The Budget, Issue 1, Volume 122

Budget

The

Lawrence High School

Est. 1893

BYOD

puts technology in the hands of students

page 5

1901 Louisiana St., Lawrence, KS 66046

Volume 122, Issue 1, Sept. 17, 2014

2 News in Brief

We ‘mustache’ you a question 1. Courtney Nottingham

2. Keeli Billings

3. Sadie Keller

4. Lizzy McEntire

5. Taylor Webb

6. Ellie Dunlap

7. Cy Burghart

8. Luke Zenger

9. Ellis Springe

10. Jacob DiVilbiss

11. Christopher Greenfield

12. Kyle Berkley

FACTS

loves camping

B. Gave terrible haircuts to

himself/herself throughout freshman year and enjoys wearing men’s suits

C. Moved to Lawrence freshman year and was 5 foot, 2 inches as a freshman

D. Childhood nickname was

owl

friends

“baboon” and is addicted to chocolate chip frappes from Dunn Bros

G. Travels the country with a

J. Eats a lot of cereal (Reeses

E. Favorite movie is “Forrest

H. Is in seven music ensembles

Puffs in particular) and has a trombone that is more than 50 years old

I. Has an extra bone in his/

has an obsession for JFK

Gump” and wants everyone to follow him/her on Twitter

F. Has heterochromia and had a pet duck that got eaten by an

Reporting by Riley Nelson, Photos Joseph Anderson

stuffed pair of pants and has a fantastic Yoda impersonation and loves kosher dill pickles

her left foot and is referred to nickname “housecat” among

K. Spirit animal is a cat and L. Loves Chipotle and drives a Jeep

1. F; 2. D; 3. B; 4. K; 5. G; 6. H; 7. E; 8. C; 9. A; 10. I; 11. L ; 12: J

A. Worked for Americorp and

ANSWER KEY:

CANDIDATES

Match the homecoming candidates’ pictures to their facts

Getting around construction The 23rd and Iowa project is scheduled to wrap up in November. As it moves into later phases, traffic will be shifted to the south and west sides of the intersection.

Detour: Cut through to KU campus onto W 19th St Northbound and southbound Haskell Avenue from 27th 2 Street to 31st Street reopened to traffic with these restrictions: southbound traffic on the relocated Haskell Avenue must turn west onto 29th Street, then south onto the existing Haskell Avenue. Northbound traffic on existing Haskell must turn east onto 29th, then north onto the relocated Haskell Avenue.

Louisiana and 23rd is always busy as people go out for 3 lunch, clogging after and before school.

Detour: Consider taking 21st to Ousdahl and skip having to go through the busy intersection. intersection by the Wakarusa Fire Station is closed to 4 The all traffic through this spring.

Graphic by Hunter Boehle Source: City of Lawrence/interviews

1

lhsbudget.com

Sept. 17, 2014 3

MISSION STATEMENT The Budget is committed to providing the Lawrence High community with objective, inclusive news coverage that ensures relevance to its entire spectrum of 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. 660462999.

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.

Editor-in-chief: Zia Kelly Webmaster: Jacob Parnell Online Co-Editor: Savannah McCollum and Cortlynn Stark Copy Editor: Kansas Gibler Photo Editor: Joseph Anderson Design & Layout Editor: Allie Fischer Graphics Editor: Joaquin Dorado Mariscal Sports Editor: Colton Lovelace Assistant Photo Editor: Blake Nelson

Ad Sales Representatives: Nicole Owens and Keeli Billings Journalism staff members: Brittany Archer, Cooper Avery, Emma Bentzinger, Hunter Boehle, Jensen Edwards, Cynthia Falley, Jacob Goodwin, Adam Graham, Dymtro Guzhva, Shawn Han, Brandon Hegeman, Madyson Locke, Helen McEntire, Jaycee Mountain, Riley Nelson, Ben Rajewski, Kate Rettig, Madeleine Stegman, Nicholas Steichen, Anna-Marie Turner, Julia Wilson, Margaret Wiseman, Isaiah Young, Ryan Yowell.

Adviser Barbara Tholen Business manager Pat Treff On the cover: Students can now turn to their personal devices throughout the school day thanks to the new BYOD wifi network. Photo illustration by Joseph Anderson

Escape to the country Tammy Howell Cates has 31 years experience in haircutting, color and waxing.

785-218-0978 1029 N. 1156 Road Lawrence, Kansas 66047 The Budget

4 News in Brief

In Brief Library hours extended

School library hours have been extended.

Students can now use it 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Student Council members asked librarians to change the hours. Librarians said the space has been busy every morning and afternoon since the time change.

Junior Laura Berghout said she finds the library helpful because she can come in and get started on her homework right away.

“I can now actually access the library, and not have to sit outside,” she said.

ACT prep resources

Students can prepare for the ACT and improve scores through local resources.

Student services recommends that college-bound students begin taking the ACT during spring of their junior years. The next

test is Dec. 13 with a Nov. 7 registration deadline.

LHS is offering an ACT Prep class starting in October taught by Jason Lichte. This year 64 students have signed up for the ACT. The Lawrence Public Library also offers test prep throughout the year.

“We have more students signed up than we expected,” counselor Natalie Konkel said.

By Nikk McCollum

Applying for Financial Aid In order to apply for finical aid, follow this simple map

START Applying for financial aid can be confusing. Follow this easy path to a college that makes your piggy bank happy. If you have any questions, go to Student Services or contact your counselor.

Each school will send an aid offer showing the amount and types of aid the school will offer you.

Make sure that the school you’re interested in has all of the information needed to determine your eligibility.

Step 5

Step 6

Review Your SAR (Student Aid Report)

Contact Schools You Might Attend

Step 1

Review information, Make corrections if necessary.

Includes EFC (expected family andcontribution) is used to determine and is used to determine eligibility.

Has information reported in FAFSA

Make sure you are eligible

Be accepted for admissions

Have a valid Social Security number

Step 2 Request PIN Number (Federal Personal ID Number)

This is a four digit number that will be used with your Social Security number and your birthday to identify you. Get at pin.ed.gov.

www. fafsa.gov

Step 4 Fill out FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Most current federal income tax return

Step 3 Gather documents and information

Recommended to fill out online.

This could reduce processing time.

Social Security number

Driver’s license, if you have it

Graphic by Anna-Marie Turner

lhsbudget.com

Sept. 17, 2014 5

makes it big

By Zia Kelly

S

Students are now frequenting a practice that, in years previous, would have gotten them scolded.

Maybe even written up.

They are using their phones in class.

For the first time, USD 497 is providing high school students with free, building-wide wireless internet access, among making other technological updates.

The network, called “BYOD” or “Bring Your Own Device” is free, secure, district-regulated and accessible by students using their personal district login.

Now, teachers can utilize the devices students already bring to school.

“I have online lessons and online activities all the time,” math teacher Brooke Kissinger said. “So basically, if students bring iPads and iPhones and laptops, they can use them, whereas before we didn’t have wifi for them to use.”

DECISION AND EXECUTION The BYOD concept has been discussed in the district for the past couple of years, but it was just this summer that technical and policy improvements made the

District-implemented wireless internet is accessible to students and staff, making its mark in the classroom

daunting task possible.

While some teachers made exceptions, before this year school rules prohibited mobile phones in classrooms and in the hallways.

Students were generally encouraged to keep them in their lockers. A policy change had to be made in order for them to have them out in class.

“We know that a lot of students are carrying this kind of technology with them, and we would like for them to be able to use it for educational purposes as well,” assistant superintendent Jerri Kemble said.

Before the students could start logging on, the district had to overhaul the preexisting technological structure.

“We improved the entire infrastructure, but it is still a work in progress,” Kemble said. “We still have a lot to do, but we replaced our access points in the building so you can get better density.”

CLASSROOM APPLICATIONS BYOD was created with the purpose of classroom usage, and during the summer, teachers found ways to incorporate apps and websites into their classes.

“There will be one icon or one link that students can click on and start their assignment immediately,” senior Paul Morgenroth said. “ It makes things really easy, you don’t have to log on to a Dell and wait for 10 minutes for it to start

up.”

While Morgenroth recognizes the usefulness of the resource, he said he has not used it extensively in any of his classes.

On the other hand, sophomore Zack Sanchez has used BYOD in Kissinger’s class, and said he also uses it to look up information in his English class.

While students have been able to use school-provided wireless devices in the past, there are benefits to students being able to use their own.

“I will have some devices for them to use,” Kissinger said. “The problem is devices are expensive, and some kids want to be able to take them home. Like if they wanted to be able to save an assignment on their iPad, and it is their own personal iPad, then they can take it home...Whereas if they use my devices, they have to stay here.”

When students can take home their devices, they are better able to pace their assignments and choose whether to use traditional or technological platforms to complete their work.

“I think it puts education back in the hands of the students, so that you can decide how you learn best,” Kemble said. “Because some students learn best by having someone just tell them what is going on… Other students would rather read it themselves and move at their own pace.”

STAFF AND STUDENTS ON BOARD The transition from a traditional to technology-driven classroom has been more difficult for some than others.

As well as providing students with wifi, the district handed out new laptops to teachers. And while the district provides optional training, no training was required.

“We actually have a trainer in the tech department now, who goes out and makes sure that they know the nuts-and-bolts of what they have,” Kemble said. “Schools are welcome to invite them back, they can call the hotline, there are video tutorials online, and we have offered classes here during the summer as well. It’s also one of those things where teachers have to take the initiative to figure out how they learn best.”

For teachers such as Kim O’Brien, the changing nature of technology makes mastering resources for classroom use both difficult and sometimes demoralizing.

O’Brien was recently informed that the SmartBoard she was given two years ago will now be replaced with Apple TVs. “Why am I trying so hard to learn this technology if they are going to get rid of it so quickly and bring something new in,” she said. “ I am going to have to recreate everything I have created Continued on page 6

The Budget

6 News

Blackboard is an app where teachers and students can access the curriculum of their classes and teachers and can post information about tests and canceled assignments.

Quizlet is an app and website that provides learning and studying tools for students, including flashcards, tests and other game modes.

Continued from page 5 for it.”

However, she acknowledges that the school setting is going in the technical direction, and she is working to embrace the new resources.

“I am not particularly intimidated by that [BYOD], because I think that is the world we live in,” O’Brien said. “And we teachers, especially we older teachers, are just going to have to suck it up and deal with the fact that it is the world we live in.”

Chemistry teacher Karen Currey suggests that difficulties that come with new technology will eventually be ironed out.

“Maybe people don’t know how to use their own devices in the classroom,” she said. “That will come in time.”

TRANSITION TO TECHNICAL CLASSROOM The new resources lend themselves not only to a new way of completing assignments but an entirely new classroom dynamic.

Now, instead of a teacher standing in front of the class and scribbling the daily lesson on the board, they have the option to make video tutorials, post assignments on Twitter, or use an app to organize class schedules.

Some classes have stopped giving out hard-copy textbooks entirely, and are using an online

version that students can log into at their home computer.

“I think more book companies are going to go to online text,” Kemble said. “If you take a book, it is just text on paper, but if you do online, they can embed a video in there, they can put a Google Map...it’s just much richer. But I don’t think that in the near future that books will go away. I just think that...the online enhances it.”

This puts more of the curriculum into cyberspace, which makes accessing materials reliant on having an internet connection.

At times, the connection has been spotty or inaccessible.

“Because the bottom line is... if they want us to use technology to do school, we can’t do it unless it works every single day,” O’Brien said.

Using technology for learning also relies on student initiative.

“It depends on the responsibility that an individual student takes for his or her own education,” O’Brien said. “The solemn truth about education is this: students that are willing to learn, will learn, regardless of the obstacles in their way. Students who are not motivated to learn, it does not matter what little song-anddance a teacher does, or what fun gadgets they put in their hands, you’re going to have a hard time convincing them it’s important.”

Connection strength varies

Dropbox is an app that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily.

Graphics by Allie Fischer lhsbudget.com

The district continues to work to improve the wifi capabilities in the building. Here’s a look at the strength based off a daily survey conducted across the school Aug. 20-26.

COMPLICATIONS To make way for new technology required policy changes. However, since school wireless devices have been in use for a couple of years, rethinking rules was mostly a matter of revision, as well as a shift of mindset.

“We looked at our acceptable-use policies... and in every situation, [we thought] take the technology out of it, and how would you deal with it?” Kemble said. “For instance, if you were being bullied with technology, how would you deal with being bullied without technology? We can still handle these problems. It is not the technology that causes the problems, it is people’s behaviors.

That is what we need to work on: how we would deal with it in any case.”

Much of the conflict that goes on between high school students, as mentioned by Kemble, is now online. As a solution, the district is planning to implement digital citizenship education into the middle schools.

One concern is that technology will become more of a distraction than a useful resource.

However, Kissinger insists that having classes structured with lots to do will obliterate this problem.

“As far as abusing it [device use], I haven’t had an issue just because I have specific things

Business SPED

Foreign Language

Family and Consumer Sciences Health Offices

Good Connection 90-100%

Bad Connection 0-10%

Gifted

Sept. 17, 2014 7 them to be doing on those devices,” she said. “I think maybe if I didn’t have anything to do on the devices, they had free rein then it could potentially become a problem, but in my classroom so far it has been fine.”

Keeping students busy may not address all problems. According to some research, technology use may have a negative effect on how students retain information. The Neilson Norman Group said the average person spends only 10-20 seconds on a webpage -- not nearly enough time to memorize a concept or equation.

The ease of finding information has some worried that students won’t commit information to their long-term memories.

“I worry that your generation has developed the mindset that ‘nothing needs to stay, because I can look it up’ and thats not true,” O’Brien said. “In this world of information...sooner or later it needs to be there.”

SECURITY While BYOD gives students the freedom to have and use their own

What do you think about the new BYOD network?

technology, like school devices, the district blocks content it deems inappropriate.

“We have firewalls in place, so it’s secure, and we make sure there isn’t content that isn’t appropriate,” Kemble said. “So we really need all of the kids on the network, so we can protect kids in the building against anything that they shouldn’t be looking at.”

To determine what content is inappropriate, the district uses programs to scan the web for certain keywords, blocking websites with names that sound inappropriate.

However, screening can sometimes block suggestive-sounding websites that are in actuality just fine. In that case, Kemble suggests teachers call the district to have them unblocked for classroom use.

Just as the district can monitor school devices, anything students view over BYOD, can be viewed by the district. But if actions are linked to an app that doesn’t involve an internet connection, the school isn’t able to view it.

“It definitely makes me nervous to know that the school can know everything you do while you are

logged on there,” Morgenroth said.

“You have to use good judgement.”

While some may see the screening as an intrusion on privacy, Sanchez sees the policy as good regulation.

“I feel like its a good thing,” he said. “If you are looking at stuff that you obviously shouldn’t be, then you should be cut off because it is only for school purposes. So I feel like the privacy that they have now is pretty good.”

This is not the first time the district has dealt with online content issues, and some teachers are unconcerned about how students are handling themselves online.

“Students are pretty responsive about knowing appropriateness, and students in general know when they should use it and when they shouldn’t use it,” O’Brien said. “I think that as long as we are on the same team, it won’t be as big of a deal.”

“I don’t really know because I haven’t really used it, since I don’t have a phone.”

—Michaela Schoen, junior

“I like the wifi because it doesn’t make me use my cell phone data, which costs money, but sometimes it doesn’t work very well, like when I’m in the gym.”

—Ryan Webber, staff

REAL WORLD VALUE For better or worse, the way students learn and interact is different than previous generations.

“Students as a group learn

By Cynthia Falley

Art/Tech Ed

Gym

much differently definitely from when I was in school -- even from when I started teaching 24 years ago,” O’Brien said. “It’s just a different world. We interact with ideas differently, we interact with the written and spoken word differently.”

Now, students see their phones and other devices as essential parts of their lives.

“It speaks their language,” Morgenroth said. “It’s all there. You’re are used to pulling out your phone and typing stuff in. You can go from typing in a text message to typing in a solution to a problem, or your response to an essay or a poem.”

Kimball connects the devices to the newly-implemented Common Core standards, which aim to foster critical-thinking.

“So why do I need to tell you a lot of facts when you could get them right here on your phone, and you have them right in your pocket,” she said. “Now you can take those facts and whatever it is you need that is in your pocket, and relate that to something bigger, and make those connections.”

“I dislike that it limits what websites you can go on, but I like that you can use it all the time, even though it limits what you can do.”

—Zoie German-Martinez, freshman

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Graphic by Dymtro Guzhva and Shawn Han

The Budget

8 News

Students to get more options Students will have new career opportunities at planned building

By Kansas Gibler Next year, high school students will have a new opportunity to kick start their college and professional careers.

Juniors and seniors will soon be able to take classes and earn professional certifications at the new Career and Technical Education Center, a joint venture between USD 497 and Lawrence professional industries.

Ground will break on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 31st and Haskell. The center will offer career training centered around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) industries.

“I believe that the curriculum will be engaging and based on student interest,” career and technical education director Patrick Kelly

lhsbudget.com

said. “It’s all extremely project based. It works in professional-based learning where students will be working with employers on projects. Additionally, students who are able to take college credits early will benefit from it, and I’m really excited that we’re able to offer that.”

The main goal of the center is to give students the chance to take advantage of new opportunities to earn college credit and professional certification. While similar programs exist throughout the country, including in Blue Valley and Olathe, the classes will still give students an overall advantage in the job force.

“It’s going to be amazing for the students who participate because it’s going to get them over-prepared, which can never

be a bad thing,” engineering and architecture teacher Charlie Lauts said. “For the employees and employers that are out here that are going to be able to hire kids right after they graduate.”

The center was spurred by programs and laws enacted in the past few years as well as the $92.5 million school bond issue approved by voters in 2013.

A 2012 state law created the Certification Incentive Program, which aims to have high school students graduate with industry-recognized certifications. Those certifications prepare students for high-demand occupations in Kansas that don’t require a degree from a four-year college.

Additionally, the bill aims to have students get more college credit during school hours without

having to pay the tuition that colleges charge. The school district built on that foundation when voters approved the 2013 bond issue, which included funds for the new center.

“I think it will give our high school students something that differentiates them from other students when they apply to college,” Kelly said. “They’ll have real-world, work-based experience, which will give them a leg up on others.” continued on page 9 Working on a project, senior Adam Eudaly is taking Jay Hundley’s cabinetry class. Students in career and technical education classes will have more opportunities when the new Career and Technical Education Center opens next year. Photo by Cooper Avery

Sept. 17, 2014 9

Getting the right blend Blended classrooms hand students options for learning

By Jaycee Mountain Walking down the hall it’s inevitable to see students on their phones. Since keeping students away from their phones doesn’t seem like a possibility, why not use phones as resources in the classroom?

This school year, with the introduction of BYOD, classrooms are able to incorporate student-provided technology to teach lessons in a variety of ways, supplementing a process known as blended learning.

Blended learning is not easy to define, but for students who have a blended class, they can say it is different from a traditional class.

In a traditional classroom, a typical day might consist of the teacher lecturing in front of the class. Teachers may provide notes

on PowerPoints

or handouts.

To some teachers, this process can be tiring, and blended is a way to fix that.

In a blended classroom, there is more than one way to teach lessons, including online lectures or online activities. Websites, such as Khan Academy, Quizlet and Blackboard, are just a few of the tools teachers use to share lessons and notes with students. These websites make it easier for teachers to change their classroom into what is called a flipped classroom.

“A blended classroom is what the teacher makes it. I specifically flip my classroom,” math teacher Brooke Kissinger said. “So students watch a video lecture at home that I make, and then in class, we do all the different activities that I will have in my classroom and homework stuff out of the book in class. That way, we don’t waste time with me telling them the information.

They can listen to the information, and they come to class already prepared.”

The BYOD network benefits blended learning classrooms, because teachers are able to put lessons, notes and other classroom activities online where students are able to access them on their phones, tablets or computers.

“I have online lessons and online activities all the

time,” Kissinger said. “So basically, if students bring iPads and iPhones and laptops, they can use them, whereas before we didn’t have wifi for them to use.”

The only problem is, not all students have smart phones or computers at home. One issue blended learning teachers face is how to accommodate students who don’t have access to devices.

“If students don’t have the technology at home, then they can do kind of everything here or there’s other opportunities in Lawrence,” physics teacher Alan Gleue said.

“They can go to our library here.

Most kids will have a platform, maybe at home... cellphone or something like that they can do at least some of the work on. But if they don’t have anything, then there’re other ways to attack the problem or approach the problem.”

In blended classrooms, new devices are provided, including MacBooks and iPads for students to use. Students may bring in electronics from home to use in class as well.

The difference between a traditional classroom and a blended class is that most of the work is online.

“So we do all of our homework online, but we do a whole bunch of labs and activities in class,” junior Laura Berghout said.

In blended learning classrooms, students find they can move at their own pace.

“One of the benefits is that now they are taking control of their own learning.” Kissinger said. “They come in, they know what to do, they know what they are expected to do, and they come in and get stuff done. Whereas before, I was leading them. They could come in and wait for instructions, and I would tell them what to do, and then they would wait for more instructions.”

CTE: Construction to begin on center Continued from page 8 Additional motivation sprouted from local companies feeling that graduates are under-trained.

“It will improve the overall talent base that we have here in our community, not only for our high school students but for adults as well,” Kelly said.

The center aims to open the eyes of students to larger possibilities.

“I think the students will discover that high school is the tip of the iceberg,” Lauts said. “They’re going to get really good at a lot of things but that will open doors for more things. Maybe there’s that kid who thinks he’ll go to work right out of high school into the manufacturing business to run the machines, but what I think that they’ll realize is that ‘Hey, if I go to college, I won’t have to run the machines, I’ll be able to run the floor.”

The concept of off-campus training is not foreign to the district. The school district has used the culinary program as a prototype for the way classes at the center will be scheduled.

Currently, culinary students schedule either first through third hours or fifth through seventh hours at Holcom to allow time for training.

Classes offered allow students to continue following the career pathways already set in elective courses such as pre-med and manufacturing processing. The classes will also answer a common question: Why do I need to learn this?

“At the career center, they’ll be doing things that real people do for their jobs,” counselor Natalie Konkel said. “It’s going to make that learning connection so much stronger for a teenager who wonders why they need to learn those things.”

The Budget

10 News

Doctors urge later start Lawrence to debate pros and cons of starting classes later in the morning

By Isaiah Young

lhsbudget.com

It’s 7:30 in the morning, the sun is just creeping up in the east.

Students are trudging through the halls and heading into classes to have their just-waking minds pummeled with heaps of knowledge. Their skulls are still wet and cold from the quick shower they got out of 20 minutes ago, but not even that could scrub the tired out of their eyes.

Must have been a long night.

With responsibilities for homework, sports, clubs, chores and jobs that’s very likely.

The Lawrence Public School district is currently considering recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that suggests middle and high schools should start later.

“It’s not something that we will be talking about specifically at the

board level, until later this year,” school board president Shannon Kimball said. “Our staff will be looking at it during the year and come back to the board sometime in the spring with a report of what they’ve found and what they recommend.”

The AAP’s new policy says teenagers should be getting eightand-a-half to nine-and-a-half hours of sleep a night. In contrast, the group said most middle and high school students are getting less than seven. It recommends delaying the start of school until at least 8:30 a.m.

Senior Desiree Hamilton is among the many students who say they need more sleep.

“I’d say I get about four hours of sleep if I’m lucky,” Hamilton said.

Desiree works, gets home late

and still has homework to worry about.

This sleep-starving schedule isn’t uncommon for students. The AAP says the easiest way to ensure students are getting more sleep is to start school days later.

A later start could require after-school and extra-curricular activities to be pushed back.

“It sounds like a good idea on the front end, because I have smaller kids that are a pain to get up in the morning,” coach Stephanie Magnuson. “But it would definitely push the evening stuff later and make scheduling harder.”

Resting on his backpack, senior Xavien Weseman-Wisdom finishes homework, reading chapters from “War of the Worlds” before school starts Sept. 9. Photo by Joseph Anderson

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14 Features

New best friend

Roxy joins English class as trained therapy dog

By Jaycee Mountain

lhsbudget.com

The school has added a new four-legged member to its counseling team.

As students fill the hallways every morning, Roxy patiently waits in the English hallway to greet students on their way to class. Roxy, who belongs to English teacher Keri Lauxman, is a golden retriever.

“I got her as a puppy, and so she’s 5 years old now,” Lauxman said. “I have had her ever since she was weaned from her litter, and she has been with me as my household pet.”

Roxy is now a certified therapy dog after taking classes and passing tests.

“She has been in puppy class and then she took dog obedience classes as she grew up. It became really obvious that she was real trainable, and so she just lent herself really well to a therapy position,” Lauxman said. “I pursued it further and got her into AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program, and she passed that obedience test, and then from there we went on and did

Getting attention, Roxy looks to her owner, English teacher Keri Lauxman. Roxy joined Lauxman at school this fall as a therapy dog.

“She just loves to love people. I mean, that’s her job. Her therapy is exclusively emotional.

She just provides emotional therapy. She just reduces anxiety and boosts endorphins and just makes people feel happy.” Photo by Cooper Avery one more class and passed that test. At that point, the trainer suggested that we do the TDI, which is the Therapy Dog International, so she has a CGC and the TDI certifications.”

In high school, whether it be school related or otherwise, stress is inevitable.

Studies show that animals can reduce anxiety, and contact with them can release endorphins that have a calming effect.

“She is perfectly content to sit and be petted, and there is research to support that the petting of an animal and being in the

Sept. 17, 2014 15

What do you like about Roxy?

“She’s there to love us and make us better, and she isn’t distracting at all.”

—Maria Duncan, freshman

presence of a calm animal, like Roxy, does in fact have physiological responses that decrease of anxiety, ” Lauxman said. “Unconditional love and acceptance is great for us, so I knew that she would be terrific at it. Her favorite part is just doing what she does best and just being loved.”

Students like the dog as well. The students who have classes with Roxy have made it clear that the atmosphere is a lot different in their classes with Roxy.

“The vibe is totally different,” freshman Isabel Hardy said, “because Roxy brings a joy to the classroom and makes everyone smile and happy.”

Roxy doesn’t just sit aside and watch the students. She has been known to come up to students and lay her head on their laps.

“She comes over and you can pet her,” sophomore Hunter Taylor said. “She puts her head on your lap, and you can pet her” Lauxman said Roxy loves being around and playing with students but asks that she is not fed.

Rather than showing love to Roxy by feeding her, Lauxman asks that students give all their love and attention to her instead.

Some students hope Roxy might inspire other teachers to bring in therapy animals of their own.

“If there were more therapy animals in the school... students will benefit from it because having an animal in the class will keep everyone happy and on task,” Hardy said.

“Roxy is a really good dog. She doesn’t bark and greets everyone at the door.”

—Josh Evans, freshman

“She always makes me feel better and is a really sweet dog in general.”

—Sarah Krambeer, freshman

Petting Roxy, freshmen Ralph Dumas and Briana Jossie give the therapy dog attention during their seventh-hour English class.

Photo by Cooper Avery A calming presence, Roxy went through special training to work as a therapy dog. Her owner, teacher Keri Lauxman, said she is grateful to the “administration for recognizing the benefits of a therapy dog in the classroom and to the staff and students for welcoming Roxy into our school.” Photo by Joseph Anderson

“She is perfectly content to sit and be petted.”

— Keri Lauxman, English teacher

“Roxy isn’t too hyper.

She’s the perfect blend of hyper and calm-sweet dog in general.”

—Quentin Scott, freshman Reporting by Adam Graham and Riley Nelson

The Budget

16 Features

World Cup leads to soccer fever Soccer takes the United States and Lawrence High by storm Nearly 16 million Americans stared at television screens across the nation June 16. The reason?

The United States Men’s National soccer team was preparing to take on Ghana, the very team that beat them in a run for the World Cup semi-finals four years earlier. At 6 p.m., the starting whistle blew and the game began.

A couple of quick passes down the left flank and the ball moved to attacking midfielder, Clint Dempsey, who cut around a Ghana defender and shot the ball neatly into the right corner. All in 30 seconds.

And America went crazy.

Senior and varsity soccer player Ellis Springe was out with friends at a restaurant when the fifth-fastest goal in soccer history was scored.

“We all ran out of the bar, ran around the cars three times and ran back in,” Springe said.

The U.S. beat Ghana 2-1 in a drama-filled game with the game-winning goal scored by John Brooks, assisted by a corner taken by Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi.

The next tension-filled game took place against Portugal, led by threetime winner of the Golden Boot, Cristiano Ronaldo. And this time, 24.7 million Americans watched, making this game the most-watched World Cup game by Americans ever.

This tops the 22.4 million Americans

who watched the last game of the NBA finals.

“I think just because it’s on such a worldwide level, people nationalize it,” Springe said. “And they like America so they watch it more.”

Clearly, soccer is growing.

But in order for the national team to have success, they must have a good base. This base is the ever-thriving Major League of Soccer, or MLS, of which Sporting KC is reigning champion.

The women’s national team is growing as well. And FCKC, the local professional women’s soccer team based in Kansas City, won its league championship as well.

Soccer is also flourishing on an even more local level at LHS. “We had 80 to 90 people come to tryouts,” sophomore junior varsity player Michael Braman said. “And that’s crazy.”

Generally speaking, most high school teams limit their roster to 19 players, maybe 20. At LHS, the boys soccer program has three teams.

That adds up to 57 players with a maximum of 60.

“We had to make cuts for the past two years,” Springe said. “And in previous years that hasn’t happened.”

Even more people came to the varsity soccer home opener against Manhattan. And the student section was packed. If high school soccer

games actually gave out tickets and sold out, this one most certainly would have.

Soccer is the most universally-played sport. Many children start playing soccer at a young age, even if they only play for a year or two because their parents signed them up.

But not all parents sign their kids up to play soccer.

“When I was a kid a lot of my friends just didn’t like soccer, so I was kind of the only person,” Braman said. “Now they’re all getting into it.”

Because of the World Cup, awareness and importance of soccer are steadily increasing in the U.S. Once, the only sports any Americans paid any attention to were baseball, football and basketball. Now, soccer is in the same league.

“People are actually realizing that it’s a sport, and it’s actually likeable,” junior Matea Kaleikini said. “Unless you’re a girl and you just like it because of the cute guys.”

While that is not always the case, (plenty of girls do, in fact, like soccer because it is soccer), the sport itself is nevertheless reaching a wider audience. Perhaps someday, soccer will become the next baseball of America.

“I share that passion with a bunch of people,” Braman said about soccer. “And I can relate to a bunch more people now.”

Yearbooks

Order in the school finance office or at www.yearbookordercenter.com. lhsbudget.com

Who is your favorite soccer player?

“Ziatan Ibrahimovic” —Cole Cooper, sophmore “Didier Drogba” —Fred Brou, junior “Lionel Messi” —Coach Chris Murphy “Hot guy one through 20” —Ellie Dunlap, senior

Upcoming LHS soccer matches 9-18 9-20 9-23 9-25 9-29 9-30

SMN Manhattan @ SME @ SMW @ Gardner Leavenworth

Sept. 17, 2014 17

Cain able to help LHS win Transfer student makes name for himself as varsity forward, projected to excel

By Ben Rajewski He’s been called quick, small, tough, smart and a goal-scoring machine, but he is known to his teammates as Cain Scott.

The sophomore is beginning his first semester at Lawrence High after moving from New Orleans, and has already become a fan favorite for his offensive skill.

“He’s not the fastest, but he is more skilled with the ball, his touches are good, and he’s fundamental,” senior midfielder Sam Stephens said.

Scott was first introduced to the team during summer workouts. Lawrence High posed a different environment than Scott was accustomed to.

“Lawrence High is much bigger than my old school, and the people here are much more friendly,” he said. “It’s easier to meet more people here.”

From the get-go, Scott gelled with the rest of the team.

“Over summer workouts, the team made me feel comfortable, and I got to know everybody,” Scott recounted.

Senior leaders facilitated the integration of their new forward, going out to eat together and just hanging out.

“We made sure he felt like he was part of our team,” senior soccer player Jared Roush said.

While scoring goals is the most widely recognized soccer skill, Scott excels far beyond just finding the back of the net.

“Cain is really good on the ball,” Roush said. “He can dribble through anyone.”

Being able to score, pass, dribble and defend are the marks of well-rounded players — attributes hard to come by in young players.

“He’s skilled, he is always making a play,” Stephens said.

Part of Scott’s skill comes from his experience playing with the Chicago Fire Academy, a development program for the MLS

Chicago Fire Soccer Club.

“I gained a lot of individual skills along with team skills,” Scott said. “I’ve learned how to deal with tough situations in games.”

The sophomore’s attitude, not just about soccer, stands out.

“In three years, I see myself in college, earning a degree and playing sports,” Scott said.

The Lion’s new forward won’t only be an integral part of the team this year but could be a

cornerstone for the program in the long run.

“It’s awesome to have such a young player come up and be so good,” Roush said. “Cain will have a big impact on our team this year but also for future teams.”

The future is bright for Scott, given his previous experience.

“Cain can definitely play in college and even beyond if he wants to” Roush said.

For now, teammates have big

Dribbling past a Manhattan defender, sophomore Cain Scott starts in the season kickoff, a home match that was eventually called off for weather, and was rescheduled for Sept.

20. Photo by Joseph Anderson plans for him in Lawrence.

When asked about Scott’s future as a soccer player, Stephens said with a sly grin, “He is going to score a lot of goals.”

The Budget

18 Sports

Rushing toward early match-up with FSHS New Sunflower League schedule pits Chesty Lions against Free State the third football game of the year

By Colton Lovelace

When first looking at this years football schedule, there is one major change that affects the entire outlook of the 2014 season: the team goes up against Free State on Friday, Sept. 19 — the third game of the year — instead of the usual final showdown.

This is the first time since the schools split in 1997 that the teams won’t face off for the final game of the season, which is going to take some time to get used to.

Junior cornerback Ivan Hollins was shocked when he saw this year’s schedule for the first time.

“I was very surprised,” Hollins said. “But I was more surprised when I saw Blue Valley West because I’ve never known us to play a team like them.”

Playing late in the season often meant that one of the teams had post-season aspirations that hinged on the final match-up, giving the game a sense of urgency. However, the players believe the matchup will still maintain the hype games have had in the past.

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Hollins, who because they believe played in last year’s it is at its most showdown and had hyped when it is in The football game a huge interception that slot. kicks off at 7 p.m. late in the game, “I would much Friday at LHS. believes the game rather us play them Follow the action on will still have all the the last game because Twitter: @lhsbudget hype as usual. it was always so Share your gameday “They’re still our memorable, it was crosstown rival, and the peak of the photos with us it’s still a huge game whole entire season,” #lkrivalry — just a different Bush said. “Now our week,” he said. most hyped game of From a fan’s perspective, havthe season is the third game, so it’s ing the Free State game the third really downhill as far as hype goes game of the year is definitely a from there for us in the student weird twist. section, but I do like that there Senior Langston Bush, an avid are more home games than away football fan and a LHS football games.” supporter, agrees the game will Fans said they want FSHS to be remain just as important to those the last game of the year, but they fans who tailgate before the game. have no say in the new scheduling “I think the game will still be process. the most hyped game in the reguWith the new local districts lar season,” Langston said. “But I KSHSAA created last year, LHS do believe it would be better if it will now be in the fourth district was the last one of the year.” with Olathe East, Olathe North People like Langston want it and Olathe Northwest — probably to be the final game of the year the toughest district in the state.

The Game

Rushing toward the in-zone, junior JD Woods scored the first touchdown of the season, ultimately kicking off a 21-14 win against Leavenworth on Sept.

12. Photo by Joseph Anderson The LHS football team will not play Free State for the last game again for at least the next two seasons, and likely even longer.

Players have different views, but they aren’t going to complain.

Junior lineman Diego Lopez said the focus has remained on the next team on the schedule — rather than the rivalry.

“It didn’t really change that much,” Lopez said.

In the end, there’s nothing anyone can do about the new schedule but go out and support the team at every game, but if Hollins could have his way, he would have wanted it the old way.

“It was such a good way to end the regular season with the packed crowds and everything else that came along with it,” he said.

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The Budget

20 Features

New direction with ‘Old Town’

By Kansas Gibler

As rehearsals start, new director plans to extend theater program to more students The drama department is about to do a full 180 after new drama teacher Jamie Johnson puts her twist on high school theater.

Students are currently working on their rendition of “Our Town,” a 1930’s play by Thornton Wilder.

The play will open at 7 p.m. Oct. 24.

“It’s a show that talks about things in life that all people deal with: love and life and death and appreciating the small things around us,” Johnson said.

Johnson aims to make the department more accepting of students from all areas of the school — making students the program’s priority.

“I want to make a name for ourselves as a really inclusive program where students are encouraged to be a part of it no matter what their ability is,” Johnson said. “I want students to feel like they know what’s happening and they’re at the core of it.”

Including students who have special needs is a passion for John-

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son, who worked as a paraprofessional for two and a half years.

“I want people who have never been on stage before to get that feeling it feels like when people are clapping for you,” Johnson said. “To feel that support and to get that feedback that I don’t think everybody gets to have.”

Bringing theater to the same level as other extra-curriculars is Johnson’s long-term goal, hoping to have the same popularity as other areas of the school.

“Lawrence High is a great place because we have really solid athletics, vocal music and band, and I think that now is the time to get theater up to speed,” Johnson said.

With productions shrinking every year, the theater program has suffered budget cuts. These cuts have allowed the program to be left in the dust technologically.

“We face budgetary challenges,” Johnson said. “The theater program hasn’t done a lot of bigger-scale things. The financial support gets a little wonky some-

times, and we’re trying to get that squared away. There are just some modern things that we need for the program, so we’re just going to start small.”

The administration has expressed interest in bringing the department to the standards of other larger schools in the area.

“The administration is excited about the possibilities,” Johnson said. “When I interviewed I got that feeling that they were very excited to bring the program up to speed with other 6A schools.”

English teacher Shannon Draper has worked with the theater department for several years and sees a bright future with the new management.

“Ms. Johnson brings a wealth of experience as well as a real joy and love of theater to LHS,” Draper said. “She is also just patently awesome. Her vision for a program that is for all students, designed to benefit all students and involve all students, is one that I am very excited about in that it has the potential to rep-

resent the students here in a real and meaningful way.”

Students have already taken to the method Johnson uses — a more mature approach they say has been absent from the program in recent years.

“I love Ms. Johnson, and I think she’s looking at it more from a director’s standpoint to take us more seriously than just kids,” junior Bridget Casad said.

The support is crucial in making the program as prosperous as others in the school.

“It should be just as important as any sport or any other extracurricular,” Johnson said. “We’re here and we’re going to do some cool stuff, and we want everyone to be involved.”

Reading through lines, freshman Mia Romano preps during the first day of rehearsals for “Our Town” on Sept. 11.

The play will be staged Oct. 24 in the auditorium. Photo by Jake Goodwin

Sept. 17, 2014 21

Warehouse provides venue for artists, musicians

By Kansas Gibler

Lawrence artists work and perform at SeedCo Studios A brick warehouse acts as a second home to artists and performers within the sea of old buildings and brick roads deep in East Lawrence.

SeedCo Studios rests in the heart of the Crossroads Arts District and exists as a creative space for Lawrence artists.

“SeedCo is an artists and musicians studio,” artist Erok Johanssen said. “We rent spaces to people that need a place to do visual art or practice music or record music.”

During the day, old concrete floors hold up resident artists as they produce works, and at night, when artists aren’t producing

physical artworks, performers of all genres play shows in the building.

The venue’s atmosphere is almost completely open, like being in a big garage. There is unfinished artwork along the walls and a small stage is housed on the floor.

Sophomore Alex Hurt played at the venue in October 2013 with former band WhereTheWildThingsAre. “[The building] was very open, so it didn’t feel like there were as many people as there were,” Hurt said. “It’s really laid back and not as serious.”

This past weekend, the venue moved to a building directly be-

hind the previous location on 826 Pennsylvania Street to Delaware Street. Once the former space is renovated, the artists will move back.

Local music label “Whatever Forever,” which currently operates out of SeedCo, will benefit from the change of surroundings.

“I think [the move] is going to be good for most people,” Johanssen said. “It gives everybody a chance to refine. Being in here for two years, we’ve all been able to collect a lot of stuff, and I think it’s a good opportunity to get rid of some of our older works and have a fresh new start to start experimenting with new things.”

Fall brings new songs into the new public library Equipment available •Studio One software •Squier bass and guitar •Epiphone Les Paul •Shure microphones •Mac Desktop Computers •Presonus soundboard •Fender amps •Chicago Custom Percussion drum set

Recording studio open to public opening this month

By Kansas Gibler As part of the $18 million new Lawrence Public basically it.”

Library, a recording studio was built in the downstairs The prospect of recording sessions with profesmedia area. sional equipment has sparked interest with younger The studio will cater to the local music scene with musicians who don’t have the same resources as many the instruments that will be provided. older musicians.

Recording dates must be scheduled ahead of time “It’s a good opportunity for musicians who don’t as the demand for free studio time is high, but overall have the financial ability to record in a studio,” the process is easy.

Matheis said. “It’s a cool opportunity, and it’s cool “You just go to the front desk and ask them what that the library is doing that.” day works,” senior Keegan Matheis said. “That’s

ONLINE: Find your way around the new library with our map. lhsbudget.com The Budget

22 Staff Editorial

Opinion

ten commandments of the hallway Thou shalt honor thy neighbor’s path and move at a reasonable pace

There is an allotted five minutes for 1,400 people to get from one place to another in the narrow, winding passages that are the LHS hallways. Some are trying to get from one side of the school to the other. When you move at a glacial pace, you not only are you making yourself late, but are also hindering others from getting to class on time. Move with a purpose, please.

Thou shalt continue down thy own path without halt

In the hallway, you always need to remember that you are followed by other people who are also trying to get somewhere. It does not help anyone when you stop abruptly in the way of others to talk you your friends. If you plan on stopping, move all the way to the side so you don’t hold up the people behind you.

Thou shalt avoid congregation on thy path Nothing is more annoying than having to push through large masses of people at 7:45 in the morning just to get to first hour. We understand that you want to socialize before class, but please do it in a place that people don’t have to fight through you to get where they need to go. That means not lingering in the middle of E2 or the adjacent hallways.

Thou shalt not trip thy neighbor

Especially in high-traffic areas, passing periods can become a mess of people running into one another. Sometimes it is unavoidable. We understand. However, when you are zoned-out and unaware of your surroundings, you are more likely to run into those around you, vice-versa. Just be aware of your spacial positioning going down the hallway. That is all that we ask.

Thou shalt be mindful of thy words and tone

The halls are densely packed, which turns the audience of your story from the friend you are talking to into everyone in a 10-foot radius. They can all hear you. Be selective in the things you say, as to not offend or annoy people.

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Thou shalt wander the right side of their path

The hallways are actually pretty similar to a two-way street. People are moving opposite directions and turning off at different destinations. To make things easier for everyone, please stay to the right while walking, and if you are going to pass someone moving slower than you are, do so to the left. Moreover, if you are walking with a friend and moving leisurely, do your best to stay further right. Right is right. This isn’t Great Britain.

Thou shalt abstain from PDA. ALWAYS.

Just don’t. Don’t be those people.

Thou shalt not bear thy backpack as a weapon

You may not even realize it, but your backpack can actually be dangerous to the people around you. Especially if you decide not to use your locker and carry all of your books everywhere. Swinging around the entirety of your daily workload has the potential to hit someone. Be aware of the load you are carrying in relation to the people around you.

Thou shalt be kind to thy neighbor

You come into contact with all sorts of people in the hallway. Some are, believe it or not, are having a worse day than you are. So please, do them the common courtesy of being a pleasant human being. Hold doors for people. Apologize when you accidentally step on the back of their shoes. The list goes on. In sum, you really don’t have to go out of your way to be pleasant, and maybe it will make someone’s day better.

Thou shalt seek shortcuts on thy path

Beat the crowds by finding alternate routes to class. That could mean avoiding E2 by walking outside instead. Or using the trophy case hallway to get between science classes and the gym. Or even going through the cafeteria or the rotunda.

Rethinking your way around the building can get you to class a lot faster.

Sept. 17, 2014 23

Opinion

Our school has problems

(and we’re partly to blame)

By Kansas Gibler Water drips down and hits the concrete floor. Bats occasionally perch on the dark gray walls. Squeaks come from behind the furnishings.

When I pictured returning to school this summer, half of my thoughts were the dripping water, grime on the floor and the vermin distracting students.

Solutions are hard to come by. Leaks can be traced to the fact that the building is actually a smaller structure with several additions. Adding onto one building increases the chance for cracks and uneven roofing, letting water in.

The only real solution for eradicating the leak issue is rebuilding the school,

which is an impractical option.

Exterminators come to spray for cockroaches roughly every four weeks, which seems like enough for now, but there isn’t any way to tell if this will work all year.

What the school really needs is another handful of custodians.

Class sizes are continuing to grow, especially since adding freshman to the high schools, but the number of custodians is waning.

Currently there are nine working, and eight of them work during the evenings, leaving just one for the daytime inconveniences that get reported.

The shortage has created an environ-

ment where security guards spend lunch hours keeping food in the lunchroom and cleaning up leftover trays--which isn’t their job The only way to acquire more custodians would be to work through the school board and attempt to find the money for it, but that doesn’t seem likely.

The most practical way to keep the school clean is for students to take responsibility for their messes.

Too often, students leave food around and spill their drinks without reporting it, so the messes go uncleaned.

It is up to the students to keep their environment clean and uncluttered.

Human rights must trump corporate privilege Hobby Lobby v. Burwell compromises regarding worker’s freedom to healthcare

By Isaiah Young Religious freedom is great. It allows Americans to openly practice and express beliefs without the fear of being persecuted or restricted by the government.

However, when those rights are exercised by corporations and used to limit the freedom of their employees, we should draw the line.

Allowing for-profit companies the choice to cover birth control in their health coverage based on the personal beliefs of the owner is an abuse of constitutional rights.

On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby in the case of Burwell v.

Hobby Lobby. The ruling was called “a win for religious freedom,” because it allows corporate heads to deny their employees coverage of prescription birth control.

In this case, the Supreme Court decided the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993, applied to companies, such as Hobby Lobby.

The RFRA elaborates on our First Amendment right to freely practice religion. The purpose of the RFRA was to provide a defense for people and non-profit companies in cases where they are being sued for failing to pay for things they don’t believe in.

This is where Hobby Lobby drew its defense. It claimed that because David Green, the founder and owner, believes contraception is abortion, that the RFRA also applies to his company.

But let me make this very clear: Contraception is not abortion.

There’s no doubt that Green and his family believe that contraception is abortion. The Green family and Hobby Lobby both donate thousands to pro-life

organizations annually.

The Green family is allowed to believe what it would like, but forcing its beliefs on employees is the opposite of freedom. That’s because the Green family is not Hobby Lobby, and Hobby Lobby is not a person. And it’s definitely not being persecuted.

There should be no debates over the morality of contraception. Contraception has been ready and legally available to the public in all states since the 1972 Supreme court case Baird v.

Eisenstadt.

Even if the Green family wanted to argue that contraception is unnatural, the same argument could be made about Viagra, Cialas and all erectile dysfunction pills that their health insurance already covers.

But they don’t, because that would affect men’s lives.

This is a double standard.

This is sexism.

Now it’s our generations responsibility to fix that.

It’s not enough to just stop shopping at Hobby Lobby. This ruling now applies to any and all businesses that decide to adopt the religion of their owners.

And it gets worse.

There are only two ways to get a Supreme Court ruling overturned. One way requires another Supreme Court ruling, and typically the court does not turn back on its word until there are new justices. Justices are in office for life or until they retire.

Assuming the makeup of the court doesn’t change anytime soon, that leaves one option: Change the law.

There are 535 members of the U.S. Congress and Senate, and six represent Kansas. That’s a great start.

Write your legislators.

The Budget

24 Advertising

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