MHS Courier November 2022

Photo by Lily Giggee

Hello, Mandan High School students! Welcome to another issue of the Courier. This edition contains a lot of interesting and strong articles (although I may be slightly biased.) I’m incredibly proud of the rest of the staff and how hard they worked, considering we had to put this issue out significantly sooner than the rest.

Amongst the variety of articles for this issue is one of my personal favorites, “America Loves Old White Men,” written by Lily, one of my best friends and our extremely talented News Editor. In this article, Lily discusses her perspective of the celebration Columbus Day, despite the colonization and suffering of Native Americans.

Another hard-hitting topic discussed this issue is abuse in relationships and students’ experiences with it. This issue hits close to home for many, myself included, and it is incredibly rewarding to be able to help others to share their experiences and provide them with the security of remaining anonymous.

With all of this being said, I hope you enjoy this issue of the Courier and many more!

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

Hurricane Impacts The Lives of Puerto Ricans

— Ariana González, Editor-in-Chief

With the beginning of hurricane season, on September 16th, Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico. The storm caused flooding in communities all around the island, as the hurricane came with over 30 inches of rain. Along with the rain and flooding in the island, the hurricane also knocked out the power for over 900,000 people.

Many of Mandan High School’s large Puerto Rican population have family members still residing on the island. After Hurricane Maria, many of these students’ families have been struggling to recuperate with the strike of yet another hurricane.

One of these students is junior Angelimar Soto Arvelo. Soto Arvelo moved to North Dakota from Arecibo, Puerto Rico. A majority of Soto Arvelo’s family still lives on the island and was affected by Hurricane Fiona.

“My grandma had to leave her home since her house is on a ravine,” Soto Arvelo said. “With her house being on a ravine, there was a risk of it coming down.”

Soto Arvelo’s family was also affected by the power being shut off as well.

“The electricity was off for all of them,” Soto Arvelo said. “The water was also completely shut off.”

Junior Lixsamarie Centeno is another student with a majority family in Puerto Rico that was affected by hurricane Fiona. Centeno’s sister had to evacuate her home because of the hurricane.

“My sister had to go stay with my grandma and aunt since where she lives, it was unsafe,” Centeno said. “In the area where she lives, the lake overflooded and the trees and bamboo were blocking the road.”

Centeno lived in Puerto Rico when hurricane Maria struck the island and feels that there was more preparation for Fiona than there was for Maria.

“I don’t think we were prepared enough for Maria,” Centeno said. “We had never imagined that there would be such a hardhitting hurricane and it took us by surprise. Many people didn’t

have the resources and supplies for that time.”

Another student whose family was affected by the hurricane is Sebastian Salva. Unlike the other students, Salva’s family lives out in the countryside.

“Since my family lives out in the countryside, they weren’t as affected by the hurricane,” Salva said.

While hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico hard, Salva agrees that hurricane Maria had more of an effect on the island.

“With hurricane Maria, more damage was done,” Salva said. “Homes were destroyed, while Fiona caused more flooding.”

Soto Arvelo feels that the government of the United States should do more to help Puerto Rico during this time of crisis.

“Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States that currently needs help,” Soto Arvelo said. “I think that a lot of people don’t see that Puerto Rico is still here and active.”

Soto Arvelo believes that there are multiple ways that Puerto Rico can be helped after the effects of this natural disaster.

“Money and funds would really help at this time,” Soto Arvelo said. “When it comes to here, I wanted to organize a fundraiser to help.”

For more information on how to help Puerto Rico during this time or a place to donate, go to http://www.togetherpuertorico.org/ donate-now/.

“I think that a lot of people don’t see that Puerto Rico is still here and active.”

Youth Initiative Launches

The Youth Fall Festival brings about contests, foods, events, and music. The festival is the launch of the Mandan Youth Initiative. This initiative targets Mandan citizens between the ages of fourteen and twenty. With the end goal of getting the younger generation more involved with the community.

City of Mandan Communications Coordinator, Kari Schmidt, outlines the reasons for which the Youth Fall Festival was creat ed.

“The festival is being created to launch the Youth Initiative, so the basis is we need to build our youth community for it,” Schmidt said. “The main thing is to get the youth and young adults that come to the event to sign up.”

Schmidt elaborates on what being a part of this initiative en tails.

“You’re not committing to anything when you sign up, other than receiving more information on what this initiative is,” Schmidt said. “We’ve even got it set up, if you’re only interested in volunteer opportunities you can sign up.”

Junior Kelbi Pritchett signed up for Mandan Youth Initiative and helped plan the festival.

“It really is not that much of a commitment, I won’t lie. I don’t really know what to do half the time, or what to say,” Pritchett said. “But, everyone has something they want to change. It’s nice to speak up about that issue.”

Schmidt plans to train interested members on how to get involved in the community.

“If you’re interested in actually coming to the initiative meetings, we plan to be able to train those that are interested in it,” Schmidt said. “If you wanna know how to go to a city commission meeting and actually voice your opinions, or if you wanna know how to have a festival like this in Dykshoorn Park, we’ll train you on how to do it.”

Schmidt illustrates some of the goals of the Mandan Youth Initiative.

“We want to make it to where you and your peers want to stay in Mandan,” Schmidt said. “One of the things we know from talking with some of your peers, that you tend to stay in a place where you feel welcome, and you feel your voice is heard. A place where you can make a difference.”

If someone moves away from Mandan, Schmidt explains how they’ll develop skills for their new home.

“If it’s something that someone participates in, but decides to live somewhere else,” Schmidt said. “We gave them that basis for being involved in their community.”

Through the Mandan Youth Initiative, Junior Fabian Raygo feels it will give the youth of Mandan representation.

“Throughout the community, it’s gonna give some more representation to the youth,” Raygo said. “Through the youth initiative, it shows how far the youth can actually go when they have the right resources and plans.”

Raygo shares how being involved in the community can help someone develop skills for the future.

“Being involved is gonna prepare them for the future. It’s gonna show them how to plan for things, and how to take action,” Raygo said. “Recently, I’ve had to make a bigger decision, it’s kind of showed me how I know my limits.”

Pritchett thinks being involved is an important way for someone to express themselves in the community.

“Being involved in the community really gives everyone a chance to express what they want in the community,” Pritchett said. “What they think would be fun, because like no one thinks the exact same way as everyone else. So, it’s important to share your opinion.”

- Dylan Campbell, Reporter

Photo by Maiya Fleck

Mandan High School teenagers enjoy fun at the festival.

Mandan Bands Marching Into New York

— Emma Mosbrucker, Reporter — Lily Giggee, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Mandan High School’s bands have always been a source of excitement and entertainment for those who come to listen. However, this year, the band will finally play for a much wider audience in New York City.

The concert bands, CBI and CBII, along with Jazz Band 1 and Jazz Band 2 will be making the journey to New York in March.

The recent pandemic has put a damper on the out of state trips for the bands.

“We haven’t been able to travel because of COVID, but I’m hoping we will this next year,” Junior Nora Baumann said.

Despite the fact the COVID is at a down low, there is still a pressing issue of the amount of band students able to go, but as of right now it is planned on going.

Both band teachers are busy preparing for this trip, and every year there are trips planned in the North Dakota area, such as the upcoming U Mary jazz festival and the NDSU parade that happened in September.

“We just more or less sign up for our slot and we go in front of the judges and we perform the way we perform it and the way we prepared it,” Boehm said.

With the upcoming trip, the students also are starting to prepare their musical abilities for the festival. When playing, it is impossible to achieve perfection every time, but with practice the music comes to you better.

“Sometimes you feel like you get behind a little bit, or everything’s not going well. And then you gotta kinda push and make sure that everything gets performed well, and that you learn it at a good rate,” Boehm said.

Concert band is not the only band Mandan High has to offer. Jazz band is also a choice given to band students. The jazz bands provide a different look on the department of music.

“I guess the cool thing about the jazz bands is that the students rely solely on their individual parts rather than having more than one person playing their part,” Boehm said. “I guess that’s what makes jazz music a little bit more exciting because it focuses more on the individual rather than the whole group.”

The anticipation for the trip is building up as the date draws closer.

“I am excited to go on our New York Trip, and to perform in the festival,” Baumann said.

Mandan Jazz Band One practices a musical piece.

Photo by Lily Giggee

— Michael Pfliger, Sports Editor

Mandan Library Now

Schaff said.

The Morton Mandan Public Library recently finished a 5.8

million dollar two year remodel. The remodel took approximately one year of planning and murmurs of a remodel began surfacing much earlier and two years of building.

“It needed a touch up. The carpet was getting kind of weary and the paint needed to be redone and the ceiling was getting kind of saggy in places so it was time for a restart,” Community Engagement Coordinator Michaela Schaff said.

Much of the money for the remodel came through donations and the Mandan visitors fund. The remodel was completed on August 30th, 2022 after almost two years of construction.

While the library was under construction for two years the staff did not stop working.

“We did a lot of administrative projects and stuff that we don’t usually have time for. We worked on rewriting our policy manual and a lot of database cleanup,” Schaff said.

The library not only looks different but is bigger than before going from 12,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. With all of the added space the library is now able to hold more books than before.

“Our capacity has increased in the adult and teen area for sure and the children’s area can hold a little bit more than it did before,” Schaff said.

The library is a space for many high school students to relax after school and do research for school assignments.

“I like the quiet and mostly get to do whatever I want in here. They have lots of graphic novels and books for me to do research with,” Junior Nathan Lameira said.

The students are beginning to enjoy the library’s new layout. “The last space has better bean bag chairs but they have signs up above the bookshelves so that’s less confusing and this one has cooler vibes,” Lameria said.

Along with holding more books the library now can hold more people and furniture too.

“We can have a lot more people but you wouldn’t know it just because of the little pockets and seating areas,” Community Engagement Assistant Shawna Marion said.

Some of the library staff were sad to see the old layout go but are beginning to embrace the new layout.

This is one of many different seating places for children to sit and read.

“There was a certain charm to the way it was before so I do get why people liked it and I liked it before too but this layout it is a lot more efficient than before,” Schaff said.

With the increase in the adult and teen section the library is trying to ensure that people will use the section more so the extra space does not go unused.

“We have a whole bunch of fiction books and a lot of non-fiction books as well. I’m in charge of the teen books and work really hard to make sure the non-fiction section is full of relevant topics,”

The library hopes to use this space as effectively as possible so members of the community can thoroughly enjoy it.

“We have more meeting rooms now so people can rent for workshops and meetings,” Marion said.

Much of the library’s extra square footage and meeting rooms

Photo by Michael Pfliger

Open For All Ages

came from the Rice Bowl moving to another location.

“What used to be the Rice Bowl upstairs is now just empty space with hopes to develop in time. This is all library space, there’s no renters, it’s all ours,” Marion said.

The library also hosts community events for all ages to participate in.

“We are going to be getting programming started up again soon with a lot of activities for teens like board game nights we have done murder mystery parties in the past, nerf gun wars after hours,” Schaff said.

The library added a small stage for children to gather around to

Photo by Michael Pfliger

This cubicle is a spot for students to have a space to study.

Photo by Michael Pfliger

watch performances and book readings.

The Song Spot Double

— Emmanuel Dolo, Reporter — Emma Helbling, Opinion Editor

In this edition of the song spot there are two perspectives at work. with this collaborative piece we hope to inspire the reader to try listening to something new, whether it be something raw and eccentric, or a still and relaxing tune, a fresh tune to soak your ears is the perfect way to see and experience new perspectives.

Gilded Lily- Cults

Beginning with a hollow, hovering tone, Gilded Lily seems like every other indie-pop song; but with the use of elusive yet relatable lyricism, lead singer Madeline Follin gives Gilded Lily a sort of healing aura that stimulates reflection in the listener. This sincere intro is then followed by a transition as swift as the booming chorus that gives this track its mag ical niche: Golden Lily then erupts into a profound frenzy of melodies and drums that give the listener a rush like no other; Follin’s lyric “Haven’t I given enough?” is the pinnacle of what it feels like to be frustrated, unap preciated, and tired. The relatable nature of this song is the prime element that sets Gilded Lily apart from any other other indie-pop track.

48- Tyler The Creator

48 begins with a profoundly strong message, a sort of prologue that immediately sets the listener into the reality of the crack epidemic. With the help of an interviewee, the listener gets a glimpse of just how traumatic it was to be a dealer during the epidemic. Whether it be watching a loved one tear themselves apart or being one the millions of victims struggling with addiction daily, there is no denying the tragedy and trauma the epidemic had on millions of families, industries, and people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Except in 48, Tyler flips the perspective. With a low, grounded voice he jumps on the chorus, using bold lyricism to speak about his dark past as a deal er. The heavy drums and instruments give the song a dense and heavy feel, which sets the listener into a rabbit hole of deep vibes. Tyler sharing his experience might lead you to question how a myriad of other young men and women going down the slippery slope that is dealing, live with the guilt every day.

Aye - Sam Fender

Sam Fender is a rising alternative rock artist that I absolutely love. Fender’s music channels everything that your teenage years has to offer and ‘Aye’ is no different. This song is a clear expression of Fender’s anger at the upper class. He vents his ever present frustration at the public ignoring the faults of the rich and instead glamorizes their lives. In the end, you can clearly hear Fender’s frustration and confusion about who he’s supposed to be in this ever present dumpster fire of a world. But the best part of this song is Sam Fender’s killer vocals.

The Doors are iconic. Period. This is my favorite song from the Doors and to me it always will be. This song is energetic, will always get stuck in your head, and best of all it’s respectful. Good love songs for the sixties will ALWAYS trump love songs from today. I think if more people listened to songs like this, the world would be a better place.

What is your favorite fall activity? What is your favorite fall activity?

“Going to New York”

What are you looking forward to in band? What are you looking forward to in band?

“Going to football games” “Tennis” “Playing in New York where we can get national recognition.” “The Ireland trip”

“Ireland”

What is your favorite band memory? What is your favorite band memory?

Mr. Baumann Teacher Mr. Boehm

Teacher

“Playing a solo in the technology booth upstairs” “Going to New York”

“New York trip”

“Jazz band in middle school”

“Trumpet”

Senior Rylie Schick

“Jazz trips” ‘‘The New York trip”

“Percussion”

Junior Leif Lahtinen

“Trombone”

Sophomore Hayden Krusi

“Going to New York”

“Going to NDSU”

“Trumpet”

What instrument do you play? What is your favorite band memory? What are you looking forward to in band?

Riley Thomas

Freshman

, Feature Editor

THE FLIPSIDE

November 2022

—

Cambry Fyllesvold

Photo submited by Rylie Schick

Photo by Cambry Fyllesvold

Photo by Cambry Fyllesvold

Photo by Cambry Fyllesvold

Photo by Cambry Fyllesvold

Photo by Cambry Fyllesvold

Students Share Experiences with Abusive Relationships

— Ariana González, Editor-in-Chief

Every year over 10 million Americans experience emotional and/or physical abuse from someone they love, according to mentalhelp.net. According to youth.gov, studies have shown that 76% of American teens have reported being psychologically and emotionally abused during a relationship.

Jane Doe recently came out of an abusive relationship. They had dated their abuser for a year, and while everything was going well for the first couple months, it all quickly went south.

“It wasn’t until I started branching out more and making new friends that something in the relationship shifted,” Doe said.

While Doe gradually saw the red flags, they brushed them off as a form of protectiveness from their significant other.

“They started getting mad at me for going out with my friends and would try to convince my friends all hated me,” Doe said. “Whenever I disagreed with them or tried to defend myself or my friends, they would get upset with me and tell me I was choosing my friends over them.”

Not only did they try to control who Doe was friends with, they began to control what they wore.

“I had a strict dress code of what I could and could not wear. For example, I wasn’t allowed to wear skirts, shorts or any crop tops,” Doe said. “It was stricter than the school dress code.”

Doe recalls an incident they experienced with their abuser regarding what they wore to hang out with a friend.

“I was at the mall with one of my friend’s, and I was wearing a pullover and a skirt,” Doe said. “They had snapped me and I snapped them back a picture of my lap without thinking and they began calling me names and pretty much slut shaming me.”

Doe’s friend was the first to recognize the situation they were in, however, it didn’t go well.

“Unfortunately, my significant other managed to convince me my friend was just trying to manipulate me into breaking up with them and I dropped my friend,” Doe said.

Doe eventually left the relationship after being cheated on.

“But as bad as it sounds, I’m glad they did. I don’t think I would’ve been able to get out if they hadn’t,” Doe said.

John Smith’s experience with being in an abusive relationship was more physical.

“Whenever I’d do something out of line, they would threaten to hit me harder than they had the last time,” Smith said.

Like Doe, Smith recalls the beginning of the relationship, when there was no red flag in sight.

“The first time they hit me, I didn’t even know how to react. I kind of just sat there, speechless. They cried and promised that was the first and last time that would happen. It wasn’t,” Smith said.

Even after the breakup, Smith’s abuser continued to reach out to them through many social media platforms, or indirectly, by talking to other people.

“They started calling me and texting from other people’s phone, making accounts on every social media they could find me on, they even went as far as starting rumors about me so I’d reach out and tell them to stop,” Smith said.

Despite the physical violence, Smith was more hurt by the manipulation and emotional abuse.

“No matter what they did, I was convinced that it was for my own good and they wouldn’t do anything to purposefully hurt me because they said they loved me,” Smith said.

Despite sometimes missing their abusers, all of them agreed that their lives have greatly improved after cutting them off.

“Love shouldn’t make you feel like you’re constantly doing something wrong or make you feel that you’re not enough. A person who really loves you won’t constantly bring you down, everyone deserves better than that,” Smith said.

“Love shouldn’t make you feel like you’re constantly doing something wrong or make you feel that you’re not enough.”

Getting With The Grads Real

Cambry Fyllesvold, Feature Editor

McCartney Fix ‘22

McCartney is currently working towards a degree in political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mac has been keeping busy by working for the newspaper at his college. He has been experiencing so many new things that college life offers.

Advice for after high school:

“Know yourself while making decisions about classes (if you aren’t a morning person don’t take an 8am class.)”

Pictured above, former editor of The Courier, McCartney Fix.

Brenna Hammer ‘18

Brenna went to school at University of Mary to get her B.S in Athletic Training and graduated from there in 2021. Right now Brenna is currently going to school at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. She is studying to become a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and is set to graduate in 2024. Between her time working as an athletic trainer for youth sports and high school activities, Brenna enjoys running and going to Duke’s basketball games. She has had the opportunity to work with some professional athletes. Recently, Brenna has adopted a puppy named Moose and has taken up running. She ran a half marathon and is hoping to run a full marathon soon.

Advice for after high school:

“Find the thing that you are passionate about and pursue it, but be aware that there is more than just one obvious way to do it. There is always a way to incorporate your passions into your life!”

“Spend more time talking to people who have different backgrounds than you and different opinions, or maybe spend time volunteering with these groups. Learn to listen, to hear, not to respond. You will surprise yourself with how much you grow when you expand your perspectives. Also, for the same reasons, travel every chance you get.”

—

Photo submitted by McCartney Fix

Photo submitted by Brenna Hammer Brenna Hammer dresses up for a sporting event at Duke.

Thomas Power ‘21

Thomas is currently in school at Bismarck State College to become a Secondary Science Teacher. He is hoping to finish his degree at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. Thomas has been keeping busy by earning his fourth black belt in Krav Maga and traveling around the United States and Europe this past summer. Recently, he has been working hard with NASA and North Dakota’s Gateway to Science to promote and change STEM education in North Dakota. The group has started multiple programs for elementary to middle school students to learn and experience STEM. They have also been traveling around the state promoting STEM at various events. In his downtime, Thomas enjoys playing volleyball as well as Dungeons and Dragons, and hanging out with his friends.

Advice for after high school:

“Remember that school is important and should be taken seriously, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore yourself.”

“Have fun, go do things, join clubs, or intramurals. College is an experience, so don’t forget to live it.”

“If you go to BSC, Pancheros will give you free drinks if you show them your student ID!”

Liberty Hurley ‘20

Liberty is currently furthering her education at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. She is a senior this year and will be graduating with a degree in Global and Multicultural Studies and a minor in Spanish. Liberty has been keeping busy by working as a Resident Advisor in the dorms at Montana State. She will also be starting to teach English to a family in the community whose first language is Spanish next semester. She is excited to say that she is graduating a year early, in the spring of 2023. Liberty plans to travel around Europe for a few months and finish her summer by doing the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

Advice for after high school:

“Participation is never lame, and it’s the best way to make lifelong friends. I would also say that everyone is starting fresh when they get to college and is looking for new friends, so jump out of your comfort zone and talk to everyone. The worst case scenario is you meet someone interesting and never see them again.”

Photo submitted by Thomas Power

Photo submitted by Liberty Hurley Former Editor in Chief, Liberty Hurley poses for a photo.

Thomas Power infront of the Pantheon while he was on a trip to Rome, Italy.

On the Courier staff, we have a big job to do on a scheduled timeline. This explains the step by step process on what the behind the scene looks like for each issue.

-Emma Helbling, Opinion Editor

LIVE FROM LOCALS

- Dylan Campbell, Reporter

Local broadcast was once the primary resource in which people would digest news. However, with the evolution of technology, local broadcasts have been seemingly drowned out. The way local broadcast has had to adapt towards a new age leaves the question if it will be able to sustain itself within it.

URL Radio owner Stacy Sturm is disappointed in the turn radio has taken.

“Radio has become this corporate thing where big, gigantic media moguls own a quarter to half of the stations in the country,” Strum said. “A lot of that local involvement, it’s not there anymore.”

Sturm feels as though radio has been phased out of the recent generation.

“There’s gonna be a whole generation of people who will probably never listen to the radio,” Strum said. “You have access to music anytime you want on Spotify, you have your music that you like and you play, and that’s what you listen to.”

With the evolution of media, Sturm recognizes the duality of it.

“There’s a good and bad to it. Radio within itself is dying, and there’s a whole new generation that’s probably not gonna know what it was like to call and request a song,” Sturm said. “But in a way, you do have a great whole world of music and podcasting shows that you can find on your own now.”

In recent developments with technology, Sturm reflects the struggles of radio with local television.

“It’s sort of a natural progression. Television is going through the same thing now,” Sturm said. “People are leaving local television and are streaming stuff, and local television is going to figure out how to evolve and still be relevant.”

KX News meteorologist Amber Wheeler describes how local television is innovating in itself.

“There is a firehose of information coming at you at all times For us to survive, as an industry, we have to adapt to that,” Wheeler said. “So, we have to be a part of that firehose in a wa but we have to make sure that we’re giving you information that is more important to you than what you’re getting on social media.”

Wheeler elaborates on how KX News stays relevant within North Dakota.

“Everything we do is going to be extra local, and we have to stay digital. We have to stay where you can find us on your phone,” Wheeler said. “We know we have to be present in a lot of different places, and give you unique content about North Dakota that you’re not gonna get anywhere else.”

Studio 701 Executive Producer Amber Schatz tells her local stories with the utmost respect of her sources.

“I am the biggest advocate of our state, North Dakota. I always joke that I’m the unpaid spokesperson of North Dakota,” Schatz said. “I care about people who live in this state, and treat all of their stories with respect, dignity, and giving it justice.”

Schatz feels the responsibility of her platform comes with humility and growth.

“I think it’s good to feel a little bit nervous, because if you’re not, then you’re becoming complacent,” Schatz said. “I try to challenge myself everyday to be the best I can be, and keep getting better.”

Stacy Sturm shuffles songs on the radio.

Photo by Dylan Campbell

Social Anxiety Striking Teens All Around the World

— Emmanuel Dolo, Reporter

Social anxiety disorder is a struggle for many teens throughout the world, regardless of an individual’s age, gender, or emotional well-being.

Social Anxiety is characterized by having an immense fear of scrutiny or humiliation from others; whenever a person is showing signs of social interaction becoming a daily struggle, helping the individual feel comfortable can benefit them in the future.

According to Polaris Teen Center: as of late February, 2019: 1 out of 3 adolescents between 13-18 are affected by Social Anxiety daily.

Due to its significantly negative impacts, the individuals that struggle with SAD tend to adopt a pessimistic lifestyle that sets them up for failure in terms of emotional academic wellness.

According to FrontiersIn, Social Anxiety Disorder has a lifetime prevalence rate of 3.5 to 9.1% ages 10-24 in western countries.

These statistics show that not only do teens struggle with SAD, but the disorder stays with a small percentage of adolescents throughout their lives, causing more struggles with interaction in social settings later on in life.

Social Anxiety or Social Phobia can make even the emptiest room feel like a battle with one’s own thoughts and emotions. This constant “battle” stimulates an unsafe and uncomfortable environment for many in today’s world

An anonymous student shares how social anxiety affects them

in a multitude of situations.

The anonymous student states, “Entering a social setting can be overwhelming and scary, even somewhere I have been multiple times,”

The student then goes on to describe the sort of snowball effect that builds on their own anxiety

The anonymous Student states:

“I feel a rush of thoughts that ball up, and each one is worse than the last and it makes everything 100 times worse, I start to get fidgety and then I feel like everyone is noticing me.”

Among many teens, social anxiety is heavily formulated around the fear of being seen in an embarrassing or exposed circumstance by one of the individual’s peers, but that is only a mere glimpse at the deeply rooted lack of self assurance and confidence several teens struggle with daily.

An anonymous student shares their use of comfort zones as minimal coping mechanisms to provide them with emotional safety; the anonymous student states:

“My house is my comfort zone, I usually have alone time as needed and reflect on my interactions throughout the day”

Comfort zones provide an individual a safe area or lifestyle to process and analyze their thoughts and emotions throughout the day without feeling exposed or watched by other individuals around them.

“Entering a social setting can be overwhelming and scary, even somewhere I have been multiple times,”

America Loves Old White Men

— Lily Giggee, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Christopher Columbus was a man who sailed the ocean blue in 1492. He sailed on the Santa María, Pinta, and the Niña. He did not actually land even remotely close to the Americans. So why do we have a national holiday celebrating him?

Currently, forty of the fifty states refer to this day as Columbus Day. North Dakota is not one of those states that refers to it as Indigenous Peoples Day. The ten states that do celebrate it are South Dakota, Oklahoma, Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont.

South Dakota even gets the day off of school for this holiday. While, Native Americans do have a whole month, having a day named after a man who supposedly found this country when he did not feel wrong.

So why is North Dakota, who has multiple different tribes located within the state, still referring to it as Columbus Day? Is it just tradition to celebrate terrible, white men in this country?

Christopher Columbus took Native Americans as slaves back to his own country. He would take them away from their home. As a country we tend to turn a blind eye to the past. It isn’t happening now, so why not change something that has been around forever?

With all of the trauma we have caused the Native Americans in our country, you think we could give them a break. But we must have a holiday named after a man who did not even discover this country. What if hear me out this might be a totally ridiculous idea, but what if we name it after the people who were here first?

Let’s change Columbus day to Indigenous’ Peoples Day or even a MMIW day.

I say if millions of young native women are going missing, then

we should have a national holiday to honor and recognize this cause along with the young women.

The only people that really like Columbus are the Italians. I’m not saying screw the Italians, but come on if only one group enjoys him let’s drop the holiday. Let us drop the holiday and help the cause and to raise the awareness of all the dead Natives.

Indigenous People’s Day could also be helpful to teach about Native American history in their respective states. There is an American Indian month but those can always be overlooked a lot of times since it is only 30 days.

The day could help teach younger or older kids about the different tribes in the state or even the overall history of Native American tribes.

I understand that Columbus Day has a lot to do with the tradition as it has been a holiday for many years, but the holiday does not celebrate anything that is worth celebrating.

Celebrating Columbus Day is almost like celebrating all of the terrible things he did; celebrating the natives that he took back to Spain to enslave them along with celebrating the diseases he brought that killed so many.

We don’t celebrate the day that the first African slave came to America. But yes let us celebrate the day the people from our own country were taken as slaves.

In the end of it all, America truly turns a blind eye to its past and can not even look closer to the people they have whole days for.

The Realities Of Growing Up

As a child, the thought of change sent chills down my spine. The idea of making even the slightest adjustment to my life seemed futile, improbable.

Whether it meant entering a classroom full of new faces on the first day of 6th grade, or transitioning from a 3DS to my first phone, each moment was a reminder that my lifestyle I was familiar with was fading; a reminder that I was growing up.

Some individuals may have been oblivious to these feelings as a kid, but I was all too conditioned to the heavy weight that set in my chest each time I thought about the future.

It didn’t matter whether or not the change was positive or negative, but a matter of leaving my comfortable childhood behind. This fear of seeing myself morph into someone new ate at my thoughts, becoming someone completely opposite of the personality and the lifestyle I called home.

Eventually, my fears caught up with me; change was now looking me dead in the eyes, I had ‘grown up’. Yet I still had no idea what that really meant, regardless of how many times the two words were thrown at my face.

Now after going through many transitions, eras, and phases in life, the realization had set in; life is subject to change, this dynamic in itself is infinite and ever changing.

This epiphany can set in at any moment, I’ve learned that as one naturally goes about their day doing the same repetitive routine, we become more familiarized with the lifestyle than ever, down to the smallest detail.

Everyone has their own idea of the kind of individuals they were as children, we’d like to think said idea is accurate; But no matter how many photos, videos, or deep talks with parents and relatives take place, you will never truly know.

The confusion stemming from being heavily disconnected from childhood experiences can make reflection seem impossible.

How does one build and learn from their early lifestyle and childhood when said connection to their childhood is but a blurry compilation of faint memories, pictures, and conversations during supper?

This is the same question that leaves several teenagers oblivious to their old thought processes and lifestyles.

From the fall of freshman year to a sunny May graduation, the changes a myriad of students go through can range from minuscule transitions to an explosive metamorphosis.

Like that of the plethora of changes that come with high school, the mindset and morals of the typical teenager are ever changing. Due to this factor, over time the perspective and lifestyle most teens are familiar (conditioned to) with, become foreign.

— Emmanuel Dolo, Reporter

First Grade Emmanuel, deciding to hide the pearly whites on picture day because he had just lost a tooth, little did he know most of his classmates were losing teeth too...and growing up.

Photo sourced by Emmanuel Dolo

Indigenous Families Under Threat

- Dylan Campbell, Reporter

The Indian Child Welfare Act that keeps Native American fos ter children within extended-family or their reservations, is under threat of being overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court on the basis of racial discrimination. If ICWA were to be overturned, the indigenous community would be under threat from the opposed, that aim to undermine the better interest of Native American youth.

This precedent that has been followed for decades should not be dissolved, because this act protects indigenous kids from centuries of systemic oppression.

Throughout history, Native American kids have been the target of numerous schemes, such as colonization, the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, and the Indian Adoption Project.

In these plots, Indigenous children were abducted from their families, and deprived of their cultural identity. And in order to raise Native Americans in the new western society independent of their kindred. These acts have planted roots for generational trauma to grow within indigenous families for centuries.

The Indian Child Welfare Act does not just protect the displace ment of Native American kids, but indigenous culture as a whole. Historically, throughout recent centuries, American Indigenous heritage has consistently been suppressed by white America. Effectively, killing off the Native American cultural background. The overturning of the Indian Child Welfare protects the indige nous identity. Therefore, the overturning of the act leaves Native Americans vulnerable to the state they were previously subject to.

After many generations of Native American youth being disbanded from their families, ICWA has an outlasting effect on keeping indigenous families together. The Indian Child Welfare Act allows Native American kids to grow up in their communities, and connect to them for the first time in decades.

The argument made for the overturning of ICWA is that it racially discriminates against non-indigenous families by not allowing them to adopt Native American children.

However, if America’s brutal legacy continues to ensue on the Indigenous population. By systematically eradicating them of their tribal heritage, religions, and community would cease the collective indigenous identity.

After years of adoption being used against Native American people, ICWA prioritizes preserving that indigenous youth will always reside in their respective families or community.

In turn, the Indian Child Welfare Act is the same as any other Child Welfare Law, which is family reunification.

Indigenous children in cadet uniforms, at Carlisle Indian School.

Photo sourced from the National Archives

— Michael Pfliger, Sports Editor

Volleyball

“I think the season has been as good as it can be we have dealt with a lot of changes and adapted to them really well” -Senior Breann Radke

Girls’ Cross Country

“The size of the team will affect our season when it comes to state. At state we want to be able to have a full team of 10 runners as your top 5 contribute to the team score. Throughout the season it’s best to have 5 runners in varsity so we can get team scores and see how we compare throughout the state”.Senior Anna Bendish

Girls’ Golf

“ Our team is very young compared to most, as we had no seniors this year and half our varsity team is freshman. Our season was good this year we were in the top three for all tournaments but one.” -Junior Ruby Heydt

Girls’ Swim

“Everyone is making improvements people are qualifying and overall the team morale is just really good this year.” -Senior Taylor Adamski

Junior Kylie Jasso performs a dive as her teammates watch in anticipation to see how she scores.

Photo by Michael Storsved Junior Justin Hale still having fun while running at the state meet.

Photo by Michael Pfliger

ROUNDUP

Football

Boys’ Tennis

“The season was very fun and we qualified for state in back to back years with last year being the first time in 8 years.”

-Sophomore Ryan Bitz

Boys’ Cross Country

“This season has gone pretty good so far, most of the team has been getting PR’s and we have all been getting better each meet.” -Junior Omar Foley

Boys’ Soccer

“Our defense was the best this year compared to other years and everyone put in the effort.” -Senior Joshua Salagan

“I think the season will end with Mandan winning state and all of us getting a championship ring”

-Junior Issac Peterchuck

Photo by Lily Giggee Senior Sierra Kaninoa prepares to serve the ball to the opposing team.

Mandan Football Hopes to Bring Home A State Title

This season the Mandan Braves football team has been doing good. The team is currently 7-2 on the season and ranked number two in WDA. Mandan will go into play-offs as the number 2 seed meaning there will be two home games.

“So far we had one hiccup where we didn’t play so well against Minot,” Head football coach Todd Sheldon said.

The only loss this season came against Minot at home. Recently they handed over another loss to Sheyenne.

The team has a variety of different types of players to make the team the way they are. Senior Lincon Wiseman leads AA football in rushing yards. Senior Karsyn Jablonski leads the state in receiving yards and Tahrye Frank is third for receiving yards. All statistics from Oct 19, 2022.

“It takes all different kinds of athletes, big athletes, fast athletes, smart athletes, physical athletes and finesse players. Takes all to make a good team,” Sheldon said.

The team knows where they play but if one gets hurt someone else is going to have to step up. This season there have been plenty of injuries, but they have been able to bounce back

“It gives definite lines on who plays where. The downside is there are spots to fill when others get injured.” Senior Seth Gerhardt said.

Football starting lineup is mainly seniors this season. There are 9 seniors on offense and on defense

“(The team is) older for sure. Not many young guys are filling holes,” Gerhardt said.

Sheldon’s motto right now is just to take everything one week at a time. Play the game of the week and then go from there.

“This week is West Fargo Sheyenne next week it’s whatever playoff game we get and then hopefully get to think about the week after that and the week after that,” Sheldon said.

Sheldon has been the Mandan Braves football coach for a long time so he has a lot of experience with coaching football.

“This is my eleventh year as the head coach and I have eight years as an assistant before that, so nineteen total,” Sheldon said.

As the season comes to a close there is a lot of hope that Mandan football will bring home their first state title.

“Hoping it ends the way we want. A ring on our finger and a trophy in the case,” Gerhardt said.

Mandan football offensive team are huddled around Head Coach Sheldon and Assistant Coach Bossart

Photo by Lily Giggee

— Lily Giggee, Assistant Editor-in-Chief