181113 Vol. 106 Edition 8

INSIDE THIS EDITION HEALTH-- Read the spotlight feature on health at Manhattan High, including conditions that teachers are facing and student issues such as birth control Photo by Olivia Haas BASKETBALL-- Sophomore Gillian Awbrey conditions during girls basketball practice in the North Gymnasium. Photo by Jennifer Sadler See Pages 3 & 5 for more

THE MENTOR VOLUME 106 - ISSUE 08 - NOV. 13, 2018

MHSMENTOR.COM

Student Council hosts Red Cross blood drive Kaitlin Clark Print Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Jennifer Sadler

Senior Zoey Blissett smiles while an American Red Cross Nurse gets her equipment ready to draw blood. The blood drive on Nov. 6 gave students the opportunity to donate blood to benefit others. After donating, students were treated to iron-packed snacks like oreos.

Bond referendum passes, changes to begin Sophia Comas Sports Editor

As of this Tuesday after the midterm elections, USD 383 has confirmed the approval of the $129.5 million bond referendum centered on making district-wide improvements across all levels of students and staff.

“We are excited about the many benefits for our students, and will eagerly begin the process to improve facilities and transition to an Early Learning, K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 configuration,” Dr. Marvin Wade, superintendent, said in a written statement. “We all know this is about much more than buildings and that we cannot move too quickly into the next phase of this project.”

The proposed improvements meant to create more efficient and safer learning environments at Manhattan High are set to begin four years from now according to Board of Education member Leah Fliter. This includes tearing down A Hall to reconstruct a two-story hallway in order to accommodate the freshmen class, which will permanently move to the West

campus.

“Moving the ninth graders to the West campus will give freshmen more opportunities to participate in electives and clubs and will save students eight minutes of lost class time per hour for those who travel from East Campus to West Campus for Band, Orchestra and other classes,” Fliter said. “The move will also save USD 383 $100 thousand per year in bus costs to take students to and from MHS East and West.”

The district is hopeful for a productive educational system for both teachers and students as well as making schools safer and less mobile through the bond referendum, which will only cost the average homeowner in Manhattan an annual tax increase of roughly $180.

“We’ve already begun preparations to put required notifications in the paper, to sell bonds and to release Requests for Qualifications,” Wade said. “We are confident relationships developed during the bond campaign will continue to flourish as we work together to provide even greater opportunities for our children and youth.”

Although many students were eager to donate blood at the Red Cross blood drive, Student Council, who put on the event, fell one unit short of their 62 unit goal. This was in part due to the recent sweep of pre-winter illnesses at Manhattan High.

“I think as far as Student Council went, they did everything right,” StuCo sponsor Leslie Campbell said. “It’s just sometimes there just aren’t enough healthy people to donate.”

It was a disappointment to the StuCo members that they came so close to reaching their goal, but they still had done something that they felt would benefit others in their times of need.

“I just thought that it was cool to see people... being selfless, basically, and saving three lives with their donation, and I thought it was just a cool thing to organize it all for the school,” junior Elizabeth Chapman said.

Chapman was a chair for the drive with fellow junior Hannah Higgins, while senior Annagrace Katzenmeier led the group.

While the Red Cross sends employees to Manhattan High to draw blood and handle the proper categorization of it, StuCo members have to handle a great deal of the other steps involved.

StuCo volunteers helped check donors in and out and observed donors after they have had their blood drawn to ensure that they had no negative side effects.

“I think [the blood drive] was a great thing to be involved in, and I’m really glad that I decided to be a chair this year,” Chapman said.

There were returning donors who participated, but there were also multiple first-time donors who came to donate blood.

“I’ve always wanted to give back because if I was in the hospital needing blood, I would really want someone to donate for me,” junior Krystal Kilner said.

Even though they may have missed their goal, StuCo volunteers and donors alike felt that they had made an impact.

“I think [the StuCo volunteers] did an awesome job,” Campbell said, “so I’m hoping that just falling short of our goal by one unit doesn’t disappoint them.”

FCCLA students place nationally in competition “It was really cool [to win] just because I went into [the competition] not knowing Family, Career and Community anything about public speaking,” Leaders of America students had Eilert said. “I just was really a busy week, attending both the surprised by myself the fact that I Fall Leadership Conference and managed to place second.” the National Jackson C l u s t e r explained M e e t i n g. that these W e d n e s d a y, competitions F C C L A are great help m e m b e r s for future drove out to careers, and Centralia High that FCCLA and listened to helps to a speaker who p r o m o t e talked about the s t u d e n t values of family, leadership. and then they A s participated president, in workshops Jackson also which taught works to help students to look grow the club. at the bigger Members can Photo courtesy of Brandon Bragg attest to his picture.

O n Seniors Noah Applegren and Mason Jackson pose with two FCCLA national leadership and officers during the awards ceramony at the FCCLA national cluster meeting.

T h u r s d a y, attitude as members drove their reason of to Louisville, joining.

Kentucky to participate in the first and second respectively, “I joined because of Mason three day National Cluster and junior Hailey Eilert was Jackson,” senior Gunner Taylor Meeting. While there, students a finalist in senior impromptu said. “He convinced me that it participated in leadership speaking, placing second out of was a good thing to join, and I workshops, listened to speakers all competitors. haven’t regretted it so far.”

Ayden Boyles Staff Writer

and competed against other schools from across the country in different contests. At the competition, seniors Mason Jackson and Noah Appelgren were finalists in occupational culinary knife skills, placing

2018 Midterm elections sweep Riley County, prove historic Debate faces difficult, opposition-filled week Meredith Comas Online Editor-in-Chief

The midterms were a whirlwind, finally wrapping up last Tuesday with results that left the nation surprised and the GOP’s grip on current politics shaken.

According to previous statements to The Mentor from County Clerk Rich Vargo, when compared to past election years, there was a record turnout for voting in Manhattan, specifically advanced voting.

Overall Riley County turnout this year was actually closer to turnout numbers from the 2016 presidential elections, as opposed to 2014 midterm elections.

Unofficial numbers from state reports put the total amount of

2018 votes for Riley at 19,843.

According to Vargo, this is most likely due to the special question on the Riley County ballot this year regarding the USD 383 bond, which passed with a majority vote.

Aside from the bond referendum, local incumbents Republican Tom Phillips, Manhattan; Democrat Sydney Carlin, Manhattan; Republican Suzi Carlson, Clay Center; and Republican Ron Highland, Wamego, all kept their titles as state representatives.

In the Kansas gubernatorial race, Sen. Laura Kelly -- who has represented the 18th district in the Kansas Senate from 2005 to present -- defeated her Republican opponent Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

In Kansas’s entire history, there have only been three female, democratic governors ever elected. Thus, Kelly’s democratic win -- which many Kansans on social media seem to feel is a result of anti-Brownback politics -- came as a shock to the Sunflower State, which is considered to be a deep red state.

It was made even stronger due to the fact the Kobach had been heavily endorsed by President Trump, who even went to Topeka in early October to hold a rally where he would again endorse the Secretary of State in a crowd of almost 11,000.

The “blue wave” that hit the gubernatorial race ultimately ended there.

See MIDTERMS Page 5

Meredith Comas Online Editor-in-Chief

Debate had a busy week, fighting through the Highland Park tournaments on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, as well as jumping in on an unscheduled Derby Invitational.

“Great continuation of the season,” head coach Mac Phrommany said. “The kids are putting in a lot of hard work.”

Highland was a success that left the team with every partnership receiving a winning record and a first place win in the sweepstakes round.

“Overall, [the tournament was] genuinely a wonderful and incredible time,” Paul Wright, senior, said.

However, talk of racial bias and

“flawed arguments” swarmed the debate room Monday morning.

Students The Mentor interviewed were hesitant to comment on what they called “interesting” and “untraditional” arguments.

Advanced debater junior Trinity Brockman -- the student behind Manhattan’s involvement at Derby -- was asked to clarify on her teammates’ comments of “interesting” and “weird” arguments.

“What [my teammates] meant was the arguments were kind of inaccurate and were based on bias and not facts,” Brockman said.

While Derby did not prove successful in gaining the team See DEBATE Page 5

OPINIONS

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The Mentor Nov. 13, 2018 MHSMentor.com

Media literacy proves beneficial for everyone This editorial is a compilation from a discussion held by the editorial board. To listen to the conversation that led to this piece, visit MHSMentor.com

As support for mainstream media declines, media literacy is becoming less important than it should be. According to the MediaLiteracy.com, media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, communicate and create using all forms of media. The importance of media literacy was just acknowledged through Media Literacy Week Nov. 5-11.

It is the agreement of “The Mentor” editorial board that media literacy is important for not only the younger generation but for all to stay up to date with the news and diversify their sources.

Without the ability to fully communicate ideas and thoughts across all forms of communication, everyone would be lost.

There would be ideas that don’t

get out there and also various forms of miscommunication will cause certain divisions in the news community.

For instance, look at the recent White House Press Conference involving Jim Acosta, who was barred because he was asking hard-hitting questions that the public needed to know. As a result, he has been banned from all White House press conferences.

It’s important to look at this in the sense that with media literacy, the only way that we news followers can be up to date with the facts if the news is reported honestly and fully. In this case, it becomes an issue that the public can’t get the correct information that they need to know and journalists can’t properly do their jobs.

Considering something more local, such as our recent elections, a lot of people are talking about the rise of Democrats in the

state of Kansas. However, when looking at it, there are still many Republicans out there. With our current reporting style there definitely is a possibility of it only being reported from one angle.

When following up on the gubernatorial race, Kris Kobach definitely had a bigger social media presence, but because there were other forms of media coverage, Laura Kelly was eventually able to pull forward despite her lack of social media.

When thinking about it, many Republicans did transfer to Kelly’s side just for this midterm election, because of the fact that Kobach had similar taxation policies to former governor Sam Brownback. Over recent months, people have been thinking about policy over politics, which has definitely been impacted by the media. The media’s influx on coverage eventually got people thinking if Ko-

bach is the right person or not.

Kobach put himself out there on various different platforms and did manage to go to different rallies where he mentions what kind of policy he wants to put in place with our state. Now that people are realizing, they end up disagreeing with the policy he puts out there even if they identify as a Republican. That’s entirely all in part of the media’s coverage in focusing on what Kobach and Kelly were planning to do rather than them as people specifically.

In order to get the overall idea of a certain news topic, it is crucial to diversify your sources. The Internet is a very persuasive place and just reading one article will not fully give you everything you need to know about that news topic. At the end of the day, there will be different sources that completely contradict each other, but it will always have the same

general idea. Diversifying your sources might not only show different points of view from others but can also help you form a different point of view for yourself rather than just following up on one article of person.

In conclusion, the public should definitely focus and follow up more on the news. It creates fewer divisions and it also puts more views out on certain topics so that news followers don’t get the wrong idea. To get the full story we need to compare and contrast different articles in order to get some context and different viewpoints of certain stories. If the younger generation follows on the news, then our voices would be heard more for complex and more serious issues out in the world.

Holiday shopping has lost its magic Are you are interested in

Julianna Poe Copy Editor

Holiday gift shopping has recently become a hassle for customers and is no longer a fun way to share with a cheery, giving spirit.

Popular gift items, such as the Hatchimals from a few years ago, are targeted by people looking to make a little extra money. When an item is given increased interest, groups of individuals buyout available stock of that item before customers can get ahold of them.

They then turn around and sell it for more, in some cases five times

the original amount. Given the difficulty to find the item, customers are forced to buy the gift at unreasonable prices if they wish to buy the toy.

Furthermore, if the parent decides to not buy the gift because of how expensive it is, they risk devastating their children over the holidays. Weighing the pros and cons of money versus happiness is unfair to everyone involved.

In addition, holiday shopping prime time is Black Friday, which is when hot gifts are on sale and still in stock. This both forces those who work in retail to work on Thanksgiving and requires those who wish to have a good spot in line to wait hours before the doors open. Once the doors open, however, fighting over gifts with other greedy customers begins, contributing to unenjoyable shopping.

With all of these unjust occur-

rences, including unrealistic prices, emotional and financial complications, retail workers forced to work over the holidays, waiting hours in lines to get the best deals while items are still available and having to fight your way through to get the gift your child so desperately needs, holiday shopping has officially become more than stressful.

At the same time, we’ve become so concerned with attaining the best gift possible for our loved ones that we have forgotten that the holidays are not about the gifts. The holidays are meant for spending quality time with friends and family and for reflecting on what we’re thankful for as well as to remind our loved ones how much we care about them.

This holiday season, keep in mind that it is not about the gifts, it’s about the memories.

Moving ninth graders to West Campus easier, convenient

Hannah Le Staff Writer

After the 2018 USD 383 bond referendum was approved on Nov. 6 through the midterm elections, questions have risen as to what the money USD 383 is receiving will be used for.

Plans have been made to move sixth graders to Anthony Middle School and Eisenhower Middle School, to move ninth graders from East Campus to West Campus, and to expand the parking lots and tennis courts at West Campus. But is moving the ninth graders really a good idea?

I believe moving ninth graders to West Campus is a good opportunity for all students to learn how to cooperate together and treat each other as equals without any feelings of seniority.

Inconveniences for ninth grad-

ers getting to classes also wouldn’t be a worry.

As a ninth grader who ends her day at West Campus, if I miss some of my morning classes, getting the work I missed for those classes are a burden. I would have to go during lunch if I even am there for it, or hope a teacher for one of my classes before seventh hour will let me go see my other teachers. Although many teachers use online class organization websites such as Canvas or Edmodo, not all students can access these websites, and I have found that many teachers don’t inform the students of what goes on during class or don’t give the link to the online copies of worksheets that they would need.

Taking buses to and from campuses to transport hundreds of students isn’t cheap or efficient. It causes students to miss five to 10 minutes of class, and puts pressure on them to get to class as quick as possible. Ninth graders arriving back from a class at another campus would either miss directions at the beginning of class, or the teacher would have to hold back their class and wait until the students arrive. These

problems wouldn’t be an issue if the move happened.

Whatever path you plan to take after high school, instances will occur where you have to collaborate with others much older or younger than yourself.

And being afraid to speak out your ideas because you believe the other is wiser and has better ideas than yourself is just as bad as rejecting and not listening to someone’s ideas because you feel superior to them. Learning and maturing together would make our school more united and increase our teamwork.

It would be more suitable and convenient for ninth graders to be moved to West Campus as they could get to classes easier, be encouraged to take more advanced classes, and join more clubs. All the students would be forced in an environment where they have to work and learn with students of all ages.

For the students that this move affects, be welcoming to each other. There may be a three or four age gap, but at the end of the day, you are all Manhattan High School students.

Question of the Week Question of the Week- What is your favorite book or book series and why?

“11 Birthdays because it’s unpredicatable.”

- Rita Marshall, sophomore @ritamarshall2002

“Lunar Chronicles. Just truly amazing characters and plot.”

-- Scarlett Napier-Khan, sophomore @titanium_seank_mimi_1

“Pride and Prejudice.”

-- Anika Nyp, freshman @AnikaNyp

Next week’s question: What special holiday traditions does your family participate in?

Kaitlin Clark -- Print Editor-in-Chief Meredith Comas -- Online Editorin-Chief Micheal Simmons -- Blue M Editorin-Chief Brianna Carmack -- Opinions Editor Sophia Comas -- Sports Editor Hannah Heger -- Features Editor Rachel Edie and Julianna Poe -- Copy Editors Hailey Eilert -- Photo Editor

Mason Alberto and Makenna Wollenberg -- Assistant Photo Editors Staff Writers and Photographers -Ayden Boyles, Kami Bussmann, Josh Flickinger, Olivia Haas, Cade McNeil, Javi Mercado, Aloera Ostermann, Madison Ritz, Jennifer Sadler, Riley Williamson, Tara Wood Video Production -- Gabe Jernigan, Duncan O’Brate, Jarrod Wege 21st Century Journalism -- Kyla

Barnett, Coy Cavender, Parker Dawdy, Emma Elliott, Gavin Gaston, Meredith Graves, Joe Hall, Heidi Hansen, Chloe Henderson, Naysa Hicks, Ryleigh Lancaster, Bella Lane, Hannah Le, Kris Long, Jimmy Marshall, Ethan Morrow, Anika Nyp, Elisa Ohler, Cole Schmitt, Katya Tarabrina, Nicholas Walters Kristy Nyp -- Advisor

advertising in The Mentor?

Call 776-2200 for more information.

Holiday fanatics ‘get’ celebration

Rachel Edie Staff Position

We’ve all been there. You’re browsing through the store on Nov. 1 and you suddenly hear the faint echo of “Oh Santa” by Mariah Carey. Everyone has one of two apparent reactions: you either scream for joy at the upcoming holiday season, or groan at the prospect of fanatics skipping past Thanksgiving.

The holidays throughout December are undoubtedly widely anticipated. If I took a poll of everyone’s favorite holidays in this school, I could guess that most of them would take place during the winter. This could be caused by the abnormal amount of religious holidays throughout this period of time. There’s Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas just to name the main few.

As an anticipator of this time, I’m all for this holiday pregame such as the decorations popping up in grocery stores, traditional winter music and holiday movies coming out on Hallmark. Some people pull a Scrooge and are humbugs about early celebra-

tions.

Anti-pregamers are, from what I can tell, mainly concerned about the downplay of Thanksgiving’s importance. It’s understandable that they would feel this way considering that Black Friday happens the day consecutively after it, which takes away from its attention. This holiday was originally made to celebrate the alliance between the pilgrims and Native Americans. Now, its main focus is family, food and what you’re thankful for. I would argue that Thanksgiving gets enough attention with the hugely annual Macy’s Day parade and an entire week off of school for a single day.

The winter holidays are, in general, slightly more acknowledged than others. This is because of the sheer amount of them there are. It seems everyone has something to celebrate. One of them even has their own mascot, Santa. It seems every mainstream artist comes out with Holiday music, every brand comes out with holiday themed clothes and decorations and every movie network comes out with holiday movies, most notably made as a Hallmark movie cliche. With all of these used as reasons to prolong the holidays, it makes sense.

So, as the season goes on, and you hear “Oh Santa” by Mariah Carey every place you go, I urge you to think about why the celebrations come so early.

Do you have stories to be told, opinions to be shared or a voice to be heard?

Send your Letter to the Editor or guest column to

MHSMentor@gmail.com.

We can’t wait to hear your voice, Manhattan High!

Circulation Team -Mary Alderink, Caleb Barnes, Sebastian Bryant, Angel Cid, Brandi Cummings, Caleb Deloach, Rachel Efken, Kimberley Genandt, Terra Harvey, Kayla Wong 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 and National Scholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press Association.

The Mentor is a public forum. E-mail us at mhsmentor@gmail.com.

SPORTS

The Mentor Nov. 13, 2018 MHSMentor.com

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Football advances to State sub-state Cole Schmitt Staff Writer

Stock Photo by Hailey Eilert Senior Javon Peoples runs down the field at the game against Wichita Southeast on Oct. 26. Peoples usually sports the jersey 6 but due to his jersey ripping prior to the game, Peoples wore number 43 at the game. The Manhattan Indians beat Wichita Southeast 73-20.

Season’s Greetings Winter sports begin season kickoffs Boys Basketball Cole Schmitt Staff Writer

Varsity basketball will start their competition season in two and a half weeks, and players and coaches are starting to get mentally prepared.

“We’re very excited,” head coach Benji George said. “We’ve got a lot of good players so we’re excited for the opportunity to compete in the league.”

On Nov. 29, the team will travel to Hays to compete in the Hays shootout. The competition

Girls Basketball Micheal Simmons Blue M Editor-in-Chief

Girls basketball came close to making history in back-to-back years as they nearly claimed two state championships in a row.

The team won the State Championship in 2017 and got edged out in the quarterfinals by their league rivals, Washburn Rural (40-53). In order to have another successful season, the team is preparing as early as possible.

Bowling Brianna Carmack Opinions Editor

Fall sports have come to an end and winter sports are making their way to take over. Bowling being one of those sports will begin their tryouts on Nov. 27-29.

“I hope to improve on my scores, hopefully until at least an average of 200 or more,” senior Michael Moran said.

Moran has been bowling for

Boys Swim and Dive Anika Nyp Staff Writer

The boys swim team is starting their season soon and the captains and head coach Alex Brown have goals set to make this season a great one.

consists of eight teams and three games are guaranteed in what is called a compass tournament.

Their first game they will faces off with Thomas More Prep-Marian.

After the tourney, MHS will play 14 conference games -- 7 home, 7 away.

In the middle of the season, on Jan. 17, the Indians will travel to McPherson for a mid season tournament which is formatted the same as the Hays shootout, compass tourney. Four of the first six games will be at home and George says he is “very excited” for that.

“Our goal this year is to win the league and make a run for the

state title,” senior guard Lawson Monaco said.

In 2017-18 season, the Indian basketball team went 11-10 overall and 6-7 in the Centennial League. They finished 7th in the conference. They went 4-4 both home and away while going 3-2 at neutral sites. They averaged 55 points per game and allowed 53 points per game on average. Their season ended after being defeated

by Wichita North at home in the first round of the playoffs.

The Indians first home game will be on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., against the Seaman Vikings, who they lost to last season in Topeka, 56-50.

“We have made it a priority to get in the gym at least three days a week and have conditioning after school,” senior Haleigh Harper said. “Our expectations are to work hard every day and be good teammates throughout the season.”

Harper is one of four returning Varsity players. The returners include seniors Taylor Johnson, Kia Wilson and Garrin Williams.

The team is also filling the gaps left by graduated seniors.

“I think that the seniors had a really big crucial part in our

team. I think that every team has to move and keep going on even after seniors leave,” Wilson said.

“We know what we have to do in order to get where we want to go and if we use our leadership opportunities that we have we can fill those gaps.”

Last year’s seniors, including current K-State women’s basketball player Chrissy Carr, are responsible for 49 percent of the team’s total points last year.

The team faces its first challenge as they will participate in the Hays Shootout on Dec. 1.

just over six years now along with it being his fourth year in high school bowling. He has grown to love the sport and hopes to bowl in college as well.

With there being an expected decrease in players this year, Moran hopes that there will be a bigger turnout at tryouts.

“It would be great to see people come and fill in those spots,” Moran said. “Bowling is not one of the main sports people focus on, but it’d be great if we could also get more publicity or recognition, along with more spectators.”

To prepare and practice, the

members of the team will sometimes participate in tournaments at Little Apple Lanes.

“I’m always in a bowling league of some kind or participating in a league they offer at Little Apple Lanes,” Moran said. “It’s constant practice, practice, practice.”

Along with expectations, Moran and the previous team also have some goals they would like to achieve.

“Last year, we succeeded at going to state, and I plan to work hard to go again and take home [a] first state win for Manhattan High Bowling,” Moran said.

“My biggest expectation is just seeing everyone really come together as a team,” Brown said.

“Close team, everybody matters, working hard and meeting goals is my four things.”

In addition to being part of the team, some of the teammates are focusing on being good leaders.

“I am excited because this is my first year leading the team and I want to lead a good squad of boys and just wanna have a good season no injuries or anything,” said senior Parker Holborn, one of the swim captains. “We would

like to win league this year… Seaman usually wins [league] and we would like to win it this year.”

The swimmers kicked off their season with their first practice yesterday at the Kansas State University Natatorium. They hope to work towards meeting their season goals through practice and teamwork.

“It seems like we are going to have a really big team,” Brown said. “Combine that with working really hard and practice everyday and I’m seeing some of our... time drop and goals get met.”

Manhattan High Varsity football (10-1) defeated previously undefeated Lawrence Free State (10-1) in a statement win. The Indians put up 41 points while holding the Firebirds to a season-low 19 points.

“I felt good about the way our team showed up to play,” head coach Joe Schartz said. “It was a cold game but we are excited to come out with the win. The offensive and defensive lines dominated. Offensively, our jumbo set worked great with [seniors David] Hernandez, [Robert] Houston and [sophomore Damion] Ilalio.”

The Manhattan High offense was successful running the football all night. Senior Kevontae McDonald had himself a night with 35 rushes for 237 yards and an extraordinary six touchdowns, four coming in the first half alone.

Schartz said it was “pretty phenomenal, especially for a playoff game.” MHS had a total of 409 yards on offense in the game.

“It felt great that all the work we had put in this week paid off,” running back Isaiah Childs, junior, said. “It was [a] better feeling for underclassmen like myself

to see the seniors and coaches celebrate because all of them have been working hard since May, and most of all we just [have to] take it one day at a time, work on things that can make us better as a whole.”

Going up against a team that has scored more than 60 points in games this year, they held them to only 19 points. That’s by far the lowest Lawrence Free State has scored all year.

Lawrence Free State only had 87 yards total and 53 of those came from one pass. Star running back Dax Hill was held to 28 rushing yards. Seniors Ben Gallagher and Raeshon Moore each had an interception. Lawrence Free State was held to only two first downs through two and a half quarters in the game.

The team (10-1) will travel to Wichita to take on undefeated Derby (11-0) in the 6A Kansas Football Sub-State. The Panthers have only allowed more than 10 points twice this year while scoring more than 30 points in every game except for one.

“We have made it far, but we have an ultimate goal and getting to that ultimate goal,” Childs said.

“It doesn’t matter what happened in the past, we have to get better.”

ATHLETE OF THE

WEEK Kevontae McDonald Varsity Football Photo by Hailey Eilert

Micheal Simmons Blue M Editor-in-Chief

• 35 rushes for 237 yards and 6 touchdowns in the game against Lawrence Free State How did beating Free State feel?

It was simple because my offensive line was blocking for me and when we went into the Jumbo formation that became a big play for us. The offensive line made a big hole for me to hit and we got big yardage from doing that.

How did you achieve that?

We watched film and prepared well. We went through a lot of

situations in practice, we knew their linebackers blitzed a lot so we went over that in practice and got prepared for that and it did us a lot of good.

What are your hopes for the rest of season?

I’m not focused on my individual stats. I’m just worried about getting past Derby and then winning a state title for the team and for the city.

What makes you want to improve?

The success we have and the chance to compete for a state title. I think that keeps everybody focused, excited and energetic to keep going.

FOR COVERAGE OF MHS FOOTBALL IN PLAYOFFS GO TO MHSMENTOR.COM AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @MHSMENTORONLINE

Wrestling Kami Bussmann Staff Writer

With the wrestling team ending the year last year at third place during, state they are ready to come back better than ever.

“This year we have some great guys coming in and a new coach that will help us do good,” junior Daron Island-Jones said.

The wrestling team lost some key components last year, includ-

ing last year’s senior Jalin Harper, who got second individually in his weight class. Keeping that in mind the boys are ready to put up a fight and keep the tradition of placing at state going.

Some returning players include senior Bubba Wilson, senior Jacob Mitchell, junior Tate Sauder, senior Christian Schlep, junior Darius Island-Jones, senior Quincy Saddler and junior Daron Island-Jones. On top of that, they’re led by coach Robert Gonzales, who has been coaching here for 14 years.

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FEATURES

The Mentor Nov. 13, 2018 MHSMentor.com

‘Newsies’ performances bring excitement to cast, audiences alike Kaitlin Clark Print Editor-in-Chief

Newspapers fluttered through the air as dozens of actors and actresses stood proudly onstage, their months of hard work finally paying off as the Manhattan High theatre department and Thespian troupe 941 performed their fall musical, “Newsies.”

The cast and crew have worked since mid-September to prepare for their big performances, and even pre-show nerves couldn’t stop them from giving what stage director and drama teacher Ginny Pape considered to be an exceptional performance.

“You know, I thought opening night was amazing, because the students were finally able to perform for an audience and they really fed off of the energy that the audience gave them,” Pape said, “and it just brought the performance to even a higher level than it was before.”

Set in 1899, “Newsies” tells the story of a group of New York paperboys that decide to strike after the newspaper publisher makes it harder for them to make a profit off of selling papers. The strike is largely led by Jack Kelly, played by senior Finn Huslig.

Their strike is aided by female reporter Katherine Plumber, played by senior Tess Garvin.

This year, the cast and crew carried a great deal of energy and excitement that allowed them to grow closer together throughout their practices and performances.

“All the cast members are really passionate about [the musical] and want to do a really great show and I think it’s important that we do really band together,” Garvin

Photo by Tara Wood

Seniors Tess Garvin and Jana Kellogg rehearse for the fall musical. The fall musical is “Newsies” where Garvin plays Katherine Plumber and Kellogg plays Medda Larkin

said.

For senior cast and crew members, “Newsies” is their final musical at Manhattan High, making it a bittersweet time.

“This musical is super special, and it’s going to be held very near and dear to my heart for a long, long time,” Huslig said.

“I am really appreciative of the opportunity that I had to play Jack Kelly.”

While the lead actors and

ARTIST OF THE

actresses in any performance are important, Pape stresses the importance the large ensemble had in making the show something to remember.

“I think the thing that strikes me most about this performance is our ensemble, and how well they all work together,” Pape said.

“You don’t see the show as like a star-vehicle production, it really is a group of students together who

Tysen Plummer Pops/ Chamber Choir Makenna Wollenberg Assistant Photo Editor

What got you into choir?

“It is fun to sing first of all.

Music as a whole is a distraction from all the stressful things going on in school.”

What all do you participate in music wise?

“I am in the musical. I am a newsie in the chorus and I also play Spot Conlyn.”

What is your biggest take

Plummer is one of two junior members of Pop Choir away from performing?

“Probably being surrounded by other people who enjoy music and create music with them.”

How long has singing been a part of your life?

“I started singing in the choir in fifth grade at Marlatt Elementary. We were the Marlatt Music Machines. Then I have just stuck with it through middle school up till now.”

Do you want music to be a carrier in your future or a hobby?

“Probably just a hobby.”

Kris Long Staff Writer

The Manhattan Public Library’s new Teen Zone, which opened on Friday, is a great improvement on the old one.

The teen section is no longer situated by the large print books, giving teens a space away from other age groups. The only age group allowed inside the space are 12-18. The area includes a section with young adult books and a section with technology, video games, card games and board games. The games and technology section is inside a glass room so that talking is

Students work as election clerks Aloera Ostermann Blue M Visual Editor

As high school students, the majority of are under 18 years of age. This means that we can’t vote. We are unable to take part in the actual voting portion of any election. Yet many students have still found a way to help out and be involved by being election clerks.

While many MHS students did work as election clerks they were not placed in the same area.

“Not at my sight but a lot of other MHS students were working but they don’t put any of us at the same spots,” senior Allie Grant said.

Election clerks have many different jobs at their polling

places, anything from checking a driver’s license to directing people to the voting machines.

Each student was able to do different jobs throughout their 14-hour day.

“My job was to ask people for their driver’s license or photo ID and then I would enter it into a database and make sure their address and name is correct and then I’d motion them towards the people who would take them to the voting machines,” junior Caden Hickel said.

Being a part of this process helps a lot of students learn many different things.

“It’s a good way for me to be involved in our democracy and do my civic duty when I can’t

but collectively, everyone came together to put on a production that resulted in large audiences and hundreds of smiles from both audience members and the cast alike. “...it’s just a really, really cool thing to see all of these people so excited to put on a show…”

Huslig said. “...I think this year’s musical is a really special one.”

New Teen Zone proves to be positive addition to Manhattan public library

WEEK Photo from Javi Mercado

put on a really fantastic show.”

As the curtains draw shut and “Newsies” comes to an end, cast members reflect on the experiences that made the production something truly special for them. For Garvin, it was the “hype circles” the cast would have after a show. For Huslig, it was all the unexpected friendships he made. The best parts of “Newsies” were different for each cast member,

even vote yet,” Hickel said.

Students can take part in the election process and better prepare themselves for when they actually get to vote. In order to do this, it is required that every election clerk participates in three hours of training prior to the election itself. The total hours working as an election clerk over 17 hours. As a reward for all of their hard work students can take service hours or a hundred dollars and a great amount of knowledge in our election process. Doing this helps encourage students to vote when they finally become 18.

“I’ll definitely do it again,” Hickel said. “But by the time it’s the next election, I’ll be able to vote so I’ll be doing that.”

To see more about Anime Club, the Veterans’ Day Parade and further election coverage,

go to MHSMentor.com

allowed and the noise doesn’t carry to the rest of the library.

This allows teens to do group projects and hang out with friends without constantly being told to be quiet.

There are two consoles, a Nintendo Switch and a Xbox one.

All of the games on the consoles are multi-player; however, Fortnite and other single player games are allowed on the computers. There are five computers available in the Teen Zone.

The zone is open all library hours but the consoles are only available from 3-7 p.m. on weekdays, 12-6 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 1-6 p.m. on Sundays.

Other games include Cards, Uno, Ticket to Ride, Codenames and Chess.

The space also provides a good study area. All of the computers have Microsoft Office, they also have internet for research and Google Docs. It is close to the

Reference section for other research. Digital art software is also available. The library is a short walk from the East campus and also not far from West, this is ideal for people looking for a place to study outside of school.

The book selection is largely the same as the one before but some comics including DC, Marvel and Manga have been added.

The area itself has more seating than the previous one which had next to none. Before the new space was built no games or video games were available and the same rules about quiet were in effect. The Teen Zone is a much more welcoming environment than the previous one and is worth going to because it provides things that the school library doesn’t.

Jon Bellion releases new album

Madison Ritz Staff Writer

Contemporary rhythm and blues artist Jon Bellion released his new album, “Glory Sound Prep.” on Nov. 9. It usually takes a couple of times to listen to newly released music in order for me to grasp on and like it. But when I listened to this new album, I instantly knew I liked the sound of it.

Bellion’s release of his debut album, “The Human Condition,” was such a success, that it granted his most successful song to date, “All Time Low.” It rose to the top of the charts hitting number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

But “All Time Low” wasn’t the only song he gained success on.

His other songs in his albums included, “80’s Films”(sic) and “Maybe IDK,” which hit his next hit tracks back in 2017.

Bellion released his first teasing song from his new album on

Jan. 25, 2018, through a snippet on Instagram. His first song on his album was finally released, “Conversations With My Wife,” on Oct. 19. The following week, within six days, he released two more songs called “JT” and “Stupid Deep.” On Friday, Bellion finally released his full album.

Considering his song “All Time Low” was such a hit, his new song “Blu” sounds pretty similar to each other. Almost as if “Blu” is a sequel to “All Time Low”.

As I was listening to his album, I noticed in his song “The Internet” that he was talking about struggling with his happiness when these lyrics played: “Life became dangerous the day we all became famous/No one cares if you’re happy, just as long as you claim it.”

I was never into his music from the start. After listening to his release, I’m still not into his music as much as I expected when I was first listening to it. The more I listened to the album, the more I didn’t like it. While contemporary rhythm and blues is my cup of tea, these songs from his release weren’t my favorite, and I have no desire to listen to them again.

SPOTLIGHT

The Mentor Nov. 13, 2018 MHSMentor.com

5

HEALTH ISSUES AT MHS WIDE-SPREAD Birth control beneficial, variety in usage for best effect Sophia Comas Sports Editor

Birth control comes in many forms and has a multitude of different purposes, but it’s the common belief that all it does is prevent pregnancy.

While that is its most effective use, it does so much more. For some girls at Manhattan High, the only reason they use it is for the beneficial side effects that help them through daily life.

According to Tegan Gagnon, junior, it’s most helpful when she uses Accutane, a vitamin A derivative used to treat acne.

“I take birth control because when I take Accutane you have to have two methods of antipregnancy, and one of them is abstinence and the other one is birth control,” Gagnon said. “I also use it to help with menstrual cramps and my acne in general.”

Using birth control pills for the perks is a common practice in younger girls, especially when it comes to regulating periods. According to Planned Parenthood, it can make cramps less painful and even stop flow all together for people who don’t want to deal with it every month.

“Lots of people like the pill

because it makes their periods regular and easy to predict,” plannedparenthood.org said.

“The hormones in the pill can also reduce menstrual cramps and make your period lighter.”

Birth control pills have helped Elora Neff, junior, with this problem directly.

She first became acquainted with birth control six months ago after doing independent research and then received a recommendation from a gynecologist.

“I was tired of being curled up in the fetal position for a week in so much pain that I couldn’t walk,” Neff said. “It has helped me so much.

I can actually bear my period and function.”

Despite the fact that birth control is more than what its name claims it to be, the stigma surrounding its use causes slight

issues in being able to use it.

Gagnon hopes that the perception can be changed by talking about it, whether it’s spreading

awareness about its different uses or how easily preventable teen pregnancy is by using it.

“It’s just really important because it has so many different uses and it’s taboo when it shouldn’t be,” Gagnon said. “It’s helped me so much. I would be suffering from my menstrual

cramps if it wasn’t for birth control and I’m so thankful that I have the opportunity to use it.”

While it’s not uncommon to see birth control used for other reasons, its main use is still for preventing p r e g n a n c y.

A c c o r d i n g to Planned Parenthood, when the pills are used properly, it’s 99 percent effective, but a more accurate estimate is 91 percent since some women don’t always take the pills on time.

They recommend setting alarms as reminders or putting the pills Graphic by Olivia Haas in places where they’re less likely to be forgotten.

“Forgetting pills, losing the pack, not refilling your prescription on time — these are the main reasons why people who take the pill get pregnant,” their website said. “Do whatever works to help you take your pill on time, all the time.”

For medication use at school, students must give their medications in their original containers to nurse Robin Mall with parent consent on all medicines along with a doctor’s order for prescribed ones.

“When a student brings medication to me, I enter obviously the name of the medication, how many milligrams, how it’s going to be given and how many doses were submitted,” Mall said. “When the student comes in for that medication, it gets deleted from the number that was brought in initially, and that’s how I can… make sure that the count is accurate.”

Whatever the purpose for using birth control, girls such as Neff and Gagnon understand that its uses are different for every person. It doesn’t matter if it’s to control acne or periods or if the user wants to lessen their ability of becoming pregnant because in the end all one needs is a prescription.

“It’s not a dangerous drug,” Gagnon said. “There’s no serious side effects besides not getting pregnant and it’s not just for pregnancy. Obviously, I’m thriving.”

through despite the fact that not many others do.

“In seventh grade, I got diagnosed by a doctor because my mom would still worry about my weight fluctuating so badly,” she said. “I would start to go home and I would not eat, but then as a growing kid you’re hungry, so you’re going to consistently eat.

So, then I’d eat a bunch but then I’d puke it all back up.”

For her, most people saw her eating disorder as a lifestyle choice, when in reality it was quite the opposite. This perception is essentially fuel to the fire that causes more and more people to have them.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology, anorexia nervosa and bulimia have been progressively on the rise, especially in girls due to things such as negative body image and stress. It also says that

while most teens choose to hide their eating disorder, treatment is possible for them.

“Research shows that early identification and treatment leads to more favorable outcome,” their website said. “With comprehensive treatment, most children and teenagers can recover from disordered eating.”

For the unnamed junior, this treatment is helping but she still finds it difficult to feel as if her condition is improving when high school life is her biggest trigger.

The stigma of how certain body types can’t wear certain styles in the fashion industry and knowing the reactions people will have to her eating disorder is a struggle for her because it reminds her of how she got her eating disorder in the first place.

“My biggest fear with it is that people definitely brand me as some weird attention seeker,” she

said. “A lot of times with these illnesses people think ‘oh you’re just doing it for attention’ or… people are like ‘oh she’s weird, she has problems with her life.’”

Even though school is a trigger for her, it actually can help those who struggle with eating disorders.

At Manhattan High, students who need help or just need to talk have the ability to contact social counselor Erin Spreer at the West campus. Part of her job is helping students get proper medical help while keeping information confidential, which can play a big part in the treatment process according to clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist Laura Muhlheim.

“Charged with the care of children who may be suffering from these disorders for the majority of their waking day, schools need to be aware of the needs of children in treatment,”

she wrote on her website. “In many cases schools may be an important partner in treatment.

Through the power of the social milieu, they can also play a significant role in prevention.”

As the growing issue of eating disorders continues to plague American youth, the unnamed junior wants students everywhere to know that they aren’t alone.

She has gotten better because she relied on those who were willing to help and can now see herself making a full recovery by the end of high school. She wishes that people can learn from her story and that teachers, parents and students can end the taboo that has surrounded eating disorders for the longest time.

“Guys, please don’t be ashamed of your bodies to the point where you have an eating disorder. It sucks to have one,” she said. “... please love yourself.”

goes above and beyond an administrative assistant. Fink and Hughes decided they would do an act of good for one of their peers that had helped them numerous times, so they decided they could help by sending her words of encouragement.

“She’s my go-to person if I need something for a student that is a new student coming in,” Fink said. “When I get ready to do things for Advanced Placement sometimes she will help me with all kinds of different things” Recently the staff has been working together to support other members of the school.

With soccer coach Frank Alonso passing away and the protest by Westboro Baptist Church this is just another act of kindness to share. Barbara Clark, sophomore administrative assistant, has organized a cute basket so any members of the student body who would like to write a letter in support are welcome to.

“It’s just an act of kindness to show empathy for somebody who’s going through a lot right now. And I felt like even though we all know teachers are busy,” Hughes said. “We want Ms. Hope to know, even though we don’t see her every day we still miss her.”

“One year I had a vestibular vertigo spell walking in the hallway, and I thought I could catch the lockers, I didn’t,” Ott said. “So I face planted, I was laying there kind of embarrassed.

The world is spinning right outside of a senior English class and they knew who I was. And they’re like, call 911, it’s Mrs. Ott, she’s dead and I’m like, don’t call 911.”

Ott’s second health issue revolves around a sinus infection she had two years ago. She went to the doctor to get medicine for the infection, though the medicine prescribed to her had some serious side effects associated with it. The medicine known as Levaquin gave Ott fluoroquinolone

toxicity-- an adverse reaction to fluoroquinolone antibiotics which causes damage to connective tissues, according to Hormonesmatter.com. This reaction caused tendon damage in her legs and permanently damaged her right achilles tendon leaving her in physical therapy.

Ott pushes through these struggles with her positive attitude. This positive outlook has helped her keep her classes going even if it means having to “limp down the hallway.”

“Everything I have is life-annoying, but not lifethreatening,” Ott said. “So I consider myself pretty lucky.”

Eating disorders bigger than they seem; treatment possible Sophia Comas Sports Editor

When she was in the fifth grade, she first got her eating disorder because she was teased by classmates about her size and told by adults that she “was really fat for a fifth grader.”

She didn’t get help until two years later when her concerned mother took her to a therapist after noticing the change in her weight. Her friends were supportive, when they knew how to be, though some left because they said her eating disorder was weird.

This is the burden an unnamed junior has carried with her since she was just a kid, living with the stigma eating disorders bring and learning who she can trust because of it. Even in high school, she still lives with the daily knowledge of what she goes From DEBATE Page 1

another sweepstake, it still opened up opportunities for the team.

Spearheaded by Brockman, Derby was a student-led initiative aimed at getting Manhattan High a more diverse and experienced set of opponents and judges.

This was the first time the team traveled to another district for a tournament.

Brockman and her partner, junior Tanya Singh, took second place overall at the tournament, a placement that has made her, as a first-year debater, a player to From MIDTERMS Page 1

Republican Scott Schwab will be replacing Kobach as Secretary of State and Republican Jake Laturner will take over as state treasurer.

Kansas’s house results ended with 84 Republicans to 37 Democrats, a result that was not mirrored in the United States House of Representatives where Democrats now hold the majority.

The run for Kansas Representatives in Congress was also dominated by the Republican party. Republican incumbents Roger Marshall and Ron Estes were selected for the First and Fourth House Districts while Republican Steve Watkins, who was also endorsed by Trump, won the Second House District.

More historically was the election of Democrat Sharice Davids to the Third House District against four-term incumbent

watch this season.

“Tanya is in her first year of debating and this is her second time going to [debate] outrounds and getting second which is a little less cool when you say it out loud,” Phrommany said. “For first-year debate, [Singh] has set the scene on fire.”

Junior and first-year debater Mbofho Ndou also went on to place as fifth speaker overall for the entire tournament.

The team will go on to compete at Topeka High next week in a DCI tournament.

Republican Kevin Yoder.

Davids, an MMA fighter and lawyer who also served a white house fellowship under former president Barack Obama, is not only the first Native American woman to be elected to Congress in Kansas, but also the first open member of the LGBTQ community.

“We have the opportunity to reset expectations about what people think when they think of Kansas,” Davids said in her victory speech in Olathe. “We know there are so many of us who welcome everyone, who see everyone and who know that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed.”

While no one is quite sure how the results will play out yet, the GOP and the Trump administration are facing historic winds of change as they head into preparation for the 2020 elections.

Staff supports with letters of encouragement Tara Wood Staff Writer

School staff has been showing love for long-time administrative assistant Vanessa Hope by writing her letters to help her through her battle with multiple sclerosis.

“She’s just having difficulty finding a doctor that is finding a good treatment regimen for her,” principal Greg Hoyt said.

“She doesn’t have strength and she’s having difficulty taking nourishment.”

A while back, gifted facilitator Bev Fink and librarian Gail Hughes realized Hope’s contribution to the school

Ott continues battle with ongoing health issues Ayden Boyles Staff Writer

Kim Ott, a social sciences teacher at Manhattan High, has been battling many different health problems throughout the years, though she always finds a way to remain positive and laugh her way through these battles.

Her first major health problem was Vestibular Neuritis, which is the inflammation of nerves inside the ear that connect to the brain.

Vestibular Neuritis targets the vestibular nerve- controls balance, leaving Ott to have many sessions of vertigo. Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or dizziness which caused Ott to fall on the floor, leaving her some stories to tell.

TRENDING

6

The Mentor Nov. 13, 2018 MHSMentor.com

Thanksgiving Special

Traditions, treats show thanks Elisa Ohler Staff Writer

With Thanksgiving coming up in a little over one week, many people have started to get excited about the food.

Thanksgiving is known as being a very big food holiday.

Whether it is the well-known turkey dinner, mashed potatoes, or the many varieties of casserole, everyone is more than ready to have an excuse to stuff their faces full of great food.

Some of the favorite foods from students were green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and dessert. Pumpkin spice anything is a classic favorite of people everywhere, whether it is a pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin spice rolls.

“I really like pumpkin spice rolls,” junior Emma Wendt said.

“My mom makes them each year for Thanksgiving.”

Pumpkin flavored food is also a favorite for senior Katharina Ohler.

“Pumpkin pie is one of my favorite Thanksgiving desserts,” Ohler said. “My grandma and I used to make one every Thanksgiving when I was little, it reminds me of family and fall.”

Another dish is mashed potatoes. Quite a few students agreed when asked if they liked mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving.

“I like mashed potatoes with butter, it makes them taste better than they do when it’s plain,” freshman Rilee Price said.

When we think of Thanksgiving, we traditionally think of the regular turkey and mashed potatoes, some

families have a different type of Thanksgiving. All around the world people celebrate their own versions of Thanksgiving.

In Israel, people celebrate a holiday named Sukkot. It is a Jewish festival that is held in the autumn. It begins on the 15th day of Tishri, which is the first month of the civil and seventh of the religious year. Tishri is significant for people of the Jewish faith, it consists of 13 days of special religious significance.

For Sukkot, they eat stuffed dumplings, called kreplach. They also eat challah; chicken soup.

And fresh fruit and vegetables.

In Germany, they celebrate Erntedankfest, which translates to “harvest festival.” It is most well known in Dusseldorf-Urdenbach.

It is an annual celebration, that has attracted thousands of tourists for many years. It also includes church services, parades and music in a traditional fair atmosphere.

Some families there eat Wienerschnitzel, while others have adopted some of our Thanksgiving traditions, including turkey. Erntedankfest also usually includes many food inspired decorations. Such as grains, honeycombs and seasonal produce.

There are many different Thanksgiving traditions, and not all are primarily food based.

The one thing all of the different “Thanksgiving” celebrations have in common is that they all celebrate thanks and the presence of family. Although they may all have their differences, food and family will always be a big part of any celebration.

Hacks simplify Thanksgiving dinner Heidi Hansen Staff Writer

1. Thanksgiving is one of the tastiest holidays of the year, no doubt about it. We wait all November to eat the delicious dinner that brings us all together. Here are five hacks to make your holiday cooking experience better:

2. Cook your turkey in an

oven bag. Oven bags keep your turkey from drying out when you cook it. Season your turkey to your liking, then put it in the oven bag and straight into the oven.

You’ll have a tasty turkey in no time. You can also make gravy out of the juices collected at the bottom of the bag when done.

3. Having the whole family over for dinner? Don’t stress by making what seems like 100 pies, simply get a round cookie cutter. Cut circles

out of your pie to make mini Thanksgiving desserts. This way everyone can have their own mini pie and they can have multiple flavors at one time if they would like.

4. Cook your holiday

vegetables in the dishwasher.

Before you do your first load of dishes, simply fill mason jars with veggies and ad half a cup of water and seasoning if wanted. Your dishwasher gets hot enough to steam/cook your veggies.

5. Add cream cheese to your

mashed potatoes. This allows them to have a unique and delicious flavor. It also provides an amazing texture that will make your mouth water before you even try them.

6. All of your food hot

and ready before your turkey is done? Line a cooler with aluminum foil; surprisingly it will keep all of your food warm. Take out and serve when ready.

Thanksgiving Traditions Q&A Meredith Graves Staff Writer

Bella Rowley, 9

Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

A: “My family only makes a

cheese ball on Thanksgiving.”

Avery Taylor, 9

Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

A: “[My family] watches the

Rose Parade and eats a lot of food at my grandma’s.”

Kiira Facey, 9

Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

A: “[My family] always Facetime my family from New York.”

Jeremiah Belin, 10

Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

A: “My family plays football or a card game.”

Anna Grace Katzenmeier, 12

Q: What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

A: “I always watch the Macy’s

Thanksgiving Day parade with my family in the morning before going to eat with extended family in the afternoon.”

Kole Akin, 9

Q: What is your favorite

Thanksgiving tradition?

A: “Normally in the past few years after everyone leaves my dad and I watch movies or play video games.”

OPINION: Katya Tarabrina Staff Writer

Thanksgiving.

For me many, Thanksgiving is a day of joy and family. But over the years, controversy has arisen surrounding whether we should celebrate it.

In 2006, Judy Dow, a nationally known activist and ethnobotany teacher at the kindergarten through college levels, came out with an article on a website oyate.org called “Deconstructing the Myths of “The First Thanksgiving.” states Dow, “We offer these myths and facts to assist students, parents and teachers in thinking critically about this holiday, and deconstructing what we have been taught about the history of this continent and the world.”

She goes on says something that challenges everything we previously knew about Thanksgiving.

“Myth #11: Thanksgiving is a happy time.

Fact: For many Indian people, ‘Thanksgiving’ is a time of mourning, of remembering how a gift of generosity was rewarded by theft of land and seed corn, extermination of many from disease and gun, and near total destruction of many more from forced assimilation. As currently celebrated in this country, “Thanksgiving” is a bitter reminder of 500 years of betrayal returned for friendship.”

In my opinion, this is highly problematic. We should always remember the dead and learn from our mistakes, but how does this have anything to do with what happened at the “First

Thanksgiving worthy of celebration Thanksgiving”?. Let me give you some history of what actually happened.

It all started in September 1620 when a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, residence to an assortment of religious separatists.

They came to the New World seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith.

Other individuals were lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the New World.

A hundred and two passengers set sail. They traveled for 66 days, then dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod. The Mayflower then crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.

They did not, however, steal land from the natives, which is a common myth. The village they settled in, which was previously Wampanoag territory, had died off from disease.The diseases were widespread in the Native American population at this time.

Their first winter in the village was brutal and uncomfortable.

Most of the settlers stayed on the ship. Many suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease. This led them to do horrible things such as rob graves and burial places for food and supplies. After this treacherous winter, only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see spring.

In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from an Abenaki Indian who greeted them in English. Several days later, he introduced them to

Squanto, one of the few surviving Wampanoag people. He who taught the Pilgrims, who have had no experience and were slowly dying off, how to survive.

In November 1621, the famous “first thanksgiving” took place. This was a time of peace between the natives and the settlers. They did not fight, they just sat down and had a meal.

For three days. The next month after the dinner, a ship arrived with 35 new colonists. But to the Pilgrims’ dismay, they brought no provisions. The entire colony was forced to go on half rations that winter. At one point, with food running out, everyone was forced onto a daily ration of just five kernels of corn. A lot of people died after this.

After the first Thanksgiving, things went downhill for everybody as new settlers arrived who this time did not want peace or help, but to destroy. I think that what happened to the Native Americans was terrible, unfair and absolutely horrifying. However, I fail to see what the wipeout of most Native Americans has the do with the feast, or the people who were there. Most of the people there were Native Americans, due to half of the settlers being wiped out after the brutal winter.

I think it is good that we celebrate this time, as this is one of the moments in time where we were all content with each other. Thanksgiving celebrates much more than the journey of a colony and Squanto and turkey. It celebrates the time when families come together, through their differences and their conflicts.

They sit down and have a meal.

of sugar. You will need to mix all of the ingredients (excluding the pie crust) into a big bowl, and whip it thoroughly until it is thick and mixed evenly throughout.

Then you need to pour and apply the mixture into the pie crust.

Cook it at a set heat until the pie begins to solidify. Then, remove it from the oven, coat it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate the desert for four hours.

Ever have too much leftover turkey after Thanksgiving dinner?

Well no worry, because we got you covered with this useful recipe. Ingredients you will need are, ⅓ cup of butter, ⅓ cup of flour, ½ teaspoon salt, a two-crust pie crust, one can of chicken broth, ½ cup milk, and two ½ cups shredded cooked turkey, and two cups of mixed vegetables.

First, you need to melt the ⅓ cup of butter and mix it with the ½ of milk and ½ tablespoon of salt in a container or large bowl.

Then slowly mix in the other ingredients(not including the pie crust) in the container until evenly dispersed. Then pour the mixture into the open pie crust so that it fills up to the brim, and cover it with the other end of the pie crust. Press the edges of the crust together with a fork evenly and bake in the oven until the outer crust is golden.

New recipes change up classic Thanksgiving fare Jimmy Marshall Staff Writer

Are you used to making the same types of food from the same cookbook every Thanksgiving?

Well it is close to that time of year again, and with the classic American holiday coming shortly around the corner, it is ample time to be prepared with refreshing food selections for you and your loved ones. But how do you introduce something new, yet not deviate from the famed and trademarked edibles of Thanksgiving? Here is a list of recipes for you to consider in preparation to the soon approaching day of feast.

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake: What you’ll need is one pie crust, three (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, one (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin, three eggs, ¼ cup sour cream, ½ cups sugar, two tablespoons of flour, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and two tablespoons

Cranberry Muffins: For this recipe, we tried to find something tasty that could make use of the dreaded Thanksgiving classic, cranberry sauce. To do so you will require, ½ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, one cup cranberry sauce, and one egg.

It is recommended you preheat the oven at 400°F beforehand.

Whisk the materials in a container until evenly dispersed, then apply them to a cupcake tin. Put the tin in the oven until it turns golden.

Turkey Pot Pie: