Issue 1 — October, 2021 by Edina Zephyrus

zephyrus The official student newspaper of Edina High School

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 | Volume 42, Issue 1 | 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN, 55439 | www.edinazephyrus.com

Meet the Edina school board candidates

Six candidates are running for the school board in 2021, with four seats available. In anticipation of the election on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, Zephyrus interviewed the candidates about their beliefs and goals for the board. See “School Board,” Page 3

photo courtesy of Edina Schools

Edina Morningside Church opens new peace garden Sage Jezierski section editor The Edina Morningside Community Church’s lawn, on the corner of Morningside and Grimes Avenue, has been the residence of a dumpster and construction equipment for the last year. When renovations on the church were finally completed, members of the church decided to transform the open space into something that would benefit the community. Throughout the year, over 20 community members worked with local designer Scott Herbst to transform the yard. The garden’s construction relied heavily on volunteer work and donations. The project was completed in the early fall of this year—the final product includes plants, stone walkways, and a rain garden. After a member of the church donated a Peace Pole to the construction process, the area was renamed a peace garden. “[Peace Poles] are used all over the world as a demonstration that this is a commu-

nity of peace. This is a community that cares for our neighbors and strangers,” Pastor Oby Ballinger of Morningside Church said. Peace Poles come in a variety of designs and languages, yet they all convey the same meaning: “may peace prevail on Earth.” The peace pole placed at the church includes the quote in English, Spanish, Swahili, and Dakota. The garden’s influence extends beyond its name. “We’re not just naming peace. We’re also trying to make peace,” Ballinger said. Every feature of the garden aims to improve the community. The rain garden decreases environmental harm, while vegetables grown in the garden are donated to members of the community in need. “We intend [for the garden] to be a place where people can find peace, no matter what else is going on in their world,” Ballinger said. The official opening of the garden was Sunday, Oct. 10 at 11:30 a.m. Anyone was invited to attend a worship service, followed by the blessing of the garden.

photo by Bennett Crater The official opening of the Edina Morningside Church peace garden took place on Sunday, Oct. 10.

COMMENTARY Wednesday, October 20, 2021

2021-2022 Staff 2021-2022 Editorial Board Mia DiLorenzo, editor-in-chief Dedeepya Guthikonda, managing editor Hanna Jaeger, copy editor Isadora Li, managing editor Caroline Seiler, business manager Ellanor Splinter, art director Izzy Wagener, design editor

Photographers Malak Alkhatib Bennett Crater Anna Fiddelke Max Froelich Bobby Granquist Lex Li Amanda Strack

Section Editors Hannah Owens Pierre Sage Jezierski Maren Fullerton Reilly Shane Urva Jha Celia Vedder

Artists Maggie Baker Althea Barrows Kawthar Benarouch Anabelle Jakala Iris Libson Lydia Olson Sophie Pearson Matthew Smith Maggie Yuan

Page Editors Aditya Suresh Carmela Cadja Hannah Owens Pierre Sage Jezierski Maren Fullerton Reilly Shane Urva Jha Celia Vedder

Advisor Daniel Amborn

Staff Writers Hailey Bergeson Devarsh Borah Carmela Cadja Claire Chen Celeste Eckstein Nora Franssen Maren Fullerton Lexi Han Helia Hansen Georgia Jensen Sage Jezierski Urva Jha Hannah Owens Pierre Jane Porter Griffith Pugh Olivia Sedarski Reilly Shane Matthew Smith Aditya Suresh Celia Vedder Elizabeth Yao Sydney Ziemniak

Letters to the Editor To share an opinon or voice a concern over issues in Edina or an article Zephyrus has published, submit a letter to the editor online by clicking ‘Contact Us’ and then clicking ‘Send Us A Letter.’

Policies Zephyrus is a monthly publication produced by students of Edina High School; 6754 Valley View Road; Edina, MN 55439; (952) 848-3800 x3087. Zephyrus is a designated forum for student expression that recognizes the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press, and abides by Tinker standard. Opinions published in Zephyrus do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff, adviser, administration, or entire student body. Submissions and letters are printed based on space available. Letters should be mailed to the school or given to the adviser or a staff member.

Find Zephyrus online edinazephyrus.com @edinazephyrus

A letter from the Editor

Mia Dilorenzo editor-in-chief

ike many other newsrooms around the country, the COVID-19 pandemic brought Zephyrus into unprecedented territory. Our once-bustling publication room was silent as we navigated online learning; all print issues were exclusively published online; our staff created an entire newspaper from their bedrooms. Despite these difficulties, Zephyrus continued to find innovative methods to engage with the community. From podcast episodes to digital issues to timely opinion pieces, we found ways to disseminate the news to our readers. Though Zephyrus has worked to establish a strong online presence, we’re thrilled to distribute our first post-COVID print edition. This issue explores student labor rights, entrepreneurship, and transportation shortages— most of all, it explores the unique individuals

that constitute Edina. After a year of online schooling, Zephyrus is determined to reconnect our community through journalism. The growing demand for digital media hasn’t faltered—we’re continuing to expand our publication beyond print issues. Our redesigned website, EdinaZephyrus.com, produces regular online pieces and multimedia content in addition to time-sensitive news pieces. On Instagram and Twitter, @EdinaZephyrus posts updates on sporting events, school board meetings, and published articles. We’ll be further expanding our online presence this year in an effort to streamline access to our audience. On behalf of the Zephyrus staff, I’d like to thank you for your loyalty and readership. Your support allows us to report on stories essential to Edina residents and produce meaningful pieces of journalism. Though we can’t predict what the 2021-22 school year holds, Zephyrus will be here—keeping you informed.

Advertisements To inquire about purchasing an advertisement in Zephyrus, please email edinazephyrus273@gmail.com.

NEWS

Wednesday October 20, 2021

A guide to the Edina School Board candidates Devarsh Borah staff writer

Erica Allenburg

Owen Michaelson

The former CEO for multiple companies and an Edina resident for almost 20 years, Michael Birdman says that his passion towards public education is one of the biggest reasons why he is running to be a part of the school board this year. Keeping students in school for five days every week is one of his biggest priorities, and he says mitigation strategies are necessary in order to keep students in the classroom. Birdman says that the implementation of the Comprehensive Literacy plan outlined in Edina’s Strategic Plan is another priority for him. “Not helping these students in the early parts of kindergarten through third grade will then show up in a more difficult way when these students reach middle school,” Birdman said. Birdman serves on the board of directors for the nonprofit, Doing Good Together, as well as serving on Edina’s Heritage Preservation Commission for 8 years.

courtesy of Sun Current

Karen Gabler brings a unique perspective to the upcoming school board election as the only educator running in the school board election this year. Some of her biggest priorities include providing a high-quality Edina education as we move through the pandemic, as well as assessing students’ academic, social, and emotional performance. Gabler says that we need to be striving and focused on making continuous progress. “We need school board members who know education, our students, and our schools. We need a school board that leads with vision, commitment, and purpose to not only meet students’ needs of today but help to ensure they are prepared for tomorrow,” Gabler said. Gabler has worked as an educator for almost 20 years and is currently an Instructor of Reading at Normandale Community College. She has also served as the Current Co-Chair of the Edina Education Fund, and was the CoChair for the 2021 Vote Yes! EPS Technology Levy.

Nicole Schnell courtesy of Michael Birdman

An Edina High School alumni and resident of Edina for almost 40 years, Dan Arom cites his deep commitment to Edina Public Schools as one of his major motivations for his campaign this year. “One of my most important priorities is to ensure ongoing supports for all students in the district as they transition after a long haul of distance learning due to the pandemic,” he said. He also stresses the importance of providing mental health support to students in the district. “Before COVID, there weren’t enough resources committed to addressing this problem. Now, we need to come out of it with a better plan forward, and address this issue,” Arom said. He has also served as a board member on the Edina Education Fund, and is a founder of the Spenser Somers Foundation. Additionally, he was a 2020 Edina Community Foundation Connecting with Kids Award Recipient.

Michael Birdman courtesy of Karen Gabler

Another incumbent on the school board, Owen Michaelson says that one of his biggest priorities is ensuring excellence for all students in the district. However, Michaelson says that Edina is not meeting his standards. “[Edina has] seen a decline in resident enrollment, with now more than one in five leaving the district to be educated elsewhere—we simply can’t ignore this,” Michaelson said. He says that the district is pursuing a “distracting” ideology. “[Edina talks] a lot about equity, but equity and excellence have a hard time coexisting,” Michaelson would also like to see increased transparency among the school board and the public. “I would like to expand our surveys of parents, students, and teachers in order to create baseline and longitudinal data that will render a very accurate sense of the sentiments of our major stakeholders,” Michaelson said. Michaelson also maintains significant volunteer commitments with the Scouts BSA, Toastmasters, and his church.

Karen Gabler courtesy of Dan Arom

courtesy of Edina Schools

courtesy of Erica Allenburg

Incumbent Erica Allenburg is running for reelection this year as her first term comes to a close. She would like to prioritize understanding current student performance from an academic perspective and monitoring mental health impact. Another issue important to Allenburg is the oversight of the COVID-19 pandemic. “As a board, we have to continue to respond to ever evolving data and changing conditions and ensure that we have layered mitigation strategies that have a dual purpose: stopping the spread of COVID, and keeping the most students in school as possible,” Allenburg said. During her time serving on the school board, Allenburg was unanimously elected chair in 2019 and 2020. Since 2017, she has served as a board member and host parent for the A Better Chance Foundation.

Dan Arom

An Edina High School Graduate in 1993, Nicole Schnell wants to build on “excellence” the Edina community has, and build schools to meet the demands of tomorrow. Schnell says that she would like to see the school board diversify how it receives feedback and on how it provides information. “For example, the school board voted twice for more restrictive measures in place in terms of community feedback in its meetings—going backwards in a world where we want transparency with our elected leaders,” Schnell said. “I seek to make our decisions and our discussions more transparent and our actions more accountable.” Schnell holds a Masters Degree in Marketing Communications from Northwestern University and has almost 15 years of experience in nonprofit management. Additionally, she is a member of Edina Parents for Progress.

Transportation labor shortage affects everyone

Maren Fullerton section editor

urely, if you have walked the hallways of Edina High School, you have heard complaints about the line on Tracy Avenue that extended onto the highway on the first day of school. Or you miraculously made it to school on time, to an empty class. Due to a shortage of bus drivers and staff members, the Edina transportation situation has changed dramatically from previous years. While extracurriculars and sports would get buses to all the events that were not hosted at home, this year, coaches and students are left to find rides to their events on their own. Even worse, students are struggling to make their first-hour class on time. In the case of Edina transportation, the labor shortage is creating a desperate need for bus drivers. The circumstances of the school year as well as the labor shortage mean that student transportation is suffering. “It has been very frustrating for all of us in transportation trying to manage the routes without enough drivers,” said the Assistant Supervisor of Transportation, Jeff Sorheim.

While the world recovered from COVID, economists predicted a drop in unemployment rates. However, when labor failed to gain the momentum expected, it was written off as an anomaly. According to the Washington Post, “[Economists] think there is just a lag in hiring and more people will return to work as they get vaccinated.” Others postulate about the effect of the government stimulus bills or quality of work life returning from the pandemic. With time away from jobs, there was introspective time that allowed more blue-collar citizens to question the quality of their working life. The requirements of drivers to have a commercial license, as well as a specific skill set in dealing with children and large vehicles, make hiring new staff extremely difficult. “At this time, most of our new applicants are coming from outside of transportation thus we have a minimum of two weeks of training before we can take them for a road test,” Sorheim said. The transportation department hopes to remedy the situation by increasing wages, advertising on buses outside of Edina Community Center, and offering a two-week training session. Due to the lack of drivers, stu-

dents are late to class and buses are crowded. “Because of COVID, there were not a lot of people on the buses. This year it is packed and sometimes it takes a long time to get home,” sophomore Renee Brown said. Although it has improved over the first couple of weeks, first period often starts with many students missing and getting home takes a significant amount of time. Furthermore, this year’s activities are forced to find their own transportation and miss out on the community-building provided on a team bus. “Having a bus is fun because you can talk with each other before the game and we have a tradition of singing a song to thank the bus driver,” said Ellen Norman, senior forward on the Girl’s soccer team. Teams are resorting to finding their own rides through carpools or even renting a coach bus. The labor shortage is affecting everyone at the high school from teachers, to coaches, and student-athletes. While the transportation situation may be frustrating for students, it is clear that the problem is with the economy and labor industries as a whole.

art by Iris Libson

FEATURES

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

From teacher to Dean of Students, Dahlman focuses on building authentic relationships Isadora Li managing editor Edina High School Dean of Students, Bradley Dahlman, is no stranger to the ins and outs of the Edina Public Schools District. Prior to his new administrative role, Dahlman taught social studies at Edina High School for 12 years, as well as adopted roles outside of teaching, such as Professional Development Coach. Outside of Edina academics, Dahlman serves as coach to the ninth-grade boys’ football team and as one of three Model United Nations (MUN) advisors. In addition to connecting with students, Dahlman coordinates with faculty and students around the school, such as security personnel and student services faculty. He says his current role essentially changes the angle from which he helps students and supports his

Brad Dahlman

photo by Bobby Granquist

colleagues. “It’s the same questions I’m dealing with, just on a bigger scale of ‘how can I help kids learn whatever it is [in the context of social studies]’ where now it’s ‘how can I help our teachers to help our students learn?’” Dahlman said. Despite his variety of interactions with students and teachers across the school, Dahlman says the relationships between him and students have changed and he is working to facilitate new, distinct connections. Aside from the administrative duties, Dahlman works to accomplish this through interactions as simple as wishing students in his alphabetical cohort “happy birthday.” Dahlman’s dedication to his relationships are also evident through those who have had the opportunity of collaborating with him. “He cares so much. He is really intuitive, in terms of what students need, [and]

where they’re at,” former MUN advisor Betsy Nimmo said. From the student perspective, his impact is also notable. “When I had him for AP World in tenth grade, I was really nervous, as it was my first AP class, but with his energy and [love] for the class and what he was teaching… he made it more enjoyable than I thought it would be. To see him in the position he’s in now just seems so perfect because he gets to interact and bring that energy to so many more students,” one of Dahlman’s former students, senior Ryan Swanda, said. The social studies department may have lost Dahlman’s day-to-day contributions as a teacher, but his impact still resonates with students and faculty alike. “His work ethic is 100 percent. His follow-through and commitment [are] 100 percent. The amount he cares is 100 percent,” Nimmo said.

Nordic coach Andy Turnbull’s legacy continues in the Hall of Fame Lexi Han staff writer Turnbull is a dedicated and humorous coach who often used Scandinavian catchphrases from the Norwegian ski team to motivate his team. Despite being Scottish, he’s infamous for his jokes and phrases that make everyone feel welcome. Before big races, Turnbull would make sure that his athletes were ready for anything. “He would do our wax for us every time and get up early to test the snow to know what wax to put on. If you’re a non-skier it doesn’t make that much sense, but kick wax is

super important, and if you have the wrong kind it doesn’t work,” senior Adeline Hinkie said. Most of all, he is passionate about the sport and the outdoors. He’s most admired for his dedication. “He is a phenomenal ambassador to the whole lifestyle of Nordic ski,” current head coach Mark Thone said. Even among younger student-athletes, Turnbull’s presence is still felt. “Most of the skiers who have been skiing for a while know who he is,” Hinkie said. He is a constant source of support, going as far as sacrificing his pom-pom on his winter hat during freezing cold weather to warm up

ski wax for his students. Instead of mourning the loss of his “great big Edina hat, and he just thought it was the funniest thing ever,” Hinkie said. “Unlike [other sports], Nordic doesn’t get a ton of attention. The school finally notices a coach who’s seriously worked his butt off for all these years and done so much for the Nordic Ski Team,” senior Grace Baker said. Turnbull’s coaching has greatly enhanced Edina’s Nordic Ski team. His long-lasting passion for the sport continues to inspire his students and the entire Nordic community.

Andy Turnbull

photo by Malak Alkhatib

Mr. Dockter: the new teachers’ union president Aditya Suresh staff writer Last March, Jason Dockter, a former U.S. Government teacher at Edina High School, was selected to become the new president of Education Minnesota/Edina (EME). Dockter replaced previous president Tom Connell following the latter’s retirement. EME is Edina’s local chapter for Education Minnesota and remains the leading advocate for public education in the city. It aims to provide a voice to the issues that affect both educators and students in Edina. The group makes sure that their opinions are known whenever decisions that affect public education are made, wherever they may be.

As the leader of the union, Dockter is the spokesperson for EME. He directs its activities, serves on committees, works with the treasurer on finances, and works with the staff and administration to implement better rules and regulations for schools. He also serves as a liaison between EME and the National Education Association (NEA), a national labor union for all educators. Having been an educator for over 20 years, the one thing Dockter will miss the most is his students. “[I miss] the students by far and just that daily interaction. It brings a little joy in your life. I’m missing that right now,” Dockter said. He specifically loved the unpredictability that students brought when he was teaching. Recently, during a school board

meeting, Dockter announced a vote of the union governance board that supported a teacher vaccination/ weekly testing and touched on the strain of the partnership between the School Board and Edina Public Schools (EPS). “At times, we [EME] have felt that our concerns were dismissed or disregarded,” Dockter said. Although the strain has been hard on teachers, Dockter kept to his goal and sorted out relations between the School Board and EPS. For many years, EME, the district administration, and the school board have built a special relationship – one based entirely on partnership. “My goal is to persevere and further that partnership – to make sure that teachers have a respected voice in all decision-makJason Dockter ing,” Dockter said.

photo by Lex Li

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Wednesday, October 20, 2021

47 seasons, same old show Oct. 2 marked the start of season 47 of the beloved show Saturday Night Live with celebrity host Owen Wilson Urva Jha section editor

photo by Ellanor Splinter Gutty’s Comedy Club is located in the Southdale Center.

Gutty’s Comedy Club shouldn’t be kid-friendly T

Claire Chen staff writer

here’s an improvised line from the performance at Gutty’s Comedy Club that resonates well with my overall opinion of the show: “Usually, when I do this joke, there aren’t any kids in the crowd,” comedian Anthony Beningo said while staring at a group of kids in the audience. The underlying message: if the club wasn’t a family-friendly venue, the humor in the show would be considerably better. Gutty’s Comedy Club was established in 2003 and houses locations across Indiana and Minnesota, each with the goal of connecting different generations through live comedy shows in a non-alcoholic setting. Recently, the company opened a new venue at Southdale Center, performing two-hour shows every Friday and Saturday night.On Saturday, Oct. 2, I attended a show at the club starring Beningo, who had done over 3000 worldwide shows and appeared frequently on Sirius XM radio. The performance area was small and could fit around 30 people. It had an interesting look, with fake candles and black curtains that hung over most of the area. The venue provided movie theater-type foods, such as popcorn and pretzels, which were absolutely delicious. The show began with short performances by two other comedians, including Kyle Yamada, one of the founders of the club. The comedy centered around two main topics:

family and church. Personally, the jokes weren’t overtly funny, but worth a small smile here and there. The comedians were definitely held back by the company’s “dry-bar” motto. Jokes that seemed like they should have been targeted towards adults were instead worded to be kid-friendly, practically ruining the humor. Other jokes were hard to understand and difficult for me to relate to. When Yamada joked about a priest at his church and the difficulties he experienced, it was as if he expected the audience to empathize with him. Instead, it left me confused even when the rest of the audience, who were mostly in the middle-age demographic, laughed. Beningo appeared 45 minutes into the show, and I enjoyed his performance much more than the other two. Along with his good-natured energy, his jokes were relatable and effortless. His act didn’t drag on, and his interactions with the audience were entertaining. Once again, there were times when I felt that his jokes ended abruptly to fit the “all ages” criteria, but it was an enjoyable performance. It was interesting to see the differences in the comedians’ styles, and I did enjoy most of the show. Dropping the “all-ages” rule would leave the audience even more satisfied. That said, that rule is the main reason the company was created, so there’s little chance it will change. It was a good one-time experience and would be great for a unique family gathering activity.

Owen Wilson, known as Mobius M. Mobius in the acclaimed series “Loki,” (but more famously Lightning McQueen) hosted the Saturday Night Live (SNL) premiere. Starting off the series with a monologue about his brothers and bleak jokes about the “Cars” movies, the cast was vital to causing this episode to be remotely funny. Wilson did an average job of being host but did not have anything about his performances that stuck out, or much chemistry with the cast. Following the departure of famed comedian Beck Bennett from SNL, many fans believed the show would never be the same. While Beck Bennett was a beloved cast member whose repertoire included impersonations of Mitch McConnell and Mike Pence, his absence from the new season wasn’t particularly noticeable. The new season featured three new cast members: James Austin Johnson, Aristotle Athari, and Sarah Sherman. Opening the premiere as Joe Biden, Johnson’s debut was strong. Though there are mixed opinions about the actual impression (no one will ever top Jim Carrey), it’s a big deal for a new cast member to open a show on their first episode, and the impression just adds to it. The strength and comedic timing Johnson showed in his performance are reminiscent of Dana Carvey’s

first show in 1986. Sherman also hit the ground running in the sketch “Mail-in testing” with second-year cast member Andrew Dismukes. Athari, however, fell into the background amid the new characters, so he really needs to step up his game if he wants to be seen for another season. The political cold open was as expected from SNL. Aidy Bryant’s iconic impression of Senator Ted Cruz made an appearance, along with Melissa Villasenor’s AOC, both of whom had phenomenal performances. The majority of sketches were nothing worth noting except for “Cars 4,” “Weekend Update,” and “Mail-in testing.” “Mail-in testing” was an unexpected sketch with Sherman and Dismukes. Before starting the episode, Sherman seemed like an oddball for SNL—her performance proved that she deserves to be on that stage. Their characters talked about doing weird things to stool samples, trying to convince a viewer that everything was perfectly normal—which it clearly wasn’t. Weird character voices and your immaturity when someone talks about poop really make this sketch worth your time. If you were to only watch one sketch from this episode, this one is it. “Cars 4” is a sketch designed to make you cry laughing. It starts off somewhat normal until you realize that Lightning McQueen is like a frat

boy named Chad in this new sequel. Weekend Update is a classic, as Colin Jost was disappointed in the lack of political drama, talking about infrastructure rather than the president almost dying from COVID-19. Meanwhile, Michael Che proceeded to make fun of R. Kelly. Weekend Update also featured a touching tribute to the late Norm MacDonald (the best Update host in the history of SNL), with some of his most iconic jokes. Though it was nothing out of the ordinary, the segment was reliably humorous. Post premiere hosts include Kim Kardashian and Jason Sudeikis— both giving fans mixed feelings. Because Kardashian’s followers are vastly different than those who watch SNL, I was expecting the episode to be bleak and boring. Episodes like those tended to not be very funny, yet still very popular. That being said, Kardashian as a host opened up many opportunities for jokes and did not disappoint. Kardashian’s monologue was one of the funniest monologues since John Mulaney wrote for the show in 2008 as she made fun of her own fame and family. Sudeikis, an SNL alumn known for his show “Ted Lasso,” is another exciting host who shouldn’t disappoint. Though SNL has clearly downgraded (since Seth Meyers left the show in 2014), this episode and upcoming hosts like Sudeikis give me hope for a good season.

art by Iris Lisbon

Kick into fall with the Zephyrus “Autumnal Vibes” playlist playlist by Hanna Jaeger

HALLOWEEN

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

The history of halloween ommon sights on the evening of Oct. 31 include groups of young trick-or-treaters dressed in an array of costumes, carved pumpkins, and various decorations like fake spiderwebs and ghosts. Halloween hasn’t always looked this way—the holiday has a long and storied history. Halloween originates from the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. Celebrated on Nov. 1, Samhain marks the beginning of the Celtic New Year. Celts believed the boundaries between the living and the dead became blurred during Samhain, particularly on Oct. 31 when the ghosts of the dead return to Earth. Samhain was celebrated with bonfires, fortune-telling, and offerings to supernatural visitors. Participants put ash on their faces and later wore masks to disguise themselves from prowling spirits, sparking the tradition of dressing up for the holiday. Their disguises acted as protection; celebrants feared they would be recognized or even kidnapped by visiting spirits and creatures without it. Romans invaded the Celtic lands in 43 CE and soon took control. Two Roman festivals meshed with Samhain: Feralia, a day commemorating the passing of the dead, and Pomona, named after the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. Pomona’s symbol was an apple, which later inspired the tradition of bobbing for apples. In 609 CE, Pope Boniface

IV created All Martyrs Day, which was later renamed All Saints Day. The holiday was originally in the spring, but was moved to Nov. 1. In 1000 CE, the church declared Nov. 2 to be All Souls Day. Historians believe the church was trying to supplant the Celtic celebration of the dead with a more religious holiday. As Christianity took root in Celtic lands, traditions and rituals blended. The evening before All Saints Day (the same day on which Samhain was celebrated) became known as All Hallows Eve, and eventually, Halloween. By the 1600s, All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, was fairly prominent in Europe. Settlers established colonies in North America and brought some traditions with them. However, Halloween was not widely celebrated in the colonies because of Protestants’ strict religious beliefs. For years, Halloween was mostly celebrated by Catholics and Episcopalians. Halloween celebrations in the colonies featured ghost stories, parties, dancing, singing, and celebrating the harvest. When an influx of Irish immigrants arrived in America in the 1850s, they brought their own Halloween traditions and some original Samhain customs with them, and the holiday took off. They introduced the tradition of jack-o-lanterns by carving turnips to ward off a mythical man named Jack who made a deal with a devil. Later, the turnips were swapped for pumpkins. In the early 20th century, Hal-

Halloween crossword

loween celebrations became more secular, as they focused on parties, community, and fun traditions rather than ghosts and demons. Halloween parades became increasingly popular and the holiday has become heavily commercialized. Now, costumes are sold in stores, and people spend more and more money on candy for parties and trick-or-treaters. Watching scary movies like the “Halloween” franchise is also a beloved tradition for many. Today, Halloween is a nine billion dollar industry and a cultural phenomenon. From Samhain to All-Hallows Eve to its modern state, the holiday has been an important celebration to many for hundreds of years.

Helia Hansen staff writer

Across

art by Maggie Baker

2. ghostly talk 4. opposite of light 5. a ‘mean’ women 9. a large kettle 10. a dead body 11. a spoken phrase believed to hold power 13. trick or ______ ! Down 1. pumpkin you carve 3. month of halloween 6. a house filled with ghosts is considered _______ 7. ________, inc. 8. a box to hold a corpse 9. a disguise 10. a web creator 12. night flying mammals

Answers: Across 2. boo, 4. dark, 5. witch, 9. cauldron, 10. skeleton, 11. spell, 13. treat, Down 1. jack-o-lantern, 3. October, 6. haunted, 7. monsters, 8. coffin, 9. costume, 10. spider, 12. bats

Celeste Eckstein staff writer

art by Ellanor Splinter

infographic by Dedeepya Guthikonda

STUDENT LIFE

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Edina’s Etsy entrepreneur

Nora Franssen staff writer Tiffany Shen is a senior at Edina High School. But that’s not all: she’s also a business owner. She’d crocheted before, but the pandemic prompted Shen to turn the hobby into a business after seeing others on TikTok start businesses on Etsy. Her business has been largely successful, accumulating around 150 sales on her three products (a stuffed bee, frog, and triceratops). Because of the high demand, she spent a lot of her free time over the summer crocheting. “In the summer, I did maybe 25 hours [per week], maybe more, but now that the school year started, I kind of raised my prices so that people would stop buying so

much, and now I only spend maybe an hour or two a week,” Shen said. Shen loves the independence that comes with owning your own business. “Everything’s entirely up to me. I get to choose what products go up, I get to choose how much I charge, and I just like being my own boss,” Shen said. She also added that she would recommend this sort of entrepreneurship to other students. “Turning your hobby into something that can actually make you money is great, especially with something as low-stakes as Etsy, because Etsy is most likely not going to give you your whole income, so it’s nice to just have a side-hustle, and just get some extra money. So, yeah, I would recommend it.”

“Everything’s entirely up to me. I get to choose what products go up, I get to choose how much I charge, and I just like being my own boss.” Tiffany Shen crochets for her Etsy business.

photo by Bennett Crater

The Common App for dummies

art courtesy of Common App Maren Fullerton section editor Seniors were bombarded with college application information the second they stepped in the building following the peace and quiet of summer. There is simply too much information to process at once. Thus, here are the simplest common application tips to help seniors manage the crippling pressure of applying to college. 1. Class rank and size: Good news! Edina does not do class rank and it is not required on the Common App, leave it blank. The class of 2022 is 655 people. 2. Look at the Grade 12 Schoology course: All seniors were added to the EHS Connections 2. course where counselors add important dates to the calendar. There are links to all the important assets and documents in organized folders. 3. Utilize counselor walk-ins: It may feel superfluous to go to Student Services for a single question about the Common Appliwcation, but the counselors can answer any question (no matter how small) in a walk-in. The times are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11:30-12:15pm and Wednesday and Friday from 1:071:40pm. 4. Fill out your pink transcript

release sheet: According to Susan Phetsamone, a student counselor at Edina, “The pink sheet is the ticket on the train, this will help us know what colleges students are applying to and where to send their transcripts.” Do not put your success in the hands of anyone else and get it in early. The counselors and teachers require that you request letters of recommendation at least three weeks in advance of the deadline. Test scores need to be sent ahead of time as well. 5. Take your time: The application process is lengthy and can burden your mental health and free time. Split the work up into multiple sections and use the energy when it comes. “You are not alone, there are resources AKA your counselors to help guide you through the process,” Ms. Phetsamone said. 6. When in doubt, Google: It may not have all the answers, but the internet does have thousands of people who have been through the college process. The worst a quick search could do is validate your confusion. The counselors website and College Navigator can help answer questions. Lastly, when you have completed your application, watch the confetti fly and revel in your greatness. Then return to your habitual state of stress while you wait for months until the application statuses change.

infographic by Jane Porter and Annabelle Jakala

STUDENT LIFE

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Labor shortage creates stress for working students Hanna Jaeger copy editor Help wanted signs grace the windows of businesses across the country as a labor shortage sweeps the nation. Whether out of fear of COVID-19 or satisfaction with the augmented unemployment relief during the pandemic, many Americans are reluctant to return to work. The lack of workers is especially prevalent in retail and service jobs, many of which are held by Edina High School students. As a result, casual part-time jobs are giving students the stress of a career. Teens are beginning to lose motivation under heightened expectations. “People that I work with are getting burnt out having to compensate for shorter staff, causing them to quit,” senior Elise Morton, a Starbucks barista, said. It’s a vicious cycle that leads to increasing pressure on teen staff. Many students are being forced to take on roles not included in their job descriptions, detracting their focus from academic and social activities. “I have to help out with other jobs, and sometimes I have too much stuff going on at one time,” senior Ashlyn Garvis, a hostess at

Edina Grill, said. Students are hardpressed to find time to focus on more important matters. “It’s stressful figuring out everything I have to do…. If you can limit your work hours, limit [them].” A teen job is a rite of passage. Every kid who wants a job should be able to hold one without the burden of feeling like they are carrying the company on their backs. “[Students like] having a little extra spending money….[I’ve] learned [to set] boundaries for my time during the school year and to not cover more shifts than anticipated.” Morton said. There’s no denying that teens want to be involved in the workforce. “[Having a job,] I feel more independent doing things because I know how to manage money and how to manage my life, work, school, and other things,” Garvis said. “It’s also helped me meet new people and have new experiences.” The pros to working a job during the school year are evident, but are not outweighed by the cons of stress and exhaustion. As more responsibility falls upon remaining workers, morale will continue to plummet and teens will have to decide whether the extra change is worth the trouble.

art by Sophie Pearson

SATIRE Edina High School Covid cases cease after eating banned in classrooms Max Froehlich staff writer A recent study conducted at Edina High School has shown that cases of COVID-19 at the school have dropped to zero. The study attributes this miraculous cease in spread to a campus-wide rule banning snacking in classrooms. When asked to comment, EHS Principal Andrew Beaton said “I’m amazed at how quickly cases dropped. Heck, I didn’t even think it would work.” Upon returning to school under a hybrid model last year, Hornets across the school were shocked to find they could no longer easily dis-

obey the long-standing rule against eating during class. While these students neglected to note the fact that they can still drink water, they continue to slander this regulation as “inhumane,” “abhorrent,” and “stupid.” Many are quick to cite the fact that the cafeteria and the Upper Gym are enclosed areas still open for caloric intake; new research has shown that both locales’ heights make removal of a face mask just as safe as it is outdoors. With COVID-19 effectively eradicated at EHS, a debate has been sparked asking if it’s finally safe to walk the halls mask-free. While the

prospect is inviting, Beaton believes due to a lack of monitoring outside of school, this would pose too much of a risk. “We may be able to stop students from eating in classrooms at school, but we have failed to prevent it at home,” Beaton said.

art by Kawthar Benarouch

infographic by Caroline Seiler

OPINION

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Students miss Wednesday Flex, bring it back Olivia Sedarski staff writer As Edina students are unceremoniously thrust into class after a year of inconsistent learning models, the debate over the five-day learning week has become a question of administrative action on learning accessibility and mental health. During the 2020-21 school year, Wednesday “FLEX days” served as an asynchronous day for students to catch up on assignments at home without being required to attend a virtual lecture. For many students, Attendance Based Assignments (ABAs) granted a much-needed break from school and screens. With the transition to five days of in-person school, a full day of Wednesday FLEX has been replaced by the pre-COVID Thursday FLEX period, a sad attempt to replicate the self-guided Wednesdays of old. Without Wednesday FLEX,

midweek burnout has become a pandemic of its own. Students are attempting to juggle jobs, sports practices, club memberships, and their social lives. After a year-long attempt to learn from home, the abrupt transition back to seven period days has created a more intense workload that often conflicts with responsibilities outside of school. In-person school means earlier mornings, later evenings, and neglecting one’s health for all-nighters, as evidenced by common area couches being repurposed into power nap stations. A mid-week break is desperately needed, not only to catch up on some much needed rest but also for a general respite from the increased academic demand. Wednesday FLEX was an acknowledgment of how overwhelmed our community had become. The decision to move abruptly back to a five-day model flagrantly ignores the impact that the COVID-19

pandemic continues to have, both physically and mentally, on our lives. Wednesday FLEX was part of an overall more flexible and accessible system. In terms of transmission threat, Edina is undoubtedly less vulnerable than a year ago, but by attempting to return to an outdated learning model that pushes students beyond their capacity, the Edina administration is purposefully turning a blind eye to the negatively compounding effect that school can have on mental health. A Wednesday asynchronous day isn’t just about breaking up the week into more manageable pieces; it’s also about accessibility. The programs that were in place last year for working from home—ABAs, Google Meets—allowed for teachers to remain in contact with their classes and students to stay on top of their responsibilities if they were not able to physically attend class. In contrast, missing a single day this

art by Anabelle Jakala year means returning to an overwhelming workload, causing further academic burnout due to the lack of virtual learning policies in place. That’s not to say that bringing back Wednesday FLEX is without its downsides. Changing Edina’s weekly model would put increased pressure on teachers to prepare online materials, and the change

would require administrative guidelines to ensure uniformity between classes and teachers. However, Edina has the resources to invest in its students, and this effort is necessary for our community’s mental health as we navigate this unstable period of transition back into “pre-pandemic” life.

Another year, Get vaccinated, Edina another iPhone Hannah Owens Pierre section editor

art by Althea Barrows Griffith Pugh staff writer Unless you have an old phone that needs to be upgraded, there isn’t a compelling reason to buy the newest model. As the iPhone 13 arrives in stores, there doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm surrounding the company’s flagship device as in years past. The iPhone 13 comes in four models: 13, 13Mini, 13Pro, and 13Pro Max—ranging from $699 to $1099. All four models come equipped with Apple’s new A15 chip which is claimed to be “50% faster than [their competitors].” Although minuscule, the most notable changes in this latest version are improvements to the camera and the overall battery life of the devices. The 13 and 13 mini have a new “dual diagonal camera.” All this means is that Apple flipped the vertically stacked cameras from the iPhone 12 so they now are diagonally facing. According to Apple, this new camera

captures 47% more light. The iPhone 13 pro and 13Pro Max have the most significant camera changes. Improvements to the wide, ultrawide, telephoto lens allow for higher quality low light photos, macro photography (in case you feel the need to magnify a dewdrop), and greater zoom capabilities for close up and long-range photography. Besides the camera, the most noteworthy advance to the iPhone 13 is the upgraded battery life. A test conducted by Tom’s Guide showed that the iPhone 13 battery lasted two hours longer than the previous model, the iPhone 12. The disinterest in the new iPhone is understandable as the extreme price tag outweighs the minor changes. It’s even reasonable to ask whether the diagonal camera change on the 13 was simply made just to look visually different than the iPhone 12? Frankly, I’d rather wait a few years and get loads of new groundbreaking technological improvements than the same old, same old from Apple.

On Sept. 13, 2021, the Edina School Board launched the COVID-19 Dashboard to track COVID-19 vaccine and infection rates. The results are abysmal: at a time when record-breaking COVID outbreaks are being reported across Minnesota schools, only 77% of students in grades 9-12 and 50% of students in grades 6-8 are vaccinated. Edina High School is falling behind. While other schools commonly attended by Edina citizens such as Blake School and Breck School boast rates of 97.1% and 93% respectively, EHS’s likelihood of beating the pandemic is stagnant. Last week, the Edina School Board decided that masks will become recommended rather than required if vaccination rates reach 85% and community transmission rates are low. Ironically, the very people who are so vocally against the mask mandate tend to be the ones stalling its termination. There is some progress—on Sept. 28, Edina Schools implemented a requirement for staff to get vaccinated against COVID or submit weekly testing. Yet staff are not the only ones at risk: Teenagers can easily spread the virus to immunocompro-

mised peers and unknowingly form mutations. “Unvaccinated people are potential variant factories,” Dr. William Schaffner, professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center said in an interview with CNN. The more unvaccinated people there are, the easier it is for the virus to adapt into more deadly variations. The unvaccinated don’t just put themselves at risk, they put the entire community at risk. “By getting vaccinated we are doing our part to take care of each other,” EHS nurse Gretchen Gosh said. “Even if you aren’t at high risk of contracting the severe illness, our family and community members could be, so vaccination helps to limit severe illness and hospitalization.” The problem isn’t specific to Edina; across the United States, young Americans in the age range from 12 to 24 have the lowest vaccination rates of any group eligible for the shot. Unlike other demographics, whose hesitancy is split largely down political lines, youth resistance seems to stem from apathy. Dominant media narratives lead young folks to falsely believe that their age protects them against the virus, meaning they don’t have to get the vaccine. Higher rates of hospitalization among the elderly are used

to suggest that COVID-19 isn’t a serious threat among young people, a message that is becoming increasingly dangerous as new variants are hitting the youth harder. Teenagers tend to view COVID-19 from the standpoint of personal risk. The perception that the virus is “not a big deal” makes invocations of personal freedom in regards to the vaccination seem reasonable. Such weaponization of the notion of personal choice is being wrongly propagated by individuals who are expected to be leaders in the Edina community. Just two weeks ago, Edina School Board member Owen Michaelson was the lone vote against the measure to require staff vaccination. “I’ve gotten the [vaccination]. But I do want to be able to have people have [the] choice,” Michaelson said. The problem is that getting the COVID-19 vaccine isn’t just about individual freedom. It’s also about the freedom of those around them to live safely. Being unvaccinated is about as much a personal choice as driving drunk on a freeway—both actions recklessly endanger the lives of others. The past year of our lives has been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us stop talking about COVID-19: get vaccinated.

art by Lydia Olson

SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Edina seniors reach common ground through Political Science Club

Georgia Jensen staff writer

arlier this year, Edina High School seniors Ian McVann-Henkelman, Augustus Schultze, Willem Van Panhuys, and William Clausman started the EHS Political Science Club to create a space where students can debate current political issues. The club is a collaborative space that aims to fuel conversation and understanding across the ideological spectrum. All having differing political opinions, the four friends agreed that there wasn’t a space where students could debate current issues. “It was a space to have more common conversations and middle ground,” McVann-Henkelman said. The group is nonpartisan and open to anyone, with the only ad-

mission requirement being an open mind. “Working together to come to an understanding or common consensus is really powerful in this space. The club meets at 7:45 a.m. every Friday in room S270. Meetings can include debates on contemporary topics, with discussions ranging from gun reform to vaccine mandates. The Activities Fair proved instrumental in expanding the club’s membership this year, leading to a total enrollment of around 50 students. There is hope among the four that their legacy of finding common ground and understanding continues to grow even after they graduate. “I think it’s great to have a place where people can discuss real-world issues and find common ground, it’s how society can move forward,” McVann-Henkelmann said.

photo by Bobby Granquist The Political Science Club meets every Friday at 7:45 a.m. in room S270.

Sailing toward the future Elizabeth Yao staff writer Hidden in Edina High School, there is a lesser known team: the Edina Sailing Team. At EHS there's pretty much a club for everything, you'll find clubs from Project Earth to Applesauce Enthusiasts and everything in between but what many students don't expect is for the school to have a sailing team. One of the biggest misconceptions about sailing is that it is relaxing. “It’s on par with any other athletic event, it's equally physically demanding,” coach John Weissert said. The sport is heavily reliant on unpredictable factors, one of the

biggest being weather. “Coming to terms with the lack of control over so many things has encouraged me to be more pragmatic, organized, and scientific about all the things I can control in my life,” Weissert said. “The most underrated thing about sailing is that it's a lifelong skill to have,” senior Tyler Utendorfer said. The team sails at the Minneapolis City Center, which is the practice location for many other teams across the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Due to the community-based nature of the sport, relationships are formed with students from across school districts and backgrounds. “You get to meet a lot of different people at practice and hang out with them at

regattas and everything,” Utendorfer said. Being on a smaller team also comes with its fair share of challenges. “A small team size makes it hard to get many people together to go to regattas, if we wanted to go traveling, we really only have around six people on the team so if we don't get everyone to come, we can’t go,” Utendorfer said. EST’s main future goal is to expand their team and share their love for sailing. They hope to stray away from preconceived notions about the team, instead they really shoot for a unique experience for those who take interest.

photo by Amanda Strack The Edina Sailing Team practices with other teams from the Minneapolis-St. Paul area at Lake B’de Maka Ska.

A return to a (Model U) Normalcy The cooler temperatures and vibrant fall leaves also mark a return to the Edina Model UN season Celia Vedder section editor Model UN is cherished by so many Edina High School students because of the community and collaborative aspects it provides, which was lost to a year online in 2020. Students, along with the staff advisors—Brad Dahlman, Claude Sigmund, and Meggie Trenda— missed this aspect. “That vibe on a Tuesday afternoon, when we’re in the social studies rooms and we got 150+ kids all over the place, there’s an energy to it that you don’t get when you are virtual,” Dahlman said.

For some context, Model UN, the beloved extracurricular at Edina High School, in which students are assigned a nation represented in the United Nations, and act as the delegate for a given country. In years past, students have represented their countries in debates surrounding subjects such as women in armed conflict, the Zika virus, and child labor mining. It is a highly teamwork based club, and has these grand competitions all across the country. These two aspects and many more, are what students gravitate towards when joining MUN, which did prove difficult to shine through during COVID-19. Though COVID-19

did generate a struggle to clubs such as MUN, it also provided new opportunities—leadership positions were granted to students during the pandemic. “Putting some of the leadership capabilities on the students has worked really well for us and is something we plan on continuing with,” Dahlman said. Extracurriculars are by no doubt an important part of the high school experience. Not only is the energy prevalent and lively and Model UN, but in making our return to a more normal way of life, the entire school’s morale has been lifted. art by Maggie Baker

SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES Wednesday, October 20, 2021

College athetes getting new financial opportunities Reilly Shane section editor Earlier this year, The National Collegiate Athletic Association revised its policies concerning paying college athletes. Regardless of what school it is, what sport they play, or how well they perform, no athlete in college has been able to get paid for their athletics. Many schools argue that student athletes should be more focused on their academics than making money. That is, until recently. The NCAA has made unprecedented changes to its policies. Athletes will not be getting paid specifically for playing, but rather through endorsement deals, social media accounts, and selling their own merchandise. One particularly successful method athletes have been using involves the social media platform Cameo, a website where fans can buy personalized messages from their favorite celebrities. Cameo’s definition of “celebrity” has expanded to include athletes, in contrast to the actors and social

media personalities that already take advantage of the platform’s quick and easy profitability. “In my opinion, I think college athletes should be paid because they are still putting in the same amount of hard work and effort as the professionals are,” Edina High School junior athlete Parker Hughes said. “Also, athletics could be another source of income for the students which will benefit them greatly.” Playing collegiate-level sports can be costly, so the opportunity to profit off their efforts is helpful to players. College athletes getting paid is something that is changing the lives of these students. Many will argue that it can help pay for school, while others will disagree that it can affect their academics. Whether it be through a Cameo or selling their own merchandise, making money as a college athlete is becoming more and more acceptable. With this new policy in mind, it may increase the competitiveness in high school sports.

art by Lydia Olson

Edina Hip Hop is rebuilding—what you should know Hailey Bergeson staff writer The Edina Hip Hop team prides itself on more than it’s titles. The club was formed with the goal of creating an inclusive group of people passionate about dance. The unity they have constructed has built them a reputation within the school, as they attended DX Americup Nationals in 2020 and were invited to perform at a Timberwolves game last year. The team prioritizes hard work more than previous experience, and emphasizes having fun over being successful. “You don’t have to be a professional dancer to be on the team, you just have to be willing to learn and work hard,” junior Shamita Senthil Kumar said. Although performances are important, the atmosphere and community are what make being part of the team so distinct. Auditions for the 2021-22 season were held on Monday, August 23. Members say they are eager to get back into their usual routine, which includes sports performances, showcases, flash mobs, and fundraisers. “This year has especially been a great learning experience because

The Edina Hip Hop team holds tryouts on Monday, August 23.

we didn’t have as many people, which has been a challenge, but I’m just excited because it doesn’t really matter who’s in the group, it’s always a positive environment and everyone’s willing to pitch in,” Senior Captain Viv Nash said. She continued that the importance of dance in her life is a byproduct of the welcoming community she gets from being a part of the team. Nash also says the team is working to rebuild themselves after a lack of momentum due to COVID, with hopes that the new team will be just as successful as it has been. Other members of the team agreed. “In 2020, it was a challenge to figure out how to keep dancing as a team online...we weren’t able to do much due to the pandemic; however, we were still able to stay in contact with each other and share music and videos,” Senthil Kumar said. The group hopes to expand its influence this year and make hip hop at EHS a flourishing community. “I think we worked so hard in the past years to really get our name out there and be taken seriously, and I hope that I come back [after graduating] and Edina is hands-on with hip hop,” Nash said.

“This year has especially been a great learning experience because we didn’t have as many people, which has been a challenge, but I’m just excited because it doesn’t really matter who’s in the group, it’s always a positive environment and everyone’s willing to pitch in.” photos by Lex Li