Issue 5-- February 2012

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In-Depth p. 6-7

Features p. 4

Love: All about everyone’s favorite emotion.

Volume 32 Issue 5

Opinion p.9

Edina robotic’s team: The Green Machine takes over.

February 10, 2012

Merit pay: It gives big bucks and little feedback.

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

ABC Fun Run

Upload Cheating While researching the SOPA and PIPA acts, we decided to try and find textbooks online in order to relate back to the students.

After all, textsbooks are copyrighted material used by every student in the school uses. When we looked on the recently shut down site Megaupload, however, we didn’t just find textbooks, we found the test bank for 7th Edition Campbell Biology textbook, the book that the A.P. Biology class uses.

While it is not known whether or not students from Edina have been using the test bank, it is known that questions from this test bank have been used on previous A.P. Biology tests. So what actions can be taken to prevent this type of cheating? Not much from the supply side, as A.P. Biology teacher Mark Harelstad said, “It’s not Edina doing it, it’s the world.” Teachers, however, can take steps against this by creating their own tests.

When asked about this, Mr. Harelstad said “I know the tests

are out there, Campbell isn’t the only testbook online.” It turns out that you can find almost any test online. “Any test that is provided by a manufacturer can be found in some form or another,” he said.

This is nothing new. Tests banks are prone to reproduction. In the past, old tests would be sold to students in person, but now with sites like Megaupload, test banks can easily be found for free. Not only does this considering all the copyright infringment bring up the issue of scholastic dishonesty, it is also makes it a legal issue as well as it becomes stealing of trademarked property.

This is obviously a very serious issue that Edina will have to face. After all the Internet is a very big place and with the right amount of digging you can find just about anything you want.

Teachers can write new tests and try different assessments but in the end, it is up to the student to make the moral choice.

Thomas Matthes, staff writer

Student Council hosted the third annual Freeze your Buns Off 5K Fun Run last Saturday at Braemer Golf Course. The run is designed to raise money for students in the Edina A Better Chance program.

This was the first year that the ABC Fun Run had a costume contest where participants dressed up in costumes that started with the letters A, B, and C and were able to win Chipotle gift cards as prizes. “I think it’s a really valuable program with great students who bring in a cool perspective to Edina,” said Page Kinner, a chemistry teacher at EHS and a tutor at the girls ABC house. Mrs. Kinner attended the race with her family who all dressed as bumble bees, even her ten-monthold daughter.

The ABC program brings qualified, highly motivated minority students from all over the United States to Edina High School for their freshman through senior years. It provides an opportunity for deserving students who would otherwise attend schools which may not have the resources to help them reach their full potential. ABC houses, feeds, and transports the students and provides a caring support system as they grow and prosper during their high school careers.

Krystal Walker, editor in chief

Racers in the ABC Fun Run lean forward in anticipation of the starting horn.

Advanced Placement goes blended In previous years at Edina High School, A.P. Economics has been treated as a lecture heavy Advanced Placement course that students must attend every day. This semester, however, the course has gone blended and is the first A.P. to do so.

Why the change? Edina A.P. Economics teacher Jason Szporn noted, “I think the days of students being shuffled from one ‘box’ to the next every 55 minutes are coming to an end. Soon, education isn’t going to be 30 teenagers being ‘talked at’ by one adult and I want to stay ahead of the curve.”

Mr. Szporn has designed the course so that students will attend class on Mondays, Wednesdays and sometimes Fridays for testing. On “off” days, students are expected to watch online podcasts that cover material that would normally be lectured

about in class and are encouraged to come in for help if a concept is ever unclear. After watching the videos and processing the content, homework assignments are completed and submitted online.

Through the use of technology, Mr. Szporn hopes to eliminate wasted class time and make the content more engaging for his students. He hopes to see scores on the Micro and Macro A.P. tests stay stable or even rise with the average score of his students on either test in years past being right around a four out of five.

With A.P. Economics going blended, Mr. Szporn joins teachers in the English and physical education departments at Edina where similar blended course are currently being offered.

Grant Marks, staff writer

Mr Szporn’s new website that will replace the traditional classroom.

The official newspaper of Edina High School

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News

Volume 32 Issue 5

February 10, 2012

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Earning that golden cord Face it. As embarrassingly nerdy as it may seem, many of you have thought of this special moment. The moment when you will hear your name being called, and you step up draped in a long Edina-green robe to accept your diploma.

Now, imagine having a golden cord around your neck to top it off. That’s right, you’re not just a graduate, you’re an Edina Scholar.

What is an Edina Scholar? “Someone who is really smart and has good grades. They work hard,” said senior JJ Barry.

A commendation for high scholastic achievement, being an Edina Scholar is a high honor.

They are not to be confused with National Merit Scholars though, as the requirements for those are completely different than for an Edina Scholar. For Merit Scholars, your PSAT score must reach a certain limit, and for Edina Scholars, your GPA must reach a certain number.

For those students wishing to achieve an ambitious resume, becoming an Edina Scholar and a National Merit Scholar would both benefit getting into a prestigious college or university, but it does require a lot of hard work.

“Over the years, there have been desires expressed, including kids with more rigorous schedules,” said Lory Mullis, a specialist in the counseling office.

On December 21, the Board Teaching and Learning subcommittee decided to change the qualifications for being an Edina Scholar. Now, weighted grades will also be taken into account. That means that all those kids that are taking every A.P. class available, and maybe not be getting a perfect A, (totally understandable) still have a chance of to earn that golden cord!

Edina Scholars must still have a cumulative grade point average of 10.5, but the number of scholars will be much larger now, as the weighted (A.P.) classes are being added into that grade point average.

Edina High School continues to offer opportunities for students to excel academically and achieve titles as a reward for their hard work.

Megan Couture, staff writer The changes in scoring are described below: Advanced Placement Non-Advanced Placement Weighted Grade Letters: Grade Letters: A=14.4 A=12, A-=13.2 A-=11 B+=12 B+=10 B=10.8 B=9, B-=9.6 B-=8 C+=8.4 C+=7, C=7.2 C=6, C-=6 C-=5 D+=4.8 D+=4, D=3.6 D=3, D-=2.4 D-=2 F=0 F=0

art by Natalie Paule

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It gives schools more flexibility, but be-

cause we already do so many flexible things with our seniors, we have found that we will have to restructure some things for seniors. ~Jenny Johnson

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We are still doing things

to get our senior up to 1020 hours. We’re exploring ways to make sure our seniors are meeting their minimum. ~Eric Nelson

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he length of the school year in Minnesota will now be measured in hours instead of days. According to the Minnesota Office of the Revisor Statutes website, the state is now requiring 1020 hours of instruction for students in grades 7-12 each year.

The required hours do not include breakfast or lunch times, but do include passing times, according to the Minnesota Department of Education website.

This revision is effective July 1, 2012.

With the new law, schools have more freedom in their schedules. “It gives schools more flexibility, but because we already do so many flexible things with our seniors, we have found that we will have to restructure some things for seniors,” said Jenny Johnson, Edina High School assistant principle.

This year at EHS, students are attending school for 172.5 days at 6.153 instructional hours each. The district approved calendar for next year has 171 days of instruction at 6.153 hours daily. With this schedule, EHS students would surpass the state minimum number of hours by a little over 32 hours next year.

The problem, however, in reaching the required hours arises when hours are subtracted for standardized tests such as the PSAT, PLAN, MCAs, and other events during the year. The sophomore class and junior class next year will still meet their minimums with the current plan, but the seniors are a little under at this point. In addition to not taking the PSAT, PLAN, and MCAs, EHS seniors also lose hours because they traditionally have not taken finals for the spring semester.

“We are still doing things to get our seniors up to 1020 hours” said EHS assistant principle Eric Nelson. “We’re exploring ways to make sure our seniors are meeting their minimum.” The administration is seeking clarification from the Minnesota Department of Education on how to count hours of instruction and is considering creative ways to meet the minimums, such as possibly adding one minute to each class.

Grace Meyer, staff writer

Cheers for our Edina mathletes art by Stephanie Coleman Picture a math team. You’re thinking of something like the nerdy mathletes from “Mean Girls” made up of four people in matching uniforms that look like they never have fun. Now throw this idea away, and imagine the Edina math team. Obviously much cooler, because I mean, we are Edina.

Not only is the Edina math team ranked second in state with some of our mathletes being among the top scorers in the state, but the team even has “math team parties where we meet up at a teammate’s house while doing math and socializing,” said junior Kelwen Peng.

Instead of having four nerdy kids, with only one girl, our team is made up of over 20 students, with an even mix of girls and boys. Although uniforms do sound pretty cool, Edina’s team has none. “We’re most likely going to order t-shirts just for fun,” commented Peng.

Don’t get the idea that Edina’s mathletes spend every waking moment thinking, breathing, and living math. They actually only practice on Mondays. A typical practice for the team consists of “going over the topics for the upcoming meet and start doing problems from past seasons.” To build to the momentum they “have math team parties before each meet, which are awesome too,” said Peng.

So make it a goal of yours to attend an Edina math meet – yes, people actually can go and watch. Cheer them on against their toughest competition, Wayzata, at the state tournament on March 12 at South St. Paul High School.

Anna Ellingboe, features editor

Features

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

February 10, 2012

Sandwich goddess graces EHS “Honey.” “Dear.” “Doll.” These are just a few of the affectionate names that Betsy Humann gives to her student clients in the sandwich line. Almost any day of the week from 11:30-1:00, she can be seen bustling happily from toaster to counter and back again as she prepares countless sandwiches, relating happily with the students the whole time.

“She’s the nicest lunch lady ever,” said regular customer and Edina High School senior Alexis Clark. “She always recognizes me, which makes me feel special.”

This recognition goes beyond just the face: Betsy seems to somehow catalog the sandwich preferences of students who visit her station even just once a week.

I get a sandwich approximately thrice weekly, and Betsy never fails to smile, say “Hi, hun,” and begin to prepare my combo-sized ham and pepperjack sandwich before I needlessly begin to vocalize my order.

“She calls me the Cheese Girl, because I only get cheese on my sandwiches,” said Clark, waiting in the sandwich line as she was interviewed. Even after she had said this, Betsy noticed her daily client, winked, and began to get cheese—and just cheese—out for her. Clark said that she didn’t know Betsy’s name and Betsy didn’t know hers (other than Cheese Girl), but still they had this special daily connection.

“The best part of my day is serving with the kids,” said Betsy. “I try to keep a smile on my face the whole time.”

I think we can all learn from Betsy’s example of unconditional friendliness, paying special attention to each student- though she doesn’t have to-and making each of their days that much brighter with a smile and an uplifting, “Hi, doll.”

“It doesn’t pay to come in [to work] crabby,” said Betsy. “I’m a happy-go-lucky person most all the time. I try to be.”

Betsy has been serving lunch at Edina schools since 1978 and is a mother of two and a grandmother of four. On weekends, she said, “My youngest and I meet in Farmington and sometimes we go shopping.” Besides this and the occasional grandkid’s event, Betsy said her life at home is “pretty quiet.”

When she comes to work, though, her life is anything but. “Betsy moves at the speed of light. She’s always on the move,” said Mary Lombardi, the nutrition manager for Edina Public Schools.

“It’s good to keep busy; it keeps you young. The kids keep you young,” said Betsy.

The next time you see someone who needs their day brightened, why not follow Betsy’s example? Smile and say, “How are ya, doll?”

Tyler Gieseke, opinion editor

NORTH vs SOUTH lot

If you park your car in either the North or South lot at EHS, you know the difficulties of actually getting out of the lot and into the line. People cut you off, but you don’t take their grief. You block them, and pretty soon, accidents start occurring. Swear words are shouted through half opened windows. All at the same time you are trying not to get your parking pass taken away by dancing to your loud music and texting while driving.

But, the overall question is, which parking lot is better, North or South? Let’s take a look…

In the North lot you have people who are arguably But, the overall question more attractive.

Junior Blake Olson agreed, stating, is, which parking lot is better, the North lot “Yeah people in are more attractive North or South? than the people in the South lot.”

Plus, it’s easier to fight your way out into the line after school, compared to the South lot. Just breeze right out of the lot and up to the stop sign. (That no one actually stops at.) The North Lot also allows you to avoid late middle school mom drivers, who are arguably worse than three-year-olds controlling a remote control car. If you have any type of math, science, foreign language, or physical education at the end of the day, it is advisable to request a parking pass for the North lot.

People in the South lot are generally some sort of hipster, although they may not look like it. They are still screaming privately about how Foster the People and Florence + the Machine became popular. On the other hand, it is much more difficult to get out of the South lot. You have to actually work your way into the line. On the flip side, if you get out early you can easily be one of the first ones out of the line. If you have English, history, art, or a music at the end of the day you should definitely consider applying for a South lot pass.

Drive safe… but have fun driving too!

Sloane Nilsen, culture editor

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before they were

TEACHERS

Chris Dalki has taught social studies at Edina for seven years, but before that, he was of all things, an underwear model. Dalki went to a job placement agency during his freshman year of college at DePaul University and left with a spontaneous offer to become a model. He also promoted cologne and did multiple television adds for department stores Students sit in class everyday and can’t imagine their teachers doing anything else besides teaching. But like Mr. Dalki, many instructors had lives before they were teachers and did a lot of interesting, sometimes unimaginable, things.

Take Tim McManus for example. He was and still is a skilled engineer. While studying at MIT, his undergraduate thesis concentrated on the creation of the ‘h’ sound in the speech synthesis machine that Stephen Hawking, the award winning physicist, uses. “I like to say that Stephen Hawking could not say his name without my contribution,” said Mr. McManus.

Or, take Spanish teacher Alejandro Diaz. Señor Diaz who grew up in Chile, took action against the oppressive dictatorship that controlled all aspects of his life. “When I was a teenager, my friends and I would help organize and participate in political rallying and paint graffiti in the streets,” Señor Diaz said. “We even got arrested a couple of times because it was illegal to be against the government,” he added. Diaz eventually came to the United States, claiming he was “kidnapped by a blonde from Lake of the Isles” who became his wife.

Just a floor up from Señor Diaz is Jason Szporn’s classroom. “I worked as a lawyer at a large law firm in New York City,” said Mr. Szporn. Some of his most interesting work included a case about the constitutionality of the death penalty in New York state. Another was a case involving Native Americans who were trying to get back tribal lands that had been taken from them by various levels of government over the years.

Mr. Szporn, like many other teachers, changed jobs after trying less engaging activities. “The law was intellectually challenging, but in practice I spent 95% of my time interacting with pieces of paper,” said Mr. Szporn. “Now, no more than 94.99% of my time involves interacting with pieces of paper, but at least I’m interacting with humans as well, and humans turn out to be more interesting.”

Social studies teacher Betsy Nimmo always knew she wanted to be a teacher. When she was still in school she toyed with pursuing a PhD in history but decided to study law instead for practical purposes. After ill-fitting careers as a lawyer and co-business owner, Mrs. Nimmo returned to the University of Minnesota in her mid-forties to get her teaching license and the job she always wanted. “I was the world’s oldest student teacher,” Nimmo laughed, “but now I have a job that is a great fit, and I love every single day.”

“I should have pursued what I really wanted to do in the first place,” said Mrs. Nimmo.

Vivi Engen, staff writer

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Features Volume 32 Issue 5

February 10, 2012

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Art by Claire Koutli

for the dateless

Crying, consuming copious amounts of Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough ice cream, and watching reruns of “The Golden Girls”: this is how I’ve spent every Valentine’s Day of my life since the womb. Well, not really. I have, however, been dateless every year on February 14th for as long as I can remember. If you’re somebody like me who knows he’ll be lacking a significant other this Valentine’s Day, you need not worry. You can have just as much fun alone or with your family as you could going out with your dream date.

If you’re dateless, take this day to relax and do things you normally wouldn’t do. If you’re similar to me in any way, I’d suggest watching a good Lifetime movie. Nothing brings more joy, or maybe sadness, to my heart than watching one of those tear-jerkers.

“The Wedding Dress,” “Will You Marry Me?” and “The Mermaid Chair” are my favorite movies when I need a good catharsis. And, the best part is, since all of my guy friends are out with their girlfriends, I don’t have to live in fear of being ridiculed. You probably won’t have to either if you’re dateless as well.

Not one for watching movies? Then I’d suggest buying a ton of chocolates and gorging yourself. Food is a sanctuary for me, and, when I’m lonely and get rejected by girls, it always makes me feel better.

Finally, if you’re not digging either of those ideas, I would suggest going on a date with one of your parents. You’ll have tons of fun reminiscing about when you were a child, before the depression of being dateless hit you. Because your mom or dad will more than likely pity you for going on a date with them on Valentine’s Day, they’ll feel inclined to buy you dinner. What could be better than a free meal? Not much.

So, if you just so happen to lack someone to go out with on Valentine’s Day, don’t sweat it. Just follow my suggestions and know that Valentine’s Day is just one day out of the year that boils down to what you make of it. And, if you can manage to get a free meal out of it, then you’ve definitely made the most of it.

Grant Marks, staff writer

art by Julia Bolter

“We have the most people we have ever had on the team this year at 36,” said robotics team captain Michael Woolsey. “A lot of them are coming in with good experience from the lower age robotics leagues at the middle schools and from STEM engineering classes here at the high school.”

The story of how Edina High School’s robotics team, the Green Machine, came to be starts with EHS alumni Chris Miller in 2006.

Chris and some of his friends started the club and received a $6,000 grant from NASA to buy the team’s materials and send them to compete in their first FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competition.

At the time, the Green Machine was only one of two high school teams in the state competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition and one of 1,025 teams competing from around the world. Now there are over 150 teams in the state of Minnesota alone, and as the number of competitors has grown so has the Green Machine’s success.

“We compete in about two to three competitions every year. You go through two regional competitions and if you perform well enough you can qualify for the world championships, which were in St. Louis last year,” said team member and EHS junior Alex Pastor.

The success has caught the eye art by Kat Skibbe and Emily Maenner

of several locally owned companies.

Large corporations like Medtronic and 3M sponsor the team, and local businesses such as Southdale Family Dentistry also give their support.

“Some sponsors give us money, others help by providing mentors. We even have a sponsor that lets us 3D print for free. In short, without our sponsors we would not be able to be the team that we are,” said Woolsey.

This rapid growth of interest of FIRST Robotics in middle schools and high schools has been noted at a state-wide level. At the State Fair last summer, members of Edina robotics stood alongside Senator Al Franken as he announced that FIRST Robotics teams would now be recognized by the Minnesota State High School League.

The first state championship will be held in May of 2012, and the Green Machine is sure to be one of the top contenders.

For the members of Edina robotics, being on the team means a lot more than winning.

“When you see one of these robots come together at the end of the season, knowing that it was a group of high school students who designed it and built it, it’s pretty amazing,” said Woolsey.

For more information on the robotics team and their activities, visit their website, edinarobotics.com.

Alex Van Gorp, staff writer

b a F

on Net x lf i f

Five titles to add to your queue

lix

As much as I enjoy family and friends, I would take the solitude provided by a dark room and my Netflix account any day. As someone who has truly mastered the art of the Netflix, may I offer a few suggestions?

1. Dowton Abbey: I confess, this one is a PBS Masterpiece Classic. Set

in Northern England in 1912, the show focuses on the aristocratic Crawley family as they try to solve the issue of who will inherit their estate. My favorite character is Violet, the Countess of Grantham, who is played by Maggie Smith (famous for playing Professor McGonagall in the “Harry Potter Series”). Season one is available on Netflix, and season two is currently airing on PBS.

2. Page One: Inside the New York Times: This is a

documentary which chronicles the efforts and struggles that go into the making of one issue of the NY Times. The focus on reporter David Carr is what I enjoyed most about the film. Mr. Carr is a native of Minneapolis and had many clever things to say about the dying newspaper industry.

3. Pushing Daisies: This show was cancelled in 2009, and I cannot figure

out why. The show focuses on a pie-maker, Ted, who has the power to bring dead people, animals, plants – whatever you can think of – back to life. Ted has partnered up with a detective agency to solve various murders by talking to the victims themselves. The show explores murder, romance, and uses a humorous dialogue in a colorful world all through quirky cinematography.

4. Harold and Maude: This movie is for anyone with a morbid

sense of humor. Harold is a teenager obsessed with death. He drives a hearse and attends funerals in his free time. At one funeral, he meets the eccentric and elderly Maude. Soon a romance develops between the two. Yes, the film is slightly disturbing. Yes, it is also hilarious.

5. Ru Paul’s Drag Race: Think “America’s Next Top Model.” Now

replace all those twenty-somethings and their rage issues with drag queens. And there you have “Ru Paul’s Drag Race”! Watch as the “women” suffer through fashion blunders, karaoke battles, and Ru Paul’s punny repartee. Drenched in comedy, the show also does a nice job of addressing many current social issues. Seasons one and two are available on Netflix.

Alma Pronove, editor in chief

Sports 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Volume 32 Issue 5

February 10, 2012

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www.edinazephyrus.com

Most dangerous high school sports “Ouch!” After being hurt in a game, you are one of two million high school students to get injured this year nationwide. After being injured some athletes may be out anywhere from one game to the rest of the season. When you play sports that involve being tackled to the ground, being hit with sticks, and balls flying at speeds up to 90 MPH, injuries are destined to happen. Zephyrus is here to highlight typical injuries and dangers of hockey, lacrosse, gymnastics, cheerleading, football, and wrestling.

O

n December 30th, Jack Jablonski was paralyzed. As his mom went down on the ice. Jack said, “Mom, I can’t move.” Injuries happen in sports, but hockey injuries seem to occur more often than they should.

High speeds, hard ice, and stiff boards surrounding the rink are the perfect combination for a rough sport.

Injuries among teens between the ages of fifteen and eighteen have increased by 85% in the past twenty years, an alarming increase, according to Sportsinjuries.com. The site reported that injuries occur in the later periods and in the later minutes of each period; studies recorded 42% of injuries were sustained during the third period and 47% of injuries were sustained in the final five minutes of each period. The most common injury is a concussion, followed by shoulder, and knee misplacements.

New rules for hockey went into effect mid-January. Any head contact, boarding, or checking from behind will now be a five minute penalty, instead of the two minute it used to be. This new rule was introduced in hopes that it would give players an incentive to avoid dangerous checks. These rules were implemented very quickly, with little discussion, in reaction to Jablonski’s injury. The hockey community is trying to make dramatic changes as soon as possible, so injuries like Jablonki’s never happen again.

Jack Hultstrand, staff writer

L

acrosse is considered to be America’s first sport, having originally been played by Native Americans. What many may not know is that it can be a dangerous sport. According to Summer Banks, a medical assistant, lacrosse is one of the five most dangerous high school sports. Lacrosse balls can be thrown, she explained, at speeds close to 110 MPH. In fact, since 1980, nineteen lacrosse players have died from cardiac arrest after having been hit by a ball. While this is an extreme example, lacrosse does have other dangers.

According to The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Sports Medicine Clinic, some of the most common injuries in lacrosse include strains and sprains, bruises, rib fractures, and concussions.

“The most dangerous part of girls’ lacrosse is probably the checking if done incorrectly, and making cuts and defending in the eight meter [an eight-meter arc by the goal] can sometimes be harsh on the knees and ligaments,” said Sophomore Sheila Hirsch, who has played lacrosse for five years.

According to The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Sports Medicine Clinic, some of the most common injuries in lacrosse include strains and sprains, bruises, rib fractures and concussions.

“There are probably about four to five injuries in our season,” said Hirsch. “The most common,” she said, “are probably stress fractures, torn ACL’s, and pulled ligaments.”

CJ Klein, a sophomore who has played lacrosse since sixth grade said, “Some common injuries in lacrosse are small cuts and bruises on arms or legs.” These, he said are “more common from an offensive perspective; defense does most of the hitting.” He added, “Some dangerous parts of lacrosse are blind hits, cross checks, and basically just getting hacked by your opponents.”

UPMC Sports Medicine suggested that “before you start training, discuss which position you will be playing in order to properly prepare for the season.” Officials at the clinic emphasized that it is important to train during the off-season to be ready for the demands of a lacrosse season.

Hannah Sommerville, staff writer

W

hen people think about cheerleading, they think about peppy girls, extraordinary stunts, and energetic school spirit. However, cheerleading isn’t all smiles. Some people consider it to be the most dangerous high school sport.

According to senior captain Maggie Wyatt the most common injuries are knee problems, broken fingers, and ankle injuries.

While these injuries can be serious, Wyatt said “We don’t really sit out because it’s an intense team sport and we need everyone.”

Junior Elin Wahman has seen a few people sit out for “pulled hamstrings because they cannot jump or tumble.” Wyatt added that a person would be forced to sit out if she “was in a cast or rendered unable to stunt.”

Overall, with cheerleading being such a team sport, injuries will not keep them down because as Wahman stated, “Everyone on the team has an important part, and the routine cannot go without that one person there.”

Ellie Lagorio, features editor

E

very sport has a plethora of accidents that lead to injuries, but some are known to be more dangerous than others. According to the Center for Injury Research and Policy, football and wrestling are known as having the highest risk of serious injury to young athletes.

There is another source that doesn’t support that, however, according to the website The Top Tens, football is the seventh most dangerous sport, and wrestling does not even make the list. It was ranked as a contender, coming in 11th.

At EHS, football and wrestling share a fair amount of injuries and the focus is on getting better not discussing which sport is more dangerous.

The most common wrestling injuries, according to sportsmedicine.com, include bruises/contusions, sprains/strains, overtraining syndrome, dehydration, and muscle soreness, while the more serious involve the shoulders, neck, and knees. Tschida, the EHS athletic trainer, doesn’t work directly with the wrestling team, as they train in Richfield, but he has heard they most commonly suffer from “skin infections, thumb sprains, and foot sprains.”

The most common football injuries, coming from the same source, includes general sprains and strains, achilles tendonitis, concussion, shoulder dislocation and much more. Tschida agreed with all of the following and added more, “soft tissue and bone contusions, and various hamstring injuries.”

Although the number of football injuries at EHS outweighs the number of wrestling injuries, Tschida said this is “mainly due to the number of participants.” Both sports are dangerous, even though EHS seems to target football players more.

Any athletic activity, including football and wrestling, has its own variety and seriousness of injuries, so be aware of the risks of your sport.

Stephanie Coleman, news editor

A

lthough gymnastics is entertaining to watch, many injuries are possible during the incredible routines. The routines can be wonderful and spectacular to watch but, they can cause serious problems with just one wrong step.

According to junior Taylor Halling, the most common gymnastics injuries are shin splints. Halling explained that “gymnastics is really hard on your ankles.”

Lower back injuries including muscle pains and aches are also common. In some cases the injuries may cause gymnasts to sit out and rehabilitate their bodies before returning to their grueling practices.

Thousands of high school students are sent to the hospital for serious gymnastics injuries including, concussions, broken arms and legs, and possible severe spine injuries and broken necks each year.

Ellie Lagorio, features editor

photo by Natalie Paule

8 Opinion

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I

FLIPPED

FLIPPED

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Volume 32 Issue 5

n 2004, Salman Khan started making YouTube videos to teach his cousin math. His videos became a major success and he eventually started the Khan Academy. He posts free video lessons for anyone to watch. Today, there are more than 2,700 videos with topics ranging from Art History to Calculus.

Beginning last year, freshmen at Valley View shared a similar experience. The two math teachers, Mark Carlson and Kimberly Griffiths, would make videos for each lesson. At home, students would watch the videos, ranging from ten to fifteen minutes, and take notes in a note packet. At the beginning of class that day, the teacher would have time for questions from students. During the class time, students could work on the problem set, and ask the teacher questions. This type of class is called a flipped class.

I had this last year for math, and I loved it. It was great to be able to ask the teacher questions about the problem set, instead of struggling through at home and needing to wait until the next day to ask. Sophomore Emma Crosby agreed, “It was nice because we got to do the problems and ask questions about what we didn’t understand. I did a lot better.” Taking flipped classes is also beneficial because it reduces the amount of homework you have. In addition, if you miss class, you don’t have to face the burden of going in early to learn the lesson from the teacher because it is available online. Moreover, if you had trouble with a concept in class, it’s always available online for you to review.

“It was great to have the information so accessible for all students to watch or re-watch when they want in order to ensure comprehension,” said sophomore Paul McClure.

This style of teaching, however, does not appeal to all students. Sophomore Natalie Rauchle explained, “If you didn’t finish the problems in class, you had to do them, and watch the next lesson at home. It was like we weren’t doing anything in class.”

At Edina High School, the closest thing we have to online or flipped classes are blended classes. Nick Kurtz started teaching blended Mass Media this year, and he loves it. More teachers are adding blended classes each year.

Blended classes are courses where students do part classroom work and part online work. “I think my kids like it. They like having freedom and liberty at school,” said Kurtz.

I think we need to add flipped classes and more blended classes. They teach personal re-

If you gotta go, just go Raising hands to go to the bathroom seems like one of those rules that second graders have written on a cheesy laminated poster in their classrooms. Why do we as high schoolers still need to ask to go to the bathroom? What crazy teenage shenanigans are we going to get into on the five minute trip down the hall? After ten-plus years of attending school, most of us understand the difference between the right and wrong times to leave the classroom.

Obviously there are times during the school day that are better suited to taking a bathroom break than others. It doesn’t make sense to waste precious time during an A.P. U.S. History FRQ to leave the classroom; common courtesy also establishes that walking out during another classmate’s presentation is rude. However, going to the bathroom during work time doesn’t interrupt the learning process.

Furthermore, passing time is too short to make a pit stop between periods, unless your next class is right by the bathroom. The lines at the bathroom during lunch are out the door and it’s hard enough to finish our PB and Js without wasting time waiting to pee.

Several teachers, especially language teachers, have created systems that reward students for “holding it.” Teachers give out a set number of bathroom and locker passes for the quarter or semester and then offer extra credit for unused coupons.

Teachers should let their students make the choice on when to use the bathroom themselves. After all, if it is a big enough “emergency” to miss out on a fascinating lecture on cellular respiration, we should be allowed to hurry to the bathroom and hurry back.

Grace Meyer, staff writer

Zephyrus Staff

February 10, 2012

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

the way to go?

photo by Ashley Eickhoff

This student utilizes a lesson taught online, which is a key component of flipped classes. sponsibility, because students have to do work without teachers harassing them. Most people like the independence they get from these classes, and students are able to work at their own pace.

Before graduating, students should experience blended or flipped classes because they teach the independence that is an important quality to have in college and in life.

Sarah Nealon, staff writer

VIKES STADIUM: 1 FOOD SHELVES: 0 The Vikings, legislators, and business leaders have been butting heads about the location of the new Viking’s stadium for months now. The team even threatens to leave Minnesota if they don’t get the stadium they want (which is estimated to cost more than $900 million according to the Star Tribune), in the location they want (Arden Hills).

Should the battle over the new stadium really demand the attention of government officials? While legislators busy themselves debating where a multi-million dollar stadium for a professional football team will go (a team whose players get an average annual wage of $1.1 million according to the NFL Players Association), there are other Minnesotans struggling to feed their family.

According to the website of a local food shelf, Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), an average of 6,200 people visit a VEAP food pantry location each month. Locations include Bloomington, Richfield, Edina, and South Minneapolis. A startling half of VEAP’s clients are children. VEAP isn’t the only food shelf to experience a dramatic increase of visitors in the past few months.

Poverty rates in the suburbs have been on the rise. In both Richfield and Bloomington, there’s a poverty rate slightly above 10% according to the American Community Survey, which was done by the U.S. Census Bureau. The poverty rate in the suburbs has been growing five times faster than that of urban areas, according to the article The Suburbanization of Poverty on The Brooking Institution’s website. The Brookings Institution is nonprofit public policy organization based out of Washington DC. There are some positives about a new Viking’s Stadium. It would not only be great for fans, but it would also bring commerce to the city it’s built in. But does there really need to be a huge debate about it, when legislators have so many more pressing problems to address?

Instead of focusing on sport stadiums, Minnesota’s government should be concerned about those who won’t get enough to eat.

Maddie Kopiecki, staff writer

editors in chief: Alma Pronove, Erik Rehnberg, Krystal Walker copy editor: Monica Omodt art editor: Natalie Paule news editors: Stephanie Coleman, Michael Jacobson features editors: Anna Ellingboe, Ellie Lagorio sports editor: Rayelle Washington in-depth editor: Andrea Kimball opinion editors: Tyler Gieseke, Monica Omodt culture editors: Sloane Nilsen, Ashley Smith back page editors: Natalie Paule, Alma Pronove staff writers: Emily Cherkassky, Megan Couture, Vivian Engen, Jake Freeman, Tara Gupta, Jack Hulstrand, Maddie Kopiecki, Clare Ling, Grant Marks, Thomas Matthes, Grace Meyer, Sarah Nealon, Micah Osler, Hannah Sommerville, Alex Van Gorp photographers/artists: Connor Bjornnes, Julia Bolter, Anne Cavanagh, Kelsey Ehrlich, Ashley Eickhoff, Jake Freeman, Cici Holmquist, Elizabeth Jarvey, Jamie Jones, Rebecca Kidder, Claire Kouatli, Raquel Radenbaugh, Zai Rutter, Anna Schmiel, Kat Skibbe, Emma Westbrook webmaster: Will Rurik advertising manager: Alex Van Gorp 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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Opinion 6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Volume 32 Issue 5

Lowering the drinking age?

February 10, 2012

9

www.edinazephyrus.com

Bluer

The

the

Better D

photo by Natalie Paule

Should the U.S. drinking age be lowered to 18? Several colleges say “yes.”

I

n Minnesota you can get a hunting license at 14, a driver’s license at 16, vote and go to war at 18, but you can’t legally drink until you are 21. Some may argue that if a 14-year-old can carry a gun to go hunting, why can’t a 20-year-old hold a glass of wine? On the other hand, it seems wise that the drinking age should remain at 21. One can argue about whether 14 is the right age to hunt or 16 is the right age to drive, but to me it makes sense to keep the legal drinking age at 21.

The Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) website states, “More than 40 percent of individuals who start drinking before the age of 13 will develop alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence at some point in their lives.”

A lower drinking age is likely to put more teenagers at risk of developing alcohol abuse issues later in life.

While the legal drinking age in America is 21, in many places around the world it’s 18 or lower. My friend Silas Goodman, a fifteen-year-old who lives in Rivaz, Switzerland (where the drinking age is 16), said that although he doesn’t drink, “a lot of guys in my class do, and I’m sure there are many more that I don’t know about.” When asked what benefits of a lower drinking age are, Goodman said “I can’t think of any...”

Presidents of schools such as Gustavus Adolphus College and Ohio State University have signed the Amethyst Initiative, advocating lowering the drinking age to 18 in order to avoid binge drinking. But it seems obvious that lowering the drinking age will just push drinking down to even younger students.

The MADD website counters the ideas behind the Amethyst Initiative, saying, “When the ‘forbidden fruit’ is no longer forbidden, youth simply drink more.” I think that this is true, and that if drinking were not illegal for high school students, it would simply be abused more.

Even though some 18-year-olds may be mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with drinking, others are not. Also, if the drinking age were 18, even more high school kids will have access to alcohol, when they are not as responsible and are not old enough to make potentially life-changing decisions. The risks that come with underage drinking are so big that it seems best to leave the drinking at 21.

There are many different arguments related with drinking and the drinking age, and changing it now seems like it would do more harm than good. I think that students need to make wise choices and wait until they are 21 to drink.

Hannah Sommerville, staff writer

uring the 1930s, Upton Sinclair, author of “The Jungle,” defined the term “white-collar workers” as individuals who do not use manual labor while working at their daily jobs. Those who do use manual labor every day would be classified as blue-collar workers. The short supply of blue-collar workers will affect the future of Minnesota negatively—as well as all of America.

As we have industrialized, a dramatic plummet has occurred in the amount of people who take blue-collar jobs. Thanks to machinery, technology, and industrialization, an abundance of jobs have sprung up that do not depend on manual labor. More people are going to college to study business or computer science than agriculture, cookery, or even plumbing. Without the value of learning blue-collar skills, a majority of high school students will be (and are) less self-sufficient.

Think about it: could you cook yourself a substantial dinner without recipes? Could you repair a wooden desk or build your kids a treehouse? Why doesn’t the Edina school system offer a woodshop class? If one of your toilet’s pipes exploded or your car overheated, would you be able to fix it on your own? Junior Kalley Norr said, “No...Do I look like a mechanic?” According to the College Board, one-half of all plumbers earn more than $50,000 a year, so why the aversion? Also, if we are going to mature and learn new skills, we should start with the basics. So what if you know what the cotangent of three hundred and twenty seven degrees is?

If, by the time they are eighteen, teenagers cannot cook, build, or even sew for themselves, they cannot truly take care of themselves. It is very important to be able to apply skills you learn in your English or math classes, but when everyone decides to major in computer marketing because they have no experience with blue-collar skills, who will end up producing our food? Who will fix your electric circuit when a fuse blows up? If high school students are not shown or taught blue-collar skills, they will have no interest in working blue-collar in the future.

There comes a time when you need to decide for yourself what is more important. Do you actually want to learn basic blue-collar skills, so you can fend for yourself? Can you actually do anything involving manual labor, or do you just not care?

Because high school students are not learning basic skills for when they are older, America will shortly become extremely reliant on technology. Heck, America already is heavily reliant on technology.

What happens if that technology malfunctions or is taken away, and no one professionally knows how to process food, build, or repair?

Sloane Nilsen, culture editor

Merit pay: big bucks, little feedback

E

ver wondered why there’s sometimes an observer in some of your classes? That observer isn’t there to make sure you and your fellow students are in line, but to make sure that your teachers are meeting their goals as part of Edina’s Alt Comp system.

“Alt Comp is short for Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System. It is the system by which teachers are paid in this district,” explained Alt Comp coach and former Valley View government teacher Jason Dockter.

The system includes incentives (more money) for teachers who meet their Professional Growth Plan and individual Student Learning Goals over the course of a school year. Teachers are observed three times by either an Alt Comp coach or another colleague. Before and after each meeting, they meet with the coach to receive feedback and cognitive coaching about their progress toward their goals. This is tied to their compensation, since teachers must meet their goals to move to the next “step” in their payment plan.

This system is good, in theory. Not so much in practice, however. Although teachers have to be observed three times and meet with their observer both before and after the observa-

tion, that only means that a teacher has to be on top of his or her game three days a year.

This may help teachers become better teachers, but it totally discounts input from the very people who observe the teachers every day: the students.

Teachers are required to send out surveys to students (as well as parents and other teachers) and meet with the administration to go over the results of those surveys, according to Eric Nelson, EHS assistant principal. They are also required to go over the feedback they receive with an administrator. Teachers are supposed to use the feedback they get to help set their goals for future improvement. According to Mr. Nelson, teachers are largely able to set their goals on their own.

In many instances, teachers being able to set their own goals works and helps them to photo by Natalie Paule become better teachers. In other cases, however, teachers could ignore some of the important feedback they get and focus on what they want to improve – not what could help them become the best possible teachers. Teachers should be required to focus not only on the improvement areas that Alt Comp coaches point out, but also on the areas that students have identified as needing the most improvement.

Zephyrus staff

10 Culture www.edinazephyrus.com

Volume 32 Issue 5

February 10, 2012

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Noon

Brotherhood of the Traveling Pants Hairy Potter and the Cloak of Secrets

What if you did judge a book by its cover?

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” If there’s a bigger cliché, I haven’t heard it. Despite how often we say this, though, we rarely follow it. A book with a poorly-drawn picture of an army of Nazi zombies fighting werewolves on the cover probably isn’t a historical romance.

In that vein, I decided to break the rules and judge books by their covers – in other words, I took a few books that, despite their popularity, I’d never read, and tried to decide what they were about just based on their covers. Here they are: “The Hunger Games”: The zany adventures of Merle, a robin who is sparkly and golden due to an unfortunate paint accident. While the excess weight of the paint makes it rather hard for him to fly, he fights off predators and woefully unprepared hunters by spitting arrows at them. He also really likes circles.

“Twilight”: It’s 1937 in Kansas. The Dust Bowl is at its height. The region’s farmers are struggling to make ends meet.

Families need every bit of food they can get their hands on, with some starving to death. One very pale girl, though, has made it her mission to help these farmers out and is daring to do what no one else will dare to do: Give people apples! At night! `“The Catcher in the Rye”: The moving story of a boy and his horse, which appears to be on fire for no particular reason.

“The Da Vinci Code”: Hundreds of thousands of people go to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa every day – it is, after all, the world’s most famous painting. However, in his most recent striking exposé, Dan Brown reveals a truth that’s been hidden from the world for the past 500 years: We’re not watching the Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa is watching... us.

“Bossypants”: It’s Tina Fey! And she’s wearing a hat! How

“Cry me a river” song selections It’s Valentine’s Day and your darling lover just tore your heart to shreds. Looking at old photos and reading old texts from your ex won’t help with a break up. A broken relationship is never easy- the best medicine for a break up is a carton of cookies and crème ice cream, a box of Kleenex, and our playlist to help you with the mourning stage of the relationship. Here’s a list of our favorite songs to mend that broken heart.

#1 #2 #3

“All by Myself”- Celine Dion The classic break-up song if you’re in need of a little self pity and a mournful mood. Dion’s touching vocals hit the soul and help you cry through being alone.

“Ridin’ Solo”- Jason Derulo The perfect song to be like, ‘forget this old relationship’ and swag you out.

“Say Goodbye”- Chris Brown This song is about having to let go of that old relationship and move on to someone new.

“Almost Lover”- A Fine Frenzy

“Take a Bow”- Rihanna

“Forget You”- Cee Lo Green

“Picture to Burn”- Taylor Swift

“Bad Romance”- Lady Gaga

“Someone Like You”- Adele

“Jar of Hearts”- Christina Perri

“Mr. Know It All”- Kelly Clarkson

Krystal Walker, editor-in-chief

did she get that hat? What kind of hat is it? Why is she wearing a hat? Will this hat impact midterm elections? How does Sarah Palin feel about the hat? Inside this nonfiction work, one can find the answers to all your most pressing hat-related questions! Also, probably something about pants.

“The Great Gatsby”: For years now, patrons at this Six Flags have reported seeing…odd things going on at the park: an unexpected chill in the middle of the Texas summer; a disembodied tap on the shoulder in the middle of a ride; a general feeling that there’s something strange going on.

Little do they suspect that at night, as they complacently ride the attractions, an enormous, ghostly face lights up above them – one that eerily resembles the face of that janitor who mysteriously disappeared a few months ago…

Micah Osler, staff writer

Bookmark This!

“I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith Few people realize that Disney’s movie “101 Dalmatians” was based on a book by British author Dodie Smith, and even fewer know that Dodie Smith also wrote a novel in 1948 called “I Capture the Castle” that has received rave reviews from famous authors such as J. K. Rowling and Susan Isaacs. While looking for a book to read, I accidentally picked up “I Capture the Castle” at Barnes and Noble. It’s an adorable, old-fashioned book with romance and excitement and even a little action. If that’s your cup of tea, read on!

“I Capture the Castle” is the story of two girls and their family who live in luxurious poverty in a castle located on the English countryside. It was once elaborate and rich back in the day of medieval knights and dukes, but it has fallen into ruin and the family rents it for a low price, as it has poor heating and almost no furniture. It’s a quaint old place with high ceilings and bare stone walls; there’s even an icy moat.

The older sister Rose is the beauty of the family and dreams of falling in love with one of their new neighbors - a pair of wealthy, young brothers who have recently inherited the manor nearby. Cassandra, her smart and literary little sister, narrates the story. Side-note: you’ll definitely see some parallels to Jane Austen’s novels, but the stories are actually quite different.

Eventually the sisters strike up a polite friendship with the two men and have many adventures and hilariously embarrassing encounters.

Cassandra “captures” the elements of

their life in a journal that her family can barely afford to buy, while making discoveries about human nature and her own feelings. Her innocent and reflective writing is one of the best parts of the book. You don’t even have to take my word for it – New York Times bestselling author Susan Isaacs is quoted on the back on the back, saying, “Cassandra Mortmain is one hell of a narrator.” Still not co n v i n c e d ? J . K .

Rowling’s quote follows: “This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I’ve ever met.”

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

Andrea Kimball, columnist

Culture

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

Volume 32 Issue 5

February 10, 2012

11

www.edinazephyrus.com

What’s your playlist personality?

Ever wondered what your music taste says about you? If we believed the stereotypes, these characteristics would be directly related to your playlist personality.

all art by Emma Westbrook

Hip-hop: Gangster • You are a gangster.

• You are always “swagged out.”

• You live in an urban area.

• You have at least two tattoos.

• Your pants never reach higher than your knees.

• You wear gold hoop earrings, that you can fit your fist through.

• All of your shirts come from the kids section, while your sweatpants are three sizes too big.

Pop: Prep • You live in the ‘burbs.

• You have more tube socks than regular socks.

• Your favorite stores are Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister.

• “You quit the cheerleading team and joined the marching band just to live out that Taylor Swift song”- Senior Annie Dehnel.

• You know all the words to “Barbie Girl” by Aqua.

• Your music blares out of your BMW as you cruise down the street.

Country: Hillbilly • Your favorite activities include making moonshine in the backwoods and fishing.

• You serve as the pastor to your cousins weddings... to each other.

• You own an old pick up truck with wheels taller than your waist.

• Your wardrobe consists of Levi jeans, flannels, old, dirty wife beaters, and cowboy boots.

• You chew.

Alternative: Emo/Scene • All your clothes come from Hot Topic.

• You wear black eyeshadow and lipstick and constantly dye your hair wild colors.

• Your music is always loud enough for everyone in the halls to hear through your ear buds.

• Skulls are an everyday occurance in you fashion choices.

• You have at least six holes in your body that you weren’t born with.

Indie: Hipster/ Wannabe hipster • Your favorite store is Urban Outfitters.

• Unless you are a true hipster, then UO is way too mainstreamthrift stores are more your scene.

• Oxfords and maxi skirts/ dresses are your wardrobe staples.

• You have thick rimmed glasseseven if you have 20/20 vision • Your only mode of transportation is your banana bike.

• Every weekend you can be found sipping a green tea latte at the Tea Garden.

Rayelle Washington sports editor

A venture beyond the bubble

M

photo by Natalie Paule

inneapolis is a place very near and dear to my heart. I grew up in Northeast Minneapolis and honestly, there is no other place I would rather be. “Wait Thomas!” you might say, “I go to Uptown all the time! That’s part of Minneapolis right?” Well, Minneapolis is more than just a place for suburbanites to go when they want to feel hip. There is an entire major metropolitan area with diverse neighborhoods just outside of your doorstep. Here are three of my favorites: Loring Park Loring Park is just southwest of downtown. It is part of the bigger Central community and lends its name to the large park that exists within. Loring Park contains some of Minneapolis’ most famous landmarks in Minneapolis.

If you happen to find yourself in Loring Park, check out the Walker Art Center (it’s free for teens) then head north on Lyndale Avenue to the Basilica and admire its unique appearance.

Finally, head back down Lyndale and enter the park itself. The park has many walking and biking routes and contains a famous view of downtown over Loring Lake. In August you can also see the Loring Art Festival, a two day festival that takes place in the park itself. There you can enjoy different varieties of art from over 140 artists.

Cedar-Riverside Cedar-Riverside, also known as the West Bank, is part of the academic Community. The Mississippi River, 35W, and 94 create a natural border for the West Bank. This community is famous for its diversity; it has a high population of college students from both the U of M and Augsburg College, and a high population of immigrants from North East Africa. This neighborhood is for the hardcore hip. If you like playing dress up at American Apparel you should probably skip this one. However if bike co-ops and African delis are more your thing then by all means go and check it out.

If you enjoy theater, you can go to the Southern Theater on Washington Avenue, go to Theater in the Round for some arena style drama, or head to the Rarig Center to to see performances by U of M students. If music is more your thing, you can head down to the Cedar Cultural Center and enjoy awesome, intimate performances. Or you could go down to the Triple Rock Social Club, which was awarded best new venue in the City Pages. If you hear the call of nature, you can even go to Midwest Mountaineering, the famous outdoors shop.

Northeast Northeast, affectionately called “Nordeast” by its residents, is directly across the river from downtown. Northeast’s borders are created by the Mississippi in the south and west, city limits in the north and east, and the U of M campus in the southeast. Northeast is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and is also one of the more diverse. Northeast has strong cultural ties to countries in south and east Europe and in recent years have seen a growth in residents from Central America and the Middle East.

Northeast is also home to the arts district. This area is home to around 400 artists who live in old factories that have been converted into lofts and studios. If you are a major art fan there are countless galleries to visit and in May Art-A-Whirl, an art festival all across Northeast, begins.

If you find yourself in Northeast check out Saint Anthony Main by the river, then head up Hennepin and grab a bite to eat at Kramarczuk’s, the Eastern European deli. Go to one of the many parks and watch a pickup game of soccer. Then end your day by heading up Central to Broadway and going to an art gallery.

Minneapolis is a rich cultural center that rivals any other city in the United States. I say go there while you can, explore, and be proud of where you live.

Thomas Matthes, staff writer

Back Page www.edinazephyrus.com

Volume 32 Issue 5

February 10, 2012

12

6754 Valley View Rd. Edina, MN 55439

How will you spend your Valentine’s Day? Are you usually stuck third wheeling?

Spend the day listening to your best friend talk about her AMAZING boyfriend, eventually snap, and make up a fake boyfriend just to spite your annoying friend.

NO

Are you willing to spend lots of money this Valentine‛s Day?

Go around proudly announcing your single status to everyone you see. Tell people that you prefer independence to being “tied down” by someone else. You come first. Then go home and slip into a long weeping session.

Make sure to have ice cream on hand as well as a printed picture of your crush.

YES

YES

NO

Would you consider yourself an avid reader of Judy Bloom?

Have you memorized the dance to Beyonce‛s “Single Ladies”?

YES

YES

Make your sweetie a handcrafted present this year! Exchange gifts over a romantic, candlelight dinner as your stare into each other’s eyes.

May we suggest a sweater made out of your own eyelashes or a promise ring you whittled yourself?

NO

Does your love double as your only friend?

NO

Take the cheap way out! Make frequent and loud comments hating on V-Day in the weeks leading up to the lovey, dovey holiday. The more your try to convince your partner that Valentine’s Day is overrated, the fewer dollars you’ll have to spend.

YES

NO

YES

NO

Are you single?

NO

Do you save Dove chocolate wrappers for their inspirational messages?

Nothing says eternal love like beautiful language. Your night will be spent in the comfort of your own home as your and your two other favorite couples host your very own poetry slam. Tissues will be necessary for the love sonnets that will come afterwards. Make sure to dim the lights to achieve that perfect mood of vulnerability and deep commitment.

YES

YES

NO

Does cuddling for five or more hours sound like your ideal Friday night?

Too embarrassed to admit to your own singleness, you will spend the day setting up a fake Facebook profile for your fake boyfriend. Unfortunately for you, someone is bound to figure out that this “person” is based off of your Tabby cat.

Do you mock PDA couples while secretly wishing you were part of one?

YES NO

V-Day is going to be the absolute worst day in the history of forever for you. Your hatred for all things relationship will bubble up in a BIG way. Expect your rage blackout to include popping heart-shaped balloons, shredding Valentine’s cards, and spitting in the faces of canoodling couples.

Watch “Die Hard.”