Dear EHS students: Over the last week, in the wake of a disturbing example of racial hate speech at our school and a historically divisive election, you’ve heard and read a lot of calls for unity for the school and the nation. This letter is not one of them. Unity can only occur if everyone being asked to unify feels valued, and it’s clear that is not the case at EHS. Calls for unity tend to treat each faction of a conflict as identical, differing only in whatever grievance, regardless of legitimacy, it is asked to drop in order to achieve unification. This letter is about cutting through euphemisms like “backgrounds” and “differences” and naming those factions and grievances for the purpose of eventually making unification possible. Over the course of the long campaign, multiple groups of students might have felt targeted in some way: black, Hispanic, Muslim, Jewish, LGBTQ+, and female students -- particularly sexual assault survivors -- among them. Right now, many of you in these groups feel more vulnerable than usual because of the racist image spread on social media, as well as the results of the election. Know that we will do all we can to protect you and to fight for you. Many of you have made clear through conversations with us that right now, you don’t feel physically safe. This is unacceptable, and we will do everything in our power to fight against forces that could harm you. We know you will fight, too, but you shouldn’t have to shoulder that burden alone. We know you’ll have many allies among our other students. Some of you were crying the morning after the election, worried about possible consequences to others, such as your friends being deported. Many of you weren’t outwardly emotional, but were still dismayed and keenly aware of the distress of many of your fellow students. We need you to protect and fight for the vulnerable groups the same way we will -- by
EDITORIAL calling out abusive behavior when you see it, by offering emotional support to those who need it, by becoming active in groups that fight for social justice. The school building the day after the election was as somber and quiet as we’ve ever seen it. We hope that no matter what your feelings are about the election or who you supported, you can recognize that political decisions have far-ranging personal consequences. We are already seeing signs as close as Maple Grove High School that some people feel the election result has validated them to unleash their worst impulses. We can’t let this type of behavior become normalized. So again, no matter who you supported, we ask that you do everything you can to empathize with these more vulnerable students, and fight against bullying, intolerance, and inequality. Unity is not a starting point but a destination. We all have a different part to play in helping this school get there. For our part, we’ll do everything we can to abide by these words from Tom Rademacher, Minnesota’s 2014 Teacher of the Year, which he wrote two days after the election: “We will fail, but will not accept failure. We will teach. We will teach to fix a world we cannot fix. We will teach rebellion against a broken world. We can do that, starting today.”
Sincerely, Tim Klobuchar with Daniel Amborn Daniel Baron Kourtnee Baukol Kristin Benson Traci Bergo Cesley Bergsten Tim Berndt David Boone Meghan Brautigam
Online
Jonathan Buckley Lisa Burnham Kimberly Caster Wyndemere Coffey Tom Connell Pat Corcoran Steve Cullison Joe Deckenbach Kari Discher
www.edinazephyrus.com Twitter and Instagram: @edinazephyrus YouTube: edinazephyrus Facebook: Zephyrus
Noah Franske Sarah Franssen Jessica Froehlich Nick Gaudette Erik Gronberg Dylan Hackbarth Alicia Halker Lisa Hanson
On The Cover
Gillian Mousseau (Cover and In-Depth Art) Katie Manderfeld (Header)
Zephyrus Staff Editorial Board Lillie Westbrook, print editor in chief Isabel Thompson, online editor in chief Christina Orth, public relations editor Nikki Lund, art editor Colette Bruder, print copy editor Anne Amen, online copy editor
Rebecca Edgington, human resources editor Page Editors Jenna Simon Ben Gustafson Will Schwinghammer Greta Morton Tanner Jones Max North Ellery Mahlum Maren Naegele
Staff Writers Lily Jones Eva Hadjiyanis Morgan Sheehy Brooke Sheehy Simone Vaillancourt Matthew Egger Greyson Mize Cecilia Orth Anjali Aralikar Emma Bailey
Photographers Zoe Cheung Josie Al-Najim Grace Wolf Uma Bhati
Heather Henke Elizabeth Hillstrom Barb Hodne Kjersti Humphrey Sarah Irons Sarah Jarrett Taylor Johnson Amy Kampf Tess Kingsbury Natalia Kissock Jeff Krause Janelle Krchnavy Sally Larkins Maureen Lindholm Laura Livesay Ryann Longley Kendra Maus Gavin McLean Bethany Mohs Ellen Mundt Anna Myrand Joel Nasset Betsy Nimmo Christopher Piela Mellanie Pusateri Kim Raskin Joelle Reiling
Michael Roddy Jackie Roehl Allison Ronglien Katie Russell Steve Sanger Amanda Schimmelpfennig Sandy Schmidt Jim Schofield Cliff Schwartz Shannon Seaver Maureen Slavin Laura Slominski Lindsey Smaka Lori Songstad Dori Sternberg Mary Stucynski Sara Swenson Justin Swoboda Melody Taylor Annie Thole Leigh Ann Thul Dalen Towne Meggie Trenda Craig Van Someren Michael Walker Dana Weiland Mark Zangara
Advisor Sally Larkins
Artists Gage Aulik Sandra Chen Katie Schiller Gillian Mousseau
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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