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February 13, 2015 | 35:6
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPORTS
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Zephyrus catches up with Edina hockey stars, both past and present.
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OPINION
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F E AT U R E S NEWS
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
An Open Letter to Underclassmen Patricia Leach art editor
As a senior heading off to college next fall, the only way to describe this time is surreal. The fact that it’s my senior year still hasn’t hit me, in fact, I still feel like a sophomore with so many years ahead of me. Looking back I think we all to some degree have different ideas about what our life would be like at this point.What I didn’t know was how much my idea about school would change. I should have not worried about grades and more
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about doing what I wanted to do. I remember back when I was in third grade and I was absolutely sure that I was going to Princeton because I liked the name and it seemed like a good enough place to go so why not. Furthermore, I wanted to be a doctor because I knew that was a job that made a lot of money and was respectable. Over the years my perception of where I would be changed but still remained about the same. I would go to an Ivy league school and have an important job that made a lot of money. Although this idea of what I was
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
supposed to be more or less shattered freshman year as I realized I wasn’t some super genius and didn’t get straight A’s so the chances of me getting into an Ivy League school were slim. Furthermore I discovered that I was destined to forever be absolutely obsessed with psychology for most likely the rest of my life. I am lucky to have discovered what I was passionate about early on. My life no longer revolved around having perfect grades and being the best but pursuing things that I enjoy doing. I become incredibly baffled by anyone who did anything besides what they absolutely love. Especially going to Edina, there’s so much importance put on being the perfect student and not so much finding out what you want to do. School is just another rung in the ladder to perceived success. How many of you enjoy school? One thing I hear a lot from other people is how much they hate being here and can’t wait for it to be over. In my opinion that’s because too much focus is put onto maintaining the perfect GPA and not about the joy of learning. True, you’re not going to love every single class you take (aka Calculus), but you should at least be focused on the learning aspect instead of the grades.
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
I had a conversation with an old Zephyrus member Micah Osler who is now in his first year at Yale. We were talking about what he wanted to study and he said he didn’t know exactly yet. One thing that stood out to me that he said was “I spent my whole life getting to Yale but now that I’m here I have to figure out what the heck I want to do with my life.” Getting to those fancy colleges doesn’t matter if you don’t have a plan for it. So I suppose what I’m trying to say is don’t worry about being the perfect student. High school is a time to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life. Learn to be who you want to be and things will work out. Enjoy your time as a student because we have so many opportunities and choices here at Edina. You can learn pretty much anything you want to learn. Life isn’t about being successful but about enjoying life and being happy. Life is about learning and being present in the world. Having found out what I want to do in life, what I’m passionate about, I enjoy life so much more. I have something to look forward to instead of agonizing over grades and SAT scores. Be who you want to be, and enjoy getting there.
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.
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NEWS
What’s Popping at Pentagon Park Erik Lindquist opinion editor
photo by Andrew Davis
Pentagon Park, a collection of office buildings on West 77th Street off of Highway 100 has recently been undergoing renovations. In May of last year, the Edina City Council approved a five-hundred million dollar redevelopment plan of the park. According to the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Business Journal, it’s estimated to be completed in ten to fifteen years and will consist of a plethora of office space, forty-thousand square feet for retail, and a large, high-quality hotel. Although people have high hopes with what could come to be of the area, some remain skeptical. ¨I think they want to make it more of a Centennial Lakes area which seems nice but having just gone through all the drama and suspicious politics with the closing of The Fred (Fred Richard’s Golf Course), I’m a bit weary of the project,¨ said senior Sia Tortorelis, who lives very close to Pentagon Park. The project is being overseen by Scott Tankenoff, the managing partner of the Hillcrest Development. He is known for renovating aged industrial buildings into usable retail and office space. In October, a few of the fortytwo acres of buildings that had been built in 1968 were demolished. Some Edina citizens even came to watch the buildings go down. A few of the spectators asked Tankenoff if they could press the button that controlled the demolition. “It’s exciting to live near such a big project and I hope it gets finished soon,¨ said junior Mitch Hunzelman. The newly redeveloped buildings are said to be completed by 2030 at the latest. It will also no longer be called Pentagon Park.
The construction site of former Pentagon Park.
Hopes for $125 Million in Facility Improvements for EPS Hannah Kloos copy editor
courtesy Edina Public Schools
On Monday, Jan. 12, the Edina School Board granted residents the opportunity to vote on a $124.9 million, district-wide facility plan as part of a May 5 referendum. It was approved. “The design phase will start once the referendum hopefully passes in May,” said Edina High School Activities and Athletics Director Troy Stein. Each building in the district would see some sort of change, including a new activity center at EHS. These building enhancements account for $107 million of the $124.9 million request that voters will consider. Approximately $31 million would go toward EHS renovations, including an expansion that would make room for an estimated 650 incoming ninth graders. “The school board made a decision that it’s important to have a 9-12 comprehensive high school. Therefore, it’s important to have it aligned with teachers and counseling and focusing students at the 9th grade level as to their post-education plans,” said Stein. The referendum also looks to add about 20-30 learning stations, such as classrooms, large group spaces, small group spaces, and performance spaces, to accommodate for the influx of students. “Direct instruction won’t go away, but we will also have more individualized spaces such as small group spaces, like the commons and community room and large group spaces, like
Fick,”said Stein. “Learning is the constant, and time, talent, funds, and space are the variables.” Another $18 million would be designated for middle school renovations, and $25 million would go toward elementary school enhancements. The remaining building expansion funds would be designated for a new activity
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center built onto the hill on the north side of Edina High School. This 70,000 square-foot facility would offer physical education and extracurricular space during the day. “After school activities take up every gym at the high school, the two middle schools, and the community center. We’ll be able to free up the middle school gyms so our students can actually do something after school in a
gym,” said Stein. It would also include ADA accessibility to the lower fields. “We’ll have lower-level soccer games, and I see grandparents up on the top of the hill sitting on a lawn chair,” said Stein. “We view EPS as a location to serve all of our generations of learners.”
NEWS
The Parking Lot Problem Ellie Kohner staff writer
photo courtesy of Drew Davis
Edina High School parking passes have become a hot commodity in recent years. The high price, limited availability, and requirement to have at least three people in your carpool just to get a pass makes competition for spots stiff. But as of this semester at EHS there’s a new lot in town. The Calvary Church parking lot is known to many high schoolers as the lot to go to when there are no spots left in the other Edina lots, you are too cheap to buy a pass, or you just plain missed the deadline.
Students have been parking in this lot for multiple years now. But as of January 6th, 2015 you now need an EHS parking pass to park there. “I think it’s ridiculous that we have to start paying to park there, it’s supposed to be the overflow lot,” said junior Aliya Johnson. The school made a deal with the church to sell passes at a lower cost than the North and South lots at 75 dollars per semester, and part of the money goes to the church. “It’s too long of a walk in the cold...and it’s not worth $75,” said senior Drew Engelking. He now rides with friends or makes his mom drive him because the walk is “so not worth it.”
Students can now buy parking spots in a nearby church.
Safer Routes to School Nikki Lund staff writer
photo courtesy of Nate Saunders
Last Winter, Edina government officials created the Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety Fund (also known as PACS) to increase the convenience, safety, and route options for the city’s pedestrians and cyclists, especially for children who bike or walk to school. Now, with PACS as a backbone the City of Edina and Edina Public Schools, which also teamed up with Bloomington Public Health in 2010 to find ways to make routes to school safer, have decided to make Edina more walkable and bikeable, especially for students. According to Edina Transportation Planner Mark Nolan, revenue for the PACS fund is usually generated by a franchise fee fundraising and loans. The Living Streets Plan will add sidewalks over the next 20 years on a relatively small number of streets — mostly along heavily traveled state and county roads, as well as near schools, parks and other recreational areas. But some residents of Edina don’t want sidewalks on their streets. Many don’t want sidewalks running in front of their houses. Edina residents packed a public meeting and delivered a forceful message about the sidewalks” “Don’t like ’em, don’t need ’em, don’t want ’em.” A neighborhood survey conducted a few years ago showed that more than 90 percent of residents didn’t want sidewalks, but the city is still wanting to put them in. Many residents expressed a range of concerns, from shoveling to liability issues to construction hassles and potential loss of trees. But in the end, though the city showed all the good sidewalks would do, like making it safer for kids walking to school, the residents kept coming back to this: Edina has always been a city largely without sidewalks, and they would rather keep it that way.
A crossing sign in Edina points the way for pedestrians
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FEATURES
Getting Outside of the Bubble May Term Opportunities Outside of EHS
I nter natio n a l L anguage Adve nt u re s
Firefighting and the Great Outdoors
Josie Fay staff writer
Megan Talghader staff writer
With this years new “May Term For All” one of the many options Edina High School provided was the choice to go on a school trip. This year there are two trip selections. One trip is going to Costa Rica and is chaperoned by Sr. Gronberg and Sra. Heinke. This trip aims to help students improve their Spanish and learn more about the culture. The other trip is headed to Quebec, Canada to emerge students into a French-Canadian society. Madame Caster said that the goal of her trip is for her students to “use the language and learn Quebec French.” According to Caster, Quebec culture differs from French culture and that it is important for her French students to know the differences. Sophomores and juniors are seizing this opportunity to go on these trips for their May Term. Sophomore Lauren Lavercombe is one of more than twenty students going on the Spanish trip to Costa Rica. “I am most looking forward to putting what I’ve learned in all the years of Spanish to action and being surrounded by Spanish speakers!” Lavercombe said. Also, sophomores Aria St. James and Ansley Bodine said, “I am really excited to go zip-lining and staying with a host family.”
photo by Annika Kieper
Although May Term is still months away, a few teachers planning their classes decided to think outside the box and outside the school. Many teachers have figured out that students need to learn from experience instead of just lectures. They’re taking students outside of school grounds to teach them through involvement in the subject. Mrs. Russell, a math teacher at the Edina High School, thought it would be a fun idea to bring her students to the South Metro Public Training Facility by Edina’s Braemar ice arena. There the students will be taught all the different points and topics needed to know about fire fighting no matter how experienced they are in the department. “In 2005, I attended an all day firefighting event at the training tower to recruit women to enter the fire service. After trying out an agility test, practicing vehicle extrication and live fire training, I found out that I could be a firefighter, even though I was a woman with no experience,” Russell explained. Besides being unique by location and creativity, the course is also set apart by length and teaching methods. “Students will be divided into squads much like on a real fire department. Students will get hands-on experience with the emergency medical training and skills similar to what firefighter paramedics do every day,” said Russell. “The class will run all day. Students will ride a bus to and from EHS to the training tower every day. We intend to have operations from 8:30 until 3:00 everyday.” Another teacher at EHS, Mrs. Colleen Raasch, also decided to teach her students outdoors. Her class, Bikes, Birds, and Biomes, will consist of biking and bird watching while getting a first hand experience on nature. Like Russell, Raasch thought it would be a good idea if students didn’t learn through a classroom but through physical activeness. “[It will] allow students a real life experience with nature along with physical activity. It will also be a great chance to be outside at the end of May,” said Raasch. She is teaching the course with fellow teacher Eric Burfeind.
Sophomore Lauren Lavercombe is going to Costa Rica this May.
Seniors Taking Initiative for May Term
photos by Zoe Gunderson
of lakes [Harriet, Isles, Calhoun]. Then we will try and find an understanding why the two different areas differentiate. We will be portaging across around 4 or 5 lakes throughout our 7 day trip. During those days we will be testing Nitrite and Nitrate levels in the soil, testing the pH balance of the water, and identifying plants and rocks along the way,” said Rustad. In order to prepare for the trip, Rustad has been talking to an expert who has gone on many trips to the Boundary Waters. He expects the trip to take a week. Rustad will be working with Max Wagner, Zachary Kubitschek, and Mike Carlson. Emily Gardner “I’ve had an interest in psychology since sophomore year,” say Emily Gardner, which is why her May Term revolves around studying eighth grade students. Her two week project consists of
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teaching science to eighth graders at South View, and then studying their reactions and the psyche of middle schoolers. Since Gardner has two advisors, putting the project together took a long time. “I’m going to create the lesson plan during the first week, and then teach the students during the second.” She will be preparing before May Term starts by creating surveys for the students, polling them on what subjects they would like to be taught. She is doing this project independently.
photos by Zoe Gunderson
no different. Griffin Rustad Griffin Rustad has been working Every year, seniors at Edina High on his application since December. “We worked on the application and School are allowed to take the last planned at the same time,” he said two weeks of the school year off in on how he prepared for the project. order to work on their May Term “We met three times, once with our project. This always turns out to be supervisor.” entertaining, with seniors coming Since Rustad will be studying up with challenging and interesting environmental science in Missouri projects. This year will prove to be next year, he was interested in doing a project that involved the environment. “I am studying geology and ecology of Northeast Minnesota [Boundary Waters] and will compare that to the ecology and geology of the chain Senior Griffin Rustad will be spending time in the Boundry Waters. Lillie Westbrook staff writer
Senior Emily Gardner plans on teaching science at South View Middle School.
IN-DEPTH
zharmony Edina’s very own matching site providing you with the couples of the year
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FEATURES
EHS Doppelg채ngers
Junior Megan Hussey and junior Ellie Kewitsch.
Junior Jack Ready and junior Nico Joy.
Junior Eileen Jackson and senior Eleanor Hastings.
Junior Cole Harris and junior Drew Otterlei.
Junior Nate Saunders and junior Robby Saunders.
Senior Magen Puerzer and junior Madeleine Marker.
Senior Abdi Sahal and sophompre Abdi Sahal.
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junior Claire Peterson and sophomore Greta Freidrichs photos by Annika Kieper and Zoe Gunderson
OPINION
Free Community College in America For Drew Davis online editor in chief
Against Matt Woolsey print editor in chief On Jan. 9, 2015, President Obama proposed that “community college [should be] accessible for everybody.” I could make the classical conservative argument that the President is acting outside his jurisdiction and that education is purely a state matter, but then too, I would be acting outside my jurisdiction. For us about to enter into the college system, making community college free reinforces all of the problems with our current college system. Other than struggling to get into our dream schools, the price of college is one of the main concerns that faces anyone college aged. With the average in state tuition in Minnesota being upwards of 10,000 dollars a year, and private schools running closer to 35,000 (trends.collegeboard.org), price is a legitimate concern. The easy fix then, seems like making some
Earlier this month, President Obama announced his proposal for the federal government to pick up 75% of the tab of a community college education, while states pick up the other 25%. When he announced the plans, you could hear the groans of annoyance and anger regarding the price tag of $60 billion over ten years to fund the plan. However, while the proposal may bear a hefty price tag,
the general principle is what makes this plan necessary: more Americans need affordable access to education. These days, the blue collar jobs that allow those who only got a high school degree work are diminishing. The current job market is demanding specialized workers with college degrees. As a nation, we need to reach a point where it is expected that all high school students go to college. This plan is one way we can reach that point. Obviously it’s
college free, right? Wrong. The reason college has become so expensive is because all of us high schoolers for the past however many years have felt like college is a necessity, or at least the only way to a better life. That mindset, has pushed the demand for college through the roof (just look at the acceptance rates of schools like The University of Wisconsin; they had 30,000 applicants and only accepted 14,480. With so many students begging to get in, charging a higher price is an obvious call), and like all of you AP Economics students know, that drives up prices. According to an article by Michelle Weise of the Wall Street Journal, this driving up of demand comes at the worst possible time. Big name companies like Facebook and Google have started to fund boot camps where people could come and get specific job training to work for these tech power houses. While this might not sound as good as a degree, these coding boot camps “boast
going to be expensive, but there’s going to be a large price tag to come with America improving our fumbling education system. Adding another two years to the existing model of a free K-12 education that currently stands would be beneficial because it would bring graduates into better paying jobs. People like to balk at unemployment, and America’s struggling education system but don’t support plans like this that are actually helping to solve these issues.
anywhere from 63% to 99% job attainment rates,” said Weise. Facebook and Google create jobs, community college doesn’t. Potentially, it educates more people for less jobs, and may not result in unemployment, but will definitely result in underemployment as thousands of new community college grads end up flipping burgers anyway because higher end jobs have gotten even more competitive. We at Edina High School are effectively going to school for free right now. While Edina is a fabulous high school, I’m not sure if I feel prepared for a high level job half way through my senior year. So why would we want to tack on two more years of free college? Is this really going to create a next step and ready students for the work force? Or will it become a two year extension of public high school? Community college is a viable option for furthering learning and seeking out a better job.
In terms of funding the plan, we have the money, but the government is too hung up on pleasing corporations instead of the community. A bit of budget restructuring could make this plan feasible. Ultimately, this isn’t just a political debate, this is about creating a better future for our country. It’s about getting more people in and out of college so we can be a well-educated nation.
If it were made free, that quality would go away, as quality tends to do in any commonly available public good. A solution to overcrowding at free community college is that it could become more competitive. The problem comes with budget conscious students battling for free college, under extreme examples, making a community college as competitive as an Ivy League. Doesn’t that completely defeat the purpose of community college? If higher level education is such an issue, this isn’t the solution. The real solution lies in more boot camps like Google and Facebook are starting. Furthermore, I could see more high school programs that are focused on job training, so that students would feel ready for the working world after high school and wouldn’t feel like college is such a necessity.
Addressing the Age-Old Question Tea
Josie Fay staff writer
You can say, “Can I please have soy, non fat, pumpkin spice latte, with a banana shot, and extra foam, no whip.” On the other hand, you can say, “Can I please have green tea” One obviously appeals more to your taste buds. There is a reason there are five Starbucks shops and five Caribou shops just in Edina. I highly doubt there are five tea based stores in Edina. Who would want to drink tea anyway? It is basically a pond on a hot day. I could go to Lake Calhoun in the summer, drink it, and it would have the same effect as a cup of tea. Next time you are considering ordering tea, don’t. Order coffee instead.
Colette Bruder staff writer Tea is a delicious and nutritious drink that comes in many flavors and can be consumed warm or cold. Based on many factors tea is better than coffee. For example, tea is more accessible than coffee. Tea is sold almost everyone from places such as Starbucks and Caribou to your local grocery stores and even in vending machines. In addition, tea is good for your health. “Tea can boost expertise endurance, reduce the risk of heart attacks and improve bone mineral density and strength,” said Time magazine when describing reasons why consumers should start drinking tea. Furthermore it can help soothe your throat when you are sick Tea takes less time to make than coffee. Since I often oversleep, tea takes little time to make, helps me wake up, and allows me to arrive to class on time. Some may argue that tea does not have as many varieties as coffee. This is false; there are over three-thousand types of tea available throughout the world. Those types of teas can be served either hot or cold based on consumers
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preferences. Finally, tea costs less money than coffee. In order to consume complex coffee drinks such as Frappuccinos and cappuccinos, consumers must either own special machines which can cost hundreds of dollars or purchase the drinks individually from coffee shops which typically cost at least three dollars per drink often more depending on what size you consume. Tea is much less expensive since you only have to purchase the tea bags which cost less than fifty cents per bag.
photo by Patricia Jackson
You never see celebrities walking in the morning with tea. They do not serve tea in your local car repair shop waiting room. Except for the Tea Garden, there is no extremely large “tea” restaurant chain business in America. But let’s face it: “America runs on Dunkin” and even more so, Edina. Even though there is no Dunkin in Edina, Edina still gets their fill on coffee through Starbucks and Caribou. Coffee is so much better than tea it is ridiculous. You can go to Starbucks and order whatever obnoxious drink you want, something not possible while drinking tea.
Coffee
OPINION
Spring Break Tryouts Are an Unnecessary Evil Hugh Cashman culture editor
break on the first week of the season, so it is essential to avoid a major disadvantage. It’s essentially a necessary evil. “I understand why they have to do it, but the bad part is that it
doesn’t guarantee making varsity or getting any playing time,” said EHS junior Shannon Bach. It isn’t a perfect system, but it is what it is.
photo by Laura Huepenbecker
Spring break is everyone’s reward for getting through the bulk of the second semester. Senior trips are the pinnacle of high school experiences; it’s the culmination of eighteen years of friendship and experiences. It’s an experience to remember that everyone should have the opportunity to do. Edina has a late spring break, and it just so happens that spring break falls on the first week of Minnesota High School spring sports. As a result, many spring sports such as lacrosse and track in the near future, require all players with varsity aspirations to sacrifice the vacation they’ve been looking forward to for years for two-a-day tryouts. Spring break is a big sacrifice for a sport, staying home shows the coaches commitment, as Edina’s spring break is the first week of the spring season, coaches say staying behind is necessary to keep up with other teams. Being a varsity returner, commitment shouldn’t be in question. “Giving up spring break definitely shows that lacrosse is a top priority for me.
But then again, working hard all off season shows even more commitment, and it’s what truly shows on the field,” says EHS junior and Lacrosse Captain Patrick Jackson. The commitment sentiment is true, but at what cost? Varsity athletes put in countless hours in the off season, sacrificing even more things for their sport, it isn’t fair to make them sacrifice their break from endless labor. Staying home for spring break doesn’t just hurt the student, but it severely hinders the student’s family if they have plans for a trip. Parents obviously want their kid to come on vacation with them, as high school is generally the last time family trips are easily viable. “Tryouts over spring break ruin family plans that have been planned for a while,” said EHS sophomore Max Delaney. To an extent, that puts sports in front of family. At the end of the day, the coaches are often giving up their spring break too. Other schools don’t have spring
The Edina Stereotype
Although the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team is celebrating their win, did they have a fun spring break?
Isabel Thompson staff writer Students outside of Edina see us as a perfectly constructed school of above average students, consisting of rich, smart, athletic, white and perfect GPA’s. I think that though the Edina stereotype is a reality, it doesn’t apply to everyone. It’s mostly just an unrealistic expectation that students believe is how their community wants them to be. We are kids surrounded by greatness, but with this greatness comes the pressures in succeeding at school, sports, activities, and somehow finding time for sleep. In Edina, a large percentage of us wear the same clothes, from the same stores, and the same name brands. I’ve seen several girls (including myself) walk around with Vera Bradley key chains, tall expensive boots, crocs, and Lululemon yoga pants. Many boys can be seen wearing Vineyard Vines apparel, Nike Elite athletic wear, expensive pairs of Jordans or some other sweet kicks. Some of simply use our parents income, but these items of leisure are an expensive luxury that have helped contrive the negative connotations of us cake eaters. It can cause students who cannot afford these items anxiety in trying to fit in with the rest of the student body. This is partially why EHS gets such a bad rap from other schools, because students who can’t afford these expensive things feel left out and uncomfortable. I am a sophomore this year, and though it seems early, I have started preparing for college. To go to a good college has always been a large part of what I want for my future, and EHS has set the bar high for me. I’m don’t think it’s terrible thing to want to go to a good school, but it can be a lot of pressure
when you’re surrounded by intelligent students who have their top choices at Ivy League schools. I try to ignore the fact that I’m always studying, but when I talk to my friends from other schools, they tell me how easy they have it. Edina has high expectations, and though I am grateful for the wonderful learning opportunities, it can be a daily concern of good grades and perfect test scores. I’ve always found that EHS students are expected to be involved in several activities, sports or clubs, partially so that it sets the standards above other schools and partially so that EHS can look good. It’s stressful for students to have to cram all of these activities in with school and hours of homework. Many colleges expect to see students that participate in several activities, but with the struggle to also get perfect grades it can be a big pressure put on kids for them to succeed. It’s hard to get enough sleep with everything students have going on; It’s ironic enough that I’m saying this as I write this article that is due tomorrow. Despite our pathetic sleeping schedules, we have excelled in our sports and activities unlike other schools in Minnesota Now, when I walk down the hallways of Edina High School in my Steve Madden boots and Lululemon leggings, carrying a six dollar cup of coffee, I look around and see people who look just like me. Yeah I know, most of them are a foot taller than me, or have a different hair color, but we’re mostly doing the same thing: growing up on the wealth of our parents. Writing this article made me think a lot about how lucky I am just because I am here in Edina. I know there are so many stereotypes for us “cake eaters” and some of them are true but, most EHS student work hard for the grades and scores they deserve. We excel in activities and sports
Sophomore Julia Tolefson demonstrating the Edina stereotype. because not only do we have excellent resources, but we have the passion to be the best we can be. Though we’ve all had one person or another call us rich snooty brats, we
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should take that in pride because it means that we’re hard workers and we’ve been graced with the resources to succeed. And let’s be real here, who doesn’t enjoy a nice piece of cake.
Teaching Evolution in the Classroom
OPINION
In Search of a Satisfactory Medium Hugh Cashman culture editor
and it’s important that students have an accurate perception of evolution. “Evolution should be permitted to be taught in schools because they present it in a very factual and unbiased way.Teachers bust a lot of the myths about evolution, like
humans came from monkeys, but in biology they tell you that they just have a common ancestor,” said EHS junior Spencer Olson. While many agree that this aspect of the curriculum is important that should be the extent of mandatory learning. Evolution is a hot topic, and people feel strongly about it. Many people pick and choose what they believe about it. This creates an interesting idea for a compromise between all parties. “If students wanted to go more in depth, there should be an elective course that goes more in depth for evolution in biology,” said Laluzerne. It’s a start, but for now, for better or for worse, we will all be taught evolution.
photo by Nate Saunders
A theory is a term applied to the most supported ideas in the scientific community, that is the first thing they teach in biology. The theory of evolution is as close to fact as it gets in science. While highly supported in the scientific community, it is very controversial among people who aren’t in that field of science as it can’t be proven. Evolution shouldn’t be mandatory for students to learn, as it is in direct opposition to creationism, and therefore many of the world’s major religions. It is important that students know it’s a popular belief, but it shouldn’t be something on which students are tested. School, in theory, should be a place to learn undisputed factual information. Evolution isn’t fact, and
can be offensive depending on who you ask. “I think parts of evolution are true and should be taught, like natural selection and the idea that species develop certain traits,” said EHS junior Isaac Laluzerne. Many people agree with Isaac that there are some appropriate parts of evolution to be taught, but others shouldn’t be. It’s taught as if it’s fact, they need to explicitly say it’s not necessarily true. “I am a Christian, and feel that some parts of what we’re learning is not only just a theory but I feel it directly confronts my religion. I don’t think we should be taught that all living things came from a bacteria cell,” said Laluzerne. This isn’t essential information and shouldn’t be mandatory. Biology is supported by physical evidence, albeit, many misconceptions about evolution exist
Why Edina Needs More Diversity in Teachers Drew Davis online editor in chief
photo by Nate Saunders
It wasn’t only until recently that I stopped in my steps at the large faculty board near the counseling office at Edina High School. While peering at the pictures of teachers at our
school, I noticed that the vast majority teachers at EHS are white. In fact, there isn’t one black teacher at our school. EHS is often stereotyped for being a school of all-white students. However, how can we foster student racial diversity when there exists little to no diversity in the faculty? How can
students of color be given a all-encompassing education when they are not even represented in our own staff? This obvious lack of diversity at our school is dangerous because it creates an educational environment that is one-sided, and enforces age-old stereotypes that ultimately support the systemic racism ingrained in our nation today. United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that the 20142015 school year marked the first time that there are a greater number of non-white students than white students enrolled in American schools. However, while there is increasing diversity among student bodies, the diversity among faculty is continually low. The disparity here is sending a message of misrepresentation to minority students. Part of having a well-rounded education means being taught from people of different races, cultures, and ethnicities. When a student is taught solely from a white pointof-view, it teaches them that knowledge is essentially something that lies solely in white people. Teachers are some of the most, if not the most, influential figures in the lives of students. School is the time when young people start to manifest their own thoughts
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and ideas about the world. But when a student is learning in an environment that is mostly white, it’s going to impede on their view of the world by teaching them that we live in a world primarily run by white people. This is especially alarming because schools are supposed to be generating future leaders. They’re supposed to be encouraging upcoming generations to change facts like all but one of our presidents are white. While pondering my own education, I realized that all of my teachers throughout my entire education have been white. It isn’t something I realized initially because it didn’t seem strange to me. This is something that affects us all. It tells us white students that having no diversity in power positions is acceptable, and can be continued. It tells black students that they won’t be able to identify with anyone in power. Our school system needs to find a better way to get minority teachers on staff. Whether it’s connecting with local organizations dedicated to the cause, or even connecting with local universities, a solution must come. This problem is all of ours, but it’s one that ultimately lies on the back of Edina Public Schools.
CULTURE
Gluten Free Girl Scout Cookies
Fro Yo Mania
photo by Annika Kieper
Farhia Osman features editor Frozen yogurt as an alternative to ice cream has been a growing trend for a few years. It’s healthier, but not any less delicious compared to ice cream. There are a number of shops to grab a delicious froyo for a dessert that offer great toppings. These are my top three favorite shops solely dedicated to frozen yogurt. Yogurt Lab This is arguably the most famous frozen yogurt shop at Edina High School, and most people’s favorite. The nearest one, located on 50th and France, offers a perfect summer treat. The best part of the shop is the science theme it holds, hence the name Yogurt Lab. Also, there are so many interesting flavors like Chili Chocolate, Mascarpone, Red Velvet, and even Nutella! The toppings are great too because there’s cereal, puppy chow, mochi, nerds, etc. So for some great frozen yogurt, head over to Yogurt Lab sometime. Freestyle Yogurt Freestyle Yogurt is a little farther out located at 5315 Lyndale Ave. S, Minneapolis, but it is worth the visit! They have both standard flavors
like Cookies & Creme, but some other fun flavors like New York Cheesecake, White Chocolate Macadamia, and even Thin Mint Chocolate for Girls Scout cookie lovers. Also, there are some fun toppings to spice up your cup like jelly beans, boba balls and cereal. Freestyle is great since it’s a MN based company and its interior decoration is really creative and interesting. Fun fact: Freestyle Yogurt was named Best Frozen Yogurt in the Minnesota in 2012 in “Minnesota Monthly Magazine.” Cherry Berry Cherry Berry is another well known frozen yogurt shop here in Edina, although not as much people visit it. There is one located near Whole Foods and Office Max on France Ave. Like Yogurt Lab, Cherry Berry also has some pretty fun flavors including, (but not limited to,) Spiced Apple Pie, Pink Lemonade Sorbet, and Sea Salt and Caramel Pretzel. Toppings do seem pretty standard such as candy, puppy chow, and graham crackers. The benefit to Cherry Berry is that the price is pretty cheap per ounce and has a great loyalty card program that you can gain points for rewards.
photo courtsey of Annika Smith-Ortiz
Read More About the Various Frozen Yogurt Shops Around the Twin Cities
Julia Tollefson staff writer February 27th marks the beginning of National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend, and there will be three new cookie flavors added among the traditional favorites. Rah-Rah Raisins is an oatmeal raisin cookies with greek yogurt chunks, Toffee Tastic, a butter cookie with flavorful toffee bits, and lastly Trios which is a soft peanut butter cookie made with chocolate chips and whole grain oats. Both Toffee Tastic and Trios are gluten free cookies. “I love girl scout cookies, but I can’t eat them any more so it’s so nice they have them now,” said sophomore Claire Hanrahan. She, like many others, is unable to eat gluten. “There are more and more people who can’t eat wheat so it’s very nice for us,” says Hanrahan. A different gluten free cookie, Chocolate Chip Shortbread, was piloted last year and because of the positive feedback and the high demand, resulted in two gluten options this year. Unfortunately, Chocolate Chip Shortbread was cut from the cookie list this year along with Dulche de Leche and Thank U Berry Munch. 100 percent of the revenue earned after paying the baker of the cookies goes to the local Girl Scout council. Individual troops on average receive 10 to 20 percent of the local cookie price. The individual troop can put that earned money towards the community in an action/service plan.They can also use the earned money to pay for program supplies, activities and group travel. There’s also the option of doing “Gifts of Caring” where Scouts will collect donations to send cookies to the troops. This is a booming business selling about 800 million dollars worth of cookies a year. This year you will be able to order all your favorites and these new flavors online as well as from your neighborhood Girl Scout.
Giordano’s Grand Opening Deep Dish Pizza is Coming to the Twin Cities Madeline Marker sports editor
Edina is filled with great pizza joints like Mozza Mia and Hello Pizza. If you were to venture slightly outside the bubble, Pizza Luce, Pizzeria Lola, Lake Harriet Pizza, and Mesa Pizza are also quite good. Each pizza place has found its niche; how they differentiate themselves from the competition. Pizzeria Lola offers exciting and unique combinations, whereas Hello Pizza keeps it simple yet tasty. However, there is one type of pizza that seems to be missing: deep dish. No need to fret. Chicago’s favorite Giordano’s is opening a restaurant in Minneapolis; their debut will be in May of 2015 in Uptown at 2700 Hennepin Avenue. Edina High School students who have had the pleasure of dining at Giordano’s are beyond excited for their grand opening. “Whenever I go to Chicago, I make sure to stop by Giordano’s. It’s my favorite pizza, and I can’t wait to eat it whenever I want,” said junior Alyssa Latanision. Others have simply heard of Giordano’s by name but are nonetheless excited. “I can’t wait for its opening because I’m a
pizza connoisseur, and I hear they have truly mastered the art of crafting the perfect crust,” said junior Mike O’Neil. Giordano’s location in Uptown adds another layer of excitement to the restauant’s opening. “Giordano’s opening in Uptown gives me another reason to visit Uptown besides shopping. It will add a nice variety to the existing restaurants,” said junior Shannon Tabor. They have distinguished themselves as a premier pizzeria with their stuffed pizza. Giordano’s proudly boasts that their stuffed pizzas are forty percent larger than their competitors. They offer the classic toppings like cheese, pepperoni, sausage, salami, and bacon, but there are also unique toppings too, like their bacon bbq chicken. Giordano’s tops the pizza with basted chicken, bacon, and balsamic onions. The twist, however, is in the sauce. Tomato sauce is replaced as barbeque sauce. If you’re not a fan of deep dish, they also offer thin crust and extra thin crust pizzas, salads, sandwiches, pastas, and desert. The options are endless and delicious. Senior Taylor Slaney confirms; “When I was in Chicago with the school orchestra we went and we got lots of different pizzas that were all delicious.”
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photo courtesy of Giordano’s
CULTURE
Get A Global Taste In Midtown specialty groceries, meat, poultry, fish, bread, baked goods, coffee, flowers, plants, lunch, dinner, takeout, bars, catering and an area for children to play called a global kid zone. While shopping at the midtown global market we (Colette and Ella) ate a meal from around the world. We started off with Mexican soda called Jarritos. The next course we enjoyed appetizers from China with wonton soup. The main entrees consisted of Vietnamese lo mein with tofu and Greek chicken kabobs. Finally for dessert we had American milkshakes, Italian gelato and mexican candy with chocolate marshmallows and strawberry jam called huba buba. The Midtown global market supports live music performances from around the world on the weekend for no additional cost. The midtown global market is located in Minneapolis on lake street near the Shoebox Gallery and is open Monday-Saturday from 10am-8pm and Sundays from 11am-6pm. It’s a great way to experience different cultures. The Midtown Global Market logo.
Colette Bruder & Ella Romanelli staff writers The Midtown Global Market is a diverse market where customers can shop and experience various cultures. According to Midtown Global Market’s website, the mission of the global market is to “develop and maintain a public market that builds upon the economic, social and cultural assets within the surrounding communities and welcomes the diverse peoples of this community to share and celebrate together the healthy foods, arts, crafts, and other aspects of their heritage.” The midtown global market has over fifty unique businesses, including arts, gifts, jewelry,
photo by Drew Davis
Photo by Drew Davis
The market has numerous restaurants in one building.
Infamous Edina
Edina in the Movies, on TV, and in The Pros John Osler news editor
photo courtesy of Tumblr
photo courtesy of iMDb
Sure, Edina isn’t any New York City when it comes to pop culture exposure, but we’ve still had our fair share of brushes with fame. Edina has been a popular setting for disastrous movies in multiple senses: it was one of the first cities to be wiped out in the epidemic film “Contagion” and it was the setting for the truly terrible Christmas movie “Jingle All the Way”. “In ‘Jingle All the Way’, I recognized the Mall of America, and it was cool to see someplace that I recognized. I guess it makes the film seem more relatable when it isn’t taking place in a big, well known place like Hollywood or L.A.” said junior Brooke Boehning. While you might not hear the term “Cakeeater” on a day-to-day basis, it’s how our city is known in the cinematic world. Not only is it a derogatory term used towards an Edina hockey player in “The Mighty Ducks,” it’s also used to refer to an Edina citizen on an episode of the television show “CSI”. “The Mighty Ducks” also featured scenes at the Met Center, a hockey area near Edina. “Met Center was an arena that meant a lot
to my family. They love hockey so it was important to them,” said junior Elizabeth Nye. The Coen brothers, well-known film makers, grew up in St. Louis Park and thus have a tendency to film scenes in the areas arounds their home town. Thus scenes from their movies “Fargo” and “A Serious Man” take place in Edina. In terms of celebrities, Edina has a few. Along with a Edina hosted everyone’s favorite action hero for “Jingle all the Way.” handful of athletes might need to search a little bit to find notable examples of (including NFL player Edina in the media, it’s nice to know that they’re out there. Adam Goldberg) and one Then again, a city’s worth isn’t measured in how many scenes Playboy model, Edina of it are shown in a movie or the number of famed barbecue boasts to be the hometown salesmen call it their hometown. Edina might not be the best of Famous Dave himself known in the national eye, but it’s famous in ours. (Dave Anderson). All in all, while you
“Fargo” (partly filmed in Edina) may be why people make fun of your accent.
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SPORTS
Bowlby Wins Gold
Climbing Rocks!
Nichole Schultz news editor
which is invitation only. Members of the advanced team compete in regional and national competitions in both bouldering
Bowlby skates toward the net. The Under-18 Women’s World Ice Hockey Championships includes the U.S. Team along with the other seven best hockey teams worldwide: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, and Sweden. Practices began on Dec. 30 at The Harbor Center in Buffalo, New York. The teams first game was six days later against Canada where they won 2-1 in a Shootout. The next day they competed against Czech Republic
to continue to enjoy every moment. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself,” he said. Besides the business aspect, the team trains six days out of the week, along with a few games in between for their eighty-two game seasons. Practices are generally in the morning, along with team meetings and workouts. On game days they will always skate in the mornings in preparation for their evening game. In addition to training, the NHL also travels significantly more than Lee has for any other team he’s played on. They will fly across the country before a game, warm up, play, and then travel back that same night. Sometimes the team will be in a couple of different states in a single week. Lee explained that travel is what really makes the players busy. Lee acclaims his readiness for the real world to his high school coaches at EHS. “The whole staff taught guys, not only on the ice but off the ice, for what comes ahead. Whether that was playing college hockey or just going on to school.” He recalled that high school hockey was one of his fondest memories. Finally, Lee left some advice for current high school players. “Continue to enjoy high school hockey… Obviously they have a good team year in and year out and it’s fun being
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on a winning team. These memories you will never forget.”
photo courtesy of Anders Lee
Currently a center for the New York Islanders, 2009 Edina High School graduate Anders Lee has gone a long way since high school. Like every other hockey player, Lee was introduced to hockey at a young age. “I started playing hockey when I was four years old, when my dad brought me to my first practice. From there I just kinda learned the game,” said Lee. What makes him different is that he turned the ultimate dream for many hockey players, playing on the biggest stage, into a reality. Lee recalled that he had always dreamed of playing in the NHL, but he never imagined that he actually would make it. It was through hard work, ‘lucky bounces’, and opportunities that he credits his success. Lee went to elementary school and some middle school in Edina, but he started his highs school days at St. Thomas Academy. He returned to Edina however, for his junior and senior years, where he was one of Minnesota’s top scorers in high school hockey and arguably one of the best quarterbacks Edina has ever seen. “I remember those Friday and Saturday nights [the most], playing in front of my friends and family. Having the school following the
games was what I really enjoyed,” said Lee. In 2007, Edina won its conference championship in football, having one of the best seasons in its history. Lee was Metro Player of the Year, recognized on Fox Sports Network for his long passes and runs, and had offers to play Division I football. Though he enjoyed football, he couldn’t see himself giving up hockey. He ended up taking a full scholarship offer from Notre Dame to play hockey. “When I visited the school it was a great experience…it was a small school with a huge community,” he said. After college, Lee played a year in Bridgeport for the Sound Tigers, a professional minor’s team in the American Hockey League, and was called up to the National Hockey League to play for the Islanders in two games at the end of the 2013-2014 season. He was then recalled to the Islanders’ roster for the 2014-2015 season after only five games with the Sound Tigers. “It’s professional, which means there is a business side to it. Although it is still the fun game of hockey, it can be pretty intense when the business side is seen,” said Lee. For most newcomers, holding a roster spot on any NHL team is difficult. Performance when needed is key to keeping a position. “My personal goals right now are to play as long as possible and
coming out with a 3-0 win. Two days later, the team beat Russia 7-1 putting them in the semi-finals against Czech Republic who they beat again 5-0. Their scores placed them in the Gold Medal Game against Canada. After three full periods, and overtime, USA pulled through with the win 3-2 making them Gold Medalists. “The staff was always looking out for our best interest as well, everywhere we went people were always wishing us good luck and showing their support,” said Bowlby. Bowlby made the Edina Varsity Hockey Team in 8th Grade, and she has developed a close relationship with the girls on her team. “Grace was super super nice and helpful if I ever needed anything,” said Loli Fidler, a freshman who is new to the team this year. In addition to her welcoming personality, Bowlby’s play is also impressive. “Grace has been a standout player since she made the team in 8th grade. She has so much poise with the puck and is the most natural skater I’ve ever seen. She knows how to get intense for games, but is also super fun to hang out with off the ice,” said senior captain Katie Murney. The U.S. has participated in the GoldMedal games winning in 2008, 2009, and 2011. After four years of losses the team brings home the title again for 2015, with Bowlby bringing a share of the title to Edina. photo courtesy of the Star Tribune
Anders Lee From Edina to the NHL Audrey Sheehy in depth editor
Edina High School has their very own gold medalist as of Monday, January 12th. Sophomore Grace Bowlby made the U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Hockey Team which makes her one of the twenty three best hockey players in America. “It was an amazing opportunity with a bunch of amazing girls. I was one of the youngest girls on the team, so just being around such hardworking and nice girls was really cool,” said Bowlby.
photo courtesy of Sidonie Gindre
For some Edina High School students, rock climbing is more than just an activity done at childhood birthday parties, it’s a sport. Vertical Endeavors is a gym with locations in Minneapolis and St.Paul that provides climbing walls of all different levels. They offer recreational climbing, or you can join one of their three teams that have students up to the age of 18 from around the Twin Cities. Their high school team is open to any student interested in improving at rock climbing or just to see what it is about, you do not need any past experience. The Sidonie Gindre climbs the wall. intermediate team, and ropes. Climbers are judged called “Shrimps,” has tryouts based on the time it takes to and consists of more intense complete each route. practices with higher-level EHS students Sidonie Gindre climbers that have experience. The third team, called “Mountain and Mark Hussian are both members of the intermediate Goats,” is the advanced team,
team. Practices are held at Vertical Endeavors and consist of endurance exercises, bouldering, and rope climbing. Gindre has been climbing since 2013. She joined the high school team after going to Vertical Endeavors with some friends. Climbing is a very rewarding sport and pushes you to think about each move you make. One of her favorite things about climbing is:“Surprising myself when I try a move I don’t think I’ll get and getting it,” said Gindre. Hussian joined the high school team in the fall of 2014 and recently made the intermediate team. “No one route is the same as another, everything is different,” said Hussian. With the help of experienced coaches, team members are able to set goals and meet them. The coaches improve their form and push them to complete their projects. You can never get bored,” said Hussian.
Molly Sparrow staff writer
Anders Lee smiles as he skates onto the ice.