MV Viewer 2017-2018 Issue 2

VOLUME 65 ISSUE 2 | October 27, 2017

THE VIEWER

PRESSED FOR SPACE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE DONALD TRUMP 02/ MEA 10/ STENSTROM 11

2

News

The Trump conundrum

by Alec Weber staff reporter

Allegations that President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in a conspiracy to win the 2016 Presidential Election have stolen a large portion of the national spotlight ever since WikiLeaks, an organization that publishes classified media from anonymous sources, leaked thousands of Hillary Clinton’s private documents prior to the election. As a result, two Democratic Party donors have filed an invasion of privacy lawsuit accusing

Do you think Trump colluded with Russia?

Yes

59%

LL

NO

41%

PO

100 Students Polled

2017-2018

Viewer Editors Editor-in-Chief

Sunny Lim

Managing Editor - Copy

Felix Zhang

Managing Editor - design

Kallie Slotvig Felix Zhang

Managing Editor - Online

Ben Davis

Business Manager

Zoe Lindberg

Front Cover

Felix Zhang News

Diana Zhu Features

Kallie Slotvig

Editorials

Marley Jones

center fold

Sarah Tang Michelle Wang

what’s trending

Haley Keeney

arts & entertainment

Shannon Haffely

Good question

Toni Baraga Sports

Sanjana Dutt back cover

Sunny Lim

Photographers

Zoe Lindberg Sarah Tang Ellie Tsai Artist

Christina Mehrkens Adviser

David Ostrom Staff Ingrid Anderson, Bridge Bohan, Derek Chen, Liam Curry, Justin Duffy, Rachel Ganske, Michael Gennaro, Sienna Griffith, Jeffrey He, Jessica Hegele, Hannah Hoiland, Julia Holtz, Emma Hoyhtya, Till Konczak, Alexis Larson, Elliot Lee, Jason Lou, Robert Nelson, Luka Pejic, Kaylin Ro, Lauren Rose, Daniel Rubinchik, Clare Schooley, Andrew Seong, Benjamin Steil, Jenna Stellmack, Leroy Thor, Jordan Van Laningham, Leon Wang, Shelley Wang, Alec Weber, Shirley Xieli, Derek Zhu

The Viewer is published by the student editors at: Mounds View High School 1900 Lake Valentine Rd Arden Hills, Minnesota Sauk Centre Publishing

Trump of conspiring with the Russian administration to hack Democratic emails in order to favor the election of Trump, but both the Trump and the Russian administration have steadfastly denied these allegations.

The accusations towards Trump first gained traction when Michael Flynn, the president’s national security adviser, resigned only a month into Trump’s presidency. His resignation came under deep scrutiny when details were leaked about the national security advisor’s contacts in Russia.

Flynn apologized for withholding information from Trump in his resignation letter: “I inadvertently briefed the Vice President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador,” said Flynn. The President and the Vice President have accepted the apology.

The Justice Department appointed past FBI director, Robert Mueller, to lead the investigation. Other players in the investigation include former FBI

Friday, October 27, 2017

director James Comey, NSA director Mike Rogers, and former CIA director John Brennan. On top of these officials, many members of Congress have also played a part in attempting to discover all the facts on what really happened to Donald Trump and Russian officials during the presidential campaign.

English Teacher Gretchen Nesset thinks that Trump is guilty of collusion with Russia. “There is already a lot of evidence. The fact that he keeps throwing up evidence makes me think that he’s hiding something,” said Nesset. However, these crimes are incredibly difficult to prove, so she cannot be confident yet that the president will be convicted. “I hope so, but I’m not hopeful.”

On the other hand, Bjorn Eggen, 10, thinks there is no way that Trump colluded with Russia. “Multiple times, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said that President Trump is innocent regarding Russia,” said Eggen. The sophomore frequents popular news sources for political information. “If you keep

up with Fox News, it has been shown time and time again that there is no hard evidence proving that Trump is guilty.” Bjorn has a deep-lying belief in innocence until proven guilty. The worst part, according to Eggen, is how the President’s reputation in the eye of the public has been damaged. “At this point Trump has been found guilty by much of the public due to fake news outlets,” said Eggen. “Regardless of whether he is indicted or not, the public’s view has been tainted forever by the fake news.”

Both sides of the issue have support from Mounds View students and staff, but a disagreement on sufficient evidence still exists, which will keep administration from making any conclusions. As of late, news regarding the investigation has slowed down due to lack of new evidence, but with whispers of a possible Trump impeachment, the investigation will keep its place as one of the biggest news stories in recent history.

North Korean tensions rise

by Kaylin Ro staff reporter

Tensions between the United States and North Korea have risen to a unprecedented level due to a series of messages between the two respective presidents, Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. The contentious name-calling and blatant threats of total destruction consist of anything but diplomatic methods.

Kim has tested 88 missiles during his rule since 2011, 57 more than the past two dictators of North Korea combined.

After North Korea’s ninth Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) of the year in July, the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on North Korea for violation of U.N. Resolutions regarding missile testing. However, Kim Jong Un dismissed this message. On Aug. 10, the Korean Central News Agency revealed a threat to fire four missiles toward the U.S. territory of Guam, an act that never carried through.

Trump acknowledged the threats from North Korea and in turn demonstrated the strength of the U.S. and its allies in a highly anticipated speech at the U.N. General Assembly on September 19. “The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” said Trump. He later warned North Korea that “Rocket Man,” a nickname he gave to Kim, “is on a suicide mission for himself.” Kim retaliated to this statement with an official statement promising that he would “definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire.”

The two countries’ hostile sentiment has been present since the Korean War in the 1950s, when the U.S. occupied South Korea. But when the U.S. quickly left South Korea after the war, leaving North Korean citizens to survive amid their demolished country, frustrated North Koreans pointed to the United States for their tribulation.

To this day, that animosity persists.

The North Korean government has

upheld the global fear of further U.S. military airstrikes. The Kim family’s portrayal of Americans as deadly enemies from an unfamiliar land has instilled strong trust in the country’s citizens, where people are raised believing that only their leader can protect them.

The antagonism between North Korea and the United States and their allies has been familiar for many South Korean Americans growing up. Unlike their grandparents, who witnessed life before the war, the younger generation knows nothing of unity between the two countries. Yoo-Jin Hwang, 12, expressed her concerns. “I feel like now, [the rivalry] is escalating really quickly, and I think that the U.S. has to make sure they are careful,” said Hwang. On the other hand, her grandparents do not see North Korea as an imminent threat because “North Korea [has] always threatened South Korea, so they see it as normal,” said Hwang.

Other students shared a similar view, but had more unease over the handling of the relations within the United States.

“I’m more concerned now because Trump is actively provoking North Korea

and in the past they were not able to retaliate at all, but now they are able to fight back which makes [the situation] more dangerous,” said Yuha Yoo, 12. Yoo thinks that instead of calling each other names, the two countries should instead avoid confronting each other.

The U.S. has begun to prioritize the search for a solution, but as of now, neither the United States nor North Korea has definitive plans as to how to resolve the escalating confrontations. “Since there is a lot of tension and they are two major leaders, if they got together and settled things through a more civil manner than through the media, it would resolve the situation further,” said Michelle Sung, 11. Sung feels that if relations were more diplomatic and took place in person, relations between the countries could improve.

For now, nothing is for sure in how the escalations will play out other than that the tension shows no signs of stopping.

illustration by Christina Mehrkins

Friday, October 27, 2017

Helping to raise hope

features

3

Houston Humane Society

by Rachel Ganske staff reporter

Kuenstle. If there is no set plan, families are forced to leave their pet or pets behind, but with animal societies like Houston SPCA, families can be assured that their pet is safe from danger.

Hurricane Harvey’s strong rain and winds battered the coastline communiThe Houston SPCA has been a vital organization in the relief of Hurties of southern Texas from Aug. 25 to Sept. 3 and caused citizens to evacuate en ricane Harvey. Not only does the organization react quickly in times of masse. However, due to limited space aboard transport vehicles, many families disaster, but it provides homes for thousands of animals each year. were unable to take their pets with them. This inadvertently resulted in a large With the exception of times during natural disasters, the typiincrease in animals in shelters needing care and the Houston Society for cal animal in the Houston SPCA stays for about two weeks. Every the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Houston SPCA) was ready to animal is spayed or neutered and micro chipped during this period, combat this issue. and animals that come to shelters after going through abuse receive Houston SPCA is a non-profitable organization helping to care for medical treatment that they need. If an animal isn’t adopted within the increase of homeless pets. The Houston SPCA planned ahead for two weeks of their arrival at the shelter, they will enter the Houston the arrival of Hurricane Harvey by moving over 120 adoptable animals SPCA’s large foster care system until they find a home. to the Atlanta Humane Society, where they have all been adopted.

Next time a person is contemplating getting a The society also stocked up on necessary items in order to become new pet, they should consider adoption from a local a distribution center for the Houston area. Over 40 tons of dohumane society. Kuenstle states “There are so many nated pet food has been distributed to local establishments. of these animals who have a lot of love to give and find The Houston SPCA’s most common animals are dogs themselves at a shelter through no fault of their own.” and cats, but they also house many farm animals, native wildThe Houston SPCA relies solely on donations from the life and even a bear and tiger. Julie Kuenstle of the Houston SPCA iillustration by Christina Merkens public. If not specified, these donations serve to fund programs expressed how pet shelters were important in times of crisis. “It’s like adoption, foster care, disaster relief, medical treatments for essential to have a pet evacuation plan already in place, such as a the animals and animal cruelty investigations. safe location to drop their pet off like a veterinarian office or boarding facility,” said To donate, visit www.houstonspca.org.

American Red Cross

by Emma Hoyhtya staff reporter

In the past year, tragic stories have dominated the national headlines, bringing tears to readers’ eyes. However, these articles often overlook the people and groups that help to make a positive change.

For the past 130 years, the American Red Cross (ARC) has supported the U.S. along with other areas around the world. They have done so by supplying about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply, providing direct financial support averaging $400 to more than 477,000 households, supplying hot meals and snacks for people in need and providing roughly one million overnight shelter stays for people involved in the recent hurricanes and wildfires. The ARC also provides spiritual and mental aid to those in need of emotional support after tragedy strikes.

According to the ARC website, April M. Phillips, the Communications Program Director, is calling high school students to take action. ¨The Red Cross must collect nearly 14,000 blood donations every day to meet the needs of patients at ap-

proximately 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country,” said Phillips.

Students have a very important role in the ARC organization because about 20 percent of all ARC blood donations are given by students.They can support the organization by donating blood, giving money by texting REDCROSS to 90999 which sends $10 (charges appear on wireless bill), or by hosting a blood drive.

“Students who host a ‘Leaders Save Lives’ blood drive this winter break could be eligible to win college scholarships while gaining leadership experience, said Phillips. “Currently enrolled students who host drives can receive a gift card and have a chance to win.”

The nation is in need of help, everyone—even high school students—must take a step out of their comfort zones to donate blood, money or time. For more information about this organization, where to donate and where the donations to the ARC are directed, visit redcross.org

MV helps Puerto Rico

Volunteer Service Club and Mustang Mentors

by Jeffrey He staff reporter

Collapsed power lines and downed trees obstruct the medical aid trucks as they race against the clock to deliver essential supplies to civilians—most of them living without electricity or water. These are the current living conditions for residents in Puerto Rico after category four Hurricane Maria hit on Sept. 20. As of Oct. 10, 84 percent of civilians are without power and countless are without food, water or shelter. Puerto Ricans are in desperate need of help. To assist these victims, people can donate to charities and participate in local fundraisers.

For those who want to support displaced citizens, they can donate directly on websites towards organizations such as United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United for Puerto Rico and Direct Relief. Cash donations are preferred and will be used as funds to send relief workers over to Puerto Rico and purchase supplies such as emergency relief kits. Donations towards charities are tax deductible.

Mounds View organizations have also taken matters into their own hands. The Volunteer Service Club, consisting of six officers and approximately 60 members, has contributed towards helping the U.S. territory as well. “We recently made posters that consisted of ways to help victims in Puerto Rico,” said Vicky Li, 11, co-officer of Volunteer Service Club. “On the posters, we included links to donate money as well as ways to learn more about what happened there.”

Throughout last week, the Mustang Mentors program conducted a fundraiser towards relief in Puerto Rico. On Monday, Sept. 16, students could pay one dollar and receive a hand stamp that allowed them to wear hats throughout the day.

On Tuesday, money was collected at the Mounds View boys soccer game. Lastly, Wednesday had a teacher dunk tank for five dollars during the football tailgate prior to the game. All of the money earned from these events will be sent to the Red Cross.

Along with the students, teachers also supported these activities to fundraise for Puerto Rico. “I think it’s terrific, in part because a lot of people forget they are U.S. citizens too,” said Biology Teacher Mark Johnson. “They help people in Texas or Florida and they forget about citizens in the territories.”

photo courtesy of Meghan McFarling Volunteer Service Club officers pose for photo. Left to right: Misha Jones, Shreya Prabhu, Meghan McFarling, Bushra Bihi, Vivian Gao, Vicky Li

4

editorials

Friday, October 27, 2017

Kneeling for justice

by Ben Davis online editor

At the beginning of the 2016 NFL season, now former San Francisco ‘49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling for the national anthem. While some may say this protest was about freedom of speech, this protest was, is and forever shall be about racial injustice and only racial injustice. It was never meant to be about freedom of speech and is not disrespectful to the flag or soldiers.

Let’s start with the meaning behind the protest. It’s race. It’s about calling attention to the injustices many African Americans face when dealing with the police. Many ask what kneeling has to do with this, and the answer is simple—publicity. The idea behind kneeling for the national anthem is the same as protesting in the streets.

It garners attention for whoever is doing it. While many street protests carry signs, Kaepernick and many other NFL players realize that in today’s digital age, a person could simply Google “why is my favorite player kneeling” and be shown countless articles about several racial equality movements.

While race was the original intent of the protest, after Trump’s anti-kneeling comments on September 29th, many players joined in as a freedom of speech protest as well as a racial one. This is a good thing for the movement as although it muddies the purpose of the protest, it associates those protesting racial inequality with those protesting for their right to freedom of expression. This counteracts the stereotypical narrative of liberals being PC to the point of wanting to curb free speech and gains support for the movement.

In response to this new development in the meaning of the protest, Vice President Mike Pence left an Indianapolis Colts game after players knelt for the national anthem. While Pence had to leave the game early already, this move was still undeniably a counter protest by the administration and a way to motivate fans into boycotting the league.

Finally, this is not disrespectful to the flag or soldiers.

It is, in fact, quite the contrary. Kneeling is a way to show respect for both the flag and our soldiers while protesting racial inequality. For one thing, kneeling for something is simply more respectful than standing for something. Being a Catholic, we kneel whenever we are directly in front of the alter or tabernacle. This is because in our tradition, as well as in almost every tradition in Western society, kneeling before something is the ultimate sign of respect.

On top of this, kneeling is not the first form of protest Kaepernick tried. He started out sitting for the anthem in the 2016 preseason, but was later convinced to kneel by former NFL player and green beret Nate Boyer. Boyer told Kaepernick that U.S. soldiers kneel at the graves of fallen brethren.

This fact makes the protests have a double meaning. Not only are they even more respectful to the flag and fallen military men, kneeling also honors those innocent African Americans slaughtered by police.

While this protest may be cooling off in the NFL, many entertainers as well as everyday people have joined. On Sunday’s Vikings home game against the Baltimore Ravens, a group of protesters knelt and chanted outside of US Bank Stadium. Leaders of this group say it will be out for every remaining game at the stadium, yet not a single person is calling for these protesters to be fired from their jobs. The future of this protest and the future of the fight for racial equality is in the hands of all US citizens, and with this new development, we can see the message growing.

Kneeling for the anthem is more respectful to all parties than standing for it, gains publicity and support for racial equality groups and is a way to protest for freedom of speech rights as well as against racial inequality.

illustrations by Christina Merkins

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Friday, October 27, 2017

Debates

Early applicants aim high Mounds View seniors face a decision

Surely apply early

More time, more freedom

As senior year shifts into gear, college application due dates loom around the corner, leaving Mounds View seniors to confront decisions between a variety of post-secondary options. Not only are students narrowing down the plethora of universities they are considering, but many also face the struggle of choosing between early decision—a binding contract—or regular decision, which is non-binding.

Oftentimes, the idea of early decision is dismissed by students who are impartial in their college choices. James Hong, 12, exemplifies this flexible mindset. “There are so many amazing institutions that I could see myself attending. There are clear, individual merits to schools with drastically different cultures and types of curricula,” said Hong. Other students have their minds set on a single school of choice. “I toured the school before and knew right away this is where I wanted to go. It felt like home already,” said Fatima Rahman, 12. “All other schools I looked at didn’t have the same appeal.” However, applying early decision extends beyond students who have already found a school they hope to call “home.”

Although some may say the commitment seems overbearing and risky, many benefits factor into applying early. While applying to a variety of schools allows students to use their senior year as a buffer period prior to committing to a school, this may come with the cost of acceptance to the desired school itself. Devina Chatterjee, a Mounds View alumni and currently a Johns Hopkins University undergraduate student, encourages students who are applying to more selective schools to consider applying early decision. Students’ interest in the school is taken into consideration which sets them apart from students applying regular decision.

Early decision can make a prominent difference when applying to Ivy League schools. Statistics from IvyCoach show that for the class of 2017, the early decision acceptance rate for University of Pennsylvania was 24.9 percent, a 15.1 percent difference from its regular decision acceptance rate of 9.8 percent. The regular decision application seemingly poses even higher selectivity for already-selective schools, and the best plan would be to apply early decision for those schools.

Applicants often mull over the details and forget how applying to different majors may affect their admission. “I’m not sure that I would have gotten in if I had done regular decision because of how selective my major is,” said Albert Pan, a Mounds View alumni and currently a New York University undergraduate student. College Counselors encourage applicants to research their intended major because the student’s academic interests contribute to how admissions officers predict the student’s performance in college.

Early decision’s impact on financial aid is another worry that plagues students’ minds. “I will get a job in college no matter what kinds of scholarships or financial aid I get,” said Rahman. “If I don’t get any financial aid or money, I’ll probably have to choose a cheaper school.”

While policies vary from school to school, many universities aim to distribute their funds fairly. For example, Columbia University takes a need-based and need-blind approach. This entails that family income will determine distribution of financial aid, but admission will remain blind to the student’s financial background.

As the early decision deadline approaches on Nov. 1, seniors should consider accelerating their application by applying early decision. With acceptance rates decreasing every year, early decision adds a competitive edge to maximize students’ chances against others across the nation.

Many colleges offer the option of applying early decision, meaning that if the applicant is accepted, they are required to withdraw all other applications.

Schools often boast that it can increase acceptance rates by one to fifteen percent depending on the institution. However, colleges often fail to mention the many disadvantages of applying early.

The most obvious drawback is the lack of choice that comes with early decision. Colleges that offer ED require applicants to withdraw applications from all other schools upon acceptance — unless financial aid does not permit. Because of this, many students focus their efforts on one school, hoping to get in early. This works if the student gets accepted, but many students are rejected and find themselves completely unprepared for what’s to come.

This early aspect of ED only adds to its risks. High schoolers are fickle, so being rushed to make a decision that is so binding is almost against our nature. While regular decision accounts for this, early decision and its binding component goes directly against it.

Because it removes the freedom to choose, early decision can also cause significant financial disadvantages. Students who only apply regular decision have the opportunity to “shop around” the pool of colleges that have accepted them to get the best deal financially. Early decision takes away this opportunity, forcing students to pay as much as they can, instead of getting the best deal. “You just don’t know what financial aid package you are going to end up getting,” said Dean David Ritter.

While ED acceptance rates are slightly higher than RD rates, this advantage is negated by the immense talent and motivation of the other early decision applicants. While a higher percentage get accepted, it’s a higher percentage of the cream of the crop, not of all applicants.

Early decision puts a ton of extra pressure on seniors very early in the school year. It can be a huge mistake for any student with doubts about the college they want to attend. “You have to be 100 percent sure,” said Ritter.

Additionally, early decision includes recruited athletes and students who receive “likely letters,” letters that all but guarantee your acceptance. These applicants typically have a much higher chance of admittance, artificially boosting the percentage accepted statistic reported by the college.

For many high schoolers, it’s almost impossible to be 100 percent sure about something that is as essential as college. This is one’s future at stake, and early decision is a gamble—one that entails too much risk for too little reward.

by Shelly Wang staff reporter

by Till Konczak staff reporter

“You just don’t know what financial aid package you are going to end up getting... You have to be 100 percent sure.”

Dave Ritter, Dean

“I will get a job in college no matter what kinds of scholarships or financial aid I get. If I don’t get any financial aid or money, I’ll probably have to choose a cheaper school.”

Fatima Rahman, 12

photo by Ellie Tsai Senior, Ben Davis, stresses over college applications.

Exceeding capacity

courtesy of Mounds View Public Schools

Library 7

What students want expanded upon

Classro o ms Parking Lo t

29

40

“

It’s hard to find space in the library, and it it’s too crowded walking to and from classes.”

Fitness/S po rts 42 118 people polled

-Eamon Hauth-Schmid, 11

information and quotes gathered by Ben Steil

y

A new age for Mounds View

by Leon Wang, Derek Chen, and Jenna Stellmack staff reporters Built in 1952 and last renovated in 2002, Mounds View High School is now having trouble accommodating its current population of students. Classrooms, hallways and eating spaces are packed, and even the parking lot is running out of space.

This year, enrollment in the district is at its highest level in 16 years with approximately 11,000 students. The overpopulation of the district, with an additional 1,600 students expected to enroll over the next 7 years, poses a potential need for change.

Following a facility inspection for schools in the district, it was concluded that the total estimated cost of recommended modifications would be around $252 million for the whole district, and after prioritization of needs by the school board, the proposal was made for a $165 million bond in effect for 25 years. This is the first bond request that the board has made in 18 years.

The school board has discussed problems that many Mounds View students are already aware of—crowded classrooms, limited large group space, a packed lunchroom, inadequate gym space, temperamental Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning (HVAC) systems and lack of parking. If a visitor visited Mounds View in its current state, they would see cars parked on nearby streets, students working in hallways, standing in long lines in and out of the cafeteria and searching for spaces to run activities.

Plans that address these problems have already been laid out for Mounds View. Seven classrooms will be added, undersized classrooms renovated and the parent drop-off area, kitchen, gym, cafeteria, HVAC systems and parking will all be expanded and improved. Board members also touched on building an inclusive fitness space that encourages health and wellness for all students—not just student athletes.

While classrooms undergo renovation, some teachers may need to temporarily leave their classrooms and teach in other areas of the school. One option for temporary classrooms would be to bring in small, separate buildings called portables that can hold one to two classes each. The teachers would use these spaces until all the construction in their wing ended.

The current expansion plans also include a new wing of fitness areas and classrooms, which would be built in the space that the main parking lot currently occupies. Therefore, in order to accommodate staff and student parking, the school would have to buy the lot across the street. This would force the students and staff to change parking locations.

The bond decision will be made on election day, Nov. 7. If approved, some projects may start this fall, and all of the renovations are projected to be completed in 2021. The bond will raise taxes by $16.42 per month for property owners who own a medianvalue home of $275,000 in the Mounds View School District.

As of now, one thing is for sure. Even without the additional students over the next seven years, Mounds View is in dire need of an upgrade.

“

“We definitely need more space for Mounds View. I would say that classrooms are tight and student work space is limited”

-Allyson Manns, English teacher

“

I think there are things I’d like to do in my class, but space limits what we’re able to do.”

-Lynn Gay, math teacher

Cramped and overcrowded

by Jenna Stellmack staff reporter The expansion of Mounds View High School, though ultimately benefiting students, would affect the school in a variety of ways for the next four years.

Although the changes in parking and teaching spaces would be some of the more prominent differences, other construction projects such as the addition of a new heating and cooling system will alter the environment of Mounds View as well. To avoid interrupting the academic environment, the school is planning on finishing most projects over summer break and other breaks throughout the school year. “In terms of how disruptive it’s going to be, all I can say is that it will be, and we’re going to do our best to make sure that kids still have the learning environment that they need,” said Principal Stephanie Bruggers.

The fitness wing, including the gym and the weight room, would also be renovated and expanded. “I joke with our teaching staff, if you want to walk into 1983, walk into our weight room,” said Associate Principal Michael Schwartz. The overall goal of expanded fitness areas is to “be more inclusive for all of our students, so they can be happy, healthy, human beings,” said Schwartz.

Despite the adjustments that would need to be made during and after construction, there are high hopes that the bond will be passed on Election Day, Nov. 7. “It’s been a need for us for many years, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity if we get that,” Galvin said.

Mounds View’s increasing enrollment needs to be accommodated. “If you look at just the footprint of the classrooms, and the amount of square foot space that we have, it’s much smaller than most other [schools],” said Bruggers. “So it would give our teachers the ability to spread students out in their rooms.”

“I’m guessing in the next three to five years, we’ll have 2,000 kids in this building,” said Schwartz. “We know we’re growing, and we need to be ready for that growth.”

8

what’s trending

Friday, October 27, 2017

Halloween costumes

by Haley Keeney and Felix Zhang what’s trending editor and managing editor-copy

With Halloween right around the corner, many students struggle to find the perfect costume that combines fashion with fun. In order to find the right attire, students turn to the media for inspiration.

This year, Lyst and Pinterest analyzed the posts and searches of its users to predict which costumes will be the most popular this upcoming Halloween.

Coming first on their list is the infamous killer clown, Pennywise, from the hit movie It. Fresh from his dominance of the quiet town of Derry, this clown is now looking to take over Halloween, and is poised to be the most popular costume this year. However, Jackson Juvland, 10, believes that this won’t be the case for Mounds View students. “Pennywise is way too much work for a high school student, unless they are skilled [with] makeup,” said Juvland.

The second most popular costume, is one of the kids from the hit Netflix original series Stranger Things. Last year, the cast was one of the most popular costumes, and with season two coming out just four days before Halloween, it’s no doubt that the lead roles will serve as major costume inspiration this year.

Belle, from Disney’s live action Beauty and the Beast, ranks third on the list following the movie’s success early this year. “I think it makes sense because a lot of high schoolers have gone back to being interested to Disney movies,” said Michael Cao, 11.

Other costumes that made the list are Wonder Woman, characters from the Game of Thrones, a Baywatch lifeguard, and surprisingly—a giraffe. Rhea Schaberg, 10, has an explanation for this surprising trend.

“Giraffes aren’t a very popular animal, and it’s kind of unexpected,” said Schaberg. “I’m sure someone saw it somewhere and it caught on as some sort of joke, and now it’s just some inside joke.”

For those who still haven’t decided their costume, don’t worry too much about following the trend. “You have the freedom [to choose],” said Sienna Wood, 9. “You don’t have to be a princess or clown, you can be whoever you want to be.”

illustration by Christina Mehrkens

Hyped shoes

by Bridget Bohan and Alec Nelson staff reporters

photo by Ellie Tsai

Every year, students have their own take on the big fall trends— some students like to wear more neutral colors while others go for brighter options. But even if students have different interpretations on the trends of the fall, there are still many “hyped” brands that complete a fall look.

Students following the hype mainly aimed towards the expensive brands like Supreme and Lululemon while brands similar to Birkenstocks and Uggs didn’t play as large of a role in their wardrobe.

The brands you wear can often add a certain feel to an outfit. Most brands tend to stick to one style, which inadvertently can affect how people feel about the brand. For example, brands like Vans or Supreme appeal to more of a edgy community while Adidas and Nike can appeal to more of an athletic community. Xavier Zengue, 11, agrees that most companies have their own vibe. “I associate [Nike] with running because they are a very sports heavy company and that’s normally what they are used for.” said Zengue.

One of the most hyped products was shoes. The most popular brand of shoes amongst students is Adidas. “NMD’s are the best ‘cool’ shoes but they are very hard to find,” said Ellie Hauth-Schmid, 11. Hyped shoes can be hard to find because of how fast they sell out, despite the high prices. The most popular shoes Adidas offers are Ultra Boost, NMD, and Yeezys. The price can range from the upper $100’s to over $500, which is fairly expensive for a pair of shoes.

Izzi Gorowsky, 11, agrees with Hauth-Schmid, “The main reason these brands and products are hyped is because they’re not found everywhere and you kinda have to search for them,” said Gorowsky. “They also have a status symbol, for example Supreme clothing can cost anywhere from $30 to $200 and if you have that much to spend on a single T-shirt, it’s almost a way to show off.” It’s clear students use fashion to express themselves and possibly to show off how much money they have.

Arts And Entertainment 9

Friday, OCtober 27, 2017

Jackie Chan returns

by Andrew Seong and Liam Curry staff reporters

fair use from vimeo.com

The Verdict Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan excel with their roles, but do not reach their full potential due to the plot’s lack of cohesiveness. Luckily, the film makes up for it in cinematography and enthralling action.

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Kardashian decade

by Sienna Griffith staff reporter

This year marks the tenth year that Keeping Up With The Kardashians has aired on the E! Television network, a monumental accomplishment for the show. Intense drama attracts more viewers as the show kicks off their most recent season.

The first episode aired on Sunday, Oct. 1. It opened with The Hollywood Reporter interviewing the family and talking about the last ten years. Khloe and her boyfriend, basketball player Tristan Thompson, had adjusted to life in Cleveland.

Kim and Kourtney both prepared to go visit their sister, eager to see her new home.

When she returned from Cleveland, Kim visited Kendall to discuss her controversial Pepsi commercial.

After its release, Pepsi and Kendall received a lot of backlash, accused of trivializing the Black Lives Matter movement. Kendall broke down in tears during a confessional as she discussed the ad. Later, she demonstrated remorse and admitted to the ad being a mistake.

Despite the horrifying incidents of last season, such as Kim being robbed at gunpoint in her Paris hotel room, the show’s ratings continue to plummet. Combined, the entire family has a total of about 430 million followers. Kim herself makes up for 103 million. The Hollywood Reporter deemed this era “The Kardashian Decade,” and rightly so.

Watching the premier, I found that this was more of a laid back episode compared to the initial episodes of other seasons. However, it did not lack drama; from the controversial Pepsi ad to Jenner’s new tell-all book, viewers everywhere were on the edge of their seats. Adding to the excitement of the new season is latest Kardashian gossip—are Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian both pregnant?

Packed full of crisis, thrill, and conspiracy, the show keeps its fans as enthralled as they were a decade ago.

It’s no wonder viewers are so keen to keep watching. The premier was a great start to what looks to be another suspenseful season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

The Verdict Though the premier of season 14 is more easygoing than others, it still engages viewers in new drama and rumors. The premier is only the backbone and bigger and better things are sure to come as the season continues.

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On Oct. 13, 2017, the action thriller film The Foreigner was released in theaters across the U.S. Inspired by the Stephen Leather novel The Chinaman, this thriller explores real world issues and includes intense fights, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan.

The director, Martin Campbell, is best known for directing the James Bond films Goldeneye and Casino Royale.

Pierce Brosnan, who plays the role of Liam Hennessy, is a former James Bond actor and Jackie Chan, who plays Quan Ngoc Minh, is known for his innovative and comic martial arts style displayed in films like Drunken Master and Rumble in the Bronx. However, Brosnan and Chan are both featured in roles that they are not known for. Chan has emphasized that he wants to prove his acting ability.

The film starts off with Quan Ngoc Minh picking up his daughter, the only living member of his family. Early on in the film, Quan’s daughter dies from a terrorist motivated attack, causing him to start a search to find his daughter’s killers. Quan’s pursuit for revenge reveals the secrets his past holds and a conspiracy bigger than himself.

Grounded in reality, the movie deals with serious and timely topics such as terrorism and government corruption.

Although Quan’s daughter is killed in Britain, evidence points towards IRA terrorism, and tensions grow with these accusations. Although IRA terrorism isn’t an issue today compared to when the book was written, the theme is still relevant today due to the frequent nature of terrorist attacks.

Even though this fast-paced film frequently switches to fighting scenes to mix up the pacing, people expecting a traditional Chan action film will leave disappointed. Unlike the trailers, the film mostly focuses on political turmoil instead of Chan’s character. The film further strays from his typical film by substituting his typical martial arts choreography, which includes creative stunts and prop usage, with more practical scenes using mixed martial arts.

While the movie excludes comedy for the most part, there are a few scenes that effectively introduce comic relief to offset its grim mood. At one point, Quan and a government official are arguing while the intensity swells through the background music. To set the official off guard, Quan hangs up the phone right before the official gets to his last words.

The Foreigner, with its well-known cast, brings political intrigue and nononsense martial arts together to make a compelling experience.

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good question

Friday october 27, 2017

MEA—what does it MEAn?

by Jason Lou staff reporter

On the third Thursday and Friday of every October, teachers across schools in Minnesota attend an annual conference at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. However, what really happens remains a mystery to many students.

“I don’t know why we have MEA, but I’ve always wondered,” said Emily Banks, 11. Even though the four day weekend is a fun getaway from school for students, what happens during these few days may change the way students’ classes are taught.

The Minnesota Educator Academy (MEA), held by the Education Minnesota Teacher Union, hosts a number of optional seminars for teachers. The first hour of the convention offers more than 20 different seminars, ranging from talks about improving science education to cybersecurity in the classroom. A few are even about how to convey information to students in more efficient manner. “Speakers talk about a variety of topics on growing as a teacher,” said Biology teacher Mark Johnson. Some of these seminars even count toward renewing teaching licenses. This continues for four more onehour sessions during the day, then repeats on Friday to conclude the conference.

However, not everyone attends. According to WCCO, out of the 70,000 licensed teachers in the state, around 10,000 actually attend the conference.

Like most students, many teachers choose to enjoy the long weekend. “It’s a good chance to see family. I was able to go watch my niece play division one soccer in South Dakota,” said Spanish teacher Laura Rivers.

Whether teachers or students choose to spend MEA working or relaxing with their families, most agree that MEA is an important break that gives many a reprieve from school. Hopefully this MEA break was useful to most students and staff.

illustration by Christina Merhkens

What happened to the dance?

by Ingrid Anderson staff reporter

Mounds View’s Student Council made a big decision to discontinue the annual Halloween dance last spring. The dance had regularly low attendance, which was attributed to the fact that many students host parties that same weekend. Another factor that contributed to this decision was Student Council deciding that it would be best to focus their efforts on dances that would cater to more students.

The Halloween dance was non-formal, meaning students could attend in costume—not a fancy dress or a tuxedo. It consisted of costume contests, but the dance was mostly geared towards being a casual dance where students could have fun and be creative with friends.

The decision to omit the Halloween dance was made by Student Council’s advisor, English teacher Allyson Manns, and both of the current council presidents, Jocelyn Landwehr, 12 and Hallie Diekoff, 12. “The Halloween dance had fewer than 400 people in attendance last year, compared with 700900 students at dances like Homecoming,” said Manns. “With a school this size, that attendance wasn’t spectacular, so it was my thought to cancel it and focus on bigger events that would appeal to a wider variety of students.”

In addition to concerns with attendance, the council felt that the amount of work put into organizing the dance wasn’t worth the outcome. “Sometimes it goes unnoticed, all the work Student Council puts into the dances,” said Landwehr.

There were mixed thoughts throughout the school about cancelling the dance. “It’s something you have to do as a freshman,” said Willow Haake, 9.

Getting rid of the dance startled some students, but many didn’t seem to mind either way. “Out of all the dances, it was probably the best one to take out,” said Sarah Voytilla, 12.

As promised, a new dance is in the works. Mustang “Knight” Out will be similar to the previous “Mustang Night Out” dance, but it will be at a neutral, off-campus location with students from both Irondale and Mounds View.

“Irondale students are kind of separated [from Mounds View] in a way, and it would be a cool way to combine schools,” said Landwehr.

With the continuously changing desires of students, student council is bringing new ideas to life each year. Despite getting rid of the Halloween dance, students can look forward to new dances in the future.

Have any good questions? Email them illustration by Christina Mehrkens

@

toni.baraga@mvviewer.org

Friday, october 27, 2017

Athlete of the issue

Austin Streit Cross Country Q: How long have you been running?

A: I’ve been running since I was in 6th grade when I ran for the Chippewa cross country team.

Q: What’s your favorite part about Cross Country?

A: Spending time with my teammates and having fun with our runs and workouts is my favorite part.

Q: How do you prepare for meets?

A: I prepare mentally the night before by playing the race out in my head and I get my spikes and race gear ready the night before as well. I drink lots of water and eat a smaller healthy lunch depending on what time my race is on that day.

Q: What’s your goal for this season?

A: My end goal for this season is to get all state for Minnesota which means being one of the top 25 runners in the state meet.

Q: What is your greatest accomplishment in Cross Country?

A: My biggest accomplishment was winning the Rum River invitational this year. It was my first win in a varsity race.

Q: What is your favorite memory from CC? A: My favorite memory from cross country is definitely the Alexandria Lions invitational in my sophomore year Q: What is the best advice you received from your coach?

A: The best advice I have received from coach Fleming is “Work hard, stay humble”.

Bump, Set, Spike...!

by Claire Schooley and Elliot Lee staff reporters

The Mounds View volleyball season is coming to an end and captains are starting to reminisce on their successful season. Throughout the season, the team won over past rivals like Roseville, Totino Grace, Mahtomedi, Cretin Derham Hall and Woodbury.

Many accredited this success to the seven senior varsity players. Senior captains Emma Elmes, Jade Fullerton, Sydney Abbott and Olivia Thompson taught strategies that they learned from experience and administered leadership on and off the court to help the team finish strong. Elmes explains the key to their success. “When we are losing, we panic, but we are good at communicating and getting each other out of ruts,” said Elmes. It can be difficult to communicate

during a game and in the heat of the moment, but being able to overcome these obstacles is what makes their team stand out.

When performing at any competitive level, it is important that they act as one and know each other’s style of play.

“The amount of time that the team is given to become a team is not enough. It is not a long season for sure,” said Elise Brooks, 10. If the team is not cohesive, the communication and team chemistry will suffer.The senior ladies work hard to implement this unity among the team.

Any athlete experiences the pregame jitters, but it’s how the team deals with the anticipation that sets them apart.

“The hardest part of playing is the time before the game when my nerves are the highest,” said Olivia Thompson, 12. “We do this thing called

photo courtsey of Raegan Denny The team hudddle before game against Mhatomedi.

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sports

visualizing where we all gather together and become focused.”

As the season comes to a close, the senior varsity players approach a decision that could be life changing—whether or not they play in college. Elmes believes that a Division II school could be the right fit for her because being a Division I athlete requires a lot of commitment and she wants to be able to focus on academics as well. Thompson hopes to attend a Big 10 school, retiring from volleyball after she graduates. Reminiscing on her seven year volleyball career, she advises young aspiring players to “have fun and try your hardest all the time.”

Whether the senior girls plan on attending college for volleyball or not, they will always remember the amazing experiences and opportunities Mounds

photo courtsey of Laney Vinyon Volleyball players prepare for a great hit.

Stenstrom: rising young star

by Alexis Larson and Jordan Van Laningham staff reporters

When people imagine a high school’s stereotypical varsity football team, the starting quarterback comes to mind as a big, tough senior boy. However, this year at Mounds View High School, this stereotype is proven false.

Cole Stenstrom’s hard work and talent has earned him the position of the starting quarterback for the varsity football team—as a sophomore.

Last season, Stenstrom played for the freshman team, and this season, he began on the sophomore team. By the second game of the season, he was promoted to the starting varsity quarterback. “At first, it was a big jump going from freshman to varsity, but then it has slowed down,” said Stenstrom.

Although such a promotion is uncommon, Stenstrom is growing in confidence with the support of his teammates.

One of the team’s captains, Michael Fahim, 12, expressed how the team could benefit from the new member. “I think he’s really young and talented right now, and I think he’s go-

ing to get better as the season and the years go on,” said Fahim. “I think by his senior year he’s going to be one of the best quarterbacks.”

It was not by chance that Stenstrom received this promotion—his hard work during practices, determination and demeanor has been made evident throughout his time on the team. “Cole has been very impressive in the way he handles himself, his work ethic, the way he prepares, and he’s done a really nice job for us,” said Head Football Coach Aaron Moberg. “Every week we tell our guys that they’re constantly competing and nothing is guaranteed. That’s really the culture of our football program, that you have to earn everything you get.”

Some may be wondering if choosing Stenstrom for this position was the right decision.

Former varsity football head coach and this year’s Activities Director at Mounds View High School, Jim Galvin, trusts Moberg’s decision. “Nobody wants to win more than the players and coaches do even

though the fans and parents have opinions. Ultimately, he’s the person that sees all the players at practice every day and wants the kids to play their best no matter what their age is,” said Galvin.

The future for Stenstrom’s high school football career is still undetermined because of how difficult it is to keep a certain position. “We’ve had kids that are starters as a sophomore, then someone beats them out as a junior or senior at other positions, so it’s really up to Cole how much he wants to work. If he wants to keep being the starting quar-

terback he will work at it, and I imagine he will just like all of our boys,” said Galvin.

Stenstrom has benefited throughout season while gaining experiences that will help him throughout his high school career. “It has kind of been a growing year for me,” said Stenstrom. “[There] has been a lot coming at me. . . a lot of information and taking it all in and using it to my best ability.” With hard work and support from teammates and coaches, Stenstrom hopes to continue to play for varsity football the rest of his high school career.

photo by Ellie Tsai Football players run across the field before a game.

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friday, october 27, 2017

top 10 Things to do on Halloween

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Get the Halloween party going up on a Tuesday.

Go Trick Or Treating, because you’re never too old Stay home and eat candy

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you bought, because you’re too old Horror Movie Marathon

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Don’t sleep the rest of the week.

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Try to hide from the scariest thing of all: Responsibilities Aquire the perfect carving pumpkin

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3

Listen to “Spooky Scary Skeletons” on repeat, the whole day.

Preform satanic rituals.

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Re-read the Viewer for the 10th time while enjoying a Pumpkin Spice Latte

1

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

KNEELING

RENOVATION

NORTH KOREA

RED CROSS

TRUMP

STENSTROM

THE FOREIGNER

VOLLEYBALL

MEA

Viewer Mission Statement

1. To publish news, information and opinion articles for and about student, faculty and administration activities, interests and policies.

2. To maintain high ethical standards with regard to fairness, personal and legal rights, responsibilities and accuracy.

3. To provide a forum for free and responsible expression of student opinion and present well-balanced, locally researched coverage of issues of broader student interest.

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5. To welcome diversity and increase the scope and depth of our coverage in order to heighten mutual understanding and awareness throughout our entire school community.

Articles and letters to the editor appearing on the editorials pages represent solely the opinions of the writers and do not represent in any way the viewpoint of Viewer, our advertisers, Mounds View High School or its staff.

The editors of the Viewer welcome and encourage the publication of all viewpoints.

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