The student-run newspaper of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy

The Liberator

The student-run newspaper of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy

The Liberator

The student-run newspaper of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy

The Liberator

Fighting for a Piece of the Pie
Fighting for a Piece of the Pie
Ethan Stern, Staffer • October 16, 2023

With their fresh Detroit-style pizza and retro vibe, Via 313 is an Austin staple, but with rising rent costs and declining working conditions, the workers feel that they should be treated better. In August 2022, Via 313...

Club Crazy: Volume 50, Edition 1
Club Crazy: Volume 50, Edition 1
Giovanni Alejo Aguilar, Bishop Britt, and Margot Morgan October 16, 2023

Aircraft Club Giovanni Alejo Aguilar | Staffer The Aircraft Club, led by President and LASA freshman Daniel Canache, is a place for aviation enthusiasts to learn more about the field through hands-on learning experiences....

Teens Bring Climate Case to Supreme Court
Gordon Streber, Staffer • October 16, 2023

Teens across the U.S. are suing states, and winning, according to the New York Times. In 2020, Our Children’s Trust, a nonprofit group from Montana that sues on behalf of youth fighting climate cases, started working on...

Texans Take on Constitutional Propositions
Texans Take on Constitutional Propositions
Lilah O’Dair, Staffer • October 16, 2023

Texas is holding a constitutional amendment election on Nov. 7 over 14 new measures, or proposed plans of action, that cover numerous topics ranging from creating new Texas funds to abolishing certain government offices.  One...

View All
Editorial: Hazing Epidemic Wreaks Havoc
Editorial: Hazing Epidemic Wreaks Havoc
Norah Hussaini and Wintyr Rice October 16, 2023

Hearing upperclassmen speak of a pool on top of the T-annex at the new campus my sophomore year was convincing. Had it not been for the slight smirk that accompanied each senior who was a part of these conversations, I might’ve...

Editorial: DeSantis Bans AP Classes
Editorial: DeSantis Bans AP Classes
Ethan Stern and Sanwi Sarode October 16, 2023

In January 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis banned Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies in classrooms. The act that halted this AP course from being approved was the Stop WOKE Act which DeSantis signed in April...

Editorial: PragerU Curriculum Makes False Seem Factual
Wintyr Rice, Commentary Editor • October 16, 2023

There’s a new wave of far-right propaganda coming for schools, only this time it's wrapped in the shiny veneer of state-sanctioned educational materials. In late July, Florida approved Prager University Foundation (PragerU)...

Editorial: Self-Driving Roadway Being Considered
Sadie Sarrat, Staffer • October 16, 2023

Austin’s population has been skyrocketing within the past few years, and in order to keep up with the increased number of people on the road, city planners created a proposal to expand roads and highways. In April 2023,...

View All
IN BETWEEN THE GROOVES | Antone’s Record Shop’s mural shines among vinyls.
For The Record: Local Austin Vinyl Shops
Katie Busby, Ben Goodman, and Ellington Tough October 16, 2023

Austin has donned the title of the “Live Music Capital of the World”, and with that title comes an extensive selection of record stores. According to the Texas Music Industry Directory, the Austin area is home to around...

Day Of The Dead in Austin
Rebeca Gonzalez, Staffer • October 16, 2023

Since the Aztec Empire, Día de los Muertos has been a time of reverence to honor those who have come before. It is a celebration of the lives of lost loved ones and a way to remember one’s ancestors. Celebrated on Nov....

Micd Up
Mic'd Up
Margot Morgan and Ben Goodman October 16, 2023

From influencers like Emma Chamberlain to news outlets like the New York Times, delving into the world of podcasting has become a dominant form of entertainment in an increasingly connected world. According to the Pew Research...

Symbols of Celebration
Symbols of Celebration
Megan Gerold and Amelia Coleman October 16, 2023

Calaveras Calaveras, or sugar skulls, can hold different meanings for people. For some, calaveras brighten up the altars of their deceased loved ones, representing the sweetness of life of departed souls. For others,...

View All
GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR | The LASA Velocity Dance team is all smiles as the student section celebrates a win.
Student Section Shows Spirit and Support
Esmé Kessler, Staffer • October 16, 2023

High school football culture is practically mythologized in American high school movies such as “High School Musical”, “Mean Girls”, and “The Breakfast Club”, according to interviewees. At LASA, the student section...

Rising in the Ranks
Rising in the Ranks
Harrison Chambers and Miller Williams October 16, 2023

The split of LASA’s athletics program from LBJ Early College High School (LBJ) occurred in 2020, just one year before the separation of campuses. Currently, LASA offers eighteen University Interscholastic League (UIL) sports...

Pickleball Popularity Explodes
Pickleball Popularity Explodes
Georgia Fink, Staffer • October 16, 2023

With the widely felt feelings of isolation brought on by the COVID-19 lockdowns, many looked for ways to reconnect and spend time with other people. The age-old yet newly repopularized sport of pickleball has proven to be...

New Athletic Trainer
Pratik Gurijala, Staffer • October 16, 2023

This year, LASA hired athletic trainer Calvin Ta to support LASA’s ever-growing number of athletes. Having graduated with a master’s degree in athletic training from Texas Tech University, the Houston native is eager...

View All
INDEPTH: Charting Their Own Course
INDEPTH: Charting Their Own Course
Lasya Sangana and Sadie Cravotta October 16, 2023

Teachers at LASA have often had the opportunity to be creative with what they teach, including designing their own electives. Kimberly Pettigrew, a LASA World History and U.S. History teacher, used this chance to create...

Growing Incoming Class Size and its Impact on LASA
Growing Incoming Class Size and its Impact on LASA
Harrison Chambers, Staffer • October 16, 2023

Jammed hallways and dwindling parking spaces are the symptoms of LASA’s increased student population, which is larger than Johnston High School's biggest ever. This year’s student body tops last year's total of 1,309...

LASA Implements New Rules Around Campus
LASA Implements New Rules Around Campus
Izzy Cravotta, Staffer • October 16, 2023

Throughout the years, the regulations at LASA have changed gradually. However, this year, there have been larger changes regarding the administration's rules and expectations. Examples of these changes include stricter phone...

New College Counselor
New College Counselor
Apollo Dahmus, Staffer • October 16, 2023

As LASA seniors scramble to meet college deadlines, they turn to college counselors for advice to help them finalize their college materials. This year, Rubi Zeledón has joined the college guidance team as a new college...

View All
Walpole and Maxfield Henderson cut shapes out of paper for their screen prints.
LASA Art Honor Society: Photo Gallery
Giovanni Alejo Aguilar, Staffer • November 7, 2023

LASA Art Honor society is one of the school's most laid back and creative clubs, serving as a collaborative space for artists to grow their skills and work outside the classroom. At each meeting, the club focuses on a different...

Humans of LASA: Volume 50, Edition 1
Humans of LASA: Volume 50, Edition 1
Leah Lashus, Staffer • October 16, 2023

Advika Sharma | Senior Advika Sharma is a senior at LASA who participates in many school clubs and activities outside of school. She takes a special interest in dance and taekwondo. Sharma said that throughout her life,...

Anti-LGBTQ+ Protestors Strike Austin Schools
Isabel Kramer, Club Contributor • October 16, 2023

On Aug. 22, 2023, students at McCallum High School were alerted before dismissal that a group of professional protesters were outside the school waiting for them. That day, many students' social media showed videos of protesters...

New Year, New Clubs
Izzy Cravotta, Staffer • October 16, 2023

Every year, students are encouraged to come up with ideas for new clubs. This requires them to create and finalize their plan, find an advisor, and promote the club to newcomers. This year, there are a number of new clubs,...

The Jobs of LASA Students
Deven Sharma, Staffer • October 16, 2023

All students have to fill their free time, whether by playing a sport, participating in extracurriculars, or traveling over breaks. But for some LASA students, weekends and other days off from school are filled by a job that...

Students Find Sales Success
Bridget Dunleavy, Staffer • October 16, 2023

“She likes baking cookies and I like making money,” Riley Wayt joked when asked about the creation of Houdini Cookies, a business run by him and his partner, Piper Chen. Chen laughed and responded, “I’m always carrying...

A row of colorfully painted senior parking spots, created over the summer by the class of 2024.
Senior Parking Spots: Photo Gallery
Lilah O’Dair, Staffer • September 29, 2023

For the first time, LASA seniors were allowed to paint custom parking spots in the senior parking lot. Everything was fair game, from Taylor Swift song lyrics to the Finding Nemo seagulls to a parody of the Mona Lisa.

The two teams face off at the line of scrimmage split seconds before the play starts. During this moment of tension, players must be careful not to jump too early.
LASA Football's 2023 Season Opener: Photo Gallery
Deven Sharma, Staffer • September 5, 2023

On August 25th, the LASA Raptors opened the season strong with a 23-7 road win over the St. Andrew's Highlanders. The team showed strong improvements on both sides of the ball; senior quarterback Roman Edwards' offense scored...

View All
Staff Profile
Sanwi Sarode
Sanwi Sarode
Copy Editor

Sanwi Sarode is a senior and one of the Lead Editors (Copy) for The Liberator. This is her fourth year with the paper and she wants to continue The Liberator's tradition of sending out interesting,...

Harrison Chambers is a freshman and staffer for the LASA newspaper. During his first year, he strives to improve the newspaper in any way. Harrison is dedicated to providing a creative and insightful...

Hi Everyone! My name's Alex and I'm this year's finance editor of the newspaper. I was previously the graphics editor and I'm really looking forward to continuing to support and grow the newspaper in this...

Megan Gerold
Megan Gerold
Entertainment Editor

Megan Gerold is a Sophomore and Co-entertainment section editor. Megan is committed to journalism, soccer, and writing in general. She believes that The Liberator is an amazing place and one of the...

Activate Search
The student-run newspaper of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy
The student-run newspaper of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy