MHS Courier February 2023

Photo by Ariana González

Welcome back Mandan High School students and staff to another issue of the Courier! This is our first issue back from winter break and we’re all very excited to share more articles with all of you.

This semester we’re officially introducing the newest additions to our staff: Andi Nelson, Serenity Clegg-Laporte and Mya Johnson. They are all extremely talented writers and I can’t wait to see the creative and fresh articles they will bring to the Courier.

Amongst the wide variety of articles in this issue is one of my favorites, Emmanuel’s “Cupid Says ‘Love Yourself First,’” an article on self-love and being able to not lose yourself while in a relationship. Emmanuel is a massively creative and skilled writer and I hope you all enjoy the article as much as I do.

With all of this being said, we hope you enjoy this issue of the Courier!

From The Editor... Staff

Ariana González........................Editor-In-Chief

Co-Feature Editor

Lily Giggee................Assistant Editor-In-Chief

News Editor

Emma Helbling..........................Opinion Editor

Cambry Fyllesvold.................Co-Feature Editor

Michael Pfliger...............................Sports Editor

Emmanuel Dolo....................................Reporter

Dylan Campbell....................................Reporter

Andi Nelson..........................................Reporter

Mya Johnson.........................................Reporter

Serenity Clegg-Laporte........................Reporter

The Courier is a news/feature magazine that is published throughout the school year. As an open forum for student expression, all content online and in print is decided and moderated by student editors.

The staff welcomes letters, articles, submissions, of any student, faculty, or community interest. Submissions may be turned into the Courier, room 221, and by message to mhscourier@gmail.com. All submissions must be signed by the author if they are to be published and subject to editing if space is restricted. The Courier strives to be objective in its news coverage.

Columns and letters reflect only the opinions of the writers, not those of the Courier staff, administration, teachers, or student body. Editorials that are not signed reflect the consensus of the staff.

The Courier is funded entirely through advertising sales. Contact the Courier at mhscourier@gmail.com if interested in advertising.

Ariana González, Editor-In-Chief

Students Display Art in the Library

— Serenity Clegg-LaPorte, Reporter

Mandan High School is in the process of communicating with Morton Mandan Public Library about displaying student artwork. Along with collaborative pieces and other kids’ art, participants are excited.

The process is still in its beginning stages of figuring out the logical aspects of sending artwork. This is partly due to competing venues that are available to Mandan students.

“As much as I wanna work with the library, there’s more that are time sensitive and probably would benefit the student a little bit more than just [getting them all] for display,” Mr. G said.

Some of these venues include the Bismarck Art Gallery Association (BAGA) which is towards the end of April, and Cappuccino on Collins (COC) who has spots open for Mandan students for the upcoming months. Both of these places called and/or emailed Mr. G recently as of January 27th.

“We got lots of local venues after student artwork and [we are] really trying to get it out there,” Mr. G said. “Some of the national ones can get some really, really wild scholarships and really good prizes: purses, money — in that way.”

The library hasn’t gotten any new artworks from MHS since September; the art that’s already there is from other schools, programs, and towns. Some of these donors are: Flasher, Sweet Briar, Fort Lincoln Elementary, Head Start, New Salem, and Glendalin.

“We’re also a county library,” Shawna Marion, the Community Engagement Coordinator, said. “That means we’d be willing to accept artwork from our small towns that we do outreach in. The nice thing is that we can collect artwork from a large variety.”

The first time the art was displayed was the Grand Opening of the renovated library. There was a variety of previously finished art set up in the community room, where around 150-200 people had come for the ribbon cutting.

“Their artwork was very proudly displayed,” Marion said.

Some students who are willing to showcase their artwork have had trouble with the time to create art, nonetheless put it in the library. Knowledge is also a factor in artists’ trouble.

“I feel like making art in general you have to have the time to do it,” Lamya Evans, Senior, said. “Especially now at this point, for me, it’s harder to do that because of how busy I’ve been. I definitely need the time to do it and the knowledge of how to display it.”

Evans had her art displayed in the High School. While the art hasn’t been sent to the library for display, she thinks displaying

art can be good for artists.

“I thought it was a cool way to put yourself out there to show others what you can do,” Evans said.

One of the things Marion is excited about is the collaborative aspect. In the spring, library staff are planning to create a mosaic based on a design by Molly McLain, based on information from patrons about what they value about Morton County and Mandan; after that visitors will add glass to the design, and once it’s finished it will be installed on the walls.

“That’ll be a perfect example of what that could look like: all ages participating,” Marion said. “It’ll be displayed as long as it exists and that should be for many, many years. It’s nice for people to say ‘I took part in that.’”

Mr. G thinks it could be a learning experience for students, and help them feel more confident about their work. He had been showing work for 20 years now, but even though people get a little more confident as time goes on, there is still room for self doubt.

“You always have those inadequacies going through your brain, but this is a really good time to really develop a positive rapport with the venue,” Mr. G said. “But it’s also, on my end, being able to build students up a little bit more — Your work isn’t as bad as you think it is.”

Photo by Serenity Clegg-LaPorte Morton Mandan Public Library has elementary schooler’s artwork from the “Winter Count” displayed towards the entrance.

Mathletes Compete Across the State

— Andi Nelson, Reporter

Mandan High School’s Mathlete team has started their annual competition season starting this winter. With the completion of the competition at U-Mary, and the upcoming Tri-College meet at NDSU, the mathlete team has a lot of brain power planned this year.

Despite the nearly 100 club offerings, Mandan High Schools’ Mathlete team has seen numbers rising this year, surprising naysayers and drawing participation from some of the school’s most capable students.

“We have had more students interested in competing this year than I have seen in the past,” said Paul Christen, Mathlete Supervisor and math teacher.

Students think that to join the team you have to be exceptionally good at math. However, that is not true. Math comes with many strategizing problems that involve deep thinking.

“Typically the better math students do participate, but we have a few who enjoy challenging and strategizing that have joined,” said Christen.

As the students learn more about the club and experience going to a competition first hand, the allure to join becomes very clear.

The club is more of an individual effort, giving students a sense of personal fulfillment. But it still offers that team dynamic and support that many seek.

Gearing up for competitions doesn’t take much while being part

of the team. The club doesn’t hold practices, so students have to learn more on their own.

“I try to advance myself on my own time when I can,” said Junior Leif Lahtinen.

The competitions tend to last most of the day and are composed of two parts. Each lasting about thirty minutes to an hour.

“Generally, competitions consist of an individual test and a team test,” said junior Michael Storsved.

The questions on the two tests range from high school and above questions. Examples consist of College Algebra, Calculus, and Trigonometry.

“It’s all levels of nine, most of the math isn’t just high levels, it’s really about learning how to figure it out,” said Christen.

Making the tests very versatile and challenging for everyone.

Yearly, the team tends to go to two to three competitions. This year the team added another competition by creating their own! On the 23 of January, Mandan held their own math competition. 12 people attended this competition, taking an individual test, and then a group test. The group test consisted of 3 groups of 4 people.

Joining the Mathlete club can be a fulfilling experience and will add a new type of thinking skill for students who choose to participate.

“Being on the team and going to competitions has really advanced me and pushed me to be the best I can be,” said

The Mathlete team’s first competition of the season was at U-Mary

Photo Submitted By Paul Christen

Mandan High School Transitions to Standards Based Learning

– Dylan Campbell, Reporter

Mandan High School seeks to redefine the basis in which students learn by integrating standards based learning into the classrooms.

Standards based grading is established by working off a proficiency scale to assess different levels of learning. Where a student ranked for the skill, on that specific scale, is where their grade would be reported out of: one, two, three, and four. Then, the numerical grade will be translated into an alphabetical grade. Changing the standard from an outright letter grade to a grading process.

“When I was teaching, traditional grades always felt like a financial transaction. My students would ask, ‘Mr. Just, what do I have to do to get a B?’” Curriculum Director Perry Just said. “Too often, we teach, take a test, and move on.”

This way of learning is conducive to all students by attaching standards to certain chapters within coursework. The school-wide standards are set by the teachers instructing the common classe Students will follow these standards, while also, having the opportunity to improve on those standards at a later date.

“That is where the benefit comes, it focuses more on the progression of learning,” Just said.

In a classroom setting, teachers will use proficiency scales as a way to communicate with students what the teacher wants them to learn. The proficiency scales would present the expected skills for students to learn and the steps it takes to achieve mastery in those skills.

“For a student, it is a way for you to gauge where your leve learning is,” Instructional Coach Kara Blaskowski said.

Standards based learning has been implemented into Mandan’s elementary and middle schools, but this would be the first time Mandan High School will fully transition to standards based learning.

“I feel like standardized grading lowers the expectations for the students and does them a disservice,” Choir Teacher Keri Hess said. “Traditional grading is more concise and it challenges the kids. I think our grading system is fair.”

While, standards based grading is anew within the common classes Mandan High School students are required to take, some CTE classes have been using this system of learning previous t this transition.

“The traditional grade system allows for smaller gaps than standardized grading and I feel like we keep making the grading system more forgiving,” Hess said. “We are a diverse school that can accommodate any student.”

Blaskowski encourages students to embrace the newfound way of learning, by connecting the use of standards based grading in a realistic setting.

“If you can check the boxes on this level-two section, except one. Then, let’s work on doing that one. Next, let’s see what we are capable of doing in level three section,” Blaskowski said. “If

The books below are used by teachers to create proficiency scales.

Photo by Dylan Campbell

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Scholarships in High School Means Less Debt

Applying for scholarships is stressful, period. The Mandan Foundation for scholarships provide various scholarships that can fit any student.

Lee Fleischer is president of the Mandan Public Schools Foundation of Education. He has been in the position since the program first started in 2010. The goal of the Mandan Public Schools Foundation is to provide scholarships to students for college. This year the foundation has 56 scholarships worth $80,500.

“My advice is to start early,” Fleischer said, “All it costs you is the time it takes to put your application together.”

Scholarship applications are due March 27. High school seniors should take the time to apply to scholarships for college to help pay for tuition, room and board, and other things.

“Students going out of state or to a more expensive school want to apply to make sure they can get by as cheap as possible,” Fleischer said.

Scholarships are based on the original application and then the committee will select recipients of the scholarships based on the criteria and the needs of the students.

“We’ll ask for two letters of recommendation,” Fleischer said, “write a nice paragraph and emphasize why the scholarship fits you.”

The website https://mandanschoolsfoundation.org/scholarships contains the scholarships available through the Mandan Public Schools Foundation of Education and the scholarship criteria to follow.

“Follow the application,” Fleischer said, “and if you can, find out a little more of the background of that scholarship.”

Leah Emineth graduated in 2022 and is currently attending Black Hills State University and majoring in outdoor education.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to go to college,” Emineth said, “especially with how expensive the cost is.”

She received the $2,000 Mandan Moose Lodge scholarship and a $200 scholarship from the Mandan High School Dance Team.

“While it might not seem like alot,” Emineth said, “It significantly cut the cost of my tuition.”

Leah was able to get her room and board covered with the Mandan Moose scholarship.

“I did not have to worry about paying for it,” Emineth said, “which definitely lifted a weight off of my shoulders.”

College is far too expensive to pay for alone without walking out of college in student debt. Scholarships make it possible to be able to buy other things they need during and after college instead of worrying about student debt.

“Those scholarships are a big part of the reason I can pursue the things that make me happy,” Emineth said.

— Mya Johnson, Reporter

Photo by Mya Johnson

By scanning this QR code you can access the webite with scholarship options.

“Her dog”

“Probably her dog”

“She is an open book”

“Bouche was my teacher”

“My Dog”

Inside joke

“How bad she is with scissors”

“ She can’t cut in a straight line with scissors”

What is your favorite thing about each other

One fact about the other person

Miss. Miller

“When I started student teaching”

When/ How did you two meet?

Mrs. Bouche

“Our Boss”

“We have a good dynamic”

“He’s allergic to watermelon”

“Middle School”

Carson Weyrauch

“Our Boss”

“He is funny and lighthearted”

“He’s never eaten oranges before”

“Middle School”

Brett Hoffman

Seniors

“His drifting”

“His nickname, Funboy’”

“He is responsible”

“There’s not much I like about him”

“He’s got a big nose “

“He’s a skater boy”

“Art class in 7th grade”

Jackson Olson

“Art class in 7th grade”

Jayden Brobst

Juniors

“He likes video games”“He is easy to talk to”“Peter Griffen”

“Peter Griffen”

“His love for hunting”

“He likes Hockey”

“Art 1”

“Art 1”

When/ How did you two meet?

Tony Piccalo

Tobyas Miller

Sophomores

“Cow”

He has a very nice family

“He likes to go hunting”

“Basketball”

Braden Brosch

“Cow”

“He likes going hunting with me”

What is your favorite thing about each other Inside joke

— Emmanuel Dolo, Reporter

“He likes football”

One fact about the other person

“Basketball”

When/ How did you two meet?

Bromances & Galentines

Jory Johnson

Freshmen

The Flipside

February 2023

Photo By Emmanuel Dolo

Photo By Emmanuel Dolo

Photo By Emmanuel Dolo

Photo By Emmanuel Dolo

February

Surgery Puts a Cow Heart in Teen Girl’s Brain

- Serenity Clegg-LaPorte, Reporter

After sitting for a couple of long minutes in the bright lights, a girl heard a thump behind her. One of her classmates had fainted on the stands.

As the crowd of kids surrounded her, the teacher at the time broke through as the girl slowly came to consciousness. For the rest of the practice, she was sent home for her own safety.

This was after she had a cow heart put into her brain after being diagnosed with Chiari Malformation (type 1).

“When I started passing out, it was a hot mess,” Anna Sheese said. “I started falling behind in school, I couldn’t do every-day tasks–I couldn’t even carry a plate because if I passed out it would break.”

Chiari Malformation

~According to the Mayo Clinic, mainly~ * Type 1:

Chiari Malformation is considered hereditary; Anna had gotten it from her mom. She had the surgery in 2010, where they put a clay mesh in her neck to stop the spine from growing back into the brain.

* Cerebellum is deformed, putting pressure on the spinal canal and brain

* Hereditary

* There are 4 types, with different problems

* General affects:

- HEADACHES

- DYSPHAGIA (difficulty swallowing)

- HYDROCEPHALUS (too much fluid in the brain)

- SPINA BIFIDA (Spine isn’t fully developed or exposed)

- SYRINGOMYLEIA (cysts forming on the spine)

“My mom helped me a lot [in the process],” Sheese said.

- TETHERED CORD SYNDROM (Spine clicks w/spinal cord, lengthening it; causing lower back complications.)

- FAINTING

Chiari Malformation (type 1) is a physical disability where the cerebellum is too small or deformed, which puts pressure on the entire brain, as well as displacing the lower part of the cerebellum (tonsils) on top of the spinal canal (according to the Mayo Clinic). While type 1 is the most common out of the three types, around 1 in 1,000 have it.

* Note: these things will not happen to everybody.

The process to get diagnosed took around 3-4 months. This eventually led to a surgery, but even afterwards Anna was to have problems. During the diagnosis process, Anna had to tell quite a bit of people about the problem, which surprised a sum of people.

“I never had [seen this sort of thing] before,” said Keri Hess, Anna’s choir teacher.“To be honest, I actually thought, ‘Is this a real thing or not,’ and then ‘Yes, it is a real thing.’”

Anna had started fainting in her freshman year. This caused confusion and chaos.

Despite this, it took awhile to get diagnosed. The first problem was getting insurance coverage, which took around a month for them to officially realize she needed the MRI scan to check her brain.

The time it takes to get an appointment for the MRI varies where you go, and the results take about 5-6 days to get to the patient. Afterwards, Anna got paired with a neurologist, which took about two weeks. She was then sent to a neurosurgeon; they focused more on the actual surgery.

The pairing for that took another week. Then, finally, she was officially diagnosed.

However, there was a drawback.

“[I was] Really overwhelmed,” Sheese said. “I found out that I was going to live with it forever.”

Even so, surgery could make the symptoms more manageable. There are multiple types of ways surgeries are performed. While her mom got a clay mesh, Anna got a cow heart.

“I love people’s reactions to that,” Sheese said. “Yes, I’m part cow now.”

While she was put to sleep for the surgery, however, her brain had other plans than a peaceful time.

“I remember, I didn’t wake up at all, but I was stuck in a nightmare,” Sheese said. “I kept dying until finally the anesthetist woke me up. I don’t know if that was just the fear of getting my brain cut out or what.”

That was never answered. In the meantime, after the surgery, she was stuck in bed for two weeks, and still couldn’t lift a plate.

“I could barely move my neck because it hurt so bad,” Sheese said. “I hated it.”

Although, there was this part of her that was relieved. A weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“It was great,” Sheese said. “I felt free again.”

Still, for around four years, Anna won’t be able to use her neck in extreme ways at all. This is due to the fact of her brain being maneuvered a certain way, which could still result in fainting.

“I was sad [because] I can’t ride any hardcore roller-coasters,”

Sheese said. “I can’t dive for a while (and I love diving), and every-time I jerk my neck, I pass out. So that sucks.”

All that can be done now is to accommodate the symptoms when needed, as well as recognize triggers. In choir, she still sings well when in a proper position, but they still need to be weary.

“It shouldn’t bother her [to sing] at all. But, weird things happen,” Hess said. “Maybe she just moves her arm weird so we kind of got to watch with choreography and stuff like that.”

Anna, through all of this, had to learn the hard way of dealing with a physical disability. She also has a message to share to those who experience something similar.

“If you’re struggling with something physical, don’t let it bring you down,” Sheese said. “It’s just speed learning: ‘I’m special in my own way, and I got to live with it, and I’ll learn how to live with it and still have fun.’”

Photo submitted by Anna Sheese Anna in her hospital bed with the new surgery scar. Anna’s healed surgery scar. Sometimes, she says that it gets itchy.

Photo taken by Serenity Clegg-LaPorte

Need for Therapy Rises Across North Dakota

All around the world there are students suffering from mental illnesses. In 2019, 61.2% of students in North Dakota reported that they struggle with mental health issues and a majority of students have turned to therapy to help. Recently, there has been a significant increase in students who see therapists, but yet, people are still not talking about therapy in a positive manner.

According to the Center of Disease Control, going to a specialized doctor like a psychiatrist or therapist has shown significant results in mental health in people, especially students. Teenagers are always told that these years are supposed to be stress free. So it comes to no surprise that students are afraid to talk about their emotions when feeling anxious or stressed.

“Pre-teens and teenagers sometimes struggle to talk to their parents about everything, so having an unbiased third party to just discuss and talk about things with is important” Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Brittany Tofsrud said.

Life can get stressful. Seeing a therapist, for many, can relieve a load of stress that is built up over time from school, extra curricular activities, work and other things.

“It is good that mental health help is out there,” Doe said. “It is just as important as your physical health.”

Besides school, students may face challenges like traumatic events that could leave students feeling unsafe, anxious, or even leaving them with PTSD. According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) two-thirds of children have reported at least one traumatic event by the age 16.

“It helps a lot because they have certain techniques that can help you walk through and explain what you have been through and will help you come up with ways to cope with it,” Becky Smith said.

There are times that teenagers do not feel comfortable talking to their parents about their struggles. Therapy can act as a resource for teens that want an outside look on a topic.

“I think therapy can benefit anyone who feels like they just need someone unbiased to talk to and help work through any personal struggles,” Jane Doe said. “I always feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after I leave.”

Students may feel a sense of relief after each session talking to

their therapist. This can be beneficial for the overall well-being of teenager’s health.

“I don’t know if anyone would want to prevent going to therapy, honestly. It can be so helpful in so many ways,” Tofsrud said.

61.2% of students in North Dakota report that they struggle with their mental health.

Two-thirds of children have reported at least one traumatic event by the age of 16.

1 in every 5 young people suffer from some form of diagnosable mental illness

1 in 3 high school students have experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

Data from cdc.org

This infographic reveals shattering statistics about mental health across North Dakota.

— Cambry Fyllesvold, Feature Editor

February 2023

Custodians Keep the School Clean

— Michael Pfliger, Sports Editor

Mandan High School is 178,224 square feet and to maintain all that, a custodial staff of 8 people works to keep the place in nice condition. The staff work from about 5:15 am until about 11:30 pm in order to maintain the school’s appearance.

“We usually get here at 5:15 and our staff leaves at 11:30,” Custodian supervisor Eric Varriano said.

The staff work inside the building, outside in the parking lots, and practice fields. However there are different custodial crews that maintain the Braves center and the all seasons arena.

Custodians work year round to ensure the school is ready for the school year. The staff works different hours during the summer compared to during the school year.

“We are here all summer. We wax floors and paint walls before things get all dinged up during the year,” Varriano said.

A custodians’ work often ramps up during the summer to ensure everything is ready for the stress placed upon it during the school year. They also use the time to replace and mend things that were damaged during the school year and to add things to improve the overall quality of the school.

“Summers are our busiest times we clean all the classrooms pull everything out strip hallways and re-wax the hallways,” custodial supervisor Nathan Fetting said.

Custodians do much more than just pick up trash. They also make repairs to things that need it, such as toilets, TV’s, and other things around the school that might need repairs.

“We do all the maintenance here like the TV’s fix the toilets and stuff like that,” Fetting said.

The custodial staff also maintains around the school and in the parking lots but not other places like the ASA and Braves Center. Those places have their own staff and their own custodial heads.

“We are just the building the braves center, ASA and the grounds all have their own crew,” Fetting said.

Even though the custodial staff are here from 5-11 they work in different shifts with one getting off at 3 and the other getting off at 11:30.

The custodial staff mainly spends their time cleaning classrooms and picking up garbage around the school and in the surrounding parking lots. Students can help the custodial staff by decreasing the amount of trash they leave in the ground in the parking lots and classrooms.

“The parking lots are the worst area to clean up. Just pick up trash and if you make a mess, clean it up,” Fetting said.

“We are here all summer.

We wax floors and paint walls before things get all dinged up during the year.”

A custodian sweeps the hallway after a long school day.

Photo by Michael Pfliger

Mental Health of Farmers Declines in North Dakota

— Cambry Fyllesvold, Feature Editor

— Emma Helbling, Opinion Editor

Farmers are the backbone of the American economy, and yet there is a silent epidemic ending the lives of thousands of people: suicide. The agricultural industry has one of the highest suicide rates in the country which is growing higher every day.

Suicide rates in agriculture are higher than any other occupation. 84.5 people per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

With nearly 90% of North Dakota’s land area being farmland and ranches, Agriculture is a large part of the state’s economy. North Dakota is the lead producer of spring wheat, durum wheat, dry edible peas and beans, canola, and honey in the country. North Dakota’s crop production also has a large impact on the state’s job opportunities, holding one-fourth of the state’s employment being in the Agricultural industry.

Farmers, from statistics, have shown a increase in suicidal behaviors and depression. Between their demanding jobs and long hours, farmers face the challenge of mental health. Many farmers spend extensive hours by themselves everyday. This repetitive cycle of intense isolation can cause intense mental health issues.

“They are great laborers that love the day to day,” Tanasha Wanner, Agriculture teacher said. “But falling behind on the planning can tire out the day to day and fall subject to a huge amount of stress and fall away from the work they love to do and the reason they even took over an operation to begin with.”

In a recent study published by the University of Michigan, social isolation is frequently connected with psychosocial risk factors that impact farmers’ health. Farmers can experience symptoms such as increased depression, high levels of stress, and burnout, which are magnified by isolation.

“They have a job that keeps them out of their home and away from family and friends for days at a time. Oftentimes, they are

working in many conditions out of their control between weather and input expenses, among other things. They are also a topic of scrutiny in the media,” Wanner said.

Though these are problems that the majority of farmers face, the issues are largely unspoken in the agricultural community. Why these issues are unsaid, may be because of the farming culture or generational silence.

“I think it’s important that people just remember to be supportive and to thank them for their work. Feeling supported can help a lot of people to feel better about the work they do,” Wanner said.

With these daunting factors, how does the farming community treat this isolation and loneliness? Currently there are very few mental health platforms for farmers available. Many farmers may prefer communicating with other farmers instead of a ‘generic’ mental health service that they may deem impersonal.

“There are definitely more resources available now,” Greg Wanner, fourth generation farmer and rancher said. “Recently, NDSU extension released information on help.”

This extension published by North Dakota State University is a considerable step in the right direction in providing a mental health line specifically targeted towards farmers.

One day hopefully soon, all farmers will be able to talk about their mental health. If there’s any note to be taken from this silent epidemic is: Thank you farmers, we appreciate you.

Statistics

Students Speak Out About Body Dysmorphia in Men

— Ariana González, Editor-in-Chief

The usage of social media allows influencers to use their platforms to encourage self-love and happy lifestyles. However, like many aspects of today’s society, social media provides a great sense of insecurity.

When speaking about the body positivity movement, there is a large focus on women’s body dysmorphia. Body dysmorphia can alter one’s self perception, making it feel like regardless of one’s efforts, it is still not enough. This focus on women in the body positivity movement has caused a lot of positive change, with a variety of campaigns aiming to boost the confidence of young girls.

With that being said, many men feel as though there could be more focus on men’s body positivity. Society’s expectation of men putting up an emotional front has made it difficult for many young men to come forward about their experiences with body dysmorphia and other mental health struggles.

“I believe that there should be an even focus on both,” Avid gym attendee and senior Ty Johnson said. “Men’s for both the fitness influencers and the standards they’re held up to, and women’s for the beauty standards and the standards they’re also held up to.”

While Johnson may be open about the topic, others may choose to not share their experiences with body dysmorphia or other mental health topics to the stigma surrounding men sharing their emotions.

“People have normalized men bottling up their feelings and bottling up how they actually feel about themselves and just letting them eat away at the instead of talking about it,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s body dysmorphia greatly affected his mental health.

“It really just put me down. I would go to the gym and be like ‘I look small, I feel small, I’m not lifting as much weight as I should be,’” Johnson said. “It took a toll on my mental health.”

Like many young people, Johnson feels that social media has definitely played a role in his body dysmorphia, with the many fitness influencers showing off their progress.

“It’s like I wish I could look like those guys someday, and at the same time, you don’t know if they’re taking any steroids,” Johnson said. “I still see myself as the twig that I was about 5 or 6 months ago, despite having worked out for about 5 to 6 months and putting on 15 pounds of muscle.”

An anonymous student also feels that men’s body dysmorphia should be more focused on.

“It’s really hard for us guys to come forward with our experiences with body dysmorphia because it’s almost seen as something shameful,” the anonymous student said. “What the body positivity movement has done for women is incredible, I just wish that it would be the same for men.”

Body dysmorphia is competitive; it is really easy for men to look at other men while working out and go to extreme lengths to achieve looking like them or better.

“I would go to the gym and see these huge, built guys and question what I was doing wrong,” the anonymous student said. “This led me to start dieting extremely and lifting way more than I should’ve. I felt that if I did all of these things, I would look just as good or even better.”

The surge in the body positivity movement has caused a lot of positive change, but the anonymous student feels that society still has a long way to go to combat unrealistic beauty standards, for both men and women.

“If you’re gonna start working out, know that not every body is the same,” the anonymous student said. “The diets and workout routines that work for someone else might not work for you, and that doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you and your body. If you’re gonna start working out and bodybuilding, do it for yourself and not meet a stupid body trend that will eventually stop trending anyway.”

Photo by Ariana González Freshman Tait Geiger hits after-school weights in the weightroom.

February 2023

Games With Giggee

— Lily Giggee, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

This addition I picked some of my favorite games over the years, in honor of Valentines Day.

Stardew Valley is a simulation role-playing game and came out in February 2016. The base game has been pretty similar throughout the years.

The game starts off with the player going to their dead grandpa's farm and now they have to make money and befriend the townspeople. They can also marry some of the twelve eligible bachelors and bachelorettes.

The game is popular among gamers. Some even play it live on Twitch for others to watch. The game is an eight bit style game which can bring nostalgia to the older gamers who grew up on games like the early Super Mario Bros.

The game can be played on computers, PlayStation, Xbox, IOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch. The game is also multiplayer on all that were listed, except IOS and Android.

Stardew Valley is a slower paced game that involves role-playing. The game does also cost a little bit of money so if you are willing to buy a game that involves more interaction with NCPs it is the game for you.

This game has stolen my heart, even though I have only played it for about a year. Stardew Valley is an excellent game and has a different feel than most games.

This is the opening page to the game Stardew Valley that represents the farming style game.

Photo by Lily Giggee

Minecraft is a sandbox style video game made by Mojang. The game has been around since 2011 and it has gone through many changes since then.

What almost baffles me is how this game is still popular almost 11 years later. A lot of the recent popularity of the game comes from TikTok and the streaming service Twitch.

On TikTok, the game is almost portrayed as a phase you go through once a month and I couldn't agree more.

Minecraft is played on almost all platforms from your phone, to Xbox and PlayStation, and your computer. The game differs from platform to platform though, with Xbox, PlayStation and cellular devices being in Bedrock Edition, while your computer can get both Java and Bedrock. Java is only available on computers.

Graphic and material wise the game does not really differ from platform to platform but it does have some slight differences. It also creates debates on what version is actually better.

All platforms do allow you to play with your friends, which is a nice feature and adds to the popularity of the game.

This game is a great option for people who are okay with spending a little money to play a video game with tons of different features.

Overall this game is one of my all time favorite games and I keep going back to it.

Once the game starts up it gives many options on what to do with the scenic swamp biome and the cute little character.

Photo by Lily Giggee

Teens Need More Resources to Help With Mental Health

— Mya Johnson, Reporter

There has been an increase in mental disorders in students since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many schools are not equipped with the resources to help students continue to be successful in school while dealing with mental health issues.

Many high school students have a job, play a sport, go to school everyday, and maintain various relationships. Having a mental disorder can take a toll on students’ daily and school lives. These can affect a student’s energy level, concentration, and dependability. This can hinder a student’s learning.

According to the article ‘Teen And Adolescent Mental Health Facts And Statistics’ by adolescentwellnessacademy.com, approximately one in every five teens between ages twelve and eighteen suffer from at least one mental disorder. It is necessary for mental health to become part of schools functions by educating students and staff about mental disorders and stressing that the school can help if you ask for help.

School and teachers play a large role in a student’s childhood, as students spend hours a day at school for a large amount of the year. Schools should provide training to staff to recognize early symptoms of mental disorders to provide support to help all students succeed with or without mental disorders.

Teachers want what is best for their students, but are not always able to provide that. Providing training to staff in schools to recognize symptoms of mental disorders will help them be better prepared to assist students and give them the help they need.

When students are diagnosed with a mental disorder schools should be aware to ensure all students are successful. They should make sure that all students are aware of the help that can be provided if they do need it.

Students need a safe teaching environment to be successful and should feel safe to talk to staff about mental disorder symptoms they may have. When students receive a positive

experience in school and feel supported, it is likely for mental disorder symptoms to be reduced.

Symptoms of a mental disorder can vary from person to person, as well as their diagnosis. Common symptoms may include: withdrawing from social interaction, changes in mood, changes in eating habits, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating. These are some of the various symptoms that people can show but there can be other key indicators of mental health struggles.

Always be looking out for those close to you for these symptoms. Sometimes people are able to suppress emotions they are feeling to hide from others and what others may say.

Students often are not aware that there are resources available for them in schools. Staff should continuously promote that there is help available when students need it. They may need extra help or time on an assignment or on something they may be learning if they may fall behind in class due to a mental disorder.

Some families do not have the money available to afford therapy or other resources they may need. By making it explicitly clear to students that they can help if they need, it can help families who cannot afford other resources.

If we start providing mental health solutions, anyone can receive the help they need along with all students.

This is a combination of pills that can be used to treat mental disorders.

Photo by Mya Johnson

— Andi Nelson, Reporter

How Bipolar Affects Kanye

Kanye’s recent disturbing actions have landed him in the news consistently. Between the unwarranted harassment towards his ex-wife Kim Kadarshian and her now ex-boyfriend Pete Davidson, to his tweets stating he’d go “death con 3 on Jewish people,” as well as his explanation on George Floyd’s death (Consequently Floyd’s family sued West for $250 million).

Not only has Kanye said unbelievable and unspeakable things, he also has been making rash decisions. He agreed recently to purchase the Conservative social media platform Parlar. The platform’s main goal is to be the opposite of Twitter and make people “non-cancelable”.

The purchase of this platform was ‘big’ in Ye’s eyes as well as his fellow conservative followers. He was banned on Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms for a bit; so this purchase opened a new door for him to post whatever he wanted to say.

These rash decisions and disturbing actions have made Ye’s fall into a deep hole. Watching this spiral has been very difficult to many people

described as periods of deep depression then periods of manic episodes.

“One week I feel as if I’m on top of the world, and the next I’m falling and can’t help save myself,” one anonymous source said.

A combination of factors that lead to being diagnosed with this mental illness includes genetics, environment, and altered brain chemistry.

When being diagnosed with this mental illness, learning that there is no cure is a major heartache to many. With there being no cure makes getting medication very difficult because some medication works better for some then it does others. Doctors will proceed to give patients suffering from Bipolar Disorder a differing array of medications to lower symptoms.

Photos Sourced from Twitter.com and Pagesix.com

This is an example of Kanye’s more concerning posts.

His battle with Bipolar Disorder has always been difficult and recently has gotten worse. Feeling bad for him, I believe he deserves empathy and lots of help. But at the same time he needs to be held accountable for his actions and the destruction he has caused.

Kanye has spoken about living with Bipolar Disorder as well as writes about it in his songs, in his song ‘Yikes’ he states that being bipolar is his “superpower.”

The exact cause of Bipolar Disorder is unknown, but it is

Many people who are looking into Kanye’s very rough situation believe the amounts of medication he takes has been failing, making his spiral the biggest many psychiatrists have seen.

Being with Kim balanced Kanye. She in some light was his “rock.” Having his everyday normal life was supporting him. When he lost what he loved, he also lost his sense of stability. Losing this made him lose everything he had built up.

Losing his wife, children, brand deals, and most importantly his fans, Wests’ downfall is painful to watch. Knowing that if he were to receive the help he needed sooner, he might have been saved from everything he lost.

Opinion 17

Cupid Says “Love Yourself First!”

— Emmanuel Dolo, Reporter

When Valentine’s and high school mix many can’t help but cringe. Relationships may challenge some while drain the ones brave enough to try them; but there is always hope when one changes their perspective.

Loving yourself before you enter a relationship is more important than one might assume. If one prioritizes their individuality above relationships, their self image won’t be dismayed by negative connotations from a partner, or dramatic circumstances that cause stress to all parties involved.

But more often than not, teenagers settle for toxic relationships that glorify labels rather than connection. This stigma gives high school relationships a toxic aura that affects the way teens view love throughout their lives.

Love comes in many forms; such as parents, friends, or romance. But as a teenager, it can be easy to alienate the latter from the rest. Romantic love can create stress and change the flow of hormones in one’s body. This said ‘flow’ can be disrupted due to the draining effects that come with being in an unhealthy relationship.

According to the article “Love & the Teenage Brain,” researcher/ writer Rita Hitching from Medium.com sheds light on how neuroscience has helped scientists discover the unique, ‘secret mission’ of change that the brain undergoes between the age of 12-19.

“When you fall in love, your brain and your body are in a state of stress and high arousal. The increased release of cortisol and norepinephrine (both stress hormones) causes sweaty palms, a racing heart, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, inability to speak, and a willingness to take risks,” Hitching said.

Hitching gives a thorough explanation of what sort of effects are associated with falling in love. Many individuals may identify these effects as ‘natural,’ but the kind of changes a person undergoes are riddled with anxiety, distress, and can drain a person’s feel-good hormones.

Opinion 18

The experience of falling in love weighs on the teenage brain in unique ways. A toxic relationship is far more destructive for the average teenager than any other high school circumstance. The reason for this is because the brain of a high school student is subjected to an unrealistic cliche that can set students figuratively, in their own world.

When the stress of falling in love or becoming infatuated takes effect, an individual’s natural sense of self can be destroyed. This is why inner connection is so important. Keeping your identity intact throughout any relationship is a necessary form of protection.

Although letting a partner’s characteristics change, mold, or influence your own may not seem like much of a threat, making or setting aside time towards preserving individual energy when in a relationship can be the condition that makes or breaks the stability of one’s lifestyle.

Ultimatley, each person creates their own story; but the healthiest choice anyone can make is choosing themselves.

In high school it can be easy for superficial things to appear dull and dangerous, but by focusing on one’s own wellness beforehand, teenage love looks a lot less like an elusive struggle with a stranger and more like a healthy connection that both individuals can carry with them for years to come, regardless of how things end.

It doesn’t cost a person to be kind, whether it be to others or themselves. Realizing this energy sets an individual on the journey of self love, granting a kaleidoscope of passions and confidence in a person that can stay with them beyond high school.

When Valentine’s day comes around, many students are left wondering who to love, but miss the obvious choice: themselves.

Photo By Emmanuel Dolo

— Cambry Fyllesvold, Feature Editor

February 2023

Mandan * Yesterday at 11:07:55 AM ...

It is Time to BeReal

With the state of the economy in the United States being on the verge of recession, people (especially teens) are still spending money on useless things like $300 shoes and going out to eat everyday at fast food restaurants that charge for overpriced, fattening food.

College and the rest of our lives are just around the corner. Students should consider saving more money before heading off to the “real world” and before debt starts snowballing and student loans build up.

Everyday, I walk through the halls of Mandan High School and see students with bags of fast food and I wonder, where do these kids find all this extra money everyday? Personally, I know many students that have close to nothing in their bank account, but they still find the need to spend the $10 they do have instead of trying to save up for their future.

Now you may be asking, why should I even consider saving money? Every year, colleges are raising their prices of tuition, housing, etc. This is leaving many students scrambling to pay for rent, groceries, gas along with many other things. Basically, all I am saying is that every penny counts. Setting up a savings account and putting money in frequently can build up overtime.

Some ways students can save money in high school can be saving gas, setting a budget for shopping, and not splurging on items you can not afford. I am not saying that occasionally spending money within reason is not acceptable, but looking to the future and taking care of your money responsibly will help in the long run.

The struggle of saving money is prevalent in many students’ lives. Speaking from my own experience of financial irresponsibility, I spend too much money on teas and shakes. Everyone knows the impulse feeling of needing to buy their favorite things.

Overall, students who save money in high school have a greater chance of managing money better in the future. Saving money helps prepare students for life outside of high school and teaches how to balance decisions with money. It is never too early to start planning for your financial future.

February 2023

Athletes Share About Offseason Training Programs

— Michael Pfliger, Sports Editor

When the competitive season ends, athletes find themselves wondering what to do now. Some choose to take time off and relax, however others will try to improve and stay in shape during the offseason.

“The big reason is so I can actually qualify for state in cross country because I’ll be a senior next year and I’ve never actually done good before,” Junior Track and Cross Country athlete Michael Storsved said.

Some athletes prefer the flexibility that comes with offseason training compared to normal practice. Seeing it as a time to recover and listen to what their body needs, allows athletes to stay healthy so they are ready for the competitive season.

“When I’m in a season they have dedicated practice times where you have to be there in order to compete but with my offseason running I’m able to play it more by how my body is feeling and adjust as needed,” Storsved said.

Weather and location play a large part in off season training with athletes having to move from their normal practice places to places that might be less suited for their sport.

“With all the snow right now I run at the Y on the treadmill unless it’s a workout like mile repeats or something like that then I run on the track there,” Storsved said.

Many athletes choose to ramp up training during the offseason to be stronger during the competitive season. This often comes in the form of lifting weights or doing more volume overall.

“In season I lift three times a week where right now I’m lifting five days a week,” Storsved said.

Athletes who participate in team sports often train with the team to build a team bond and a more cohesive team culture as well as to receive feedback from teammates on what to do differently.

“I mostly train with my teammates and friends because it’s nice to have feedback on what I could work on,” Junior baseball player Mason Oster said.

Athletes will use off-season training to build a base for the competing season, or to return to basics and dial in the fundamentals to have a better performance in the competitive season.

“Our offseason training focuses more on fundamentals and perfecting skills rather than training against competition,” Oster said.

Coaches are also encouraging athletes to participate in off-season training so they can hopefully be ahead of other teams once the competitive season begins.

“Naturally, training out of season is more encouraged than in season to focus on perfecting skills and learning new ways to be better,” Oster said.

Sports 21

“Our offseason training focuses more on fundamentals and perfecting skills rather than training against competition.”

Photo by Michael Pfliger

For many offseason athletes their offseason prep begins in the weight room.

February

SPORTS

Lily Giggee

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

“Our main goal is going to state so that one is still a little further out but we still can do it and it is definitely in reach,” Junior Savannah Gustavsson said.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

BOYS’ WRESTLING

“Our toughest competitor is the man in the mirror. There are always great teams in our state but ultimately it comes down to dealing with our own self doubt. Our motto this year is ‘Believe in yourself’” Freshman Anthony Porter said.

GIRLS’ WRESTLING

“The team had started off strong and showed huge potential, and they are reaching heights I wasn’t expecting,” Eighth Grader Alexis Storsved said.

strong and showed huge potential, and they are reaching heights I wasn’t expecting.”

Sports

Photo by Lily Giggee

Junior Jayden Wiest takes the ball down the court against Legacy.

Photo by Lily Giggee

—

, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

ROUND UP

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

“The biggest challenge this year is that every team in the state is so close in points. So we have to win as many games as we can,” Junior Kenlee Edland said.

BOYS’ HOCKEY

“We have had lots of ups and downs throughout the year but battled through them winning some big games,” Junior Tate Olson said.

BOYS’ SWIMMING

“We have done as much as we can with a small team. Even if we didn’t win a lot of meets, we still had fun,” Sophomore Leighton Ressler said.

GYMNASTICS

“We have reached some goals that we made at the beginning of the season and would like to continue to reach those goals,” Junior, Jericah Lockner said.

Senior Tahyre Frank and Sophomore Hudsen Sheldon block a shot against Legacy.

Photo by Lily Giggee

Senior Carter Kilen goes against Legacy in a face off.

Photo by Lily Giggee

February 2023

Swim & Dive Team Heads Towards State

The Mandan Boys Swim and Dive Team is swimming through this season. The team continues to power through, led by CoCaptains Ian Keller and Jacob Thomas.

As two of the only three upperclassmen on the team, the cocaptains are surrounded by fresh faces.

“Our flaws would be how small the team is, and we also have plenty of younger classmen,” Co-Captain Jacob Thomas said

Though the swim and dive team only has 26 members, with 3 of them being upperclassmen, the co-captains see the younger swimmers and divers as potential.

“But our strengths are also how many younger classmen we have and the brotherly love we all have,” Thomas said.

This season so far is also proving the talents of the younger teammates under the leadership of Keller and Thomas. Of the five members of the team to qualify for state in May, three of them are underclassmen.

Sports 24

“We have a lot of younger people on the team who will grow together and become stronger,” Co-captain Ian Keller said.

The mood for this current season to these swimmers is about having fun and growing as a team.

“We have meets coming up that will prove a chance for more of us to qualify for state,” Thomas said.

The team cheers for everyone in diving, even the other competitors from different schools. They cheer and whistle just as hard for their competitors as they do for their own teammates.

“One of the best parts of the team is how connected we are to each other. We’re like a family,” Thomas said.

Sophomore Owen Brockett, junior Jacob Thomas, sophomore Rayce Hermason, sophomore Leighton Ressler, and junior Connor Grubbe celebrate after a meet.

Photo by Emma Helbling

Emma Helbling, Opinion Editor