Issue 2 - November 9, 2020 by Edina Zephyrus

www.edinazephyrus.com

November 9, 2020| 41:2

COMMENTARY

Monday, November 9, 2020

From the web...

Zephyrus staff 2020-2021 Editorial Board Art Boettge, media coordinator Madeline Brandel, visual editor Sophie Charnell, visual editor Michael Crater, outreach coordinator Mia DiLorenzo, head staff writer Dedeepya Guthikonda, media coordinator Matthew Hovelsrud, online editor Sadie Johnson Sieben, manager Ellen Mi, editor-in-chief Reagan Stanchfield, copy editor Alexis Yi, print editor Page Editors Liliana Hanson Hanna Jaeger Isadora Li Caroline Seiler Linnea Shively Izzy Wagener Advisor Daniel Amborn

Staff Writers Althea Barrows Nora Franssen Maren Fullerton Eleanor Hutcheson Sage Jezierski Urva Jha Hannah Owens Pierre Pavithra Sankar Reilly Shane Celia Vedder Photographers Rhea Hammond Hayden Kleynhas Lilian Simmons Artists Anabelle Jakala Elizabeth Lundberg Lydio Olson Nora Riter Laryn Scribner Ellanor Splinter

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

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

On the cover Art by Betsy Lundberg

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Joe Biden will be the 46th President of the United States

Maren Fullerton staff writer

hrough a prolonged election that unofficially ended four days after election night, Joe Biden has been declared the 46th presidentelect of the United States. Voters used mail-in, absentee, or early voting ballots in unprecedented numbers due to the pandemic. Worries about widespread voter fraud were amplified by President Donald Trump, who is currently using his legal team to contest the counts in many states. Despite those concerns, a new record was set with the highest voter turnout in American history. In the midst of a global pandemic, the most important issues to the American people were the economy and healthcare, according to the Pew Research Center. The pandemic also vastly changed the way people vote and voting trends as daily COVID-19 cases reached a new record high in the U.S. on election night. With over 100 million ballots cast before election day, early voters were heavily leaning left. Democrats were far more likely to vote by mail or early, while Republicans preferred election day voting (New York Times). This trend greatly skewed initial election predictions as the first votes to be counted were election day ballots. The night of the election confirmed few states, leaving Americans wondering until four days later who the next president would be. The key battleground states that were left undecided after many days were Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, and most importantly, Pennsylvania. President Trump needed to win at least four of those swing states in order to beat Biden to 270 electoral college votes. The

election was decided when Biden was declared the winner of Pennsylvania, which brought Biden to 273 electoral votes at the time of his victory. President Trump has beenwas active in his legal strategy to stop counting votes in many of these swing states on the grounds of voter fraud. He also called for a recount of the votes in Wisconsin and Georgia after Biden took the lead. President Trump’s lawsuits were quickly shut down by many states as they attacked the legitimacy of democracy with little legal grounds. His voters avidly supported his claims to voter fraud by aggressively protesting outside election facilities in Nevada bringing questions about post-election peace (Las Vegas Sun). President Trump prematurely declared victory in the early morning of November 4, which many news broadcasting agencies, including CBS, NBC, and ABC News, refused to air because of the danger it posed in lying about “illegal” votes and Democrats “stealing the election,” according to Business Insider. Joe Biden showed confidence from start to finish about his impending victory through dishonest claims made by the White House. In the end, Joe Biden won the election when Pennsylvania was declared. His vice president, Kamala Harris, “will be the first woman, and first Black and Asian American person to serve as vice president” (CBS News). Though Trump has yet to acknowledge Biden’s victory, celebrations have already started across the U.S. Questions about President Trump and his supporter’s likelihood to concede peacefully will continue through the next couple of days, but Biden has been historically and legitimately declared the next president of the United States.

On the inside... Music and the EHS community pages 6 & 7

@edinazephyrus

Should Thanksgiving be celebrated? page 11

For more, visit edinazephyrus.com

NEWS

Monday, November 9, 2020

Indoor villages provide shelter during unsafe times

infographic by Alexis Yi

Art Boettge multimedia coordinator

t’s no secret that Minneapolis has some extreme temperatures. With summer temperatures reaching the high 90s in degrees, and winters being consistently below freezing, it can be hard for people without housing to stay safe. Indoor Villages, a new project from the Minneapolis city council, are specifically targeted towards individuals and couples seeking temporary housing. On Oct. 16, the Minneapolis city council unanimously approved the construction of indoor villages. Through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), passed by Congress to help stimulate the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Minneapolis has started constructing indoor villages—rows of houses within warehouses or other large indoor areas to house the houseless. According to indoorvillages.org, the goal of these housing complexes are to “prevent the spread of COVID-19 and promote safety, stability, and well-being.” Indoor

villages are being built within warehouses, inside of parks, and other spaces that can fit a large number of people. Safety seems to be the priority of these shelters, as they offer secure entrances with lots of staff at each entrance, locks for all individual shelters within warehouses, and thorough COVID-19 safety protocols for all residents. Beyond shelter, Indoor Villages offer other services, like meals and healthcare. Working with a number of other non-profit organizations like Simpson Housing Services, Catholic Charities of Minnesota, and Special Treatment Services, Indoor Villages are funded through a mix of city funds, philanthropic donations, and governmental grants. The creation of these villages is tied directly to the unrest that has been happening in Minneapolis lately, especially the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing protests. Additionally, these villages seek to provide homeless people with a safer alternative (in terms of COVID-19) to a traditional shelter setting. Although this form of shelters is temporary, it might have a lasting impact on the homeless community in the Minneapolis area.

How effective is curbside pickup? L

Nora Franssen staff writer

[employees] walk through the door, they have to have their masks on. If they have any signs of being sick, like if you have a cough, you’re not allowed to work; you have to call in,” Wallskog said. For customers’ safety, Tavern on France uses single-use menus and pens, as well as sanitizing thoroughly. Employees have to change their gloves every time they touch something that’s been in someone else’s ungloved hands. Even though there may still be a risk of COVID in restaurants and even in curbside pickup, it’s necessary for these businesses. Wallskog said she wouldn’t be surprised if half of restaurants across Minnesota were permanently closed by the end of the pandemic. Through navigating the ups and downs of this hard time, many employees have still managed to find a positive take away. “The lesson learned was that you have to be ready to pivot and be ready for the worst case scenario,” Wallskog said.

photo by Lily Simmons

ots of restaurants have been doing curbside pickup since COVID started, forcing public dining to be put on hold, including for restaurants such as Edina Grill, Davanni’s, and Tavern on France. With reduced seating, this is the only way that they’re able to stay open. Most restaurants are offering curbside pickup as a form of “eating out” during the pandemic for those who’d like to enjoy restaurant food but don’t feel comfortable eating in a restaurant. “I would assume that anyone that’s still open is offering curbside at this point. It’s probably like 98% of people are offering curbside,” Cara Wallskog said. Wallskog is the Marketing Communications Manager for Hemisphere Restaurants, which owns Tavern on France. Even though it doesn’t produce much profit, curbside pickup keeps their businesses open and relevant, which is

vitally important at a time when sales are slow. With seating only at 50% capacity and fewer people choosing to eat out, restaurants aren’t making a significant profit. The money that is made goes towards keeping the business open. “I would say at least 50% [of our business] is lost,” Wallskog said. This has majorly affected restaurant employees. According to Pew Research Center, 14 million Americans became unemployed because of COVID between February and May of 2020. Many more were furloughed, or temporarily laid off. “When we were shut down, the only people we kept on staff were our management team. Everyone else was furloughed,” Wallskog said. The safety of having others handle one’s food is also being called into question. Many restaurants have new safety requirements to lower the risk of transmitting COVID. “As soon as

COVID-19 cuisine: Tavern on France employee prepares take out order

Survey reveals EHS student and staff thoughts on the pandemic

s the COVID-19 pandemic continues, going to school looks drastically different. Masked students walk down one-way hallways to classrooms at half capacity. Fully online and off-day hybrid students attend digitally. In an anonymous survey, 49.9% of Edina High School students answered that, in school, other students observe the guidelines ‘well to very well’. Several also noted that they believed large gatherings outside of school were a significant contributor to the outbreak. “So many seniors are throwing parties...I feel really uncomfortable when passing them in the halls because my mom works in the medical field.” one EHS student said. “I think that a lot of the problems come down to the individuals who hang out in large groups outside of school. There isn't much the school can do because they can't control students when they aren't on school grounds,” another student said. “I think it’s kind of gotten to the point where...people are getting [what]

I’ve heard called COVID fatigue,” math teacher Katelyn Strauss said. “I know a lot of the students see each other outside of the classroom, and a lot of them talk about going out to lunch together and being in the car together.” Many students said that they would prefer that the school go either completely virtual or completely in-person. “I don’t think hybrid is fair to the teachers; [it’s] too much work for them,” a student said. With the current system, teachers need to prepare materials for in-person and online students. “It really feels like I’m doing two jobs at the same time,” Strauss said. “I try my best to make sure that I have all types of different [learning methods], because kids learn in different ways.” There are some upsides to the adjusted learning model: namely, the asynchronous day on Wednesdays. While teachers often meet with students virtually, there are no scheduled class meetings on Wednesday, which enables both teachers and students to catch up on work or get ahead. “Outside of our contract hours, we put in a lot of time to create content and grade,” Strauss said. “It’s been really helpful right now

in this situation because I can create my videos, I can create my notes.” In the survey, 2.9% of students said they had tested positive for COVID-19 after the school year began. As cases rise in Edina and nearby school districts remain on virtual learning models, rumors that Edina might move completely to EVA have increased. The fact remains that this year, regardless of learning method, presents unique challenges and looks far different than anyone expected.

art by Lydia Olson

infographic by Liliana Hanson

Liliana Hanson page editor

FEATURES

Monday, November 9, 2020

Junior on a mission to draw every student in the class of 2022

Unfortunately, sometimes tests, schoolwork, and a lack of motivation stand in the way, but he remedies these setbacks with immense amounts of caffeine. These cartoons can take anywhere from a s an Edina Virtual Academy student who day to a full week to finish and he has a backlog of is often stuck inside, Edina High School students hoping to be drawn. junior Ben Xie finds solace in his carIn Xie’s creative process, the first step is actoons. His creativity started at a young age and has cepting a request or asking a friend if they are kept him entertained in his days at home. During quarantine, Xie’s passion for art turned into a chal- willing to be drawn. Then, he will get to know them as best he can in order to incorporate “somelenge: drawing every member of the junior class. thing fun, unique and special about them, whether Xie started by drawing some of his friends and the it’d be secret symbols or messages,” Xie said. He idea has grown to include over 30 juniors already. fine tunes his Xie has always mistakes and been especially “Art to me is like slapping my asks the person if creative and has they want to add improved his brain on a piece of paper. That sounds anything, and doodles through weird, but I love how whenever I finally, his prodYouTube. “Art to have a concept or an idea, I can actuuct is released on me is like slaphis Instagram: ping my brain on ally draw it out whenever I want.” @ben_xie76. a piece of paper. Xie finds joy That sounds in sharing his art with other people and weird, but I love how whenever I have seeing their happiness over a personala concept or an idea, I can actually ized cartoon of themselves. draw it out whenever I want,” Xie said. Now, he A hobby that grew during quarantine and that is able to create elaborate drawings full of unique has turned into a fun challenge to stay occupied traits about the people he draws. in a monotonous school week at home keeps Xie He finds it especially fun to draw people he knows and is familiar with. Xie even includes each entertained and connected. His cartoons have brought cheer to both himself and the people he person’s birth date in Roman numerals. “Actually draws. In an especially trying time, Xie has found the images are kind of like puzzles I make. I take a unique way to use his talent for cartoons to genthe info the person gives me and draw everything erate happiness in his peers. and hope they see it,” Xie said.

Maren Fullerton staff writer

art courtesy of Benjamin Xie Cartoon creations: Benjamin Xie draws himself in the style of his class collection.

Teachers working from home adapt to unprecedented circumstances this school year Amy Kampf and Joseph Deckenbach present struggles of at-home teaching

infographic by Hannah Owens Pierre

Izzy Wagener page editor

t first glance, it’s easy to notice the abrupt changes to the school environment which once might have been considered dystopian: masked students, signage for one-way hallways, and emptied classes. What may be less obvious is the tireless work of those absent from school, particularly the online teachers who continue to adapt to today’s difficult circumstances. The teachers who are working entirely from home must coordinate classes of Edina Virtual Academy (EVA), Hybrid A, and Hybrid B students entirely without face-to-face interaction. Adapting a curriculum to fit smaller class sizes and online school is a complex undertaking for material that was never intended to be digital. This presents both challenges and opportunities. Amy Kampf, who teaches AP Economics, is one teacher who is working entirely from home. Kampf typically tries to incorporate interactive activities like cards into her class. “I am a gamer...I have all these decks of cards and special manipulatives, and I can’t use any of them [online].” Joseph Deckenbach, who is also working entirely from home, teaches Film and Literature I. As much of his class time would typically be devoted to watching movies, Deckenbach had to find new films that could be uploaded to Schoology for individual viewing. “I had to create all new materials for the students, which was kind of fun. I hadn’t created all new stuff in a long time,” he said. With little precedent to pull from, last spring’s transition to online school serves as a valuable case study. The biggest change from last spring to now, Deckenbach said, is a lack of connection with new

students. “Some I’ve connected with really well, and I could say we have a relationship; others, you know, they’re a name on the attendance,” he said. The flexibility of hybrid and EVA schedules can also introduce complications. For example, there is no set protocol on whether a hybrid student joining a synchronous class from home should be counted present. There’s also the matter of technological barriers that teachers working from home must address, especially when it comes to a lack of focus. However, newer resources like Google Meet breakout rooms have helped bridge that gap by allowing students to work together in smaller groups. The strain of work done entirely online also takes its toll; students and teachers are facing issues like “Zoom fatigue” and even carpal tunnel syndrome. Kampf recently invested in a new standing desk, speakers, headset, and computer to help offset some of these effects and create a better working environment in her home. The school district has provided teachers and students working online with technological resources, but the efficiency and extent of these items can be less than ideal. The same is true of some in-class supplies; there are 14 social studies classrooms, but only eight webcams were purchased by the school for the entirety of the department. “Not only are we buying stuff for our homes, we’re buying stuff for the classrooms,” Kampf said. Although few prefer online learning, Kampf counts herself lucky to be able to teach her classes from the safety of her home. “I feel grateful that I’m safer for my health, and I wish more teachers also felt more safe,” Kampf said. It’s no doubt that many are wishing for a time when online school will no longer be necessary. “I desperately miss being in the school with everybody,” Deckenbach said.

ACTIVITIES

Monday, November 9, 2020

Knitting club teaches students to unwind—and not just their yarn M

Hannah Owens Pierre staff writer

any Edina High School students are experiencing overwhelming amounts of stress this year due to the pandemic, and one club has an intriguing solution:

knitting. Grandmas, old sweaters, and retirement homes are a few things that come to mind when someone brings up knitting; it’s not an activity that’s typically associated with teens. Junior cofounders of the new EHS Knitting Club Cella Porter and Jojo Orth want to change that. Porter and Orth created the club this year as a way to help EHS students relax and connect with others. “It is important to help EHS students create a time in a stressful day to relax and give our minds a break,” Orth said. The pair first developed the idea for the club when they started knitting together via FaceTime after the pandemic hit. They immediately saw the benefits. “Knitting provided a cheap and consuming project that allowed us to talk over FaceTime and occupy ourselves,” Porter said. “It helped our mental health

art by Ellanor Splinter

extremely during quarantine, [so] we wanted to reach out, create a club, and help others find tranquility in knitting.” They aren’t alone—according to The New York Times, knitting is proven to decrease stress hormones and could prevent memory loss. The club meets virtually after school on Tuesdays, welcoming all knitters regardless of age or experience. Though starting a new hobby can at times seem daunting, Porter believes knitting is accessible and easy to learn. She is a self-taught knitter who gained her skills through the internet. “I quite simply looked up a YouTube video and got started. It gave me something to work towards, keeping my hands and mind busy,” Porter said. With 17 members already, the unique experience that the EHS Knitting Club provides is drawing in students from all grades, and Orth and Porter couldn’t be happier. “One of our primary goals was to help new students meet one another, no matter if they are a part of EVA or hybrid learning,” Porter said. “If you are looking to help your mental health, meet new people, or simply learn a new hobby, this club is certainly for you.”

Big changes in Edina Student Council

Art Boettge multimedia coordinator

In memoriam: EHS Clubs Hip Hop Dance Team

The news of the tragic passing of the Hip Hop Dance Team has caused widespread sorrow throughout Edina High School. The club, known for its dances during pep fests, football games, and other school events, was put on hold due to COVID-19. The doctors attending to the club at the time of its passing stated that COVID-19 prevented members of the club from being able to practice together. Since the club didn’t have the ability to meet in-person, the doctors decided that the best course of action was to put the club on hold. Although the club may be gone for now, it left many memorable performances in its wake.

art by Lydia Olson

Michael Crater outreach coordinator

Theater workshops replace regular shows

Reilly Shane staff writer

side from sports seasons being postponed or cancelled this year, theater at Edina High School is also much different this season. Typically, a fall production is performed every November; however, Edina thespians have had to adjust to the new procedures of COVID-19 and instead of putting on a show, they get to participate in workshops. A wave of sadness passed over the Edina High School community earlier this week, as news of the Led by Edina High School’s own arloss of the Ping Pong Club reached students. For many years, the EHS Ping Pong Club has brought tistic team, these workshops span Monday joy to countless students: From weekly practices to earning 5th place at the state tournament, the through Thursday. The topics they discuss in club has been a source of pride and glory for many. While the club has passed, it is survived by the workshops range from lighting design to leaders Luke Wesholder and Cole Statz, who held a summer camp in its memory. They plan to musical theatre orchestration and instrumenrevive the club in the future. tation. The workshops are done online and have two different sessions after school each day, one at four p.m. and one at five p.m. . The despair from the loss of the beloved high school robotics team, Green Machine, can be felt in “The workshops are really fun. I enjoy the halls of EHS, as it was only 15 years old. It is survived by its parents, EHS and NASA, as well getting to see people I know in the classes,” as the 130 all-time team members. During its life, the Green Machine earned a place at eight World sophomore Lizzie Semington said. Last year, Championships. To carry on the team’s outstanding legacy, the team members are still virtually she was in the fall production of “Matilda.” meeting every week, engaging in social distance team bonding activities, meeting in pods in the “I miss being able to work with a large cast workshop to continue development, and preparing for the For Inspiration and Recognition of Sciand crew in person. There’s nothing like it,” ence and Technology virtual season that starts this January. While the Green Machine has passed, Semington said. “There are classes for tech the team has plans to continue competing. people, musicians and actors. Every Friday there are Q and A’s with industry profesEach of these clubs hope to be resurrected from the dead following the end of the COVID-19 sionals as well.” These Q and A’s feature a pandemic. This article is satire and the absence of these clubs is most likely temporary. variety of different guests who talk about

Ping Pong Club

Green Machine

photo by Rhea Hammond

raditionally, students are used to seeing large campaign posters advertising prospective candidates for Student Council filling up the walls of Edina High School; however, due to school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Student Council elections were postponed. To make up for that, the Student Council is trying something different this year. Instead of the usual spring campaigning period and election, the Student Council is postponing the process. “They’re pretty much going to be the same, except we’re going to do the election around the end of the semester. [Newly-elected members will] serve a full year, from the second semester of the year that [they’re] elected [until] the first semester of the next year,” junior and Student Council representative Tully Clark said. After the election in the second semester, seniors will conclude their time on Student Council, and give newer members the chance to lead. The goal of having the senior members of the Student Council yield their authority after the first

semester is to ensure that council activities run smoothly with the help of more experienced members. “Basically, the point of changing elections like this is so that seniors aren’t on it for the second semester. They think that’ll make sense for how the committee will plan homecoming,” senior and Student Council member Paige Greene said. Despite the changes to the council elections this year, the Student Council is still determined to give the EHS student body an entertaining and exciting year. Dances, especially Homecoming, will be very different from past years. “Obviously, there’s no dance because of the pandemic, but the community that is organizing the Homecoming coronation is really doing their best to make something happen for court and for just seniors in general,” Greene said. Along with that, events like the blood drive are still expected to happen, this time being opened up to the Edina Community, or anyone affiliated with Edina. “We’re hoping to get more activities than other schools are doing. We’re making sure it’s safe, but we’re still having some activities” Clark said. In spite of the circumstances of this year, the EHS Student Council hopes to send off Edina Planning in progress student council dicusses plans for the schoolyear. seniors with some lasting memories.

what it’s like to have a career in performing arts. They also share how you can get started as a professional, and they have live readings of plays with playwrights. Some of the artists include Chicago rapper Prince Roc, “Law and Order” actor Felix Solis, and even an EHS alum Tommy Glass, who is a professional opera singer that won the 2019 Metropolitican Opera National Council Auditions. EHS thespians will still have opportunities this year to perform on stage. From November to January, there will be a One Act Play competition. They plan for it to be a combination of online and in-person. The competition is going to be done through MNSHL, so EHS will be competing against other Minnesota high schools. The performance of the play will either be done through a Zoom call or they will film a livestream at EPAC. There is also a show for the spring. Because the show is so far away, there isn’t certainty that it will be live with an audience yet. EHS will be doing “Shakespeare in Love.” The fall season wasn’t what was expected this year, but workshops and live Q and A’s were able to help the thespians become better performers and crew members.

STUDENT LIFE

Monday, November 9, 2020

The Freshman Class of COVID-19 Pavithra Sankar staff writer reshman year can be an overwhelming time. Students not only have to deal with new teachers and academic demands but also an entirely different set of students. Some of whom are older and much more mature. However, due to the pandemic, incoming freshmen face new challenges as they start their first year in high school with both virtual and hybrid students. “Being in school makes it easier to learn and focus, and it’s fun to see friends—online school is basically school without most of the parts that make it fun,” Edina High School freshman Celeste Eckstein said. The transition to high school is often stressful, but this year comes with new struggles in technology and communication. Online learning is a strenuous task that teachers are battling, and many freshmen feel that Google Meets are not as engaging as being physically present at school. “In-person students are referred to most of the time, and I can have a hard time focusing watching long Google Meets,” Eckstein said.

Freshmen are also having difficulty communicating and building relationships with their teachers as the majority of them are in class for two days and online for the rest of the week. This results in students frequently emailing teachers rather than asking direct and brief questions. “I’m not good at professional nor personal communication, but I’m also learning to live with it,” freshman Maya Frydenlund said. Nevertheless, students have learned to adapt to the unusual circumstances by acknowledging the new protocols as necessary in protecting everyone’s health. “Many people, including EVA students, aren’t in school at all so I feel more grateful than ever to be able to go to school and see my friends,” Eckstein said. Although this system is a challenge for many, freshmen view this unique opportunity as a learning experience in efficiency. “I’ve learned how to better control my work ethic and focus, time management, and the balance of my studying and project work, so just from that, I feel like this will be referential in my future,” Frydenlund said.

Mia DiLorenzo head staff writer

TikTok star Charli D’Amelio recently partnered with the national chain to create “The Charli,” a medium Dunkin’ cold brew, whole milk, and three pumps of caramel swirl. I went to Dunkin’ to see whether or not the rumors and recent popularity was welldeserved. I’m a big fan of jelly donuts, so that purchase was somewhat of a no-brainer; I also ordered an iced almond milk latte, my go-to coffee. Though I’m typically a tea drinker, the iced coffee from Dunkin’ was much better than I was expecting. The coffee that I’ve had at other chains like Starbucks are typically too sweet and their non-dairy options are overpriced. Not only was the Dunkin coffee better tasting, it was more affordable. The jelly donut, though small and quite processed, was also worth the money—nothing beats taking an AP United States History test while drinking copious amounts of iced coffee and downing a better-than-average jelly donut. I’d heartily recommend Dunkin’ over Starbucks any day; the quality is measurably better, and who doesn’t want to save some extra cash?

Dunkin’ Donuts: is it worth the hype?

infographic by Sage Jezierski

Sage Jezierski staff writer

n the era of social-distancing and learning from home, safety precautions have made hang ing out with friends a struggle for many students. The Minnesota Stay Safe Plan Phase 3 encourages citizens to stay home, but it allows outdoor gatherings of 25 people or less and indoor gatherings of less than 10 people. In addition, “[g]atherings should adhere to proper social distancing measures—like staying six feet apart and wearing a mask,” Minnesota governor Tim Walz said. Because of these implemented safe practices, students have had to alter their social lives and how they interact with their friends. Back in March, when the “stay at home” order was put into place, people began to meet up in parking lots. “We would put our cars in a circle with the trunk facing inward, so everybody [could] sit in their trunks and talk to each other,” junior Trigg Johnson said. Outdoor walks and gatherings became another safe option for students missing their

photo by Sophie Charnell

Safety precautions make hanging out with friends a new challenge

unkin’ Donuts, an East Coast staple, announced a plan in late 2018 to expand their Midwest presence when the national chain revealed their lofty goal of opening 50 locations in the state of Minnesota. Though the national chain has closed a number of franchises throughout the pandemic, the Richfield franchise has remained strong. Cata Madriñan, an Edina High School junior and avid Dunkin’ customer, finds herself drawn to its affordability and equivalent quality; however, she still frequents Starbucks for different products. “It depends on what I’m in the mood for. If I want tea, I’ll go to Starbucks. If I want coffee, I’ll go to Dunkin’ because Starbucks’ coffee and almond/oat milk is horrible,” Madriñan said. Dunkin’s popularity has spiked recently, especially among EHS students. “I think [Dunkin’s sudden popularity is] because of Charli D’Amelio’s brand deal and because it is cheaper than Starbucks,” Madriñan said.

friends. “I went on walks with my neighbor across the street, or if I hung out with someone it was outside, but mostly I just Facetimed friends,” sophomore Elise Holt said. The most dramatic adjustment was the transition from in-person socialization to online. FaceTime, Zoom calls, and other online alternatives took the place of parties and gatherings for many friends during quarantine. Now, because of the cold weather, precautions such as social distancing or remaining outside while hanging out with friends are becoming less common. “Things are feeling more normal in terms of hanging out, and it’s been harder to be careful,” Holt said. Some students are still doing their part nonetheless, “I’m hanging out more indoors now, but I have a very small group of people that I keep it confined to,” Johnson said. While some students have adapted their behavior and continue to stay safe, other students are suffering from pandemic fatigue and frustration, returning to their normal routines despite protocols. As cases are still trending upwards in the midwest, whether Edina students are willing to adhere to the rules and do their part remains to be seen. Coffee time: Iced coffee is one of Dunkin' Donut's most popular items

STUDENT LIFE

Monday, November 9, 2020

crossword by Matt Hovelsrud

A guide to surviving the holidays during the pandemic

Dedeepya Guthikonda multimedia coordinator

here’s no doubt the holidays will look different this year. While some of the changes may be for the best (no more arguing politics with Uncle Pete over Thanksgiving dinner), things are going to feel different—and many of us may be missing out on the people, travel, and traditions that make the holidays as special as they are. Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t keep the holiday spirit in the air! (That’s the one thing we do want to be spreading around.) Here are three ideas to keep your holiday season’s streak going as the most wonderful time of the year. (Disclaimer: everything in this article includes masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing!) Keep honoring holiday traditions. Even if you’re not able to gather with friends and family, revitalize your traditions to be COVID-friendly. Keep your gift exchange going by dropping off gifts at doorsteps, have holiday dinners over Zoom calls (on the bright side, you don’t have to worry about who’s going to eat that last slice of pie), and enjoy classic holiday movies using Netflix Party—a Chrome extension that allows multiple people to view movies and TV shows on Netflix together. As for traditions that are mostly undisturbed by the pandemic, make the most of them: go all-out on decorations and cook all of your favorite holi-

day foods. You may appreciate the sense of normalcy the traditions will provide. Give back. Giving back to your community is more important than ever. If you can donate to families struggling financially, check out Salvation Army (https://salvationarmynorth.org) or NAMI (https://namimn.org/events/ nami-holiday-gift-drive/) to donate to their holiday campaign. In fact, many charity organizations are in urgent need of donations now more than ever. If you are not able to donate financially, there’s still a far way to go. Donate canned goods to your local food shelf or volunteer your time sewing masks for the homeless. Check up on your neighbor (six-feet apart and with a mask!) and see what you can do to help. Provide the support your friends and family may need during these stressful, changing times. Take time for yourself. Check up on yourself and see what you need. The holidays can be overwhelming, and even more so now. Take a break from the news, your computer, or online school, and take the time to unwind or soak in the snow outside. With the unpredictability of this year, don’t feel as if your holidays need to look the same as they have in past years. The holidays are a time to enjoy the season and spread warmth and well wishes, and that can look a number of different ways. Above all, make what you want out of this holiday season.

One imposter amoung us: Bennett Smalley, Rhys MccVann-Henkelman, and Jaden Young incorporate their masks into their Among Us costumes

Boil and Trouble: Sonja Holtey dressed up in a classic witch's costume for Halloween.

Bert Macklin, FBI: Claire Wegmann-Krider utilizes a costume-within-a-costume by dressing up as Andy Dwyer's alter ego from "Parks and Recreation"

OPINION

Monday, November 9, 2020

Distance learning calls for lowered expectations Reagan Stanchfield copy editor

art by EllanorSplinter

dina High School students, like many others around the country, have been doing some variation of distance learning since March. In the spring, school was fully online for all students, but this school year, students have the option of doing hybrid learning (two days in-person, three days online) or doing the Edina Virtual Academy (five days online). While there are debates over whether online or in-person school is better, there is no question that for many students, online school creates a monotonous and unstructured schedule that makes productivity difficult. The main challenge of distance learning is the indistinction between the school day and homework. As many students spend the majority of the day working in their bedroom or another room in their house, doing homework in the same area can feel like an unwelcome extension of the already dull school day. Since students must learn from home at least three days per week, homework should be eliminated to reduce the boredom and lack of productivity that results from solitary learning and even reduce the physical discomfort of online school. Additionally, there are many physical problems

associated with learning from home. During in-person school, students have six passing times, a lunch, and the periods of walking into and out of school every day, during which students frequently travel up and down staircases. However, with distance learning, many students are taking far fewer steps, often moving between their bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen a couple times per day. Also, every class requires the use of a laptop, over which students spend hours per day hunched. Prolonged use of a screen can cause both ergonomic stress and eye strain. The American Heart Association recommends that teens use screens for only one to two hours per day, although the current average is about 11 hours per day. Online school occupies upwards of seven hours of screen time wand often more while doing homework. When combined with the decreased physical activity associated with distance learning, the forced sedentary nature of Google Meets and other online assignments is harmful to students’ physical health. In response to the mental and physical health concerns associated with online school, the best solution is lowered expectations in time commitment, workload, and deadline strictness across the board. Edina High School should have more mandated breaks throughout the day, eliminate assigned homework—instead encouraging teachers to have

their students study an appropriate amount—and adopt uniform testing policies. By adding these requirements of increased leniency to the school day, students can have more time for interacting with friends, exercising, and practicing their hobbies—all things that foster a healthy high school experience.

You need something alive in Photoshop: your distance school set-up dangerous to body positivity Linnea Shively page editor

s a greater number of schools return to fully online this year, students enter longer periods of social isolation from their teachers and peers. Whether you’re a hybrid student or a fully online student, extended time alone in your room during the school day prevents students from fulfilling their need for genuine human interaction; having a living thing in your room with you provides a good alternative to solely online interaction. Due to quarantine-induced boredom, many families across the United States adopted puppies; yet a “covid puppy” is a big undertaking and is not a reasonable commitment for all students. Instead, a fish is a more reasonable (but still exciting!) undertaking in terms of both time and economics for many students. Even if you can’t really pet fish, they still break the solitude and stillness of your surrounding environment. Watching them swim provides a much needed—and often shorter—distraction from school work which doesn’t involve opening a new app on your phone. A pet relies on you for food and care, which adds more structure to your schedule as you take care of it. It also provides you with a greater sense of responsibility and some degree of control in a time when most—if not

all—situations are out of our hands. If a fish still seems like a big undertaking, start small with a plant or succulent. Keeping an eye on the health of your plant and helping it thrive through watering and a strategic location in your room still provides a similar sense of responsibility and achievement as taking care of a fish. COVID’s disruption to normal interaction has forced Americans to come up with creative ways to stay healthy and engaged; taking on the responsibility for a living thing in your room is a good start.

art by Laryn Scribner

Ellen Mi editor-in-chief endaya, an American actress, posted on Instagram about her shock after finding her “19 year old hips and torso quite manipulated” in a 2015 edition of Modeliste Magazine. Similarly, in Glamour Magazine’s 2013 Women of the Year issue, singer Lady Gaga looked profoundly different when comparing the cover of the magazine and photos of her at the Glamour event. Photo retouching has existed long before the high-tech photoshop softwares modeling agencies and media outlets use today; in fact, people have been manipulating photos since the 19th century. But at what cost? As photoshopped images haunt impressionable youth in advertisements and the media, they push standards of what beauty “should” look like and create negative perceptions of what healthy bodies actually look like. However, more brands are starting to move towards a nophotoshop policy in order to promote female empowerment and body positivity. Notably, Target didn’t retouch any photos in their 2018 swimsuit campaign and hired models with a range of body types. Because tools like photoshop normalize feelings of inadequacy, there should be more transparency in organizations that retouch their images and a shift towards more accepting norms around different body types.

infographic by Ellen Mi

HEAD TO HEAD

Monday, November 9, 2020

Thanksgiving should continue to be celebrated with modern ideals in mind

Caroline Seiler page editor

ith society increasingly realizing the harm of cultural appropriation, Thanksgiving is being questioned for its legitimacy. Even though the history of Thanksgiving is ﬂawed, the holiday should still be celebrated for its ideals that support community and relationships. Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a day for showing gratitude towards family and friends. People gather with their family for a day of food and conversation. When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of eating delicious food with my family and spending valuable time with them. The theme of the holiday is not centered around the history of the “First Thanksgiving,” when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared a feast. The controversy comes from the way that colonists are inaccurately perceived as a caring group of people toward Native American communities. In the modern day, the holiday’s history is not the first thought when brought up in conversation. Similar to Thanksgiving, Columbus

Day has a complicated history behind it. Columbus Day was originally created in honor of Christoper Columbus, who “discovered” America. Now, we know that he didn’t truly discover it and was a terrible person overall; some of his atrocities included mass genocide and slavery. Because of this, many people have been celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead to honor Native American people and cultures. With this in mind, we can change Thanksgiving from a culturally inappropriate, inaccurate representation of the past into a holiday that will prosper in the future for being known for sharing gratitude. Even if Thanksgiving was disregarded as a national holiday, people would still celebrate it. The fact that a day is a national holiday does not determine who will celebrate it. Take Valentine’s Day as an example, which is not internationally recognized as a holiday. It originates from a Catholic celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day. Despite its religious roots, the holiday was transformed into a day where couples give each other gifts and kids give each other sweet candy at school. Valentine’s Day is a day that we celebrate because it is

tradition, not because a calendar tells us to. Furthermore, “Galentine’s Day” is a day for girl friends to spend with each other because they are single and have no one to celebrate Valentine’s Day with. It was made up recently for the sake of having a fun holiday. Similar to “Galentine’s Day,” many celebrate “Friendsgiving.” Rather than having to deal with relatives, friend groups opt in to Friendsgiving. It is most popular among young people who live alone or in a city far from their parents. Friendsgiving can also be celebrated in addition to a traditional Thanksgiving, before coming home for the holiday. Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving are both an excuse to see your family and friends, and people will gladly take that excuse after ten months without seeing family on the holidays to reconnect. Another issue to consider is how to teach children about the historical context behind Thanksgiving. Traditionally, children learn about how Pilgrims and Native Americans feasted together, and some would even dress up as Pilgrims for Thanksgiving at school in celebration. That needs to go out the door; what we need to do is teach children that while Thanksgiving comes from the First

Thanksgiving in 1621, most people celebrate it to be able to give thanks to our loved ones. We need to learn about the genocide of the Native Americans and take what has been said about Thanksgiving in the past with a grain of salt,while shifting the focus of the holiday towards its modern ideals. Not only is Thanksgiving a time of thanks, but it is also about giving to those that do not have as much as we do. Around this time of year we think about the less fortunate and give to charities. The giving can be big donations, or small things like letting your sibling use the Xbox. Overall, Thanksgiving should continue to be celebrated with modern ideals in mind. We need to teach children the history and the modern idea of why we celebrate Thanksgiving today. And if nothing else, continuing to celebrate Thanksgiving gives us another reason to be out of school. Keeping Thanksgiving as a national holiday gives students some mandatory time off to sit back, relax, and take a break from schoolwork (as long as their teachers give them an actual break).

Should Thanksgiving still be celebrated?

art by Annabelle Jakala

Sadie Johnson Sieben manager

s the autumn season comes to a close, our nation’s holiday of giving thanks returns. Thanksgiving is supposedly built on the historic coming together of American settlers and Indigenous people to pray together and say thanks. In reality, this is not at all true. The history of the first “Thanksgiving” was the colonists rejoicing and giving thanks after the Pequot Massacre in 1637. Years after the massacre, President Washington instated the national holiday to provide the colonists a day to give thanks; however, the holiday was unsuccessful. But, during President Lincoln’s term, he was persuaded to instate the holiday again in hopes of bringing the nation together, and it was established in 1863. Understanding the history of how the holiday was established helps clarify why so many people don’t believe in celebrating this holiday. Along with that, there are more reasons Thanksgiving can be

deemed inappropriate. As I and some of my peers remember during the holiday time in elementary school, we would be forced into activities such as dressing up as pilgrims and Native Americans acting out the feast. The issue with this is that the students of color were typically the ones who were forced to dress up like the natives. Not only is this highly offensive to Native American culture, but it is also offensive to the students of other ethnicities. This can cause students to feel like outcasts in their community. Being forced into cultural appropriation as a “learning activity” doesn’t benefit your knowledge or culture, rather it creates disrespect towards a group of people and yourself. Dismantling a holiday is a difficult change for a nation. Just recently, schools have been turning Columbus Day from a holiday into a learning and reﬂection day for students on the negative aspects of a situation once celebrated, which can be applied to Thanksgiving as well. Creating awareness of the history and damage colonization has

done to the Native American population can be achieved by reconstructing the information given to students at a young age and reteaching older generations a new understanding of history could improve the foundation of which Thanksgiving is built on. Nevertheless, many people will vouch for the holiday saying it is a “tradition” or that it is “part of history.” These people are in the same mindset as the confederates who wanted to keep slavery. The “history” of the holiday is pointless if everyone who celebrates it is not taught the real story of the Pequot Massacre. The dinner family’s eat around the US is modeled after the harvest between the pilgrims and the Wampanoag in 1621, which isn’t even considered the first Thanksgiving “celebration.” It is only used as a visual to cover up the actual meaning of Thanksgiving which was actually for the white colonists at the time being thankful for still being in power after the massacre. While some people might consider Thanksgiving a right for them to celebrate, the way you celebrate it matters. If a family

chooses to celebrate it out of respect for Native Americans and use it as a tradition to bring people together to give thanks, there is no issue. But when people include stereotypes with no history involved and use it as an excuse to eat copious amounts of food, there is no justice in that. As many people know, you cannot change the world in a day and there will always be people hesitant to change, the best thing our country can do is bring awareness to the history and the still current issues in this country. Over time, more people will become accustomed to celebrating in a different way and opening up their minds to learning the reality of what happened approximately 400 years ago. It is our generation’s job to spread this information to the people we know and educate them so then they can reﬂect on if this holiday is actually worth the damage it has caused to the whole race. As you sit down to eat this year, remind your family of the struggles Native American communities had to go through to make your life possible and give thanks to them.

Thanksgiving's controversial history is too much to recover from

SPORTS

Monday, November 9, 2020

Celia Vedder staff writer

ue to the recent email from superintendent John Schultz about rising COVID-19 cases in Edina, which could potentially lead to the high school moving to entirely online learning, the scheduling of winter sports this season is undoubtedly on everyone’s mind. There is still a lot of confusion, but activity director Troy Stein has brought some light to this subject. If Edina were to close, the continuation of sports remains in question. “There are situations around the state in which schools have gone into distance learning and were able to keep activities operating. Edina High School will work with the Minnesota State High School League, MN Department of Health, and the MN Department of Education to make the decision if we do decide to go into distance learning,” Stein said. He also predicts that the MSHSL will give each sport their own specific protocols and guidelines, as opposed to a policy that covers all activities to ensure a safe return to sports this season. An example of a winter sport’s protocols is the

dance team’s guidelines for the upcoming season. For dance, they are not allowed to have interscholastic shrimages, and competitions with bordering states must be approved by the Minnesota State High School League. Another example would be the wrestling team coached by Joshua Burhans. “For practices, the preliminary thought is that we will split groups, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Even within those groups, they will be split up further into pods,” Burhans said. Wrestlers are not required to wear masks during practice, but beforehand will have to go through the COVID screening and sanitization. In the fall, we saw how football and volleyball transitioned into their seasons after initially being canceled. When asked if winter will see as ﬂuid a season as fall, Stein said, “I certainly hope so! Unfortunately, the county and state number of positive cases continue to rise. That along with more indoor sports/activities is a cause for concern heading into the winter season.” The future for winter sports is still up in the air, but with the help from MN Department of Health and activity directors like Troy Stein, the community is getting closer to an answer to keep everyone safe.

photo by Rhea Hammond

A winter sports update from Troy Stein

Worker Hornet: Troy Stein has been working to ensure a successful season

A new mindset for Girls’ Tennis and Cross Country Sections Tournament Urva jha staff writer

ith COVID-19, many students weren’t sure if their sport would still be on for the fall. So when their seasons began, they felt grateful to be able to play. Both the Girls’ Tennis and Cross Country teams were disappointed that some activities were cut out—such as traveling with the team and potlucks—but it was all worth it when they won sections. The state meets for both sports were canceled, but the section meets weren’t. This taught the athletes that the meet doesn’t matter, effort does, and to live in the moment. “When you’re a freshman everyone says [tennis] goes by really fast. You don’t really believe it [then], but it truly does,” senior tennis player Ingrid Smith said. Because young girls can be inspired by female athletes, Edina’s athletes find motivation in setting an

example for those girls. “Just knowing that younger girls are looking up to us, it motivates me to do my best. To show the girls that with hard work and determination you can achieve anything,” junior and cross country team member Maggie Wagner said. The younger female athletes of Edina on the Cross Country or the Tennis team look up to their older teammates, and winning sections boosts the morale of the sports teams during an especially tough time. The wins for the Cross Country and Tennis team were big for Edina, and the results reﬂect all the training the athletes have had over the season. The workouts early on in the season seemed tough for the Cross Country team, but ultimately showed results. “Trust the process, [and] don’t give up when you see obstacles,” junior and cross country team member Macy Iyer said. Even though they had to work hard at the start of the season, the team trusted the process and ended up winSocial distance runners: Girls’ Cross Country celebrates a win under ning sections. COVID

photo courtesy of Emma Hudson

EHS swimmers adapt to postCOVID collegiate athletics

art by Betsy Lundberg

Mia Dilorenzo head staff writer

enior athletes Lily Gremmels and Claudia Chang are no strangers to competition. Both award-winning athletes, the two swimmers have competed for both the Edina High School Varsity team and other club teams: the Edina Gators and Aquajets, respectively. As the virus began to spread within the US, however, they saw their college recruitment process change dramatically. Typically, coaches are allowed to start scouting potential athletes on June 15 after their sophomore year, unable to contact the athletes directly before then. Following June 15, athletes and coaches may communicate with each other, discuss potential commitment opportunities, and plan future visits to campus. August 1 of that same year marks the date when prospective students are able to take official tours of their potential college campus and meet the rest of the team. “Once you narrow your schools down, [the visit] is kind of a big inﬂuence. You get to meet the team, see the environment and the coaches,” Chang said. Chang visited a number of colleges during her junior year and announced her verbal commitment to Yale University earlier this month. Though she had already decided upon Yale before the virus hit, she knows of many athletes who have been impacted by the pandemic. Gremmels, a teammate of Chang, was planning to visit several colleges on official recruiting visits last spring—all of which were cancelled. “[Those

visits] are usually where you stay in a dorm with someone on the team, follow them around for a weekend, and you can kind of see a day in their life with classes and practices,” Gremmels said. “It was tough not having that, but I still was able to hear from [athletes on campus] and the coaches did a good job setting up Zoom calls.” Initially, Gremmels saw Dartmouth and Georgetown as her two top choices. However, Dartmouth cancelled their swimming program after their revenue dropped during the spring of 2020. “When I heard they had cut their program, I was shocked. I know someone who swims there too, and she suddenly didn’t have a team, which is really sad,” Gremmels said. Luckily, she hadn’t yet committed to Dartmouth’s program and was able to talk with other schools about their teams; ultimately, Gremmels committed to Georgetown University where she plans to follow a pre-med track. The impacts of COVID can still be seen throughout high school and club practices. For Chang’s club team (she opted out of high school swimming this year), all athletes are masked up when they aren’t swimming in lanes of one to two people. However, Chang and her teammates have found different ways to make the best out of a difficult situation. With the future of collegiate athletics quite uncertain, an optimistic outlook can allow athletes to find solace during rare occasions when they get to swim. “Most of my teammates and I have been so much more grateful just for the chance to swim. After taking so much time off, I’m excited to go to the pool every day,” Chang said.