FRIday November 18 2016
In This Issue features
regal grace variety
Viewer
Volume 64 Issue 3
There’s a club for everyone Mounds View students delve into their interests by Toni Baraga staff reporter High school has an infamous reputation of being a hard place to fit in. With movies like Mean Girls and The Breakfast Club that spread the idea of the stereotypical high school hierarchy, it can be a challenge for some to find a place where they’re comfortable. Student-run clubs offer an outlet where nearly anyone can find their place. In the event that the current clubs don’t cater to students’ interests, students can start their own clubs at Mounds View. This year, clubs like Harry Potter Club, Garden Club and Physics Club, are new to the Mounds View community. Sabriyah Taher, 11, and Yoo-Jin Hwang, 11, founded Physics Club at the beginning of the school year. “We wanted to make a club that was scienceoriented, but not something that was
competitive... This club was mainly just to explore physics in an uninhibited way,” said Taher. They strive for a friendly and easygoing atmosphere that allows anyone to join without feeling the pressures of competing. Students not interested in sciencerelated clubs at Mounds View can join Garden Club, which was established by Laney Wolter, 11, and Maija Engebretson, 12. According to Wolter, they started it out of their love of plants and gardening. “We just started it because we like planting and I’m kind of obsessed with plants. It was kind of like a joke at first, but then we decided to actually do it.” Each meeting, the club engages in new activities that focus on plants, such as decorating pots and planting succulents. For Potterheads who want a place to share their fandom, Harry Potter Club
is a great option. Founded by Madelyn West, 11, Mary Magnuson, 11 and Morgan TerMaat, 11, the club meets every other Thursday to do activities related to the Harry Potter series, including movie day and Quidditch games. Although the three founders are content with the club’s progress, West has high hopes for the future of the club. “We just hope to keep it going and not let it die out after we graduate. Hopefully we can pass it on to younger kids who love it as much as we do.” Depending on their own interests, students at Mounds View can participate in a number of new clubs every year. Although high school may seem like a scary place due to stereotypical high school movies, it can be surprisingly easy to find something that fits every student’s interests.
U of m restaurants
sports
varsity boys cross country
illustrations by Samuel Kwong
MOA’s Thanksgiving shutdown by Shannon Haffely staff reporter This year, for the first time in over two decades, the Mall of America (MOA) will be closed on Thanksgiving day to let their employees celebrate with their families. While the movie theaters, aquarium, and Nickelodeon Universe will be closed, individual retail stores may remain open if they wish. According to KARE 11, Sears, Macy’s and the Crayola Experience are the only stores that will be open on Thanksgiving day. In the past, staying open all night on Thanksgiving was a famous characteristic of the MOA. It was thought that the overnight advantage would draw in more customers and more revenue compared to other retailer services or malls; however, this belief was countered by Marshall Cohen, retail analyst, who said, “Opening on Thanksgiving doesn’t lift overall sales.”
The mall’s decision to skip out on Thanksgiving sales has shocked many students. “It’s surprising because it’s a great sale day. [They’re] missing out,” said Amy Helgeson, 11. However, other students approve of the change. “During a holiday like Thanksgiving, you should be home spending time with family,” said Jordan Van Laningham, 11. Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family, so it’s justifiable that the Mall of America wants to allow that time for their employees. Jill Renslow, the mall’s senior vice president of marketing and business development said, “We’ve been...looking at the numbers...at the pros and cons. We’re excited to give this day back to our employees so they can celebrate with their families.”
Do students think the MOA should close on Thanksgiving day? 22% no 78% yes
66 students polled information compiled by Shannon Haffely
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editorials
top 10 Ways to Obtain a turkey
10
Go bowling with Tyler Hong
9
Catch a wild one
8
Lead a trail of candy corn from the woods to your house
Run one over
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Trace your hand
Tape some tail feathers to a chicken
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4 Serenade one 3 2 Try a turducken 1 Go hunting with your redneck friend
Dress up as a loaf of bread
2015-2016
Viewer Editors Editor-in-Chief
Kailey Newcome
Managing Editor - Copy
Amber Zhao
Managing Editor - Online
Daniel Yong
Business Manager
Rigney Cunningham News
Sunny Lim Editorials
Samuel Kwong Jake Rosenow Features
Kallie Slotvig Spread
Ben Davis
friday, november 18, 2016
Election results spark conflict by Samuel Kwong editorials editor Two days before the presidential election, estimates predicted that Hillary Clinton would annihilate Donald Trump in the elections with a 90 percent chance of victory. For the first few hours of the election, it looked to be just that as Clinton had a noticeable lead over Trump in both the popular and electoral votes. However, as time ticked by, Clinton’s chances slowly dropped from a 90 percent chance to 85, and eventually reaching an ever-so-climactic zero percent chance of victory when she conceded to Trump at 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 9, 2016. Unsurprisingly, the election was a major shock to millions across the country. After all, how could a misogynistic, sexist, arrogant man like Trump triumph over a highly experienced politician such as Clinton? Losing the election to the epitome of a sexist white male was a truly disappointing end to Clinton’s career. It’s no lie that both candidates have had their fair share of scandals and unacceptable
viewpoints, whether it be a sketchy background with multiple wives on Trump’s side, or Clinton’s extremely careless email scandal. Voters became caught up in these situations, overlooking the significance of their ballot. Not only were they wrong when they choose the president, but they were also voting for the appointment of the next Supreme Court Justice and many laws that Obama enacted while in office. The voters themselves may be to blame for Trump’s rise to power and Clinton’s unexpected fall. During the election, roughly 15,000 people voted for Harambe, a deceased gorilla and internet meme sensation, instead of Hillary or Trump. This outrage is simply unacceptable. While it may seem hilarious to some, those who voted for Harambe lack the physical and emotional maturity to understand that not choosing a president will introduce a massive power shift to the nation. Additionally, roughly three percent of the population voted for a third party candidate. These votes
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Rigney Cunningham Sports
Jack McCoy Gallery
Marley Jones Samuel Kwong Marley Jones Adviser
David Ostrom Staff Toni Baraga, Jaden Blomberg, Cassandra Downs, Sanjana Dutt, Elly Gustafson, Shannon Haffely, Ameni Hajji, Haley Keeney, Lauren Lafaye, Zoe Lindberg, Mitchell Mattison, Riley McCorkell, Christina Mehrkens, Emily Meyer, Joe Pasdo, Mihaela Pinzari, Aman Rao, Parker Ruedy, Ethan Stromquist, Olivia Stuart, Sarah Tang, Ada Joy, Carysse Villar, Michelle Wang, Felix Zhang, Diana Zhu
In Issue 2 of The Viewer, the date of Jacob Wetterling’s kidnapping was published as Feb. 17, 1978. The correct date is Oct. 22, 1989. In the election issue of The Viewer, Anish Sethi’s quote was misattributed to Andrew Seong.
The Viewer is published by the student editors at: Mounds View High School 1900 Lake Valentine Rd Arden Hills, Minnesota Sauk Centre Publishing
liberal and conservative, have been assaulting minorities and opposite voters, vandalizing property, causing traffic jams and protesting the streets in futile hopes of a Trump stepdown. While the nation has definitely taken a few steps down with increased open racism and burnings of the U.S. flag, it isn’t a lost cause. All over social media, signs of hope can be found, urging people to “persevere,” “give Trump a chance” or to find peaceful ways to protest, such as silent walks. Trump could also be an acceptable president with better morals. Currently, he’s reconsidering his policy on building a wall, since “a lot of these terrific Mexicans could come in and make a real contribution to our country and, in exchange, I think they’d really benefit from Obamacare.” For the time being, most Americans will simply have to accept the fact that Trump is the new president, or at least until Canada manages to fix their immigration website.
I believe we should accept the fact and stop hating each other.” -Leon Wang, 9
Variety
Photographers/Artists
were vital, especially in swing states and could’ve made the difference between PresidentElect Trump and Clinton. In fact, Clinton lost the electoral vote by about only 107,000 votes – less than one percent. Voting for third party candidates was a waste of a vote and should’ve been cast for one of the two main parties. These other votes were cast due to dislike of both main candidates. For many voters, choosing between Trump and Clinton was equivalent to deciding whether to shove their metal forks into the top or bottom electrical outlet. If Hillary had won, strides towards abortion, gay and lesbian marriage and gender rights would be further strengthened, which is a serious threat to numerous religions, including various denominations of Christianity. However, since Trump’s recent claim to the White House’s keys, stock markets throughout the world have suffered numerous drops and setbacks due to his unquestionably erratic personality towards the business world. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of people, both
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I was surprised, and a little disappointed in the American people. It’s not really going to affect myself...but it will definitely impact minorities.” -Michael Conlin-Brandenburg, 12
No matter what your political affilation is, no matter what you personally believe, it is of utmost importance that we respect the ideas and opinions of others.” -Grace Ryan, 11 photos by Sam Kwong
Viewer Mission Statement
1. To publish news, information and opinion articles for and about student, faculty and administration activities, interests and policies. 2. To maintain high ethical standards with regard to fairness, personal and legal rights, responsibilities and accuracy. 3. To provide a forum for free and responsible expression of student opinion and present well-balanced, locally researched coverage of issues of broader student interest. 4. To strive for a high level of competency in the technical aspect of writing, including grammar, spelling, clarity, and precision. 5. To welcome diversity and increase the scope and depth of our coverage in order to heighten mutual understanding and awareness throughout our entire school community. Articles and letters to the editor appearing on the editorials pages represent solely the opinions of the writers and do not represent in any way the viewpoint of Viewer, our advertisers, Mounds View High School or its staff. The editors of the Viewer welcome and encourage the publication of all viewpoints.
editorials
Friday, November 18, 2016
Thanks, Obama by Jake Rosenow editorials editor
Around this time eight years ago, Democratic candidate and first African-American President of the United States, Barack Obama, had just been elected. Since then, the world has changed drastically, and he has solved many issues in his two terms as president. Obama has followed through on his promises, and his approval rating is at an all time high as Americans begins to realize what lies ahead in the next four years. As the 2016 election has taken control on the majority of the United States, many look back at Obama’s presidency in hopes that Trump can accomplish at least a portion of what Obama did during his time in office. Obama has solved controversial issues at home and abroad and has passed countless reforms to help improve the economical, political and moral issues at hand in America. When Obama came into office, the country was far different than what it is now. Traditional Republican beliefs plagued the country, equality
wasn’t evident and the country was in dire need of a president who would improve the situation. Obama passed an economic stimulus right when he got into office. The stimulus helped to improve the economy and produce jobs during what was the greatest recession since the Great Depression. Throughout his two terms, Obama fought to improve the economy. He began to regulate big banks by creating a council that monitored banks involvements in hedge funds. If a bank was too involved, they would essentially become “too big to fail.” By regulating big banks, the situation with banks and credit was improved. In 2010, Obama cut taxes for the general population and for businesses and he also extended unemployment benefits. Since Obama came into office, the number of jobs has increased and the unemployment rate has decreased by 6.7 percent. Trade has also improved–exports have increased by 34 percent since he became president. During his second term, after a long fought battle against Al Qaeda in Afghani-
stan and in Iraq in 2007, the country began to withdraw troops from Iraq and left Iraq in 2011. Later that year, Obama greenlighted U.S. special forces to kill Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan after Bin Laden orchestrated the attacks on 9/11 that led to the deaths of nearly 3,000 Americans. Obama also worked to improve the lives of all U.S. citizens during his time as president, working to make health care readily accessible for all who need it. Same sex marriage was passed and LGBTQ+ individuals are now widely accepted across the country. He increased support for veterans, passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009 to improve pay equality in the country and gave women the right to sue if they weren’t receiving fair pay. Obama even expanded hate crime protection in hopes that all citizens in the country could feel accepted and welcomed. On a global scale, Obama advocated for reducing the country’s carbon footprint, as well as expanding environmental protection. He passed various acts with the hope of improving the situation, including closing conventional power
plants in favor of supporting renewable energy generators, increased standards on fuel efficiency and created wilderness preservations. Overall, Obama realized the effect America was having the environment and he continually tried to lessen the harm that the country was inflicting on the world. Though Obama may have accomplished a lot for the country, ranging from human rights, environmental protection and improving the economy overall, many focus on the one mistake he made in office, Obamacare. Obama had one goal in mind: universal and affordable insurance for every family in America. Obamacare directly impacted middle class families and insurance premiums went up for those who could hardly afford it before, therefore putting a burden on more Americans than it actually helped. Obamacare seemed unorganized and poorly executed. Although it hurt many middle class families, Obamacare did help poorer families, but the term “universal affordable health care” was far-fetched and did not reflect the result of Obama’s healthcare reform.
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Obama accomplished nearly everything that he promised he would do for this country, and more. He improved the economy, ended wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, worked to improve human rights and also worked to lessen the harm that the country was inflicting on the environment. This country can only hope that Trump will be as accomplished as Barack Obama has been in the past 8 years. All we can do now is look back at Obama, thank him for what he has done for this country and come together and look at the future optimistically rather than in despair.
photo fair use from US Army Africa
“He’s helped this country so much while he’s been in office. It’s sad to see him leave.” -Morgan Kelly, 10
“Obama barely did anything in office. He went on vacations all the time, and he was very selfish. It’s about time we drain the swamp!” -Jared Herbert, 11
What are student opinions on Obama?
82 % of students believe that Obama was a good president.
18% of students weren’t happy with
Obama and felt as if he could have information compiled by Aman Rao done better.
100 students polled
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features
friday, November 18, 2016
Painting her way to fame by Zoe Lindberg staff reporter
“Horizon” 6 hrs, charcoal.
If you visited the education building at the State Fair this year, you probably saw junior Shelley Wang’s artwork. Wang entered three pieces in the fair’s high school competition this year and was pleasantly surprised to win grand prize for her acrylic painting, Regal Grace. Wang, who started drawing and painting when she was four years old, has been interested in art ever since she could pick up a pencil. “It was something that was fun to me, so my parents sent me to art class,” said Wang. These days, Wang attends classes two days a week at the MeiLin Art Studio in Shoreview, as well as working on her own whenever her busy schedule allows. For Wang, art allows her to express herself in a fun way. “It’s something that lets me put my thoughts into it,” said Wang. She hopes that her art will tell a story and move her viewers. “I like [to paint] people. My style, as I’m beginning to find, is very oriental and imperial like ancient China. It’s a way to connect to my family’s culture, and it’s very beautiful.” Wang also enjoys painting tundra
landscapes, focusing on the aspects of northern climates. Currently, her favorite medium to work with is acrylic paint on canvas. In addition to being a fun hobby, art has become a way for Wang to earn money for college. Having sold her first painting, a large charcoal portrait, at age 15, she has continued selling her work occasionally ever since. When selling her work, Wang considers the size and medium of the painting, as well as how much she values the piece. “I don’t want to sell anything that I’m not proud of and don’t feel good selling,” said Wang. She also takes into consideration the prices of similar pieces, material fees and the amount of time that went into producing it. Larger, more detailed paintings can take more than 40 hours for Wang to complete. Her starting price for these more time consuming pieces is around $500. As a diligent high school student, Wang is not yet actively marketing her work, so most sales come from visitors to her teacher’s studio. “Usually when people want to buy my art, they usually want something custom for them like a self-portrait,” said Wang. Anyone with inquiries about Wang’s work can contact her at shelleymwang@gmail.com. photos courtesy of Shelley Wang
“Skanna,” 1 hr, pencil.
“Regal Grace” grand prize acrylic painting, 40 hours.
Sabriyah’s key to success by Christina Mehrkens staff reporter While most students spent their summer relaxing from school and work, junior Sabriyah Taher started a business using her ingenious skills and a 3D printer. In August, Taher launched Extruded Ingenuity, an independant company that 3D prints custom gear. Extruded Ingenuity is a way for Taher to spend time away from her hectic schedule and focus on what she enjoys. She has an array of different items for sale like keychains, magnets, plaques and more. She has made Mounds View gear as well as Harry Potter, Star Wars and Sherlock Holmes themed merchandise. Taher has met many different people who each want their own personalized gear, many of whom are interested in sports-based gear. So far, Taher has designed keychains for Mounds View cross country, hockey, track and field and the swim and dive teams. She’s also made products for orchestra and the speech team. Each item is about $3, depending on its size. Taher mainly focuses on putting the revenue she earns back into her business, using the money for things like the printer’s cartridges. Although she runs the company by herself, it
doesn’t bother her because she knows everything is being taken care of. The average time it takes for the design process ranges from 60 to 90 minutes and the printer takes about two-and-a-half to three hours to print. Taher finishes designing before going to bed so the printer will run overnight while she is asleep. Then, the next morning, she is able to quickly pick up the finished product and bring it to the customer the next day. The work doesn’t stop there for her company. Taher also has trained many of her peers in her robotics group, “The Ponytail Posse,” to work with the software used to design the products. “I’ve taught them how to use the software so they can draw up the 3D models that they could export to the 3D printer if they needed to,” she says. Taher hopes to keep her business running through college to continue teaching others about the skill and get excited about technology, as well. “I think it’s important for people, especially my age, to know about [3D Printers] so they know a little bit more about how the world works and what humans can achieve in science.” For more information on Taher’s business, visit: www.extrudedingenuity.com photos courtesy of Sabriyah Taher
features
friday, november 18, 2016
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Albert Pan the music man by Felix Zhang staff reporter At first glance, the complex contraption of discs, dials and knobs may seem reminiscent of a time machine. With its glowing lights and numerous markings, it’s not surprising that this complicated contraption, known as a turntable, could be easily mistaken as something straight out of a Star Wars set. However, to DJ and song composer Albert Pan, 12, this is a familiar sight. This is his passion. This is the world of electronic dance music. Pan found his passion for music as a freshman through a bit of luck and coincidence. “I wanted to search up who shared my same birthday, and it turns out this guy named Avicii does,” said Pan. “At that moment, his song ‘Wake Me Up’ was getting really popular and I really got into his music.” Not one to simply listen, he quickly discovered Avicii’s YouTube channel and started watching his videos. “He had a walkthrough. I watched his whole video, one hour and half long, and at that moment I really wanted to try it out,” he said. Today, Pan regularly composes a variety of electronic dance music and mainly focuses on future bass. Future bass is usually characterized by soul provoking chord progressions, melodic top lines, full-sounding synthesizers and an optimistic tone. In addition to making music, he also DJs for orchestra getaways and other events. One reason Pan composes music is because it combines his creativity with his love for music. At the age of six, he became intrigued with music
and learned to play the piano. He then went on to learn how to play the violin and currently performs with the Mounds View Orchestra. In the specific case of electronic dance music, Pan professes his love: “It’s just creating something I can’t create with human hands. There is just so much I can do with sounds.” Although making music “virtually” may seem deceptively easy, in reality, it is far more complex than one may think. According to Pan, “It’s kinda like writing a essay or painting a picture.” You start off with an idea of what type of song you want to make. Then you can add on a variety of different augmentations in the form of plugins, synthesizers, digital audio, sound bank, snare sounds and high hats. To aspiring music producers, Pan has some insightful advice. “The first thing to do is actually start,” said Pan. “There are cases where you want to do something, but you don’t start because you’re scared.” In regards to the cost of equipment, you have to pay around $150 for the basic software such as FL Studio, but after that most of the sounds can be found online for free. Over the past summer, Pan has taken a temporary hiatus from producing to revamp his musical style and image, even going as far as changing his current name, Aschente. “I’m currently working on a new name, a new artist project...it will be a completely different image from what I had before, I’m planning for it to explode,” said Pan. “Expect spring 2017.” Pan’s music can be found on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/djaschente
photo courtesy of Albert Pan
Leon Wang shifts into Overdrive v dr i r e v
photo courtesy of Leon Wang
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by Ethan Stromquist staff reporter
For some, music is simply an enjoyable pastime. For others, it’s a passion. Leon Wang, freshman at Mounds View, shares this passion and has been producing his own music for four years. Starting in 2012, Wang began producing his own music under the alias “Overdrive” after being inspired by music producer Albert Pan. “Albert helped me get into production way back and we’ve both been working hard ever since,” said Wang. Since then, he has produced many songs in a wide variety of genres. “I’d classify my current style of music as leaning towards more of a future bass and chill type of sound with major hip hop and trap influences at times,” said Wang. “However, I think that because there are so many more genres of music to discover, especially being an underground artist, that my style will definitely change a lot.” Wang is able to create many different sounds in his music by using a vast library of samples and plugins, technology that allows him to be innovative with his music production. “Having so much room for creativity makes me feel unrestrained and free which is a reason I have stuck to music production for almost four years,” said Wang. Each song takes anywhere from a few weeks to months to produce. Throughout the process, Wang learns how to improve his work and finds joy in doing so.“I enjoy the creativity and discoveries you can find when producing. Like when I make some crazy sounding bassline or a nice chord progression it feels really awesome that you’ve made something so unique that
no one else has laid their hands on,” said Wang. Music has also acted as an emotional outlet for Wang by allowing him to share his songs with his listeners. “Music has helped me relieve my emotional struggles and stress that I may feel at some times because I can pour out my feelings into my tracks instead of keeping it to myself. It’s amazing to me how much music production has changed my life and I hope to keep improving,” said Wang. Wang constantly strives to improve by working to better the process of mastering tracks. Mastering a track is the addition of finishing touches that improve the track’s sound. “Over the years I’ve been trying to tweak my mastering workflow to create the best master for my tracks. It’s still not one of my strongest points, but my mastering skills have substantially improved since my first experiences with mastering,” said Wang. Though Wang remains uncertain if he will pursue a career in music in his future, music has taught him life lessons that will guide him wherever he goes. “Music production really helps you stand out more and makes you a lot less afraid to try new things.” For up and coming music producers Wang has some inspiring advice, “Focus on your art instead of looking everywhere for promotions. If you make some good tunes but no one seems to pay attention, as long as you enjoy your songs and you keep producing, people will find you.” Wang’s music can be found on Soundcloud at: https://soundcloud.com/overdrivesound
Grades on ice by Mihaela Pinzari staff reporter Many Mounds View students have been complaining about the temperature of classrooms throughout the school being either too hot or cold, but do these complaints hold any weight? Vicky Gerlach, school health specialist, believes that Mounds View’s building temperature is not the best for students. She said, “It is too cold for them. Students’ brains become foggy, and they can’t concentrate on classes. We have a lot of sick students because of this, and this makes other students becomes sick. Sometimes it can cause students to do worse at their classes.” Many students agree with Gerlach and the study. Kari Johnson, 11, said, “It is always cold at Mounds View and students concentrate more on the temperature than on classes. I [want] a blanket, not a test.” Teachers have this view, too. Theresa Anderson, business and personal law
teacher, thinks she has one of the coldest classes from the entire school. Anderson believes that a neutral temperature will be better for students. “They will not think about hot chocolate in a cold classroom and about cold water in a hot classroom.” Some teachers, however, prefer a cooler temperature for their classrooms, as they believe that it helps students stay awake and focus. Ross Fleming, physical education and health teacher, believes that a cold temperature is better for athletes. Fleming said, “I don’t want them to be sleepy because of warm temperature.” Some students prefer the cooler rooms because it gets too hot with many students in the room. Marissa Walker, 10, said, “Nobody is sweating and it is easier to stay into classrooms.” Others like the colder rooms because of what they find comfortable. Amelie Elmquist, 11, says, “It is a really nice feeling when around you everything is cold.”
No matter what their preferences, many studies show that students pay more attention when the room temperature is neutral, not too warm or cool. The winning team from the EPA Indoor Air Quality Symposium wanted to study if student performance is negatively affected by significant changes in temperature in the classroom. This study found that students do worse on tests in rooms hotter than 81 degrees or cooler than 61 degrees than in a room at 72 degrees by up to 14 percent. Overall, students and faculty at Mounds View wish that the climate would stay consistent. “It stresses me out that I have to dress for three different temperatures,” said Mariah Holtz, 12.
IcyH
Map Key
Orange= Too hot Blue= Too cold Yellow= Changes by the hour Orange and Blue= Changes by the day Purple= Changes seasonally Red= No rhyme or reason White= No data (If multiple Teachers answered for the same room, the option with the most variance was used)
How Teachers View
6.2% 4.6%
65 faculty members polled
Hot “
I layer a lot. By winter I wear five layers. I also bring a blanket when it’s not being washed.” -Bethany Kinney, 10
-Lahiri Naikwad , 12 information compiled by Elly Gustafson
information compiled by Ben Davis
w their rooms
d
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A lot of times it’s really cold and you’re trying to listen to the teacher but you’re shivering.”
Temp. is always comfortable not too hot, not too cold Temp. is always too hot Temp. is always too cold Temp.varies by the hour Temp. varies by the day Other (Most other responses were that the temp. is information compiled by Ben Davis
Too hot to handle by Sarah Tang staff reporter One of the most popular topics heard in the Mounds View hallways is temperature. Most would think this would revolve around the largely unpredictable Minnesota weather; however, it’s about climate changes that occur from class to class. “At the end of the day in [Butler’s room], it’s sweltering - that whole hallway you die and in the Spanish hallway, it’s super cold, so you can never plan what to wear,” said Nancy Koshy, 10. Many students have decided to wear several layers or even bring blankets to class to deal with the inconsistent conditions. The most affected area
is the social studies area, according to Associate Principal Michael Schwartz. One day a class can be frigid, and the next day it can be unbelievably hot. There are a couple of reasons for the varying building temperature. The school has three air systems that all try to work together. These include machines called chillers and dampers which regulate the temperature throughout the school by increasing or decreasing the flow of air from air ducts in classrooms. Sections of the building sometimes go offline, which causes these to either remain open or shut, resulting in irregular conditions. “A chiller might go down, or a damper might get closed, and if a damper gets closed,
that’s when an area gets really warm or really cold,” explained Schwartz. Another reason a particular classroom might be warm is its location in the school. Rooms closer to the outside of the school tend to be warmer, because the brick walls absorb heat from the sun. There are a variety of reasons why the building temperature is inconsistent, but are there any plans to resolve this issue? “It’s definitely in the works. I don’t have a timetable, but the problem is definitely being looked at,” said Schwartz.
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variety
Friday, november 18, 2016
The U of M for You
Loring Pasta Bar by Cassandra Downs staff reporter The Loring Pasta Bar is a funky spot in Dinkytown, perfect for those seeking authentic Italian food at a reasonable price. Usually buzzing with college students, the restaurant is a great way for high school students to assimilate into the University of Minnesota culture and get a feel for campus lifestyle. While the menu offers familiar dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, the orzo pasta with truffle oil and artichoke hearts and the goat cheese ravioli are what draw in large crowds. Other favorites at the Loring Pasta Bar include the carbonara, chicken piccata and the Greek quinoa salad. The restaurant’s charm lies in its mix of vintage and classical decor. Trees with twinkling
lights are placed throughout the restaurant and an assortment of music plays in the background. The focal point of the restaurant is the stage set up for musical performances of any genre. In front of the stage there is an area for dancing, as well. The Loring Pasta Bar is located at 327 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN. It is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays offer brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. With exceptional prices ranging from $3 to $25, it’s affordable for all ages. Loring Pasta bar is a timeless place to visit with friends and family. With great decor, splendid food and soothing music, this is the place to be.
illustration by Samuel Kwong
Annie’s Parlour by Aman Rao staff reporter
photo by Daniel Yong
Annie’s Parlour in Dinkytown
Blaze Pizza by Ameni Hajji staff reporter Founded in California, Blaze Pizza is a fast-casual pizza chain spreading all over the U.S., finally making its way to Dinkytown. With authentic pizzas cooked in a woodburning oven and covered with fresh ingredients, Blaze Pizza is a threatening competitor to mainstream chains like Pizza Hut. Blaze offers a variety of choices including the Meat Eater, Veg Out, Art Lover and several other unique options. If the menu doesn’t look satisfying, the Build Your Own Pizza is in an assembly-style format and offers unlimited toppings like applewood bacon, basil, goat cheese and buffalo sauce, all for the flat price of $7.95. Besides pizza, salads and fountain drinks are also available.
The chain has a moderncasual set up with sleek stainless steel countertops and current posters. Large windows showcase the urban setting and small comfortable chairs and tables are placed next to the windows. In the center of the restaurant, there are bar style tables that seat many. Blaze Pizza is located at 1000 Washington Ave. S.E. in Dinkytown. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Being in a close proximity to the University of Minnesota campus, the restaurant gets a big rush around noon. However, the service is friendly and fast. Blaze Pizza gives a new taste to pizza. If you are a pizza enthusiast and like to hang out with your friends without splurging, Blaze Pizza is the ideal option.
In the lively college neighborhood Dinkytown, a three-story restaurant stands out from the others–Annie’s Parlour, a Twins Cities hotspot. Annie’s Parlour, one of the oldest restaurants in Dinkytown, has been serving customers for 50 years. A former printing press in the 50s, Annie’s has become one of the most famous burger joints in the Twin Cities area. With its incredible burgers and tasty malts, Annie’s can draw in a crowd any day of the week. The popular joint was ranked in the Top Ten Burger Spots for MN according to ZAGAT/New York because of its welcoming environment and mouth watering entrees. Annie’s atmosphere is enchanting. The gray brick building reflects the city lights, giving off its own magic, while the outdoor seating at Annie’s showcases a view of the Minneapolis skyscrapers. The restaurant’s inside ambiance is
The BBQ Chicken Pizza from Blaze Pizza
a slice of the past with dim lights and old posters that enclose the walls. Retro Coca-Cola banners and Pillsbury Mill posters give off their own spark. There are two separate dining areas in the restaurant, one for more enthusiastic crowds like students, and one for families. After a stressful week, students come to rejuvenate, hang out and meet new people. Due to the restaurant’s popularity, there is barely enough room to stand in the restaurant on a Friday night. The best part of Annie’s Parlour is not its outdoor seating and views, but the extravagant combinations they serve at the restaurant. Homemade french fries and creamy malts bring a miraculous union of sweet and salty foods. Annie’s is located on 313 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis. On weekdays, Annie’s is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.
photo by Ameni Hajji
reviews
Friday, November 18, 2016
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fair use from screenrant.com
Doctor Strange is a great addition to Marvel by Haley Keeney staff reporter On Nov. 4, Marvel released the movie Doctor Strange directed by Scott Derrickson. The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch, known for his role in the television series Sherlock, playing Dr. Stephen Strange. Strange is a music-loving, arrogant neurosurgeon known for his steady hands while performing surgery. The movie begins with Strange in a hospital performing surgeries and living in his glamorous home. We are also introduced to his ex-girlfriend Christine, played by Rachel McAdams. However, she makes little impact to the plot, usually only making appearances when Strange is injured. While on his way to a banquet honoring his accomplishments, Strange gets in a car accident, which causes nerve damage and leaves him with a tremor, ruining his career. The movie follows his
journey to recovery. He travels to Nepal to seek a healer who can supposedly heal all. When he arrives, he meets the healer, The Ancient One, played by Tilda Swinton. He learns that her healing is greater than human capabilities— it’s magic. In order to heal himself, he must master her spells. Not everyone The Ancient One has assisted has used the spells for good, however. During his studies and practice, he learns about a man who previously worked with the Ancient One and turned to the dark side. This man is Kaecilius, played by Mads Mikkelsen, and he spends the movie trying to defeat Doctor Strange and turn Earth to the dark side. The film ties in well with the Marvel universe even though it is focused mainly around magic, not superpowers. Key aspects throughout the movie serve to tie the new superhero to the wonderful world of superhumans, and, if viewers stay through the credits, they will see a clue of what may be in store for Marvel. The film has the perfect mixture of humor and suspense throughout, making each
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viewer engaged in the story. The graphics in the film are outstanding and amazing to look at. From moving buildings during battles to Strange’s first encounters with the Ancient One’s magic, the movie never fails to keep the viewer awestruck. Overall, Doctor Strange is a great movie with a good plot and amazing graphics. The movie does a great job of keeping viewers engaged whether they’re an avid Marvel fan or just entering the Marvel universe.
The Verdict Doctor Strange is an engaging and suspensful film, making it a great addition to the Marvel universe.
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Two Vines ropes listeners in by Olivia Stuart staff reporter Empire of the Sun drifts toward the more unusual, spiritual side of music, and their new release, Two Vines, is no different. Combining old styles with new, the band brings new sounds and elements to their music. Two Vines includes 11 energetic tracks produced by Peter Mayes and Jonathan Sloan. EDM-meets-’80s-pop-and‘70s-rock may be a possible genre of the album, but the sound is hard to categorize. The album’s production style is outdated, but the band definitely makes it work. In fact, an inexperienced listener could easily mistake any of their songs for an ‘80s hit. The soft lyrics on the album speak to all audiences, allowing the band to make unique connections with their listeners. Though some may not enjoy the heavily autotuned, basic dance beat music, Empire of the Sun combines various samples and small counter melodies throughout the songs to appeal to a wide variety of audiences. Listening to the album all the way through may get slightly repetitive, since a lot of the songs are similar, but the beautiful lyrics bring a soulful, meaningful side to pop. The first song on the album, “Before,” is definitely not the band’s strongest piece. The song itself is very basic, and could use a more variation in chord progression, as the song currently includes just two chords.
“Two Vines,” the top single of the album, brings in ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s styles, and it cannot be compared to anything else. Its uniqueness makes audiences doubletake and listen more closely. Empire Of the Sun is a band like no other. With a blend of sounds throughout the decades and a traditional recording process, the band is one of the few left who are not afraid to visit the past. Their latest release, Two Vines, is quite possibly the most unique album of the year.
The Verdict Two Vines’s unique sound is unparalleled and is enjoyable for all music lovers.
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Sports
Fall Wrap Up
Friday, November 18, 2016
Paddling for USA by Diana Zhu staff writer A kayak cuts through the calm lake waters as a lone paddler glides past. The sun doesn’t rise for another hour, but Ina Poecher, 11, has been up since 4:45 a.m. While most of her classmates are still in bed, Poecher is paddling every day before school. Poecher, who began kayaking three years ago, was influenced by her dad, a nationally ranked kayaker in Germany. Today, Poecher maintains a rigorous training schedule. In addition to paddling before and after school, she lifts three times a week and runs four times a week, which amounts to three to four hours a day, six days a week. She’s currently ranked fourth in the nation for kayaking in the junior age division, a feat in and of itself. In late September, Poecher was selected to represent the United States at the Olympic Hopes Regatta in Szeged, Hungary, a competition featuring over 800 athletes from around the world. At such an elite level, every detail must be accounted for. Poecher and her teammates arrived several days before the competition to get a feel for the waters and adjust to the seven hour time difference, seemingly dismissable factors that impact performance. The four-person team competed in individual and team races with one, two and four-person boats of 200, 500 and 1000-meter lengths. They excelled in the four-person team races, beating half the teams in the 500-meter; relatively well for a U.S. team. Although the season is now over, offseason training is just as intensive. Poecher’s next competition is trials, which confirms the U.S. team and double checks for any outlier athletes who are not yet on the team. Poecher has set high goals for the next few seasons. “I don’t really know what the future is for me with this, [but] the next thing for me is to get to junior worlds.” Once in college, she not only hopes to make it onto the world team, but also hopes to medal at world competitions. Pouring an extensive amount of time and energy into the sport, has forced Poecher to miss several days of school and sacrifice time with friends and family. Despite these losses, it’s all worth it for her. “It definitely gets tiring and I definitely have less of a social life than most people my age, but I love this sport,” said Poecher. “When I’m on the water, I just focus on kayaking; my mind kind of goes blank and I don’t think about anything else.”
Ina Poecher, 11, kayaks during competition.
photos courtesy of Ina Poecher
Bowling Team Strikes the Conference by Mitchell Mattison staff writer With most fall sports at Mounds View wrapping up their seasons, the bowling team’s season has come to a close, with their championship competition held at The Mermaid on Nov. 11. Mounds View has three different teams: varsity, junior varsity one and junior varsity two. The team played two matches every Friday, with five games in each match. The scoring system uses the team’s score as the final, rather than the individual players scores. Senior captains Riley Flanagan and Justin Langer set goals to have a fun season. “We wanted to have a great time and improve on our bowling game as a whole,” said Flanagan. While having fun was the main achievement for the team, the boys were able to wrap up the season with many accomplishments. The team finished third in the conference, and Langer and Flanagan made the All Conference Honors Team, along with junior Austin Ross winning the Most Outstanding Player of the conference award. During their championship competition, the team played hard and finished their season strong. “We were closing our frames and hitting our marks. We put up a great fight,” said Sam Lerdahl, 12. Unfortunately, the varsity team lost to Totino Grace, just missing advancing to the state tournament. As they improve, the bowling team seeks to gain popularity among students in the upcoming years. Coach Dave Erickson encourages students to join. “This is a club sport and students can earn a letter,” said Erickson. The cost to join the team is $105, which includes all practices and meets. Bowling is currently one of highest growing high school sports in the United States, and many students are likely to sign up.
illustration by Jackie Gaworski
sports
Friday, November 18, 2016
Athlete of the issue
Dave Dahl Cross Country Q: Why did you join the cross country team? A: “In middle school I would win the fun run thing, so I figured I’d be good at it.” Q: How are you doing this year? A: “I’ve done pretty good, but the last few meets I have been sick, so hopefully I can get back in for state.” Q: What do you like about cross country? A: “I like the feeling after a run. It’s very rewarding to feel like you have accomplished something spectacular by giving it all you have.” Q: How is the team doing this year? A: “The team is doing really good. Our top four are doing way better than we expected.” Q: How tough are practices? A: “It depends on the day. Most are easy, and we just run. Other days, we have rigorous workouts.”
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Transcending Expectations by Michelle Wang staff reporter “Work hard, stay humble.” This is the motto the Mounds View varsity boys cross country team lives on. The team had an exceptional season this year, placing first in every meet and second at sections. They finished the season with a bang when they placed fourth at the state meet on Saturday, Nov. 5, at St. Olaf College. The boys say their success was built on their team unity. “We trust the training because the coaches give it to us. Nobody misses practice most of the time. We practice together as a team and encourage JV. That makes us strong,” said Ezekiel Lelinga, 12. The team placed higher in multiple meets leading up to state than in the previous season. Ross Fleming, Mounds View Varsity Boys Cross Country coach, said that the improvement resulted from a more intrinsic development in the team. “There is not a huge difference in performance because last year’s team was pretty good also. The major difference is that the team unity is better,” he said.
“
Nobody misses practice most of the time. We practice together as a team and encourage JV. That makes us strong.”
-Ezekiel Lelinga, 12
Regarding the team’s accomplishments, Fleming added, “Knocking off Stillwater hasn’t been done in 17 years; it’s unique to this team.” The team’s tighter bond helped to lead them to their outstanding achievements, jumping from ninth place at state in the previous season to fourth this year. In addition to team unity, Fleming notes that the boys’ achievements also stem from their ability to focus. “Focus is almost always the key to success, no matter what we talk about. For [the boys], they need to be focused on their strengths and what they can do well,” he said.“They can’t have just a great first mile or a great finish kick and think that it was a success. They need to focus on doing their absolute best every step of the race.” Though the team had an exceptional season, they did hit a few road bumps along the way in injuries and illnesses. The team started the season with all three senior captains injured, and during the season, an experienced runner fell ill. However, the team was able to come back and overcome those obstacles. Through unity and support for one another, the team performed impressively at the meets. Another challenge faced by the team is the pressure to live up to their achievements. “The younger guys look up to what the varsity runners are doing. Other teams look up to us, and since we’re ranked third or fourth in the state, they expect something of us and are watching out,” said Lukas Hessini, 10. Before the state meet, the team was both excited and ner-
vous. “Though most of us had raced at state last year, we as a team had never had this high of expectations before, and we knew meeting them would be a challenge,” Hessini said. In order to handle the pressure, Hessini said, “We talk to each other a lot, plan out our races with our coach, and do research on other teams. The more experienced [guys] gave tips to us as younger guys. As we huddled a minute before the race, we realized this is the last race this team will run together, and we wished everybody luck.” To prepare for the big day, the team tours the course and creates strategies to pass people during the race. The team support doesn’t end after the race. The boys get along outside of practice just as well. “We have a lot of fun at carbo loads. At sections we gave each other haircuts,” said Hessini. Seeing the boys having fun, Fleming added, “It’s heartwarming. It’s not so much about the winning or the number of successes – it’s seeing what they’re like as kids.” The team has provided something special to each and every one of the runners. “I know we had a great fourth place finish at state, but the meet at Alexandria was an awesome memory where we went first, second and third through the varsity, JV and freshman races, showing our program strength. We remember not only our success in running, but also having fun at the hotel and playing some pretty intense football games, too,” said Hessini. Looking back, the team is happy with their efforts and achievements. Hessini re-
flected, “It felt pretty good after the race, knowing [that] we’re fourth in state. Of course we all knew we could have beaten Maple Grove on a good day, but they were tough. Coach tells us we can’t take anything for granted.” Placing fourth in the state is an accomplishment that demands hard work and strong effort, and on race day, the team demonstrated both. Following their success at the state tournament, Fleming had a message for the outstanding team: “For me in this thirty-first year, it went by very fast. When you have guys who are caring and committed, they are an enjoyable bunch of guys to be around. I’d like them to remember how they got there, and how they accomplished what they did. It was hard work and team unity.” All in all, the team stays true to their saying to “work hard, stay humble” through dedication and respect. “When you have a team that’s as successful as ours has been, don’t lose focus. They should never lose sight that they got here by hard work and cohesiveness. There is no bragging or speaking for themselves; the number should show,” said Fleming. “You stay humble because you want people to say that you’re a cause worth supporting and rally behind you. If you’re cocky, no one will cheer. I want our guys to be people others want to support and cheer for.”
Q: What are your goals for the team? A: “Just to make it to state, and hopefully perform well there.” Q: What are your goals for yourself? A: “One of my goals is to go sub-16 in the 5k this year.” Q: What’s the best advice you have gotten? A: “Not going out too hard and saving some energy for the last mile is important.” Q: If you could have any superpower, what would you want and why? A:”I would probably fly. It would save me a lot of time getting around.”
The varsity boys cross country team poses for photos following races. photos courtesy of Lukas Hessini
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Streaming networks by Ada Joy Carysse staff reporter Cable TV used to be a necessity to be able to watch popular TV shows, and going to the cinema was the only way to view hip new movies. Today, with the help of a few apps and online streaming websites, like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu, everyone can watch TV shows and movies anywhere they go for a monthly or yearly subscription. Netflix is by far the most popular streaming medium today due to its everchanging original shows and large selection of movies. Netflix features old movies that can’t be found on DVD and classic TV shows that are reminiscent of childhood. For less than $10 a month, Netflix offers a wide array of movies and TV show genres that are sure to please every viewer. Amazon Prime is more limited in the genres when it comes to movies and TV shows. A subscription is paid yearly, unlike Netflix and Hulu, who offer monthly fees. Amazon Prime still offers a fairly wide variety of movies ranging from recent to classical choices. Although it has a minimal TV show list, it is made up of shows that are popular today. However, you will have to pay more than the normal subscription
fee in order to watch other movies or TV shows. Lastly, Hulu is another video streaming network with a monthly subscription to watch TV shows and movies. The company has a wide span of shows that updates every time a new episode comes out on TV. Unlike Netflix, they have ads and also block the viewer from watching certain TV shows until a higher price is payed.
illustration by Marley Jones
Friday, November 18, 2016
Netflix originals by Lauren LaFaye staff reporter
Uploaded to Netflix in November of 2015, Jessica Jones is one of the many superhero shows included in the long list of Netflix originals. The show follows the life of Jessica Jones, a woman who used to be a superhero but now runs a detective agency. Kilgrave, a character in the show who possesses the ability to control people’s thoughts and actions, has controlled Jones. Under Kilgrave’s control, Jones was forced to do terrible things that continue to have a negative impact on her. If you are looking for a fast paced TV show, this show is definitely binge worthy.
The most recent original show added to Netflix, Stranger Things, has taken the Netflix community by storm. The show is set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. Will Byers, a 12-year-old boy, is on his way home from a friend’s house when he suspects he is being followed. Sadly, Byers is abducted by an unknown figure. Determined to bring him back to safety, his friends and family investigate his disappearance and uncover something terrifying: The unknown figure who took Will may not be human. With unexpected twists and turns, Stranger Things is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last minute.
Orange is the New Black follows the lives of inmates residing within the town of Litchfield, New York in an all women’s prison. The main character, Piper Chapman, is arrested for attempting to steal drugs. Chapman has a heightened sense of privilege and ego, which she soon discovers is not tolerated in prison. The prison guards are very corrupt which leads to a lot of social injustice occurring within the prison walls. This show is very entertaining for anyone who loves dark humor and drama.
In the show Daredevil, Matthew Murdock is the protagonist, who was blinded by a car accident at the age of nine. After the accident, Murdock is forced to discover another way to participate in day-to-day activities. Eventually, he discovers that he has the power of super hearing, which allows him to hear people’s voices and heartbeats from miles away. During the day, Murdoch runs a law firm with his friend Foggy, while at night, he is a vigilante by the name of Daredevil, who likes to take justice into his own hands. Although there is only one season, this original show is a fast paced thriller that is sure to excite any viewer. photos fair use from wikimedia.org