Issue 8 2013 - 2014 by The Viewer

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IN SPREAD 4-5

IN VARIETY 6

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Friday, February 7, 2014

Volume 61, Issue 8

Colder than Antarctica Unprecedented snow days put Semester 1 finals on ice

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photo courtesy of Josh Yue

Students James Zhang, 12, Mitchell Gu, 12, Daniel Chang, 12, Samuel Lee, 11 ski on one of the snow days.

We have not had anything close to this.”

-Dan Hoverman, superintendent

It made for a difficult transition to second semester.” -Michael Kauls, teacher

They were a good chance to catch up on sleep and relax.” -Alex Guzina, 11

by Monica Kemp news editor Last year, the remarkable happened. We had the first snow day in years. This year’s five snow days — one of which was mandated by Governor Mark Dayton himself — came as a shock to many students, postponing first semester finals by nearly a week. According to CBS, on Monday, Jan. 6, temperatures fluctuated from the negative teens to negative 30s and 40s in some parts of the state. MPR has reported that while Minnesota was in -23 degree weather, places known to be colder, such as Alaska, were experiencing temperatures as high as 28 degrees. For students like Madeline Warner, 11, the snow day came as a great surprise. With the impending stress of finals Warner was “relieved when I heard about first snow day.” Likewise, for Alex Guzina, 11, who enjoyed each snow day immensely. “They were a good chance to catch up on sleep and to relax.”

For others, the excitement lessened as the week snow days piled up. “It was nice... but it was [also] annoying because I kind of wished I had done the finals and then had a long weekend,” said Andrew Tang, 11. Others too, became restless. “First day I was ecstatic because I didn’t think that I had enough time for the finals. However, towards the end I just wanted to get it over with,” said David Lee, 11. Teachers too, were inconvenienced by the change the snow brought on. Social Studies teacher, Michael Kauls, said, “It made for a difficult transition to second semester.” Eva Nelson, biology teacher, said, “Luckily for the second semester we aren’t losing any time because we are bringing back some of those days that we had teacher work days before.” Activities, too, had to reschedule their events. Student Council had to rearrange Winter Week calendar to accommodate the new schedule. Shannon Belland, Student Council

advisor said, “It was a really stressful week. We had to cancel and reschedule quite a few events, including a boys’ volleyball tournament and the Talent Show, which is a huge production. The tough part was getting the word out to everyone. It was also harder to get everyone hyped up about Winter Week and these events, but we think it turned out really well. We’re pretty happy about the outcome.” District superintendent Dan Hoverman, described the occurrence at recent school board meetings as “unprecedented.” He went on to say that he had not seen such a phenomenon in 30 years. “It is my responsibility as superintendent to make the call; I heavily weigh how it impacts families,” he said. “With both parents working annoyance frustration it causes I take it very seriously...we have not had anything close to this.” Jon Tynjala, chair of the board, recognized the inconvenience snow days pose on young families when rearranging childcare,

and work schedules. “We understand your concern... [It is an] inconvenience as we are parents, and our kids’ [also had] finals postponed,” he said. When it comes to adding school days back to the calendar Tynjala recognizes it’s a balancing act. “[The state mandates] we can’t start until Labor Day...We don’t want to go too far into June, which goes into consideration when going into [changing the] calendar.” After the school board met, teachers, and district administrators were consulted. Friday April 4, Monday, Feb. 17 (Presidents’ Day) and Friday, May 23 were added to the calendar to make up for the days missed. “I sincerely hope this is the end for these kinds of decision for the remainder of the year,” said Hoverman. “I have never been more pleased to say our kids are back.”

2editorials

February 7, 2014

TOP Repeal 80/20

Ways to spend a snow day

Play Super Smash Bros. Not study for finals AT ALL

Pull off a controlled drift into a snow bank

Burn yourself trying to freeze boiling water

Pretend you are being hunted by an abominable snowman in the Antarctic

Donate to Mark Dayton’s re-election Campaign

4 2

Chill with Graham Goodwiler

Curl up with a nice, furry cat Figure out who the new superintendent is and what he did with Dan Hoverman

Test whether or not skin freezes after 5 minutes of exposure

2013-2014 Viewer Editors Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor

Phoebe Ke

Sasha Safonov Manager of Design Kyoka Millard Business Manager Nina Bertelsen News Monica Kemp Editorials Tristan Aschittino Alistair Tang Features Ryan Yoch Nicole Wahlin Spread Neha Sethi Tommy Sletten Variety Namrata Gadela Reviews Kyoka Millard James Birr Sports Maddy Rosenow Molly Hancuh Gallery Rebecca Nara Photographers/Artists Christine Kao Michaela Morse Adviser Martha Rush

Online Crew

James Birr, Kobi Endrizzi,

Joe Janey, Nathaniel Nikoi

Staff Aaron Adams, Emma Blume, Sarah

Dhols-Graf, Thomas Doty, Eva Hoffman, Persis Ke, Jonathan Kim, Katrina Renacia, Emily Ruan, Sean Sabeti-Oseid, Mark Sheldon, Clara Wang, Josh Yuan

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

AP classes, Early College, CIS, and a schoolwide ACT. It seems like Mounds View is doing everything to create a “college ready” environment. This is most apparent in the new 80/20 grading system. But as GPAs hang in the balance, is the 80/20 system truly beneficial for the developing student? The 80/20 grading system, when followed properly, makes it challenging for students who do not test well to receive good grades. In order to protect their students, many teachers “get creative” with the definition of practice versus performance, undermining the stated goal of consistency. The initiative should be discontinued because it both harms some students who have difficulty with tests and fails to establish consistency throughout the district. “The 80/20 grading system has put me under a lot of stress,” said one junior. “If you do poorly on just one test, your whole grade suffers. My friends and I have started counting the number of mental breakdowns that have come out of 80/20. So far the number to beat is ten.” The 80 percent performance - 20 percent practice grading system was created last year, in an effort to make grading more accurate and fair. Though Principal Jeff Ridlehoover is new this year, he said he supports the program’s focus on performance. “Performance based grading is designed to accurately measure what students know,” he said.

Editors Agree

STAFF EDITORIAL 5

Associate Principal Doug Bullinger, who was at Mounds View when the plan was developed, supports it as well. “Theory suggests, actually, that we should be 100% performance assessments, with no weight given to homework,” said Bullinger. “You wouldn’t want to judge a play by how the rehearsals went or a sports team by how the practices went. Instead, you look at the ‘performance assessments,’ the ones that take place after learning/practice is to have happened.” Bullinger added that the two main questions asked when creating the system were “does this increase accuracy of a grade?” and “does this increase consistency in grading?” We believe it does neither. Due to the 80/20 system’s focus on performance, a student’s ability to test becomes just as important as their actual knowledge. The grade of a student who experiences test anxiety does not accurately reflect their knowledge and is significantly lower than a student who is unafraid of testing. Many teachers have recognized the burden on students and have taken steps to help. For example, some have moved worksheets out of practice and into performance, re-weighted tests, or simply given students a “bump” in the gradebook. One teacher, who asked not to be identified, took time to recalculate their gradebook to demonstrate what student grades in a specific class would look like if all assessments

Editors Disagree

were accurately labeled. The average student’s grade went down 3 percent. No student’s grade increased, and nearly one in four students experienced at least a 4 percent decrease. “The kids who dropped the most are the kids who work really hard; they are great students,” said the teacher. “They just aren’t the best test takers.” “I know that the grades I give have an impact,” said another teacher. “I want to be as accurate as I can, but I also want to be fair. Students shouldn’t be penalized because teachers had to adjust [to the new system].” Teacher adjustments made out of legitimate sympathy for students are just one way the system is not consistent. The initiative is designed to promote comparability, yet the 80/20 system does not extend past the doors of Mounds View High School. Even Irondale, our fellow district high school, does not abide by the 80/20 system. Students are stressed, and the grading initiative has not met its two main goals. The system, therefore, should be abolished. Consistency within a department might be important, and a performance-based grade may be the cornerstone of a college education, but Mounds View is a high school and its grading system should reflect that. The forces of change at Mounds View should discontinue 80/20 and put the power of grading back in the hands of the teachers.

Student VIEWS

“For the students that were here before the 80/20 system, it’s not very fair to them because they’re so used to having their grades being based on tests and homework. I see it as a chance to help motivate students to study harder, but a downside is that homework isn’t worth much so many students tend to ignore it and end up not doing well on tests.” -Rebecca Walfoort, 11

“It’s hard to get used to. It doesn’t really reflect the student and their work ethic, since it’s based just on performance.” -Anna Long, 12

The case for free hours by Mark Sheldon staff writer

A student favorite and administrative hassle, free hours are growing in popularity at Mounds View. Free hours are a reward for diligent students, and although faculty members may not enjoy the problems a free hour can cause, students relish the downtime. Mounds View should embrace free hours, not discourage them. Free hours—class periods where a student has no obligation to be in a class, TA, or anything at all—are a reward, but who earns them? Students who have kept up in their credits for the entirety of their academic career can afford to miss a class hour. The vast majority of students taking free hours are 11th and 12th graders who may have taken six classes a day for more than five or six semesters before even considering a free hour. These are students who are on

top of their schoolwork, and they should be rewarded for their diligence. “It’s a really good use [of time]. You can use that time to do homework and other good stuff,” said Matt Anderson, 12. The downside of free hours for administrators is that they cannot determine students’ exact position in the school at all times; in fact, it’s very difficult for them to know if a student is in the school at all. This problem can’t be easily solved, but is it really all that big of a deal? Most students stick around the library or the Paddock both for studying and socializing, and contrary to popular belief, there’s little to no reason to simply loiter around the halls. Although there is no official policy against free hours, deans often discourage students unless they are seniors, hybrid students, PSEO students or overachievers—for example, sophomores with multiple AP classes. As established before, the students

photos by Alistair Tang

taking free hours are resourceful people who have flawlessly completed most of their high school careers, so why doesn’t Mounds View put a little faith in them? Some students just need a free hour to balance their academics, athletics and arts. Student-athlete Dalton Pauly has a free hour first hour, meaning he can delay coming to school for an extra hour every morning. “Sometimes I would get up and do core in the morning. It also helps with sleep patterns and that helps me stay healthy,” said Pauly, 12. The benefits of free hours for students far outweigh the minor administrative issues they cause. “I thoroughly enjoy them. It’s a nice break from stressful classes,” said Jon Remus, 12. Students who can afford to take less than six classes should be rewarded for their academic achievements, not regarded with suspicion for failing to stay put.

Viewer Mission Statement 1. To publish news, information and opinion articles for and about student, faculty and administration activities, interests and policies. 2. To maintain high ethical standards with regard to fairness, personal and legal rights, responsibilities and accuracy. 3. To provide a forum for free and responsible expression of student opinion and present well-balanced, locally researched coverage of issues of broader student interest. 4. To strive for a high level of competency in the technical aspect of writing, including grammar, spelling, clarity, and precision. 5. To welcome diversity and increase the scope and depth of our coverage in order to heighten mutual understanding and awareness throughout our entire school community. Articles and letters to the editor appearing on the editorials pages represent solely the opinions of the writers and do not represent in any way the viewpoint of Viewer, our advertisers, Mounds View High School or its staff. The editors of the Viewer welcome and encourage the publication of all viewpoints.

features

February 7, 2014

Fashionistas and fashionistos take Mounds View photos by Kyoka Millard and Ryan Yoch

by Katrina Renacia staff reporter From elegant dresses to glamorous heels and stylish accessories, Madeline Bratager, 12, is up on all the latest fashion. But unlike most fashionistas, Bratager does not spend all her money and time on shopping. Everybody loves to have something nice and new to wear, which leads people to shop a lot. But shopping is not the only way to become an ultimate style icon. Bratager saves a lot by making most of her clothes instead of buying them. She also goes to thrift shops once in a while. “I buy some random cheap clothes and make something nice out of them,” said Bratager. Bratager’s fascination for clothes started at a very young age. “I loved playing with clothes even when I was in kindergarten,” said Bratager. “I’d make some outfits by stapling and taping the fabric together because I was still too young to use the sewing machine.” Her parents also support her

clothes-making hobby because they believe that by doing so, they are encouraging her creative side. “My mom would finance half of the materials I need,” said Bratager. “She also buys me some fabric and was the one who bought me my sewing machine.” Nearing the end of 6th grade, Bratager became more interested in fashion and started choosing her own clothes. “My mom told me that one day, I just had my clothes picked out and that I told her ‘Mom, I’m going to dress myself from now on.’” Bratager has been making clothes since middle school. She made her first skirt in 7th grade. She also believes that a person’s fashion describes his or her personality. The clothes that we wear can reflect greatly on what type of individuals we are. “I think fashion is the best type of art. It’s expression, movement, architecture, history. It shows everyone who we are and who we strive to be,” said Bratager. Although choosing clothes for

a specific outfit can be stressful and confusing for other people, she finds great pleasure in doing so. “I just like the art of it. Mixing and matching, the aesthetic appeal, colors and pattern and how it all goes together,” said Bratager. “It’s like creating different feelings.” Bratager loves to dress for style, but she also values comfort. “I just normally choose my clothes the night before,” said Bratager. “I don’t have any particular style. It just depends on my mood.” In the future, Bratager wants to be a fashion designer. She also plans to major in Apparel Creation and Design. Currently, she is taking a Fashion Marketing course at Mounds View. Fashion and being a fashionista is not only limited to girls. One fashionisto at Mounds View that has a unique sense of style is Joe Morey, 12. Unlike most guys, Morey thinks that dressing up is fun and important. “Your appearance on a day-to-day basis is like a reflection of how seriously you take yourself,” said Morey. “Each day you should put at least a little effort on it.”

Although Morey does not have as many clothes as you think he would, he goes to school each day looking fresh with a new attire. Despite having a little color blindness, he’s pretty good in combining different articles of clothing into one great outfit. Morey believes that more boys are becoming fashionistos. “I guess there’s a general progression in our nation towards men dressing up more,” he said. “Everyone likes a classy guy.” Morey also thinks that a person’s appearance adds up to one’s confidence within himself. “It feels nice to look nice,” said Morey. Morey’s sense of style is usually composed of a pair of jeans or khakis, a v-neck shirt and a sweater, and of course, his favorite—a bow tie. He also does not have a single pair of sweatpants in his wardrobe. Style and fashion are just a few words that come to mind when one thinks of Bratager and Morey. Their unique flare shows their personality inside and out.

Beyond friendly competition MV students love to hate our biggest rivals by Danny Dewitt staff reporter Which rival do Mounds View students love to beat the most? According to a recent USA Today poll, Mounds View and White Bear Lake are one of the top five football rivalries in the state of Minnesota. No question this is an old and enduring rivalry. The two teams have met 24 times in the past 16 years including both the pre and post seasons. Overall, the record is 20-17 in favor of the Mustangs. The teams met twice this year, splitting 1-1. Coach Scotty Ylkanen, who also played for Mounds View, recalls the rivalry from his playing days. “White Bear Lake actually started my senior year, we played them in the Halloween rain storm back in ‘97 and they beat us by two points,” Ylkanen said. “From that point, for almost every year the next five years or so, it came down to Mounds View and White Bear for

section title.” Though the rivalry has always been fierce with White Bear, it would be unfair not to mention the other teams that have proved fierce competitors over the years such as Cretin Derham Hall, Stillwater, and Roseville, who are other long time members of the Suburban East Conference. “Whenever we have a game against Stillwater it just adds that much more intensity to the game,” said Charlie Callahan, 11. Lauren Redmond, 11, agreed with Callahan. “Stillwater, because it’s the battle of the horses, and it’s usually a pretty close game because we have equal talent on the field,” she said. Roseville is also another tough competitor. “Roseville games are fun to watch because we know all the players and they’re always a tough team to beat,” said Courtney Conlin, 10. Current football player Luke

Swenson, 10, says Cretin is our biggest rival, “Because we know some of the other players and the games are always close in score and personal.” Ellie Fleming, 11, agreed, “Cretin because it’s private versus public, and they have had really good players such as the top recruit in the U.S. for football.” Sometimes leading to disappointment, sometimes leading to joy, the back and forth rivalries Mounds View has had with other members of the conference make football the gripping spectacle that it is. “To make it a true rivalry, the winning can’t be one sided,” said Ylkanen. The winning and losing is all part of the game.

Who’s our biggest rival?

poll by Logan Maccanni

From free iPads to Nigerian Royalty, we have grown accustomed to internet scams. We like to think that they won’t affect us—as long as we don’t give out personal information to these transparent cash grabs, we should be fine. Yet these scams are only the tip of the iceberg in credit card fraud. One month ago, Target announced that its databases were compromised, exposing the names, card numbers, expiration dates, and threedigit security codes of up to 70 million customers. According to Daniel Binder, an analyst at Jefferies, a global investment company, “Fraud is turning up on 10 percent to 15 percent of the stolen card accounts,” with an estimated “$1.4 (billion) to $2.2 billion in fraudulent charges.”

Target is just one of many franchises that has recently been “targeted.” In 2007, criminals stole 45.7 million credit card numbers from TJX, resulting in $150 million in fraud losses. In 2009, a breach in Heartland Payment Systems resulted in 130 million exposed numbers. In addition, frauds happen on smaller scales. The U.S. Secret Service estimates $1 billion lost in 2008 to ATM fraud. In other cases, credit cards can be stolen directly. Yet, much of the credit card fraud can be avoided. Most debit cards and credit card companies monitor for suspicious activity and have limits for how much can be withdrawn. If fraud does occur, credit cards can limit liability compared to debit cards, and a bank’s response is much quicker. “As far as theft of credit

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by Sasha Safanov managing editor

cards, if the owner reports it’s been stolen in a timely manner, the owner is only responsible for the first $50 that has been charged,” said Cheryl Braman, Personal Financial Management teacher. “I am not personally opposed to young adults using credit cards for the sake of convenience and building a credit history if he/she is super responsible.” Online, using reputable sites can also help prevent fraud. “Nowadays I feel a lot safer buying things from the web. As long as you stay away from sketchy websites, usually there is a form of buyer protection,” said Jon Wang, 11. In addition, looking for anything suspicious during transactions, such as irregularities on the card reader or suspicious observers can help prevent fraud. Should credit cards and debit cards be completely avoided? Of course not, they are simply too convenient. Yet one should remain conscious of the risks. “I check my [debit card] account daily to make sure everything is right,” said Jon Remus, 12.

Soc

Your credit card information is being targeted

i d e

it d es n a c a:

by Nicole Wahlin features editor

Most high schoolers post a social media status multiple times a day. But what they don’t realize is that anything they post online can be found by anyone, even if they think it’s deleted. One wrong post could keep you from getting into the college you want or the great job that could come later in life. Many colleges look at social media sites, including many college athletic departments as well. There have been cases where athletes lose their scholarships from a seemingly harmless post online that the department sees considers inappropriate. Cindy Boyles Crawford, the senior assistant director of

admissions at University Georgia said when interv by the Huffington Post, “ could easily be outstandi interview, then tarnish th by an irresponsible post o profile.” Schools not only hav right to look on student’s media, but it’s also very e to do since everything on internet is accessible. “M scholarships, organizatio companies see social me the ‘true view’ of a stude character,” said Crawford Schools aren’t the on people that take social m posts into account. Empl also check on employees potential employees.

“Although internet security is supposed to enhance societal security, there is a potential for personal information, such as insurance information, political orientations, and purchasing patterns, to be collected and used for non-security related issues, such as gerrymandering, garnering votes, and earning money.” Alex Guzina, 11

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Snap Security An inside look at how secure your picture messages really are by Nina Bertelsen business manager

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illustration by Rebecca Nara

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Venting about your employer on media sites isn’t the best idea, and those comments could get you fired or prevent you from getting hired by a different employer. Businesses won’t hire someone if they badmouth another business. One way to make sure social media doesn’t affect students is by checking all posts and making sure they are appropriate and not insulting to anyone. One wrong post could change your life and bring many unwanted consequences that could last. Being careful with what you say online is the smart thing to do and will ensure that your college and future jobs aren’t jeopardized.

Snapchat is a newly popular app that allows users to send videos and pictures that disappear a few seconds after the recipient opens them. Ruth Jiang, 11, described Snapchat as a “great tool” for communication. “It gives people a wider scope of the things we do on a daily basis.” The fleeting existence of messages has allowed Snapchat users feel more secure, because unlike texting, any sensitive information seems to just disappear. However, this New Years’ Day was marked with a massive security breach in Snapchat’s servers, leaking the usernames and phone numbers of 4.6 million users to snapchatdb. info, which has since been removed. “It’s ridiculous that they didn’t respond to warnings, I know that it’s not completely private but they need to do their best to protect users,” said Sarah Schuler, 12. Prior to the breach, Gibson Security, an Australian based security company, had previously released two public warnings, one on Aug. 27 and one on Dec. 25 of 2013, to Snapchat about substantial gaps in security that could allow for harmful security breaches. These warnings received no response from Snapchat, only publicly saying on Dec. 27 that they had implemented “various safeguards” to deter wouldbe hackers, just a few days before the catastrophic hack. Surprisingly, Snapchat did not issue an immediate statement, CEO Evan Spiegel even failed to apologize in an appearance on the Today show. Only later did Team Snapchat leave a blogpost saying, “We are sorry for any problems this issue may have caused you and we really appreciate your patience and support.” A new update is now available that allows users the option to not connect their phone numbers with their Snapchat accounts.

Snapchat has come under criticism for how they handled the breach. According to a CBS article, Gartner security analyst Avivah Litan stated that it “doesn’t seem that responsible to be so nonchalant about it.” In an interview cited in a U.S. News article, Christopher Soghoian, principal technologist with the American Civil Liberties Union, said, “The main problem was that they ignored a responsible report by security researchers.” Soghoian says that this will not be the last problem Snapchat faces. A relatively new company, Snapchat has no source of revenue and is run solely on popularity after turning down a $3 billion offer from Facebook. Therefore Snapchat does not have the resources that big technology companies do. Google and Microsoft will routinely hire security researchers and even hackers to bring security flaws to light. Although many companies are taking precautionary steps to ensure the safety of users, one can never be completely safe on the internet. In this tech-savvy era, hackers are becoming more powerful and knowledgeable. In an investigation conducted by the Daily Record, it took student Gavin Holt a fleeting 27 seconds to get access to a participating family’s financial information, passwords, email, family photographs, and even the 11-yearold daughter’s homework through the family’s seemingly secure router. “I think that Snapchats can’t really be considered private since they can so easily be saved and spread around,” said Ben Schugel, 11. Even though the “snaps” seemingly disappear, screenshots can last forever, no social media comes without some security risks. Gibson Security recommends that you make sure you use the security settings on social media profiles, and never give away personal information anywhere on the web unless it is absolutely necessary.

Student Views

“Before I post something on Facebook, “I never really put much thought into the “I make sure it’s appropriate and not atwhich I rarely do, I keep thinking about if safety of the internet, but thinking about tacking a certain person.” it will offend or hurt somebody.” it now, I realize how dangerous it can Elliott Jang, 12 Leah Dahlgren, 11 really be.” Charlie Callahan, 11 information and photos compiled by Joe Janey and Alistair Tang, editors, and Sarah Dhols-Graf and Emily Ruan, staff writers

6 variety

February 7, 2014

Craft boutiques creatively beautiful Paper Hat such a pleasure by Persis Ke staff reporter With around 200 artists and items ranging from hot spiced cocoa soap to snarky gift tags, Paper Hat offers buyers gifts for anyone on their list. Paper Hat’s description, “arts+handmade+gifts,” sums up the store nicely. Almost everything sold in the store is handmade and includes aprons, night lights, and ornaments. Art ranges from origami flowers to small ceramic dishes. All of these items are tastefully arranged on beautiful furniture to showcase many pieces, without being overcrowded Pale walls display a mix of black and white prints as well as colorful canvases, the contrast only enhancing the artistry. Hanging from the lights are hand cut and handmade paper designs, a simple way to add beauty to the store. About half of the artists are local and the store carries extensive Minnesota-themed items, including prints and shirts. Paper Hat also has a small children’s section, with

clothes, stuffed toys, and even books. The knitted hats, sweaters, and booties are sure to keep toddlers warm while looking stylish. The boutique mainly serves the feminine crowd, carrying a variety of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and hair accessories including decorative bobby pins and hair bands. Paper Hat also sells solid perfume, mineral eyeshadow, and lipstick, as well as clutches, purses, and bags that would spice up any girl’s wardrobe. Despite the large number of feminine gifts, the handmade journals and humorous cards can be gifted to anyone. While prices may be higher for someone with a student budget, it is expected as most of the goods are handmade. The only downside is distance, as Paper Hat is located in southwest Minneapolis. However, the fun, creative gifts are definitely worth the drive. photo by Persis Ke Paper Hat is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Paper flowers bring an air of exotic mystique to the store at Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 2309 W. 50th Street in southwest Minneapolis. from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

fair use pinterest.com

Love I Like You by Clara Wang staff reporter Ever imagined what would happen if Drew Barrymore and Martha Stewart collaborated on an art project. I Like You, an urban craft shop featuring the products of over 200 independent artists, seems to be their love child. The first steps into the store are reminiscent of a cross between a school art classroom and a vintage boutique. There is an immensely relaxed vibe, and it seems like a place where people don’t usually frown. The hipster-esque, artsy customer base seem quite at home. Several heavily-clad, squareglasses-wearing customers bring children in and chat with the staff, harkening the feel of a local gathering place.

The shop offers an eclectic mix of everything from bracelets made out of old Minnesota license plates to mouse toys stuffed with 100 percent recycled material. From quirky to cute, the wares displayed gives you a sense of the artistic community prevalent in the Twin Cities. There seems to be a little bit of everything, with printed planners tucked away on a shelf an aisle away from ethnic-style earrings. Prices are affordable and justify the craftsmanship evident in many of the items. The organization of an art closet almost emits the feel of not so much a retail store as a show of creative expression. Many of the pieces in the store are unique twists on everyday items, such as bottle-cap earrings and t-shirt patchwork quilts, exemplifying the creativity of these artists. This hip and adorable little boutique located in northeast Minneapolis strikes just the right mix of go-green aesthetic utility with a hint of childhood nostalgia. The store is located at 501 1st Ave NE Minneapolis. Open Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10 am-6p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Eclectic jewelery sold at I Like You are sure to delight. photo by Clara Wang fair use 123rf.com

7 Swimming Secrets behind the strokes sports

February 7, 2014

Butterfly by Maddy Rosenow sports editor The butterfly, or known among swimmers as the “fly,” is iconically the most difficult stroke in swimming. Not only does the stroke take flawless technique, but it also takes brute strength. Peter Goggin, 11, is one of few swimmers who has been able to master all the elements. The stroke requires large amounts of arm movement. “[Butterfly] is known for relying on arm and shoulder strength a lot,” said Goggin. Not only does the stroke require strength, but it requires large amounts of technique as well. The technicality is important because the arm movements have three parts, all of which have to be flawless in order to gain speed. With a hard technical stroke that requires large amounts of strength, Goggin trains intensively. “I swim long sets that usually add up to 4000 or 5000 yards per day,” he said. “Sometimes we do dryland exercises like pushups and stuff with medicine balls. We only spend about 30 minutes doing that, and two hours in the water.”

Backstroke The powerful arm movements include push, pull, and recovery. The arms start in front of the body and sweep back towards the hips. The legs mimic a dolphin’s tail.

Even though Goggin trains hard, races never fail to exhaust him. “I feel pretty worn out and tired because races are so high intensity,” said Goggin. Butterfly may take a lot of time and energy to swim, but this doesn’t stop Goggin from enjoying it. “I like butterfly because it definitely looks cooler than the other strokes,” he said. “Swimming it fast feels amazing.” His stroke isn’t the only thing Goggin likes about swimming. “I’ve met a lot of great people and made a lot of great friends that I never would’ve met if I hadn’t joined swimming,” said Goggin.

by Maddy Rosenow sports editor For some people it’s a challenge to walk backwards and stay on track. Imagine swimming backwards. For Alec Martini, 12, swimming backwards is what he does. The backstroke is essentially the front crawl, but backwards of course. It involves the same kick and arm movements, with a few small differences. “Backstroke and freestyle require a lot of stability and strong rotation to power each stroke,” said Martini. Not only does Martini swim the backstroke, but the butterfly as well. Both strokes are very different, but similar in ways. “Both of them require precise technique as well as power,” said Martini. To gain this power and perfect technique, in all his strokes, it takes hours in the pool. “Training for swimming involves countless laps down the pool and back and intense dry land workouts,” said Martini.

Breaststroke by Molly Hancuh sports editor As in many sports, technique success comes through countless hours of grueling hard work and determination. Swimming is no different. Andrew Wang, 12, works hard every practice to perfect his breaststroke. After four years of hard work, Wang still pursues better technique and stamina for his races. “I try to improve my time by learning new techniques and focusing on keeping good form during my races,” Wang said. It’s important while perfecting a stroke to focus on the best technique and not allowing exhaustion to hinder their form. “I make sure that I’m not rushing and that I keep good form,” said Wang. Any small infraction such as staying under for two strokes or only touching one hand to the wall during a turn can result in a disqualification. A huge part of swimming is visualization for many competitors. Not only visualizing the stroke but how they will do during the race can help them be prepared. “I prepare by running the race through my head,” Wang said. “I think about the little bits of technique I have to focus on.”

The arms move in a windmill motion, propelling the body forward while flutter kicks are constant. When turning against the wall, the swimmer switches to their stomach as if swimming the freestyle before hitting the wall.

It may take many hours in the pool, but after getting that long sought after time it all becomes worth it to him. Martini’s constant determination to get that perfect time is all driven by his love for swimming. “I love swimming because it’s a great group of guys, fantastic exercise, and a good way to push yourself to your limits and see what you can do,” said Martini.

Freestyle The breast stroke depends primarily on the efficiency and timing of the legs and arms working together. The arms must be in perfect sync because of the powerful thrust of the legs. The breast stroke requires strict discipline from the abdominal.

Not all of swimming is constant movement and energy. In the breaststroke, there is a short period called the glide. “I enjoy the glide on every stroke,” Wang said. It’s a moment for the swimmers to ensure their technique and timing is best. If not, they will not get the best result during their glide portion. Wang continues to improve on small parts of his stroke so that during races he can push himself to be the best. He improves on his stamina so his technique doesn’t fall apart, and vice versa.

Andrew Wang, 12

Breaststroke photo by Tristan Aschittino

Alec Martini, 12

Backstroke photo by Tristan Aschittino

Ben Kaiser, 12

Freestyle photo by Tristan Aschittino

Peter Goggin, 11

by Molly Hancuh sports editor Swimming is a test of endurance and stubbornness. It brings together the importance of timing and technique with the willpower to push past tired muscles. Ben Kaiser, 12, puts everything out of his mind during a meet and concentrates on winning. Even his tired muscles can’t stop him from finishing in front of the guy beside him. “The hardest part of swimming front crawl is pushing your arms and legs to keep going even when they feel dead,” Kaiser said. “You feel like you can’t move anymore.” Mental preparation can go along way during races where the mind can tend to wander. “Behind the blocks, I try to get pumped,” Kaiser said. Winning the race doesn’t even start once the swimmers dive into the water, but rather during the weeks of practice before hand. “The best way to improve times is putting in the time at practice and pushing yourself to the brink of exhaustion,” Kaiser said. Practice is also where swimmers learn new techniques through different drill sets. Even through the pain of tired limbs, Kaiser is able to push through and finish the race because of the hours he sets aside during practice to succeed.

Butterfly photo by Christine Kao

Freestyle includes many different strokes, but the most popular is the front crawl. The stroke includes consistent flutter kicks and powerful arm movement. Swimmers keep their head underwater for the majority of the stroke, but allow the neck to follow the arm movement and tilt the head sideways to breath.

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February 7, 2014

Better together by Emma Blume staff reporter Adults often downplay high school relationships as trivial and unimportant in the long run. However, healthy relationships early in life are often beneficial to a student’s development. “[These] early relationships play a pivotal role in the lives of adolescents and are important to developing the capacity for long-

term, committed relationships in adulthood,”said Sarah Sorensen, member of the New York State Center for School Safety. Student couples usually meet where they spend the most time. Finding love in classes, where students reside most of the day, is common. “We met in Mr. Moore’s class,” Leah Dahlgren, 11, said referring to her boyfriend Charlie

Smith, 11. With Mounds View’s emphasis on extracurriculars, sports are another common place. “We met on the ski team,” said Jack Christianson, 10. “I don’t think I’d know you otherwise,” said Caroline Palen, 10. Couples often find the motivation to stay together in each other. “I enjoy spending my time

with her,” said Smith. Spending time with someone they like is how many students plan to spend their Valentine’s Day. “It’s a lot of fun,” said Christianson, “fun having someone just to do stuff with.”

It’s just lunch

Which Mounds View cafeteria food shares the most characteristics with your ideal date? Are you open to trying new things?

Yes

Do you like planning and hosting parties?

Yes

Do you have multiple circles of friends?

Do you need to know the person a long time beforehand?

Are you results oriented?

Yes

Yes Do you like to keep a flexible schedule?

Are lulls in conversation unnerving?

Yes

Are you interested in a long term relationship? No

Yes

Hamburger Ice Cream The activity is more important than the person. For you, dating a a relaxing way to spend time with someone you can have fun with.

Pizza Conversation is the focus of your date. Chatting, joking, and flirting with someone you are comfortable with is your ideal date.

You’re up for anything! Your versatility and spontaneous personality makes you easy to spend time with.

Pasta

The romance of the date is important to you. Your dates often include a nice meal and quality time with the other person.

Single, not lonely by Aaron Adams staff reporter To those who are not in a romantic relationship, Valentine’s Day seems like a cruel reminder of their single status. Against the social stigma, being unattached can actually be a significant advantage. Why not enjoy the opportunities being single can provide? Single people have a multitude of benefits that people in relationships don’t. Without the

cost of frequent dates, they have more money. The extra spending could be used for the stereotypical stable goods of singles—rom coms and calamitous quantities of snackfood—or the Mounds View norm of supplemental study material. Without having to devote time to another person, single people also have more time for their friends. “Its more convenient to have friends to talk to than a significant other,” said

Lindsay Murphy, 11. “You worry less with friends around.” People who are in romantic relationships tend to drift from single friends they used to be close to. “It can change how people act when you’re with them,” said Valerie Peterson, 11. The most obvious change she noticed was that conversations often include the other person’s significant other. There are also plain health benefits to being single. Since

single people aren’t trying to impress someone, they don’t have as much stress. Relationships are hard! Putting someone else before one’s own needs can be demanding and complicated. Being alone on Valentine’s Day is a minor inconvenience compared to the numerous benefits of being single.