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Manhattan High School Volume 101 Issue 2 Aug. 27, 2013
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Counselor Rachelle Bahr goes over the day’s schedule before assisting with a session at freshmen orientation. Dheepthi Perumal, Photographer
Club Signup efficient opportunity to see variety for involvement Sarah Shi Opinion Editor Participation in activities at Manhattan High School is almost three times the average in Kansas, and it all starts with club signup. Last year 83.9 percent of MHS students participation in sports, clubs or activites, according to athletic director Mike Marsh’s report to the USD 383 Board of Education. That’s compared to the state average of 34.4 percent
according to Kansas State High School Activities Association Spring 2013 Activity Participation Survey. This year, MHS activities director Angie Messer hopes to achieve similar or better results. With 70 student activities including clubs, sports and co-curricular activities. “It shouldn’t be hard to find one that suits each student,” Messer said. She attributes the high rate of participation to the club sign-up process at MHS.
“It really starts with the club signup,” Messer said. “We really want students to know that there are a lot of ways they can get involved in the school. This year club sign-up day will be in the commons during both lunches Sept. 4 for West campus and Sept. 5 for East campus. Messer hopes to continue the high level of participation this year, as well. “At the end of the year, we report to the Board of Education so want to be able to
show them that students are participating in school activities,” she said. Messer met with all club sponsors earlier this year to discuss how signup would be run. “I told them that they needed to get back with me if they wanted a table. The rest would be up to the student officers and members of each club,” Messer said. “I taught here for a couple years and I was a club sponsor as well so See Club Signup on page 5.
Mahattan High School clubs: Co-Curricular Clubs: AFS Art Club-Visual Art Club BPA FCCLA FFA French
Spanish German National Forensics League Thespians Skills USA
New advisor brings expertise to club Rachel Beach Staff Writer Manhattan High’s chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America has a new adviser who brings expertise from her days as a State officer in Home Economics Related Occupations. Heide Rippert, the new Family and Careers teacher at both East and West campuses, is new to advising FCCLA. She’ll be dedicating much of her time to the club this year. FCCLA is the only family and consumer scienceoriented club at MHS. “I’m excited for a fun and successful year,” Rippert said. “We are trying to get more members and more participation in community service projects.” The club offers many opportunities. “You can be as involved as you choose to be,” junior Kristen Fraley said. The club partakes in numerous conferences, community service projects, and STAR events. STAR events are a series of competitions in which teams make projects and present them to a board of judges. “There are a lot of opportunities to travel
and meet people all around the United States,” junior Siera Haug said. The participants from MHS this summer did not qualify for Nationals, as they have in the past but they did attend. Nationals were held this summer in Nashville. “We attended interesting sessions, fun workshops and got to sightsee. It was a great experience,” junior Shay Hubble said. Nationals occur every summer and this coming summer will be held in San Antonio. Rippert is eager to get members there to compete. The club is always looking for new members. “If anyone has any questions I can help and get you involved in the group,” Fraley said. With a new administrator, FCCLA is ready to start the new year. “We will be better organized and have fun at the same time,” Hubble said. FCCLA will be staying busy as they gain more members, attend a Leadership conference soon, and continue to plan for the year. “We’re all excited for new opportunities,” Fraley said.
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Upperclassmen help freshmen orientate to new school
Seniors Tori Matta, Jamie Steele, Madison Long and Par McNair lead freshmen in the Manhattan High School alma mater during freshmen orientation. Dheepthi Perumal, Photographer
Freshmen socialize while rotating between sessions at freshmen orientation. Dheepthi Perumal, Photographer
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Extra-Curricular Clubs: Amnesty International Black Student Union Anime-Art EARTH FCA Gay/Straight Alliance
Nick Bandy Sports Editor “It’s nice to cross dress. Boys clothes are way more comfortable,” junior Molly Bollman said. Bollman walked across the stage at Manhattan High School’s Freshmen orientation, boldly demonstrating to wide-eyed freshmen that sagging your shorts is prohibited at MHS. Bollman was one of several members of a skit designed to show freshmen what clothes not to wear, while providing some humor. The show was one of eight stations that every freshmen rotated to all day on Thursday, Aug. 25. While there were upperclassmen helpers at every station, there were some, like Bollman, who were Student Council members or selected seniors and juniors.
The helpers stayed at one session throughout the day. “We’ve done our show about seven times already,” Bollman said towards the end of the day. They were rewarded for their hard work at lunch when they received a free lunch from Olive Garden. Another helper was senior Marlee Evans, who worked at the computer station. She helped the students log in to Infinite Campus, Edmodo and the library catalog after they got past some technical difficulties. “Apparently none of them were entered until last night,” Evans said. Each station lasted about 40 minutes, with everything from question-and-answer sessions to games of duckduck-goose. The stations all helped the new students prepare for life in high school.
AFS comes together for annual potluck Danielle Cook Copy Editor
On Sunday, American Field held held its annual potluck at Pottorf Hall from 6 p.m. to 8. p.m. Families and their AFS students attended, all bringing a dish to share. The potluck was a social event designed to get the exchange students acquainted with each other, in hopes that they’ll be able to share their experiences at Manhattan High with each other. The same idea of bonding went for the families of the attending students. Karen Meyers-Bowman, AFS volunteer, gave a brief orientation to the potluck attendants and the students and their fami-
lies chatted and were invited to play icebreaker games. “The potluck was a way to come closer as a group and we were able to keep developing our friendships that have formed from going through this experience together,” AFS vice president and junior Maddie Ross said. “In AFS, you just form these friendships with people from all around the world.” As AFS is about bringing cultures and people together, the goal of the potluck this year, as it has been every year, is to unite the group in hopes to continue to its tradition of bringing students and See AFS Potluck on page 5
Heritage Panel-Cultural Diversity Panel Medical Explorers Key Club-Services NHS See Clubs on page 5. AFS exchange students and their host siblings share a meal at the annual welcome picnic. Maddie Ross, Photographer
Public Library offers opportunities for youth Madeline Marshall Staff Writer The Manhattan Public Library has a lot more than books these days. In fact, the Library is teaming with things created by, and for, teenagers. A board, known as the Teen Library Advisory Board, or TLAB, meets monthly and is led by Keri Mills, the Young Adult Librarian. The TLAB is a group of seventh to 12th graders who meet monthly in order to discuss teen event, con-
tribute ideas and plan for future events. “You get to know what’s happening,” sophomore Rebecca Price said. “We are the voice of the teenagers,” Andrea Lu, sophomore, said. It’s still possible for students to get involved with TLAB. “To join TLAB, you simply need to begin attending meetings, and let me [Mills] know you want to be on the roster,” Mills said. The teen activities at the library are varied and plenty
First Semester Teen MPL Schedule:
September: 7 Yu-Gi-Oh Game Play 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 9 First Monday Gaming 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. 26 TLAB 3:30-4:30 p.m. 28 Beach Museum Pop Art Portrait Workshop 10 - 11 a.m. 28 Video Game Programming Workshop 2 - 4 p.m. October: 5 Star Wars Reads Day Movie Viewing 2 p.m. 7 First Monday Gaming 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. 10 Ernest Cline 7 p.m. *McCain Auditorium 17 Ready Player One Movie Series 7 p.m. 18 Marble Magnet Craft 1 - 2 p.m. 19 Sherlock Holmes After Hours 5:30
and include gaming days, movies and workshops. These things are not for younger children. “This is for teens, not toddlers,” eighth grader Christina Price said. Because there have been younger children and toddlers at previous events, she stressed the age limits. “It is for seventh through 12th graders, we try to limit it to that,” Mills said. One of the more popular events is the After Hours. With a different theme each time, from 5:30 to 10:00
p.m., participants get a chance to get together with other people of a similar age, hang out, win prizes and just have fun. “There’s food,” Rebecca Price said. Because of the recent burst in popularity of this event, students must register in advanced. This can be done on the web site, by email or calling. Oh, and the library still has books.
24 TLAB 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. November: 1 Sugar Skulls 6 - 7:30 p.m. 4 First Monday Gaming 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. 9 “Catching Fire” After Hours 5:30 - 10:00 p.m. 16 International Games Day at KSU’s Hale Library December: 2 First Monday Gaming 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. 14 Cupcake Wars 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. 19 TLAB 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. 30 Minecraft Gaming 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. CONTACT INFO: manhattan.lib.ks.us 629 Poyntz Avenue 785-776-47441
Opinion The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com
Consistency in dress code violations needed The following is a compilation from a discussion held by the Editorial board. Dress code seems to be the perennial topic. The constant battle between students and administration is timeless. In the 1969 Tinker v. Des Moines School District case, the Supreme Court ruled that students don’t “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate” after a group of students wore black armbands protesting the Vietnam war to school. And maybe a little more closely related to Manhattan High, the Supreme Court recently concluded a case in which two middle school girls were suspended for wearing the popular “I Heart Boobies” bracelets that support breast cancer awareness. We believe the Supreme Court was correct in its ruling that the girls were wrongly suspended for their support of Keep a Breast campaign. The Manhattan High dress
code regulations state that “clothing must have a safe, modest and non-disruptive appearance.” While it could be debatable that the word “boobies’ has an obscene connotation, in no way could the bracelets be mistaken for violating safety, modesty or having a disruptive appearance. When making obscenity an arguing point, we have to remember what the legal definition of obscenity is: Does the average person in this community, at this time, find it obscene? No way! The word is so commonly used, young kids have probably picked it up as a part of their vocabulary by now. And arguably, the bracelets and Tshirts as part of the Keep a Breast Campaign made boobies an acceptable term. The ruling on this case brings about a question. Can administration really censor our clothing or team uniforms? According to the first amendment, they can’t. But where is the line drawn between keeping the school
“G rated” and impeding a student’s rights? In Manhattan High’s case, it seems the rules in the planner aren’t actively enforced in the halls. We at The Mentor are big supporters of First Amendment rights, but we would rather the administration punish those violating the dress code than look at the skin hanging out of shirts and shorts that definitely break the rule of modest, non-disruptive appearance. If administration doesn’t stay consistent with the regulations, when do they find it appropriate to step in and when not? Taking a case all the way to Supreme Court shows dedication. The girls’ commitment to protecting their First Amendment rights is admirable and rare. And even though our dress code seems to get the “Oh my gosh we’re talking about that again?!” attitude, it certainly is rewarding at the end of the day when we don’t have to see more than we want of some of our classmates
Cartoonist Halsey Camera
High school: perfect time Lighten up to discover yourself the load Lane Sorrell Guest Columnist
Someone asked me this summer, “So, are you ready to be a senior?” I responded,” Probably not, but it’s not like I have much of a choice.” Looking back at the brief conversation, I realize that I am ready for this. Senior year is what I’ve spent my whole educational career preparing for. Being a senior isn’t about the classes you take, or the newest iPhone. No, the senior mentality is the realization that you know who you are. That is something that cannot be learned in a classroom, but something you must discover for yourself. There isn’t a study
guide, cheat sheet or someone you can copy off of. Only you can define who you want to be. For the seniors who haven’t started this task yet, there is still time. The best advice I can give you is to push yourself to get outside of your comfort zone. Try a sport, do a play or musical (I’m looking at you Sammi Grieger), join the band, take an art class. JUST TRY SOMETHING NEW! This is when you discover who you are, what you love, what you hate, who you can tolerate. I know sitting on the couch watching hours of TV sounds much more appealing, but I’m telling you to trust me when I say there
is more to life than the Kardashians. Don’t waste this opportunity that is being presented before you. Live on the edge and see what MHS has to offer. Another important lesson that I have learned is don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes, although sometimes embarrassing, are beautiful things. They test you and refine the person that you become. We are all lumps of coal in one area or another. Allow yourself to be tested by fire so that you may become the diamond that you strive to be. These new things will at first be strange and you may make a few mistakes, but don’t be disheartened, persevere! Plus those
mistakes make for great stories later down the road. I know I have quite a few… *cough*. I hope that you take this advice and implement it because if you don’t do it now you will never again have the time or opportunity to. Later in life you will be too busy with work, kids or trying to catch up on sleep. So act now while you still can. High school is where people are formed, where they learn who they want to be. Who do you want to be? Ask yourself now because you will never get the chance to start your legacy again. I wish you the best on your journey as you delve into the depths of yourself. God bless.
Accounting can benefit all Gage Benne
I love accounting. Working with seemingly endless amounts of random numbers and making sense of it all in-
trigues me. I like the idea that, when it comes to accounting, there is always one right, and wrong answer, and there is no questionable gray in between. Most importantly, I like it because unlike concepts such as finding the angle of a triangle, accounting has a practical application to life. I’m fascinated by business, and you should be too. It’s fascinating because businesses are truly everywhere. The backbone of
Question of the “With extra 10 minutes I’ll be able to get my homework done then have extra free time for everything else.” -- freshman Taylor Bullock
“Get ready for tennis practice.” -- freshman, Lauren Robben
the economy, the country and the world, is businesses large and small. Your future paychecks -- or perhaps current paychecks -- rely on the success of the business that employs you. No matter your profession, your life will be surrounded by businesses and it will be vital to understand not only companies that sustain your livelihood, but companies that you spend your hard earned cash on. I’m not saying you should
Week:
take every business class, or graduate with a business degree. I’m not even saying to take accounting specifically (although, as accounting teacher Glenda Eichman says, “Accounting is the language of business”). Just keep an open mind when it comes to classes in the business department. No matter your future profession, you will be a part of or even own your own business. So why not learn all about them?
What are you going to do with your extra 10 minutes after school?
“I will not be able to do much because my bus ride is also longer so I will be home eating food. Maybe exercise a little bit.” -- freshman Hannah Edwards
“With my extra 10 minutes I will be practicing volleyball right after school.” -- freshman Anna Hupp
Next edition: What is your biggest fear? Submit answers to mhsmentor.com
Allison Olsen
The first few days of school are always fun -- icebreaker games that teachers make us play, making new friends and catching up with the old ones. Then, the first full week of school comes and I start to dread the amount of homework I’m going to have every night. I realize that homework is a necessary part of school and learning, but I can’t afford to spend four hours a night trying to study for multiple tests and finishing countless assignments. This is my senior year, and I feel like a majority of the seniors would agree that trying to balance homework, college-searching, after-school activities and a job is extremely stressful. I hate feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. If we stay up
all night studying or finishing homework, how do teachers expect us to stay awake the next day in their class? I strongly believe in homework, but in the sense of it being practice to review the material we learned in class. I feel that teachers should try to organize their lessons to ensure that we get most of the necessary work done in class. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have homework because I know I need homework to make sure I retain the information. I’m also extremely partial to work days; I feel like they are a huge stress reliever to students who are trying to finish assignments or study for upcoming tests. I am so grateful for teachers. The ability to teach over a hundred students takes serious dedication. But students have seven classes each day and we shouldn’t have to be overwhelmed all the time. I’m not trying to tell teachers how to run their classes; it’s just a suggestion on how to make life easier for the students to ensure that we can be the best that we can be.
the Mentor staff Editor-in - Chief/ Tren din g Editor Liz Lo g back N ews Editor Maddie Ross O pinions Editor/Con ten t Sarah Shi En tertain m en t Editor Dhe e pthi Peru m al S p orts Editor Nick B an d y Features Editor Conn or Bliss Co py Editors Danielle Co ok Kenn e d y Felice M ultim e dia Editor Alan Brown Gra phic D esign er Tracy Le Photo Editor Allison Olsen Carto onist Halsey Cam era Staff Writers Matt B an d y Gage B enn e Mad elin e Marshall Michael M elgares B usin ess m an ager Jerry Sex tro Ad viser Krist y N y p
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.
Entertainment The Mentor
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New faces for
MHS Thespians
Officers of Thespians talk to new and returning members of the club. The officers explained their positions and the club itself to the students. Photo by Danielle Cook, photographer
New officers introduce the new year Maddie Ross News Editor Rezac Auditorium was filled with old and new faces after school Friday for the Thespian kick-off. Music filled the ears of many and free food drew in the likes of Manhattan High School students. “The party was quality. There was a mixture of dancing, a lot of talking and mingling, meeting new people, you know,” junior Trevor Bashaw said. Midway through the party, new Thespian members were split into groups and rotated through information stations about four minutes long each. Here, they discussed other events of importance to the club such as the fall musical, tech work and miming at Purple Power Play. “For example, Macy Lanceta gave info on all of our
productions, like the Musical and One Acts, while Audrey Reever and I presented information about miming, which is a huge fundraiser for us,” Bashaw said. Those who are interested in miming at Purple Power Play have a chance to learn more about it after school today in Rezac Auditorium. The meeting is expected to last until 4:30 p.m. “Everyone in the school should mime,” Bashaw said. “You get to look weird and act weird while still having total control over the situation at hand. And scare children just by the state of you being.” Senior Mary Matthews has mimed in previous years, but this year she is unable to. However, she is excited to be performing with the Varsity Choir. “I mimed at PPP my freshman, sophomore, and junior years and it was tons of fun,”
Matthews said. “You get to meet new people, raise money for the drama department and the overall goal of Thespians: to entertain.” The Thespians are looking forward to a fun year and are encouraging to those thinking about joining. “I think others should join Thespians because there truly is a place for everyone, and you honestly will enjoy yourself if you try,” Bashaw said. “A lot of people do performing arts activities, but are hesitant to join Thespians because that’s what ‘the weird kids do,’ but, if you think about it, that’s not a compelling reason not to do an activity.” “Students should join Thespians because it is such an accepting group,” Matthews said. “You really find a place where you can express yourself while contributing to the whole department.”
Purple Power Play no longer on Poyntz Connor Bliss Features Editor After 24 years on Poyntz, the downtown construction project has sent Purple Power Play on a little trip to a new venue in City Park for the year. As you walk through city park and take in the sights, sounds and smells of barbecue or the incredibly long lines for free T-shirts and raffles, you may see some members of Manhattan High performing. This year both the MHS Thespians and Varsity and Pops choirs will participate. Thespians are the ones you see every year getting harassed as they put on their moving art as mimes. Instead of being on their
typical street corner, they are now going be next to the Parks and Rec offices. Junior Lauren Fischer is going into her third year as a mime. “I don’t think it will [affect the amount of money brought in]. I think around the same amount of people will come to Purple Power Play in the park as they do on Poyntz,” Fischer said. As for harassment she thinks it will be down because of no Mr Ps to go to for Silly String. Another annual performance that is returning is the Pops and Varsity choirs. This year choir director Chad Pape is glad to be making the move to the park stage. “Poyntz is actually not a very good place for the choirs to perform,” he said. “They actually usually end up
singing in the street down in front of the stage on Poyntz, which means we only have a very small choir that’s trying to shout over a street full of people, with no mics, no helps and no acoustics, which is terrible.” The choirs already have experience with the stage after this summer’s Arts in the Park performance, which was a positive experience. “It was actually fun. Kids come up and dance down in front of the stage and it’ll be easier for us to be seen because of the way the seating is arranged in front of the stage,” Pape said. This is the choir’s first public performance when they perform on Thursday at Purple Power Play.
One movie to see before the end Connor Bliss
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but movies are getting generic. You see the same people in the same movies playing the same characters. Luckily there are few movies every year that make attempts to be different and original. This year I have found our savior, “The World’s End.” On the last day of high school, Gary King (Simon Pegg) and his mates head out for “the golden mile,” a pub crawl featuring 12 pubs and 12 pints that finishes at The World’s End. Throughout the night members drop out, and eventually, they fail; none of them conquers the
golden mile. The world ended that night for King, but for everyone else, it moved on. Now the gang’s getting back together for a go at the golden mile again. What could easily work as a generic buddy nostalgia movie steers from the path quite early on, as they soon realize Newton Haven isn’t quite the same and has been taken over by robots. What could have been one cliche leading into another soon turns into what is one of the few comedies that is memorable after the credits have rolled. The dialogue is incredible, but what is even funnier are the unspoken parts. For instance, the fight scenes are sure to blow you away the first time you see blue ink gush from a ripped off arm. For proof of the writing, pay attention to the bar names and signs to realize the clever foreshadowing. Edgar Wright, as director, has changed a lot since his first big endeavour in “Shaun
of the Dead.” He still uses his iconic quick cuts to show the minor details like filling a glass full of beer but the scenes are a lot longer and don’t cut away as quick. This allows for a lot more thoughtful comedic moments instead of cashing in and moving on. In this film, Pegg has traded roles with his Cornetto companion, Nick Frost. He went from the try-hard to the carefree sap. Pegg does a terrific job and makes you care about a character who should be unlikable because of every single characteristic that he possesses; you want to be his friend, even when he lies about his mom being dead. While every other character may not be as likable, the actors definitely fill their roles well and make this movie a must-see. There have been good movies this year but none quite as memorable as “The World’s End.” If you enjoy laughing, friends and robots that bleed blue, then see “The World’s End.”
Member of Thespians practice their mimes for Purple Power Play. Members from the past who have done it before, instructed and taught the new members. Photo by Danielle Cook, photographer
Manhattan High School Football Fundraiser
Tuesday, Sept. 10
5-9 p.m. Chipotle in Aggieville **In order for us to receive the proceeds everyone must tell the person checking them out that they are there for the football team fundraiser.**
Support your team
Sports The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com
Soccer ready for Lawrence Michael Melgares Assistant Sports Editor
Senior Peter Maier dribbles past a J.V. defender. Michael Melgares, photographer
The Varsity boys soccer team overcame the J.V. team in Thursday night’s scrimmage with a score of 4-0. The intra-squad scrimmage is a tradition to start the season. Even though the J.V. was defeated, senior Jonathan Turnley said the scrimmage was a success for the team as a whole. “I think that the team did well in the scrimmage,” Turnley said. “Both Varsity and J.V. have the potential to do really well.” In addition to experience and practice in real-game situations, the scrimmage provided an opportunity for the team to see the skill level
that they have throughout their whole roster. “We have a lot of talented younger guys. Once they get some experience and get used to playing at the varsity level they will really be able to help the team,” Turnley said. With their season opener against Lawrence High School approaching this Friday, the team, although prepared heavily during the offseason, is not looking past this first obstacle. “Lawrence is always a tough, physical team,” Turnley said “We will prepare for the Lawrence game this week and if we come into the game focused and working hard we’ll get a good result.”
Kujawa takes over as radio announcer Nick Bandy Sports Editor On Friday nights the people of Manhattan are used to tuning into KMAN 1350 to listen to Matt Walters and Greg Hoyt announce the Manhattan High School football games. But last spring when Hoyt was chosen as the new principal of MHS, a new color commentator was needed.
“It just wouldn’t be appropriate as principal of the school,” Hoyt said. Walters is the play-byplay man for the broadcasts, and he first met Hoyt when Hoyt was a football coach at MHS. When Hoyt was no longer coaching, he became the color commentator with Walters in 2005. “An advantage I had was I knew the offense and defense that Manhattan ran from my
time coaching,” Hoyt said. Walters has now selected MHS math teacher, Ray Kujawa, to replace Hoyt. “I didn’t have much of a say in it,” Hoyt said, “but I did recommend several people and Mr. Kujawa was one of them.” Kujawa is a former basketball and track coach for MHS, and he has worked as an announcer with Walters at several basketball games.
He has also been the PA announcer at Bishop stadium for almost 10 years. “It was basically Matt Walter’s choice and he came to me,” Kujawa said. “I told him I had done the PA for a lot of years at Bishop stadium for the football games and I told I’d make the switch and go on radio.” Kujawa also filled in as the color commentator for a football game that Hoyt had
to miss. “I listened to some of that broadcast and he did a really good job. He’s an avid football fan and he has a good eye,” Hoyt said. As color commentator Kujawa will chime in to Walter’s play-by-play with interesting stats, while avoiding getting too technical for listeners who know little about football. “When you do color com-
mentary you want to add insight to what’s going on in the game but you also want to not take over the broadcast because you’re there just to enhance the broadcast. I think a critical part of it is timing,” Kujawa said. Kujawa will begin on Sept. 6 when the Indians play Mill Valley for their first game. “I’m not that nervous for it. Matt Walters and I are great friends,” Kujawa said.
Football trains through heat
Manhattan High football players take part in a special teams drill during their Friday practice at the West Campus field. The Indians hold their public scrimmage on Thursday. The team practiced for a full week and polished their technique. “I just listen to coach Schartz and see what he has to say,” junior Eric Prockish said. Schartz is beginning his fifth year as MHS head coach and has a record of 37-7. The first game will be on Sept. 6 at Mill Valley. Matt Bandy, photographer
Cross Country holds annual time trials Gage Benne staff writer
The girls team starts out as a pack on their first lap. The top seven girls earned varsity spots. Gage Benne, photographer
Early Saturday morning a 75-runner strong Manhattan High Cross Country team met to run time trials. The 5k race (4k for the girls) decided members of Varsity and Junior Varsity for the team’s first meet at home on Saturday. The top seven from each race earned Varsity spots, and the next seven were placed on J.V. Immediately following the races, introductions were made by Cross Country coach Susan Melgares. Melgares previewed with parents and athletes the upcoming season, as well
as introducing existing and new Cross Country athletes. Team Captains were also presented; Alaina Schroeder, Megan Ochoa and Molly Bollman, as well as Chris Melgares, Nick Bandy, Isaiah Koppes and Michael Melgares are team captains for the girls and boys teams, respectively. The team then had the annual pancake feed, giving the team a chance to bond prior to their upcoming season. “I’m really excited for this year. We have a bunch of new girls, so that is exciting. I think we’re all very close, which will make [the season] even more fun,” Schroeder, who holds the top spot on
Varsity, said. The Team Captain in her final year said, “As a team, as long as we get everyone participating, and having fun, I think we’ll do well.” The team, consisting of over 75 student athletes, is the largest Cross Country team since it’s inception. The team was also evenly divided into the pink and blue team, much like a scrimmage. This allowed for a friendly competitive atmosphere, which helped runners remain focused. The pink team won, although the scores, as expected, were very close. “I think it’s progress, none of us across the board ran as fast as we were plan-
ning on, but I don’t think it means too much right now,” senior Chris Melgares said. “We are definitely really excited about [this year]. Every day we have fun, and we’re definitely looking for a state championship with the speed that we have.” He finished first with a time of 16:13, earning the top Varsity spot with a 30-second lead. Chris Melgares also was recognized, along with Bandy, as a 700 mile+ Road Warrior. The team will open the season at home at Warner Park. This will be the team’s only home meet.
Volleyball finishes tryouts Tennis sharpens skills
Senior Jessie Kujawa serves the ball in a warm-up drill as the team continues to prep for their upcoming tournament at Olathe South. With the season getting into gear the Lady Indians volleyball team has continued working out and practicing hard to further improve themselves. Following intense tryouts and a rigourous schedule the ladies agree the team is prepared for the upcoming season. “The dynamic of the team as a whole is far better than it has been in previous years,” senior Kaci Cink said. With many returning seniors, the team hopes that the overall ability of the team will continue to progress and lead to a successful season. Kennedy Felice, photographer
Senior Caroline Sager returns a serve at Thursday’s practice after school. The girls tennis team has been preparing all week for the season opener a J.V. meet at Emporia Aug. 29. Many players have even been sharpening their skills on their own. “Lots of girls go and hit with their friends and their parents,” senior Caroline Sager said. She is the only senior on the tennis team. The first varsity meet will be on Sept. 2 at Topeka High. Matt Bandy, photographer
Features The Mentor www.mhsmentor.com
Periodic table adds new element to classroom
Chemistry teacher James Neff shows off his new periodic table on the floor that he painted over the summer with his son Darius Neff. The painting took 30 hours over two weeks. Photo by Liz Logback, photographer Deepthi Perumal Entertainment Editor Among the many classrooms at Manhattan High West campus with the same color of gray for the floors, one that stands out is room E211 where there’s now a period table on the floor. James Neff, chemistry teacher, took time over this summer to change his boring
floor into a resource for his students. Neff has been teaching for eight years. But he always thought something was missing in his room. He had the idea for the longest time at different schools but finally executed his idea with permission from past principal Terry McCarty. “I have always wanted to
do this to my room,” Neff said. “It’s unique from all the other rooms at MHS.” Over this summer Neff and with the help of his son, freshman Darius Neff, took the time out of their summer to accomplish the task. The process took 30 hours over the span of two weeks with four to five steps. Steps included printing the tem-
plates; taping them to the floor; spray painting the solids, liquids, and gasses a different color; painting glowin-the-dark paint over the radioactive elements; and finishing the process with a sealant. “It took a long time,” Darius said. “But I am happy with the end result.” With the entire period ta-
ble on the floor of the chemistry room, Neff believes it will be a helpful teaching resource by incorporating it in his teaching. “I think it is more visual, being a high school student myself it is easier and fun to have it on the floor,” Darius said. “Rather than going to the poster in the corner of the room, its easier to have it
on the floor.” The head of the science department also thinks it’s a good addition to the department. “I think it’s a neat addition, great idea on his part,” Garry Schwandt. “I always joke with his now that being the head of the department and a chemistry teacher myself that next year we are going to switch rooms.”
Fundraising needed to keep activities Allison Olsen Staff Writer What do transportation costs, food for parties, conference registration fees and prom decorations have in common? They’re all paid for by the many fundraising events conducted by students at Manhattan High School. The football and baseball teams sell discount Club Signup from Page 1 I’m familiar with the signup process.” For Thespian President senior Macy Lanceta, club signup is something she looks forward to. “I want to sign up for Student-2-Student and AFS,” Lanceta said. “I think club signup is something that we should have. It really shows the variety of clubs that we have in an efficient manner.” AFS President senior Christine Shiau agrees. “It’s a good way to see what’s available and it’s nice to meet new people,” she said. “We just made some banners for our table and
cards during the year, tables with bake sales are set up in the commons during lunches, and teams and clubs sell T-shirts to raise money. Some businesses, including Texas Roadhouse and Orange Leaf, allow fundraisers to be held at their businesses and the organization will get a percentage of the profits. The football team will do a fundraiser at Chipotle on Sept.10 and the proceeds will we’ll have a couple foreign exchange students and officers there to see if anybody has any questions. I think it will be fun.” AFS Potluck from Page 1 families together and creating international friendships that last. Clubs from Page 1 Students Against Destructive Decisions Teens Leading Teens TRIBE Assistant West Campus Assistant East Campus Sports Zone This is How I Scream
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go to the MHS football team. “Sporting teams use it for travel suits and meals after the games,” activities director Angie Messer said. “The budget for sports cover the cost to pay for officials and transportation to events; everything else comes
from fundraising.” Coach Lisa Kinderknecht is in charge of the MHS volleyball team’s second year of cookie dough sales. The fundraiser will start on Aug. 27. “The girls get into teams
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and compete to raise money,” Kinderknecht said. “We come up with all kinds of incentives to encourage the girls to sell more.” The MHS band is doing an online fundraiser selling flowers to raise money. Sports concessions are another big fundraiser at MHS. The proceeds of concessions sold at MHS Varsity football games go to putting together prom each year.
Clubs at MHS also use fundraising to help plan and pay for their activities and travel cost. “Fundraising for clubs mainly helps them go to conferences or have club parties with food,” Messer said. MHS has many up and coming fundraisers for this school year. “Our future goal is to make a way for the public to check and see what fundraisers are happening,” Messer said.
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Teen driving losing its driving force? Liz Logback Editor-in-Chief Recently a study by AAA was reported by National Public Radio revealing that the interest among teenagers getting their license and buying a car has decreased during this generation. “For generations cars inspired countless songs, books and movies. But now there are signs that our car culture is losing some of its shine,” the NPR report said. “Studies show that teenagers are driving less, getting their licenses later, and waiting longer to purchase their first new car.” So what’s the verdict Manhattan High? Has the drive to get behind the wheel indeed lost its luster, or has MHS proved NPR’s findings non relevant to the school? In the study, it was stated that 70 percent of teens had
acquired the car. a license NPR’s before survey the age shows of 18,12 that 44 of that percent percent of teens holding a do not permit, have a leaving car. 17 per“If I cent of want to teens not go anylicensed where, and 1 perI have cent holdto have ing a sussomepended one to license. A new lot on the side of the school was opened up this year for seniors and juniors. “Egypt” was closed and the back pick me Senior lot is now sophomore access only. up or Meredith ask my Liz Logback, Photographer Gast can parents Gast rides the bus to sarily an inconvenience. I've relate to to use the non-licenced 17 percent. school and whenever she driven before around places, their car,” Adams said. “I just haven't gotten my wants to hang out with but I assume eventually it will It was suggested in NPR’s license yet. I haven’t put in friends or needs to go some- feel like an inconvenience,” study that the prices of cars the hours yet and I wasn’t old where, she relies on her she said. and insurance are pushing Junior Sammi Adams has away younger drivers. “Add enough over the summer to friends with cars. “I don’t feel like it’s neces- obtained the license, but not in the high price of gas in get it,” she said.
By the numbers
101 students in science classes were surveyed about their driving preferences and licensure status. The folowing shows the results of those who have cars.
some places and owning a car is simply too expensive for a young person,” NPR said. In Adams case, that rings true. “My parents said they won't buy me one [a car] until I get a job,” she said. Sophomore Maya Minocha is in the same boat. With an older brother who already commutes to the high school, her parents see no reason to buy a second car until he moves out. “I have a permit and I’ve taken Drivers Ed,” Minocha said. “I always want food but nobody ever takes me so if I had a car I could go get food whenever I wanted it.” The Mentor surveyed 100 MHS students in chemistry classes to find out how we relate to the questions found in NPR’s survey. The results are shown below.
Room for everyone Abundant parking brings new traffic flow, more cars
41% Sophomores
31%
By Kristen Batson Staff Writer Since the beginning of the school year students and staff at Manhattan High School west campus have undergone several changes regarding parking. The infamous lot behind Sunset Cemetery that was nicknamed "Egypt" by students has been gated off and is no longer in use. Replacing it is the new south student lot. For the first time all staff and faculty have been assigned a parking place by administration to "have a parking space for everyone who works at MHSW... in their desired lot,” Manhattan High School Assistant Principal, Michael Dorst said. This new arrangement seems to be working in the favor of all involved. "We've got plenty of student parking for tenth graders, juniors, seniors and faculty.
There's no problem with having space, the only problem we have is that not everyone has purchased and put a [parking] permit in their window,” MHS security guard Karl Hetland said. However some students are taking a different view. "We're all stuck back there at the end of the day, it's all jammed and I feel like if we opened 'Egypt' at the end of the day and let us go out that way then it wouldn't be so jammed,” sophomore Kyrstyn Kinzie said. Junior Lakota Carey agrees that opening "Egypt" would help reduce the pile up of cars trying to leave the parking lots after school. “Parking permits are unfair, not all students have 50 dollars to pay, I'm in foster care and can't afford it,” Carey said. While MHS offers reduced and free lunch as well as other fees there are no payment plans or options for parking permits.
Juniors
Photo illustration by Liz Logback
73% of surveyed students who don’t have a license said it’s because they “Just haven’t gotten around to it.”
94% Seniors
Who has a license/permit?
Did you know? Elvis puts 30 miles on his car every day circling around the school and parking lots. So far he’s put 150,050 miles on his current car, a Ford Escape. At 20 miles per gallon, that’s 7,502.5 gallons of gas.
F E
56% of surveyed students said they still need to take Driver’s Ed
94% of surveyed seniors 62% of surveyed juniors 61% of surveyed sophomores