chtthe

Vol. 102 Issue 2The Central High Times

Snack theft scandal Pg. 06

Discussing student poverty Pg. 14

Google’s privacy invasion Pg. 20

SPORTS

NEWS

OPINION

FEATURES

IN THISISSUE

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS DRAMA

ATHLETE HIGHLIGHTS

PG. 28

PG. 30

PG. 04

PG. 06

PG. 07

PG. 20

PG. 08

PG. 09

PG. 14

PG. 18

EDITORIAL POLICY The Central High Times is a student-produced publication of the Central High School journalism department. The staff and advisor strive to create an open forum for students and teachers. We take responsibility for accuracy and fairness and for work to be unbiased and responsive to the needs of readers in order to encourage the submission of readers’ ideas. We promise to practice honesty, to run the paper as a business and to avoid printing material that is legally considered obscene, libelous or private.

W A G SG R O W L S

&TIMOTHY KEELING / REPORTER

WAG

WAG

GROWL

GROWL

to the couples who insist on constantly making out in the halls

to the boy’s soccer team for making it to sectionals for the first

time in Central’s history

to Central on becoming an IGNiTE year two school, meaning

all students will be given a Chromebook next fall

to the twerps who stand around and block the staircase entrances everyday

FIRING AT RAKU DAY

EXPECTATIONS OF PRIVACY ONLINE TODAY

HUMANS OF CENTRAL, LAURA BIGBEE

PG. 13CHT STAFF HOLIDAYS

LEADS & SHORTS

SNACK THEFT SCANDAL

CENTRAL STUDENT POVERTY

EXPLORING CLUE PURSUIT

LOCAL LEGEND, SPRINGLAWN FARM

WORDS FROM CENTRAL’S CABINET MEMBERS

ADVISOR Karen CulpEDITOR IN CHIEF Koby LjunggrenASSISTANT EDITOR Lauren ParkerPHOTO EDITOR Lane BurdetteBUSINESS MANAGER Cameron WheelerGRAPHICS EDITOR Grace DepperschmidtREPORTERS Lonni Hall, Isabel Lai, Eric Cowan, Noah Henkle, Aubrey Banks, Timothy Keeling, Landon Summers

THE CHT Volume 102 Issue 2SOCIAL MEDIA @CHT_HighTimesCENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 423 E. Central St., Springfield, Missouri, 65802CONTACT keculp@spsmail.orgFONT FAMILIES Futura, Bodoni, BookmanPUBLISHER The Missourian Publishing Co.

HYPE

PG. 22

PG. 24HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS

PG. 26PONDERING VALENTINE’S DAY

THOUGHTS ON MIZZOU PG. 31

#handsoff

PG. 07STUDENTS ON CAFFEINE

Winter: the time of shorter days and snowflakes.Every year it comes into our lives with a cup of hot cocoa and blue lips curved into a smile. Some hate the cold, and

some love it, but Missouri always ensures that you’ll be chilly on your way into Central High School for at least four months per year. But once you enter the building, the temperature you’ll be surrounded by immediately becomes uncertain. With a wacky AC and heating system that has been around for who-knows-how-long, Central easily runs both hot and cold. Its icebox-like commons allows for student shivering during lunchtimes, and classroom climates can vary from room to room. Teens and teachers alike are encouraged to dress in layers, because simply walking up or down a staircase can make all the difference. There is almost no way to plan for Central’s temperature because it can vary daily. For example, in the fall, my physics classroom was so cold that I had to bring a blanket to school in order to keep my teeth from chattering (a common tactic among a few Central students). However, one day, I walked into the room to find it uncomfortably warm. The heat had finally kicked on—but not in a good way. The temperature of Central has been a common complaint between students and faculty for years, and yet there has been little improvement to the jerk and pull of Central weather. In fact, Central’s temperature is still as erratic as it was when I began my sixth grade year here in 2010. While our clocks may finally be in sync with the rest of the world’s, students are still expected to adjust accordingly on the way from one class to another. On any given day you might be required to bring your winter coat with you to lunch and then strip down to a tank top in the history wing. So, don’t worry, it’s not just you. It really is hot in here.

Letters from the editors

LANE BURDETTE, PHOTO EDITOR

Gratitude is always a good idea—especially during the holiday season.And I’ve got an overabundance of people for whom to be grateful.

At the beginning of this school year, I knew I’d taken over a journalism program with a dedicated, bright, talented cadre of students. I had no idea, however, their level of dedication. They are a small group; only 12 students will produce four issues of Central High Times and will also make Central’s Resume yearbook for 2015-16. Twelve students. Other schools our size have twice that many students working only on the yearbook and another 15 or so working on the school news magazine. My students don’t have that luxury. But you can’t tell by their quality of work. I’m honestly not sure when I’ve ever seen a group of students—or adults, even—this focused and hard-working. Their devotion makes me want to be a better advisor for them, makes me want to do whatever I can to clear the way so they can do their jobs. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for this incredible group of students and the work they have done. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to express how amazing I feel they all are. And if these kids weren’t enough, I’ve got another reason to be grateful this holiday season. I have had the pleasure of spending the fall semester with Michaela Smith, a student teacher from Evangel University. Miss Smith’s competence in teaching both English and journalism classes was so high, I felt I had a partner in the classroom, or a co-teacher. From day one, she was taking on tasks that veteran teachers would find daunting. Her attitude the entire time has been “how can I help?” She has taught new things to both my students and to me. I have probably learned as much from her as she has from me. The school district that gets to employ Miss Smith is a lucky one. Unfortunately, she could not stay in Springfield, but returned to her hometown, Kansas City, once her student teaching ended. I feel so fortunate to have worked with such a gifted young person. So to my students and my student teacher, I say thank you for your time, your energy, your skills and your dedication, but most of all, for being the wonderful human beings that you are.

KAREN CULP, ADVISOR

NEWS04

SSHORT&INTRODUCING CRIMINOLOGY

PLANNING FOR COLLEGE This year Emma McIntyre came to Central to help students plan for college, along with a new program called College Ambassadors. “They help me with many aspects of my job,” McIntyre said. “College application week, social media, presentations, etc.” McIntyre has chosen ten juniors to be college ambassadors for the 2015-16 school year.

A criminology club is starting up at Central! The club will watch crime shows, play games like Clue, and more.

Sophomore Kayla Bryant hopes to teach Central students more about criminology and forensics to explore career options.

Unlock your inner Sherlock Holmes and have some investigative fun every third Thursday of the month in room 308.

LANDON SUMMERS / REPORTER

GRACE DEPPERSCHMIDT / GRAPHICS EDITOR

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LEAD

NEWS 05

MEDIA II TAKES HOME AWARDS From Nov. 12-15, Central’s Central Intelligence (CI) broadcast program attended the 2015 Journalism Education Association (JEA)/National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Fall National Convention held in Orlando, Fla. The JEA/NSPA National Convention is held both in the fall and the spring. Traditionally, CI has attended the fall conference; this year was no exception. The 19-person staff of CI competed at the convention in various events, including categories such as Personal Service Announcement and News Story, and individually won 8 Honorable Mentions and 5 Excellent ratings on the national stage. In addition, junior Sabrina Ollis and former Central student Aviva Okeson-Haberman won Broadcast News Story of the Year. For the overall production, Media II entered an episode of the CI broadcast into the JEA/NSPA Best of Show award and won 10th in the nation. “I feel like our team is really strong compared to previous years,” said senior news director Sharon Lee. “We’re really

proud of the awards we took home, but next year we’re going to try to attend a different conference, the Student Television Network (STN) Convention.” The STN Convention is more geared towards broadcast media in general, rather than the broader umbrella of journalism at the JEA/NSPA Convention. Even though CI has had national success at the JEA/NSPA Convention, they didn’t attend just to compete—they also attended to deepen their knowledge of journalism, to become better broadcast media producers and to become closer as a team. “The conference was a good way to learn about different aspects of journalism. The most valuable thing that I gained from this trip was the realization that journalism isn’t about following the rules or pleasing the crowd,” CI sophomore and creative director Sydney Weber said. “Everyone on staff really felt inspired to step up our game and produce the best content we could.”

ISABEL LAI / REPORTER

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

NEWS06

Theft is no laughing matter, and crime in the school cafeteria is no

exception. Despite being a relatively unknown and ignored problem, stealing in the lunchroom is a real and prevalent phenomenon at Central—one which happens more often than students believe.

“No, I’ve never really heard of anyone stealing from the lunchroom, so I haven’t really seen it as a big problem,” sophomore Ruth Skolnick-Schur said. “But it might be happening and I just missed it.”

Although this view is common among many students, Rebecca Fraley, a cashier in the Central cafeteria, deals with attempted thieves on a daily basis. In fact, she notes that for every lunch period, there is at least one would-be burglar. The 2015–16 school year has 172 school days and four lunch periods per day, quickly adding up to at least 688 opporunities for theft a school year—a staggering number. Such statistics brings up questions about the reason behind students stealing from the cafeteria.

“Honestly, I think that most of them do it just to see if they can get away with

it,” Fraley said. “Most of the kids I see stealing things aren’t kids that actually need it.”

Although there are numerous potential causes for theft—not limited to social pressure, poverty or looking for a thrill—each case is different, making it difficult to create policies aimed toward preventing theft

Springfield Public Schools focuses on punishment of would-be thieves. Once an offender is caught by food service personnel, they are turned over to the school administration.

“We just follow the handbook to administer punishments to students,” assistant principal Dr. John Wittmer said.

Thefts of property under the value of $100 are classified as a Class I Theft Offense in the school handbook, and the punishment for first time offenders can range anywhere from a simple conference to three days of Out-of-School Suspension (OSS). According to Wittmer, first time offenders at Central can expect two days of In-School Suspension (ISS), in addition to the return or reimbursement of the product stolen. Second time offenders

will receive between two and five days of OSS, and past that, a student could be facing a long term suspension or a suspension longer than 10 days.

“I really do think that kids need to know more about it,” Fraley said. “Lots of kids have asked me why our registers have been moved outside, and I tell them it’s all been a part of the theft problem.”

However, these policies have done little to discourage theft, as can be seen by the daily theft attempts still occurring. In fact, despite its prevalence, students remain unaware of not only the occurrences of school theft, but also of the measures taken against it.

According to a comprehensive review on research about juvenile theft by UNICEF in June 2000, methods of preventing theft focusing solely on punishment have little success and, in some cases, can even raise the levels of theft.

Raising student awareness could bring the issue to the forefront of the district, potentially igniting serious effort towards active procedure to prevent further cases of theft.

S N A C K T H E F T

REPORTERISABEL LAI /CRACKDOWN

STUDENTS ON CAFFEINE

NEWS 07

REPORTERTIMOTHY KEELING /

J1 REPORTERMORGAN LANDER /

Springfield has opened up an attraction attraction with steampunk-themed escape rooms to the

public called Clue Pursuit. Steampunk is described as being centered on steam-powered machinery.

There are five Clue Persuit rooms, the goal of which is to search for a way out of the room within a

certain time limit. The five rooms are The Warehouse of Jack Travis, The Offices of John Monroe, The Lab of Dr. Lev Pasted and The CSI Room.

The Warehouse of Jack Travis is centered on a

valuable artifact that is hidden within the warehouse.

The challenge is to retrieve the artifact before the

police arrive. With an hour to solve the mystery, there

is an escape rate of about 30-40 percent.

The most popular room that Clue Pursuit offers is The Office of John Monroe. The goal is to solve the mysterious death of the detective for which it is

named. John Monroe’s office is under a 60-minute

time limit with an escape rate of only 15 percent.

With the highest percent of escapes out of any other

room, The lab of Dr. Lev Pasted has been labeled the easiest. However, the escape rate is still around only

40 percent for the room’s one hour time limit. The

goal of this room is to find a missing scientist who has created a dangerous elixir.

The CSI Room is the newest room available,

featuring a bank robbery and murder. The goal is to

find the thief and retrieve the stolen items. So far, 12 groups have participated— only four have escaped.

In the near future, Clue Pursuit plans to open a new room called The Zen Room. So far, only the plot has

been released. The room is designed around being a

game designer stealing codes.

All five rooms are most efficient with groups of people between three to five people. Clue Pursuit is located on 1701 South Campbell Avenue.

TO MAKE A RESERVATION, CONTACT CLUE PERSUIT DIRECTLY AT (417) 268-9668 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE: CLUEPURSUITLIVE.COM

CLUEBREAKOUT: PURSUIT

Caffeine has become a popular choice of drinks

among Central’s students for many reasons.

Many of Central’s students have been drinking

more caffeine to help them stay up late to study and

also to help them keep awake during the school day.

“I grew up drinking coffee. It’s kind of the same

reason people get their tattoos or get their ears

pierced. My parents did it, all my best friends did it,

and it has just become part of my morning routine,”

freshman Alex Hudson said, explaining his coffee

drinking habits. “I usually drink one cup of coffee in

the morning and two if time permits.”

Caffeine gives students the temporary boost of

energy that students crave, Central’s nurse Elizabeth

Belt said. Effects such as increased heart rate and

blood pressure can come as a side effect from drinking

an excessive amount of caffeine, she explains. Belt

said that she has seen students become very “hyper”

and have some behavior issues when they come to her

with a caffeine problem.

“I see someone with a caffeinated drink almost

every time I step outside my door,” sophomore

Samantha Obrey said. “People drink caffeine because they believe it will help them get through their day,”

Obrey said. Obrey explains that she has seen side

effects of caffeine as “hyper minds” and people

without “good control of their emotions.”

Caffeinated drinks have become very visible in

Central’s hallways. Students use these beverages for

many reasons but some teachers and students have

concerns about students’ caffeine addictions and the

“hyper” side effects.

FEATURE08

HUMANSOF CENTRAL

Central freshman Laura Bigbee gets a unique look into the world that

our food comes from. Bigbee’s family owns Fassnight Creek Farm. Located in central Springfield, it is the largest inside of city limits.

The farm sits on 15 acres and has, besides several large fields, a storefront barn, an area to split wood and, of course, incorporates a large stretch of Fassnight Creek. “We have lots of stuff, from pumpkins and mums and sweet potatoes in the fall, to strawberries and blackberries,” said Bigbee. However, though most of

their products are flowers, fruits and vegetables, they also sell handmade soaps and candles. Bigbee said that the farm is in its 28th or 29th year, but the land has been in the farming business for over 100 years.

Not only do they sell the crops harvested, they also donate a portion to the Ozarks Food Harvest. “We do lots of stuff with Ozarks Food Harvest. They come out and glean out what we can’t sell. A lot of times, we grow patches to give to them,” Bigbee said. Ozarks Food Harvest is a local food bank that provides aid to one out of

four families in the Ozarks. Fassnight Creek Farm also works with the Boys & Girls Town of Missouri. “One time we had a teenager from the Boys and Girls Town, he came and worked. It helped him,” Bigbee said.

She said that it is important for people to not only understand, but respect all of the intensive labor that goes into producing food. “I think that it’s a positive experience, even if you just do a summer.”

You can visit Fassnight Creek Farm on 1366 S. Fort Ave., or follow them on Facebook at Fassnight Creek Farm.

LAURA BIGBEE

LONNI HALL REPORTER/

(LONNI HALL)

RAKU

Twice per year, participants in a

new Central tradition make their way down to Drury University for a day of surprise, art and fire. After weeks of preparation, the Raku ceramics are ready to be finished during a field trip known by students as “Raku Day.”

FEATURE10

hot ceramics are pulled from kilns with tongs and tossed into carbon reduction chambers, allowing unique chemical changes to take place.

“Normally, you just stick it in the kiln, pull it out, and it’s all done. But with (raku-firing), you put it in the kiln and you pull it out, and then you throw it in a trash can, (or) carbon reduction chamber, and then it makes really cool and different colors that you can’t get with your normal kiln, like what we have over here at Central,” senior Katie Simkins said.

“Other clay (is just fired) in class (by Mrs. Cotton), but here you get to watch it,” sophomore Jessica Mabry said.

As with any open flame activity, there is a dangerous element to Raku firing.

“When you take the pieces out of the kiln, they are still around 1500-1800 degrees and you’re dropping them in a trash can that lights itself on fire with newspaper. You’re moving

insanely hot pieces that, if you were to touch them, you would have to go to a hospital. So it is extremely dangerous,” senior Savannah Stull said during the Raku day field trip.

Raku itself is also toxic. Some glazes even use lead as an ingredient.

As such, Cotton does not allow for any Raku pieces to be shaped like a mug or food dish. This is seen by some as a positive aspect of Raku.

“To make something that you’ve

made simply to make something beautiful, not something that you’re going to use to serve dinner on, just something that’s purely for beauty, is a very freeing and very spiritual kind of thing,” Christy White, a friend of Central art teacher Mrs. Cotton and a Raku Day helper, said.

“We’ve never had a hitch or an injury or anything of the sort while I’ve been one of Cotton’s students— at a high school level you have enough maturity to handle the fact that you’re

“RAKU MAKES THEM FEEL

INVINCIBLE.”FAYE COTTON, ART TEACHER

LANE BURDETTE

PHOTO EDITOR

ART PIECES (ALONG WITH THOSE BY SENIORS AJ VAILEY AND KATIE SIMKINS) COOL AFTER BEING REMOVED FROM THE REDUCTION CHAMBER. (LANE BURDETTE)

To create Raku pieces, clay is first fired in a kiln (or an oven that heats clay for hardening or other processes) once to create bisqueware. Then, it’s glazed, and fired again to add color and shine to the finished piece.

These three steps are used in all ceramic process, so it is the subsequent steps that make raku firing into a spectacle. After the second firing, red-

SENIOR TABBITHA FRANKLINCLOSES THE LID ON THE CARBON REDUCTION CHAMBER. (LANE BURDETTE)

SOPHOMORE ANTHONY NGUYEN PLACES A PIECE IN THE REDUCTION CHAMBER. (LANE BURDETTE)

FEATURE 11

The “dos” and “don’ts” of Raku Day:

DO:Listen to Mrs. Cotton

Expect the unexpectedMake a fabulous bisque

DONT:Be absent

Catch yourself on fire

handling fragile materials,” Stull said.Thus, despite the danger, there

has never been a Raku Day injury at Central.

There is also an increased element of uncertainty with raku pieces.

“You never know what you’re going to get— it’s like magic,” White said. This unpredictability is mainly caused by how the Raku glaze reacts with items in the reduction chamber. “You can do reduction with a lot of different things, anything organic that’s going to burn, (including) pine needles, or wood shavings. Sawdust can be a little iffy. It can flash-fire and explode, so we don’t use that (here). But you get different effects depending on the size of the things and how fast that they burn, almost anything will make a different effect on your piece,” White said.

However, some students have difficulty removing their piece from the Raku kiln.

“I was kind of nervous to pull my own piece out because I didn’t want to drop it and break it, especially since it took (so) long to make,” junior Allison Lewis said. This was only her first time at Raku Day, but Lewis successfully removed her piece, which had turned bright blue in the reduction chamber.

“I think (the raku process) makes them feel invincible, it gives them a whole new confidence level with art and exposes them to such a wonderful and exciting form of art that it changes

their perspective once they’ve been through the process,” Cotton said. “One of my favorite parts is when the lid (on the kiln) gets lifted, and the pots are glowing, and you realize that

you have to be brave enough to reach in and grab it.”

“Especially if you’re just now getting into art and this is your first experience, (Raku) makes you feel

almost professional,” senior Kaitlyn Ducusin, who has gone to every Raku Day to date, said.

“It’s really empowering to see all of your days of hard work and effort come out so perfectly and beautifully, (Raku) makes you feel good about yourself,” senior Terri Moore said.

“Raku shows your technical skill as a potter with handling the pieces and doing things quickly,” says senior Zuzanna Fraczac, who completed a credit course at Missouri State University over the summer relating to ceramics. “(Last year’s Raku Days) gave me a definite advantage in a college class,” Fraczak said.

Soon, Raku Day might not only be for ceramics students.

“They’re talking about expanding it (and getting) more of the art disciplines involved in coming over here (to Drury University) each year. Whether for a photography day or things like that, they’re talking about bringing other disciplines here— making a whole art day of it. We’ve kinda talked about it, so we’ll see if that gets expanded,” Central photography and art teacher Patrick Burns said.

After the kilns are turned off, Raku Day participants returned to Central with arms full of brightly-colored metallic vases.

For more information and to have your ceramic fired in the spring Raku Day, talk to Mrs. Cotton in room 201.

SENIOR SAVANNAH STULL USES THE REDUCTION CHAMBER WHILE OTHER PARTICIPANTS WATCH. (LANE BURDETTE)

RAKU ART PIECES BY FAYE COTTON (TWO RIGHT) ALONG WITH student’s art. (Lane burdette)

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FEATURE 13

HAPPY HOLIDAYSfrom the cht staff

KOBY LJUNGGREN

LAUREN PARKER

CAMERON WHEELER

ISABEL LAI

LONNI HALL TIMOTHY KEELING

ERIC COWAN NOAH HENKLE

LANDON SUMMERS

AUBREY BANKS

GRACE DEPPERSCHMIDT

LANE BURDETTE

STUDENT POVERTYTHE STRUGGLES AND OBSTACLES

FACED BY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS

KOBY LJUNGGREN / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

...the reality is that students are homeless and there

are many students that are unsafe...

“”

FEATURE16

Student poverty and student

homelessness is a sensitive

problem that is not often addressed by

schools and their administrators.

Although heat maps of city-wide

poverty, measured using rates of free

or reduced lunch, are available on

the Springfield Public School (SPS) District website, only recently have

local journalists taken interest in this

widespread problem.

In June 2015, Springfield News-Leader reporter Claudette Riley

published an article detailing the

extent of poverty growth in the city,

finding that SPS had hit a record last year with 54.6 percent of students

qualifying for free or reduced lunch in

the district.

Central High School is caught

in the middle of the highest rates of

student poverty in the school district;

feeder elementary schools Weaver,

York, Campbell and Weller show over

90 percent of students on a free or

reduced lunch plan. Additionally, the

boundaries for Central include some

of the most densely populated areas in

town, while also including many of the

poorest.

As a result, many students at Central

are struggling at home with financial responsibilities and needs that are

not being met. There are dozens of

students that currently leave school

with nowhere to return. The school

keeps the names and identities of

these students confidential in order to comply with student security and

privacy policies.

“You want everyone to feel safe, but

the reality is that students are homeless

and there are many students that are

unsafe,” senior cabinet member Angel

Laukon said.

Considering the map of SPS District, Rountree, an International

Baccalaureate (IB) school like Central,

is one of the least impoverished areas

in central Springfield. Rountree is not included in Central district.

Some students suspect some sort

of gerrymandering scheme on part

of the school district in discussion of

Rountree district lines.

“Their poverty rate is significantly lower than everyone else’s,” Laukon

said. “Central seems to be really

undermined.”

Others argue that Rountree is

closer to Parkview in distance, directly from the elementary school to the high

school, thus being the deciding factor

in district lines.

Still many are caught off-guard

by the brutal truth of rising poverty

all across the board in Springfield. Central is one of three Springfield high schools to receive Title I funding,

which is a federal program that sends

aid to schools with high enrollment of

disadvantaged students.

One Title I high school, Hillcrest,

has the highest percentage of students

enrolled with a free or reduced lunch

plan, with 55 percent total on both

programs and 47 percent alone on free

lunch. In comparison, the other Title

I schools, Central and Parkview, both have 52 percent total with 43 percent

on free lunch as reported by U.S. News.The issue of student poverty also

raises questions amongst students

about the spending habits of the

district—an argument of materials

versus services.

Sophomore Hadleigh Callahan

takes the side of services over

materials. “There are more students

that need help—why do we need more

technology?” Callahan said.

To her, Chromebooks are not worth

the investment in the new IGNiTE initiative, which plans to establish a

one-to-one device-to-student ratio in

all SPS schools.

“If we don’t have a way to use the

new tech purchased by the district,

then why are we buying it before

providing services to those in need?”

junior Michelle Lawson said.

While the district is not directly

providing additional supplemental

services that benefit students from impoverished areas, groups at Central

are coming together in order to fill the gaps in provisions.

Key Club is one of the most notable

organizations in the school dedicated

to providing food and other essentials

through the Central food pantry.

Science teacher Mara Vaile is the club

sponsor, with senior cabinet member

Anna Hwang serving as the president.

“I definitely think the school food pantry is beneficial to Central,” Hwang said. “Students in need receive

resources that they may lack in their

personal lives.”

As poverty becomes more of an

issue in Springfield, students say there needs to be an active effort to combat

deteriorating conditions in homes by

providing other students with a home—

their high school. However, some feel

that the school does not provide this

atmosphere.

“I don’t think extra-curricular

activities are granted as open

opportunities for students without as

much wealth,” senior Sasha Cohen

Ioannides said.

The IB is also seen as a major

financial division between students at Central.

“I notice a great disparity of wealth

between students in the IB program

and those who aren’t,” an anonymous

Central senior said.

“There are opportunities, but they

are scarce and not really vocalized,” an

anonymous Central junior said.

Student wealth and poverty remains

a contentious issue in the SPS district.

FEATURE 17

WEAVER YORK

CAMPBELL

WELLER

94.392.8

91.3

90.0

percentpercent

percent

percent

54.6percentdistrict-wide

STATISTICS FROM SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HIGHER EDUCATIONOUT OF ALL STUDENTS 71.3

PERCENTARE PURSUING

HIGHER EDUCATIONPOST-HIGH SCHOOL

FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH

OUT OF STUDENTS

GROWING UP IN POVERTY

57.8PERCENT

A DIFFERENCE OF 13.5 PERCENT BETWEEN

THE TWO GROUPS OF STUDENTS

At the end of a suburb in Northern Springfield lies the crumbling

remains of Springlawn Farm, one of the most well-known urban legends in the Ozarks.

Springlawn Farm was once home to a large mansion, silo and multiple other structures. Many of the structures are over 100 years old, with some dating back to before the Civil War. Most of the larger structures were built by the Sheedy family. Mike Sheedy immigrated to the United Stated at the age of fifteen, moving to St. Louis in 1868. He bought 80 acres of land in 1873. That same year, Sheedy married

Mary Gorman. They would have nine children, most of whom would remain living on the large estate for life. Not too long after, Springlawn would become one of the most desirable farms in Greene County. By 1914 Springlawn Farm boasted over 100 acres of wheat, around 100 cattle, and 75 to 80 pigs.

Not only was the farm prosperous, but the Sheedy family also resided in a grand manor, envied by many throughout Greene County. The Sheedy family owned and lived on the property until the death of the final Sheedy heir in 1979. A few months

later the property and all of its contents were auctioned off. The property is still owned today by Wesley Wester. Not long after the auction, the mansion burned to the ground. Now a shadow of its former beauty, the only thing that remains are a few weed-choked stones and a fireplace. However, its spectacularity can still be seen in the ruins of the front entrance. Standing parallel to two large trees are the remnants of a large, stone front gate. Across from the mansion sits a broken-down chicken coop, covered in graffiti, one of the more well-known being “it will affect your love like a wounded

SPRINGLAWN FARM

dove.” Many of the other structures are covered in graffiti, with one reading “Evil Awaits.”

How Springlawn got the nickname “Albino Farm” is unclear, though it is thought to have originated in the early 1930s. The legend most likely started with an caretaker with albinism who had a reputation for being nasty towards trespassers.

It is believed that more rumors started around 1940 when word spread that the Sheedy family sympathized with the Nazis and they were performing experiments on African Americans and people with

albinism. Later, in the 1970s, there was a supposed hatchet murder on a suspension bridge located on the edge of the property. The story goes that a man and his girlfriend were stopped on the bridge when they were attacked by a crazed man wielding a hatchet.

This, like all of the other legends, is unproven. More recently however, another legend has arisen. Started around 2000, word began circulating that there was an “albino cemetery” in the far northern field of the property. This has been marked as untrue.

Visiting Springlawn Farm is an interesting look into the history of

the Ozarks. Its beauty is strange and almost unreal. It is like an antique placed among shiny, new things. After leaving the nearby suburb, it is easy to become lost in the legends that surround Springlawn.

It is located on an unused road and there is a strange absence of wildlife in the area, creating a peculiar silence that can turn back time. The grayness of the abandoned structures makes the brightly colored graffiti pop in a way that somehow is grounded in the present. Springlawn Farm is most certainly an important piece of Greene County history.

SPRINGLAWN FARM A SPRINGFIELD URBANLEGEND OFF OLD BUFFALO ROAD

LONNI HALL / REPORTER

As the technology around us gets

to know us better and better, as

our lives become more dependent on

it, we ought to keep a keener eye on

our privacy and the security of the data

being collected on us.

Perhaps one of the most relevant

data-collectors to Central and perhaps

the world is Google. Google’s entire

strategy for making money is to assure

its advertisers that the consumers

seeing their ads’ interests align with

those of the ads. What does this mean?

It means that the advantage Google

has when it comes to advertising lies in

its ability to sort its users into groups,

along with the fact that it has the most

users in the world today. Google does

this phenomenally well, reporting

$59.6 billion in ad revenue during the

2014 fiscal year alone.The worrying part of this is how

Google sorts its users—how it decides

whether its advertisements will

appeal to you. Most well known of

the methods employed by Google is

its “Google Web & App Activity.”

Web Activity is just what it sounds

like and most are familiar with it by

now. It originally kept track of your

Google searches and noted which of

these results you clicked on so as to

better assist its advertisers in targeting

you next time. However with the

rise of Google’s Android & Chrome

Operating Systems, along with the

Chrome Browser, its reach has far

outgrown the bounds of its own search.

With Chrome, the entire browser

becomes a piece of technology used

to record your activity for the benefit of Google’s advertisers and thereby

bringing in more profit for Google. With Google’s Chrome Browser now

making up for 44 percent of the web

browser market, Google’s profits from Chrome can only be expected to climb.

Android brought Google an even

more interesting and invasive ability:

live inside someone’s pocket and

use the information you gain from

collecting location data to form an

even better profile of a consumer. Of course, this is optional. However,

you’re automatically enrolled in the

service, and if you do opt-out, you lose

many of the benefits Google packages

OPINION20

EXPECTATIONS OF PRIVACY ONLINE TODAY

CAMERON WHEELER / BUSINESS MANAGER

“…A PERSON HAS NO LEGITIMATE EXPECTATION OF

PRIVACY…”

with the service. This can be seen most notably with Google Now, Google’s response to the current trend of virtual assistants. Besides providing a voice search, the service also provides a visual system revolving around a system of “Now Cards.” These cards are considered one of the creepiest elements of Google Now: they appear as Now determines when you think you might like them to appear.

While there is a certain degree of customizability to Now Cards, for the most part Now comes to understand the websites you most read, places you most visit—physically and virtually—and an array of other activities.

The most surprising cards to see on Now are places. Google Now, often without even asking you, begins to display travel times to locations you frequent. Further, it’s not simply a travel time based on Google Maps’ fastest route, but rather the exact route you take.

This was most surprising to me when I began receiving travel times to school—a location I had never actually told Google I was going to. It simply figured it out, which followed my route of picking up a passenger. Even more surprising is when I noted how it factored in the time of waiting for my passenger and then continuing on to school.

Google and its advertisers now know two things: I am a student and that I carpool. Perhaps the information is not all that impressive on its own, but stacked against the addition of

all of the data Google has already collected on me, whether it be based on my web searches, places I’ve visited with my phone, or any other activity inside the Google ecosystem, all of this information adds up to form a clearer profile of who I am as a consumer.

Perhaps the controversial method Google has employed to building profiles of its consumers comes from its email service: Gmail. Gmail accounts for the largest email service on the web today with an active monthly user count of 900 million.

Nearly all 900 million of those users’ emails take part in a process that was the subject of a 2013 class

action lawsuit in California—the process Google takes of scanning the emails, identifying keywords and then using those keywords to better your advertising profile.

Not only is this practice a gross invasion of privacy on behalf of users, Google’s response very nonchalantly declared that users shouldn’t feel that they do have privacy, “…all users of email must necessarily expect that their emails will be subject to automated processing…a person [therefore] has no legitimate expectation of privacy in information…”

The very fact that Google states its users should have “no legitimate expectation of privacy” is perhaps the overarching theme of what it is I’m trying to show here. Google’s former motto, “Don’t be evil,” was retired in the face of their continued violations of privacy. Yet Springfield Public Schools, in embarking in its IGNITE program to provide a Google device to each student, seems to ignore this. Is it safe? Is it wise for the district to march forward in its tiered adoption of devices directly supporting Google’s further violations of privacy? What message do we send not only to Google but to the students using these new devices? Don’t worry, it’s only business? Perhaps Google is right, the expectation for privacy has been lost.

Perhaps our adoption of Chromebooks will cement the idea in students’ minds that they are a product to be bought and sold by advertisers. Perhaps.

OPINION 21

DAY

$59.6

AD REVENUE

$6.4

OTHER

(REVENUE IN BILLIONS)

GOOGLE 2014 REVENUE

OPINION22

HOW HAS THE YEAR BEEN SO FAR?We came into the school year at a really fast pace and we did a lot of work before the

school year actually started. After the first dance of the year, the pace slowed down and that’s when we got to bond more as a team and start long-term planning. We’re an entirely new cabinet, so we’ve done a lot of figuring out as we go. It’s stressful at times, but ultimately I think it’s rewarding.WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS AS A CABINET?

As a new cabinet we were really ready to go at the beginning of the year, everyone worked especially hard for homecoming. We had such high attendance for the dance that we had to use the tickets that we hadn’t even laminated. We weren’t expecting to sell over 800 tickets.What’s the next big project you’re Working toWarD?

As president, I want to work more with the student government in each class because it’s not just about cabinet. We’re responsible for a lot, so we want to collaborate more with those who will take over after we’re gone.What’s the best part about being a cabinet MeMber?

I really like getting to know the administration. We’re a new cabinet and there are also a lot of new administrators. We have to work closely with them, so I’ve liked getting to know them on a more personal basis and I’ve liked the fact that they’re just as interested in Central as we are.

QUINLAN PULLEYKING

presiDent

HOW HAS THE YEAR BEEN SO FAR?I think it’s been stellar considering the turnout at homecoming and the first blood drive.

It’s been fantastic so far, and I think there are things to be learned but we’re on a solid path right now.WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS AS A CABINET?

Homecoming, definitely. Other than that, we’ve been looking for volunteer opportunities outside of school. I’ve really liked working with cabinet outside of Central. We’ve worked with the Boys and Girls Club, and I think we’re planning on going to the Ronald McDonald House soon.What’s the next big project you’re Working toWarD?

Right now, we’re in a planning period for Loyalty. We’re working on developing the theme and making sure we can portray it well through the decorations and the assembly, and we’re working on figuring out new ways to promote it.What’s the best part about being a cabinet MeMber?

Everyone is great and deserves to be here, so I really enjoy working with them. I probably wouldn’t have known them or gone out of my way to meet them if we didn’t have this opportunity to work together.

HALENA HADISECRETARY

WORDS FROM Central’s CABINET

LAUREN PARKER / ASST. EDITOR

OPINION 23

HOW HAS THE YEAR BEEN SO FAR?It has gone smoothly. I’ve enjoyed cabinet because it’s like a big family–we connect well

and we have fun interacting with the student body through dances and spirit days.WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS AS A CABINET?

Homecoming was a huge success because we broke the attendance record, and Plaza Jam was a good start to the year and a good way to interact with the student body.What’s the best part about being a cabinet MeMber?

I’ve loved getting to meet so many new people from the student body.ANNA HWANGVice presiDent

HOW HAS THE YEAR BEEN SO FAR?We all work really well together. There are some times when we butt heads, but overall

everything has turned out better than we thought.WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS AS A CABINET?

We had a record number of people at Homecoming, so I think that was one of our biggest accomplishments so far this year.What’s the next big project you’re Working toWarD?

We’re working on arranging a school-wide stuffed animal drive for the Police and Fire Departments, so when they respond to a call they can give kids stuffed animals.What’s the best part about being a cabinet MeMber?

We’ve become really close-knit and we have a lot of fun together.

ANEVA JEFFERSON

coMMunity serVice

HOW HAS THE YEAR BEEN SO FAR?It’s gone well. When there are a bunch of us with leadership skills in the same room we can

have conflicting ideas, but it always seems to work itself out.WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS SO FAR?

I had never been to Plaza Jam before, and I heard that this year was better than other years. I think that people have really enjoyed our dances so far.

BRAYDEN JONESELECTIONS

CHLOE MCWHIRT

ART

HOW HAS THE YEAR BEEN SO FAR?I think we’ve done really well, especially with time management and planning. I think we

work really well together.WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SUCCESS AS A CABINET?

Our biggest accomplishment was probably pulling together homecoming so early and so soon after Plaza Jam. We only had about three weeks, so it took a lot of work from all of us.What’s the best part about being a cabinet MeMber?

I’ve loved getting to know the other cabinet members.

MY BIRTHDAY : SABRINA DRAKE, JUNIOR

SINTERKLAAS : AVERY VANDEMBERG,SOPHOMORE

HANUKKAH : RUTH SKOLNICK-SCHUR, SOPHOMORE

CHRISTMAS OR SOLSTICE : CHRIS ROHRBAUGH

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WINTER

HOLIDAY?

“2” –KENDALL THOMPSON, JUNIOR

“85”–DARBY VINCENT, SOPHOMORE

“90” –CHRIS ROHRBAUGH

“46.2” –KATIE HUGHES, SENIOR

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO ONE HUNDRED, HOW

MUCH DO YOU DECORATE?

REPORTERAUBREY BANKS /REPORTERLANDON SUMMERS /

TRADITIONS&

The world has hundreds of cultures and nationalities, and as such many holidays exist. As we move towards the winter season, we realize

that Christmas and Hanukkah are not the only celebrations occurring in December.

There are holidays like “Hogmanay”, a traditional Scottish New Year’s Eve. The history came from the Vikings who once inhabited the Scottish shores. Some holidays are comparable to our traditions, like “Three King’s Day”, a celebration in Hispanic cultures where children leave their shoes out for the wise men to leave gifts, similar to how we hang up stockings for Santa.

冬季겨울

dimërhiver

invierno

musim dinginziema

veter

musim sejuk

invernozima

Winte

r

America has a wonderful way of bringing us all together during the holidays.

HYPE24

Cookie Controversy

Number of studentssurveyed

130Gingerbread38 PERCENT

Sugar28 PERCENT

Both Gingerbread and Sugar

38 PERCENT

Snickerdoodle5 PERCENT

Which cookie is the most seasonal?

“I’d want to see the north POLE AND SEE HIS WORKSHOP.” -KENDALL THOMPSON, JUNIOR

“I WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT SKIN products he would wear because he’s

really old but It’s hard to tell by hIs skIn.”-AVERY VANDEMBERG, SOPHOMORE

“I WOULD LIKE TO TELL HIM THAT HE WAS DOING A GREAT JOB AND

to tell Mrs. claus ‘hello.’”-KATIE HUGHES, SENIOR

“I’d ask how do you stay warM at HIGHER ALTITUDES, AND DO YOU GET

LIGHTHEADED WHEN YOU FLY?”-JOSHUA CANTRELL

“I’d ask how he stayed ALIVE SO LONG.”

-RUTH SKOLNICK-SHCUR, SOPHOMORE

“I’d ask hIM to trade chrIstMas COOKIE RECIPES WITH HIS WIFE.”

-SABRINA DRAKE, JUNIOR

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU MET SANTA?

There are many winter themed cookies, so we suveyed students and asked which one has

the most holiday spirit.

S

.

...

.

.

..

. ...

.

.

..

..

...

.

.

.

HYPE 25

HYPE26

Valentine’S

The holidays are here! It’s a time for all of us to celebrate materialism, wrap each other in garland and scream Christmas carols at the top of our lungs.

Now what comes after that eggnog-induced euphoria? Pink colored cards smothered in X’s and O’s, lined with lace and smothered with red and pink lipstick, words scribbled across that say, “Will You Be Mine?” Bouquets of colorful flowers, bursting with scents and fragrances. Large boxes covered in velvet and filled with chocolate, that bring along disgusting mango creme and sugar crashes.

That’s right, Valentine’s Day is approaching, and this year, we decided to help save couples. We asked how to ask someone out on a date, keep a healthy relationship and what and what not to buy. Take notes, Bulldogs, because it will be here before you know it.

PONDERINGValentine’s Day{ {REPORTERLANDON SUMMERS /

GIFTSGIFTSfrom a survey of 150 students

have received a stuffed animal

57%

52%have received

flowers

78%have received

cards

HYPE 27

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR Valentine’s Day?

How Do you keep a HealtHy relationsHip?

How Do you ask someone out on a Date?

SABRINA BRINKMAN

SOPHOMORE

MADDY JOPLIN

SOPHOMORE

CHICK-FIL-ATRUE LOVE

JORDAN ANDREWS

JUNIOR

BRAEDEN HALL

SOPHOMORE

WHITNEY ICE

ENGLISH TEACHER

HADLEIGH CALLAHAN

SOPHOMORE

USE YOUR WORDS HONESTY

BE YOURSELFDon’t Go toTHEIR FRIENDS

SPORTS28

COMPETITIVENESS IN SPORTS IS CHILL

High school sports grow a healthy amount of competitive spirit, a sense of nationalism, though for

high school. For this, I will use the term “schoolism.” We all know at the beginning of the year that posters

from cabinets of the other district high schools aren’t heartfelt, rather a false sentiment that is clouded by their own schoolism. A recent Twitter incident between Central and Glendale students was simply a healthy dose of competition, fueled by historic rivalries.

Why should student involvement in school-endorsed activities be questioned, as events such as spirit week and student-led groups like Paw Squad aim to grow student involvement in the school? These student-organized events and groups help the school grow as a whole by increasing the level of involvement of students who would otherwise not be involved, an idea that has been in the school district’s aim in recent years.

I am one hundred percent for the concept of growing student involvement and if that is by means of creating more buzz with these acts of “schoolism,” then I am a supporter of this overcompetitive use of sports.

ERIC COWAN / REPORTER

COMPETITIVENESS IN HIGH SCHOOL

SPORTS (IS) HEALTHY UP TO THE POINT OF (CAUSING) EXTREME

ANGER (IN) THE OTHER SCHOOLS.

JUNIOR SASI KARUPARTI

CENTRAL STUDENTS SURVEYED AGREE THAT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS EMPHASIZE SCHOOL SPIRIT.

92.9PERCENT

7.1PERCENT

AGREED DISAGREED

“

”

SPORTS 29

OR NAHI love sports and the competitiveness that comes with

it. But, in high school sports, it can go too far. I think the players are great, especially here at Central, but I feel like they have put too much pressure on themselves to win for their school due to the competitive feeling. As a school we should always have pride in our sports teams and support them no matter what.

Winning is not always the most important thing. I think competitiveness can cause conflicts, especially between other schools.

In an incident on Twitter after the district football game against Central and Glendale, students got in a verbal fight instigated by competitiveness for each of their teams. This is not what sports were created for. They were created to help athletes grow as people, to learn true teamwork and sportsmanship, and to be physically active and stay healthy.

NOAH HENKLE / REPORTER

CENTRAL STUDENTS SURVEYED SEEM TO BE EVENLY SPLIT ON THE ISSUE OF WHETHER HIGH

SCHOOL SPORTS ARE TOO COMPETITIVE.

49.4PERCENT

50.6PERCENT

DISAGREEDAGREED

STATISTICS BASED ON A SURVEY OF 85 CENTRAL STUDENTS.

”

SPORTS30

ATHLETE HIGHLIGHTC

entral is widely known for our academic excellence

rather than athletics, though Kaitlin Whitten and

Jaslyn Williams attempt to overcome that idea.

Senior Kaitlin Whitten is a team leader for the 2015-

16 girl’s swimming team, taking after her first three years of her high school career spent looking up to the senior

swimmers.

“I started my freshman year—the first year I had swam competitively—and I think at the time I was just looking to

find a team where I would enjoy myself,” Whitten said. “I think I found that I really liked it when I went to state my

freshman year as an alternate and realised that I could be

really good.”Kaitlin hopes that in her senior year, she can lead the

team to state in an individual event. Whitten participates in

several events, but she prefers the 200. “The 200 feels the

best. It is long enough that if I get a bad start, I can make it

up without getting too tired,” Whitten said.Though, this bulldog swimmer does not stop at doing

well in the pool, as she also strives to continue her

education. Kaitlin Whitten signed with Tabor College in

Hillsboro, Kansas. As a student-athlete, Whitten hopes to

study in mathematics and secondary education.

Fellow senior Jaslyn Williams is well on her way to

bulldog fame, as this Track and Basketball star leads

both teams after playing in past years.

Williams began running track in her 8th grade year, and

has already attracted much attention. After her sophomore

track season, she was contacted by many colleges that

recognized her potential. Though Williams does want

to continue running into college, she continues to run

because of her love for the sport.

She uses track to get her mind off other things. The

thrill of being able to run quickly makes it even more

exhilarating. Williams finds track to be her favorite sport and uses the basketball season to grow more physically

strong before track season rolls around.

Williams plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.

Both of these girls are incredible athletes in their

respective sports, though still remain active in school and

each work part-time jobs. These girls epitomize what it

means to be a bulldog—extremely hard-working and well-

rounded.

JASLYN WILLIAMS

KAITLIN WHITTEN

FAVORITE ATHLETE: ANTHONY ERVIN

FAVORITE ATHLETE: JESSICA WASHINGTON

SENIOR, SWIMMER

SENIOR, BASKETBALL AND TRACK

ERIC COWAN / REPORTER

SPORTS 31

MIZZOU CONFLICTFOOTBALL TEAM STANDS UP AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

In October a revolt began to grow as students at the University

of Missouri became more and more angered with rising racial tensions on campus. This began as students reported many instances of alleged race-driven acts of hatred.

The most obscene event was when a student drew a swastika in human feces in one of the school’s bathrooms. A student also went on a hunger strike to protest racial discrimination, which he believed kept students from being able to learn.

In response to these racial events, the Mizzou football team protested and refused to play until the school president, Tim Wolfe, resigned. This event surrounded the news and showed the team’s huge support for the African American community on campus.

I commend the team for sticking

up for their fellow classmates. They stood up for what they believed was right.

The team put a lot at stake with this protest. They put their record in the Southeastern Conference on the line and were on the verge of forfeiting a game with Brigham Young University. This would have caused the college to be fined one million dollars due to an agreement between the two schools.

This is a big deal and I think it is great that the football players are willing to ruin their record for the season to protest with the students. Coach Gary Pinkel gave his full support to the team, which I believe is also important. Staff members need to listen to what students are saying about issues and respond accordingly.

I find it crazy however that the football team had to protest and risk

the university money before the school board could react to the situation at hand.

Additionally, president Tim Wolfe should have resigned sooner. He should have admitted the mistakes made by the university in response to protests, which lasted for over a week.

This wave of events has shown the power the collegiate sports teams have. Without the Tigers football players being defiant, nothing would have been done. Students would still be protesting and president Wolfe would still have his position.

I hope in the future that school leaders see this issue as an opportunity to handle racial problems differently by reacting to the needs of students faster and in a more efficient way. Sports groups should not have to be the advocates to end protests.

“THE MIZZOU FAMILY STANDS AS ONE. WE ARE UNITED. WE ARE BEHIND OUR PLAYERS.”

COACH GARY PINKEL

“THE ATHLETES OF COLOR ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI FOOTBALL TEAM TRULY BELIEVE ‘INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.’”

MIZZOU FOOTBALL TEAM

NOAH HENKLE / REPORTERSPORTS COLUMN

GRACE DEPPERSCHMIDT / GRAPHICS EDITOR