MV Viewer 2017-2018 Issue 6 by The Viewer

VOLUME 65 ISSUE 6 | February 20, 2018

THE VIEWER Dating: Then and Now

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

MONKEY CLONING 02/ D1 ATHLETES 04-05/ WINTER OLYMPICS 11

News

tuesday, February 20, 2018

Monkey cloning sets new precedent

by Justin Duffy staff reporter

Science fiction has just gotten one step closer to reality after a recent breakthrough in cloning technology. On Jan. 24, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai published a revolutionary paper detailing how scientists were able to create two healthy clones of a long-tailed macaque monkey. However, it wasn’t the actual feat of cloning itself that was unprecedented, but rather the non-traditional method they used to clone the monkey. Scientists have succeeded in cloning primates in the past. In 1999, researchers cloned a rhesus monkey using a primitive cloning process called embryo splitting, or artificial twinning. In this method, scientists wait until a natural embryo contains eight cells, then split the embryo into two identical four-cell embryos. The two new embryos are inserted into surrogate mothers and continue to develop until two genetically identical clones are born. This process is similar to how identi-

cal twins occur in nature. However, the recent attempt by the CAS was the first time that scientists have been able to clone primates using a more complicated cloning technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer. In this process, the nucleus of an egg cell is removed and a somatic (body) cell from the target organism is inserted in its place. The host egg cell “reprograms” the nucleus and DNA of the somatic cell, and with an electric shock, the host cell begins to divide and form an embryo, which will develop into a clone of the target organism. Once an em-

bryo forms, scientists can either harvest it for stem cells (called therapeutic cloning) or insert it into a surrogate mother in hopes of giving birth to clones (called reproductive cloning). Somatic cell nuclear transfer is significant because unlike other methods of cloning, it theoretically would allow scientists to produce an infinite number of clones from one original organism. As cloning techniques become more and more refined, new dilemmas regarding the ethics of cloning have arisen. Although clones can be used for scientific studies or har-

vested for organs and stem cells, critics of cloning argue that it is unethical to create life for the sole purpose of serving humans. “Cloning leads down a slippery slope that can be dangerous to society,” said Aryan Sehgal, 10. “Cloning removes the uniqueness that makes life special.” Some students argue

illustration by Christina Mehrkens

that while cloning is beneficial, it shouldn’t be used on humans. “Cloning animals can help both the environment and the economy,” said Yuha Yoo, 12. “However, humans are different than other animals. Humans are special and shouldn’t be grown in a test tube.” Other students point towards the research and medical benefits in favor of cloning. “If we don’t test medical stuff on animals, we won’t get accurate results for humans, and cloning can make it easier to do the testing,” said Sydney Peng, 9. Jason Min, 12, agrees. “It’s harsh, but it’s science. It’s necessary sometimes,” said Min. “We should clone animals, including humans, for organ donations. It could save lives.” The recent breakthrough of monkey cloning has shown that cloning is an undeniably powerful tool. But as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Scientists and philosophers will continue to examine the ethical ramifications of cloning as they strive to make new discoveries that benefit humanity.

U.S. government shuts down by Robert Nelson staff reporter

The U.S. government has faced two government shutdowns in less than a month. With the Republicans and Democrats struggling to reach a compromise, the government saw a three-day shutdown on Jan. 20 and a five-and-a-half hour one on Feb. 9. This is the first government shutdown in five years and the first time that the government has shut down twice in one year since President Ronald Reagan’s crime-fighting bill in 1984. The first shutdown occurred on Jan. 20, and was primarily over a recurring topic in Congress about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. However, this shutdown only lasted three days. During this time, President Donald Trump announced that by March 5, Congress must arrange the program that protects up to 700,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the country as minors. Both Democrat and Republican parties blamed each other for the shutdown. By Jan. 22, the Senate agreed in an 81-18 vote to reopen the government. However, if the two parties had not reached an agreement by Feb. 8, the Senate would proceed to consider DACA-related legislation. At 12:01 a.m. ET on Feb. 9, the government shut down for a second time. While Congress had reached a deal to fund the government for another month, Republican senator Rand Paul filibustered the agreement — prevented the Senate from voting — in anger over the aggressive plan to increase federal spending. But the Senate eventually voted on and passed the spending bill at 2:00 a.m., and the House passed it at

5:30 a.m. to end the shutdown. Later that morning, Trump signed the bill which would keep the government open until March 23. The bill lifts spending limits by $300 billion for both the Pentagon and national priorities, which is crucial for voting in both parties. It also provided $90 billion in disaster relief for the devastating hurricanes early this year. This massive bill will last for the following two years and give the Pentagon and national priorities the green light. The Pentagon received approximately $165 billion, $131 billion of which went to non-defense. Also included in the fund is an investment of $10 billion in infrastructure, $3 billion to battle against opioids and drug abuse and $2.9 billion towards child care. Historically, U.S. government shutdowns are not a new sight. Since 1976, there have been 18 government shutdowns, with each typically lasting for one to two weeks. The longest shutdown the federal government has encountered was 21 days in Dec. 1995. The most recent government shutdown occurred in 2013 when Congress was unable to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). This caused over 800,000 nonessential federal workers to be furloughed, which means that the

workers neither show up to work nor receive any pay. In addition to government employees, the closure also places a risk on the functionality of insurance program, active duty military members, and museums and national parks. Not only are workers and programs affected, but the government also loses billions of dollars when shutdowns happen because of the huge halt of economic activity. Although the government successfully reopened, tensions between Democrats and Republicans linger. Liberals were disappointed that the bill

did not incorporate immigration, and conservatives were against the upsurge of spending. While the two parties have temporarily compromised their beliefs in order to reopen the government through March 23, they must work together now to write apportion bills to fund the remainder of the 2018 fiscal year.

illustration by Christina Mehrkens

editorials

tuesday, February 20, 2018

Not so Super Bowl by Luka Pejic staff reporter Years before the big game, another crucial battle takes place which most viewers don’t recognize: a huge list of cities must convince an NFL committee why they deserve to host the Super Bowl. Minneapolis was one of the cities given the honor to host the NFL championship, but this honor simply isn’t worth the costs. Conventional wisdom suggests that the consumers who flood host cities during Super Bowl week pack hotels, bars and restaurants, provide a boost of hundreds of millions of dollars to the city’s local economy. While many economists are convinced that this perceived Super Bowl windfall is real, they also say that it’s far less valuable than the NFL claims. According to Victor Matheson, a noted economist who specializes in analyzing the impact of major sporting events, high-end projections often fail to accurately subtract the amount of spending that would have occurred in the host city under normal conditions from the extra spending directly related to the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl has always been a huge event and is designated as a national security special event. Other examples of national security special events are the president’s State of the Union address, presidential inaugural ceremonies, papal visits and other major gatherings that might be targeted in the unfortunate age of terrorism. When an event obtains the status of a national security special event, the security is no longer the responsibility of just the host city and surrounding districts.

During these events, the US Secret Service steps in as the lead agency and makes local and national authorities work together to ensure that the maximum security level is provided. In the weeks leading up to the event, the leadership teams of all of these agencies work together to produce overall readiness to ensure the safety and security of the game and the surrounding area. The Super Bowl will always provide an economic boost to the region, which is an indisputable fact. In a report by Rockport Analytics for the Twin Cities Super Bowl Host Committee, it was estimated that the game brought 125,000 out-ofstate visitors to the metro area. However, it helped boost the image of both individual businesses and the region as a whole. In addition, Super Bowl Host Committee Spokeswoman Andrea Mokros said city taxpayers won’t be held responsible for the costs of hosting the Super Bowl, which are unclear but tremendous. While this is true, it is only made true due to over $53 million in private fundraising and doesn’t count the tremendous amount our economy lost in the nearly 200 demands the NFL made to allow Minneapolis to host the Super Bowl such as free parking and free golf courses, despite the frigid temperature. They also require the hotels players stay at, must carry the NFL network on their cable TV systems for a year prior to the game. The Super Bowl is a huge economic force, bringing in tremendous revenue but also costing the city greatly. However, this investment is simply not worth it. photos by Luka Pejic

Cloning new possibilities Science hasn’t gone far enough by Ben Davis Managing online editor Recent advancements in somatic cell transfer cloning (SCNT) have led society to question again whether or not science has gone too far. On Wednesday, Jan. 24, scientists in Shanghai published research from an experiment where they successfully used this technique (previously used to clone Dolly the sheep) to clone a macaque monkey. Many of the more traditional and religious are calling this move — which some scientists consider to be the penultimate step in the quest to clone a human — to be unethical, but the fact is that the cloning of this monkey and the ultimate goal of cloning humans is a net benefit for society. Throughout history, scientific advancements that have been deemed unethical or unholy slowly become the norm. When Einstein published his theory of relativity, many at the time thought it was absurd. Shortly after his discovery, Einstein wrote to a friend, “This world is a strange madhouse. Currently, every coachman and every waiter is debating whether relativity theory is correct. Belief in this matter depends on political party affiliation.” Today, many religious groups, with historical track records of ignoring scientific process, acknowledge several scientific advances, such as the heliocentric model of the universe, evolution and global warming. All of these have led to tremendous advancements in related fields like space travel, mapping the human genome and advancements in renewable energy. These examples are just the achievements that people disagreed with due to political or religious ide-

ology. There are countless more examples of scientific breakthroughs that were rejected for other reasons and turned out to be true. Pasteur’s germ theory, the concept of antiseptic hand washing, baby incubators, heredity and the science of the concussion were all ridiculed or denied for a time. Without these breakthroughs, the average human lifespan wouldn’t be nearly as close to what it is today, and we wouldn’t be able to know many of the things we currently do about genetics and the history of our species and life on earth. Many of these advancements easily could’ve been squashed by their opponents and almost weren’t believed, but eventually people accepted them and the world was made better. Governments and citizens around the world need to embrace cloning, simply to see the benefits it will produce. Cloning fits a pattern that has shown itself throughout time. At first the achievement is rejected, but once it’s accepted, many aspects of society can benefit. Scientists do know that the more we clone humans and our close relatives, the more we will learn about the human genome and the way genetics works. We could use this knowledge to end genetic disorders or infertility. We could clone children for parents who can’t naturally reproduce. We could use cloned cells to drastically shorten injury recovery time. There are some drawbacks to cloning, but these possible benefits outweigh them by far. Cloning is not morally questionable. It’s simply more progress for mankind, and it should be further pursued for the good of all of us.

Features

Emma Bangert

tuesday, February 20, 2018

Meet some of M

by Michael Gennaro staff reporter

Division 1 (D1) athletes usually go through a long and hard decision-making process before they choose to go to the school that they think is best for them. Emma Bangert, 12, was no exception. “I had multiple schools ask me, but I feel like the University of North Dakota (UND) was the best choice for me,” said Bangert. She will be attending UND next fall to continue her soccer career as a D1 athlete. Bangert has played soccer since she was four years old, and has competed on high school and traveling teams, playing for the Mounds View varsity team since sophomore year. Despite a successful career in soccer, Bangert possesses some regrets. “I wish I was on a higher level team from the beginning because I was never on a [higher level] team when I was younger,” said Bangert. Although soccer is her main focus, Bangert also participates in track where she competes in the 400 and 800 meter race. Unfortunately, soccer and track have increasingly caused time conflicts. “I initially joined track to get in better shape for soccer,” said Bangert. “It kind of switched though because in track season, it’s really all about track, and my other sports suffered because of this.” What Bangert loves most about the sport of soccer is the team aspect. “I love the team camaraderie and that everyone works together to achieve a common goal,” said Bangert. Through many years of playing soccer, Bangert has experienced exciting and fun-filled memories, but making it to the Minnesota State High School Tournament her sophomore year was her favorite. Bangert believes it takes a mix of both hard work and athleticism to reach goals of becoming a D1 athlete. “I think you have to be athletic, but you also have to work really hard and want it,” said Bangert. After years of sacrifices, hard work and determination, Bangert is excited to continue growing as both a student and an athlete at UND.

Calvin Ciganik

by Derek Chen staff reporter Most D1 athletes are introduced to their sport at an early age. For others, however, it may seem like a stroke of luck. Calvin Ciganik, 12, fits into the latter of the two categories. Although he is now committed to D1 track and field, Ciganik initially started out as a varsity wrestler in seventh grade. It was only after a fateful encounter with the Mounds View pole vault coach that he became interested. “One day, during a lift after practice, the pole vault coach came walking in, saw me, and recruited me for track and field,” Ciganik. “Talk about being in the right place at the right time.” Ciganik looks back on his track and field experiences that piece him together both mentally and physically. From eating watermelon with teammates under the bleachers to the difficulties he faced from high school athletes competing for D1, Ciganik has appreciated the highs and lows of his career. “Being a D1 athlete, I’ve had my fair share of problems and failures such as judgment, injuries, pressure from schools and losing the state championship last year. I could go on forever,” said Ciganik. “Each experience is another piece to the puzzle that is me as a whole. My failures are just as important as my successes.” With pole vaulting skills impressive enough to make D1 and a mature, humble mentality, all that was left for Ciganik was to make a decision for his future. By January, he had narrowed down his college choices to either University of Nebraska-Lincoln or the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). Graced yet again by chance, his final decision was influenced by a car accident. On his way home from work around 10 p.m., Ciganik passed by a car caught in a large snow pile. At first, he decided not to help and continued on his way home, but this left him feeling sick. “I almost felt like I had to vomit. My body was literally telling me to turn around,” said Ciganik. “So I drove back, crossed the intersection and helped push the car out of the snowpile.” At the moment, Ciganik realized that he wanted to serve and help others, so he finally decided to commit himself to the USAFA.

Carly St. George

by Michael Gennaro staff reporter Some believe that participating in a D1 sport can take a toll on one’s academics. In contrast, sports can help students stay engaged in class by being an outlet to escape from the pressure of classes. This has proven to be true for senior Carly St. George. “I love playing softball because it’s a way for me to release stress, and I think that’s also why I want to play in college,” said St. George. “Another thing is softball is just something that I’ve always done, and I can’t really imagine not playing.” St. George will be attending Murray State University (MSU) in the fall and will continue playing her favorite sport, softball. Since she was eight years old, St. George has played softball and competed in many other sports along the way. “I used to play a lot of different sports in middle school like swimming, volleyball and basketball, but when I figured out that softball was my favorite sport, I had to quit everything else and focus on that,” said St. George. Her decision to allocate all her time towards softball paid off when the coach of the MSU softball team scouted her out at a tournament in Lakeville, MN. The coach then invited St. George to visit the campus over MEA weekend her junior year, and she fell in love with the campus for its size, beauty and welcoming people. When the coach offered her a spot on the team and a scholarship, St. George gladly accepted. One of St. George’s high school softball career highlights was the excitement of competing and placing in a national softball tournament with her team, Midwest Speed. “In the summer of 2016, my club team qualified to play in the national tournament in California,” said St. George. “We ended up getting 2nd place which was awesome because no one expected us to get that far.” St. George has made sacrifices in order to reach her full potential as an athlete such as missing school dances and hanging out with friends, but she believes this is part of becoming an athlete. “It’s a lot of hard work, and I had to give up hanging out with friends or going on a trip a few times because I had practice or an out of town tournament,” said St. George. “I think sacrifices are necessary.” photos courtesy of Emma Bangert, Calvin Ciganik, and Carly St. George

tuesday, February 20, 2018

MV’s D1 athletes by Jeffrey He staff reporter

features

Michael Fahim

While many Division 1 (D1) athletes focus on a single sport, Michael Fahim, 12, has risen above this standard and practices three sports year-round including basketball, football and most importantly, track. Despite his talent in all three sports, Fahim has decided to pursue his passion and focus most of his time on shotput and discus. His persistence and training has allowed him to receive a spot on a D1 track and field team at the University of Minnesota (UMN). Fahim started throwing during freshman year and has continued throughout high school. Initially, Fahim was being scouted for his football prowess by schools such as North Dakota State University, University of North Dakota, Drake University and others. However, as time passed, Fahim started to prefer track over football and decided that he wanted his future to lie in track. “I [also] had a lot better opportunity in track for the future than football,” said Fahim. In Fahim’s sophomore year, he qualified for the Minnesota State High School League State tournament for discus and shotput. He is one of the only sophomores in Minnesota who has qualified for this tournament. Competing at the state tournament helped Fahim gain the attention of UMN. “The coach just texted me out of nowhere. After we talked for a while, I went on my first visit,” said Fahim. “Around November, they offered me a spot on the team, and that’s when I committed.” Fahim thinks that with enough effort, anyone can become a D1 athlete. “You just have to commit yourself, and if you set your mind to it, you can achieve it.” During track season, Fahim practices six days per week averaging around 15 hours per week. A typical thrower’s workout includes weight lifting, sprints, plyometrics and footwork. “I love track so much because it is both an individual sport and team sport,” said Fahim. “You get to compete against other people, but at the same time, you get to compete against yourself to see how much better you can get.” Outside of school practice, Fahim recommends winter practice simply to train year round. “The more time you invest, the greater the reward at the end.”

Hannah Aitkin by Derek Chen staff reporter

Imagine swimming for two-and-a-half hours each day after seven hours of school. While many high school swimmers don’t even want to think about continuing this demanding sport in college, Hannah Aitkin, 12, has committed to the University of South Dakota (USD) for D1 swimming. Aitkin’s love for swimming began around third grade when she joined North Suburban Aquatics Club. She later followed this passion and joined the Mounds View girls swim and dive team in eighth grade. “I love being part of a team and accomplishing goals I didn’t think were possible,”said Aitkin. Unlike most high school athletes, Aitkin took the initiative when she began her lengthy recruitment process in her junior year. Rather than waiting for an offer from a college, she emailed and called different swim coaches at various schools. With different options available for her future, including offers from the University of North Dakota, Saint Louis University and UW Milwaukee, Aitkin chose the USD. “I chose South Dakota because it felt the most like home, and I love the team and coach,” said Aitkin. “It’s affordable, not too far away and it has my major.” Becoming a D1 athlete means that you must be the best and the toughest within your chosen sport. To meet this requirement, Aitkin practices six times a week for around 18 to 22 hours total. As a result of Aitkin’s persistent training, she broke Mounds View’s 200-meter freestyle relay record. Throughout her swimming career, Aitkin has faced a lot of hardships. “It can be hard to be mentally tough. I have struggled a lot mentally in practice and competitions,” said Aitkin. “I guess my biggest challenge is myself.” said Aitkin. Despite all the physical and mental hardships that Aitkin has faced, she still continues to push forward and is excited to head off to college as a D1 athlete. “I don’t think I’d do anything differently,” said Aitkin.

Jake Swallen

by Jeffrey He staff reporter Jake Swallen, 12, began playing soccer at a very young age, learning to kick soccer balls while taking his first steps. Recently, his countless years of training at such a high level have finally paid off with an invitation from the highest-ranked D1 men’s college soccer team, Wake Forest. Part of Swallen’s inspiration came from his mother and father. Both parents were college soccer players who continued playing after college. As Swallen grew up, his parents encouraged him to play soccer and gave him opportunities to practice. “My family has sacrificed their time to drive me to trainings and attend all my games,” said Swallen. “I would not be the player that I am without the support of my family.” Swallen began playing on an official team when he was four and later joined the Minnesota Thunder Academy in eighth grade, one of the best soccer programs in the state. Swallen has won multiple competitions including Minnesota State Cup Champions, USA Cup Champions, US Club Regional Champions and National Futsal Champions. Despite his many successes, Swallen has also faced a major setback in his steps to becoming a D1 athlete. On Oct. 1, Swallen tore his ACL during a Minnesota Thunder Academy vs. Columbus Crew soccer match. This injury devastated Swallen due to the 6-9 month recover period. “I missed training, competing and my teammates. I have never been injured before and have never missed a match. Every day I am making choices to be ready for my next chapter at Wake Forest.” Swallen is expected to recover by the time college starts. Although he has faced challenges in his soccer career, Swallen has never lost his passion for the sport. Swallen’s intrinsic motivation has propelled him to practice as much as he could to not only improve, but to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional soccer player in the future. “Practice as much as you can and never doubt yourself in any way,” said Swallen. “Just go for it.” photos courtesy of Michael Fahim, Hannah Aitken, and Jake Swallen

How Dating ha then

by Kaylin Ro and Shelley Wang staff reporters During the ’80s, high school students didn’t have cell phones or social media. Couples navigated relationships over landlines, notes and letters. Dating before the rise of smart technology was different than the dating of today, but the search for love and affection in high school persists no matter the decade. Without instant communication in their lives, students had limited options for conservation. “Either they would ask you at school, or they would call and ask you if you wanted to go out,” said Rebecca HauthSchmid, English teacher. Landlines were the only option of telecommunication at the time. “When someone would call the house, my parents would answer. Now, I think kids don’t have any experience with talking with parents. But you’d have to talk to my parents and ask if I was around. If the phone was busy, then we couldn’t talk,” said Kristin Heinz, social studies teacher. Students also oftentimes told their significant other to “‘call my house at between four and six, otherwise my parents will be home,’” said Carolyn Hartmann, science teacher. In addition to telecommunication, students “put notes in the locker because that was easier [since] you didn’t need to have phone numbers,” said Ev Bjork, math teacher. Long distance, “I wrote letters back and forth over the summer to my now husband, but boyfriend at the time,” said Jennifer Carlson, social studies teacher. Typical dates during the 1980s, as well as today, consisted of a movie and grabbing a bite to eat. “You would go see a movie together, and afterwards you would go get ice cream or something,” said Hauth-

“When someone would call the house, my parents would answer. Now, I think kids don’t have any experience with talking with parents.” -Kristin Heinz, social studies teacher

Schmid. In addition, sports were also a popular event among couples. “[Couples] might go to the basketball game, … ask someone to play tennis or go on a bike ride,” said Bjork. Socializing among both couples and peers was mostly done at social gatherings, parties or

“I wrote letters back and forth over the summer to my now husband, but boyfriend at the time.” -Jennifer Carlson, social studies teacher at an event organized by friends. Observing young couples today, some adults are skeptical of the benefits smart technology brings to the dating sphere. On one hand, it provides a way to efficiently socialize and contact others. On the other, it seems to have tarnished the quality of intimate and direct communication. “You’re missing the eye contact and chemistry,” said Bjork. Bjork emphasized that couples who only text miss out on the significance of spending time together. “With texting, you totally take away the nonverbal communication,” said Aaron Ogdahl, science teacher. “I feel like I have to put in every single statement with an exclamation point, or else I’m ‘mad’ at them or something. Emojis kind of help too now, but what does that emoji mean?” This lack of direct conversation may forecast problems socially. Hauth-Schmid notes that students might get along well over social media and then “go to a dance together, and they’re totally awkward with each other because they don’t know what to say,” said Hauth-Schmid. “Suddenly you’re face to face with this person so you’re kind of just like, ‘What do I do now?’” Although the ways couples communicate in high school has changed, their core values remain the same. “Honestly, just talk in person, have meaningful conversations. Get down to your values and beliefs,” said Hartmann. “If they can’t be your best friend, then they’re not worth your time.”

In high school, w preferred method tion in a re 50

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40 30 20 10 0 In-person 80 students polled 39 staff members polled

photo courtesy by Zhengnian Tang

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as Transformed by Alexis Larson and Rachel Ganske staff reporters

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From dropping a note in a locker to swiping right on Tinder, the development of technology has dramatically altered the atmosphere of dating. In today’s society, with new technology such as laptops and smartphones, dating has largely taken to the virtual world. The way students handle relationships has changed, and will continue to change, as our society becomes increasingly fast-paced and technology-integrated. Dating today has all of the added conveniences of technology. Couples are able to stay connected 24 hours a day. “You can talk to each other anytime you want. It’s way more communication,” said Anna Montgomery, 10. Although some couples may have their first interaction over social media, the majority of Mounds View couples first meet in person. Online relationships are on the rise but have yet to become prevalent in the high school setting. However, through the assistance of texting, Snapchat and Facetime, couples have more opportunities to meet and get to know their significant other. Students’ highly interconnected social networks can also hurt relationships. “A lot of people don’t know how to communicate well face-to-face and technology is to blame for a lot of it,” said Marissa Manning, 11. Students also feel pressure to broadcast their relationship to their peers. “If you have a good relationship, you’re posting about it, and I feel like that doesn’t really mean you have a good relationship,” said Joceilyn Ahlberg, 11. One lasting tradition for couples are school dances, in which elaborate methods are used to ask the oth-

“A lot of people don’t know how to communicate well face-to-face and technology is to blame for a lot of it,” -Marissa Manning, 11

now

er out. Today, students will oftentimes make posters or give gifts to make the event of asking someone out to homecoming and prom extra special. “I asked [Julia McGough] with a bunch of stuffed animal sloths and with a box of sushi. I asked her, ‘Want to roll to homecoming?’” said Trevor Redmond, 11.

“If you have a good relationship, you’re posting about it, and I feel like that doesn’t really mean you have a good relationship.” -Joceilyn Ahlberg, 11 Although the popular tradition of dances has lasted the test of time, dances have become less important. “Dances used to be a place where you go because you could see people, but now you can communicate with them all you want. Why would you need to go to a dance to communicate with them?” said Justin Benolkin, social studies teacher. “People would rather spend time communicating at home, actually. People have these virtual hangouts basically where you open up three or four windows and you just hang out.” Dances, such as homecoming and Silverbelle, are now less focused on the dance itself and more on its surrounding activities. “The dance is fun, but it’s more about having the opportunity to go out to dinner before, get dressed up and do something you don’t normally do on a Saturday night,” said Isabella Chaffee, 12. Technology has dramatically changed the social atmosphere of dating, and without a doubt, dating today is different than it was in the past. The world’s ever-growing social web will continue to transform the dating realm, making some aspects of dating easier but also introducing obstacles that were not present before.

DEBATES

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Reflection on Trump’s first year Proficient in office by Benjamin Steil staff reporter

The mainstream media constantly attempts to paint Donald Trump as an incompetent president. Democrats accuse him of being racist, sexist, islamophobic, transphobic and a xenophobic dictator, with the common theme of him impeding the progress of the United States. However, this simply isn’t true. Despite these slurs and insults, Trump has succeeded in making a strong impact on the United States during his first year in office. With optimistic rhetoric like “Make America Great Again,” he has managed to inspire business investment and consumer confidence, resulting in a record-breaking economy. Aside from just economics, President Trump can also celebrate successful tax reform, deregulation, defeating ISIS, finding success in foreign policy, drastically changing the federal judiciary and sending the political left into a state of chaos. While debating Trump’s success, it’s hard to argue against the statistics, and looking at the economy, the numbers are really the only thing that matter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average continues to hit smash records every week and has grown over 5,000 points in one year alone, with the exception of recent downfalls that will likely once again rise to new heights. That’s a 27 percent increase, a figure unprecedented by any other president. Trillions of dollars have

been added to the U.S. economy — money that not only benefits businesses, but their employees as well. Many companies have announced wage hikes and bonuses for thousands of their workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment is down from 4.8 to 4.1 percent, second and third quarter GDP growth clocked in at 3.1 and 3.2 percent respectively and over 2 million jobs were added to the U.S. during Trump’s first year. Overall, the evidence supporting Trump’s success proves that the economy is in fact in good hands, and although the president has limited control over the stock market, he has done everything in his power to improve it. According to Jeanne Sahadi from CNN Money, Trump’s successful tax reform led to a corporate tax rate cut from 35 to 21 percent, finally allowing U.S. businesses to compete with the rest of the world. Additionally, Trump has engaged in a massive deregulation effort, cutting 22 regulatory laws for each one put into effect. Less governmental regulation leads to less barriers to enter a specific market, which means more competition and lower prices for the consumer. The economy isn’t the only thing Trump has improved during his inaugural year in office, and although inheriting many tough foreign policy predicaments, Trump has succeeded abroad. First off, his tough policies in

Deficient in office by Alec Weber staff reporter

It only takes one glance at almost any reputable news source to recognize the inadequate job that President Donald Trump done as commander-in-chief. His presidency has been all too associated with controversy, hatred and a lack of results. Amongst common complaints showcased by news outlets such as CNN and MSNBC towards the President are “He has not been productive,” and “He is a racist.” These claims aren’t just baseless rhetoric, but have contributed to historically low approval ratings for Trump in his first year in office. Americans look for productivity, accomplishments and efficiency when determining a president’s proficiency in office. When reflecting on Trump’s progress after the first anniversary of his inauguration, he has clearly not lived up to his signature campaign promises by any standard. Trump’s pledges to build a border wall, repeal Obamacare and end the threat of North Korea haven’t shown

any signs of success. The signature Trump wall has fittingly “hit a wall” in plans for construction and development. Obamacare was removed as a mandate, but the regulations and structure of Obama’s famous health care plan are still quite alive. Relations between the President and Kim Jong-un have nearly reached a boiling point that could possibly result in a nuclear meltdown between the unstable leaders. This lack of productivity has only been featured in headlines at times where scandalous actions did not steal the major attention from the media. The media has, because of the frequency of incidents, unfortunately left the effectiveness issue on the backburner. The issue that has been plaguing Trump throughout his first year, which has taken the spotlight from a lack of productivity, has been the constant theme of racism. The latest occurrence of these remarks was after the president got called out by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin for referring to certain countries as being “shitholes” while discussing DACA during an oval office meeting.

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the Middle East have sent the forces of the Islamic State into a state of disarray. The self-declared ISIS capital, Raqqa, was reclaimed by a U.S. backed operation, a crushing blow to the Islamic radicals. Also, both Iran and Iraq’s leaders have confirmed the defeat of ISIS earlier this year. Another reoccurring issue, North Korea, is not a problem created by Trump. You can thank the long history of soft foreign policy, such as a deal made by Jimmy Carter during the Bill Clinton presidency. This deal gave Pyongyang two new reactors and $5 billion in foreign aid if they would promise to stop testing nukes. Of course, North Korea broke the accord from day one and has admitted as much. The Trump administration has since moved away from this weak stance, opting to impose strict sanctions on the North Korean regime. “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen,” said Trump in response to threats by Kim Jong-un. Another region that Trump has found success in is appointing federal judges. Beating the previous record of 11 appointees in a debut year, Trump has added 12 to the federal judiciary. This action will have a lasting impact, as these judges serve for life and cannot be replaced like a law could be repealed when the next president comes along.

The final victory that Trump has achieved this year is one over the Democrats. He has sent not only the elected officials, but also members of the mainstream media into a state of panic. Trump has forced Congressional Democrats into becoming “The Anti-Trump Movement” or “The Resistance,” losing their foundation and identity as a political party. So, when he does things popular to the American population, the Democrats look foolish and out of touch with the public. Take Trump’s State of the Union address, which, according to a CBS News poll, has a 75 percent positive reaction by Americans. Not one Democrat stood, not even when Trump recognized impactful people such as Preston Sharp, a boy who decorates the graves of dead soldiers, or when he highlighted a tragic story, such as Elizabeth Alvarado, Robert Mickens, Evelyn Rodriguez and Freddy Cuevas, parents of young girls killed by members of MS-13. It looks really bad to oppose objectively genuine and kind gestures by the president, and by distancing the Democrats from the American public, he is able to have success politically and increase his chance of re-election. These examples prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that President Trump has had a very successful year. If Trump can find it within himself to continue his form, the United States will be in a great position moving forward.

Another prominent issue for Trump regarding racism has been his arguments with the NFL and the national anthem. Throughout the past NFL season, many players decided to take a knee during the anthem to protest police brutality towards the African American community. Trump failed to acknowledge the protest as such, and instead made claims that the players were attempting to disrespect the essence of America. During one speech in Alabama, Trump lead a crusade against the black football players for their parts in the protest, saying that the athletes should be kicked off the field and fired by the teams. The fire and fury which Trump sent towards the protesting athletes did not resound with the public or athletes, as throughout the season these attempts for justice continued to occur. Trump’s comments and his stance on the protests were perhaps seen increasingly as coming from a racist point of view as only around a month before the majority of arguing between the players and Trump occurred, the President had suggested that there was moral equiva-

lency between white supremacists and those with strongly opposite views. It appears that these events have had an effect on the mindsets of the American public. According to an online survey published by Rasmussen Reports, 79 percent of those surveyed who identify as Democrats believe that the president is racist while 73 percent of Republicans say his opponents are just playing politics. Overall, 50 percent of Americans believe that Trump is a racist. This shows that Trump has done a poor job in convincing his opponents he is not racist. From racist remarks to little accomplishment, it is easy to see exactly why the first year in Trump’s presidency has been a failure. A culmination of these factors including the “shithole countries” comment, abundant racism including the arguments with the NFL and not coming through on promises made by Trump, affirms that the President’s run in the first year forecasts a dark future for himself and the United States as a whole.

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Arts & Entertainment 9

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Cafe Astoria, coffee heaven by Leon Wang staff reporter

Located in downtown Saint Paul, Cafe Astoria is a small and cozy cafe fit for a breakfast or lunch meetup, or for a quick stop for top-notch coffee. Due to its widespread popularity and a not-so-secret secret menu, this coffee shop is usually bustling with customers, making the wait longer than average. But with its delectable lattes and mouthwatering crêpes, the wait is well worth the experience. First impressions were mostly positive. The overall atmosphere of the coffee shop building was relatively warm and busy, with a constant flow of customers. The service was quick but friendly, and my server was kind enough to familiarize me with the menu. When I asked her about the secret menu, she told me that it was less of a secrecy than the name states, as you can find images of many of its secret recipes on Cafe Astoria’s official Instagram profile. After the server took my order, I noticed that it took quite a long time for the dishes to finally arrive at my table. Even though the wait prior to being seated was only a number of minutes, the wait at the table was significantly longer. First up was the 24k latte, one of the most visually appealing items on the menu. Despite being a novice coffee drinker, I could still tell that the taste of the latte (albeit strong in my opinion) was one of very high caliber, with a creamy, thick texture. Once I finished the latte, I decided to try another drink from the secret menu: the campfire latte. It arrived in a chocolate-covered cup with a massive, eye-catching marshmallow lightly roast-

24K Latte

Campfire Latte

ed on a stick. Although both secret menu drinks were high quality, I preferred the campfire latte in terms of its taste because it was more mild and had a hint of chocolate. Then there were the two food dishes, the smoothie bowl and crêpe. The strawberry fields smoothie bowl, which was also on the secret menu, arrived first. This bowl, although on the expensive side (almost ten dollars), was an exquisite adventure in taste. Fruit smoothie packed with tender strawberries surrounded by a core of Greek yogurt. Pieces of dragon fruit added an explosion of flavor, and there wasn’t a single trace of tartness. Sprinkles of pistachio throughout the dish tied the whole bowl together. At last, the bacon, cheese and egg crêpe was served. Initially uncomfortable about ordering a French-style pancake with meat inside of it, my prejudices were proven wrong after the first bite into the dense multi-layered dish. The meat housed inside the thin pancake shell was ever present in its taste, but didn’t interfere with the egg and cheese. All the flavors in the crêpe were perfect in balance and ratio, and completely satisfying. Cafe Astoria was a pleasant surprise in its quality of food and coffees and is highly recommended to visit. Although some may be deterred by the wait times and higher prices, these do not come without reason. The level of precision and character in each dish and beverage is well worth the wait and will leave many visitors satisfied. If you would like to visit Cafe Astoria, it is open Tuesday through Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and located on 180 Grand Ave. in Saint Paul.

The Verdict

Smoothie bowl

photos by Leon Wang

Cafe Astoria boasts top-end coffees and food dishes at their small but cozy location. While the wait may be long at times and the prices a little high, this popular coffee shop is one that cannot be missed. Whether you are a coffee enthusiast, a novice to cafes or simply crave a warm coffee or lunch, Cafe Astoria will exceed your expectations.

Big Dipper deserves all its stars by Kaylin Ro staff reporter

Buckets of ice cream lined the counter as I stepped into the Big Dipper. The panel of glass separating me from the desserts reflected the soft lights in the background. Ten, fifteen, twenty… a multitude of mouthwatering flavors awaited before me. I eyed them hungrily, trying to choose one; some familiar, some uncommon. I became tantalized as I read their names: Salty Caramel. Mint Oreo. Rocky Road. Fortunately, the server encouraged samples, giving me a scoop of Salty Caramel when I asked. I bought a single immediately. It’s the perfect size for one person who has a large appetite, but could also be a good option for two. The price is fairly reasonable, charging $2.75 for a kid’s size, a single at $4.25 and a double at $5.50. The Big Dipper also offers sundaes, malts and shakes all ranging from $5.75 to $6.95. Smooth and rich, the ice cream was generously infused with a delectable mix of caramel and salt. Unlike competitors, the dessert was delightfully soft. Being a family-owned business for three generations, they pride themselves for creating “homemade premium ice cream.” The cream is the “wholesome foundation of Big Dipper Creamery ice cream.” This means that ingredients are sourced from local farmers because “Minnesota cows make better cream.” According to Big

4.5 /5

Dipper, they “handcraft [their] ice cream in small batches.” It may be the reason for the noticeable difference in quality when comparing to other ice creameries. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much. A sign that reads “Big Dipper” is adorned upon a brown building. The interior is nothing more extravagant than the outside, but modesty isn’t boring. In fact, the atmosphere is incredibly welcoming. Dark floor boards contrast with the brightly lit counter displaying a myriad of flavors. Simple yet lively tables and chairs line one wall, and friendly employees greet customers and smile amicably in greeting. There is nothing too fancy about the Big Dipper, and is what anyone would expect from a local ice cream shop. But that’s what makes it so endearing. With locations in North Oaks and Blaine, the Big Dipper is built in convenient places for many students to access. Previously, the Village Scoop was located in the same building in North Oaks, but this change in companies has only brought an improvement in ice cream. The server kindly wished me a good afternoon as I left. It was my first experience there, but I was determined to return before long. With delicious ice cream, kind staff and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s the perfect place year round to hang out and enjoy dessert. The Big Dipper in North Oaks is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In Blaine, they are open Tuesday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m, on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. photo by Shannon Haffely

good question

TUESDAY, februray 20, 2018

Cryptocurrency or crypto-mystery? by Derek Zhu staff reporter

tive is to organize ledgers into blocks. In order to create proof of the work they’ve done, these miners create a code unique to each block and attach it to the bottom. The code is then run through the hash funcCryptocurrencies have been all over the news after Bitcoin spiked tion and the work done is confirmed. This verification process makes it over $19,000 per unit in Dec. 2017. Despite their popularity, not many easy to check the work done by miners and difficult to hack or alter the people actually know what these online coins are, and even fewer ledger. know about cryptocurrency mining. Most students know that cryptoFinally, the hash from the previous block is added to the top of the currencies are an online form of currency, but there are many false asnext block. Linking these blocks together through their hashes forms a sumptions made about them. “I think [Bitcoin] is used for drug money blockchain. Each user now only has to watch for new blocks added to or other shady business and it can be hacked,” said Jake Wolkerstorthe blockchain. If there are any conflicting blocks, the user can wait for fer, 11. While cryptocurrencies can be used for a variety of purposes, Fair use from Pixabel more blocks to be linked and refer to the longer chain, or the chain with the true, intended purpose of cryptocurrencies is much more complicated than that. more computational work done. Now, any user who only wants to use At the core of every cryptocurrency are ledgers and digital sigthe cryptocurrency as a monetary system only has to record these blocks natures. A ledger is a digital list of transactions. Every subsequent rather than each and every transaction. transaction is recorded and in order to verify it, the user must use their Because miners are doing a service for the cryptocurrency system, digital signature to add their transaction to the end of the ledger. This they are paid when they finish a block. Michael Ongaro, 12, is one such signature is almost impossible to forge due to the public and private cryptocurrency miner. In the middle of Nov. 2017, he built his own key encryption methods. Each person has their own private key which mining rig with 8 Radeon RX 580s. His initial investment cost him over is used to encrypt the message, while a public key is combined with $2000, but for him it was worth it. “Back in December it was about the signature and the original transaction to verify that signature. The $150 a week net, now it’s about $115 a week net profit,” said Ongaro. reason it is also near impossible to guess the private key from any $115 a week is not bad for doing nothing but keeping a computer on, signature is because each key is 256 bits long, leading to an almost inand he managed to get a return on his investment in only two months. comprehensible number of possible combinations. With this method However, according to Ongaro, profiting isn’t usually this easy. of encryption, each transaction is secure and others can’t change the “People can’t get a good return on investment right now because of transaction. Finally, by separating the currency on the ledger from a the insane price of graphics cards,” said Ongaro. In fact, the device he physical currency to a digital one, you get the basic framework of a built for about $2000 in November will now cost around $4000 because cryptocurrency. the price of graphics cards, the main tool used when mining for cryp While this concept is essential to how it works, there is still tocurrencies, has doubled in the last year alongside the cryptocurrency one more key component to cryptocurrencies: decentralization. This craze. Furthermore, not all of these parts are created equal. According means that rather than having one central server containing the ledger, to Ongaro, you have to look for the right card. “While some cards may each user of the cryptocurrency has their own copy of the ledger. When be able to mine cryptocurrencies very quickly, they draw a lot of power a transaction is made, the signer updates the ledgers of all the other usand are inefficient, and you still have to pay for that power,” said Oners. garo. While not having to pay and rely on a central server seems more Another thing to consider is that cryptocurrency miners are paid in efficient, this system still poses problems. If there are inconsistencies the cryptocurrency, not USD. This is an important distinction because between ledgers, how can users agree on the correct ledger? Or, if a recently, the value of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have been falluser receives payment, how can the user be sure that all other users ing. This is one reason why Ongaro’s recent profits have been falling. received and recorded the same transaction? To put it simply, users Not only that, if he wanted to exchange his cryptocurrency for USD, he determine the most accepted ledger by whichever ledger has the most will have to go through a currency exchange. “I am saving [my cryptocomputational work put in to it. This validation process uses an alcurrency] because I will have to pay taxes similar to stocks if I do sell gorithm known as a cryptographic hash function. This hash function it,”said Ongaro, “Also, currency exchanges often take a service fee.” is designed so that any data put into it is encrypted as a seemingly These problems in the cryptocurrency industry have led Ongaro to disrandom 256 binary digit number that is nearly impossible to decrypt. courage investing in cryptocurrency for the time being and wait for the This is where cryptocurrency miners come in. Their main objecFair use from Wikimedia market to die down.

What is with the TV in the commons? by Jason Lou staff reporter

Almost a year ago, students walking by the commons found a large, paper calendar, maintained by student council, that marked important events such as no-school days, football games, spirit days and more. Now, students can find a large touch-screen TV in its place, and while the installation of this new electronic was exciting at first, the purpose of the touch-screen now eludes many. “I don’t understand why a big TV in the commons is even necessary,” said Matthew McNamara, 12. The new device was first installed by Daniel Weinhagen, a Mounds View alumni who is now responsible for maintaining and programming the TV. Its intended purpose is to display school-related news and information. “The board is supposed to display sports and activities, student athletes, hall of fame and anything else [the administrators] want,” said Weinhagen. However, many of these plans have yet to be implemented. The TV can also be used as a solution to Mounds View’s space problem. Activities director James Galvin hopes to use the TV as a digital trophy case. “Our trophy cases are all overcrowded,” said Galvin. “We even have other storage rooms full of trophies that we can’t fit because we don’t have enough cases.” The TV would showcase pictures of the trophies along with the other information. While the actual purpose of the TV has yet to be put in action, many students have found ways to have fun with it. “Some of the pages on the touch board are links to our website and on the bottom of the page is a link to Youtube. Students click the link, and then have access to all of Youtube,” said Weinhagen. The administration is currently working to fix this issue. Despite all these plans to move displays to the digital platform, there are “no current plans to update the board,” said Weinhagen. “[However], it is possible to display what teams want, as long as it is within the limits of the program.” Hopefully, the TV will be updated soon to include a new modern look that it was supposed to bring to Mounds View

photo by Sarah Tang

Have any good questions? Email them

toni.baraga@ mvviewer.org

TUESday, february 20, 2018

Athlete of the issue

William Goldman Swimming Q: How long have you been swimming? A: I have been swimming since I was 8 years old. Q: What’s your favorite part about swimming? A: My favorite part is hanging out with friends and meeting new people. Q: How do you prepare for meets? A: I usually just go home, eat some ramen or other bland pasta, and eventually drive to the meet. Q: What’s your goal for this season? A: My goal is to improve further at sections and to help my team’s relays make it to state. Q: What is your favorite memory from swimming? A: My favorite memory was training on my own over the summer with my brother and dad. We would go to an outdoor long-course pool at night about once a week which was really fun. Q: What is the best advice you received from your coach? A: At the end of last season I was a little disappointed with some of my times. The assistant coach, Chris, encouraged me to work out more in the offseason, which seems to be paying off so far. Q: What advice can you give to your fellow swimmers? A: I would tell them to lift weights in addition to your normal training. If you want to be better than other people, you’re going to have to put in more work than them.

sports

Let the games continue

by Elliot Lee staff reporter

Over its 90 years of Olympic participation, the United States has built a reputation of success, with more than 300 winter medals. This success is built upon the American athletes who sacrifice their time and energy to bring home gold for their country. The XXIII Winter Olympic Games, taking place in PyeongChang, South Korea, is showing the best of these athletes the United States has to offer. The United States will be sending 244 Olympians to PyeongChang this year, and of those athletes, 21 will be from the state of Minnesota. These athletes will be participating in sports ranging from curling to ski jumping. The Brandt sisters of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, are both ready to compete for a medal. Hannah Brandt and her sister Marissa Brandt both played hockey at Hill Murray High School. One of the differences between the sisters is that Marissa was adopted from South Korea when she was five months old and Hannah was born in Minnesota. Hannah has played for the University of Minnesota for the past four years. She was also named Ms. Hockey in 2012,

an award that recognizes a hockey athlete who shows excellence in both academics and athletics. Marissa has played at Gustavus Adolphus College and will be representing the joint Korean hockey team. In addition to the South Korean athletes, the team features 12 North Koreans who agreed to play on the history-making team that is the first notion of unification since the ’50s. The Olympics are said to be a time for countries to put their differences aside and compete together on a global stage. “The most important thing about the Olympics is that it can make everyone in a country, and even the world, unite for a short amount of time because everyone is focused on one thing,” said Braden Buganski, 10. Julia “Jules” Marino, a 20-year-old slopestyle snowboarder from Westport, Connecticut, is an aspiring rookie looking to earn an Olympic gold. Marino’s previous successes include one bronze medal in big air and a gold in slopestyle at the 2017 X Games in Aspen, Colorado. She is currently the only female on the slopes to land a Cab 900 Double Underflip, a difficult move similar to the underflip but with 900 degrees of angular rotation. Marino has proved her potential to per-

form successfully at the Olympic Games. Leading the American biathlon team is 36-year-old Lowell Bailey of Lake Placid, New York. This being his fourth Olympic games, Bailey is right at home at this competition. After a brief retirement following the 2014 Sochi games, Bailey went on to compete in the 2017 world championships in Austria where he won the individual event and placed fourth in the sprint event, prompting him to stay out of retirement for one more year. He hopes to finish his career on a strong note at the 2018 games. Becoming an Olympic athlete is nothing short of a miracle. The hours spent and sacrifices made to achieve such a level of competitiveness may turn some off from the challenge. “I personally would not want to be an Olympic athlete. It sounds like a lot of work commitment that I don’t want to give,” Isaiah Tucker, 10. But earning the chance to represent one’s country and claim the title as the best in the world can be worthy of the sacrifices athletes like Lowell Bailey, Julia Marino and Hannah and Marissa Brandt have made to represent their country at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

illustrations by Christina Mherkens

Slaying the snow by Jenna Stellmack staff reporter

The Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics have both been featured prominently in the news, overshadowing other typical winter sports. Similarly, at Mounds View, some winter sports get far more coverage than others. One lesser-known sport is nordic skiing. The ski season, which runs from early November through mid-February, has been a fun one for Mounds View’s team. The team has competed in many races since the season started in early November. Though the team does not have a single first place to its name this year, they have worked hard and kept a positive attitude throughout the season. Each competitor races in individual events while the team cheers on the side lines. “Usually, the racers are released onto the course in small groups, but for larger races, they are released individually,” said Podolny. The courses can be several kilometers long, giving competitors a challenge.

Sometimes, the skiers have to bus or carpool several hours to the race location, where they race against each other and other schools. In addition to the competitions, the team practices every weekday after school and on Saturday mornings, leaving Sunday as the only day without skiing. Despite the intensive schedule, members enjoy being part of the team. “It’s one of the only sports that’s co-ed,” said captain Amelia Podolny, 11. “That’s fun because you get to be close with a lot more people.” The team is known for being open and inviting for both new and old members. Although Nordic requires stamina, it is the mental aspect of the game that the athletes focus on during races. “It’s almost more mental than it is physical,” said Podolny. “It’s so easy to be like ‘oh, I’ve been out here for 40 years, I just want to be done,’ but you have to keep going.” Even though Mounds View Nordic has been very successful this year, there are still some things that could be improved for next year, such as guiding

Nordic team gathers for a group picture after a fun practice.

underclassmen. “I think that they should put more emphasis on helping new people who join the team,” said Charlie Aasen, 10. The Nordic team prides itself on its welcoming environment, as they accept even inexperienced skiers, and these newcomers could often use more training than members who have been skiing for a long time. The team prepares for races together, but the competitions themselves are usually separate for the boys and girls teams, with boys competing against boys and girls competing against girls. Since everything except the races is usually done with both groups, this division doesn’t stop the team from bonding. Both the excitement of races and the sense of community have brought the Nordic ski team together for another fun season. The Mounds View’s skiers are looking forwards to next year’s experiences with the new members, and the team hopes to become a more tight-knit group to ensure successful seasons in the future.

Nordic team waxing their skis before a race. photos courtesy of Charlie Ausen

TUESDAY, February 20, 2018

top 10 TEAM USA athletes to FOLLOW

Tabitha Peterson Jessie Diggins

8 Hilary Knight Joey Mantia 7 6 Shaun White Red 5 Gerard 4 Lindsey Jacobellis Mikaela Shriffin 3 2 Adam Rippon Chloe Kim 1

All of these words are used throughout the issue. To learn more about these key words, read the articles!

OLYMPICS

MONKEYS

TELEVISION

PYEONGCHANG

CLONING

GOLD

BITCOIN

NORDIC

ASTORIA

RELATIONSHIPS

XENOPHOBIC SUPERBOWL

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INTERVIEW OF THE ISSUE

What’s one trend of modern dating that you don’t understand?

Mr. Johnson: My answer would be far too long. haha Mrs. Hartmann: Sitting next to each other, not talking. haha Mr. Ogdahl: I feel like, 10 years ago is still modern dating, right? Haha. What is one trend… one thing that I never put together when I was younger, it was always like the first date, people were dating, and people couldn’t see anyone else. But for sure now— Mrs. Hartmann: What? Mr. Ogdahl: Yeah. Where I grew up, if you went on a date, I wasn’t gonna go on a date with another person. But now, for sure! I would go on a date on a Friday and Saturday with two different people for sure. Feel them out and where it would go. Mr. Johnson: You’re such a player. Mr. Ogdahl: I dont think that’s— Mrs. Johnson: I don’t think he’s a player! Mr. Ogdahl: Thank you! Yeah! What’s another trend now that I don’t understand… the amount of texting that goes on—OHMAGOSH that drives me insane. Mr. Johnson: How about while people are at a table together? Mr. Ogdahl: Yeah! Oh yeah, there’s not enough person-to-person connection. It’s more, it’s so digital, and every thought— Mrs. Johnson: Hahahaha. Mr. Ogdahl: —can be like, there no read-and-react, it’s every thought is a process and then even with texting, you totally take away the non-social aspect, the non-verbal communication. It’s like, “she wrote a sentence with an period,” and you’re like, “How do I take that? Is she SERIOUS? IS SHE NOT?” Or I feel like I have to put in every single statement an exclamation point or else I’m “mad” at them or something. Like emojis kinda help too now, but like “what does that emoji mean?” Mr. Johnson: I am so glad that I met my wife long before that.

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