Issue 2 - November, 2018

T h u r s d a y, N o v e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 8

Vo l u m e 3 9 , 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 photo by Brennen Merriam

New restaurant: Moderna Kouzina page 3

Russian pop culture club page 5

Back in business: The newly-named ECAfe is set to open in early November.

The ultimate EHS bucket list pages 8-9

DECA shifts focus away from DECAfé ECAfe management changes to Food Services

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In-Depth: cheating pages 6-7

Opinion: why everyone should vote page 10

Reagan Stanchfield staff writer

f you are a sophomore or older at Edina High School, you may remember the DECAfé, a small store serving food and beverages that was run by Edina’s business department and the DECA class. Students would visit the DECAfé if they needed a midday pick-me-up in the form of a snack or to get a break from their hectic day in the high school. This school year, however, the DECAfé has been closed.

The business department is no longer responsible for the management of the café, and they are instead looking to expand the classroom aspect of their class. The heavy workload for both Mr. Gallagher, the sole DECA teacher, and DECA students, became unrealistic for running a successful café. “[It was] hard to find kids that could really commit that amount of time with the workload Edina High School has for kids,” Gallagher said. He hopes the decreased work hours for officers will give more students the chance to apply for a leadership

position.

In the past, the DECA officers spent many extra hours a week for the café buying food, managing other employees, and working shifts. Even students working at the café without a leadership position had a challenging amount of extracurricular work, including working at the café and preparing for DECA competitions, which was accompanied by standard homework.

The management of a store selling food became difficult for a business teacher and his students, especially with the introduction of Edina’s wellness plan and other nutritional guidelines that were not established when the DECAfé first opened.

This policy requires that food served by the school meets government regulations, is minimally processed, contains minimal saturated fat and sugars, and follows several other regulations.

One benefit that DECA is giving up is the profit generated by the café. In the past, it was used to cover some expenses of DECA competitors traveling for national competitions. Mr. Gallagher said that they

plan to do other fundraisers and business simulations, such as selling flowers to fundraise for the program.

The management of the café is shifting from DECA to the Food Service Department. Dan Hutchinson, the Director of Dining Services, is transforming it into the rebranded ECAfe. The new name was revealed when the ‘D’ was taken off of the sign above the old DECAfé, abbreviating ‘Edina Café.’ “I’d like to have it open, especially because we have student prep and kids down there. It’s nice to have a coffee or a snack or something like that,” said Beaton.

Instead of student employees, a staff member from the cafeteria will be responsible for running the café.

The ECAfe will first open before school to serve breakfast and then expand its hours to what the DECAfé previously implemented. Hot food and frozen yogurt will also be introduced to the menu of the café. Mr. Hutchinson plans to open the café by early November.

Edina launches first ever city-hosted community solar garden

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Brooke Sheehy administration beat lead

he City of Edina is making history by building the first ever city-hosted community solar garden located on top of the public works building in what’s known as “Industrial Edina.” It is the first ever community solar garden to have strictly residential subscribers, and is composed of 68 households throughout Edina.

The idea of implementing a city-hosted community solar garden began in 2015 with Edina’s Energy and Environment Commission as they were seeking to find ways to use renewable energy within the city. Considered a difficult task as most solar gardens are on large rural farms with

ample ground space, the commission’s plan was eventually approved and moved to the working stages to work towards Edina’s goal to become a leader in renewable energy.

Edina city project workers Megan O’Hara and Tara Brown were introduced to the community solar garden project in 2016 because they worked closely with Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light (MIPL), an organization that partners with faith communities to address the climate crisis. Their main mission was to ensure that they were getting the information out about the community solar garden and to completely fill the garden with residential subscribers within a six month period to sign up for a 25 year contracted

subscription. “At the end of the day, the solar garden would not have been created had we not had residents sign up to be subscribers,” Brown said.

The owner and developer of the solar garden, Cooperative Energy Futures, could not have received financing from the banks and paid the cost of installation for 1,926 panels unless there was a commitment from the 68 households to confirm that they will pay their bill credit rates for 25 years.

There is a small waiting list of subscribers because some people might move, and residents must be within Xcel Energy territory to keep the contract.

...continued on page 3

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COMMENTARY

Thursday, November 1, 2018

From the archives:

Zephyrus staff Editorial Board Lily Jones, editor-in-chief Simone Vaillancourt, print editor Emma Bailey, online editor Morgan Sheehy, managing editor Matthew Egger, copy editor Eva Hadjiyanis, copy editor Cecilia Orth, visual editor Margaret Sullivan, visual editor Anjali Aralikar, student life beat lead Isha Konety, news beat lead Greyson Mize, sports beat lead Brooke Sheehy, administration beat lead Staff Writers Art Boettge Michael Crater Mia DiLorenzo Dedeepya Guthikonda Leo Hickey Matt Hovelsrud Sadie Johnson Sieben Ellen Mi Mihika Sathe Reagan Stanchfield Alexis Yi

Page Editors Kyra Bergerud Hans Janovy Meyer Jack Marker Julia Nicholson Syd Pierre Alex Stenman Theo Teske Kerui Yang Photographers Mimi Beringer Madeline Brandel Sophie Charnell Brennan Merriam Cecilia Orth Margaret Sullivan Artists Hanna Faris Gillian Mousseau Mallika Srinivas Tiffany Qian Adviser Sarah Burgess

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

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

College! College! College!

Never ending stress from now until Christmas Compiled by Anjali Aralikar student life beat lead

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t’s terrifying to think about the future, especially if your future depends on the opinions of a stranger. Add that in with the looming prospect of crippling student debt amd the fear of rejection and you get a regular Tuesday for the average Edina High School senior. Throughout the ages, our seniors have fought through application after application. We can only hope for better, less stressful times and push our anxiety to the back of our minds.

But, until then, at least, we have each other.

October 9, 1987, Vol. 8, Issue 2

Counselors play essential role in college choices

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tacks of blank college recommendations are materializing on conselor desktops. From now until Christmas-time, the stacks will grow. The rush for applying to college is beginning, and Edina High School’s counselors play a vital role.

For Wayne Kinion, helping students with college selection and application is a “high priority.” In order to stay current and give firsthand information to students selecting a college many counselors travel to and evaluate colleges around the country. The Career Center, essentially an extention of the counselors’ office and an important aid for stu-

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dents interested in college, contains a computer program which matches students’ needs and desires with a college. Counselors also write recommendations for students applying to private colleges, drawing from personal contact, if possible, and sources such as teachers, records, etc. Little known, too, is the work the counselors’ secretaries do in processing transcripts.

As far as helping students get into college, by the time students get into college, most of the work has been done. Though transcript records begin in tenth grade, junior high “develops...a habit of lifestyle,” says Bill Jordan, head counselor. Counselors also may recommend prep courses for tests such as the SAT and ACT, but, as Jordan

says, “you cannot buy a fantastic PSAT [score].” Such tests mostly reflect, “how you have developed as a student since elementary [school].”

In addition, test scores may not be as important to colleges these days.

What’s important, he says, is, “the quality of the student’s program.”

The most important thing a counselor has done for Edina students may have been done nearly forty years ago. In 1949, the high school’s guidance director traveled across the country to most of the big name schools, gaining exposure for the high school that would soon develop a high reputation for excellence. Now, just being a graduate of Edina High School is an advantage on a college application.

“College is only a transitory period between your physical existence in high school and the post-educational nirvana.”

Beaton’s Beat: Finding your inner passion a first grader and I love my son, s conferences recently occurred at EHS, I wanted but because of his pure view of learning. He didn’t write stories to share a memory I about football, Star Wars or his had from one of my son’s school sister’s adventures because it was conferences many years ago. assigned for points or to avoid Like with all of his conferences consequences. He did it for the joy over the years, I spoke with of self expression. his teacher about his That first grader is now progress as my first grader a senior who is grinding participated; hearing about through the college where he excelled and the application process. Ugh! areas that he was trying to So where does improve. your passion I recall that I lie? What asked my son are your later when dreams I looked for your at his self future? assessment, photo by Margaret Sullivan Does your why he effort and coursework match with chose writing as his favorite your dreams and aspirations? What time in school. He responded do you want to be when you grow enthusiastically, “I love writing up? Keep searching for that inner time because I get to think about and choose to write about whatever first grader, find joy and find the determination and resilience to I want. I feel free!” make your dreams happen.

I smile when I think about this statement not only because he was

Keith Hedland staff writer ‘87-’88

~ Baldwin Lee, class of ‘88, offering advice to seniors in the article “Students face college pressure” written by Peter Kafka for Zephyrus.

Going to college; Going for broke?

Andrew Lyman in depth editor ‘87-’88

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representative from Harvard University said, at an Edina college meeting, that Harvard, for most incoming freshman, would cost between 15 and 17 thousand dollars1. To help pay this burden, Harvard is able to provide a modicum of financial aid. But for most students the burden rests upon themselves and their parents to afford the money for college.

After the funds from the student’s job at McDonalds and their parent’s resources have been spent, students are forced to resort to the student loan in order to afford college. After four years, however, these loans begin to accumulate. On average, most graduating seniors of private colleges will owe nearly $90002 to banks on low interest loans.

These loans help send students through college but concomittently are also a burden. When entering the

job market, young adults will have a $90002 debt encumbering them.

Studies have demonstrated that if a person invested his/her college tuition into long term bonds, by the age of fifty they would be a millionare.

Since most college graduates at the age of fifty are not this successful, doesn’t college seem a poor investment monitarily?

Maybe we hould close all the colleges and just invest the money in bonds. That way we would, by the year 2040, have the least well educated society with the highest standard of living in the world.

Of course, without college, the necessity and competitiveness of high school would be nothing, the literacy rate would drop and high school newspapers would all have to be done in cartoon form.

For most, college is a stepping stone into the business world. A profitable motivator for your parents but not in today’s world. If college does not become more affordable,

and students don’t care about leaving with a debt to pay, then top of the morning to them. They will be entering a very competitive world and they must be given credit for wanting an education for whatever motives.

America is not giving these youth a fair chance. If the federal administration really thinks hard, surely they could find unnecessary expenditures or red herring investments which they could reinvest in its youth.

Editor’s Notes: $15,000 in 1987 is the same as $32,841.15 in 2018. $17,000 in 1987 is the same as $37,219.97 in 2018. Harvard University’s average cost of attendence is $67,580 for the 2018-19 school year.

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$9,000 in 1987 is the same as $19,704.69 in 2018. The average student loan debt for the class of 2017 was $39,400.

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“I think its great that they’re including different pronouns on IDs, I’m very excited for that. I know a lot of people who identify not just with she/her or he/him so I think it’s super cool that they are putting those options on identification.”

Rebecca Gould, sophomore

NEWS

Thursday, November 1, 2018

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Greyson Mize sports beat lead

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ince Oct. 1, 2018, the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles has started issuing driver’s licenses that mark the recipient as neither male nor female. Instead of a ‘F’ or ‘M,’ individuals now have to option to have their sex marked only as ‘X.’ This change allows individuals to leave their sex undisclosed and became available with the installation of new software for the Minnesota Real ID program, which was implemented through the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to make state licenses easier to read and harder to duplicate. Minnesota’s new Real IDs will be required to fly on domestic flights after Oct. 1st, 2020.

Minnesota is the sixth state to implement this option after California, Maine,

New York, Oregon, Massachusetts and Washington. “Gender identification is a self-descriptor like eye color, height and weight,” the Driver and Vehicle Services of Minnesota said in a statement on Oct. 3. In order to have a new or revised license issued, individuals will have to provide medical certification in the form of a letter from a doctor or psychologist as evidence of transition.

There is no age restriction on the new identification option as long as the correct paperwork is presented, meaning Minnesota citizens as young as 15 can take advantage of this new feature.

Monica Meyer, the executive director of the LGBT advocacy group OutFront Minnesota told the StarTribune her organization has been working towards this change for two years. “What is really great about it is that people can have with them the gender identities that they are,” Meyers said. “This

is really great progress.”

According to Mother Jones, a political magazine, The National Center for Transgender Equality praised the decision in June when it became public knowledge that the non-binary option would be implemented.

“Having an accurate ID is important for everyone to be able to move through the world, to be able to get employment, housing, enroll in school, obtain other IDs,” Arli Christian, the State Policy Director at the National Center for Transgender Equality, said.

“The more we have access to accurate markers on IDs, the more we help avoid discrimination and help people go about their daily lives.”

Edina launches first ever city-hosted community solar garden ...continued from front cover Brooke Sheehy administration beat lead

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f people move or downsize and don’t need the entire subscription rate that they currently have, that is when an opportunity would open up for someone on the waiting list to join the solar garden. “The contract isn’t assigned to the home but it is assigned to the person, so they would go to the waiting list and call the next resident on the waiting list to see if they were still interested in participating in the solar garden,” Brown said.

Therefore, if a new family moves into a household that once was subscribed to the solar garden, new homeowners will not be liable for the 25 year contract the previous owners signed. The previous owners would have to pay a fine depending on the amount of energy they subscribed to, and the opportunity to subscribe will

be available to the resident at the top of the waiting list.

The city heard from residents early in the process that they wanted Edina to be a leader in sustainable energy, making that the number one goal of the project.

With the successful launch of the community solar garden that will start generating power in November 2018, the city is communicating with other cities about how they worked out the contract to lease the space on a previously unutilized city public works rooftop to generate renewable energy to keep within the city.

“As a regional leader, our next step within the city was to complete the SolSmart program, a process that is supported through the Department of Energy that has a third party come in to look at the process used to ensure that there are no hurdles that are put in place disabling a resident or business to get solar

art by Tiffany Qian

Minnesota’s new non-binary option on licenses

on their property,” Brown said.

The city went through a building inspection in permitting process to ask themselves if they had any barriers.

Brown and her team had solar experts look at Edina’s ordinances and laws and found that there were only two sentences defining solar in the city’s overall ordinances. She went to the planning commission to share their findings as they fought to expand on official solar ordinances. “It is important that residents know what they can and cannot do with solar energy, and what their neighbors can and cannot do with solar energy,” Brown said.

In a time of great social change, there can be friction, so clarifying solar power ordinances will foster conversations about clean energy and ensure that the this environmental change is communicated and implemented courteously.

Fashionable fundraising The Hornet fashion show brings a buzz to the booster club Dedeepya Guthikonda staff writer

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nlike most fundraisers at Edina High School, an event hosted by the Edina Athletic Booster Club (EABC) takes a different approach to raise needed funds for the Edina Athletic Department. “Rock the Runway” is an upcoming fashion show for high school students, set in April. The EABC Chair of Fundraising is Kari Mawn, who will be heading the fashion show.

The Edina Athletic Department had major cuts this year totaling about $80,000. In order to make up for this loss and provide funding for the 33 sports teams at EHS, the “Rock the Runway” fashion show is a method of fundraising for the Athletic Department.

“The main reason [for the show] is to just create a big, fun, community wide event. Because hopefully we can pull in art and band students. My goal is to just make it a super fun night that everybody wants to come to. Just a fun memory!”

Mawn said, when asked about the incentive behind the event.

The models in the fashion show will be EHS athletes, and anyone who would like to participate will be given the

chance. “We’re hoping to get 75 models, right now we have about 18. If we got above 75, that would be a great problem to have! This first year, we’re gonna just give it a chance,” Mawn said, laughing.

Models will get a t-shirt, food, and guided practice for the event. Most importantly, they will be giving back to their sports teams and community in a positive and important way. Outfits will be designed and contributed by local retailers as well.

In addition to the fashion show, there will be a silent auction. Themed baskets contributed by each team will be the main feature of the auction. “Thirty three team baskets will be presented. And then we’ll reach out to the general community for typical sponsorships like gym memberships…there will be generic community events,” Mawn said.

Local retailers and businesses are contributing to the show, and models are EHS athletes, making this a full-fledged community event. “It’s truly entertainment. Fun music, and even fun skits in between. So it’s more of an entertainment show than a fashion show, but there is a runway and a silent auction, so that’s how we’re going to make the money,” Mawn said to sum up the goal of the event.

Edina welcomes new restaurant: Moderna Kouzina A contemporary twist on french cuisine oderna Kouzina, a new Edina restaurant serving up traditional French cuisine with a modern and sophisticated twist, is now open at 3910 West 50th street, directly across from the Edina theater.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a very kind hostess, who takes guests to a table with a smile.

Looking around, the eatery boasts some very sleek and modern interior design, giving off a refined, yet casual atmosphere that any guest can enjoy. Additionally, patrons can view the entire kitchen from their seats, offering up a fun view of chefs at work. The bar has

comfortable seats, and a TV located above, playing a football game, was a plus for sports fans.

The menu features a relatively small amount of choices that rely on fresh, high quality, in-season ingredients all revolving around French cuisine. It features some interesting options most other restaurants don’t usually feature, like foie gras and veal.

One of the most enjoyable meals is the roasted chicken and vegetable soup, which has a flavorful broth full of root vegetables and tender chicken.

Next, the scallops are tasty and well-cooked, complemented by a tangy lemon sauce and ravioli.

The ravioli is a bit overpowered by cheese, however. In addition, the Royale, a house ground burger with

gruyere cheese and pomme frites, is a definite highlight of the visit. It is served with a savory tomato relish that set it apart from your average burger. The slow-braised short ribs are a tender and well-seasoned dish, accompanied by sweetbreads (calf or lamb pancreas), which is a tasty surprise.

Finally, the goat milk gelato -creamy, sweet, and cold- definitely hits the spot.

My biggest complaint about the restaurant is the portion sizes. It is a somewhat expensive restaurant, and therefore is disappointing for me to find that little food was given.

Despite this, all in all, I recommend checking this place out for the comfortable atmosphere, perfect location, tasty dishes, and friendly service. 4/5 stars.

photo by Mimi Beringer

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Art Boettge staff writer

A modern take on French cuisine: New restaurant Moderna Kouzina will draw in customers with its sleek style and refined menu

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FEATURES

“I thought it went very well... the band really came together to give a great last performance.” Matt Kumar-Montei, sophomore

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Meet the Drum Majors!

Lauren Brull: friend and advocate Sophomore Lauren Brull was selected as the representative for Hornet Connections

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Name: Owen Gordon Instrument: Clarinet Favorite Marching Band memory: I really like when we get to play at the St. Jude Run/ Walk Pep Band event. We’ve always been able to play on the US Bank Stadium.

Favorite event to play at: Homecoming games are always the most exciting because we get the biggest crowd and we have the chance to impress the most amount of people!

Name: Om Jahagirdar Instrument: Tenor Saxophone Favorite Marching Band Memory: My favorite memory would have to be during the sections time because the tenor saxophones are a super small section of six or seven kids so you really have to get to know everyone really well.

Something they’d like to say to their peers and/or conductors: Great job out there! You guys are all awesome! I have a great time and I’m honored to be a drum major!

Photo by Mimi Beringer

Name: Marsissa Dulas Instrument: Clarinet Favorite Marching Band Memory: One of my favorite memories was the Branson trip and just getting to know everyone. We had our days together and got to play different Marching Band tunes. We got to spend timr together, and also went ziplining!

Also, this year at Band Camp, being a Drum Major it was very fun to connect with everyone. We got to pick the Spirit Days and seeing the new people and training them was also very fun.

One thing that marching band has helped them learn: In general, Marching Band has made me be more confident in myself. I think throughout the years I’ve made so many new friends through band and the whole community has made me a better person and a better leader as well!

Sadie Johnson Sieben staff writer

ornet Connections at Edina High School is a program that allows students to participate in activities and forge friendships with the students in Special Education classes. Students can participate in these activities during flextime and during other events. In the past, Hornet Connections has facilitated arts and craft projects, games, singing, dancing, and even Theater for All productions and participation in Special Olympics Minnesota. For the 2018-2019 school year, sophomore Lauren Brull was selected as a student representative for Hornet Connections.

Brull has been involved in Special Education programs ever since she was young. Her motivation for starting was her older sister who has special needs. Brull’s relationship to her sister helped grow her connection to the Special Education community. Not only does Brull have strong bonds with students in Special Education, she knows most of their families too. When asked why she wanted to be involved in Hornet Connections Brull said “It makes me happy.”

Her responsibilities range in nature from organizing events and fundraisers to being a good example for all students. “Mostly, [I] just go to a lot of the events and help out with the activities fair, fundraisers, and dances,” Brull said. She is excited to be a representative because she is passionate about being an advocate for the special needs community.

Hanson expressed that in new representatives she looks for “People who are willing to take initiative, that want to be involved, that are really trying to have an inclusive of an environment as possible.” Lisa Hanson, an

A smiling face to all: Brull can often be found helping out other students at EHS. EHS Special Education Teacher, explained why Lauren Brull was chosen as representative. Over the past years, Brull has raised hundreds of dollars for Special Olympics Minnesota, worked on the R-word campaign last year which was started to change the R-word to respect, and she has helped spread awareness of inclusion.

Brull has encouraged other EHS students to become more involved in Hornet Connections and be more inclusive towards the Special Education students. “My goal is that people will, one, come and join because it’s a lot of fun and even one small action make a big difference. As well as, two, hopefully, start to make a difference, as people still use the R-word and say insanely rude comments about the Special Education students when it’s completely unnecessary and they’re just mean for no reason. So, hopefully, I’ll be able to stop it,” Brull said.

Student has knack for civic duty

Junior Aiden Anderson serves as member of the Edina Parks and Recreation Board as a student commissioner

Name: Alex Seitel Instrument: Flute and Piccolo Favorite Marching Band Song: My favorite half-time show was during my sophomore year, and I really like playing “Konga”, but this year my favorite song is “Dynamite” because I get to conduct it.

One thing Marching Band has helped them learn: It’s taught me the importance of finding a community and being part of one that you’re involved in. Like I’ve said, sophomore year, I didn’t expect to like band so much, but you have to go in with the mindset that you want to meet new people and get involved.

Interviews by Kerui Yang, page editor

Photos by Sophie Charnell

or Edina High School junior Aiden Anderson, Parks and Rec is more than just an NBC sitcom. Anderson, who joined the Edina Parks and Recreation Board this year, partially credits his interest to the show.

However, he agrees that while fun, serving on the commission is much more serious–and more impactful–than Netflix’s comedic portrayal of the board.

Anderson applied to the Parks and Rec Board over the summer. After a short interview, he was placed on the Parks Commission along with fellow junior Bryn Osborne.

The Parks Board meets once a month to go through emerging and ongoing issues regarding Edina’s parks and public green spaces.

As a student commissioner, Anderson proposes ideas and suggestions to the Board with the purpose of bringing a student’s point of view to the issue. “I’ll usually write down a list of what I think would be beneficial. They also sometimes ask us what our feedback is and what they should do going forward,” Anderson said.

Currently, the Board is working on adopting the 2019 work plan and starting new projects for the year. Anderson is a part of several of these projects, including “figuring out what to do with Fred Richards Park and submitting the new Arden Park redesign.”

During his time on the Board, Anderson will take part in park renovation projects, racial equity initiatives, park naming policies, facility use agreements and park funding discussions.

Parks and Recreation Director Ann Kattreh values the input of students like Ander-

son: “This year’s student commissioners are a couple of the best! Aiden Anderson and Bryn Osborne are fairly new to the Commission, but have already jumped in to volunteer for projects and to offer advice to the Commission, staff and the City Council,” Kattreh said, adding that “It’s valuable for the City to receive feedback from the perspective of young adults on our projects, policies, facilities and programs. On the flip side, it’s valuable for the students to gain first-hand knowledge of how their local government works, how decisions are made and how to personally make an impact in their community.”

Anderson agrees that students should be just as involved in the parks process as adults.

When asked what the best way to get involved is, he replied “show up to the meetings, even if you missed the application window. It’s always good to know what’s going on in the community, and they do listen to you and take that to note.”

Photo by Madeline Brandel

Name: Thomas Tuchenhagen Instrument: Baritone Something they’d like to say to their peers/conductors: It’s been an amazing experience and I couldn’t have asked for anyone else. Everyone in band is very cool and it’s a great community.

One thing that Marching Band has helped you to learn: The importance of community; the group of people in band is very great!

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Simone Vaillancourt print editor

Parks and Rec-esque service: Anderson gives back to his community on the Edina Parks and Recreation Board.

"I think culture clubs are important to have because of the diversity that they contain. They will bring ideas to our lives that we otherwise wouldn't experience as students." Amy Wang, junior

ACTIVITIES

Thursday, November 1, 2018

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New Russian Pop Culture Club opens at Edina High School nspired by the similar pop cultures between Russia and the United States, sophomore Maria Linder created the Russian Pop Culture Club. On the first Monday of each month, the club meets in Mr. Lenz’s classroom to eat snacks and learn about Russian music or shows. “We’re trying to understand, appreciate, and compare different pop cultures.

It’s about learning and just having fun,” Linder said.

The club often listens to Russian reggae music and watches various cartoons. They compare Russian and American entertainment and the symbolism prevalent in the cartoons. For example, the character “Волк погоди” which means “wolf get lost” has a comic value alike to “Tom” in the American cartoon “Tom and Jerry.” “This is the villain in one very popular cartoon, in that there is a bunny who he [the wolf] often chases and repetitively fails to catch. However, this wolf character is inspired by this newfound damaged person who’s present in the Soviet era as a general delinquent

who can’t do anything right,” Linder said. The club further explores pop culture by discussing the reasoning behind why certain entertainment takes off. The snacks are another attraction, as Linder purchases Russian crackers and cookies from a store in Burnsville.

The club encourages students of all backgrounds to join.

“I thought it’d be fun to join the Russian Pop Culture Club because I could always learn new things and have new experiences… It’s open to anyone who wants to join which is super important for people to know because we’re really welcoming,” sophomore Russian Pop Culture Club member Aleena Punjwani said.

The greatest challenge of the club is separating political ideology from culture. Often, students treat politics as synonymous with culture, but they fail to realize that culture is much older than the recent political developments. “There are no political or religious implications and you don’t even have to Ready to lead: Aleena Punjwani (left) and Maria Linder (right) be Russian to join,” Linder said. encourage students of all backgrounds to join their club in Currently, the Russian Pop Culture Club has 15 members order to learn about Russian culture. attending their meetings and 48 groupme members.

photo by Madeline Brandel

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Cecilia Orth art editor

Chinese Club immerses students in Chinese culture Club opens up unique opportunities to experience culture not available in the classroom art by Mallika Srinivas

Mooncakes: A sweet dessert eaten for the Mid-Autumn festival.

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Mihika Sathe staff writer

ultural clubs at Edina High School provide an environment for students to grow in their understanding of cultures that they normally wouldn’t be exposed to in their everyday lives. One particular club, the Chinese Club, is taking this cultural understanding further by celebrating Chinese cultural festivals through food and activities. “Our most recent meeting was October 1st. We made mooncakes, which are traditional Chinese food,” senior Claire Carlson said.

The meeting on Oct. 1 was a celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, an important cultural celebration in China. “The Mid-Autumn Festival is called the moon festival in China… [it is] a celebration of the harvest and the full moon… where families gather together to enjoy the food and the moon,” club advisor and Chinese teacher Chloe Lu said.

The meeting gave students a deeper understanding of Chinese culture because it was a more immersive experience than their experiences in Chinese class. The meeting started off with a short presentation that taught the students about the his-

Interact Club promotes student community service

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Greyson Mize sports and activies beat lead

Images prepares for a new cycle

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Isha Konety news beat lead

mages, Edina High School’s literary art magazine, is compiling its 2018-2019 issue. Joined by this year’s staff, lead editors Liam Doyle, Giselle Hayes, and Elsa Hetletvedt have begun collecting art submissions from EHS students until the submission deadline in December.

Images is a student published book that curates paintings, photography, poetry, and other forms of art to create their annual book.

This year’s Images crew consists of three editors—layout editor, creative editor, and head editor—and a group of about 15 staff members. “What makes it unique is that it is photo courtesy Giselle Hayes

ince 1905, Rotary Clubs across the globe have been completing service projects, reforming communities, and making connections. The Rotary organization’s Interact program gives middle and high school students age 12-18 opportunities to develop leadership skills, impact their communities, and collaborate with local, national, and international clubs. Over 20,372 clubs in 159 different countries operate worldwide, the Edina High School Interact club among them.

“I really like helping people, and the fact that this club gives me an outlet to meet with other people to do service projects and raise money drew me to it,” senior Samantha Bevers, a leader of the EHS Interact Club, said.

The club meets monthly and organizes a series of service projects throughout the year.

Although the first meeting wasn’t scheduled until Oct. 25, the leaders already have big ambitions. In 2018 and 2019 the club hopes to hold their annual Skate to End Polio event at Braemar Arena to support and fundraise for vaccination in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, where polio remains an epidemic, but has decreased significantly in past years.

The club also plans to hold a trash cleanup day around Edina, make tie blankets for hospitalized children, and write cards for veterans on Veterans Day. Leaders work

closely with the Edina Rotary Clubs and have connections with Interact Clubs in Apple Valley and Minnetonka.

In addition to community projects, the Interact Club plans to hold an Edina ShelterBox event in November in which students stay overnight in boxes to understand a small portion of what homeless and displaced people go through. “We value connecting our peers with real world issues,” senior Ava Chow, the Interact Club’s treasurer, said. “I want to see students get involved with community service.”

Bevers says the biggest barrier they’ve faced so far is the finalization of a potential Skate to End Polio event in November. “We have big ideas, and it's hard to find the time to really plan them all out and then find the amount of people needed to staff everything.

The problem we’re running into is we’re thinking really big, and that’s not an issue, but we’ve gotta figure out how to do it first, and I think we will.”

The Interact Club’s main purpose is to make a difference in the 2018-2019 school year through core values of generosity, leadership, and community-based service. “I know it sounds kinda corny, but if through our skate to end polio event we could get just one kid vaccinated, or with our tie blankets we could make one kid smile after they’ve had surgery, that’s a job well done for us,” Bevers said.

tory and traditions behind the Mid-Autumn Festival. Then, the students at the meeting made mooncakes, a traditional dessert eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Lu taught the students how to make the mooncakes and students were able to add elements of their own culture to them, like filling the mooncakes with peanut butter or Nutella.

Throughout the year, the Chinese Club has planned out different activities for students to learn more about Chinese culture, traditions, and festivals. “We have three things associated with food this year. We made mooncakes; we are making bubble tea in November, and we are going to have a stir fry competition,” Lu said. In addition to making food, the Chinese Club plans on playing traditional Chinese sports like Chinese hacky sack, and watching the movie Crazy Rich Asians.

Students of all backgrounds are welcome to attend Chinese Club meetings, even if they don’t speak Chinese or know very much about Chinese culture. “I think [being in Chinese Club] is an opportunity because we can do something hands on. It’s not just for Chinese students, it’s for the entire student body who [are] interested in Chinese culture,” Lu said.

not what [the staff makes]. I don’t think that students have enough opportunity to showcase their art and creative abilities [at EHS], so it is really important for students to have that outlet,” senior Giselle Hayes said.

Images encourages all students to submit art, regardless of their skill level, in order to represent the diverse population of students.

One of the difficulties that Images has experienced is publicity. “[One difficulty] has been getting people to join. We have always had kind of a small club,” senior Liam Doyle said. In response, they have begun advertising their club on social media and through posters around the school.

Despite the size of their club, Images has been able to refine and improve their publication each year. “The year before last year the pictures were very pixelated because there was some kind of formatting error, but last year I was really proud because we got everything clear and made a clean looking book. I am hoping we can do that again this year,” Doyle said.

Both Doyle and Hayes are looking forward to what this year’s publication will hold. “The staff that is coming together is really skilled. I can just see that the elements that each person brings is going to make the book and theme really flow,” Hayes said.

Interested students can submit artwork, buy a copy of the magazine for $20, and apply to be on staff next year.

Lucerne: The above photo, titled "Lucerne," was taken by Elsa Bademan (12) and featured in the Images book last year.

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OPINION

of our community.” Charlie Wagner,, sophomore

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Vote because those you disagree with will It is imperative that everybody makes their voices heard

people in the U.S. that are not citizens or cannot legally vote. If U.S. voter turnout exceeded 80%, that would represent an immense amount of legally voting citizens. his upcoming midterm election One reason for low voter turnout is is crucial for both Republicans due to hyper-partisanship. According and Democrats. This midterm to Pew Research Center, “Republicans election will determine if all branches and Democrats are more divided along of government will stay red, or if the ideological lines and partisan antipathy is democrats can flip the house and/or the deeper and more extensive than at any point senate. If the Democrats are successful, in the last two decades. Both in politics it will limit President Trump’s power for and in everyday life. A new survey of the rest of his two years. During election 10,000 adults nationwide finds that these seasons many people voice their opinions divisions are greatest among those who are on what’s going well in government, and the most engaged and active in the political what’s going poorly. Then, people use process.” Hyper-partisanship was created as their opinions on government, ideologies, a majority of the voting population became and political parties to determine which more extreme and parties began to more candidate to vote for. Citizens who do this will often complain about the other political aggressively engage their base activists.

The lack of independent voters added party’s platform and how politicians are to this problem and now many refuse to executing their power poorly. For example, vote because no candidate appeals to their if one is to go to social media platforms viewpoints. it is not infrequent that one will see A possible solution to this could be dissatisfaction with government. That’s found in independents and more moderate where political discussions come into play citizens to vote in all elections no matter and people have conversations about why if it is local or a primary. When most of a their view of an issue is right and why their population exercises their right to vote, the opponent’s is wrong.

The problem is that many citizens in our voices of the people are heard and their opinions are represented in every tier of country complain about our government, government. but refuse to vote in elections. High voter Another reason people do not vote is turnout is fundamental to a successful because they feel their democracy. As low vote doesn’t matter. turnout is usually If millions of people attributed to political stay home because disengagement and the they think their votes belief that voting will don’t count, the people do little to alter public who do turn out to vote policy, established gain representation democracies tend to in government. Your have higher turnout vote is your voice. than other countries.

Elect to be heard. No However, voter matter how small or turnout in the U.S. large an election is, is much lower than everyone’s vote matters most established and impacts policy. If democracies. It is u a ousse 60% of the population M n necessary that a a i l l Gi votes, then only 60% art by democracy represent of American opinions the viewpoints of the are represented in larger city, county, government.

Exercise your right and vote in state, and country. Unfortunately, current all elections, because all elections matter. voter turnout percentages range from In conclusion, whether you like the way 42.5% in Hawaii to 74.7% in Minnesota, local and federal government is headed or according to FairVote. This is a problem you want to see a change, register to vote because in all states the percentage of and encourage friends and family members citizens voting should exceed 80% to of voting age to get out and vote. Primaries represent a large portion of U.S. opinion. and general elections are both important in Voting percentages should be 80%, because order for 100% of American ideologies to it is not realistic to have 100% of the be represented in all levels of government. population vote, due to the fact that some

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“[I think my vote matters] because it decides the future

Facing failure

Why a competitive environment must learn to accept mistakes

Matthew Hovelsrud staff writer

art by Gillian Mousseau

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Mia DiLorenzo freshman apprentice

he culture surrounding failure in Edina is not an easy one to navigate. The practice of ignoring mistakes leaves students scrambling for extra credit to try and save their GPA in the event that a test doesn’t produce their ideal grade. Additionally, the school environment often encourages students to refrain from asking for help ask when they do not understand a concept. This only increases the amount of pressure placed on an individual. This stress of school combined with a nationwide trend of heightened adolescent anxiety only contributes to the fallacy that failure must be ignored at all costs.

While Edina recently passed a policy stating that students are able to retake summative assignments up to a 75%, this change continues to emphasize ‘teaching to the test,’ not teaching for learning. Even if a student gets a 90% on the retake and has demonstrated their growth on various concepts, this growth is not accounted for by the letter grade.

The culture built around being able to learn lessons in a short span of time is not designed for some students’ success. While some may grasp concepts quickly, others may take a longer amount of time in order to fully understand the material. This does not accurately reflect intelligence, but rather the student’s learning style. Even with the personalized learning push in Edina, some students are still getting left in the dust.

The transition from middle to high school is a big one, and many students need more time to acclimate. The learning curve is steep

and often the amount of time we are given as students does not allow for any growth without consequences. A significant portion of EHS students are deemed as “gifted” and often have unrealistic expectations with the belief that failure must be avoided at all costs.

In middle school, many of these students may have perceived 90% as a failing grade.

This unhealthy and grade-focused mindset is not discouraged in middle school, but encouraged because some teachers see it as students going deep into the material for the sake of learning. Going into high school with this mindset only promotes failure, leaving a different set of students struggling to keep up.

Often times, the EHS environment does not enforce the idea that mistakes are a large part of growth. When asked, students said that their teachers do not enforce the message that mistakes are essential to learning. A number of students also stated that their parents do not accept lower grades from their children.

If students aren’t receiving positive messages at all, then the student body isn’t being told that making a mistake is part of the learning process and a necessary path to success.

If we as a school wish to set each other up for success, we must acknowledge failure and tackle it head-on. Teachers must let students know that it is human to make mistakes and the administration should create policies that emphasize the growth of students and accurately reflect their achievements. Failure should not be something from which we shy away. The rubric which our grading system is based on should recognize the valid fears of many high school students and be built in such a way that more effectively prepares them for post-secondary life.

The one-sided perspective of Western news outlets How the media distorts perceptions of the world

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Emma Bailey online editor

he Western world controls a significant part of the international conversation, so individuals are responsible to work towards bridging the privilege gap between developed and developing societies.

In journalism, the majority of international news adopts the same angle: how was the western world affected? Reporters neglect to cover events from a multifaceted and cultural viewpoint and thus augment the privilege gap, defined by entire nations by a view limited only to effects on larger, more powerful countries.

In early August, an earthquake hit the island of Lombok off of Bali, Indonesia,

killing almost 100 citizens and demolishing the homes of over 20,000. Yet, all reports on the matter seem to focus on the safety of tourists and the inconveniences that the evacuation of the “tourist island” caused instead of detailing the destruction that results from such intense physical and emotional damage.

As an island economically based on agriculture, how will the Sasak people recover from the destruction of their fields and crops?

How will the island’s majority Muslim population pray and gather communally without mosques? How will communities rebuild houses that have stood for several hundred years, being passed from generation to generation? We cannot bridge this developmental gap if we’re only focussed on tourism and western repercussions.

This singular viewpoint also neglects to make citizens of developed countries privy to the reasons why effects on the developed world are minimal. When we travel, Westerners primarily stay in areas designated for Westerners, with facilities nice enough to ensure comfort but rustic enough to allow the traveler to get a narrow grasp on the nature of the country. Meanwhile, locals continue to live in homes that, while relevant historically and culturally in design, do not offer anywhere near the same index of safety.

Paired with a limited journalistic viewpoint, this perspective inhibits complete understanding for outsiders. The structural inequality seen in these living situations has devastated the developing world while leaving those with more privileged untouched.

Despite the minimal news coverage given to certain events, others are deemed completely unimportant and not reported on at all. We see the most news on developed or economically relevant countries, leaving out entire regions, like a great portion of Western and Southeast Asia.

Media outlets neglect to present this viewpoint on account of the inevitable discomfort it would elicit, yet its existence in the first place tells us enough: Westerners in power value their own comfort more than individual lives of those who have less power.

We are horrifyingly misinformed about the developing world. Any current work on bridging this privilege gaps stands at wall built by those that gain power from structural inequality.

HEAD TO HEAD

Thursday, November 1, 2018

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Marijuana should not be federally legalized Jack Marker page editor

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s we inch closer to the midterm elections, one political party on the Minnesota governor’s ballot sticks out on the ballots: Grassroots, whose stated goal is to legalize marijuana. There is currently momentum in the world today to legalize marijuana. Nine states have legalized recreational use of marijuana for adults 21 and over, and it became legal in Canada on Oct. 17.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), “Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States, with 37.6 million users in the past year.” It might not be long before people all over America are using marijuana without fear of jail time. However, legalizing marijuana would bring greater problems than it is worth.

The first major problem with legalizing marijuana is its adverse health effects. According to the CDC, “[Marijuana] specifically [targets] the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time.” It is directly correlated to numerous mental health problems. A study by University of Sydney’s professor Wayne Hall found that there is a clear link between marijuana and psychosis and schizophrenia, especially for teenagers. Additionally, marijuana not only hurts an individual’s brain, but also damages their heart and lungs. Marijuana leads to an increase risk of strokes and heart diseases. According to the CDC, “Smoked marijuana, in any form, can harm lung tissues and cause scarring and damage to small blood vessels.”

In addition to its adverse health effects, marijuana has

severe long term social effects. Some people will retort this argument with: that is not how “high” people are portrayed in movies and television shows. However, these shows neglect to show viewers the true societal effects when one is consistently smoking marijuana. The National Institute of Health explains some effects of heavy usage of weed as being a “poor educational outcome with an increased likelihood of dropping out of school” and “diminished life satisfaction and achievement.” Teens who smoke marijuana are “60 percent less likely to graduate college and seven times more likely to attempt suicide,” according to the Lancet Psychiatry.

Furthermore, marijuana, with its addictive properties, is a gateway drug to more dangerous substances. “People who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are four to seven times more likely to develop a marijuana use disorder,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The American Addiction Center adds, “Marijuana is considered a Schedule [one] drug, which means that it has no recognized medicinal value while at the same time carries a high risk of abuse.” Given the lack of a useful purpose, “in 2012, over 950,000 people received some form of treatment for marijuana use,” the Addiction Center states. With the increase of usage, more and more people are becoming addicted.

Moreover, the legalization of marijuana would hurt people’s professional lives. It would damage somebody’s professional career as it creates a lack of motivation. A study conducted by the Imperial College of London found that long-term cannabis users tend to produce less dopamine, a neurochemical directly linked to motivation and reward.

This lack of motivation would lead to less interest in their professions, which could ultimately hurt their careers. A study carried out by University College of London found

that marijuana use reduces a person’s short-term motivation to work for money. In addition to this, Life Works, a nonprofit which specializes in marijuana research, performed a study on productivity between those who recently smoked marijuana and those who did not. The study concluded that marijuana usage correlates with a decrease in productivity levels.

We can look at Colorado as a test taste of the legalization of marijuana. Since Colorado legalized marijuana, “[they have] seen an increase in marijuana related traffic deaths, poison control calls, and emergency room visits. wwThe marijuana black market has increased in Colorado, not decreased. And numerous Colorado marijuana regulators have been indicted for corruption,” according to an article in USA Today. Stat News explains that advertisements for pot tarts, hashish cups, and cannabis gummy bears will become as common as the soft drink promotions targeted at the youth market.

There is a definite correlation between crime and marijuana usage as well. The Daily Signal revealed that almost 50 percent of Denver arrestees tested positive for marijuana.

The legalization of marijuana has wreaked havoc on the medical system and law enforcement of Colorado. Colorado has shown us that the legalization of marijuana has detrimental unintended consequences. Do we really want this to happen on a national scale?

Some people believe that using marijuana is cool.

However just because something is considered cool, does not mean that it should be legalized. We do not need the harmful effects that come with legalizing marijuana. Until science proves that marijuana is clearly beneficial, policy changes for federally legalizing marijuana in the United States should not be passed.

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Legalization of marijuana: beneficial or harmful?

“I think it should not be legal because it is a bad drug and if it’s illegal it discourages people from taking it. Also, your judgment can be impaired when you take marijuana.” Kevin Bourgeault, sophomore

“No one has ever died from a marijuana overdose and it’s way safer than some legalized drugs.” Arya Mirza,, freshman

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Leo Hickey staff writer

arijuana legalization has been hotly debated throughout the United States for decades, ever since the drug first became widely used in the 1910s.

Since then, marijuana has had a negative societal connotation, and has remained illegal for a number of reasons. However, when the societal biases against the drug are overlooked, a fact soon becomes clear: the illegal status of the drug is a bizarre fallacy in the laws of the United States, existing largely because of discriminatory Nixon-era policies and remaining illegal despite the toll its legalization takes on society and medicine.

Marijuana is an outlier in the system when it comes to controlled substances. It is currently classified as a schedule one drug, which, as explained by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), is a drug with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

The strangeness of cannabis’ position on this list is revealed when marijuana is compared with both other controlled substances. Other schedule one drugs include heroin and LSD, substances that are both extremely dangerous and potent, and certainly do not have any legitimate pharmaceutical value.

Marijuana, has, according to the DEA, zero confirmed deaths attributed to it, and has significant medical potential. It simply doesn’t belong on the list. Alcohol, by comparison, has killed over 88,000 people, according to the Center for Disease Control. Even caffeine, a drug that is completely normalized in modern society, killed a 16-year-old boy due to an overdose in May of 2017, according to NBC news. Why, then, is marijuana as controlled as it is?

Marijuana was first made illegal in the late 1930s, having

been associated, according to drugpolicy.org, with prejudice surrounding Mexican immigrants and popular beliefs that the drug drove African-American men into a violent rage. The law was later ruled unconstitutional in the 1969 court case Leary V. United States, but the subject of illegalization came up again under the Nixon administration. Nixon declared drugs “public enemy number one,” and imposed the Controlled Substances Act, which declared marijuana a schedule one drug. However, the motivations behind this were less than heroic; the legislation was driven mainly by desires to associate marijuana with and subsequently imprison minority groups.

John Ehrlichman, a member of Nixon’s cabinet, explained in a 1994 interview with Harper’s Magazine that “We couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities… Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.” This type of discriminatory policy only continued during the Reagan administration, where mandatory minimum sentencing laws allowing the government to imprison marijuana users for obscene lengths of time. According to the American Addiction Center, even though substance use rates for white and black US citizens are very similar, African Americans are arrested for drug abuse at a rate 13 times higher than their white counterparts.

A common argument against legalization is that it is a ‘gateway’ drug to harder substances. However while this would make sense in theory, it simply isn’t true. A 2009 peerreviewed research paper by Archie Brodsky, the head of the department of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School, quantifies this, explaining that “Although most heavier drug

users were once lighter drug users, this association does not establish a connection. Few young people progress from lighter to heavier drug use.” There simply isn’t a connection, just because someone drinks alcohol, for example, doesn’t mean they are going to continue on to more dangerous substances. The only reasonable explanation for the ‘gateway’ concept is that drug dealers who sell cannabis will sometimes ‘spike’ the marijuana with harder drugs in order to get their buyers hooked and moving up to more extreme substances.

However, were marijuana to be legalized, the necessity for people to buy from black market dealers is negated, and this concern disappears.

Finally, there is significant evidence that marijuana has significant medical benefits. In an article posted to the website this January, the Harvard Medical Center lists just some of the benefits of the substance, saying that “Marijuana appears to ease the pain of multiple sclerosis, and nerve pain in general…

Medical marijuana is also reported to help patients suffering from pain and wasting syndrome associated with HIV, as well as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn’s disease.” Again, a schedule one drug is defined as having ‘no accepted medical use,’ a statement in direct contrast to marjiana’s wide variety of uses as a painkiller. Cannabis is uniquely important as the abilities of the substance are an area “where few other options exist, and those that do, such as Neurontin, Lyrica, or opiates are highly sedating,” the Harvard Medical Center continues.

Legalizing the drug would allow the boundaries of its medical uses to be fully acted upon.

Because of the inconsistencies in enforcements of other illicit drugs, the history of racist intentions surrounding its legalization, and the great potential for important medical use, marijuana is a clear candidate for federal legalization, and policy changes can’t come fast enough.

Marijuana should be federally legalized

SPORTS

“A way to prevent injuries from concussions is to pull yourself out of the game when you get hurt, even if you want to keep playing, because by continuing playing in the game you’re making yourself worse off.” Anna Heirigs, junior

Thursday, November 1, 2018

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he Edina Hornets Varsity Girls’ Tennis Team has a rich history of athletic excellence spanning generations, and this season is shaping up to be no exception. Coming in hot off a victory at Sections, the team entered the state tournament and made the athlete’s hopes come true as these Hornets brought home yet another state title.

This past October, the Edina’s Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team made the trek to Lakeville to compete in the MSHSL section 6AA tournament. There, they claimed an overwhelming victory as a team. In Singles, junior Nicole Copeland took first, senior

Andrea Jansson took second, while in the doubles competition, the pair of senior Sam Van Ert and junior Shaylynn Reger took second, and junior Jessica Ip partnered with Sophomore Ingrid Smith to take third. “It feels really good [to have won]... Obviously, you always want the very best for your team. But this is a time when it really counts. So you bring like your best game out into the court. And if you're not playing you’re cheering, as loud as you can,” Sami Hankison, a Varsity member and an eighthgrader from Our Lady of Grace School said.

Following the victory at sectionals, the Edina’s Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team competed at the state tournament beginning on Oct. 23. “I mean obviously our main goal is to go as far as we can winning state, but

Andy Lee hired as new EHS boys lacrosse coach Alex Stenman page editor

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oach Andy Lee is no stranger to the sport of lacrosse. For the last seventeen years, he’s been involved with the sport, either playing or coaching. A graduate of Eastview High School, Lee was named the new Edina High School boys varsity lacrosse coach in October 2018, after a five year tenure as the coach of Kennedy High School in Bloomington.

Lee says that lacrosse appealed to his low level of patience as a teenager. “I tried it and I just kind of fell in love with how it was played. It was different, it was unique, it was fast-paced, and I really just wanted to dive into it more,” Lee said.

In college, Lee was a member of the University of St. Thomas lacrosse team.

In his sophomore year, the St. Thomas Team had an 11-2 record, and Lee made the second team all-conference team at his position. Following his experiences in college, Lee went into coaching Varsity

lacrosse teams all across Minnesota, working with teams ranging from Irondale High School, Lakeville High School, and his hometown team at Eastview.

“I think what really drives me to be a coach is getting to know each and every player, and being able to understand their goals hopes and help them reach that,” Lee said. “I’m a very relationship-based people person, so on and off the field I just love building relationships with all the players and helping them achieve goals they’ve set.”

Lee was hired as the coach for Edina following a 6-9 season last year, and he hopes to continue the winning tradition the Hornets have experienced in past seasons. “I think I’ll bring a new energy to this team. I get really excited being with players who want to learn and want to strive to be the very best. The availability of the game has really blossomed since when I was a kid, and I’m excited to help these players use lacrosse to achieve goals and build a future,” Lee said.

having the experience of making it to state comes with a lot of nerves as a lot of people can obviously tell,” Reger said.

These Hornets did not fall short of their goals at state by any means. Yet again, Edina clinched the Minnesota Class 2A Championship, making it Edina’s 36th total championship. The State singles competition appeared very similar to sections, with Copeland taking first, beating out her teammate Jansson, who took second, in the finals. “It’s awesome, it’s really fun. It brings the whole team together and it means a lot Rallying for another win: The girls tennis team has [to have won]. I mean, it’s state,” senior won 21 of the last 22 State Championships.

Andrea Jansson said.

Athlete of the month: Taelyr Czech

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Kyra Bergerud page editor

f you went to a volleyball game at Edina High School, it wouldn’t be first instinct to look to the back row where senior Taelyr Czech plays. As the team libero, however, Czech’s defensive position is instrumental to the team’s success and sets the tone for the course of the game.

Being the libero requires intense mental calculation with little to no room for misstep. Czech defends the court playing the furthest back position in order to ensure the most successful plays; she even wears a different color jersey to mark her position on the team. Whereas some other positions can afford to make mistakes, Czech doesn’t have that luxury in her role.

“I stay in the back row, play defense, and serve,” Czech said. Without her, the game would be impossible. “She’s in the back, she’s primarily responsible for first contact even if she doesn’t take it every time. She only plays back row through passes and defense. If you can’t pass, you can’t win. It’s a very important role,” Mark Nelson, the girls volleyball coach, said.

In addition to being the libero, Czech’s infectious and generous attitude makes her a key component of fostering that same energy on the team. “She’s always positive, not super up or down, matches my culture and style really well, she mirrors that,” Nelson said.

As an extremely competitive person, Czech always brings everything she has to practice, never being afraid to take the hard way out. Her go-getter attitude is what makes her a fundamen-

tal component of the team.“Practice transitions into your games, if you’re working hard in practice and getting better you’re only going to play better in games,” Czech said.

Czech’s role as the libero on the team is indisputable as being crucial to their success and her motivation is a key component to that. “She’s not going to bring anything negative to the team. If she’s not playing well, no one would ever know it. She brings that same energy and always does her best. That’s infectious for others,” Nelson said. photo courtesy of Taelyer Czech

Hans Janovy-Meyer page editor

photo courtesy of Edina Girls Tennis

Girls tennis wins big at state following win at sectionals

Serving greatness: Czech keeps the team going with her energetic play and attitude

Anjali Aralikar student life beat lead

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t Edina High School, all students love Friday night football, especially when we win. With the EHS Football team’s 6-2 record and a high state rank, this year’s state title is in sight. However, with every practice and every game lies a hidden threat: injuries, more specifically, concussions.

Ever since this year’s football season started, there have been multiple stories of brain trauma-related deaths. On Sept.

30, junior Dylan Thomas, a linebacker for his high school team in Georgia, died of a severe head injury he sustained during the previous game. A few days before, another linebacker, sophomore Christion Abercrombie of Tennessee State University, was rushed to the hospital after collapsing on sidelines from a head injury.

Concussions are no stranger to the EHS football team.

Although there haven’t been any deaths related to severe head injuries, concussions are still a major threat which can keep players on the bench for weeks. The team’s most recent major concussion happened to senior Jackson Molitt during the Homecoming game; Molitt returned to the field on Oct. 12.

As of right now, the team is managing about six concussions, EHS Head Athletic Trainer Steven Tschida said. To keep players in good health, Tschida and the other trainers follow a strict protocol when dealing with concussions. The players must show no symptoms while at rest, with light excursions, and then non-contact activities. If they pass those steps, they are eased back onto the field. “If we can satisfy this, then we’re at the best chance to prevent an injury that may result in a higher rate of complications and more prolonged recoveries,” Tschida said.

Awareness of the concussion is key. “I never really thought I was at risk for a concussion,” senior wide receiver Anders

art by Mallika Srinivas

Concussions and brain trauma: the dark side of sports

Freeland said, regarding his attitude before he had a moderate concussion last year. It’s important to realize that almost anyone can get a concussion. “High schoolers, because they are still developing, are more prone to concussion symptoms and more significant brain injuries because of their age,” Tschida said.

He trusts students to come forward with their injuries so he can guide them on the best recovery path.

Communication is by far the most important part of this

process because concussion symptoms present themselves in different ways. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, and difficulty concentrating.

Furthermore, no one symptom can single-handedly indicate a serious concussion. “You have to be acute to each athlete,” Tschida said regarding the players’ treatment.

Due to the nature of the game, concussions can’t be fully eliminated. “Football’s football. You’re going to have contact,” Tschida said. However, there is still a lot that can be done to protect players. In the past few years, the team has acquired new gear, such as the Riddell Speedflex Helmets, to protect players from concussions. But Tschida doesn’t think this is enough. “We can get the highest quality, highest technology helmet out there, but the helmet isn’t designed to prevent concussions as much as it is to prevent skull fractures or more significant brain injuries,” Tschida said. He believes concussion prevention lies in practice techniques. At the high school level, most concussions occur during practice. Ergo, limiting the amount to contact practice days the team has sounds like a good solution to Tschida.

The NFL and MNSFL are also taking steps to prevent concussions by creating new rules. These rules protect the quarterback after he’s thrown the ball and prohibit players from “leading with their heads,” which used to cause head-to-head collisions. If players are caught leading with their head, they’re given a penalty. “That’s all the incentive not to do that,” Freeland said.

Football remains a dangerous sport due to concussions.

But, the prospect does not daunt players. “If people want to play football, they should know the risks,” Freeland said. The athletic training facility has several systems in place when it comes to taking care of the football team’s concussions. Even if concussions can’t be completely prevented, due to beneficial changes, these injuries will definitely be reduced.