The Bruin

THE BRUIN

?

WHAT’S GOING ON WITH MAC HIGH’S LOW COLLEGE ENROLLMENT RATE

87% OF MAC HIGH STUDENTS GRADUATE ON TIME FROM HIGH SCHOOL

­≈30% OF MAC HIGH GRADS GRADUATE WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE

3.10.2017 VOL 99 NUMBER 4

50% OF MAC HIGH GRADUATES ENROLL IN COLLEGE THE NEXT FALL

23% OF MCMINNVILLE RESIDENTS AGE 25+ HOLD A COLLEGE DEGREE

FOR COVER STORY, GO TO PAGE 3

whoweare

a guide to navigating the issue JENNA FOLLIN

mhs bruin. com

THE BRUIN since 1918

The Bruin is a registered member of the National Scholastic Press Association.

National Awards of The Bruin

Instant news on the web

National Pace Maker award-winner for 2001, 2002, 2004 National Pace Maker Finalist for years 2000-2005 National Design of the Year 2001, 2002 All National awards are distributed by the National Scholastic Press Association

opinions Derek Myers discusses the benefits of an A/B schedule on page 5.

Letters to the Editor Policy Letters should be limited to 200 words and may be subject to editing for libelous and/or obscene content as well as length. All letters must be signed and names will be published. Submission of material is not a guarantee of publication. Letters may be dropped off in Room 227 or mailed to The Bruin, McMinnville High School, 615 E. 15th St., McMinnville, OR 97128.

inside this issue

news

Bringing Home Gold

Jake Fowler investigates the recent rise in crime throughout Mac on page 4.

The McMinnville Cheer team brings home a state trophy to Mac High

pages 12-13

Fresh Flavors Elizabeth Kokoroda explores the new food that Mac’s food trucks have to offer.

page 22

features

CORRECTION: In our last issue it came to the attention of the Bruin that the statistic on the front cover “Nearly One in Three MHS Juniors is Getting Stoned,” was inaccurate.

McMinnville High School did not participate in the county-wide Healthy Teen Survey that was used for the cover story statistic.

Find out how Unity Week made an impact on MHS students on pages 16-17.

Drop the Beat MHS Rappers are highlighted for their funky fresh rhymes and off the charts mixtapes 2

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

page 15

The Bruin is a member of Quill and Scroll, International Honorary Society for High School Students, The Journalism Education Association, and Northwest Scholastic Press.

HANNAH SIEPMANN Editor-in-Chief EMMA BEYER Editor-in-Chief DIANA DENNEY Managing Editor CHEYENNE DROVER News Editor TOMMY DOUGLASS Opinions Editor EMMA SIEPMANN Opinions Editor MARI SATO Features Editor CELESTE SHEARER Out and About Editor DEVON MILLER Sports Editor GRACE LEE What’s Bruin Editor LEO MARTINEZ Food Focus Editor ZOE HAYES Art Focus Editor KATHY BEYER Adviser

Contact The Bruin (503) 565-4159 www.mhsbruin.com

REPORTERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

ANDRES MORALES ANGELA TISZKUS ANNIE CHRISTMAN BRADY SHIELDS CAITLIN PELLETIER CORRIN WILMARTH DEREK MYERS DEVIN BALDWIN ELIZABETH KOKORUDA GABE ROMERO JAKE FOWLER JENNA FOLLIN LUIS STRAUB MARY STEEPROW MIGUEL LOEZA OMAR HERNANDEZ ORION ANDERSON

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR CHEYENNE DROVER

news After High School: College Enrollment Rate Mac High has a high rate of graduating seniors, but nearly half of those students do not enroll in four-year universities

OF MAC HIGH GRADUATES ENROLL IN COLLEGE THE NEXT FALL

BY HANNAH SIEPMANN editor

Fewer than half of Mac High students enroll in college, and even fewer graduate. Despite MHS’s particularly high graduation rate of nearly 90 percent, only 46-51 percent enroll in a four year college the following year, a number significantly lower than both the Oregon and national averages. The school district is working hard to determine the cause of MHS’s comparatively low college enrollment rates and find ways to raise the number of college-bound students.

A key reason why many students opt to immediately join the workforce instead of attending college is the pure finances and economic burden of a college education.

“We have many lower-income families in the community, and so many students have to rely on financial aid for college,” said Maria Sandoval-Perez from the College and Career Center. For many MHS students, using financial aid packages and scholarships is the only way to make attending college a possibility. Only 23 percent of adults in McMinnville have a Bachelor’s degree, so many MHS students would be first-generation college students.

“There’s the notion of breaking generational poverty.

We need to help students believe that they can get to college,” said district superintendent Maryalice Russell.

Many Mac High students choose to attend Chemeketa after graduation instead of a four-year university for both financial and geographic reasons. “Half of our students

OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS CREATING A COLLEGE- GOING MENTALIT Y. -TONY VICKNAIRwho go to college go to Chemeketa,” said MHS principal Tony Vicknair, “They can live at home so they don’t have to pay a lot of the fees that they would for a four year college.” Students on the free lunch program, who make up roughly 60 percent of the student body, qualify for the Pell Grant, which gives them around $4,000 to pay for college, which would make Chemeketa completely free. MHS students have been taking advantage of this

50%

opportunity and getting a free education, even if it doesn’t get them a Bachelor’s degree.

Students also tend to choose Chemeketa because of MHS’s program that allows them to earn dual credit.

“Our system that allows students to earn college credits while still in high school helps motivate them to go to college because they already have a college transcript,” said Russell, “They sometimes think that college-level work would be too difficult for them, but we can prove to them that they can do it because they’ve already started doing it.” However, only 15 percent of Chemeketa students actually finish with an Associate’s Degree, which is a much lower graduation rate than that from Oregon’s four-year colleges.

In the eyes of both the school and district administration, though, an education from a community college or trade school is just as valuable as one from a four-year university. “We’re trying to match a student’s aptitude and interest with his or her skills and knowledge,” said Russell, “The decision to attend a fouryear college, a community college, or a trade school is all dependent on what an individual student is interested in and what they like to do.” Russell’s priority is for students to make enough money to support their families and live comfortably, so if they can achieve this by attending community college or trade school then that level of education makes the most sense.

“Our biggest goal is creating a collegegoing mentality,” said Vicknair. The high school is implementing new strategies to get students excited about going to college and prepared to apply and enroll, including college-gear Wednesdays and evening FAFSA workshops. A major new addition to MHS’s system of helping students get to college is the AVID program, which began in the 2015-16 school year and has more than doubled in size for this year. “We have 125 students in AVID and are trying to add two or three classes each year,” said Vicknair, “This will raise the rate of students enrolling in college because it will increase the number of kids realizing their dreams.”

In addition to AVID, Mac High has recently started offering the Juntos program, which allows Latino students and their families to visit college campuses and see the benefits of a college education. “Families often don’t understand that when their child goes off to college and has a more comfortable life than they otherwise would, it benefits the whole family,” said Russell. Juntos allows not only students but also their younger siblings and extended family to see how investing in higher education can lead to a better lifestyle for everyone.

MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT IN A K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM LIKE OURS, WE’RE DONE AFTER THE STUDENTS GRADUATE, BUT THAT ’S NOT WHERE OUR WORK ENDS. -MARYALICE RUSSELLMHS is starting to implement new ways of tracking students after high school in order to have more data about how many students graduate from college and how many succeed in a career right after high school.

The district is starting to put more of a focus on seeing where students go after graduation. “There are many students who have the potential to be very successful but don’t enroll in college, so we’re starting to call them the summer after graduation to help show them how college could help them,” said Russell, “Many people think that in a k-12 education system like ours, we’re done after the students graduate, but that’s not where our work ends.”

Russell and Vicknair are confident that college enrollment rates will increase in the next few years. “The FAFSA being sooner helps this because it gives students more time to make good decisions instead of scrambling during the summer to decide what they’re doing.” This change in timing combined with the high school’s efforts to get students prepared to apply and enroll will lead to a positive change in the college-going culture at MHS.

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

3

A Chance to Volunteer AmeriCorps allows young adults to make differences in their communities and their country by offering a variety of hands-on service tasks

The incidents of crime within McMinnville have increased, as a serial bank robber hits five banks in Oregon and a man is stabbed in the Burger King parking

BY JAKE FOWLER writer

4

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

ZOE HAYES

AmeriCorps is a program that relies on team-based volunteer activity to build healthy and strong communities in partnership with other non-profit organizations like local municipalities, state governments, federal government, national and state parks, native tribes, and schools.

This program welcomes men and women age 18-24 who are looking to invest fulltime in volunteer work. People who join will be assigned to one of the five campuses nationwide: Denver, Colorado; Vicksburg, Mississippi; Sacramento, California; Vinton, Iowa; or Baltimore, Maryland.

The program is separated into two different factions: Traditional Corps, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Traditional Corps follows the model of the program that was originally replicated after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s and the US military. Members of the traditional corps are assigned to campuses in teams of ten and complete hands-on service tasks such as “youth development activities, constructing and rehabilitating low-income housing, cleaning up streams, helping communities develop emergency plans, filling and installing sandbags for local communities to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters, educating people on sustainability and energy conservation practices, constructing or repairing hiking trails in local and national parks across America, receiving, inventory, and distributing donated food and other goods, removing exotic vegetation and planting new trees, making facilities handicap accessible and installing informative public signs, directly assisting veterans, homeless, and senior citizen populations and constructing and rehabilitating low-income housing development activity.” Traditional corps members travel regionally.

FEMA puts a higher focus on developing professional skills by focusing on emergency recovery services and long-term recovery activities. FEMA activities include projects like “educating communities, assessing needs, and collecting information, developing materials that promote disaster preparation to the public, ordering materials, tracking inventory, loading supplies, and managing IT equipment, updating electronic files, managing data, and compiling reports, working with nonprofits and government agencies to coordinate services for disaster survivors, helping survivors complete applications for disaster assistance, assessing and reporting damage to public facilities, setting up shelter operations and reunification of families and pets. FEMA members travel nationally.

In both organizations, potential members have the opportunity to apply as a Corps member or as a team leader. Corps members are dedicated for 10 months whereas team leaders are dedicated for 11. Whereas corps members have an age limit of 18-24, team leaders have no upward age limits. Corps members are given a $4,000 living budget and a $5,775 returning education budget, whereas team leaders are given a $12,500 living budget and a $5,775 returning education budget.

CHEYENNE DROVER

BY ANNIE CHRISTMAN writer

Over the past few months, it seems that there has been a sudden spike in criminal incidents in and around McMinnville. For starters, Oregon has been plagued by a serial bank robber, and even though he has been caught, his antics are just downright legendary. After a series of five bank robberies within the state, the mastermind has been tracked and captured by members of the U.S. Marshal Service, who subdued him in a motel in Astoria.

The suspect is a 53-year-old man by the name of Billy Dean Hayes, who uses a similar modus operandi in each of his criminal acts. Donning a black FBI hat, Hayes would walk into the bank unarmed, demand money from the bank teller and then merely walk out before any police units were able to respond to the silent alarm. Hayes was able to do this a total of five times, and two were right here in McMinnville.

IN MCMINNVILLE, YOU HAVE A ONE IN 31 CHANCE OF BEING A VIC TIME OF ANY CRIME. -AREA VIBES WEBSITEAnother major crime story that takes place in McMinnville is the vicious and impulsive stabbing of a man outside of Burger King. On a Wednesday night in January, police units were dispatched to the scene where a 30-yearold man had been inflicted with a three inch knife wound across his neck. As soon as the victim was guaranteed medical care, police ventured out to search for the perpetrator, which ended quickly after he was subdued near the OSU Extension service on Lafayette Avenue.

The suspect was taken to jail, where he was charged with assault in the second degree and the unlawful use of a weapon. As for the victim, he was treated at the Willamette Valley Medical Center where he was later released.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITORS EMMA SIEPMANN AND TOMMY DOUGLASS

opinions Mediocre Millennials Do Millennials deserve the bad rap?

BY EMMA BEYER editor

EMMA BEYER

Each issue the The Bruin Editorial Board meets to discuss the topics of the school and give their opinion.

The board is chaired by Hannah Siepmann & Emma Beyer [Co-editors].

A B C D F

MHS ALL-STARS

MHS is on a winning streak! The Cheer team won the OSAA Large Co-Ed Cheer Championships and is heading to nationals in Anaheim. Cheer improved on their second place finish from last year and were able to upset Thurston and Lebanon for the championship. Pro-Start also finished first in the state and will also be attending nationals in South Carolina. Prostart prepared a three course meal with no electricity or running water in under 60 minutes. Congratulations to all of our champions!

SENIORS GET SHORTER SEMESTER

It is the pride and joy of seniors not to make up any snow days, and lucky for them there were plenty of days off this year. Aside from getting out a week early for graduation anyway, seniors don’t have to stay until June 21 due to make up days like the rest of MHS. Therefore seniors end up having two weeks less of second semester compared to their younger classmates. Seniors, enjoy your extended summer-- you’ve earned it!

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

In my house, we listen to singer/songwriter Van Morrison, instead of Taylor Swift. His song “Keep Mediocrity at Bay” from the album Magic Time rings truer to me than the song “Shake it Off.” Why is it that we celebrate mediocrity? Millennials are known for their laziness, entitlement and unrealistic ambition. These are the people who were born between the 1980’s and the early 2000’s, and who are currently walking down the halls of Mac High.

This generation has been showered in participation ribbons, creating a false self-confidence that, when applied to the real world, shatters. The celebration of mediocrity surrounds us. It absorbs itself into people’s lives, specifically within the millennial generation. It’s the truth.

It’s not entirely the millennial generation’s fault that they have this false confidence. It’s partially because of the way they were brought up. Students are being told that they are already the best and as a result they don’t work as hard. It’s my observation that this is no different at McMinnville High School.

Take open periods for example. Colleges don’t like it when a student has open periods. Colleges

assume that the student is lazy, because they aren’t taking a full course load. Even though I did not take any open periods until senior year, College Admissions Offices warned me not to take any unless I had an internship, job or other reasonable explanation. Did you know that the competition for all post-high school programs is fierce? Open periods can bring down an otherwise stellar student.

I’ve had outstanding teachers at MHS who have challenged and pushed me, but I have also had the other end of the spectrum. Some teachers have told me Bs are okay. Students should always be pushed to earn an A. In life, if a student were to do their work with the effort equivalent to a B or C grade they would not reach their full potential.

In our very own cover story this issue, Hannah Siepmann reports that there are only 23.1 percent of people 25 years or older in McMinnville that have a college degree, whereas the state average is higher with 30.1 percent. We can do better.

Our generation is labeled as being apathetic and arrogant. Why can’t we be the generation known for their determination, achievement and civic-mindedness? This is our generation, our legacy. We can do it millennials, let’s keep mediocrity at bay.

Construction equipment can be seen littering the parking lot of MHS. While it is exciting to see the start of a new era at MHS, it is inconvenient for students to navigate the parking lot and even more so for the neighbors who have to deal with noise and increased student parking on the streats. We wish the project a speedy and safe construction and look forward to seeing the finished product.

RAINIEST FEBRUARY IN OREGON HISTORY One common theme of February 2017? Rain. In fact February has seen the largest accumulated rainfall in Oregon history. While some rain can be fun, we are tired of seeing clouds overhead everyday and not being able to hang out outside. Our fingers are crossed for some beautiful weather in the VERY near future.

TWITTER TENSIONS Tempers once again flared on Twitter, but this time it was regarding Unity Week. One student started a group chat titled #NOTMYUNITYWEEK which invited students to skip the voices panel if they chose. This prompted backlash and internet arguments. It was sad to see divisiveness in the school. Admin was quick to look into the incident and luckily most people were still able to enjoy Unity Week. Hopefully this is the last of the Twitter fights and we can all get along in the future.

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

5

Animal Emergency

After the Academy Award for Best Picture was handed out to La La Land instead of Moonlight, students and staff share their picks for the best film of 2016-17

Caring for and about animals of all species is more important than their cuteness

BY CHEYENNE DROVER news editor LEONARDO RODRIGUEZ

BY E M MA S I E PMA N N opinions editor

“LA LA LAND SHOULD’VE WON BECAUSE THEY WERE GIVEN THE AWARD FIRST.” EMILY CINNAMON, 10

“I’M GLAD THAT MOONLIGHT GOT THE AWARD BECAUSE THEY WERE ACTUALLY PICKED AS THE BEST MOVIE.” CAMERON URQUHART, 11

“LA LA LAND. BECAUSE RYAN GOSLING. DUH.” The Ringling Brother’s Circus will hold its final performance in May. While ticket sales had already been decreasing due to lack of interest, the loss of the circus’ elephants are expected to worsen sales. There have been many arguments over whether keeping these animals in captivity is humane or not and after multiple protests and lawsuits from animal rights groups the circus will be turning their elephants over to a reservation center. The circus will, however, retain other animals such as lions and tigers.

In recent years, there has been a large backlash against companies and people keeping wild animals in captivity.

In 1919, the year the Ringling Brother’s Circus was founded, there was more interest in observing exotic creatures than debating the ethics of their captivity. Lions, tigers, camels and elephants interest people who have never seen them before, and become more impressive when taught to perform. A man who can stand nose to nose with a tiger, lions that sit up on their hind legs on command, and elephants 6

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

that link trunks and tails to parade around the ring bring a sense of wonder into the eyes of the public.

On the other hand, is it worth it to use non-domestic animals in such a way? As much as people would like to believe that a tiger can behave in the same way that a house cat does, wild animals will never be as docile as domesticated animals. It’s so common to hear a friend mention that they would love to have a cute animal as a pet. A picture of a lion, tiger, koala, fox, or other fluffy animal sends people into fits of happiness, and many claim to want any cute creature they see. While this could be meant as a joke, others are entirely serious about owning and caring for an undomesticated animal-- regardless of whether or not they can afford it. This is a problematic way of thinking. Wild animals that must be rehabilitated or will never return to their habitat should not be exploited. It is more appropriate to care for their well being-- not to fawn over them.

FAUSTO GOMEZ, 11

“I LIKED THE DIVERSITY SHOWN IN MOONLIGHT SO I THINK IT IS COOL THAT THEY ENDED UP WINNING THE OSCAR.”

DARCY HUSTON, STAFF

TELL ME something good

Is the A/B Schedule Beneficial?

A regular column to celebrate the goodness at MHS

Despite its problems, the A/B schedule allows for a better learning environment for students

WRESTLING WIN

BY DEREK MYERS writer All throughout high school you have been subjected to the A/B schedule, and most people have become complacent with it. The A/B schedule brings good, but isn’t often questioned for whether or not it is a more valid way of going to class than just going every day.

Going to class every other day can pose problems when there are an odd number of days between classes. Teachers often assign long, tedious weekend homework on an “A” day class that poses a problem for those taking the same class on a “B” day without that luxury.

Certain skills need to be practiced next to every day to become effective, and the A/B schedule doesn’t follow that fact. It is harder to build up muscle in a fitness class when there isn’t a more regular work out schedule. Longer classes

also help lead up to wasted time when teachers don’t know how to fill an entire hour and a half with instruction.

Shorter more frequent classes could lead to a more productive and efficient way of learning.

While having drawbacks, the A/B schedule still allows for more time to be allotted in classes that need it. It also permits more classes to be taken, as it would be hard to reasonably fit eight classes into one day. Every class backs up to a substantial break.

The A/B schedule is in no way something that is majorly detrimental to our learning here at school, but it should be examined in order to get the maximum amount of proficiency out of the students and teachers here at Mac High.

At the state championships last weekend, Brian Barnes had the defining moment of his high school wrestling career--winning first place in the state! Brian competed in the 285lb weight class and placed first, giving him an undefeated record for his senior season. Right behind Brian was junior Michael Abeyta, who won second place in the 145lb class. Overall, the Grizzly wrestlers took home a 12th place win. Way to go Brian and the MHS wrestling team!

Are Jobs or School More Important?

Today students must juggle obligations and choose to prioritize either jobs or school

BY DEVON MILLER spor ts editor If students had to decide between school or getting a job, the obvious answer would have to be neither, but society deems both necessary to succeed in life. Unfortunately, many students have to decide if they want to focus mainly on school or adding a job to the already hectic life of a teenager.

Obviously, going to school should be one of the top priorities for students because it gives them the groundwork for being a functioning human being with life skills such as problem solving, time management, active listening, and many more that will help with future job prospects later in life. Having a part time job is also a great way to obtain these life skills; however, it is very difficult to balance school and work, especially, if students are heavily involved in their coursework and school activities such as sports, clubs, or leadership.

Scheduling is also a huge issue when trying to juggle a job and going to school. This is because more often than

not students have a hard time trying to find an open spot in their schedule that fits in between going to class and their extracurricular activities. This usually makes it so students are stuck working on the weekends instead of hanging out with friends, which results in small paychecks and unhappy teenagers. For those who do find time to work during the weekday, trying to fit homework in is an extremely difficult task and may result in a few underwhelming essays and test scores.

Even though it is very hard to balance school and work is a necessary evil in many students lives since in today’s world nothing is free. I obviously think going to school and earning a diploma is a much more important thing in students’ lives than a part time job because in the long run getting a diploma will allow students to earn much more money than a part time job will every get them. However, as long as students are able to balance the two and still manage to stay alive, I see nothing wrong with doing both.

SHAKIN’ IT UP WITH SHAKESPEARE Huge congratulations go out to senior Michael Martinoff, who won the regional Shakespeare competition at Lewis and Clark College this past weekend. This competition entail reciting and performing Shakespeare’s sonnets and monologues. He is the third consecutive winner from MHS, and we are very proud of his accomplishment. He also earned himself a trip to New York City in April to compete again in the national competition at Lincoln Center.

We wish him lots of luck on the next step in his journey and we can’t wait to see where he will go.

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

7

EDITORS SAY “PEACE OUT”

Two-year Bruin editors Emma Beyer and Hannah Siepmann say goodbye to the paper and MHS as they hand over the reins to junior Diana Denney It’s almost over. Four years’ worth of history outlines, late-night essay writing, and tardy bells that seem to ring about two seconds longer than you think they should. I still get lost in the halls sometimes. But in my time at Mac High, I’ve had innumerable opportunities to expand my knowledge and gain leadership skills. I get to oversee the entire process of producing a newspaper all the way from sitting around the couches in the Bruin room and brainstorming ideas to handing the finished paper out to every student at MHS. This process has given me so many valuable skills; my freshman year I was terrified to interview people, so I started writing opinions pieces just so I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone. And now, four years later, I’m interviewing the district superintendent for the cover story.

IN MY TIME AT MAC HIGH, I’ VE HAD INNUMERABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND MY KNOWLEDGE AND GAIN LEADERSHIP SKILLS. I’ve had teachers during my time here who have inspired me to not only work hard in my academics but to start making a difference in my community even though I haven’t gone out into the “real world” yet. This inspiration to change the world has made me so much more excited about my classes because I want to be prepared to be as effective as I can be after high school.

I’ve gotten these opportunities and connections for myself, though. In a public school as big as Mac High, one has to work hard to advocate for oneself in order to not slip through the cracks and go unnoticed. Class sizes are huge and it’s incredibly easy for students to sit in the back, observe, and not get any personal attention or help from teachers. What I’ve found during my time here is that there are tons of opportunities for students, but they can only be obtained with specific connections and work to stand out among the over 2,000 other students.

Overall, it’s been a good four years. I’ve learned a lot about both myself and the world around me. June 9th is coming up fast. I’m so grateful for the people I’ve met through MHS and the opportunities I’ve been given here.

Hannah joined the Bruin as a freshman, holding several page editor positions before being named editor in the spring of her sophomore year. After gtraduating as valedictorian, Hannah will major in anthropology and is still deciding which college she will attend this fall.

8

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

I have been capturing memories for McMinnville High School since freshman year. It’s one of the best things about being a photojournalist. I can capture a moment in time and then through the Bruin I can share those moments with everyone. It’s the stories of students standing up for what they believe in or of a son commemorating his mother, that have made being Bruin Editor worth all the effort.

Diversity is celebrated in our school. I am friends with people of all walks of life and I’ve made lasting friendships that have kept me sane even when life was getting stressful. It’s our differences that make our conversations interesting. The

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE STORIES TO TELL. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MOMENTS TO CAPTURE. ALL WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS CONTINUE TO CREATE THEM. celebration of individuality is the best part of MHS. There are the little things that you remember from classes, like the Mongols are history’s exception to everything (just ask Mrs. Houston) and that Madame Defarge, from Tale of Two Cities, is the most intimidating fictional character ever conceived (just ask Mrs. Maselli). These are the moments in my classes that stick with me, because my teachers showed me that this was worth learning. Teachers, even though days or weeks may go by and you don’t think that anyone is listening, we are. We are inspired and thankful.

We’ve all heard the cliché that high school is the best time of your life, but I don’t think that’s true. I think that the best time of our lives is still to come.

There will always be stories to tell. There will always be moments to capture. All we have to do now is continue to create them. I hope that the Bruin continues to thrive and tell the important stories of the people who walk through these halls.

They may not be the easiest stories to tell, and some people may not want to hear them, but they tell us who we are. And that’s worth it.

Emma joined the Bruin as a freshman, holding several page editor postions before being named editor in the spring of her sophomore year. Emma will major in biology and play golf at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington next year.

She’ s packing a camera with her & will be capturing moments for The Blues.

Is Sex Ed Being Taught Correctly?

Many high school students across the country aren’t provided with comprehensive sexual education

BY ANNIE CHRISTMAN writer MARI SATO

For the most part, the concept that we go to school to learn the facts is pretty universal. Long division has never caused any public outrage, biology isn’t all that controversial, we’ve all agreed, as a society, that school is meant to enhance our youths’ knowledge of the world around them.

So how come the truth about sexuality and about the human body has become so taboo?

Prepare to get squeamish in your seats, because it’s time to talk about, you guessed it, sexual education. In too many American schools, this is untrue.

IF KIDS ARE GE T TING THE WRONG INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES BECAUSE THEY DON’ T GET ADEQUATE SEX ED, THEN I THINK THAT ’S A CONCERN -MAT T SALTMARSHIn fact, many states don’t even require sex ed to be taught. According to the Huffington Post, a total of 26 American states do not require their school to provide Sex Ed. In these states, including surrounding states like Idaho, Washington, and California, many students are left dependent on parents or outwards sources to learn about their bodies and reproduction. This often has consequences as kids in these cases are not ensured to get comprehensive and accurate information. Whereas

many feel that parents should be the main source of sexual education, health teacher Cindy Shultz points out, “Unfortunately a lot of parents aren’t comfortable talking to their kids about it, so that students having a lack of information about it could cause health issues.”

If many kids do not feel comfortable approaching their parents about sex ed and do not receive the information from school, that leads them to turn to unreliable sources, as Matt Saltmarsh, a current health teacher at the school, explains, “If kids are getting the wrong information from other sources because they don’t get adequate sex ed then I think that’s a concern.

Ultimately, the only way to ensure that kids get the facts is to deliver them directly.

Even in many schools, however, that do provide sex education, facts are being misconstrued. The Huffington Post adds that 37 states do not require the information in their curriculums to be medically accurate. This is largely due to biases and religious agendas that proliferate the curriculums of such states.

In order to fix all the holes that exist in our sexual education system in America, there needs to be a federal standard for the curriculum that demands it be comprehensive, inclusive, and unbiased. Knowledge of one’s body and how to encounter human sexuality responsibly and safety, should not be left to the nuances of each state, should not be a conservative or liberal issue, it should be a human right. In the words of Saltmarsh, “We want, at the end of the day, kids to be able to make a choice that’s right and healthy for them.”

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

9

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR ZOE HAYES

art focus MHS artists Zelma Stevens and McKenna Suarez win the Scholastic Art Competition

Senior Melany Esquivel works hard on her artwork and plans to continue with art in the future

BY MARI SATO features editor ANNIE CHRISTMAN

Scholastic Artists

Melany & Her Art

BY LEO MARTINEZ food focus editor As an artist, having your art recognized is always a good thing, and it´s especially great when it´s positive feedback. For junior Zelma Stevens and senior McKenna Suarez, recognition came in a great way.

During this year’s annual Scholastic Art Competition both had the honor of receiving gold keys.

When they found out the good news they were in delight. “I was really excited! I knew Mrs. Garrison was going to post the winners on her Instagram and then I saw that she posted mine. I felt great,” said Stevens.

“I first had a little celebration on my own but after my parents took me out to eat at Mazatlan,” said Suarez, ¨I was really happy because I felt like people were actually validating my artwork and it felt good to feel like I did something right.¨ Interestingly enough, Stevens said, ¨I wasn’t actually going to enter the competition because quite honestly I felt too lazy to actually document and photograph my work,” she laughs, “but I thank Mrs. Garrison for staying after school to help me get everything done.”

Both students had a big connection to their art. “My piece Love = War represents the struggles that are involved with loving someone else. Love takes a toll on your heart and it can sometimes be hard, said Stevens. It is their passion for art that allowed both Suarez and Stevens to be able to accomplish a victory with a gold key award. “I work really hard on my pieces and it’s nice to feel a sense of accomplishment,”said Suarez.

10

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

Artist and senior Melany Esquivel has always enjoyed creating art. “It has been the only thing I’ve ever been inspired to do, the only thing I’ve ever had a passion for.”

While this year her portfolio has been mostly full of drawings, Esquiwvel admits that she is usually quite a “heavy painter,” using mostly acrylic paints on canvas. For her senior portfolio, she has created illustrations focusing her theme around vices. The concentration of vices (which shows immoral or wicked behavior) allows her to delve into pieces based around alcohol, drugs, smoking, and sex.

When asked where she finds inspiration for her artwork, Esquivel admits that many influences come from her daily

life experiences; she says that the things and people who surround her are a big part of what inspire her artwork. A huge inspiration for Esquivel has come from artist Frida Kahlo, a well-known Mexican painter known for her selfportraits.

Esquivel only became seriously focused on art from her freshman year of high school, but she is excited to continue with it through her future plans. Esquivel has just applied to various art colleges and is currently waiting on responses. She hopes to get her degree in fine arts and then go to a higher university to get an art teaching degree as well.

To the Beat of Their Own Drums

A Passion for Music Senior Aidan Nyquist has lent his piano and vocal skills to MHS for the past four years

Karlee Bird, Micaela Verbitsky, and Mason Henderson take on new roles in the marching band

BY CHEYENNE DROVER

art focus editor

news editor

The marching band is welcoming three individuals to leadership positions within the band. Announced at the end of the fall season, one drum major and two assistant drum majors will guide the band through the band’s marching show for the next school year. Karlee Bird, a junior brass player, will be the 2017 drum major. Karlee is excited to take over her new responsibilities, which she said includes “conducting and collaborating with the teacher and assistant drum majors.” Band is the activity that she enjoys most, and she was honored at the chance to lead her classmates. Karlee hopes ANNIE CHRISTMAN

ANNIE CHRISTMAN

BY ZOE HAYES

Aidan Nyquist is one of the many musically talented students here at McMinnville High School. He’s been involved in music programs since his freshman year. Now, as a senior, he is in his third year of being a Twilighter.

He’s been musically involved all four years in MHS. His freshman year, he was in concert choir and sterling jazz. “My sophomore year I joined an a capella group and got into Symphonic Choir and Twilighters. I’ve been in those latter two ever since.” His other hobbies are running, reading, and programming computers. Being a self-proclaimed nerd, he said, “When I find a good book and the time, I obsess over reading.”

Although music is still one of his passions, Aidan doesn’t plan on pursuing a musical career. “People sometimes sound surprised when I say I don’t plan on doing a music major in college. I have plenty of other passions I want to pursue,” he said, “However, music will always be an integral part of my life. It allows for another dimension of human connection and joy, and I could never give that up. He plans on getting a “double major in Computer Science and Physics, and pursue those sort of fields in my eventual career.”

Aidan’s friend Mallory Mead had some kind words about him. “He is incredibly intelligent and has the heart and patience to accept everyone.” She said, “he compares himself often to other piano players at the school, but in my opinion, Aidan is the most advanced when it comes to improvisation and making a piece his own by changing and adding to it.”

that everyone in band next year will enjoy the experience of marching and that the show will be successful.

Micaela Verbitsky and Mason Henderson, junior and sophomore woodwinds, will be assistant drum majors next season. They will be helping in a variety of areas-- working as field techs, helping out sections of the band to ensure that they are in the right place and may even conduct. The concept of assistant drum majors is new to the Mac High band, but Micaela and Mason are both excited to accept the responsibility that comes with their duties. Mason said, “I hope that more freshmen join the band next year, and that there is more commitment.” The Mac High band is small, and it stands to reason that an increase in band students would help the marching program. Micaela added, “I think it would be a goal to get a higher score in competitions.”

Karlee, Micaela, and Mason have not yet started making preparations for next year, but will likely be doing something over the summer to get into their new roles within the band. They mentioned the high school’s music camp and each of their places within multiple bands as large contributors into preparing them for the coming season. For now, these drum majors are more focused on learning music for Bandapalooza.

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

11

The varsity cheer team won co-ed large divisio hard work an

VARSITY CHEERLEADER MAKINZEE DUDDLES DOES A JUMP AT PRACTICE IN PREPARATION FOR THE STATE COMPETITION.

MEMBERS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM HOLD UP SIGNS THAT SPELL OUT “GRIZZ” AS PART OF THEIR ROUTINE.

ALL OF THE TEAM MEMBERS HOLD UP THEIR OSAA TR

FIRST PLACE IN THE LARGE CO-ED DIVISION AT STAT www

ROPHY AFTER FINDING OUT THAT THEY WON TE.

FROM THE

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

n their first state title in the on after months of nd dedication

SIDELINE

WITH DEVON MILLER A FEW NOTES ON MHS ATHLETICSHat”s MHS ATHLETES SIGN WITH COLLEGES

College is right around the corner and many athletes at the high school are deciding on whether or not they are going to continue playing a sport into the collegiate level. National Signing Day was February 1st, and many Mac High students committed to continuing their sports careers at the collegiate level.

Emma Beyer signed to Whitman College in Walla Walla to play golf, Wyatt Smith and Cooper Bousquet both signed to Linfield College to play football in their hometown McMinnville, and Jasmine Rojas signed to the soccer team at Clark College in Vancouver Washington.

CHEER WELCOMES BOTH GENDERS

In recent years, the cheer team has gained a strong male membership, which sets it apart from many other cheer teams in the area. While cheer is typically considered a female sport, the guys on Mac High’s team defy stereotypes and add to the diversity of the team. The male cheerleaders helped lead the team to a state title this year in the co-ed large group division. The sport of cheerleading requires much more than just school spirit, as all the cheerleaders demonstrate through their dedication, strength, and flexibility in the sport. For more information about the male cheerleaders at MHS, check out Annie Christman’s story at mhsbruin.com.

SENIOR NANCY MACIAS HOLDS THE TROPHY AS SHE’S LIFTED INTO A STUNT BY HER TEAMMATES.

Game Dates: Girls Golf: March 20 Boys Golf: Jan. 31 Boys & Girls Tennis: March 13 Baseball: March 15 Softball: March 14 Track and Field: March 21

CO-CAPTAIN JORDAN BURGESS SHOWS OFF HER FLEXIBILITY

WITH A JUMP BEFORE THE COMPETITION. www

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

13

sports

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR DEVON MILLER

Back and Better than Ever Wesley Gabrielsen is returning to coach the boys tennis team after taking a break from the sport

Vic Downs earns a huge reward that reflects the hard work and dedication he has put in to make those in track and field the best they could be

BY MIGUEL LOEZA writer ANNIE CHRISTMAN

Coach of the Year

BY GRACE LEE what ’s bruin editor Last December, Vic Downs was nominated and won the title of Oregon’s Best Coach of the Year for Boys Track and Field. He then went into another selection process and was awarded the Sectional Regional Coach of the Year for the same sport. These awards are unique in a way where the nominees do not have to win a state title. Instead, the judges look at their contributions over the years and for Vic Downs, they looked at all of his efforts over the past 28 years he has been coaching. When asked about how he felt when he won the award, he said, “It was humbling because you don’t coach to win awards, you coach because you want to help kids achieve goals and dreams and you’re in, and then you’re out. That’s all you do and when somebody recognizes that, it’s a nice thing.”

IT WAS HUMBLING BECAUSE YOU DON’ T COACH TO WIN AWARDS, YOU COACH BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HELP KIDS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND DREAMS -VIC DOWNSHe also addressed the countless people that he had gotten support from over the years to achieve this goal. “The first thing that I thought was the role that my assistant coaches have in my success. They are amazing people and so I share this award with them.”

Downs also gave a little insight on what his goals are for the rest of his coaching and teaching career.

“I’ve been coaching close to 30 years and I have to make a decision whether or not I want to continue coaching and teaching or retire. My goals for the last few years are the same as the first one: help kids become better athletes and to enjoy our sport and to, hopefully, teach them well enough so they can pass it on. That’s the biggie because we want to make sure that we teach what we think is important so that when we’re gone, we have a generation that can pass on what we thought. That’s all I’m doing. I had great coaches and I’m passing on their message and continuing to do that.”

14

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

With winter sports coming to an end it means it is almost time for spring sports. This means that the tennis team is bringing an old coach back to McMinnville High School. That’s right, Wesley Gabrielsen, the former tennis coach that coached from 2010 up until 2013, is returning from taking a year off from high school tennis. While he was gone, he coached at Linfield College as an Associate Head Coach for the women’s tennis team. But for the upcoming 2017 season he will be coaching for the boys team here at MHS. Gabrielsen’s interest in tennis started when he would watch it on TV with his parents. When he entered high school he had never played tennis, but before high school that he had only played for fun. During his time in high school, he thought that it was his time to finally be competitive against other people. His parents were high school coaches and teachers so they knew the importance of him trying new sports. He had played soccer and baseball as his primary sports but he thought it was time to try something new, so he thought he would try tennis.

He played varsity tennis for four years at

Sprague High School in Salem, and then he played four years at Linfield College for the men’s tennis team. When the job opened up here at MHS this year a couple previous players talked him into coaching for the boys tennis team. He said, ‘’their interest in having me come back to coach along with their strong character and work ethic sparked my interest in the job.’’ So when he applied to coach here he got the job. He thinks the team will do well because they work hard, they have solid team chemistry, and they are coming off of a successful season from last year. He also thinks they will have a successful team and achieve their goals if they continue their hard work. He wanted to coach again this year because he loves to see students improve off of hard work and believes that he can help foster that through tennis as a coach. He also loves being a coach because he likes to make an impact on the kids on the court and most importantly off the court. He loves the moments where players have an epiphany to develop a certain shot or a strategy and to see them be successful. He is extremely excited to push these tennis players on the court and in life.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR MARI SATO

features

McMinnville’s Freshest Rappers When one thinks of hip-hop cities they may think of New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago but in reality the halls of Mac High are home to many up and coming rappers. To certain people rapping is simply a fun hobby, for others it is a stress reliever, and for some it is a lifestyle… a way out of McMinnville.

ANNIE CHRISTMAN

Diego Chavez Junior Diego Chavez looks at rapping as a side gig. Chavez said, “I mean nah, I think it’s just like a hobby, I just like doing it for fun.” Chavez too has released some student acclaimed tunes both on SoundCloud and the popular rap sharing app ‘Rapchat’.

“I got a lot of positive feedback too like I have two on [SoundCloud] and they’re like yo that’s cool, that’s sick.”

Chavez can be found on SoundCloud as “Chavvy.”

Leslie Morales (Big L) For sophomore Leslie Morales, rapping is an outlet for his struggles.

“Whenever I have a bad day or something good or something bad happens in my life whatever emotions I’m feeling I’ll just write down what I feel in music form and after that I just feel relieved…” Morales, who goes

by Big L in the hip-hop community, has been influenced by rap ever since a young age. “My brother, when I was growing up, he listened to nothing but classic rappers like Tupac, Biggie, Nas, Ice Cube, Eazy E and stuff. And really he just influenced me to listen to the music,” Morales said. Many students have heralded Morales’ short rap videos posted on his Instagram as high quality work especially for someone of his age, however Morales isn’t content settling for just good enough… he wants to be great. “I just want my name to be up there with the legends you know, just like Tupac, Biggie and just my name right next to theirs.” Morales’ raps are available on Instagram as “morales_big_l”.

Thomas Sagers (G-Cat) Thomas Sagers, a.k.a G-CAT, is also an MHS student who shares a passion for hip-hop. Like Morales, Sagers is only a sophomore. Despite his young age, Sagers dropped an 8-song mixtape entitled “1117” in early January 2017 which has over 680 plays on SoundCloud. He has a studio set up in his bedroom consisting of a studio grade microphone, an audio mixer, quality headphones, and an iMac complete with garage band. Sagers looks at rapping as a way to show the world what he is made of.

“I have proven to the world that I am indeed a rapper and a good one at that, not going to lie,” Sagers said.

Being a high school rapper is not without its struggles, Sagers said, “I have haters, but every artist does.” Like Chavez, Sagers doesn’t plan on making rap his whole career, but he definitely enjoys making music on the side. To listen to “1117” go to “G-Cat” on SoundCloud.

Whether it be Sagers, Chavez, Morales, or any of the other talented rappers on campus, Mac High has a knack for producing high quality artists. Hip-hop serves as a stress outlet, a hobby, or even a career ambition and most definitely has a place in the MHS community.

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

15

UNITY WEEK

This year marked the second annual Unity Week at MHS, a series of activities and programs organized by ASB in order to recognize what brings Mac High students and staff together. The week included activities within classrooms and within the whole school in order to unify the MHS community.

Many students participated in group activities in their classes including a game called “step in” and organized get-to-knowyou walks around the school with randomly chosen partners. These activities allowed students to learn about aspects of their classmates’ lives that are not frequently shared. ASB’s motto for this year of “you matter” was reinforced by activities that encouraged students to realize that everybody has a story and that one can learn a lot about his or her community and classmates by just listening.

On Tuesday of Unity Week, MHS students had the opportunity to listen to a talk

by Palestinian Rotary member Reem Ghunaim , who talked to students about unity and peace. She shared her story of moving from her home country in the Middle East to the United States in order to get a college education and how that experience shaped her view on unity.

The most highly anticipated part of Unity Week, though, was the voices panel, which was organized by ASB advisor Susanne Sayles for the first time last year and was repeated this year because of the highly positive response from students and staff. Every grade level had the opportunity to listen to the stories of a panel of their classmates and teachers and offer support for the hardships that the presenters had endured. Many students were emotionally moved and showed their appreciation for the event through social media later that day.

16

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

JENNA FOLLIN

BY HANNAH SIEPMANN editor

“I REALLY LIKE FASHION AND SHOES.” RAUL DIAZ (10)

“MANY PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT THE SCAR ON MY NECK...IT’S FROM A SURGERY THAT REMOVED A CYST OFF MY RIGHT THYROID.” KAYLA WOODRIDGE (12)

“I JUST SUFFERED NERVE DAMAGE IN MY ARM FROM A WRESTLING MATCH.” MORGEN FREEMAN (11)

“I ALMOST GOT ARRESTED…” BRANDON DEMARCO (12)

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

17

ADVICE FROM HIGH SCHOOL SURVIVORS

GABE ROMERO

“Catch procrastination early. I’m a senior and I still struggle with it.

Also, Track is kind of a motivating factor tooif you don’t get your grades up and stay on top of it you can get kicked out.”

- Renee Rezendez

18

“(Watch out for) bad friends. There are going to be people in your life who you don’t get along with or who make bad decisions, so you ultimately need to be careful who you’re friends with.”

- Sadie Neilson

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

“I’m in my last year of high school now and honestly at first I was like ‘Wow, this sucks,’ but now that it’s starting to come to an end I’m like ‘Wow it wasn’t that bad.’ I’ve made friends with people I didn’t ever think I would be friends with, so you just have to put yourself out there and see what happens.”

-Chyna Hayward

“It’s never too early to start thinking about what you’re going to do after high school. It makes your last years of high school easier.”

- Katri Hamina

The

English as a Second Language

Sophomore Alex Perez describes his experience moving to Lafayette from Mexico and his struggle to learn English

BY ANNIE CHRISTMAN writer For many students here, the United State of America is where they were born, raised, and introduced to McMinnville High School. For some, however, America is not the first country they have called home.

Sophomore Alex Perez lived in Mexico for the first twelve years of his life and he shares his experience as a Mexican citizen, an American citizen, and an immigrant.

He talks about how he remembers Mexico. “Some places were really bad but Mexico also has the nice places, like the United States has the bad places and the good places,” he states, “I lived in a fairly good place.” He discusses how the roads where he lived were unpaved because, “the government controls the resources” and references his unkind neighbors, one who chased him down and kicked him once for saying “excuse me.”

He also weighs in on his perception of the economy, stating, “Financially, it was odd, products were kind of expensive. I remember when I was a kid, having 50 cents, which according to google statistics, the dollar right now is about 21 pesos, so that could buy me about 2 litres of milk, so that was kind of like being a millionaire back there.” When talking about the stores he tells that rather than having big, versatile stores that are common in the US, you are more likely to see separate stores for things like meat, and cheese. He also fondly reminisces, “I remember there were lots of little gumball machines and little games you could play with one-peso coins.”

WHEN I DID PRESENTATIONS, I WOULD BE SHAKING REAL BAD. I COULD PROBABLY MAKE PRETTY GOOD MILKSHAKES IF I HELD A CUP OF MILK DURING MY SPEECH. Mexican politics also greatly impacted Perez’s young life. He recalls how with the 2012 presidential election, his family protested the new leadership of President Enrique Peña Nieto and still hold his strong views about the president to this day. He explains how, in Mexico, there are many political parties, and President Peña Nieto belonged to the PRI party, or, Institutional Revolutionary Party, that is defined mostly as a centrist party, meaning they accept social equality, but also embrace some social

hierarchy. He describes the impact of this on his family, “I heard news about what was going on over there-gasoline prices skyrocketed, so because the economic system was kind of going bad over there, my dad, he worked here for a long time, so we moved here too, I guess you could call it, reuniting with him.” Ultimately, it was the election of Peña Nieto that motivated Alex and his family to move to a small town in the northwest-Lafayette, Oregon.

Settling into Lafayette in the summer before his sixthgrade year, Alex remembers him first home in the States.

He tells that he lived in a rented house with two other people and describes them as “not the best guests.” He explains, “We had the living room so we would sleep in one whole room, my whole family.” Alex, however, does fondly recall his new neighbor, a kind woman who lived across the street and had a lovely garden. He describes her as one of his motivations for learning english.

Alex describes himself as a lover of communication, however when he first reached America, he found his urge to assume his talkative nature limited by the fact he only knew a few basic English phrases such as, “Hello,” “How are you?” “Goodbye,” “Fine,” and “Good,” Alex emphasizes his motivation to learn more, claiming, “It wasn’t fun because I felt dependent. That’s why I tried to learn English as fast as I could, so I wouldn’t have to be dependent on someone.”

Even with Alex’s motivation and work ethic, however, learning English would not come without its hardships.

He shares, “One of the things that was really annoying was my accent. There were kids who would make fun of how I said words, and there was that one time I said the word for ‘female dog’, instead of ‘beach.’ Scenarios like this caused him to avoid the words he had trouble pronouncing. He also expresses his fear of not being understood for his accent, “People would be like ‘Uh, what did you say again?’ and I would shake, it was so bad, a total disaster. It was terrifying, it gave me anxiety.” Alex’s struggle further reiterates the struggles English-learners can experience in the school-setting as he continues, “When I did presentation, I would be shaking real bad.

I could probably make pretty good milkshakes if I held a cup of milk during my speech.”

Learning a new language and having to exercise it from day to day in your community is hard enough, but English is renowned as being a particularly hard language

to learn. Alex weighed in on some of the odd features of this language from a non-native English speaker’s perspective, stating, “You people don’t know what an accent is. Also your alphabet has one letter less-an N with a little line on top (ñ). It’s an amazing letter.” He also points out another difficulty that even native English

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A STUDENT WHO DOESN’ T SPEAK ENGLISH, JUST HAVE A LOT OF PATIENCE BECAUSE...THEY ARE GREAT HUMAN BEINGS, AND THEY’RE JUST DOING THEIR BEST. speakers experience, “I hate that there are some letters that look the same but sound different.” He explains that this makes translating sound between English and Spanish particularly hard. For example, in English the letter “E” will most commonly sound like “eh,” or “ee;” however in Spanish, it’s most likely to be pronounced as “ay.”

Despite these difficulties, Alex accredits his success in learning English to an English teacher at Duniway.

He describes her as strict, but emphasizes that this was an important quality to keep students motivated and disciplined so they can properly learn the new language.

Alex is sure that without her guidance, he wouldn’t have passed the English Learner’s Proficiency Assessment (ELPA).

Alex emphasizes that one should not let language barriers take away your opportunity to connect with people who you can potentially build enriching connections with, stating, “You will end up understanding at some point, even if that means using a board and drawing what you want or using sign language.”

And to English-learners, Alex has an equally important message, “You’re going to go through a lot but if you keep going, you’ll get there at some point. Insults are going to be there. Don’t pay it attention.”

Today Alex is in Advanced Language Arts and Literature, takes extreme pride in his academics, and help run the school’s chess club. His journey has shaped him to be the valuable MHS student and member of our community that he is today.

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

19

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR CELESTE SHEARER

out&about

Spring Break Without Breaking the Bank

Split Reviews for Split

New psychological thriller recieves critisism for inaccurate portrayal of mental disorders, but wows overall

BY EMMA SIEPMANN opinions editor

Elizabeth Kokoruda and Andres Morales discuss cheap ways to prevent boredom over spring break

BY ELIZABETH KOKORUDA ar t focus editor AND ANDRES MORALES writer 1) Stay At Home With Friends

to catch up. Don’t be that student!

Everyone needs to chill with their friends at some point during their spring break because nothing can compete with the time with friends, and eating junk food.

6) Learn Something New

2) Water Park/Swimming Pool We all know how it is very hot during spring break, so why not cool off with some water?

3) Backyard Camping This isn’t that cheesy as it sounds, but going out and feeling spontaneous by camping outside in your backyard, you’ll never regret it. Alone or with friends, it is always fun.

4) Binge watch Netflix When there’s nothing else to do and you just found an amazing show with seven seasons and 20 episodes per season!

5) Don’t Procrastinate!

It’s the season when more students don’t get their homework done, and when they come back from break they are struggling

Planning to travel in future? Why not start learning a new language, you can sign up for Rosetta Stone.

7) Redecorate Your Room Feeling like your room is lame and boring? Mix it up and produce new vibes for your room, such as moving the bed and the decor around. Discover your interior designer!

8) Sleep In...All Week Let’s be real we are all lazy, and we need those extra hours of sleep that we didn’t get the last couple of months.

9) Save Money This time is usually the time that most teens spend all their money, but instead learn to save for upcoming summer ahead and live it up in the sun.

10) Create a Workout Plan Why not start working on your summer body, and going out and making a gym membership at planet fitness?

CELESTE SHEARER

20

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

Thrillers are a popular choice for many high school movie-goers, and there is always a fair amount of hype surrounding the release of a new film. Split, the new movie by M. Night Shyamalan, was announced on July 27, 2016 by releasing the very first trailer.

Conversations immediately began, discussing the potentially offensive nature of a movie dealing with mental illness in such a dramatic manner. When the film was released on January 20, 2017, viewers realized that the plot is far more focused on the dynamics of surviving in captivity than it is on making a statement about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) patients.

The movie is a puzzling thriller that keeps viewers engaged at every turn, wondering what the next move could possibly be. This is an excellent choice for anyone interested in the mind-bending nature of psychological thrillers and horror movies.

As seen in trailers, the basic plot of the film revolves around a man named Kevin who suffers from DID, as a result of childhood trauma. Kevin has 23 distinct personalities, some of which appear more than others.

His personalities, called alters, control his life and take turns in “the light”, or having control over Kevin at that moment.

One day, the alter named Dennis turns violent and kidnaps three high school girls, imprisoning them in a locked room. The course of the movie follows the background of the main character, Casey, as well as her fight to get out of Kevin’s custody with the two others. The connection with Casey is immediate, and the audience is easily drawn into her quest to escape from her captor.

The dynamics with Kevin are intriguing also, as he is not always portrayed as “bad.” Each personality is entirely unique, to the point that one is a violent man, one is an older woman and one is even a nine year old child. This makes the character development much more interesting, as it makes it seem as though there are many more characters than there really are This concept means that the line between good and evil in Kevin is severely blurred and adds a layer of complexity.

The many unexpected twists and turns in this movie as well as the many emotional pulls are sure to appeal to many types of viewers.

Overall, this movie is a must-see for those who enjoy thrillers as well as those who do not. The minimal jump-scares make this a good introduction to the genre as well, providing a good sense of what a thriller is like while not being overly scary.

The original worries of offensive content are unfounded and inapplicable to the final movie, making it a great choice for most people. Catch it in theaters for the next few weeks and on DVD starting in May.

DIANA DENNEY AND LEO MARTINEZ

Ceramics Downtown Jack Potter provides a new option for creative fun in downtown Mac

BY DIANA DENNEY managing editor AND LEO MARTINEZ food focus editor For those seeking an alternative hangout spot in downtown Mac, look no further. Jack Potter Art Lounge on the corner of Evans and Second Street is the perfect place to relax with friends instead of the usual coffee shop or restaurant. Artists of all skill levels are welcome and encouraged to spend an afternoon in this unique place.

Jack Potter is a little ceramics shop in which one can come in during business hours or schedule an appointment to paint some pottery. The little and big items come in an array of prices, ranging from six to 60 dollars each. What’s great is that you only pay the amount that is marked on the object of your choice with no extra studio fees: paint, brushes, and time spent painting is all included in the price of the piece that you paint. You can pay to paint by yourself or you can also make arrangements for birthday parties and corporate events.

We decided to go try out the lounge ourselves, and it did not disappoint. Together, we painted a flower pot that cost $18. After choosing our piece we picked out our paint colors, which was easy, as the studio allows artists to use as much paint as they need. It took about an hour to finish our piece and then we gave it back to the studio to fire it kiln. After five days we went back to the studio to pick up our art. Overall, the process was very simple and the perfect activity for a Sunday afternoon.

It’s easy for anyone to make their own unique piece of art at Jack Potter. For the more advanced artist, however, you may decide to make your own piece. There are pottery wheels available for the use of anyone who desires a more in depth experience. You can contact them if this is something that may be up your alley for pricing and more details.

Don’t worry, the workers won’t judge; Jack Potter is a place for artists of all abilities.

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

21

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR ELIZABETH KOKORUDA

what to eat Food On Wheels

Elizabeth Kokoruda explores all the different types of food trucks in the McMinnville area

BY E L I Z A B E T H KO KO R U DA food focus editor ELIZABETH KOKORUDA

SPICES WERE ADDED TO THE PINÃ LOCA FOR FLAVOR.

Omar’s Mediterranean Grill This new exquisite Mediterranean cuisine, which is located from of Staples, is a family orientated restaurant that has become really popular this last year. The most common wrap that the majority of people get is called the Chacarero Wrap.

The beef is mixed with spices and herbs and combined with tomatoes, avocado, green beans, light garlic, pepper pebre salsa, and smoky garlic aioli before being wrapped in lavash bread.

THE CHACARERO WRAP CAME WITH A SIDE OF HEALTHY RICE.

Kate’s Thai Cuisine The Thai food truck called Kate’s Thai Cuisine opened in 2016. During the first few months there wasn’t a lot of profit for the owner, Kate, but the business is doing much better now. Kate makes delicious noodles that flow into your mouth. This food truck won’t be a food truck for long because Kate has been making a lot more business, so much so that she runs out of food before she closes. Her Pad Thai, which is the most popular choice, is topped with cilantro and mixed in with hot spices. Her chicken is soft and is tender, and peanuts are recommended.

Botanas El Paraiso This food on wheels recently gained some popularity because of the ravenous fruit bowls. His truck doesn’t only serve fruit bowls but also a combination of Mexican cuisine such as tacos, tortas, and nachos. The pineapple is cut vertically, then it is hollowed out and mixed with other fruits such as mango, cucumber, jicama, and pineapple mixed together with Chamoy, lime juice, Tajin, peanuts and

PAD THAI NOODLES ORDERED FROM KATE’S THAI CUISINE.

22

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

a stick of tamarindo.

fashion

Stylin’ Seniors Set the Trends

Plaid buttonups are a good staple piece for transitioning between seasons.

Lace-sleeved shirts like Sophie’s are both cute and perfect for the start of spring.

Argyle socks add interest- a good combination of sophisticated and silly.

Ripped skinny jeans continue to be a popular trend and add some edge to an outfit.

Plain sneakers are good for walking around and work for any season.

Knee-high boots are both fashionable and good for keeping warm in chilly weather.

Senior

Will Payton

Senior

Sophie Brockie

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

23

WHAT’S BRUIN? Man Bites Dog

DAYS UNTIL #WEOUTofHERE

Seniors: 57 Rest of us: 65 DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR GRACE LEE

Procrasinators Top 5 Things Understand

Ride Along with Mitch Jake Fowler experiences firsthand one of the most exciting jobs at MAC High

A Gift From Above In Bend, Oregon, a woman suffered a small bump on her head when a stray bullet was shot into her home. The police say that the woman was watching television when her neighbor shot the gun. The bullet went through the wall of the neighbor’s house and a fence before entering the woman’s home. Miraculously, the bullet hit through a picture frame and had slowed down by the time it hit the woman. she had survived with only minor injures.

Big Bird

Reasons to eat CAKE. . .

Last week, an Oregon lawmaker expressed that the current state bird is unoriginal and wants to change it from the meadowlark to the osprey.

He states that the meadowlark is also the state bird of Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming. He also says that the bird is no longer commonly seen in Oregon, making it an inappropriate choice to keep it as the state bird.

24

The Bruin MARCH 10, 2017 mhsbruin.com

DEVIN BALDWIN

The Bruin is bringing back an old tradition on the What’s Bruin page. Those that have been here too long will remember it.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

The following are true accounts that happened on or around the MHS campus.

Mitch Sechler. The man, the myth, the legend. That assessment is kind of cliché, but I’m going to roll with it.

Everybody at MHS knows of what this man is about, and if you don’t, that means you’re lying. One of Mitch’s’ well known endeavors is driving his golf cart on and around campus, catching freshman and fighting other heinous activities. I was awarded the esteemed privilege of getting to experience a ride along with this man, which entailed riding around during our lunch period.

I will admit the beginning was a little empowering, due to the fact that I suddenly felt as if I was Batman in the Batmobile. During this time, we busted a total of nine freshmen, scared some smokers, gave senior drivers dirty looks, and simply made our presence known.

The ability to bust other people was one of the greatest things I’ve ever done, due to myself always being the one to suffer the consequences of rambunctious behavior. Anyway, I can officially say that I have observed firsthand the responsibilities bestowed upon Mitch Sechler. I can also say that no matter how you think or feel about Mitch, your opinion is invalid because he is full blown awesome.

1.

Posts on social media never looked so interesting until something needs to be done

2.

You clean the entire house and answer every email and text message before you start to touch your project

3.

For every one day of productivity, you think you deserve four days of rest

4.

Only the best TV shows start when you have to do something

5.

You have acquired the skill to finish a week’s worth of work in eight hours

“I started a new class

“I gave my friends a ride

today.”

during lunch.”

- Emily Thomas, 9

- Austin Clevenger, 12

“I’m usually mean, but I

“I feel like teachers deserve

was nice today.”

cake every day!”

- Emely Casares, 10

- Mr. Knoedler

“I didn’t skip any classes

“I don’t feel like I deserved

today!”

any cake today...”

- Odin Thorson, 11

- Mr. Bunker