Issue 3 - December 2014 by Edina Zephyrus

In Case of Emergency Is Edina High School Prepared for an Emergency? p. 7-9

www.edinazephyrus.com

December 5, 2014 | 35:4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURES

“

She is ranked first in Canada right now!”

OPINION

NEWS C U LT U R E

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hashtag Activism: A Double-Edged Sword “slacktivism,” which means that it really isn’t doing much to help anything. In the past week, we’ve seen The term “hashtag activism” was coined in reference to social the use of hashtag activism soar in light of Darren Wilson’s justice movements arising on acquittal in Ferguson, MO. social media sites like Twitter. Of note are hashtags such as Notable examples include the #StoptheParade, which protested #Kony2012 campaign, and the the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day #YesAllWomen campaign that Parade in order to focus on occurred earlier this year. the events in Ferguson, and This form of spreading #BlackoutBlackFriday, which awareness has long been sees many people boycotting criticized as a form of Drew Davis online editor in chief

Online www.edinazephyrus.com Twitter and Instagram: @edinazephyrus YouTube: edinazephyrus Facebook: Zephyrus

On The Cover Gage Aulik (Cover Art) Katie Manderfeld (Header)

Zephyrus Staff Editorial Board Matt Woolsey, print editor in chief Drew Davis, online editor in chief Jackson Van Dyke, managing editor Tanner Sparrow, print copy editor

Hannah Kloos, online copy editor Patricia Leach, art editor Page Editors Chiara Kohlmayr Ellie Bender Sophie Cannon Noah Chestler Megan Hussey

Erik Lindquist John Osler Farhia Osman Audrey Sheehy Madeline Marker Staff Writers Ansel Smolund Josie Fay Nichole Schultz

American businesses. Hashtag activism is something like a double-edged sword. It does wonders concerning awareness, but it also makes real-world issues into trends. Obviously, people using a hashtag can’t do much when it comes to large issues such as world hunger. However, it can do good when it comes to smaller-scaled social issues, and more specifically, awareness. I admit that I know much more about diseases such as depression or about child soldiers in Africa through social media. It allows people to send their messages to the world to create a dialogue. The conversation that social media makes is perhaps the best thing that it can do. Earlier this year, the #YesAllWomen trend helped make women’s inequality issues something like a household name. It made people reflect on this topic, and talk about it, which is important. However, the problem with this whole concept is that it’s teaching us to view issues as Ellie Kohner Austin Buyse Hugh Cashman Daniela Garcia Anna Gratzer Jessica Mixon Megan Talghader Colette Bruder Lillie Westbrook

Nikki Lund Ella Romanelli Becca Edgington Julia Tollefson Isabel Thompson Molly Sparrow Photographers Annika Kieper Zoe Gunderson

more of trends rather than actual issues. For example, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was something that raised a great amount of money for that disease, but in turn, it did hurt other non-profits because people were so fixated on ALS. At the time, it was considered trendy to donate to that cause. If we start to think of issues as trends, we’re going down a dark road because as we all know, trends come and go with a snap. To get around this, we must be more careful about the hashtags we choose to participate in. Instead of just hopping on a bandwagon, first do some critical thinking because it’s easy to make an ignorant or uneducated statement on social media. It’s also important to act beyond the hashtag. If you learned about what happened in Ferguson on social media, and feel passionate about it, that’s great. The next step after doing the hashtag should be to take the next steps to really make a change. Artist Gage Aulik 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.

NEWS

Record Year of Teardowns Rebecca Edgington staff writer

photo by Nate Saunders

The site of an Edina teardown on Arden Avenue

Lawsuit Over 66 West Apartments Julia Tollferson staff writer

photo courtesy of beaconinterfaith.org

What to Do With Fred Richards?

photo by Matthew Woolsey

The 66 West Project, recently approved by the Edina City Council is now facing a lawsuit. The city is being sued by a group of citizens referring to themselves as “Citizens to Preserve the Edina Regional Medical District.” The project, an apartment being built by the Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, is a twostory, 39-unit building that means to house formerly homeless young adults. The group filed a lawsuit against the City of Edina on Oct. 8th. They believe that the Edina City Council violated city code by approving the preliminary rezoning and a Comprehensive Plan amendment before Metropolitan Council approval. In a letter sent to the city they also state that the building of this apartment will cause the businesses in the Regional Business District “impermeable harm.” The group believes that the Edina Regional Medical District should only be used for medical related services. They argue that the current housing proposal will not be consistent with the district.

Despite that, “The Council vote affirmed their commitment to allow 66 West to move forward. Normally, the City Council would waive the second reading, but due to the pending suit brought forth by the opponents, the City opted to vote on the second reading after Met Council approves the Comprehensive Plan change,” said St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Youth Minister, Adam Estrem. St. Stephen’s Church has been the biggest supporter behind this project. “Why should any community have a place for people to go who need help? My belief is that it is our duty as a citizen, not of Edina, or Minnesota, or America, but of being apart of the human race, to help people who may not have as much as we do, or have the same opportunities we have,” said Estrem. This building will allow young adults to get back on their feet, allowing them to pursue education or work. “It is a great tool and platform for young adults who want to succeed,” said Beacon’s Director of New Projects, Anne Mavity. After the second reading is approved, Edina can continue moving forward with this project.

It is a record year for teardowns in Edina. Houses, businesses, public buildings are all coming down for a number of reasons: flooding, not enough space, remodeling, and wanting a home to look brand new. But many Edina residents say the city is losing a substantial amount of historical charm and value. It is the opinion of some that demolition companies are not doing their best to satisfy this growing need for bigger and better. Edina High School senior Skye Larson says they cut corners and suck as much money as possible out of their customers. Larson’s family of five moved into their new home back in June of this year after the original home on the property was completely torn down to make room for the new one that was to be built. “There are three kids in my family, and the house was just getting a little too chaotic, it was too small and not at all efficient so my parents decided to tear it down and build a new one,” Lason said. There were a number of problems that came up during construction. One being the time. Larson said the entire project took eight to nine months, when it was supposed to take five to six months. More problems emerged later.. “We found chips in the floor, the heated tiles in the master bathroom were installed incorrectly,

there were just so many problems that kept coming up,” said Larson. EHS senior Hailey Busyn’s parents own Great Neighborhood Homes, a home remodeling company local to Edina, they have an office building located on 50th and France. Busyn says both parents work together on the company, her father takes care of the business side and her mother designs the homes. Busyn herself also helps around the office, “Sometimes I get to be the cleaning lady, I also get to go and see the houses every once in a while,” she said. For her, the teardowns are a positive thing, and very good for business. “Things are done right in our company, we make sure all of the necessary contracts are filled out, we talk to neighbors and show them plans, and we make sure the home being rebuilt doesn’t have an significant historical importance,” Busyn said. The company is very successful at the moment, and Busyn is proud of her parents and the work being done. When asked if there was anything Busyn could tell the people of Edina and explain about all of the teardowns she said, “Though tearing down can be a difficult thing to accept in the beginning, I think changing and making the neighborhoods of Edina even more beautiful will have a positive outcome.”

Austin Buyse staff writer Earlier in October, Fred Richards Golf Course was permanently closed. New plans for “The Fred” will be a public park that includes athletic field space, a remodeled clubhouse, and a walking trail throughout the park. Fred Richards Park is projected to be one of the most heavily used parks in Edina according to a community survey. Recommendations for the park concept have already been approved but the city is still waiting on a final site plan and construction bids. The city held meetings to discuss the new plans for repurposing the park but not all Edina citizens seemed to agree. “I think [the park] is more of a waste because we already have

plenty of parks around Edina,” said junior Mitch Hunzelman who lives on the tee box of hole three. “The Cornelia neighborhood and area golfers are very disappointed in the city’s decision to close a unique golf course like Fred Richards,” said Nick Hunzelman (Mitch’s father) who attended all of the open houses with the city. “The course was not a financial burden on the city.” Many Edina families, including the Hunzelmans, banded together and created a group called “Save the Fred” and made t-shirts to bring awareness to the issue. Even though the course has been closed, citizens are still optimistic about the outcome for Fred Richards. “I think the best thing that will come out of this is that it is still a public park,” said Hunzelman.

NEWS

A More Open “Edina-Open”

When you see this screen, you are signed in for the rest of the year Matt Woolsey print editor in chief Starting after Thanksgiving Break, Edina High School students were able to register their devices with the “Edina-Open” Wi-Fi network, effectively signing them in for the rest of the year. On Monday, the impact of this was felt. The Internet was not working reliably, and teachers were told to prepare a “plan B.” The glitches, however, should be fixed in a short amount of time. The change came after realizing the hassle

involved with signing in daily, the Edina Public Schools District Media and Technology Services (DMTS) took action, making it easier for students to get online and have access to more of the web. “If you log in as a guest on ‘Edina-Open,’ Instagram, Snapchat, and a number of systems are blocked,” said DMTS Director Steve Buettner. Under the old sign in process, many students found it easier to sign in as a guest, but by doing so missed out being able to use certain applications at school. The new system hopes to make signing in easier, so that students have an easier time gaining access to a

Screenshot courtesy of District Media and Technology Services fuller Internet experience. Johnston. In essence, that means a new sign By federal law, the school Wi-Fi has will be required at the start of each school year to have “different levels of filtering,” said for students. Buettner. Knowing that a registered student Once the portal is up, students will undergo is using a device as opposed to a guest allows a three step process in order to register. First the school to unlock more applications and an acceptable use policy must be agreed to, websites for students. then students will select whether they are While the new registration portal is being registering a device, or are signing in as a upgraded, the old sign in portal has been guest. Finally a school username and password removed, which is why the “Edina-Open” Wiis punched in. Fi has seemed so open recently. The only time While registering a device keeps it signed a registered user would ever have to sign in in all year, signing in as a guest will continue again is “if you are off network for sixty days,” to make students sign in every twenty-four said DMTS Network Administrator Tom hours.

A New Way to Take the ACT Hannah Kloos online copy editor In order to better prepare students for the ACT and their post-high school endeavors, a variety of new college readiness procedures will be implemented next year at Edina High School. This year, the Minnesota Department of Education now requires that all sophomores take the PLAN test, however the state is also now mandating that all juniors take the ACT, which will be offered in school on April 28, free of charge. “I love that we are providing a test that is testing college readiness skills to students for free,” said Dean of Students Jenn Carter. “Even if I’m a junior and it’s the first time I’m taking the test, I could take it again in June and I’d already have that experience here at our school.” On this same day, sophomores will participate in another organized activity. Senior Leah Stewart, who tutors students

through the student-led organization Genesis Test Prep, believes that this emphasis on personalized preparation is crucial. “I’ve learned that so much of how you approach the test depends on your personal learning style,” said Stewart. “When I’m working with a student, I’ll usually give them a couple of testing strategies to try out and see what works best for them. I don’t think there’s just one correct way to take the test,” she said. “I think that offering a free ACT test is a very good idea,” Stewart added. “This gives all students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with a test that almost all of them will use for college applications.” Juniors agree that this will be beneficial. “I think it’s a good idea, because normally it costs money to take it and you have to do it on your own time,” junior Hailey Woolsey. Another advantage is the timing. “Even though it’s in April you still have a lot of time to take it again,” junior Erica Winters.

Junior Ellie Weir prepares for the ACT

photo by Zoe Gunderson

FEATURES

What You Need to Know About TEC

Sarah Filby: A Fencing Champion Nikki Lund staff writer

photo by Annika Kieper

For those who don’t know what fencing is, it is a sport in which two participants attempt to score points by hitting the other with a sword. But for Edina High School sophomore Sarah Filby, fencing consumes her entire life. Since starting to fence at age seven, Sarah has given up a lot of things. “The worst thing about fencing is the amount of school I have to miss and how limited my social life is because of my travel,” explained Filby. “I plan on continuing fencing into college and fencing in the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association]’” said Filby. Though she doesn’t have a lot of free time, there still are some good things about fencing. “I’ve made a lot of close friends from the sport and get to see them at every big tournament which is nice,” said Filby. “The best thing about fencing is executing an action properly and just the satisfaction from doing it since so much planning and work goes into every action.” Filby definitely has a jam packed schedule seeing that she has a tournament over Thanksgiving in Montreal and is going to Marseilles, France for a European circuit tournament the weekend of Sadie’s. But it’s definitely worth it. Filby is ranked in the top eight in a Portland, Oregon tournament and ranked in the top eight in Minneapolis last year. Also, she is ranked first in Canada right now! That is quite a big achievement for someone who’s just a sophomore.

EHS students involved in TEC Megan Talghader staff writer

photo courtesy of Sarah Filby

Local program Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) returned to Edina yet again, and being held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Edina. There are three other locations of TEC in Minnesota, but more than 100 kids attending Edina High School decided to go to the local TEC retreat program at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church this fall and many attend every year. “It helped me solidify what I had been working toward with Christ, and now I am fairly active with my church and more in tune with my faith since my weekend at St Stephen’s,” said senior Ally Mauer. What is TEC exactly? What is it about TEC that keeps kids coming back year after year? TEC is a three church day retreat. TEC focuses on encouraging the exploration of feelings with the hope to teach teens that they are loved and included. Another EHS student, Robby Saunders, says that TEC allows high schoolers to give talks about their struggles, “the talks

are very moving, inspirational, and sometimes life changing stories,” he explains. TEC even includes people of other religions besides Christianity who attend the retreat. “TEC is not about converting anyone, or telling people what they should believe. TEC is about showing people that they are loved,” said TEC director Adam Estrem. TEC was created over 30 years ago but is still going strong. It was made for kids who didn’t necessarily ever get have a proper church experience, but want to have one. “The biggest reason for putting on a TEC weekend is to come together, even for a short time and show each other that no matter who you are, what you have done or where you came from, you are loved. You are worth something. And it’s by showing that love for each other that in turn, teens encounter Christ. This isn’t ‘shove religion down your throat’ weekend, this is merely an experience of being apart of a community that loves one another, no matter what. That is where the true encounter happens,” said Estrem.

Picutred sophomore Sarah Filby fencing at a competition.

Saving Edina High School Memories Chiara Kohlmayr in depth editor

Although this is something only about the edinaclassof2015@gmail.com, and should Class of 2015, she hopes that it will influence start out with “Hi (hey, what’s up, etc.) I’m others to create similar projects in order to ___(name)___ and this is the Class of 2015.” reconnect grades during their last year of high school together. However, despite the fact that she has already posted a question, Hall has unfortunately not yet received any replies from fellow students. “Having gotten no video responses is really frustrating. I can’t do this project without video responses, so please, help a fellow classmate out!” she said. Once she gets a few videos, she’ll be able to edit them together into the episodes with the help of fellow senior, Mickey Strong. But it’s up to the Class of 2015! For seniors interested, the first question is: Do you remember about your first day at EHS? Were you scared, nervous or excited? Was it what you had expected it to be like? Pictured senior Kate Hall, creator of the Senior Video responses can be emailed to Refelction Project this year.

photo courtesy of Kate Hall

It’s senior year. The cram for college apps has begun, the excitement of ensuing freedom is settling, and schoolwork is already fading down the list of priorities. So much goes on in such a little time, that it’s sometimes easy to overlook one of the only things that has stayed with you all through high school; your class. When this year’s Edina High School seniors graduate, many will be saying goodbye for a final time, and past memories will be pushed under future college aspirations. However, EHS senior Kate Hall has risen up to the challenge of preserving the very memories and experiences of EHS’s class of 2015, and hopes to create a long-lasting community between the students. Hall’s Senior Reflection Project is not associated with a class or May Term, but is rather a personal project with the goal of reconnecting students together through video “episodes,” each recounting different memories. She got the idea after coming across an old Facebook post that proposed a similar project, but with podcasts. “When I saw

this post I immediately thought about doing something similar, and since I’m a Senior I thought it would be fun to hear from other seniors about what high school has been like for them” said Hall. The project starts out with a question, posted either on the Edina Class of 2015 Facebook page, or on twitter through @ ProjectSenior15. From there, “Seniors will record their answers on video and send them to me, where I plan on then editing and slicing the responses together, by question, into little ‘episodes,’” explained Hall. Through this independent project, Hall’s main goal is to stitch together the experiences that make up this year’s seniors. Instead of bringing something new, it’s about resurfacing old memories and making memorable connections, so that the high school year will not be forgotten. “We are not all that different, but have similar thoughts and memories that can be shared. We talk about something that happened in the parking lot, a substitute teacher in a class, or an activity that we are involved in. But that’s on an individual level. I want to change that into a class level. Why can’t we all listen and share?” expressed Hall.

IN-DEPTH

Is Edina Ready?

Megan Hussey, Matt Woolsey & Ellie Bender With the many precautions we take to prepare for an emergency, is EHS actually ready for the real deal?

photos by Nate Saunders & Annika Kieper

FEATURES

The New High School Job EHS Students Describe Their Experience Interning for Senator Al Franken

photos by Patricia Jackson

Farhia Osman features editor Senator Al Franken was reelected in November. During his campaign, two Edina High School students volunteered their time to become an intern to help his campaign. Junior Chloe Gratzek and sophomore Michael Rodriguez shared their experience. Zephyrus: Why did you want to intern for Al Franken? Chloe Gratzek: Because I can’t vote and I wanted to do something so I figured why not volunteer. My mom volunteered [for the campaign] and I came in one day. They were like, “Hey want to intern for us?” I was like okay, why not? And it will look good for college. Michael Rodriguez: Well I took AP Government last year and I’ve been interested in politics and how campaigns work. I thought it would an interesting way to be involved in politics and see how it all works. Zephyrus: How did you find out/apply for this internship? C.G.: When I came in, they gave me a little sheet and then I sent an email. Then I just had to explain why I wanted to [intern] and that was it. M.R.: I follow him on twitter and he tweeted an opportunity to become an intern so I applied online. I [thought about] getting a paying job, but then looked at it and thought [the internship] was cooler. Zephyrus: What do you do as an intern or what was an average day? C.G.: I shredded a lot of paper. I entered data, Sophomore Michael Rodriguez that was cool. I called people and went door to door a lot [which was how we] got the data. It was usually just talking to people who we knew were democrats and trying to get them to vote. We weren’t trying to persuade people to vote [for Franken] we were just trying to get people to the polls. M.R.: I was an intern for the communications department. [My day] varied everyday, but usually I would meet with a few people about youth outreach. They liked to get my voice since I was familiar with social media. [Most of it was] trying to find other ways to get young people involved and volunteering. Zephyrus: What did you hope to gain from the experience?

Taking the Plunge

Farhia Osman features editor

Avenue. They offer two mandatory classroom sessions, where skills and techniques are taught to become a safe and successful diver. Then, that knowledge is put to the test during two pool classes with an instructor. After mastering the pool, one must practice in the open water twice. Then, finally, a person may obtain their scuba diving license, which allows them to buy equipment and dive on their own. Even though Minnesota doesn’t have exotic sea life, Lake Superior and other bodies of water provide

adventures. Being certified also creates opportunities for diving in other states and countries. “My favorite diving experience so far was when I cage dove with Great Whites off of Seal Island, South Africa,” said Rachel Pederson. “I swam under a coral ledge in the Florida keys and there was seven foot nurse shark just chillin’ there. That was terrifying, but amazing,” said junior Alec Norelius. Being certified opens up opportunities around the world and makes scuba diving a safer and more enjoyable experience.

photo by Nate Saunders

Minnesota Weather Doesn’t Stop EHS Students From Becoming Certified Scuba Divers

Edina High School has a large population of unique students. They are athletes, thespians, honor scholars and...scuba divers? Yes, there are some scuba diving certified students at EHS. Junior Alec Norelius and sophomore Rachel Pederson are two of these students. It is a long process to become certified. There are a few companies that train divers in the Twin Cities, including the Professional Association of Diving Instructors who have a building on France

C.G.: I am definitely better at talking to people because I’m really intimidated by talking to adults. But with this internship, I talked to a ton of adults so I’m less intimidated by people so that was good. M.R.: Definitely the experience in working in an actual job. And since I said that I might want to work in politics, [the internship] kinda solidified that politics is something I want to do as a career or in college. Zephyrus: What was your favorite part about interning? C.G.: Probably meeting all the people in the office because the supervisors were super nice and they were really young, they were college students around my sister’s age. Also, learning what a campaign looks like because you picture it like really official and stuff, but really it’s just a crappy building with papers everywhere. I met a lot of nice people like the other youth interns. M.R.: Even though it doesn’t pay, it’s a lot of experience rather than just going door to door, but volunteering with [real] people and being able to get involved in an actual job at a younger age. Zephyrus: Would you volunteer for another campaign? C.G.: Yeah I would. [However,] I can’t next year since [Franken’s] not running again, but I would if he was or if it was a yearly thing. I don’t think I would [become involved in politics] as a job, but I wanted to gain the experience and try it out. M.R.: Since he just won the elections, I wouldn’t be able to intern for him next year. But I do want to find another political campaign or somebody who is running for the next elections or possibly a political organization I can help out for. There’s an organization in Minneapolis called “Women Winning” that helps get women to run for office, on their campaign and win the election. I was Junior Chloe Gratzek, center thinking of trying to apply there for an internship because it seemed really cool.

Junior Alec Norelius

EHS Goes Head to Head

We Asked EHS Students Their Preference on a Plethora of Topics

OPINION

Sadie Hawkins Hype: Too Much Drama For One Little Dance? Sophie Cannon culture editor

It’s that time of the year again. iPhones buzzing with 150 unread group messages, Facebook groups being rapidly made, added to, and deleted, and an uproar of drama in the halls of Edina High School. You called it; Sadie’s season has arrived. Yes, the dance itself can prove to be fun and the after parties can be even better, but in my opinion, the drama leading up to the dance can almost outweigh the benefits of the party itself. First, let’s talk proposals, the breeding grounds for the drama. Figuring out who to ask can be the start of the stress. Is my friend planning to ask him? Will this cause a rift in the group? Is this petty drama worth it? If you aren’t in the position where your date is guaranteed, scrambling to find one is terrifying and almost impossible if not acted upon fast! “Girls started dibsing their dates after Homecoming!” said senior Josie Fay. The act of “dibsing” can cause even more drama, and make finding a date that you actually enjoy the company of difficult. Congratulations, you have picked your target for asking and are now ready to proceed to the next step of the stressful process: the proposal. In the olden days, at least according to my parents, girls would just go up to their date and ask, maybe with a cookie or something. Now, this simple, sweet proposal has morphed into an elaborate competition for cutest, most creative ask. Since when has a Sadie’s proposal turned into a proposal for marriage? With a posterboard, some sort of food, and a semigood pun in mind, the asker has to calculate the perfect time to spring the question that holds the fate of their Sadie’s night. Having to figure out where the guy lives and when they’ll be home is

borderline stalker and far from the cute, stress free ways of the past. Ok, take a breather. You have the date, you’ve asked them and *thank god* they’ve said yes. Now it’s the expensive and equally as hectic part: picking (and paying for) your theme for the evening. Sophomores, you have it easy. Every girl and guy at EHS most likely owns a flannel and a pair of jeans so congrats, your drama has been eased a bit. Please pick up reading this article in the next section. Juniors and seniors however, this step is not so easy. Having ten to twenty teenage girls agree on one theme can lead to World War 3, and can get even worse when there is a controversy. Choosing whether to do Disney couples, decades, holidays, or cops and robbers should not be such a difficult choice! Furthermore, this is also when your Sadie’s bill can rack up. Going out and buying a new outfit (that, face it, you’re only going to wear once) can be super expensive. Themes like princesses or early decades can entail a promlike gown and nice suits. This is Junior Alec Norelius getting elaborately asked to Sadie’s by junior Patricia Jackson crazy! It’s bad enough that the ticket every other group at EHS. If you can quickly are in order! In my opinion, school dances price for the dance is $30.00 for the ladies, plus figure out where to go and make a reservation, can be great, and lifetime memories are the price of dinner and maybe transportation, this may be the easiest part of the whole made. However, I just simply wish that there why oh why must we tack this onto the bill too? planning process...aside from the dance itself! was not as much crazy drama surrounding Hopefully picking a restaurant and place Now, at the dance, and hopefully at the after what is supposed to be the most low-key for pictures is easy enough. However, this is party too, you can relax and enjoy yourself. If dance of the year. This being said, take a also an “act-fast” moment because the popular you maintained a level head and a somewhat breather, ditch the drama, and enjoy the dance. restaurant or scenic picture venue that you low bill by this point, a huge congratulations have in mind is most likely in the minds of

The Name Windigo: Is It Time For a Change? What do the Washington Redskins and Edina’s yearbook Windigo have in common? Both are in need of a name change. Earlier this November, the Washington Redskins came to Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Vikings. Washington’s team was not greeted warmly at TCF Bank stadium. Thousands of Native Americans from over 11 separate tribes, as well as many non-native people, stood near the Minnesota Tribal Nations Plaza on the University of Minnesota’s campus and protested that their race is not an acceptable mascot.

I could not agree more with the protesters; all instances of negative or stereotypical cultural depictions should be rejected. After researching, I came to find that Windigo (or more commonly called Wendigo) is a demonic force or presence first recognized by Native Americans on the Atlantic Coast of the United States and Canada, known as the Algonquian peoples. The Wendigo spirit is a cannibalistic desire and an antagonist in many Native American folktales. Now Wendigo is used as a character (in films such as “Cabin in the Woods”) to portray Indians as savages or capitalize Native American culture. Edina is a prominently white school. We should not be using ‘mascots’ or symbols that

are racist. What are the benefits of choosing this offensive name? There are none. I am not exactly sure how this supernatural being is a good representation of Edina’s yearbook or why this name was chosen in the first place when it has no historical meaning in Edina. Not only could the issue have been easily avoided by not choosing a name that enforces stereotypes, but it can easily be fixed. Windigo has been considering changing the name of the club for a couple years but unfortunately, “regardless that its definition is cannibal, the name has remained unaltered,” said senior Windigo member Claire Little. The yearbook is a high quality record of who Edina is. The name of it should reflect Edina’s identity as well.

art by Katie Manderfeld

Ella Romanelli staff writer

OPINION

Why EHS Needs Gender-Neutral Bathrooms Patricia Leach art editor

mil ing

gym since there weren’t any private options. Locker rooms are also one of the reasons I chose not to play sports at Edina,” remarked junior Kieren Allison. Allison used to be a student at Edina and was often found rearranging his day around going to the bathroom. “I know of only one gender neutral bathroom at EHS, which would be the single stall bathroom in the DECAfé, which is very far away from many of people’s classes. I had to plan out when I could leave to use the bathroom.” A lot of times when this is brought up to students they are confused wondering what the big deal is, but it is a serious issue. Students deserve to go to school where they feel safe and accepted. They should not be forced into boxes telling them how they should act or what gender they are. “I believe that a human being performs best when they are feeling happy and accepted. In other words, it would make the school a safer and healthier place for LGBT youth,” commented junior Andy Opp. When a transgender boy is forced to go to the bathroom in the girls room, he is being told his gender is illegitimate, that he does not matter. Equal facilities are for everyone, not just the majority. “Binary gendered bathrooms invalidate the identity of the person in question. Gender is a spectrum, just like sexuality, and to only ever see two gender boxes recognized by society is damaging and invalidating to people who don’t fit into a box,” said Rock.

E by art

Gender divided bathrooms have long been a cause of anxiety for the LGBTQ community. Transgender students are especially affected, as they are faced with having to decide which bathroom they belong in. Either A, a trans student chooses to go in their biologically assigned bathroom at the expense of giving up their identity. Or B, they go into the bathroom of their identified gender and are harassed and made uncomfortable from others who don’t understand their innate identity. Gender neutral bathrooms should be put into Edina to support non-binary genders. Students should not have to be faced with this harassment, and in a lot of other communities they don’t. “I know several individuals who are either trans or gender neutral who have been physically or verbally harassed in bathrooms because other people decide who is ‘allowed’ to use the bathrooms,” said senior and Gay Straight Alliance leader Pixie Rock. Around the world campaigns are popping up hoping to establish gender neutral bathrooms in schools and facilities. By allowing gender neutral bathrooms and locker rooms, it doesn’t push students to choose publicly when they may be questioning their gender. Everyone deserves the right to equal facilities, and no one should have to fear harassment in attending those facilities.

It’s not only non-binary gendered or trans students but all students of the LGBTQ community that feel the anxiety. “I felt very uncomfortable in locker rooms during gym because I felt like everyone else was thinking that I was sneaking peeks at them when they weren’t looking,” said senior Max Kile. “I didn’t know how to act and it was very off-putting. The only reason I took online gym was because I didn’t want to have to change in a locker room every day.” Organizations such as the Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP), The National Center for Transgender Equality, and many more advocate for the integration of gender neutral bathrooms into the United States. SRLP reports, “trans and gender variant people face severe access problems when it comes to sex-segregated facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, shelters, in-patient drug treatment facilities, prisons and jails, etc.” According to the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s LGBTQ organization (The Stonewall Center), more than 150 colleges across the U.S. have built gender neutral restrooms on campus already. On a bigger scale is the need for gender neutral options for locker rooms. While locker rooms are more expensive to build, they can provide a lot more anxiety than bathrooms at times “I remember being in middle school and not being out as transgender, so I would have to find a corner of the locker room to change for

Do You Really Need to Go to College? Lillie Westbrook staff writer

photo by Annika Kieper

Edina High School puts a strong emphasis on college. In fact, 97 percent of our graduates are college-bound. For most, college is the next logical step after high school. But what about those (the brave 3 percent) who do not go to college? Is it really an option? What are their reasons for not going? How will they succeed? In fact, college is not necessary in order to do well in life. For some, college is never in the cards because of the astronomic price. According to the College Board, the average cost for one single year at a private college is $30,094, which means that a four year degree would cost $120,376. Not only is this a jaw-dropping number, but the horror stories about graduates who have to put their lives on hold because student loans own them is enough to make any middle-class American stop and think hard about the benefits of higher education. Another reason some people just don’t bother with college is due to the success stories of those who dropped out or never even went. Ellen DeGeneres, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates are all dropouts who did just fine. Who needs college when your net worth is $82 billion? Yes, these people are few and far between, but this seems to be enough to convince some people with the entrepreneurial spirit to never attend. Finally, there are some high school graduates whose career paths do not involve any higher education. Jobs like administrative assistants, mechanics, and web developers do not require a degree. Also, students going into the military usually do not go to college beforehand. While some who enlist at the age of 18 do plan to go to college after their service, they have not applied. Most Edina students would agree that college is a necessity to do well in life. But alas, while higher education seems to be a safer path to success, it does not ensure it; much like not going to college does not equate failure in life. Just ask Oprah Winfrey, who dropped out of Tennessee State and now has a net worth of $2.9 billion.

CULTURE

Backyard Chicken Debate photo by Claire Kramer

Senior Taylor Slaney pictured above with her pet chicken

Black Friday Finds

Learn More About the Chicken Farming Controversy in Edina John Osler news editor

The conversation over legality of backyard chickens is nothing new to the Twin Cities. According to The Edina Historical Society’s website, chicken controversy dates back to 1905 when Morningside residents tried setting up backyard farms. The argument went all the way up to the Village Council. Now most suburban communities ban chicken farming. Edina is no exception, with the City Code, Section 300.11, which roughly says “no person shall keep any livestock within the city.” There is, however, some legislation being considered that would allow chickens to be kept for the purpose of eating bugs, to remove the need for pesticide. If voted in, chickens would still remain illegal until next year. Despite the ban of livestock, many Edina citizens have raised chickens, both historically and presently. Back in the Great Depression, the law was not enforced because the chickens provided precious food to hungry citizens. Likewise, many Edina residents and even Edina High School students have gone rogue and begun raising chickens for eggs and companionship.

Among those criminal chicken-raisers is senior Taylor Slaney, who raised six hens after reading a book in seventh grade about a girl who raises chickens. Before their sudden deaths last year from a combination of winter and coyote attacks, they provided eggs and pets to her and her neighbors. “I never got one complaint,” said Slaney. “I think it’s pretty ridiculous [that they’re illegal],” she said. However, Slaney did agree that roosters, who are much louder, should be illegal in Edina. Junior Ava Kruse also remembers keeping chickens. “They’re fun,” she said. “It’s like a weird pet to have.” While Kruse never got a chance to get eggs, she did enjoy the company they provided and, like Slaney, she disagrees with their ban in and around Edina. The case against allowing chickens to be is the noise roosters make and the smell if the keepers got behind on picking up after their pets. However, many chicken owners have worked around those problems by keeping hens instead of roosters and taking close care to pick up after their pets.

Find Out if the Black Friday Stress is Really Worth the Trouble Matt Woosely print editor in chief

spending on gifts for others, and it was the weakest of my deals (28% off). I did end up getting good deals for myself, but they were mostly impulse buys (especially the sweater seniors Tony Woodley and Eric Hallstrom peer pressured me into buying). As a result, I drained a good chunk of savings from my summer job on presents for me, which was never my goal. When we showed up to Target, they had already been open for five hours. Better yet, all the deals I got were good through Saturday. The only place we went that hadn’t already been open for five plus hours was Game Stop, where our reward for being there within a half hour of them opening was a buy one get one on used games. I did save 42%, but, if I had showed up any time on Friday, I could have gotten the same deals without getting my mother worried about me going out on Thanksgiving. Maybe everyone else knew that, which could have explained why it was so empty.

photos by Matt Woosely

Bottom line, by heading out at 11:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving, I saved roughly 42% on my combined purchases. Was it worth it? Looking purely at the numbers, sure. All things considered, I would have been just as happy spending that time sleeping on my couch. Apart from a rare public sighting of Zephyrus’ own Jackson Van Dyke, the stores were empty. A couple EHS seniors and I made our first stop at Target at around 11:15 p.m. to find it about as busy as a normal weekday at Target. While it was impressive that these people were all here so late at night, it was by no means the shoulder to shoulder brawl I might have expected (or hoped). The electronics department was busier than normal, but that’s only because no one was there for groceries. After Target we headed to Southdale Mall, which again looked like a typical day at the mall, other than the fact it was now about midnight, and the line at JCPenney was relatively long. I went with the goal of getting most of my Christmas shopping done (which for me means getting a whopping total of three gifts) and successfully only used 16% of my total

An empty Edina Southdale Center

CULTURE

Beyond the Bubble Exploring the St. Anthony District photo by Audrey Sheehy

Night of The Nutcracker Collette Bruder staff writer

Over the holiday season many dance studios are involved with performances of “The Nutcracker.” This ballet was arranged by Tchaikovsky and was first performed in St.Petersburg in 1892. Some of the studios performing this ballet include the Ashley Ballet Arts Academy, performing on December 20th and by Barbi Lee Dance on December 6th and 7th. “I’m looking forward to just being on stage and performing because it is a holiday tradition to perform in front of friends and family,” said sophomore Brooke Wertwijne, an Ashley Ballet dancer. “I love performing. It is the reason I dance. I especially love being on stage and with my friends,” said Stephanee Lee, a sophomore Barbi Lee dancer. Preparing for “The Nutcracker” involves many challenges. “My greatest challenge has been getting into character for the show,” Wertwijne said. “I think for me personally I’m in more point dances, which are dances on the highest point of my foot, than usual which means I need more stamina for my feet,” Lee said. Both studios have different takes on “The Nutcracker.” “My studio involves lots of kids performing making our show very family oriented,” said Wertwigne. “My studio has been performing the nutcracker for over twenty-five years so we’ve got good repetition from years past.”

Audrey Sheehy in-depth editor Minneapolis is filled with so many amazing places that are unknown to the residents of Edina, because usually it requires one to have to walk beyond the bubble and stumble upon these hotspots. If you want an in, St. Anthony Main or the St. Anthony District near Northeast Minneapolis is a great place to start. The beautiful, up and coming neighborhood is just two miles away from the popular Dinkytown on the University of Minnesota campus. I happened to find this small heaven a few weeks ago in mid October. Main Street is a cobblestone road overlooking the Mississippi River. It’s near the Stone Arch Bridge, a stretch that gives a full view of the river, the Minneapolis skyline, Hennepin Island, and St. Anthony Falls. The falls are the only ones on the Mississippi. When I walked on the bridge, I couldn’t stop marveling at the view of Minneapolis, the city I never took time

to explore and the changing leaves. The whole horizon was speckled with red and orange. There are also many park spaces on the walking path that are great for picnics, and the stretch has a few different trails for bikers. Hennepin Island has two short walking trails in that lead to the river. The paths are covered with forest, and when I went on them it seemed that I was in the wilderness and not a city. The experience is amazing. I was able to go to the water and see smaller falls up close. If you walk down to the edge of the island to the water, you can look down the Mississippi and see the Stone Arch Bridge and the city with trees behind you. For restaurants, the St. Anthony District has two dinner places and a café. Vic’s Dining was featured on CBS for the best waterfront dining in the Minneapolis area, and is an upscale steakhouse. Pracna, has brunch, lunch, and dinner menus that serve the classic burgers and sandwiches. The Wilde Roast Café is also just a few blocks down Main. If you aren’t looking for

anything fancy, Chipotle, Noodles and Co., and Jimmy Johns are right down the street though they are not on the waterfront. I never ate at any of these places when I went there, but the patio dining I passed The area also is home to the St. Anthony Main Theater, which is the venue for the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. The theater shows small and local films. But if you are looking to have a lot of fun, the area also has a Segway tour operator. Currently the area has quite a few highend condo complexes being built. Including the abandoned Pillsbury A. Mill, which was built in 1881 and was the largest flour factory in the world for forty years. With $125 million dollars put into it, these artist loft apartments will be fully completed by 2015. The St. Anthony District is a perfect place for anyone who enjoys nature, needs a place for a date, wants to take senior pictures, loves biking, or just feels like walking around to catch up with friends.

Say Ciao to Italian Fashion New Italian Fashion Exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

photo by Annika Kieper

you think of the pinnacle of high fashion and entrepreneurial power, you think of Italy. A country completely destroyed by World War II was given an entire new identity and life with high fashion. Now why would a high school student possibly be interested in a history lesson of the economics of Italy? Because it’s not just a history lesson. It’s viewing this chapter in history from the point of view of art and fashion. Ever heard of a little company called Versace? They’re Italian and featured

Jackson Van Dyke managing editor

The traditional high school lifestyle includes anything but checking out the stuffy exhibits of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA). But an establishment like this, that so beautifully captures and preserves our culture definitely deserves a visit from everyone. The MIA does an incredible job of not only giving us a view of ourselves, but also of those who live halfway across the world. From Oct. 26th to Jan. 4th, an exhibit will be at the Institute called “Italian Style: Fashion Since 1947.” Italy is a powerhouse of fashion. When

prominently in the exhibit. Heard of Gucci? How about Prada? Or Missoni? All Italian, and all a part of this fascinating exhibit. The MIA is traditionally thought of as a place where stuffy old people can go and bond over their collective superiority. In reality, the MIA is a thriving collection of human culture throughout the ages. This is strikingly shown in their new exhibit, “Italian Style,” showcasing the history of high Italian fashion.

photos courtesy of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

SPORTS

Aye Aye Captain Noah Chestler opinion editor

photo by Zoe Gunderson

Molly Hiniker will be a soccer captain next year The team plans to do a lot of offseason work this winter. “We are going to do a lot more program-wide bonding as well as some lifting and pick-up soccer,” said Hiniker. She also plans to encourage players to do extra training on their own. Hiniker sees opportunities for improvement upon the 2014 season, despite the team having already improved in many areas. “One thing that I think we can improve a lot on is our

photo by Annika Kieper

With fall sports drawing to a close, the captains for next year’s teams are being announced. Edina athletics will look to have a successful fall campaign next year with the help of new team leaders emerging. Girls’ Soccer The captains for next year’s Edina Girls’ Soccer team are seniors Molly Hiniker, Emily Rethlake, and junior Eva Anderson. We had a few words with Hiniker about what’s in store for next season.

intensity. Next season we will have a hard schedule and we will need to be mentally there in every game,” said Hiniker. “My goal for the team next year is to win our Section Tournament, go to State, and make a really good run in the State Tournament,” said Hiniker. Boys’ Soccer Next year, the captains of the Edina Boys’ Soccer team are seniors Nico Joy and Brennan Scott along with junior Ryan Moon. We caught up with Joy about plans for next year. The team lost many valuable leaders, something next year’s captains will have to work hard to emulate. “Everyone looked up to the captains this year including myself, so I’ll look to put in a lot of work this offseason as I try to fill in a tiny bit of the big hole that will be left,” said Joy. He plans to lead by example, so the younger players know how to go about training properly. For next season, Joy expects that being in shape will be a big factor to the team’s success. “The defenders need to get bigger, and the forwards need to get quicker. All the great teams this year were in great shape and that gave them an advantage, especially later on in games,” said Joy. Joy is looking forward to games against conference rivals Minnetonka and Wayzata next season. “This year we had some tough games against Minnetonka and Wayzata. I’ll use those games as motivation next year when we meet them again,” said Joy. Looking to the postseason, Joy hopes that the team can make it to the State Tournament. “Going to State would be bigger than any personal achievement,” said Joy. Girls’ Tennis In the 2015 fall season, seniors Hannah Hankinson and Katie Engelking will be the Edina Girls’ Tennis team captains, both returning members of this year’s State Championship team. We spoke with Hankinson to hear about what next year’s team will be like. Being on the team for many years, Hankinson has seen many seniors lead the team to success. “I’m really excited for next season because Engelking, and I have always looked up to the captains, and we finally get to be those role models and

Hannah Hankinson, future tennis captain examples for the younger girls,” said Hankinson. Hankinson will admit that there is some pressure to keep the champion streak alive for next season, but their coach doesn’t focus attention on that. “I think that there is pressure to keep the streak going, but we mainly put that pressure on ourselves and hold ourselves accountable for our performances,” said Hankinson. State championships aren’t won without hard work yearround. The girls have to keep playing throughout the offseason to stay sharp. “To be successful next season, our girls just need to keep up their games individually in the offseason. Along with this, we perform our best when we truly feel like a team and get along well, so that is also very important,” said Hankinson. As far as making the nineteen-peat happen, Hankinson said, “My goals for the season are just for the team to compete to the best of our abilities and play like a team. Obviously our ultimate goal is to continue the streak with another state championship, but we have to put in the time first for this to happen.”

Hanging Up The Cleats Tanner Sparrow print copy editor

photo courtesy of John Bloom

Preston Carroll scans the field, reading the offense

The fall sport season has ended, and so has the careers of some senior athletes. Senior football captain Preston Carroll is one of those who will be permanently hanging up his cleats. “I had some options to play in college, but I just don’t want to. I’ll have other things going on and I don’t want football to consume my time. Plus, I don’t want to put my body through another four years of it,” said Carroll. Carroll just finished off a stellar season for the Hornets, recording a team high fifty-six tackles at linebacker, while playing through a painful rib injury. “I had my two years as a varsity player, and I’ll always cherish it. My coaches and teammates made it an awesome experience. But a man’s got to know when to walk away,” he said. Football is unlike other sports, in that, once you stop playing, it’s done forever. There are no recreational

adult leagues, or pick up games. You can’t just strap up your pads and go hit people anymore. The opportunities don’t exist. You’re given the games you’re given and then it’s gone. There are over a million football players at the high school level across the nation, and only 6.5 percent of them will compete at the collegiate level. This means that 93.5 of football players will never play again after high school, even if they are good enough to continue their careers at the Division 1, 2 or 3 levels. Even though Preston won’t be playing again, football still will have an impact on his life. “Football helped make me who I am today, and taught me the value of perseverance and hard work,” he said. Although he’ll never be playing again, he’ll be able to toss around the pigskin from time to time, and watch his younger brother, Quinn, come up through the Edina program.