190129 Vol. 106 Edition 13

INSIDE THIS EDITION SERENADE-- Junior Ella Rosenkranz (far left) sings “No One Else” in Rezac during the serenade concert. Photo by Josh Flickinger MR. MHS-- Senior Jacob Wineland (left) walks on stage with Casper the ferret during Mr. MHS. Photo by Javi Mercado See Pages 3 and 5 for more

THE MENTOR VOLUME 106 - ISSUE 13 - JAN. 29, 2019

MHSMENTOR.COM

Elective Fair to give students course previews Katya Tarabrina Staff Writer

Photo by Hailey Eilert

Freshman Garret Roberts works on the elective fair video in his Digital Media Technology class. Students of the class went around to film and interview MHS elective teachers and students for a video project.

USD 383 opens survey for new principal Sophia Comas Sports Editor

As the 2018-2019 school year nears it end, USD 383 has been planning for a change within the walls of Manhattan High.

The search for a new principal has commenced, and the district is looking to the community for someone who has the potential for taking the new position currently held by Greg Hoyt, who is retiring after 6 years of being principal at MHS. In the hopes that whomever is selected for the position is beneficial to all, USD 383 has opened an online community survey for anyone to provide input about what qualities they want in a high school principal.

Composed of three questions, the survey can be found on the district website for anyone to complete.

“Being a high school principal is a tremendous responsibility and doing it well requires a wide array of expertise,” superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade

said in a written statement. “The online community survey is one way we are gathering input about qualifications, skills and attributes people consider most important for the success of MHS’s next leader.”

As participants open the website to take the survey, they will be met with a bright red link that takes them directly to a webpage that explains the survey and its purposes. A small paragraph then describes how the responses will be used, saying that both Wade and the Human Resources director for the school will use them in the interview process when selecting the new principal.

“Although every high school has some similarity in leadership and management expectations, each high school also has its own distinct culture and climate,” Wade said. “Committee members will use input from the survey as questions are written and candidates are screened and interviewed by the committee.”

The survey requires that participants answer the three ques-

tions provided, beginning with what the community thinks a new principal should prioritize.

The questions are listed as follows: 1. What should be the top three areas of focus for the new Manhattan High School principal?

2. What is the most important thing candidates for this position should know about the Manhattan High School community?

3. Is there anything else that the interview committee should consider when selecting the next principal?

The district will then collect the responses to have a better idea as to what the community values in school leadership and take them into consideration throughout the interview process. Those wishing to complete the survey have until the closing date, which is 5 p.m. on Feb. 15.

Scholars Bowl places second in home meet Brianna Carmack Opinions Editor

With a 6-1 record, Scholars Bowl took home the bragging rights of placing second in last night’s Junior Varsity meet hosted at home. MHS trailed first-placing Washburn Rural, and Topeka High rounded out the top three.

“Towards the beginning of the year, our varsity team was consistently placing third and second,” Abrar Nasser, freshman, said.

“Later on, in the last few meets, we actually started placing first.”

The tournament took place at MHS yesterday with Junction City, Salina, Rock Creek, Washburn Rural, Wamego, Topeka High Flint Hills Christian, Cair Paravel and Highland Park all represented.

With this being the team’s second-to-last tournament, there has been a great amount of improvement throughout the season.

“I think the mistakes were high [during first meet],” Nicole Savage, sophomore, said.

Although Scholars Bowl teams are competing to be the best among other high schools, they are also combatting their own nerves. Confidence is something that some team members have worked on throughout the season.

“I answered a lot more questions at this meet, Savage said.

“I’m working to be more confident enough to actually buzz in.”

After a long season, which started in early November, many friendships have been formed through their work together that teammates feel will last.

“Honestly, the friends I’ve

made and the inside jokes we’ve created [are the best parts],” Savage said. “When we get answers wrong it’s still absolutely hilarious and then when we get them right we’re all there and supporting each other.”

Even though this season is coming to an end, some people are already looking toward the next season. Scholars Bowl team members highly encourage anyone interested to reach outside of their comfort zone and try a unique activity that is often overlooked.

“Scholars Bowl is amazing and it’s underrated,” Savage said.

“People don’t know about it and I think if people did a lot more people would be involved and people could have a lot of fun with it.”

The Elective Fair is an event that offers students information about all of the elective courses at Manhattan High school. Students will learn about elective classes they can enroll in for the next school year at the annual Enrollment and Elective Fair at MHS West campus on Wednesday.

While a lot of people don’t know what a class offers until they take it, this fair can help students see a class in more detail.

“The Elective Fair is a chance for upcoming freshmen, current eighth graders and freshmen through juniors to explore all the different electives that we offer here at Manhattan High School,” business teacher Kathy Ricketts, co-chair of the Elective Fair, said.

During advisory, juniors and sophomores will be invited to go down to tour the elective fair. A video by Kristy Nyp’s Media and Digital Technology, Video Production and Media and Public Relations students will also show students the elective courses and what they entail.

After the school day, students may come back with their parents at 6:30 p.m. to learn even

more about their potential future courses. The Elective Fair will be open until 8 p.m., and teachers in areas of electives and people from the Manhattan Area Technical College will be there to talk to about all of the courses that are available. From 7 to 7:30 p.m. there will be information regarding MATC credit and concurrent credit classes. Students who want to take MATC classes in the future are encouraged to attend, especially with their parents. Enrollments for MATC will be in room C-110 from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Students can come alone but are encouraged to bring their parents to help explore all the options for their future at MHS. It is very important for students in high school to find classes they think might help them with their career.

“There’s going to be some general sessions for parents they can ask questions about anything, classes, college classes, what kids need to take,” sophomore counselor Eric Ross said.

Enrollment meetings will also be available from 7 to 7:30 p.m. for future freshmen.

Attendance isn’t required, but it’s a great way to help students to explore their possible career pathways.

Forensics kicks off season with success in first tournament Meredith Comas Online Editor-in-Chief

Sam Delong, freshman, said.

Delong -- who did not expect Manhattan High forensics to make it to the top three -- had a welcomed the new competition high-placing record in debate and season with team success at the has continued his record into the Shawnee Heights competition forensics season, taking first place this past weekend, scooping up in the Novice Congress session three state qualifications for the and third in International ExtemState Forensics Tournament in poraneous Speaking.

May, as well His firstas a handplace sucful of high cess was tournament joined by placements that of jufor individniors Aaron uals.

Hoff, who “This went un[win] speaks defeated to the comin Lincoln munity beDouglas cause ShawDebate nee Heights against is the first what he tournament called “the Photo by Meredith Comas of the seaJunior Peyton Woods writes on a whiteboard in prepa- g r e a t e s t son,” head ration for a tournament mid-December.

Lincoln coach Mac Douglas Phrommany said. “It indicated debaters in the state” and qualithat we are still going to be a force fied to the State Forensics Tourin the community and we’re still nament. Junior Trinity Brockman going to make a stand… that we -- who took fifth seed out of 32 are a force that is worth looking in debate finals Jan. 12 -- placed out for.” first in Varsity Congress session.

The team, who expressed feel- Sophomore Eadon Marstall, afings of doubt before award cer- ter expressing fears in her comemonies, were surprised to have petition ability, took first place in done so overwhelmingly well.

Impromptu Speaking, also quali“[Three] state qualifications fying for the state tournament in already out of the way for the May. season just in the very first tourOther successes came from nament… that’s obviously a really See FORENSICS Page 5 great way to start off the season,”

Photo by Brianna Carmack

Freshmen Rachael Kovar and Luke Liu, sophomore Nicole Savage and freshman Ronan Tanona compete against Rock Creek HIgh School at a home Scholars Bowl tournament.

OPINIONS

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The Mentor Jan. 29, 2019 MHSMentor.com

Misleading information creates problems 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

Nowadays with a wide spectrum of different types of technology, news is recorded across all forms of media. Whether it’s visually or written in words there is a story or viral video put out every day. But, sometimes, those stories or pictures can be used as manipulation or will reveal incorrect context on the issue being told about.

It is the agreement of The Mentor editorial board that not only stories, but content that is visual can easily manipulate any consumer and by ensuring that this does not happen as frequently as it does, readers should check

multiple stories, photos and videos.

With the recent controversial story on Nick Sandmann and Nathan Phillips at the Indigenous Peoples March, there has been quite a divide in the way it’s been broadcast contributing to media.

There have been multiple different stories that have not only created an issue between Sandmann and Phillips but also between the community of news readers.

When journalists provide biased and/or incorrect information, it causes chaos between the readers who read those particular stories.

In the article written by CNN, that state: “Other kids could be seen laughing, jumping around and seemingly making fun of the chants.”

But, in an article written by The Washington Examiner, they said: “Videos of the incident suggest students weren’t doing anything to antagonize Phillips, and that

Graphic by Forest Efken

they were instead shouting school chants in response to Black Hebrew Israelites who were taunting the group.”

One paragraph insisting that

Wildlife-centered media vital Kaitlin Clark Print Editor-in-Chief

Vulnerability comes in many forms, but animals are particularly susceptible to the cruelty of others. With no way to defend themselves from humans, wild animals are killed, sold and traded every day. Activists and foundations do what they can to stop this, but with often few resources and low public visibility, they cannot always have the impact they desire.

Media, including articles, photography and film, can expose animal mistreatment in a way that few other outlets can.

Media coverage of wildlife aids protection efforts through its unique ability to expose animal exploitation and suffering.

A necklace, a bookend, bracelets. These are just a few of the many items that photographer Christine Fitzgerald saw when she was given entry by the Wildlife Enforcement Branch of the Canadian government to a secret location where illegal wildlife items were seized at the U.S.-Canada border. The photos are a jarring reminder of the brutal end some animals face for the pure reason of decor that leave a viewer thinking about the images. They drive home Fitzgerald’s thoughts on the practice of trafficking.

“The illegal trade of wildlife is one of the great disgraces of humanity,” Fitzgerald said in an interview with the Washington Post, who, along with National Geographic, published a number of her photos. While her words are memorable, her photos are haunting. Her use of photography exposes the ugly nature of wildlife trafficking in a way that is truly unforgettable.

The lives of animals impacted by humans can be just as brutal as what happens to them after death. National Geographic reported in 2015 on canned hunting practices in South Africa. Lions are put in a confined area for hunters who pay to kill them. Hunters are often guaranteed a kill, and the lion has no chance of escape. Even though this is happening thousands of miles away from the United States, the impact canned hunting has is immense. According to Ian Michler, narrator of the documentary “Blood Lions,” the U.S. accounts for more than half of the lion trophies that are exported. In fact, there is no federal law banning canned hunting. National Geographic’s reporting helped bring this conservational and ethical injustice to a wider audience, allowing more international activists to look into how they can take action.

Photos and articles can bring awareness to the issues wildlife faces today, but to understand the full impact, some people need to be shown what is happening in other parts of the world. Documentaries such

as Blood Lions, which explores the canned hunting business in-depth, reveals the brutal nature of wildlife exploitation.

Others, such as 2009 documentary “The Cove,” touch on topics that are even less infamous. The documentary exposed the continued capture and killing of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. In both cases, the documentaries were bold in their telling of the injustices committed against wild animals and aimed to create a conversation about it. By showing the conditions animals are raised and killed in, documentaries are able to show people in a way no other form of media can just how harsh the industries are.

Through the use of media, such as photography, writing and video, brutal wildlife mistreatment has been brought to the forefront in a way no other method can grant. By exposing these practices, animals can begin to be aided so that the number suffering and dying senselessly can be decreased. It may be disturbing to see and read about the exploitation of wildlife, but people need to be made aware of the situations they are in. When the public is clueless, nothing can be done.

Now, with the knowledge we have, it is up to us to make a change, use what videographers and journalists have given us, and make a change.

It is our responsibility to protect those that cannot speak for themselves.

again.

Before Christmas, I simply asked my parents for a record player for Christmas and I was disappointed about what my mom told me; “No, record players are out of style and are just a fad that’ll go away pretty quickly.”

Right after she told me this, I took my record player off of my wish list. When Christmas came around, I figured I wasn’t going to end up with a record

player. But when I opened my gift, I was completely surprised that I received one.

Then I decided to research about records themselves and how to start a vinyl collection.

I interviewed Sisters of Sound, a vinyl record shop down in Aggieville that includes CDs, vinyl records and cassette tapes. I asked her the same question, ‘Are records coming back?’

Sandmann and the other kids were antagonizing Phillips and the other quoting that there was no video evidence of the kids antagonizing the Native American.

Even as a writer, it is very important to fact check any part of any story by checking multiple stories and comparing and contrasting the information to come up with a good idea on the truth, especially with sites like Wikipedia where anyone can edit anything themselves on those types of sites.

Not only do articles and stories mislead information to readers, but videos and pictures can also very much manipulate people as well. It is important for the consumers to, again, take a closer look at multiple photos and videos, because photographers and videographers, especially at na-

tional events with be at every angle there possibly is and one angle can completely be different than 20 other photos of the same event.

In conclusion, it is important for journalists to gather information from multiple sources. Even if they’re at the event, getting multiple interviews from people at the event will ensure that there is more perspective on the certain news story. Also, it is not only the journalists job to provide the correct information, but also any consumer and reader to use the information given smartly and maximize the amount of knowledge on the topic by checking multiple stories, videos and photos. Remember, your opinion isn’t valid without the correct information to back it up.

Government shutdown irresponsible

Kris Long Staff Writer

The longest government shutdown in American history is finally over. At least for the time being, politicians have agreed. The government will reopen with no funding for Donald Trump’s wall.

Trump was determined to build his wall, as it was his signature campaign promise.

After shutting the government down for 34 days and holding back paychecks from federal government workers, he got absolutely nothing. No funding for his wall whatsoever.

According to Trump they “made a deal” but in reality Trump just caved from the mounting pressure to pay federal workers and is unwilling to admit defeat. The Democrats ultimately spent no money on a border wall, amounting to a success. That gives Americans $5.7 billion of taxpayers money that can now be used for services that aren’t pointless.

Politicians kept the government shut because they were afraid if they gave up, their voters wouldn’t forgive them, but that’s simply not true.

“Other news events quickly overtook them… one month after the 1995-1996 and 2013 shutdowns any changes in the polls that occurred during the shutdown vanished.” Analysis of approval ratings from

previous significant government shutdowns by FiveThirtyEight.com showed.

The shutdown will likely not affect either side in 2020 so the shutdown isn’t even justifiable to protect political careers.

With this knowledge it was plainly irresponsible of politicians to remain in political deadlock. Neither side wanted to be the ones to be forced to say they kept the government shut and didn’t get what they were asking for.

According to FiveThirtyEight.com, 71 percent of government workers don’t approve of the shutdown. Government workers may have their own opinions about the wall, some strong enough to support the shutdown, but feeding oneself and one’s family as well as paying the rent comes above political agendas.

Every day there was another person with another sad story.

Choosing between insulin or food, having medical needs met or paying the rent. And all for what? One wall and some reputations that probably will be fine either way.

It is the responsibility of Americans and their politicians to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Republicans need to stop following Trump off cliffs and stop being afraid to stand against his ideas, especially when they’re foolish and have the possibility of sending the country into chaos.

The last and probably most important task is to be sure that congressmen know that month-long shutdowns are not popular with most American people. That’s on you.

Increase in vinyl record popularity after disappearance a positive development

Madison Ritz Staff Writer

After making an unexpected disappearance in the early 2000s, vinyl records are officially becoming a trend once

Question of the Week

Question of the Week- What is your favorite movie quote?

“Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.” Monty Python and the holy Grail -- Junior Ella Rozencrantz

“A minute of pain is a life time of glory.” -Unbroken -- Freshman Kirstin Pope

“Why so serious.” -The Dark Night -- Freshman Larissa Deleon

“I would say they have come back,” Sarah Cunnick, owner of Sisters of Sound said. “I think it will stick around, as long as they try not to jack up the prices.”

I can agree with Cunnick, prices for vinyl have skyrocketed from an average price of $20 to about $30.

“Figure out what your limitations are, I would write down your top ten albums that you want to get,” Cunnick said.

“Also kind of decide of what your average price you’d want to pay per record.”

I recommend joining in on the bandwagon and starting your own vinyl record collection, any age is capable of doing so since in my opinion, vinyl records sound better than the actual audio. I’ve seen quite a bit of people with record players and vinyl records themselves and I’m glad they’re finally come back.

Visit MHSMentor.com for more stories and information on how you can join student publications

Next week’s question: What’s your favorite part of Valentine’s Day? 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

Cole Schmitt -- Social Media Manager Rachel Edie and Julianna Poe -- Copy Editor Hailey Eilert -- Photo Editor Mason Alberto and Makenna Wollenberg -- Assistant Photo Editors Ayden Boyles -- Business Manager Staff Writers and Photographers -- Kami Bussmann, Josh Flickinger,

Cade McNeil, Javi Mercado, Aloera Ostermann, Madison Ritz, Jennifer Sadler, Riley Williamson, Katya Tarabrina, Emma Elliott, Kris Long, Anika Nyp Video Production -- Gabe Jernigan, Duncan O’Brate Kristy Nyp -- Adviser

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. Manhat-

tan, 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.

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

SPORTS

The Mentor Jan. 29, 2019 MHSMentor.com

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Bowling places first at home meet Brianna Carmack Opinions Editor

The Manhattan High Bowling team found success in their second home meet of the year, finding little to no issue with the way they competed.

This being the bowling teams second home meet, Varsity boys placed first, Junior Varsity placed second, Varsity girls placed second and Junior Varsity, unfortunately did not place. With three Varsity boys and two J.V. girls making top five, the bowling team had many improvements from their last meet.

“We bowled really well,” Kimberly Crawforth, sophomore said.

“Even though J.V. girls didn’t bowl well, we bowled well individually.”

Some of the teams top bowlers

were freshman Jasmine Bridges, juniors Grant Terril and Gabe Jernigan and seniors Avery Grover and Alexandria Newell.

“It was really successful,” Crawforth said. “I’ve beaten my average.”

The team’s most recent meet happened on Jan. 28 at Little Apple Lanes.

“The lanes weren’t the best,” Crawforth said. “We were bowling on the cosmic lanes.”

Although J.V. girls didn’t place, there is still a long season ahead of them and more opportunity to get better.

“We bowled well individually but as a team not so well,” Crawforth said.

Over all, the team’s results ended up being in great success for the team.

“We did well,” Grover said.

Photo by Jennifer Sadler Sophomore Megan Whitson watches her ball roll down the lane as it reaches for a strike during Monday’s bowling meet.

Boys Basketball defeats Topeka West Wrestling takes top spot Cole Schmitt Staff Writer

In their first home win of 2019, the Manhattan High Varsity basketball team (7-7) defeated the Topeka West Chargers (3-8), 57-47 after being down by four at the half in a key Centennial League win.

“It’s a huge confidence builder to win in front of our home crowd now since we are going into back to back away games,” senior Jonah Artis said. “It really sets us up to have a good league record at the end of league play.”

The Indians move to 4-4 in league play, which places them sixth out of nine teams.

“I was really proud of our second half,” head coach Benji George said. “Especially the defensive effort. [Topeka West] were trying to create chaos and trap and I thought we were very poised with the basketball. I feel like our turnover numbers were at a pretty good number. It starts with Owen [Braxmeyer], the point guard. I thought he did a great job.”

The Indians had ups and downs in the first half. They fell behind 2-9 within five minutes

Sophia Comas Sports Editor

Stock photo by Hailey Eilert Junior Chandler Marks dribbles the ball forward during the Varsity game on Dec. 20.

The Indians played against the Emporia Spartans, losing 45-50.

but turned it around and went on a 7-0 run to tie it at the end of the quarter. In the second quarter the lead changed between the two teams, but Topeka West would pull ahead before the half 25-21.

In the second half, it was all MHS. The Indians outscored the Chargers in the second half 3622 behind Braxmeyer’s 13 points, 11 coming in the second half, and secured the win 57-47. The Tribe shot 45 percent from the field while shooting 75 percent from the free throw line.

“The last two days, we had two good practices,” George said.

“We just practiced chaos. ‘It’s going to be a 2-2-1 and then a 1-3-1 and then a man and trap’. If you expect high school kids to try to figure out all that it’s hard so we just told them ‘get three out, get good spacing’, the second half we did a lot better job of that.”

The MHS Varsity Basketball team (7-7) will travel to Topeka this Friday to face off with the Seaman Vikings (7-4). Earlier this season, the Indians defeated the Vikings on home court in overtime 50-49 in a thriller of a game.

Girls bring back bronze

ATHLETE

Micheal Simmons Blue M Editor-in-Chief

OF THE

WEEK Haleigh Harper Varsity Basketball Photo by Jennifer Sadler

Sophia Comas Sports Editor

• Ended the McPherson tournament with 39 points and 16 rebounds • Scored 3 three-pointers • Made 8 out of 11 free throws How would you describe your season so far?

I feel like our season has been going good. We’ve made a lot of progress since the beginning of the season and I feel like it’s just going to get better from here. I’m really excited to kind of experience those postseason games and

For most high schoolers, a Friday night consists of late night chill fests with some catchy music and friends. For the Manhattan High Junior Varsity Wrestling team, it consisted of mats, sweat and pins that resulted in seven first place medals and all but four placing in the top three within the bracket.

“We had a fantastic day,” Robert Gonzales, head coach, said. “Gosh, the kids just wrestled lights out. They were good on their feet and in the neutral position of wrestling.”

Their last home meet proved more than successful for J.V., as the four wrestlers who didn’t place were going up against their own teammates. Being in the same bracket, their only real opponents were each other.

“It’s fun to just get into the room because sometimes we just play around,” Adrian Kaus, junior, said. “At the end we all are just talking, tired and it’s just

see how those turn out.

What predictions can you make about how the rest of the season will go?

I’m really optimistic about the rest of the season. We’ve made great strides since the beginning of the season and I really feel like the losses that we came across in the beginning of the season we’ll get redemption for and hopefully we can beat the rivalry game -Washburn Rural -- I really look forward to that.

fun because we are a really good team, too.”

Kaus, who placed third, contributed to the team’s success through two pins in his first match and going overtime in his second. Both he and his teammates are proud of what they’ve accomplished, hoping to carry this week’s success into their final two weeks of the season.

“I think we did really well,” Kaus said. “I saw how other teammates placed and I thought we did really well.”

After the meet, both the Varsity and the J.V. wrestlers gathered together for a small ceremony to offer recognition for the team’s success. They were given medals and T-shirts as well as praise from both teammates and coaches for their majority victories.

“I want our kids to win and be successful,” Gonzales said.

“I’m just really, really proud and happy for them.”

The J.V. wrestlers will have their next meet at 6 p.m. this Thursday in Marysville.

It was good going into the McPherson tournament. It’s always good because of the great competition we always see. We did come across a bit of a rough game on Friday. We played Olathe South and it wasn’t our best game, I think everyone will admit that, but I think how we handled that the next day and how we came out the next day showed more about us than the last. I would say overall, the first tournament was pretty good and that we all did a lot of good things during that time.

How would you describe the McPherson tournament?

Third place may not be the best of finishes but it’s certainly a start for the Manhattan High girls basketball team as they took third at the McPherson tournament.

The team ended in dramatic fashion, beating Ulysses in the consolation game in double over time, 47-43 giving them a record of 9-4.

The team began beating Wellington 81-51, then later took on Olathe South where they would face defeat losing 21-62 in their largest deficit of the season so far.

“It was just pure excitement for the team when we went into overtime,” sophomore Jaiden Weixelman said. “Especially coming off the loss we had the day before, we all knew that there was no way we were going to lose that game. We wouldn’t let it happen.”

The first overtime would end in a dramatic fashion with a jumper from Ulysses to tie the game yet again. It wasn’t until the second overtime that a few late drives lead by senior Haleigh Harper would get the team the lead.

“We had worked so hard up to that point so getting a basket

was crucial to stay in the game,” Harper said. “Scoring always feels good but without my teammates I wouldn’t have been in the position to do it. Everyone at some point in that game contributed and it ended up being a win.”

Harper would lead the team in points, scoring 15 for the night, 6 of which came from free throws.

The fate of the game was sealed with two pressure-filled freethrow attempts by junior Aloera Ostermann, which would give the team a four-point lead.

The team has come a long way since their earlier in the season, during which they suffered back to back losses. The team has won four of the five games that have occurred since and they appear to be back on track.

“Since the losses we have focused more on playing like a team,” Weixelman said. “The bench energy is a big thing to, cheering on the girls when you’re playing is one thing but doing it on the bench is really important to.”

The team will go on to Seaman where they hope to carry their victories from this week.

Swim and Dive prepares for invite after week of poor weather Anika Nyp Staff Writer

Recent weather problems affected swim and dive practices last week, leaving the diving team less prepared than they would have liked for Saturday’s meet.

Despite the lack of practices, senior Zane Kohl and freshman Zeke Kohl both qualified for state and Zane earned second place overall.

“Because of the weather, we only had two days of practice,” head diving coach Al Days said.

“Zane and Zeke [Kohl] were pretty rusty.”

On the swimming side of things the team has been preparing in all sorts of ways for the upcoming invite. One of those ways was hundred hundreds. The swimmers had from 3:30 to 5:45 p.m. to complete as many 100 meter-laps as they could trying to

get to a hundred.

“We’ve been doing that for decades, most likely since we’ve had a swim team,” head swim coach Alex Brown said.

This is one of their most important practices before they start to wind down for the season.

“It’s a really hard workout, so it helps us prepare for our biggest meet,” sophomore Sean Anderson said.

Not only were the guys prepar-

ing in practice but also in their daily lives.

“We work really hard all week and get a good night sleep before,” Anderson said.

“The night before I got a few extra hours of sleep and worked out in advanced weights less than I normally would, basically treating it like a meet day,” sophomore Dominic Palmieri said.

The team does this to prepare for all the tough competi-

tion ahead. Brown has said in the past that the team needs to work on their stamina and the hundred hundreds is helping them do just that.

“It gets very tiring, but knowing that this is what’s go help us win league keeps us going for all one hundred.” Anderson said.

The team will spend this week practicing for the Manhattan Invite on Friday and Saturday at the Kansas State Natatorium.

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FEATURES

The Mentor Jan. 29, 2019 MHSMentor.com

‘Gone Viral’ makes for good Mr. MHS pageant Brianna Carmack Opinions Editor

Wacky costumes and goofy dancing is all a part of the long running tradition at Manhattan High ever since 1986 called Mr. MHS. Mr. MHS is a male pageant based on a theme, this year’s being “Gone Viral,” for junior and senior boys. It is hosted by Student Council and two different clubs that also help sponsor, this years being BPA and AFS. Representing StuCo were seniors AnnaGrace Katzenmeier and Kristine Gevock and representing AFS was senior Blaise Hayden.

Eight seniors competed this year: Henry Schinstock, Parker Wilson, Cale Goss, Carson Gido, Andrew Suh, Michael Moran, Max Lansdowne and Jacob Wineland. A ninth contestant, senior Suman Wang, was unable to compete in the pageant due to medical issues.

“I saw it [Mr. MHS] sophomore year and for the first time I watched I was like, ‘I’ve got to do this,’” Schinstock said.

The pageant is divided up into three parts: evening wear, worth 20 percent of their final score; swimwear, worth 30 percent; and talent, worth 50 percent. The three parts of the pageant were Deb Pryor, Matt Walters, Scott Eilert, Marshall Fike and Derek Shaheen served as guest judges for the pageant..

The first part of the competition was evening wear, where the contestants showed off their dazzling outfits, again based on the theme “Gone Viral,” and were introduced to the audience with funny and clever answers they came up with.

“Carson Gido was for sure up there for the win,” Wineland said.

“His costumes and, again his answers were so funny. Every night

Photo by Javi Mercado

Senior Max Lansdowne takes one last nod towards the audience after winning the 2019 Mr. MHS competition. Lansdowne performed a dance routine on a pogo stick for his talent portion of the competition, other talented acts included senior Cale Goss’s magic and the musical stylings of senior Parker Wilson on the piano

during dress rehearsal we’d all be cracking up behind the curtain.”

The second part of the pageant was dedicated to talent. The contestants had three to five minutes to show off their special talent and amaze the audience. The talent portion of the competition was judged on stage presence, technical ability, quality of performance, appropriateness and entertainment.

“When I needed a talent, I immediately thought… pogo sticking and then I thought… dancing,” Lansdowne said. “I just kind of put it together and it included the crowd, which I thought was fun and so I just went for it.”

ARTIST OF THE

WEEK Photo by Makenna Wollenberg

Jose Santos Pacho Jazz Band Makenna Wollenberg

Assistant Photo Editor

What got you interested in Jazz Band?

“In Spain I already played the guitar for a few years. When i found out there was a jazz band here (Manhattan High School) I just had to do it.”

Do you only play the guitar?

“Yes, that is all I play but I am wanting to learn the piano.”

What is your favorite part about being in jazz band?

Jose Santos Pacho also participates on the boys swim team and Children’s International Summer Villages.

“I have always played in just a group not a band. It is cool to play with a lot of people. You get to know new people and play great songs with them. We are closer than I thought we would be, we get to talk about other things that isn’t just the music.”

How is the experience at Manhattan High School different from Spain?

“It is cool in Spain because there are no bands. If you want to play a instrument you have to find a teacher that knows things about music. Here you can go to school everyday and have the class just for that.”

Patty paper aids students Madison Ritz Staff Writer

Jancy Radke, educational math teacher, finds a better solution to use patty paper to help students with geometry by learning with hands on activities.

Patty paper is known for its transparency and being able to copy one drawn object to another by simply moving the paper to somewhere else.

Patty paper helps students construct triangles during their lesson about triangle concurrency.

“The nice thing about it is, you can see through it and be able to trace things,” Radke said.

Students learned with sideangle-side. They were given two sides and an angle measurement. Students then had to follow the steps to be able to create their triangle on patty paper.

Students then checked with their table group to see if their triangle matches with their other tablemates. If their triangle matched their tablemates and with people

around them, they moved around the classroom to check with other classmates to make sure everyone was correct.

“They start to figure out okay, well these are the ones that doesn’t work, and this is why it doesn’t work, instead of memorizing something that I told them works or doesn’t work,” Radke said. “So it’s a little bit more to discover.”

Radke went to a conference and noticed a teacher there was using patty paper. She also found some different explorations the students could do with the patty paper to make learning a little easier to grasp onto. “[I like using the patty paper because] it gives me a visual of like, how I know the triangles are congruent,” Ana Wilson, sophomore, said. “I like how it can tell your side-angle-side that it’s congruent to and match up with the person sitting across from me and see it through the patty paper.”

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After the contestants showed off their talents, the next portion of the pageant was swimwear, where the only rule is for them to wear shorts. From the peanut butter baby to a sea monster on vacation, all eight boys made the audience fall in love with their costumes.

After swimwear, it was then time to announce the winners.

Besides Mr. MHS and a runnerup, they also named a Fan Favorite and Mr. Congeniality, voted upon by the contestants themselves. The winner of the 2019 Mr. MHS was Max Lansdowne, followed by the runner-up Jacob Wineland, Mr. Congeniality

Suman Wang and Fan Favorite Parker Wilson.

“Max had a very strong stage presence, so I wasn’t that surprised,” senior Anna Mackay said.

“I feel pretty good,” Lansdowne said. “I’m kind of up in the clouds right now. I’m really happy.”

The show was then over leaving some of the contestants in a place of blankness.

“I’m going to wake up tomorrow and I’m just going to ask myself ‘now what?’” Wilson said.

“Like it’s just such a great show and I don’t really know where to go to now.”

This year’s performers highly encourage participating in the show in years to come.

“I highly suggest that anyone who’s going to be a senior or can tryout for it… and I think juniors can but I’m not sure, but definitely tryout for it and just go out there and have fun and don’t care about what anyone thinks,” Lansdowne said. “Just go out there and do everything as wildly as you can and just enjoy the time, because being able to hang out with all of these great guys and just make a fool out of yourself is one of the most fun things I’ve done in high school.”

Students working for greener house Hannah Heger Features Editor

When people think about problems in energy efficiency many don’t think that they come from their house. Pairs of students in Advanced Placement Environmental Science have been developing parts of an energy efficient house.

“So each pair of students in the class got control of a different system of the house,” Clancy Livingston, AP Environmental Science teacher, said. “One pair is working on the heating and cooling, one pair is working on the physical structure...and then their goal is to make all of those pieces as energy efficient as they can.”

Over the past couple of week each group has researched and designed what would be most efficient for their individual aspect of the house.

“I am working on cooling,”

Maddy Perkins, junior, said. “Our job is to decide what ways we can keep the house from being too hot.”

While some groups design the most efficient plan for cooling they still need to coordinate with other groups to develop this house.

“One of the most difficult [parts] was just getting a plan together and getting a majority of the class to agree on a plan,” Perkins said.

But having a perfectly energy efficient house doesn’t come free, along with having to make an efficient house one group has to keep this house well within a budget.

“My partner Elizabeth Kim [junior] and I are focused on the budgeting, meaning we oversee costs and [try to] establish a budget that we could adhere to,” Alexis Gray, junior, said. “It’s quite difficult, mainly because we’re ‘building’ the house from

scratch and have to find base prices solely from research. It got easier once everyone started putting together their plans, and we were able to establish a base budget and encouraged other pairs to search for lower costing, environmentally friendly building materials and systems.”

As these groups work and develop this energy efficient house the students have done most of this with little to no teacher involvement.

“So I got them started on the project. And after that, I’ve been as hands off as I can be, they’ve done all of the research,” Livingston said. “I know a couple groups that actually called contractors or people who make some of the different equipment they’re looking at to get information. Honestly this project is kind of taken on a life of its own beyond what I thought it was going to. I’m really proud of the students.”

Track coach sprints to a new level of coaching Micheal Simmons Blue M Editor-in-chief

High school coaches are common; however nationallyrecognized high school coaches are anything but.

Kory Cool, the head coach for Manhattan High track, has been awarded National Coach of the Year for the midwest section by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Cool led the boys track team to a state title in their previous season.

“It feels great for the community,” Cool said. “I think for us to compete at the level we did and have the success that we did takes a village. It took support from the community, fundraising, the kids showing up everyday and committed to the program, it took the staff and administration being on board.

It was far more than just a me thing.”

The selection process for this award is extremely competitive, as NFHS only picks 23 coaches to even be nominated to receive a sectional award and then only eight of those 23 actually receive the award. NFHS selects one coach from the top 10 most popular boys and girls sports, two coaches from two ‘other’ sports outside of top 10 and then chooses a spirit coach separately.

“I think it’s just a pride thing,” Cool said. “If you look at sectional coaches of the year you will see Manhattan High School and that’s what I’m most proud of is having this community recognized. It really did take this community [working together] in order for it to be recognized. It takes more than just me and my staff, it takes everyone in the process getting on board and coming

together.”

It’s a common idea that in order for a team to be successful, they need to work as team, or in this case, community. Knowing this, a lot of communities attempt to do this well enough to be successful, yet not all teams or coaches are successful enough to take home a state title or be nationally recognized.

“I’ve got a great networking crew with coaches all over the state and we talk and help each other get better,” Cool said. “I don’t think I do anything that other coaches don’t, it’s just our kids competed at a higher level in this particular season. That doesn’t mean it will happen every year, we just had the right combination of things fall in place.”

Cool’s award is being recognized by the USD 383 Board of Education on Feb. 5.

The Mentor Jan. 29, 2019 MHSMentor.com

ENTERTAINMENT

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MHS choirs wow at annual Serenade Sophia Comas Sports Editor

Members of the choirs within MHS came together for a night of liberated performances sung within the walls of Rezac Auditorium as they artfully opened the doors to their annual Serenade Concert.

The performers selected and rehearsed popular music from every genre imaginable, entirely independent from the work they do in class. They began the night with a performance from the Varsity Choir titled “Loving Is Easy” before opening the concert with a variety of solos, duets and group performances.

“It was very good,” Chad Pape, choir director, said. “It’s always fun to see what the students select for themselves and what kind of music they’re interested in.”

Unlike other choir performances, Serenade gave students an opportunity to go solo. The chance to sing alone was thrilling and daunting at the same time due to an empty stage that hardly ever lacks the vast majority of students who usually provide comfort to those performing.

“I feel like it might be harder because choir is more like a har-

Photo by Josh Flickinger

Junior Tiffany Huser performs “Love of My Life” during Serenade. The concert allowed choir students to perform in group or solo acts.

mony thing,” Hannah Gou, junior, said. “Everybody works together… so if I miss one verse most people are singing that part so then I won’t be so nervous but when it’s actual Serenade it’s all individual.”

Although a fun concert, it was somewhat bittersweet because it

2019 Oscar Nominations leave students hopeful Riley Williamson Staff Writer

It is that time of year again for the Academy Awards, this year being the 91st. The 2019 Oscar Nominations were announced Jan. 2, by Kummail Nanjini, well known as a standup comedian, and Tracee Ellis Ross, an actress.

You can expect many celebrities to attend the award ceremony, but only 10 total actors and actresses will be picked from for the Lead Actor/Actress award.

Both Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were nominated for this award from the movie “A Star Is Born.” The movie was also nominated for best picture.

There are eight nominations for Best Picture including “Black Panther,” “BlacKkKlansman,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Favourite,” “Green Book,” “Roma,” “A Star Is Born” and

“Vice.”

2019 is the first year for a superhero movie to be nominated as Best picture, according to vox.com, who also said “Black Panther” $1.3 billion globally.

“The only one I’ve actually seen all the way through is Black Panther and that was really good, especially the point that African Americans are taking a step out into the Marvel Universe. I’m pretty glad that was nominated,” Avery Smith, junior, said.

Smith isn’t the only person that enjoyed “Black Panther.”

Junior Hannah Higgins also is glad the movie got nominated and she hopes it wins Best Picture.

“I think for diversity’s sake I’d want the Black Panther [to win],” Higgins said.

The awards will be presented at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood this year on Feb. 24.

Choir raises awareness at middle schools Emma Elliott Staff Writer

Manhattan High’s Chamber Choir visited Eisenhower and Anthony middle school on Friday to illicit interest in enrolling for the class.

The choir students were excused from third through seventh hours to perform in the gymnasium at each school.

The singers chose to perform a musical theater medley from the Serenade performance, which was put on at MHS the night before as well as a song from the fall semester.

“We go there every year so they can see their options,” Logan Linenburger, junior, said, “and what electives they can take in the performing arts.”

Due to the timing and location, this performance can be strenuous for students.

The singers are often tired due to the fact it is after Serenade, and some must perform sick due to the cold winter weather, said Chad Pope, choir director. However, choir students rose to the challenge and put on their best show.

“Despite the strange circumstances, they did great,” Pape said.

The middle school students and high school students alike found the show enjoyable.

“It wasn’t as prestigious [as Serenade], like we were in our MHS shirts and everything,” Grace Franke, senior, said. “But it was fun.”

was the final goodbye the seniors were able to give to an event like Serenade.

“Being a senior now and having done it every year since my freshman year, it’s been cool to do things that I’m continuously prouder of,” Grace Franke, senior, said. “I’m always looking at

things going ‘oh maybe I could do that for Serenade or maybe I could that’ and now that time is over.”

Despite the looming sadness of senior absence, the choirs still had to face other obstacles. Due to poor weather conditions, the groups lost out on a day of re-

hearsal onstage.

“The only thing that could’ve gone better is if we hadn’t had a snow day that changed our schedule,” Pape said. “It would’ve given me a lot more time to figure out some technical issues but it was fine the way it was.”

Along with stage preparation, an event like Serenade requires that participants work outside of class. Because many students are busy with other extracurricular activities, the groups got their music before winter break to ensure a proper amount of time to practice.

“We were super excited before hand,” Guo said. “We had been practicing over and over again with Mr. Pape.”

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect and perfect they were. The group is more than pleased with how the night turned out and is plenty excited for their future performances.

“We had a lot of fun and I’m glad that it went the way it did for my senior year,” Franke said.

“I know that everyone is always stressed and wishing ‘oh, I wish I had prepared more,’ but it’s always a really good show and it’s really fun for everyone to do.”

Drama Department prepares for winter play Kaitlin Clark Print Editor-in-Chief

Thespian Troupe 941 always strives to perform bold and interesting shows, but this year’s winter play is among the most unique they have ever planned to perform. Titled “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play,” the show follows a group of apocalypse survivors who decide to form a travelling theatre troupe and retell an episode of the popular animated comedy, “The Simpsons.” According to drama teacher and director Ginny Pape, the performance will not only be something new for audiences, but for performers as well.

“I wanted to do something that was fairly new, and I was interested in doing some literature that would stretch the students a bit,” Pape said. “It’s not your average simple play.”

While it may be based off of a comedy show, the play itself tackles some serious topics and, according to cast members, is very dark.

“...It’s completely different from anything I’ve ever done. It’s like a really dark comedy,” senior Mckayla Alberto said. “A lot of the other shows that are more satirical aren’t usually as dark as this one.”

Something that makes the show even more unique is its incorporation of song and dance.

Typically, a play features just acting, but the conclusion of “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play” is performed very dramatically and features both singing and dancing.

Music is currently being worked on, providing a break from usual acting rehearsals.

Another unique addition comes in the form of multiple cast members playing more than one character, a feature that the actors see as a way to stretch their own abilities even further.

“I get to just act in more than one way,” senior Kate Washburn said.

Due to the tone and themes of the play, cast members caution that it can be hard to understand for some people.

“It’s a little bit more complicated than other plays I’ve been in, so it takes kind of a more mature audience to understand fully what’s happening,” Washburn said.

Despite it being described several times as dark, “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play” still has room for comedy and fun.

“It’s kind of a weird play, and so I know that not everyone will get everything that’s going on, but I think if people give it a chance, they’ll think it’s really fun,” Pape said.

Although there are still two weeks of practices left before their Feb. 14, 15 and 16 show dates, cast members are proud of the progress they have made and the show they will soon be performing.

“I’m really proud of it so far because I can tell that it’s going to be good,” Alberto said. “It might be really weird to some people, but I’m really proud and like what we’ve done.”

song quite a bit on social media.

For example, on Spotify, Troye and Lauv made a playlist called “i’m so tired…”. Their fans were curious why they made this playlist. Lauv and Troye then proceeded to post on both of their Instagram stories.

“I just made, for no reason at all, a playlist with my friend Troye Sivan of our favorite songs to sleep to,” Lauv said. “There’s nothing implied whatsoever.”

While Troye on the other hand also posted on his story.

“Literally for no reason at all, Lauv and I made that playlist,” Troye said. “It’s so random of us to do that.”

At 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Lauv teased the first few seconds of their new song, “i’m so tired…” with Lauv and Troye sitting on an old fashioned car.

At 8 a.m. on Thursday, Lauv and Troye released the song completely on YouTube and iTunes.

The song starts off with a

simple beat just like he teased in his teaser. I’ve started to notice the more I listen to it, the more I could hear the same beat as his song, “Enemies.”

The song then follows with his lyric, “I’m so tired of love songs/ just wanna go home,” which confused me because Lauv’s whole first album was about finding love in New York City, then losing them, and wanting them back.

Lauv was in a previous relationship with artist Julia Michaels.

After the recent breakup, Lauv and Troye came together to write a song about being tired of love songs since it probably makes him remind himself of Julia.

While I’m looking at the background of the song, the song overall is a nice song to relax to. I’d probably put this song on repeat till I say “i’m so tired of listening to this song.” It’s that good of a song. I couldn’t be more happier to listen to this on repeat.

only been getting sixth through third [place], and always breaking but never state qualifying…

Now that we’ve actually started out with what we were aiming for all last year, that’s going to boost our confidence with Duo and also possibly progress into the availability of higher tournaments.”

According to Phrommany, the students have been working for months ahead of Shawnee Heights to be prepared for the

competition. Phrommany also commented on the heightening success of the students as they gain confidence.

“I believe we can gain many, many more [qualifications],” Phrommany said. “My goal this year is to max out, and then some.”

Forensics will continue the competition path at Emporia State on Saturday.

‘i’m so tired…’ worth playing on repeat Madison Ritz Staff Writer

Lauv and Troye Sivan came together and made a beautiful song called “i’m so tired…”. I almost cannot stop listening to this song on repeat.

I’ve been a fan of Lauv, and didn’t realize that he’d someday come together with another beautiful and inspiring artist, Troye Sivan. I’ve never paid attention to Troye before this song was released, but now that I’ve listened to this collaboration with them together I’ve been seeking attention towards Troye also.

With the song that was just released, Lauv and Troye teased the From FORENSICS Page 1

senior Jered Zhang, who took third in Lincoln Douglas Debate; junior Ivy Auletti, taking third place in poetry, joined by Peyton Woods, who took fifth in Prose.

The pair of Auletti and Woods also took second in Duo acting, qualifying them for state in May. “I think [the win] is going to largely impact how we view Duo,” Woods said. “Last year we had

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The Mentor Jan. 29, 2019 MHSMentor.com

Kansas Day Graphic by Anika Nyp

Freshmen square dance at local elementary schools Kris Long Staff Writer

Graphic by Katya Tarabrina

First Kansas study Katya Tarabrina Staff Writer

Kansas Day, Jan. 29, is the annual celebration of Kansas.

People all over the state gather to show their pride in Kansas.

According to the Kansas State Historical Society website, Kansas Day’s origin can be traced back to Paola 1877. On Jan. 8 of that year, 15 or 20 people in Paola public school were studying the history of the United States.

The lesson was about the battle of New Orleans and how 62 years before the battle, to the very hour, Andrew Jackson’s riflemen were peppering the British redcoats from behind cotton bales. Any students suddenly felt patriotism on that anniversary and decided to celebrate their pride in Kansas and its victories of peace.

It was decided and told to the public that an afternoon would be set apart for the study of Kansas, its geography, its history and its resources. The afternoon that was selected was Jan. 29, 1877.

For two whole weeks after that, the students searched for every piece of information they could find that was about Kansas. They looked through everything, encyclopedias, bothered their parents with questions. They searched for history, statistics and valuable information that was about one subject. Kansas.

The day came where they had to present their gathered in-

formation. The blackboard was extremely big, and covered with careful drawings of the state seal and maps of the state, the country and township. The motto of the state was conspicuous in red and blue chalk. The banner counties in wheat, corn, oats, hay, cattle, hogs, horses, sheep and even mules were on the board. On the board were also the Kansas songs. One was Whittier’s “Song of the Kansas Emigrant.” Another was Lucy Larcom’s “The Call to Kansas.”

In 1882, the first Northwestern Teachers Association was held in Beloit. They decided that a small pamphlet should be published about all of the events of that day.

Del Valentine of the Clay Center Dispatch printed the book.

It was called “Kansas Day” and contained 32 pages. Later on, the booklet became a prominent feature of the State Teachers Association in Topeka. Two thousand copies of it were printed, so every teacher was able to take home one or more copies. Purchased copies went to 65 counties in the state. For a short time the booklet was used as a textbook in the state normal school at Emporia.

Ever since then, Kansas Day had continued to spread and give pride to many native and nonnative Kansas citizens. Students and teachers also celebrate this, as it’s a celebration of history and hard work.

Graphic by Forest Efkin

A group of freshmen will be traveling to two different elementary schools today to teach kids the basics of square dancing and to celebrate Kansas Day. Towards the end of second quarter in Freshman P.E., all freshmen who aren’t in health participate in a square dancing unit. At the end of the unit all square dancing groups participate in a “square off.” The team judged to be the best earns candy and other prizes and, for the first time this year, a chance to show off their skills at local elementary schools Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt.

“We had winning groups in every hour and we just pulled some of the best people out of every hour… and we’re going to take them to the elementary schools,” said Robert Harper, freshmen boys P.E. teacher who will be leading the trip.

In previous years, only Harper and Susan Melgares, freshmen girls P.E. teacher, have taught square dancing at the elementary

schools, and they only went to Woodrow Wilson. This year they wanted to reach more elementary students, which is why they are also visiting T.R., as well as to give high school students the opportunity to interact with younger students.

“If seven’s going that way and one’s going the other way, like dominos the whole group falls apart.”

“[The students are] actually going to be doing the teaching…

We want older kids to work with the younger kids… I think that’s kind of missing today,” Harper said. “… kids will learn from kids way faster than they will learn from us, way faster, I figured that

out many years ago. The mentoring, and the relationship, it’s just not there any more.”

One setback is a lack of volunteers. According to Harper, originally they had enough volunteers but as the day came closer they started dropping out. Harper thinks peer pressure played a role in the lack of volunteers. “[Here’s] what happened… for some reason, kids do not want other kids to see them having fun. If they try to have fun… and somebody laughs, they quit, they shut down,” Harper said. “[When] people see square dancing...they don’t see eight people, working as a group, together, to get a task accomplished,” Harper said. “If seven’s going that way and one’s going the other way, like dominos the whole group falls apart. Other sports I like, because you have to work together of course, but square dancing is really easy because you have got to work together and stay on the same page. It’s fun too.”

Graphic by Anika Nyp

History behind ‘Sunflower State’ Riley Williamson Staff Writer

A common nickname that is frequently used in the midwest is the “Sunflower State,” referring to Kansas. According to Proflowers.com, the state flower was seen as a symbol and a remembrance to the frontier days in the Kansas legislature, and lawmakers soon fell in love with the idea of it representing the state.

The sunflower did not become the official flower of Kansas until 1903, thanks to George Morehouse. Morehouse was inspired by Kansans wearing sunflowers to identify themselves as being from the state.

This wild flower is native to the state of Kansas and grows in abundance during their season in June to August. The peak bloom for the flower is the middle of summer.

A popular time during the peak bloom period for many Midwesterners is to take pictures in front of sunflowers, either wild or commercially grown. For example, it is trendy for high school students who live in Kansas to take their senior pictures in front of the native flower.

But the sunflower has other uses besides looking artsy in photos. For over 3,000 years it has been used as food by American Indians and is still used as food today. Sunflower oil is a common cooking oil and the seeds are used in salads, breads and as a snack food.

Not too long ago, recent developments have used sunflower oil as an alternative to biodiesel fuel. This is a great achievement toward the image of the flower.

Overall the sunflower represents the state of Kansas with great pride.

Graphic by Anika Nyp

Weird, fun Kansas facts Julianna Poe Copy Editor

1. According to scientists, Kansas is flatter than an IHOP pancake.

2. Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas.

3. At one time, it was illegal to serve ice cream on cherry pie.

4. Behind only Texas, Kansas is the nation’s second largest producer of beef cattle.

5. Charles Wilson and William Purvis invented the helicopter in Kansas.

6. In Kansas, it is illegal to hunt whales, even though

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we are nowhere near the coast.

In Kansas, it is illegal to shoot rabbits from motorboats.

In Kansas, it is illegal to use mules to hunt ducks.

In Topeka, it is illegal to sing while wandering the streets at night, particularly the alphabet song.

In Wichita, the restaurants Pizza Hut, White Castle, Freddy’s Frozen Custard, Nu Way Cafe, and Taco Tico opened their first restaurant.

In 1981, Kansas won the

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award for the most beautiful license plate.

In 2010, Kansas had a population of nearly 3 million.

Kansas was the first state to ratify the 15th Amendment, which gave AfricanAmerican men the right to vote.

The first EF5 tornado hit Greensburg, Kansas.

The First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, Kansas was built during the grasshopper plague, so some of the foundation has grasshoppers mixed in.

Graphic by Anika Nyp