The Mentor: March 29

People gather outside the capitol building in Topeka to rally against the budget cuts made to Kansas schools. Many participated in a walk to Topeka including sophomore Lily Colburn.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LILY COLBURN

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VOLUME 103 // ISSUE 18 // MARCH 29, 2016

the mentor

Robotics Club competes for first time, win “Most Inspirational Rookie Team” ANNA HUPP

Staff Writer

It’s the day they have prepared for during many fivehour work sessions. It’s their first competition ever, and they are anxious.

Their eyes follow their robot as it drives over the bumpers, and its power shuts off. “[Competing] was really, really difficult because we were a new [first-year] team jump-

ing into things,” junior Chloe Dorst said. “And we were really pressed for time. I think we felt good about what we had, but we didn’t get to do a lot of testing. So when we were at the tournament our bumpers fell off. Stuff like that kept happening, and as a rookie team experiencing thing after thing after thing going wrong, we kinda got stuck.”

The Robotics competition was held in Kansas City’s Met-

ropolitan Community College on March 10. Manhattan High’s Robotics Club did not place at the event, which was attended by 59 teams. However, the club didn’t go away unacknowledged. It won not only the “Most Inspirational Rookie Team Award” given out by the judges, but also the rookie award another team made for the event.

The competition emphasized the idea of “cooperatition.”

“The STEM field can get really focused...and the connections with other people in other disciplines can get lost,” Dorst said. “And so the contest was about being able to cooperate with other people that you’re also competing against... You’re simultaneously being challenged and helped by everyone around you.”

The club stayed after school to build its robot until about 8 p.m., two or three days a week,

for six weeks.

“We initially watched a video about what the course would be and what objectives we had to overcome with our robot,” Benfer said. “Then we got materials and we just tried to engineer the robot to accomplish the tasks that we wanted it to for the course.”

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Science Olympiad holds open house, looks towards upcoming state competition TRACY LE

team continued to get closer and closer to taking State and moving forward to Nationals.

Pat Lamb’s classroom was However, with budget cuts rebulging with mothers, fathers, sulting in the loss of their class, grandparents, siblings, friends, Honors Science Investigations, mentors and the Science Olym- the team’s momentum was shot piad team toiling away in the down.

“The team is in pretty good middle of it all.

Manhattan High’s Science shape but to be honest, because Olympiad team held their an- we lost our class and so many of nual open house last Saturday our members participate in so and invited others to come many things, we don’t all actually get to interact very much,” view their work.

“It’s not like a basketball Nelson said. “[The absence of game or a football game where the class has] definitely hurt our teamwork parents can and commujust sit in the nication... In stands and “The team is in pretty past years watch their good shape but to be we’ve had a kids and see much higher how well honest, because we lost percentage of they’re doing; people who many of the our class and so many of showed up events are beour members participate to practice hind closed on Saturdays doors,” coach in so many things, we where we’d and sponsor have a chance Richard Nel- don’t all actually get to to check with son said. “[The them and see open house] interact very much.” how their dohelps moti-Richard Nelson ing but this vate the kids year, our to prepare and it gives the parents a chance to team has been much more insee what their students have dependent.”

Senior MacKenzie Gwinner been doing throughout the year, what we’ve been study- agreed.

“It’s been a lot more difficult ing, what Science Olympiad is all about. The students stood this year because we lost our up front and discussed their class,” Gwinner said. “The class events with their parents and really helped the team comthey conducted themselves re- municate and kept me focused. ally well and I think the par- It’s harder to get together with partners [and] I really think it ents really appreciated it.”

After a few hours of convers- will hurt us [at State].”

The team and the coaches ing, testing bridges, showing off robotic arms and more, par- encouraged students to sign up ents were gently hushed out of for the Science Olympiad class the room as students bounced during enrollment with the back to studying for tests and hope that if there was a great refining building events for the enough interest, they could try state competition at Wichita to persuade the administration to offer the course again.

State University on Saturday.

“Unfortunately, the numbers “I hope we do better than we’ve ever done,” Nelson said. I’ve heard haven’t been large “This year we don’t have as enough so I would suspect that good a feel for [the competi- we won’t have the class [again tion] but...it’s definitely not out of the realm of possibility.”

SEE SCIENCE PAGE 3 The past few years, the

News Editor

TOP: Senior Rachel Chang talks to coach and sponsor Pat Lamb before showing off a bridge building project at the Science Olympiad Open House Saturday, March 26. BOTTOM: Junior Saubhagya Shrestha discusses the science of the robotic arm he and junior Joshua Haus designed and developed with his parents.

PHOTOS BY TRACY LE

Medical Explorers takes adventure to Tindall Orthodontics to further boundaries GAVIN LARIOS

Staff Writer

Last night Tindall Orthodontics was full of students from Medical Explorers who were ready to learn more

about what dentists do and what their equipment does.

“Dentistry offers a great profession and career and it gives you the ability to balance family, maybe kids and stuff down the road where [you] can have

GLOBAL NEWS RICK BROWN Copy Editor

Global news is a vital part of news today and can directly affect MHS students.

In order to inform our readers, The Mentor has compiled small summaries describing some of the largest happenings in the world today. We encourage the reader to read about these topics, and others, in greater depth.

President visits Cuba

Obama

On March 20, President Obama became the first active president since Calvin Coolidge to visit Cuba. Obama

and Cuban president Raul Castro held a joint news conference, during which Obama urged for freedom of speech, assembly and religion. Obama and Castro also attended a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team, which was won by Tampa Bay. Following his visit to Cuba, Obama flew to Argentina.

Terrorist attacks shock world In less than a week, two independent terrorist groups attacked three different countries, injuring and killing many people.

On Tuesday, an airport and subway station in Brussels, Belgium were attacked by suicide bombers. ISIS claimed

this career and work 3-4 days a week,” Tindall said.

Most of the students in medical explorers already have plans to continue their studies in the medical field. Junior Isabel Dritz plans on continuing

her studies in the genetics field.

“That’s a hot topic, it has been for awhile,” Tindall said.

“You have to take a lot of genetics in college to get in to [dentistry] school.

The opportunity to meet

responsibility for the attacks.

Authorities believe that five militants were responsible for the attacks, which killed 31 people and injured 330.

On Friday, an Iraqi soccer stadium was attacked by a lone terrorist. People had congregated in the stadium to celebrate the victory of a local soccer team when the attack took place. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed at least 25 people and wounded 90 more.

On Sunday, a park in the Pakistani city of Lahore was bombed. Many Christian and Muslim families had gone to the park to celebrate Easter.

Jamaat ul-Ahrar, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attacks.

In a phone interview with The Washington Post, Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesperson for Jamaat ul-Ahrar, stated, “It was our people who attacked the Christians in Lahore, celebrating Easter... It’s our message to the government

that we will carry out such attacks again until sharia [Islamic law] is imposed in the country.”

On his personal Twitter account, Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of the province in which the attacks took place, vowed revenge: “Those who targeted innocent citizens do not deserve to be called humans... We will hunt you down... [and] make sure your terror infrastructure is dismantled completely.”

North Carolina anti-LGBT bill sparks backlash On Wednesday, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill that required transgender people to use the restroom aligned with their gender identity and that voided local government laws protecting people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation.

Companies with business

Dr. Tindall and tour his office gave the medical explorers the chance to get an insight on what orthodontists do on a daily basis and see one of the many jobs offered in the medical field.

presence in the state including American Airlines, Dow Chemical, Paypal and Red Hat expressed their dissatisfaction with the new law while conservative groups such as the Civitas Institute praised it.

In an official statement, the NCAA announced that it would “continue to monitor current events, which include issues surrounding diversity, in all cities bidding on NCAA championships and events, as well as cities that have already been named as future host sites.” The NCAA is scheduled to hold tournaments in North Carolina in 2017 and 2018. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee banned city-funded, non-essential travel to North Carolina in protest of the law.

Lee also announced plans to bar travel to Georgia if its governor signs a similar law.

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Opinions

The Mentor // March 29, 2016 // MHSMentor.com Page 2

Stop putting so much stock into sports

New Voices Act gives journalism students more freedom THIS EDITORIAL IS A COMPILATION FROM A DISCUSSION HELD BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD. TO LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION THAT LED TO THIS PIECE, VISIT WWW.MHSMENTOR. COM. Back in August, the state legislature of North Dakota unanimously passed the John Wall New Voices Act, making North Dakota the eighth state to pass legislation that protected student journalists’ right to exercise freedom of speech.

Since then, a nationwide movement has enacted New Voice legislation in states like Missouri and Michigan and has sparked about 20 state campaigns. Missouri is the second state to pass New Voices legislation in 2016 so far.

The bill reverses the regulations set by the 1988 U.S. Supreme Court case Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, which stated that school administrators had the authority to censor any student media as long as the school had a reasonable educational vindication for doing so.

For Missouri schools, passing the Walter Cronkite New Voices Act

especially hit home. Missouri has had a history with school officials censoring students’ work. In 1983, Missouri student journalist Cathy Kuhlmeier Frey’s student newspaper’s teen issue section on divorce and teen pregnancy was censored by the principal. Frey later sued the principal and became the lead plaintiff in the Hazelwood Case and, recently, one of the testifiers in support of the Walter Cronkite New Voices Act. In November, the University of Missouri caused national uproar when two faculty members attempted to block student photojournalists from covering a public protest made by the group, Concerned Student 1950.

Concerned Student 1950 is a group that tries to expose the racism on the university campus.

Not only does the act aid students, it also protects student media advisers who refuse to restrain their students’ right to free speech from backlash or punishment and restricts school officials from controlling student media. Once established, the bill will protect students and teachers at the high school and college level. Although the New Voices Act states that stu-

dent journalists are accountable for determining the various content of their school media, the act does allow for school officials to censor if the matter becomes in any way “libelous, an invasion of privacy or creates a “clear and present danger” or a “material and substantial disruption” of the school.” (For more on the legislation itself or the publications act pertaining to Kansas, visit http://newvoicesus.com/ the-legislation) Overall, the Mentor Editorial Board felt that the act proved to be beneficial for students but could also see why administration would want to have some input on the material. Students should be given some freedom to cover what they want, particularly if it’s newsworthy.

While the bill brings plenty of advantages, the Board also felt it did not prepare students post high school and college.

The act only protects student journalists; journalists of major broadcasting networks, magazines, etc. are beyond its realm.

In addition, those who choose to pursue a career in journalism won’t have to face a large amount of censorship or higher authorities putting re-

straints on what they can and cannot write, unlike in schools.

Journalism has proved to be outstanding for students in many ways. According to the Newspaper Association of America Foundation, student journalists are not only better at critical thinking, but also receive better grades and score higher on standardized testing. School journalism not only gives students hands-on experience but also a plethora of life skills.

Without people speaking up and trying to improve journalism programs in schools, journalism would not be what it is. It’s important that you support programs and organizations that matter to you. The Mentor Board urges everyone to strive to make a difference. The ideas you propose and implement can have major positive implications in your life as well as others. (To learn more about why journalism matters, visit: https://www.sc.edu/ study/colleges_schools/ cic/journalism_and_ mass_communications/ scholastic_organizations/ scspa/pdfs/journalismmatters.pdf) To learn more about this bill and surrounding details, visit: splc.org

“Don’t have sex before you’re married because you’ll get pregnant or get STI’s,” instead of teaching you what to do if and when you do have sex before or after marriage.

I’ve had to explain to too many girls about their own anatomy because their education system has failed them. I’ve heard too many times about how people’s first time was painful and awkward and all around not good, which shouldn’t happen. Your first time should not be painful, because you and whoever you are having sex with should be respectful of each other. The idea that your first time has to hurt comes from the fear that sex ed has put into teenagers.

Another issue with the sex education we have to go through as students is the severe lack of LGBT inclusive curriculum.

There is not a single mention of how queer people have sex, or how to do it safely. People love to poke fun at how the AIDS epidemic is a gay problem, but don’t teach young gay teens how to protect themselves, other than take a condom. Dental dams aren’t even brought up as a form of contraception, resulting in teens and even adults, LGBT or not, being uneducated on how to have safer oral sex.

The fact that students are being taught fear versus actual education is resulting in unsafe sex among teens, and ultimately people being afraid to be open about their bodies and their sexuality, and could also be to blame for the rise in teen pregnancies. Abstinence-only education, while good in theory, is creating more problems than it is helping people.

If you want kids to be safe, you have to teach them how to be safe. The more open teachers and parents are with students about sex, the more likely they are to be honest and open in return without fear of judgment or backlash.

Sex ed needs desperate, prompt improvement

Savannah Cherms Entertinment Editor Everyone remembers how awkward their eighth grade health class was. Everything was going fine, learning about hygiene and washing your hair -- stuff you didn’t really care about.

Then it happened: The sex talk. The boys and girls were separated and they each watched their own separate videos.

Then the teacher showed you scary pictures of STI’s to keep you from having sex. And there lies the problem.

The sexual education that American students are taught is not really education. It’s a scare tactic. Teachers tell you,

Brussels bombing utterly pointless act of terrorism

David Fliter Opinions Editor

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The recent attack on the Brussels airport was one of the most unprovoked terror attacks in recent years. While most terrorist groups target innocent people, this attack was especially surprising because it was in a country widely separated from the turmoil in the Middle East.

Europe has become the center of immigration from the tumultuous condition in Syria.

While Belgium is widely

overlooked for immigration due to its relatively small size, it still has an open border policy for just about anyone to enter into the country. I do not want you to think that I am calling all Middle Eastern immigrants terrorists, but I do think the terrorist responsible traveled with those seeking asylum.

I have never been so conflicted on an issue as much as the solution for this attack. Obviously, the solution that I would instantly jump to is to have all boots on the ground in the Middle East and just let hellfire missiles solve the problem, but unfortunately we have already tried that and it widely failed. We killed the most notorious terrorist leader

and only more terrorist groups formed.

Yet I do not want to just wait around and act passively in the face of religious fanatics killing people who do not have the same views as them.

I wish one day the world could just wake up from this nightmare as if none of it had ever happened. I am tired of reading headlines of people dying, and I am tired of knowing that we could stop it.

As far as I am concerned, we need to do something before the world falls further into the crosshairs of fanatical religion. This type of warfare is comparable to a pollutant. It is poisoning our world and we have been unwillingly tasked with finding the antidote.

We need writers, editors and photographers for next year.

Come to C107 for more info.

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Greg Woods Editor in Chief I still have a lot of growing up to do, but when it comes to lessons I’ve learned, one sticks out like a sore thumb: sports don’t matter.

I’m not talking about playing sports — many an athlete has escaped poverty or less-than-ideal home situations via sports. I commend those people. But that is not the perspective I am referencing.

I’m talking about you and I, the fans.

You see, the more I’ve grown and learned -- especially over the last two years -- the more taken aback I have become when I see vicious attacks on social media over a sports game. I’ve become confused when people continue to debate Jordan and LeBron. I’ve become irritated when I see arguments over whether or not this year’s Warriors team is better than the ‘96 Bulls.

Why? Because there is no point.

No argument you get into over sports will ever matter, nor make any difference in the other party’s mind, nor anyone else’s. It’s futile. A fruitless endeavor.

But it isn’t just arguments about sports that don’t matter. To us fans, sports themselves don’t matter.

Russell Westbrook can continue to thrash opponents for triple-doubles.

Steph Curry can cement

Question of the

week:

“watched 6 seasons of grey’s anatomy. priorities.” -- Grace Woods, freshman (@grcewoods)

his legacy as the greatest three-point shooter of alltime. But why does it matter? No matter how many absurd triples Curry hits, we are forced to live our lives as normal. We will still go to work and school the next morning. We still have to wash the dishes and do laundry.

I remember vividly the summer of 2013.

That was the year the San Antonio Spurs were 28 seconds away from a championship, before the Miami Heat’s Ray Allen nailed a corner three in Game 6 of The Finals to help his team escape with a win. Since I used to live in San Antonio, and I’ve spent a large part of my life growing up watching the players, I was heartbroken. I probably shed a tear or two or three.

That’s not to say I’m wrong for being sentimental about sports. I still am. The difference now, as I’ve aged and matured, is that I realize that I don’t have to be distraught when my teams lose. I can cultivate vibrant relationships with people I know and who I can be around on a daily basis, rather than depending on a group of 30-year-olds (the jokes about how old the Spurs are can stop any day now, by the way) for my happiness.

So stop the sports arguments — no one wins them. Stop the crying over sports — you have a life to live. It’s perfectly fine to form blossoming relationships around sports and to let them become a source of good times, but the world needs more people who realize when things matter, and when they don’t.

Sports are the latter.

What did you actually do for spring break?

“had a week long Disney movie marathon” --Emily Augustine, junior (@AugustineSings)

“made a rlly good sandwich” --Jayme Hay, sophomore (@jaymesuee) “slept” Gillian Belle, sophomore (@gillian_ belle)

“cried” -- Lacy Fisher, sophomore (@lxcyfxsher)

“Parkour”

-- Chandler Mixon , junior (@ChanderMixon0)

Next week’s question: Best/worst April Fool’s pranks?

EDITORS: Greg Woods -- Editor-InChief Tracy Le -- News Editor David Fliter -- Opinions Editor Savannah Cherms -- Entertainment Editor Erick Echegaray -- Sport Editor Elizabeth Underwood -Features Editor Angie Moss -- Trending Editor Cora Astin -- Photo Editor Andrea Lu -- Graphics Designer/Copy Editor Alan Brown -- Copy Editor Rick Brown -- Copy Editor Tara Magaña -- Blue M Assist. Verbal Editor

OTHER: Staff Writers -- Anna Alanazi, Lexi Bieker, Ale Flores, Anna Hupp, Megan Klug, Gavin Larios, Jordan Lutz Staff Photographers -Hasan Al-Basri, McKenna Eilert, Lauren Race, Dylan Thomas Kristy Nyp -- Adviser Circulation -- Kim Schnee’s fifth hour class: Kristyn Baker, Caleb Barnes, Dalton Blake, Wesley Cattanach, Charlie Dickey, Karl Drown, Rachel Efken, Logan Jones, Lynne Jones, Colten Kirk, Josh Kohls, Douglas McCaskill, Faith A. Parker, Alesha Pearl, Megan Ritthisorn, Bradley Rollins, Mythias Satterfield, Amissa Self, Tedi Stein, Hannah Sullivan and Austin Tatum.

The Mentor is published each Tuesday that school is in session at Manhattan High School, 2100 Poyntz Ave. Manhattan, Kan. Telephone (785) 587-2114.

More than 1,000 Mentors are printed each week and distributed free of charge to all faculty members and students. MHS journalists are members of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association. The Mentor is an open forum that accepts contributions from the public.

E-mail us at mhsmentor@ gmail.com.

PAGE 3

THE MENTOR // March 29, 2016 // MHSMENTOR.COM

ENTERTAINMENT

Thespians host yoga class in Rezac ALE FLORES

Staff Writer

Local yoga instructor Holly Hummel, mother to freshman Marlena Hummel, helped Manhattan High School Thespians with a free yoga class last Thursday From 3:30-4:30 pm on the Rezac auditorium stage , at MHS west campus.

“My mother Holly Hummel taught the class this past Thursday for The Tempest cast and crew. She did a class on what she calls ‘The ABC’s’ of yoga, followed by a 10

minute guided meditation during shavasana,” Marlena said. “Yoga is particularly great for actors because it helps us stay in the moment; to not let our mind wander away from the task at hand.”

The event was advertised for all staff and students to attend. It was a requirement though to students involved with “The Tempest,” this spring’s play.

“I just hear a lot of actors talking about how yoga really helps center them and to get in the moment because an ac-

tor has to be always on the moment and focus and connect their mind and body and breathing,” Thespian sponsor Linda Uthoff said. “It is a really good thing for actors to try.”

This was a new, but rewarding experience for some of the students participating. Thespians learned a lot about yoga and about how it can help them as actors.

“It was my first time doing yoga. I think it helps a lot with the breathing and relaxing on stage. I would definitely will be trying it again,” junior Lexi Totten

ARTIST OF THE WEEK How are you involced in the arts? --“When I started in music, I started off on the flute for about six years and then coming into my freshman year of high school, I switched over to the bassoon in second semester, and now it’s become my primary instrument for the Wind Ensemble. It’s horrible but addicting.”

What’s it like being the only bassoon player? -“It can be a little stressful because I don’t always have someone to go ‘hey, when do I come in this part?’ or the instrument isn’t naturally loud, so I have to work a lot harder to get it to actually project noise.”

Why did you pick bassoon? -“I wasn’t really keeping up with the skill of all of the other flute players, and a junior, at the time playing the flute, got me addicted to the sound of the bassoon and eventually switched me over.”

PHOTO BY TARA MAGAÑA

ERICKA SHNEIDER

said.

Now the cast for “The Tempest” knows some new tactics to use during its performances on April 21 to April 24.

“Yoga is more than just a bunch of stretching and cool poses,” Marlena said.

“While doing the poses you must focus on your breath, this trick helps you stay in the moment.

For actors it can help us when we perform; to keep us calm and not be crushed under the enormous pressure about being on stage.”

1

1: Thespians participate in a spine lengthening exercise at their yoga class.

2: Sophomore Creighton Glasscock holds the “Sunbird” pose in a yoga class led by Holly Hummel PHOTO COURTESY OF IEMMA GALITZER

2

Student journalist attends KCFW MAYA MINOCHA

Staff Writer

There is New York, Paris, Milan and London fashion week, but what a lot of people don’t know is that Kansas City has a three-day fashion show, showcasing designers from the Midwest. The week kicked off with a cocktail party followed by three days of fashion runway shows. I attended the second night of the shows as part of the media.

Coming from someone who gets up early to livestream my favorite designers’ runway shows during New York Fashion Week, getting to attend an actual fashion show was something that I thought

would never be a reality. When I arrived at the venue, there were photographers, a red carpet and sitting in my seat was a bag full of free beauty products. I was sitting in the media section, which was the first two rows.

The MC of the evening was Kacie McDonnell, a news anchor for Kansas City’s 41 Action News.

Once the lights dimmed and the music started playing, the models started floating down the runway one by, wearing collections by featured designers, Lauren Bander, Pauline Gibson, Madison LaRae Durant, Michael Drummond, Kiana Godsey, Rachel Anne Gottlieb and My Heirloom Bridal Design. The designers ranged from 15 -year-old local designers to project runway contestants. Some of the de-

signers had casual readyto-wear outfits, as well as couture gowns. Each collection had different hairstyles and runway makeup to create their own look for the show.

It was so satisfying to see an amazing fashion show in the Midwest considering that there isn’t the biggest fashion scene in Kansas. From the event staff, models, designers, hair and makeup stylists, photographers and volunteers, Kansas City Fashion Week is such an amazing event that takes a lot of planning and organizing. Getting to attend a real fashion show and sit with all the bloggers, journalists and photographers was such an amazing experience for me, a student journalist to experience.

What’s new in entertainment?

Malik debut album applies new sound

‘Batman vs Superman’ does well at box office, full of suprises

ALE FLORES

Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF RCA RECORDS

MEGAN KLUG Staff Writer

Zayn Malik has taken the world by storm with his debut album “Mind Of Mine.”

His first hit single, “Pillowtalk” was extremely popular and still holds a spot on the iTunes charts.

“Mind of Mine” is the first album Malik has released since the split with One Direction over a year ago.

The typical pop vocals and backtracks found in most radio singles were far from the genre Malik was leading his fans to when he released “Pillowtalk.”

Maintaining the soulful feel and R&B sound, Malik released several of the tracks before the full album was released. Featuring the song “Like I Would,” Malik keeps a similar beat and vibe when it comes to his music. Although the lyrics were different in both of the songs,

they contained the same underlying sound. This sound is completely different from the music he was featured in a year ago with One Direction.

The soulful melodies and the soft vocals combine to make a new genre for his fans.

“Mind of Mine: Deluxe” contains 18 tracks all having a similar sound. While both catchy and creative, Malik brings his sound to a whole new level. He also added a collaboration to his album, featuring popular artist Kehlani. The album topped the charts with the help of the release of a few tracks prior to the full album release as a preview of “Mind Of Mine.”

The album was expected to succeed and is proving those predictions by climbing up to the number one album on iTunes. Malik has said in interviews that he is constantly in the studio writing and recording new music, so an additional album may be expected in the future. This was only the beginning to Malik’s solo career.

Anything related to superheroes gets my complete attention. Therefore when I heard about the movie “Batman vs Superman,” I knew I was going to be watching it as soon as it came out. The movie has great content, great scenes with great effects, but It was really hard to understand what was happening.

First, if you thought this was something else than a sequel to “Man of Steel” you were wrong.

To understand this movie better, you should watch “Man of Steel,” which I didn’t do, so I was trying to figure out what happened most of the movie.

Fortunately, at the end, things wrap up in a way that it all makes sense.

The movies is set two

FROM SCIENCE PAGE 1 next year],” Nelson said.

Despite disappointing budget cuts, Gwinner is enjoying her second and final year as a part of the team.

“It’s very surreal,” Gwinner said. “I realize that this might be my last week but I haven’t really thought about it being over. I feel very fortunate to have had Mr. Lamb through my high school career and am sad for the upcoming classes who don’t get to experi-

years after the events that happen on “Man of Steel” and we meet Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) who has been Gotham’s vigilante for over two years now, and is pretty upset about the destruction Superman is causing in the world. Batman doesn’t like Superman

hero. However, things get complicated and people are not sure if he is what they need after all.

“Lex Luthor” (Jesse Eisenberg) has a master plan but it’s going to have bad consequences at the end of the movie. Eisenberg’s performance was incredible; even though

PHOTO COURTESY OF DC COMICS

and is going to make sure he knows it. Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) on the other hand, keeps living his life side-by-side with Lois Lane (Amy Adams), saving lives and being a

he was the villain, most of the comedic parts of the movie came from him.

When I got to the movie theater, I was excited to see how Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent were going to

ence a class with him. Science Olympiad has been a lot of fun. The people are great and we always work well together.”

“We’re going to miss everyone,” Nelson said.

“Right now, everyone’s so busy that we haven’t had much time to think about [the season coming to an end]. We’ve had most of our seniors for a couple years so we’ve gotten to know the kids and enjoy the team with them so it’s bittersweet.

I haven’t put that much thought into it but every

once in awhile when I’m in a conversation with Mr. Lamb he’ll be like, ‘Well, next year you guys will be doing this on your own.’ It’s really been a pleasure working with Mr. Lamb. In many ways, he’s the heart and soul of the team. I kind of take care of the logistics but in terms of the motivation and setting high expectations, Mr. Lamb has been the spearhead for those things. I’ve really appreciated his involvement.”

For now, students have made plans to study on

become friends. I wanted to hear an inspiring story about how even though they were fighting each other -- as it was obvious because of the title -- they had something in common and needed each other’s help. Unfortunately that didn’t happen.

They bonded over something as insignificant as a name. Clark’s and Bruce’s mothers happen to have the same name and that seemed to be enough. I don’t think it was too realistic, but then again it is a superhero movie, so it isn’t supposed to be.

We did get a lot of insight into the other 10 movies that are supposed to follow up after this one, including the appearance of Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot),The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg.

The movie won at the box office in the box office, with $170.1 million just in North America, beating out “Zootopia” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” their own and stay after school to study and work on projects in hopes of paving their way to a win this upcoming Saturday.

“Last year we had a really strong team too and in my opinion, we were the best in the state,” Nelson said. “If it weren’t for a fluke accident we would’ve gotten first. I know we have a strong team this year. But is it as strong or stronger than last year’s? I don’t know.

We’ll have to wait and see.”

Sports The Mentor // March 29, 2016 // MHSMENTOR.COM Page 4

Soccer kicks off season on road, prepares for home debut ERICK ECHEGARAY

Sports Editor

After a young team proved itself with fresh faces last season, the Manhattan High girls soccer team is back on the pitch ready to flourish this new season. The Lady Indians come into the season with more maturity as seven sophomores, many of whom played as freshmen last year, now make a the biggest chunk of the varsity roster, in between them last season’s leading-scorer Cailey Perkins, sophomore, who leads the group.

Among juniors, defenders Karmen Martinie and Molly Smith return to once again become the solid duo in the backfield that protected Manhattan’s goal. As for goalkeepers, junior Emmy Korenek now steps up as the number one keeper following

the absence of now-graduated Molly Fischer.

The young team would kickoff the season with two road games against Topeka High and Blue Valley West High. MHS pulled off the 3-1 win against Topeka High in their season debut but fell to Blue Valley West by a staggering score of 7-0.

“It just didn’t turn out like we had hoped,” Smith said. “We all knew that game on Saturday would be pretty hard.”

MHS now turns around to face Topeka West High, hoping to avenge their recent blowout loss at home.

“We have really good players and we’re working hard,” senior midfielder Ashley Stuckwisch said.

The Lady Indians will finally debut at home tonight, when they face off against Topeka West at Bishop Stadium.

Sophomore Cailey Perkins heads a ball into the opponent’s goal during a match last season. Perkins broke the single-season goal record last year.

PHOTO BY BRENT MORRILL

Baseball set for season-opener on Friday GREG WOODS

Editor-in-Chief

The last time the Manhattan High baseball team took a spring break trip to Arizona in 2014, the Indians made the 6A state semifinal.

The team took the trip this year.

But this year’s team, albeit ready to embark on the 2016 campaign, looks a lot different. The 2014 team was made up almost entirely of seniors, while this year’s team is less experienced, with just seven seniors, only four of whom have played at the varsity level.

Still, though, head coach Don Hess feels confident about the amount of experience he has heading into Friday’s season-opener at Topeka High.

“It seems like the years that we [take the trip], we

end up having a pretty good year, and I don’t know if there’s a connection there or not,” Hess said. “We have some guys that have played some competitive ball outside of school too, so for us, we feel like experience-wise, we’re OK. But with any team, there’s going to be a point where the team decided just how good they want to be.”

The trip to Arizona allowed the team to see spring training games featuring the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels, as well as to grow closer together as a team, something senior Tanner Holen hopes will benefit his team as the season wears on. “[I’ll take away from the trip] coming together as a team more, and knowing everybody’s strengths and

weaknesses,” Holen said.

The Indians may have a taller flame in the competitive fire category this year, senior outfielder Josh Chapman explained.

He pointed to this team’s chemistry, as opposed to last year’s team, which came a game away from state.

“Last year, we really struggled with bonding and team chemistry. We really didn’t have good team chemistry, and I think that’s partially why we were so bad,” Chapman said. “So I really want, this year, our team to be bonded more than it was last year.”

Another difference in this year’s team is that the Indians will not PO anyone, or pitcher-only.

Instead, the team will be lined with players whose versatility Hess is optimistic about.

“Our versatility is outstanding,” Hess said. “Our versatility has got to allow us to arrive at a lineup that is skilled at each position, not just because they can play there.”

In terms of said positions, the infield will feature senior Tanner Holen behind the plate and junior Chance Henderson at third base. The rest of the infield, Hess said, will be determined by the results of the opening few contests.

“We may two or three weeks into the season before we know,” he said.

“We’re going to platoon some people early on and see what they can do. We’re hoping that we have some guys step up and claim those other spots, rather than win by default.”

On the mound, the Indians will lack a consis-

tent, overpowering arm, like last year’s in Jesse Steinbring. Alternatively, Manhattan will opt for a group of pitchers, which includes Chapman and junior Nick Wohler, that Hess hopes will eat up innings.

“We feel like we have five or six guys that can get people out. What we don’t have is a showstopper like Jesse Steinbring from a year ago,” Hess said. “Our guys are going to have to grow up quite a bit. We played some young guys last year in the field and on the mound, and we’re only going to go as far as their improvement. If they’ve taken steps forward, then I think we can be successful on the mound.”

In terms of the team’s identity, Hess is looking for a team unafraid to be aggressive.

“We’re going to have to hit. We’ve emphasized hitting quite a bit this year,” Hess said. “We’re going to have to be scrappy; we’re going to have to steal bases. The popular term now is ‘dirtbags.’ We want guys that are willing to sacrifice for the good of the team.”

The Indians have their first shot at success on the mound — and around the diamond — in Friday’s season opener at Topeka High. Hess admitted he doesn’t know much about the Trojans heading into the twinbill, but since the Indians split with them a year ago, it will be a doubleheader Hess hopes to sweep.

“The only thing I know is that we split with them last year,” he said. “Anybody that we lost to a year ago, I’ve circled on my calendar.”

Golf team has shoes to fill after seniors leave Track prepares for first meet at Washburn GAVIN LARIOS

Staff Writer

Last year the boys golf team placed fifth at 6A state and now they have to fill in for the five seniors who graduated from Manhattan High. Junior Wesley Grogan knew as soon as the seniors left that they would have to step up their game and play better as a team.

“We have some big shoes to fill with some seniors leaving but I think we can do it with a lot of hard competition,” Grogan said. “State-wise I think we will be able to compete quite a bit; I mean, there’s a lot of hard competition; there always is, but I think we are willing to compete.”

Senior Trevor Dillon

also thinks that the team will have to put in a lot of hard work to succeed this year.

“We definitely got to grind; definitely got to go out there everyday and put in work,” Dillon said.

The team consists of seniors Dillon, Cole Gritton and Tanner Sanders; juniors Grogan and Dustin Wichman; and sophomore Ben Robben. The seniors will be competing in their last season of golf at Manhattan High and are willing to give it all they’ve got.

“I feel like we can compete,” Sanders said.

“It’s just how much we practice and if we play as a team, and it’s not all about one person on the team; it’s the whole team effort to score good and

hopefully we can win state.”

Sanders is ready to go out on the courses and play his hardest.

“I’m ready just for tournaments and competition and everything the season brings,” Sanders said. “I definitely will be out there; every single day you will see me.”

Other seniors, Gritton, can’t wait until the end of the season when the team is playing at state.

“I can’t wait to come in on 18 the last hole at Manhattan Country Club at state; that’ll be a great feeling,” Gritton said.

The team competes in their first tournament next Monday at the Salina Central Invitational at Salina Municipal.

Softball prepares to begin season JACOB CLANTON

Staff Writer

Following a middle of the road finish in the Centennial League last year, the Manhattan High School softball team hopes to improve this year.

“I think we were right in the middle, 9-9, so we hope to do a little bit better this year,” head coach Monty Enright said.

However, the team will have to figure out how to mature quickly. Four seniors graduated last year, and all were starters.

“It’s a pretty young team, a lot of positions had to be moved around,” junior Ceci Erker said.

“The first couple games are probably going to be rough.”

The home season opener will be on Friday at 4 p.m. against Topeka

High at Anneberg Park.

The team has been practicing for over a month.

“I hope we’ve done enough work that everybody will know where we’re supposed to be on defensive situations,” Enright said. “And everybody will know what we’re trying to do offensively if we put on an offensive play.”

Sophomore Dylan Higgins jumps over a hurtle while competing for Manhattan last season at Bishop Stadium.

PHOTO BY 2014-15 MENTOR MEDIA STAFF

ANGIE MOSS

Varsity track will be competing in their first meet of the season at Washburn Rural on Thursday. This meet, unlike most of them, doesn’t do team scores.

“We’re all just mainly looking to get quality marks on the board to start out the season,” varsity distance runner Cara Melgares, junior, said. “The pressure is off in terms of looking for

a team win. The goal is to go out and sort of get ourselves in the groove of competition on the track.”

Track is one of the largest sports at Manhattan High in terms of participation, with more than 100 athletes competing.

When there’s such a large team, friendships are bound to happen. “[My favorite part about being part of such a large team is] getting to know and interacting with people who I don’t

see everyday at school,” sophomore varsity sprinter C.J. Lowry said. “It just makes practice [and the meets] a lot more fun.”

Early on, a positive tone has been set for the season and varsity sprinter Mikela Robinson, junior, had high hopes of qualifying for state in both individual and relay events. “[The season is] going quite awesome,” Robinson said. “You just feel so good after a difficult practice.”

experience, the swimmers enjoyed it.

“Some of the other teams were intimidating,” Armbrust said. “It was nerve wracking but a lot of fun.”

Improvement is already being seen as many of the swimmers cut their times at the past two meets. The hard work and dedication is shining through with their success of a new personal record.

“I know all of the girls

tried their hardest, we all did. A lot of people dropped times over the past two meets,” Burton said.

In regards of the season, it appears that the team will only get better as time goes on. With returning upperclassmen and fast learning newcomers, the team is predicting a positive season.

“We have a lot of really good upperclassmen this year and the team in general is just great,” Burton

said. “We definitely have some strong contenders for league; I think with time we could get some people to move on to state.”

The team works together to solidify the team as a whole.

“The team is strong and we’re strong because we’re a team,” Burton said.

Features Editor

Swimming and diving starts season, seeks improvement MEGAN KLUG

Staff Writer

The Manhattan High girls swimming and diving team has officially started and just held its first home meet at the Kansas State Natatorium on Saturday. Starting at 10 a.m., the girls ended the day with a fifth-place finish out of 12 teams.

Finishing in the top half of all the teams there, the team still strives to im-

prove.

Due to spring break and the lessened practice, the girls lost some of their skill set.

“We just need to get in shape some more because we had spring break right before the meet,” sophomore Emily Armbrust said.

Last year the team ran into the same problem of falling short after the break.

“It’s kind of like last year, the same thing

happened,” sophomore Kathy Burton said. “We had our first meet right before spring break and during break everyone was gone. Everyone kind of loses everything we worked on.”

Along with new swimmers comes the nervousness of the first meet.

“There were first meet jitters since it was on our home turf, we have a lot of new people this year,” Burton said.

Although it was a new

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Features

Colburn walks to Topeka ABOVE: In the final stretch of the walk participants passed the capitol building on their way to the KNEA office, the rain still coming down hard.

LEFT: On the final day of the walk the Manhattan participants marched on through an onslaught of rain a few miles outside of Silver Lake. It continued to rain for the rest of the day as the walkers reached the Capitol.

Photos courtesy of lily colburn

SAVANNAH CHERMS Entertainment Editor

Fifty-seven miles.

Three days. Nine people.

Over spring break, sophomore Lily Colburn did what some might see as impossible. She and nine other Manhattan residents spent three days walking to the Topeka Capitol. The walk was to take a stand against the unconstitutional budget cuts made to Kansas schools. The group is called ‘Game On for Kansas Education,’ and there were representatives from Manhattan, Kansas

City, Emporia and Topeka on the walk. “[The walk] was important to me because I’m a kid in a Kansas public school, it should be important to all high school students,” Colburn said.

“But especially because I’m aware of the political scene and the things that are going on in the Kansas legislature and it’s important to me to stand up against the injustices that I see.”

Throughout the walk, the group of walkers faced the harsh effects of Kansas weather, as well as exhaustion.

of Dramatic Arts in New York City,” Sweeney said.

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is one of the most wellknown dramatic arts schools in the country.

It is the alma mater to award winning actors such as Grace Kelly, Anne Hathaway and Danny DeVito. With most seniors filling out applications for college, the application process was a little

“It was pretty hard Friday, it was only around 70 degrees, but when you’re walking 20 miles it gets hot. Sunday was the hardest day, and the longest day. It was 24 miles and it

was raining for five hours so it was really hard, and by that time you’re tired and sore and don’t want to be walking,” Colburn said. “But it was a relief getting to Topeka; I was

Ending the walk with a rally at the Kansas National Education Association office, the participants stood at the front of the state house chanting “Save our schools” in protest of the state budget cuts.

Photo courtesy of lily colburn

grateful to sit down and be off my feet. It was also nice to know that I accomplished that. It wasn’t about the fitness, but still, walking 24 miles a day is a lot, so I was proud.”

Despite the weather and the physical fatigue, Colburn knows her efforts were not in vain, and was proud of herself and her group members.

“It was definitely worth it.” Colburn said. “I got to know nine different people really well. That happens when you walk for 20 hours a day, you learn a lot about people,” Colburn said. “There was

a rally on Monday with hundreds of people, not just people who walked.

It was worth it to take part in that protest and stand up for Kansas kids’ rights.”

Once she returned, Colburn was met with positive reactions to her efforts.

“I didn’t even think people knew about it but I came to school and everyone was like ‘whoa Lily, you walked a long way,’ but people were impressed for the most part, and also kind of astonished because walking to Topeka is a long way.”

bit different for Sweeney.

“The application process was pretty basic,” Sweeney said. “I had to send transcripts, reference letters and fill out [the Free Application for Federal Student Aid].

Once all that was in, I set up an audition in Dallas over spring break where I had to perform two monologues followed by a short interview,” Sweeney said.

my education in the art form,” Sweeney said.

Moving from Manhattan, Kan., with 56,000 people and two lane roads, to Manhattan, N.Y., a metropolitan city with 8.6 million people, can be quite the transition.

“I’m scared of getting mugged but I’ll have pepper spray so I should be okay,” Sweeney said.

New York City being the concrete jungle with

endless opportunities and the international hub for theater, her natural fears are overcome by excitement.

“I’m very excited to be pursuing my passion, but at the same time it’s risky business so I’ll just hope for the best,” Sweeney said.

Senior moves to New York City to study theater MAYA MINOCHA Staff Writer

Starting her love for drama and theater in the Midwest, where the main industry is agriculture and not entertainment, senior Toula Sweeney is ready to take full flight and move to New York City to pursue her acting dreams.

“I will be attending the American Academy

Even though Manhattan is not the ideal place to start an acting career, Sweeney made the most of her surroundings and excelled in the drama and forensics department at Manhattan High School.

“MHS gave me the opportunity to find my passion in theater,” Sweeney said. “Through the drama department and forensics team, I was able to practice and advanced

FOR MORE FEATURES, VISIT MHSMENTOR.COM

Youth helps inner city on mission trip CORA ASTIN Photo Editor

For the past couple of years, students a part of the University Christian Church youth group have taken mission trips over spring break, going to various locations.

This year they went to Memphis, Tenn.

While they were there, they helped out Community Bible Church by doing various projects in the area, such as gardening, cleaning up water and working at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.

Unlike previous trips, this one was to an inner city. The difference caught some of the students by surprise.

“This mission trip involved a lot more service activities rather than directly interacting with people,” junior Hannah Park said. “The inner city is very different because typically all of the housing that we were around was a lot more poor or rundown than we are used to. The majority of the people there are talkative and since it’s kind of in the south there. They really, really like to talk to random strangers. It got you out of your comfort zone for sure.”

“The first day we just went to church [at CBC], we hung out and did some touring,” Park said. “Then, Monday we went to a homeless shelter. So we went and helped serve food for the homeless people, and then we went [and] spent a few hours in the basement of the church.

We were vacuuming up water, mopping and stuff because there was so much rain ... Then, the second day we went to Habitat for Humanity, and we spent all day there. We were paint sorting, and doing all kinds of stuff. Habitat

for Humanity is kind of like Goodwill, in a way, it gets clothes and furniture, and sells them for really cheap to people who need them.”

The majority of the trip was working in the various gardens in the area.

“It was like three days straight that we were in the garden all day,” Park said. “We spent like eight hours in a garden everyday.”

In each garden, the students helped pull weeds and clean up.

“One of the gardens we just took a lot of weeds out of their plant beds, and we planted a few flowers,” sophomore Hannah Grace said. “Then another garden we spread organic fertilizer over the beds. Then we planted other food, we cleaned up and we made a sign [with the name of the garden on it.]”

The Habitat for Humanity store was eye opening for the students. “[The restore] was disorganized, but it was big, and there were a lot of things,” Grace said. “Once it was open and we saw all the people buying stuff, it was kind of like ‘wow, these people don’t have a lot of money.’ I didn’t realize how many people there were like that.”

The students did various jobs to help the workers at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.

“We just did odd jobs around the store; I unloaded a trailer,” Harden said. “[The trailer] was furniture, and it helped the store because if we didn’t do it then they had to do it.”

The trip allowed for students to realize that there is more out there than they know.

“There’s a lot more going on in the world than I see,” Grace said.

Brownback shows devotion to education with more budget cuts ANGIE MOSS

Trending Editor America has a knack for electing wonderful people into positions of high power. That being said, you can only imagine that Kansas, the heart of America, would elect the best and the brightest to run the state.

The news has taken interest in the wonderful things going on in Kansas, from budget cuts to tax increases. The governor, Sam Brownback, is trying his best to move Kansas in the right direction. Whether that be related to family, religion, or most important on his list, education.

After cutting $44 million from K-12 and university funds in 2015 and another $17 million this year, it’s clear how important education is to Brownback.

Many Kansans believe that

these cuts, among many others, are due to the tax cuts that Brownback brought into office with him as he was re-elected in 2014. However, Brownback said in a written statement that it’s not a “tax problem,” it’s a “spending problem.” In fact, nothing is wrong with Brownback’s tax policy.

“Our tax policy has been instrumental in creating more than 80,000 jobs since we took office and has resulted in a record number of Kansans working,” Brownback said in a written statement. “These numbers reflect a declining national and regional economy.”

Where is the money going if it isn’t going toward educating the young and hopeful citizens of Kansas? How does an 8.5 percent increase in pay for legislators sound? Showing our legislators how much we adore them by giving them more money while they decide

to take away ours sounds about right.

As a high schooler in Kansas and a prospective University of Kansas student, I can only show you how overjoyed I am to be a Kansan. I can’t help but be ecstatic that my education is in such wonderful hands.

“Now we can do the things that we want to do,” Brownback said in a 2014 interview with the Kansas City Star. “We can invest in education growth because we’ve made the tough decisions. Now we can work on issues like poverty and water because we’ve made the tough choices.”

Brownback is doing his best to keep Kansas at the top and he’s articulated himself well on his plan to do so.

“Let’s create a legal system that can work,” Brownback said.

Male student sent home for provocative dress are siding with the teachers, they were being perceived by SAVANNAH CHERMS and saying he had good reason others when wearing sweatEntertainment Editor to send Ross home. pants and other provocative “He was just trying to get the dress.

Grey sweatpants, a black Ross has spent the days folhoodie and white Nikes. These girls’ attention,” senior Olivia are the clothing choices that Gomez said. “He thinks he’s go- lowing his removal from class got junior Matthew Ross sent ing to be able to impress all the advocating for a change in the dress code. home last week. Ac“We’re just trying cording to Ross’s math teacher, the junior’s at- “He was just trying to get the girls to get the school to see us as people, not tire was deemed inapattention.

He thinks he’s going to as objects,” Ross said. propriate and resulted “It’s incredibly sexist; in other students being be able to impress all the girls in I’m here to learn just distracted.

“He said that my the class by dressing in a way that like the girls. It’s not a problem of me besweatpants were dising distracting; it’s a tracting the girls in the just isn’t school appropriate.” problem of adminisclass,” Ross said. “I don’t -senior Olivia Gomez tration looking at us really understand how; in an inappropriate my legs aren’t sexual obway.” jects.”

Despite the outrage Students reacted quickly to what is being described as “an girls in the class by dressing in and attention the suspension a way that just isn’t school ap- has received, administrators injustice.” have decided to make any “I just don’t get how sweat- propriate.”

One teacher said that Ross changs to their dress code pants are distracting,” junior Caleb Garver said. “The teach- and the boys who dress like policy, saying that it is not him needed to learn self re- a major concern at the moer was being overdramatic.”

Other students however, spect, and think about how ment, despite the reaction.

satirical comics ANNA ALANAZI

Staff Writer

ANDREA LU

Graphics Designer

Student requests better lighting for selfies, writes letter to Board of Education maya minocha

Blue M Organizations Editor Dear Board of Education, The other day I was all dressed up for school. My friends and I all had our third hour together and we even color coordinated so we could take a picture together.

This is when I realized that Manhattan High School has some serious structural and architectural issues. The classroom we were in had no windows. The lighting in the room was so bad that we couldn’t even turn the brightness of the picture up on the vsco app.

Manhattan High School’s good lighting is something that I want to take pride in.

Ever since the 2011 construction on the building, the lighting in the school has increased tremendously. I have found that the best selfie lighting is in the commons between second and third hour, facing east. Another good spot is in A

Hall during the late morning and early afternoon. I am sure there are other good places to take selfies at our school, like those huge glass windows on the second floor and maybe the classrooms on the left in E Hall during the afternoon.

Manhattan High School is the fourth best school in Kansas. It is well known for giving students the opportunity to succeed in whatever they do.

That is why I am writing this.

Because my goal is to become Instagram famous. It would be nice if I had the support from my school and the sun by having them provide me with natural lighting wherever I go. That is the number one make or break of a good Instagram. Natural lighting is the major key.

USD 383 is an equal learning opportunity for all, and it only makes sense that I am counted as one of those people.

Sincerely, @LARRY_IS_REAL

ERICK ECHEGARAY

Sports Editor

“It is not humane, nor is it specific to one race.”

NCAA Championship game to be cancelled due to biased referees Fearing exposing students, IT expert pushes for stricter firewall restrictions March Madness. tournament as if all was norMegan klug The cause of this shutdown mal. They finally came to the Blue M Sports Editor was determined by the NCAA conclusion that the championThe NCAA tournament is one directors. As usual, the tourna- ship game will not be played in of the most anticipated sport- ment had a variety of games order for the tournament to be ing events of the year. Unfor- that were unevenly called and fair. The final two teams will tunately, there has been recent biased towards one team. The share the title and a new referinformation released about the directors overlooked the small eeing staff will be hired immeNCAA college basketball tour- factor. However, the increasing diately. They apologize to the wide audience of nament. For basketbasketball fans, but ball lovers, a tragedy they feel that this is has occurred; the NCAA statistics: the correct way to championship game • Only 10 officials are invited to ref the Final Four. handle the scandal. has been cancelled.

In regards to Questioning of why • The lowest seed to win the Championship was No. next year’s tournathey would continue 8 Villanova in 1985. ment, they plan to the games by specta- • A total of 67 games are played in the tournament. hire a completely tors occurred. Hownew staff of offiever, this year the • Over 900 basketballs are used for the tournament. cials. The hiring NCAA has decided • Each referee makes an average of 13 bad calls a will be restricted to throw away the game. to officials with no championship game. ties to NCAA teams.

This is both great • The NCAA paid for all 800 referee whistles.

They understand and terrible news.

Congratulations, the time you use of social media brought the that it will be difficult to find would have been spending fo- attention of the matter to high- the correct officials and cannot cusing on your bracket stand- er ground to be reevaluated. promise at this time that the ing and watching countless col- The directors did background games will be called perfectly. lege basketball games can now checks on the referees and However, they believe this will be focused on the multiple tests discovered almost all of them make for a better and more fair and homework that you decid- would be exceptionally biased tournament. The directors are ed to disregard for the sake of if used in the tournament. At in the process of hiring months college basketball. On the other first, the directors were unsure in advance, so the same probhand, people wait all year to how to deal with the matter so, lem does not occur. fill out brackets and watch the they continued all play of the

GREG WOODS

Editor-in-Chief

Reasserting the school district firewall’s sustained success and favorable reputation, USD 383 IT employee Carlton Lee explained Monday that he is pleased with the district’s policies regarding student internet use.

“The firewall, really, is fantastic,” Lee said. “I can only speak for myself, but I don’t see any reason why high school students should be allowed complete Internet access. Especially with how much classes revolve around paper and pencil.”

Lee, whose father operates a local farm and whose mother stays at home, tending to laundry and dishes, said the internet is crawling with inappropriate material, an amount far too great to risk staining students’ innocent minds.

“You open up Google, and bam, you see some dude with long hair singing about how it’s too late to say sorry,” Lee said.

“That’s the kind of stuff we can’t expose to students.”

When questioned about Internet information that could be of use to students and their classwork, Lee dismissed any potential perks.

“Look, it’s not like there’s anything useful for students on the Internet,” he said. “I seriously doubt anyone in high school is researching capital punishment or the Civil War. That’s absurd.”

Lee went further, saying only a handful of websites should be made available to students.

“Honestly, the firewall is pretty lenient as it is,” Lee said.

“Ideally, students should only be able to access the basics, like Cool Math and Little Einstein videos. What more could they need?”

Lee also waved off the idea that his upbringing affects his policy views regarding the Internet.

“Where I come from, it’s all productivity, just like what the firewall allows students to be,” he said. “No fun or games. I probably only spend about two percent of my time relaxing.

The other 98, I’m getting things done.”

Disclaimer: all of these stories and cartoons are purely satirical. These are not meant to be taken at face value. However, there is a lesson within the story if you choose to interpret it the way the author intends. except for the brownback story, The sources quoted in each story are not real people WHO attend or work at this school.

It’s almost April fools day!

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Trending