MV Viewer 2021-2022 Issue 3

VOLUME VOLUME 6769 ISSUE ISSUE 13 | SEPTEMBER | NOVEMBER 27, 19, 2019 2021

THE VIEWER

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News

Friday, November 19, 2021

From COP26 to MV

by Lale Baylar staff reporter

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, occurred in Glasgow on Oct. 31. Notable leaders and activists, such as President Joe Biden and Brianna Fruean, convened to discuss the dangers of climate change, seek solutions and encourage people to take action. As climate change took a global stage, Mounds View students and staff provide insight to this issue.

Students feel strongly about the detrimental nature of climate change and support more changes. “I think that it’s a very important issue that needs to be looked into,” said Ronald Xu, 10. He explained that society can do many things regarding climate change, such as prioritizing the promotion of environmentally-sustainable habits to spread awareness.

While many agree, they have different ideas for the people who need to be accountable for the change.

“More of the action should be done by bigger companies,” said Justin Shao, 9. He believes that powerful companies, rather than individuals, need to take the initiative towards tackling climate change because they have more influence over greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, this would also cause the general society to act towards protecting the environment.

Using their own power, Mounds View students are invoking community-wide changes in promoting environmental activism through different activities. One such club, Synergy Environmental Club, volunteers in the community and recycles at school every Wednesday. “Synergy works mostly on the sustainability of Mounds View [and] bringing awareness to climate change through our social media. We also work on different projects throughout the year that aim at reducing our carbon footprint, such as our composting initiative

and kitchen garden,” said Jackie Pennington, 12, one of the co-presidents. She adds that using food, paper, electricity and school products more efficiently would also help students take further steps towards a greener future.

“More of the action should be done by the bigger companies.”

Justin Shao, 9 However, some believe that climate change has not had an impactful effect on their daily lives. “I don’t think it is now, but it probably will [in the future],” said Parker Walton, 10. He describes the effects of climate change in his life as relatively insignificant.

While climate change may not seem as obvious within neighborhoods surrounding Mounds View, other parts of the state and the U.S. have seen more extreme climate conditions, such as an increase in wildfires and crop failures, according to NASA. Addressing climate change requires government action. Mark Johnson, biology teacher, remarks that prevention of further environmental destruction depends on each country’s leaders. “While I think it’s very important for world leaders to get together and discuss these things [climate change], I think a lot of that falls to the legislatures,” Johnson said.

During the conference, Biden spoke about the seriousness of climate change. “Will we do what is necessary? Will we seize the enormous opportunity before us? Or, will we condemn future generations to suffer?” he said. These questions prompt citizens around the

Labor shortage

by Michael Wang staff reporter

A Dairy Queen only offers drive-through ordering. A Caribou Coffee location closes down. Students are left waiting for buses. The lines at grocery stores grow longer and longer. All across the U.S., many companies have witnessed a large number of workers suddenly quit their jobs. In fact, reasons ranging from government intervention to unemployment benefits caused the number of Americans who quit their jobs hit a record high of 4.3 million people in August 2021.

This phenomenon has led to a nationwide worker shortage across many industries.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were forced to stay at home. Subsequently, businesses lost customers and sales. This spawned an initial nationwide layoff of millions of workers, with the unemployment rate spiking at 14.7% in April 2020, causing many individuals and families to fall into a financial crisis. The government responded by enacting policies such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided approximately $2.08 trillion in stimulus to spur economic recovery.

According to USA Today, this has led people to become more selective in the jobs they hold.

Julie Coffey, Mounds View school district’s executive director of human resources, said that the cir-

Viewer Staff 2021-2022

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING COPY EDITOR MANAGING DESIGN EDITORS BUSINESS MANAGER NEWS EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR SPREAD EDITORS EDITORIALS EDITORS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR ILLUSTRATOR

world, including students at Mounds View, to ponder what impact they can make regarding this issue.

cumstances regarding COVID-19 have significantly contributed to the shortage of workers nationwide.

“There are concerns about COVID and working inperson which has caused people to rethink their employment and if they want to work and where they want to work,” Coffey said.

Moreover, the labor shortage has given workers more leverage in choosing jobs with higher wages and benefits. “I quit my job at Kohl’s because of the pay compared to other places like Target. I think other people would as well,” said Griffin O’Connor, 12. However, even in the higher paying jobs at Target, O’Connor found that there is still an insufficient number of staff, and check-out stations are often closed.

The high unemployment rate has ramifications on many industries already devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, like the education sector. Mounds View has witnessed a shortage of teachers, substitute teachers, bus drivers, janitors and other staff. Late school buses only come every other day rather than daily, and teachers are using their prep time to substitute for other classes. “We’ve had quite a bit of turnover and when there are job openings they’ve been hard to fill,” Coffey said. “We don’t see the number of applicants that we are used to seeing.”

Mounds View staff are not the only ones stretched thin at their paid jobs and working longer hours. “Everyone is working as much as they can, even with their

Elisa Guo Zige Wang Darah Ostrom, Johnny Yue Morgan Dalton Yatharth Sharma Maya Betti Darah Ostrom, Johnny Yue Junha Yoo Joseph Hoffman Olivia Sperbeck Iris Ren

illustrations by Iris Ren

busy schedules,” said James Grace, 12, who noticed that his Target job became busier as the number of workers decreased. The remaining employees have no choice but to cover for their absent colleagues.

The shortage of workers is only one way the pandemic has negatively affected the economy. Multiple industries have all suffered as a result, and the consequences reach as far as the Mounds View community.

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Mounds View High School ‌• 1900 Lake Valentine Rd. Arden Hills, MN 55112 • www.mvviewer.org‌ • @mvviewer • business@mvviewer.org

Editorials

FRIDAY, November 19, 2021

03

The problem with class requirements

by Bria Farmer staff reporter Required courses make up just under two-thirds of classes taken at Mounds View. The school requires students to take 22 credits in order to graduate. Most of these credits are filled by core classes, which include English, math, social studies and science, leaving only 6.5 credits for electives. However, foreign language and fine art requirements quickly fill up any time for more of these elective classes. The Minnesota Department of Education, which sets these standards, should discard them to allow students more choice in their classes.

“By offering more variety in course options, schools can give a head start in their career journey.”

Schools spend a lot of time teaching courses that follow the standardized curriculum, decreasing time available for schools to offer more unique and interesting classes, such as welding, agricultural science or embroidery. An efficient economy requires participants to have specialized skills, many of which take years to develop. By offering more variety in course options, schools can give students a head start in their career journey. Passionate students who have defined goals could take courses that prepare them for their specific plans. If schools want to teach necessary skills for adulthood, they should give students the freedom to take more applicable classes.

On the flip side, having no standardized curriculums would also benefit students who do not have a specific career interest. If students could choose from a wide variety of courses, they could explore possible career paths without traditional requirements boxing

Editor Opinions

them in. Students currently have much less time to explore subject areas that could potentially fit their interests. Having more classes available and time to take the classes would help them figure out a plan for their future before they enter the workforce.

Getting rid of the requirements would also allow students to be more engaged at school. A 2016 study from the International Journal of Education & Literacy Studies showed a significant positive correlation between interest in school and academic performance. If students can choose subjects they find intriguing and help develop their passions, academic performance would be improved and school would be more enjoyable.

Because everyone has to have a knowledge base in multiple subjects, some argue standardized requirements give students a necessary, well-rounded education. However, current academic standards alone do not make someone well-rounded, as they do not encompass a wide range of subject areas. The current standards focus heavily on a few subjects, like math, English, science and history, while omitting other necessary areas like personal finance. Although the requirements do include a year of fine art in high school, the requirement still emphasizes STEM classes much more, decreasing the opportunity to take other creative courses. The current standards only produce well-rounded students if they put in effort outside of

school to learn the things the standards miss. Regardless of current attempts to make the curriculum more inclusive, it still leaves important subjects out.

The state should eliminate academic requirements to allow students to learn more specialized skills that suit their future interests. Because students would like their individualized topics, they would enjoy school more and do better in class. Minnesota should abolish academic standards to allow students more control over their lives and give them freedom over their schooling.

Do you believe that there should be state-mandated education requirements?

“The state should eliminate academic requirements to allow students to learn more specialized skills that suit their future interests.”

eight editors surveyed

“Students should be required

“A core curriculum counteracts ig-

to complete education require-

norance by creating well educated decided by the High Schools.

ments because getting a well-

individuals who understand the

rounded education is important

world around them. However, they and Universities have differ-

to creating well-rounded people

should reform the current system

ent requirements, students

who are equipped to deal with a

to enable students to have more

shouldn’t have to do more than

multitude of subjects.”

freedom and creativity in their

what they are striving for.”

-Morgan Dalton

“I think requirements should be Also, because different Colleges

studies.”

-Isabel

-Junha Yoo

Newhouse online

on class requirements

online editor

editorials editor

editor-inchief

“I think should have a similar

“While it can be frustrating to

“I think that universalizing educa- “Yes, because a well-rounded

baseline when it comes to

have continue to in a subject you

tion for all students, at least In a

education.”

don’t particularly enjoy, a basic

single state, is important to elimi- derstand the way the world and

amount of proper education is

nate inequities between public

-Joseph Hoffman arts & entertainment editor

needed, especially in proper prep- and private schools.” aration for college/trade school.”

-Yatharth Sharma

- Maya Betti

education is necessary to unsociety works.”

-Elisa Guo editor-in-chief

news editor features editor

04

features

Friday, November 19, 2021

MV’s newest clubs

by Sarafina Dillion staff reporter

Books without Bounds

Nora Anderson, 12, and Maya Betti, 11, created Books Without Bounds to inspire a love for literature. The co-founders enjoy reading and wanted to share their passion with others. “We also want it to be a safe community of friends where we can challenge each other to get out of our comfort zones and build literary confidence,” Anderson said. They both love meeting others and talking about books. This is also why they aim to spread a love for literature to the rest of the student body. So far, the club’s first book is “Little Women” by Lousia May Alcott. “We typically discuss favorite characters, passages we loved, how the book relates to our lives, and then free time to chat and share about our days,” Anderson said.

illustration by Iris Ren

Note: Maya Betti is also a part of The Viewer staff

Healthcare club

Led by sophomores Katie Renstrom, Janessa Buckley and Amrita Rajesh, Healthcare Club encourages students to learn more about the medical field and dive into hands-on experiences. Their meetings most often involve discussing the many different healthcare careers and how to succeed within them. “We also talk to medical professionals about their experiences and their advice for students like us,” Rajesh said. Students who are passionate about their futures and want some preparation in the field of healthcare would be happy to see the wide variety of options Healthcare Club offers. “If there are students who aren’t interested in the field, but still want to join, I would tell them to go for it. It’s perfectly fine if they aren’t sure what they want at this time, and maybe this club could give them a little insight on what the healthcare field is like experiences with the medical field,” Rajesh said.

photo courtesy of Amrita Rajesh

Coding club Coding Club aims for students to learn how to code or further their current coding abilities. In addition, the club focuses on building character traits such as “resilience and creativity, which are used in coding, but can be applied to any field,” said Ellen Guo, 10, founder of Coding Club. Guo created this club because she noticed that, while Mounds View has many STEM clubs, they did not have one solely dedicated to coding. “Computer science is a rapidly growing field, and lack of diversity in this field leads to data bias that can have a huge negative impact on society,” Guo said. Within their meetings, members typically do a fun icebreaker activity, learn about a leader or pioneer in the computer science and tech fields and work on collaborative coding projects. “As long as you’re creative, inquisitive and a problemsolver, I would recommend you join the Coding Club to learn how many things coding can do,” Guo said. illustration by Iris Ren

Student For Climate Awareness club

Students for Climate Awareness is dedicated to learning more about climate change and helping the local community. Although it was founded in 2019, the club was revamped last year and has a whole new feel, according to President Ava Frey, 11. One of the main goals of the club is to further educate their members and make them more passionate about creating positive change for the planet.

Most recently, the club took time to take on a project to better their local environment. “We went out and did a tree planting event with our members in Shoreview,” Frey said. The club’s 33 members meet weekly after school to discuss issues surrounding the environment. “We want to bring awareness to the school, as well as bring it to the community,” Frey said.

Chinese Culture Club

photo courtesy of Ava Frey

Juniors Grace Feng, Sophia Huang, Claire Li, Ashe Wang and Emily Zhao decided to found the Chinese Culture Club this fall with the intention of spreading a unique culture. “We were inspired to start this club over the summer after reflecting on many current world events, and we wanted to share our Chinese-American culture with Mounds View students through our club,” Zhao said. With a total of seven units, the club explores the many different aspects of Chinese culture, as well as including related fun activities during each meeting. “Our goal is to introduce more people to Chinese culture and build a community within Mounds View,” Zhao said.

photo courtesy of Claire Li

features

Friday, November 19, 2021

05

Meet the exchange students

by Anika Metz staff reporter

Every year, a select handful of students have the unique opportunity to travel, live in foreign countries and experience new cultures in an entirely different environment. Currently, Mounds View’s foreign exchange students are Till Rompelberg, 11, Hedy Schmidt, 10, and Tawanchai Chanchaochai, 12. Both Rompleberg and Schmidt voyaged from Germany, while Chanchaochai arrived from Thailand. Although they share the experience of coming into a new country, each student has a different perspective of America in comparison to their home country..

Till Rompelberg

On Aug. 11, Till Rombelberg arrived in Minnesota. For him, this adventure has “It is really nice, but been long-awaited. “I wanted to do an exchange here [United States] two years ago. I had gotten the opportunity to go to South America, but I canceled due to COVID and the pansometimes it can be demic. And [after COVID shutdowns ended] I finally got to come to the United States,” difficult because of Rombelberg said. When school started in September, Rombelberg was able to experithe cultural differ- ence the difference between an American high school and his past school environments.

“There are many classes you can take, and the activities are fun. As well, [the] teachers are ences. really nice and open-minded,” Rombelberg said. “This school is much bigger with more - Till Rompelberg, 11 students...and in general, I can choose between more classes.” Outside of the high school habitat, Rombelberg also notes differences in the religious culture. “My host family goes to church every Sunday, and [in general] a lot of people are really religious. It’s different than in Germany,” Rombelberg said. However, along with differences in cultural practices, Minnesota offers different acphoto courtesy of Till tivities as well. “I tried to water ski on the lake. It didn’t work, but it was funny,” Rombelberg said. Until he leaves in June, Rompelberg Rombelberg will continue gaining fresh perspectives and making new memories.

Following in her uncle’s footsteps, senior Tawanchai Chanchaochai arrived in the U.S. on Sept. 9. “I wanted to [study abroad] like him. It took a long time to come here, but I am happy I did,” Chanchaochai said. After immersing herself in American culture, as well as Mounds View’s learning environment, she was excited to see the differences. “There are a lot of subjects to choose [from]. I like the humanities and they are more specific here than in my home country,” she said. Besides her new access to fine arts, Mounds View differs from her past schools in other ways. “In Thailand, I stayed with the same people the whole year.

I didn’t change class ever. We also had 19 classes per week, but the classes changed. You never got to pick what you want, you just had to study all subjects,” she said. Ironically, that was not the only reason she liked her new surroundings. “I like this school because my favorite color is green and it is everywhere,” Chanchaochai said. However, living in a completely foreign environment is not without its challenges. “I miss Thai food. I tried to find it, but it still doesn’t taste the same,” she said. Nevertheless, Tawanchai looks forward to meeting new people and cultivating new discoveries.

Tawanchai Chanchaochai “ I wanted to go to a native [English] language country. ” - Tawanchai Chanchaochai, 12 photo courtesy of Tawanchai Chanchaochai

Hedy Schmidt

photo courtesy of drawingnow

“I love the school spirit and culture.”

- Hedy Schmidt, 11

Hedy Schmidt arrived in Minnesota on Aug. 27, ready to start living the American high school experience.

“I liked English and wanted to improve it. I love [America’s] school spirit and culture,” Schmidt said. She went to places such as the Mall of America and the Minnesota State Fair—both iconic experiences of Minnesotan culture.

Within the Mounds View environment, she made sure to attend the football games and the homecoming dance. According to her, German schools do not emphasize school spirit, so it was exciting to partake in different activities.

While significantly bigger than her home school, she views Mounds View positively, especially when it comes to her classes. “People are more relaxed and friendly than in Germany,” she said. “I cannot choose between subjects in Germany and classes were more rigorous. [Mounds View] has more opportunities for after-school activities.”

Another difference Schmidt noticed was seen in the comparison of COVID restrictions. “There were more mask requirements in Germany. It’s more relaxed here [in the United States]. There were more lockdowns in Germany and online school went on for longer,” Schmidt said. Schmidt is excited to continue to immerse herself in the American way of life.

06

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Past and present generations: “thx” ver

by Maya Gjelhaug staff reporter

Teenagers and adults today communicate completely differently than they did fifty years ago. Influences of the newest technology and slang words have a deep impact on how people communicate with each other on a daily basis. With phones and computers practically taking over teens’ day-to-day lives, the ways in which people express themselves face-to-face and through social media are limitless.

When Mounds View staff were in high school, the scene of communication looked completely different than the high-speed methods of connecting today. “I am married to my high school sweetheart; we used to talk on the phone a lot, and that was before we could afford call waiting,” said Theresa Anderson, business and marketing instructor. “[This meant that] you didn’t know if someone else was calling in, and if you didn’t hang the phone up on the receiver, there was no way of connecting back.” Without voicemails, the ability to call friends and significant others whenever was not an option, which decreased the chances of high school students back then to talk outside of school.

Additionally, with long-distance communication being less of a factor with the latest smartphones, it is hard to imagine the struggles some had to undergo to contact

to other methods. Letters were popular, but they could not bring the same convenience and fulfillment as communication via phone. “[It took] a couple of weeks for overseas communication,” Rivers said. “So that feeling of instant gratification was not a thing.”

Although slang has always been commonplace as a form of communication, what it actually encompasses today drastically differs from decades ago. Young

words like larity in co use and ap

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T ent, as pas sive techno tions will b methods o

“You didn’t know if someone else was calling in, and if you didn’t hang the phone up on the receiver, there was no way of connecting back.” illustrations by Iris Ren

Theresa Anderson, business and marketing teacher people nowadays use words like “cap,” “trippin,” “YOLO,” “thx” and many others others overseas. “When I lived in Spain, you paid by the second, and it was super expensive,” said Laura Rivers, Spanish teacher. “There were rates at certain times of the day. It was much cheaper to call after like 10 o’clock at night.” This caused many to strictly plan the time of day and the frequency at which they could talk with others halfway across the world. At times, Rivers could only talk to her parents once a month for only several minutes.

Given the importance of staying connected with close ones, many had to resort

in place of traditional words to diversify how they verbalize their ideas and thoughts.

“I think people use slang because they’re too lazy to say the full word or the full sentence,” said Grace Feng, 11. “For example, saying that you ‘stan’ someone is much easier than saying you look at someone or you’re a fan of them. It sums up many different meanings and doesn’t force you to elaborate on what you mean.” Many believe that slang today is used to simplify conversations into phrases and words that are shorter than what they were originally.

Compared to previous decades, Rivers recalls slang consisting of phrases and

The Evolution of Comm Social media and technology

by Madeline Boespflug staff reporter

From texting to social media, teenagers have more communication options than ever before. Teenagers today appreciate this shift to online communication, as it makes connecting more efficient, allowing them to keep in touch with friends and relatives frequently. However, studies have increasingly shown that online communication also has harmful effects, which can interfere with development and selfesteem.

Students at Mounds View stress that online communication can have many benefits for today’s teenagers. “You get to speak to your friends and family that are miles away,” said Haley Schwendemann, 10. Without the cell phones and computers of today, connecting with distant friends and relatives would be less of a possibility.

“If you went to a different school or do anything where you make friends outside of school, then it’s harder for you to see them,” said Caroline Maves, 10. “If you can’t have contact with friends in any other way than online, then [online communication] is important.”

Carla Anton, Mounds View mental health specialist, notes that online communication and social media can help teenagers maintain relationships. “Keeping that communication, feeling that you belong, keeping friendships: these are really beneficial and those are things that I feel we are really blessed to have when it comes to social media,” Anton said.

Teenagers who regularly text to talk with friends can still build friendships in a way supplementary to in-person friendships, according to a study published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology in 2010. During the pandemic, many teenagers could only build friendships through online platforms. In addition, the New York University Child Study Center surveyed teenagers in 2017 and found that many teenagers felt that texting allowed them to talk to friends about anything— removing the barrier of small talk and awkwardness of starting an in-person conversation.

However, students also express that online communication negatively affects their mental health, especially when going through social media. Maves notes some drawbacks of online relations. “People [are] being bullied online or getting addicted to social media,” she said. Studies have found that teenagers can spend up to nine hours per day looking at screens, reaffirming the common stereotype that teenagers have screen addictions.

Online messaging can also result in miscommunication. “Sometimes our words can come across as hurtful when we really didn’t mean to be. Even something as simple as just missing a comma makes the message read differently, and it can be misinterpreted,” Anton said. She conveys that many forget that everyone has a different perspective, and that different perspectives cause messages to translate differently to different people.

Anton also believes that cyberbullying derives from online communication and social media. “We have people using [online communication] as a way to be behind a screen and saying hurtful things to others because it’s much easier to do that than it is to do it face-to-face.”

Communication methods of teenagers today have changed drastically from past generations. While many argue for or against online communication, Anton believes that teenagers should strive to find balance. “There’s nothing wrong with social

media as commun tion mean

tronic de completi that teena their busy

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rsus “rad”

07

e “no duh,” “have a cow,” “he’s a fox,” and “rad.” Given this, slang popuonversations remains strong today and in the previous generations, but its ppropriateness has shifted from one generation to another.

r example, saying that you stan someone is h easier than saying you look at someone or you’re a fan of them.”

Grace Feng, 11

The ways in which high schoolers talk to each other are dramatically differst generations are changing the ways they communicate in the face of masological innovation. This leaves many to wonder how the future generabe talking to one another and whether current generations will change their of communication as well.

munication

s long as we as a society learn to balance it,” Anton said. She notes that online nication has benefits, but sometimes balancing online and offline communicans shutting off the phone.

Anton recommends that teenagers schedule times to shut down all elecevices and spend time with family and friends, possibly during dinner, while ing homework or even during the school day. Anton and many others hope agers can learn to balance online communication and use it as a tool to make y lives easier.

The pandemic and communication: what’s changed?

by Maya Gjelhaug staff reporter

Face masks, Zoom meetings and social distancing from the COVID-19 pandemic have effectively changed the way that students and teachers communicate. Helpful non-verbal gestures, such as body language and facial expressions, are less noticeable through masks or over Zoom classes. During the quarantine period, many teens could only communicate with their peers virtually. Online communication was a great tool for staying connected with others during the pandemic, but many fear that consequences of excessive screen usage and lack of in-person contact are to follow.

Prior to the pandemic, teens used many of the same applications, such as Instagram and Snapchat. Zoke Sackih, 10, shares that her screen-time doubled during the pandemic. “My screen time increased dramatically during this time. I spent a lot of time on apps such as Instagram and YouTube,” she said.

more time to partake in hobbies and other activities, which supported her mental health during the pandemic.

Even with its many downsides, the pandemic showed students and teachers new methods of communication. “Before COVID, I was unaware that apps such as Zoom and Google Meet existed,” Sackih said. “After they became popular because of the need to communicate remotely, I started using them more often for personal reasons, and of course, for school.”

Ladd notes that the shift to online communication came with some benefits, and that she even acquired some new skills. “I will say that I feel a little bit more tech-savvy, so I guess that’s one positive side,” Ladd said. “But overall, I’ve realized that we need ‘people contact’ more than screen time.”

It seems that the majority of teachers and students overwhelmingly support the return to in-person learning. “One of the things that made me really happy the first couple of weeks is that when I would give them [students] time to talk,

“It was hard to talk to people [having] only [interacted] with them through the screen, and it was a little more difficult to make new friends because everything just felt a lot more awkward. ” Zoke Sackih, 10 Teachers at Mounds View also felt the burden of increased screen-time. Carolynne Ladd, social studies teacher, noted that her screen usage was higher than ever before. “It made me not want to be on a screen anymore than I had to be after school,” she said. Both individuals expressed that excessive screen time drained on their physical and mental health.

Studies have shown that excessive screen usage can lead to obesity, lower school performance and depression. Staying active during onlinelearning was difficult for many teens. Sports were cancelled, gyms were closed and students were no longer walking from class to class. “Personally, I felt stiff,” Sackih said. However, Sackih also expresses that online-learning granted her

kids talked right away,” Ladd said.

However, Sackih admits that the transition back to in-person learning was difficult at first. “It was hard to talk to people [having] only [interacted] with them through the screen, and it was a little more difficult to make new friends because everything just felt a lot more awkward. After I was able to break that barrier with other people, things got a lot better for me.”

As in-person learning continues to hold strong, some students and staff have adapted to new methods to converse with peers and colleagues. Others remain steadfast in resorting to the traditional, in-person ways they communicated pre-pandemic. With this new diversity, the pandemic has shifted the interface of communication within the Mounds View community.

08

Sports

Friday, November 19, 2021

On Nov. 6, Mustangs...

by Elisa Guo print editor-in-chief

The girls cross country team successfully crossed the finish line at their state competition. The team placed sixth overall, and Taylor Isabel, 11, finished on the podium in tenth place.

These wins did not come without challenges, however. One of the biggest obstacles was rebuilding team spirit after coming back from COVID-19 pandemic regulations on sports. “Last year, we weren’t able to practice as a full group,” Isabel said. “This had a huge negative impact on our team community and culture because we had to be so separate.” To recover from this loss of team spirit, runners focused on incorporating more team building into this season.

One way the team strove toward this goal was to put less pressure on individual runners to run certain times or win awards. “Throughout the season, we emphasized the team aspect instead of talking about what times we were shooting for or what teams we were going after,” said Elizabeth Gregory, 12, one of the team’s captains. “We created a fun and loving environment amongst everyone.”

...crossed the finish line

This change in mindset impacted the team positively. “Instead of thinking, ‘I have to win this race or get this time,’ I found myself thinking more about how I could contribute to the team’s success,” Isabel said. “I run best when I am relaxed and confident, so this mindset really helped me drop my times and place higher.”

In fact, the team had one of their most successful seasons in recent history. “This has been the best season for our team in winning conference and sections for both JV and varsity, and the Griak and Mustang Invitationals,” Gregory said. Many of these victories have been the team’s first wins in a few decades.

For Isabel, her podium finish was especially exciting. “I knew it was going to be tough and I would have to race against many girls with very similar times to mine,” Isabel said. “It has been a goal of mine for a couple years to achieve all-state status and get on the podium at state.” Accomplishing her long-term goal made this achievement even more meaningful for her.

All the training and team bonding during the

season resulted in the team’s triumphant state performance.

The girls JV swimming team made a splash at their final conference meet, winning third against other high school teams.

“I am incredibly proud of each swimmer and diver,” said senior Sara Wilkowske, one of the team’s captains. “Most noticeable was the team spirit amongst the team and the fun that they brought to the competition.”

Like other sports, the team’s strong relationships with each other was one important factor contributing to their success. However, because of the pandemic, there were fewer team bonding events, and lack of spectators at meets made the atmosphere less cheerful and exciting. “Our retreat and team dinners had been my favorite part of every season and it was sad to see it go,” said Wilkowske.

The team’s close community made up for this loss. “The high school team is a really tight-knit group, and the team aspect makes the sport feel way more enjoyable,” said Julia Gronert, 9. Gronert notes that her teammates motivated her because they genuinely want her to perform well.

This collaborative mentality greatly impacts

individual swimmers. “I had gotten to the point where I dreaded coming to practice before the season started.

However, I didn’t realize how wrong I was. My teammates have truly made this an enjoyable experience,” Wilkowske said. In her years on the team, she experienced how the team feels like a second family.

Gronert also credits her teammates for her success at the JV conference. “I did really well at JV conference, and I got three best times, including beating the lettering time in the 100 back by three seconds,” Gronert said. She placed in the top eight for three of her events, including 4th place in the 100 backstroke, 5th place in the 100 freestyle and 8th place in the 200 medley relay.

As a captain, Wilkowske notes the dedication and commitment had to the team. “All athletes had amazing performances this past weekend at JV conference,” she said. “They have worked hard all season and gave it their best effort.”

The varsity team had a similarly successful performance at their sections competition on Nov. 13, winning third and sending eight swimmers, including two alternates, to the state competition.

...made a splash

photo courtesy of Sara Wilkowske

With many Mustangs watching from the stands at the U.S. Bank Stadium, the boys soccer team sailed into victory as they claimed their very first state soccer title. This win was especially exciting because they had won sections last year but did not get to compete at the state tournament due to the pandemic.

During the game, the boys were initially off to a shaky start. Part of this had to do with the new environment. “Playing in the U.S. Bank Stadium was nerve-wracking at first, especially with all the fans there,” said Samuel Hoyt, 12. The grander stadium and large number of audience members contributed to the pressure, and in the first half of the game, Rosemount, the opposing team, had scored two goals.

Despite this, the team did not lose hope. As the game went on, the team persisted and eventually regained their confidence. “The energy of the stadium eventually improved my performance,” Hoyt said. Fellow students’ excitement and cheering motivated the team to pursue their win.

Two goals from Hoyt and one from Elias ultimately led to their victory. “Scoring the game winning goal is a feeling like no other. The amount of adrenaline and excitement that you get when you score in a place like the Bank is unmatched,” Elias said. Finishing first in the state is no small feat, and Elias and Hoyt both relish contributing to that victory.

photo by Laurin Isabel

...scored a win

Both athletes cite their teammates’ strong connection with each other on and off the field as an important element to their success. “The fun practice environment and amazing team chemistry were the main factors in our success this year,” Hoyt said. Even with challenges such as illnesses and injuries, the boys persevered together and defeated some of the best teams in the state.

“The fun practice environment and amazing team chemistry were the main factors in our success this year.”

Samuel Hoyt, 12

Elias and Hoyt are passionate about the sport and look forward to playing soccer in college. But for now, they are still reflecting on their win. “I still can’t believe we won State,” Elias said. “It feels surreal and it still hasn’t set in yet. Our team worked really hard all season and we got what we deserved.”

photos courtesy of Henry Elias

sports

Friday, November 19, 2021

Volleyball ends on a high note

by Nick Zwiener staff reporter The Mounds View girls volleyball team has had a successful year, wrapping up their season at their section semifinals game. Their hard work paid off as they were able to navigate challenges, even winning the majority of their matches.

The team encountered challenges on the way to their successes, however. One struggle was the busy schedule that comes with being a student-athlete. Players meet about six days a week—two for games and four for practices—making balancing homework and other extracurricular activities difficult, especially when transitioning from online learning. “It has been a little hard on me because of the time commitment, but it’s worth it because it’s fun,” said Claudia Zimmerman, 12.

In addition, the team had to persist when several players suffered from injuries. “It got harder towards the end when a couple players got injured,” Zimmerman said. With players unable to compete to their full potential, the team was forced to adapt.

These struggles extended to players’ mental health. Hadley Streit, 12, remarks that even though players can play well physically, being in the wrong headspace can impede performance. “We’ve had ups and downs because we know we have the ability [to play well], but sometimes the mental piece gets in the way,” she said. However, learning to overcome these mental blocks made them more resilient.

“

09

I got to learn new things from people who have been playing longer.”

-Emma Nordeen, 12

team,” Streit said.

This leadership was especially important because eight players had graduated last year. In addition, the newer members of the varsity team were able to learn from the seniors. “I got to learn new things from people who have been playing longer,” Nordeen said. Passing on skill and expertise means that the future for the volleyball team remains strong.

Even though the girls did not achieve their goal of competing at the state competition, the obstacles they have overcome—dealing with injuries and busy schedules on top of incorporating new players—make the season a memorable one.

photos courtesy of Olivia Johnson

“

It has been a little hard on me becauseof the time commitment, but it’s worth it because it’s fun.”

-Claudia Zimmerman, 12

This year, the varsity team also gained eight new players. There were initial difficulties incorporating the new players into the team. However, “as time progressed, we played better together,” said Emma Nordeen, 9. Additionally, the new players brought their different strengths and perspectives on game strategy, helping create a stronger team. “When new players come, they bring new ideas and ways to contribute,” Nordeen said.

The team’s accomplishments this season were especially meaningful to the seniors, as many of them have been part of the team since freshman year. Streit notes that as experienced members, they brought motivation, energy and experience to the team. “[Seniors] are great at cheering and brought the energy on the

illustration courtesy of Iris Ren

Nordic dashes into a new season

by Morghan Larson staff reporter

As the winter sports season approaches, the Mounds View Nordic ski team is beginning their fundraising for the year. On Nov. 27, the Nordic ski team will be hosting a Lap-a-thon at school to help finance their holiday camp trip.

During the Lap-a-thon, the team will be walking or jogging laps around the track at Mounds View to raise money. The team gets money for this event through the pledges family and friends make in a skier’s name. For example, if the donor pledges a dollar per lap and the skier walks or runs thirty laps, $30 would be raised. If a teammate cannot attend the event, they can still participate online, virtually logging their miles during a two-hour period.

“

As a captain, my main responsibility is probably to raise as much money as I can while also having a good attitude.”

-Eva Barsness, 12

While running laps around the high school track may seem boring to members, the team plans to make it more fun and keep the good spirits going by playing music and offering food. “As a captain, my main responsibility is probably to raise as much money as I can while also having a good attitude,” said Eva Barsness, 12. This light-hearted run in the cold is not just a fundraising event but an opportunity for team bonding.

sport without having to buy new equipment. “We offer scholarships for dues and/or for any and all activities,” said Alicia Mills, booster club president. Scholarships are available to assist skiers and coaches with the overall expenses.

This greatly benefits the team because fundraising helps them purchase and maintain new equipment and provide financial aid for possible skiers who could not afford to be on the team otherwise. “We invent, repair, distribute and collect uniforms and warm ups,” Mills said. Their goal for the Lap-a-thon is to raise at least $100 per skier, totaling up to $5,000. The booster club is also in charge of carbo loads, team building activities and team gifts.

The Lap-a-thon is a new fundraiser for the Nordic team. In the past, they have done events such as bagging groceries and selling pizza cards. However, they wanted a new way for the skiers to raise money.

“The idea of the lap-a-thon is supporting the activeness of the sport while raising money and having fun,” said Ian O’Neil, Nordic coach. Every team member that raises at least $100 gets a prize of Mounds View Nordic apparel.

Eva Barsness, 12, Nordic skiing photo courtesy of Alicia Mills Thanks to the booster club and coaches for making This event was made possible by the team’s booster the Lap-a-thon possible, the team looks forward to havclub. The organization is made up of parent volunteers ing a great kick-off to their season. who assist the team in raising finances to offset participant fees to the trips, maintaining team equipment and providing ski equipment to new skiers to try out the

Friday, November 19, 2021

Arts & Entertainment

10

Dune’s Hollywood redemption

by Tyler Quattrin staff reporter

“Dune” is a futuristic science fiction book by Frank Herbert following Paul Atreides on his journey to the most threatening planet in the universe to safeguard the future of his people and his family. The classic novel was bound to be turned into a film at some point, and after the relative failure of the 1980s adaptation, Hollywood gave it a second try in 2021.

In 1984, David Lynch directed the first version of the film “Dune.” Lynch is known for his work doing “Eraserhead,” “Elephant Man, “Blue Velvet” and “Twin Peaks.” However, Lynch’s “Dune” has received a large amount of criticism over the years. It even won a Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst Picture, which was an award given by a Los Angeles-based group of film critics who honored the worst films of each year from 1978 to 2006. Even Lynch himself has disowned the film for various reasons, having his name taken out of the extended cuts as director.

So much went wrong in the 1984 film. First, Lynch was not the right person to direct the film. With studio interventions taking away a lot of the creative freedom that typically makes Lynch’s movies shine, “Dune” does not feel very much like a Lynchian film.

Additionally, the terrible voice-overs make the story hard to follow. “Dune’s” ineffective use of internal monologue just creates a mess. At times, it can even be unclear who is narrating. Besides the script focusing too hard on the internal monologue, the dialogue feels forced and oversimplified.

To look on the bright side of the movie, however, the visuals are interesting. As limited as filmmakers were to 1980s movie technology, they managed to make the looks of the characters decently remarkable.

This year, a new movie based on the novel was re-

leased. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, this version of “Dune” has received a much more positive reception.

The visuals in the 2021 film go way beyond the original movie. In fact, imagery is the most impressive aspect of the film. The cinematography is beautiful—every shot of the movie feels like a work of art. The effects are stunning, creating a gorgeous final product.

Although the book involves a lot of world-building and complex plot lines, the 2021 film was not hard to follow in any way. I actually found it easy to get into; Villeneuve makes the story interesting and accessible to every viewer, even though the beginning moved slowly.

This film also contains some amazing acting. Timothée Chalamet crushed the lead role of Paul Atreides and the character development, which was no surprise considering that Chalamet already has an impressive array of credits in movies like “Lady Bird,” “Little Women,” “Beautiful Boy” and “Call Me By Your Name.”

His work in “Dune” further demonstrates that he is one of the best actors of the generation.

On the other hand, the most noticeable downside to this film is its resolution. From the beginning, the audience knows that the entire story will not be told in one film because of the “part one” title screen displayed in the beginning. Splitting the story into a trilogy was the right decision, as the messy and jumbled 1984 adaptation makes this clear, but it should not have been cut off in the middle of a story beat because it is basically the moment in the screenplay that compels the viewer to assess what could happen next.

Both films are available for streaming on HBO Max, and the 2021 movie is currently playing in theaters. Overall, I still found myself entertained by both films. With “Dune” 1984 being as classic as it is, I would recommend it to any fan of the science fiction genre. Plus, I am convinced that anyone would love the

new Denis Villeneuve adaptation. I look forward to seeing what is to come in the future with the second film in the trilogy, set to hit theaters by October 2023—and I think all fans of “Dune” should be.

1984 Verdict:

2/5 2021 Verdict:

4/5

Lana Del Ray’s “Blue Banisters”

by Thierry Thao staff reporter

Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known by her stage name as Lana Del Rey, has been an influential part of the music industry, among the ranks of Lady Gaga and Lorde. Her music reflects a bittersweet love, adorned with a feminine mystique. Del Rey’s music grasps onto the glamor of mid 1900s Americana. Her most recent album, “Blue Banisters,” is a solid salute to the retro and vintage aesthetics of the mid-20th-century era.

Del Rey released her latest album “Blue Banisters,” a 16-song indie rock project, on Oct. 22. On this project, even though Del Rey sings in a quiet voice her songs seem larger than life. The lyrics she sings offer heartbroken emotions, delivered with her iconic softspoken voice. The songs on “Blue Banister” feel as though they were meant to be sung in bars during the ‘50s and ‘60s. Her song “Dealer,” for example, perfectly connotes this imagery.

My favorite song from this album is “Sweet Carolina” because it is about her sister, whereas the rest of the project addresses loneliness and failed relationships.

The sweet lyrics “We lovе every freckle you have/We love you like God loves you/If you’re ever stressed out, just dance in the night/If you get those baby blues” are quite catchy and flow easily. Del Rey sings with pure emotion and calmness in the song which I find that not a lot of artists do. “Sweet Carolina” is a refreshing break from the monotony of a large majority of songs today being about romantic relationships and money.

However, “Sweet Carolina” could be confusing to listeners as its title is never once sung on the track. In

general, a song title is often the heart of the piece and referenced within the song; the title is supposed to represent a song’s overall tone, mood and topic. Nevertheless, avid Del Rey fans may recognize the song title as a reference to the singer’s sister, Caroline (also known as Chuck), and their close relationship.

Another song that stood out to me was “Interlude—The Trio” because it is an instrumental track and is relatively short compared to the rest of the songs. According to the Lana Del Ray Fandom website, it samples “The Trio,” a piece of music composed by Ennio Morricone for the 1966 film “The Good, The Bad And Ugly.” “Interlude—The Trio” sounds like the compositions featured in old western movies but with a dubstep twist, painting scenes of classic cowboy films in listeners’ heads. Even though the song is enjoyable, it would be more lovely if it were at least three minutes long.

“The timeless retro sound Del Ray’s music invokes helps her connect with people because it may remind them of their childhood memories. ” Researchers have shown that people are much more likely to report positive feelings from a given piece of music if they have heard it before. The timeless retro sound Del Rey’s music invokes helps her connect

photo courtesy of Unsplash

with people because it may remind them of their childhood memories. However, Del Rey is not the only artist out there who is tapping into vintage sounds; Anderson.Paak and Bruno Mars’s ‘70s inspired album “An Evening With Silk Sonic,” The Weeknd’s ‘80s inspired “After Hours” or Billie Eilish’s ‘50s inspired “Happier Than Ever” are all examples of artist’s most recent albums drawing from retro aesthetics.

Although “Blue Banisters” may not be anything too special, not a lot of other artists have mastered the vintage style that Del Rey has made iconic. Even though the album is not anything new, I would still recommend “Blue Banisters” to anyone who enjoys Del Rey’s musicality and lyricism.

The Verdict:

3.8/5

Friday, 19 November, 2021

Artist of THE ISSUe

11

Artist of the issue

Q: Aside from singing, do you have any other musical pastimes?

A: I have played the violin for the past seven years, I dabble in piano, I do write songs, and have recorded two features for a friend of mine who is pursuing music.

Q: Where have you sung before?

A: I started off in church choir with solos here and there, I also sing for events in my community, as well as what most students have seen and that is me singing the national anthem for basketball and football games.

Q: What got you interested in singing?

photos courtesy of Destny Beulangh

Destiny Beulangh

A: I would say my sister who is also a singer got me interested in singing. I was always in awe [of] her voice and still am to this day. and I wanted another aspect [where she] and I could connect and understand each other.

Beulangh (11) is a singer.

Q: What is your favorite type of song to sing and why?

A: I do prefer singing ballads or R&B songs. I like them because they are more emotional and require a strong amount of voice control. Along with that I just prefer how they sound compared to other songs.

Q: How do you warm up?

A: I normally warm up by drinking something warm or water, and singing a lighter song to warms my voice up.

Q: What are your future goals in regards to music?

A: Music is more of a hobby to me than a career option. So I guess it is just something that I will always love doing but wouldn’t pursue further.

photo by Elisa Guo

Student submissions Memories

photos courtesy of Destiny Beulangh

just maybe try to remember what you forgot I still remember vividly all the memories of you and me So if you need a refresher course I’ve got a first-person source And there are always new memories to make Born from having fun for boredom’s sake I know the good times might be fake But that’s a risk I’m willing to take I don’t know Someone tell me where to go I never learned to take it slow So won’t you come and watch the show

Hey, I saw you the other day I guess I didn’t know what to say I tried to mention something you would remember But I guess that memory faded like a dying ember I get it you’ve filled up that brain of yours Like an overflowing chest of drawers I’ve started writing on the floors To make room for the words spilling out my pores And I know I’m overbearing I’ve been told I’m inclined to oversharing I just can’t help talking about the plans I’ve been preparing -Quintan Lynne, 12 So could you do a little more caring Not a lot, I don’t need you to think of me every other thought

12

Athlete of THE ISSUe

Athlete of the issue

A: My advice to anyone who wants to start running is find a running community to join. It’s so much more fun and easier to get into if you have people to run with and talk to about the sport. And, if you don’t have anyone to run with, but want to start, reach out! Everyone is always welcome to join cross country or our track team in the spring.

Friday, 19 November, 2021

Q: Why did you decide on Duke University?

A: I decided on Duke because their team environment was the most supportive of the schools I visited, and because they are looking to build a very competitive program, which is something I want to be a part of. The school and facilities were also amazing, and it’s a great training environment, with lots of running trails around the school and good weather year round.

photos courtesy of Will Skelly

Will Skelly Skelly (12) runs on the Mounds View boys cross country team.

Q: What do you like most about cross country?

A: What I like most about cross is that it is very team oriented and it’s a very welcoming community. Everyone trains together and is working towards the same goal. The community of the sport as a whole is very supportive as well; everyone wants everyone to do well and achieve their personal goals. I have never experienced any hate from anyone in the cross community.

Q: What is your favorite distance to run and why?

A: My favorite distance to race is the 400, because it goes by so fast. You never really feel the pain until it ends.

Q: What is your proudest accomplishment?

A: My proudest accomplishment is winning the 800m at the state meet in track and field last year.

Q: What is your advice to anyone who wants to start running?

First five students to finish both puzzles and DM @ mvviewer on Instagram win free coffee from Mustang Mocha!

puzzle by puzzleopolis.com

puzzle by websudoku.com