MV Viewer 2015-16 Issue 10

In This Issue FridAy April 15 2016

editorials

Sports

Gallery

Northmet Mine

Ultimate Frisbee

Quest for A Dress

Viewer

Elective Courses Courses offered at Mounds View that are not categorized under Math, Science, Social Studies, or English. Options include photography, web design, studio art, personal finance, sports management and cooking.

Genesys Works A program through which students are matched with paid internships at various local companies, including Medtronic and Land O’Lakes

photo illustration by Eva Hoffman

Free Hour/Study Hall A period during which a student has no designated course. During this time students can spend their time how they want, doing homework, socializing with friends, or simply relaxing.

Hybrid Courses Courses offered at Mounds View that only meet a few times a week, leaving students with a free period when the class doesn’t meet. Most of the work is done outside of class.

Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) A program that allows high school juniors and seniors to take classes at a local college for both high school and college credit.

Senior year opens up options in student schedules

Thanks to the rise of hybrid classes, online classes and summer school, a growing number of students now finish nearly all of their 22 credits for graduation before starting senior year.

These seniors can follow many different paths; some continue to take classes at Mounds View while others gain college or job experience through programs like Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) and Genesys Works.

“I’m planning on taking a free hour or elective classes like Computer Science and Accounting. I’m also taking a PSEO class online,” said David Koeler, 11. “I’m taking PSEO to get college credit so I can finish college early and save money.”

It’s become increasingly common for Mounds View seniors to take college courses to get a head start on their degrees. Through PSEO, students can take classes for free at the University of Minnesota, Bethel, Century and other colleges.

“I’m taking another science class so I can get AP credits and can finish college early,” said Thomas Wong, 11.

Sarah Yoon, 12, said she benefited from PSEO. “If I hadn’t done PSEO at the U of M this year, I think I would struggle a lot academically during my freshman year of college,” said Yoon. “I am so thankful that I was able to participate in the PSEO program because I know what to expect in the fall.”

Superintendent announces retirement

by Kailey Newcome staff reporter

Time for something new

by Ben Yoch staff reporter

Volume 63 Issue 10

While some students like Koeler and Wong have decided to take a rigorous course load, others are planning to give themselves a break senior year.

With free hours, hybrid courses and a variety of electives to choose from, students who want a lighter load have their options laid out for them.

“I’m going to take a free hour because it would be nice to have more time to relax and get away from the stress of schoolwork,” said Kyle Goodwiler, 11.

Seniors’ freedom of choice has also brought some students the opportunity to explore possible careers.

“I’m going to [take] Journalism because it’s a career I’m thinking about pursuing,” said Harry Lien, 11.

Opting to follow a less traditional path, Hudson Shih, 12, decided to use his senior year to gain work experience through Genesys Works, a program that gives students the opportunity to work at a Fortune 500 company.

“I saw the plus sides to Genesys Works—you get course credit, you get paid and you get professional work experience that helps you when you’re in college,” said Shih. “Working with professional adults is something that I couldn’t learn in school.”

While there’s no set path for students to take, students are encouraged to talk to their deans if they have concerns regarding their schedule. “Students are always welcome to come in and get help figuring out what might be a good fit for them,” said dean Andra Storla.

Dan Hoverman has worked in the Mounds View School District for 41 years and served as superintendent for the last nine. With his three-year contract expiring at the end of this school year, he announced his retirement at the March 29 School Board meeting.

“I was coming to the end of my third three-year contract, and, after speaking with my wife, I wasn’t sure [renewing my contract] was something I could do or feel comfortable with. I want to be able to go do other activities like golf and travel,” said Hoverman.

Hoverman started working for the district in 1975 as a school psychologist. From there, he held various positions before becoming deputy superintendent in 1998 and superintendent in 2007.

Upon assuming the role of superintendent, Hoverman made it a goal to improve student success. Moving forward, he brought new ideas to the district to ensure Mounds View would meet the needs of students.

“Coming into the job, I knew we needed to have a culture that focuses on continuous improvement. We can’t just rely on answers from the past. We needed to change and look at new ideas and approaches,” said Hoverman.

Hoverman first established The Equity Promise, a tenet that commits the district to preparing all students for post-secondary success regardless of race, class or disability.

“Success shouldn’t be dictated by race, social or economic status, or disability,” said Hoverman. “The purpose of the Equity Promise is for students to experience rigorous college-level courses to make sure they can go beyond the high school level and have post secondary success.”

He also initiated the award-winning Early College program, a program aimed at students in the middle which provides students with opportunities to get associate’s degrees on campus for free.

“I had felt for years that we hadn’t been doing enough for students in the middle. We had opportunities for students that were struggling and were high achieving, but the middle seemed ignored. I wanted a clear focus on that,” said Hoverman.

Hoverman also implemented free onsite ACT testing for all district juniors as well as a Personalized Learning Plan for students sixth grade and up.

The School Board plans to meet April 12 to discuss a replacement for Hoverman.

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editorials

top 10 ACT ACRONYMS

10

A Cruel Trick

9

A Child’s Terror

8

Agitating, Cryptic Trash

7

A Cadent Tinkle

6

Aggressive Candidate, Trump

5

A Callused Toe

4 2

Academically Corrupt Trap A Cordial Torturing

A Cackling Teenybopper

3

Authorized Communist Tyranny

1

2015-2016

Viewer Editors Editor-in-Chief

Emily Ruan

Managing Editor - Copy

Persis Ke

Managing Editor - Design

Eva Hoffman

ONLINE Managing Editor

Alex Jiang

Business Manager

Jordan Counihan News

Daniel Yong Editorials

Kevin Sabeti-Oseid Furqan Syed Features

Emily Moses Katrina Renacia Spread

Samuel Kwong Katie Karjalahti Variety

Aaron Voiovich Reviews

Matthew Cooper Sports

Jordan Counihan Persis Ke Gallery

Amber Zhao Photographers

Eva Hoffman, Julia Sacay Cartoonist

Clare Carroll Adviser

Martha Rush Staff Rigney Cunningham, Ben Davis, Jackie Gaworski, Marley Jones, Sunny Lim, Jack McCoy, Kailey Newcome, Jake Rosenow, Kallie Slotvig, Ben Yoch

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

friday, April 15, 2016

Positive representation of women on the rise Top movies feature strong women who break gender norms

Movies are a fantastic way for audiences to escape from reality. People see themselves in the characters onscreen, and well-written characters are especially engrossing. That’s why it’s incredibly frustrating that it is so difficult to find good representation of women in cinema. Why are the damsel in distress and one-dimensional romantic interest archetypes so common when there are clearly women of all different shapes, sizes, races and personality types?

Over the last year or so, there has been a surge of empowered female characters in mainstream cinema that is impossible to ignore. Here are four characters who represent women in a way that both the industry and audiences need to take note of and celebrate.

Rey, Star Wars: The Force Awakens If the $2 billion worldwide gross and widespread critical acclaim of Star Wars: The Force Awakens proves anything, it’s that women can absolutely be represented with the same strength as men without any impact on a film’s reception.

Rey, the protagonist, functions very much like the previous main characters of the Star Wars franchise, Anakin and Luke Skywalker. Over the course of the film, it’s revealed that she is an incredibly powerful wielder of the Force. In fact, Rey could quite possibly be the most powerful character in the Star Wars universe to date; without any training by another Jedi, she demonstrates the telekinetic abilities that took Luke halfway into the second Star Wars film to perfect.

In addition, she is never sexualized with revealing outfits or provocative camera angles, and isn’t given an unnecessary romantic relationship. The Force Awakens doesn’t have an agenda; there is never any attention brought to the fact that Rey is a woman. Her gender simply has no impact on the way she is viewed by other characters, and it shouldn’t have any impact on the way she is viewed by the audience.

Furiosa, Mad Max: Fury Road When talking about the depiction of women in cinema, good representation does not equal perfection.

Imperator Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road is a more than competent warrior, and serves as a high-ranking driver for the patriarchal tyrant known as Immortan Joe. A well-respected soldier, it’s clear that she has earned her title through her combat and driving skills.

Nevertheless, in their first encounter, the titular Max defeats Furiosa in hand-to-hand combat. However, as the film progresses, Max recognizes that Furiosa is more skilled than him in certain areas.

When it comes to firing a sniper rifle with limited ammunition, Max hands Furiosa the gun, acknowledging that she is a better shot. Yet, Max isn’t upset that a

woman has upstaged him because he views Furiosa as an equal. In his mind, she is just another survivor in the post-apocalyptic wasteland—a person not defined by gender.

Michelle, 10 Cloverfield Lane It’s not just action movies that need more strong female characters; the horror genre frequently portrays women as cowards in life or death situations. 10 Cloverfield Lane’s Michelle is refreshingly clever and resourceful.

When Michelle is introduced, she’s choosing to run away from her relationship with her fiancé. We soon find out that she has a habit of running away when the going gets tough. 10 Cloverfield Lane is about Michelle growing to a point where she is brave enough to confront her challenges head-on.

It’s a natural character arc—one that’s seen with male protagonists on countless occasions—but what’s most important is that Michelle comes across as a real person. She isn’t perfect, and she isn’t fearless. When she wakes up in an underground bunker, handcuffed to a radiator, she’s scared. Who wouldn’t be? It’s the fact that Michelle overcomes this fear and uses her brain to make the most out of a bad situation that sets her apart from the average female lead in a horror film.

photo fair use from youtube.com Daisy Ridley as Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

photo fair use from screenrant.com Charlize Theron as Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road

Tip, Home Often portrayed as shallow, materialistic or emotional, teenage girls in movies tend to get a bad rap. When so many young people are influenced by what they see in the media, Tip from Home provides a hero who also just happens to be a teenage girl.

Following the invasion of Earth by aliens, the brave and quick-witted Tip sets out to find her mother with the help of an alien named Oh—eventually saving the world in the process. Tip is a strong and determined character who defies the idea that young girls can’t be heroes and are the ones who need to be saved.

From Dreamworks, the 14th highestgrossing film of 2015 challenges the family film industry, where less than a third of characters are female, according to a study by the Geena Davis Institute.

Along with resisting misogynistic stereotypes, the movie challenges racial ones as well. Tip, an immigrant from Barbados who calls herself a nerd and gets an A in her math class, challenges the stereotypes of being a girl, but also a girl of color in an industry dominated by white men.

Unfortunately, for every well-developed female character, there are considerably more Lois Lanes and one-dimensional Bond girls. Furthermore, women of color and female background extras are still underrepresented in popular films. Despite all the terrific female characters who have appeared recently, there is still progress to be made.

Viewer Mission Statement

photo fair use from indyweek.com Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Michelle from 10 Cloverfield Lane

photo fair use from mic.com Tip, voiced by Rihanna, from Home

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

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

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

4. To strive for a high level of competency in the technical aspect of writing, including grammar, spelling, clarity, and precision.

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

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

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

editorials

Friday, April 15, 2016

3

Which future for Northern Minnesota?

Say Yes

photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

Mine has lasting benefits

Say No

photo by Eva Hoffman

Mine risks are unacceptable

by Ben Davis staff reporter

by Jake Rosenow staff reporter

After a decade-long fight with environmentalists, PolyMet Mining Corporation’s plan to build a new mine in northern Minnesota recently moved one step closer to full approval. While some criticize this decision, Minnesota residents should be excited for the benefits this mine will bring.

PolyMet plans to mine the 72 million pounds of copper, 15.4 million pounds of nickel, 720,000 pounds of cobalt and 106,000 troy ounces of precious metals found at the site. While the mine may create some pollution in the near future, the long-term economic benefits the mine will bring outweigh the miniscule environmental effects.

The mining industry is an essential part of northern Minnesota’s economy. According to a study done by the University of Minnesota, Duluth, the mine will employ 360 people, lead to $515 million in wages, and add $10 billion to the local economy over the 20-year tenure of the mine. The mine will also build communities through the extra $15 million the Minnesota government will receive in tax revenue. This revenue will help maintain and build new infrastructure across the state and help fund Minnesota schools.

On top of the increased tax revenue, the mine will also produce important metals and alloys. These alloys will help the average person live a cheaper and greener lifestyle.

For example, the copper being put on the market will help build houses, plumbing and electronic devices. In addition, copper is necessary for building wind farms, which decrease America’s dependence on fossil fuels, reducing the effects of global warming.

Besides copper, there is also nickel that can be used for hybrid car batteries. These batteries will be used to put more hybrids on the roads at a cheaper price, further proof that the new mine would help the environment rather than hurt it.

Despite all of these benefits, opponents still exaggerate the environmental effects of the mine. Many steps have already been taken to ensure environmental protection. The DNR has determined that the proposal for the NorthMet Mine was adequate for addressing environmental concerns. The 10-year process for approving the review demonstrates that proper precautions have been taken. The approved review goes in tremendous detail of the exact environmental effects, demonstrating that the risks of the mine have been calculated and addressed.

The new mine will create new jobs, generate revenue and build new technologies. The DNR has given the mine its consent. Why won’t Governor Dayton?

Mines have been responsible for contaminating water supplies, hurting communities and poisoning animals for a very long time. Unfortunately, the trend of harmful mining is growing in Minnesota with the NorthMet Mine, which moved one step closer to reality after the Minnesota Legislature signed off on a final environmental review in March.

The NorthMet Mine would extract copper, nickel, cobalt and other precious metals from sulfide ores and would be the first of its kind in Minnesota. This mine poses great environmental concern to the Superior National Forest and should be opposed.

Currently, a major concern for many environmentalists is PolyMet’s investor, Glencore. Glencore is a large commodity trading company with an untrustworthy history. Its current chairman is former British Petroleum CEO, Tony Hayward, who was CEO during the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, Glencore has been associated with a variety of other environmental disasters, human rights violations and labor violations.

Beyond its unethical investors, the mine will greatly damage the environment. It is set to be built on peatlands that currently belong to the Superior National Forest. The mine would be even more detrimental to the environment due to the use of sulfide mining. This dangerous type of hardrock mining can produce acid rain that pollutes lakes, rivers, groundwater and drinking water.

While some argue that existing governmental regulations prevent the mine from harming the environment, this belief displays undeserved trust in government regulation. Many mines similar to NorthMet have satisfied government requirements in the past but still managed to pollute the environment.

For example, in 2014, the Mount Polley Mine in British Columbia sprouted a leak and exposed surrounding areas to 10 million cubic metres of contaminated water. To this day, nearby water sources have experienced high arsenic levels, putting the community at risk of arsenic poisoning. The NorthMet Mine’s design for holding and containing chemical waste is very similar to that of the Mount Polley Mine, raising concerns of another deadly spill.

Some proponents of the mine claim that the economic benefits of the mine outweigh any environmental concerns. However, any potential jobs created by the mine would be temporary, as many mine lifespans are short-lived and often become abandoned within 20 years, invalidating the argument that the mine will be of financial benefit.

It’s clear that the NorthMet Mine is an unsustainable and detrimental mess. Polymet’s proposal will in effect destroy the local environment and hurt Minnesota communities and people through pollution and contamination. PolyMet’s proposal must be criticized and opposed for the sake of the Minnesotan people and environment.

4

features

friday, april 15, 2016

Meet Anna, MV’s poet laureate

by Jack McCoy staff reporter From realizing the power of a writer in her poem “Ink” to battling her fears in “The Dragons” and talking about the agony of searching for someone in “Finding Him,” senior Anna Molenaar’s poem entries for the Franklin E. Brainard Poetry contest not only displayed a wide range of emotions, but also served as her ticket to victory.

Of the three poems, “The Dragons” is Molenaar’s personal favorite. “Dragons are pretty neat, and I love Game of Thrones, which has a lot of dragons in it,” she said.

While Molenaar likes “The Dragons” best, “Ink” also holds deep meaning to her. “I was thinking about writing in general and the impact it can have on someone’s life, as I do love writing and spend a lot of time doing it,” she said. “I find it interesting how you can

write something down differently and make it trigger a completely different emotion from someone.”

Aside from her love for writing, Molenaar joined the competition to challenge herself.

“I thought [entering the contest] would be a good way to try out my writing and see what the response would be to it. It’s really exciting seeing how much the judges liked my poems and to be honored with an award like this,” she said.

The Franklin E. Brainard Poetry contest, which began in the 1970s, is an annual competition open to Mounds View seniors.

The competition was implemented in honor of a well-known English teacher named Franklin E. Brainard. Each student who enters is required to submit between three and five poems to be judged by English teachers. The teachers anonymously receive the poems and select those that they believe are the best.

The winner of the competition receives a certificate,

a collection of Brainard’s poetry works, a gift card to Barnes & Noble and their name on a plaque displayed in the library.

According to Shawn Burback, one of the English teachers who coordinates the event, the criteria for deciding who wins are very comprehensive. “The main things the judges look for are the maturity of the material: a range of themes used, a lot of alliteration used to create a mood, the versatility of the material, the depth of the subject, and a strong use of poetic devices in interesting way,” said Burback.

The two judges for this year’s competition were English teachers Steve Morrissette and Nasreen Fynewever. Out of the twelve submissions to the contest this year, Molenaar’s writing stood out to the judges.

“All three of her poems were creative, unique in their own right, and just simply well written,” said Morrissette.

The Dragons The dragons of old are dead.

Creatures of stone scale and brute power they could not fight time.

Finding Him I told him time would be a thief but he promised me eternity.

The dragons of new are beasts of delicacy.

They deal in shadows and the fear of what isn’t seen.

I warned him not to gaze too long into the sun but he wanted to keep me warm.

I begged him to seek shelter from the storm but he wanted to find me.

Their hisses far from roars but their tongues are sharper than any claw.

I asked him not to walk through the night for me but I was too late.

Do not listen to these dragons.

For fire can be fought but embers linger.

Now I chase down time and stare into the light.

Now I walk through the desert in a never ending quest to feel what he felt.

Ink

How spectacular that a stroke of ink can bring another to tears.

How wonderful that a stack of paper can change a person’s life.

How lucky that a collection of words can save one.

Anna Molenaar, 12, is this year’s Franklin E. Brainard Poetry Award winner.

What stories are hidden in a mind too timid to share them?

How many lives are trapped in a pen waiting to be freed?

And what will it take to free them?

photo by Eva Hoffman

features

friday, april 15, 2016

5

The math and science guy The evolution of Ian O’Neill’s career

by Persis Ke managing editor - copy

photo by Eva Hoffman

Ian O’Neill, former student teacher and current substitute, grew up as a “math and science guy.” Going into college, physics was his obvious choice for a major.

“I’ve always been a math person… but it means a lot more to me when I can apply it to something more real, which is pretty much what physics is,” he said.

After realizing he didn’t want an engineering or research job, O’Neill began exploring other options. During his junior year in college, he found his calling: a career in education.

“I’ve always liked helping students and other classmates with homework and with whatever I could,” he said.

As his interest in teaching grew, O’Neill decided to attend a teaching seminar held at Harding High School in St. Paul over January break of his senior year of college. Shadowing a physics teacher showed him what day-to-day life as a teacher was like.

After growing up in Northfield, where many students were self-motivated, the inner city school was a culture shock for O’Neill.

“At Harding, I got the firsthand experience of all different types of students and what it takes to give a good lesson or a good curriculum.

[It showed me] when you need to be worried about what’s going on with the students... there’s all these different things that students deal with that you don’t think about,” he said.

The experience at Harding solidified O’Neill’s passion for teaching, and after graduating from St. Olaf College, he began working

towards a degree in education from Hamline University.

To qualify for a teaching license, O’Neill was sent to Mounds View for a student teaching position under science teacher Jacob Hairrell.

Interacting with students helped O’Neill hone his instructing style. He worked on adapting the “I do, we do, you do” strategy to fit his own desire for collaboration.

“I don’t like for a lecture to ever be me just spouting things and students writing down notes,” he said. “It just seems like if you can learn it as a group and have discussions along the way as to where you might go wrong, it just gets the learning in a lot better than just taking notes verbatim.”

Student teaching also helped O’Neill learn to tailor the difficulty of his classes to the level of his students. Early on in the semester, O’Neill wrote a test for AP Physics 1 and learned a valuable lesson.

The final question was out of 17 points and the most common score was four out of 17.

“It was good because it showed me how far I can push before going over the top. It also showed the students what an actual college question would be like.”

Despite early challenges, O’Neill hopes he helped foster an interest in the sciences.

“There are a lot of different parts of science that I think people like, but they don’t give it the time of day because they’re worried about the content,” he said. “I want [students] to get an appreciation and at least if not a love, then a like for science.”

Zetzman reflects on time spent teaching in Nevada

by Kailey Newcome and Jacquelyn Gaworski staff reporters Social studies teacher Jon Zetzman has seen it all: gang fights, drug busts and numerous arrests. These may sound like scenes from The Wire, but for Zetzman, they were everyday occurrences when he taught at Durango High School in Nevada.

Having lived in Eden Prairie his entire life, Zetzman didn’t know how to react when they offered him the job on the opposite side of the United States.

“Deciding to move to Vegas was one of the hardest decisions of my life,” he said. “I got a call from Durango, and after a phone interview, [they] offered me the job. They then gave me a whopping three hours to decide.” After talking with his wife, Zetzman took the opportunity.

Nevada was a complete change from life in Minnesota. In comparison to his previous experience student teaching at Chaska High School, Zetzman said the largest distinction at Durango High School was the expectations for student achievement.

“Only the top students bothered to go to college, and quite a few of those that did end up at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or, as we called it, the University of Never Leaving Vegas,” he said. “The expectation was to survive high school, then get a job on the strip in a casino.”

For the students, surviving high school was a challenge on its own. “We would start with almost 800 freshmen, and those numbers would dwindle down to a graduating class of around 500,” said Zetzman.

Fights were also a common occurrence.

He frequently saw students come back from

lunch with black eyes or even in handcuffs.

One year, over 20 students were expelled.

It wasn’t only the students that Zetzman had to deal with. From selling drugs to engaging in inappropriate relationships with students, the teachers caused problems of their own.

Recognizing the difficult school environment, Zetzman took steps to make a difference in students’ lives. “I taught a student, Cossette, who really was inspirational to me,” he said. “She was literally homeless and took the city bus to school two hours each way. I was able to get her a bus pass, some food and even gave her an old computer Deciding to move I had laying to Vegas was one around,” he said. Today, of the hardest Collette is majoring in decisions of my neuroscience life .” on a full-ride scholarship at University -Jon Zetzman of Nevada, Reno.

As interesting as Nevada was, Zetzman missed his home state. He moved back to Minnesota about three years ago, joining the Mounds View community as a teacher and Student Council Advisor.

During his time here, Zetzman has worked to foster a positive learning environment for his students. “I want every student to have the high school experience that they deserve,” he said.

“

photo by Eva Hoffman

THE VIETNAM WA

.

‘18 today, dead tomorrow’

by Rigney Cunningham staff reporter In order to understand U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, it’s important to understand the international state of affairs at the time.

According to the Domino Theory, a prominent theory in the mid-20th century, if one country were to fall under the influence of communism, others would soon follow in its wake. The Vietnam War, fought between a Communist North Vietnam and an antiCommunist South Vietnam, stirred up fear of Communist expansion in the U.S. Motivated by this fear, the U.S. joined the war in 1962 as South Vietnam’s primary ally.

The U.S. began by sending combat advisors to train the South Vietnamese Army and later committed an increasing number of ground troops to the conflict. Troop numbers peaked in 1968, just before the Tet Offensive, a series of surprise attacks by North Vietnam on over 100 South Vietnamese towns, led to a massive decline in support for the war.

The horrendous treatment of civilians and tremendous loss of life during the Tet Offensive scarred the minds of Vietnamese and U.S. citizens alike. After the battle, the media stopped supporting the war and the American public followed suit through street protests.

The Doves, protesters of the war, chanted antiwar slogans like “18 today, dead tomorrow” and “Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” The U.S. began to withdraw its

troops less than a year later, and by 1975, the last remaining soldiers were evacuated from Vietnam.

The Vietnam War had many social and political effects on the United States. The U.S. ended the draft of military-aged personnel and implemented an all-volunteer army in its place. Disillusioned by the inhumane treatment of civilians and loss of life, many Americans began anti-war movements and protests. Citizens also lost trust in their government as secret government papers were released to the public that revealed that government leaders had been covering up the U.S.’s role in the Vietnam War for years. Due to these revelations, the U.S. commitment to internationalism was put on hold, and to this day, 43 percent of Americans still think the Vietnam War was fundamentally wrong and unethical.

To serve as a further reminder of America’s sacrifices, the Vietnam War Memorial, built in 1982 in Washington D.C., stands as a tribute to the many dead of the United States’ arguably least successful war.

In fighting the Vietnam War, America possibly avoided the spread of communism despite not being worth the risk to many.

However, the underlying rationale remains unclear. To this day, it is still debatable if the ends truly justified the means.

November 1, 1955 Of the men who served,

2/3

were volunteers 58,220 men were killed 23,214 were left disabled Wealthy servicemen were at a slightly higher risk of death because they were often drafted as pilots or infantry officers, the most dangerous positions

1,264 men remain missing

War project spreads a

by Kailey Newcome and Jackie Gaworski staff reporters English teachers Rebecca Hauth-Schmid and Gretchen Nesset have taught the book The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien for years.

“There [are] so many people in our world who have been impacted by the Vietnam War. It helps us to understand why things are the way they are today,” said Hauth-Schmid.

When they first began teaching the novel, Hauth-Schmid and Nesset invited a veteran in to speak to their classes; however, it was difficult for him to speak about the same things all day, so they decided to make a change.

Thus began the Vietnam War Project, given to the Honors English 10 students annually.

Their assignment is to either interview a Vietnam War veteran or refugee or to go to a history museum and write a reflection on the Vietnam section.

“Tim O’Brien specifically says that [The Things They Carried reflects] his view and his

experience, and everyone,” said that there were m who had their o students to hear The project students have be members or frie hear stories that known.

“It was a ch grandfather bec about his experi made him really Morgan Kerfeld Hauth-Schm students can hea “I hope tha experience, stud actually like, ins said Hauth-Schm

AR . . .

. . . 50 years later 79

percent of servicemen had a high school education or higher The average age of the U.S. men fighting was photo fair use from flickr.com

awareness

d he knows he doesn’t speak for d Hauth-Schmid. “We figured more people in the community own stories, and we wanted r their experiences.” t has been very beneficial. Many een able to connect with family ends who fought in the war and t they may otherwise have never

hance for me to get closer to my cause he normally doesn’t talk iences in the war. The project y open up to me about it,” says d, 11. mid and Nesset are glad that ar personal accounts of the war. at in hearing the first-hand dents get a taste for what war is stead of just words on a page,” mid.

22

Most of the war was actually fought between the South Vietnamese and the North Communist Vietnamese. New Zealand, Australia and most of the local Asian countries also allied with South Vietnam

April 30, 1975

information from history.com and miafacts.org information compiled by Jackie Gaworski

A veteran and two refugees share their stories

Dwight Wegner “The monkey story is a funny one. Our showers were basically big tanks of water located in the middle in between barracks. They would have privacy screens made of metal around them with a gap underneath about twofeet high. So one day, I went to take a shower, and all I had with me was a towel. There were trees in the distance, and I saw something up in one of them as I was drying off. As I was wondering what it was, I saw it jump down from the tree and start running in my direction. It was a monkey about two to three feet tall, and it ran directly towards me. I mean, right directly towards me! It ran under that metal privacy screen, right to me. All I had was a towel, so I snapped the towel at it. That monkey snatched that towel from me, and it just ran off. So, I had to go 100 yards back to the barracks naked.”

-Dwight Wegner, Vietnam War veteran, to Kailey Newcome, 10

Rani Gudmondson “We were living in an isolated village when the communists came, with all my extended family. There was no resistance when they walked in; it was at night and everyone was inside their house. We heard screams, and then three soldiers came inside where my family was. One of my aunts was praying her rosary, and soldiers calmly smashed her head in with the butt of his rifle. My grandmother screamed and fell to her side, and the same man shot her.

I was splattered with her brains and blood, but some instinct told me to stay silent. The soldiers looked around the house for books or anything that would indicate we were educated, but my uncle had burned our books and newspapers just the night before. Then they took us to the middle of the town, where all the villagers were huddled up. The next day, we started walking, to one of the labor camps.”

-Rani Gudmondson, Vietnam War refugee, to Beth Ambler

Bai Vang “I remember how I felt so alone on the journey to Thailand. I had to protect my three small children, and my husband, who was a soldier, had perished in the war. I wept often from loneliness and fear, but I had to protect my children. I remember carrying my daughter on my back and my baby son in my front while clutching my eldest daughter to my side. I never let go of my daughter except when I had to remove money from my sash in order to buy food for us. When I tired, I had my sisters carry one of my children. I was so very afraid that I would lose my children. Those were hard times.”

-Bai Vang, refugee from Laos, to granddaughter Sunny Thao

photo fair use from flickr.com

8

variety

Friday, April 15, 2016

Flavors of the ’50s Blue Sun Soda Shop

by Kallie Slotvig staff reporter

When you think of Minnesota’s largest soda shop, you are sure to have high expectations. Blue Sun Soda and Sweets Shop located on Highway 10 in Spring Lake Park is sure to please.

With over 1,300 different flavors of soda lining the walls of the shop from top to bottom, the shop looks like a museum of brightly colored soda bottles imported from all over the world.

Blue Sun Soda and Sweets Shop sells many surprising flavors, including Ranch and Bacon soda.

While these flavors are very fun to sample, they are not the type of drink you would happily finish. Other outlandish flavors include “popped pimple” and “doggy drool.” The creativity of the soda’s names and rare flavors make the shop very exciting and unique to explore.

On top of that, the aesthetic of Blue Sun Soda and Sweets Shop also help create a lively and exciting atmosphere. The upbeat classic ’50s tunes, red and white checkered ceiling and free pinball machine transport customers back in time.

The store is not limited to selling sodas; a section of the store is devoted to selling an assortment of candy as diverse as its soda selection. They even have a pucker powder machine where you can make your own pixie sticks, as well as a wall filled with Pez dispensers.

Blue Sun Soda and Sweets Shop is a wonderful place to visit. Though the sodas may be expensive at $2.49 a bottle, they are well worth the price and experience you can’t find anywhere else.

photos by Kallie Slotvig

Snuffy’s Malt Shop

by Aaron Voiovich variety editor With the weather finally warming up and senior slide setting in, now’s the perfect time to spend more time with friends and try new things. Snuffy’s Malt Shop is the perfect spring hangout, and with several locations all around the Twin Cities, Snuffy’s is a great place to stop regardless of where your escapades lead.

Walking into Snuffy’s feels like entering a vastly different time period. The 1950s atmosphere immediately sets in as you take your first steps inside this old fashioned diner.

The somewhat tight dining space at Snuffy’s is filled with laughter and conversation as servers navigate the crowded space to provide fast and friendly service. The bright and lively interior with red and white striped walls sets the perfect mood for any outing.

Snuffy’s fame comes from its vast menu of classic malts, including a staggering total of 28 different choices. Flavors range from basic options like strawberry and vanilla to crazier choices such as PB&J and Neapolitan.

Malts, however, aren’t the only thing on the menu at Snuffy’s; the classic malt shop also serves burgers and sandwiches to make the perfect meal.

The burgers at Snuffy’s are a particular specialty, and the shop offers options to please customers looking for everything from a simple cheeseburger to a soup and salad.

With the incredibly stylized ’50s aesthetic, delicious food and wide selection of classic malts, Snuffy’s is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a refreshing malt with friends this spring.

photos by Aaron Voiovich illustration by Eva Hoffman

Friday, April 15, 2016

Game mode : 1v1

Choose your Character

Player 1 :

Batman

reviews

9

Arena : Gotham City

Player 2 :

Superman

Press start to begin

photos fair use from comingsoon.net, hitfix.com, moviepilot.com, screenrant.com and thedailybeast.com

The DC Cinematic Universe gets off to a rocky start

by Matthew Cooper reviews editor Over the past eight years, Marvel Studios has released 12 movies and four television shows as part of its Marvel Cinematic Universe, a live action world where classic comic book characters coexist.

The franchise has been beyond successful, grossing billions of dollars with no sign of stopping.

For this reason, it is understandable that rival company DC Comics wants to compete with its own DC Cinematic Universe. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the sequel to 2013’s Man of Steel, is the company’s attempt at catching up with Marvel by bringing the two most popular superheroes in history together on the silver screen for the first time, while also paving the way towards a Justice League movie.

Unfortunately, director Zack Snyder fails to deliver a film that the legendary heroes deserve.

In the film, Batman (Ben Affleck) has already been active for 20 grueling years and has grown to despise Superman (Henry Cavill) for the destruction from Man of Steel. The U.S. government is equally concerned with Superman’s lack of accountability for his actions. Because of this, and a copious number of other convoluted plot points, Batman decides that he must eliminate the alien.

With the addition of Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) manipulating things behind the scenes, Batman v Superman spends an uneven 90 minutes crafting a reason for the climactic showdown. The film simply has more characters than it can handle and too many things on its mind to be coherent. It struggles to connect all of its dots, which is especially

disheartening because a lot of it is incredibly intriguing. The result is a story that is overstuffed and disappointing, considering the number of great ideas brought to the table.

Thankfully, there are terrific elements in the madness. Ben Affleck does a fine job as Batman. This version of the character is world-weary and absolutely brutal—the first time we meet him, he is branding a human trafficker with the Bat Symbol. Affleck’s performance is full of the subtle rage and obsessive determination that the character is known for.

This accuracy is interrupted by one jarring character flaw—Affleck’s Batman doesn’t have any problem with killing criminals. He stabs them with their own knives and mows down enemies in the with his vehicles. A major staple of Batman’s character has always been his refusal to take a life. This isn’t the first time that the character has killed, but Batman v Superman never even addresses the issue. A briefly displayed Robin costume with the words “hahaha, joke’s on you, Batman” painted across it is a suggested explanation, but is never expanded upon.

On the other side of the coin, Cavill’s Superman continues to be merely acceptable. The actor displays a limited range of emotions and some of his dialogue is a bit wooden. It’s not all Cavill’s fault, however; Superman is delegated a supporting role while Batman takes center stage, so there aren’t many opportunities for him to develop his acting abilities.

The real flaw in the cast comes from Lex Luthor.

Jesse Eisenberg is miscast in a character that barely resembles Superman’s arch-nemesis. It’s one thing to take creative liberties with a character, but this iteration of Luthor is over-the-top and unbelievable.

He is occasionally menacing and there are hints of interesting character motivations, but they are only briefly touched on and don’t bloom into anything worthwile.

From a technical perspective, Batman v Superman is considerably more stable. Zack Snyder has always been a filmmaker of style over substance, and the film further supports this claim. The cinematography

by Larry Fong is impressive, while action sequences are mostly well constructed. Snyder is no stranger to stylized violence, and it shows. Seeing Batman fight a room of 24 enemies or wearing a suit of power armor while taking on Superman is particularly exciting, and the new Batmobile, a cross between the Nolan Tumbler and a designer sports car, is used in a very effective chase sequence.

As a complete package, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is an overstuffed mess—a gigantic, intriguing and occasionally thrilling mess. There’s a lot of potential for excellent comic book movies in this DC Cinematic Universe, and the film is entertaining enough despite its glaring flaws. There’s a terrific story buried somewhere in all the chaos; it’s a shame that it takes some digging to find it.

Read full review at mvviewer.org/reviews The Verdict Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a highly flawed mess with some great elements.

68

Zayn Malik heads in a new direction

by Jackie Gaworski staff reporter Since departing One Direction, teen heartthrob singer Zayn Malik has started his own musical career with his first solo album, Mind of Mine. With it, Malik takes on a completely different style than that of his former band. Mind of Mine features many slowmoving songs and a couple upbeat rhythms about love and relationships, showcasing Malik’s vocal range and individuality.

Malik’s relaxed songs “It’s You,” “Drunk,” “Fool For You” and “Truth” tell about his past relationships, adding a personal and relatable touch to the album.

Each song has a different sound that allows him to portray the capability of his voice. The music ranges from R&B to pop and reggae-sounding rhythms, each expressing Malik’s distinct emotions toward love, breakups and relationships.

In addition to his steady beats, Malik adds some upbeat pop, creating fun songs to sing along to. “She” and “Tio” are two of the best songs for this purpose, giving a slower album some exciting touches.

Although Mind of Mine has its ups, there are also several downs. The topics of Malik’s songs heavily differ from One Direction’s more innocent style. Many of the lyrics feature numerous sexual references—a choice that tends to make the songs a bit too dirty, ruining the romantic love theme of the album.

Additionally, Mind of Mine’s radio debut song, “Pillow Talk,” is quite disappointing. Unlike the rest of the unique album, the song drags on and contains many repetitive lines. “Like I Would” would have been a much better debut, as it encompasses the R&B-reggae style that sets Malik apart from One Direction. It features fast, upbeat rhythms, while also incorporating his own dubstep-esque twists.

The album also features a short intro and intermission. These short clips of songs are awkward and don’t add much to the album or help to speed it up. They are random and unnecessary additions that are tempting to skip over when listening.

Overall, Malik does a quality job of ditching his boy band singer persona with Mind of Mine.

Although the album often moves slowly, Malik blends an enjoyable amount of upbeat modernity to the track list while still keeping a mellow-tempo love song theme.

The Verdict Mind of Mine is a satisfactory debut album that sets Zayn Malik up for a solo start.

71

10

Sports

FRIDAY, April 15, 2016

Ever seen a scrum?

Rugby team seeks fan support

by Sunny Lim and Jake Weightman staff reporter and guest writer As a Community Ed program, Mounds View Rugby is often far from the spotlight. However, shielded from the high expectations and intense competitiveness of sports like football, the team members enjoy a laid-back atmosphere where they can learn how to play the sport and have fun at the same time.

In rugby, also known as rugby football, each team works to score points by kicking, throwing and running a ball into their opponent’s end zone. While the sport is very popular in other parts of the world, it is less appreciated in the United States.

Despite being unaffiliated with the school, rugby players at Mounds View have called their club the “Mounds View Rugby Club” for the past 15 years.

The club became part of Community Ed this year and includes players from high schools around the area.

Jack O’Brien, 10, is a member of the boys rugby team from Mounds View. He started playing rugby last year as a freshman at his father’s encouragement.

Since then, O’Brien’s experience has been an immensely positive one.

“It’s a lot of fun… it’s less focused on winning and more focused on going out and playing sports,” said O’Brien. “Because it’s not a Mounds View sport and because it’s not paid coaches going on the Mounds View record, there’s a lot more room to have a lot of fun.”

Alvin Batiller, 11, a three-year veteran of the team, believes that although rugby is not as popular as other sports, it’s just as valuable. “Playing rugby has

made me both physically and mentally stronger,” said Batiller. “It has also taught me the value of teamwork and cooperation.”

Although players enjoy rugby’s fun-spirited atmosphere and positive group dynamic, they lament the lack of attention paid to their sport. “It’s been around for 16 years now and hardly anyone even knows it exists,” said O’Brien.

Team member Jake Tollander, 11, agrees, saying he hopes to see a better turnout at future games.

“Seeing more students at our games would hype it up more,” said Tollander.

Students who are looking to support the team can attend the upcoming game this Friday, April 14 in Edina. Matches typically take two hours and are a perfect spring substitute to the “Friday night lights.”

Students from Mounds View, Irondale, White Bear and other high schools in the area hold rugby practice on the Island Lake field.

photos by Eva Hoffman

sports

Friday, April 15, 2016

The varsity boys ultimate frisbee team scrimmages during practice at Snail Lake Education Center.

11

photos by Eva Hoffman

High expectations for Ultimate season

by Rigney Cunningham staff reporter In the last two years, Ultimate Frisbee has gone from a club pastime to a bona fide sport. Football with a disc, Ultimate Frisbee or just Ultimate is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and a favorite among Mounds View students.

Ultimate consists of seven players on the field trying to get the disk into the end zone for points.

“The games are usually played up to 15 points or there is a time cap like one and a half hours,” said Cate McNabb, 10.

Like many other sports, Ultimate requires skill and several throwing techniques to play. It requires the endurance of soccer and the passing and end zone scoring of football. Throwing is always done with the right hand and the most popular are the backhand throw and the flick throw.

However, Ultimate differs from most sports in that there are no referees, so if the player is fouled, it is their responsibility to to call the foul. “The other team can either contest it or go with it,” said McNabb.

“If they go with it [the foul] the disc goes back to the person that threw it originally, but if they contest it you have to tough it out.”

While Mounds View has had an Ultimate Frisbee club with both boys and girls teams for many years, last year was the the first year with a schoolsanctioned club sport, giving students the opportunity to letter. Aside from a new name—the team now goes

by Mounds View Ultimate instead of Spinferno—few changes were made.

Although Ultimate is more relaxed than most sports, that hasn’t stopped rivalries from forming.

“We have had a lot of really close games with both Apple Valley and Edina in the past,” said Henry Alexander, 12.

Despite the tough competition, the boys’ team consists of a talented group who have high expectations for the season.

“Obviously [seniors] Jared [Klein] and Cole [Jurek] are tremendous players, as they partook in Junior National Tryouts. In addition, we have a number of seniors and other veterans who are key components of the team,” said Alexander. “We are hoping to win a state title, and I think we have the talent to do so.”

The girls have high hopes for the season as well.

“I think we will make it to State,” said McNabb. “We have great captains and a lot of new players that are catching on quickly.”

With both teams recently winning their first games, the players hope to continue their success into the future.

The Ultimate athlete: Cole Jurek

by Persis Ke managing editor - copy Over the past four years, Cole Jurek, 12, has gone from an Ultimate rookie to an alternate on USA’s World Junior Ultimate Championships (WJUC) team.

After his brother introduced himto the sport, Jurek quickly became hooked, and the activity became a year-round passion.

“I play with different teams during the spring, fall, and summer,” he said. “During the winter, I do athletic training and will sometimes go to an indoor field where I play catch with my brother or teammates.”

During the spring and fall seasons, Jurek practices with Mounds View teams. In the summer, he participates in Minnesota Superior, a Youth Club Championships team. “[Playing with Minnesota Superior] has helped me grow as a player because it gives me the opportunity to learn from and how to play with other skilled players that I don’t have experience with,” he said.

In addition to building his skill set, the club has introduced him to new opportunities, including tryouts for the WJUC team.

As one of 101 selected applicants, Jurek traveled to Seattle, Washington for the two-day tryouts.

“The tryouts were different than playing with MV because the skill level of the competition was much higher,” said Jurek. “Playing with a group of guys who you don’t know is a much different dynamic than playing with guys you’ve been with for three or four years because you don’t know what the other players play like or what their skills are, so adjusting to that was a little bit of a challenge.”

Adding to that challenge were long, intensive practices which lasted almost nine hours the first day and six hours the second day.

“The first day... consisted of pretty much constant running,” said Jurek. “At the end of the first day, we had to run a timed mile, which was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my sports career after such an exhausting day.”

While the second day of tryouts was shorter, it was no easier on the athletes. “That day was mostly scrimmaging which was hard since my legs were so sore,” said Jurek.

Despite an unfamiliar team dynamic and the physically draining tryouts, Jurek was cautiously optimistic about making the team.

“After the tryouts I felt that I had done really well and had been noticed by the coaches so I was more hopeful,” he said. “[However,] I never 100 percent expected to make the team, even as an alternate.”

As an alternate, Jurek will travel to the world tournament—which will be held in Wroclaw, Poland from July 31 to Aug. 6—if another player drops out.

In the meantime, his focus has turned closer to home.

With the high school ultimate frisbee season underway, Jurek has high hopes for himself and the team. Although he’s not known as a vocal leader, as one of team’s four captains, Jurek takes his role on the team seriously and strives to lead by example.

“My goal this season is to win the state championship because it means you are the best team out there,” he said. “My personal goal is to become a better leader for my teammates so I can help them improve their own Ultimate skills.”

photo by Eva Hoffman Cole Jurek catches a pass during practice.

12 gallery

friday, april 15, 2016

Quest for the perfect dress

by Marley Jones staff reporter In the months leading up to prom, many girls try on racks of dresses and sift through pages of magazines, hoping to find a dress no one else will be wearing. With so many colors and designs, it’s hard to find the best style. By allowing girls to avoid crowded fitting rooms and carelessly hung dresses, online shopping can be a convenient way to find the perfect dress.

Ordering a dress online can be much cheaper than buying a dress in person, and there is often a wider variety to choose from. “I bought my dress from Etsy because I didn’t like the ones in stores, and they were overpriced,” said Rachel Monks, 12.

However, ordering online has its risks.

Sometimes, the dress may not fit because there is no way to try it on before it arrives.

“I wasn’t disappointed with the way it looked at first, but it didn’t fit me at all when I tried it on. I gave them my exact measurements and it still didn’t fit me,” said Holly Jacobs, 12, who ordered her dress online from stylishpromdress.com.

The dress might also look completely different from its picture online. “I was disappointed when it came because it didn’t look anything like the picture.

The dress that came was super glittery and little-girlish compared to the photo online,” said Faith Tomczyk, 2015 Mounds View graduate.

Although online shopping may seem like an easy way to get a good deal, it can end up being more expensive than planned. If the delivered dress doesn’t fit or look like the picture on the website, girls may have to go out and buy another one.

“I bought a new dress from Nordstrom that fit me well, but my date had already rented his tux to match my first dress so I had to find a new dress in the same color. The colors worked out, but I really didn’t like the dress I ended up wearing,” said Jacobs.

However, with a little bit of research beforehand, online dress shopping can be the perfect solution to your prom dress troubles.

“Make sure you are ordering from a legitimate website, and don’t order from any sketchy websites that are selling wholesale dresses. A lot of the dresses are scams and don’t look like that in person,” said Feyi Adewoye, 12.

If there are any doubts about whether or not the website is legitimate, girls should read reviews or call the dress company and ask if the website is an authorized dealer.

Where did girls buy their prom dresses last year ?

Borrowed or bought from a friend

20% 65% 15% Third party websites

In a store photos courtesy of Holly Jacobs (top), Olivia Fuerstenberg (middle left), Kacey Davitt (middle right), and Feyi Adewoye (bottom)

information compiled by Amber Zhao 68 students surveyed