Issue 1-- October 2011

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www.edinazephyrus.com

In-Depth p. 6-7

Culture p. 10

EdinaZephyus.com

Know Your Rights: a review of school policy and the law.

The Candy Craze: check out the new candy stores around Edina.

Check out the new online version of Zephyrus for exclusive stories.

Volume 32 Issue 1

October 7, 2011

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

BUDGET WOES FINALLY CUT EHS STUDENTS

photos by Rebecca Kidder and Connor Bjornnes

“This is the fourth year in the last five that we’ve had to make budget adjustments,” said Edina Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ric Dressen. This may seem like old news to many Edina High School students, but there’s a new twist this year: Students are finally directly affected by the $5 million of cuts to the annual budget as class sizes increase across all grade levels and the costs of activities rise. Because teacher and paraprofessional salaries comprise 77% of the District budget, the District is no longer able to keep cuts from affecting staffing, causing the increase in class sizes.

Part of the problem this year is that the District will only see 60% of the nearly $60 million that it was promised by the state government as part of the state budget fix that delayed funding to schools across the state to help balance the budget in July. To compensate for this, the District needs to borrow the difference, which will lead to interest costs.

To help cover some of the budget shortfall, the District is looking for additional funding in the form of various grants, including from the Edina Education Fund.

Some of that additional revenue will come from increased activity fees at Edina High School, even while the District provides less money to those activities. The new fee schedule, approved by the School Board on July 18th, raised fees across

the board. EHS Assistant Principal Jenny Johnson said that the new fee structure was determined “more systematically” than the previous system, where “some of the fees … hadn’t even been adjusted” in recent years.

In addition to looking for new sources of revenue, Edina Public Schools is looking to stretch each dollar farther by pushing teachers to print less and use less electricity. However, budgetary savings are not the only driving force behind this push to go green, Dressen said, noting a genuine desire in the District to be more environmentally friendly. The reduction of printing at school has shifted responsibility to students to print the materials they need for class, an issue which Steve Buettner, District Director of Media & Technology Services, said will likely be resolved in years to come, noting that the transition process is “messy,” adding that computers and internet technologies “are called disruptive technologies for a reason,” but that once fully implemented and optimized, technology will make the District as a whole more efficient as teachers shift away from paper-based instruction to videos and other forms of online instruction.

Edina Public Schools faces further budget cuts in the future if two levies up for renewal in November fail. The $1 million operating levy provides extra funding for the District

General Fund, while the $4.5 million technology levy allows the District to implement more technology in all schools. If passed, the technology levy – larger than the current $1 million levy – would allow the District to “free up” $800,000 in capital resources to spend on things like textbooks and desks, as well as $1.2 million of general fund dollars, which would be “of real help” to the District given its current constraints, according to Margo Nash, Director of Business Services for the District.

These savings are in addition to another $1.5 million in annual spending on technology that would occur if the tech levy passed. This increase would have “an incredible impact” on the District, Buettner said, adding there is “a lifetime difference between what we can have today” and what the original levy provided for.

“We’re going to have to have students be more focused and ask our teachers to be more flexible and more creative,” Dressen said, although he did not elaborate on how to get notoriously rowdy high schoolers and their teachers to achieve his goal “to cooperate to make sure the classroom is a positive setting” with minimal disruptions.

Erik Rehnberg, editor in chief

Welcome to AVID class, teaching students to AVIDly achieve Edina Public Schools joined 81 other schools in Minnesota this year when it added Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, a new program geared towards helping students with fair academic track records become the best students they can be.

The course, taught to a class of 22 by math teacher Arne Bolstad, aims to help students who are already doing fine in high school (generally defined as B or C students), but are motivated to achieve more. According to Bolstad, the purpose of the class is to “better prepare an underserved population at Edina High School for college - students who we’d like to see challenge themselves to take enriched and AP courses during their time with us.” Skills such as notetaking and study groups are emphasized in the curriculum.

The end goal, Bolstad said, is to end up with AVID graduates attending college. Out of the more than 22,000 AVID students who participated in a nationwide survey, 91.3% reported that they planned to attend a postsecondary institution.

AVID was started in 1980 by a teacher at San Diego’s Clairemont High School. The program initially began as a way to help new students in the district achieve their full potential but was soon expanded to other schools across the nation.

Some original elements of the curriculum remain in the Edina program, such as a sense of teamwork instilled by a program where students ask questions and allow their fellow students to answer them. According to Bolstad, there are college-educated tutors who come in twice weekly to encourage inquiry and collaboration among students.

This program also helps with many skills beyond the classroom. “We teach them an inquiry process that will help them be successful in life,” said Bolstad. However, he admitted that the program is still growing. “I think that right now we’re still finding our way,” Bolstad said. “What we’re trying to do is find out where our students are, and meet the needs that they have.”

Students in Edina’s AVID class are not alone in getting help with notetaking and organizational skills. Today, AVID helps over 200,000 students in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

The program continues to grow and put down firm roots in many communities – as it is now doing in Edina.

Micah Osler, staff writer

The official newspaper of Edina High School

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www.edinazephyrus.com

News

Volume 32 Issue 1

October 7, 2011

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Aderhold takes a stand G

photo by Erik Rehnberg

oogle “Gabe Aderhold” and you will not only see his Twitter name, @SassyGabe, but also a seeminlgy endless list of articles about Aderhold’s sassy remarks toward Michelle Bachmann at the Iowa Caucauses on August 12, and how this Edina High School senior made national news standing up for gay rights.

As Aderhold recalled, “I was at the Iowa State Fair with a friend, and we decided to interact with the candidates. I got to ask Tim Pawlenty questions about equality, and I knew Bachmann was coming. So, I decided to stick around.

When she arrived, I tried asking her some questions but she wasn’t taking any questions. It was my last chance to say something to her, so I yelled out about how she treated people like second-class citizens.”

According to The Huffington Post website, Aderhold was one of the reasons that the Bachmanns left as quickly as they did. Gabe didn’t stop there. “Last week I went to the Bachmann offices to deliver petitions to denounce anti-gay bullying in Bachmann’s district,” he said.

Bachmann’s district, which includes the Anoka-Hennepin School District, has encountered six teen suicides in the past year allegedly caused as a result of bullying.

When asked how our own district compares, Aderhold said, “I believe the school does everything that it can.

Teachers at Edina are aware of issues, which doesn’t happen at every school. In terms of students, everyone tolerates GLBT students, and we haven’t encountered any threats. The last school I went to was Southwest, and Edina’s policies are just as good, if not better.” According to Youth Serving Youth coordinator Rachel Greiner, the Edina community is very supportive, of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) group. GSA, according to its literature is a “student initiated/ student lead group that works to support students who are GLBT, combart homophobia and educate on equal right acceptance and tolerance.”

Greater awareness for GLBT rights is important because next year there will be a proposed federal marriage ammendment, one which would limit marriage in the United States to unions of one man and one woman.

“I think that we should have more days of action other than the Day of Silence, in which the high school has to be completely silent for the entire day,” Gabe said. “There is tentative date in October called Stand Up Speak Out which stands up against bullying. It’s a lot easier than the Day of Silence. Even I think it’s hard to be completely silent for the entire day!”

“Everyone deserves the same rights, and though this may be a bit cliché, without struggle there is no progress,” said Greiner.

Emily Cherkassky, staff writer & Krystal Walker, editor in chief

District adjusts activity fees This year, new fees charged for clubs and activities have swept through Edina High School. They include a $40 fee for students in Zephyrus and Windigo and an $80 fee for students in DECA. Musical students also felt the financial tightening with an $80 charge for Chamber Singers and $40 for Varsity Ensemble and Mixed Ensemble.

Assistant Principal Jenny Johnson explained that the fees are a necessary step in maintaining activities at EHS. “Please keep in mind that the fees help fund the program and make the program possible in times when state and federal funding cannot,” she said. But EHS students who signed up for activities or classes earlier in the year, without knowing about fees, are not satisfied. Windigo staff member Maria Rummel said, “Clearly, the district needs money, but I don’t think that charging a fee for a class at the high school is really the right place to go for it. We do not pay fees to take math or even art so why for Windigo?”

Student participants were unaware that the fees for their various classes and extra-

“

Please keep in mind that the fees help fund the program and make the program possible in times when state and federal funding cannot.

”

curricular activities existed or had grown over the summer. Faculty advisors, too, seemed to suffer from a breakdown in communication. Windigo advisor Kim Raskin said, “I first found out about our activity fee when I was interviewed by Zephyrus about it.”

Johnson explained that all new fees were published in the School Board agenda from July 18. Superintendent Ric Dressen also leaves periodic voicemail updates for teachers at EHS, she said, so teachers should have had the information there. Despite the confusion, a meeting held on September 28th brought the advisors of various activities officially up to date.

A full list of 2011-2012 activities and fees can be found on the Edina High School Activities web page.

Andrea Kimball, in-depth editor

New paver plaza planned

S

ome new public ammenities could soon be constructed in Edina. Kuhlman Stadium will have a new look in the future with the entrance enhanced by a paver plaza.

The pavers will represent donations for two brand new turf fields taking the place of the old grass football field next to the water tower.

Edina families and community members are raising money to establish new turf fields next to Kuhlman Stadium. The two fields are meant for multiple sports including football, soccer, and lacrosse. The Edina Youth Associations are trying to keep Edina athletes involved and on good surfaces. Led by the Edina Football Association, the Edina Youth Associations have partnered with the Edina School District for the first time in order to establish the new turf fields.

“We will be able to maximize the area of the upper field and fit two full sized fields instead of the current configuration,” Paige Rickert, an Edina Football Association board member said. He goes on to share the benefits of turf fields, “Turf stands up to weather better than grass which means fewer cancelled practices and games. Also, turf is considered better than grass from an environmental standpoint because you no longer need to water it, mow it, or put down fertilizer. Lastly, the rain water is filtrated through the turf and hits our sewer system in better condition than if it was just running off a grass field.”

Funds for the project are being raised by selling two different sizes of paver blocks for $500 and $1,000. The blocks will have the name of the donating family inscribed, and will fill up a whole plaza. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.6 million.

While athletics are trying to raise money, the Edina City Hall is saving money by going green. The city hall may also look different soon, as a project to establish solar panels on its roof to cut down on electricity usage is in process.

The solar panels will help to decrease the electrical costs of the building. Although the total cost of the project is $200,000, City of Edina Utility Engineer Jessy Struve said, “Ultimately through grants and rebates, there are no costs to the citizens of Edina.” He explained that the city received $80,000 from the state government, and the remaining $120,000 is being received in two rebates: part from the State, as a Minnesota Made photo by Erik Rehnberg incentive program (the vendor, 10K Solar, is a Minnesota company) and the second rebate is from Xcel Energy. The estimated annual savings on electricity is $1,500.

Besides the City Hall going green, our school has changed its recycling process as of this year. You may have noticed that we recycle paper and plastics into the same bin. “We are now in a single string recycling program. This means that we now have only one recycling bin rather than two,” said co-leader of Edina High School’s Planet Earth group, Tim Sheehan.

Tim adds that so far it is going great.

Jack Hulstrand, staff writer

Features

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

October 7, 2011

Volume 32 Issue 1

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www.edinazephyrus.com

Chillin’ with Chris T his year, Zephyrus decided to feature a different student in each issue, ranging from the most well-known senior to the most unheard of sophomore.

This issue, we will be featuring Chris Ross, a senior. Some of you may not recognize his name but almost anyone could recognize him walking down the hallway. Chris is the tallest person in the school and because of that, it’s easy to pick him out of a crowd.

“He’s outstanding because he can make you laugh,” said Edina student Baysha Collins. “Whenever you’re around him, he is full of laughter.”

Chris came to Minneapolis from South Chicago in search of a safer, more grounded lifestyle. “I just wanted to leave,” Chris said. “My dad gave me the option and we came here.” Chris first went to Edison High School in Northeast Minneapolis but then came to Edina as part of an outreach program in 2010.

Chris was initially hesitant to move to Minneapolis. “I go back and forth, but I like it here,” Chris said. “I left two brothers in Chicago. I left aunts and uncles. I have cousins

that I have never met.” Despite leaving a former life behind, Chris is pleased with moving to Minnesota and likes Edina High School.

“I just come to school, do my work, work out during 6th hour, go home,” said Chris. When Chris goes home, he enjoys going to the YMCA to work out, and then hanging out with his friends afterword.

When Chris graduates, he hopes to play football in college and go on to play after college. “Football has been one of my dreams for a while,” Chris said.

When you see Chris walk the halls, you may notice him carrying a silver dollar. This is his lucky coin. “I flip it all the time, heads means yes, tails means no.”

Yes, he is tall, but that doesn’t mean that he is intimidating. When asked what he wanted the students at EHS to know, he said, “I walk these halls a lot and people look at me and think‘Oh he is huge’ but, in reality, I don’t try to intimidate. I like people,” Chris said.

Thomas Matthes, staff writer

photo by Jake Freeman

“I like people,” said Edina High School senior Chris Ross

The early bird gets the acceptance Using Early Decision and Early Action to your advantage As college application deadlines approach, stress levels invariably rise. Many students wonder if applying earlier than they already have to would increase their chances of being accepted. Senior Taylor White, who is applying early, said, “I believe it doesn’t hurt to apply early; it can only help your chances of admission. But, if you know you absolutely want to go to a school, applying Early Decision, which has a binding agreement, in my mind is the best way to improve your chances of admission.”

Lisa Burnham, an Edina High School counselor, gives the answer that many high schoolers do not want to hear: Applying early does not necessarily improve the odds, and acceptance always depends on the student’s individual application.

It is important to keep in mind that the pool of early applicants may be very tough and that admissions officers are

primarily concerned with building a class. Burnham gives the example that a university cannot accept 500 students who are all from the Midwest, play in the band, and run track.

Applying early has benefits, but it is certainly not the right choice for everyone. These programs were designed for those students who already have their hearts set on a dream school.

With applying Early Action, the search process is finished sooner because most students hear back from schools by December 15. Drawbacks include the inability to change your mind if you learn more about a school or the town where the college is located. If you’re on the bubble (meaning you are not an almost certain candidate for acceptance) or if your senior grades would be very influential to your application, it may not make sense to apply early.

According to the College Board website, if students decide

to apply Early Decision, they sign a contract to attend if accepted and offered adequate financial aid. On the other hand, Early Action isn’t binding, and students have until May 1 to commit to a school if admitted. It is not possible to apply Early Decision to one school and Early Action to another, but in most cases it is possible to apply Early Action to several schools.

According to Burnham, in a typical class of 600 students, about 50 apply Early Decision and about 120125 apply Early Action. Students should talk over this decision with their counselors. “It is hard to make a blanket statement and that we [the counseling department] would never say a student shouldn’t or can’t [apply early action or decision], and we would always allow him to make the final decision,” said Burnham.

Grace Meyer, staff writer

$ome $weet $aving$ Endless homework, little free time, and late nights (and not because you’re out partying) are some of the draining difficulties of being a high school student. When you’re caught in the rut of the school year, it’s not easy keeping a positive mindset about the full-time job of being a student. However, the job has its perks: student discounts.

Most student shoppers pay full price at their favorite stores when they could really be paying just a fraction of that. All they have to do is know where to go, when to go there, and what to say. Conveniently, we have organized all those details.

• Banana Republic: They offer a 10-15% discount on full price items only. All you have to do is bring your student ID to the store. Available daily.

• Walker Art Center: Get $4 off admission prices by bringing your student ID. Also, every Thursday night is free from five to nine!

• Guthrie: Get $5 off tickets anytime you see a show. You don’t even need to bring your ID! Just mention that you’re a student.

• Minneapolis Institute of Art: Most exhibits are free. However, you can receive a student card for just $20 that will get you into all the exhibits that require an admission fee as well.

• J. Crew: Don’t get too excited, because this offer is only available to college students.

However, once you leave EHS you can receive a 15% discount on all items (including sale items!) just by showing your college ID. • Club Monaco: Like J. Crew, this offer is only valid for college students. However, once you have a college ID, you qualify for a 20% discount.

Take advantage of these student rewards and hit up some of these places this weekend without breaking the bank.

Anna Ellingboe, features editor art by Anna Schmiel

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www.edinazephyrus.com

Features

Volume 32 Issue 1

October 7, 2011

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

I don’t speak Spanish, Japanese, or French ... but I can read her body language “Body language is an outward reflection of a person’s emotional condition,” according to “The Definitive Book of Body Language” by Allan and Barbara Pease. Therefore, the way people are feeling can sometimes be better understood through body language rather than words.

Handshakes can reveal a lot about someone’s personality. When two people go for a handshake and one person tends to have their hand on top of the other person’s hand that means he feels dominant and more powerful than the other person. Some people that would use this handshake method would be CEOs and managers of important businesses. If a person is really smart and they realize that someone is trying to show dominance over them through a handshake, they can pull out the “Double-Hander” and place their open hand over the other person’s hand to show that they can be powerful too.

Most students don’t think about how they shake hands until asked about it. “I just go web to web and shake,” said Laura Johnson, a junior. Some students think more about handshaking, like Megan Denn, also a junior, who claimed, “I don’t really think about it...but sometimes I am scared that someone is going to break my hand.” Those tough grips are referred to as “the Bone-Crusher.”

Along with handshakes, smiles can show a lot about personality as well. Most people do not even take it into consideration that some people are not actually smiling, but they are “fake smiling” to try and give off a good vibe. The difference between a “fake smile” and “real smile” is that when a person is actually smiling because they are happy, wrinkles appear around the eyes whereas in a “fake smile” just the mouth is being used.

Junior Blake Olson says distinguishing between a fake and real smile is easy “when you know the person.” Otherwise you can’t tell if it’s genuine or a painful attempt at a smile.

Similar to smiling, laughing can tell a lot about a person. Men think that when women laugh at them it means that they are attracted to them, and when a girl thinks a guy is cute, she will laugh even if he is not telling jokes. Additionally, according to the book, only fifteen percent of our laughter has to do with jokes, the rest has to do with bonding.

A few more interesting body language facts: American television is the prime reason that crosscultural body language differences are disappearing, when people fold their arms, their credibility dramatically decreases, hand signals mean different things in different parts of the world, and lastly when men lie, their body language can be obvious while women prefer to look busy when they lie.

Ellie Lagorio, features editor

A spinning success

art by Julia Bolter

The trouble with tenure

photo by Phillip Gonzales

“The new wheel is making my time in ceramics much more fun!” says student Christopher Reichel, who uses the school’s new specially designed pottery wheel to participate in his ceramics class, where his cerebral palsy prevented him from using the conventional wheels. Read the full story online.

When asked what tenure was, senior Timmy Ernst incorrectly guessed, “Isn’t it what teachers get when they quit?” In the mind of most students, tenure is an unknown. Few students know tenure’s purpose or even what it really is. Demystifying this issue requires looking back at its history and its intended purpose.

Tenure is, in short, a lifetime guarantee of a professor’s or teacher’s job. Originally created in order to protect university professors so that if their research failed or proved something that would stir up controversy, their jobs would be safe. The hope was that this guarantee would protect the teacher’s integrity, and make sure he or she was teaching what is right, not what the administration deems as right. Over time this process got passed down to high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools.

At Edina, it’s called Continuing Contract, and while it’s not quite a lifetime guarantee, it is the district saying that the teacher’s contract will be consistently renewed. This job security is earned after a three year probationary period where the teacher is heavily evaluated. “It’s designed so that our teachers can teach subjects that may be surrounded by some controversy, such as evolution, without having to be worried that they will be let go,” said District Director of Teaching and Learning Jenni Norlin-Weaver.

Teachers who don’t meet Edina’s school standards will be released during their first three years. Those who are on a continuing contract have to set and meet goals and get performance reviews every year. The teacher’s continuing contract doesn’t protect them from being fired but, as Rob Gardner, the president of the teachers union at Edina, explained, “The district has to give reasons for letting a teacher go and show the evidence behind it.”

This evidence comes in the form of lower test scores, complaints from students, parents and fellow teachers alike. Those surveys that most students disregard, for example, actually do get looked at. They are part of a 360 Survey where students, parents, and other teachers in the school are all surveyed about the performance of a teacher. The administration needs to make sure support is given and that they don’t just demand a teacher’s firing.

This does little to soothe students’ frustration when they see what they believe to be bad teachers who are still teaching. “I have had my share of bad teachers,” senior Dan Murphy said.

“There are always ones who fall through the cracks for one reason or another. Every teacher can have one good day while they are being watched,” he added. He goes on to ask whether test scores that the administration looks at match up with what students think about the teacher.

Those who find themselves at odds with the current system can take heart, change is on the horizon. State legislators have passed a bill stating that the tenure policies at schools must be reviewed. What this means for the Edina school district is still unclear, as the revision process must be jointly done by District administration and Education Minnesota Edina, the teachers union. For now, though, all students and staff alike can do is wait and see.

Michael Jacobson, news editor

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Sports 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Volume 32 Issue 1

October 7, 2011

www.edinazephyrus.com

Anna Reese kickflips her way to fame “You’d never know by seeing her in school that she’s an amazing skateboarder,” said 2011 Edina graduate, Emma Reese, of her sister, Anna. “You’d have to find out by going up and talking to her.” So that’s what I did.

Anna Reese, a senior at Edina High School, has been skateboarding for five years.

She is completely self-taught and was just added to the 3rd Lair Demo Team. She is also an employee of the 3rd Lair Skate Park in Golden Valley. When I went down to visit the park, she was the only girl around.

Greg Ytterbo, a manager at 3rd Lair, described her as being “very dedicated. Anna is really easy to work with, and she gets things done right away. She’s very businessoriented, but she’s a really good skater.”

How good, you ask? When asked about speculations that Anna will make it to the X-Games, Ytterbo smiled. “She definitely will in a few years. She’s close to getting sponsored to some companies such as Volcom. She’s making her way. She’s one of the best girl skaters I’ve ever seen.”

Reese got her start when she was twelve, her dad gave her a skateboard for Christmas, and it was love at first ride. “At first, not many of the guys wanted to skate with a girl,” said Yasha Meyer, an 8th grade skater from Sanford Middle in Minneapolis. “But as the boys saw her progress they realized that she was cool and actually a really good skater.”

Reese comes down to 3rd Lair twice a week to give lessons and most every other day to work on her own skating. She offers hour-long lessons to anyone who can stand on a board. “I’ve taught people anywhere from a four-year-old kid to a sixty-nine-year-old guy and his forty-year-old daughter,” shrugged Reese. She went on, “I’ve had a few kids come in and request me because they feel more comfortable skating with a girl.”

As for her own skating, her eyes are on landing some major sponsors. Reese’s little brother, 10-year-old

Jonathon, already has racked up five sponsors. According to Jonathon, being sponsored means that “you promote their product and they give you free stuff like shoes, clothes, and boards.” In fact, the shoes Jonathon and Anna were wearing when interviewed were given to them free of charge.

To follow in her brother’s footsteps and get sponsored by some big board companies, Reese will have to get noticed through street footage. “It means that I have to get somebody to film me skating outside on stairs and rails. It’s so much easier skating in a park where everything is perfect, but companies would rather see you skate outside,” said Reese. Take it from Jonathon though, “She’s probably one of the best girls in the Midwest for skaters,” and she can “definitely get it done.”

As of late, Reese has been skating well on the 3rd Lair Demo Team. The team “goes to local suburban skate parks to put on demos and run contests throughout the spring, summer, and fall. They also perform demos at the State Fair. They run the whole fair, putting on shows every hour,” said Ytterbo.

Coming off of three ankle injuries, Reese is planning to get back into the competition scene.

However, juggling work, practice, senior year, and post-secondary planning is no simple task. “I want to go to college, I just don’t know where,” explained Reese. “I’m going to skate no matter what.”

But with her family and team behind her, there is no doubt that we’ll all be seeing her on TV someday and saying “I went to high school with that girl!”

Alma Pronove, editor in chief

Have you heard about...?

We all know that many students in Edina are involved in well-known sports like cross country, soccer, and football... but how many students do you know who participate in trap and skeet, wrestling, and rowing? Here’s the low down on these lesser-known sports.

Trap and Skeet: The trap and skeet team was added to the growing list of Edina sports last year with the help of Scott Danielson, an Edina father. “Target shooting as a sport is a great to learn. It’s like golf, you can do it until you’re eighty and if you’re a hunter it’s great for that,” Danielson commented. If your plate is full this spring, don’t worry! There’s a minimal time commitment, “We have practice for the first four weeks once a week, and then we have competitions once a week as well as practice,” Danielson said. There are no cuts for trap and skeet, but participants do need a firearm safety certificate from the Department of Natural Resources to join this exciting sport.

Wrestling: It is a winter sport coached by Josh Burhans. Burhans remarked, “The team was started last year when a couple kids approached me and said they would like to participate if we had a team, so I worked with Slomo [Laura Slominski] to help make it happen.” There are no cuts for wrestling, so if you would like to become “stronger mentally and physically” as Burhans suggested, this is the type of exercise for you. If you can’t join the team, don’t fret. Mark your calendars for January 10 when Edina will take on Minneapolis Southwest at Edina Community Center and root your peers on!

Rowing: Although Edina High School is not directly involved with a rowing program, there are still many motivated student rowers who go here. They are part of the Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club. Joining rowing is a big commitment though. Grace Stewart, a junior student coxswain (navigator) said, “We practice Monday through Friday for two hours and regattas take 1-2 days.” Stewart believes that “high-schoolers should do rowing because it’s a great experience for everyone. It’s taught me discipline and how to work with others. It’s the ultimate team sport!” Rowing does not have cuts either, and more information about joining can be found at the Twin Cities Youth Rowing website, tcyrc.org If you’re looking for a unique way to get in shape or just have fun with a great group of people, these sports are wonderful opportunities for just that!

Ashley Smith, culture editor & Stephanie Coleman, news editor

photo courtesy by Scott Danielson

AND PULL!: Trap and Skeet team really knows how to handle their guns.

all photos by Jake Freeman

KICKFLIP: Reese shows off her skills at 3rd Lair.

: The

M

subject

ost students have heard a story about a team or a club hazing new members. We do not know if any of the stories we hear are real, since other than rumors circulating in the hallways, there are few facts about hazing incidents photo by Rayelle Washington made available to students. If the school determines that hazing has occurred, even if students involved are over eighteen, it does not become public information in order to protect student privacy.

Edina High School Principal Dr. Locklear defines hazing as “a situation that is threatening or uncomfortable for any person.” The Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook includes in its definition “physical brutality, any activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm, any act that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student, and any activity that causes a student to violate a law or policy.”

Dr. Susan Lipkins is a national expert on hazing. She has appeared on the “Today Show” and has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and other newspapers and magazines throughout the world. In her book, “Preventing Hazing,” she states that “in a study I conducted in 2005 with high school and college students and their parents, 83 percent thought that coaches of athletic teams have tremendous power over their students and 70 percent of the students viewed their coach as a father figure. These statistics show that coaches can have a tremendous influence on their students and teams when it comes to hazing prevention.”

Edina High School as well as the Minnesota State High School League do not require coaches or advisors to discuss hazing at any point during their season.

In 1999, Alfred University conducted the first major, large scale study about hazing in the United States. In the study, 40% of students said they would not report hazing. The top two reasons why they would not were “There is no one to talk to” and “Other kids would make my life miserable.”

According to Lipkins, “Those who break the code of silence are often ostracized, becoming pariahs in their own communities. In fact, the aftermath of hazing can be just as devastating and dangerous as the hazing itself.”

The study at Alfred University found that more than 1.5 million high school students in the United States are being subjected to some form of hazing each year.

Sarah Nealon, staff writer

8 Opinion r e d r so

www.edinazephyrus.com

Volume 32 Issue 1

October 7, 2011

i D I

magine heading to your best friend’s JV tennis match at the lower field courts one afternoon.

Fun, right? Well, it would be, but at the EHS courts—where JV tennis plays—there are no bleachers, and, until recently, to go to use the bathroom.

Doesn’t that sound like a pleasant fan experience? Okay, no. For a tennis program as renowned as Edina’s, its own high school courts are in a sorry state.

To get some first-hand fan perspectives on high school court conditions, I asked some JV players for fan names.

BIG answers from

photo by Cici Holmquist

Sophomore Sheila Hirsch’s response: “We don’t really have any student fans.” Well, this shouldn’t be that much of a surprise: why would there be any fans where there are no bleachers? People care, but not enough to bring a chair.

For players, the courts are equally inadequate. Junior JP Franze, who has played JV tennis the past two years, commented on the multitude of cracks in the high school courts, and the lack of seating. “I’d like to see more bleachers...

This would promote more fans.”

Senior Jerry Housh, a JV player for the past three years,

small

people

When something serious happens at school, such as bullying or cheating, most people don’t stop to ask questions, at least from little kids. Sometimes it takes the short and sweet answers that only kids can give to shed some real light on not only solving problems but how the problems occur to begin with.

For the answers to some pressing high school problems, I went to Concord Kids Club to interview second and third graders.

When asked if people can get along, every child of the nine interviewed said ‘yes’ and when asked ‘how?’ their answers ranged from, “say nice words” to “cooperate with each other.” If the answer to getting along is so simple, why can’t it be put to practice?

Ryan Sorboro’s reply when asked why there’s bullying in schools was, “maybe they didn’t get treated [well] when they were a kid, so they do the same thing.” Tate Phernetton’s theory is that, “some people are just trying to be cool.” I asked Jessica Aguilar how she thought bullying could be ended and she said, “say nice words, act really friendly.”

Ben Schedin said that if some one was being mean to another person, the person being bullied should ask the bully, “can you please stop doing that?” Owen Grimes thought that the person bullied “should tell an adult.” And Patrick McDonald said that the person being bullied “should just walk away.

When asked what their philosophy on life was (and explaining what a philosophy was), Conley Dowda said that life was about, “spending time with family and friends.” Lydia Gilbert said that her philosophy on life was “having fun.”

Maddie Kopiecki, staff writer

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

mentioned that “during matches I have to run and get balls that go under the holes in the fence.”

As the home of one of the most successful high school sports teams—the girls’ tennis program, which has won fourteen consecutive state championships starting in 1997—it seems unfair and almost laughable that the high school courts are in such dreadful conditions. “It’s a subpar facility for an excellent program,” said John Soma, EHS athletic director.

Why would the tennis courts be allowed to remain this way? According to Soma, some improvements have already been discussed. “There were some architects that provided some designs and prices, but the funds were no longer available,” he said.

If substantial upgrading were ever to occur, the proposal would have to navigate a complex system to receive funds.

Potential projects must pass through school administration, district administration, and the Finance and Facilities Committee before being ultimately voted on by the School Board. At any point during the journey, the job could be put aside as a lower priority. So far, the high school tennis courts have been one of these lower priorities. As School Board Treasurer and Finance and Facilities Committee Chair Peyton Robb put it, “There are only certain big tickets items that can be accommodated each year.”

There is definitely some hope for the future. Soma reported that he recently had a portable restroom placed near the courts, and that “we’re working with the Edina Athletic Booster Club to get some [bleachers] this spring or this fall.”

Fans and players need to watch and be sure plans like these are carried out. For an excellent tennis program, I would have thought that at least above-average facilities throughout the district would be a given.

Tyler Gieseke, opinion editor

Closing the gap

E

dina High School prides itself on its outstanding MCA scores; students, teachers, parents, and administrators work hard inside and outside of school to promote high standardized test scores. Students of color, however, systematically score much lower than their white counterparts on these tests.

Black students’ scores in 2009-2010 school year were significantly lower than those of white students, according to the Star Tribune. Edina’s achievement gap, however, is among the smallest in the nation, and it has numerous educational programs focused on improving scores of all students.

“We have worked relentlessly over the past four years to establish very specific programs aimed at serving all kids,” said Edina High School Principal Dr. Bruce Locklear. Students are placed in these classes on a very holistic scale; the school not only looks at test scores, but also grades and teacher recommendations.

While some schools across the nation struggle to meet the needs of students who fail exams, Edina High School has five programs to support students. The first of such programs is a class called Edina Math. In Edina Math, students learn to think about math creatively and critically, use new technology, and get individualized instruction from teachers. Classes like High School 101, 102, and Options help students gain study skills and learn about alternate learning strategies. A new EHS class called Avid, sponsored by the Edina Education Fund, targets the middle 50% scoring students. Edina’s programs support students at all levels to ensure that everyone can excel in school and on standardized exams.

Two Edina teachers, Mr. Clarke and Mr. Schneider, will present about these programs at a national convention. According to Dr. Locklear, these programs have been successful because they help students become better learners in general; they don’t merely drill standardized exam rules into students’ minds. Dr. Locklear added that “‘closing the gap’ is the educational jargon, but for me it’s just reaching and teaching all kids and helping them be as successful as they can in high school.”

Tara Gupta, staff writer

art by Claire Kouatli

Zephyrus Staff

editors in chief: Erik Rehnberg, Krystal Walker, Alma Pronove copy editor: Monica Omodt art editor: Natalie Paule advertising manager: Michael Jacobson news editors: Michael Jacobson, Stephanie Coleman features editors: Anna Ellingboe, Ellie Lagorio sports editor: Rayelle Washington in-depth editor: Andrea Kimball opinion editors: Monica Omodt, Tyler Gieseke culture editors: Sloane Nilsen, Ashley Smith back page editors: Natalie Paule, Alma Pronove staff writers: Jack Hulstrand, Tara Gupta, Vivi Engen, Emily Cherkassky, Alex Van Gorp, Jake Freeman, Sarah Nealon, Megan Couture, Maddie Kopiecki, Hannah Sommerville, Grant Marks, Grace Meyer, Clare Ling, Micah Osler, Thomas Matthes photographers/artists: Anna Schmiel, Anne Cavanagh, Claire Kouatli, Jamie Jones, Jake Freeman, Ashley Eickhoff, Bylcie Bailey, Cici Holmquist, Connor Bjornnes, Elizabeth Jarvey, Julia Bolter, Kat Skibbe, Kelsey Ehrlich, Raquel Radenbaugh, Rebecca Kidder, Zai Rutter webmaster: Will Rurik advisor: Elizabeth Barniskis

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.

Opinion 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Volume 32 Issue 1

October 7, 2011

9

www.edinazephyrus.com

Let’s talk the talk The birds and the bees, getting a buzz and smoking a bowl. Not your usual dinner conversation. Most parents seem to talk about these subjects with their noses turned up, trying to shock teens out of any bad behaviors. Keeping these conversations to our friend groups may seem like an easy alternative, but friends don’t always give the best advice. Edina High School Social Worker Laura Livesay said that starting a conversation with parents “takes a lot of guts but can open the doors to a good relationship.”

Yes, talking to your parents about these topics can feel like one of the most uncomfortable situations at the time, but it can all pay off in the end

because starting conversations now can make things a thousand times easier down the line.

A student who has discussed drinking with their parents would be more apt to call for a ride instead of driving home drunk to avoid a confrontation. By taking steps to create this open conversation teens don’t break down their relationship with their parents, but rather build trust. By having theses conversations parents and teens can avoid what Livesay described as the “dance of tip-toeing around certain topics.”

Natalie Paule, photo/art editor art by Anne Cavanagh

What does “green” mean? Paying for your grades

T

his year, Edina High School has focused on “going green,” but is the goal really to save the environment or to save the district money by pushing printing costs on students?

Having students print at home is “not going green,” according to junior Amanda Moghaddas. “Nobody prints on both sides of a piece of paper at home.”

Another student, sophomore Conor Hussey, noticed the supposed eco-friendly initiative the school is taking, “Teachers hand out fewer papers than they usually do and there is more class work online.” Hussey continued, “For some classes I have to [print at home] and it kind of bothers me.

I feel like the school is trying to rip me off.”

Though students may be questioning the District’s reasoning behind “going green,” teachers and other district officials seem to have good intentions with the policy. “I don’t think the school is using their efforts to “go green” as an excuse to put the cost of printing on students.

A school-wide effort to conserve more and reduce waste is a good thing. I’m encouraging students to read texts online, take notes online, and submit papers electronically so photo by Jake Freeman we both practice our digital literacy skills and save paper,” said English teacher Rachel Hatten.

Though some students may not agree, “going green is the right thing to do,” said Edina Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Rick Dressen.

For students, printing at home is an extreme hassle and not eco-friendly. Our parents often complain about the massive consumption of paper and the expensive cost of ink. In addition, students are rarely able to print on both sides of the page, using more paper, which clearly destroys more trees.

While we cannot directly change the fact that teachers are not printing things out for us, we can voice our opinions and show that from a student’s perspective, Edina High School is not “going green.”

Megan Couture and Jake Freeman, staff writers

This school year started off with a number of changes: Teachers are all using Moodle, Punky isn’t reading the announcements, we now use single-bin recycling, and students in DECA, Windigo, and Zephyrus now have to pay activity fees to go to class. Wait a minute. Public school students, paying for school? Yup, you heard that right.

The new activity fees, voted in by the School Board at its July 18 meeting, months after students in Windigo and Zephyrus had applied and DECA students had registered, were instituted to cover the stipends paid to each group’s advisor to cover the time they must put in outside of the regular school day for their group, such as supervising weekend layout sessions for Zephyrus and going to DECA competitions. One group that is not being charged fees, however, is Student Council. Though its advisors, Angela Kieffer and Mellanie Pusateri, do not technically receive a stipend, they receive around $6,500 as an “extra service salary,” which they split. The reason for this, according to Assistant Principal Jenny Johnson, is that Student Council is a “service-oriented group” that provides a service to the school.

StudCo, however, is not the only group that provides a service to the school. “We’re making something for the school,” said Windigo Head Editor Kathleen Hansen. This is a sentiment echoed by us at Zephyrus. “Windigo lasts forever,” she added, implying that the yearbook will let students relive their high school years for the rest of their lives.

Zephyrus produces the newspaper you’re holding right now – keeping you up to date with developments at EHS. DECA, too, provides a service to the school with the DECAfe, a favorite hangout for students that keeps us fueled with donuts and Arnie Palmers.

“It seems that there is a higher value on the work done by students in Student Council, who don’t have to pay a fee, versus that done by students in Zephyrus and other organizations who now do have to pay a fee,” said Zephyrus advisor Elizabeth Barniskis.

Another issue is that of communication. The District did not communicate directly with the impacted teachers until after the start of the school year and never involved students at any point in the process, although all the affected activities are at least partially student-directed.

While $40 for the publications and $80 for DECA is probably not unmanageable for most Edina families, students should have been informed last spring of the possibilities of fees, or at least on July 19th of the actual implementation of fees. Had Windigo been informed of the possibilities of fees last spring, Hansen said, “we would have fought it more than anything. We would have done something” to keep the fees from hitting students. Zephyrus, too, would have considered alternatives, such as fundraising and directing ad money to cover the fees.

While it is important to note that the District was faced with the choice of charging for all activities or cutting them, the way in which those fees were implemented was “not fair,” according to Hansen – a sentiment that I, as Editor in Chief of Zephyrus, share.

Making an activity cover the cost of its advisor’s stipend is an appropriate measure of last resort given the tough budgetary situation of the District, but one that should only be implemented after at least informing those affected. In the future, perhaps the District will do a better job of keeping students informed of impending changes to classes that they have signed up for, applied to, and, sometimes, put hours and hours of work into over the summer to ensure that they can have a successful year.

Erik Rehnberg, editor in chief

Editorial Cartoon Contest

Congratulations to junior Anna Schmiel, this month’s Editorial Cartoon Contest winner! Thank you to all who submitted.

Have something to say? Submit your political cartoon to Zephyrus by October 24th and you could be featured in the next issue of the newspaper! Please drop your submissions in the mail slot of room 377B (the Publications’ Room) and remember the following guidelines: • The cartoon should be about a current issue that you feel passionately about. Need an idea?

Check out the political cartoons in the Star Tribune.

• Your cartoon should cover most of an 8x11 inch sheet of paper and be drawn in black ink.

• Your cartoon must be appropriate for a high school audience. Controversial issues are fine, they just must be covered appropriately.

10 Culture www.edinazephyrus.com

Volume 32 Issue 1

October 7, 2011

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Bookmark This!

In Lima, Peru, on December 17, 1996, a birthday party was held at the Japanese Embassy. In the middle of the celebration, fourteen members of a Marxist extremist group burst into the building, taking the guests hostage and holding them for a 126-day siege.

The hostages included several Supreme Court justices and policemen. At the end of the stalemate, Japanese forces gunned their way in and shot all fourteen insurgents. Only one hostage died. Sources call it one of the largest hostage crises in the Americas.

The crisis inspired Ann Patchett’s 2001 novel, “Bel Canto,” which tells a similar story of a group of elites who are taken hostage at an unnamed president’s birthday party. Among the hostages are a lovely opera singer, a young translator, a Japanese businessman, and the Vice President. The terrorists are teenage boys and girls who have been recruited into an extreme political organization.

Patchett reveals the humanity in every character as both romance and friendship blossom between the rival groups. Over the course of the crisis, the translator teaches one of the terrorists to read, and falls in love with her. Another young terrorist begins to sing, catches the attention of the opera singer, and begins have daily lessons with her. The Japanese businessman plays chess regularly with the leader of the insurgents, and a French hostage begins to cook superb cuisine. Soon, weapons and escape plans alike lie forgotten. Instead, the house becomes a community of, if not trust, tolerance and respect.

The trouble with camaraderie between the captor and the captured, is, of course, that it must come to an end. Everyone outside of the house saw dangerous terrorists and feeble hostages, rather than a jumbled group of confidantes. Bel Canto ends on a jarring note, causing us to question our labels of “terrorist” and “victim,” and whether or not we should love someone who has taken away our freedom.

Bookmark This! is a monthly column where I feature fabulous books that EHS students may have overlooked. If you have a book suggestion or comments, you can contact me at bookmarkthisreviews@gmail.com. Keep reading!

Andrea Kimball, columnist

Halloween classics

For high school students, going trick-or-treating on Halloween is unacceptable. The options are: go to a party, watch horror movies, or simply do nothing.

For those who picked: “watch horror movies”, we can help you choose what movie best fits your interest.

After watching multiple horror movies, we came upon a consensus for the formula of what the best Halloween movie is according to certain preferences.

There are three main types of horror movies. They can either center upon a killer, be plotless and just creepy, or rest on the paranormal to give you goose bumps.

Movies that involve paranormal activity were found to be the scariest because there is no explanation. So, if you’re looking to make fun of horror movies and laugh to cover up your chills, a movie involving a killer would probably be best. Creepy movies without a plot can be less engaging after you get used to the style of the movie.

The horror movies we watched were: “The Unborn,” “Trick-r-Treat,” and “The Haunting in Connecticut.”

“The Unborn” is for people who can handle a unique story line and harsh thematic elements that twist your brain. Since there is a defined killer though, it may not supply many goosebumps, but it will definitely make

you jump and look away when they show images that the human brain cannot comprehend. The defined killer in this case is not entirely human, and that makes it a lot creepier.

“Trick-r-Treat” had a different style that we were not at all used to, so at first it was hard to watch. After we got used to the style though, we were laughing at the nonsensical plot line. The creepy images that were before terrifying to us became unrealistic and funny. There was literally no plot. It was just a bunch of interlocking story lines of typical horror stories gone wrong.

“The Haunting in Connecticut” was probably the more common type of horror movie: involving the paranormal.

What makes it creepier than usual though is that it’s actually based on a true story. In happened in the 1980’s, to Ed and Karen Parker. They claimed to have had felt a “demonic presence” in their new house in Southington, Connecticut, before even knowing it was previously a funeral home. This eerie true plotline evolves into a classic horror story; perfect for a legit Halloween feel.

For this Halloween, make sure you choose the right movie that suits your interest.

Stephanie Coleman, news editor & Rayelle Washington, sports editor

The candy craze Edina High School sophomores never expected to eat worms when they walked into Mr. Cheng’s class one day last month. The activity corresponded to the locust harvest in the novel “Things Fall Apart.” Little did they know, the barbeque or cheese flavored worms were actually sold in a candy store new to Edina.

Alix in Candyland, located on 5400 France Avenue South, opened in August and has created quite a buzz for its intricate Alice in Wonderland themed interior. The store offers a delicious array of candy, including flavored insects. If you’re unsure of what to buy, EHS senior Tim Sheehan, an Alix in Candyland employee says he “really likes the green tea chocolate bars and mint espresso coffee beans.”

“Like” Alix in Candyland on Facebook and use the buzz words posted to get a discount on your delicious candy!

If your palette craves gelato, newly opened Pandolfi, located at 3904 West 50th Street, has you covered. The gelato is from a Michigan-based company called Palazzalo’s Artisan Gelato & Sorbetto, and Pandolfi offers 24 flavors of this seasonal gelato including flavors like blood orange or triple dark chocolate. In addition, the shop sells “cold and warm (seasonal) beverages, and a fun variety of toys, gifts, trinkets, etc.,” according to the website.

For more information about Pandolfi, you can visit Pandolfico.com.

Take a break from studying and discover the sweetness in Edina! Whether it’s candy amidst a whimsical setting or artisan gelato, Alix in Candyland and Pandolfi can certainly satisfy your sweet tooth.

Monica Omodt. copy and opinion editor all photos by Sloane Nilsen

Culture

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Volume 32 Issue 1

Urine for a show

Creating a musical around the idea of urine seems unlikely, but this year’s fall musical, Urinetown, does just that. The play shows on October 28 and 29, and November 3-5 at 7:30 pm in the Edina Performing Arts Center. Not a night owl?

No worries. There is also a matinee on November 5 at 1:30 pm at EPAC. The play is guaranteed to keep you laughing until you, well, pee your pants (sorry, we couldn’t resist). The cast includes Allie Arens, Talia Edelheit, James Neville, Sarah Sandberg, Patrick Solberg, and Nick Sweetland as the leads.

According to Neville, Urinetown has a different feel from prior plays. Instead of the fluffy comedies of past years, audiences should expect something a little bit grittier – but nonetheless extremely funny. Director Anthony Matthes insists that “students are going to have a great time and they’re going to laugh and have fun” after watching the play, but he also hopes that they walk away with the message of “follow your heart.”

The plot of the musical revolves around toilets. It occurs in the future, where a town is going through a water shortage and the use of private toilets is forbidden. People, no longer allowed to use bathrooms in their homes, must pay to use the public toilets owned and managed by the corrupt Urine Good Company until one brave soul sets about to change things. And that’s not all: the musical is also a tale of love. But guys, don’t worry, there’s still enough greed, corruption, and laughs to make this play enjoyable for both sexes. So pick up your tickets ($6 for students except for the night of November 3 when they’re priced at $3) and get ready to giggle uncontrollably, just like you did in second grade at all those silly potty jokes.

Clare Ling, staff writer art and photos by Erik Rehnberg

October 7, 2011

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The rise of indie music

Arcade Fire, a 15-piece musical collective from Montreal known for its intricate, layered Talking Headsinspired rock music and its kleptomaniacal lead singer who infamously stole a blogger’s basketball in 2007, won the 2010 Grammy for Album of the Year. This, in turn, sent millions of Americans to the Internet to express uncontrolled fury, uncontrolled glee, and everything in between. However, the most typical response to their win was Rosie O’Donnell’s hastily Tweeted one: “Arcade Fire? Um. Never heard of them.”

And thus indie rock, the music industry’s most loved, despised, and turbulent genre, was thrust once again into the cultural mainstream, a place that it tries to avoid at all costs.

However, it’s not just because of Arcade Fire’s unlikely victory that indie music is increasingly stealing the musical spotlight.

In fact, there are three key factors in its seemingly meteoric all photos by Jake Freeman rise.

1. It’s never really been unpopular.

Despite its (mostly intentional) appearance as always on the fringe, indie music has been around for quite a while now, and while it has had its down moments, the current wave is just part of an ongoing movement. The idea of music made without a major record label in mind can be traced to the D.I.Y. ethos of ‘70s punk rock. Bands like The Ramones and the Sex Pistols were never at the top of the charts and never signed to a big label, but they were always in the nation’s musical consciousness, and remain influential to this day. In short, they were indie rock bands. The movement lost steam in the ‘80s, but picked up with early ‘90s grunge bands like Soundgarden and Nirvana who refused to sign to major labels but became incredibly popular regardless. The current indie rock scene, with its sonic smorgasbord and

roots in the music of earlier years, came to fruition with bands such as Death Cab for Cutie and The Shins in the early 2000’s. The current scene is just another branch in the winding, crooked tree of indie.

2. Indie fans buy albums.

It’s well known (at least among indie fans) that most indie bands try to emulate earlier eras through their music.

Oftentimes, their fans try to do the same thing. One main method of doing this is by buying entire albums, a practice that most of the world has eschewed in favor of digital downloads. This helps to explain indie’s amazing rise on the charts in the last few years: as album sales have gone down, albums like Radiohead’s In Rainbows, Vampire Weeekend’s Contra, and, yes, Arcade Fire’s Grammywinning The Suburbs have reached number one, something that could never had happened if people bought Justin Bieber CDs instead of just single songs off of iTunes.

3. As many will attest, it’s actually pretty good.

Indie fans are notoriously snobbish, considering their musical choices (and, therefore, themselves) superior to those of everybody else. However, in the last few years, it seems that multitudes of formerly Top 40 listeners have aligned themselves firmly with the hipsters. Indie, in other words, has gone mainstream. In the last three years, songs

by Death Cab for Cutie (who, it should be noted, are now indie only in spirit – they moved to Capital Records in 2005), the Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend, and even the notoriously bizarre Grizzly Bear have made an impression on the pop music world.

As well, Arcade Fire isn’t just making an impact through delicately crafted concept albums. After being used in the trailer for the film “Where the Wild Things Are,” the Arcade Fire song “Wake Up,” a grand, sprawling, jubilant anthem of a song from their 2004 debut Funeral raced up the charts and is still quite popular.

While it remains to be seen whether a song from The Suburbs will attain this degree of popularity (“Ready to Start” has come close), if recent trends towards indie are any indication, expect to see some big things very soon from that little band Rosie O’Donnell had never heard of.

Micah Osler, staff writer

Narnia: The best hang out spot in Edina “Guys, the police are here,” someone said as headlights emerged around the corner. An Edina Cop SUV wound its way to the top of Narnia.

Shining his light into our faces, he surveyed us. With our eyes half closed, we squinted into the light, making it look like we were all high. However this was not the case. We had been trying to have a dance party.

Narnia, the parking lot on top of the Container Store, is notorious rumored to be a place for sex, drugs, and alcohol. People wishing to have a secluded place do to A, B, and/or C pick a location where they think they will not be caught. Usually you can find people hidden up there late at night doing one of the three. I can also guarantee that you will not find psycho, pale witches or mutant talking beavers up there. Sorry to break the news to you. all photos by Sloane Nilsen

Why is the summit of the Container Store called Narnia? Maybe it’s because when people get high, they can feel like they were traveling to a far off place (such as Narnia).

Or perhaps it’s because it was a secret place known only to a certain few for a long time.

Few members of the Container Store actually know the truth of their building’s peak, according to the confused expressions you receive when you ask them about “Narnia.”

Instantly, most people think about “The Chronicles of Narnia,” by C.S. Lewis.

Some students at EHS also hang out up there, or even have their own dance parties. “A car came and circled us up there when we were having one,” reported Heather Laedtke and Morgan Johnson.

“The windows were rolled down and a baseball bat was hanging out the side.”

What is Narnia like during the day? Go find out for yourself! Literally nothing goes on up there. It’s just a parking lot used or people going to Pinstripes, the Container Store, Blick, or maybe Centennial Lakes.

It also provides a decent view of Minneapolis.

So next time you’re thinking of doing a shady activity in Narnia, think twice. The police circulate the ramp once every hour. They will bust you.

Narnia can be a spontaneous place to go to see the views and have fun during the night. Just take caution when you get to the top, you’ll never know what you’re going to find.

Sloane Nilsen, culture editor

Back Page www.edinazephyrus.com

Volume 32 Issue 1

The DMV: Waiting for hours to finally get your driver’s license? Why not use this valuable time to hit on a hottie?

You could ask a fellow bystander to take a “buddy picture” with you on your license. Or you could wink in the picture and ask the person behind the camera on a date.

October 7, 2011

12

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

At the grocery store: There is no shame in rifling through someone’s cart and informing them of all the calories they are planning to consume. In the end, they’ll appreciate your concern for their health.

This tactic will work especially well on women.

Right outside the courtroom: Two options here. First option: Pick up a criminal. You know they’ll have that “bad boy/girl” thing going already.

Plus, their friends can probably do you some favors. Second option: Snag a freshly divorced individual. Get ‘em while they’re fresh and feeling completely alone in the world!

The gym: Sneak a peak at your neighbor’s treadmill level and tell them that they aren’t pushing themselves hard enough. This will show off your athleticism and your ability to put their goals before your own.

Foolproof places to snag a date What’s the hardest part of “happily ever after”?

Finding your soul mate. We’re here to give you some tips on where to find that special someone and how to introduce yourself.

Some places to consider...

The ATM: You will totally stand out in their mind for being bold enough to approach them in this traditionally private spot. Though leaning over their shoulder and possibly commenting on what their PIN number stands for may seem too forward, it totally isn’t. In fact, they’ll appreciate how comfortable you are around them. And keep in mind that now that you know their PIN number ... they’ll be terrified to turn you down.

Alma Pronove & Natalie Paule, back page experts

The doctor’s office: Why hide your family’s health records until marriage when you can just be upfront and ask about genetic diseases in the waiting room? Maybe you can find a connection while sharing Kleenex.

A funeral: If you’re into sensitive folk, this is the place for you! Love watching others cry? Approach them while they are at their lowest? Offer a handkerchief or shoulder to cry on.

On a college tour: Hit on a member of your group or even better, your tour guide! Chances are you’ll have at least an hour to get to know each other. Plus, your tour guide is guaranteed to open it up to questions at the end. When he or she does, be confident and ask where you can meet them for dinner.

The Port-O-Potty: This is an awesome spot to get to know each other for two reasons. The first is that, assuming they are inside the stall while you remain outside, they cannot escape! Second, they cannot judge you based off of your looks until they step out of the potty. May we suggest knocking on the door before you explain who you are? We don’t want to be rude now.

art by Natalie Paule and Alma Pronove