Mounds View Viewer 2015-16 Issue 11

In This Issue FridAy April 29 2016

editorials

features

Variety

trans bathrooms

kemp’s travels

Chimborazo

Viewer Elle Conlin Player Stats Ranked

6th in MN

in MN

In 2015 Conlin...

Played a total of 22 games

Took a total of 24 shots with 19 on

Scored 3 goals as a defender infographic by Eva Hoffman photo courtesy of Elle Conlin

New superintendent named

by Kailey Newcome staff reporter With current superintendent Dan Hoverman’s retirement at the end of this school year, the School Board named Chris Lennox as the new superintendent effective July 1.

Lennox, who has 21 years of experience in the education field, was hired as a assistant superintendent in July 2015. For the past ten months, Lennox has worked with Hoverman nearly every day. He collaborated with Hoverman on district affairs such as working with principals and teachers and participating in building planning and reviews.

“I had great learning opportunities in the daily work I performed with Superintendent Hoverman,” said Lennox. “I’ve been most impressed by his ability to know and have connections with nearly everyone on every site. He really emphasizes that commitment is at the core of the job.”

The Board watched him throughout the year to see how he would handle the job. “He was essentially on a 10-month job interview while we watched to see if he was a good fit for our district,”

From horse to hound

Sophomore commits to Boston University

by Kailey Newcome staff reporter

Ranked

120th

Volume 63 Issue 11

While this year’s seniors are just now deciding where to spend their next four years, Elle Conlin, 10, is two years ahead of the game.

On April 12, Conlin verbally committed to attending Boston University in fall of 2018, where she will play on their soccer team. While sophomore year may seem early to commit to a school, Conlin says that it’s not unheard of for Division 1 (D1) schools to scout years in advance.

“Top D1 schools fill their roster spots for 2018 recruits early, by summer of this year,” she said.

Conlin’s soccer career started at the age of four, when she joined a recreational soccer team. Since then, she’s played for multiple teams and programs, including Minnesota Thunder Academy, Elite Clubs National League and Minnesota’s Olympic Development Program. In addition, she’s played on the Mounds View varsity team since freshman year.

Last November, Conlin reached out to Boston University, inviting them to watch her December showcase in Florida. Her performance impressed recruiting scouts, who later contacted her coach.

“They came and expressed interest through my coach since I am a sophomore, and they cannot contact me directly,” said Conlin.

said School Board Chair Amy Jones.

Lennox passed the test; when Hoverman announced his retirement, it was clear that Lennox would be his successor. “He met all of the criteria we had developed on what we required in a superintendent,” said Jones.

With experience as a teacher, dean, principal and assistant superintendent in different districts around the Twin Cities, Lennox feels well prepared for his new role. “Having varied experiences allows me to look at what’s happening and apply different lenses,” he said.

His first test on the job will be to deal with increasing enrollment. “One thing Mounds View has seen in the past few years in an increased enrollment.

We will have to continually make sure that our facilities are able to handle and accommodate our students and faculty,” said Lennox.

Looking toward the future, Lennox hopes to continue the work of Superintendent Hoverman by meeting the needs of the Mounds View community. “[I want to make] sure that we continue the great work that has started,” said Lennox. “We’ll improve and innovate— high expectations, standards and opportunities will remain a commitment.”

Encouraged by their enthusiasm, Conlin visited the school in January.

She ended up falling in love with both the athletics and academics of Boston University.

“Boston University is a strong academic school and their soccer program is very competitive,” said Conlin. The school is ranked 48 out of 330 Division I teams, and the school has been the champions of the Patriot League, a northeastern college soccer division, for the past three years.

Following her visit, she continued to stay in contact with the coaches. They attended her next showcase in California in early April and offered her the opportunity to play for the school.

“After [my California showcase] I gave them a call, and they offered me a scholarship and spot on the roster,” she said.

Although she has verbally committed to attend Boston University, her letter of intent must wait until senior year. “I am not signed and will not be able to officially sign with them until senior year,” said Conlin. “With the verbal commitment, I can call and email them to keep in touch or visit the school.”

In the meantime, Conlin will continue her soccer career on the high school team and her off-season team, the Minnesota Thunder Academy. While she looks forward to being a Boston University Terrier, Conlin plans to pursue a different career after college. “I don’t want to play after college,” she said. “I want to move on and get a good job.”

Read about more D1 athletes on page 11.

Remembering Prince

On Thursday, April 21, music legend Prince Rogers Nelson was found dead in his Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, MN. The cause of death is currently unknown, but he had been sick in the week preceding his death.

Many Minnesotans took

Prince’s death especially hard, as the 57-year-old musician was born in Minneapolis and was frequently spotted in the community.

Fans of all ages took to the streets of Minneapolis in mourning, hosting impromptu dance parties to celebrate Prince’s life.

While the death of the artist may not have a significant impact on most Mounds View students, his achievements did not go unnoticed.

“He was phenomenal.

Eccentric. Strange. He did it all,” said orchestra teacher Lucas Shogren.

- by Matthew Cooper photo courtesy of estiujsag.hu

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editorials

top 10 Things to do during your ReFLECT hour

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Transgender students need improved access to bathrooms

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8

ReRead the Viewer

6

ReGret asking them to prom

7

ReGo to the bathroom

5

ReMember Prince forever :’(

ReDuce, ReUse, ReCycle

ReAlize the corporate patriarchy exists

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Let’s live up to our mission

ReThink taking 6 AP classes

ReWatch Star Wars: The Force Awakens

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friday, April 29, 2016

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ReConsider only applying to Harvard

ReRoute traffic

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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

Cartoonist

Clare Carroll Adviser

cartoon by Kofo Mustapha

Mark sat quietly listening to his options. He was in a meeting, discussing his gender transition with his mom, dean and principal. Among other things, he learned he would not be able to use the boys bathroom.

Like many transgender students nationwide, Mark has found it difficult to navigate the gendered rules of high school. Unlike most students at Mounds View, he’s unable to use the bathroom of the gender he identifies with.

Recent events have placed trans bathroom laws at the forefront of a nationwide debate.

In March, North Carolina passed a bill that bans trans people from using bathrooms that match their gender identities, instead forcing them to use the bathrooms that correspond to their biological sex. This month, the American Family Association called for a boycott of Target when the company announced a new policy allowing trans people to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. The Marion County School Board in Florida has also decided to ban trans students from accessing the bathrooms of their gender identity.

This nationwide debate also affects students in our own school.

Mounds View doesn’t have a district or school policy regarding transgender students and bathrooms, leaving students like Mark to use the incorrect bathrooms and have their identities denied. Mounds View must take steps to create a safe environment for trans students by allowing them access to the bathroom that matches their gender identity.

First and foremost, when a trans student is prohibited from bathrooms that match their gender, it undermines their identity. “[Using] the bathroom of your birth sex is painful enough psychologically, because it’s invalidating you in a very deep way,” said Mark. Rules like these belittle trans people and completely disregard their emotions. “It seems to me [that people supporting these bans] are trying somehow to get [trans people] to stop existing—or stop existing in public.”

Those against trans-inclusive bathrooms often claim men will abuse trans rights to get access to bathrooms to harm women. However, trans students should not have their rights violated out of the fear that others will abuse their bathroom access. Additionally, based on trans people’s own experiences, these concerns are unreasonable.

“Before I transitioned, pretending to be a girl was horrible,” said Mark. “Why would someone go through all of the trouble of transitioning just so they can creep on other

people?” Those against inclusivity also overlook the fact that no crimes like that have ever been reported.

If these heteronormative bathroom rules claim that trans-inclusive bathrooms would facilitate sexual assault, should students of other sexual orientations also use different bathrooms? Invalidating the identities of trans students by prohibiting them from bathrooms that match their genders won’t solve the problem of sexual assault, and could even endanger these students.

In fact, many trans students don’t feel safe using the bathroom of their gender assigned at birth. “Transphobic people [could] find out who is trans and use that against them, perhaps even physically assault them,” said Mark. “When I used the bathroom pre-transition at school and outside, I would get people giving me strange looks. Sometimes people would insist that I ‘prove’ to them that I’m a girl, and I’ve even had old ladies throw me out.”

Currently, the school allows Mark to use the staff and nurse bathrooms. However, from his own experience, “[the] staff get really annoyed if [I] do that, so I have to go to the nurse bathroom, which is really far away from everywhere, especially my locker. It’s at the other end of the school from all of my classes and it closes after school is over, so if I’m staying after school for an activity or to talk to a teacher, I can’t use the bathroom at all.”

It’s evident that the current system governing trans students’ access to bathrooms is not enough. There must be a way for all students to access student bathrooms.

In the future, the school should gradually implement gender neutral bathrooms. Bathrooms could become, like water fountains or the nurse’s office, a genderless necessity that all students can access.

Mounds View needs to fight for the safety and inclusion of trans people. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 78 percent of K-12 trans students have experienced harassment, 35 percent have been physically assaulted, and 12 percent have been victims of sexual violence.

Mounds View’s mission statement states that the school is committed to building an inclusive community. If some students feel uncomfortable using something as simple as a bathroom, the school has not fulfilled its responsibility. Whether it be through creating a policy that sincerely addresses the needs of trans students or designating gender neutral bathrooms throughout the school, Mounds View needs to actively adapt to the needs of its diverse student body.

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

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.

editorials

Friday, April 29, 2016

Re-Focus Re-Learn Re-Examine Re-Connect Re-Teach

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ReFLECT An hour for students to work on homework, study for a test or hang out with friends

photo by Eva Hoffman

Math teacher Leah Higginbotham works with students during ReFLECT.

Reflecting on the ReFLECT hour An essential program for student growth

by Ben Davis and Jake Rosenow staff reporters Though an hour may not seem like much, the ReFLECT period’s positive impact has already been felt throughout the school. From seniors who simply want more sleep to freshmen tackling assignments for their first AP class, all students have benefited from the addition of a free hour.

ReFLECT provides focused time for teachers to be available to students during the school day.

Currently, many students have to come in before or after school if they have questions on class material. However, with close to 80 percent of students involved in a school-sponsored activity, such limited scheduling can be difficult. By adding an hour for students to ask questions and make up work during the school day, ReFLECT helps students find a healthy balance between schoolwork and other activities.

Even students who don’t need to retake assignments or clarify questions on class material can benefit from ReFLECT. A study published in Education World reported that the introduction of mandatory study halls led to a higher number of honor students, better average GPA scores and improved teacher morale at Mary High School

in Montebello, California. From discussing assignments with fellow students to simply taking a breath during their packed days, students can use the ReFLECT hour to meet their individual needs.

Some have argued that providing additional time for students may create more stress by encouraging high schoolers to take on even more commitments. This is a legitimate concern, considering that students are filling their schedules with an increasing number of AP and honors classes. However, it’s important to understand that ReFLECT is not an invitation for students to take on harder schedules. Students are still responsible for assessing other commitments to create an appropriate schedule. While some students may misunderstand the purpose of ReFLECT and use it as an opportunity to overbook their schedules, the benefits of ReFLECT to the entire student body are too great to be ignored.

ReFLECT is an instrumental tool in addressing the mental health and stress concerns of many high schoolers. According to a recent study by Stanford University, the constant stress of schoolwork has negatively affected the social well-being and family time of many teenagers.

An overabundance of homework can also lead to

sleep deprivation, which can result in decreased learning abilities and depression. Through allowing students to finish homework during the school day, ReFLECT promotes healthy amounts of social interaction and sleep.

Though the ReFLECT hour has proved to be extremely beneficial, there is still room for improvement. For example, during the first trial run, there were reports of students dumping crayons all over the library’s floor and sprinting through the hallways. Additionally, some teachers were unaware of the proper procedures for sending students to their classrooms. To address these issues, the school could assign students to supervised classrooms or implement more structure to the hour.

Students and teachers have long voiced the need for a solution to the various challenges that students face daily. The administration’s response of creating a free hour to help students keep up with the fast-paced Mounds View curriculum is appropriate and effective. With proper planning and execution, ReFLECT has the potential to lead to huge student growth, both academically and mentally.

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features Aaron Class of 2003

Ben Class of 2008

Friday, april 29, 2016

Roger & JoAnn Moberg David (Class of 1977) & Tami

Jim (Class of 1984) & Jen Dan & Sue (1978 MV grad)

Matt Class of2004 Jordan Class of 2006 Molly Class of 2010

Jake Class of 2016

Kylee Class of 2018

Sam Class of 2019

Joe (does not attend MV) Anna Class of 2016

Erik Class of 2019

An extended family of Mustangs

by Emily Moses features editor While many students have family members who have graduated from Mounds View, the Moberg-Swensen family boasts 10 Mounds View alumni, with five more students currently in the system.

Jake Moberg, 12, and Anna Swensen, 12, have not only grown up together as first cousins, but also as classmates. This year, they share a free hour and take Spanish 5 together.

“It’s a good base to have,” said Jake. “It’s a great tightknit community.”

Though they aren’t the only relatives at Mounds View, their different last names have sometimes caused misinterpretation about their relationship.

“People that don’t know we’re cousins are sometimes surprised,” said Anna. “One time someone asked if we were dating because we sit together in our free hour.”

The confusion doesn’t faze them; Jake and Anna are accustomed to having strong familial ties within the district.

“It’s fun to be able to see your family at school and to all share the same common background,” said Anna. “We all go here and have that connection.”

Even after graduating, many of their relatives have stayed connected through jobs across the district. Jake and Anna’s cousin, Aaron Moberg, currently serves as Chippewa teacher and sports coach, while Aaron’s five siblings and mother have also held jobs through Mounds View.

Aaron attributes the families’ loyalty to their positive educational experiences at Mounds View.

“We have all benefited from growing up in schools full of amazing educators and coaches, who sharpened us not only as students, but more importantly, as people,” he said.

“Having the opportunity to make a difference and give back is really an awesome platform to have.”

Looking ahead, Anna has similar plans to stay in the area. “I’m planning on going to Bethel,” said Anna. “I’d like to go explore other places too, but I do love the area and it’s fun to be by family. We’ll see.”

Jake, however, has a different agenda. “I love the area but I’m going to University of Montana and maybe try and live out West after,” he said. “But I don’t know, maybe I’ll find my way back here.”

Not one, not two, not three... but 10 Floeders

by Katrina Renacia features editor Unlike the average American family, the Floeders have not one, not two, but 10 children.

Joey Floeder, 11, is the sixth kid in the enormous Floeder family tree. “Everything seems larger,” said Joey. “We have a large house, a large kitchen table, large meals and large fun!”

With four brothers and two sisters still living in the house, there is a lot going on at the Floeder residence. “There is never a dull moment,” said Frankie Floeder, 12. “There is always something going on.”

While Joey and Frankie’s parents didn’t know how many kids they wanted, they were open to having a big family. “We view all life as a gift, and my parents see our family as a wonderful blessing,” said Joey.

The Floeders love to do things together. “In the winter, we like to watch family movies,” said Joey. “In the summer, we love to go swimming in Turtle Lake and to go on walks around our neighborhood. Sometimes we go on a family bike ride to visit our grandparents or go to the park.”

They also play sports such as badminton, basketball and volleyball as a family.

While everything in the Floeder house seems to be multiplied in a positive way, there are some downsides to having a big family.

“A more negative part of being such a large family is the noise in our house,” said Joey. “It seems that

photo coutesy of Joey Floeder From left to right: Vinnie, Charlie, Louie, Lucy, Rosie, Bernie, Annie, Jerry, Frankie, Joey, Mr. and Mrs. Floeder.

someone is always playing the piano, singing, listening to the radio, or shouting, making it hard sometimes to concentrate when you’re trying to do your homework or study.”

Aside from the distractions, the Floeder siblings also sometimes find it hard to find privacy at home.

“Nobody in our family gets their own room,” said Joey. “When everyone was still at home, it used to be me and three of my brothers in one room, my three sisters in another room, and my three oldest brothers in the basement with a triple bunk bed that my dad made.”

Although he wishes to have more solitude, Joey sees the positives of having a roommate. “Having my own room would be nice because it would allow me to have more privacy, but I think it is important to share a room because it teaches me how to share and to get along with others,” he said. “I am also kind of messy, so it forces me to be more neat.”

While physical resemblance runs in the family, not all of them share the same interests.

Frankie focuses on sports and being competitive.

“I like to win,” he said. “I’ve got the biggest muscles, and I could shred every single one of them in bowling.”

On the other hand, Joey’s interests lie on the opposite side of the spectrum. “I am not very athletic and prefer to participate in nerdy things like Science Olympiad and Quiz Bowl,” he said.

Joey and Frankie both see their older siblings as role models.

“One characteristic that I really admire in my older siblings that they are all hardworking,” said Joey. “They all did well in school and have a plan and a purpose in their life. I try to exemplify this same attitude through my actions so that I can be a good model for my younger siblings.”

Despite having so many siblings, however, Frankie doesn’t feel any pressure. “We all are unique.

We all have different strengths,” he said. “It isn’t necessarily living up to what they did, it is living up to what I can do.”

features

Friday, April 29, 2016

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Where in the world is Jasmin Kemp?

Sophomore travels the world looking for cultural immersion

by Hassan Lubega guest writer For many students, traveling means a break from all things learning. Aside from the occasional museum, most vacationers look forward to spending time by the pool and catching up on a good book or their favorite show. For Jasmin Kemp, 10, however, traveling has a much different connotation.

From Brazil to Turkey, and France to Thailand, Kemp has traveled the world, immersing herself in different 1

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we tend to only have a few beach days because we get bored and there’s so much to see.”

Though she enjoys traveling, Kemp has also gained valuable life lessons from experiencing the world. “You learn so much more than being in a classroom because you see it firsthand,” she said.

Her travels have taught her to avoid prejudging people. Kemp learned this firsthand during her trip to France. “I thought they would be snobby and condescending,” said Kemp, “when in reality they are hospitable and welcoming.”

As an officer of Diversity Council, Kemp uses her unique perspective to help celebrate the wide variety of cultures at Mounds View. “I really enjoy and appreciate the people on Diversity Council,” said Kemp. “Traveling has created a passion in me to learn about different cultures and bring diversity awareness to the school.”

While travel is an enriching experience, many lack the financial resources to make it a part of their lives. Kemp has found that wanderlust can be sated without breaking the bank. She suggests smaller, simpler trips to places that are close.

“My family has done a few trips up north and it’s been surprisingly adventurous,” she said.

“I plan on traveling as long as I can,” said Kemp.

As an adult, she sees herself making international travel an important part of her career.

For now, she hopes to revisit Bangkok, Thailand.

After that, it’s anyone’s guess where Kemp will be found.

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cultures and learning as much as she possibly can. Kemp forgoes the usual light tourism in favor of delving deep into the cultures of the places she visits.

Kemp cites her family as the cause of her affinity for travel. With two diverse parents, one Persian and one European, Kemp has always found herself exposed to a myriad of different outlooks.

“Having grown up in a multicultural family environment, I’ve taken to exploring other cultures that are different from my own,” she said.

Taking longer trips with an open mind has allowed Kemp and her family to investigate new places comprehensively.

“We spent a month living in Paris,” she said. “It was so lovely to immerse myself in the culture and language. My family does a mix of resorts and other traveling... [we] incorporate some beach time… but

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1: Temples in Bangkok, Thailand. 2: Kemp family poses in front of Santorini, Greece. 3-6: People from the Embra tribe in Panama. 7: Woman from the long neck tribe in Chiangmai, Thailand. photos courtesy of Jasmin Kemp

Moldovan student experiences life 5,079 miles from home

by Sunny Lim staff reporter Ted Calaras, 12, arrived in Minnesota on Aug. 22, 2015, just in time for the Minnesota State Fair.

Along with his purchase of a foot-long hotdog, he got a taste of what it was like to live in the Midwest.

“It’s been weird to watch TV shows back [home]... people make fun of Minnesota because it’s so cold, but then you get to experience it, and it’s actually really cool,” he said.

Though he enjoyed multiple visits to the fairgrounds, he left with one regret. “One of the things that I didn’t get… was the deep fried pickles,” said Calaras. “My dream is to get them.”

Calaras is an exchange student from Moldova.

Since his home country has a cold climate, he didn’t have trouble adjusting.

However, despite having Russian, Romanian, French and five years of English under his belt,

Calaras worried that his English might not be ready for immersion.

“I always feared [I had] a language barrier, but turns out that I don’t,” he said.

After attending school in Minnesota for almost a full year, he has noticed many differences. “I feel like [it] is a lot easier here because I get to do a lot of stuff after school. They typically stereotype back [home] that school is a lot easier here, but I think it depends what classes you choose,” said Calaras.

Like any foreign exchange student, Calaras went through a few weeks of school without knowing anyone. “It was weird because… you don’t have friends,” he said. “So [in the first two weeks], I would just come home, do my homework for an hour, and then have so much free time.”

From Minnesota traditions like the state fair to the weather, people and school life, Calaras is constantly learning new things. “[A few days ago], we were on a porch, and there was a bee, but it was not a bee; it

was a wasp. I’ve never heard that word, ever,” said Calaras. “It was so weird. Wasp. That sounds like the weirdest word ever.”

Although Calaras’ dream has always been to attend college in France, his experience in America has opened his eyes to colleges in the U.S. “I have to go back and do another year of high school, just because that’s how it all works,” he said.

“Initially, I always wanted to go study in France, where I can speak the language and it’s nice and warm. [Now] I’m trying to find scholarships for American colleges here.”

Calaras has learned a lot during his trip 5,079 miles from home. “You just have to not listen to stereotypes and just try to do stuff yourself,” said Calaras. “A lot of people that surround me hate Starbucks. So I was like, I should try it myself. So I go to Starbucks, I get a coffee, and it’s okay. I don’t hate it.

That’s my point.”

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e r e Wh a t s u M

I am going to New York University because of the International Relations program and because the city is really fascinating.”

-David Zhang, 12

“

University of Minnesota - Morris 1 MV grads

University of Wisconsin Eau Claire because it’s in a great town and close to family.”

-Maria Daley, 12

University of Minnesota - D 13 MV grads

“

I want to go to University of Minnesota - Twin Cities because of its excellent programs for science.”

-Kevin Li, 12

“ “

Century College 21 MV grads University of Minnesota - Twin Cities 58 MV grads

I am going to Luther College because of the community and music.”

University of St. Thom 19 MV grads

-Sam Olson, 12

I chose Eau Claire because of their accessible software engineering and music minor program. No other college has easy ways to do two things that I want.”

-John Snyder, 12

Gustavus Adolphus College 1 MV grads

“

I choose to go to the University of Minnesota for college, because it is close to home, cheap and it has the classes and majors I am looking for.”

-Leo Rossi, 12

“

St.

I’m going to University o Wisconsin - Madison bec amazing courses and op me to grow as a person, is beautiful.”

-Alyssa Stamper, 12

r u o e do go? s g n a UM, St.Thomas top students’ lists

by Alex Jiang online managing editor Come May 1, most Mounds View seniors will have committed to the place where they will spend the next two to four years. While we don’t yet know where they will be going, we can look to last year’s seniors as a guide.

Of the 404 seniors who graduated in 2015, 77 percent chose a four-year college, 14 percent chose a two-year college, one percent committed to military training, two percent found work/ apprenticeship and five percent ended the year still undecided as to their futures. These trends have remained relatively constant at Mounds View over the years.

According to self-reported data on Naviance, over 43 percent of 2015 seniors applied to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, the most popular college choice. Over two-thirds of Mustang applicants are admitted, and about onethird end up enrolling.

The second highest Mustang applicant pool was for the University of St. Thomas, where about one-fifth of the 2015 senior class applied; two-

Duluth

mas

thirds of them were accepted.

Another popular college among applicants is the University of Wisconsin - Madison, which is generally considered a moderate reach school still reasonably close to home. Around 16 percent of seniors reported applying to UW - Madison, although only 40 percent of applicants were accepted and 15 percent of applicants (ten students) enrolled.

In recent years, Mounds View has also had an increasing number of students make it to highly selective schools. Over the last three graduating classes, Mounds View has sent two students to the University of Pennsylvania, two to the University of Chicago, three to Stanford University, two to Harvard University and two to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Although these numbers may appear relatively low, they are higher than many other Minnesota public schools and a clear step up from the abundant zeros prior to 2013.

University of Wisconsin - River Falls 4 MV grads

. Olaf College 5 MV grads

of cause they offer pportunities for , and the campus

University of Wisconsin - Madison 10 MV grads

statistics from the senior class of 2015 infographic by Katie Karjalahti

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variety

friday, april 29, 2016

Two sides of the world in one city

Chimborazo

by Marley Jones staff reporter Made famous by restaurant chains like Chipotle and Taco Bell, Mexican food has been all the rage recently. However, Ecuadorian cuisine is a lesser-known but just as delicious alternative to the Mexican food we all know and love.

Chimborazo is an authentic Ecuadorian restaurant found on Central Avenue in Minneapolis that introduces guests to the traditional cuisines of Ecuador and the Andean highlands.

The interior of the restaurant is decorated with colorful rugs and bright string lights. Cheerful Ecuadorian music playing in the background creates an immersive cultural experience.

Since the indoor restaurant space is relatively small, the dining area flows out onto a patio near the parking lot. This makes it a great place to dine outside when the weather is beautiful.

Chimborazo serves many traditional Ecuadorian dishes, such as llapingachos, which are potato pancakes filled with cheese. They also serve chaulafan, a type of Ecuadorian fried rice with pork, chicken, shrimp and egg. Along with these meals, there are many tropical drinks like mango juice and guanabana juice, which tastes like a mixture of banana and pineapple.

The tres leches cake is a particular favorite dessert at the restaurant. Tres leches is a sponge cake soaked in three types of milk: evaporated, condensed and heavy cream. The cake is light, moist and definitely worth trying.

The food at Chimborazo is spicy, colorful and served in large portions. With lunch, dinner and brunch menus, there is no shortage of options to choose from.

Overall, Chimborazo is a unique restaurant that brings new flavors of food and the culture of Ecuador into the market of American cuisine. photos by Marley Jones Top: Chimborazo’s llapingachos, potato pancakes filled with cheese served with rice and sausage.

Bottom: The bright colors and design of Chimborazo help set the cultural atmosphere.

Holy Land Deli

by Jacob Weightman guest writer The Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis is a bustling, diverse marketplace filled with vendors selling wares from all over the world. Crowds of people gather in this open shopping center to enjoy the multicultural tastes of the Twin Cities. While fighting through the crowds and weaving between countless other venders, a hidden gem lies in one corner: Holy Land Deli.

Holy Land Deli is split into a deli and a restaurant. The deli offers a variety of ready-made Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods, and the adjoining restaurant serves delectable gyros and heroes. The restaurant has something for everyone; for the less adventurous, it offers conventionally American foods like burgers and fries.

Meals are prepared right in front of customers’ eyes as the skilled chefs assemble ingredients into a made-to-order masterpiece.

Watching the chefs makes for an entertaining experience while waiting in the busy market, further shortening the already brief wait. To finish it all off, pastries like baklava and kataifi are available for a modest $3 a piece.

After picking up your food, a secluded seating area across from the counter offers a respite from the noisy and lively market. A half wall separates this area from the busy walkways of the market, allowing one to enjoy their food in peace.

Experiencing the Midtown Global Market is a fantastic and unique experience, and with the diverse cuisines available it may be hard to pick one restaurant. Among all the choices, however, Holy Land Deli stands out; it is the perfect stop to experience the flavors of the Middle East.

photos by Aaron Voiovich Top: Customers enjoy the lively and bustling atmosphere of Holy Land Deli. Bottom left: Holy Land Deli offers a wide selection of precut meats. Bottom right: Patrons watch the chefs prepare their food.

reviews

friday, april 29, 2016

9

The Jungle Book: More than just the bare necessities

by Matthew Cooper reviews editor The excessive use of computer-generated images (CGI) in filmmaking is a very risky move. In some cases, such as the Star Wars prequel trilogy, it can be a disaster, leading to a disconnect between the actors and the imaginary world they inhabit. Other times, like with Avatar, the effects can astonish upon initial release, but later appear dated and unrealistic. Films such as Gravity and Life of Pi have just begun to show that the creation of entirely digital worlds doesn’t always have to be a catastrophe. Thankfully, Jon Favreau’s live action The Jungle Book remake further pushes the capabilities of CGI to extraordinary new heights.

Sticking closely to the 1967 Disney animated classic, The Jungle Book follows Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a young child raised by a pack of wolves in a fantastical jungle where animals talk like humans. A figure of controversy in the animal community, Mowgli attracts the attention of ferocious tiger, Shere Khan (Idris Elba), who wants nothing more than to see the “man-cub” killed. What follows is a series of joyous and exciting adventures as Mowgli is escorted to safety by Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), a black panther, and Baloo (Bill Murray), a bear.

From its opening shot, The Jungle Book wows with its photorealistic environments and creatures. Digital visual effects companies MPC and Weta Digital are almost entirely successful at crafting a completely computergenerated world (the only exception being Sethi’s Mowgli) and being consistently believable. There are brief moments of disconnect between Mowgli and the CGI, but they are few and far between. Overall, The Jungle Book is a triumph at everything from highly expressive animals with lifelike animations to incredible scenery and believable artificial lighting.

Luckily, the film succeeds at being more than just visually stunning. The Jungle Book sports an expansive and impressive ensemble that also includes the likes of Christopher Walken, Scarlett Johansson and Lupita Nyong’o. It’s uniformly excellent, with Bill Murray being an absolutely perfect casting choice as Baloo, and Idris Elba turning in a superbly villainous performance. Even without the animation, each voice actor properly fleshes out their character on their own—a testament to the often underappreciated form of acting.

The only mildly weak link is Neel Sethi, who is more than adequate in his first role, but is occasionally cast in the shadow of the more experienced supporting cast.

The only other real flaws in The Jungle Book come from the simplicity of the story.

It’s nothing more than a series of entertaining conflicts, and it lacks a clear and meaningful overall goal. Additionally, the inclusion of two musical numbers feels slightly out of place. While clearly meant to be throwbacks to the animated musical, in this version they come across as jarring, albeit still wonderfully enjoyable, additions.

Masterfully animated, sharply directed, and impeccably voice acted, Disney’s liveaction remake is a visual effects benchmark and a wildly fun ride. Only time will tell if the CGI will hold up, but The Jungle Book is the rare remake that surpasses the original in ambition and outcome, and is sure to appeal to fans of all genres.

The Verdict The Jungle Book improves on the 1967 original with groundbreaking visual effects and a stellar voice cast.

86

photo fair use from screenrant.com

With violence galore, Hardcore Henry lives up to its name

by Ben Yoch staff reporter If you have ever played a video game like Call of Duty, Battlefield, or Halo, you have already experienced a lot of the new film Hardcore Henry.

Filmed from a first-person perspective, Hardcore Henry’s 96-minute runtime is almost entirely filled with extremely intense and gruesome violence.

Although this change of technique may not revolutionize the action movie genre, it still makes for an exciting, action-packed ride.

The film opens with the titular Henry being resurrected and outfitted with robotic limbs in a Moscow laboratory. It doesn’t take long for things to kick off, as the film’s villain, Akan (Danila Kozlovsky), attacks the laboratory and captures Henry’s wife. After barely escaping with his life, Henry embarks on a quest to save his wife and take out anyone that gets in his way.

Throughout the film, Hardcore Henry stays consistent to its video game style. In each scene, there is typically an “objective” for Henry to accomplish, whether it’s killing a specific person or defending a building from Akan’s grunts. Additionally, screenwriters Ilya Naishuller and Will Stears sprinkle in some mystery by giving Henry amnesia—a common video game trope. They don’t reveal the movie’s major secrets until the end, which is a respectable display of patience.

As the first action movie ever filmed entirely from a first-person perspective, Hardcore Henry is

photo fair use from wired.co.uk

a unique experience. By watching the movie from Henry’s point of view, everything becomes a little bit more personal. When a gun is pointed at him, it is also pointed at you. Any time Henry gets injured, you experience his pain. You never have to wonder what he is thinking because you are him.

Unfortunately, due to the film’s point of view, some audience members might find themselves experiencing motion sickness. While the extensive fight choreography is natural for the actor, the violent motions can trick the brain into thinking it should be moving as it sits in a theater chair. Those that nauseate easily should stay away.

Without a doubt, Hardcore Henry lives up to its title and then some. This is not a film for the faint of

heart—it takes less than one minute for the movie to take violence to the extreme. Because the movie is stuffed with so much spectacular action, it begins to grow dull as the film progresses. For example, a man being lit on fire is very intense at the beginning of the film, but by the end, when Henry rips somebody’s head off with his bare hands, the effect is lost. Had there been more downtime between fight sequences, the film would have been less cumbersome.

Luckily, the character of Jimmy (Sharlto Copley), who serves as Henry’s protector and friend, adds some much needed comic relief. In fact, his dynamic character is the most interesting and creative part of the film. Jimmy is more likeable than any of the other characters because there is more to him than just mindless violence; he adds emotion and depth to the film.

While the combination of possible motion sickness and extreme violence may exclude a large number of moviegoers, Hardcore Henry will still be a fairly exciting and unique experience for action junkies and first-person shooter fans.

The Verdict Hardcore Henry’s firstperson perspective makes for a unique, but flawed, action experience.

75

10

Sports

Friday, April 29. 2016

Rookies take on challenging legacy

photos courtesy of Liza Vinyon

After losing 12 seniors, the baseball team is developing a new group of core players.

by Jackie Gaworski staff reporter After making it to three straight state tournaments—and winning in 2013 and 2014—the Mounds View baseball team has hopes to continue the streak.

Senior captains Jeff LeMay, Bo Lovdahl and Nick Lovdahl expect a challenging season, but they have faith the team can complete their goals. “Our goals this year are pretty simple. Win the conference, the section and win State,” said Bo. The boys are entering their season with a positive but rocky start.

“We have played some good teams so far and struggled a bit, but I am confident that we can get it together soon,” said Bo. Much of the struggle the team faces this year reflects a young group of players after the loss of 12 seniors.

“We will face a challenge with our pitchers. We will need newcomers to step up and give us some quality innings to be successful this year,” said LeMay. “With that loss, we are fairly inexperienced on the varsity team, with just a handful of players contributing to the squad in years past.”

Coach Mark Downey is hopeful despite the many unseasoned players.

“Having lost a lot of starters from last year, there are a number of players getting their first experience with varsity baseball, which is exciting. We are inexperienced on the mound with the exception of the senior captains, but this gives us opportunities to develop a pitching staff,” said Downey.

Along with developing new players, Downey is excited to see the team’s progression.

“Each year we want to improve throughout the season and be ready to compete in the Section playoffs, with the goal of winning a section championship,” said Downey.

Although the boys have set high

standards, they are mostly focused on the team aspect of baseball.

“The best part about baseball is just being with my buddies. It’s a great thing to just spend some quality time outside with your friends. I look forward to it every day,” said LeMay. Despite a high-pressured season, the boys and Downey know what’s most important for their season.

“The most important goal for me is that the players have an enjoyable spring baseball experience competing hard with their friends,” said Downey.

“With the senior leadership led by LeMay and the Lovdahls, I know we will be able to accomplish that.”

Boys lacrosse: New coach catches on

by Rigney Cunningham staff reporter

After three years as an assistant coach, Matthew Puskarich was made the head coach of the Mounds View boys lacrosse team this year.

Lacrosse has always been part of Puskarich’s life.

He grew up playing high school lacrosse in Madison, Wisconsin and later played college lacrosse at the University of Minnesota. From there, he coached the JV team at East Ridge High School before coming to Mounds View.

The boys on the team have helped ease him into his role as head coach. “They come to practice ready to work and give 100 percent effort. They don’t complain; they don’t get frustrated with things. It’s been a lot of fun so far,” said Puskarich.

Just three weeks into the season, Puskarich is already helping the team. “He is bringing a more of a positive attitude to the season and connecting a lot more with the players than the previous coach,” said Quinn McDonagh, 11.

Puskarich says his goal is to bring a higher energy level to the team. “I try to go with 100 percent all the time, and there is more running in practice and things like that,” he said.

While the team lost its first game, Puskarich saw it as a learning experience for himself and the boys.

“For me, it’s about realizing that it’s okay to make a mistake once, but after, we have to correct that mistake. We need to learn and grow from it. If we are not learning from a bad experience, that’s where we will run into trouble,” said Puskarich.

The team has a lot to look forward to this season.

Playing in-conference games will be a great opportunity for the Mounds View boys to show their ability as players and for Puskarich to show his ability as a coach. “I’m really looking forward to our in-conference game, just because we haven’t had great success against White Bear and Stillwater recently,” said Puskarich.

If all goes well, Puskarich says that he would love to coach again next season. “I’ll talk with all of the players at the end of the year to see how they all

thought I did, and if that’s all positive I definitely want to be back,” he said.

photo by Eva Hoffman

sports

Friday, april 29, 2016

Senior athletes commit to college

11

Ean Deno

by Katrina Renacia features editor After going through the recruitment process for two years, Ean Deno, 12, committed to Minnesota State University, Moorhead in January, and signed a letter of intent on National Signing Day held Feb. 3.

A member of the varsity football squad since sophomore year, Deno attracted attention from colleges due to his strength, speed and determination.

While Deno also looked into Bemidji State University and Winona State University, he chose Moorhead because of the coaches, players and atmosphere. “The coaches are great at what they do and are amazing people as well,” said Deno.

“Every time I talked to them they were the nicest people.”

Throughout the recruitment process, Deno stayed connected with coaches from multiple colleges. He received four to five emails a day from them talking about football and college. As a junior, Deno also received calls from his position coach in Moorhead asking him how he was, and his coach even went as far as visiting him at school three times in senior year.

While other schools reached out to Deno, Moorhead went beyond simple phone calls or emails, inviting Deno and his family to visit the school on a weekend. “We got to stay in a hotel for two nights paid for by the team,” he said.

“After that Saturday I sat down with the coaches and let them know that I would be committing to play there next year.” photo courtesy of Ean Deno

Laura Oh

by Katrina Renacia features editor

photo courtesy of Laura Oh

After nine years of gymnastics and thousands of hours spent practicing, all of senior Laura Oh’s hard work has finally paid off. In February, she committed to University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a full-ride scholarship.

“I visited many schools, but once I visited this one, I knew I had to go here,” said Oh. “The coaches and other gymnasts were beyond nice and treated me like family.”

While Oh received a full-ride scholarship, the recruiting process was very competitive. “There are only about 40 Division I (D1) schools for gymnastics, which is very small compared to other sports,” she said. “Only the top one percent are able to go D1.”

Due to the limited number of schools and intense competition, Oh reached out to many schools. She started

Emily and Rachel Boyer

by Katrina Renacia features editor While Emily and Rachel Boyer, 12, verbally committed to North Dakota State University (NDSU) as sophomores, they considered several schools such as University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and St. Thomas, before officially signing their letters of intent on Feb. 3.

“You have to verbally commit pretty early in your high school career because coaches have to fill their rosters,” said Rachel.

The Boyers were drawn to NDSU because of its great soccer and academic program.

“I chose NDSU because I liked the soccer team chemistry as well as the school,” said Emily. “They have a really great program for my major, and my academic advisor seemed to be more involved with students than any other advisor I had previously met.”

Rachel’s reasons were similar. “I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the school and definitely the coach and the team chemistry really made the decision making process easier,” she said.

With over 12 years of experience, the Boyer twins appealed to many soccer coaches from different colleges. They have both been on the varsity team since their freshmen year

in high school. As a freshman, Emily was named as the rookie of the year and received all-conference honors.

This season, the team named her the MVP. Rachel received all-conference, all-state and all-metro honors in both her sophomore and senior years, and was a Ms. Soccer finalist this year.

While injuries prevented Emily from securing a major athletic scholarship, she hopes to impress her coach at NDSU. “Because I was injured for a good amount of time during the recruiting process, my coach is saving a scholarship for me after I play a full year,” she said. “So I don’t have a full ride or anything super sweet like that, but I do have some saved for the next year.”

Rachel, however, was fortunate to have been awarded with a major scholarship that covers everything but her meal plan and transportation.

The Boyer twins are excited to continue their soccer career and further their studies as Bisons.

“I’m excited to see where my studies take me, and all the new adventures that come along with college,” said Emily. “I’m also extremely excited to start at the next level of soccer and get into an atmosphere of high-level competitive soccer.”

contacting coaches and emailing them videos of her skills in freshman year. By the end of her senior year, she had sent over 100 videos to different coaches.

During her senior year, the University of Nebraska reached out to her and recruited her to be part of their team and offered her a full-ride.

“Being able to accomplish my childhood dream and to continue something that means so much to me,” she said. “It makes the 22 hours a week of practice for six years and not having much of a social life all worth it.”

While she feels a little nervous about being far from home, Oh is excited for college. “I am looking forward to competing with an amazing team and having many fans come watch and support me and the team that aren’t just my parents,” she said.

A great place to start!

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friday, april 29, 2016

Secrets of the humble potato From the fields to our hearts

by Kallie Slotvig staff reporter As the number one vegetable crop in the world, potatoes have found their way into the cuisine of almost every culture, but where did they originate?

Potatoes have been around since 8,000 B.C., when the Incans first cultivated them in Ancient Peru. Raw slices of potatoes were placed on broken bones to promote healing and were even used to measure time.

Almost 10,000 years later, the Columbian Exchange brought potatoes to Europe. Initially shunned by Europeans for resembling the poisonous plant nightshade, potatoes took almost four decades to become popular. By mashing them, Frenchman Antoine-Augustin Parmentier made the potato unrecognizable, removing the stigma surrounding them.

Eventually, the affordability and practicality of the potato won the hearts of Europeans. Farmers found that cultivating potatoes was easier than growing wheat and oats. This was especially true in Ireland, where potatoes quickly became a staple of the Irish diet.

Unfortunately, the Columbian Exchange also brought the potato blight to Ireland. The fungus responsible for the disease came from the New World via ship hulls, causing the worst European famine of the 19th century. Almost three quarters of a million people starved to death, and thousands of Irish peasants migrated to other countries in hopes of finding a more sustaining diet.

As people migrated to other countries and regions of the world, they brought the potato with them. Potatoes became an immediate delicacy in China, and by 1860, reached the nations of Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria. 40 years later, the potato had become part of the cuisine of every culture.

Should you eat potatoes?

by Kallie Slotvig staff reporter

What’s your favorite way to eat potatoes?

21% Mashed potatoes

32% Fries

13% Tater tots

10% Baked potatoes 3% Other

6% Potato chips 15% Hashbrowns

103 students surveyed information compiled by Kallie Slotvig

Perhaps one of the most versatile foods in our diets, potatoes have long been an American favorite. Whether fried, baked, boiled or mashed, potatoes make their appearance at nearly every meal and can be combined with nearly every condiment. With so many options—some considerably healthier than others—it’s hard to know if we should even eat potatoes.

According to Time, five out of five experts say potatoes are healthy. Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, the typical baked potato has 36 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C, 27 percent of the potassium, and 14 percent of the fiber, most of which is found in the skin. These nutrients are essential for maintaining bone strength, balancing muscle growth and aiding in digestion.

What’s more, different types of potatoes have different health benefits. Purple potatoes, for example, have been known to prevent certain types of cancer, while sweet potatoes strengthen the immune system.

However, these benefits are only present in plain baked potatoes. Add unhealthy condiments and toppings and the perks are considerably reduced. For example, adding a small side of sour cream doubles the number of calories and significantly increases the amount of saturated fat. McDonald’s fries are even worse offenders, with a small size containing three times the sodium and saturated fat of a baked potato with sour cream.

Lastly, it’s important to watch out for the potato’s ability to affect blood sugar. Even consuming a plain baked potato shoots blood sugar levels up in a just a few minutes. To slow this down, research scientist Dan Ramdath suggests eating a baked potato with foods high in fiber.

While five out of five experts still say, “yes” to eating potatoes, they also say to be careful about how you eat them and what you eat them with. Potatoes will most likely remain a versatile American staple for years to come, and with the right choices, their health benefits will be just as numerous.

photo and infographic by Eva Hoffman