www.edinazephyrus.com
September 30, 2016| 37:1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What’s Inside? E H S Ze p hy r u s, I s s u e 1 N ews a n d Po l i t i c s. . . . . . 4 & 5 Check out a construction timeline and our new politics page
Features.............................6 Curious about Backpack Tutors? Turn to page 6 for more
Opinion..........................11 & 12 Read about the pros and cons of AP
Indepth.........................8 & 9
Culture...........................13 & 14
Educate yourself about education #get #schooled
Sports...................................15
Features............................10
Find the best chai in the Twin Cities
Check out the Athelete of the Month
Learn more about the new DECAfe, Humor...................................16 Imagine EHS as a rainforest... underground classes and more
2
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The Sun Rises on Senior Year Dear Class of 2017, Congratulations! We’ve made it to our senior year! We’ve all heard it time and time again: Edina is full of rich, snobby brats. Well, clearly whoever said this has never been to Edina, because I find that I am surrounded by the most supportive and compassionate student body. Class of 2017, it is without a doubt that our grade has outshined all expectations. In this first month of senior year, I have noticed new friendships being made despite the fact that our time is running out at EHS. Our commitment to each other as a class has paid off and we are united as ever, ready to finish our senior year with grace. While stereotypes may define us, we have all but broken through and defeated the odds. Seniors, by this time next year, we will all have parted and gone our separate ways. As sad as it may be, the opportunity to cement yourself as an outstanding member of our class is dwindling within the few months that remain. So why close yourself off? Now is the time to get out there and live your remaining months as a high schooler to the fullest. People joke about how high school is hell, but why should it have to be? EHS is filled with so many great opportunities and clubs, and our sports teams are numerous, which means there is no reason to sit on the sidelines and watch. Now is your turn to shine. As seniors, we rule the school! So go out there and prove it. Do something that you never thought you could. Whether it be trying out for a team, or asking out that person you like, go for it! We’ll be gone before you know it. With that being said, this is a good reminder to be adventurous, but also to take care. Just because you have seniority doesn’t make you the entitled student that other schools have made you out to be. Yes, now you get to take part in all of the senior things you’ve waited for, but that shouldn’t give you permission to act with no regard to those around you. Every day we set an example for the underclassmen, and with each day, they take note of our choices. So I ask you, what kind of impression do you want to leave behind? Because whatever it may be, those that come after us will be sure to notice. This year is about goodbyes, but also appreciating everything here that we hold dear. Now is the time to strengthen the friendships we’ve made, all the way from kindergarten. For some of you, saying goodbye will be hard, for others, exciting. There are even a few teachers whose faces I will miss seeing in the hallways. We’ve made strong connections, but now it’s almost time to let go. How will we do that? How can we possibly leave behind a life we’ve created for the past 18 years? Learning flexibility will be our greatest accomplishment and gaining the ability to manage change will prove to be our success. Whatever it may be for you, don’t forget that the next eight months will continue to be about relationships. Whether you use that time to www.edinazephyrus.com make new friendships, or to bond with old friends, don’t forget the Twitter and Instagram: @edinazephyrus importance of validating your relationships. After we’re gone, the YouTube: edinazephyrus memories we made this year will be the ones that stick out the most, so find the people you want to stay close to and keep your connection Facebook: Zephyrus strong. Hornets, congratulations on all of the accomplishments you have made thus far. Before you go out the the world and prove yourself, do it here first. Stay strong and hopeful in the face of adversity. And Gage Aulik (Cover Art) last but not least, have fun. Katie Manderfeld (Header) Sincerely, Isabel Thompson online editor in chief
Online
On The Cover
Zephyrus Staff
Editorial Board Lillie Westbrook, print editor in chief Isabel Thompson, online editor in chief Christina Orth, public relations editor Nikki Lund, art editor Colette Bruder, print copy editor
Anne Amen, online copy editor Rebecca Edgington, human resources editor
Tanner Jones Max North Ellery Mahlum Maren Naegele
Page Editors Jenna Simon Ben Gustafson Will Schwinghammer Greta Morton
Staff Writers Lily Jones Eva Hadjiyanis Morgan Sheehy Brooke Sheehy
Simone Vaillancourt Matthew Egger Greyson Mize Cecelia Orth Anjali Analikar Emma Bailey Photographers Zoe Cheung Josie Al-Najim
Grace Wolf Uma Bhati Artists Gage Aulik Sandra Chen Katie Schiller Advisor Sally Larkins
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 an open forum for student expression that recognizes the First Amendment guarentee of freedom of the press, and abides by Tinker standard. Opinions published in Zephyrus do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff, advisor, administration, or entire student body. Submissions and letters are printed based on space available. Anonymous letters may be printed only if a Zephyrus advisor or editor knows the author’s identity. Letters should be mailed to the school or given to the advisor or a staff member. Zephyrus reserves the right to edit any letters for clarity and length.
3
NEWS
Closure at Last in Wetterling Case Greyson Mize staff writer On Oct. 22,1989, three boys were biking back home from renting a video at a local convenience store in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Danny Heinrich, wearing a mask and holding a revolver, approached the boys and ordered them to discard their bikes in a nearby ditch and lay down on the ground. He told two of the boys to run and not look back or else they would be shot, leaving Jacob Wetterling. For 27 years the case has been open and the Wetterlings and authorities have been looking for a trace of Jacob. After so much time, it shook the state to finally hear the truth on Sept. 6 2016. In 2015, Heinrich was arrested for involvement in 12-year-old Jared Scheierl’s kidnapping and sexual assault in the January of 1989, nine months before Wetterling’s kidnapping. Upon searching his home in Annandale, police found more than 100 explicit pictures of children on his computer, landing him with 25 counts of child pornography. However the evidence they were looking for--a sweatshirt and shirt
belonging to Jacob--was not found, and Heinrich was only arrested for the existing charges. No matter the odds, Heinrich’s defence team didn’t give up, and on Aug. 27, a plea offer was put forward: Heinrich would confess and tell authorities where to find Wetterling, in return for having no charges pressed for Scheierl’s assault or Wetterling’s murder. It was an offer the authorities couldn’t pass up. Attorney Andrew Luger described Heinrich as “volatile and unpredictable” and all parties involved were worried that Heinrich would change his mind and retract his offer. On Sept. 6, 2016, Danny Heinrich confessed in court to abducting, molesting, and murdering Jacob Wetterling on Oct. 22, 1989. Due to his unique bargain, he will not be charged with the killing, instead sentenced to only 20 years for the prior charges. Stearns County Attorney Kendall informed anxious reporters that after his prison time is up, Heinrich could be placed in Minnesota’s Sexual Offender program and held for the rest of his life. The Star Tribune reports that Patty
Wetterling, mother to Jacob, speaks not of how he died, but how he lived, and the kindness he spread with his life. “He’s taught us all how to live, how to love, how to be fair, how to be kind,” she told the Tribune. “He speaks to the world that he knew, that we all believe in. It is a world worth fighting for. His legacy will go on.” After their son disappeared, his family set up the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, an organization designed to help parents protect their children from many different threats. It has been operating for years, educating Minnesota masses and making the state a safer place. Regardless of the court verdict, Jacob continues to impact the world today. There have been a span of emotions surrounding the case, but Andrew Luger was confident when he denounced the fears of the public. “He’s not getting away with anything,” he told the press of Heinrich. “We got the truth. The Wetterling Family can bring Jacob home.”
Le t ’s Ta l k Te c h ! Christina Orth public relations editor
The internet and technological devices everyone uses are critical tools in the way we access our world and the way we live. Through the eLearning2 and Next Gen facilities referendums, Edina Public Schools have set a foundation for technology in the classroom by ensuring that students are provided ample devices, multimedia platforms and resources, and connectivity to the internet. The Edina Portal allows students to access all of their applications in one place: Google Drive, Infinite Campus, Schoology, Google Classroom, and more. The most notable change in the Portal this year is the replacement of Moodle and TIES Schoolview with Schoology and Infinite Campus. EPS Director of Media and Technology Steve Buettner and his team have been working behind the scenes with students, staff and parents to update Moodle and replace TIES (after they stopped making SchoolView). “We figured that since we had to make changes, why not take care of them both? The grades that you get in Schoology will transfer to Infinite Campus automatically.... Not only does Schoology offer the same multimedia aspects of Moodle, there’s more. We haven’t been able to identify what Schoology doesn’t do as well or better than Moodle,” said Buettner. In addition to Schoology’s single sign-on feature (meaning one username and password for the Portal and Schoology), the site features a Facebook-like navigation, class lists for attendance, a new calendar set-up and other resources for users. Next Gen facilities, eLearning2 and a $125 million construction have forged a clear path for EPS and Edina High School’s curricula
with technology. eLearning2 has provided students with 4,000 to 5,000 computers in three and a half years, teachers with training to incorporate technology into their curriculum, and resources to utilize technology and devices. Combined with Next Gen facilities and the construction of new learning spaces around EHS, eLearning2 is putting in new projection systems, ensuring wireless connectivity, and power drop outlets for charging stations to maintain the standard of technology throughout and after the construction. “eLearning2 is a holistic approach to supporting technology so that it improves learning. We have defined a framework for technology through the referendum for student base technology,” said Buettner. Teachers are effectively engaging their students in the classroom with the incorporation of technology in their curricula. However, it is important to remember that technology is not the only tool. “I truly believe that our greatest asset is our teachers. They are very influential and very powerful in what they do, so I see technology as being something that helps them and students do their job,” said Buettner. In order to consistently access the resources within the Portal, make sure you’re connected to the wifi “Edina-Open.” Once you sign in using the same username and password as your Portal sign-on, you’re signed in for the entire year. In light of the Portal adjustment and changes around EHS, Buettner encourages students to reach out with their questions, concerns, and input on technology. “There is efficacy and maturity of our students at the high school that we should be gaining input from them on how they would like to see their learning unfold. Let’s find out what works for the students,” said Buettner.
Edina Construction: Looking Forward Early October: Noise Wall built on west side of Highway 100
2016
Starting January: Both directions of 169 closed between Bren Road and 7th St.
2017
District Highlights Anti-Hazing Policy Simone Vaillancourt staff writer Edina Public Schools is known statewide for its ability to successfully implement policy. With an effective anti-bullying initiative already in place, the school board is now turning its attention to a similar, and equally important issue: hazing. Though EHS’ Anti-Hazing Initiative is over three years old, the school board has chosen to highlight it this year. By calling attention to hazing on Edina Public Schools’ website, the district hopes to draw more attention to this issue. Though often a bigger issue at colleges, hazing is slowly progressing towards high schools, making now a more important time than ever to understand how it can affect us. So, what exactly is hazing? EHS principal Bruce Locklear describes it as “something that is typically predicated by a group, as a rite of initiation or passage.” Edina Public Schools’ website defines the term as “any action taken or situation created intentionally that causes embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule, produces emotional and/or physical discomfort to members of an organization or team— whether new or not—and regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.” This means that hazing usually happens in clubs, sports teams, and other social activities involve initiation exercises. Hazing activities include verbal threats, social isolation of new group members, and violence or physical abuse. Though EHS does not have a history of hazing, Locklear believes that this policy is still important to maintain. “We just want every student to feel welcome, and to feel accepted here,” said Locklear, who went on to say that the proposal “was not a requirement that [he] had any hesitation or reluctance to implement.” EHS has promised to address hazing like it would bullying, hazing is punishable from “a verbal warning to as much as a school suspension,” said Locklear. Yet even so, he mentions that there is a “fine line” between hazing and regular initiation activities. “We don’t want to deflate high school and make it a place that you can’t have a degree of acceptance and fun with the group that you’re a part of,” said Locklear, “but we do try to define that line.” What can EHS students do when they believe that the line has been crossed? “If you witness that kind of behavior, try to stop it. It just takes a simple sentence,” said Locklear. If that doesn’t work, students can go directly to the principal if they believe the activity needs to be put to an end. Hazing is a big problem, but an easily solvable one. As Locklear said: “When it ends, it ends quickly, and is typically done for good.” In addition, students can also anonymously report hazing at Edina Public Schools’ website. With so many resources and opportunities to learn about hazing, Edina is taking its first step towards resolving this problem.
Cecelia Orth, staff writer April-November: France Ave. to 78th St. begins project to reflect neighborhood needs.
April: Birchcrest A, Countryside B, and Countryside G Neighborhoods roadway reconstruction begins
4
2018
Normandale Park: Neighborhood roadway reconstruction for utility upgrades and possible streetights.
M anag i n g t h e M ay h e m Eva Hadjiyanis staff writer Behind the carefully crafted campaign of every politician is a team of sculptors. The most well known of these hired staff members is the campaign manager. The campaign manager is somewhat like a politician’s parent; they take on the responsibility of overseeing all aspects of campaigning including budgeting, hiring staff, and day-to-day operations. The 2016 presidential election has been greatly influenced by the campaign managers of both political parties. The two figureheads of this election, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, have completely different styles when it comes to hiring these essential personnel. The go-to campaign manager for Hillary Clinton since her campaign in 2008 is Robby Mook. He is often described as having an easygoing nature. As a grassroots activist, he began his political career reaching out to a small community in Vermont. Mook is a strong promoter of connecting with people, either face to face or through technology. A graduate of Columbia University, Mook is a known strategist who uses data and technology to reach the public and influence their vote. The Guardian refers to Mook as “a political nerd who lives and dies by data.” The first openly gay campaign manager in a major presidential campaign, Mook is a Democrat through and through. Donald Trump is not as clear cut as Clinton on employing staff. His campaign has been led by a revolving door of Republicans, each of whom has brought something different to the table. The role of campaign manager first fell to Corey Lewandowski who served from February of 2015 until June of 2016. His motto “Let Trump be Trump” worked very well at the beginning of this Trump’s tumultuous campaign. As Trump’s team shifted gears to focus on the general election, Lewandowski’s job was diminished until he was fired in June. Paul Manafort became the top staff member, whose mainstream Republican influence led to an increased number of teleprompters and speechwriters. In August, the campaign shifted again when Kellyanne Conway was hired to manage the campaign. She seemed to have brought a conscience to Trump’s campaign, in fact, the day after she was hired Trump said he felt “regret” for past remarks that had personally hurt anyone. Trump’s ever-changing demeanor is reflected in the continual turnover of employees. The Clinton campaign has remained stable since the beginning under the direction of a single campaign manager. On the other end of the political spectrum, Trump’s campaign has been wavering in its projection of the candidate’s persona, which is understandable given the high turnover of his campaign managers. Both candidates rely heavily on their campaign managers to hold their campaigns together and give them the best shot possible at the presidency.
POLITICS
Congressional Seats Impacted by Presidential Race Lily Jones staff writer The 2016 presidential election is the most divisive and controversial in our generation. Congressional races are usually overshadowed by the presidential race, but the upcoming congressional election will likely take some unexpected turns as a result of this distinct race. Presidential races always dominate the national conversation and garner the majority of media coverage because more power and geography is at stake. While most Americans are fixated on the presidential race, experts are analyzing how this will impact the congressional elections and the makeup of the 2016 Congress. A total of 469 seats in the United States Congress (34 Senate and all 435 House seats) will be voted on this November 8th. Democrats are hoping to gain a majority in the Senate, and only need to gain five seats. Republicans hold the House majority with a strong 30 seat lead, but Democrats have a chance to gain seats since 19 House Republican incumbents are not seeking re-election. Furthermore, this congressional election is especially important because of an empty seat on the Supreme Court. The Senate will have the responsibility to confirm or block any nominations proposed. The successes and failures of both presidential nominees are directly affecting the polling of the parties’ congressional races. While their platforms may differ from Trump’s and Clinton’s, congressional candidates are automatically associated with their party’s nominee. This hurts Republican candidates more than Democrats considering there is more prominent opposition to Trump’s nomination than Clinton’s. Some Democrats find Clinton
unpalatable, but, as proven at the Democratic National Convention, the vast majority stand by her nomination. Districts most affected by this upset would usually be strongly red or blue, but because of any given variable, they are not backing their usual party’s nominee. Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin of The New York Times report, “Mr. Trump’s unpopularity...threatens to imperil Republican lawmakers even in traditionally conservative districts, according to strategists and officials in both parties involved in the fight for control of the House, where Republicans ordinarily win with ease. Mr. Trump is so disliked among college-educated voters, especially white women, that he is at risk of losing by double digits in several districts that the 2012 Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, carried comfortably.” Only nine U.S Republican Senators endorsed Trump before his nomination on May 4, but 30 Senators endorsed him afterward. The same goes for the House of Representatives, with 32 members endorsing Trump before the Republican National Convention and 138 endorsing him after the RNC. Still six Senators and 40 House members refuse to endorse or comment on him. Many other prominent Republican figures have refused to endorse Trump, including Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and John Kasich. This is hurting GOP candidates running for congress, no matter how much they try to distance themselves from the nominee. Republicans are worried that Trumps campaign will hurt midterm elections, some calling it the “Trump effect.” Alexander Bolton of The Hill reports, “Republican strategists and neutral political experts say if Trump loses by eight points or more in states with competitive Senate races, he will likely take Republican incumbents down with him.”
Third Par ty Candidates Mix It Up Ben Gustafson in-depth editor While Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump continue to dominate mainstream media coverage as election day draws nearer, many voters are left wondering if they have any other options for president. Americans’ distaste for both Clinton and Trump is record breaking. Both candidates are more strongly disliked than any nominee at this point in the past 10 presidential cycles, according to FiveThirtyEight writer Harry Enten. Ever since the founding of the United States, there has been criticism of the two-party system in the United States; for better or for worse, the system still remains intact. Although the sight of a third-party candidate in the past was rare, research suggests that the number of third-party candidates running for office has been increasing over the last two decades. According to Matthew D. Hindman and Bernard Tamas of the Washington Post, 50 years ago, third-party candidates made it onto the ballot in fewer than one in ten races for the U.S. House of Representatives.
West 62nd St. from Valley View Rd. to France Ave. construction.
Country Club C and Chowden Park A Neighborhoods roadway reconstruction
Bredesen Park A and E Neighborhoods roadway reconstruction
5
“undecided,” which is at eight percent. The most recognizable barrier for thirdparty candidates in presidential races is their lack of access to the debate stage. In fact, the Libertarian Party and the Green Party lodged a legal complaint against the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), a nonpartisan organization whose mission is to ensure general election debates for the benefit of the American electorate. Ever since Ross Perot in 1992 (who ran for office before the CPD was formed), no candidate has been allowed onstage unless he or she is polling at 15 percent or better. The legal argument against the rule presented by Johnson and Stein was “an anti-trust argument attempting to break the ‘duopoly’ that’s dominated the debate stage,” said Washington Post writer David Weigel. Unfortunately for Johnson and Stein, their argument was tossed out by a federal judge in August, making it almost impossible for them to make it into this year’s televised debates. Both Stein and Johnson have many obstacles keeping them from the White House, but polling numbers aside, both are doing voters a favor by keeping Clinton and Trump in check.
art by Katie Schiller
Concord A and G Neighborhoods roadway reconstruction for utility improvements and upgraded infrastructure
Over the past 20 years, well over half of all U.S. House districts have had a third-party candidate on the ballot. The increase in the number of third-party candidates could be attributed to rising political polarization, easier communication via the Internet, and rising economic inequality which actually tends to rise and fall in sync with polarization and has recently risen to an unprecedented level. Nonetheless, since 1920, third-party congressional candidates have received more than three percent of the vote only twice: in 2000 (3.33%) and 2006 (3.01%). The first third-party candidate threatening the dreams of Clinton and Trump is Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico and the Libertarian Party nominee. The second is Jill Stein, former candidate for Governor of Massachusetts and Green Party nominee. Both Stein and Johnson are more likely to draw from younger voters. According to a new study called the McClatchy poll, Trump wins just nine percent of the vote among Americans under 30 years old. Hillary Clinton is at 41 percent, while Johnson is at 23 percent and Stein is at 16 percent. Trump is basically tied with
FEATURES
Sneak Peak at Edina’s Marching Band Maren Naegele features editor
photo by Zoe Cheung
Trumpets, flutes, trombones, baritones, sousaphones...these are just a few of the instruments you hear in the Edina High School Marching Band at football games and pep rallies! The Marching Band is responsible for not only providing energetic music for EHS sporting events, but also representing Edina in parades and performing at many Edina community events throughout the year. While the Marching Band’s sweet sounds seem effortless, a quick sneak peek behind-the-scenes reveals that there are a lot of moving parts that make it all work. The EHS Marching Band is comprised of 359 high school students who are all passionate and hardworking musicians. Before the season even starts for the marching band, all members attend band camp. Aside from the many friendships and memories created during band camp, this week-long training camp is a critical start to the year where formations and songs are memorized and practiced. Student leadership is key to the marching band’s success. This year there are five drum majors and even more section leaders, who help keep the band marching in unison and playing in tune. One of the five drum majors is EHS senior Chamberlain Gregg. “I am a student leader and mentor of every student in the band. During parades I am marching alongside and conducting the band. I am somebody the band can go to
Like with any team at EHS, there are many moving parts and ask questions,” said Gregg. Gregg and the other student drum majors Rachel Lauson, Alex Johnson, Helena Sverak, and and many contributors that lead to the success of the EHS Carl Weigel are all backed-up by a lot of practice. “There’s a lot Marching Band. Intense hours of practice, student leadership, more time, rehearsal time, inside and outside school work that and teacher oversight, all help make it work. EHS is lucky to have such a talented marching band. we do [in order to be ready to perform],” said Gregg. Aside from the 359 student-members, there is also one important teacher who helps make it all work. In charge of creating the formations and the entire marching band is teacher Mr. Richter, who was actually a bandie himself. This is one of the reasons why he decided to become a marching band teacher, “I grew up loving being in band and marching band was apart of that,” said Richter. And although the task is mighty big, he surely enjoys it. “I love watching students emerge as leaders, take on leadership roles, and I love seeing them going from not knowing anything and then going into a full time show,” said Richter. On top of it all, Mr. Richter just wants to see his marching band succeed, just like everyone else. We asked him what he wants people to know about his band, he said, “[Marching band is] full of students from all walks of life, it’s a place where anyone can belong,” said Richter. As many can attest, marching band provides students with a warm, friendly, welcoming Mr. Richter, director of the Edina Marching Band atmosphere for all who are passionate about music.
Calling All Volunteers: Backpack Tutors Colette Bruder print copy editor
Become a Police Explorer Will Schwinghammer humor editor
However, there are still many obstacles that backpack tutors have had to overcome and continue to face. “We have a bus to and from the high school to go there,” said Madhok. This means that tutors have to take a half hour bus ride during rush hour traffic each week to help the elementary schoolers. “The most stressful part of this job is getting the funding for a bus to continue going to serve these students who really need our help,” said Madhok. All EHS students are encouraged to participate in Backpack Tutors every Wednesday starting on Oct 26. “I would strongly encourage people to join Backpack Tutors to take part in an experience that helps them gain leadership skills and confidence in themselves,” said Madhok. An additional bonus of the service is watching the tutors grow alongside the students. “Lots of people don’t think they will be able to tutor when they start but by the end, everyone is confident in their abilities and believes they are truly helping the students,” said Madhok.
photo by Josie Al-Najim
Backpack Tutors, a new club this fall, offers a unique opportunity for Edina High School students to tutor younger students. Members bus each week to the Folwell Elementary School in Minneapolis to help students who would typically be classified as at-risk. “Taking part in Backpack Tutors allows students to do community service outside the community of Edina and students can directly see the impact their service is having,” said EHS junior and one of the club presidents Gauri Madhok. Madhok was inspired to found this student-led organization due to her desire to raise awareness for areas outside of Edina and help make a positive difference in her community. “[My brother] Kanu and I started Backpack Tutors because we felt like students at Edina did not have an opportunity to experience life outside the ‘Edina Bubble.’ Through Backpack Tutors, students get a new experience with students that are different from them and they are able to learn and grow,” said Madhok. Backpack tutoring serves as a rewarding experience for both the student and the teacher. “ My favorite part of Backpack Tutors is being able to develop a relationship with the child I tutor. It’s so fulfilling to show up and see the smile and excitement on the kid’s face when they see you! They are all so excited to learn which makes me excited to learn,” said Madhok. A Backpack Tutor tutoring one of her students
6
Ever wondered what it would be like to wear the badge? The Police Explorer program is an offshoot of the Boy Scouts of America that gives students the opportunity to get real-life experiences learning from and training with actual police officers. Nationwide, there are over 33,000 Police Explorers. According to the City of Edina’s website, the program includes any students age 14 to 20 that are interested in learning more about law enforcement. Zephyrus got a look into the program from senior Evan Chirpich. Chirpich joined in eighth grade, and continues with it today. He was already interested in law enforcement, and said that Police Explorers has helped him to solidify his interest and learn more about what it means to be a police officer. The Police Explorers program gives students hands-on experience with law enforcement. They offer ride-alongs as well as training with real-life scenarios. “You get to run through different scenarios of different events,” said Chirpich. “I like them because it’s more hands-on,” said Chirpich. According to the New York Times, some scenarios include hostage rescue situations and staged raids on marijuana fields, and situations involving arresting suspects. The scenarios are designed to give students a taste of what real law enforcement field work can entail, and are as realistic as possible, according to the New York Times. Of course, the program isn’t only about field work. Police Explorers also teaches students about police work in the classroom. According to the Explorers website, Explorers can undergo basic academy training, get a CPR certification, be trained for ride-alongs, and more. Classroom training includes information on the practical aspects of law enforcement. “[Training includes] memorization of different laws, like a domestic assault would be 609.2242,” said Chiprich. Memorization is also part of the the Explorer Program’s classroom experience. “We have to learn the alphabet in phonetic terms,” in order to clarify spellings over the radio, said Chiprich. However, it isn’t just police work that Explorers learn about through the program. On the Police Explorers website, listed program benefits include “interpersonal growth through self-discipline, teamwork, challenging experiences, and high standards of performance and personal conduct,” as well as “enhanced character development and improved physical and mental fitness.” The Police Explorers program is focused on creating better members of society, not just making teenagers into tomorrow’s law enforcement officers. The experiences offered by the Explorers teach valuable lessons that can apply to any area of life. “In every scenario that you go into, no matter how bad it can be, always go into it with a positive mindset,” said Chirpich. “If you go in and stay with a positive mindset, you’ll always come out on top,” said Chirpich. Edina’s own Police Explorer post is Post 925. Meetings are Tuesday nights at the South Metro Training Center, according to the City of Edina website. More information about registration and how to join is available on the Explorer program’s website as well as the City of Edina website, or by contacting Explorer Advisors Officer Frederick and Officer Sussman at 952-826-1610.
IN-DEPTH
7
FEATURES
Check out the DECAfe’s new location and snacks! Max North sports editor
Greta Morton culture editor As the school year gets back into rhythm, students chat about their everyday classes and begin adjusting to their new schedules. Often, core classes are talked over, but every now and then you hear talk of a course you’ve never heard of. This month, Zephyrus did some investigating to get a closer look and help the student body get a better understanding of what some of these intriguing classes entail. We talked with junior Delainey Thorud about the engaging class of Criminal Law. “Mr. Dalki teaches it, and he said that he’s going to run it exactly like it’s a first year criminal law class, as if you were in college,” said Thorud. “What we’ve started doing is just going over cases and reading through them and then reading the laws. Then he’ll pick six people to argue it without [applying] laws to the case and then another six people to argue it with the laws in the case. So you’re getting the experience of actually arguing cases, so that’s really fun. And then he said that he’s going to put movies in to make it a little bit less dense of a class. So we watch movies that fit in with the cases or the subjects that we’re talking about. It’s really interesting,” said Thorud.
photo by Grace Wolf
As a lot of you juniors and seniors may have noticed, the DECAfe looks a little different than it did last year. Due to the future introduction of freshman into the high school, the DECAfe has moved into the new and improved Commons. Last year, the DECAfe was hit with some pretty strict nutritional restrictions and were forced to cut out a lot of the products they sold. They lost Ramen noodles, cookies, candy, and a lot of other popular items. Now being moved up into the Commons, they hope to start fresh and create a new image in the eye of Edina High School students. Jordan Strating, the DECA officer in charge of the food stocking, feels that this new location will be great for the DECAfe. “Because we are in a more central location of the school, we hope that we will increase business, and make the DECAfe better,” said Strating. She thinks that being up in the Commons can not only increase sales, but provide more opportunity for promotional events such as Underclassmen Rise. Underclassmen Rise is an event that the DECAfe runs every year, where sophomores and juniors can go to the DECAfe with their student ID and get a free cookie. This year, the location is not the only thing that is different about the DECAfe. They will also be trying out new foods like
Luna Bars and Outshine fruit bars. For drinks they plan to keep most of the items they sold last year, but they are currently looking into other options like smoothies that they could possibly introduce later in the school year. Along with some change of food and beverage, the DECAfe will be open at different times throughout the day. It will be open during 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th period as well as during collab time and before and after school. With some of the money they make, the DECA officers hope to host more parties for the DECA I and DECA II students so they feel more included. Last year, they had an event at Sever’s Corn Maze, but this year, they want to have events like roller skating or other fun parties to make the DECA one students feel welcomed. All in all, the DECA officers are going to miss the old DECAfe’s feeling of a cafe, but are excited for all the new opportunities the new location will bring.
Hidden Gems in the Course Catalogue
photo by Zoe Cheung
A student checks out the new DECAfe’s options
EHS Seniors’ Final Fall Spor ts Hurrah Matthew Egger staff writer Many Edina High School Senior students have recently started the final chapter of their career as high school athletes. Max Kuhs and Isabelle Ouyang are two such seniors. Recently, both gave Zephyrus a look into their journey during the past few years as EHS athletes. Max Kuhs has been running Cross Country (XC) since he was in 7th grade, beginning his 6th year for the team this fall. His main goals for the season areto set a new Personal Record of 16:30 [for a five kilometer race], and to stick in the group of the top seven runners that make up the varsity squad. When asked about his favorite moments during his years on the XC team, Kuhs commented, “There’s a lot of great memories of just my teammates. It’s a team sport. You get a lot of team interaction when you’re going on runs together and having a lot of laughs with each other, and just making great memories. I don’t think I could just pick one experience, so I’d have to say just the team.” In the past few years, Kuhs’ fellow captains and coach, Jamie Kirkpatrick, led the team to being ranked 9th in the nation, an incredible feat. Despite several seniors on the varsity squad departing after their final season this
year, Kuhs said, “I think we will still be pretty strong next season. We have a fair amount of people training with us and getting ready to get into varsity.” Kuhs plans to continue his running career in college, if possible, after bidding farewell to Edina XC. Edina Girls’ Tennis (EGT) has an astounding 19 consecutive State Titles, longer than any student in Edina High School has been walking the earth. Isabelle Ouyang has been with Edina Girls’ tennis for three of those wins, hoping to pursue another during her fourth season this fall. Last year at State, she and her partner were the deciding factor in bringing home the 19th title to Edina. Ouyang described the experience, “My partner and I ended up being the deciding match for the team. You need four points to win a match, and we got the fourth point which was really relieving because we had so much doubt coming into the season about whether we were going to win.” When asked about whether she believes a 20th State Title is within EGT’s reach this year, Ouyang commented, “It’s going to be close. There are really good teams and we’re going to do our best to continue the streak.” After being asked what she will miss most about EGT after this season, Ouyang said, “The team. I really enjoy the sport mostly because of the team aspect. We have a lot of traditions and the girls are really nice so it’s a lot of fun to be part of the team.”
10
Thorud enjoys Mr. Dalki’s criminal law class Similarly to a first year college class, there will only be one summative final at the end of the course. Over the course of the semester, students will study topics like Requirements and Distribution of Criminal Liability, Legality, Attempt and Impossibility and Criminal Procedure, Doctrine of Imputation, and Criminal Procedure. This is the first year this class is offered by Mr. Dalki, who was previously a lawyer himself. Next, we sat down with science teacher Mr. Roddy to learn more about the Physical Universe course. “It’s kind of a blend of astronomy and the history of science with some philosophy thrown in because the history of science intersects with philosophy,” said Roddy. “And then the longer answer would be, a number of years ago, we had an astronomy class that wasn’t very popular and it wasn’t always running every year, and another physics teacher and I wanted there to be some modern physics somewhere in our high school’s curriculum, because modern physics doesn’t really show up in the AP curriculum. So we sort of posed a course that would touch on modern physics topics, … and we wanted to drop the astronomy and add that instead, and the school district said that we are required by the state to make sure we provide the astronomy course, at least have it available, so then we [asked if we could] merge them, and the school district said sure. So that’s how it became this kind of physics and astronomy blend,” said Roddy. This course offers a more in depth study of astronomy and physics while also tying in philosophy and some abstract ideas. It’s one of the few classes at the high school that touches on modern physics and can help prepare students for future science majors in college, but is not heavily reliant on math or class labs, which can be a nice aspect of the course for some students. Overall, these “underground” classes both offer a variety of learning opportunities and would look great on college applications. Though neither class is mandatory, both are a great way to add a bit of diversity to your course schedule in the final years of your education.
OPINION: Head to Head
the case for trigger warnings Anjali Analikar staff writer
art by Katie Schiiler
You’ve probably heard the word “trigger” before. Maybe in day to day speech, or on social media. I don’t know your life, but I’m willing to bet almost all of the times you’ve heard the word “triggered,” it’s been in a joke context. You may not know it, but triggers are very real and even though they don’t seem harmful, it still isn’t funny to make a joke out of a serious issue. A trigger is something that sets off a panic or anxiety attack in response to a flashback to an event of trauma. Triggers are usually associated with trauma survivors such as people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and can affect people differently. For example, a sexual assault survivor may get triggered by images of sexual assault which could cause them to possibly relive moments of their trauma. Trigger warnings are labels that notify consumers if content in an article or video is disturbing or can have sensitive or offensive material. They can benefit almost everyone, even if those without mental illnesses. They’re usually helpful if you get grossed out or uncomfortable reading/watching/hearing something about things like gore or sex. Trigger warnings are comparable to movie ratings, both give us a general sense of what the content is about, but movie ratings are based mostly on maturity levels whilst trigger
warnings are more based on your personal experience. A specific place where trigger warning can be used is in a learning environment. Contrary to popular opinion, trigger warnings don’t actually withhold information and hinder the learning experience by withholding contentious conversations. Trigger warnings are just labels that help us decide what content we want to consume and what we don’t want to consume. Besides, like I said previously, trigger warnings help people with anxiety or PTSD. It’s the twenty-first century; there are probably more people with anxiety then you know. It’s not going to kill you to be accommodating and respectful. In a way, trigger warnings act in the same fashion as items on a restaurant menu. If you have a low tolerance for spice, in most places that serve spicy foods, there’s probably some indication on if the on how spicy a certain menu item is. With that indication or label, you can eliminate those food options and focus on what you actually want to eat. The label doesn’t ruin the taste of the food or the experience another person gets by eating the food, it’s simply just a label. Trigger warnings are simply labels. It’s your choice whether or not you want to consume certain media. If there are topics in the content you can be triggered by, a trigger warning would let you know beforehand so you don’t have to find out yourself. That’s all it comes down to. A simple indication that helps you make a simple choice. Either view the content or move on. No more, no less.
T r i g g e r e d ? { } Trigger warnings: necessary or needless?
Morgan Sheehy staff writer
courtesty of Google
Being in high school, many classes that are required in order to graduate have students discussing hard and heavy themes that tend to make students feel uncomfortable or disturbed. Topics such as slavery, segregation, the Holocaust, sexism, rape, abortion, and suicide are a few key issues that come to mind. These are some matters that most students have already discussed inside the classroom, and in many cases, outside of school, starting as early as seventh grade. Curriculum and conversations only get more and more intense as students get further into their high school careers. Many of you may have already heard of the notorious “trigger warning” that has recently popped up all over the media in the past decade, and has now currently found its way into many college professors’ class syllabi. Trigger warnings, for those of you who don’t know, were originally intended to be alerts that warned people in advance of graphic, explicit, or possibly disturbing material they may encounter that could trigger Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) episodes. As time has passed, the term’s definition has gradually been used more loosely to the point where students are now demanding that every class have trigger warnings that tell them when material assigned in a class may be upsetting or taken offensively. I don’t believe in this so called “loose interpretation” because it limits academic freedoms and discussion inside the classroom. Controversial topics are important to discuss
at school in order to promote the argument of both sides, shed light on one another, and have students form and build educated opinions on worldly issues. Trigger warnings are constantly abused by students, trying to get out of discussions in which viewpoints that are at odds or differ with their own opinions are shared. I find the abuse of trigger warnings and lack of interest in contentious conversation particularly disappointing, because the stances we take and the great debates that come from our varying viewpoints are a key component of a more complex
11
way of thinking and learning in our education system. All classes have standards, and trigger warnings would make it almost impossible for some to meet those goals. A great example would be a health class, where very sensitive subjects are discussed such as sex, sexual orientation, mental health, disabilities, abusive relationships, rape, drugs, alcohol, etc. These are all critical to the completion of the course, but a trigger warning would be needed for practically every subject. There is no possible way to teach this class by skirting around those key issues. We learn by digging into them and having open discussions, which would be nearly impossible if trigger warnings were constantly offered. I am convinced that the original purpose of the trigger warning was built off good intentions. The concern for those with PTSD exposed to explicit material and the risk of episodes led to the creation of the warning, but this reason was soon appropriated due to the selfishness and ability to manipulate it to the advantage of others. There is a fine line between trigger warnings for PTSD, and trigger warnings for content in a class that could perhaps be taken “offensively.” Everyone is subject to their own opinion, so in the end the fight for this so called loosely defined term of “trigger warnings” is completely invalid, unnecessary, and works against course curriculum and insightful conversation in the classroom.
on trigger warning abuse
OPINION
Parking at a Price
Evaluating Summer Reading
Ellery Mahlum features editor
Christina Orth public relations editor
The cost of being an Edina High School student can accumulate quickly. If you decide to drive to school, you’re making a commitment to pay $300 for a single spot in the parking lot. Whether EHS actually needs that money, or if they are just trying to discourage people from driving themselves to school, the policy seems a little ridiculous. There are 2,015 people enrolled at EHS and only 500 parking spots available in the lots. To be fair, this provides a good incentive for people to find a carpool because no one wants to pay the immense fee by themselves, and it raises the chances of actually attaining one of these highly coveted passes. But the fact remians that the cost of parking is prohibitively expensive for many Edina students. In order to drive to school in the first place, there are many things to consider. First, you need to find a car to drive. This presents a challenge unless your family already has an extra car that you can use for the entire school day. On top this, gas costs money too and the grand total quickly adds up. This is one example of how much the high school caters to the upper-middle class. Not everyone can afford to buy an extra car and gas and a parking pass all for the simple convenience of driving to school. For some people, having a parking pass not just a convenience but a necessity. With crazy schedules, acquiring a parking pass is crucial for many students who need get somewhere right after school. Out of district as well as zero hour students are forced to buy a pass or be driven daily by their parents since busses do not cater to these two groups of students. Taking a zero hour is completely optional; however a student’s decision to take one or not should not have to be made out of costliness of parking. A challenging course load or being involved in multiple aspects of the EHS community (such as being in band or student council) should be rewarded rather than come with a $300 parking fee attached to them. The current system that is in place for our parking passes seems absurd, and there are some easy ways to fix this. Offering busses to zero hour students is one option. Another is lowering parking pass prices for everyone, which would make the whole system much more affordable. If passes were just $25 a year, the school would still make $12,500 and it would make driving to school a much more viable option for many students. There is definitely some sort of compromise that could be made here. Parking passes are just one aspect of the many student costs at EHS. There is also so much emphasis around dances and sporting events which similarly cost a significant amount of money. Many people I know have chosen not to go to a dance or skip out on a sporting event purely because it costs too much. Without being able to pay these fees, students may feel excluded from the culture of EHS. Even though it would stereotypically seem that Edina students could easily pay these fees, there are many students who can’t. This may limit many opportunities to a large portion of the school population. Overall, reducing costs at EHS would lead to a more inclusive environment that caters to all students. art by Gilliam Mousseau
photo by Josie Al-Najim
I would be one of the first to pen a love letter to Minnesota summers, hands down. The exceptional weather and the Minnesotan mindset of “anything goes” creates the foundation of every high schooler’s summer dream: the boundless freedom to go as far as their money will take them, endless nights with friends at the lake, and days spent exploring the numerous festivals and farmer’s markets. However cathartic these adventures seem after our bleak winter, most Edina High School students have work to do in the form of summer assigned reading. While many students are frustrated by the mere idea of summer homework, there are benefits to it, and a happy medium between the burdens and the benefits can be found. Many people are under the impression that summer reading serves no purpose. However, according to a 2001 study conducted by UC-Berkeley professor Anne Cunningham, the more students read, the better their understanding, fluency, and vocabulary. There is no doubt that reading during what is otherwise a two-month hiatus from rigorous brain stimulation has positive effects. But students are often discouraged from completing their summer reading because it’s just another book assigned to them by a teacher. My sophomore summer reading book, Michele Norris’s “The Grace of Silence,” was a well-written memoir that picked up on themes from our ninth grade English class. However, many of my peers didn’t finish the book because it didn’t appeal to them or they found it hard to relate to. It seems then that a summer reading assignment that allows students choice would encourage them to actually read the books since the assignment would give them the freedom to explore different genres and read books that don’t appear on school curricula. However, too much choice can be a bad thing. The AP World Literature summer reading assignment had one criterion: students were instructed to read any book by an non-American author. While this assignment provided students with choice, it also meant that they had no common text to discuss the first day of school. The open-ended nature of this assignment meant that students were left to decipher their selected texts alone without the guidance of a teacher or the input of fellow students. Too little choice is bad, too much choice is equally as bad. The answer is not assigning one book for an entire class. Instead, a shortlist of three to five approved books gives students a choice but also have a cohesive discussion to expand on the questions and themes of the book at the beginning of the year. A variety of authors and genres give students the opportunity to explore diverse options for a common, shared ground. Summer reading gets mixed responses
Advanced Placement Courses: Essential or a S cam? Jenna Simon news editor
12
popularity only going up. This is logical, because the fact of the matter is that a transcript full of advanced classes is what most competitive universities will look for these days. Even if they know there is no guarantee they will earn credit, many students will continue to take AP classes because they want that rigorous transcript. Whatever their motivation may be, students should know that along with the good, there is the bad of the AP system. Next time you’re debating whether or not you should take an AP class or exam, don’t be afraid to ask yourself what all of the work will be worth.
art by Katie Schiller
High schools throughout the nation have taken notice of a trend in their students’ course registration: heightened enrollment in Advanced Placement classes. In 2014, the College Board reported that in the previous decade, the number of students who took AP exams each year nearly doubled from 514,163 students in 2003 to 1,003,430 students in 2013. This isn’t surprising, since taking AP courses is undoubtedly attractive to students due to what the classes can offer. Through AP classes, students have the opportunity to study over 30 different subjects at a college level for free, and then take a test to possibly earn college credit in any of those subjects. Unfortunately, this process is anything but foolproof. In many cases, earning college credit through AP is not nearly as straightforward as doing well on a test. To start off, even if a student does well on an AP test, there is no guarantee that they will be able to earn credit in that subject at any college of their choosing. Even if a student were to earn a passing score of a three on an exam, some public and many private universities will only award credit to students who earn at least a four, or in some cases a five, on certain AP tests. Sometimes even earning a five isn’t enough. Certain schools will give credit for some AP subjects but not others, meaning a three on one test could earn you credit, while a five on a different test could be worth nothing.
Of course, none of this is to say that it is impossible to earn college credit through taking AP exams. Many students do earn credit, and a possible benefit of this would be that students with AP credit in a given subject could save money on college tuition by avoiding taking a class on that subject. However, this belief is misguided. Very few, if any, universities will allow students to completely skip over earning a credit. Instead of giving students credit towards graduation, what most colleges will do is offer students exemption from taking introductory courses to subjects in which they have earned AP credit. This gives students more opportunities to take elective classes, but it does not save the student any money. College credit aside, there could be certain upsides to taking a college level course in high school. However, evidence shows that a student should not rely on an AP course to replace an introductory course at a university. A 2013 study conducted by Dartmouth College found that of a sample of 100 incoming students who had earned a five on their AP Psychology test, around 90 percent could not pass the college’s Intro to Psych final. Part of this could be blamed on the general design of AP classes. Since so much stress is put on students doing well on the AP exam, the entire AP class becomes centered around preparing students for this one test. This leaves little wiggle room in the classroom. The way AP operates does not offer students the same opportunities to dive deep into some topics over others or the same freedoms that could be found in a traditional or enriched classroom setting. Despite its flaws, all evidence points to AP classes’
CULTURE
Soaring to New Heights of Upcoming D i v e r s i t y i n S p r i n g M u s i c a l Fall Concerts Lillie Westbrook print editor in chief
Before “Hamilton” was introduced into the world of musical theater, its star and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda wowed Broadway with his creation “In the Heights,” a musical about New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood. The musical centers the story around an area where the corner bodega’s coffee is sweet, neighbors’ windows are always open, and the air is constantly filled with the sounds of with salsa, soul, and hip-hop music. A vibrant store owner, Usnavi, full of hope, dreams and a gift for storytelling, takes the audience through the lives of three generations in the neighborhood, who are faced with the choice between tradition and their future. Nina, a childhood friend of Usnavi, has returned to the neighborhood of her childhood from her first year at college with startling news for her parents, who have spent their entire life savings on trying to build a better life for their daughter and get her the things she needs. Ultimately, Usnavi and the other residents of the close-knit neighborhood get a dose of what it means to be home. This musical has won multiple awards including the Tony Award for Best Musical, the Tony Award for Best Original Score, and the Tony Award for Best Choreography. For the spring musical, Edina High School is putting on this spectacular piece of musical theater, under the guidance of director Tony Matthes. “I knew it was a story I wanted to tell, but I didn’t think we had the people to tell it. To be truthful, I was inspired by Southview’s production of ‘Hairspray’ last spring. They worked so hard to get the students they needed to tell the story, and it was inspirational,” said Matthes. Diversity is a huge part of this show (many of the characters in the musical are people of color) and Matthes wants the high school’s production to embody that idea as much as they can. “[Miranda] said that we need to be purposeful and intentional to make sure that all students in the school have opportunities to be in the show and that all of the information gets out there so that those who would not normally audition get the opportunity,” said Matthes. “He knows and I agree that the best show can only happen if we have a diverse cast onstage.” This is one of the most diverse shows that Edina has tried to put on, so it certainly has it’s challenges, but the theater department has taken multiple steps to make the auditions more inviting for newcomers. “First we went to the band, choir, [and] orchestra classes, to announce the auditions last spring. We also went to Hip Hop Dance Club, and the Black Student Union to invite and encourage kids to audition. Second, we changed it from the Fall Musical to the Spring musical to make more time for gets to prepare an audition and also to make the rehearsal schedule much less demanding for those who might not be used it. Third, we have made the auditions far less structured and far more laid back. Nothing needs to be prepared. We are teaching things to anyone who shows up,” explained Matthes. It may be scary to get into theater at Edina, but Matthes and the entire department want to assure everyone that everyone is welcome. “We had 63 people show up at the first audition and I would say there were more students of color than usual who auditioned. But we need more to show up. We are excited to see who will show up and encourage anyone who is interested to show up. We know that some people in the school might think that thespians are a hard group to get into or that you have to have a lot of experience to get cast, but we are casting new people all the time, and the usual students in the plays are so excited to welcome all and any newcomers,” said Matthes. Auditions were held on Sept. 8th, 22th, and 29th in EPAC, but “If someone [didn’t] make one of those auditions, we will make an appointment to meet with them,” said Matthes. “ Nothing has to be prepared. We will teach it all. We will also have call back auditions on The first two Thursdays in Oct. [on] the 6th and the 13th. We hope to have the show cast by MEA break, but we are willing to hold out until we get the right cast to tell our story and we are willing to meet with kids on their schedules if they need it.” This is a great opportunity for Edina as a whole so make sure you go see it premiere on April 26th, 27th 28th, 29th and 30th! “In the Heights” is the spring musical at EHS
As much as it pains me to say it, music festival season is over. It’s officially time to bring the concerts back inside, but that doesn’t mean that the big acts fly south for warmer weather. It’s no secret that the Twin Cities is a live music destination for artists all around the world. With great venues (and great crowds!) this autumn will see several acts come through to play for us. And fear not underclassmen: all of the concerts listed are open to all ages. On Oct. 7, Glass Animals will be playing at the Myth Live Nightclub. Playing off their new album for the first time in Minnesota, this concert will be sure to deliver smooth beats and great dancing. Oct. 13 will see two fantastic concerts: The Head and the Heart (with Declan McKenna) at Northrop Auditorium for a more folksy and down-to-earth vibe and vocal and visual artist powerhouse Sia at Target Center. Too mainstream for your tastes? No worries! of Montreal is coming on Oct. 15 at the Cedar Cultural Center. Part of the Elephant 6 collective, this alternative rock band is ironically American (and don’t worry, no one knows what the Elephant 6 collective means). Country fans, there’s something for you coming this season as well. On Oct. 17, Carrie Underwood will be playing at the Xcel Energy Center. She’s sure to rock the house with nothing but her acoustic guitar and sweet country vibe. Finally, meet the man behind all of Justin Beiber’s latest hits: Diplo will be playing at Myth Live on Oct. 21. November is promising even bigger bookings. Keith Urban will again lure the Twin Cities’ country die hards out of their homes and to Target Center on Nov. 5. Perhaps the most exciting concert of the month, Kanye’s Life of Pablo tour will be surely selling out the Xcel Energy Center on Nov. 10. Watch the man himself perform the songs that have Kim and Taylor ripping each other apart in the news. If all of these names aren’t quite as touchy-feely as you want, Band of Horses will be coming to the State Theatre on Nov. 12. This Grammy-nominated band falls into the rock genre, but their slow pacing and sweet lyrics make this concert a perfect date destination. With such an array of genres and bands, there’s no excuse not to grab a few friends and have a night out listening to live music. Living so close to a music hub has its benefits, so go out and listen! Even if you haven’t heard of some bands, spare a few dollars and you might just fall in love with your new favorite band. Happy autumn!
photo courtesy of dafont.com
Nikki Lund art editor
Beyond the Bubble: Calhoun Village Colette Bruder print copy editor
13
photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Edina is an awesome suburb and a great place to grow up. However, sometimes it can be an enjoyable breath of fresh air to go “beyond the bubble” to somewhere that’s is open after eight on a Friday night. You don’t need to go far to have fun experiencing new surroundings. Zephyrus recently had the chance to test this theory and spent the day exploring Calhoun Village. Located less than 15 minutes from Edina High School, Calhoun Village is a scenic spot students can spend the day relaxing by themselves or with friends. As a high schooler, I love anything free and Calhoun Village is perfect because it offers prime parking spots for free right by the ALWAYS crowded Lake Calhoun. I started my morning at Calhoun Village by grabbing a Caribbean Passion smoothie to go from Jamba Juice and leisurely walking around the lake. The views are picturesque and it was a relaxing way to enjoy one of the final days of summer and de-stress from the school week.
But Calhoun isn’t just known for its smoothies. After my walk, I decided to eat lunch at Punch Pizza. The location is convenient and the food is quick and delicious. However, if pizza is not for you there are many other options ranging from Burger Jones to Urban Eatery. You can even indulge your sweet side and create your own dessert at Yogurt Lab or grab something quick and healthy at Whole Foods. After finishing my lunch I was tired and ready to lounge in the sun with a good book, and I didn’t need to go far to find one. Located directly in Calhoun Village is a Barnes and Noble with a wide selection of novels from classics such as Jane Austen to the new Harry Potter, which is prominently on display. With my new book in hand, all I had left to do was to sit down and enjoy a great read. Calhoun Village is a great place to explore a new area outside the bubble on a budget without traveling too far from Edina. Whether it’s walking around the lake, eating frozen yogurt or reading outside, there is always something to do.
Kanye is all ready for his concert this fall with his custom flower crown
CULTURE
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Isabel Thompson online editor in chief
Student ID Discounts
as many readers were hoping for new tidbits about the wizarding world. Furthermore, the play has a theme of time travel, something that was already prevalent in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” All in all, the anxiously awaited eighth book was a letdown, and utterly burst the happy bubble of the wizarding world I had surrounded myself in. Although I can’t say the play thrilled me, I respect that Rowling has been able to keep such a revolutionary story going. Selling two million copies of the play within the first two day of the release, Rowling has once again put her writing on the top of every bestselling book list in the country a feat few writers have claim to. And with all that being said… Nox.
art by Katie Schiller
As a child, I grew up worshipping Harry Potter. I waited for my Hogwarts letter to come, and, even after I turned 11, I still thought it might arrive one day. I went to every midnight premiere and dressed up as Luna Lovegood; let’s just say I fangirled hard. I patiently waited for J. K. Rowling to publish another book that followed the wizarding world and this summer my dream came true in the form of a play. I paid $8.99 to read “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and after finishing the play within two hours of it being published online, I have finally collected all of my thoughts after a month of tears and confusion. With all of that being said, let me shine some light on Rowling’s eighth sequel. Lumos. First, some background on the play itself: “HPCC” takes place 18 years after the seventh book and follows the points of views of Harry and his middle child, Albus. The play depicts each year of Albus’s education at Hogwarts, and with each scene change, the characters develop at a fast pace. Many of the beloved characters in Harry Potter recur in HPCC including the Weasleys/ Grangers, the Malfoys, Professor McGonagall and even Cedric Diggory. Part of the reason I fell in love with Harry Potter was because of the personal connection I made with the characters.
Rowling often used Harry’s thoughts to depict situation or emotions, and because of the play format, the readers of “HPCC” didn’t have the chance to connect with characters on an emotional level. I must say that reading a play and seeing one are two completely different things. While I have been harsh to judge the script, acting may be what it needs to come to life. Harry Potter is a fantastic example of the young teen that saves the day, doing what the grownups thought impossible. As I read “HPCC,” I expected Albus to take the role that Harry once played: the hero. I was disappointed to find that Harry spent the entire second act fixing his sons’ mistakes. The young protagonist that has always been prevalent in Rowling’s writing was no longer there. It was as if Harry was reliving the glory days; it seemed that Rowling shaped his character to be unable to let go of the past. The charm that the Harry Potter books once held was unfortunately lost through the change in Rowling’s writing style. While the readers may have grown up, we were still looking forwards to the same type of books that her audience fell in love with. In all honesty, the plot was bland. I felt as if I was reading fanfiction because there was hardly any new information and the characters where all the same. It held too many references to the past seven books which was not enthralling,
Lillie Westbrook print editor in chief
photo by Lillie Westbrook
As the sun sets earlier and colored leaves scrape the ground, autumn is unmistakably nearer. In a city with so many amazing cafes, chai teas abound. But which coffee shop is the Twin Cities’ chai champion? As Zephyrus’s self-appointed chai connoisseur, I hit the streets with chai layman Christina Orth to find the best chai of the Twin Cities. Sparrow Cafe Located at Penn and 54th Street, this $4 cup of chai came in dead last. Although a large cup, the flavor was so weak it was debatable if this could even be called a true chai tea. The baristas were nice enough, and the bird-themed atmosphere was comforting, but the flavors of the tea itself brought the whole package down. “Is it supposed to be this watery?” said Christina. Sencha Tea Bar Edina’s favorite bubble tea joint, this cafe at Hennepin and 26th Street (in Uptown) serves more than just tapioca pearls. A small tea costs $4.30 but comes in a huge cup, offering the most bang for your buck. But is it worth it? “Okay, it smells like butt, but the taste is good!” said Christina upon sampling. I sipped it myself, and found this tea had an intense earthy tone that I couldn’t find in any other tea. It truly tasted like they threw in a teaspoon of dirt with the cup. The many tables and youths studying made it a welcoming atmosphere for a night of homework. My advice? Stick with the bubble tea. Spyhouse Coffee By far our most photogenic location, Spyhouse (at Nicollet and 25th Street) offered a good-sized $4.50 cup of chai. Although it didn’t quite pack the punch of spice that I normally like to taste, it was still delicious. Milky, yet smoky, this chai was pleasant to slurp out on the sidewalk in front. The twolevel cafe created a quiet, yet creative environment. “I don’t get that whiff of chai right away, but it’s all in the aftertaste,” said Christina.
Uncommon Grounds The house-turned-coffeeshop at Hennepin and 28th Street has a sign hanging right on the front porch declaring it brews the best chai in Minneapolis. However, Christina and I were disappointed to discover that it wasn’t quite true. Uncommon Grounds does offer many flavorings of chai, so we sat down with three of their most popular cups. Pumpkin: earthy, and aggressively autumnal. Doesn’t sit right on the tongue. Coconut: tropical, yet cozy. Reminded us of a beach vacation. Perfect for the last days of summer. Orgasmic: doesn’t live up to the name. Its flavor and spice earned Uncommon Grounds the second-place spot on our chai hunt. “I’ve had too many cups of chai at this point to care,” Christina said after being asked to comment on the flavors of the three drinks. Peace Coffee Found all over the Twin Cities, this cup of chai wins the title of Chai Champion. Coming in at a mere $4.02, the tiny cup couldn’t elicit any comments other than “mmmmm” and snapping from Christina. It truly had everything we were looking for. Flavor, cream, milkiness, and most importantly, spice. Despite almost overdosing on chai this weekend, Peace Coffee has me begging to go back. Senior Christina Orth enjoying a cup of chai tea
14
With the arrival of fall comes a multitude of seasonal games, events, and activities, all of which promise to be entertainment incarnate… until you look at the price. You sigh regretfully, close your wallet, and head off in search of a less expensive alternative. Little did you know, right next to your depleted cash supply is the ultimate coupon: your student ID. Organizations around the Twin Cities are offering discounted admission for students in an effort to make art affordable for everyone. Without further ado, Zephyrus presents the ultimate off-the-beaten-path guide to discounted discoveries near you. The Walker Art Center: Adult cost: $14 Student cost: $9 *children (under 18) cost: FREE That’s right, if you’re still a “child,” gallery admission to the Walker Art Center is completely free. The Walker specializes in modern art, and this season’s exhibits include Lee Kit’s “Hold Your Breath, Dance Slowly,” which transforms everyday items through subtle painting, drawing, and placement, and “Unpacking the Box,” an exhibit focusing on the dichotomy between interactivity and the “do not touch” policy in place at most museums. The Minnesota Orchestra: Adult admission: $29-$125 (depending on seats and concert) Student cost: $12 Select Minnesota Orchestra concerts offer student rush tickets online; be sure to check the event you want to attend to make sure it qualifies. Simply select “Student” when purchasing tickets on your computer. The top-priced seating sections are not eligible for student rush. Qualifying concerts feature music by Bach, Ginastera, Paulus, Bruckner, Berlioz, and Ravel. TC Swing at 301 on Main: General admission: $6 Student admission: $5 *Special deal: on the first Thursday of every month, attendees of the swing and lindy classes get FREE admission to late night swing. If you’re looking for an adventure, TC Swing on Thursday nights is a good place to start. Bring a group of friends, learn the steps in easy-to-understand, lowcost classes, then venture forth onto the dance floor and enjoy the big band sound of East Coast swing. Guthrie Theater: Single-show ticket: $15-$60 (depending on seats) Children (ages 2-17) discount: $10 in areas 1A and 1, and 50% in areas two, three, and four. This discount applies only if the full price ticket is over $20. Student discounts for season packages are also available for ages 12 and up, with submission of the name of your high school. The Guthrie is currently showing “Sense and Sensibility,” and will begin performances of “The Parchman Hour” beginning on Oct. 1, 2016. Science Museum of Minnesota: General admission: $13 (museum only) Student admission: $6 (museum only) Note that this discount only applies on Fridays after 5 pm, and tickets must be purchased in person, not online. The Science Museum is currently showing exhibits focusing on the national parks, dinosaurs, cryogenics, and many more. The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Adult prices: $15-$60 (depending on seats) Child (ages 6-17): FREE with purchase of one adult ticket. Make friends with an 18-year-old, and persuade them to attend an SPCO concert - and add a free children’s ticket to their order. For the entire 2016-2017 season, if you are 17 or younger, you can attend any regular concert for no cost; just check their website to ensure your event isn’t part of a special series. Explore German Baroque composers, the works of Schubert, Prokofiev, and Mozart, and many more at the Orchestra’s home in the Ordway Concert Hall.
art by Gillian Mousseau
Crowning the Chai Champion
Anne Amen online copy editor
SPORTS
Super-Change for Super-Fans Emma Bailey staff writer
Becca Edgington human resources editor Quinn Carroll is a starting player on the Edina High School Football Team this year and was a starting player last year as a freshman, which is very rare in high school football. He is on the offensive line as right tackle and has been very successful this season. Football has always been in Carroll’s life, and with four older brothers who played football before him and a father who coached them all, success is expected. “I’ve been playing football all my life, and I started playing tackle football in fourth grade. But even before that I was helping coach my older brothers with my dad in EFA [Edina Football Association].” All for of Carroll brothers played football here at EHS and two played football in college. Carroll currently plays right tackle on the offensive line and, at 6’6’’, the O-line is a perfect fit for him. “There are five of us on the O-line… we block for the quarterback and the running backs who run behind us,” said Carroll. There’s no question that Carroll and football get along just swimmingly, but just like any good athlete, he knows he has a lot to work on. “Offensive linemen need to keep a low pad level, keep our knees and hips bent to explode off the line and get under their [the opponent’s] chin and put them on their back. My weakness right now is getting lower, I’m so tall that I always want to attack from above, but I think I’m getting better,” said Carroll. Carroll knows he isn’t the perfect player but there are plenty of things he knows he does well and the offensive line does well. “On the field I’d say our best quality is our stamina and endurance. Most big guys like me are just dead after the third quarter and they just can’t continue so they either have to have someone sub in or they just aren’t performing as well. But I feel like the O-line has great stamina. Even if we’re feeling dead we can always get each other motivated to keep going
photo by Guy Warren
art by Gillian Mousseau
Throughout the history of Edina Athletics, girls have “superfanned” various boys’ sports teams as a way to show their enthusiasm and support for not only the team, but Edina Athletics as a whole. Being a superfan is pretty simple; each superfan is assigned to a player on the team. This fan is encouraged to come to every game, especially home games, and will traditionally bring a treat or snack for their superplayer after the game. The treats can range anywhere from cookies to crustaceans. Being a superfan is a great way to get involved in athletics and show support for the team without having to do any athletic activity. This year, Edina made a new addition to their superfan teams: Edina Varsity Girls Soccer. For the first time in Edina history, a girls varsity team is open to having superfans of all genders. Nobody’s really sure why this has not been done in the past, seeing as it is clearly overdue. Nevertheless, both fans and players are excited that it is happening now. The response has been tremendous. Seniors Sam Black and Michael Rodriguez are overjoyed to be sophomore Mia Scalia’s superfan this year. “Recently, more people have been saying ‘Well why not girls sports?’” says Black. He is really enjoying his first time as a superfan, and is very glad he chose the Girl’s Soccer team for the experience. Rodriguez, Scalia’s other superfan, remarked about how he loves the superfan community’s welcoming and lively atmosphere. Many great memories are being made through this change in the tradition, along with new ideas being introduced. For instance, at a recent game, the superfan group had a competition to see who could bring the weirdest snack for their superplayer. Rodriguez and Black ended up getting Scalia a living lobster, winning them the competition. Although the lobster is no longer with us today, it had a great last day with the soccer team and their fans. The superfan program is a great way to get involved and show enthusiasm for Edina without constraint or pressure. A girls team finally having superfans is a victory for Edina Athletics. “I hope it becomes a thing that all women’s sports have superfans,” says Rodriguez. The dedication and support that all of Edina’s superfans exemplify is incredible, and now the superfan community is an even more inclusive and encouraging atmosphere for all participants, players, and coaches.
Athlete of the Month: Quinn Carroll (Football)
Carroll and his team, ready for the game and give it all we have,” he said. Carroll has plenty of role models on the team and on the O-line. He told us that the player he looks up to the most is Jonathan Cain, the center on the O-line. “He’s super physical, he motivates the team really well, and he gives it his all, that’s what I try to do,” said Carroll. Carroll also knows that soon enough he will be a leader on the team and hopefully someone that future players look up to. “I hope that the Freshman and Sophomores behind me look up to me someday as a nice guy off the field but on the field, player who’s always willing to really give everything for the team,” said Carroll. We asked Carroll if he plans to continue playing football throughout high school and perhaps college and follow in his brother’s footsteps. “Yes, I want to keep playing in high school, and hopefully in college, professionally... I guess we’ll see,” said Carroll. Many colleges have been showing interest in Carroll already but he says that the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) has shown the most interest. “I went to a couple of their camps over the summer and they seem to like what they saw out of me, and they told me that they’d be at one of the first three games this season,” he said. Carroll has worked hard to earn his place on the team and we’re sure he will continue his success on the team as the years go by. We wish him our best.
E x p l o r i n g N a t u r e : Wa l k i n g Tr a i l s Will Schwinghammer humor editor
15
with almost 40 parks in total, everyone has a nearby location to get outside for a quick fall jaunt this year. More trails are added all the time, and with the Nine Mile Creek Trail’s Edina segments scheduled to open next summer, any reason not to get out and enjoy the refreshing fall season is quickly disappearing.
photo by Zoe Cheung
With fall finally arriving, and bringing much more comfortable weather with it, it’s the perfect temperature to get outside. What better way to get outside than to go for a fall walk? There’s no shortage of beautiful places in Edina to get a taste of the fall atmosphere, but Zephyrus is on the hunt for the best paths to explore this fall. Bredesen Park is a 206 acre forested park just west of Countryside School, with over two miles of paved walking trails weaving in and out of the woods. The park also has about two miles of biking trails closer to the roads, and an interior nature area with meandering paths and trails. The perimeter paths are lined with trees and always put wonderful fall colors on display, providing the type of scenery you’d expect to see in the countryside, not in the heart of bustling Edina. The main entrance and parking lot is on Ollinger Road off of Ollinger Boulevard, and has a small bathroom, maps of the trails, and an emergency phone. Bredesen is a gorgeous gem of a park chock full of trails, offering scenic views in the middle of the city. While it doesn’t offer the peace and quiet of Bredesen, the trails at Centennial Lakes make up for it with loads of activities, sights to see, and shopping and dining opportunities.
The Centennial Lakes trails are about 1.5 miles long, lazily looping around the lake. The south end is rimmed by tall glass office buildings, while the north features a beautiful fountain in the lake, greenery, and a maze. At the center of the lake, the park also offers mini-golf, croquet, and lawn bowling. Paddleboat rentals are also available, and the park’s bandshell offers regular performances and nighttime movies for free during the summer. Centennial Lakes is also an excellent spot for people-watching, with many people fishing, piloting remote-control boats, or performing in the streets. Additionally, a farmer’s market is held at the park on Thursdays during the summer. In short, there’s never a shortage of things to do at Centennial Lakes. Rosland Park at Lake Cornelia offers a quick and easy 1.1 mile path for walking around the lake. The path leads from a playground and parking lot around tennis courts and the Edina Art Center before snaking through a forested wetland area. It follows West 66th Street across the lake before passing baseball fields and a gazebo, then leading back to the parking lot. The trails also lead to the Edina Aquatic Center and a nine hole disc golf course. Rosland Park’s trails are a perfect compromise between the scenic quiet of Bredesen and the more urban scenery at Centennial Lakes, offering the best of both. Edina has some of the best parks and trails in the area, and
Cornelia Walking Trail in Edina
HUMOR
Gorilla Avengers Out for Justice The Humor Staff Zephyrus
To get inside the mind of an ape I had to become one. Calling on my most primitive instincts, I took to the woods in haste, disposing of my clothing and taking with me only a cluster of bananas. After much struggle, I found myself in the
by art Katie Schiller
It pains me to tell you that my home, the once shining city Edina, has devolved into a god-forsaken criminal wasteland. On Thursday, July 21st, the Frederick L. Richards Golf Course clubhouse and the scoreboard at our 1983 World Champion Legion Team’s beloved Braemar Fields were devastated by spraypaint. I was disturbed when I heard of this vandalism, and even more so when I learned of the $1,000 bounty placed on the heads of those who did it. I knew I was the only one who could put this menace at bay, not just for the good of the city, but also because $1,000 can buy a lot of gas for my third-hand 2007 Volkswagen Jetta. Well, the years started coming and they didn’t stop coming. After waiting a while I decided it was time for me to take matters into my own hands. The police may have thought this case unsolvable; I, however, could tell when a cold case was starting to heat up. Citing Edina High School’s Acceptable Use Policy and skills I had acquired in eighth grade 21st Century Literacy, I began to compile
research on the origins of the shadowed, archaic terms depicted in the graffiti. Crossreferencing this data with my extensive knowledge of urban culture, I started to gather a sense of their meaning. Extensive Google searching of the ape-heavy imagery and text featured in the graffiti led me to my next answer. “Gorilla Troop,” as written in the graffiti, is defined as a group, or “troop,” of “gorillas.” At this point the wheels in my head were beginning to turn. The third term, Harambe, confirmed my suspicion. Harambe, a seventeen year-old western lowland silverback who was assassinated last May. With the facts before me, it didn’t take long to realize that the authorities had been looking in the wrong place all along. They’d been searching futilely for a troop of teenagers, and it was clear that they instead should’ve been hunting a troop of gorillas. I knew there was but one way to tackle this investigation, I had to do what every cop was afraid to do: think like an animal.
top of a tree at Rosland Park, overlooking the great expanse of Edina. Before the humans arrived, I knew, many an ape roamed these great plains. Now there couldn’t be more than a handful remaining, with their peoples so depleted it was easy to see how they’d resort to a life of crime. As I departed I left behind a trail of banana peels, which gave me much guilt. Indeed, gorillas--in the days before Columbus--used every part of the banana. By nightfall I had yet to find any sort of ape. I beat my bare chest and wailed into the darkness, hoping they would heed my call. I had no luck and needed a sense of direction. With so much to do and so much to see, I decided there was nothing wrong with taking the back streets. As I walked I pondered my dilemma, where would a gorilla be at this hour? What would I be thinking if I was a gorilla? To these questions I had no answers. The crime remains unsolved, and the gorilla troop remains at large. So, as you traverse this town-navigating construction and wiping sweat from your brow--keep an eye out for apes.
EHS Goes Tropical Find My Words Brooke Sheehy staff writer
Environmental Science course, reported that many of his students have already completed their first huge assignment due at the end of October. Students, who were assigned to collect a significant number of different species of insects, found plenty of specimens in the halls of EHS that are in search of a new home for winter. “I mean, why migrate all the way to Mexico for the winter when the Arrowhead Spiketail dragonfly could come live here for the winter?” replied Burfeind. “It is almost like EHS is becoming a giant-tropical rainforest, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we uncovered a few more new species in our halls this fall,” Burnfeind added. A new announcement at the beginning of fifth period may just be “Attention Students! During passing time be sure to keep all mouths shut, or the ultimate consequence is a high in protein snack of your local EHS pests.” Get used to it, because this year is going to be WILD. Whether it be you are overheating, slipping in water, being distracted by the mysterious birds chirping in Diaz’s ceiling tiles or spotting Harambe in the yellow taped “DO NOT CROSS CONSTRUCTION ZONE” area, EHS is and will always be the only tropical rainforest in Minnesota, the United States, and the North
art by Nikki Lund
On Monday, August 29th, every student and teacher coming back to Edina High School, walked straight into their own living hell. No, not because they had to go school for another 1,000,000 hours of their lives, according to Minnesota State Law, but because for those 1,000,000 hours, EHS would be without air conditioning. Tough times officially hit EHS when a student recalled, “On the first day of school, one of my teachers told the class that she was going to ‘apply’ for a fan as soon as possible. APPLY FOR A FAN! How do you select what classrooms are ‘worthy’ of a fan and the others that are not?” On that note, applications for fans were due on the Friday the ninth, so all classrooms that slacked off and didn’t get their applications in on time will continue to boil in discomfort until further notice. As a result of the limited number of fans, many of the students were driven to buy cheap 02Cool Deluxe Water Misting Fans. The CEO of 02Cool responded in a phone interview, “It is insane how much profit our product has produced this month. We are currently out of stock in all retail stores in the Twin Cities and have an extended waiting period till more shipments arrive.” Fortunately, those waiting for the new shipment will survive with the new Defeat The Heat flashlight fans that EHS Student Council handed out during spirit week. The humidity of the school reached its all time high with the thermostat reporting a percentage of 98.765, exactly five significant figures, creating a somewhat steamy climate smelling of rain. Officially warmer inside than outside, EHS has quickly become a home to many new creatures and plant life. Vines have begun to peek out of the ceiling tiles, and many slips and trips in the hallways have occurred as a result of the newly formed waterfall near the cafeteria. Mr. Burfeind, teacher of the AP Admirable yet futile attempts to cool the school.
16
Word Clues: 1. Everyone’s favorite gorilla 2. Our beloved principal 3. Small floating animal 4. EHS’s most appreciated amenity 5. Similar climate to Edina