VOLUME 65 ISSUE 8 | April 24, 2018
THE VIEWER VIE Does Mounds View Have A Problem?
; INSIDE THIS ISSUE
WALKOUT 02/ BAND TRIP 04/ PROM 10
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News
tuesday, April 24, 2018
Students voice opinions at walkout
Mounds View students exit their classes for the walkout (top); Cate Enrooth, 12, holds a poster in honor of the past shooting victims (lower left); A League of Women Voters Minnesota voting poster stands in the lower commons (lower right). photos by Kallie Slotvig
by Diana Zhu and Sarah Tang news editor, centerfold editor “We are the future. If politicians don’t listen to us, we will vote them out this November. This is not about political parties anymore. This is about safety and common sense,” senior Yoo-Jin Hwang shouts from atop of Mounds View High School’s front steps. At 10 a.m. on Friday, April 20, approximately 150 students gathered outside of the school’s front door to take part in the National School Walkout. Honoring the 19th anniversary of the deadly Columbine shooting, the demonstration served not
only as an act of unity within Mounds View, but also a powerful message to politicians and adults nationwide. The Mounds View walkout began with a group of seniors led by Ryanna Buganski, 12 in hopes of initiating change in government laws. The movement picked up traction on Facebook, then received approval from the administration. The organizers feel that the government and media portrayal of the issue surrounding school shootings has evolved from a gun rights policy debate to a human rights issue. “They make it this ‘You have to be Republican or a Democrat to support these things,’ but I think really in reality it’s this issue that’s about keeping schools safe,” said Buganski. Madeline Edgar, 9 and Brinnen Morgan, 11 were among several students who stepped up to speak. “It would seem like school was already bad enough — anxiety, depression, extreme stress, self-harm, drugs, alcohol and suicide — but now you give us this? The constant threat of someone coming in and killing me while I sit in economics?” said Edgar. The two gave compelling messages centered around danger in schools and society as a whole. “I thought if I can make meaningful change and make the country at least one billionth of a percent safer, that’s something that’s worth doing and it’s worth standing up and speaking for the people who can’t speak,” said Morgan. As students walked to the top of the stairs, each spoke
their minds without fear of retaliation. “Look, I’m sorry if my passion offends you,” said Edgar. “I’m sorry that I’m trying to fix the problems you ignore, but I will not stand here idly while my friends and peers die.” The League of Women Voters Minnesota, a non-partisan political organization that encourages women’s political activism, set up a voter registration in the lower commons following the student demonstration. Registering to vote is one of the many ways to advocate for change. “I think that if the newspaper and other people who are active on your school campus keep reminding students to vote, that’s how you have your voice,” said Katherine Tomsich, volunteer. Even those who are not yet eligible to vote continue to hold a prominent role in shaping the nation’s future political climate. While only a portion of the students spoke during the walkout, the energy and passion of the speakers resonated with the audience. “I really enjoy the spontaneity of it, in the sense where people can express their own ideas and there’s not speakers set with scripts,” said Matthew Schnell, 11. “It’s very raw emotion.” Mounds View’s students took a stand for what they believe in. “I don’t want to have to look at the news and see more innocent lives destroyed by the use of guns,” said Pratibha Khatiwoda, 10. “It’s time for something new to happen, and it’s time for us to be heard.”
Facebook users’ privacy breached by Rachel Ganske staff reporter
Amidst Facebook’s most recent leak involving the data privacy violation and collection of more than 87 million profiles, “Delete Facebook” has become a trend among many high schoolers as they begin to distance themselves from their Facebook profiles. The scandal was first brought to the public’s attention by ex-Cambridge Analytica employee Christopher Wylie. Cambridge Analytica, a data mining firm, specialized in creating psychological profiles from data for political purposes used around the world. This data, including interests, likes, political affiliation and relationships of users was collected from 87 million people through an app on Facebook. Due to the alleged information on Great Britain’s Brexit vote and the 2016 United States presidential election, there have been multiple lawsuits filed against Facebook and Cambridge Analytica along with an official investigation by Federal Trade Commission. On April 10 and 11, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of the Congress, explaining the Cambridge Analytica scandal and answering questions from Congress members. Zucker-
berg and the Senators had several tense exchanges, highlighted by a frank comment by Senator John Kennedy: “Your user agreement sucks.” Third party organizations show little regard for the age of the profile they are collecting data on. This puts adolescents’ pages at risk of having data collected on them as much as it does to a different age demographic. After the release of the scandal, the ever-present thought of online safety came to many students’ minds. “It makes me nervous t h a t maybe peop l e
would be looking at my page and learning more about me. That just kind of bothers me,” said Paige Leiser, 12. “You’re on a website typing away, and all of a sudden what you just looked up is in an ad.” Facebook uses the data collected to create targeted ads, tag suggestions and facial recognition across profiles. This allows your account to be more personalized to you and the people you know. At the same time, Facebook gains access to who you associate with, where you go and the things you like and dislike. In response to the mounting criticism, Facebook has initiated a new privacy center that monitors the type of data it collects and shares with advertisers with a goal to be more transparent with its users. Some Mounds View students agree
that companies can work together to make online a better place. “By selling less of their space to ads and valuing the privacy of their clients, [Facebook] can better protect us. This would result in fewer people’s information being at risk,” said Bridget Bohan, 11. Other students believe that new regulations should be implemented to hold Facebook and its potential successors accountable. “New legislation and more transparency with these advertising companies, [like] having new federal legislation, would make advertising companies more accountable,” said Christopher Jin, 11. The extent of one company’s security breach spreads beyond just Facebook: Now that third-party data collection has been exposed, students fear other platforms too can exploit their personal information. “I think they already have; that’s how [social media accounts] are free — because they have ad revenue and sell information about people,” said Sebastian Thompson, 11. Altogether, Facebook’s failure to retain the safety of their users’ information has spurred substantial controversy that ultimately affects both users and producers of social media. illustration by Christina Mehrkens
editorials
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Fifteen Teens’ proposal is infeasible
by Amber Zhao guest writer, Mounds View alumna
Following the recent suicide in the Mounds View community, a petition created by Fifteen Teens has gathered over 1,500 signatures calling for an improvement in mental health resources at Mounds View. At first glance, the petition seems like a promising step toward increasing Mounds View’s mental health awareness and resources; however, upon further inspection, the petition is lacking in realistic solutions and contains erroneous claims about the Mounds View staff. During my time at Mounds View, a handful of close friends confided in me about their struggles with mental health, I have briefly dealt with depression myself, and I now attend a college that is notorious for its stress culture. I do not wish to belittle the impact of these suicides on our community, nor do I want to distract from the need for better resources on campus. I simply do not think the Fifteen Teens petition is accurate, and I can cannot fully support its proposals. The petition begins by claiming “when someone ends their life, Mounds View sends out an [sic] few emails to offer counseling for a day, if they send an email at all,” suggesting Mounds View doesn’t always inform the student body of student deaths. However, in my experience, the school has always informed the student body of a death, unless the family has expressed a desire to keep that information private. The school did not inform students about three of the four suicides in the past ten months because three individuals were no longer students at Mounds View. The petition also states, “most of the students that [sic] are recovering only got help as a result of a parent or friend stepping up, not a teacher or staff member,” suggesting that the teachers and staff of Mounds View don’t care about their students. However, this conclusion is misguided and insulting to the Mounds View staff. Students tend to form closer relationships with their friends and family than with their teachers, regardless of their mental health conditions. It makes sense, then, that students who are struggling with their mental health would choose to confide in their friends and family rather than their teachers. But just because a teacher is unaware of a student’s mental health condition doesn’t mean they don’t care for their students. During my junior year, one of my teachers reported some of my behavior changes to my dean to make sure I was okay. While I was just sleepy for a week, I am still touched that she cared enough to take action. She is not the only teacher who has expressed concern and care for me outside the academic
realm, and I think it’s obvious that she is not the only teacher who cares about her students. While the proposals of the petition are well-intended, some are not realistic, like a collective school calendar and an email hotline. While asking every teacher to plan their tests around one another is not logistically possible, teachers should be sympathetic and willing to schedule makeup test days for students who can prove they have more than two tests in one day. Setting up an email hotline allowing students to contact a mental health professional is not an effective solution. Students who turn to the hotline are likely in need of immediate help, but email, compared to other forms of communication, is slow, cannot provide timely responses that students need and lacks human qualities essential to effective communication. I do, however, agree with, “offer better counseling to the students (have more therapists there every day of the week). Have more resources more readily available so when someone has a mental health issue, they can talk to somebody.” While the school has either a psychologist or therapist available during all school hours, Mounds View should hire more mental health professionals who should be available before and after school so students don’t have to miss class to get help. Additionally, implementing an online scheduling system would make it easier for students to make an appointment for a number of reasons. First, students wouldn’t have to take time during the packed school day to make an appointment. Secondly, making an appointment in person can be intimidating, and that factor alone can discourage students from seeking help. For some students, due to financial reasons, cultural stigma and other factors, school psychologists are the only way for them to receive support, and it’s imperative that Mounds View makes this resource as accessible as possible. While the Fifteen Teens petition is heavily critical of administration and academics, it fails to recognize other sources of stress, like social and cultural dynamics. A motif I heard a lot in high school was, “Mounds View has a clique problem.” For students who don’t have a “friend group,” finding close friends to confide in is especially hard, and even for students who consider themselves to be in a solid “group,” opening up and trusting peers is still difficult. Teaching students how to value diversity and practice empathy and acceptance would greatly lower these social barriers between students, creating a more welcoming environment. Culturally, it’s clear that Mounds View is highachieving. Each year, the school sends students to top tier colleges, athletic teams to state competitions and
academic clubs to national competitions, where they tend to place quite highly. However, the overwhelming majority of students across the nation never even have the chance to apply to these colleges or make it to these competitions. Going to a school with such a highachieving environment can normalize these achievements and place an immense amount of pressure on students to excel even further. Fifteen Teens points to placing less emphasis on student achievements in SchoolTalk, but doing so may inadvertently increase the amount of stress students face. The publications about student achievements in SchoolTalk do not suggest students are valued most for their achievements, but rather, celebrate their hard work. Furthermore, not recognizing students for outstanding accomplishments can send the message that those accomplishments are normal and not worthy of recognition, pushing students to take on even more. Feelings of inadequacy when seeing peer achievements in a newsletter are more likely a result of the highachieving culture of Mounds View than simply seeing them printed in a publication. Despite the disagreements I have with Fifteen Teens’s petition, we must recognize the importance of young people pushing for change. Fifteen Teens has done an outstanding job at creating a conversation about mental health, which is still heavily stigmatized in the Mounds View community. While I am sympathetic with the administration’s desire to prevent copycat suicides, it is important that we talk about them. There is a right and wrong way to handle suicides — staying silent may divert attention from them and prevent their glorification, but it also sends a false message of normalization and apathy. I believe talking about suicides in the right way with an emphasis on mental health improvement while avoiding the glorification of suicide is better than staying silent. Now that over 1,500 people are ready to talk, it’s time to take action. I initially signed the petition to express my agreement with the need to offer better mental health resources and to initiate a much-needed conversation about suicides, but after thinking more deeply about the points listed in the petition, I removed my signature because I cannot agree with many of the specifics listed. However, there are small changes that the school can start with, including increased access to psychologists, hosting seminars to destigmatize mental health and conducting discussions promoting diversity and acceptance in our community. Our school is already a known leader in the academic and athletic fields — we should aim to lead in discussing and destigmatizing mental health as well.
Stockton are just one example of many student walkouts advocating for peace that have turned violent in an ironic twist of events. Other instances of students vandalizing their communities includes a story from Chicago where according to Fox News, “About 60 students from a Chicago high school used their time during the National School Walkout protest to wreak havoc at a Walmart.” Another issue plaguing school walkouts that has been largely ignored is the push of a political agenda into classrooms, which results in the polarization of many student bodies. Over the course of February and March, at times it seemed that the only thing that was being broadcasted on the news was the Parkland students. This has promoted those students, and their opinions, to a worldwide scale and to the minds of many other students. Also, many news outlets portray gun protests as a civic duty rather than an optional event to display your beliefs, creating a toxic environment for those who do not participate. In a time where seemingly every major event which occurs continues to further divide our nation, politics should not be found at the core of education because students need to be able to formulate their own opinions based on unbiased information provided by the state, their own experiences, and their family members, rather than having a view forced upon them in their education. Perhaps the largest problem with student walkouts is at the core of the movement. The students who are protesting gun rights are not evil by any means, and the vast majority are demonstrating their frustration
with good intent. The issue that lies here is in the overwhelming majority of the participants who respond to emotions rather than facts. At first, when a mass tragedy occurs such as the Parkland massacre, the sensible reaction would be to act out of emotion, but that reaction is of no use further on down the line when one is trying to take action. Action based on emotion is action without true thought about what the repercussions might entail. For example, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School paper stated that they want to ban assault rifles because of their outrageous killing potential. In reality, according to the FBI database, in 2014, over 63 percent of gun-related deaths resulted from suicide while fewer than 0.5 percent of gun-related deaths came from mass shootings. On top of these statistics, in 2016, there were fewer than 400 rifle-related deaths in the United States while there were over 1,600 deaths by knives or cutting instruments and over 7,100 deaths by handguns. So the question remains: Why assault rifles? The answer is simply that emotion takes over rationality, and logic after a mass shooting occurs with an assault rifle which makes people think that the solution to gun violence is to ban assault rifles. Based on analysis, it is obvious that school walkouts, specifically those which have recently occurred, are not only misguided in their efforts, but also have detrimental effects to American society. By creating a toxic environment for those who do not agree with the walkouts, they further divide America which could create further problems in the future.
A new civic role?
by Alec Weber staff reporter
After the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, where Nicolas Cruz took the lives of 17 students and teachers, students around the country have come to believe that participating in school walkouts to protest in favor of increased gun control is what needs to be done so that gun control legislation can be passed. Protesting is legalized under the First Amendment, and the school walkouts on March 14 and April 20 are good natured in their purpose. However, they have presented a variety of issues, many of which have been ignored by the general public. These problems include potential actions of violence, an over-saturation of politics in schools and a propagation of misinformation. Additionally, the promise of peace is often broken during these protests. Although many participants may behave like well mannered individuals, there are always those who will take advantage of opportunities such as walkouts in order to damage their community behind the mask of protests. In recent gun control protests, demonstrators who felt the need to commit acts of violence were all too common. One group of students from multiple schools in Stockton, California, embodied this potentially dangerous aspect of school walkouts. According to NBC affiliate KCRA-TV, illegal incidents committed by this group included “charges of battery on an officer, resisting arrest, taking an officer’s baton and vandalizing vehicles, including patrol vehicles.” These students from
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features
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Making music with MYS by Jason Lou staff reporter
photos courtesy of Michelle Sung and Yoo-Jin Hwang
For those pursuing a greater musical path, attending individual lessons is a great way to help further develop technical skills. However, while personalized instruction can improve technical ability, attending large group rehearsals is a helpful way for many students to become more musically aware by exposing them to music with other instruments. Many Mounds View students are a part of a large group ensemble program called Minnesota Youth Symphonies (MYS). MYS is an intensive musical group including four orchestras with K-12 students from the metropolitan area. “Music is such a beautiful thing, and to be able to have such amazing experiences at such a young age is such an amazing thing,” said Amina Knapp, 10. MYS has three full orchestra groups and a base level for strings. As students progress with their instruments, they can move up levels during auditions each year. For prospective students who want to audition, they are held from June 9 to June 15. Students are expected to prepare a solo, scales and an excerpt. They will also be given an additional excerpt to play on the spot. Depending on which level, the num-
ber and difficulty of scales and sight reading excerpts may differ, but the prepared solo should best represent his/her own skill level. The Symphony Orchestra, MYS’s premier group, is led by co-founder Manny Laureano. During each rehearsal, Laureano expects students to not only play the right notes, but to play the pieces with style and precision, as well. Always striving for perfection, Laureano will stop everyone and rehearse each little segment of music until it sounds just right. “Stop! Right there. Winds need to be louder and feel like they’re going through a giant hall,” said Laureano. “Strings need to stay under the winds.” Taking in the advice, the orchestra starts the phrase again and adjusts the phrasing and dynamics accordingly. In addition to the symphony orchestra, the groups, ranked by prestige, are Repertory, Philharmonic and Strings. All groups rehearse at Highland Park Middle School, and depending on which level orchestra, the times and length of rehearsals vary. Despite practice times varying between groups, the standards they are held to remain the same. While these other groups may not be as technically demanding as the Symphony Orchestra, students are told to know their parts
and work on the non-technical parts of the music. Although the standards for participating in these orchestral groups are high, sophomore Daniel Knapp believes that the pressure is worth the payout. “I recommend [MYS] because it is a good outlet for musicians looking to play in a wide community of artists in a very professional setting,” said Daniel Knapp. With this intensive workload, students often feel pressure to succeed in class. “I think the beginning of trimesters are hard for me because I struggle with sight reading and there are obviously many talented musicians in the orchestra that sound really good even when they’re seeing the music for the first time,” said Michelle Sung, 11. While this may be intimidating, students realize how this program has helped them throughout the years. “Now I see their talent and use it as inspiration to practice more,” said Yoo-Jin Hwang, 12. Minnesota Youth Symphony will perform repertoire by Arlen, Glinka, Khachaturian, Miranda, Beethoven and Rimsky-Korsakov at their next concert on April 29 at Orchestra Hall.
Lonely Enclave by Emma Hoyhtya staff reporter
how to play any instruments. I started learning guitar in middle school, and I met Will,” said Vermeersch. “Later, I became friends The first chord is struck. The crowd with Ethan and he started learning guitar, so rushes off the bleachers and swarms around I introduced him to Will and we agreed to the stage. In the middle of the mob is The try forming a band.” They have been makLonely Enclave, a band made up of seniors ing music together ever since. Johnny Vermeersch, William Ekola and As full-time students and part-time Ethan Thomas. employees, scheduling can be difficult, but For about a year and a half, the memthe three members try their best to split the bers prepared for the Mounds View Winwork. “We all try to do something for the ter Week talent show. When time came for band every day, however small it may be,” them to perform, the initial moments were a said Thomas. Working to improve their craft very nerve-wracking experience, often includes planning but as the song built up and the their next gig, practicing excitement of the crowd grew their parts or writing music. as well, the band started to forDespite the slim chancget their worries and fully enjoy Having so much es of becoming a popular, the moment. “Whenever people nationally acknowledged get really into us performing, support from band, Vermeersch urges othI get really excited,” said Ver- our peers is aweers with a passion for mumeersch, lead bassist and vocalsome.” sic to pursue their dreams. ist. “You’re gonna write a ton One problem that the Lone- -Ethan Thomas, 12 of bad songs before anyly Enclave has experienced thing decent comes out,” when they started was finding said Vermeersch. “You have places to perform. Luckily for them, the to be willing to write a lot of stuff you don’t Mounds View community has provided the like in order to learn.” band a platform to build a following. “Hav Though all members will be graduing so much support from our peers is aweating this spring, they will stay close by some,” said Thomas. next year, and plan to continue making and The band has come a long way since releasing music. Lonely Enclave’s newest Vermeersch’s initial dreams of becoming a album, Tantrum Cycles, will be released in rockstar. “I’d wanted to form a band since early May on Spotify, Google Play, Amazon I was a little kid, but I didn’t really know and iTunes.
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Lonely Enclave practice for upcoming peformances.
Lonely Enclave peform on stage. photos courtesy of Lonely Enclave
features
tuesday, April 24, 2018
by Justin Duffy staff reporter
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Band trip to Greece
By day, they would sightsee like any other tourists, gazing in awe at wonders like the Parthenon and Temple of Hera and Zeus. By night, they would change into formal attire and perform music for large crowds. It may sound like the lifestyle of a world-famous musical group, but for a week, this was the life of Mounds View band students. In early March, over 60 Mounds View band members spent a week in Greece. The band toured in both senses of the word- they explored museums, ancient ruins and beautiful beaches, but also played three concerts in three different cities. “A typical Greece trip day would be starting the day with a tour of somewhere beautiful that we didn’t see yet, like a new city each day,” said Clara St. Martin, 12. “Then, we’d go get lunch and have some free time, and then we would go do something else at night like a concert or dinner at a cute little place with Greek dancing and music.” The group arrived in Athens and soon after traveled to Delphi, where ancient Greeks believed priestesses could communicate with the god Apollo. The students toured excavated ruins and visited museums before driving to Patras, the regional capital of Western
Band group poses in front of Parthenon in Athens, Greece.
Greece, for their first concert. The band then traveled to Olympia, where they learned about the ancient Olympic games and the town of Mycenae. For their second concert, the band traveled to Nafplio, a small seaside town and favorite among the kids. “We were [in Nafplio] during golden hour so the whole city was super warm and basically glowing,” said Ingrid Sampson, 12. “It was right along the sea so we ate gelato and shopped the little stores and it was super beautiful.” The group of students then visited the historic city of Corinth before returning to Athens to explore the Acropolis and other ancient ruins and perform their final concert at an Athenian high school. It was a rare opportunity for the Mounds View students to meet high school musicians from another country and play music that they normally wouldn’t have the chance to perform. “Sometimes when we do concerts there are some restrictions on what you can play, or you can’t play secular music. You have to play sacred music and you can’t play certain things at certain times,” said Phillip Richardson, band director. “[In Greece] it was wide open. And their favorite number that we played almost everywhere we went was “Thriller.” We get to perform our music and we get to expose other parts of the world to some of the music that’s American music and American composers.”
Although the kids enjoyed playing the concerts, they also appreciated the free time they had to explore the country. “The concerts weren’t too long and were at night so we could still have the entire day to go sightseeing,” said Sampson. Many of the band students especially enjoyed learning about the history of Greece. “There’s so much history there,” said Eddie Brody, 12. “For music especially, it was where a lot of music and performances originated from. It was cool to be performing in the place where all that happened.” Overall, the trip gave band members the opportunity to connect and exchange music with other high school musicians through their shared love of music. The kids were also able to experience the culture and sights of another country with their classmates and friends. “Doing these kinds of experiences that the students get to engage in are so beneficial; one, because you get to see the world from a different perspective,” said Richardson. “I think there’s just such value in getting out and seeing the world. There is value in having these experiences with your peers, and if you think about it, very few students are going to travel anywhere in the world with some of their best friends in life.”
photos courtesy of Eddie Brody and Clara St. Martin
Advocating for mental hea Students seek support by Sarah Tang centerfold editor
In the past year alone, Mounds View High School’s student body has been impacted by four suicides. These tragedies, along with the limited amount of resources available to students, prompted the creation of H.E.A.R.T. (Helping Every At Risk Teen), Fifteen Teens and the introduction of a number of guest speakers to talk with students about mental health. These recent events bring into question: Does Mounds View have a mental health problem? “I think we do, but I don’t think it’s right to put all of the blame on the school,” said Brooke Voytilla, 10. Many students have blamed the administration for not implementing more programs that promote mental health. “I personally think that it’s less on administration and what they push, and it’s more on the way we interact with each other,” said Paige Leiser, 11. “As a school that does have a lot of high performing students, there is kind of a standard among friends and just conversations that you have about ‘omg they got into Harvard; that’s amazing.’ But that’s a lot to live up to.” There’s a general consensus among Mounds View students that there is a significant, burdensome pressure in high school. “I think just society as a whole, and definitely high school, has a problem with mental illness because there’s just so much stress put on students to succeed in life,” said Micah Smith, 12. The overall Mounds View environment emphasizes taking challenging classes and getting involved in extracurriculars, but also being able to find a balance between work, school and family. “When it comes to AP classes and even things like the ACT, I think we put more pressure on our students than most other schools, and I think that’ll cause a lot of high stress for students,” said Hufsa Ahmed, 10. For some students, day-to-day conversations center around their heavy workloads. “Basically anyone you talk to is like, ‘Oh I have so much homework; I have so many tests,’ so the academic stress is a lot,” said Arthur Nghiem, 9. Students often feel a constant sense of competition, whether it be tests, sports or extracurriculars. “Sometimes it’s an unwelcoming environment, so it feels like you’re always [having] to compete and you can never say, ‘Oh I just can’t do it anymore, I just need some assistance; I need help,’” said Cadyn Jones, 11. In the time after junior Ryan Lind’s death, students have questioned the resources the administrations have made available to help students in need of counseling or advice. “I think that deans could have more meetings with students that they may suspect be feeling the pressure of everything that’s going on here, but I don’t know how much you can add,” said Voytilla. Others see a different issue in regards to receiving help. “I think [deans] do voice that they are open to talk to anybody, but a lot of students just don’t feel open to talk about
it,” said Smith. Still others feel that the administration hasn’t made a good enough effort to make students aware that the school has mental health resources on campus. “I don’t even know if we have a school psychologist. If we do, I’ve never heard anything about them, and that needs to be better advertised if there is somebody for people to go to,” said Maya Strike, 10. While students may be unaware of the on-site psychologist and therapist, the administration is currently examining if the school requires further support. “This past week, we said our demand is more than two days a week,” said Principal Stephanie Bruggers. “We would always want our students to go to [their] deans first, and then for any more additional support that they may need, we’re able to access [Carla Anton, therapist] through [their] dean.” The administration also wishes to partner with students’ families, and is working towards improving communication and supporting students. “Students need to know [that] they’re cared for in this building,” said Bruggers. We care more about their mental health than their ACT score.” Meanwhile, some students have decided to take action and create a petition involving several points they wish to see Mounds View implement. The petition, made by a group called Fifteen Teens, revolves around one main focus: for the administration to enact new policies and practices to lessen the pressure and to improve the atmosphere at Mounds View. “I think a lot of the causes that they’re advocating for are really important and are really noble,” said Leiser. However, Leiser believes that the petition could emanate more positive vibes. Other students agreed that the administration is doing meaningful behind-the-scenes work. “I think [the administration is] doing more work than we know, so I think we kind of discredit them sometimes because sometimes it’s just out of their hands, what they’re doing or what they can do,” said Jones. Most students seem to be on the fence about either fully agreeing or fully disagreeing. “I think the overall concept of trying to change the environment here at Mounds View, I support that,” said Ahmed. “I feel like right now, the environment and just what we have set up here at Mounds View, is going to be hard to change.” In the end, there are many people within and outside the school that wish to de-stigmatize mental health and lessen the academic, athletic and social pressures at Mounds View. “We are taking our time to learn from this situation, and we are not in the business of throwing bandaids on problems. We want to be really, really thoughtful because we have one chance to get it right,” said Bruggers. Students and administration alike are working towards bettering the mental health environment at Mounds View for a healthier and happier student body.
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Fifteen Teens by Michael Gennaro staff reporter
In response to a recent suicide at Mounds View High School and one that occurred in the fall, two sophomores, Emily Feng and Sandy Zhang, are taking action to bring awareness to the mental health issue at our school. “I found out that there were actually two more incidents like this in the summer, although all previous three victims were graduates from Mounds View. I was highly disturbed after hearing about this because I know that this will definitely not be the last time for our school community to suffer from this, and we are also definitely not the only school district that has to deal with this,” said Zhang. In response to these events, Feng and Zhang decided to create the studentled organization, Fifteen Teens. Fifteen Teens was started not to challenge those in authority, but to bring changes that they feel are needed at Mounds View. “It’s kind of upsetting that the school hasn’t changed any policies because they are the adults, and they have the power to make changes,” said Feng. The organization proposed a plan that could help faculty at Mounds View better accommodate the mental health needs of their students. So far, over 1,500 community members have signed Fifteen Teens’ petition, which is comprised of several steps of action. Last week, Feng and Zhang sent an email to Mounds View staff to set up a meeting between them and the faculty. “We sent an email to all of the teachers, admin and board members at MVHS (177 people) telling them about our petition
and how we wanted to set up a meeting to work together,” said Feng. “Only five people responded in a week, and three of those five messages were ‘I’m out of the office’ type of messages — it seems almost as if the teachers were encouraged to not reply to the email.” Despite the lack of response, the two students were not discouraged and continue to advocate for the steps they proposed in their petition. The first step includes equipping the school with more readily available mental health resources. “[The school] only has a therapist Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and you can’t exactly schedule your crises to avoid feeling sad on Wednesdays and Fridays,” said Feng. However, according to Principal Stephanie Bruggers, Mounds View has either a therapist or psychologist on campus every day of the school week. The second part of the plan calls for setting up a hotline email account. “For numbers one and two, the therapist and the hotline, that’s for people that just need someone to talk to,” said Feng. Furthermore, they’d also like to implement a system that ensures that students will not have more than two tests on any given day. St. Paul Academy uses a similar system to this, prompting Fifteen Teens to urge Bruggers to contact St. Paul Academy regarding how to execute such a system at Mounds View. In addition, the fourth step demands that any teacher aware of a mental issue must report it. The purpose of this constituent is to end the stigma around mental health and to make sure help reaches students as soon as possible. The fifth step of the petition includes the creation of a course that solely focuses
H.E.A.R.T. by Michael Gennaro staff reporter
H.E.A.R.T., Helping Every At Risk Teen, is a club started by Bharut Pulgam, a graduate of Wayzata High School. Sanjana Dutt, 11, started a branch of this club at Mounds View in order to destigmatize the topic of mental health (Dutt is a Viewer staff member -Editor). Dutt works with Ramsey County’s children mental health collaboratives which connects her with contact information, plans and other resources. Although Ramsey County is not directly connected to H.E.A.R.T., Dutt uses the skills she learns to enhance the knowledge of mental health at Mounds View. Since the start of H.E.A.R.T. at Mounds View, the club has reached out to staff in order to discuss ideas to help people with struggles. “H.E.A.R.T. has been meeting with the administration recently, proposing ideas and hopefully implementing new ideas at our school to help students who may be struggling. For example, we have set up the wellness board by the cafeteria that has the names of wellness staff and more resources to make them more visible and known. We’ve also done a few smaller [events], like that Post-it Note wall,” said Vicky Li, 11. The club continues to provide small forms of support in order to make a larger impact. H.E.A.R.T. also hopes to carry out a wider range of events and activities. “A lot of our events are smaller, therefore some perceive them
as ‘useless’,” said Li. “Because mental health in a large group of individuals is not a quantifiable and measurable thing, we plan to do a variety of events that appeal to different people, in hopes that we will help even just a few. Meanwhile, we are proposing ideas to administrators to implement some serious changes.” In addition to advocacy, H.E.A.R.T. wants to create a place where students at Mounds View feel comfortable with speaking out about their own mental health struggles. “It has been really positive for me being around so many people who care about others and want our school to be as happy of a place as possible. We hope to make people feel more comfortable talking about mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety,” said Steve McCoy, 11. The members of H.E.A.R.T. joined the club for various reasons, including hoping to help end the stigma surrounding mental health or to recieve help for themselves. “I became a member of H.E.A.R.T. because I have personally struggled with mental health, and at Mounds View, I think the perception of mental health could be significantly improved,” said Sam Stucky, 11. “I have been taught to advocate for what I believe in, and I truly believe that mental health is a problem that affects all of society, not just Mounds View students, but Mounds View is a place to start.” Stucky enjoys being around people who cares about mental health. Currently, H.E.A.R.T. is organizing
on mental health and requires completion to graduate. Currently, health is a mandatory course that all Mounds View students need to take before graduation. Another step includes bringing a professional to “assess and analyze” Mounds View to suggest other changes that should be made, though the details regarding this provision are currently undetermined. Lastly, Fifteen Teens hopes that the school board and administration put a decreased focus on student achievements in school and district publications. To try and implement their petition, the two students met with Bruggers in order to discuss the steps on the petition. “During our meeting with Principal Bruggers, we presented the points and concerns we presented on our petition, as we believe the only way for changes to be carried out is if we work with the school and work together with the admin,” said Zhang. In addition, the two created a website, www. fifteenteens.weebly.com, to provide a platform for other students to make their own suggestions. In the future, the two teens hope to expand their platform outside of Mounds View. “We would also like to help out with other schools, outside or our district, outside of MN,” said Feng. “The goal is to spread mental health awareness everywhere.” The agenda laid out by Feng and Zhang calls for change that can’t be made overnight. The journey to change Mounds View’s academic-centric atmosphere will take years to alter, and can only be done through continued support from the student body and faculty.
Wellness Week which is the largest event of the year for the club. “We are currently really focused on Wellness Week, but after that we will be more focused on making a more accepting and clique-free school, with opportunities for everyone,” said Stucky. Many events are planned for the week which are intended to make students more comfortable. “We have a variety of different fun events, including a photo booth, themed days and a snow cone machine to give out free shaved ice,” said Li. However, the most important event of the week is the student panel which takes place after school on Wednesday, where students will be sharing their mental health journeys and what helped them through their obstacles. “The student panel is important because it is going to humanize problems that can seem very distant. I truly believe that the best way to end the stigma is to help students realize that these problems are affecting people they know and see in the hallways,” said Stucky. Overall, the organization’s goal is for Mounds View to accept and care about student’s health. “I hope that H.E.A.R.T. can grow to the point that our entire school is aware of it, and everyone can feel much more comfortable talking about mental health, as seeking help is the best way to recover,” said McCoy. H.E.A.R.T. aspires to reduce the stigma at Mounds View and close the gap between current relations of students and faculty surrounding mental health.
8
DEBATEs
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Teenage suffrage
Lower voting age
by Derek Chen staff reporter
Nowadays, teens seem to be more involved in politics than ever. Despite this, young adults have historically demonstrated little interest in the political happenings of the United States. Although the minimum age to vote is 18, the voter turnout rate of the eligible voting population across the United States was 55.7 percent in 2016 and has hovered around that mark in most other elections, according to The Pew Research Center. That percentage is only for general elections; percentages for off-year elections can fall below 50 percent. With these percentages, the U.S. is placed last place for voter turnout among 40 other democratic nations. In the dozen or so countries like Argentina, Austria, Brazil and Nicaragua, that allow people to vote at 16, the voter turnout rates of 16 and 17-year-olds are significantly higher than the rates for adults. Surprisingly, there are areas in the U.S. that also lowered its voting age to 16 or 17, similar to in these other countries. In 2013, Takoma Park, Maryland, opened up its general election polls to residents after they turned 16. This decision cited many different civic research studies and was fought hard for by the local residents. That same year that the city lowered its voting age, voter turnout rates of 16 and 17 year olds were double that of voters 18 and up. The current voter turnout for 18-24 year olds in the United States is the lowest among all other age groups, and the likeliness of voting increases as age increases. There is evidence from the New York Times that
suggests that people who don’t vote the first time that they are eligible to do so are less likely to vote in the future. By lowering the voting age to 16 it is possible to shift this voting tendency so that eligible voters begin to vote more, as well as earlier. This, in turn, could increase the voter turnout for the country as a whole. Among the most common arguments against lowering the voting age is that teenagers are incapable of
making rational decisions. “I know that I wouldn’t trust people my age to make quality decisions regarding politics, just because our brains really haven’t fully developed. said Vicky Li, 11. “At this stage in our lives we are much more prone to being affected by the pressure of popular but changing opinions.” Although true
to some extent, there is research that supports otherwise. Laurence Steinberg, an accomplished psychology professor at Temple University advocates for a lower voting age. “Studies of cold cognition have shown that the skills necessary to make informed decisions are firmly in place by 16. By that age, adolescents can gather and process information, weigh pros and cons, reason logically with facts and take time before making a decision.” The situations in which teens are infamously known for making rash, irrational decisions are through hot cognition: cognitive abilities that we rely on to make good decisions when we are emotionally aroused, in groups or in a hurry. Cold cognition, on the other hand, cognitive abilities that we use in calm situations, seem to be put in place at an earlier age than 18. “Teenagers may sometimes make bad choices, but statistically speaking, they do not make them any more often than adults do,” said Steinberg. Despite various reasons to not change the voting age, there are several benefits to lowering the voting age by one or two years. Political inactivity is an issue that could be resolved by allowing 16 year olds to vote. Doing so could also potentially open up the political stage to a whole new group of citizens with voices waiting to be heard. With the recent school shootings that have shocked the entire nation, students have taken action and made their voices heard regarding these tragedies. In accordance with the First Amendment, we have a right to free speech; however, is it enough to just have our opinions heard, but not able to take action politically and elect lawmakers that we think represent us?
Keep voting age by Jefree He staff reporter Since the inception of our democracy, voting has been a fundamental building block of society. Through voting, the government acknowledges what the citizens want and changes its laws and policies along with the voice of the majority. And as a whole, most citizens of the United States believe that voting is a right that all citizens deserve. However, when it comes to the minimum voting age, Americans are split. Proponents of our current laws say that a voting age that is too low causes various problems, but critics point out that just restricting the voting age to adults does the same thing. Since the passage of the 26th Amendment in 1971, the voting age has been 18.The primary reasoning for this change was due to the fact that 18-year-old men were allowed to be drafted into the military and sent to Vietnam to fight, but they weren’t allowed to vote until they turned 21. Nowadays, based on this logic, there is no real necessity for 16 year olds to
vote, as they can’t be drafted until 18. Another potential problem lies in the fact that 16-year-olds may have biological and psychological aspects that impede them from making informed decisions. Studies have shown that people are still developing their abstract thinking process as well as moral reasoning into their early 20s. Therefore, younger voters will not have the capability to process arguments and ideas intelligently compared to their older
counterparts. “I think the evidence is pretty clear that the older you get there is generally a rightward shift,” said Collin Frink, 12. “Young people have heart and want to change everything wrong with the world, but old people accept wrong and understand individual responsibility.” This could potentially skew elections if a candidate attracts younger voters through messages that they don’t completely understand and perceive differently from the general populace.
Younger citizens do not have the same understanding of the government as adults do. At the age of 16, many may not have taken any government classes yet or have a grasp of politics in general. “I think 18 is a good age because it is an age that is used for other adult thresholds,” said Scott Oberg, social studies teacher. “Whether it is serving in the military or purchasing tobacco products, 18 is the age of adulthood.” The immaturity and naiveté kids have goes away in the late teens, making 18 a reasonable age limit for voting. Newer voters in the age group of 18 to 24 vote far less compared to older generations because of low political efficacy-- lack of young adult issues and inadequate knowledge on politics. Given how little 18-year-olds vote, reducing the age limit to 16 would not increase the number of voters by much. A change in voting age is an unwarranted move that would simply complicate bureaucratic processes and create a less educated electorate.
Illustrations by Christina Mehrkens
Viewer Staff 2017-2018
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Arts & entertainmenT 9
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Love, Simon brings love to LGBT+ by Shelley Wang staff reporter
photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox
4/5
Today’s teenagers grew up on the romances of Cinderella and Prince Charming, Jim and Pam and fellow heterosexual combinations. Love, Simon, on the other hand, is one of the first mainstream films to address homosexuality as the overarching theme, providing solace to teens coming to terms with their sexuality. Love, Simon, a film adaptation of Becky Albertalli’s YA novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, imitates a setting similar to high school productions such as 13 Reasons Why and Paper Towns. It follows the life of Simon, a teenager who has just come to terms with his sexuality and his high school journey. Along the way, he meets an anonymous gay classmate, “Blue,” over a school forum, and simultaneously falls in love with him under the identity of “Jacques.” Unfortunately, Simon faces the threat of his secret being publicized when he is struck with the threat of blackmail from a fellow classmate, Martin, who becomes the main antagonist. In order to protect his secret, Simon risks destroying the relationships of everyone around him. Tangled in this web of romance, Simon’s story is further complicated as he embarks on a wild goose chase to find Blue’s identity. With each hopeful guess, Simon faces disappointment when Blue seems nowhere to be found. Despite not knowing who they are, the two lovers never cease to inspire each other throughout the film. Regarding the storyline itself, the plot proves to be fairly predictable. With each conflict, comes a predictable resolution. The camerawork and editing compare to other high school themed productions as
The egg hunt begins by Derek Zhu staff reporter
Steven Spielberg’s newest movie, Ready Player One, released on March 29, earned over $200 million in box offices during the first week, marking it as a huge success. Based on the book by Ernest Cline, Ready Player One is a phenomenal science fiction story set in 2045 where people have given up on global problems. Living in a trash-filled, disparaged world, many have decided to seek refuge in an online virtual reality game world called the OASIS (Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation) where players can be anything they want to be. After the creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a challenge to all players to find the Easter egg. The prize at the end of the competition is gaining full control of the OASIS. As a result, the game attracts many players such as the main character Wade Watts. This competition, however, also gains the attention of the largest video game conglomerate, Innovative Online Industries (IOI), that uses an army of debt-indentured players and brute force in order to win the competition. Ready Player One has a brilliant and well thought-out setting. The film goes back-and-forth between the real world and the OASIS, which is a beautiful online world where players can be anything they want to be. Players can customize their avatars with in-game items and are able to change their appearance. There are also many places to explore such as clubs and war zones. The sheer variety of characters and worlds to explore in the OASIS creates an appealing escape from real-
ity. But just because the main stage for the story is the virtual world, it doesn’t mean that the real world setting isn’t just as magnificent for the viewers. This film also has a thought-provoking, multidimensional plot. The main character faces many challenges in both the real and virtual world. These struggles combine seamlessly and those faced in the virtual world carry consequences to the real world, giving the characters’ actions more weight. My only gripe with the plot is that some challenges seem too easy, but these problems can occur in any movie because of time limitations. Finally, the biggest appeal of the movie: the pop culture references. In almost every scene, there are references to games like Atari’s Adventure and Overwatch and movies like Back to the Future and The Shining. Noticing each of these references feels like discovering a treasure chest. This great feature, however, may also be the movie’s biggest flaw: These references engage those who understand them, but go over the heads of most viewers. Overall, Ready Player One is a fantastic movie. For those who appreciate all the nerdy references, the movie will be a delight and extremely engaging, but those are just added bonuses. In the end, even without understanding all the references, this film is well worth watching due to its wellrounded characters and outstanding cinematography.
4/5
aforementioned, setting the theme for a cheesy cast of school staff, school bullies and background students. Each character is dressed in stereotypical high school attire distinguishing which clique they belong to and what kind of character they are. This can especially be seen at the Halloween party where Abby chooses a head-turning rendition of Wonder Woman and Martin opts for a poorly executed pun costume. Though the plot is predictable, the movie makes up for it with its amazing cinematography. For example, near the end of the movie, Simon and his friends head to a carnival. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie takes place atop a ferris wheel. Not only is the acting smile-inducing, but the setting is also beautiful. Colorful lights are strung all across the fairgrounds, twinkling in the background against a starry sky, and Simon rides the ferris wheel beneath them. The realism throughout the story is incredible. From the first moment to the last, Love, Simon displays every true aspect of a closeted LGBT+ person. Simon can’t even force the word “gay” out of his mouth at the start of the movie, an aspect all too familiar to many who are not heterosexual (or don’t identify with their birth assigned gender). Simon’s story touches audiences from all backgrounds. It can inspire closeted teenagers, help teenagers struggling with their identities and spread understanding to those around them. In today’s society, a film like this can make a large impact on societal perspectives on homosexuality, dispel stereotypes, and ignite bravery in closeted individuals. While some may disagree with the concept, the film familiarizes the concept of homosexuality to those who may not be exposed to it in a real manner. Love, Simon is an inspirational story that gives a much needed win to the LGBT+ community.
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10
good question
Tuesday, april 24, 2018
Why is Fortnite so popular? by Ben Steil staff reporter
Created by Epic Games Inc., Fortnite is a 3rd person shooter video game with cartoonish graphics that is taking the world by storm. In the game, there are two main modes, one being the single player “Save the World,” and the other, a 100 player, online multiplayer mode called “Battle Royale.” This latter game mode is somewhat like the format used in the Hunger Games, as the player attempts to be the last man standing out of 100. This game mode of Fortnite has become the most popular game on Xbox and the most watched on Twitch, a video game streaming service. However, Fortnite has only become popular in recent months, and its rise to popularity has been unprecedented due to its speed and unique situation. Fortnite was released in a year that saw hyped up games such as Star Wars: Battlefront II and Middle-Earth: Shadow of War flop due to their pay to win system. However, Fortnite took the gaming industry by storm by offering a free to play game which was both engaging and fun for the masses. Fortnite isn’t entirely free, though, as there are some cosmetic options, but these items in no way influence gameplay and are merely for appearance. Additionally, instead of following along with other game developers, Epic Games Inc. doesn’t require players to pay any money in hidden fees after the
initial download. Not only is Fortnite free, which appeals to almost every player, but it also contains some of the most exciting and fun gameplay. “It combines teamwork, building, shooting and 2000 IQ plays to secure the bag,” said Jake Swallen, 12. Swallen added that posting wins on his snap story is also one of his favorite things about the game. Along with engaging gameplay, Fortnite Battle Royale includes a wide diversity in weapon choice, allowing players to pick their favorite way to get kills. Swallen prefers to use the Gold Scar, while Vicky Li, 11, enjoys sniping. With every game, Fortnite included, there comes into question its longevity. Gamers get bored quickly with such a plethora of options out there and hundreds of games being developed every day. “I think Fortnite could still be big in a few years because Epic keeps the content flowing like every week, but eventually, people are gonna find something new to play and then it’ll be dead,” said Josh Dai, 11. Li doesn’t hold such optimism and thinks that Fortnite will follow in the footsteps of Flappy Bird, dying off in a few months. Fortnite is unique due to its free-toplay appeal, innovation of building in a battle royale-type game and consistent effort from its developers. Whether it dies in a couple months or continues to be big for the next couple years, it has undoubtedly changed the scene of video games.
photo courtesy of Jake Swallen
Is Fortnite a waste of time? Yes No Indifferent
28
100 students polled information compiled by Ben Steil
What can you do after prom? by Luka Pejić and Toni Baraga staff reporter and good question editor
illustrations by Christina Mehrkens
Have any good questions? Email them
@
toni.baraga@ mvviewer.org
With the end of the year approaching, one of the most anticipated events for many upperclassmen is Prom. This year, Prom is on May 12 and promises to be a fun event for all with a unique Arabian Nights theme. However, while the event itself may be an exciting time, the work done to prepare for it can induce tremendous stress, and finding an event to do after Prom can be equally as strenuous. Luckily, in the Minneapolis area, there are a variety of activities that are both inexpensive and fun. One option many students might not think about is going to late-night movies. Many local movie theaters such as the Marcus Oakdale Cinema and the Rosedale AMC offer showings as late as midnight. Tickets can cost anywhere from $8-13, meaning it can be a relatively inexpensive activity after the dance. If sitting through a two-hour movie after Prom doesn’t sound fun, late night bowling can also be a great option for big groups. Flaherty’s Arden Bowl is open until 1 a.m. and offers bowling, food and arcade games. Students might also find themselves looking for a late night bite after a full night of dancing and fun. Some options to consider are Flame
Burger, Perkins or Buffalo Wild Wings. “Flame Burger is the perfect place to go because it’s open late and they have good, cheap food,” said Emma Bangert, 12. One of the most popular postProm activities is renting out a party bus. Although they can be pricey, ranging from $30-80 per person for seven hours or less, some students feel that it’s worth it. Most buses offer to drive the whole duration of the reserved time slot, giving students a ride to and from pictures, the Grand March, dinner and the dance. It can be a great opportunity for students to continue the dancing fun hours after the actual dance is over. While there are many options out there, many students prefer to do something more low-key like going back to someone’s house. “I love hanging at my friends’ houses. You don’t have to spend any money but you can still have fun,” said Gretchen Delaune, 11. Hanging at friends’ houses is a free and easy way to spend the rest of the night with friends and still have fun. Whether it’s dancing on a party bus or relaxing at a late-night movie, there are many different options for students looking for after Prom fun. “It doesn’t matter where I am as long as I am with the people I like,” said Micah Smith, 12.
sports
Tuesday, april 24, 2018
Athlete of the issue
Collin Wentworth Track Q: How long have you been running? A: My brothers were both in track all four years, so I’ve always had an interest in the sport. I started running competitively when I was in sixth grade. Q: What’s your favorite part about running track? A: Joking around with my teammates both during and after practice. It helps us keep our minds off of the tough workouts Fleming makes us do. Q: How do you prepare for meets? A: The night before I like to pack my bag so I don’t have to worry about it the next day. I also get advice on race strategies from the seniors. They have more experience so I like to get their opinion on what works. Q: What’s your goal for this season? A: I want to qualify for conference and break 11 minutes in the 3200. Q: What is your greatest accomplishment in track? A: This season I ran in a 800 at Bethel and won my heat by 12 seconds. Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? A: Super Strength because then I would be able to go into the weight room without looking like a fool. Q: What is your favorite part of the season? Why? A: Pony Week, because everyone is super hyped the whole week It is one of our biggest meets, and all of the teams are competing for a travelling trophy and bragging rights.
Tee time by Alexis Larson staff reporter
Mounds View girls golf began their 2018 season on March 19, and since then, each member has shared the same goal — making it to state. This year, more than ever, the goal is attainable because all of last year’s varsity team is returning, bringing consistency and past successes. “Last year, we only had one senior and she didn’t play varsity, so our whole varsity roster are returning members, which I think is a strength because we are all experienced,” said Grette Schmidt, 12. One important aspect of the girls golf team is how they blend individual performances into a team. All of the players understand the grind that golf entails, both physically and mentally, and it is needed to achieve their goal of making it to state. “A lot of us have a bad attitude if we’re playing bad,” said Hannah Tang, 11. “Es-
Schmidt and Wendt pose while riding their golf cart.
pecially with me, I have a lot of trouble focusing. If we work on the mental part of the game, which is really important in golf, then I think we will be pretty successful.” Due to the individual nature of golf, the mental game isn’t always about winning, but rather having personal goals and improving results from previous years. “I hope to better myself this season, not necessarily win against a lot of teams, but get better scores than I did last year,” said Ashley Solheim, 10. Another principle the team lives by is their tight-knit relationships. Although each member works on their individual goals, everyone relies on one another for support. “Even though golf is a very individual sport, we are very close with each other and get along well,” said Sara Wendt, 12. “We share a deep appreciation for one another.” Returning golfers also recognize the importance of setting a good example for younger girls on the team. “The younger girls look to me for how to carry myself
Team members celebrate after a successful match.
Loyola guard Clayton Custer drives into the paint, penetrating the Nevada Wolf Pack defense. With 6.3 seconds left on the clock, he dishes out a pass to teammate Marques Townes for a step-back threepoint clincher. The shot swishes through the basket and the crowd goes wild. Eleventhseeded Loyola Ramblers have just upset their opponent for the third time in a row. This is the nature of March Madness, or more formally, the annual National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college basketball tournament, that takes place in the month of March. The name speaks for itself, as a single game determines progression or elimination in the tournament, making for some of the most intense basketball games one can watch. But perhaps the most unique part of the madness is the bracketing system, where anyone can fill out a bracket to try their hand at predicting the outcome of all 67 games in the tournament. Here at Mounds View, students participate in the bracketing for many reasons. For Joseph Martinson, 12, the sheer passion in the game is a factor. “I’m a huge Wisconsin Badger fan,” said Martinson. “I like the excitement of March Madness, seeing the upsets. It’s pretty fun.” This year, the Badgers aren’t participating in the tournament, so Martinson is supporting Loyola in their place because his brother attends school there. Things haven’t been going so well in
on the golf course,” said Wendt. Therefore, seniors have to ensure that they embody good sportsmanship and a good mentality to guide the underclassmen. “Show that even if you have a bad game or a bad shot, it doesn’t phase you,” said Tang. The upperclassmen’s leadership also extends to the game itself, as they are expected to ethically report their scores after a match.“You need to make sure you don’t lie about your score, and that you’re willing to help others and not just lookout for your own success,” said Solheim. With this in mind, the team strives to continue to improve their scores, make it to state and continue to grow in their relationships with one another. The girls golf team will use their experience, tight knit nature and personal drive to pursue their ultimate goal. With such a mature, compassionate and hardworking team, there is no limit to what they can achieve.
Team gets together for a picture before their match. photos courtesy of Sara Wendt
Bracket it up by Leon Wang staff reporter
11
Martinson’s bracket. “I had Michigan State winning it all, [but] they lost in the second round, so that was kind of upsetting,” said Martinson. “But I still enjoy watching the tournament.” As Martinson’s bracket difficulties show, predicting the correct teams is not as easy as it seems. According to the NCAA, the odds for a perfect bracket are about 1 in 9.2 quintillion; this makes it extremely difficult to get correct predictions. Martinson is not the only one — Hannah Peschel, 10, has also had some bracket difficulties. “It’s definitely not good because I picked Virginia as my winner, and
illustration by Christina Mehrkens
they lost in the first round,” said Peschel. Fortunately, Peschel’s bracket struggles are not the worst in her family’s bracket competition. “We have the last five people do losing stuff and I’m the sixth from
last, so I don’t have to do that,” said Peschel. Some of these losing challenges that Peschel mentions can include an ice bucket challenge or eating a hot pepper. Both Peschel and Martinson see merits in college basketball. Martinson believes that college basketball holds advantages in comparison to professional basketball, such as the National Basketball Association (NBA). “In the NBA, I see a lot of guys that don’t really try as much as [college basketball players],” said Martinson. “[The NBA] is more about individuals, but college basketball is more of a team game.” Likewise, Peschel also thinks that college basketball is easy to get involved in. “I don’t watch college basketball throughout the season. I only start watching it in March,” said Peschel. “Some people I know just pick a team that wins because they like their team color better, so it doesn’t really matter that much.” In the end, no matter which team you support, March Madness is a time for friends and family to get together and compete. After an exciting season of upsets like Virginia’s loss to the sixteenth-seeded UMBC, fans can hardly wait for next year’s intense games and their entailments. While many avid NCAA fans focus on the game and bracketing earnestly, the range of the tournament’s audience reaches out to far more as well. “It’s just a fun way to get all your friends together,” said Peschel.
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12
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018
top 10 Ways to PREpare for prom
10 Find a date 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Pick a dress that 10 people already have
Spend all your money on lash extensions
Rent a tux the night before Schedule 6 hours for your hair appointment Roll up in your parent’s minivan
All of these words are used throughout the issue. To learn more about these key words, read the articles!
Forget your flowers at home
Eat McDonald’s because it’s too late to reserve a restaurant Bring crocs because heels hurt
Take pictures next to a mound of snow
H.E.A.R.T
FIFTEEN TEENS
LOVE SIMON
MARCH MADNESS
FORTNITE
LONELY ENCLAVE
VOTING AGE
WALKOUT
MYS
PROM
READY PLAYER ONE
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