Issue 2: November 2, 2017

T h u r s d a y, N o v e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 7

Vo l u m e 3 8 , I s s u e 2

6 7 5 4 Va l l e y V i e w R d . E d i n a , M N , 5 5 4 3 9

w w w. e d i n a z e p h y r u s . c o m

City Council approves Arden Park redevelopment, page 3

photo by Zoe Cheung

Girls’ tennis wins State Championship, page 11

EHS AP classes

What our teachers are doing right Brooke Sheehy, page editor

Weiland’s classes have chemistry: Weiland demonstrates a soapy lab for his students

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Edina girls’ swim and dive remains undefeated, page 11

WEB PREVIEW EHS senior publishes book

dina High School provides a wide range of enrichment courses that prepare students for their future endeavors in college and beyond. Unlike many schools in Minnesota, EHS offers every possible Advanced Placement course, helping students stand out on college admissions and enabling them to potentially earn college credit for their completed courses.

What makes EHS stand out aside from its extensive enrichment options are its above average AP scores, so this raises the question: What are AP teachers at EHS doing to help their students perform at an above average level in these college level courses?

AP Calculus BC teacher Noah Franske goes above and beyond what is expected from a teacher by making sure he is available to his students 24/7. He creates a Remind account for each of his classes where students are able to send him a message about anything that they need related to the class and can usually expect a response within the hour. Franske also hosts study sessions before each unit test at the Starbucks on Vernon where his students are able to get last minute clarification on any questions. “Coming in and making sure you catch stuff before it happens or when it happens because there are some kids that feel that they don’t have to come in [for help] because they never needed to before, and they find themselves just digging in deeper and deeper,” Franske said. Each unit, practice sheet, problem set, and homework assignment is meant to prepare his students for the AP test.

“We do a lot of practice in class. There are practice AP problems on the test, and we especially make sure that we integrate multiple choice problems. As the test gets closer we usually have three weeks before the test that we focus on a different topic each day and we just pound AP problems,” Franske said. With Franske’s dedication to his students, it’s no surprise that his class average is between 4 and 4.5, higher than the 3.87 national average.

Lecturing has been AP European History teacher Dan Baron’s go-to method of teaching this course since the beginning of his European history teaching career at EHS. “[The College Board] doesn’t necessarily say that I have to lecture, but I find that lecturing is an interesting way to give a vast amount of information into students’ notebooks and perhaps into their heads in a rather efficient way,” Baron said. Each lesson Baron plans is meant to prepare his students for the AP test. “Obviously I say things while lecturing that seem to be not related, like a story or an anecdote or a joke, but I try to every once in awhile take a break from the serious effort of memorizing things by adding a little bit of levity which helps [the students] memorize things and gives them a break from just thinking all the time,” Baron said. The stories, anecdotes, and jokes Baron tells his students must stick with them through the AP test because his class average of 3.6 gives his students a passing grade with potential college credit as opposed to the 2.81 national average. (continued on page 5)

Pétanque club attracts French culture enthusiasts Bocce-like game interests many students

Rash of laptop thefts at EHS

Counseling department implements new policies

For more, visit EdinaZephyrus.com

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Max Morton staff writer

he Edina High School Pétanque Club is, well, a club for people who play pétanque. But it’s much more than that. Junior co-leader Noah Rochlin is a pétanque enthusiast. “The members of the club wish to play the best sport on the face of the planet while meeting new people at the same time. Pétanque is a game, pétanque is culture, pétanque is everything,” Rochlin said. The Pétanque Club has been a great addition to the high school for the past few years; students and teachers find the club inclusive and enjoyable, and see it as a great way to meet more fellow students interested in playing the game.

What is pétanque? Pétanque is a game played with metal balls called “boules.” In both singles and doubles games, both sides get four boules to throw at the cochonnet. At the start of each round, a person will throw a little ball called the “cochonnet.” The cochonnet is a smaller ball that is the target for the boules to be thrown to. The goal is to get the boules as close to the cochonnet as possible. The boules can be thrown in any way the player prefers, under-hand, over-

hand, whatever.

The standard way to throw is to hold the boule with the palm of the hand downwards, and then to throw with an under-arm swing of the arm ending in an upward flick of the wrist. Throwing this way puts backspin on the boule and gives the player more control and more flexibility when throwing.

A game begins with a coin toss to determine which team plays first.

When throwing the boules you must stand inside a small circle with both feet on the ground. The game consists of several rounds.

The winning team scores one point for each of its boules that is closer than the opposing team’s closest boule. That means that the winning team could in theory score as many as six points in an end, although a score of one or two points is more typical. As the game progresses, each team accumulates points until one of the teams reaches 13, the winning number of points. The game is similar to the Italian game of bocce ball.

Pétanque is the second most popular sport in France behind soccer. Students may have never heard of the Pétanque Club or even the sport itself, but it offers a low-stakes and highly social opportunity to try out something new.

Hornet thrift shoppers get more for less

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Hans Janovy Meyer staff writer

ost of us 2000s kids out there remember Macklemore’s hit song “Thrift Shop,” but is the act of thrift shopping as glamorous as the song makes it out to be? Fashion has a way of recycling past styles and making them popular again. More and more students are finding that thrifting is a great way to find inexpensive, fashion-forward clothing and also to make use of used clothing.

Patrick Gooley is a sophomore who’s been thrifting for three years. “You never know what you’re gonna find, you know you can find some cool stuff for cheap,” Gooley said. Over his time thrifting, he’s found everything from limited edition screen prints of the Minneapolis skyline to taxidermied road runners. “Don’t buy everything that you think is cool, you gotta pick only the stuff you really want” is advice Gooley would give to those looking to get into thrifting. “Goodwill and Arc are where I find most of my stuff.

It’s a lot of fun, when you find something that’s really cool, it’s like a high. Thrifting is a hobby that isn’t for everyone though.”

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COMMENTARY Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

Zephyrus staff Editorial Board Ben Gustafson, print editor-in-chief Jenna Simon, online editor-in-chief Maren Naegele, managing editor Ellery Mahlum, print copy editor Tanner Jones, online copy editor Max North, art editor Zoe Cheung, photography editor Will Schwinghammer, head staff writer Staff Writers Kyra Bergerud Hans Janovy Meyer Isha Konety Jack Marker Max Morton Julia Nicholson Syd Pierre Alex Stenman Theo Teske Kerui Yang Lucy Yang Adviser Sally Larkins

Page Editors Matthew Egger, cover Emma Bailey, news Eva Hadjiyanis, student life Morgan Sheehy, features Simone Vaillancourt, in-depth Greyson Mize, opinion Lily Jones, head to head Cecilia Orth, activities Anjali Aralikar, sports Brooke Sheehy, sports Photographers Josie Al-Najim Mimi Beringer Uma Bhati Margaret Sullivan Grace Wolf Artists Katie Schiller Andy Youngstrom Videographer Joey Puckett

Policies

Zephyrus is a monthly publication produced by students of Edina High School; 6754 Valley View Road; Edina, MN 55439; (952) 848-3800 x3087. Zephyrus is a designated forum for student expression that recognizes the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of the press, and abides by Tinker standard. Opinions published in Zephyrus do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff, adviser, administration, or entire student body. Submissions and letters are printed based on space available. Letters should be no more than 350 words and mailed to the school or given to the adviser or a staff member.

Le t te r s to t h e Ed itor To share an opinon or voice a conern over issues in Edina or an article Zephyrus has published, submit a letter to the editor online at https://www.edinazephyrus.com/about-2/send-us-a-letter/.

Letters to the Editor From the A Better Chance Program Arthur Graham guest writer While I’m sure that you have all been away from home before, whether with family members, or friends or even completely alone, I’m almost certain you’ve never had to go several months without your parents. Rarely do people have to enter an unfamiliar environment, learn how to thrive socially, and how to excel academically, all before they graduate high school. The following students have gone through this exact experience, and they are here to speak about their experiences and some of the challenges that they’ve had to endure throughout their time here. Some of you may recognize these names, and realize that they are active in your school community, but may not know everything that they’ve had to go through, and continue to have to go through. They are all a part of the same program, Edina A Better Chance Program (ABC). Edina ABC is a program in which individuals from all across the country apply to attend a handful of high-achieving high schools, and if the ABC board believes they have what it takes to get in, they are admitted to the program. The kids visit schools in the winter to see if they like the school and the program. Then, if they so choose to be a part of the program, they live in the ABC house, a house where a RA (Resident Assistant) is in charge, and provides for them as well. For some more information on the program, visit their website at: http://www.edinaabc.org/

Sophomore Tiara Moss-Keys

I am from East Orange New Jersey, I am 15 years old, and I am in 10th grade.

I am on the Gameday Cheer team, and I recently joined Backpack Tutoring and Mock Trial and look forward these experiences. My experience at Edina has been really different. It feels as if it’s ten times bigger than my old school; I am still adjusting to the crowded hallways. I am also not used to people being in such advanced classes for their grades. Edina has a few differences from back home. While Edina as a city feels about the same size, it is a lot more quiet and reserved, but at the same time it does feel larger. The kids are all in the same high school while back home there are three separate high schools for the kids to go to. There is a lot more nature here, and that’s something I need to get used to.

The culture also is very different. I’m used to a very urban community, while Edina is a suburb, and you can tell the people’s economic status just by looking at their house. In addition, I’m not used to kids getting picked up at their houses or by their house. I had to walk to school. Since I’ve been in Edina, one of my biggest accomplishments is being able to move and acclimate to this community and still maintain good grades. Also, being able to live in a house with five other kids, who have different personalities, is a huge accomplishment. I’m only used to living in a house with one other person, not five teenagers. Cheer is a struggle for me, because I feel like I’m not being treated the right way. I've been cheering since I was seven years old in East Orange, so it’s hard to go somewhere else and try to be a part of a team where no one knows me or what I can do. Just because you are in a different place, doesn’t mean you have to become a different person. Do not feel obligated to accommodate to anyone else.

Senior Destiny Washington

I am from New York, and I’m 17 years old and a senior. I’m involved in Mock Trial, Backpack Tutoring, Girl Up, and 212. I first arrived in Edina when I was 15 years old, and I’ve grown a lot since. When I first came to Edina it was a huge culture shock. Prior to Edina I lived in New York City, which as you could imagine it is very different from Minnesota. I’ve appreciated my experience because it will make it easier for me once I am in college. Edina is different from New York in that it isn’t nearly as big, but also in comparison New York is very diverse in a number of ways. Being here these past three years I’ve learned simple things such as waking myself up in the morning. Not only that but I now understand it is in my own hands to create my own destiny (pun intended). Being away from my family has been a huge struggle since now I don’t have that same support system that I relied on heavily. I sometimes feel different towards my peers in terms of my high school experience.

Simply, you are capable of doing it. I tended to doubt myself when I first arrived, but I am certain you can do it.

Sophomore Marz’ja Ray

Homework struggles?

We’ve got a tutor to help.

I’m from Chicago Illinois, I am 15 years old, and I am currently in the 10th grade. I’m involved with Hip-Hop Dance and track. It has been an interesting experience, especially in the school environment. It is very unique, but small. Edina differs from back home since Chicago is bigger, and being a city girl is a lot faster. Living there you have to be used to that fast pace of living. There are different parts of the city that can bring different parts from out of you. While in contrast, Edina is just one big part. Being able to connect to other people, at our schools and learning how to work differently, and become used to that environment. One of my largest struggles was trying acclimate to the cultural differences between Chicago, and Edina, and some academic differences as well. It’s important to be positive, and try and keep an open mind, but remember the importance of boundaries. Also, “Be you cause everyone else is taken.”

Junior Arleth Ulloa

One-on-one Tutoring: Math | Science | Language Arts | Languages | Homework Help Study Skills | AP and IB Support | ACT and SAT Test Prep 952.285.7667 collegetutors.com 50th & France | Edina

I am 16 years old, and from Orange County, and am currently in the 11th grade. I am involved in Hip-Hop dancing, Back Pack Tutoring, Model UN, Spanish Club, Habitat for Humanity, and Link Crew. I’ve liked it. It has opened a lot of doors for me. It’s brought a lot of challenges as well, but I’ve learned a lot more than I could have back home. I’ve created relationships with friends and teachers. Edina is very welcoming. My experience with Edina is that you can always stay busy. It’s like the school that never sleeps. It was a really big culture shock, but in Edina they take their school a lot more serious. The environment is a lot more serious and college-focused. My biggest accomplishment has been being able to adapt to a whole new environment, without allowing my grades to be affected by the change. One of my largest challenges was learning how to balance this new intensity of schoolwork and my commitment to my extracurricular activities. Never lose sight of who you are as a person, and don’t ever throw away your morals or values, it’s important to stay true to yourself.

Also, work hard and persevere, because you can do it. photos by Margaret Sullivan and Grace Wolf

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NEWS

I think it’s great. I’ve always had that in mind that boys always get to do the survival stuff and girls always get to do the ‘acting classy’ stuff. At least that’s how it was when I was a Girl Scout.

Yesenia Martinez, junior

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

Edina’s test scores remain high

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Syd Pierre staff writer

ecently, there have been many speculations and concerns that test scores and overall academic performance have decreased at Edina High School. Some attribute this supposed decline to the fact that Edina Public Schools adopted an “All for All” policy in 2013; they claim that students in Edina now learn less about academics and more about social equality. The mission of the “All for All” policy focus on for every student, regardless of their race or income level. The Edina Public Schools system promotes racial and social equity, establishes high expectations for all students in Edina Schools and eradicates barriers that may stand in students ways, so that they can be successful.

According to Donna Roper, the director of research and evaluation for EPS, there is “no evidence that would suggest the overall academic learning and performance of students in the Edina system is decreasing.” Roper notes that Edina’s MCA (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment) scores have remained consistent over the last several years, with only a few changes in certain grade levels and specific student groups. Roper assures that “staff have examined these fluctuations and do look at these results to inform the continuous improvement process as it relates to aligning curriculum and instruction with regards to the Minnesota State Standards.”

In terms of test scores, according to the US News and World Report, EHS is ranked 313 out of more than 22,000 high schools around the US, and fourth in the

courtesy of Edina Public Schools

state of Minnesota. 72% of students at EHS participate in AP (Advanced Placement) classes, and 84% of students that take the AP exams pass. In Minnesota, the ACT test is the most popular college entrance exam, compared to the PSAT, SAT and NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Assessment Test). The skills tested on the ACT test include English, reading, math, science and an optional writing section. The ACT college readiness test was taken by 64% of last year’s graduating high school student nationwide or roughly 2.1 million students.

In Minnesota, 61,101 students took the ACT, with a combined average score of 21.5 out of 36, scoring .5 higher than the national average score of 21.0. All student groups in Minnesota saw an increase in score, including underserved students, who are defined as low-income, a minority and/or a first generation immigrant.

Over 95% of graduating seniors at EHS take the ACT as part of their academic preparation for college. On average, EHS students scored a 26.0, a full 3.5 points higher than the 2017 Minnesota average and four points higher than the national average. Since 2013, ACT scores at Edina have increased by .15%. Roper credits the increasings scores to both the administration and teachers that are “providing students with access to rigorous learning experiences,” and their efforts to ensure that “students have opportunities for learning and growth.”

Looking forward, Roper says that the administration’s plans to maintain and improve ACT scores at EHS by “maintaining high expectations for all students and providing equitable access to test prep.” William Hicks, a school counselor and student council adviser at EHS, explained that later in January, juniors will be introduced to “a lesson pointing out where students can get help in regards to their ACT.” The online test prep area is called the Library Express and is designed to help all students eligible to take the upcoming ACTs, by providing lessons and practice test that can provide immediate feedback. Hicks notes that “there is going to be an introductory lesson in January for all juniors in advisory, and then there is going to be follow-ups through advisory and meetings with juniors in the spring, nearing the [ACT] test.”

City Council approves Arden Park waterfall redevelopment plan

Community torn over controversial decision

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Lucy Yang staff writer

also been planned to improve stream health and recreational usage, such as storm basins and new tubing/ kayaking loops on the north end of the creek. There are also plans for an update the playground, and a new shelter building.

On Sept. 19, the council voted unanimously to go forward with redevelopment. According to the project site, redevelopments aim to turn the stream into “a vibrant, healthy, and beautiful natural resource.” Construction is planned to begin in late 2018. Although the waterfall will be gone next year, the renovations will be equally as memorable.

Boy Scouts of America scout out gender inclusivity

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Cecilia Orth page editor

fter years of debate and research, the Boy Scouts of America’s Board of Directors voted unanimously that girls may now join BSA. The decision follows years of requests from families wanting to register their daughters in Boy Scouts.

Beginning in 2018, Cub Scout packs can decide whether to incorporate girls, or remain all-female or all-male. Additionally, the girls that join a female-only Cub Scout den will have the option to interact with male-only dens at Cub Scout pack meetings. Despite the fact that this opportunity is only available to young girls, BSA is planning to introduce a program for older girls interested in achieving Eagle Scout status.

On the other hand, don’t expect any changes from the Girl Scouts. In order to maintain safe spaces for girls, GSUSA will not accept boys. “The GSUSA was created at a time when girls were in need of more places to be themselves and although nowadays, people are more accepting, both boys and girls still need their safe spaces,” Edina High School junior and Girl Scout Nia Diaby said. The only change to Girl Scouts will be that the group will have to compete for members.

BSA and GSUSA follow different programs and thus develop different skills. Most prominently, Girl Scouts lacks the programs that support outdoor activities. While Boy Scouts learned hiking and camping skills, Girl Scouts do not have such education. Alternatively, the Boy Scout troops do not develop skills such as knitting or babysitting. Now, young families have the decision to register their daughters either in BSA or GSUSA. “I do believe however, that there could be another organization created for all kids to belong to and this could be a place for anyone to join,” Diaby said.

City of Edina develops “Lid over Highway 100”

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Simone Vaillancourt page editor

he City of Edina has been debating a project for over ten years that would place a “lid” over Highway 100 in the Eden Avenue area. The lid, which could potentially create over 13 acres of new developable land, would span over the highway and connect East and West Edina while mitigating pollution and highway noise in nearby neighborhoods.

Most likely, the lid would feature commercial, residential, and park space accessible by non-motorized vehicles.

City Council member Mary Brindle is hopeful that, if approved, the project would greatly benefit the community. However, she maintains that the idea is still in the early developmental stages. “It’s an idea, a concept; a ‘what if we could’ sort of thing,” Brindle said. “However, I would love this.

It’s innovative, it’s creative. It’s the things that Edina is known for.”

One of the challenges that the project would solve is the ongoing debate over how to reconnect neighborhoods that are disrupted by highways.

Citizens want a public space that brings together different “quadrants” of the city, such as 50th and France, located in the West quadrant, and the area near Jerry’s grocery store in the East quadrant.

The City of Edina has partnered with MnDOT in their efforts to further the conceptual process. In addition, multiple architects have proposed ideas for what the lid could look like to the City Council. Brindle says that as time goes on and the idea continues to develop, the public will increasingly be able to voice their opinions on the issue.

The city will host informational meetings and brainstorming sessions, open to the public, on Nov. 9th and 13th at City Hall. Council Member Brindle urges students who wish to share their ideas to attend. “Students always have amazing ideas,” Brindle said. “We love to hear their perspectives on issues that impact our community.”

courtesy of the City of Edina

ecently, the Edina City Council voted in favor of a concept plan to redevelop Arden Park. The decision marks the end of months of debate about the effects of improvements. Plans for the park’s redevelopment were first introduced in early 2017; there was controversy from the start.

Community members mainly discussed the dam at 54th Street.

Commonly known as Arden Park’s waterfall, the dam was slated for removal and replacement with rock rapids further upstream. “I’ve lived there for 20 years,” Dr. Stan

Davis said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

The dam was put into place in the 1930’s, and has become a fishing hole and integral part of the park since. “People love the waterfall.

There is so much fishing, swimming, and kayaking there,” Dr. Davis said.

“We’ll lose a great area for kids.

Families have been down there sharing great moments.”

Those in favor of redevelopments cited more environmental reasons, such as flooding and invasive species growth. Specifically, removal of the waterfall would allow for increased fish habitat and mitigate erosion, which affects the survival of native species.

Additional redevelopments have

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One of the city’s designs for the lid project

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STUDENT LIFE Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

photo by Zoe Cheung

Thespians prepare for fall play “The Visit”

art by Andy Youngstrom

Anonymous so cial media a mixed bag Lily Jones page editor

Shot through the heart: Senior Adam Hecker points fake gun at senior Mar Zacharkevics Jenna Simon online editor-in-chief

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hile the majority of Edina High School students spent the first week of school familiarizing themselves with their new schedule and the remodeled building, the Edina Thespians were already hard at work preparing for one of their first performances of the year, the fall play The Visit.

The Visit, a 1956 tragicomedy written

by Swiss playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt, takes place in the fictional town of Güllen and follows the story of former lovers Claire Zachanassian and Anton Schill.

Claire, played by senior Mar Zacharkevics, grew up in Güllen, but was kicked out of the town when she was 17 years old. Anton, played by senior Adam Hecker, runs the general store in Güllen and is a very popular man in the town.

The play opens with Claire returning to Güllen as a well-known billionaire when she is 63 years old. Güllen had recently fallen on hard times, and Anton hopes he will be able to convince Claire to make a donation to support the town. Claire agrees to make a donation, on one condition.

Claire reveals that Anton wronged her when the two were young, and she refuses to give any money to the town until someone from Güllen kills Anton.

The tone of the play is very different past plays the EHS Thespians have done. “[The play] is very dreary and bleak, with a lot of dark humor embedded into it,” Zacharkevics said. “We don’t see [that] very often in high school shows especially.”

Auditions for The Visit were held during the first Wednesday and Thursday of school, and callbacks were on the first Fri-

day. By the Monday of the second week of school, the rehearsal process was underway.

Play practices are held Monday through Thursday directly after school, and are directed by professional actor and former EHS student John Riedlinger.

“I approach directing from an actor’s point of view, like what would help me as an actor,” Riedlinger said. “We just do the scenes over and over and over again and try it different ways, and kind of figure out what works best.”

Overall, Riedlinger aims to create a fun and interactive atmosphere when working with the actors. “It’s called a play for a reason, like you’re there to have fun,” Riedlinger said. This style of rehearsing allows the actors to feel comfortable taking initiative during the rehearsal process while still having fun. “The responsibility is very much on us a lot of the time,” Zacharkevics said. “He gives a lot of responsibility to [the actors].”

With their production of The Visit, the EHS Thespians plan to cleverly deliver the dark themes and humor to create a uniquely entertaining performance. “I think students seeing it will really like it because it’s pretty mean, but it’s also really funny,” Riedlinger said. At the same time, it’s important to the actors to make sure the overarching lesson of the show is conveyed to the audience.

“Don’t underestimate the people in your past,” Zacharkevics said of the show’s moral. “Don’t try to forget the things you did that you know affected other people.”

Performances of The Visit will be in the Edina Performing Arts Center on Nov. 2, 3, and 4. Tickets can be purchased online at the EHS Thespians website.

Winter concert preview Maren Naegele managing editor

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ring on the colorful leaves, gently falling snow, and most importantly the good tunes. Check out all these FROSTY artists and concerts coming to

art by Andy Youngstrom

I think [Sarahah] is kind of cool, you get feedback or people make inside jokes and you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s my friend.’

Parker Wilson, freshman

Minneapolis this fall and winter. *times are event start time*

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ime and time again history has proven that mixing social media and anonymity is dangerous. In recent years, there have been quite a few popular anonymous social media sites: Yik Yak, ask.fm, Brighten, and Whisper. All have failed after a short bout of extreme popularity.

The failure of these apps can mostly be attributed to a cyberbullying epidemic.

Schools have banned them from their wifi networks, parents have warned kids about using them, and one app called “Post Secret” even got contacted by Apple and the FBI; the app was shut down due to abusive messages and harassment. In 2013, advertisers abandoned many anonymous sites after a string of teen suicides traced back to cruel anonymous messages. It’s clear that without a name attached to a message, posts seem to be either mean or meaningless. While these sites aimed to innovate social media completely, they seem to actually be the anti-social media, isolating people instead of connecting them. “The drama created by anonymity helps to make the apps appealing,” explains cyberpsychologist Dr. Dawn Branle. Anonymous sites foster gossip and drama, especially when they gain popularity in school communities. This explains why teens, many of whom are curious about what people think of themselves and others, are drawn to these apps.

This is why the meteoric rise of the app “Sarahah” was so surprising. Sarahah is a social network that lets you send and receive anonymous messages. It works by giving each of its users a custom URL and anyone with that URL can visit the site and leave messages. The creator, Zain al-Abidin Tawfiq, cites “breaking barriers” and making social media more honest as motivation behind the app. But after a few months of popularity, Sarahah has already

lost its momentum and has dropped far down the Apple charts. And the reviews are mixed when it comes to how well the app prevents and moderates bullying and harassment, the same issue at the heart of the failure of Sarahah’s precursors. “I’ve seen people get asked super personal questions, like trying to expose them,” junior Mia Sennes said. “I have also witnessed my friends getting sexually harassed on Sarahah,” Sennes said. Sennes showed Zephyrus some of the messages she has received on the app; they range from “Miss you Mia” to “Why you lowkey a b*tch.”

Sennes’s messages show the split between positive and negative messages that users receive.

Zephyrus also spoke to a junior, who preferred not to reveal her identity, but who had a remarkably positive experience on the anonymous app “Whisper.” “I was struggling with anorexia and binge eating disorder. Originally, I joined to get tips on things like fasting, restricting, and what to do if I binged, but upon getting more involved with the community, I thought more about recovery,” said the student.

“Everyone also struggling was very proud of me and encouraged me to get better.”

Instead of going to any of the plethora of sites that don’t involve anonymity, she was drawn to Whisper. “I wouldn’t have felt as comfortable on a non-anonymous one. You can talk freely on an anonymous app,” she said.

It seems impossible to weigh the benefits versus costs of these anonymous sites. In extreme cases, people’s lives can be both saved and threatened due to these apps. But the debate is far from over; just in the past week, a new anonymous app called “TBH” has soared to number one on the Apple charts. The app’s whole purpose is simply to “see who likes you.” Strikingly similar to every anonymous app like it before, TBH fills the void of anonymous messaging that Sarahah left, and the trend continues.

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I think that the best thing a teacher can do would be just to connect with the student a lot and give lots of examples and be like very helpful to the students individually.

Grace Fleming, junior

FEATURES

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

photo by Margaret Sullivan

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EHS AP classes

What our teachers are doing right Teaching in action: AP European History teacher Mr. Baron lecturing his first hour class on Poland-Lithuania.

Brooke Sheehy page editor (comtinued from front cover) AP Chemistry teacher Dana Weiland believes that the AP test is a very small part of what he hopes his students achieve during his course. “I have a rigorous course that prepares them for more than the AP test. I want students to experience what a first year chemistry college course is like which is what AP is designed to do. All year long [the students] are learning chemistry, and hopefully they have actually learned more than just what’s on the test which is why I think students do well on the test,” Weiland said. The EHS science department has come up with a new teaching method called the POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) that wasn’t necessarily implemented into the curriculum for the purpose of AP test prep, but nevertheless develops skills that are useful on the AP exam. “POGIL is kind of a grassroots movement in science to

develop some of these skills like interpreting graphs, interpreting data, and drawing conclusions which are all problem solving skills that [the students] will see on the AP test,” Weiland said. Weiland declined to comment the average AP score was for his class, but he did share that the overwhelming majority of his students get a passing grade, consisting of a 3, 4, or 5, which is higher than the national 2.67 average.

AP United States Literature and Language teacher Tim Klobuchar spends the whole year preparing his students for two AP tests: English Language and English Literature. The literature test focuses mainly on fiction while the language test focuses on nonfiction. “In general students score a little higher on the language test than they do on the literature test, and that is true of all APULL classes at EHS, not just mine,” Klobuchar said. The structure of an AP English class is substantially different than that of a more structured and fact-based class. Similar to Weiland’s teaching style, while the AP test is one goal of the AP English class, Klobuchar believes that it is not the end-all be-all objective of the course. “[The AP test] is kind of like a

Political activism at EHS

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Julia Nicholson staff writer

ue to the political turmoil ignited by last year’s presidential election, students across the country have been voicing their political opinions now more than ever. More specifically, students at Edina High School have found a variety of ways to share those opinions. Some students have joined clubs with aligning beliefs or participated in local protests, while others focus their time retweeting messages of support to specific candidates, or emailing their legislators to ask for a change in policy. A few are even known around the high school for doing all of this and more.

Mainly recognized as being one of the leaders of the Young Conservatives Club, senior Nick Spades focuses on his activism at school, hoping to influence other students and help them figure out where they stand politically.

When students approach him in the hallway, they often ask where on the political spectrum he believes they would fall. “I explain both sides of an issue, give them a situation, tell them what a conservative would believe and what a liberal would believe and then let them figure out which side they align with,” Spades said. While not the most aggressive way to spread his views, helping fellow students figure out what political group they most associate with is where he feels the most successful as an activist.

Like Spades, sophomore Anthony Fantin has also found that involvement in popular school clubs like GSA, Girl Up, and Earth Club,

provides them with opportunities to discuss their beliefs with like-minded people. While these clubs don’t allow for a lot of discussion amongst people with conflicting beliefs, they push conversation that will fuel students to spread their message elsewhere.

Sophomore Iain Martin takes a different approach to student activism.

While still remaining an active voice at EHS through the conversations he has with his friends and the political t-shirts he wears almost daily, Martin pushes his voice further by participating in rallies and conferences.

Having been a march participant as well, Fantin weighed in on its effects,“[Rallies are] a large group of people who believe the same thing and tell the world. I went to this march a while back and we walked through Minneapolis chanting and holding signs. It seemed to really get the point across.”

Behind the unwavering voices at EHS are a magnitude of different ways these voices gather the news that shapes their opinions. For most, it’s common to hear the news from word of mouth or social media, where that unconfirmed news typically ends up being spread. “Sadly, I see a lot of [news] over social media, which means things might not always be accurate or true,” Fantin said. On the contrary, many student activists do their best to search for news in print or in a variety of reliable news websites or shows. “I read a whole bunch of different news sources. I get a kind of diverse [spectrum of news] and then come up with my own conclusions to see where I stand,” Martin said.

Students find creative outlet in songwriting art by Andy Youngstrom

Brave students try to affect change by voicing and advocating their beliefs

marathon. You don’t run a full marathon while training. You kind of run up till a certain point, and then on race day you just do the whole thing,” Klobuchar said. During the year, Klobuchar integrates multiple choice questions into the curriculum to prepare students for that portion of the AP tests; his students also do practice essays for the writing portion of the tests. Since the writing portion of the AP tests hold a greater weight than the multiple choice, Klobuchar encourages his students to schedule independent writing conferences where he will go through their sample and help them get an idea of what kind of response the College Board is looking for on the AP tests. Klobuchar’s average class score for both tests falls anywhere between a 3 and 4, which is surprising considering the rigor and that a 2 is the most common score for both tests.

It is because of these teachers who spend time outside of class to help their students and who find engaging and relatable ways to communicate that many EHS graduates are able to find their fit in the world beyond the sheltered walls of high school.

Max North art editor

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e use it in school, when we exercise, while doing homework, at our jobs, with friends in the car, or just when lounging around the house. What is it? Music. It captivates our minds and challenges us to think.

Many Edina High School students have found a passion in creating music themselves. In particular, two students have established a name for themselves as talented composers.

Junior Z Molitor has mastered the art of two instruments: the piano and the cello. They have been playing piano for eight years, and fell in love with the cello about five years ago. However, what they love even more than playing is composing. Although they have never taken any composition lessons, Molitor loves the different ways they can interpret music through the act of writing their own “which can sometimes get me into arguments with my music teachers,” Molitor said. When Z is composing, they like to focus on an emotion, setting, person, or time, and write a piece in a way that makes us look at it differently.

One of the pieces that inspired them the most is the Dvorak Symphony no. 9. This piece is what really made them think about composing and writing their own classical music. Z is currently in Concert Orchestra, plans to continue to write music throughout their time at EHS, and hopes they can inspire others to do the same.

Another talented artist at EHS who has

gained attention in the past few months is Senior rapper Adrian Hill, otherwise known as Weegie the Kartier. Hill came onto the scene about nine months ago when he released his music on SoundCloud. When Hill was a sophomore, he realized he was meant for something different, and decided to put a lot of his time into producing his own music. For those of you who haven’t heard his music before, he has a large body of work on his SoundCloud account. A few stand out more than others: “My most popular song is ‘YLN,’ you can find it on my SoundCloud at @DivineDopeFiends,” Hill said.

One of the hardest parts of writing rap music, Hill says, is writing the lyrics; but over time, Hill has become a natural at taking what he’s thinking and putting it into his songs. “When I’m writing my lyrics it depends on what I’m going for in a song, if I want people to turn up to one then I think of what I’d want in a lit song, but when I write about things going on that have been weighing my mind I put it into a way that fits rhythm of the beat,” Hill said. A lot of his lyrics are inspired by the works of his favorite rappers, Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti, but he also has incorporated many pieces similar to what rappers Drake and Madeintyo too. Hill is currently working on some more pieces for his SoundCloud, and would love to thank his fans for all the support: “I love all the support that you guys give me! And always remember it’s you all that push me to produce better music!”

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OPINION

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

I think that students should have their own tutor from home, rather than some random tutor from school.

Will Carlson, sophomore

Liberal propaganda at EHS: real or myth?

Time to depoliticize the classroom Wyatt Richards & Lizzie Ebner guest writers

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Greyson Mize page editor

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ame calling and finger pointing have been commonplace in American politics since the country’s inception. A modern example is Katherine Kersten’s recent article about Edina Public Schools published at the beginning of October by the Center of the American Experiment. In the article, Kersten accused the school district of indoctrinating children into liberal propaganda.

Kersten’s claims range from labelling a kindergarten class project as antiwhite to blaming lowered test scores solely on equity programs.

However, she offers no alternatives except to remove the offending “equity” material from Edina Public School’s curriculum, silencing any discussion on modern day racism and sexism. While Kersten complains that there are no “diverse viewpoints” in the classroom, it seems as though she would love to remove diversity from the classroom altogether. Teaching students about modern issues in the classroom is not oppressing white males; it’s teaching them not to repeat history’s mistakes.

Throughout her piece, Kersten repeatedly goes back to the same term: indoctrination. But what does she really mean? In the context of her argument, indoctrination seems to mean any learning courtesy of the Center of the American Experiment

iberal politics have recently become integrated into Edina’s curriculum. Racial identity politics and political correctness are prominent in our classrooms today and academic performance is the victim. This biased curriculum of liberal politics is taught to kids as young as kindergarteners.

The Melanin Project, a project led by Highlands Principal Katie Mahoney, is a prime example of this. The project required students to trace their hands, color them with their skin colors, and attach them to a poster that read “Stop thinking your skin color is better than everyone else’s!”

While this project comes across as anti-racist, it really just accomplishes two bad things: It perpetuates the idea that a person’s identity hinges on the amount of melanin they possess.

It subliminally places blame on people with “less melanin” for problems that different ethnic groups face.

Pre-AP English 10 is a class at the high school level that is centered around the liberal agenda. Every piece of literature is related to three aspects: race, class, and gender. White students at EHS have expressed that they felt blamed for injustices that they weren’t involved with at all, not to mention that they weren’t even alive for in most cases. For example, some white students alleged they were made to feel guilty about King Leopold II’s actions in Congo during the reading of the book Things Fall Apart. While his actions are abhorrent, white students shouldn’t be held morally accountable for the actions of someone who lived over

150 years ago.

Curriculum aside, several teachers think it’s okay to share their political beliefs openly and force it upon students. After the election of Trump, there were accounts of one teacher declaring a national emergency and another teacher saying that the results were worse than 9/11.

Students have shared stories about teachers voicing negative opinions of law enforcement, including one teacher from Cornelia Elementary School who allegedly brought up the police while talking to her student and said it “hurt” her to say the word “police.” There were even reports that a teacher at the high school dress coded several students for wearing Trump apparel because, “He uses harmful speech that marginalizes minority groups.”

The fact that teachers don’t allow Trump shirts but allow Hillary shirts is first-hand evidence of the unfair treatment of white conservative students.

It is time to depoliticize the classroom. The school may equate liberal ideas to equality, but in reality, people usually don’t tolerate those who don’t align with them politically.

The last four years have brought a dramatic decrease in reading and math proficiency levels in our school.

We need to fix this and focus on learning instead.

Teaching is not oppression

material that shares the experiences of minorities that have been oppressed, which Kersten suggests in turn oppresses those it doesn’t apply to. “K-2 students at Edina Highlands Elementary School are learning—through the ‘Melanin Project’—to focus on skin color and to think of white skin as cause for guilt.”

Kersten said in her article, referencing a poster with the message: “Stop thinking your skin color is better than anyone else’s! Everyone is special.” Kersten then went on to comment on the multicultural show at Edina High School last spring, complaining that the show was “calculated to offend both whites and males.”

In essence, Kersten’s commentary demonstrates a vital lack of understanding of both our school system and the privilege she and many EPS students hold.

The reason events like the multicultural show are held, and topics on racism and gender issues are taught, is because racism and sexism are issues that have dictated history, and still continue today.

Teaching white males about bad things other white males have done doesn’t make the teachers oppressive, it makes them teachers.

“The concept that we’re being indoctrinated by liberal ideals is supporting this idea that we’re sheep that follow and don’t know what we’re doing,” Lily Goldaris, one of the leaders of the Young Liberals club, said. “I think people get offended when they’re told they need to be conscious of how their actions affect others—especially those who don’t look like or have the same lifestyle as us.”

Edina High School’s curriculum doesn’t indoctrinate kids into liberal propaganda—just as preschools don’t ingrain communism through sharing.

However, it’s important that liberal and conservative leaning students keep having conversations about how EHS is run.

Without understanding, staff and kids can be turned against one another.

Are private college counselors an unfair advantage?

Kerui Yang staff writer

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uring college application season, students are constantly working on essays, studying for standardized tests, and touring colleges they are interested in. However, another aspect of colleges that students sometimes forget to consider (or willfully ignore) is the cost. According to Laura Bridgestock, a writer for Top Universities, a website offering general college information, annual college tuition without scholarships can range from anywhere between $11,500 to $45,370. In order to maximize their chances of getting accepted to their schools, some students and families seek out private college counselors--despite the fact that hiring such counselors can make to overall cost of college that much more expensive It’s no wonder that students who can afford such counselor seek them out. According to Ishan Puri, a writer for the Huffington Post, these counselors come with a variety of benefits, including helping with essay writing, choosing schools, creating a college list, and providing overall feedback on applications.

As beneficial as these counselors are, they are expensive. According to Emily Driscoll, a writer for Fox Business, private college counselors will usually charge between $85 to $150 an hour. For a package deal, families can expect to shell out at least $3,500. If private college counselors really do help students get into their top school, then this sets less privileged students at

a significant disadvantage. For two equally qualified students with different levels of wealth, does this mean that the wealthier student will have a higher chance of getting into a university? Taking into account that they can afford a private counselor and have more resources at their disposal, I think so.

It is this aspect that makes college counselors unfair. With the significant influence private counselors have in college applications and standardized test scores, money becomes a determining factor with who gets to go where. In a sense, college applications are no longer a competition of merit between students, but rather a competition of wealth.

Furthermore, students with parents who have not been to college won’t have access to critical advice that can kickstart their application. Since private counselors can get to know a student personally through constant contact, they can inform those students on which schools they should consider. Even though there are regular school counselors, these counselors are in charge of hundreds of students, meaning that they won’t be as close with a student to the extent that a private college counselor can be.

As the college race progresses, the less wealthy students might find themselves falling further and further behind. Without targeted criticism for the essays, they won’t be able to portray themselves to the best of their ability, meaning that colleges won’t be take into consideration their full potential. However, since a private counselor is well acquainted with their

students, they can formulate the essays to tell the kind of interesting story colleges want to hear. This is another example of how private counselors create an unfair playing ground between students of different social class.

Merit should take precedence over wealth. College acceptance should be based on what a student has achieved through continuous hard work and unrelenting focus on their academics and extracurriculars. Poorer students will always be set at a disadvantage because of the inherent differences in wealth. However, merit can be used to counter the growing disparities between social classes because it is used in context and can equal the playing field for everyone.

The good news for these disadvantaged families is that there are many other opportunities to get help.

For example, Genesis Test Prep is a local free studentled nonprofit organization that helps students with standardized test prepping. They offer tutoring for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT. Additionally, Edina High School is in collaboration with College Possible, a program that helps low income families and students through the college application process.

However, those students who are less privileged will still be at a disadvantage due to the differences in wealth. Colleges are meant to be a fresh start for students everywhere -- they’ve worked hard to reach where they are. We need to recognize the effects of private college counselors in order to create equal opportunities for all.

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Isha Konety staff writer

he simple action of kneeling during the national anthem has sparked a highly divisive national debate, involving many significant figures, including President Trump. Starting with then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the idea of kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial injustice quickly took off. The act of protest garnered support from coaches, players, spectators, and even veterans alike.

The idea of using a sporting event as a platform for protest is not unique to Kaepernick. In 1968, Olympic runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their gloved fists in protest of the racial injustices occurring in America. As a result, they were booed and black-balled; Kaepernick faced a similar response from some football fans and, some argue, the NFL establishment. Additionally, President Trump has deeply involved himself in this matter by directly addressing players and coaches, inciting even more frustration.

Regardless of the backlash, players should be able to kneel during the national anthem because it draws attention to the racial inequality and it is clearly protected by our First Amendment rights.

Somehow, it takes high profile incidents to remind us of the injustices that black Americans face in society, even though we are constantly bombarded by news coverage of police shootings and statistics on the rates of unwarranted traffic stops. According to the Washington Post, more than 200 African Americans are killed in police shootings each year. In 2015, 40% of the unarmed victims of police shootings/killings were black Americans, yet black Americans made up a mere 14% of the US population.

Furthermore, in 2011, Hispanic and African American drivers were 23% of the people pulled over by a traffic officer, but they only made up 23% of the US population, meaning that the proportion of people who were pulled over was extremely high compared to the total population. It is clear to see that police brutality is unfairly targeted at black Americans. For this reason, we should educate the public about the unequal system by protesting and advocating for the end of injustice.

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HEAD TO HEAD

I think players should be able to decide between kneeling and standing for the anthem.

Mia Sennes, junior

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017 Unfortunately, Smith and Carlos’s protest of 1968 did not spark the following that Kaepernick’s actions did; nevertheless, it is important now more than ever to discuss the injustices that people of color face every single day.

Players are role models in society, especially to younger generations. By protesting the mistreatment of minorities, they are using their celebrity status to model empathic and courageous behavior for future generations. Rather than passively watching as others experience inequality, players and coaches should utilize their influence to change our society.

Despite the efforts being made by student unions, unity walks, and Black Lives Matter protests, our society is still plagued with hate speech and bigotry. We constantly see racial slurs posted on social media and encounter “no big deal” racial jokes -- something about someone’s hair, their parents, the food they eat, or their religion. It is important to take a stand against mistreatment, and every player, no

“By using the right to protest, they are respecting the ideals that America was built on” matter the type of team they are on, should strive to show support for their peers.

The decision to kneel is protected by our First Amendment rights, something that was fundamental in the creation of our nation, and something that veterans and current military personnel have tirelessly fought to protect. To say

Morgan Sheehy page editor

ver the past few months, the United States has erupted in controversy as National Football League games have become a new platform for political debate. In response to police brutality and racism in the United States, players have disrespected our country’s national anthem. Instead of placing a hand over the heart while the song plays (the traditional sign of respect), athletes have been taking a knee and others have simply refused to even set foot on the field until the anthem has finished. In response, high school and college students across the country have been following in their footsteps.

President Trump censured NFL players protesting the national anthem while at a campaign rally for Senator Luther Strange in Huntsville, Alabama.

“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when someone disrespects our flag, to say ‘get that son of b*tch off the field right now! Out! He’s fired! He’s fired!” Trump said. What started as way to protest the oppression of African Americans in our society escalated into something far more; now, the movement is merely a misdirected effort on the part of players who dislike

President Trump. I belive, that if they are given the choice, players should not kneel.

Standing for the national anthem and placing a hand over your heart does not signify support for President Trump. It does not even signify support for the United States government nor indicate approval of everything that has happened throughout American history. And it definitely does not have to suggest that you believe the U.S is an equitable society.

The reason we must stand for our national anthem, no matter its standing condition, is to show ourselves and the rest of the world that we love our country and care about its success and well-being.

“[The anthem] symbolizes unity amidst political division” For as long as anyone can remember, our country has been politically divided. It’s no secret that with the election of President Trump, tensions between the left and the right are higher than ever. Whatever our differences may be, it is necessary to have some form of unity where we can all come together and express our patriotism for our beloved country.

The national anthem serves this purpose, and today this patriotic unity is more necessary than ever before. Instead

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that protesting against a flag that doesn’t support “justice for all” dishonors veterans would be brazenly incorrect, considering that many veterans have voiced their support, especially using #VeteransforKaepernick, which was trending for days.

President Trump, among others, has denounced the players who are kneeling, telling them to show respect and encouraging teams to fire them. Yet, what he fails to notice is that people of color have already been disrespected by the systematic cycle of racism that they experience every day. By using the right to protest, they are respecting the ideals that America was built on and they are showing support for all of the African Americans who have experienced racial injustice.

In the wake of President Trump’s comments, many athletes have chosen to kneel more out of a desire to oppose Trump rather than to side with Kaepernick. In many ways, Trump is an embodiment of what Kaepernick is protesting.

Trump has refused to denounce hate groups, such as the KKK, called a judge biased because of his ethnicity, and constantly stereotyped Mexican immigrants, among other things.

Thankfully, our Constitution allows us the right to protest, so let us all take a knee in support of our fellow Americans. We have allowed inequality and oppression towards people of color to go on for too long. It took nearly 49 years for major sports players to decide to take a stand once more, this time with more force than they did in 1968.

Let us not make the same mistake again.

of unity, the NFL anthem protest has just been the cause of more division among teams, their fans, and millions of people across the country.

Today, many NFL players are using their fame to move this political movement forward, saying that it is an “appropriate” and “effective” form of protest. Former President Barack Obama has commented on the controversy that quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked in 2016, raising the concern that Kaepernick and his fellow kneelers’ message could easily be overshadowed by their selected manner of protest: “As a general matter, when it comes to the flag, the national anthem and the meaning that holds for our men and women in uniform and those who’ve fought for us -- that is a tough thing for them to get past to then hear what [Kaepernick’s] deeper concerns are.” President Obama was absolutely correct. Our men and women in uniform, as well as their family and friends, see this as an offensive attack on those who have protected this country’s freedom. The anthem is a way of paying respect to those who have risked their lives, been severely injured, or even died defending the country, the flag, and the people that we love. Protesting the flag that has given each of us the freedom to speak out (through the First Amendment right) is not only ironic, but wrong.

Ultimately, the fight against police brutality and racism in the US that sparked the movement is a message that justifiably needs to be addressed, but disrespecting our flag and diminishing the significance of our national anthem is not the right way to do it. The fact that the movement morphed into an anti-Trump protest as well just goes to show the rift our country is facing. The national anthem honors the men and women who have fought unbelievably hard for our safety and freedom. It symbolizes unity amidst political division.

In the end, the anthem and flag are the one thing both the left and the right have in common. Let’s not add our one source of unity to the long list of ideologies that divide us. art by Andy Youngstrom

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ACTIVITIES

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

I feel like Model UN is just a much more toned down version of debate, so in general, I feel like debate is the much better extracurricular.

Evan Jiang, freshman

photo by Uma Bhati

Model United Nations Exploring international relations

Diplomatic development: Model UN delegates build skills such as public speaking, collaboration, and political awareness.

Emma Bailey page editor

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ere at Edina High School, Model United Nations, or MUN, is much more than just a club where students explore their interest in international relations. Not only is Model UN a great outlet for working on public speaking, collaborational skills, and political awareness, it is also packed with the opportunity for many lasting memories and friendships.

Model UN consists of four groups: advisors, captains, leadership, and delegates.

Advisors, Betsy Nimmo and Nickie McKeever, seek out conferences, work with other MUN advisors, and essentially “coach” the team. Captains act as, in the words of

McKeever, “the right and left hands” of the organization, running practices and communicating first hand with delegates. During conferences, the main event of Model UN, delegates are assigned a country and a common issue which they then work together on to come up with a resolution. The leadership team works especially hard to create and set up Edina’s own Model UN conference, commonly known as EMUNC, the only student-run conference in the state.

Senior MUN Captain Khalid Ishani has been involved in the organization for three years now. “It’s naturally progressed to the point where I now find Model UN as an integral part of my life,” Ishani said. His favorite MUN memory is of a scavenger hunt in Boston last year, in which delegates

had to perform random tasks like taking a selfie with an elevator full of strangers.

McKeever, who coaches Model UN, emphasizes both the benefits of the conferences and the importance of having “MUN fun.” “Model UN can be your number one priority and it can be everything that you focus on, but it can also be something that you are interested in . . . but it’s not necessarily going to take over your life,” McKeever said.

While Model UN is a proactive way to spend your time, it can definitely be frustrating. “Before you go to the first conference you don’t have any idea what you’re doing,” a veteran MUN member who would like to remain anonymous told Zephyrus. McKeever responded to that critique

by explaining that, unlike sports, which students can watch other people play on TV before joining a team, students have no way of knowing what being on Model UN will be like unlike they try it. Additionally, the same student expressed that it’s unfortunate to walk out of a conference knowing that your hard work and collaboration had no real effect on the issue at hand. McKeever stressed that Model UN focuses on skill building; the goal is that students finish out the year more informed than they started.

Even if international relations isn’t your forte, it’s still worth giving Model UN a look. “We’re a lot more focused on skill building. Even if you aren’t interested in international relations, you can still benefit a lot from Model UN,” Ishani said.

Mock Trial perfects their persuasive skills Students simulate the American legal system Syd Pierre staff writer

M photo by Zoe Cheung Working hard: Senior Izzy Valdivia reviewing her mock case.

ock Trial is an activity that combines analytical skills with persuasive thinking.

It is a popular activity among high schools around the country, as shown by the 130 Mock Trial teams in Minnesota.

There are three to four different Mock Trial teams at Edina High School, depending on the year; teams are divided up by grade level and are made up of about twelve students, who either take on the role of witness or attorney. Anyone can join Mock Trial, but in order to receive a starting spot as an attorney or witness, students must audition in front of the coaches. Every fall, teams are assigned a case, either civil or criminal, that they work on throughout the year, creating opening statements, cross-examinations

and investigating facts to defend their position on the case. In January, the students go to “court” at the Hennepin County Government Center and compete against other schools, where actual judges and lawyers critique them.

John Justice has been coaching Mock Trial for almost twelve years and has put together a strong team of attorneys who help coach the Mock Trial teams. Justice’s favorite part about coaching Mock Trial is “watching [the students] develop from the time they start to the time they’re done.” Over the years, Justice has seen EHS graduates continue their Mock Trial journeys into college, and sometimes into law school. However, Justice notes that Mock Trial is not necessarily preparing students to become lawyers; instead he hopes that students will have “developed some knowledge of law” over the course of their time in Mock Trial.

Avery Greene is a sophomore at EHS and has been involved in Mock Trial for three years. Her favorite part about Mock Trial is the camaraderie.

She enjoys “working with a team to pull it all together.” Greene also explained how she felt like the younger Mock Trial program at the middle schools “could use some work,” and that the program felt “inadequate and like we were fending for ourselves which is really hard to do for something like Mock Trial, especially when you’re just starting.”

While both Justice and Greene noted that Mock Trial can seem daunting at first, Greene reassured us that students can, “learn all [about law] and have fun in the process.” Mock Trial is a great activity to be involved in if you want to learn more about law, enjoying being on a team and have an interest in competitive activities that challenge your critical thinking skills.

The Edina Debate Team practices critical thinking An outlet for opinionated students Theo Teske staff writer

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sign up looking to improve their academics “I think my parents made me because they end up being fueled by a passion for debate knew that I would like it a lot. As I got older and a drive for competitive success.

I started to realize that I always argued with people, so I became more successful because I realized how much I like debate, and I started putting in the work,” Zhu said. This experience is common to many students in debate according to Zhu. Many Making the case: The Lincoln-Douglas Team reads their cases.

photo by UmaBhati

ith a state champion, state runnerup, and seven qualifiers for the national tournament in its ranks, the Edina debate team’s success speaks for itself. If you ask the new head coach this year, Tim Greenfield, Edina debate is only expected to grow and succeed further.

Greenfield, who works at the Minnesota Senate in his day job, sees a bright future for a team that he notes has a history of success.

“I think it’s successful because we have such a big team of kids with a lot of diverse experiences and interests and a lot of kids motivated to find a community that allows their skills to grow and be rewarded with success,” Greenfield said.

This success, along with the academic ben-

efits, are what Greenfield thinks draws kids to Edina High School debate. “I think the debate team is popular because kids want to have an environment where they’re growing their critical thinking skills and expanding their communication and researching skills. That’s really helpful for both their school work here at Edina and for college applications and later in life.” This emphasis on academics is also common to Model UN and Mock Trial.

However, where the activities differ in Greenfield’s eyes is that “debate is much more competitively formatted at both the state and national level.” This is echoed by Richard Zhu, a senior at EHS and a debate team captain who qualified to the national tournament last year.

When asked why he joined debate, Zhu responded, “My parents made me.” However, he quickly revealed his passion for debate.

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I absolutely love cross country, especially the meets. Cross country is a great way to get in shape. Over the course of the season, almost every runner has improved tremendously.

SPORTS

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

Calvin Christianson, sophomore

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EHS Swim and Dive has splashing success Megan Philip Girls’ ESAD team surpasses rivals and with undefeated record print copy editor

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racticing six days a week and waking up at 6 a.m. for morning practices has paid off for the Edina High School Swim and Dive team. After Edina won State last year, this year’s team had big shoes to fill, and so far they have succeeded. They are undefeated, and won every dual meet and invite of the season. Some highlights include

photo by Grace Wolf

Jones said. Philip on the other hand, leans to her tight knit community of divers for support, and also hopes to continue diving throughout high school and college. “What motivates me is my teammates that push me to be better than I am now,” Philip said.

beating Wayzata 101-80, Eden Prairie 10081, and Minnetonka 101-85 when it came down to the the last relay.

Ellery Mahlum

The swimming and diving teams have already seen great improvements on their times and scores from last season. “I think that most of us have been going our fastest times ever in our slowest suits so we’re faster than we’ve ever been,” senior Swim Captain Raime Jones said. The smaller, seven person Dive Team has also had many notable accomplishments so far this season.

Sophomore Meghan Philip already beat the pool record and beat her personal record this season. “Everyone on our team is getting a lot better. We’re getting new dives and perfecting them,” Philip said.

Senior Isabel Busyn prepares for a dive during practice.

The team has a strong bond and cohesiveness that makes them even more powerful. “The group of girls we have is really special…everyone is always cheering at meets. It’s really cool to see how we all can come together to help the team do well,” Jones said. Even though her role as a captain is demanding, she loves the new perspective it gives her on the team. “We get to lead the cheers and stand up on the bleachers and we’re looking out across the entire team and it’s just so different,” Jones said. All of her hard work and leadership has paid off: earlier this fall Jones committed to swim at Yale University next year.

Besides winning, these girls have a lot of things motivating them to improve during the season. “Swimwming is a way for me to grow as a person. I can push myself and learn new things about myself and learn how to be a better person through the sport. So that’s kind of why I swim,”

The team still has a lot more excitement in store this season. “I think that it’s one of Mace’s goals to get as many people into the State Meet as we can. He thinks we could get four people in every event, which would be a really big deal,” Jones said. Sections are November 10th and 11th at home and State is held at the U of M the following week, November 17th and 18th.

Athlete of the Month Ellery Mahlum print copy editor

Zephyrus: Can you give me an overview on how the season has been going for you so far?

Megan Philip: The season is going really good.

Everyone on our team is getting a lot better. That really helps in meets and we’re getting better in competing at meets which helps us become undefeated. We also work as a team and we help each other get through practices and meets and just support each other.

Z: Any big personal accomplishments this season?

MP: Yes, actually. Last meet I beat my pool record and I beat my old record from last year.

Z: How do diving meets work? Do you compete in a certain dive?

MP: There’s a certain number of dives we have to do. There’s fronts, backs, reverse, and rings and twisters and we have to cover all of them.

Z: Which one are you best at or which are your favorites to compete in?

MP: I like all of them. I like backs and reverse the most though.

Z: What do you like most about being on the team?

MP: I love being around the people they are always supportive and it’s just fun to be at practice with them.

A successful run

Girls’ Tennis back on top

Cross Country Boys accomplish great feats

Varsity Girls’ Tennis regains State Champion title

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rom going undefeated to winning the state championship, the Edina High School Girls’ Tennis team has truly aced this season.

They made an incredible rebound from their defeat at the state championships. For starters, the team went undefeated throughout the whole season. The team trained hard because regaining the title as State Champions was their highest goal since last year. “When we played teams at state, our scores were a lot better than they were in the season,” senior Sophia Sexton said. “So, To many players, the team is like a second family we really improved throughout the season.” morale. “Just getting to know each other really They even beat the defending State Champions, helped,” Copeland said. “I feel [the team] is like Mahtomedi, in a match earlier in the season. a second family.”

“Last year was a fluke,” junior Anna McDonald The team won the Section Championship admitted. “We had a bad match but other than handily, even though they were up against strong that, our season last year was just as good as this teams such as Hopkins. “We weren’t really year.” worried about other teams,” Sexton said. “We One of the team’s greatest assets is definitely were worried about Hopkins, we had already their unstoppable Varsity singles line up. “When beat them in the season, but it was a really close it’s the right line up, none of [the players] have match score.” The win at sections also prepared never lost,” Boyer said. Something the team is the team, especially Copeland, for the win at intentionally doing differently from last year is state. “It gave me a lot of confidence which focusing more on team chemistry. “Last year prepared me for competing,” Copeland said. was more individual,” Boyer said. “So this year On Oct. 25, the Edina Girls’ tennis team won we’ve been cheering a lot better and we’ve been going to more team dinners and other team bond- State Championships. Going into the championships, the team wasn’t worried at all. “We had ing events.” In the opinion of sophomore Nicole a clear win at state,” Sexton said. Ironically, the Copeland, who won first place in Singles, these team didn’t feel any pressure to win state, unlike activities helped improve the team and boost last year. “There were no stakes,” Sexton said. “Just going in with no pressure helped us win.” The team also motivated each other. “[The motivation] really helped us get to where we were and built up our confidence,” Copeland said.

Reclaiming the state championship for Edina has proved that Edina tennis is one of the most consistently dominant team in the state. With talented players throughout all grade levels, it is more than likely that the team will again continue this dominance for several years to come.

The team poses as state champions

photo courtesy of Sophia Reddy

photo courtesy of Lance Elliot Gus Hubbell competes at the Jaguar Challenge on Sept. 26

any people wonder why someone would choose to participate in a sport where running long distances as fast as possible is the main -- really the only -- objective. Juniors Tate Huss and Noah Rudi are two dedicated members of the high ranking Edina High School Boys Cross Country team, and both enjoy the sport despite the challenges it presents.

While running competitively may not appeal to many, Rudi points out that it’s not that bad. “It’s more fun than a lot of people think,” Rudi said. The team members enjoy practices and races as an aspect of their social life. “Most of the time, you’re constantly talking with people; it’s a lot of time with your friends,” Rudi said.

Many EHS cross country runners have had unforgettable experiences with their teammates during their time together. Huss’s favorite memory from cross country this year took place in Iowa, where the Varsity squad went for a race. “I think [what made it memorable] was just being with the guys,” Huss said.

The sport is very inclusive; “Anyone can participate,” Rudi said. The sport has both individual and team aspects, meaning athletes strive to achieve both their own goals and the team’s goals.

While the athletes on the team enjoy the social life around cross country, the runners take their training and racing very seriously. “[My goal this season] was to break 20 minutes (for 5 kilometers),” Rudi said. Huss is also hoping to improve his time this season, “My goal is to break 18 minutes at Nike Cross Regionals,” Huss said. The Boys Varsity squad hopes to earn a spot in Nike Cross Nationals, which requires fast races from all their runners at regionals. The event takes place in Oregon in December, and is the conclusion of the season.

The Varsity squad took second place behind Wayzata in the Section 6AA meet, which will grant them entry into the state meet at Saint Olaf College on Nov. 4. In addition to qualifying for state as a team, juniors Willem Gokemeijer and Max Manley and senior Owen Gage all earned All-Section Honors.

Anjali Aralikar page editor photo courtesy of Sophia Reddy

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Matthew Egger page editor

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SPORTS

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

I used to play volleyball. It was super fun, and it was a really good way of meeting people with the same interests as me.

Elizabeth Steinlage, freshman Serving up some serious game: The varsity volleyball team prepares to play against Minnetonka on Senior Night.

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Kyra Bergerud staff writer

hile some sports teams at Edina High School are renowned for their impressive records and get lots of attention, others are overlooked despite notable accomplishments. Girls’ Volleyball historically has not had a stellar record, but their outstanding team character, exemplary effort, and positive attitude, make up for their stats. The team truly exemplifies the best of Edina athletics.

With practices every other day, games Tuesdays and Thursdays, and conferences on the weekends, it is no doubt that the volleyball team pushes themselves athletically. However, what is arguably more impressive is the mental and emotional commitment to the team each player honors.

Going to practice everyday with a positive mentality, and leaving each game – no matter the result – with that same outlook, speaks volumes about the high level of morale on the team. “This year the main focus is playing well, leaving it all on the court, and really working together… Even though winning is always the end goal, it’s okay to lose if Edina really left it all on the court,” team manager

Jessica Brenner said. This optimistic attitude is carried through the entire team, pushing everyone to do their best.

Edina recently faced Eden Prairie, a notoriously skilled team, in a conference tournament. In the first two rounds, Eden Prairie took the lead, but in the third and fourth rounds, Edina started fighting back. For the first time, Edina made it to the fifth round, an impressive accomplishment in light of Eden Prairie’s dominance on the court. The Edina team continued to make a valiant effort, but ultimately Eden Prairie ended up winning. Despite their loss, the team still considers it one of their best rounds. Everyone gave it their full effort and stayed true to their goal by leaving it all on the court.

Another quintessential element of the team is a supportive environment fostered by co-captains Lauren Turner and MK Sipes. The team wanted to revoke the position of captains last year, but after seeing how much work needed to be done, the former captains chose Turner and Sipes as successors. As co-captains, seniors Turner and Sipes exude warmth and emphasize good communication. Together they promote a motivational and supportive culture for the players.

photo by Grace Wolf

Positive leadership provides EHS Volleyball team potential

Both on the court and off, Turner and Sipes are always by each other’s side. As best friends in real life, they use their chemistry outside of the sport to lead while they’re playing. “We’re kind of polar opposites, but we balance each other out well by playing off of each other’s strong suits,” Turner said. “ It so easy for us to work together because we’re usually thinking the exact same thing… I couldn’t imagine working with anyone else,” Sipes said.

Although the players and captains are full of enthusiasm, there is really no better motivation for the players than seeing the stands full during games. Edina volleyball isn’t

Bright future in store for Varsity Boys’ Soccer

Edina Sailing Team navigates the Land of 10,000 Lakes

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he Edina High School Boys’ Varsity Soccer team, led by nine seniors, has had a fantastic regular season with a record of 13 wins, two losses, and three ties. The Varsity team will be counting on underclassmen to step up and continue Edina’s success.

As the number one seed in sections, the Varsity team is poised for a strong showing. “We finished as the 34th ranked team in the nation and we have bonded together, while performing better every game,” sophomore forward Oscar Smythe said.

While the team has enjoyed much success, they have also faced many challenges. For example, according to Smythe, a low of the season has been losing to Minnetonka. “We played excellent on defense but couldn’t perform on offense, but we have learned from that game.” All in all, the future is looking bright for the Edina Soccer Program with Junior Varsity, B-Squad, and freshman teams going undefeated.

The Boy’s Junior Varsity team, coached by Sean Hasslestrom and Alex Arcos, also finished the season with an amazing record. The JV team had a regular season record of 12 wins, zero losses, and four ties. “Our season went well until we started tying games. We probably had four ties in a row,” said sophomore midfielder Jack Thurk. “The high was for sure going undefeated. Our low was tying

those four games in a row partly due to the injuries of some of our starters,” Thurk said. Though plagued by multiple injuries, the JV team was still able to persevere and achieve an undefeated record.

The sophomore team, also known as B-squad, is coached by Joe Deckenbach and had another incredible regular season with eight wins, zero losses, and three ties. This year B-squad’s team consisted of all sophomores and one eighth grader.

For sophomore forward Oliver Parmekar, the highlights of the season were “the bus rides and playing soccer with my friends” and the lows were “practicing after school almost every day and giving up late goals to tie.” B-squad consistently dominated talented teams, while only allowing three goals scored on them all season.

The freshman Boys’ soccer team, coached by Adrian Trow, had a season for the books with a regular season record of 14 wins, zero loses, and one tie. “The season was great. Our coach told us we were the best ninth grade team ever. You don’t get a lot of comments like that,” said freshman defender Nick Austin. Like the sophomore team, the freshmen managed to maintain an exceptional goal differential, scoring 80 goals while only allowing four over the course of the season. With a goal differential of 76 goals, the freshman team has some serious potential. Even when this year’s seniors graduate, the program will still be loaded with talent.

Alex Stenman staff writer

s the land of ten thousand lakes, one would expect that an activity like sailing would be very popular. However, this isn’t the case in Edina. In a town dominated by traditional fall sports like football, cross country, and soccer, the sailing team has cruised under the radar.

While not technically considered a school sport, the Edina Sailing Team consists of thirteen EHS students. Sailors compete in both the fall and spring, and the fall season is already underway; Edina has participated in several competitions already. Sailors must use skills such as navigation, handling of the boat, and reading of the wind in order to do well in these regattas.

“To succeed on the sailing team, you really just have to be a good listener and focus hard in practice,” sailing team member Reilly Hannula said. “Strategy in racing is something that takes a while to pick up, and if you aren’t paying attention, it’s easy to miss something that might benefit you immensely.”

Sailors test their skills on the weekends

in races called regattas. Points are awarded by a panel of judges on a sailor’s ability to handle the boat and maneuver their way around the course based on the wind.

One of the benefits of joining the sailing team is that you don’t need any previous training. This is different from a lot of other sports that require years of experience and practice. Most of the sailors that join the team are beginners and they learn to sail as they go.

“I think that people should pick sailing over other activities because it is so unique,” Hannula said. “Not many people get to say they are on a sailing team. It is also just a really great group of people, and we sometimes even get to road trip to places like Chicago together.” Not only is sailing a unique sport, but it is one that involves teamwork and sportsmanship. “The people I sail with are some of the funniest people I’ve ever met and I am always having a good time when I’m with them.”

The sailing team is a great opportunity to go out and represent your city in a unique and enjoyable sport. Joining the sailing team can also teach you valuable communication skills as you take on difficult challenges with new friends.

photo by Zoe Cheung

photo by Margaret Sullivan

Jump! Jump!: Junior Theo Keller jumps for the ball in the varsity boys’ soccer game on Oct. 12 Jack Marker staff writer

notorious for getting a lot of fans; the fan support they do receive is extremely encouraging.

It completely transforms the atmosphere in the gym, filling the environment with positivity.

With the season drawing to a close, the volleyball team has a lot to be proud of. The character reflected by the players is incomparable. Not only is this a direct result of a united mindset, but also the product of having two extremely positive captains guiding them.

Keep an eye out for more news from the Edina High School Volleyball program; it’s definitely going places.

Sail into an uncharted sport: Juniors George Moore and Reilly Hannula navigate the waters of Lake Calhoun