The Patriot staff huddles together for warmth in their makeshift classroom in the SMESL one rainy afternoon on May 10. They had been using old Patriot issues to fuel their camp’s fire until this morning when the rain put it out. Assistant Editor-in-Chief junior Emily Wilkinson spoke about how they became homeless.

“The school administration came into class one 5th hour and told us we had to move,” Wilkinson explained. “They said they needed room for a Broadmore program and that they were going to kick-out the journalism department to make it happen.”

When asked what students and staff could do to help Wilkinson responded with desperation.

“Please, can you spare us some food? Or a good quote?” Wilkinson pleaded.

The Patriot staff will be moved to the Japanese language room next year, but for the time being, they remain homeless. The upcoming change only added strain to the relationship between the Patriot staff and the Japanese language students.

“Last night they managed to get one of our own, and about a week ago they launched a sneak attack and stole most of our Patriot copies! I mean, we understand it, our stories are pretty much irresistible, but still,” Wilkinson said.

Students are over the school have been dearly sorry for the Patriot staff’s loss.

“What’s the Patriot?” asked one dejected student.

On May 9 the staff was forcibly removed from English teacher Travis Gatewood’s classroom after they attempted to camp out in his room and use his computers to work on the May issue of the Patriot.

“They’re an eyesore,” Gatewood said. “They took up residence in a room that wasn’t theirs and hindered the KSMS students from finishing their assignments.”

Julie Fales, the advisor to the Patriot staff, also felt the full brunt of this classroom change.

“Guys, what are you doing in the SMESL? Go home!” said Fales in what was clearly an attempt to console her classroom-less students.

“Home? What home? Room 195 isn’t ours anymore,” A&E Editor Nanae Urano said in response to Fales.

After this exchange, Fales rolled her eyes and walked back into the school. The entire staff, Fales included, was clearly inconsolable.

The students have been hoping for a new classroom in the SMESL but have been unable to acquire a zoning permit.

“They’re out to get us I swear!,” Wilkinson said, exasperated. “They don’t want us in room 195, they don’t want us sharing rooms with another class and they won’t let us build a new classroom anywhere. We can’t win.

Unfortunately, there is some worry now that some members of the homeless and disheartened Patriot staff have started hanging out with some dangerous people as a result of losing their room.

“The other day we say Lauren hanging out with some other homeless people. They seemed kind of dangerous. We don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to make it out here. It’s a rough life,” Urano said.

The Patriot staff continues to fight through this troubled time, and their story serves as a source of a valuable lesson to us all: life is tough sometimes, you just have to fight through it with the help of your friends and family. Also don’t be a Drama Queen.

Students can expect full coverage of the staff’s experiences in the next monthly issue of the Patriot.