MV Viewer 2021-2022 Issue 2

VOLUME 69 ISSUE 2 | OCTOBER 29, 2021

THE VIEWER

The Weight of Work

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Indigenous People Day 03/ Reflect 06/ Xingyi Xuye and Elly Lynch 08

02

News

Friday, October 29, 2021

2021 school board election

by Tyler Quattrin staff reporter

On Nov. 2, voters in the Mounds View School District will elect three residents to serve a four-year term on the school board. Six candidates, Shauna Bock, Diane Glasheen, Christine LaDuke, Yolanda Magee, Tim Root and Jon VanOeveren, are running for the three open positions. With students and teachers facing crucial issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, diversity & equity and mental health, understanding the candidates’ stances is especially important.

The safety of students and teachers at school has always been a priority. With schools reopening during the pandemic, most candidates agree that Mounds View’s mask mandates are important, but some disagree on the decisions made last summer regarding COVID management in Mounds View schools.

Root was disappointed with the school board’s initial decision to make masks optional at school, especially after the state issued guidelines saying districts should require masks. He was also frustrated that the board then left the decision up to the superintendent, believing that the board should have been more transparent with their decisions. “I believe there needs to be fundamental changes to the way the board operates just to be answerable to the students and the parents and the staff in the school district,” Root said.

On the other hand, Glasheen, who was previously on the board, agrees with the decision-making process.

“The day-to-day operations essentially lie with the superintendent and administration. We are made aware of the day-to-day things, but we are not making those decisions,” she said.

In regards to safety and health, issues concerning mental health are important to all candidates. Bock, running for re-election, wants to continue to focus on

helping students, especially when dealing with the pandemic’s effects. “I think we have a whole new level of mental health we need to be helping our kids with,” she said.

Another topic currently controversial in education is critical race theory (CRT). LaDuke does not believe it is being taught in Mounds View schools, and she wants to keep it that way. She believes CRT breeds division.

“It stresses that all whites are inherently oppressive, and everyone else is a victim,” she said.

Root is another candidate who has a strong opinion on critical race theory, and he disagrees with LaDuke on this issue. He agrees that Mounds View does not teach critical race theory, but he does not agree with her on what it means. “[CRT] is the college-level academic study of how United States laws interface with race,” he said. “Some people misattribute certain things to [CRT].”

Ensuring diversity and equity is also important to many candidates. Magee decided to run after being approached by a diverse group of students and alumni who brought to her attention that there has never been a person of color on the school board. She wants Mounds View students and families of color to feel represented on the school board.

Some candidates also bring up unique perspectives that others have not mentioned. VanOeveren wants to move towards having green schools and be a carbonneutral district by 2030, and to expand affordable early education. “The cost of early childhood is incredible.

It’s like paying for a kid to go to college for a year,” he said.

Another issue he wants to address is continuing having an online option for students. Many students have enrolled in an online option but have gone to other districts to do so, which has caused Mounds View to lose revenue.

Bock also wants to emphasize different postsecondary options. “We promote traditional colleges, 4-year colleges and maybe not such a great job at promoting trade schools or 2-year colleges, [military] or just going into a career after high school,” she said.

Although all candidates have different backgrounds and views, they all want the best for Mounds View and its families. Anyone age 18 or older is eligible to vote in this election. Voters can show up to their nearest polling station to cast their ballots on Nov. 2 or cast an absentee ballot before election day. To learn more about how to participate, visit the election information on the Ramsey County website.

The recent events of gun violence have led to security concerns within the Mounds View community. “It’s a scary thing to hear happening so close to home,” said Jenna Pomraning, media specialist. “It’s not the kind of thing you ever want to hear about happening in your community.”

Students within the community are also concerned about the dangers that are proposed through these incidents. “I’m scared. I don’t want our generation to get worse and worse. Shooting up the school shouldn’t be an option,” said Justin Shao, 9.

The rising concern for safety prompts people to think about possible solutions. “I think we don’t need guns but I don’t think that will happen be-

firearms. “I say guns should be banned because when people have them in their possession, they’re more likely to use them,” said Alycia Nelson, 12.

Another solution that Mounds View has already implemented is the addition of School Resource Officers (SRO). “My main objective is to maintain safety, obviously, in case something bad [were] to happen,” said William Rzeszutek, Mounds View’s SRO. “I work with kids to help them with issues day to day, I work with families on issues and basically help out school staff when needed also.

I kind of see myself as a school staff member, too.”

By nature of his job, Rzeszutek said that he is consistently thinking of potential threats to the school, and as with most SROs, he is also armed.

“School shootings have been happening since I was in high school,” Pomraning said. The steady rise of gun violence across schools does not seem to have a definite end, but regardless, students and families hope to remain safe within the school community.

illustration by Iris Ren

Gun violence in the community

by Lucy Zhao staff reporter

On Oct. 3, Mounds View High School was alerted of a threat made against the school circulating on Instagram. The school sent messages to students and parents after dealing with the situation, and school resumed on Monday. However, the threat of gun violence still resulted in many students staying at home as families took precautions regarding their safety.

In addition, just two weeks before this incident, Star Tribune reported a shooting that happened in the city of Mounds View where a suspect confronted local law enforcement with a handgun.

“I’m scared. I don’t want our generation to get worse and worse. Shooting up the school shouldn’t be an option.”

Justin Shao, 9

illustration by Iris Ren

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cause people are too obsessed with guns,” said Claudia Zimmermann, 12. “[The guns] cause more harm than good.” She believes there should be more background checks on people who can own a gun.

Other students take a more extreme stance against

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Friday, October 29, 2021

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

by Lale Baylar staff reporter

This year on Oct. 11, Indigenous Peoples’ Day was celebrated nationwide in place of Columbus Day. This major change aims to celebrate and raise awareness about the culture and history of Native Americans.

However, changes regarding the holiday have caused many to reevaluate their past ideals. As the holiday passed, Mounds View students and staff shared their thoughts on the newly recognized event.

President Joe Biden is the first president to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, emphasizing the importance of names and acknowledgment.

“The contributions that Indigenous peoples have made throughout history—in public service, entrepreneurship, scholarship, the arts and countless other fields— are integral to our Nation, our culture, and our society,” Biden said.

Justin Benolkin, a U.S. history teacher agrees.

“The names we give to things, the time we set aside to acknowledge things, transmits what we value. The fact that we call it Columbus Day excludes people, and it makes it clear to those people who have been marginalized and abused that we don’t care what they think,” Benolkin said. Interpretations such as his are ultimately what led to the change.

Several people at Mounds View state that Indigenous Peoples’ Day has a lot of meaning for them. “I am part Cherokee. Many people know that the Cherokee were taken from their land and moved to Oklahoma in the ‘Trail of Tears.’ So, I’m very proud of Indigenous

“The names we give to things, the time we set aside to acknowledge things, transmits what we value.”

Justin Benolkin, history teacher Peoples’ Day, our celebrations, and the voices being heard that weren’t heard in the past,” said Heather Ward, equity specialist. She is glad that America is starting to recognize her history and culture.

Today, an increasing number of people in society recognize the presence and importance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Faith Yang, 10, thinks that not many people know what Indigenous people have gone through, but they are starting to learn the truth. “Maybe we are becoming better people,” Yang said. She explains that many of her peers are no longer turning a blind eye and are trying to acknowledge and understand the parts of history that have been forgotten.

In some ways, Mounds View has tried to adapt to changes concerning the Indigenous people. “I am very happy with some of the things that have been happening to involve all cultures,” Ward said. She believes that the Mounds View curriculum is doing a good job of including Native American history.

On the other hand, Jill Spencer, the school district’s American Indian liaison, presses for more significant

Behind the scenes

by Maya Gjelhaug staff reporter

Showtime is approaching quickly for the cast and crew of Mounds View theatre’s fall production of AHaunting We Will Go. Set designers are scrambling to create props, costume designers are rushing to complete the production’s wardrobe and the cast is hurrying to memorize their lines. Students at Mounds View have the luxury of attending these productions, but most are unaware of what goes on behind the scenes.

An important part of any play is the people who produce it. “We have costuming, which is in charge of our hair, makeup, outfits, shoes, all of it. Crew is obviously in charge of the set, and then when we have a set with more moving pieces, they’re in charge of moving it. We have tech—they’re in charge of mics and sound effects. Then we have props who are, again, in charge of props, and then cast,” said cast captain Kieran Connolly, 12. Producing a play would be impossible without the work of the different departments.

Sarah Kolasa, 10, has been a part of the hard-working crew team since last year. “[Set crew] is basically when you build the sets that the actors can use on stage, and then you tear it down at the end of the play,” she said. “It’s a lot of teamwork. A lot of people know more about building than others, so they’ll teach the freshman or new people that come into theatre.” Kolasa also believes that collaboration within departments is important to meet deadlines and keep production on track.

The timeline of the school play typically begins in August. However, because of the pandemic this year, rehearsals only began the first week of school.

“Our first rehearsal is a read-through, then we kind of just start from the top,” Connolly said. “We start from the first scene and block as much as we can—which means positioning people where they’re going to be.

Once we get our blocking done, we really work on how everything comes across, from the way we move to the way we speak, to memorizing our lines.” For her, keeping a steady timeline relies on having efficient rehearsals.

All of the departments are busy right from the start of production. Even the costume departments must begin early, even though the play is not until months

features 03

additions to what Mounds View already offers. She believes that the school curriculum should include classes or other alternatives relating to Indigenous people for students and staff to partake in.

On a larger scale, there are many things people can do for Native Americans to rectify historical wrongdoings. “One, we should apologize. We never apologized as a nation. I think the second thing we should do is to ask the Indigenous people what they want. As a nonIndigenous person, I have no right to tell Indigenous people what they want or what they should get or not get,” Benolkin said. After asking those most impacted,

photo courtesy of Flickr

he believes that people should follow through with making amends.

The changes regarding Indigenous Peoples’ Day will lead to further discussion and development regarding the rights and representation of Indigenous people in society. As a community, students and teachers at Mounds View are beginning to take small but definitive

later. “[Costuming rehearsals are] different because at the beginning [the costuming director] would assign us a character and we would pull costumes for them. We would make outfits and stuff and we could check with our costuming director to see if they think it’s okay,” said Lillian Landberg, 9.

“[The most rewarding part] is seeing how much the actors grow.”

Bobbi Varichek, play director

With a lot of work required for each department, Bobbi Varichek, director of the play, notes that the most important part of producing the show is communication. “Making sure everyone’s onboard is important,” she said. “We have a Groupme text that the captains and I are on [for] making sure of what we need to do.”

Producing a successful play requires much coordination and effort between all the departments, but the end result is worth it. “[The most rewarding part is] seeing how much the actors grow,” Varichek said. “It’s also seeing how wonderful the set is, and once you put the costuming in, it’s just phenomenal.” illustration by Iris Ren

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FridAy, October 29th, 2021

The weight of work

by Bria Farmer and Nicholas Zwiener staff reporters

Management methods of a good balance

Students and staff at Mounds View are often overscheduled and stressed, but over time, some have learned to find a good balance between their school, work, extracurriculars and social life. Maintaining balance is different for everybody and the reasons and methods they use can vary.

illustrations by Iris Ren

For many students, time management and relaxation are key components of maintaining a good balance. Some methods people use to achieve this include keeping track of important events and deadlines in a planner or setting alarms on their phones. In addition, many students focus on maximizing in-class work time. “My teachers give us enough time in class to get our stuff done,” said Sydney Koch, 12. Koch also uses her free hour and her online gym hour to get homework done. She focuses on getting her work done

during the school day, so she only has about an hour of school work after school.

Students who use their spare time wisely and plan ahead are able to maintain a better balance. While jobs and extracurricular activities can make life busy, organizing their schedules allows students and staff to effectively balance it all on top of other responsibilities.

Even though Branson Gillele, 12, works four hours a day, he is still able to prioritize time for himself with three hours of free time by staying on top of school work and managing his time wisely.

Teachers also take on more work outside of their jobs at the school. Nahjai Brown, supervisory paraeducator, is a full-time student at Augsburg University in addition to his job at Mounds View. But because he has a job where he can talk to students and build relationships, he is able to maintain a social life between his job and education.

[my work] without distractions, I can get things done,” Koch said. She is able to finish her work in about an hour if she can really focus, using the remaining time available to spend with her friends and family. Finishing school work quickly results in a significant amount of free time, which can be used to socialize, play video games or do other fun activities.

While some students have always managed to find balance in their schedules, others have realized it is a learning process. In her early years of high school, Koch struggled to manage her time wisely. However, she is taking easier classes this year in order to lighten her workload and create more free time.

Through trying different methods for maximizing productivity, students are able to stay on top of schoolwork and activities as well as have a good social life. Using time management skills, finishing work before free time and having flexible schedules can allow students to achieve a healthy balance.

“If I’m able to do [my work] without distractions, I can get things done.”

Sydney Koch, 12

Students with good balance have good self-control with how they spend their time. “If I’m able to do

The struggle to maintain balance While most Mounds View students and staff have succeeded at maintaining a good equilibrium between school and personal life, others are continuing to find new ways to improve their work-life balance.

Most students have responsibilities like taking care of family, going to work, participating in sports and activities and doing homework, all of which can cause stress and an uneven balance between personal lives and work. Being involved in extracurricular activities outside of school can already be time-consuming. When mixed with homework and other responsibilities, students start to feel pressure, lose sleep and fall behind on school work, making it difficult for them to get out of their situation.

“It makes classes harder for me, because I should be turning in my work on time, and it just makes me stay behind in my other classes,” said Kathryn Nelson, 11. Unbalanced workloads can heavily influence a student’s grades, putting them even further behind or causing them to miss school.

Even though it may seem like teachers have it together during the school day, there are a lot of their own responsibilities at home they need to take care

of. Along with spending time with siblings, nieces and nephews, Amanda Zagaros, English and special education teacher, volunteers with her dog outside of teaching. “My pitbull is a trained therapy dog, and we go to nursing homes and visit people who live there, as well as in the memory care units and the long-term care facilities,” Zagaros said. “I need to complete this work between [four to 8 p.m.] otherwise the residents are asleep or visiting hours are over.”

“In truth, when I feel like I’ve caught up, I know something big will crash on me...”

Amanda Zagaros, English and special education teacher While some have struggled with their workload for a long time, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an added culprit. “I feel like I am always behind,” Zagaros said. “In truth, when I feel like I have caught up, I know something big will crash on me—especially over the pandemic times when I was working 10 to 12 hour days trying to help students navigate the COVID mess.” With the pandemic forcing staff to administer school online, many things had to be taken into consideration with the switch—such as brainstorming methods to prevent cheating on assessments, getting students to actively participate in class and ensuring students did not fall behind—causing a huge spike in workloads. The switch back to hybrid learning also forced teachers and staff to adapt their curriculum so it accommodated both in-person and distance students.

Schedules are heavily influenced by the amount of work and time a person has, which can prevent students and staff from reaching their full potential during the day. Sleep and free time can also determine how a person views their workload. “On a typical school night, four to five hours is average,” said Jenna

Claflin, social studies teacher. Shortened sleep can deepen an unbalanced, chronic cycle by negatively affecting attention spans and overall energy levels.

Students with poor workloads also showed similar sleep patterns. With students getting less than the recommended amount of sleep of eight to 10 hours, their attention levels and productivity during the school day may be less than if they had a good sleep schedule.

Having a busy schedule can be very stressful and tiring, affecting relationships with others. “When you overdo it, you’re not the only one that suffers,” Claflin said. Biting off more than one can chew leads to bad attitudes, affecting friends, family and coworkers or peers.

Disorganization creates more problems and makes solutions increasingly difficult to come by, so even though there are workload management tips, it can be difficult to figure out what works best for each person.

Once students and staff find which aspects of their routine need to be changed, brainstorming solutions is the next step.

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FridAy, October 29th, 2021

Number of Students

The Hours of Sleep MV Students get on Average

Number of Hours information compiled by Bria Farmer 71 students surveyed

Student and staff tips for finding balance Around the time of course registration for every school year, the word “balance” is commonly echoed by the administration and teachers. However, it can be hard to figure out what balance actually looks like. Students and staff continue to redefine their definitions of having both a healthy workload and enough time to relax.

One factor that influences workload is the classes that a student takes, since every class has differing amounts of school work. Sydney Koch, 12, understands the importance of balancing the level of difficulty of her courses. “Just don’t take too many challenging classes,” Koch said. “It’s good to challenge yourself, but not to the point where you don’t have any time where you don’t have any time to do what you want.” Limiting the amount of challenging classes taken decreases the amount of school work required, giving students more free time at home and a less stressful day at school.

Some believe that when students choose which challenging classes to take, if any, they should choose enjoyable classes that they feel they can excel in. “Stick to what you are good at and what you can give [110%] to,’’ said Jenna Claflin, social studies teacher. Having fun while being immersed in a challenging curriculum can help make both schedules and workloads less stressful because students enjoy what they are learning.

Another way to get a good workload is by prioritizing. “Have a good schedule, and know that you have everything done before you do fun stuff,” said Bennett Rezchka, 9. For some students, prioritizing includes doing required tasks first before their free time, instead of procrastinating, which can lead to more stress and lower quality of work.

When prioritizing, some people believe it is

“I believe the ‘eight-eighteight’ saying is true balance.

Eight hours for work, eight hours for play [and] family and eight for sleep.”

Jenna Claflin, social studies teacher

time for sleep, play and work. To combat this, people should learn their limits. “Be a river, not a swamp. By that I mean that you need to have some boundaries,” said Amanda Zagaros, English and special education teacher. Setting boundaries play a role in allowing the other strategies, like prioritizing and limiting workload, to work effectively.

Good schedules are the key to having a good balance, which helps people keep on track, minimize stress and go above and beyond in accomplishing their goals. The key is to find enough time to sleep and have enough free time to do activities, in addition to school and work.

Maintaining a good balance can ultimately improve mental and physical health. crucial to first set aside time for relaxation and sleep.

“I believe the ‘eight-eight-eight’ saying is true balance. Eight hours for work, eight hours for play [and] family time, eight hours for sleep,” Claflin said. As some school days can feel too difficult and stressful to handle, these relaxation techniques allow students and staff to regroup and make time for physical and mental health.

Overcommitment can prevent some students and staff from being able to have a sufficient amount of

06 editorials

FridAy, October 29th, 2021

ReFLECT changes

by Anika Metz staff reporter

ReFLECT is a staple part of Mounds View students’ weekly schedules, giving students time to study, retake tests and catch up on missing assignments. In previous years, ReFLECT was 65 minutes long and students were allowed to move freely between classes and flex spaces. However, this year, the school’s ReFLECT policy has changed. Now, it only lasts 35 minutes, and school policy requires students to stay in their assigned class or get a pass from a teacher to move to another location. These recent changes disadvantage students because it limits their freedom and opportunities.

Since students are restricted to one teacher’s classroom during ReFLECT, they have less opportunity to complete their work in other classes. For example, if students must stay in their first-hour teacher’s room for ReFLECT, they cannot work with teachers from other classes. Additionally, the new flex spaces are going unused by students. Students know what study environment works best for them. Some may prefer a more formal classroom setting while others prefer the library or flex space. Not permitting students to move to the area most suitable for their needs removes agency in their choices.

“

It makes me feel rushed so I get sidetracked.”

-Aubriana Edwards, 12

ReFLECT was created to give students the opportunity and time to complete schoolwork within the

information compiled by Anika Metz 40 students surveyed

illustration by Iris Ren

school atmosphere, giving students who cannot come in outside of the school day or do not have access to a good work environment at home more opportunities.

Thus, it is counterintuitive to make ReFLECT only 35 minutes long while recommending students to use this time to take tests or work on lab projects, which oftentimes take a full hour. Now, students must arrive at school early or stay later to complete such tasks, limiting their schedules. Even while doing basic assign-

ments, students can feel like they do not have enough time to complete quality work. “It makes me feel rushed so I get sidetracked,” said Aubriana Edwards, 12.

Edwards is not the only student to feel this way.

Of the 40 juniors and seniors polled who have experienced ReFLECT before the change, 83% said that they preferred how ReFLECT was two years ago. The shortened time means that students sacrifice sleep, time spent on extracurricular activities and free time to do school work that they could have finished at school.

Due to more accessibility to teachers, mobility between study locations and the greater amount of work time, the school should return ReFLECT to how it was before the change. By doing so, ReFLECT would become more beneficial to students, increasing their productivity, and giving them the opportunity to work in a space they feel comfortable in.

Computer restrictions

by Thierry Thao staff reporter

School Chromebooks are a great tool for teachers and students alike, allowing for streamlined access to assignments, resources and communication. However, students often become frustrated with the number of blocked websites they encounter, especially when it comes to playing games or researching sensitive topics.

Despite these complaints, I believe that Mounds View should continue to block websites and filter the Internet to uphold the safety of its students and promote their focus in an academic environment.

“

We have to do our best, our due diligence to keep your internet experience filtered.”

-Susan Herder, Mounds View technology director While students may feel irritated at app and website blockages, the school primarily does so to protect students. By blocking websites, the school hopes to prevent students from potentially exposing themselves to misinformation, malicious third parties or inappropriate material. Although students might not actively search for these materials, they have no control over what advertisements, pop-up messages, and potential viruses can show up on their devices. Because a ma-

jority of high school students are minors, the district blocks out potentially harmful sites even if students believe otherwise.

In fact, Susan Herder, one of the Mounds View technology staff, stated that filtering certain websites is required by federal law for the safety of students. “We need to do a good job of getting you ready to work in a world where they don’t necessarily have those restrictions, but we’re also responsible for maintaining your safety,” Herder said. Protecting students is paramount, even when it comes to the Internet.

Furthermore, blocking websites has the added benefit of helping students work productively. Without the distractions of games or entertainment, students can focus on their school work. Additionally, this alleviates stress from teachers who are worried that their students are playing games on their devices rather than paying attention in class.

illustration by Iris Ren

Despite these protections, students feel that the school infringes on their privacy when tracking website usage. “I feel like we don’t get privacy because the school is always blocking what we are trying to do,” said Gao Zhong Thao, 10. Naturally, students question how the school knows what websites they are on.

Herder reassures that individual privacy is not at risk. “When students are on their phones, we don’t see anything that’s going on but the websites that are connected. We don’t necessarily know whose phone belongs to who.” The school is able to guarantee students’ right to privacy while continuing to monitor safety.

In addition, sometimes students may feel that blocking a particular website may not be fair. “Filters are never perfect, right? So they sometimes catch things that you really do need, and then sometimes they are not catching things that get through,” Herder said.

If students or teachers feel that a block is unnecessary, they can email the student help desk located on the blocked page to appeal.

While Chromebooks provided by the school may seem to limit students because of the number of blocked websites, in reality, most prohibited sites are blocked for safety reasons. Banning these websites is necessary for the school to properly protect and support its students.

Arts & Entertainment 07

Friday, october 29, 2021

Sanjusan: Adventurous basics

by Joseph Hoffman arts & entertainment editor Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants in the Twin Cities were forced to shut down. However, in the case of Kado No Mise, a well-known sushi restaurant in Minneapolis, the owners quickly turned around and opened it back up as a new restaurant named Sanjusan, a Italian pizza and pasta-based restaurant with Japanese influence.

While the restaurant itself does not have very much space, the addition of a patio seating makes up for it. The restaurant as a whole is beautifully decorated in a very modern style. As you walk in, there is a bar, a few two-person tables to the right and a more spacious dining area to the left with a counter where customers can watch the cooks prepare their food. The inviting atmosphere extends to the servers; every server was incredibly friendly and made the experience much more enjoyable.

While the menu did not have as many options as I expected, it offers enough options that almost anyone will enjoy. Main dishes include Italian pizza and pasta, while drinks and appetizers feature more Japanese cuisine. Offerings range from more approachable dishes like margherita and pepperoni pizzas to crowd-pleasing

photo by Joseph Hoffman

appetizers like tempura calamari and pork gyoza.

For an appetizer, I ordered yakitori, a Japanese form of skewered chicken—it was definitely one of the superstars on the menu. I tried the chicken thigh, breast and skin along with the maitake mushroom, and not one was less than delicious. My favorites include the chicken thigh and mushroom because of how perfectly the thigh was cooked, giving it a great tender texture. The complex, earthy flavor of the mushroom made it stand out from the group. I also enjoyed several of the daily specials, including chicken heart and liver. However, some people might be averse to organ meat.

Moving on to the main course, my family and I ordered the squid ink pappardelle, fettuccine al uni and zucchini as well as the burrata pizza. All three were delicious, but my favorite was the squid ink pappardelle.

It was surprisingly approachable but still extremely flavorful. The squid ink is used in the dough of the pasta to give it a unique midnight blue color and subtly fishy flavor, and the seafood bolognese was a thick tomato sauce that pairs well with the flavor. The fettuccine al uni was much more unexpected. Although there were traditional Italian components like a nice creamy sauce, basil and serrano pepper, Japanese inspired additions such as the snow crab made the dish much more sophisticated and flavorful. The zucchini and burrata pizza was my least favorite item that we ordered because of how far it is from what I usually expect on a pizza. The mix of zucchini, preserved lemon, and fresno chile peppers made it very unusual. Like the fettuccine, the wild

Welcome to the Urban Jungle

by Morghan Larson staff reporter

Anyone looking for a fun, unique shopping experience different from that of average malls and stores should pay a visit to Urban Jungle, a vintage shop located at 1419 S. Washington Ave, Minneapolis.

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with trendy music playing and an overall chill environment. This store is a terrific place for teenagers and young adults to shop in because of their vintage collection. The staff hand-select the best apparel from Minneapolis and other locations around the world. They are quite particular about what they curate, and the items they sell fit their target audience well.

Aside from their outstanding clothing selection, the shop has a specific layout that caters to the customer. Firstly, all items are color-coded and price-coded, meaning that less expensive products are at the front and more expensive products are at the back. The left

side of the store features crewnecks and sweatshirts, while the T-shirts and light long-sleeve shirts are located on the right side. The back of the store has expensive designer items as well as shoes. While they are primarily labeled as a clothing store, Urban Jungle also has cool vintage accessories and trinkets for sale.

The staff at Urban Jungle are helpful without being overwhelming. They were ready to answer questions and locate items and did not try selling me everything in the store. What was also unique was that the store is willing to negotiate prices if you feel that the price is not appropriate. With items costing from $20 to more than $100, being able to haggle the price is definitely a plus.

Although I enjoyed shopping at Urban Jungle, it does not cater to every demographic. For example, an older person might not enjoy the selection of clothing as it is aesthetically young and hip. Additionally, visitors unfamiliar with the downtown Minneapolis area may have difficulty traveling there. They have free

mix of flavors on the pizza was a surprise, but still a good experience nonetheless.

The alcohol free cocktails were equally well done. I had a zero-proof Mandarin cocktail.

The mix of mandarin, tangerine, photo by Joseph Hoffman and lime was pleasantly refreshing and the mix of sweet and citrus matched the Italia flavors of the restaurant very well.

While the restaurant is a little pricey, it definitely still punches above its weight. The experimental flavors and quality of the food would fit in at a restaurant twice the price.

Overall, Sanjusan is a worthy successor to the beloved sushi restaurant that came before it. The hard pivot from a fully Japanese sushi restaurant to an Italian restaurant sprinkled with Japanese influence is an intriguing concept, but it delivers a pleasant dining experience full of great food and a warm atmosphere.

Rating: 4/5

parking on the right side of the building, but it may get a bit crowded during peak visitor hours.

Overall, Urban Jungle offers a fantastic assortment of vintage clothing and a terrific atmosphere. However, the clothing style is not for everyone and finding parking can be a bit difficult. If you are searching for a unique place to shop, I would highly recommend paying a visit to Urban Jungle.

Rating: 4.5/5 photos by Morghan Larson

08

Sports

Will the Vikings win?

by Sarafina Dillon staff reporter

Football is a pastime of many Americans, including Mounds View students. As the Minnesota Vikings take on the Dallas Cowboys on Halloween night, football fans at Mounds View are speculating about the results of the game.

Some students think that the Vikings will lose to the Cowboys. “The Vikings do not have a better offensive and defensive team compared to the Cowboys,” said Tyler Nystrom, 10. This means that they cannot block and score as well as the Cowboys.

Similar to Nystrom, John Hanson, 10, does not think the Vikings have what it takes to beat the Cowboys. The Vikings have lost to comparatively more unskilled teams, like the Cincinnati Bengals. In the Bengal’s previous year, they had a record of two wins and 14 losses, tying their franchise record for the most losses since 2002. In comparison, the Cowboys’ record from last year was six wins and 10 losses. “The Bengals have [overall] better players,” Hanson said. These statistics indicate the greater possibility of a loss for the Vikings. Hanson also believes that the Vikings’ quarterback, Kirk Cousins, is holding the team together in regards to winning.

In addition to this, other past records serve as a basis to predict the Vikings’ loss. This year, they have lost to teams

“The Vikings do not have a better offensive and defensive team compared to the Cowboys.”

Tyler Nystrom, 10

MV dives into taper

Friday, October 29, 2021

that they have won against in previous years, having a worse record than prior seasons. “The Vikings have a weakening offense in throwing the ball and scoring as well,” Nystrom said.

However, some students are still holding out for a Vikings’ victory on Halloween. Ryan Litecky, 10, believes that the Vikings have a good defensive team.

Based on their defensive statistics he believes that they will have more passing and rushing yards. This measures how many yards a player gained or lost when rushing with the ball, without receiving a pass. The rushing yard counting is based on the ball carrier’s movement.

“The Vikings also do need to be careful around the fourth quarter, though,” Litecky said. “The Vikings seem to lose their way and break down in [the] last quarter.” Litecky believes that if the Vikings remain in control through the entire game, they can win.

Most Mounds View students predict that on Halloween night the Vikings will take home yet another loss for Minnesota. Even with the Viking’s weakening offense and record number of losses, fans are keeping their fingers crossed in hopes of a victory.

illustration by Iris Ren

by Madeline Boespflug staff reporter

As fall sports reach the conclusion of their season, the Mounds View girls swim and dive team has been preparing for their final conference meets by tapering.

A strategy to help athletes swim faster, this method involves cutting sweets and junk food out of their diet while making practices less difficult.

For most swimmers, taper is beneficial. Their times can drop by three to four seconds—a big improvement in the swimming world—when they follow this routine.

“Over all the past years I’ve swam, I’ve noticed that I generally have improved my event times and often get personal bests when I take taper seriously,” said Daisy Bai, 12, who is one of the captains. “For example, I dropped 12 seconds on my 200 freestyle after taper during the final championship meet.” 12 seconds is a tremendous improvement in swimming, showing how effective taper is for swimmers.

“I dropped 12 seconds on my 200 freestyle after taper during the final championship meet.”

Daisy Bai, 12

However, taper can be a difficult time for some swimmers. One aspect of the training regimen requires swimmers to cut out excess sugar for their diets. Although they can consume typical snacks like post-practice chocolate milk or dried fruit, swimmers must skip out on Halloween. “It’s hard. I usually sit in my room while my siblings eat candy,” said Kenna Karel, 10.

Another requirement of taper is that swimmers do not shave for the time period. Body hair causes friction with the water, dragging swimmers backwards. By allowing body hair to grow out, swimmers have to work harder when they swim.

At the end of taper, before the conference meets, swimmers shave off their body hair.

“The water feels different on your skin when you don’t have the hair and you glide through the water,” Karel said. With the sudden reduction of friction, swimmers are able to race faster because they retain the same strength.

In addition, taper includes decreased difficulty in

“The water feels different on your skin when you don’t have the hair and you glide through the water.”

Kenna Karel, 10 practices. Athletes swim less yardage, and their condi

photo courtesy of Laney Snell

tioning is less intense. “It’s important to not strain anything or work ourselves too hard during these two weeks of taper so we can be in our best shape,” Bai said. Ensuring that swimmers are not physically exhausted or injured is also crucial for preparing for their final races.

In addition to staying in physical shape, swimmers emphasize maintaining mental health throughout taper.

“Our coaches always talk about how we need to avoid ANTs, Automatic Negative Thoughts, during practices and meets,” Bai said. “It is especially important to keep a positive mindset when things get challenging. This way, we can feel confident about ourselves and our performance during the final championship meets of the season.”

In the crucial time period leading up to final conference meets, tapering builds on swimmers’ hard work during the season to help them improve their results.

Puzzles & Ads 09

FRIDAY, October 29, 2021

First five people to finish both puzzles DM @mvviewer for free Mustang Mocha drinks!

See the puzzle solutions online at www. mvviewer.org!

puzzle by puzzlopolis.com

1. XUYE

6. BALANCE

2. RESTRICTIONS

7. REFLECT

3. HALLOWEEN

8.TAPER

4.VIOLENCE

9. URBANJUNGLE

5. INDIGENOUS

10. ELECTION

Student submissions Re-start: No matter who I try to be These words are still inside of me I could be happy for a century But it would end eventually Start panicking every time I hit send It’s scary how much time I’ll spend Are we all just playing pretend?

Or just going along with the new trend here I go Overthinking again Time to stop, make it end See more Close my eyes and count to ten Take a breath and grab the pen student work -Quintan Lynne, 12 The Night After

online at www. mvviewer.org!

The plains sway in the breeze before me I stare, gazing at the sunrise A man, a speck, afar, gazes back at me He runs Up and up, ramping, twisting, turning My eyes strain to follow, hopelessness rises, tarnishing my fervor Up and up into the sky, wood and brick and metal folding into a tower I try in vain to match him, but alas It’s futileFrom the endless sky above he double pumps, It’s over I step back from my screen the glowing slate before my eyes Aghast, in shock, in disbelief But! A sole digit stands Enshrouded in green, daring to exist An opportunity -Jonesy

puzzle by websudoku.com

10 Artist & Athlete of the Issue

Artist of the issue

Q: What do you love about digital art?

A: It serves as a way for me to express my passion for things I like, which is probably anime, and contribute to it.

Friday, October 29, 2021

The main reason I can constantly pursue art is because I have passion for [it]. Drawing for the purpose of others, such as simply pursuing praises and awards often does not end well.

photo courtesy of Xingyi Xuye

Xingyi Xuye Xuye (12) is a digital artist.

Q: What type of art do you do and how did you get into it?

A: I do digital art. I got into it because I have liked doing art since I was a child, and this one artist I admired back in elementary school inspired me to get into digital art.

Q: What do you see yourself doing with art in the future?

A: I would like it to be my second major in college, and a minor career later on in my life.

Q: Any advice you would give to aspiring digital artists?

A: Don’t be afraid to learn new techniques. Sooner or later, [you will learn] how to do all sorts of stuff on your drawing software, there’s no exception. So why not sooner?

illustrations by Xingyi Xuye

Q: Anything else you would like to add about your experience as an artist?

Athlete of the issue

A: I have been swimming competitively for about 11 years now, and I did lots of lessons and classes in the years before that.

Q: What is your proudest swimming accomplishment?

A: I would have to say that qualifying for the state meets I have gone to are for sure on the top of the list.

The time standards are very selective so to know that the hard work I put into the long season paid off in the end felt super rewarding. The state meet after that is simply the icing on the cake.

Q: Is there anyone in particular that you would credit for your success and why? photos courtesy of Elly Lynch

Elly Lynch Lynch (12) is the captain of the girls swim team at Mounds View.

Q: Why do you love swimming?

A: I think I speak for most swimmers when I say that I have a love-hate relationship with the sport. No matter how much we dread practice sometimes we can never bring ourselves to take a break. Andhonestly, that is what I love about it. I love having teammates and coaches that make the hard work fun, and swimming a super fast race/time is definitely the best feeling in the world.

Q: How long have you been swimming?

A: Like most other sports my coaches have always been there through all my ups and downs, and they never gave up on me. The time commitment that they put into training me and my teammates every day of the week is impeccable and they always do it with a smile.

Their positive attitude and motivation definitely helped me push through my bad races to get to the success I achieved later on.

Q: Any advice for beginner swimmers?

A: Swimming is one of the sports that allows you to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Whether it be trying a new event you’ve never swam or going to the next fastest interval at practice, there are so many little things you can do to improve as a swimmer, and you may even find something new that you love!

Q: As a swim team captain, what is your goal this season?

A: As a captain I want to be someone that my team can look up to, whether it be an example in the pool or someone to talk to. Being a larger team we work hard to

be as tight knit as possible because that is what boosts our team atmosphere. I also want everyone to have fun while still working towards their goals! That balance is key for enjoying the season with as much training as we do, and it keeps the girls positive too, which helps us all swim faster!