bucket in room 218 or in the teacher workroom located in the main office. ColorCycle uses a process to convert markers to energy, and the process repurposes the entire marker, no matter what type. This way, less plastic waste is dumped into the environment.

“It feels great just to know that something that you use regularly can be

recycled,” Ball said. “I feel guilty a lot of times for using plastic products, but there isn’t really a good alternative to Dry Erase markers, so at least if I can’t stop using plastic markers, they won’t end up in the ocean circling the globe.”

OPPORTUNITY — Expo markers are collected in AP Environmental Science and Biology teacher Lisa Ball’s room this year.

According to Crayola, “ColorCycle is also a great opportunity for teachers and their students to explore eco-friendly practices.”

Photo by Sam Webb

PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL• APRIL 19, 2018

THE BUDGET

RECYCLE WHEN POSSIBLE

What others do: Childersburg Elementary School in Alabama has clubs and projects for environmental education and recycling.

LHS strengths: Classroom recycling is encouraged. “Environmental Club has been painting decorative recycling boxes for classrooms for several years, and one of our classrooms had their students involved in collecting recycling regularly. I continue to educate my students about what can or cannot be recycled...” said Lisa Ball, environmental science teacher.

LHS weaknesses: “A lot of people will put things in the bins that truly cannot be recycled. We call them ‘wishcyclers.’ ...Sometimes equipment at the recycling facility could be damaged, or materials that do not belong could contaminate ...materials that can be recycled,” Ball said.

USE RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY

What others do: Sedalia Elementary School in Colorado was awarded a Green Ribbon Recipient from the DOE in 2017 because of its sustainable practices.

LHS strengths: “I know some teachers do make a concerted effort to use less paper,” Harrington said.

LHS weaknesses: LHS struggles to maximize the money it puts toward utilities.

“There is a huge discrepancy in the utility costs for LHS vs Free State. This is largely due to the age and design of our building. We are wasting energy making some classrooms too hot and some too cold, and teachers have no control over these conditions,” Ball said.

IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF SCHOOL AND PEOPLE WITHIN

What others do: Parkway North High School in Missouri sells locally-grown produce every day at lunch.

LHS strengths: “I think it’s great that every day there’s fruit and vegetables from local farmers in the cafeteria that’s available,” Waters said.

LHS weaknesses: “I have been disappointed that we have been the only secondary school without a campus garden. There are plans in the works to finally install a school garden as part of the renovation, and to bring in more locally produced food as part of a community partnership,” Ball said.

•7

PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

What others do: Yosemite High School in California has an outdoor classroom designed to focus on environmental education and keeps environmental/social justice at the core of the curriculum.

LHS strengths: There are two environmental science electives at LHS: Ecology and Environmental Science and AP Environmental Science.

LHS weaknesses: Not every student is exposed to environmental issues at school since these classes are electives.

“All students should be exposed to environmental education. Every student makes decisions daily that impact our environment,” Ball said.

ESTABLISH CROSSCURRICULAR ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

What others do: Gilbert Elementary School in Georgia is located near a large forest, and the outdoors are a paramount part of education at every grade level.

LHS strengths: Little to none. Most non-environmental classes have few tie-ins into environmental issues.

“We definitely could do a better job, especially maybe doing an environmental design sort of study,” Harrington said.

LHS weaknesses: “I would like to see more environmental education incorporated into all classes as it is relevant to almost every curriculum,” Ball said.

GET STUDENTS TO BUY IN

What others do: Long Branch Middle School in New Jersey features a studentrun cafe that sells meals made from foods grown in the school garden. The students also produce a healthy-foods cookbook.

LHS strengths: Harrington said there is an opportunity to represent environmental causes at LHS, but not every student buys in. “In this school if you want to study about the environment and recycle and all that stuff you can, but it’s not like a really big point that we make. It could be better for sure,” he said.

LHS weaknesses: “Generally I think people don’t care, because the way to do something that’s more efficient for oneself isn’t generally the most environmentally friendly,” Waters said.

PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL• APRIL 23, 2018

8• THE BUDGET

TESTING THE

WATERS Journalism staff tests school water for pollutants, finds nitrates

BY CONNOR SCHMAUS

EDITOR

W

hen pipes began leaching the dangerous levels of lead into the drinking water of Flint, Mich., national attention turned to the issue of safe drinking water.

Even before the Flint incident, drinking water in Lawrence was tested regularly as part of a joint Kansas and EPA guideline. Four conditions are tested every three hours, which includes chlorine content, alkalinity, acidity and haziness of the water. Other locations are also spot tested.

The Budget in March spot tested two different locations at Lawrence High for possible contaminants. Using an H20OK Water Analysis Kit, it was determined that only two pollutants of the eight categories were outside of safe parameters: nitrates and iron.

The elevated nitrate levels come following the November decision to allow thousands of gallons of polluted water from the Farmland Fertilizer site to be dumped in the Kansas River.

The Farmland waste is primarily problematic because of the nitrates it contains.

Lawrence’s drinking water comes from two surface sources, the Kansas River and the Clinton Lake reservoir. The water is then treated at two plants: the Kaw River Plant and the Clinton Reservoir plant where it is released into commercial and residential outlets.

“We test different spots throughout the system on a weekly basis,” Water Quality Technician Karen Zimmerly said. “[This is done] to verify that both the water from our treatment plants and from your kitchen tap are still good.”

After Flint, the criteria for testing for lead and similarly toxic chemicals became more strict, with testing for lead specifically occurring more frequently.

“There’s the Lead and Copper Rule, which includes testing on a biweekly and annual basis,” Zimmerly said. “Because of the whole Flint, Michigan, thing where there were elevated amounts of lead, those are the regulations we fall under.”

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER

RESULTS REPORTING BY CONNOR SCHMAUS

EDITOR

All of these, except pH, are in units of parts per million (ppm), which is the standard unit of concentration. Contaminants in red are outside of safe parameters as per the most recent EPA drinking water guidelines. Nitrates are considered the least dangerous of the contaminants.

CATEGORY

DRINKING FOUNTAIN

SINK

RECOMMENDED LEVELS

HARDNESS

0

0

0

CHLORINE

0.5

1

0-1

ALKALINITY

40

40

40-120

PH

7

8

7-8

NITRITE

0

.5

0-0.5

NITRATES

5

10

0-5

IRON

0.3

0

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COPPER

0.6

0.6

0-1

THE BUDGET

•9

FALLING $ FUND Reduced funding for arts and science departments affects students' education

BY FREEMAN SPRAY

STAFF WRITER

B

udget cuts in 2017 have made it more difficult for teachers to pay for class expenses.

Science and arts classes were hit particularly hard this year by funding cuts. The AP Biology class, for example, had less than $10 per student for labs during the entire year.

“We have to have more students in each [lab] group," said biology teacher Ann Foster whose budget fell to $800 from $1,200. “Not everybody gets the hands-on experience for certain things.”

Last school year, the science budget was cut by about 33 percent. Teachers have had to drop labs and equipment that are too expensive to pay for every year, and outdated technology isn't being replaced.

“I would like to...update the molecular equipment for AP Bio,” Foster said. “I’ve used the same technology for 10 years, and it’s not up to date.”

To replace labs that are too expensive to do with the reduced budget, Foster pays for resources out of her own pocket to run alternate labs, using simple materials to simulate and represent complicated scientific experiments, like

using candy to explain cladograms.

“I don’t have disposable income, so I can’t really buy DNA labs,” Foster said, “but I can definitely buy the food things to mimic the labs.”

The photography classes took a hit to the budget when the school board decided to stop having required fees for classes several years ago, taking away the funds from the $45 fee that students had to pay to take photo.

“I could buy a digital camera, and it might last two years,” photography teacher Angelia Perkins said. “The budget isn’t advancing along with the need for technology.”

The budget for photography is almost 50 percent what it used to be, meaning Perkins has to rely on her own budget and her students to pay for additional technology. Students are given the option to pay for extra technologies for personal use.

“What level they decide to work on it depends on how much money they can put into it,” Perkins said.

Without adequate funding, it is impossible to afford every technology and program originally included in the class.

“I just have to remind myself sometimes that I can only do that so much,” Perkins said.

OUTDATED — Some of the lab supplies used, as pictured above are decades old and inefficient at depicting complex scientific concepts.

Photos by Emily Kruse

PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER• APRIL 23, 2018

10• THE BUDGET

CLUB SEEKS REFORMS In response to gun violence students form SAFER, Students Advocating Firearm Education and Reform

BY MACY LANDES

EDITOR

I

n the wake of gun violence tragedies, Lawrence High students created the Students Advocating Firearm Education and Reform Club, or SAFER, in hopes of creating a safe learning environment for Lawrence High’s student body.

The members meet at the Lawrence Public Library weekly to foster discussion and plan events.

The students, inspired by the gun reform advocates of Parkland, Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, orchestrated the 17-minute walkout on March 14 in honor of the 17 victims of the shooting in Parkland and worked with local businesses and politicians to help out with an all-day walkout on April 20, the anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings.

“We, as students, and all of us in SAFER Club don’t want to live in a world where it’s a feasible possibility that you could die going to school,” junior Quinlan Muller said. “Schools should be a safe environment for children.”

Once the club is made official, group members plan to sell orange ribbons at lunch and donate the profits to Everytown, a movement primarily made up of students and parents advocating stricter gun legislation and background checks.

“We’ve also spread awareness about gun reform to people that are in our group chat,” senior Rollin Love said.

In order to become a club, students have to draft a constitution to be approved by an administrator, have the signatures of at least 20 potential members and have a sponsor. Assistant principal Mark Preut has spoken to a few club members and said he doesn’t object the club’s official formation.

“Typically clubs will approach StuCo and meet with StuCo to show they can meet the requirements,” he said. “They came in and they got to the right people, but I haven’t heard anything for weeks.”

SAFER has had trouble establishing itself as a club that satisfies a niche. Administrators were concerned the club fell under the jurisdiction of FYI Club, which has a focus on educating students throughout the district on topics like drug use and bullying.

“FYI club is more about making good decisions, and I think that our hopefully soonto-be club focuses on something much more specific,” Muller said.

English teacher Abby Hoffman has offered to sponsor the club but, due to scheduling and contract conflicts, she hasn’t made it to any meetings or protests yet.

“As a teacher there is a lot that I am unable to do in terms of my contract,” she said. “But my goal is to be there for whatever they need me for.”

Not all students are excited about the reform SAFER club advocates, which is why club members want to make their philosophy as inclusive and informative as possible.

“We don’t want it to be too political because our focus isn’t on taking away people’s rights, but rather keeping communities safer and preventing violence that can easily be prevented with stricter legislation,” senior Mariah Kaufman said.

Despite dissent for the club, members believe it will make a difference in the hearts of the student body.

“We really want to have bipartisan support for our cause and we want to have...conversations with people,” Kaufman said. “Because I find personally that...you can find common ground with people even if you think you have nothing in common, and so I think it’s important to facilitate those discussions.”

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER

THE BUDGET

• 11

ASSAULT WEAPONS LEGAL HISTORY

REPORTING AND GRAPHICS

BY ALEX LANE

1934

National Firearms Act (NFA) is enacted.

Weapons such as machine guns, short barreled rifles and shotguns, or silencers of any type had to be registered and taxed for $200.

1994

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban is passed, which bans more than 100 different military style rifles.

2004

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban expires without being renewed.

STANDING STRONG — Junior Sydney Hawley holds her sign during the March 14 walk out on the anniversary of the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “I thought it went really well.” Hawley said. “ I hope that it made an impact, and I know some people couldn’t go to the walkout, but I hope that they at least support it.” Photo by Aidin Manning

PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER• APRIL 23, 2018

12• THE BUDGET

VANDALS HIT LHS STUDENTS School van robbed during Can We Talk field trip to St. Louis

BY DANIEL DAVIDSON

STAFF WRITER

M

embers of Can We Talk Club were unpleasantly surprised while on a trip this spring break when they discovered their suitcases and backpacks searched through and items stolen.

Can We Talk Club is, in the sponsor Lynisha Thomas words, “a program that helps all students navigate through school and life while we talk about various issues that affect students.”

After receiving a grant from KU basketball coach Bill Self, Free State and LHS members planned a joint trip to St. Louis to visit historical monuments and explore the city. On the last day of their trip, while exploring the City Museum, their vans’ windows were broken, and several students’ belongings were stolen.

Junior Jacob Horton said he noticed his suitcase’s pockets were zipped open, his belongings rummaged through and his backpack stolen. Horton noted the incident left students shaken up and with a feeling of unease.

“It’s pretty traumatic,” trip sponsor Zach Saltz said, “seeing a van’s windows broken into with all your stuff gone.”

Saltz noted that because it was the last day of the trip, “all our stuff was in the vans… It was the worst possible time.”

To avoid museum fees, the club’s vans were parked a block away.

“As an adviser, I should have made sure to park in a more secure setting,” Saltz said. “But the truth is that if they were going to rob our vans, they were going to rob our vans. Even if it’s more secure parking, it’s still open to the public.”

The theft was reported to police, but

because the incident occurred on St. Patrick’s Day, and police were occupied with enforcing the parade and unable to respond quickly. The investigation is ongoing.

“I think what really frustrated people was that it was considered a low priority crime,” Horton said, “which shocked me and others.”

Most of the items stolen were student’s backpacks. Fortunately, Horton’s and other student’s lost textbooks and laptops were replaced by the district, free of charge. Because it was a school-sponsored trip, the district covers the expenses of any items lost.

The district is currently communicating with St. Louis police to ensure student compensation. According to senior Asia Goodwin, some students were concerned about the risk of identity fraud.

Saltz adds that although the incident on the last day was unfortunate, “it was an otherwise very productive and fun trip. The drive back was tough, but by the end of the drive, students were laughing and smiling again.”

Because the vans’ windows were broken, the club’s members were forced to rent new vans on their drive back.

“We were fed and everyone got home safely, which was the priority,” Thomas said. “The best thing about it was that nobody was in the vehicles when it happened, and nobody was in harm’s way. It was just an unfortunate incident, a learning lesson.”

PARKED — Students returned to their school van, like this one in the school parking lot, to find windows broken and their belongings stolen while in St. Louis. Photo

by Aidin Manning

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL

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14• THE BUDGET

WEIGHING THE PROBLEM Math teachers, students discuss impact tests have on grades

BY JACKSON HOY

COPY CHIEF

A

s the school year has progressed and math classes have turned up the heat in terms of difficulty, many students have raised concerns over heavy weightings on test performance and, particularly, the math department policy that prohibits test retakes. “[Allowing retakes] would honestly help a lot of kids, because if they make a few mistakes, it could make a big dent in their grade, and if it’s a bigger test, it could be the difference between failing and passing,” said junior Braden Augustine.

Math department policy, according to department chair Greg Farley, outlines that assignments comprise anywhere from 10 to 25 percent of a student’s grade while assessments make up anywhere from 75 to 90 percent of a student’s grade, depending on the class.

Test retakes are not allowed.

“Assessments are weighted more because they are done in a classroom setting by the individual student. Assignments are weighted less partly because they are graded for completion,” Farley

FIGURING IT OUT — When students sit down for math tests, their grade is on the line.

Tests in math classes at LHS make up 75 to 90 percent of grades. “Math is a lot of work,” senior Caleb Hogan said. “It’s just a lot of work you have to do everyday and you have to be dedicated.” Photo illustration by Nathaniel Kearney

APRIL 19, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY NATHANIEL KEARNEY

said. “It’s too much homework to grade problem-by-problem for correctness, and, as we learn, we should be OK making some mistakes and then realizing how to fix them before the assessment.”

THE BUDGET According to Farley, this is standard practice.

“From the three districts I talked to last summer, it’s very much in line with what they’re doing,” he said. “From what they were telling me, their percents fall in line with what we’re doing.”

Even some, like junior Anna Chieu, the only non-senior enrolled in Matthew Ellis’ second hour AP Calculus BC course, believe that the department policy focuses too heavily on test performance.

“I don’t think [tests] should be valued as much because the scores kind of don’t show how people work and understand math,” Chieu said.

In 2016, 31.5 percent of Lawrence High students scored at Level 3 or Level 4 on the Kansas State Math Assessment, well above the state average of 24.18 percent, according to the Kansas Department of Education. In 2017, 36.78 percent of LHS students scored at such levels, while the state average was just 24.34 percent. While it is difficult to deduce whether test performance is tied to department policies, it is important

“”

...THE [TEST] SCORES KIND OF DON’T SHOW HOW PEOPLE WORK AND UNDERSTAND MATH” —ANNA CHIEU, JUNIOR to acknowledge that Lawrence High performs well above average compared to the rest of the state on many math competency tests.

“I think [our policy is] a fair assessment because the students have to demonstrate, individually, what they learned as opposed to assignments, which in today’s digital world, you can take a picture of a math problem and get an answer,” Farley said. “That’s not the

• 15

students learning. That’s digital.”

Student opinions on department policies seem to reveal an underlying emphasis on what grade is achieved rather than the quality of learning in math classes.

“I’ve seen some kids mess up, and they really need a retake, and it could really help their grade, but the teacher’s policy prevents it,” Augustine said.

Although commonplace in middle school settings, test retakes are very uncommon in high school math education, according to Farley. However, mastery quizzes, something allowed in the LHS math department, give students a chance to boost their grades.

“The department policy is there are no test retakes. Now, we do have mastery quizzes in a large proportion of our classes,” Farley said. “What a mastery quiz is, they can retake it essentially as many times as they want up until the deadline, assuming that they’ve done their homework and that they make that mastery quiz up before or after school.

But they can take it three, four, five, six times to get the mastery quiz score, which is 100 percent.”

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PAGE DESIGN BY NATHANIEL KEARNEY• APRIL 23, 2018

16• THE BUDGET

SPORTS

SWINGING FOR THE FENCES

Team on track for best season in recent years

BY GARY SCHMIDT

EDITOR IN CHIEF

S

tanding all of five feet, one inch, freshman infielder Sydney Delfelder is not typically known for her power. Delfelder took no mind to this, smacking a ball over the head of Shawnee Mission South’s center fielder, and used her speed to turn the play into a lead off homerun for the Lions, in the first at-bat of the their home opener.

Delfelder immediately knew it was a good hit, but was not initially aware of how well she got ahold of it.

“I knew that our offense needed to start on a good note, so all I thought about was a solid base hit,” Delfelder said. “As I picked up Coach Riley’s signal halfway to second, I knew the game was going to be amazing.”

The Lions carried this momentum for the rest of the game en route to a 23-0 victory.

After posting an even record at 10-10 last year, in Riley’s first season, the Lions anticipate many more victories of this degree behind their strong batting.

“We are a much more offensively strong team,” sophomore third base Karly Johnson “We have a lot more strong bats.”

Featuring a lineup of veteran experience and youth energy, the team has demonstrated great poise in the early parts of the season, far ahead of where they anticipated being at this point.

Head coach Nicole Riley was quick to attribute

their success to the ability of their young players to adjust to the varsity level quick.

“Our youth has filled in some key positions on the infield, and they have done a great job learning how we do things.” Riley said.

The veterans of the team, lead by senior pitcher Zoe Brewer, have additionally contributed to the success of the team.

Brewer, a Baker University commit, has averaged eight strikeouts per game, and was recently named Hy-Vee Athlete of the Week.

Brewer’s standout performance of the season came in the season opener against Shawnee Mission Northwest, in which she had 11 strikeouts and no walks.

While the youth add the power and excitement to the lineup, the seniors add a chiseled defensive integrity that proves to strike a strong balance for the season.

Starting the year with two strong wins, the Lions are proud of their progress but still acknowledge what it will take to be a successful team in the postseason.

“We need to maintain our positive energy that we have right now and talk on the field and keep making plays,” Delfelder said.

HOMERUN — Junior Abby Monroe comes to homeplate to cheer on her team after a hit on March 23.

The Lions went on to win the game against Shawnee Mission South, 23-0. Photo by Jacob Lashley

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY GARY SCHMIDT

THE BUDGET

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

ANGELINA HARJO

In three games, Angelina Harjo has recorded five hits, a walk, six RBI, and a three-run home run.

SYDNEY DELFELDER

Freshman Sydney Delfelder went two for three with an inside-thepark-home run, a walk, and three runs batted in.

KAMPBELL KILBURN

On the second game of the season, Kampbell Kilburn recorded two hits, an RBI and a stolen base.

ZOE BREWER

In two games, Zoe Brewer struck out 18 batters with only one run given up. Brewer also recorded two hits.

MORGAN HUSMAN

In two games, Morgan Husman recorded three hits, two RBI, two HBP, and an inside-the-park home run.

PAGE DESIGN BY GARY SCHMIDT• APRIL 23, 2018

18• THE BUDGET

ORDER ON THE COURT Boys tennis looks to underclassmen to develop talent for upcoming spring sports season

BY TREY HULSE

SPORTS WRITER

T

he boys tennis program includes only three seniors leaving loads of room for new players.

However, the first two tournaments of the season showed the promise of younger players.

Solid outings by doubles team junior Cooper Wright and sophomore Kanak Masten, and singles players senior Remington Eakin and freshman Kirk Johnson, have launched the team to a 3-1 record.

In the first tournament, Wright and Masten blazed their way through bracket play, advancing to the championship game.

“It was great,” Masten said. “We made it to the finals. Didn’t play our best in the finals, but it was good.”

They finished second in No. 1 doubles after falling short against a talented doubles team that placed in the 4A state tournament last year.

While they set the tone, singles players senior Remington Eakins (2-1) took runner-up in No. 2 singles and freshman Kirk Johnson

(2-1) also took runner-up in No. 3 singles.

These victories led LHS to a second-place team finish.

“I think [Masten and I] are the leaders of the team, so we’ve just got to set an example and play well at tournaments and be consistent,” Wright said.

Wright and Masten continued to demonstrate their leadership as they partnered for a 3-1 record at the Washburn Rural Invitational.

The success was followed by Johnson, a much younger player. Johnson performed well again as he went undefeated, placing first in No. 2 doubles with a 2-0 record in tournament two.

Freshman Drew Dean also went undefeated in the Rural Invitational, winning three matches.

“We just gotta keep winning so we can get a good seed at regionals and hopefully get to state and do some damage there,” Wright said.

AT PRACTICE — Freshman Johnathon Wetzel practices on the LHS home court in preparation for an upcoming City Series match against Free State. Photo by Emily Kruse

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY NOAH GINSBERG

THE BUDGET

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COMEBACK SEASON

BY COOPER WRIGHT

SPORTS EDITOR

After Ross Brungardt played an entire basketball season with a partially torn tendon and a bone spur running into his inflamed tendons, he looks to make the most of the spring golf season.

How has recovering from the ankle injury been?

“Its been painful but also satisfying because it’ nice to be back and in the gist of things and luckily the surgery went well and so did the recovery, so I’m very blessed for that” What does “#comebackszn” mean to you?

“To me ‘combackszn’ is not about regaining what you lost, but it’s about getting stronger from what you’re coming back to and for me that’s getting stronger from my injury and being better and stronger in all sports that I play” What are some goals you have for the season?

“My biggest goal is to get to state with Coach [Dirk] Wedd one last time, and it would just be an honor to go to state with him because this is his final season, so that’s just my biggest goal.”

Which pro do you idolize the most and why?

“I liked to idolize Tiger Woods, but I think everyone does, but besides him I look up to Justin Thomas or Rickie Fowler.”

What is your favorite club?

“My favorite club is my 8 iron because when I hit the ball, I love the sound it makes” What is your best shot?

“My favorite shot is probably my drive because I like to hit it far.”

Photo by Nathaniel Kearney

PAGE DESIGN BY NOAH GINSBERG• APRIL 23, 2018

20• THE BUDGET

BELL’S PALSY FAST FACTS Bell’s Palsy is a temporary facial paralysis due to a disruption in facial nerve function, meaning no signals are sent from the brain to the facial nerves on that side of the face.

It affects 40,000 Americans every year, typically men and women equally from ages 15-60.

Symptoms include drooping eyelids or corner of the mouth, drooling and dryness in the eye or mouth.

If it is not serious, it will usually subside on its own withing two weeks. The steroid prednisone can be prescribed to reduce inflammation and swelling.

The cause is unknown. It could possibly be caused by a virus, similar to the common cold.

Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL

THE BUDGET

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FACING A NEW CHALLENGE Teacher returns from spring break with rare facial paralysis condition

BY EMILY GORDON-ROSS

STAFF WRITER

O

n March 10, math teacher Bonnie Mills woke up to find the right side of her face completely immobilized. Believing it to be a sign of stress, she decided not to pay too much attention to it.

“For probably 15 years, I’ve been diagnosed with chronic hives and chronic swelling,” said Mills, who teaches math and coaches softball. “So my body deals with stress differently than other people. One doctor said my histamines attach the wrong way. When I’m sick, my body breaks out in hives all over because my body is trying to repair itself, but it doesn’t do a good job.”

Mills was home alone when she first noticed something was wrong.

“I was like, ‘Well, that’s weird, my eye is not closing,’ ” Mills said.

However, because of her history of physical reactions to stress, she opted not to go to the doctor until her family came home.

“My husband and my son came home and were like, ‘What the heck mom.

Why didn’t you go to the doctor?’ So I didn’t go until Wednesday,” Mills said.

Doctors thought she might have a stroke.

“They did an MRI, and it wasn’t a stroke, and that’s when they diagnosed it as Bell’s Palsy,” Mills said.

Bell’s Palsy is temporary facial paralysis due to damaged facial nerves that are behind the ear. The damaged nerves can no longer send signals to the

brain, meaning the affected side does not receive any instructions to operate as normal. Besides muscle movement, these nerves also control the tear ducts, salivary glands and general taste sensations.

“It’s hard to talk sometimes,” Mills said. “Last week I was teaching probability, and that was kind of an issue. The P’s and the B’s don’t always come out very well.”

In addition to speaking, Mills has also had to readjust to other tasks, such as eating and brushing her teeth.

“Eating and drinking are different,” Mills said. “I use a straw. I’m right handed, but I didn’t realize how much I drink out of this side, and eat out of this side. Toothpaste [has also been a problem]... it just kind of drools out because you can’t press your lips together.”

Some other side effects of Bell’s Palsy are dryness in the eye or mouth, pain around the jaw and behind the ear, ringing in ears, headache and dizziness.

Mills also experienced swelling in her face and behind her right ear.

As for treatment, Bell’s Palsy has no official cause and therefore doctors have no way of knowing how to treat it.

Prednisone, an anti-swelling agent often used to treat arthritis, is commonly prescribed to help ease pressure in and around the face. Due to its relation to the viral infection Shingles, antiviral medications are also prescribed, though it is unknown whether this helps.

“First I was on antiviral and prednisone, and now I’m on antibiotics and prednisone,” Mills said. “After I

got off the prednisone, my head started swelling and hurting back here [behind my right ear] again, and it was hurting before I got the Bell’s Palsy. For the last five days I’ve had this excruciating headache and pain all the way through.”

Mills believes whatever is causing the pain behind her ear may also be the cause of the Bell’s Palsy, or at the least a very painful side effect.

“It was swelling and stuff like that so I’m back on prednisone and I woke up with no pain today,” Mills said. “It was like, ‘People are going to think I was on vacation because I feel so good today.’ ” Doctors have no way of predicting how long Bell’s Palsy will last. It can last anywhere from two years to being permanent.

“I have a son graduating here, a daughter graduating college, and one graduating out of JUCO,” Mills said. “I have three people graduating in May, and I don’t really want this to be the pictures forever.”

Luckily, that will not be the case for Mills, as her face has already started to regain movement. “[I want students to know] it’s not painful,” Mills said. “I think there’s a symptom or the cause of the Bell’s Palsy that’s giving my headaches,, [but] the Bell’s Palsy itself is not painful.”

TEACHING — Math teacher Bonnie Mills walks her class through a lesson after returning to school following her diagnosis.

Photo by Sam Webb

PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL• APRIL 23, 2018

22• THE BUDGET

WOODWIND

WONDERS

Music students form the first-ever recorder ensemble

BY EMILY GORDON-ROSS

STAFF WRITER

A

mong all the school music groups, the most quirky might be the Going For Baroque Recorders group.

The ensemble has been somewhat behind-the-scenes since it was formed at the end of 2015.

“People are just like ‘There’s a recorder ensemble?’ ” said the group’s creator, senior Mark Garcia. “Since our meetings are not usually that productive, people just kind of look at us weird when we meet.”

The group currently has four active members at LHS: Garcia, senior Emily Lepine, senior Elijah Jackson and sophomore Rose Hicks.

Garcia leads the group on his own — picking out music, coordinating schedules and planning events. He has help from Quinton Marschall of DeSoto for the members who don’t live in Lawrence, but manages the rest by himself.

The recorder ensemble all started when Garcia bought a cheap recorder from Dollar General freshman year and taught himself how to play.

“I was bored,” Garcia said. “I wanted someone else to play the

recorder with because I was like, ‘Oh this sounds really good in a group’ because I listened to recordings on YouTube.”

Besides the recorder, Garcia also plays cello, oboe, clarinet and says he is passable at tuba, flute and saxophone. He began cello in fourth grade, joined choir in fifth, then signed up for band freshman year. Ever since, music has been a dominant part of his high school life, as he participated in marching band, choir performances and Showtime.

Music is also a large part of his family life.

“My uncle is a musician, too,” Garcia said. “He has a day job, and he also is a musician on the side. I grew up around music because my grandma and my mom all enjoy singing a lot.”

Lepine has also been involved in music for much of her life. She became interested in music fifth grade, joining orchestra in sixth grade on the violin. She is also a member of the Lawrence High A Cappella choir.

“I heard about it through Mark,” Lepine said. “[I joined] because it was interesting. [I’ve been a member] since Mark started the group sophomore year when he came here.”

Jackson is another dedicated

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER

member of the ensemble. Besides the recorder ensemble, he also plays clarinet in Wind Ensemble. Jackson joined the group later, and performed with Garcia at a choir concert.

“It was called ‘Singing and Dancing,’ with Mr. [Randall] Frye and the freshman choir,” Jackson said The group has had two major performances of just recorder music, and also performed at a show for Garcia’s mother at the Cider Gallery.

The ensemble decided to take a small break from making music together to focus on other activities in the school.

“One of our members has to get [their] grades up and then I have to work on Showtime and audition stuff for college,” Garcia said.

BLOWN AWAY — Harmonizing, senior Mark Garcia and sophomore Rose Hicks play their recorders as they participate in the ensemble Going for Baroque. The ensemble practiced and played the tune ‘Lux Aeterna.’ “I thought it would be fun and ironic to play an instrument that most people find annoying,” Hicks said. “I enjoyed the people in it because they were OK with the fact that I haven’t played since fifth grade, and they let me take time to relearn and remember how to play the recorder.” Photo by Aidin Manning

THE BUDGET

• 23

TOOTIN’ TUNES

Recorder ensemble members share their favorite songs to perform

“We played a song named ‘Lux Aeterna,’ which was really beautiful, and it had really lush chords.”

—Mark Garcia, senior

“My favorite piece was ‘Gravity Falls,’ because it was a song I recognized, and I learned some new notes playing it” —Rose Hicks, sophomore

“ ‘Singing and Dancing’ because I liked the tempo since it was faster than what we usually play, and we got to play it at the choir concert.”

—Elijah Jackson, senior

“The theme to ‘Gravity Falls’ because that’s the one I could play without messing anyone else up.”

— Emily Lepine, senior

PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER• APRIL 23, 2018

24• THE BUDGET

UP-CLOSE VIEW OF POLITICS

Rep. Tom Sloan gives students behind-thescenes look at Capitol

BY FREEMAN SPRAY

COPY CHIEF

L

ooking into the future of politics, AP Environmental Science classes were given the option to shadow Kansas State Representative Tom Sloan for a day.

Seniors Chisato Kimura and Rollin Love took advantage of this opportunity on March 6.

“I’ve always been interested in politics and government and public affairs,” Kimura said. “That’s ultimately what I want to go into.”

First semester, Sloan visited the two AP Environmental Science classes to speak about environmental issues and his work at the Capitol. He offered to allow students to attend his meetings and assemblies.

During their visit, Love and Kimura began the day with Sloan in his office, and later sat in on several subcommittee meetings as well as a general assembly.

“I thought the general assembly would be pretty boring,” Kimura said, “but I was completely wrong.”

The assembly was loose and informal, much to the students surprise. Humor and camaraderie seemed to be the presiding tone.

“I was expecting everything to be much more formal,” Love said. “There were a lot of people…just goofing around and telling jokes.”

The students had special passes that allowed them to sit on the House floor with the representatives rather than in the gallery. A close experience with politicians allowed Kimura to appreciate the innerworkings of the state government.

“Shadowing made me realize that [state government] is actually really interesting if you immerse yourself in it,” Kimura said.

APRIL 19, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL

THE BUDGET

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CYBER-SAVVY STUDENTS

LHS’s Cyberpatriot Club continues making advances

BY EMILY GORDON-ROSS

STAFF WRITER

F

or the second time since its creation in 2015, Lawrence High’s Cyberpatriot Club won the state competition.

Junior Declan Oberzan started the club during his freshman year when he moved to Lawrence. Oberzan looked to continue competing after beginning a similar club in his previous school.

“I started one before at Veritas [Christian School] where I use to go to school, and I wanted to continue being able to work and compete in a field of cyber intelligence,” Oberzan said. “I started the club initially just kind of looking for other people that shared the same interests, and I found some and we ended up winning state the first year.”

The team is co-captained by Oberzan and senior Joe Slaugh, who heard of the club through sponsor Jeff Dickson.

“You know, what’s really cool is when I first joined I was hoping to go into the computer field,” Slaugh said. “It teaches you a little bit of everything, so it’s a really nice way to get some basics and give you some general understanding of what you might have to deal with. So that’s my main reason for joining.”

The first group of students to join were mostly seniors, many of whom had some level of computer skill, which led to a state championship the first year of the club’s existence.

After they won, it generated a lot of interest for the next year’s group, with the club gaining new members but losing experience.

“Our very first year our team was mostly seniors, and they know a lot about the subject but I lost them all,” Oberzan said. “We ended up having two teams the next year, because there was a lot of interest but they all didn’t really know anything about cyber security so it was a lot of teaching and learning so that year we didn’t earn a lot of points.”

Every person on this year’s team has been a part of the club for at least a year now, so the only official meetings are competition days.

“When we’re training a new team, like we did last year, we would meet twice a month, and then we’d have training days on Wednesdays then competition Fridays,” Slaugh said. “{S}ince all of us have done it for three years, we didn’t feel the need to train at all so we just went and competed.”

In a typical competition scenario, a team is given three computers, all with various viruses, flaws and unauthorized applications.

The goal is to remove all the unnecessary files and put everything into the correct setting to prevent hackers within a six-hour block.

“On the competition days, everyone would bring food, soda, whatever and it’d feel like a party,” Oberzan said. “You were also competing, but it was just a fun time.”

Centered in one of the computer labs at the College and Career Center, the competition is entirely virtual. There are usually two Windows images (one Windows 10 and one Windows 2007), one Ubuntu image, and a networking puzzle called a packet tracer.

Each person works according to their specialty: Oberzan on Ubuntu, Slaugh on Windows 10, Kenton Felmlee on Windows 2007, and JD Grammer and Anna D’Ercole as all-arounds and researchers if secondary problems arise.

Although a second state win is impressive for a new club, Slaugh has his eyes set on a higher goal.

“It’s cool that we’ve won that, but it doesn’t really change anything,” Slaugh said.

“It would change a lot more because we’d have won regionals or nationals, just because we’ve won state. There’s like 12 teams that compete in Kansas, whereas if we were in Texas or California there’s like 50-70 teams that compete, so it doesn’t feel as much of an accomplishment as if we were in a bigger state.”

TOP OF THEIR GAME — Cyber Patriot Club members junior Anna D’Ercole, senior Kenton Felmlee, senior Joe Slaugh and senior Declan Oberzan recently wont a state computer competition. Photo Illustration by Addie Thornsbury and Emily Kruse

PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL• APRIL 23, 2018

26• THE BUDGET

OPINION

MARCH FOR OUR LIVES

Students protest in Topeka to end gun violence

BY QUINLAN MULLER

GUEST EDITORIAL

O

n March 24, I and 10 other students attended a protest at the Topeka State Capitol in response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School a month prior.

After shuffling into place with our homemade signs, a woman grabbed my shoulder and told me, “Go to the front!

This is your movement. We’re just here to support you.” We looked around at each other, some of us with teary eyes, as we made our way to the front lines.

Once we broke through the waves of people, we were greeted with the faces of several other high schoolers who had traveled even further than us to attend.

This was the moment when I realized how this movement came together. It was because of us. Students are, and always have been, the rising power and influence in United States politics. Since the 1960s, students have demanded reform from government. The shooting at Stoneman Douglas was a wakeup call. It is not the first school shooting that has occurred in the United States, and unfortunately it will not be the last unless we take some form of action.

However, it was the breaking point.

In conjunction with the awareness

that Black Lives Matter raised on gun violence, we are saying no more.

Several speakers were present at the March for Our Lives Topeka Rally, which was organized by Samantha Rae Inscore, including victims of gun violence, politicians, veterans, lawyers and students. Each called for various types of change, ranging from bipartisan gun reform laws, to better funding for mental health organizations and research.

We refused the notion of “Walk up not out.” We refuse for blame to be put on us if someone else acts out. Arming teachers in schools has been discussed by other parties as an alternative solution. Proponents of this measure fail to address the root of the problem, which is gun violence. Between January 2009 and July 2015, 70 percent of shootings in the United States took place in private homes. Only 13 percent took place in “gun-free zones,” such as schools. Arming teachers, therefore, ignores 70 percent of the problem.

Perhaps the best thing that we as students can do is to refute complacency. Write to your local and state representatives demanding they put the lives of children

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL

# A

over stuffing their pockets with tainted money from the NRA. Join us in upcoming rallies fighting for our safety in school. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

THE BUDGET

STANDING TOGETHER

BY NIKKI AQUI

OPINION EDITOR

S

hootings kill more than 36,000 Americans each year. Every day, 90 deaths and 200 injuries are caused by gun violence.

Unlike terrorist acts, the everyday gun violence that impacts our

NEVER # AG

AIN

communities is accepted as a way of life.

In the wake of tragedy, a series of marches and protests share the end goal to reduce gun violence by influencing lawmakers. The protests have produced conversation about possible solutions and where we begin gun reform.

I was in class when I was first made aware of arguments that race plays a role in the current protests.

Many charge “white America” as having been apathetic when the lives lost were brown and black. They say no one cared about gun violence until it was masses of white children being killed.

Specifically, the concern is that while many black communities have been plagued by gun violence, journalists have spent more time covering the suburban Parkland survivors.

For them, athletes and celebrities tweet their support,

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Communities join to address violence

supportive money is sent, and their marches are celebrated when black marchers were met with critiques and silence.

I understand and while I am not black nor have I been exposed to gun violence, I am sympathetic to the community that feels ignored.

However, I think the answer as to why this shooting gathered national attention is this: 17 deaths in one school in one day by one teenager is a concentrated level of violence that shocks and shakes people to action.

I am under the firm belief that contrasting one awful event with another awful recurring problem isn’t the way to bring innovation socially or legally.

When I look at pictures of the marches that have taken place across the United States, I do not just see a bunch of white people, I see a melting pot of color uniting.

On top of this, the leaders of the March for Our Lives movement have shined a light to the gun violence in communities of color. Rather than run from those differences or worry that messages about racial inequality would somehow dilute calls for gun policy reform, the March for Our Lives embraced them and used them to strengthen their calls for change.

GRAPHIC BY CECILIA SANCHEZ-VARGAS

PAGE DESIGN BY ANNA PARNELL• APRIL 23, 2018

28• THE BUDGET

OPINION

COLLEGE ISN’T A

BY CONNOR SCHMAUS

STAFF WRITER

few weeks ago, I walked through my former middle school to deliver a presentation.

I recalled the shortlived attempts of my career prep class to steer me toward a particular field or location of study, and to say, “Wow, things sure have changed,” would be an understatement.

The walls are currently lined with banners from well-known universities, equating the students to being “successful” if they met the goal of attending college. This is a huge problem, and one that I’ve observed increase in intensity through my years of public school.

I do not oppose encouraging students to work hard toward their academic goals. The problem is pressuring kids to attend college as if it’s the only objective worth striving toward. A 12-year old does not need a college label before they even fully understand how college works. Why is it necessary to add this kind of pressure?

Whether and if so where you attend college is a huge decision.

It requires careful consideration of pros and cons in cost of living and tuition, as well as knowing what’s best for your future. Some would say that prompting thought on this topic early will ease the process, but this is not the case. In middle school, I defaulted to KU whenever a teacher or counselor asked me where I was going just to avoid stress. Personally, I wasn’t ready for the pressure.

One of the most glaring issue is money.

Advertising universities with quizzes and personalized websites has been the go-to method for decades, only now it’s being forced upon kids. Universities don’t want a middle schooler for who they are, they want the statistic and the capital.

However inevitable, this pattern is damaging. Students of this age already have so much else they’re trying to figure out, especially about themselves. Forcing a huge decision like this early only adds to the stress.

The point of public education is to provide a basis for the future, allowing students to create their own path in the professional or academic world. If anything, this current system promotes a close-minded mentality in which only college-bound students are treated with dignity and respect. We can’t keep hurting kids like this.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with not attending college, or taking some years off before doing so. Too many factors are in play to consider this decision in such a linear sense.

We need to let kids know that there’s no shame in choosing an option other than a university, no matter what the flurry of junk mail says.

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER

THE BUDGET

REQUIRED

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Pressure for college is unnecessary for students

GRAPHIC BY ELIJAH JACKSON

PAGE DESIGN BY SAMI TURNER• APRIL 23, 2018

30• THE BUDGET

PROCRASTINATION COMIC BY ELIJAH JACKSON

APRIL 23, 2018 • PAGE DESIGN BY GARY SCHMIDT

THE BUDGET

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Student voices must be heard in discussion about gun violence

BY CONNOR SCHMAUS GARY SCHMIDT & MACY LANDES EDITORS IN CHIEF

Y

ou’ve heard about “the three R’s” since elementary school: reduce, reuse and recycle.

But when does this expression go from something engrained in your head, seemingly bearing no meaning, to a real-world

problem?

Four years after the Flint, Mich., water crisis, it and many other cities are still without access to clean drinking water, globally and in the United States.

Lawrence, it turns out, could experience these issues in the future as thousands of gallons of water heavily polluted with nitrates is dumped into the Kansas River nearby.

Other safety concerns extend beyond the environment. Across the country, tensions run high in schools districts and state governments following the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Now, conversations are focusing on the right way to keep students safe at school — if there is one at all — and Lawrence High activists have made their voices heard in front of their peers, administrators and even in front of the Capitol.

Whether it be the actual environment or the metaphorical environment, we encourage you to be active. Voice your opinion, recycle and try to make a positive effect on the environment you exist in, just like the younger version of yourself would have wanted.

THE STAFF

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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 Sahra Barker-Hastings, Shayla Brillhart, Abby Brown, Ashlee Brown, Mary Carr, Daniel Davidson, Emmy Easley, Abigail English, Noah Ginsberg, Emily Gordon-Ross, Jaylynn Hicks, Elijah Jackson, Nathaniel Kearney, Symon Knox, Alex Lane, Jacob Lashley, Brian Myers, Tabby Peters, Allison Ramaley, Mia Robinson, Nadia Sanburn, Cecilia Sanchez Vargas, Taeghan Sharpe, Mira Simms, Pam Vue, Samuel Webb, Andrew Williams, Allison Wilson, Elyzebeth Workman 2018 EDITORS THE BUDGET NEWSPAPER Gary Schmidt ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Editor in Chief Connor Schmaus �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Editor in Chief Macy Landes ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Editor in Chief Emily Kruse ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Photo Editor Aidin Manning ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Assistant Photo Editor Nikki Aqui ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Opinion Editor Anna Parnell ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Design Editor Sami Turner ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Design Editor RED & BLACK YEARBOOK Harry Easley ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Editor in Chief Kira Auchenbach �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Editor in Chief Addisson Thornsbury ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� Photo Editor McKenna White �������������������������������������������������������������������� Assistant Photo Editor Luna Stephens..................................................................Managing Editor/Writing Emma Howard ���������������������������������������������������������������� Managing Editor/Design Skylar Steichen ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Senior Ads Editor Maya Weslander ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Portraits Editor LHSBUDGET.COM William Yanek ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Editor in Chief Anahita Hurt ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Editor in Chief Izzy Hedges ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Assistant Editor Anna D’Ercole ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Webmaster Sahra Barker-Hastings ���������������������������������������������������������������Zenfolio Manager JOURNALISM EDITORS Alicia Ruder ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Special Projects Jackson Hoy ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Copy Chief Freeman Spray ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Copy Chief Nola Levings ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Video Editor David Obadare ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Video Editor Cooper Wright ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Sports Editor Trey Hulse ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Sports Editor Sydney Pritchard ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Captions Editor Veda Cobb �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������Business Manager

PAGE DESIGN BY GARY SCHMIDT• APRIL 23, 2018

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

SHOUTING — Cheering loudly, sophomore Emily Esparza encourages a teammate during the Lawrence High Invitational on March 27. Out of six teams, the Lions won 11 out of 12 events with an overall scoring of 438 points.

“I like participating in a team sport,” Esparza said. “A lot goes through my head [when I’m swimming]. I just try to think about how fast I’m going and trying to beat other people.” Photo by McKenna White