MHS Crier | Issue 10 | 5.20.2022

CRIER

will take on the role as MHS principal July 1. Mr. Mike Wells is...

BATON BATON BATON PASSING THE

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HEN MR. MORGAN NOLAN, WWMS PRINCIPAL , first learned he would be MHS principal next year, it was, ironically, after the weekend he spent hours working on plans for the middle school.

“(I was) shocked. I mean, genuinely shocked. I really didn’t think that they would pick me,” Mr. Nolan said. “That weekend, I’d spent hours working on plans for the staff for the next five years, thinking that I would be the one who plans, and then on Monday to be called—it threw me off and it takes a lot to throw me off. I know my heart rate changed, my blood pressure changed, my gut felt different and the reality just sunk in at that point.”

Mr. Nolan officially begins July 1. Starting his career in Munster in 2007 as a social studies teacher, then moving up to dean at student services to assistant principal before becoming principal of WWMS in 2019, Mr. Nolan found a community in Munster to devote his life to—despite never thinking that he would work in administration. As principal, Mr. Nolan has several long-term visions for MHS.

“I’m okay taking four steps forward, and then realizing this is the wrong way (and) we got to turn around and go another way,” Mr. Nolan said. “My long term vision is MHS will be a place of learning. It’s going to take a long time. You have grades for example—are they a true metric of learning? We do things that are sometimes easier for kids, we do things that create anxiety for

you guys. We do the same thing to our adults in the building. I think we got to start to evaluate every question through that lens. My long term goal is for everyone in a room to sit down and say the main mission of this building is learning. Not making sure there’s coverage of materi al (or) that we have a certain AP score average. It’s about learning.”

Mr. Nolan’s way to achieve these plans in volve possible changes, such as a later start time and block scheduling. to further immerse MHS in the Professional Learning Commu nities program, a Midwest pro gram that builds team commu nities with clear goals, according to Mr. Nolan.

“I’m not afraid of trying some thing different,” Mr. Nolan said. “I don’t want to sound like I’m being critical of instructional practices, but a lot of times we just go through the motions. No longer are decisions made around what’s best for me as a teach er, (but) what’s best for the learning that needs to take place in that classroom. We have to have the physical struc tures of scheduling to be conducive to the learning and PLC environ ment. Teachers now don’t have time to work together. We’re putting millions of dollars into this collaborative learning center in the media center. How are kids

going to use that collaborative time if you’re only in class for 45 minutes?

I think we need to have discussions about school start times, a big concern for me. Students need that rest.” These changes are only a few of Mr. Nolan’s top priorities as he enters the 2022-2023 school year. His general philosophy involves not only creating MHS as a place of learning, but letting both student and teacher voices be heard.

“The first step is going to be bringing some students together,” Mr. Nolan said. “And saying, ‘What are the issues that we can tackle?’ We can’t change everything in a day. But how do we change one of those? I think a lot of students don’t feel that their voices are heard from their diverse standpoints, whether it’s race or ethnic or religious or even socio-economic. How do we have those conversations that bring kids together? Because, really, students usually get along pretty well. How do you get the adults to understand those differ-

REENA ALSAKAJI story editor

Mr. Morgan Nolan

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EJ BOERMSA

PRINCI-PALS Striking a pose, Mr. Mike Wells, principal, stands next to Mr. Morgan Nolan, WWMS principal. After nine years of being the principal of MHS, Mr. Wells will continue his career in the private sector while Mr. Nolan takes on the role of MHS principal next school year. You can read more about Mr. Wells on page 2.

PHOTO BY EJ BOERMSA

Farewell, Mr.Wells

REENA ALSAKAJI story editor

Having been with Munster for 19 years, Principal Mike Wells is leaving to become a Midwest Regional Director for Cognia, overseeing thousands of schools across the globe. Though he is more than excited for this opportunity to further his career in education, it was a difficult decision to make.

“I’m most looking forward to learning and growing. It’s a great opportunity for me to grow as an educator,” Mr. Wells said. “It was extremely tough because most of my career has been here 19 of my 27 years. I even did my student teaching at Wilbur Wright. I sponsored Student Government for years. I taught, I was an assistant principal for six years and then principal for nine. The relationships that I’ve established with former students that I still keep in contact with today, seeing the accomplishments of all of our students that’s the best part of this job.”

The new career will involve Mr. Wells overseeing 36,000 schools across the globe, an opportunity that will allow him to grow as an educator. But as he prepares to leave, Mr. Wells does not plan on saying goodbye to Munster completely he plans to come back for events, for the team that he has dedicated so much of his life towards. Setting the mantle off to Mr. Nolan, Mr. Wells has high hopes for the future of MHS.

“I hope (Munster) continues with the excellence in the traditions that we’ve established over the years,” Mr. Wells said. “I look forward to coming back to events. I hope that I’ll be able to come back and see those speeches that the alum and faculty give. I’m going to miss the relationships that I have on a day-to-day basis that’s the saddest thing. I always looked at schools like a family. I even started off all my emails to staff, ‘Mustang family or team.’ So the saddest thing is missing those relationships that I’ve had with students and staff members over the years.”

At a glance

Sip’s regular lemonade isn’t anything different from the classic, but that is exactly what staffers were looking for.

Treats to beat the heat Page 4

In the 2022-2023 school year, Illinois will have the first piece of legislation to mandate the teaching of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) history in America.

Keeping their heads above water

Wrapping up

Construction on the media center begins, set to end by the 2022-2023 school year

ATARAH ISRAEL editor-in-chief

Although the school year is coming to an end, MHS will still be buzzing with activity, with the construction of the updated media center set to continue throughout the summer and end by the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. According to Mr. Sean Begley, director of operations, finishing reconstruction of the LGI and Media Center are top priority, with finishing the professional development areas coming in second. As of right now, students with study hall periods must sit in the auditorium rather than the LGI. Aside from these major projects, students next year can also look forward to new tile in the North hallways.

“The end goal of the media center is to update it to the needs of students today, to make the entire space more flexible, make the space more usable to a wider variety of groups and to update the HVAC, controls and electric,” Mr. Begley said.

Another change recently passed by the school board last month was the naming of the baseball diamond after late MHS math teacher and head baseball coach Mr. Bob Shinkan. Among his accolades throughout his 35-year career at MHS, Mr. Shinkan has been inducted into the Munster Coaches Hall of Fame, with his baseball team winning 688 games, including a state competition in 2002.

“Several people in attendance and several on the board had very kind things to say about Coach Shinkan and his contributions to the school town of Munster,” Mr. Begley said.

Dr. Jeffrey Hendrix, superintendent, plans to retire in July

ISRAEL editor-in-chief

After working in education for 35 years, eight spent as superintendent of School Town of Munster, Dr. Jeffrey Hendrix will officially retire from his position July 1. Paving the way for Mr. Bret Heller to take on the position next school year, Dr. Hendrix looks forward to watching the district continue to grow.

“We have a saying that we are a district of national distinction,” Dr. Hendrix said. “I think we’ve been able to reach that level quite a few times while I’ve been here, and I hope my legacy is that we continue to do that.”

During his time as superintendent, Dr. Hendrix not only worked to maintain Munster’s academic standing, but also spent years pulling the district out of financial crisis in 2014. More recently, he worked with staff members and students to create a more diverse and inclusive environment throughout the district, with the start of programs such as IDEA that helped bridge the gap in communication between administrators and students. Whether it was hiring the district’s first Black woman as assistant superintendent last year, or getting the ball rolling in terms of construction and infrastructure, Dr. Hendrix looks forward to seeing Munster continue to build from the groundwork already laid.

“I’ve learned that I don’t have to do it all myself,” Dr. Hendrix said. “I think everyone thinks you’ve got all the answers. I usually ask a lot more questions than provide the answers. That’s been the lesson I’ve learned—having faith in people that they’re going to do the right things.”

High school as we remember it will never be quite the same again— and we can make that a good thing.

I’m feeling ‘22 Page 3

When discussing instruction on education, the only legal requirement in Indiana is abstinence, alongside required HIV prevention.

A lot of people are too embarrassed Page 9

Catch up on the last club events for the year

 Poetry Club’s end of the year slam will be May 24 after school in the cafeteria.

 Graduation is June 5 in the fieldhouse at 1 p.m.

 Check out stories written by Journalism I students on mhsnews.net. Mr. Martin retiring

The Breakfast Club, started by Mr. Ben Boruff

• Art Club’s current projects Trends throughout the school year Armed forces recruitment in schools

• Seniors thoughts on graduating

• Senior Paige Vukadinovich’s final MHS Softball season

The new Spanish teacher, Mrs. Alissa Scott

• Student’s lives post-COVID

 Ayush Arora and Gaby Ruiz have been elected as next year’s student government president and vice president.

• You do not have to be in Poetry Club to participate in the slam. Please email Atarah Israel at 9003945@ student.munster.us or Mr. Ben Boruff if interested.

Stay connected Corrections

THEY WORK FOR YOU Juniors Ayush Arora and Gaby Ruiz pose as the student body president and vice president elects for next school year. Apart of their campaign this year included advocating for an Extracurricular Outreach Event at the beginning of next school year and bringing back Cookie Thursdays. “I’d like to focus on student involvement in any way we can, like overall allowing a greater atmosphere for change while getting the student body’s input on it,” Gaby said.

 The Read and White Book club’s last meeting is today after school.

In Issue 9 of Crier, on page 7, the flag for Danish Akbar should be of Batswana. On page 11, the story “Education outside the lines” was written by Josephine Mittelberger. Crier regrets these errors.

ATARAH

PHOTO BY ATARAH ISRAEL

LASTING LEGACY Seen in his office, Dr. Jeffrey Hendrix, superintendent, will officially retire July 1, 2022.

PHOTO BY EJ BOERSMA

WORK IN PROGRESS The LGI is being renovated to be a part of the media center, along with the resource room.

PHOTO BY EJ BOERSMA

Dear Mr. Nolan,

MHS, though it may not always seem like it, is constantly changing. As the years go on, we find ourselves adjusting to changes in curriculum, changes in student voices and changes in the overall culture. Whether it be as small as a pass policy, or as grand as a new principal, MHS has to continuously be flexible. With this, we expect our new administration to reflect these changes.

A major aspect of the change MHS is seeing is its increasingly diverse population. In the past five years, MHS has seen a 33% increase of non-white students. With a new superintendent incoming, we would like to see non-white administrators and teachers being hired to work alongside Mr. Nolan. Groups such as Inclusion Diversity Equity Awareness (IDEA) exemplify efforts made by our district to address this shift, but communication should not simply end there. Bridging the gap between administration and the student body should also include everyday effort within the school halls.

With Mr. Nolan’s goal of placing an emphasis on student voice, we expect that

EDITORIAL

this extends to marginalized communities. Having difficult conversations beyond surface-level subjects is important. Students need to be more aware that organizations like IDEA exist. The burden of creating these support systems should not fall to the students. It is the administration’s responsibility to ensure that every student has a safe place in Munster, beyond areas such as Black Culture Club and Gay-Straight Alliance.

istrators more approachable. Consequently, during times when students are in need of an authority figure to confide in, lines of communication will already be open.

With these expectations, we understand that there will be rules students do not like. While we understand that this is necessary, we need to be made aware of the reasoning behind certain rules, such as the absent or late policies. A system of trust between students and staff can only be possible when students are not left in the dark—when they can truly recognize that the school is working in their best interest. Even having communication beyond the daily email announcements can indirectly provide a space of voice for students. Mr. Nolan, we’d love to hear your voice—and other administration—on the PA regularly.

Additionally, we would like to see more effort in making students comfortable. Whether it be being more visible in the hallway or striking up conversations with students during downtime, increased interaction between administration and students will make admin-

We have high hopes for the changes that Mr. Nolan will implement next year to better the community of Munster, and we are excited to see where MHS will go in the future.

Thank you for hearing us, Crier staff

The rhythm of freshman year echoes in my memory: pop songs on music Fridays. Boomboxes on ‘80s workout day. Stomping on the bleachers during the teachers vs. students dodgeball game. Making it through MHS before, during, and after lockdown is something I’ll always be grateful for. It’s given me an idea of the “traditional high school years” I missed out on, and perspective on our unique chance to redefine that experience.

‘22 is the only remaining class to have experienced a full year of high school precovid. High school as we remember it will never be quite the same again—and we can make that a good thing.

CRIER

to? Before covid, the US was already falling behind global education in many ways. I think MHS can do better.

I know a lot of us want to collectively erase covid from memory and move on. I know we are sick of Zoom glitches, of Blackboard, of being told to just make the best of things. I know I am. But is the norm really worth returning

Crier, Munster High School’s official student newspaper, may be reached via mail at 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster, IN 46321; via phone at 219-836-3200, ext. 3443; or via fax at 219-836-3202. Crier is published through the Honors Newspaper Advanced Writing and Editing classes and extra-curricular involvement. Crier’s official website is accessible at www.mhsnews.net.

•The newspaper serves as a public forum and two-way communication for the school and community.

•Crier is a source of information, entertainment, advertising and opinion for the student body, faculty, administration and community

•Published material will stress objective reporting except on the editorial page where opinion writing will be featured. All published material will stress accuracy, integrity, honesty, responsibility, objectivity, fairness and independence. Corrections, when necessary, will be published on page 2.

•Opinions expressed in the newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the School Town of Munster, faculty or administration.

•Letters to the editor and reader suggestions are welcomed, but should be limited to 250 words. All letters must be signed

For the past 150 years, education has remained stagnant, even as technology has advanced. According to the Foundation for Economic Education, school still follows the same model: 2030 kids sitting in a classroom, getting the same experience regardless of individual needs. We are no exception. For instance, unlike surrounding districts like Highland, MHS only integrated eLearning when covid forced us.

But it’s not the 1870s anymore. It’s high time we made a widespread and coordinated effort to embrace the potential of technology, not to replace

and should be either emailed to the editor (tahlee20@gmail. com), given directly to any staff member or delivered to the Publications room, N155, one week prior to publication. Letters must not contain personal attacks against an individual. Editors reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, and grammatical errors. Crier will accept letters from anyone, provided that the content pertains to school or school issues. Feedback may also be submitted on Twitter @munstermedia.

•Mailed subscriptions cost $25 per year. Digital issues can be found on issuu.com. Crier is published 11 times a school year. Ad rates and policies are available to anyone upon request.

Our Staff

Editor-in-Chief Atarah Israel

Deadline Manager Alison Lee

Photography Schedulers, Trainers & Equipment Managers Anthony Young, EJ Boersma

but enhance in-person instruction: student feedback, recorded lectures, virtual attendance, collaborative notes. The possibilities are endless. Now, I’m hearing those rock ‘n roll-like refrains fill the hallways again: gossip, encouragement, random snatches of overheard conversations. But intermingled with the traditional angst and awkwardness, I hear a new chord—a whole lot of questions. What did we used to do? What if we did this instead? Will we miss our chance for change, and rush back to business as usual? Or will post-covid generations and a new principal use this disruption to give MHS a much-needed reboot?

Visual Editor Henry Hofferth

Story Editor Reena Alsakaji

Photography Expert & Source Manager Anna Evilsizor

Business Manager Josephine Mittelberger

Design Chief Alexis Perez

Page Editors Lauren Hoogeveen, Sofia Sanchez

Cartoonist & Photographer Kristen Baurain

Adviser Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman

Journalism 1 Writers Lita Cleary, Ethan Cosme, Adan Costilla, Emily Dywan, Xander Edwards, Miranda Fisher, Abigail Fuller, Nyla Green, De’Andre Jones, Sydney Jones, Seamus Keegan, Dorothy Lakshmanamurthy, Paige Lamb, Gregory Potchen, Olivia Webb

KRISTEN BAURAIN photographer

CARTOON BY KRISTEN BAURAIN

To establish greater student voice as Mr. Nolan becomes principal, and to strive for the administration to reflect the changes at MHS

Treats to beat the heat

With summer only a week away, Crier staffers try various treats to keep cool in the heat

Sip Coffee House

LAUREN HOOGEVEEN

After the first sip of Sip Coffee House’s lemonade, it was easy to say it was the perfect flavor. Not too sweet, not too sour—the lemonade was refreshing and perfectly sweetened without being overpowering.

From their spring drinks board, the lavender lemonade was initially very flavorful. After a couple sips, the lavender became very strong and it was very sweet. Although staffers enjoyed it at first, it did seem like something that would give you a headache after due to the sweetness and syrup-like flavoring. If there were less flavoring put into the lavender lemonade, it would have been more refreshing and enjoyable. Sip’s regular lemonade isn’t anything different from the classic, but that is exactly what staffers were looking for.

The Counter

In addition to the cute building and string lights hanging over the seating area, the Counter is at a perfect, walkable location in downtown Highland. Not only was the ambiance great, so was the strawberry Italian ice. Staffers found the texture to be icier or more water-based compared to other Italian ices they tried, but they also found it to be more refresh-

ing that way. The strawberry flavor was very fresh, like you were eating an actual strawberry, and the small size was the perfect amount of product. Their flavors vary based on the season, but staffers agreed they want to go back and try their other Italian ice flavors, which were mango and lime.

Also at The Counter, the coffee ice cream had a bright flavor and creamy texture.

Similar places to visit

-Grind House: located in Griffith, good for coffee and food

-Coffee Cabin: located on U.S. 30, good for a quick drive-thru

-Einstein Bros. Bagels: located in Community Hospital, good for quick trip on the way to last day of school

One of most popular drinks of the past couple years, boba tea is a go-to for many when hanging out with friends at Motea in Schereville. The rose milk tea and taro milk tea were very delicious, but one staffer thought the rose flavor tasted like perfume.

Although staffers enjoyed the drinks, they did agree that both were a little too sweet. The flavoring and sweetness made the drink very enjoyable, but it did take away from the refreshing factor. Most boba shops ask customers how sweet they want their drink and have them choose a percentage, such as 50% or 75%, but Motea does not. Staffers agreed that asking for less sugar would make the drink more refreshing, but nevertheless, the drinks were very tasty.

Similar places to the Counter

- Cold Stone: located in Dyer, good for customizing your ice cream

-Dairy Belle: located in Hammond and Schererville, good for affordable quality ice cream

-FROYO: located in Munster, good for variety of flavors and toppings

Similar places to Motea

-Royal Tea: opening soon in Highland, will be good for closest boba tea location to Munster

-Asian Kitchen: located in Hammond, good for boba tea and different types of Asian food

PHOTO BY ANNA EVILSIZOR

SWEET AND SOUR Crier staff tries the lavender Lemonade(left) and the original lemonade(right).

PHOTO BY ANNA EVILSIZOR

COLD TREATS Crier staffers made their way to the counter to review the coffee ice cream (left) and Italian ice (right)

THE RACE TO THE FINISH LINE

The first hour bell rings, and so the race begins. From running to the next hour to avoid yet another tardy, to the rush of submitting college applications on time, seniors have been in a relay starting the moment we walked through the MHS doors as freshmen.

Running until the end

Defining moments from freshman to senior year

FRESHMAN YEAR

South hallways repainted, air conditioning added to Fieldhouse

School shuts down March 13, 2020 due to covid

SOPHOMORE YEAR

JUNIOR YEAR

Half the school eLearns due to hybrid learning

Art Club’s work on North hallway mural continues

SENIOR YEAR

RACE TO THE END ZONE Charging with the flag, Thomas Choros, senior, runs across the football field. The team was pumped for the Aug. 27 game against Hanover Central. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys to play the greatest game on earth with,” Thomas Choros, senior, said.

BETTER TOGETHER (right) Posing for a photo booth photo during yearbook distribution, seniors Kiki Mitrakis, Deya Meraz and Paris Marshall smile with tiny hats. “My favorite memory (from senior year) would be Homecoming spirit week,” Deya said. “It was truly the senior experience.”

BETTER TOGETHER (left) Seniors Jake Thometz, Bryce Williams and Jake Uylaki joke around during a football game. The student section was cowboy themed. “This has gotta be one of my favorite memories,” Jake said. “The sporting events in the student section were the best, win or lose.”

TOTALLY TUBULAR Dressed in 80s workout gear during spirit week, seniors Cali Petersen and Haley Melby share a laugh. The Thursday morning before Homecoming, the football field was flooded with seniors celebrating the 80s-themed day. “My favorite memory of senior year was when Charlie Morton (senior) asked me to Prom,” Cali said. “He asked me with references to one to my favorite shows, Bridgerton.”

PHOTO BY RILEY RAMIREZ

PHOTO BY DESTINY AUKSEL

PHOTO BY EJ BOERSMA

P nn ng down the future

Alabama

University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa

Myanne Zachary-Theatre

Auburn University

Auburn

Sarah Morton-Sales

Florida

University of Tampa

Tampa

Maria Ramos-Nursing

Georgia

Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta

Aishik Dhori -Electrical Engineering

Illinois

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn

Elena Yanef-Dentistry

Coyne College

Chicago

Nicholas Godinez-Operator Engineer

DePaul University

Chicago

Katie McComis-Sports Business

Kira Moreno-Business

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

Violet Luna-Nursing

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb

Morgan Krouse-Psychology

Northwestern University

Evanston

Mateo Bedolla-Applied Economics

Atarah Israel-Journalism

Prairie State College

Chicago Heights

Tayo Clark-Animation

Wheaton College

Wheaton

Kristen Baurain-Art and English

Indiana

Ball State University

Muncie

Caitlyn Klos-Nursing

Kenneth Reed-Biology

Butler University

Indianapolis

Alexa Hernandez-Human Biology

Maya Queroz-Psychology and Sociology

Indiana Institute of Technology

Fort Wayne

Brook Maul-Business Administration

If you could go back in time and tell your freshman self anything, what would it be?

Indiana University

Bloomington

Bloomington

Marley Anderson-Interior Design

Arianna Bender-Business

Alayna Blasko-Nursing

Madison Green-Criminal Justice

Keira Hawk-Finance

Chris Iatrides-Finance

Donovan Jones-Computer Science

Mallika Keralavarma-International Studies

Kate Krawczyk-English

Alison Lee-Business

Maxwell Lindenmayer-Nursing

Paris Marshall-Psychology

Giovanni Mayorga-Astrophysics and Astronomy

Louis Meldgin-Economics/Mathematics

Charlie Morton-Finance and Biology

Laila Mosley-Human Biology

Ethan Park-Management Information

Systems

Lindsey Reda-International Studies

Riley Ramirez-Marketing and Advertising

Jada Smith-Exercise Science

Shira Tenenbaume-Business Management

Simona Terek-Community Health

Indiana University Northwest

Gary

Lindsey Guy-Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Paige Lamb-Dental

Ayat Odtallah-Dental Hygenist

Allie Platis-Business

IUPUI

Indianapolis

Madison Bevil-Nursing

Liam Boyle-Undecided

Steve Bryjak-Electrical Engineering

Evneki Crenshaw-Sports Management and Business

Bailee Dejarlais-Health Sciences

Jane Potter-Psychology

Santiago Rivera-Biology

Jesse Rock-Art Education

Natasha Truett-Environmental Science

Indiana University South Bend

South Bend

Marisa Walsh-Social Work

Marian University

Indianapolis

Morgan Kazragys-Biology

Purdue Northwest

Hammond

Hannah Cockrum-Undecided

Henry Hofferth-Graphic Design

Laci Pala-Communications

Minahil Rao-Computer Science

Alyssa Sangueza-Hospitality Management

Clayton Sinwelski-Aquatic Sciences

Zachary Tucker-Political Science

Purdue University

West Lafayette

Anna Babus-Electrical and Computer Engineering

Ethan Boersma-Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering

What’s one way your four years of high school were or weren’t like High School Musical?

There were never sudden outbursts of singing in the cafeteria—except for one time (thank you Charlie Mason).”

- anushka majety, senior

“SENIORITIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU.” -khusi jhaveri, senior

“YOU’RE

Focus on yourself at first. Everyone is always worried about what the next person is doing, and it doesn’t matter. ANNOYING, AND THAT’S OKAY.”

“

- chris iatrides, senior

senior

Andrew Burzynski-Sound Engineering

Antonio Cantu-Mechanical Engineering

Akansha Chauhan-Biomedical Engineering

Amelia Chism-Biochemistry

Peyton Collier-Pre-Pharmacy

Robyn DeJoan-Natural Resources and Environmental Science

Ana Dimopoulos-Mechanical Engineering

Catherine Eliopoulos-Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology

Mikyla Farnell-Computer Science and Finance

Lainie Gideon-Mechanical Engineering

Anne Gilhooly-Psychology

Iris Gong-Mechanical Engineering

Sasha Ilijevski-Aerospace Engineering

Charles Iverson-Creative Writing

Gavin Kenning-Turf Management and Science

Amelia Konstantinopoulos-Industrial

Engineering

Arman Kumar-Computer Science

Anushka Majety-English and Computer Science

Madeline McFeely-Aerospace Engineering

Deyanira Meraz-Pharmaceutical Sciences

Calista Petersen-Speech Language and Hearing Science

Olivia Porter-Mechanical Engineering

Alejandro Rodriguez-Nutrition and Dietetics

Gabriel Tienstra-Aeronautical or Mechanical Engineering

Gia Weis-Healthcare Administration

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Terre Haute

Katie Calderon-Biomedical Engineering

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

Terre Haute

Olivia Paprstein-Biology

Saint Mary’s College

Notre Dame

Preciosa Rivera-Nursing

Taylor University

Upland

Nathaniel Kooi-Business Management

University of Notre Dame

South Bend

Elizabeth Fesko-Biology and Spanish

Samuel Fuller-Computer Science

Maryland

United States Naval Academy

Annapolis

Griffin Poulsen-Aerospace Engineering

Michigan

Michigan State University

East Lansing

Michael Collins-Social Relations and Policy

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor

Maddi Bell-Biochemistry

Missouri

Washington University

St. Louis

Khusi Jhaveri-Biomedical Engineering

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Nebraska

University of Nebraska

Lincoln

Basilia Kostopanagiotou-Marketing

New York

University of Rochester

Rochester

Abraham Blaesing-Finance

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy

Aleks Maric-Business Analytics and Finance

Ohio

Cincinnati University

Cincinnati

Mlynn Fane-Fashion Design

Texas

University of Houston

Houston

Amaya Dandridge-Philosophy

Other

Gap year and future

Randal Harper-Joliet Junior College

Military

Anthony Young-Navy

Work force

Elizabeth Hill-Taekwondo Instructor

SECOND TO NONE

Senior bests announced at senior banquet May 13

HEART OF GOLD

Anna Babus, Parker Olsen

CLASS CLOWN

Lindsey Reda, Allan Dedelow

BEST MUSICIAN

Mara Trivunovic, Sasha Ilijevski

MOST ARTISTIC

Salma Khani, Henry Hofferth

MOST LIKELY TO WIN AN

OLYMPIC MEDAL

Hannah Robbins, Varrick Allen

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED

Libby Fesko, Aishik Dhori

BEST DRESSED

Paris Marshall, Nick Stephan

CUTEST COUPLE

Riley Ramirez & Filip Timko

BEST BROMANCE

Chris Iatrides & Will Moell

BEST SISTERMANCE

Lindsey Reda & Sierra Sweeney

lindsey reda, senior

“IN A HOUSE NEAR THE BEACH WITH AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD AND A CAT NAMED MATCHA.”

-

“BEING

a finance bro, deadlifting the house, and eating brotein.”

“WORKING AT THE UNITED NATIONS AS A HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER, EITHER IN NEW YORK CITY OR AROUND THE GLOBE.” - zachary tucker, senior

- chris iatrides, senior

“In ten years, I hope to see myself working as an engineer in the theme park industry creating fun and memorable experiences.”

- amelia konstantinopoulos, senior

Letter from the editor

I look at my own body

With eyes no longer blind— And I see that my own hands can make The world that’s in my mind.

-Langston Hughes

I can’t remember the first time I ran across this quote. Somewhere tucked away in a corner of the internet dedicated to poetry blogs and reviews, I found Hughes’ words of encouragement, and

Before you go

I can confidently say that your high school experience was one neither of us could have predicted. You are one of the few classes in history that will ever experience going through high school during a pandemic. High school was supposed to be your time, your moment. It does not go unnoticed that your time here was taken from you. You missed four years of dances, inperson learning, competitions, pep rallies, spirit days and much, much more. You have endured one of the greatest challenges of our time, and you came out on top. You should be proud of how you navigated the water back to “normality.”

Your class is the first class going out into a post-pandemic world. While many of you are ready for this new chapter, many of you might be afraid of what your future has in store for you. I know it feels overwhelming at times but remember you have already been tested. Wherever life

with vivid recollection the numerous times those words ricocheted through my mind in the wake of daunting challenges. Probably the most poignant (and relevant) challenge that sticks in memory is my first year of high school. As I entered the doors of MHS for the first time freshman year, like everyone else I was acutely aware of the long road ahead of me, and the vast amount of ways my identity would be shaped by those next four years—the blank canvas that stood before me was overwhelming.

Despite this, little by little, my personal painting began to take shape, as I’m sure it did for most others. By the beginning of my sophomore year, I began to feel sure of my place among my peers and the direction I was headed. Just as quickly as my life portrait began to coalesce, however, the canvas began to tear. This was much worse than a simple mistake of a brush, no— learning to balance my education while existing in the midst of a pandemic seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle; the painting that I once thought I had was destroyed, and I was left to start anew.

Now graduating in the wake of a pandemic, it is easy to forget the ways our world hasn’t changed, and difficult to remember the ambitions of our freshman selves. Though now the world around us is much

they’ve stuck with me since. Written during a time when racial segregation was rampant and violence normalized, his poem “I Look at the World” illustrates the value in harnessing your inner power to make seemingly impossible change. In many ways the ideologies that vexed Hughes to write the poem remain relevant today, which is probably why I’ve grown so attached to it. Though I am unable to recall my first time seeing the poem, I can recall

takes you, always strive for excellence, even through adversity. We have seen all of you excel throughout your high school career during the most difficult of times. Whether it was through academics, sporting events, dance and speech competitions, robotics, theatre, etc, you all have put your stamp on MHS in some way. Take the skills you have learned here and put them into action. Your future must be filled with passion. You, as a generation, are about to change the world.

But, before you go and become trailblazers, I would like to offer you one piece of advice—relish the moments you have left. We, as a society, get so caught up in what is to come that we forget to appreciate the now. Capitalize on your last few weeks, because there will be days that you miss high school and everything that comes with it (even if you think you will not). When that last bell rings, you will never walk through these doors the same way again. So, look around and cherish these halls, courts and fields. They hold your accomplishments. Thank your teachers. While they have challenged you, they have been your biggest champions. Gather with your classmates because this will be the last time you are all together. And, go out on those summer nights and reminisce. Life is unpredictable, so be comfortable before you head off into this unfamiliar world.

As a former student at MHS, I can say with utmost certainty, you are ready. Take each day as they come to you. Your adult lives are about to begin and you will conquer them. I am excited about your future, and I know you are as well. But, please remember what you are leaving behind. I wish you nothing but happiness and success in this new beginning. Congrats, YOU DID IT!

Unsolicited advice

different than what we imagined as underclassmen, it is still one that we will greatly influence. Once again, we are faced with a blank canvas, another collection of years waiting to be shaped by our perspectives and aspirations. Like Langston, I too want to see a world shaped for the better—that will only begin if we start to craft what we envision, one piece at a time.

-Atarah Israel Editor-in-Chief

SENIOR BACKTALK

What was your most movieworthy moment in all of your four years of high school, good or bad?

“I broke my foot the middle of senior year. It didn’t feel real. It felt like that one Lizzie McGuire movie when she fell at graduation. It was super embarrassing since I rode around in a scooter down the halls, but in the end, it was funny and I got better.”

—Allie Platis senior

“Wearing a Spider Man suit during spirit week and seeing two other Spider Mans in the hall and all three of us pointed at each other like the meme.”

—Maria Ramos senior

“Participating in the 80s day workout on the football field. It was a good memory because it was the first time I realized this year that I may actually have a good year.”

—Calista Petersen senior

“Mr. (Don) Fortner’s class. That’s it.”

—Charlie

Morton senior

“When I went to Prom alone and was the living embodiment of every Mitski and Olivia Rodrigo song, and went to Target with my friends afterwards to take pictures in the milk section.”

—Natasha Truett senior

Fellow seniors, I don’t know how long you’ve been a Mustang, and I don’t know what being a Mustang means to you, if anything. Regardless of when you first entered MHS, we leave these now-tiled halls and bright white walls together. So, from one Mustang to another, here are my unsolicited pieces of advice, suggestions or maybe just pleas as we become legal members of society and face the scary reality that our decisions can change the world.

 Live your truth. Everyone says that you find who you are in high school (just think about how much time we spent reading “coming of age” books in English class), but I don’t think we stop there; we don’t suddenly become the one person we’re meant to be. Rather, I encourage you all to live honestly. As the meaning of your identity continues to change, be who you are loudly and proudly, and don’t make the high school mistake of losing yourself to the crowd. In welcoming all the changes and confusion that the future holds, listen to who you are and honor who you want to be.

 Respect the truths of others. At Eads Elementary, where I was one of three Desi kids in the grade, I had to keep my South Indian and “school” (what I called American) Anushka’s separate. Moving through a school system where not many of the staff looked like me, it was difficult to fight our deeply-rooted environment of assimilation. Attending the Munster schools was most definitely a privilege, but in order to make positive impacts on society, we must let go of the idea that the environments we know and perceive are the truths of others. If your experiences are like mine, know that your existence is more than enough. For everyone, learn to empathize, learn to appreciate and, most importantly, learn to learn.

 Finally, Mustangs, have fun. From our parking lot Homecoming to anything-but-a-backpack day, though, that doesn’t seem to be a challenge for us. Each moment is your own, so make the most of it.

I’m proud of us for making it this far. You have power in your being, but don’t forget Uncle Ben’s (or Voltaire’s, take your pick) famous advice—that with great power comes great responsibility. Upon entering this scary, complicated, wonderful world, be inquisitive, challenge the status quo and make your engagement meaningful. Let’s continue to support each other in times of uncertainty and for the sake of our futures, create the change we so desperately need.

Guest column by ANUSHKA MAJETY

Guest column by KRISTEN SZAFASZ

ILLUSTRATION BY KRISTEN BAURAIN

'A lot of people are too embarrassed to say to they're uncomfortable'

in the course curriculum they might feel better.”

As reported by New Hope, Inc., 73% of sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knows. Many believe that consent is a given “yes” at all times in relationships. In a Planned Parenthood survey, 75% of women and 64% of men strongly disagreed that consent given once means consent for future occasions. In addition, it is also critical to continuously confirm that consent is being given, according to Gaby Ruiz, junior.

man do what they want just because they’re here with you and you should be thankful they’re here.”

SOURCE: VICTIMS SERVICE CENTER SOURCE: VICTIMS SERVICE CENTER

Women discuss gray areas on consent and sexual education following Roe v. Wade draft leak

JOSEPHINE MITTELBERGER & SOFIA SANCHEZ

business manager & page editor

Content warning: the following story contains mention of sexual assault

In response to the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade—a legal precedent that protects the right to abortion without excessive restriction by the government—concerns have facilitated discussions on women’s bodily rights. The subject of consent and to what extent it covers, in addition to where it applies, has stemmed from discussions on Roe v. Wade.

“In today’s age where Roe v. Wade is being questioned and (possibly) overturned, I think it’s very important for women to know their options, their health and their reasoning and what they can do to protect themselves and not only stay abstinent as the school advises, it’s not realistic,” Maria Ramos, senior, said.

The topic of consent, while essential to understand, can be difficult to discuss. A factor of this may arise from

teenagers having differing definitions of what consent means. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, those from 12 to 34 years of age face the highest risk for sexual assault compared to other age groups. In a study by JAMA Pediatrics, it was found that the most common age to first commit an act of sexual violence was 16. According to Vanessa Vasquez, senior, learning about consent in school may be part of the solution.

“I think it should be taught in school,” Vanessa said. “I know it’s a sensitive subject and some teachers don’t feel super comfortable addressing it, but I think by being so weird about it, so many people aren’t fully educated about how to respect someone that way. Some kids take it more seriously (at school) than when your parents are talking to you, but if it was

“You can get consent at first but then if you’re going through with it, and then it doesn’t feel right, then you can say no,” Gaby said. “If that’s a no, then you have to stop. It’s an important thing for people to know that it’s continuous because even though I said yes the first time we did it, it doesn’t mean I’m going to say yes again. I think that’s something people forget, (they think) that if they said it before, it still applies now, but that’s not always the case.”

Though consent is an important concept to understand before engaging in any sexual act, it is not required to learn by Indiana state law. When discussing instruction on education, the only legal requirement is abstinence, alongside required HIV prevention. Yet, it is not required to teach medically accurate sexual health education nor teach STI prevention. Including instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity is not required.

“People are afraid to ask because they’re afraid that if they do say no or stop something that the relationship is going to end,” Maria said. “I think it just stems from internal fear of being rejected and misogyny—letting the

This stigma evolves as consent is broken and people have to deal with the aftermath of sexual harassment and assault. An anonymous student encountered this issue as she struggled to come to terms with her own sexual assault. She felt as if her experience was invalid because she had never seen her circumstances discussed and she felt largely unsupported by those she discussed it with. To make matters worse, the student felt as if she was overreacting because she felt as if the perpetrator did not think what occurred was assault.

“It wasn’t really until I was exposed to more social media, like kind of speaking up about sexual assault awareness, and I was able to fully accept what happened,” she said. “It’s definitely something that saddens me because this isn’t just a thing at school, this is more of a societal thing. People basically just brush it all off and if you do speak up, usually not much is done or you’re not taken seriously—especially when you’re a woman. With women it’s because of misogyny they’re not taken seriously. They’re viewed as emotional and hysterical.” For sexual assault support services, a crisis hotline can help assess options to take and walk through the process of receiving help. RAINN provides confidential crisis support services with a trained staff member, which is available 24 hours. Online chat hotlines can be found at online.rainn.org or by calling 800-6564673 for a telephone hotline. RAINN’s online hotline can also direct to nearby places to receive medical care.

Students prepare to travel abroad for the summer

LEXI

design

Exploring new terrains, MHS students will begin to travel the world June 8 and return July 18. Attending students include seniors Luka Stepanovich, Lindsey Reda and Marissa Slivka, and juniors Olivia Evilsizor, Julianna Dodge, Margaret Heritage and Patrick Cullars. The process of getting

JOGGING YOUR MEMORY Reviewing Spanish terms for her upcoming trip to Spain, Olivia Evilsizor, junior, works hard to commit the terms to memory. "I am working hard to learn and memorize new vocabulary before I leave, Olivia said.

into the program is long and tedious. The IU Honors program is just resuming after two years of cancellations due to covid. The students will be going to sites in Spain and France, and they are placed with a host family chosen by the program. At their sites, students will attend classes during this six week period about literature, grammar and linguistics. The students will have these classes at 7:45 a.m. to around 3 p.m. with a curfew of 8 p.m.

The program has multiple rules starting with not being able to use phones, though many students don't mind the rule, according to Olivia Evil-

sizor, junior, and Lindsey Reda, senior.

“That's gonna be really tough. I'm not even gonna lie, like getting off my phone for two days is tough, but I think I'll gradually get used to it, especially because our class is gonna be so tiny and close with each other,” Olivia said.

Luka is the only student at MHS that is going to France for the program. He will be living in Saumur, France with his host family and traveling to Paris and Provence.

“I'm excited about shopping and the food," Luka said. "And everything about early learning opportunities to be fluent.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY HENRY HOFFERTH

PEREZ

chief PHOTO BY ANNA EVILSIZOR

Teenagers between 16 and 19 are 3.5 times more likely than the general public to be victims of sexual assault

RAISING THE BAR

Eyes closed, Ryan Hughes, senior, vaults over the high jump bar during the NCC Conference meet at MHS

Wednesday, Regionals at Portage High School

Catching up with spring sports as they enter the post-season

GIRLS’ TRACK

four years of fighting for it. It’s a perfect end to my senior season and year.”

Now, the girls are preparing for Regionals. It is set to take place next Tuesday.

The track field was buzzing with anticipation as the Girls’ Track team sat, waiting for the winner to be announced. Then, a voice boomed: “Munster.” The Girls’ Track team screamed in joy, running to hug each other. They had won Sectionals.

“It feels crazy since we haven’t won both Sectionals and Conference since the year before my freshman year,” Rebecca Franco, senior, said. “It feels so full circle being able to bring both titles back home to us after these

SOFTBALL

Record: 13-6

After a long April of gloomy thunderstorms and muddy fields, Softball’s season bounced back into play. Although many of their games were canceled in the beginning of the season, they took advantage of the weather and continued practicing inside. After winning Conference, the team has been practicing specific routines to help them at Sectionals May 24, like communication between fielders and various hitting drills.

“I love every single girl on the team and we all get along so well,” Paige Vukadinovich, senior, said. “It’s nice playing on a team where everyone supports you. We win and lose every game together as a team.”

“We’re working together as a team and we’re having really hard practices right now doing repeats of 200s and 400s and a lot of work on endurance,” Kylee Marshall, sophomore, said.

After a long season of rain, building muscle, and decreasing times, the Girls’ are excited to end their season with a bang.

“We (the coaches) believe in them,” Head Coach Dillon Pierie said. “And as long as they try their best they will make us proud.”

Upcoming games

May the sports be with you... BASEBALL

Record: 18-2

Each game, the Baseball team had to watch the weather. This season had many games get canceled and practices rescheduled. The season is going strong with the boys having a three game winning streak leaving their season at 18-2.

“It just sucks that we’ve had a lot of games getting canceled and postponed, but we are looking forward to making those up and getting to Sectionals,” Denham Kozy, junior, said.

The team has non-Conference games coming up and playoffs start on the 26th. Additionally, on the 14th in honor of Mr. Shinkan, they unveiled the additional name to Mike Niksic Field: The Coach Robert “Bob” Shinkan Diamond. With post-season about to begin, the boys anticipate finishing off their season strong.

Upcoming games

bat, Denham Kozy, junior, swings for the fences during charity match against

RUNNER OUT Winding up to throw to first base, Evi Allerding, junior, makes a play to get an out against Highland in one of their conference games. The softball team won conference, ultimately defeating Lowell 9-2.

LEXI PEREZ design chief

LAUREN HOOGEVEEN page editor

ALISON LEE deadline manager PHOTO

BOYS’ TRACK

This season has been particularly challenging for Boys’ Track, as the team has had to learn how to adapt to the change in leadership of a new coach— Coach Scott Stalbaum, head Boys’ Track coach and social studies teacher. With postseason swiftly approaching,

Boys’ Track is changing their routine to prepare. The team’s final vision for this season is to advance and send as many of the team as possible to Regionals and, ultimately, to State. According to Coach Stalbaum, the win came as a pleasant surprise in May when the team was at their most fatigued point.

“Everybody’s been excited about

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Following a strong start, Girls’ Tennis is finishing out their season even stronger after claiming victory at Conference. Compared to previous years, this season proved to be especially demanding at times, according to Libby Fesko, senior.

With a change in head coach Patrick Spohr, Wilbur Wright Middle School teacher, to Coach

Carl Davis, Girls’ Tennis headed into the season keeping in mind the adjustments that would change the future of the team. Team moral saw a spike upon winning against Caroll High School following a loss to both Penn High School and Cathedral High School earlier in the day.

“I think we surprised ourselves with

how successful we’ve been,” Coach Stalbaum said. “We sometimes throughout the season struggled a little bit with field events, specifically our throws and jumps. Going into the meet, we thought we might lose. When we won (Conference), the coaching staff was really happy that we came out on top.”

BOYS’ GOLF

Swinging, Blake Siurek, captain, hits the ball and watches as it flies into the green. The Boys’ Golf team, after a rainy but successful season, are now gearing up for Conference at Sherwood next Tuesday. With a current record of 9-1, the team hopes to continue their Conference champions streak.

“Unfortunately, we were a couple of strokes off last year from getting out of Regionals,” Blake Siurek, senior and captain, said. “So our main goal would be to get out of Regionals. I would love to go further than we ever have before. I know that will make everyone happy.”

Regionals is set for June 9 at Sandy Pines. In the meantime, the team goes to Centennial Park or Wicker to practice every day after school. They practice by playing nine holes or around the green.

“Everyday you go out there you never know what you’re gonna do. You could either shoot the course record or shoot the worst course record,” John Linnane, senior, said. “Honestly, just spending time with the team is fun. They’re some good people.”

Today, they have their final Conference opponent, Highland on their senior night. After, they will begin their post-season.

Coach William Smitka advises the team, “Make a putt. Do that and everything else will take care of itself.”

how many we won,” Fesko said. “We really thought we were going to win no matches here. But, what I realized being a senior is that we’re kind of in charge of setting the tone for the team. There is no one else we can rely on to gauge that energy off of, we have to be that for ourselves.”

CAUSING A RACKET During her singles match, Claire Han, freshman, prepares to swing at the ball at Conference.

PHOTO BY ANTHONY

GETTING OVER IT Leading the race, Varrick Allen, senior, jumps over Hurdles during the NCC Conference meet.

SWINGING STRAIGHT Teeing off for the first time all week, John Linnane, senior, practices for an upcoming conference match. Boys’ Golf has been practicing at Centennial Park during the school week, working towards a conference title.

SOFIA SANCHEZ page editor

ALISON LEE deadline manager

SOFIA SANCHEZ page editor

PHOTO BY ANTHONY YOUNG

KEEPING THEIR HEADS ABOVE WATER

Students discuss Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month and share how representation has affected them

don’t wear that here.”

students would be more aware of cultural differences at younger ages without media influencing how AAPI students are percieved.

When she was younger, Suvali Giridaran, freshman, would sometimes wear her bindi, a part of a religious practice, to school. She would receive judgmental comments like “What is that?” or “Is that a bug on your forehead?” Although they were from children who didn’t know better, it made Suvali feel as if they didn’t want her culture expressed.

HENNA

“No one wants to be represented as a terrorist or called the taliban every two seconds—I wish people knew more about Afghanistan besides that,” a junior said. “Especially that it used to be peaceful and the bright sideofit.Nowit’sawartorn country and everyone’s inhumane. I wish people knew more.”

“Representation matters because it’s way harder for people to come up to me to ask me questions or for them to just generally talk to me and to become friends,” Jasrah said. “I feel like I’m a really open person if they actually talk to me, but they are really quiet and hesitant because they’re scared.”

“The auditorium hallway because it’s very echoy and I can just scream and scare the seekers away.”

—Addy Ellis freshman

“I would hide in the stairwell behind the LGI because no one would look there, and no one knows how to get there.”

“I’d hide in the pit under the stage in the auditorium, because it’s really spacious and I could just chill down there.”

—Fotini Tsataros freshman

“I would climb the bleachers and get between the seats, and at the very top. I would just lay there.”

A keystone in celebrating AAPI Heritage Month is the understanding of the different cultures and how they are intertwined with outside cultures. Yet, a lot of the ground work information is never established without personal research. According to Sarah Espiritu,

—Billy Goldman sophomore

—Addison Dzurovcik sophomore

Henna is used in many cultures across South Asia and the Middle East. Purposes can be cultural, like for weddings, or can be religious, like for Eid.

Source: silknstone.com

“When I was younger, people didn’t know how to be kind to other people and they would point out my differences. Now, I feel like I’m really accepted in this community,” Suvali said. “When HUM night was coming up, I heard that a lot of people were really excited. It really made me happy to know that they weren’t like, ‘oh HUM, you’re going to that?’ But more like, ‘oh, you’re going to HUM? I’m coming too!’ I feel like MHS definitely does embrace our culture, though I don’t really feel represented.”

According to Suvali, cultural embrace doesn’t equal proper representation. AAPI struggles, which AAPI Heritage Month tries to bring to light, are largely unrecognized in society and especially in schools. This is why llinois’s Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act is a significant step towards better representation. For the 2022-2023 school year, Illinois will have the first piece of legislation to mandate the teaching of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) history in America.

This gap of representation in school is shown as AAPI students cross over into the media. Though social media is a place where students can live through others who have the opportunity to have strong representation in school, representation still lacks in a lot of aspects. A survey done by Gold House shows that 91.8% of Asian Pacific Islanders (API) in the entertainment industry thought that representation of API in media was stereotypical and 66.1% found it harmful. This leads to uneducated assumptions of AAPI, which is especially true for underrepresented demographics—those outside of the East Asian demographic.

SARI

“I would hide in the vents, it’s not as hard as you

PANCIT

“People think if you’re from India, you’re Hindu, but that’s not true. There’s a lot of Muslims there. I don’t think a lot of people know that though,” Jasrah Ali, junior, said. “I get represented badly. Muslims are known as terrorists, so I think everyone is more scared now because of the media.”

A traditional Filipino food, pancit is an umbrella term that refers to many different noodle dishes in the Philippines.

Source: guidetothephilippines.ph

According to Jasrah Ali, junior, this recognition is something that many AAPI students could benefit from, since non-AAPI

From walking down the hall to going to the store, Jasrah recognizes how differently she is treated because she wears a hijab. When going to Jewel, Jasrah recounts that a woman came up to her and told her to take off her hijab because “we

The traditional garment has a drape measuring anywhere from 14-30 feet and is worn for every-day use in India. Silk saris are worn for special occasions, typically for married women.

Source: artsandculture.google.com

junior, schools can help inspire more interest in AAPI culture by incorporating more books related to AAPI history or having an API culture club.

“I’m honored to be grouped in with all these different cultures, it brings a sense of community. It’s nice to branch out and see how other people live, but still be called one group of people,” Sarah said. “I really want to start an Asian Culture Club so that all Asian students can come together. If we have a club where people who are really in touch with their culture can share, that will help the people who don’t have the opportunity to really appreciate our culture in this way.”

—Henry Wilson junior

“I would go to the ceramics room and I would hide inside one of the drying racks because they have plastic over them and that would be a 10 out of 10 hiding spot.”

—Katie Kooy junior

“The laundry room in the culinary room, I think that’s a pretty good hiding spot.”

—Ava Whitney senior

“I would probably hide in the ceiling because I can get around the whole school without being seen.”

—Harrison North senior

“I would hide in the cat walk of the auditorium. It is supposedly haunted, so the ghost would protect me.”

—Mr. Jordan Mayer english teacher

“I would hide in the fieldhouse in the bleachers because people don’t look there.”

—Mrs. Lauren Carter science teacher

JOSEPHINE MITTELBERGER business manager

If MHS had a big game of hide and seek where would you hide and why?

GRAPHICS BY HENRY HOFFERTH