M Football ends season
The
ENTOR
Manhattan High School Volume 101 Issue 11 Nov. 19, 2013
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Kellen
Bret F
e
21 catches, 397 yards and 3 touchdown receptions
Chris Klug Staff Writer
Chris M
n a rt i
573 yards on 112 carries and 2 touchdowns and 1 touchdown reception
Winsto nD imel
4 touchdowns
Henry
Bie
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7 touchdowns
Et h an
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Number 34 senior Josh Mullin walks number 10 senior Kellen Myers off of the field after the season ending game against Derby on Friday. The Indians lost 56-20, ending their season with a 8-3 record including a seven-game winning streak. Andrew Scott, photographer
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909 yards, 12 touchdowns, 1 interception and 5 rushing touchdowns
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Season Stats
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Indians lose playoff quarterfinals The Manhattan High football team watched their season come to an end in the quarterfinals of the playoffs Friday night as they fell to the top seeded Derby Panthers 55-20. Derby proved why they were rewarded with the top seed, putting on a strong performance both offensively and defensively. The Indians came out ready to play. Senior Henry Bieber returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to put the Indians on top 7-0. The Panthers would go on to score 41 unanswered points, 34 in the first half, taking control of the game. The Indians did not have much success on the offensive side of the ball, only scoring one offensive touchdown which came on a 54 yard run from senior Josh Mullin. Kevin Forshee scored on a 50 yard defensive fumble recovery in the fourth quarter which put the Indians at 20 points. Although the Indians season did not end the way they would’ve hoped they still accomplished a lot. The Indians finished the season with a 8-3 record that included a 7 game winning streak, a centennial league championship, a regional championship, a trip to the playoffs and a five overtime win in dramatic fashion in the first round of the playoffs over Maize.
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7 touchdowns
Chamber choir performs along side KSU Concert choir Madeline Marshall Staff Writer With two standing ovations in a single concert, it can be said that the Chamber Choir concert this past Sunday was a thundering success. They performed at All Faiths Chapel on Kansas State campus along with the KSU Concert Choir. The concert required a lot of preparation, especially when considering the high
level of music performed. “I had to learn almost everything about choir in just a short amount of time,” senior Lane Sorell said. “This is my first year of vocal performance and is amazing to me how much goes into singing. From mouth shape to breathing to solfege, I couldn’t believe the vast array of things to learn.” Sorell wasn’t the only one working to learn things. Everyone in the choir had dif-
ferent points of focus. With each and every person working to become their best self, it’s no wonder that they sounded the way they did. “The most fun part of preparing for the concert was thinking back on how we sounded before we worked on the songs and realizing how much we have improved through all of the difficult rehearsals,” sophomore Emma Galitzer said. Other than the experi-
Scholars Bowl takes first Matt Bandy Staff Writer The Manhattan High Scholars Bowl team had been engaged in two J.V. meets and one Varsity meet in the last week. The first of the meets was on Monday, Nov. 11, a J.V. tournament where five freshman competed for their first time. “It was a good experience for them to get,” Scholars
Bowl head coach Ted Dawdy said. The freshman went 6-3 in pool play where every team played every other team to advance.Two of the three losses were in tie breakers. They ended up in fourth place and did not advance in the tournament. On Wednesday both J.V. and Varsity competed. The Varsity team traveled to Chapman to take first out of the 22 teams.
“I’m the main math person,” junior Kyle Weston said. “I can also do most of the science questions.” The team went 9-1 in pool play, then won semifinals and finals to win the meet. The J.V. team went to Cair Paravel Latin School in Topeka. They went 5-0 in pool play but lost in the semifinals. However, they won their consolation match taking third place.
SADD promotes hands free driving
Sophomore Adam Al-Soltani simulates the experience of texting and driving during lunch. The event was sponsored by AT&T promoting their campaign “It can wait.” Reid Beer, photographer
ence gained from strenuous preparation, the choir gained experience listening and learning from the KSU Concert Choir. The KSU Concert Choir is a highly select mixed ensemble comprised of students from a variety of majors across campus. Before the performance, Chamber Choir had the chance to work with the choir and their director, Dr. Joshua Oppenheim.
“They are extremely good singers and hearing them can make us sound better,” junior Alex Stenberg said. “They are of a higher level that I am hoping to attain in the next few years. It helped me to see what I was preparing for,” senior Megan Knudsen said. The concert gave students a chance to see college students, some of which were MHS alumni, performing at an extremely high level, and
gave them something bigger to strive for. “At one point Dr. Oppenheim leaned over to Mr. Pape and just said ‘they’re great, everything’s coming together, just great’ and you could tell Mr. Pape was beaming, and so were we,” Galitzer said. “It meant a lot to hear that coming from him.”
IPS students attend dance class so it was a new experience. “I learned how to do the wobble and do ballet. Very similar styles,” senior Lane Sorell said. “It was fun. I liked watching people jump around.” Fellers enjoyed watching those who had never done ballet before attempt what
she said. Not only was the lesson a learning experience, it was also a great form of therapy. The Interpersonal Per“It was really cool to see sonal Skills class was movin’ how the kids who are a litand groovin’ on Saturday. tle lower functioning have Members from the class a great time and really reattended a dance lesson at spond to music and dancWashington Dance Studio ing,” Fellers said. “Music and where they learned some movement new moves and are so then showed off powerful, their own. Seand I benior Madi Felllieve that ers is a member dancing is of Washington an amazDance Studio’s ing form senior dance of therapy team as well as for anya mentor in IPS one. and she helped Senior organize the J e s s i e event. Kujawa “I love dancagreed. ing and every“ [ I one in IPS is l i k e d ] always so sweet watching and they ask me the mentabout dance a ees try evlot so I wanted to share it with Sophomore Sam Lafleur dances with senior Alaina Schroeder during an IPS erything,” she said. them,” Fellers dance lesson Saturday, at Washington Dance Studio. The lessaid. Liz Logback, photographer son ended The class conwith a sisted of some freestyle dance party and the brief dance history, basic po- she demonstrated. “The best part was seeing Cupid Shuffle. IPS is considsitions and some across the floor combinations. Most of everyone laughing and smil- ering having another dance those who attended had not ing and jumping in and try- day second semester. taken dance lessons before ing things we taught them,” Liz Logback Editor-in-Chief
Opinion The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com Page 2
Leave pro rules alone The editorial is a compilation from a discussion held by the Editorial board. Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker faced off in a showdown last Tuesday between Kansas and Duke. However, the battle between these two superstar freshmen also highlighted questions about the eligibility of high school players to go directly to being a professional athlete instead of competing in college hoops for a year. Currently, players must be 19 to be eligible for the NBA draft, meaning virtually all players spend the year after high school playing college ball. It has not always been that way. Prior to 2005, athletes went directly from high school to the NBA, which was the path taken by stars such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. NBA commissioner David Stern cited the reason for the change as too many young urban kids seeing the NBA as any easy route to money and fame. It is good that Stern made this change. Going to college allows athletes to mature, possibly preventing off-court
issues and decision-making problems that athletes have struggled with in the past. But maybe one year isn’t enough. Athletes, for example former Wildcat and Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley, go to one year of college but still make bad choices off the court. Extending the age minimum to 21 or 22 would keep the athletes in college for three or four years, increasing their maturity. This would also keep freshmen’s focus on their college team instead of thinking about the NBA all year, increasing the popularity of college hoops. Allowing them to go pro at 18 would also dramatically hurt the popularity of college basketball. It would mean that the best young players in the United States would not be playing in college, leaving just the second-tier athletes playing college ball. But putting these superstars in college creates problems and prevents them from making their own decision about when they go professional. Many of them resent their year in college and spend the year only thinking about the NBA and not their
college team. It also makes the NBA managers drool as they watch the star prospects play in college, causing some NBA teams to purposely tank their season to get the top draft pick. Former Kansas State player Bill Walker, who spent one year at KSU, spoke out against the rule change. “I’m against it. I don’t see why you have to be 19 to play a game of basketball when you can be 18 and go to war for our country and die,� Walker said. Athletes such as Wiggins could make millions in their first year in the NBA, but instead they make nothing for one year playing in college. They also run the risk of suffering an injury in college that could end their career before it even starts. These factors mean that the rules should stay as they are now. Letting athletes go straight to the NBA would not give kids time to grow and mature before becoming a professional athlete. But extending the time they must wait would amplify the issues of money and injuries.
Popularity gets you nowhere -- beauty pageants, senior superlatives, student body elections, homecoming/ prom royalty, even just walking down the hall. Popularity, appearance, who has the most “friends.� That’s what it’s based off of and it’s totally senseless. None of these things matter after high school. How cute you dress and how many people sit at your table during lunch won’t get you any-
Kristen Batson
You stand on a stage full of people with the same goal. In your head you replay the last few events and wonder if all those months of practice and rehearsal were worth it. You hold your breath as the judges call out names and numbers while those around you have sashes and crowns placed on them. You hear clapping but you’re too busy praying your name is called for a higher title to join. If it is, you’re elated, e c static, proud, but why? Because a group of judges decided you’re more attractive and talented than someone who has invested just as much time and money in this as you? That isn’t something that should feel rewarding. All it is another idea society has branded in our minds about beauty and what traits are desirable. Graphic by Tracy Le We shouldn’t take part in any form of catego- where in life and neither will rizing and comparing one judging others. another. There are so many You should constantly be ways we judge each other striving to be a better percasually in our daily lives we son. Not a better person don’t even think twice about than your friend or sibling, a
EDITORS:
better person than who you were yesterday and, as clichĂŠ as that may sound, selfgrowth is what life should be all about. In college the extra hours of studying pay off, not the partying with “coolâ€? people. Your employer will always appreciate you bettering yourself and trying to be a more efficient team member. What your employer won’t appreciate is you trying to make yourself look better than a co-worker. Odds are if this co-worker is failing to do their job, someone who is more capable will replace them, and when that happens you’ll have n o one else’s faults to hide behind. Yo u are respons i b l e for yourself. I know you’ve heard that from your parents since you were o l d enough to blame other people or leave y o u r t o y s in the living room, but you know what? It’s true. The sooner you come to realize and act upon this, the sooner you can start becoming the kind of person who will make a contribution to society.
The Mentor
Liz Logback, Editor-in-Chief/Trending
Maddie Ross, News Editor Sarah Shi, Opinions/Content Editor Dheepthi Perumal, Entertainment Editor Nick Bandy, Sports Editor Michael Melgares, Assistant Sports Editor Connor Bliss, Features Editor Kennedy Felice; Danielle Cook, Copy Editors Alan Brown, Multimedia Editor Tracy Le, Graphic Designer Allison Olsen, Photo Editor
STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS: Matt Bandy Kristen Batson Rachel Beach Gage Benne Chris Klug Retta Lazaris Madeline Marshall Madison Newman
CIRCULATION:
Kristyn Baker David Clinkinbeard Karl Drown Patrick Falcone Vincent Goss Karl Harmon Jordan Hatley Colten Kirk
Josh Kohls Kasey Morris Mallory Morris Megan Ritthisorn Jeremy Romig Zane Smith Austin Tatum
OTHER:
Jerry Sextro, Business Manager Kristy Nyp, Adviser Eric and Lisa Ross, Caterers Pam Stokes, Photographer
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 1,500 Mentors are printed each week and distributed free of charge to all faculty members and students. MHS journalists are members of the Scholastic Press Association. The Mentor is an open forum that accepts contributions from the public. E-mail us at mhsmentor@gmail.com.
Question of the Week: What is yo ur favorite birthd ay m e m ory? “I don’t like birthdays, they always turn out bad. Once I got 47 needles stuck in my back.� - Carter Smith, sophomore
“When I was two, I sat on my cake.� - Thom Billam, junior
“On my seventh birthday I went to a water park and my parents lost me for a couple hours, but then they found me and took me to a Waffle House and all was well.� - Louis Melgalejo, sophomore
Next edition’s Question of the Week: What are yo u thankful for? Submit answers to mhsmentor.com
Never stay comfortable Liz Logback
How I am I to respond to 3,631 deaths from a Philippine typhoon? And the other 12,487 injured? What am I supposed to do about the 1,187 people still missing? My heart aches -- literally aches -- when I hear numbers like that. I cry when I read the stories of those who lost everything and am haunted at night by the sheer devastation the storm left behind. A particular story of nursing and expectant mothers who are struggling to provide broke something inside of me and the pictures of crying, naked children crushed the rest of me. SO desperately I want to help. I’ve racked up quite a bill with all the text donations I have sent, and I have prayed for the country, but what more can I do? The hurting people seem so far and disconnected from me that it’s easier just to hope for the best and turn off the heartbreaking news. I’ve looked at plane ticket prices and remotely considered joining relief efforts, but there are far too many details (and excuses I can make) that come along with that.
My country, my town, my life, my school and my dayto-day activities are so cluttered with other things that I excuse my inactiveness with “I can’t jump on a plane every time someone dies.� What a harsh excuse. I know that in a couple of months the news won’t care about the Philippines anymore and I will return to feeling comfortable again. Have any of you thought of Syria recently? I sure haven’t, but they are still struggling immensely. Their death toll is still rapidly rising and the fighting is still raging. Do you worry about the people affected by the tsunami that hit Japan about a year ago? Maybe the wildfires that took over 600 homes in Colorado? And what about the tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this summer? Do those things still make us feel uncomfortable, or at least stop for a second and say “aww?� I hate that there is so much hurt in this world...in my community. The other night after laying out the newspaper I was particularly hungry so when I bustled into Chipotle out of the cold, I smiled because the food smelled so good and there wasn’t a line. I noticed a man standing next to the door, but walked by without saying anything. While putting my burrito together, I glanced over my shoulder at him a
couple of times and noticed he wasn’t getting in line to get food. I felt so uncomfortable because it looked like he was in need of a meal. I argued in my head about buying him a meal, but finally settled on the excuse that “I don’t even know if he wants food and I’m a teenage girl so I shouldn’t.� I couldn’t look at the man as I left and in fact I only ate three bites of my burrito because I felt so disgusted with myself. I want to call myself a world changer. I want to help every hurting person and feed all the hungry, but the reality is, I am far too comfortable with staying comfortable. It’s easier for me to use my age, my circumstances and my finances as an excuse NOT to move. And I am far more comfortable sending an anonymous $10 text donation than caring for my neighbors personally and intentionally. This world tells us that other people will take care of it, that we don’t need to drop everything when something disastrous happens and other countries are far away and un-relatable. But I am saying I NEVER want to feel comfortable in this life. I want to hurt for those hurting and I want to ACT on it. My life is way too short to pass by a hungry man with food in my hand and to not spontaneously jump on a plane to aid in relief efforts after a natural disaster.
Thank you for... Sammi Grieger Guest Columnist Happy Tuesday! As of Thursday, I knew I needed to write a column for my dear friend Liz. My first idea was to share an embarrassing story about a time when I hit myself in the face with a flute case, (Doesn’t that have that a nice ring to it? Yea for alliterations!), and then marched a parade baring the battle wound of a fat lip. My second idea was to write about SpongeBob; however “the inter-workings of my mind are an enigmaâ€?, so‌ enough said. But, the idea came to me Friday when I realized how thankful I am for my friends. And so much more! So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, (and I as I was discussing with my best friend earlier, it is so sad that Thanksgiving seems to be overlooked more and more each year,) I wanted to share some of the things I am very grateful for!
I’m thankful for feet. I love how these amazing toes give us the ability to walk, to balance, to run. I’m thankful for fall, for the colors that every individual leaf brings. I like how leaves fall and secretly end up everywhere in your house, or in my bed‌I still don’t understand how leaves get into my bed. I’m thankful for books and how they smell. I’m thankful we have libraries, with stories and stacks of different books, with words, with messages just for us to read. I’m thankful for the smell of fresh air, for open windows, and Kansas wind that messes up your hair. I’m thankful for how the wind is so funny when it tickles me, and that flustered look it gives someone when they walk in from outside. I’m thankful for baby alligators. I’m thankful for electrical outlets since they look like little faces. I’m thankful for lunch. I’m thankful for my braces, especially when I get a snack about two hours after I have eaten something.
I’m thankful for school, and for how fun it is. I’m thankful for the interactions we get to have at school. I’m thankful for humor. I’m thankful for all of the laughter I heard every night at the musical. I’m thankful for Harry Potter, for cassette tapes, for clothespins, for music, for the sound of pencils scratching on paper. For a black crayon in someone’s hand as it creates the most beautiful drawings. I’m thankful for Dr. Seuss. I’m thankful for imagination, (cue the rainbow!) and for roller blading. Most of all, I am thankful for people. Yes, though sometimes they do get on your nerves, this world would be nothing without the people in our lives. I’m so thankful for the personal interactions I get to have with every one of you. Thank you for giving me your smiles, your laughter, your expressions. Thank you for making me enjoy coming to school! I’ll never express my thanks enough!
The Mentor is an open forum and accepts signed letters and guest columns from students, faculty members and parents. Letters and columns are distinct from each other. Ă&#x; -FUUFST BSF JO SFTQPOTF UP DPOUFOU JO UIJT QVCMJDBUJPO BOE BSF SFDPNNFOEFE UP CF OP MPOHFS than 350 words. Ă&#x; $PMVNOT BSF B OFX UPQJD B DBMM UP BDUJPO PS B DMFBS TUBUFNFOU PG BO PQJOJPO SFHBSEJOH B TDIPPM or national issue and are required to be within 300-600 words in length. Anyone interested in contributing a guest column is advised to clear the topic with the editorial staff prior to writing it in order to save time and effort. The editorial staff reserved the right to edit for length, grammar and clarity while preserving the original intent. All letters, columns and other guest content must be signed and must be free of copyright violations. & NBJM JEFBT BOE TVCNJTTJPOT UP &EJUPS JO $IJFG -J[ -PHCBDL BU NITNFOUPS!HNBJM DPN 4UBGG NFFUJOHT UBLF QMBDF FWFSZ GJWF EBZ TDIPPM XFFL PO 5VFTEBZT EVSJOH GJGUI IPVS BOE FEJUPSJBM discussions are Wednesdays during second lunch. Anyone is invited to come pitch ideas.
Features The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com Page 3
Looney for toons Tracy Le Graphic Designer
Sophomore Halsey Camera draws a cartoon in her spare time. Madeline Marshall, photographer
When she was seven, her father bought her her first Calvin and Hobbes book. From that point on, sophomore Halsey Camera began teaching herself to draw cartoons, and now cartooning has become a part of her life she can’t live without. “I do it every day,” Camera said. “If I don’t, I go kind of berserk.” Just recently, Camera had her first cartoon book published. This book included a collection of cartoons she has drawn over the past two years. “I was really excited,” Camera said. “And when I saw the actual book I was like, ‘oh my gosh’.”
Since she was nine, Camera has been thinking about getting a book of her cartoons published. After scanning all her comics, putting them together on a computer, and finally sending the layout of the book to a publishing company, three copies of the book were printed. Though Camera isn’t planning on selling this book, she is already working on another book that she hopes to get published, and maybe even sell soon. Two weeks ago Camera also went to ComicCon, an art convention in Los Angeles, where she met different artists. These artists gave her a lot of tips from publishing books and good colleges to advice on drawing and techniques.
”It [ComicCon] was something I had never done before so it was a new experience for me,” Camera said. ”I realized when I went there that a lot of the comics looked similar, they all were generally the same style...and my parents have always told me to have a unique one [style] so the trip taught me to stick with the same style.” William Hannah and Joseph Barbera, the creators of Tom and Jerry, are two of Camera’s biggest inspirations. Her parents also inspire her to draw and have supported her through all of this. “They’re just really supportive,” Camera said. “Normally, most parents would be like ‘oh that’s very good, I love everything about it’ but
with my dad, he’ll point out things that could be better about it.” Though some people think she may be too old to do cartoons and that she won’t be able to make enough money out of it, her parents know that cartooning is her passion. ”They’re definitely very encouraging,” Camera said. Where she decides to go from here and whether she pursues this as a career or not, one thing is for sure, cartooning will always play an important role in Camera’s life. ”I do it all the time and it’s the one thing that I’m good at and it’s really fun to do,” Camera said. “I live and breath it.”
Cunningham learns magic to stand out “Pick a card, any card” is becoming a commonly heard phrase around Manhattan High. Jack Cunningham, a junior at MHS, was tired of being ordinary and discovered magic was an excellent way of standing out. “I was always that kid that sits in the back of the class,” Cunningham said. “I wanted to do something that caught people’s eye.” Cunningham has been perfecting numerous magic
tricks for over a year now. Card tricks are the most common that Cunningham performs and amazes people with, but he has also perfected a few other tricks like an impossibly quick T-shirt change. YouTube has proven to be a useful tool in Cunningham’s magic. Video tutorials have taught Cunningham everything he knows. Other websites sell lessons that have shown Cunningham how to perform his tricks. Some of the tricks require gimmick cards which Cunningham has also purchased.
One trick Cunningham is well known for is the disappearing deck trick. A A For this trick he shuffles the deck and allows the victim of the trick to feel the cards and know that it is a real deck. He then has the victim hold the deck in between their hands and then puts his hands over theirs. The audience watches in confusion as the victim opens his
A
Rachel Beach Staff Writer
hands and the deck had been replaced with a block. “I love magic,” Cunningham said. “Seeing everyone react to the trick is neat.” Guitar used to be the A hobby that absorbed Cunningham’s free time. Cunningham soon realized he couldn’t share his talent with the public and he set off to find something he was interested in and that would fascinate people.
“I hope later in life I can keep doing bigger and better tricks,” Cunningham said. Cunningham enjoys performing his tricks because it gives him a chance to show what he’s been working on. Magicians like to keep their tricks a secret and Cunningham is no different. Although Cunningham will applaud you if you figure out his trick, he prefers that you do not expose the trick to everyone. “I don’t want magic to be just a phase,” Cunningham said. “I love it and want to continue with it as long as I can.”
Class takes on Adirondacks Retta Lazaris Staff Writer
Senior Brandon Barth constrtucts a chair in Brian Hobbs’s woodworking class. The chairs are for a massive order of 140 due by the semester’s end. Retta Lazaris, photographers
Talk about divide and conquer. Students in Brian Hobbs’s woodworking classes are pulling together to make 140 Adirondack chairs by the end of this semester. “I posted the advertisement for the chairs at 9:30 [a.m.]. By 10:15 [a.m.] there were orders for 30 more chairs over the 110 we always make,” Hobbs said. “It’s like a mass production; all of the classes are doing them,” sophomore Meghan Tharpe said. “A hundred and ten are what we are suppose to do, but we had people order more so now we are in the three quarter process.” The ‘three-quarter process’ simply means that they have finished the standard 110 quota of chairs, and are now beginning to construct the extra 30 chairs. “He [Hobbs] says he has people from the community on the waiting list all the time, so people really like them,” Tharpe said. “We have lifetime guarantees, so if the chairs break, they can bring them in and we will fix them.” The woodworking students have only worked on the chairs this semester. The constant task may
sound unappealing. However, the students have enjoyed the teamwork. “It’s fun, I mean I like the mass production because you’re doing one thing and you're not like ‘Oh my gosh -- what do I do now?’” Tharpe said. “We all have our each individual jobs, and in the process everyone is one different machines. You switch jobs depending on what needs to be done.” Since the chairs are being sold, students are raising money for their shop room and future individual projects. The chairs have been a tradition for the program for many years and are sold throughout the Manhattan community. Sophomore Austin Telck purchased four chairs to go around his family’s fire place after they finish their renovations. Telck takes pride in having made something that will be used by his family members for years to come. “Well, it’s a lot of fun -- that’s for sure. Mr. Hobbs is a good teacher. We get a different job almost every day; we are always switching around,” Telck said. “And then, when it comes down to actually building the chairs -- that’s the funnest part. Because then you get to see the chair come to life.”
Dominguez adjusts with activities Connor Bliss Features Editor Leaving Spain was a burst of freedom from school for junior Ana Dominguez. “This school is so huge. I like it how you can choose your classes and in Spain you can’t. They give you subjects and have to take them all,” Dominguez said. So far in her career at Manhattan High she has been involved in choir, musical, clubs, and cross country, and hopes to try out for the basketball team. “I think it’s the best way to meet people,” Dominguez said. “You don’t have that many options in Spain. In Spain everything’s more strict, we can’t choose anything. You can only play soccer or basketball and you don’t have clubs or anything like that.” The Ross family has been Dominguez’s home away from home. “It actually feels like we are family now,” Dominguez said. “Maddie
and Hannah, it feels like they are like my real sisters so we fight pretty often.” For Dominguez being a foreign exchange student is in her blood. When her mother was 17 she came to America for a foreign exchange trip. Two years ago the Dominguez family came back to visit her host family in South Carolina. While they were here they also traveled to New York and North Carolina. Dominguez is from Valencia, Spain, a city with a population of 2.5 million people. “There are a lot of people who live in the city center so I can walk everywhere,” Dominguez said. This has been part of Dominguez’s transition into America; she doesn’t even use her car in Spain. “I don’t like cars,” she said. There’s another thing in America that she’s not a fan of -- the food. “I don’t like fast food,” she said.
Sophomore Mariana Sanchez and junior Ana Dominguez paint the map prop for MHS’ fall musical “South Pacific.” The musical is just one of many extra curricular activities Dominguez has decided to participate in this year as an exchange student. Madison Newman, photographer
Junior Jack Cunningham practices a card trick in a hallway. Rachel Beach, photographer
Student forges his own path Retta Lazaris Staff Writer Discovering his interests early has allowed senior Daniel Sullivan to create a path through courses and projects to prepare him for his goal of attending college for welding. Sullivan, who is new to Manhattan High this year, has taken welding classes his entire high school career and is currently enrolled in Doug Muller’s seventh hour welding class. He is putting his welding skills to the test with class projects. “I’m working on two windmills for Mr. Muller,” Sullivan said. “Cutting all of the material probably takes the longest. When I’m actually making a windmill, I just have to get a plan, then get the materials. Then I measure the material, cut it, then weld it out.” This has been Sullivan’s main project he has focused on this semester. He already had experience with welding from his former school, even though it was much smaller, so he was able to move into a more difficult task right away. “My dad got a job here, as a school bus mechanic. The school I came from had 300 kids, kindergarten through seniors. There was 26 kids in my senior class,” he said. Being new to MHS, Sullivan has leaped on the opportunities provided to him. “I took Ag. Mechanics where I came from (Shoshoni High School, Wyo.), and now I’m taking an automotive class,” Sullivan said. “I like the programs here; there is definitely more offered.” Sullivan is no stranger to the shop environment. He enjoys working on automotive vehicles in his spare time; however, he has never been fond of woodworking classes. “I took a woodworking class my freshman year, but I don’t like blades, so I’m not taking one this year. I like welding better,” Sullivan said.
Entertainment The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com Page 4
‘South Pacific’
pays tribute Maddie Ross News Editor Paper palm trees frame the stage and the blue curtains shut tight attempting to hide feet tiptoeing across the stage. Parents and students fill Rezac Auditorium, meandering through the crowds of students and teachers. Eventually seats are taken, the orchestra enters and the lights dim. It’s time. Manhattan High School students performed their production of the musical “South Pacific” last week. The show was performed
four times during the week. Students showcased their hard work through their many dance numbers and songs. “All the chorus people were doing great on staying facially alive, and the leads did an exemplary in committing to their characters and staying in character the whole time,” director Linda Uthoff said. “South Pacific” takes place during WWII at a base in the South Pacific islands. The storyline centers around a United States Navy nurse, Nellie Forbush, played by
senior Faith Janicki, as she falls in love with a wealthy plantation owner Emile De Becque, played by senior Lane Sorrell. Conflict arrives when Nellie discovers, and at first is unable to accept, De Becque’s mixed race children. Students began working on the musical in September and have done a multitude of things in preparation. Behind the bright lights, stage makeup, and 1940 personas were two months of singing, choreography, memorizing lines, set construction and staging.
“My friend described it [ the musical process] once, it’s like having a baby,” Uthoff said. “You make plans, you think about how you’re going to decorate the nursery, and then sometimes whether you’re ready or not the baby comes and you make it work. With this there are times you say I’m never doing that again, but in the end you’re like let’s do it again.” In the end everything came together into a production that brought audiences to their feet. “It is cool because everyone is contributing to the one
goal, and they make it happen,” Uthoff said. “I think it went great,” junior chorus member Katie Bussmann said. “We improved every night, which I think is important. Overall it turned out very well.” “I was really happy. They did great. You know every year someone says, ‘the dress rehearsal didn’t go very well,’ and say ‘I know they will be ready’ and they were,” Uthoff said. By the end of the show, sailors embraced their new surroundings; nurses washed men right out of their hair,
then like women often do changed their minds and fell in love with wonderful guys; unlikely lovers fell in love; and armies marched to war. The overture begins again, the plot resolved, characters pile on stage to give their final bows. The blue curtain shuts tight closing yet another fall musical. “The best part is watching everybody become part of something bigger than themselves,” Uthoff said.
The nurses of ‘South Pacific’ musical sing “I’m going to wash that man out of my hair”. The musical was performed last Tuesday through Saturday. Kelsey Crawford, photographer
What goes on behind the curtains Students make show happen backstage Maddie Ross News editor Danielle Cook Copy editor Many filled Rezac last week to witness the production of “South Pacific,” but what is often forgotten is what goes on behind the scenes in preparation and during the show. Whether it be lighting, set, music, hair and makeup, or costumes, crews of technicians are on call to make sure the actors and actresses look good on stage for their audiences. Senior Mary Matthews was the stage manager for the production because she was intrigued by the different perspective the realm of tech gave her. “I was an assistant stage manager last year for the winter play, and I loved it. It’s good to see the other side of a production,” Matthews said. As stage manager Matthews has to pay close attention to the blocking on stage in order to time different components of the show such as set changes, lighting
and the opening and closing of the curtains. “It’s a very stressful job sometimes, but it’s definitely worth it,” Matthews said. As a technician Matthews sees every aspect of the mu-
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quickly that it was quite the task. “It’s significantly more work than you’d think,” Benjamin said. “People write the hair and makeup techies off as the ones who do nothing, but we actually do a lot. On any given night I had to do at least 20 people’s hair and makeup.” During dress rehearsals and the week of the show, director Linda Uthoff’s classroom was transformed into a hair and makeup studio. Ziploc bags of foundation and eyeliners were on one wall, while cans of hairspray and curling irons lined another. “I really enjoyed it. I love making people look beautiful,” Benjamin said. In the end there would not be a show without the army of “techies” helping out in their respected areas. They contribute heavily on bringing the show to life. “When you finally, you finally get into costumes and have your hair done and you’re wearing that ridiculous stage makeup, the show really comes alive. I think that’s what’s really amazing to witness,” Benjamin said.
I love being able to work with people and I love seeing the chaos [of a show] come together into something organized.”
-Mary Matthews
sical build from the ground up, and then watches them improve. “I love being able to work with people and I love seeing the chaos [of a show] come together into something organized,” she said. Matthews holds a lot of responsibility in her position and has only come to grow because of it. “Doing this has increased my leadership skills and I think that will be helpful in the future,” Matthews said. Charlotte Benjamin lead the hair and makeup crew this year and found out
Students involved in the musical work together behind the scenes with the set and characters. Some did hair and makeup while others painted the set. Kelsey Crawford, Photographer
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Characters in the spotlight
Senior Megan Knudsen plays the main role of Bloody Mary in the musical. Knudsen is involved in Thespians, Pops and Chamber Choir. Jennie Jordan, photographer Dheepthi Perumal Entertainment Editor Danielle Cook Copy Editor Senior Lane Sorell Emile De Becque, a wealthy, sophisticated planter, Frenchman. The character of De Becque in the musical has two legitimate mixed-race children by a woman whom he had married and who had died. The character is played by senior Lane Sorell. Sorell is involved in Student Council as the Vice President of Student Body, musical, National Honor Society, IPS, band and choir, and keeps statistics for football. “I was happy that I got the main role but at the same time I was a little bit intimidated because I have never had a role with so many lines like that before, so I really just wanted to do a good job,” Sorell said. “I think Emile is a pretty cool dude but he is probably a little too uptight for my taste although he does have a fun side.” Sorell just began doing musicals. His first musical was the summer of his junior year. “[The musical] encourages you to do new things. My mom and my little brother Isaac who is a freshman, they encouraged me to do my first musical and I wouldn’t
have done it without them encouraging me,” Sorell said. “So I try to get people to do something new and exciting because they may end up liking it like I did.” Senior Faith Janicki Nellie Forbush, a nurse from rural Arkansas. The role is played by senior, Faith Janicki. Janicki is involved in Thespians Club as the club secretary and the musical. “I love the character Nellie.” She is bubbly, nice, sweet and really relatable. Nellie being a Southern girl from Arkansas, I had a connection because I am also from the south,” Janicki said. Janicki has been doing the musical since freshman year. “Anytime there's auditions for the main character I always try out for it,” Janicki said. “Every night got better, and I’m happy with the outcome for the musical.” Junior Willie Michaels Marine Lieutenant Joe Cable. Is offered the hand of Liat by her mother, Bloody Mary. Although he declines and leaves for battle where he will die. The role is played by junior, Willie Michaels. Michaels is involved in Pops Choir, Chamber Choir, Thespians Club and the musical. “When I looked up the characters for the musical, Cable was my favorite, his music and songs,” Michaels
said. Michaels began doing musicals in third grade with Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department and continued when his older sisters did the musicals when they were in high school. Michael’s also has a connection with the musical, his grandad was in the South Pacific during WWII. “He got a mild case of malaria,” Michaels said. “But he was okay.” Senior Megan Knudsen Bloody Mary, a South Pacific islander who makes it her business to sell strange items to U.S. sailors who are stationed nearby. She is just learning English, and is always scouting for someone to marry off her daughter, Liat, to. When Lieutenant Joe Cable arrives on the island, Bloody Mary takes it upon herself to introduce her daughter to the strapping young American, in hopes that he will accept Liat as his wife. The role of Bloody Mary is played by senior Megan Knudsen, who is involved in Thespians and Pops and Chamber choir. “It was almost kind of hard [to play Bloody Mary] because everything about Bloody Mary is opposite of who I am. I’m really reserved and thoughtful, and she’s just really out there.”
Junior Willie Michaels who plays Cable and senior Macy Lanceta hold hands during a scene. Both are involved in the performing arts club, Thespians. Kelsey Crawford, photographer
Assistant stage manager looks over the show Danielle Cook Copy Editor Junior Hannah Schmidt watched intently from her place backstage right as the music begins, the curtain opens and the lights shine straight onto the spacious terrace on the wide stage. As an actor enters the set and begins to sing, Schmidt is ready to take immediate action should a technical glitch arise, as the first scene of Manhattan High’s production of “South Pacific” unfolds. Schmidt, assistant stage manager for “South Pacific,” had many responsibilities to attend to throughout the process of the musical and during performances. “As assistant stage man-
ager, I’m in charge of stage right, so basically what I do is I make sure everything’s running smoothly on my side,” Schmidt said. “I’m in charge of the actors going on at the right time, making sure scene changes go smoothly and quickly, and if any problems happen, I fix it. I’m just in charge of everything that happens on stage right, basically.” At times, her role might’ve even been one of the most stressful in the whole cast and crew. However, Schmidt feels that even though her job required a lot of dedication and hard work, it was still enjoyable. Doing tech work and organizing things as an assistant stage manager gave Schmidt a stronger sense of appreciation for
everyone who works behind the scenes and feels that it was “totally worth it.” Schmidt, who has participated as an actor in musicals and plays at MHS, such as “Phantom of the Opera,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “The Crucible” and more, has also done technical work for other MHS productions. She has found a seemingly perfect balance between performing and doing behind-the-scenes work throughout her time involved in theatre. “I plan to try out for acting for the winter play, and then do tech for the spring play. [Tech] is a lot of fun, too, and I think it’s something people should do at least once. It’s just really rewarding,” Schmidt said.
Main characters of musical, seniors Faith Janicki and Lane Sorell share a scene in the musical. Sorell played his first lead role at Manhattan High. Kelsey Crawford, photographer
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E.R. (Everything Redone) Toad and the Tundra
The newest band around the school is Toad and the Tundra. In fact, they officially became a band three days ago. Juniors Noah Schnee and Joel Marienau knew they wanted to try out for battle of the bands, so they made their band official. Schnee had wanted to make a band and compose music for quite sometime, but hadn’t gotten around to it. “Toad and the Tundra” was brainstormed during the Derby football game, then just stuck. “I have some music and Joel has some compositions but as a band we don’t really have any songs yet,” Schnee said. The band’s influences include a little bit of ‘90s grunge music, Cage the Elephant, Nirvana, Radiohead and Little Comets.
How did you come up with the name? E.R describes themselves as an “indie band’ with influence from “Arcade Fire,” “Crystal Castles,” “Earth Mother” and “The Psychedelic Sounds of the ‘60s.” Seniors Lukas Hugunin, Ian Miller and Kyle Curtis and junior Eris Swager make this unique music. The band members feel they have a more positive attitude than other bands their age. “We have a female drummer, 62 original songs and albums,” Hugunin said. They’ve produced their first three albums in a basement recording studio. As far as the name goes, Miller and Hugunin wanted something unique with an acronym. They landed on E.R., which stands for Everything Redone.
We were sitting at the [Derby] football game making up stupid names.
When did you form your band?
March 2013. Tristan Knott left August 2012. I took a little vacation then because I was kind of sad about where things were but then I met Eris and I found out that she could play the drums. Kyle was kind of like an off-and-on guitar player for some of the other bands I was in.
When did you form your band?
Two days ago. We’ve been thinking about making music for about six months. We’ve been interested in being a band for a while. I was sitting in my room listening to a lot of music and just thought that I want to do this, too. I want to make music as well and what better place than to start at high school.
What type of music is on your albums?
Every album is very different. For our first album it was more of a melodic experimentation. We used an average of 30 instruments for it. Our second was more of a 1970s punk rock influence and surf influence. Our third was very ‘60s, psychedelic. Similar to electronic works.
The Hollow earth The Hollow Earth. They formed about two weeks ago and have only had two official rehearsals. Sophomores Nathan McClendon and Ethan Levine and junior Silvan Plattner came together to create the “alternative rock” band. “We all play instruments and we were all in jazz band so we were like ‘let’s do this,’” Plattner said. They have written two official songs without lyrics. “We came together and jammed and out of the jam session we formed two songs,” Plattner said. Finding the band a fitting name may have been one of the most difficult parts. In the end McClendon and Levine choose “The Hollow Earth” and Plattner went with it.
What genre would you consider your band? It’s probably like alternative, like rock alternative.
Why did you form a band? We were all in jazz band and we play instrument so we were like ‘let’s do this.’
How did you come up with your name? We thought about different names and just couldn’t come up with anything and Nathan and Ethan came up with “The Hollow Earth.”
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