Volume 101 Edition 19

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Manhattan High School Volume 101 Issue 19 March. 11, 2014

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Snapchat increases risk of teen sexting Snapchat has taken the technological world by storm, inching its way to number 10 on the list of most-downloaded apps in the Apple Store. And with such widespread popularity, especially among teenagers, the app’s use for sexting is a concern.

Counselor Katie Ball worries that social media has brought sexting into light, even at Manhattan High.

“I think it’s probably occurring more often based on the access technology like Snapchat and other forms of social media,” she said.

Snapchat, an app designed to send and recieve pictures that self destruct after 10 seconds, was designed by teenagers, for teenagers.

Stanford graduates Evan Spiegel and Robert Murphy came up with the app’s design after a friend sent a picture and later regretted it. Today, over 350 million photos are shared through Snapchat daily, far passing Instagram’s estimated 55 million. And while most of the ‘snaps’ sent are innocent selfies, the app’s capability to permanently erase photos has found high school minors in trouble across the country.

It wasn’t long after Snapchat’s creation that ways of saving the photos were discovered. In November, 10 teenage boys in Montreal were charged with possession of child pornography after sharing photos girls sent them through Snapchat. It was after the scandal that Snapchat denied Facebook’s $200 billion offer to buy the company.

Teens under the age of 18 (classifying them as a minor) can be charged with possession of child pornography if caught with racy

photos. In some cases they can be labeled as a sex offender, which will never be erased from record.

Snapchat has heightened the number of teens facing legal trouble with charges of possession because of the common misconception that photos will be erased after 10 seconds.

When faced with concerns that Snapchat was a breeding ground for teen sexting, Spiegel responded confidently.

“I’m not convinced that the whole sexting thing is as big as the media makes it out to be,” Spiegel said in a statement to the New York Times. “I just don’t know people who do that. It doesn’t seem that fun when you can have real sex.”

Sexting through Snapchat is a concern at Manhattan High as well.

“Sexting is occurring more but that could also be because we’re hearing about it more. It’s quite alarming because of the consequences that can come from it. We hope that our students can get educated on what possibly can occur to them,” Ball said.

In an effort to approach the problem, last fall business teacher Kathy Ricketts organized a meeting for parents that introduced the topic of sexting and how to talk to their teenagPhoto illustration by Liz Logback ers about it.

“We put it together for parents to kind of break the ice and then planned on doing one for students but I don’t know if that is being pursued but that was one of our goals to get done,” Ricketts said.

No plans have been made to hold an assembly for students on the dangers of sexting.

The Truth Behind

SEXTING

teen

Liz Logback Editor-in-Chief Sarah Shi Opinions Editor

53%

...of teens that sext are girls

47%

...of teens that sext are boys

87% ...of sexters are not caught

*Teens caught sexting may face charges of production, distribution and/or possesion of child pornagraphy-- all federal crimes.

Graphic by Tracy Le

Student applies for youth of the year

Student Council explores differences in school swap

Connor Bliss Features Editor

Sarah Shi Opinions Editor

Senior Kennedy Felice suffers from an affliction many teenagers suffer from -- shyness. But not many of those teenagers put themselves in front of a panel of judges to talk about themselves.

Felice did just that when she gave a speech to judges on her qualifications for Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year. She beat out four other youths of varying ages from middle school through high school.

She was approached by the director of the local Boys and Girls Club where she works, who asked if Felice would be interested in competing. The criteria for the award were involvement in community and school, grades and impact on the club. For the speeches, candidates were required to speak of hardships they have overcome.

“I talked a lot about my parents being involved in the military and how moving around has affected me. I am definitely very shy as a per-

son and it has always taken awhile to adjust each time,” Felice said. “I also discussed how my mother overcame being a single parent for the first few years of my life and the impact that has had on me.”

Monday, Felice went to Topeka to compete against 12 other competitors. She will give her speech to a different panel of judges and be interviewed. The top two competitors will give their speeches to everyone in attendance at a dinner to celebrate the competition. The

two will also qualify for scholarships as well as the opportunity to continue and compete at the Regional level.

“Thinking about it and preparing for it was difficult, but I know that throughout high school I have matured significantly with help and support from my family and staff members at the Club,” Felice said. “I feel I have grown a lot as a person, so I’m more confident in who I am which really helped me prepare to compete.”

Manhattan High School Student Council members were given the chance to swap school for half a day with Salina South yesterday, as a “great opportunity to meet other StuCo representatives and exchange ideas and discuss how they run things,” StuCo sponsor Leslie Campbell said.

“It gives them something to talk about at regional conferences,” she said.

Approximately 20 students traveled to Salina South in the morning and stayed until lunch, following their StuCo members to classes and activities.

For junior Lisa Zhu, the StuCo swap was an opportunity to meet new people and “have a good time with the StuCo family. I will probably and hopefully make some new friends with StuCo at Salina and get to see what school is like at a different See StuCo page 6

Science Olympiad prepares for upcoming state, parent night Tracy Le Graphic Editor Along with the studying Manhattan High’s Science Olympiad team hopes to do before the state competition in April, this year the team was also invited to attend a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fun Night.

The STEM Fun Night will begin at 5:45 p.m. Thursday at Amanda Arnold Elementary with a dinner. Following dinner through 7 p.m., mem-

bers have an opportunity to show younger students some of their events. ”We feel honored to be invited,” Nelson said. “It speaks to the team’s notoriety and mainly to the respect that the team has in this school district. I think it would be a good way to show the younger kids older students being excited about science.”

The parent night is is also just around the corner for the time. A tradition in Science Olympiad, this activity is a way for the students,

sponsors and parents to get together.

Culbertson enjoyed the parent night last year and thinks that it is a great way to show the parents what the team does.

“I think a lot of parents aren’t really sure what we do.

Actually, a lot of people don’t know what it is. So we demonstrate different events,” Culbertson said. “Last year, since I do Forensics [event] and we do this burn test, we burned some salt...lithium chloride turns red and po-

tassium turns purple, so we showed the difference there.

I honestly think that’s the most exciting thing.”

The parent night also gives the team and parents an opportunity to talk about the state competition.

“We’re excited for state.

We’re hoping we can win because if we win we get to go to nationals in Florida and that would be really cool,” Culbertson said. “I think we have the potential to win if people take it in and work hard.”

April 5 is the day of the state competition. The day Manhattan High’s Science Olympiad team will put everything they’ve worked up to, all the knowledge they have learned, to the test.

Spring break will take a chunk out of March, according to sponsor and coach Richard Nelson. Though he thinks it’s nice to have a break, the break interferes a bit with their schedule and gives them less time to get ready.

“We are not well prepared

yet,” Nelson said. “The students have been working, but there’s plenty of room for more work to be done. From a coach’s perspective, you’re always in a position where you feel we could do more to get ready, but the kids have worked really hard.”

The team agrees that they are not yet prepared. ”I’ve kind of been saying ‘oh I have spring break, I can work on something durSee Science Olympiad page 6

Congratulations to the following students for placing in the Wamego Science and Engineering Fair *Natalie Dick 4th in Senior Biology

* Hilba Rasheed 3rd in Senior Biology

MVP to replace iQ Madeline Marshall Staff Writer With the termination of USD 383’s contract with iQ Academy, there has been a frantic search for a replacement program to meet our students’ needs. This past Wednesday, the Board of Education chose to take action on creating the Manhattan Virtual Program, MVP, over the following years.

Year one of this plan to create a local virtual school

will take place next school year and will hopefully help USD 383 to work towards replacing the approximately 100 classes previously offered by iQ Academy.

“Discontinuing our contract with K12 does not necessitate the dissolution of a virtual program in USD 383,” Carol Adams, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, said. “Building on our seven years of virtual learning leadership in Kansas, Manhattan has an

opportunity to blend some of our existing programs with virtual learning to continue to provide high quality learning experiences for our students, families, teachers, and schools in Kansas.

This opportunity comes by building on our district’s virtual program that is already established and widely respected across our state.”

Manhattan Virtual Program plans to engage each See BOE page 6

NHS prepares for fashion show Jared Gebhardt Entertainment Editor With spring right around the corner and Prom coming up, a fashion show gives students a preview of what to wear in the coming months.

National Honors Society is hosting a spring fashion show on April 29. Unlike a typical fashion show, in which the clothes are centered around a theme, two categories have currently been picked for apparel: casual and Prom.

Students like sophomore Rebekah Hennesy have been practicing after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to prepare for the event.

"Tuesday, we practiced walking up and down the runway and then today, we started out with placing books on our heads, practicing for balance. Then we practiced our couple walk for the Prom section," Hennessy said.

The idea for the fashion show was brought forward by senior Munisa Khuramova, a former exchange stu-

dent who took part in a similar style show in Texas.

"This idea happened last year. Last year I was an exchange student in Dallas, Texas, and in my high school me and the NHS decided to the fashion show," she said.

"This year I brought the idea to the NHS since I am a member and we voted on it. We had a lot of votes for yes and that is how it got organized."

See NHS page 6

Opinions The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com Page 2

Critical thinking valuable but where’s the proof?

The editorial is a compilation from a discussion held by the Editorial board.

Our society values critical thinking but we don’t always practice it. Why value something if you put it to no use?

The majority of our educational years have been spent in the classrooms copying down notes from the board or a textbook. Rarely are students active participants and engaged in democratic and challenging curriculum. The teachers provide the questions and answers.

But what if the students provided the questions and answers while teachers provided guidance and structure?

Currently, we’re trained to think like everyone else -every question has only one fill-in-blank answer. Grant-

ed, there are basic facts that do need to be memorized, but we should be able to continue our thinking beyond that one simple answer.

Furthermore, worksheets and reading directly off of Powerpoint slides with no further explanation of a topic are sure ways to halt higher level thinking. Our high school isn’t the only one that is guilty of that, but it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to alter that.

Students must show incentive in wanting to learn more than just the straight facts and teachers should encourage further exploration. For instance, schools are often test-obsessive, which only requires students to retain enough information to do well on the multiple-choice without having to think deeply about what they just mem-

orized. During literature, history or government classes, it’s as important to talk about how we feel toward the content of the lessons as it is important to continually question things.

However, sometimes our classrooms don’t allow room for further discussion or debate as certain topics or ideas suggested by students are considered too controversial or taboo to discuss.

Why shouldn’t students be able to learn for themselves what values are moral or not before it’s already decided for them by society?

Don’t let anyone stop you from thinking, discussing or debating something just because it might be controversial. We all have minds -- let’s use them.

Economic gain not worth involvement in Ukraine crisis Jared Gebhardt

Recent divisions between Russia and the Ukraine have brought forth an economic rift that has piqued U.S. interests. However, the downsides of involving ourselves in foreign affairs may outweigh the benefits.

Ukraine is a major buyer of Russian natural gas, which has given Russia something to hold against Ukrainian government in political negotiations. Russia has been known to use this dependency to gain favor in the past as well.

This reliance on resources may swing in favor of the U.S., however. Recently, companies here have been placing requests to begin building sites to export a surplus in American natural gas. If plans go through, the U.S. can look to profit by exporting our natural resources and also cutting down on European countries dependency to Russian gas, effectively killing two birds with one stone. If this happens and American resource flows into the Ukraine, one question still remains, is it worth getting involved?

Resources aren’t the only

tension within the Ukraine as the Black Sea and peninsula region known as Crimea face an infestation of “Russian” troops, a large number of which have been seen without any sort of identifying insignia. Russian officials have denied the troops being theirs and have also defended them stating that the troops are present to protect the rights of pro-Russian residents. The mysterious troop movement began shortly after the previous leader in Ukraine, Yanukovich, fled, taking refuge in Russia. The new leader isn’t being recognized by the Russian government, which is one of the primary points in validating their looming presence inside Ukrainian borders.

Despite the currently nonviolent standoff, it’s clear to any onlooker that if Russia really wanted something from Ukraine, the titan of a superpower could easily snatch it away with military might alone. Any involvement or aid from the U.S. or even the U.K. could quickly been seen as taking sides and bring forth unneeded tensions. The U.S. has agreed to provide economic aid in the amount of $1 billion dollars in loan guarantees.

Adding to the tension is the previously mentioned peninsula of Crimea, where a highly controversial referendum has been put on the table. This gives the region

the option to vote on seceding from Ukraine and joining as part of Russia or staying in on with the Ukraine with enhanced autonomy. The referendum itself is favoring towards seceding, however outside governments are not recognizing the actions of this referendum.

On top of it all, locals within the Crimea region are taking a mostly-neutral stance on the matter, content so long as war is avoided. This bold move brought down some judgement from the U.S. as sanctions were put in place against Russia despite a reluctance to be directly involved.

All in all, any actions the U.S. take look to have more backlash than payoff. Even with the potential profit in exporting natural gas, that sort of plan won’t take effect until 2015 at best if not later.

Politically, anything that can be done has been for the most part, even removing Russia from the G8. However, it looks like any shortterm involvement by the U.S. would be harmful to the seemingly rocky relations currently had with the Russian government.

The best plan for now at least may be to just sit out for once and let the people most affected by this handle themselves internally.

Student chronicles life-changing diabetes diagnosis Question of the Week: very softly. He asked me if I had any diabetes in the family. He checked my blood sugar and once again cleared his throat. After seeing the 679 on the glucose meter, he diagnosed me with type 1 diabetes.

I was shipped up to Special Care Unit 8, and I proceeded to stay there five days and four uncomfortable nights.

The first night was worst of all with hourly finger-pricks, although my favorite nurse, Angela, made the night much more reasonable.

Throughout my days there, I was educated on intense dieting, how to give insulin with a needle, and how to carb-count, among other things. My meals were terrible, and often not enough, 1,800 calorie diets. Once that was corrected to 2,400 calorie diet, the carb-count was strict and precise. My meals were disgusting, although I learned to cope, seeing that this is what I thought I would have to live with. Snacks were often dismissed if I was not in the target blood-glucose range.

On top of the boring and strict living conditions, information was being thrown at me from every corner. One

breakfast. Woah. And after a few days of education, and Gage eating generous meals I felt Benne like I had more of a grasp on my diabetes.

I am no expert, nor am I bragging about my condition or my stay at the hospital, just simply telling a story.

Honestly, I have little idea what to to do without the support of the GOLD team It all began with an unat Mercy, a team of six to quenchable thirst after a seven nutritionist and endogame of racquetball with my crinologists. I certainly don’t brothers, a handful of days know everything, and others earlier. A thirst that would who have had this condition not go away, no matter how are far more knowledgeable much I drank, urinated, about their bodies. What drank, urinated, drank.

I do know is even with its I didn’t think much of it, demands, diabetes has benor did my parents. I went stowed blessings, and that through the week parched, those with Type 1, and parand I began to lose my vients of children and teens sion as well. I again didn’t with Type 1, are working think much of it at that point, around the clock to delay the but my dad went ahead and potential consequences of scheduled an appointment, having a body that can’t reguwhich I almost cancelled belate normal blood sugars. cause I had missed enough Oops, blood sugar’s too school throughout the week. high… I’ll do better to corThursday morning we rect that next time. went to see the doctor and Oh no, too low, have a checked a sample, still not snack… thinking much. After a skepDidn’t count the sugars tical but awesome Dr. Ryan, right, correct with an injecwe went to see the optomtion. etrist. While getting my Bottom line, Type 1 diabeblurry vision checked out, he tes is all day, all night, every glanced day and at the every u r i n e test that Unfortunately though, the world we live in has been ns ti ga hy thad just infused with sugars everywhere, all the time, more ing become in. tween A high and more.” amount - Gage Benne tl i nhe se. of gluThere cose is was no 10 0 - 2 0 0 and none is supposed to be doctor would walk in, tell way to prevent this disease, in urine, so my result of 1000 me something, and leave a it could’ve been a sickness, was quite a number. Still I stack of reading materials. or genetics, or my pancreas didn’t think much of it, may- Then the next would do the just ended it’s 16 year life same, with different, and span. be just too many sweets.

But here’s the catch. 347 I began to drive home, sometimes contradictory information.

This went on for million humans have diabeand something hit me. The news of my sugar levels handfuls of different doctors tes, only three percent have didn’t really affect me, but and nurses, telling me differ- Type 1. There is nothing people with Type 1, like myeverything else did. I began ent tips and tricks.

In the end, Fort Riley self, can do, but 336 million to break down due to this secret project I was work- wasn’t quite cutting it, and people (an unfortunately ing on, late schoolwork, and the doctors sent us to Chil- growing number) can avoid missing more school due to dren’s Mercy in Kansas City. this daunting disease. With the appointments. I settled We were welcomed by a healthy diet, regular physical down and drove home, again beautiful night and a friendly activity, maintaining a nornot thinking much about the security guard. The feeling mal body weight and avoidhigh glucose levels. I had a of Disneyland immediately ing tobacco, you can prevent Subway sandwich, which came to mind as we headed or delay type 2 diabetes. (unknowingly) would be my to “Castle Elevator” in PINK Easy right?

Unfortunately though, last normal meal and headed tower.

Although my levels were the world we live in has been home to get a start on catching up. It was only 30 minutes at 288, the nurse insisted I infused with sugars everyor so at the house, then my have a snack. I agreed, and where, all the time, more dad issued me to come back asked for SpaghettiO’s. The and more. You can prevent nurse asked what else, and your body from being imto the ER. I came back and was im- what else, and I could tell mune from insulin, and avoid mediately admitted into a things were about to get A diabetes altogether.

So, live a little better, exroom, where I was hooked up LOT BETTER. A deliciouslyto an IV. Other than my (now dosed 80 carb snack left me ercise a little longer, be a corrected) vision, and an un- to the best night of sleep I’ve little wiser. Maybe put down quenchable thirst, I felt fine. had in weeks. The nurses that soda, or chocolate bar, After I went through six pints were above and beyond every once in a while, so you of liquid, I was approached all the time, and just the won’t have to inject insulin by a doctor. He lowered his sweetest souls alive. In the for it, and everything else, in voice, and began speaking morning I had a… normal… the future.

“

What are yo u plans for S prin g Break?

Next edition’s Question of the Week: What’s

“Going to Washington with Mariah to see Cecilia!”

- Alyssa Frey, junior

“Skiing, trying to become the next US Olympic skier.”

- Madi Fellers, senior

the b est A pril Fo ols prank yo u ’ ve p ulle d? Submit

answers to mhsmentor.com or tweet us at @ mhsmentoronline

“ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.” - Justin Gittle, junior

“I’M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD YOU PUNKS!” - Katie Bussmann, junior

“Will be spending it devising outrageous yet plausible stories about my spring break.”

- Kali Killingsworth, junior

Care about history, don’t repeat its mistakes Danielle Cook

History. Now, I won’t ask you to find the events of the past even remotely interesting interesting (you can even continue to take your naps during your history hour; I won’t judge).

However, I will ask you to keep in mind how useful and important the events of the past actually are and how we, right here and now, must do our best to build off the world’s yesterday in order to bring us into the best tomorrow possible. After all, what’s past cannot only

effect the now but can also make all the difference in the future.

Usually, when we think of history, we’re reminded of some events within it that exhibit some of the nastiest faces of humankind. Just to name a few of these events, the Holocaust in Europe during World War II, ancient and colonial slave trades, Cold War, French Revolution, both world wars in general, Vietnam War, Salem Witch Trials, Red Scare -- the list could go on and on for all eternity.

Granted, we live in a new time -- in a new world from those times, almost -- but if we don’t study the past carefully and take what led to crises in the past seriously and count them as significant, we run the risk of repeating those events on a larger scale because of our technological

and intellectual advancement.

We, the youth, the future of this planet, must be especially aware of the mistakes and blunders of the past in order to keep our generations and the generations that come after us from destroying all the good that we were meant to be -- all the good that we’re truly capable of.

So, like I said before, you don’t have to enjoy learning about history, and you really don’t even have to be good at it. But I have to ask you to care. I have to ask you to realize how much we must be dependent upon ourselves to shape our world -- our future, our definition -- into something better than yesterday by making sure we don’t look back on the past only to repeat its mistakes.

The Mentor EDITORS:

Liz Logback, Editor-in-Chief/Trending

Maddie Ross, News Editor Sarah Shi, Opinions/Content Editor Jared Gebhardt, Entertainment Editor Greg Woods, 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: Kristen Batson Gage Benne Chris Klug Retta Lazaris Louis Melgarejo Madeline Marshall Madison Newman Byrce Rincon John Rockey Joseph Sell

CIRCULATION:

Kristyn Baker David Clinkinbeard Karl Drown Patrick Falcone Karl Harmon Jordan Hatley Colten Kirk

Josh Kohls Kasey Morris Mallory Morris Megan Ritthisorn Jeremy Romig Zane Smith Austin Tatum

OTHER:

Gage Benne, Business Manager Kristy Nyp, Adviser 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. Email us at mhsmentor@gmail.com.

Entertainment The Mentor

www.mhsmentor.com Page 3

Harlem Renaissance showcases culture, creativity

Members of the Blue Notes jazz band set the mood for the Harlem Renaissance’s background as students walk around sampling food and admiring the art of the art department during Friday’s showcase. Students in each department spent time creating art and food to re-create a rent party theme.

John Rockey, photogrpahy been working on some of the all of the art classes in Rezac ally like my painting but I enHarlem Renaissance,” sophbranched out. Some artwork Allison Olsen Auditorium about the history joyed doing it.” omore Evan Heger, of the songs since the beginning of portrayed the culture of Photo Editor and culture of African AmeriTo close out the month, jazz band, said. “Students the year, others we’ve been Egypt, India, and even HaTracy Le cans between slavery and the a “rent party” was hosted in could listen to us while walk- working on for a few weeks,” waii, using techniques that Graphic Designer Harlem Renaissance. Teach- the commons. Sarah Rem- ing around and looking at Heger said. “It’s very techni- Harlem Renaissance artists The month of February ers in the department talked pel, the ceramics teacher, art. It was really an interest- cal. There are many differ- applied in their own pieces was dedicated Black History with their classes about the was in charge of getting the ing experience. It was nice to ent aspects such as chord of art.

“It was very successful Month in America during culture and history of the details of the party together show the school what we’ve changes, tritones and complicated rhythms and theory and a good teaching tool as the year of 1915. During the Harlem Renaissance and as- and seamlessly executed the been working on.”

Sonda Copeland, the you can apply to it, but it’s re- well as being fun,” Copeland 1920s rent parties became signed projects related to it act of making the festival fun and culturally engaging. The drawing and painting teach- ally great music and it’s fun said. popular in Harlem, New to present at the party.

Savannah Smith, a sopho- jazz band, the culinary class- er, made it a requirement for to play.”

In addition to the rent parYork, where the Harlem ReThe rent party was a great ty, the art department will be naissance took place. The more participated in listen- es and the art classes were each of her classes to create Manhattan High School Art ing to the speaker and also all invited to partake in the a piece of art dedicated to experience for students to taking students on a field trip Department collaborated created a piece of art to dis- festivities by showing their this event as an assignment. experience culture of the to the Nelson-Atkins musetalents in tribute to the Har- The artwork was displayed time period between the end um in Kansas City this Thursand decided that as a tribute play at the party.

“I really enjoyed it,” Smith lem Renaissance culture. in the center of the commons of slavery and the Harlem day to experience even more to the Harlem Renaissance “We played background for students to view as they Renaissance. Most of the art- art culture and history. culture they were going to said. “The guy that came to talk about the history and music while students were enjoyed the sound of jazz in work that was displayed was host their own rent party. based on African American In the beginning of Febru- actually doing the painting. looking at artwork of the art the background.

“We [the jazz band] have culture, but some students ary, a speaker came to talk to It was a lot of fun. I didn’t re- students, representing the

Beck is back with a new album Connor Bliss Features Editor Beck is back and (pardon the cliché) better then ever.

“Morning Phase” is the type of album your ears will only hear once in a “Blue Moon,” which coincidently is a track on the new album.

The first track on “Morning Phase,” titled “Cycle,” sets the tone for the entire album.

Your brain instantly realizes what you are listening to and what to expect. The entire album is impeccably true-totheme, carrying the same

thematic sounds throughout.

The album’s title, “Morning Phase,” should be taken literally as tones mimic the feelings of nature awaking.

What could sound boringly conforming to the rest of the album is quite pleasing to the ears in the age of contrast and noise coming at us from every direction. The album slightly veers off theme with “Blackbird Chain.” While it’s not a terrible track, it’s just a little disorienting after settling into the sound.

It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite among a sea of greats.

“Morning” is a definite stand out as it swells with Beck’s emotions, eventually ending in depression. In fact, as well as the waking-up tone, the theme of depression carries throughout the album.

“Blue Moon” is the closest on the album to a pop anthem but don’t count on hearing it on the radio anytime soon.

This track manages to stick to the theme but also seems the most awake when Beck’s vocals really start to shine.

The album finishes with its most depressing note in “Waking Light” telling the

story of what happens when the excitement ends and the crash that follows. “Waking Light” is the best track on the album and is a stellar ending to a great album.

Beck is back and in new form and definitely his best form. “Morning Phase” is not something that comes around everyday. It deserves your ears and trust me they’ll thank you. Start to finish “Morning Phase” is a thematic gift from Beck to you and it’s way better than socks and underwear.

Nocetti wins Mr. MHS pageant

Salute to Broadway continues tradition Maddie Ross News Editor

Bright lights and bustling streets, pack your bags and be ready to be transported to New York City for the Thespian’s annual Salute to Broadway at 7 p.m. on March 28 in Rezac Auditorium.

The event has been a tradition at Manhattan High School for many years and consists of performances that pay tribute to Broadway and New York City itself.

“It’s like a variety show that is focused on shows and numbers that have been performed on Broadway,” Thespian sponsor Linda Uthoff said.

In addition to the Thespians, there are many others lending a hand to see this show through.

“Betty O, a nationallevel performer, who just happens to live in this area, has been helping me stage and do salute to Broadway for a number a years,” Uthoff said. “So she is here to share her expertise and she is a wonderful musical theater per-

former.”

Salute to Broadway is a great way for students interested in acting to get into the spotlight. It also presents the opportunity to execute numbers from various musicals.

“It gives students a chance to try something from a show that they love that we couldn’t necessarily do at the high school,” Uthoff said. “Sometimes the whole show isn’t doable for us as a school, but that particular scene can be doable for them.”

The show as described includes a large variety of acts.

“We have monologues, solos, and group dance numbers and such,” Uthoff said.

The event as a whole is a fundraiser for the thespian trip to Scotland later this year.

“It’s a fun show, and I think more people should come out and be involved,” Betty O said. “It is a great opportunity for shy people to come and show their personalities and have a good time.”

Auditions for spring’s ‘Bus Stop’ start rolling Maddie Ross News Editor

Seniors Dan Schnieders, Oliver Liebe, Gavin Sedlacek, Joe Haug, Ethan Schmidt and Tomas Nocetti work their kicks during the Mr. MHS performance. Students competed against each other for the title of “Mr. MHS.” Taelor Jones, photogrpaher

Manhattan High School’s performing arts department is beginning to work on the year’s third major production, “Bus Stop” by William Inge.

Auditions were held last week and practice began

yesterday.

The play is set during a snowstorm in a rural Kansas diner, where bus passengers must take shelter.

The actors and actresses are working toward the April 17 debut. The play will run for three days in Rezac Auditorium.

Girls head to State Sports The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com

Chris Klug Staff Writer Centennial League champions. SubState champions. Near Perfection.

The Manhattan High girls basketball team finished the regular season undefeated in district and league play after topping both Hayden and Seaman at home last week. They have won 19 games in a row and look to continue their success at the State tournament.

The Indians were given the number one seed in Sub State, as they faced the eighth seeded Wichita Southeast. The Indians dominated the game from start to finish beating South East 68-11.

After advancing in Sub State the Indians faced the Lawrence Free-State Fire Birds for a chance to make it to the state tournament. It was not

easy in the early going as the Indians needed a three pointer from Molly Fiser to take the lead before halftime. With a strong second half performance, they were able to grind out a victory, topping the Firebirds 48-39.

Now at 21-1, the Indians were rewarded with the number one seed at the State tournament. They are set to face the eighth seeded Shawnee Mission-West (13-9) in the first round tomorrow afternoon in Wichita. Tribe sponsor Randy Nivert is sponsoring a spirit bus that will take up to 35 students to the game. It is leaving Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. Those who want to go must have a medical emergency form signed by a parent on Tuesday and bring $5 for the bus fee and $6 to get into the game.

Manhattan’s Savannah Roberts and Amara Ehie compete for a rebound in the Indians’ game against Hayden on Feb. 25.

Taelor Jones, photographer

Boys’ season ends at Sub-State Greg Woods Sports Editor

The Manhattan High School boys basketball team huddles up during its game vsHayden on Feb. 25.

Kathryn Parish, photographer

Wrestling brings home State champions meet results

League - Manhattan Feb. 8 2nd overall with 179.5 points 1st- Mason Wallace (120), Devin Norris (126), Kian Clemens (132), Austin Chauncey (160) 2nd- Michael Leeper (152) 3rd- Joe Braun (106), Darrion Taylor (113), Eldo Picou (285)

Regional - Washburn Rural Topeka Feb. 22 2nd overall with 194 points 12 out of 14 wrestlers qualified for State 1st- Mason Wallace (120), Kian Clemens (132), Erick Sanchez (145), Austin Chauncey (160) 2nd- Devin Norris (126), Michael Leeper (152), Eldon Picou (285) 3rd- Darrion Taylor (113), Kendrick Rivera (138) 4th- Joe Braun (106), Josh Mullin (170), Anthony Renteria (195) State - Wichita Feb. 28 to March 1 6th overall with 100 points 1st- Kian Clemens (138), Austin Chauncey (160) 3rd- Mason Wallace (120) 6th- Eldon Picou (285)

John Rockey Bryce Rincon Staff Writers With two wrestlers winning State and two more placing, a sixth-place State team finish, and earning his 100th victory as Varsity coach at Manhattan High, Robert Gonzales earned one more distinction -- being named Centennial League Coach of the Year.

“It is one of those awards someone was respect for,” Gonzales said. “It was my 100th win at this school.

I’ve coached here for nine years.”

The Indians had 12 wrestlers that qualified for State during the season.

“It was probably the most difficult State tournament I have been to,” Gonzales said.

Seniors Austin Chauncey (160) and Kian Clemens (132) were the champions in their weight classes.

“I felt like we wrestled good at all of our tournaments and we peaked at the right time, we made it,” Clemens said.

Freshman Mason Wallace (120) placed third and freshman Eldon Davis-Picou (285) placed sixth. As a team the Indians placed sixth at State.

“I was more confident going into this tournament,” Chauncey said. “I didn’t make mistakes that kept me from the final matches.”

Senior Mike Leeper (152) came close to placing but lost on a technicality when the clock malfunctioned. It was a disappointment to his coach, as well as him.

“I never thought a student -- Mike -- deserved a medal more,” Gonzales said.

The regular season ended with a 10-6 dual record. The team’s final pre-State ranking was at 3rd place in the state of Kansas with five wrestlers ranking in the top six of their respective weight classes. The team’s accomplishments include placing in 2nd at League and Regionals.

“I think we accomplished a lot this year and we set a good tone to be equally as good next year,” Gonzales said.

As the final members of the 2013-14 Manhattan High School boys basketball team emerged from the locker room, the student body stood ready to greet them.

The Indians had lost 63-60 to Topeka High in overtime, ending the Indians’ season, but the game’s result seemed merely an afterthought by the way the students greeted each player as he came out.

The Trojans of Topeka High stormed out of the gate, opening up the game leading 12-6 halfway through the first quarter.

“At the start, we didn’t come out as hard as we needed to,” sophomore Gabe Awbrey said.

Despite its 0/4 start from the free throw line, Topeka High led 15-8 after one quarter.

Manhattan cut into the Trojans’ lead in the second frame. MHS outscored THS 19-12, including a 12-0 run fueled by junior Garrett Francis, who had eight points in the second quarter alone.

“Guys stepped up and hit big shots [in the second quarter]. We executed a lot better on offense,” co-coach Benjamin George said. “We got our legs under us and the nerves out of the way.”

The third quarter saw Topeka take a 42-38 lead, but it was the fourth in which the Indians rallied and forced overtime. Awbrey hit a baseline three-pointer to give MHS a 45-44 lead, followed by junior Payton Stephens’ dunk in transition.

“We were more aggressive [in the fourth quarter] in attacking the rim and that opened up some kick out threes,” senior Alex Stitt said.

Awbrey made yet another three soon after Stephens’ dunk, giving the Indians more momentum. Despite the rally, Topeka High’s junior Russell Denney hit a three to give the Trojans a 53-51 lead with 9.8 seconds remaining. After an MHS timeout, Stephens converted inside, tying the game at 53 to send the game into overtime.

The extra period began with a THS bucket inside, followed closely by junior Pierson McAtee’s shot close to the basket. However, two late turnovers with less than 30 seconds left in overtime did the Indians in.

“At times, the ball didn’t bounce the right way,” McAtee said. “I wish we would have played that little bit harder.”

Manhattan ended its season with an overall mark of 12-9.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK JUNIOR CAROLINE BALLARD

Ballard led MHS with 13 points Friday night en route to the Indians’ 48-39 win over Lawrence Free State, sending them to the State tournament.

Q: Why do you enjoy basketball?

A: [Basketball] has been my favorite sport forever. [There’s] a lot of competitiveness.”

Track season off and running

Bowling content with State results made our goal,” Eimer said.

With a slow start to the tournament the team had trouble coming back.

After a long season, with “State went not as good as many successes for the girls everyone expected it to. The bowling team, the team went lane condito State tions were with mixed more oil results. The We didn’t do so well our first game but we had than what we team took all used eighth place really picked it up and we weren’t really fo- were to rolling on at State in Wichita on cused on winning but we instead were more and adjusting was hard Thursday focused on the fact that we made our goal.” for the whole but many team,” Winof the girls iecki said. were happy “Part of bowlwith the reing is finding sults.

“I was a little sad that we nior Krystyn Winiecki with a line early on because that didn’t get [the top three posi- a 448. The total for the team is where someone bowls from and without that the tions], but what our goal was came out to be 2058.

“We didn’t do so well scores of a bowler tend to go to get to State, and we went to State,” senior Meghan our first game but we really down.”

“I’m very excited for next Dooley said. Dooley was the picked it up and we weren’t team captain of the bowling really focused on winning year, and I do believe we will but we instead were more make State again,” Eimer this year.

Scores were lead by ju- focused on the fact that we said.

Joseph Sell Staff Writer

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nior Danielle Miller with a 525, sophomore Andrea Miller with a 499, Dooley with a 493, junior Katherine Eimer with a 487, senior Harley Roedel with a 473, and ju-

-Eimer

Seniors Christian Mack and Henry Bieber participate in track practice at Bishop Stadium. Practice began last week.

Retta Lazaris, photographer

Features The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com Page 5

Career speakers shed light on welding Retta Lazaris Staff Writer As the pioneers of learning and the holders of tomorrows, students are always being asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Manhattan High’s Career and Technical Education advisors plan a Brown Bag Lunch monthly to help students answer that question confidently by sharing insight on different careers.

Last week, students were able to enjoy munching on pizza as they listened to an informative session presented by Caterpillar employees, Weld section manager Derek Larimore and Manufacturing Support Matt Brown.

Doug Muller, Welding teacher and FFA advisor, coordinated this event, along with the help of Debra Kidd, CTE director.

“We started the Brown Bag Lunch last year as a way of exposing kids to careers after high school,” Kidd said.

The CTE department hosts these lunches to assist students in considering what career path is the best fit for them after high school and what classes and clubs are available at MHS to prepare them for their goals.

High school is the educational playhouse where we make mistakes, build our educational background and begin to transform into the young women and men we want to be five years from now.

It’s in high school that students can experiment in different classes, seeing what they enjoy doing and what they don’t.

“It’s important that students learn how to get in with a company and stay with it,” Kidd said. “I think that just exposing the students to different careers is a good thing.”

Even though the primary job focus at last week’s Brown Bag Lunch was creating a career in welding, both Larimore and Brown stressed the significance in taking classes in high school that will shape you as an individual.

“Today, we were mainly hoping to get the word out, as far as ‘You can come right out of high school and start a career at a place like Caterpillar,’” Larimore said.

On April 1, Lorena Ingmire, the Culinary Arts teacher at MHS, will host a FACS-oriented Brown Bag Lunch.

Fast food chains open new doors Retta Lazaris Staff Writer Last week, two new fast food establishments opened in Manhattan and have the community talking.

Those include the reopening of a refurbished McDonald’s and the re-opening of KFC to Manhattan after being closed for years.

Michael Hartman, along with other student employees, had worked at the old Eastside McDonald’s site through before and after reconstruction.

“It’s pretty crazy. Everything is a lot more fast, because at the old restaurant there were only two windows. This one has three,” Hartman said.

At fast food chains like McDonald’s, if a customer with a small order is behind a customer with a longer order, employees often ask the customer with a shorter order to park, and an employee will bring their order out to them. So, the new third window setup allows a more timely pace for employees and customers alike.

“It feels nicer to work in the new building because it feels more high class,” Hartman said.

The new McDonald’s building is designed with chic and classy in mind -- a complete flip flop from its oldfashioned ‘70s-style booths and aluminum tiled floors.

Walking in for the first time,

customers are faced with red and yellow cube-shaped cushioned seats and fresh flowers adorned on every table top. Behind the counter, a full and attentive staff stand at attention.

“We only had maybe 40 employees before [construction of the new building] and we have over a hundred now,” Hartman said.

“Our hours have been cut back a little, but we’ve been more busy, so having so many people working here is a lot less stress on us,” Hartman said.

Located right behind the Eastside McDonald’s is the new KFC restaurant. The site property was bought out

by Rajeev and “Dimple” Jain, who own a Taco Bell/KFC based in Missouri. According to John Pagen, Director of Manhattan’s Economic Development office, the couple were passing through Manhattan when they noticed that the KFC had been shut down. They spoke with Pagen and plans for a new KFC were soon formed.

With the opening of both establishments, came packed drive throughs and lines full of customers, implying an overall happy outlook to the new fast food businesses.

According to the Economic Development office, soon to be coming in May of 2014, is the popular pizza buffet, Pizza Ranch.

Students of the month Retta Lazaris Staff Writer Students at Manhattan High’s East Campus are given the opportunity to receive recognition for their academic achievements, much like their upperclassmen at west campus.

According to East Campus principal Charlie Sprott, students are awarded this honor by the Manhattan community’s Kiwanis Club. They put on a brief ceremony, in which parents, counselors, Kiwanis representatives and Sprott himself are present. The students are presented with a certificate, and their picture is displayed in the main office.

Congratulations to the following students for receiving the Kiwanis Club Student of the Month Award for the month of March.

EMILY MICHELE PETERMANN CHRISTINA NICOLE GRIESE ERIC D. HIGGINS JOSHUA JAMES HAUS EZEKIEL J. HUSLIG ANNA K HUPP

Manufacturing Support Matt Brown and Weld section manager Derick Larimore from Caterpillarof Wamego speak to students during the Brown Bag Lunch series last week. Students learned about internships and opportunites through Caterpillar and enjoyed free pizza.

Allison Olsen,Photographer

MHS offers numerous college credit options Madeline Marshall Staff Writer Between rising standards among employers, extremely high college tuition prices, and a general need for more electives than can be fit into a school day, many students are looking for other options for gaining college credit before entering the workforce of college. Luckily for them, at Manhattan High School there are many different options available for students depending on their needs.

For those looking for technical college credits to get the education needed for a specific career, a student can look to Senate Bill 155 passed by the Kansas State Legislature in May of this past year.

This bill authorizes technical/ community colleges to waive the cost of tuition for high school juniors and seniors who meet college specific requirements for enrollment in

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any tiered career technical course. Students who do this often get dual credit, that is, they get both high school and college credit for the class.

“Because of the tuition being paid for by the state, technical college classes have become a great opportunity for many students. Especially those looking to enter the workforce directly after high school,” Beverly Fink said.

Dual credit can be applied to most any college class taken, as long as it is approved and the correct paperwork is filed. For some students, the colleges they wish to apply to require such rigorous class loads that to ‘fit’ everything in they have to take classes outside of the school day.

Taking dual credit classes through Kansas State University helps them to free up an elective if taken over the summer and helps prepare them for the rigorous nature of many top schools.

Online classes, college or high school level, are also an option, however due to the termination of USD 383’s contract with IQ Academy, it can be slightly more difficult to acquire an approved online class source.

“I’ve taken summer courses in the past and I think they’re great opportunities to take classes that I otherwise wouldn’t get to take because I don’t have enough room in my schedule,” sophomore Andrea Lu said. “For me, they’ve been a way to make sure I continue to learn throughout the full year and learn how to better manage my time between things like social life and studying.”

Of course, the most abundantly used college credit option used is AP Classes.

While they don’t guarantee college credit like the others, they have a much lower price tag. For $92 you can take the AP test for a class you have

taken and, depending on your score, earn transferable college credit a much better price than the (approximately) $800 spent on a 3-hour class at K-State.

For any college/collegelevel class taken, no matter what the medium, your GPA will get a .03 bonus added directly to your GPA. And while it may seem insignificant, it can add up.

“The credit, while seemingly insignificant, has really helped me. By my senior year, I should have almost .5 or more, above a 4.0,” Lu said.

“Many students are in need of college credit, or even just high school credit, often outside of the seven hour day,” Fink said. “Between classes at an actual college, online classes and AP classes, there are a lot of opportunities for students to learn and gain the experience they need.”

Community unaware of meaning of AMBER Alerts

Louis Melgarejo Staff Writer Recently, messages labeled AMBER Alerts have been chiming in on people’s phones. The AMBER alert program was implemented in Kansas in 2002 and has been used 24 times since.

The most recent AMBER Alert in Kansas went off on Feb. 19.

However, not everyone is aware of the meaning behind

these warnings.

“My phone keeps going off because of these AMBER Alerts. I don’t even know what these things are,” sophomore Muhammad Ciftci said.

According to AmberAlert. gov, the AMBER Alert Program is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies and the wireless industry, to activate an urgent bulletin in the

most serious child-abduction cases. AMBER Alerts are actually one of many specific alerts oriented in receiving aid from the public.

Fortunately, the state of Kansas has never had a Blue Alert. Blue Alerts are broadcast whenever there is a case of a violent criminal who has killed or seriously wounded a law enforcement official.

Silver Alerts however have been broadcasted in Kansas, and the most recent

one occurred on Feb. 25. Silver Alerts are used to gain public aid in finding a missing Senior Citizen who is mentally impaired. Blue and Silver Alerts were created due to how successful the AMBER Alert program was.

“I didn’t know all these alerts were a thing, the more you know,” sophomore Sakif Hossain said.

Three MHS students pledge their Scout’s honor: Gwinner, Clark, Schmidt become Eagle Scouts Madison Newman Staff Writer “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally strong.”

Those words are a declaration of honor and a lifestyle to live by for some young men. Those words are the Boy Scout Oath.

Juniors Nicholas N. Clark, Austin Gwinner and Senior Ethan Schmidt are among those who have dedicated years to the Boy Scout organization.

Clark has been in scouts since he was finishing up the fifth grade. He had his Court of Honor, where he took another step towards manhood and was recognized as an Eagle Scout in front of his family and friends, on Feb. 22.

“It wasn't like a sudden epiphany or anything, like 'whoah I'm an Eagle now,'” Clark said regarding his court of honor. “I already considered myself an Eagle

Scout because of all the hard work I had done. I felt like a leader.”

It takes quite a bit to be an Eagle Scout.

“It takes motivation, it's all about staying with it,” Clark said. He earned 33

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his pictures in his uniform.

During this ceremony, his younger brother lit his candles and he was able to present his mother and father with their own badges. His mother hugged him tightly,

It wasn’t like a sudden epiphany or anything, like ‘whoah I’m an Eagle now.’”

merit badges.

Clark believes the organization is a good experience.

“You meet a lot of awesome guys and you get some really great opportunities,” he said. “Having the rank really doesn't mean a lot to me, but I'm sure when I look back when I'm older I'll say differently.”

On Feb. 2, had his Court of Honor. He has been in Boy Scouts since the fifth grade.

His friends all sat in the same row, smiling faces and his proud girlfriend snapped

-Nick Clark trying and then failing not to cry when she saw her son becoming such a man. After the ceremony, fellow Boy Scouts congratulated him and his leaders clapped him on the back.

“It feels like a weight has been lifted off my chest to just get it all done,” Gwinner said about becoming an Eagle scout.

Schmidt officially became an Eagle on March 4. For his project he made four benches for the Warrior's Transition Brigade. While being proud of his work and being

among the seven percent of boys who actually stuck with it all the way, he had a hard time sticking to scouts in the beginning and found himself wanting to quit a few times.

“I was having a hard time with my dad being deployed, then returning and struggling with PTSD,” Schmidt said. “I really struggled with being told what to do, and I did not like some of the leaders' attitudes. I was really snappy.”

Schmidt transferred to Troop 74, and things changed.

“Some of the leaders in my old troop were into drugs and such, and I was just trying to find a group of friends.

So I really didn't know what to do. But when I went to 74 it was different.”

Schmidt acknowledges that Boy Scouts isn't for everybody.

“Some people just aren't into being outdoors or simply don’t have the time, but in the long run it is really worth it. There are scholarship opportunities. It looks good on your record. And honestly, it's fun,” he said.

Trending The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com

Spanish Club bakes goods to raise funds Alan Brown Multimedia Editor ¡Delicioso!

This week the Manhattan High Spanish Club will provide students the opportunity to experience a taste of Latin America. The Club will be selling sopapillas, fried South American pastries, as a fundraiser.

Orders will be taken on Tuesday during lunch and will be distributed at the end of the week.

“We will be making the dough for the sopapillas on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday, we will fry them during third and fourth hour, and then give them out during lunch,” Spanish Club senior officer Jonathan Turnley

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said. “Spanish Club members who want to help with taking orders during lunch or making the dough should sign up with Sra. Clark or Sra. Leon or talk to an officer.”

While the fundraiser has been the club’s primary focus for the past month, several

representative Ben Turnley believes that this activity was a worthwhile experience.

“It was a fun and cultural activity to get everyone involved,” Ben Turnley said.

As the second semester rolls onward, Spanish Club is beginning to plan for the future. The club will be selecting officers for the 2014-2015 year this spring and potential applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

The results will be announced at a future meeting. To many, the prospect of becoming an officer is exciting.

“I joined Spanish Club because I wanted to be a part of one of the most prestigious clubs at MHS,” Ben Turnley said. “I feel a certain respect and pride in my club.”

We will be making the dough for the sopapillas on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday, we will fry them during third and fourth hour, and then give them out during lunch.”

-Jonathan Turnley group activities were also planned. Two weeks ago, Spanish Club members were treated to a game of Spanish charades. During activity period, participants were separated into groups and given the task of acting with Spanish prompts. Sophomore

German Club, classes compete at language festival Danielle Cook Copy Editor Manhattan High German students and members of German Club journeyed to Kansas University in Lawrence early Saturday morning to compete in the region’s annual compilation of German language contests and festivities of Schülerkongress.

According to German Club president junior Reshan Fadul, Manhattan had about 40 attendants from German Club and German classes, levels one to AP. “We had a lot of people go this year. I went last year, and this year the German Club was able to pay admissions for everyone,” Fadul

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said.

In years past students planning to attend Schülerkongress were asked to individually pay a small fee for their own admission to compete. However, this year, German Club’s successful fundraisers -- various bake sales and bratwurst sales -- played a key role in being able to send students, according to German Club sponsor Elke Lorenz.

At Schülerkongress, German clubs from schools in nearby regions of the state compete in several contest categories, including poetry, prose, poster and media contests, and German trivia.

“I didn’t compete in Prose this time, but I think we did pretty well in everything,”

Fadul said. “But Junction City always brings lots of people, so they usually dominate.

We did well, though. I’d say our average was about third place,” Fadul said.

Manhattan placed third overall in the poster contest, and had several competitors place well in the German prose category.

Besides the actual competition bit of the trip, Fadul said she believes one of the best parts of going is meeting other German students from all over the state.

“I like meeting new people [at Schülerkongress],” Fadul said. “I think it’s always a really interesting cultural experience.”

Vending machines locked up during class Joseph Sell Staff Writer The time to learn and the time to snack have been mixed together, but now with a new change from administration that has changed.

Vending machines have been closed during class for the past week from a decision by the administration.

“It was due to a concern for tardiness of students and loss of instructional time,” sophomore principal Angie Messer said.

Tardiness throughout the year has been a big concern of the administration. With the relaxed permissions at Manhattan High in previous years, this year has been a change from the usual.

There are also issues with the closing of the vending machines.

“The sales will go down a lot because people want sodas now and not just during lunch,” junior Jack Cunningham said.

Along with a drop of sales will come students that really want to get a soda just leaving and going to the nearby gas station to get a soda.

Students disagree about the benefits of closing the machines. It seems to some like it is punishing everyone for the few students who were missing class time from this.

“It’s an inconvenience to the kids who were responsible enough to not leave during class,” junior Justin Van Dyke said.

Science Olympiad from page 1

BOE from page 1

ing that time,’ but it’s hard though because you end up doing other things and people travel to other places,” senior Katherine Culbertson said. “Hopefully spring break will give us at least a day or two to work.”

For Culbertson, nerves are beginning to kick in.

“Honestly, I’ve been really busy with a lot of other stuff, too. You can feel a little bit of the pressure, like oh gosh, are we ready? Are we not ready? We did really well at regionals but state is just another level, it’s so much more difficult.”

Senior Christine Shiau has high hopes for the team.

She has been studying with her partners, reading over powerpoints and notes to prepare, and is planning on practicing a couple labs.

“Most people have been going to the meetings a lot more frequently than what we’ve been doing in the past,” Shiau said. “I think we might have a chance [to win state] if everybody actually does work and studies. Last year, we did pretty well and I think this year we have a pretty good group.”

student through a customized career pathway.

“Students will experience rigor, relevance, and relationships within their learning. Graduates will be prepared for the workforce, continuation in a technical program, or higher education,” Jeanne Disney, Director of Secondary Education, said.

MVP students will experience career engagement through three key phases: Explore, Experience and Execute.

The execution of MVP is a three-year plan and year one’s plan will go into effect this upcoming school year, with hiring and marketing taking place throughout the rest of this year.

“In year one we will provide a completely virtual online learning program for students in grades 7-12. This would be similar to what is currently being offered in the iQ Academy,” Adams said.

“The program will be marketed, teachers hired and curriculum purchased in the spring of 2014.”

Progress reports on enrollment numbers and corresponding, updated budget revenues/expenditures be provided to the Board on April 5, May 7, June 4, July 2 and Aug. 6.

In order to support the formation of MVP, it has been recommended that a temporary office professional be employed as soon as possible using virtual program fund balances to support the enrollment of students in grades 7-12.

In the following years, the Board will analyze the success of the program to decide if it will become a long term program.

Stuco from page 1 place,” Zhu said.

Junior Trevor Bashaw agreed, as he was looking forward to “meeting new people and seeing how things work at other schools.”

Senior Lakith Ranaweera, however, was looking forward to not only new faces, but also, more about Salina South itself.

“I am looking forward to many things but I can’t wait to meet new people and see the differences between MHS and Salina,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what kind of sports, activities, and classes are offered there, and how their StuCo functions.”

This Thursday, Salina South StuCo members will be visiting MHS as part of the swap.

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NHS from page 1 Local shops have will provide the clothes for the show.

The proceeds for the event will go to NHS and the rest will be contributed to scholarships for students.

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Forensics tournament @ MHSW

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Forensics tournament @ MHSW

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NO SCHOOL

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Girls swimming and diving @ Emporia

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Girls swimming and diving @ Emporia Girls soccer vs Topeka High (there)

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Class of 2014 graduation delivery day (Rezac)

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StuCo applications available

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StuCo meeting 6th hour

Varsity Track & Field Topeka West invitational @ 3:30

NHS fashion show

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