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Friday, May 9, 2014

Volume 61, Issue 12

$9.50 The rising minimum by Eva Hoffman staff reporter How much money should the person with the worst job in Minnesota get paid? This is exactly what the state government is trying to figure out. Minnesota’s minimum wage has always been one of the lowest in the country. Currently it is set at $6.15, while the Federal minimum wage is more than a dollar more at $7.25. A possible rise in wage is currently under discussion. According to CNN, Minnesota’s minimum wage will be raised to $9.50 by 2016. Other states, such as Delaware, Hawaii, and Maryland have similar plans. The outcome could affect many Mounds View students. Although it could appear shallow to want more money, much of student income goes into college savings. Madeline Baratger, 12, said, “The stuff I spend, I spend on the things I want, but a lot of it goes into savings accounts for college.” However, many see more drawbacks than benefits. Many students are concerned with the possible downsides this could bring in the long run.

Ryan Slick, 12, believes that prices would rise if minimum wage went up. “I’m against it because if they did raise it, everything would get more expensive.” Griffin Anderson, 12, also sees the possible wage raise in Minnesota as problematic. “Price for small items like pop would go up even if we were making more money,” said Anderson. However, some do see a good side to raising minimum wage. Morgan Doble, 10, said, “I am definitely for raising minimum wage because it helps teenagers who can’t get a full time job get the most amount of money in the least amount of time.” Some staff, too, believe that minimum wage should be raised. English teacher Gretchen Nesset said, “I think we need to provide people with a living wage. A person working full time should be able to live on what they make.” Others worry that with the rise in wage will come unemployment. “If employers can’t pay their employees, people lose their jobs and unemployment goes up,” said Jan Swanson, paraprofessional.

photos by Eva Hoffman

Josh Rydberg, 11, and Austin Bates, 11, are hoping to have more money in their pockets.

Strict law battles bullies Harassed students expect new law will cut down on abuse by Emily Ruan staff reporter The bathroom falls silent when Alice enters. She makes a beeline for the sink and scrubs as quickly as possible, aware that the running water is the only sound in the room. Suddenly, a voice exclaims, “Oh my god, it’s a boy!” “No, I’m a girl,” says Alice, reaching for a paper towel. It’s starting again. “No, you’re not! Pull up your shirt to prove you have boobs,” the girl demands. Alice ignores her. She tosses her used paper towel and turns to leave. For Alice, a sophomore whose name has been changed, this is not a unique occurrence. Since October, she has identified as panromantic, meaning attracted to people of both genders. The new Minnesota bullying legislation passed on April 9 prompted a sigh of relief.

“I was relieved, I think it’s great,” she said. The Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act promises to put stronger anti-bullying policies in place. The law requires schools to have clear and explicit policies in place to prevent and deal with bullying. A new state School Climate Council has been created expressly for the purpose of dealing with cases of bullying, linked to each school by a designated— and mandated—“main contact.” Training procedures for staff and volunteers have also been updated. These new conditions are unlikely to dramatically change Mounds View’s policies, according to Superintendent Dan Hoverman. “There are some technical aspects of [the law] that we’ll need to take a better look at, but a large, large percentage are things that we already do,” he said. Even so, many students feel that the new law has value. Joe Morey, 12, is a student who came out as bisexual during his sophomore year. “You hear stories

about kids from other schools that deal with extreme hate mail and these really, really abusive peers, and it’s absolutely heart-wrenching,” he said. “This new law is a good step in the right direction.” However, some students are not convinced, voicing concerns that it could limit students’ and districts’ independence. “In my opinion, this new law is trying to do too much,” said Carly Bandt, 12. “With the definitions being set by the state, students are at a greater risk for inadvertently ‘breaking the law’ by saying something out of context, which may stifle the great discussion and exchange of ideas that I love at Mounds View.” The administration has remained firm in its stance against bullying. “If it’s affecting a student in school, it needs to be addressed,” said Principal Jeff Ridlehoover. “Regardless of where it took place or when, we need to make sure that our kids are feeling supported when they walk in our doors.”

2editorials TOP

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor

Joe Janey

Editors Agree

STAFF EDITORIAL 1

Editor Disagrees

“Stanford” at Mounds View. While the average student may not be very knowledgable concerning the prestige of the lesser-known colleges, employers and professionals certainly have high opinions of them and they are common paths to graduate programs. In fact, in terms of prestige, Forbes’ overall college ranking placed Pomona number two, second only to Stanford. Swarthmore was ranked sixth—before Harvard, which retained eighth place. Small liberal arts colleges are permeating the pinnacle of American educational reputations. Closer to home, Carleton, St. Olaf, Macalester, and the University of Minnesota Morris offer similar liberal arts educations. The most important motivating factor to consider when making a decision is the life education offered by the college you select. David Foster Wallace gave an overarching speech at Kenyon College (a LAC) on the value of a real education. A real education teaches people to think. A real education gets people to see the world as a global community of interconnected individuals. It teaches people how to recognize and understand

culture. According to Wallace, a real education prepares you for life. A liberal arts college does this in an incredible way. First, the emphasis on humanities like philosophy and literature, linguistics and cultural studies help individuals to get a sense for what it truly means to be human and interact with other humans and their beliefs and traditions and routines. Second, faculty is closer to students than at a large university. People matter and can recognize one another without fading into the background. Facilities are not overcrowded, and people are closer knit. Third, the quality of science and engineering facilities and professors can be at any level desired depending on the LAC. If a student wants a biology major, but still is intrigued by the humanities, he or she can find a LAC with a strong biology program (there are many). If a student is into engineering, Harvey Mudd College, one of the most prestigious colleges in the country, has a fantastic engineering program. Many other LACs also have engineering programs. Fourth, Division III NCAA athletics are common among

LACs. Athletes that could not or did not want to compete at a higher level can stick with the sport they love or more readily try something new. Joining a DIII sports team is a great and relatively accessible way to ease the college transition. Representing a school in a direct way, instead of cheering for DI athletes from the bleachers is more personal and arguably more fun. As far as cost of attendance goes, liberal arts colleges are often private and therefore lack government subsidies. However, for students of modest financial backgrounds, financial aid is fantastic at private schools with large endowments, especially if the school is a U.S. News and World Report “Best Value College.” Financial aid can make a liberal arts education at a great private school possible. All in all, LACs are a worthwhile investment for both your economic future and your intellectual and human future. If you are a junior or sophomore and are beginning to think about applying to colleges, consider some LACs, there are hundreds to choose from!

Phoebe Ke

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

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Where to get a real education

College decisions have come to a close for this year’s senior class. Seniors are committing and getting excited for what next year’s college steps to prepare for AP experience has in store. There are many factors that go into testing a college decision: financing Steal study books from one’s education, school reputation, major interests, Graham Goodwiler acceptance rates, friends and family, location, career Open Study book opportunities, and the like. What often goes overlooked is life education. Small liberal Cry arts colleges (LACs) are very strong in the final category and Close Study book many misconceptions surround them when the other categories are considered. Cry Small LACs provide stellar educations throughout America. With extremely Get Graham Goodwiler comfortable student to faculty to take the exam for you ratios, a strong emphasis on the humanities and arts, Repeat until all exams are more personal research completed opportunities, discussionbased courses, community and Put off looking at scores cultural emphases, and great national reputations, such colleges are perhaps the most Look at scores in September effective, most thoroughly immersive institutions for higher education. Cry Many students haven’t heard of liberal arts schools like Pomona or Swarthmore— 2013-2014 such names don’t quite resonate like “Harvard,” or Viewer Editors

May 9, 2014

Macalester College Campus in St. Paul

photos by Christine Kao

James Birr, Kobi Endrizzi,

Staff Aaron Adams, Emma Blume, Sarah

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

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

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.

Charity: not just for resumes

presented to the public. It not only demonstrates your compassion and heart, but also shows who you are as a human being. “Volunteering has helped me grow so much,” said Andrew Smith, 11. “I feel really good to help others.” To some, volunteering can be a way to satisfy the ego to go to a good college. It can be something to brag about on your college application. But volunteering for the sake of helping others in your community can define a person and help him or her mature in ways classrooms can’t. And while maybe one’s true effort and motive for volunteering will not show up on a college application, the lessons learned about compassion and the importance of giving is crucial to the development of teens. It would be a shame if the idea of volunteering turns to nothing more than a bragging tool for college.

by Josh Yuan staff reporter Volunteering is a large part of our daily lives. While many think of it only as helping out in the community, volunteering can be little things such as picking up litter in the school cafeteria or raising your hand and speaking up during class. Volunteering can be found all around us. Think back when you were in kindergarten and elementary school. When you gladly agreed to pass back artwork to your peers or helped clean up someone else’s mess when your teacher asked for any volunteers; you had no incentives to do any of it, you just wanted to help. In high school, however, the goal of volunteering for students seems to have changed. Often times volunteer works are no longer done from the will to help others, but for the more self-centered purpose of adding accomplishments on one’s college application. The idea of volunteering has evolved from an act of

photo by Alistair Tang

Students spent 45 minutes cutting out cloths to be made into baby clothes during the Bundles of Love event at Mounds View’s Service Week. kindness to a stepping stone towards a selfish goal. Colleges nowadays want to know the applicants not only through their grades and standardized test scores, but also their accomplishments out of the classroom and in the community. But to some, volunteering has become nothing more than a way to increase chances for college. It represents chores and

greedy gains rather than acts of kindness that one wants to initiate. Though that can be a reasonable explanation to do volunteer work, the importance of giving back and helping others are lessons that are often not taught in the classroom and should not be overlooked. Volunteering should be a way to show the community your gratitude for all the service and utilities that are

by Sean Sabeti-Oseid staff reporter

Editor opinions What your Viewer editors think of various issues.

photo by Alistair Tang

As money becomes more influential in politics, corporations are more powerful than ever before. of the United States. By first ruling that money counts as speech and that corporations have First amendment rights, this has allowed corporate donorship to effectively drown out the voices of common citizens. Politicians are now beholden to their donors out of the fear of a barrage of campaign ads against them.

“With the worst behind us, there’s no better feeling than looking towards the best.” - Ryan Yoch features editor

“Stop and take a breath.”

- Nina Bertelsen business manager

Student VIEWS

“In my opinion, volunteering is one of the most valuable ways to spend one’s time. There are so many benefits, such as interpersonal relationships, networking, self-satisfaction, job experience, and of course helping others that make it extremely worthwhile.” -Carly Bandt, 12

“Volunteering at the St. Paul Children’s Hospital has made me interested in pursuing a career as a nurse.” -Sejin Kim, 11 photos by Alistair Tang

Democracy is dead With deadlock in Congress, two government shutdowns, and most egregiously, the endless flow of corporate money determining the fate of our elections, politicians no longer represent their constituents. As students who are approaching the legal voting age, is this the sort of government we wish to inherit? A government that isn’t beholden to its citizens, but rather to the highest bidders? In both the House and the Senate, the candidate with more campaign money wins over nine out of every ten elections. In the modern political arena of the United States, it matters little which party you are aligned with or what ideas you may propose. The only thing that matters when getting elected is how much money you can throw into the ring. Recently, the McCutcheon vs. F.E.C. ruling by the Supreme Court has expanded the rights of those who donate massive sums of money to politicians; politicians who are supposed to represent us. This is nothing particularly new, however. Since 1976, the Supreme Court has opened the door for multinational corporations to interfere in the politics

editorials

May 9, 2014

For every dollar spent on lobbying, a corporation will receive $220 in tax breaks, giving them a 22,000 percent return on investment. What could possibly be done to combat this? Congress has been unwilling to act over the past few decades, and the Supreme Court has only broadened the problem. All of this may be true, but 86 percent of Americans are also deeply troubled with the growing influence of money in national politics. The only solution to this problem is to propose an amendment to the Constitution The most realistic way this is being carried out is by calling an Article V Convention. The state of Vermont has voted overwhelmingly in support of calling for one, and countless other states are also interested in calling for a convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It makes no difference whether or not you are a liberal or conservative—73 percent of Americans believe corruption in the Federal government is widespread. As Americans, we are all against the influence that wealthy donors and multinational corporations have in the elections. If we don’t decisively act on this issue, who will?

“Modern art is less about aesthetics and more about conveying a concept. It opens up the art world to people who are creative in non-traditional ways.” - Rebecca Nara gallery editor

“People have so many opinions.” - Tristan Aschittino editorials editor

4features BABY MUSTANGS! May 9, 2014

Four Mounds View teachers welcome newborns

photo courtesy of Shannon Belland photo courtesy of Leah Higginbotham

Above: Five-month-old Natalie Higginbotham shows off her brand new Easter bunny outfit. Right: Three-month old Hadley DeCent (left) hangs out with two-month-old Luke Belland (Right). Below: Two-month-old Elisha Sobas is all smiles as he prepares for his trip to KinderMusik, a music class for babies.

photo courtesy of Sarah Sobas

by Persis Ke staff reporter Math teacher Leah Higginbotham sits at her kitchen table, grading the last of her 58 AP Calculus tests when the wailing begins. It’s her five-month old baby girl, Natalie, ready for her next meal. In addition to Higginbotham, three other Mounds View teachers had their first babies this year: science teacher Sarah Sobas and English teachers Bethany DeCent and Shannon Belland. Students were thrilled to learn their teachers were pregnant, asking questions and suggesting names. “We took polls on whether the baby would be a boy or a girl and we talked about baby names sometimes,” said Belland, whose baby boy, Luke Andre Belland, is now two months old. “They all got to see the baby move.” Her students also adjusted to her mood swings, learning when they shouldn’t mess around. Though Belland has been enjoying maternity leave, it has also been tiring. “Sometimes [maternity leave is] more work than being at school, mostly because I get about half the sleep,” she said. “Our days consist of Luke doing a lot of eating, sleeping, and pooping. We have a lot of fun playing when he is awake.” Maternity leave was also a big change for DeCent. Her life now heavily revolves around her three-month-old daughter, Hadley. Hadley is still settling into her schedule, and DeCent’s days and nights are hectic. “Diapers are crazy,” said DeCent. “We literally change diapers non-stop.” Despite the busy schedule, DeCent thought about her students frequently while on leave. “I [thought] about my drama kids a lot,” said DeCent. “[Antigone was] the first production that I wasn’t a part of since I started teaching at Mounds View.”

Like DeCent, Sobas also thought of her students during her 10-week leave, “I [did] worry about what they [were] learning because I will need to prepare them for finals,” she said. However, her time has largely been taken over by her two-month-old son, Elisha. “Maternity leave...is a big change from teaching,” said Sobas. “Though I may be home, it’s not a vacation. Taking care of a young infant takes work.” Higginbotham, who gave birth to her daughter Natalie on Nov. 28, returned to school soon after second semester began. After experiencing problems with her long-term substitute, Higginbotham was worried about returning to school. Higginbotham’s long-term substitute quit during first semester, leaving her classes without a teacher. “I was very apprehensive—I wasn’t sure how it would end up,” said Higginbotham. “But Dr. Ridlehoover said…he would take care of it. It was a weight lifted off my shoulders, and I was able to start second semester fresh.” On May 1, both Sobas and DeCent returned to school. Belland will be returning on June 2. However, she will not continue teaching next year. “I am going to be a stay at home mom and I feel extremely lucky to be able to be home with my son everyday.” she said. “I will miss my students, my coworkers who have become friends, and Student Council. However, I am happy to know that I will always be a Mustang—once as a student and once as a teacher. Mounds View holds a special place in my heart.” Although these four teacher-moms are relatively new to parenting, they have learned a lot in the past year. “I think having a baby is a great reminder that education starts and ends in the home,” said Sobas. “My conviction that parents are my greatest allies in education was reinforced with having a baby.”

features

May 9, 2014

‘L rd’ of the rings Furqan Syed creates not only rings, but a business too

photo by Aaron Adams

by Aaron Adams staff reporter High schoolers vary dramatically with respect to employment. Some work during the year, some work during the summer, some don’t work at all. While most have had some skirmish with a job, how many students have launched their own business? Furqan Syed has done exactly that, designing and printing rings for people at his Sunday school. Syed originally got into business in an attempt to challenge himself. He chose to work with 3D printing—layering miniscule layers of molten plastic into a finished product—because he felt it would make a good entrance to the market, even though he’s fairly ambivalent about it. “I’m not that passionate about it; it’s just that 3D printing is something relatively new…that I can still join without having to know all that knowledge of the industry.” Despite entering into the business this year, Syed already has a fairly complex system in place. “The customer will approach me and tell me the bulk of the order and what it should look like. I design it...and send it back,” Syed said. The customer then critiques the design, leading to multiple refinements. “It could take about a week to get a design the customer likes, and after that I just order it,” Syed said. These designs can range from a pattern across the entire ring to something a bit more specialized. To actually produce the rings, he uses an online vendor that uses 3D printing to create rings exactly as specified, for about $2 per ring. The material used is most often Aluminide, a metal with unusual bonding abilities, but “depending on the material I’ll use different vendors since each has different prices,” Syed said. Production and delivery can take another week. The designing process is the part where Syed has direct control, and he uses a self-taught Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) program to design the rings

with pinpoint precision. “I always try to get a CAD drawing before ordering anything,” Syed said. “Most of the time I just take a flat image and just rotate it, so I’d say anyone can do it.” Getting started and increasing demand proved a challenge, Syed admits. He sells his rings at his Sunday school since he has more exposure there, but didn’t foresee the problems that would cause. “My Sunday school is a pretty conservative religious school. It’s kind of that resistance to it, just from a religious standpoint. Initially, there wasn’t that much demand for it,” Syed said. Despite this, he has built his demand to a respectable position. “I wouldn’t say I get a lot of customers, but definitely more than I did in the beginning,” Syed said. According to Syed, there were many reasons to enter the world of 3D printing. “I was looking at the big hotspots of technology, and 3D printing is something I could get into...because of its low cost,” Syed said. He also wanted to get behind powerful technology he predicts will have a huge impact. “3D printing is a great market to enter, because it’s so innovative. If we as a human race are going to progress, we have to stand on the shoulders of those before us, not on the sandy feet of the ancients,” Syed said. So far, Syed is still in the early stages of his business. His rings currently only sell for around $5, and his reach is limited. He acknowledged that his profits and demand thus far have been limited. “Marketing-wise, I usually have to go to the [customers]...I have to create the demand,” Syed said, adding that he advertises “mostly by exposure.” “I haven’t made a lot of money, but that’s mostly because I’ve been so busy with schoolwork,” Syed said. Later on, he hopes to expand on his creations. “Once I’m done with AP testing, I hope to be able to market to school students, and I hope to see my success increase

photo by Nicole Wahlin

Furqan Syed, 10, displays his 3-D printed rings.

exponentially,” Syed said. “In the future I see it being sold to Mounds View clubs or students.” Syed’s plans go far beyond selling to Mounds View students. “I see myself going in a totally new direction after high school, I’ll probably go to college, get education in a certain scientific field that I really enjoy, and then using that knowledge to try to [innovate] in that direction,” Syed said. However far the business goes, it proves the drive of its creator and is a testament to his innovation.

From choice to chore

Science Olympiad students frustrated by requirements by Ryan Yoch features editor Debate over the state of Mounds View’s Hybrid Applied Science Olympiad class has intensified in recent months as “SciOly” participants gear up for Nationals. Although last year, the class, according to coach Dan Butler, was “strongly recommended,” it was not officially required for students in Science Olympiad. This year, however, marks the first in which enrolling in Hybrid Science Olympiad is not optional for kids who wish to compete with the team. Butler said the reasons behind the policy shift can be boiled down to accountability and compensation. With the team growing in both seriousness and students, being a Science Olympiad coach had become much more than a simple volunteer job. “We had teachers working extra hours after school, managing more than 50 students. Offering Science Olympiad

as a class allows teachers to be compensated for their time and students for their efforts,” said Butler. “Plus, we have a culture of winning,” added Butler. “Our expectation is that you will do well, and I think having the class works well for us because it keeps students accountable.” Butler and co-coach Thomas Carr have ensured this accountability using logbooks and quizzes. Students are required to record five hours of Science Olympiad-related work in their book each week and periodically take quizzes to make sure they are on track for their events. Hours cannot be transferred week to week, so a student who worked ten hours one week still must work five hours the following week to receive their five performance points. According to Denis Li, 11, who has been with the team for three years and competing on varsity for two, the logbook system is largely redundant. “Let’s say I wanted to do soccer,”

said Li. “It would be like telling me, ‘Oh, to do soccer you have to take a class. And in that class all you do is log what you do at practice.’” Some students, like Krystal Jamison, 11, agree with the coaches that logs are a good way to keep students on track. “I know a lot of people are annoyed by it, but honestly it’s not that hard to just suck it up and do it,” said Jamison. “The requirement is five hours a week, but I normally do anywhere from 20 to 30 hour a week anyway.” Students are also concerned that since Hybrid Science Olympiad is not AP, weighted GPA’s are brought down by even an “A” in the class. Butler dismissed this complaint, saying that students spend too much time worrying about their grades. “Weighted grades are dumb. If we didn’t have weighted grades, this wouldn’t be an issue. I think students are over-concerned with grades,” he said. The biggest issue, however, is one that cannot be defined by GPAs

or logbooks: Students are saying that the class takes the fun out of Science Olympiad. “It’s kind of like what we learned about in Psych with intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Last year, you were motivated to do Science Olympiad because it’s fun,” said Li. “But when you add in the whole grade thing, you start doing it not because it’s fun, but because you have to. It makes it more like a chore.” Brandon Duffy, 10, agreed. “Last year I studied because I wanted to study,” said Duffy. “But this year with the five hour requirement, I’m studying because I have to meet their requirements.” Debate over the plan for next year is still underway between students, coaches, and the administration. Some have proposed allowing students to take the class on a pass-fail basis, rather than for a letter grade, an idea that both students and Principal Jeff Ridlehoover see as a good compromise.

Who am

How does your ethnic background you define yourself ?

Check ‘Other’ by Clara Wang staff reporter Whether it’s a census, a college application, or a work form, your heritage is quantified through a little checkbox. For a growing number of people, checking “Other” just doesn’t cut it. According to the New York Times, mixed-race citizens in the U.S. have experienced a 32 percent population growth from 2000-2010, whereas the single-race population have grown by only 9.2 percent. Yet, many college apps don’t even have a box for them. Jessie Mansur, 12, who is Lebanese-Korean, checks “Multi-ethnic” when the option is available, but she’s found that “on a lot of college applications they

Assumptions rule the world. From a checkbox on an application form to somebody locking the car door when “a certain kind of look” walks by, assumptions shape our lives. Like most assumptions, race and ethnicity are not always identifiable by surface appearances. As America’s multi-ethnic melting pot population is challenging the traditional notions of race and ethnicity, questions about the very definitions of ethnicity are raised. If you’re one-fourth black and grew up in a majority-white community, can you self-identify as white and remain unaffected by the “one-drop rule”—a stipulation dating back to slavery times that you’re considered black even if it’s just one black ancestor two generations back? If you’re half Asian and half white, how do you deal with the constant: “Are you Mexican?” How does any student of multiple ethnicities decide how much to let that determine their identity? don’t leave room for a ‘Multi-ethnic’ or ‘Arabic’ box to check.” For Mounds View’s registration form there is no “Other” option, so she checked “Asian/Pacific Islander.” Some biracial kids go a different route when filling out forms, such as Lisa Luk, 12. Her father moved to America from Hong Kong when he was 17, and her mother is Caucasian. When checking boxes, she never picks “Other,” preferring to check both “Asian” and “Caucasian” if the form says “Pick all that apply.” “If it’s just one I’ll do Asian, because it’s more different than Caucasian…it’s just what I usually check,” said Luk.

Mounds View’s demographics: 1990

Mounds View’s demographics: 2000

Read between the ra by Clara Wang staff reporter

Mounds View’s demographics: 2013

When people think race issues, they tend to think in terms of black and white. There is a pronounced lack of representation and recognition of Asians, latinos, Native Americans, and those of mixed descent, resulting in the domination of a plethora of stereotypes regarding “the other shades of brown.” Asian-Americans have been the fastest growing U.S. racial group for the past ten years; Mounds View’s Asian demographic has almost doubled in the last eight years. But there is still little representation in the media. “Even if they’re represented, the stereotype is still pretty strong,” said Vicky Lee, 12. The most common themes under which Asians are portrayed tend to be the exoticized

geisha, the socially inept nerd, or “a Jackie Chan type of thing,” said Lee. A lot of racism isn’t blatant; these days, most stereotyping manifests in microaggressions. Microaggressions are common intentional and unintentional signals that communicate hostile or negative slights to marginalized groups. Serena Rabie, a paralegal quoted in the Star-Tribune, states, “It[racism] comes with undertones; it comes with preconceived notions. You hire the Asian computer programmer because you think he’s going to be a good programmer because he’s Asian.” Perpetrators of microaggressions are often unaware that they engage in such interactions when they interact with minorities. These implicit minority stereotypes are very prevalent in Mounds View. When people find

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out that Karthik Prabhakav, 10, is half German and half Indian, they mmediately make assumptions. “People think either my parents caused 9-11 or the Holocaust,” said Prabhakav. “People think all brown people are Middle Eastern.” Being half Nigerian and half Caucasian, Greg Amusu, 11, feels hat academic expectations for him are lowered due to his appearance. “I’ve heard people say, ‘Gregory’s performance is truly remarkable compared to other AfricanAmericans/Africans/Biracial,’” he said. Although most minorities experience microaggression, at Mounds View, microaggressions are very commonly implied towards students of Asian heritage. Traits such as academic success are often attributed to race. While a reputation for excelling in the

by Clara Wang staff reporter Do individuals determine their own ethnic identity, or does society? Alex Moline, 2013 graduate, grew up in a family with an Asian mother and a Caucasian father. He believes ethnicity is not purely determined by your environment. “I see myself not as a white person or as an Asian, but as an American. At the same time, I have to acknowledge my ancestry, because it’s a part of who I am. However, other people can determine how you define ethnicity if you let their opinions overpower your own,” said Moline. But avoiding social pressure is easier said than done. Although another mixed-race student, Jessie Mansur, 12, would “like to think that ethnicity is self-determined,” she finds that putting this into realistic action can be difficult due to societal influences. She is half Korean and half Arab, and although her sense of culture is stronger on her paternal Arab side, she introduces herself as Asian because she finds that people find it simpler to recognize. “While I necessarily might not look more Asian, some of my traits are more consistent with it. And it’s easier for other people to grasp when I say my race,” said Mansur. These traits include stereotypes such as “good test scores” and a strong academic work ethic. While self-identity is already difficult enough for any teenager, once ethnicity and societal pressures are thrown into the mix, things get even more complicated. If somebody looks a certain way, they get treated a certain way. Society expects people to make broad assumptions. Greg Amusu, 11, who is half

Nigerian and half Caucasian, feels the sharp connotations of having darker skin and curly black hair. “People definitely judge on appearances, and even though I am equal parts black and white, what comes across to them is my black side,” he said. Raised in a primarily Caucasian environment, Amusu finds it ironic that people stereotype him due to him appearing black, when he considers himself the opposite of these preconceived notions. Contrary to what people might assume from his appearance, he often feels like “how a Caucasian person might feel” when he is in a group of black people. When it comes to skin color, there are certain privileges conferred on those with lighter skin, which leaves children who are half black and half white, but resemble either one or the other more strongly, in an interesting dichotomy. Sociology teacher Justin Benolkin said, “Obviously our society still puts a higher status on Caucasians… but if they’re assigned that status of African American, unfortunately their status in society is lower. “It’s a sad situation we’re in,” Benolkin said. “A kid who is half black and half white, but has blonde hair and blue eyes, will have certain access to certain things that come with that status of being white that she wouldn’t have had otherwise. Interesting enough though, if she applies to college it’ll help her...She’ll have the benefits of that status that some people will not have.” Self-identity runs deeper than the role society assigns based on appearance. The ethnicity somebody identifies as can be influenced by the food they eat every day at home, what kind of neighborhood they grew up in, and what language they speak at home. Racial and ethnic identity in an America that is experiencing major demographic shifts can be as challenging as finding a kimchi hot dog stand in Stillwater, Minnesota. But maybe after a couple more decades of diversification, that won’t be so hard after all.

WE WANT YOU! photos by Christine Kao

classroom is somewhat positive, the dismissive way these presumptions are presented is not. This type of attitude can be quite disdainful and bothersome to some. Some examples would be “When people reason your success with ‘being Asian,’ and when they say ‘of course, you scored well, you’re Asian,’” said one anonymous student. People might view academic stereotypes as non-harmful, or not as serious, to Asian students compared to other races. But being consistently and casually referenced as such a one-dimensional character can have lasting consequences on anybody. “It can be hurtful when people are so dismissive of our achievements, and being typecasted as a nerd certainly doesn’t help social status at Mounds View,” said another anonymous student.

AnokaTech.edu

763-433-1100

© 2013 Anoka Technical College. An equal opportunity employer and educator and a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Accredited by the Higher Leaning Commission. This document is available in alternate formats to individuals with disabilities by calling 800-627-3529 or TTY: 7-1-1.

8variety

May 9, 2014

How do you like your tea? Tea Garden’s many tea options are showcased on their menu.

Make it bubbly by Phoebe Ke editor-in-chief Along Grand Ave., shops and boutiques line the street, but one gem, The Tea Garden, is a stop not to be missed. Also called Steepery Tea Bar to differentiate it from a similarlynamed restaurant, The Tea Garden serves beverages galore, with tea at its forefront. As one walks in, an aromatic mix of honey, flowers, and tea fills the air, and jars of teas, flavors, and jellies and pearls line the counter and wall. The atmosphere is laid back with bold colored walls and small tables available to sit at, chat with friends, and drink beverages with soft, upbeat music in the background. A large menu display on

the wall shows all the different items available to order—both hot and cold drinks are offered. Traditional loose leaf tea is available in a cup or a pot, so it can be shared with a friend. Tea lattes and chai teas made with different tea types, fruity drinks, and shakes are all available to order. In most drinks, additional flavors may be added, varying from nutty to fruity to minty flavors. What completes the drinks, however, is the choice to add tapioca pearls or flavored jellies, making bubble tea. The choice of flavors and bubbles or pearls gives customers the freedom to customize their drinks and adds a twist to every beverage. Whether it is a mango-lychee

photo by Christine Kao

photo courtesy of iced tea with tapioca pearls or a raspberry-passion fruit shake with lychee jellies, the beverages will not disappoint. The beverages are decently priced, from $3.25 and up depending on the drink, additional bubbles and pearls, and beverage size. There are five locations in the Twin Cities Metro, and one in Madison, Wisconsin. Parking at each location is different, though it is usually metered or street parking. The Tea Garden in St. Paul is located at 1692 Grand Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105. Whether it is a quick stop or an afternoon hang out, The Tea Garden offers plenty of revitalizing beverages sure to brighten one’s day.

Keep it British by Namrata Gadela variety editor Walking into Avalon, a visitor is instantly transported to a British tea parlor. The shop pulls out all the stops for an authentic experience. From the porcelain tea cups to the old pictures lining the walls, the quaint atmosphere is truly unique. Boasting a variety of teas, Avalon allows people to sample from the tea wall to pick the perfect one for their meal. Tea is ordered by the pot and is served with cream and sugar. The teas are very strong, but the decaf teas allow for a lighter option. The menu also hosts many classic English dishes that are complementary to tea. Savory options include sandwiches and quiche. In addition to the many menu items, the team room also offers food items from their store window. Many of these items are desserts,which include scones, pie, and cake.

All of the menu items have one thing in common—they are delicious. The scones are buttery and flaky while the tea sandwiches are cool and refreshing. Both are a good pair for the tea and satisfy one’s hunger. The store also offers an adjacent Manor room. Its pink hues and delicate white varnished furniture offer a nice contrast with the main room. Reservations are recommended. Located at 2179 Fourth Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, it is open from MondayFriday 10-3 p.m. and Saturday 9:30-4 p.m. Avalon Tearoom is a nice escape and a delightful way to spend your weekend.

publicdomainpictures.net

Soothing flavors by Eva Hoffman staff reporter The earthy tones, the natural light spilling in from outside, and the plants hanging from the ceiling make everyone who walks in relaxed. Verdant Tea, with its heavy Chinese influence, is a great place to go and escape Minnesota for a few hours. A large table in the middle provides seating for up to 15 people and is used as a spot for tea taste tests in the evening. There is also seating around the rest of the tea shop, including a table with pillows on the floors for sitting, a known Chinese tradition. Along with the great setting, the tea house carries white, green, oolong, black, pu’er and herbal teas. They have at least 20 tins behind the counter at one time that customers can pull out and smell. The smells range from mild and earthy, to strong and smoky, to spicy and they all leave one’s nose tingling. However, with so many different types of tea it can be hard to choose. First-time tea drinkers rejoice! The very friendly staff aids customers

with their choices, and provides information about the rare teas on offer. If a visitor still can’t decide on only one, they can order the gong fu style tea which allows one to try several types of tea. One can also order the bottomless cup where waiters bring out teapot after teapot of hot water for your tea leaves. This endless supply of tea is only $3.77. The tea house also has a menu which includes Chinese dishes like potstickers, noodle bowls, and sesame dipping sauce. If none of these sound appealing, neighboring coffeeshops are the perfect stop for a pastry run. Verdant Tea is very careful and specific with their offering of teas. Their tea selections are very seasonal and all of them are hand-picked by small family farms in China. The special delivery of the exotic blends makes them unlike anything else in Minnesota. Verdant Tea is a good place to come and hang out with reasonable prices. It’s located at 211 East Franklin Ave. in Minneapolis.

photo by Namrata Gadela

Vintage porcelain tea cups are used to enjoy the delicious tea at Avalon. photo by Eva Hoffman

The tea bar at Verdant Tea offers refreshing seasonal teas.

reviews

May 9, 2014

Anderson delivers Grand service photo courtesy of flavorwire.files.wordpress.com

by James Birr online managing editor In a time when silliness and sophistication are kept from commingling inside the same frame, Wes Anderson’s grand masterwork The Grand Budapest Hotel transcends both typical summer blockbuster as well as late-year awards fare to create a viewing experience that picks your brain and lets you shut it off all at once. Part caper film, part prison escape, part screwball comedy, part romance: Budapest Hotel, in typical Anderson style, is exempt from categorization. Through the words of an author played by Jude Law, the film is the tale of one Monsieur Gustave H., the devoted concierge of the titular hotel, who is accused of murdering one of the mistresses he bedded one night at the hotel. From there, the film goes all over the place. With everything from toboggan chases to teenage bakery romances, Anderson employs every trick in his auteur book. The best part of the film is that despite all of its contrivances and deviations, it

never once overstays its 99 minute running time. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and so many more familiar faces, the true star of the film is in fact Anderson’s phenomenal, perfect script. He has shown a knack for dialogue and situations ever since his breakout hit Rushmore, but the evolution shown in this film of his ever-creative mind proves that his talent is not one learned, but rather innate. Not to be upstaged by his writing, Anderson continues to show his natural flair for all things visual. Every single frame of the film is worthy of being printed and hung in a museum; his trademark symmetrical framing, which in other films came across as contrived, works wonders here. A particular eye for set design and color also keeps the film from appearing too drab and lifeless to the standard viewer. Although the film is beautiful, there would be nothing to propel it to new heights without the stellar performances from the cast. The

Spider-Man 2 swings into darker action

but the real greatness can be found in the development of characters. The motivations and insecurities Foxx With all the incredible CGI that brings to life lend humor to the plot, makes modern superhero movies worth but also make viewers question the watching, The Amazing Spider-Man lust for power that human beings hold 2 artfully executes explosions, fights, so dear: the lust for power that makes and destruction, but in the process, it superhero movies so successful. spun a story worth The watching. Amazing Spider-Man Spider-Man is isn’t Spider-Man not just another without the integral superhero movie romance plot that with a worldrevolves around the dominationfact that everyone prevention who Peter Parker plot. It does not loves is subjected simply rely on to terrible lifeits omnipresent photo courtesy of fashionaction.blogspot.com threatening danger. special effects. Parker, played by Action sequences fail to put even the Andrew Garfield, keeps the romantic most exhausted of individuals to sleep. conflict interesting, humorous, and In short, The Amazing Spider-Man tragic. 2 surpasses its predecessor and injects Few villains in recent superhero something electric into the dried out movie history are as novel as Jamie arm of modern repetitive superhero Foxx’s Electro. Electro’s abilities are films. dazzling with modern special effects, by Tristan Aschittino editorials editor

ineffable Ralph Fiennes shines as the droll, alluring Monsieur, reading Anderson’s words with spectacular aplomb. Matching him is his partnerin-crime, newcomer Tony Revolori as the young, tongue-in-cheek lobby boy. The witty rapport between the pair is unmistakably Andersonian. The greatest achievement of Budapest Hotel is its adept mixture of intelligence and slapstick. Various scenes of the film could easily be placed in a slapstick comedy film of the 1920s. However, Anderson never lets this become overbearing, and encourages his audience to revel in the droll humor his script and his actors bring to the table. It seems that with this latest offering, auteur Anderson has hit his stride: no longer pinned up by his seemingly ostentatious visual style, no longer searching for the right cast to read his prose, and definitely no longer struggling to balance irony and sincerity. Budapest Hotel is a watermark for indie filmmaking, setting a new precedent: great films don’t really have to be weighty.

Bears nurtures both cubs and kids

gives birth to her cubs, and finishes after the cub’s hardest year of life—their first. Through the camera’s Disneynature’s Bears brings eye you are put right into the action, viewers on an amazing true life appreciating the sheer wonder of adventure nature at its into the lives most wild and of a mother beautiful. brown bear The and her two narration sets new born a new standard cubs. Shot for nature in beautiful documentaries. Alaska, this Instead stunning of normal documentary narrations that portrays the fall into the hardships traditional style and joys photo courtesy of Entertainment Weekly of explaining faced by mother bear, the bears’ behaviors, John C. Reilly Sky, and her lovable cubs, Scout and instead adds human characteristics and Amber. The remarkable thing about dimension to every animal. He also this movie is it isn’t a stereotypical creates dialogue between characters nature documentary with boring making it not only enjoyable to adults narrative and bland filming. Instead, it but also to young children. is mesmerizing. Bears successfully renders an Never-before-seen wildlife image of the true brutality and beauty footage starts from the moment Sky of the Alaskan wilderness.

by Emma Blume staff reporter

10sports The ULTIMATE spring sport May 9, 2014

A look at Mounds View’s Ultimate Frisbee team, Spinferno

Jared Klein, 10, is a member of Spinferno.

by Katrina Renacia staff reporter As the snow melts and the grass gets greener, Mounds View’s ultimate frisbee team, Spinferno, gears up for the start of a whole new season. Ultimate frisbee is a sport with a collaboration of non-stop movement and endurance in soccer and the aerial passing skills in football. “Unlike football, you can’t carry the disc all the way to the end zone,” said team captain Josh Pratt, 12. “You have to keep passing it, and you need an actively involved team.” The team also has fewer people on the field compared to soccer and football. There are seven players per team on the field at a time. The goal of the game is to score, by catching a disc in the opponent’s end zone, while preventing the other team from doing the same thing. Other than the difference in dynamics, ultimate frisbee is also a slightly different sport from the rest because of its lack of referees during a game. “The primary difference between ultimate frisbee and the other sports is that it

doesn’t have referees,” said girls’ coach, Cindy Tamaki. “The game is completely based on the ‘Spirit of the Game.’” Ultimate frisbee was first introduced in school around 10 years ago. “It started at the school with a group of friends from Mounds View and Irondale who wanted to form a team,” said Tamaki. “The team was a mixed team of primarily boys with a few girls.” The girls’ team is a fairly new addition to Spinferno. “Up until 2012 the team has remained as a mixed team. In 2012, Alyssa Belsito (senior), recruited enough girls to form a separate girls team,” said Tamaki. Although it has been around for quite some time, ultimate frisbee is still not considered an official sport in Mounds View. “I think our coaches like not having frisbee as an official sport because they don’t have to comply with as many guidelines,” said captain Madeline Bratager, 12. “It also makes the sport more relaxed than the rest.” The team began their indoor practices in late February, but only had their first outdoor practice in the third week of April. “Practicing in the gym is a lot dif-

photo by Christine Kao

ferent because you don’t have any of the elements affecting your game,” said Bratager. “In a real game outside, your fingers get stiff from the cold and the wind can dictate where the disc goes if not thrown hard enough.” Pratt also thinks that outdoor practices are more helpful. “We can practice working as a team during indoor practices,” said Pratt. “But outdoors are where we can really develop our skills and experiences.” Despite having new players making up a majority of the team, Pratt believes that the team is performing very well. “Our team has a lot of potential and abilities. We just need to work together even more and get used to each other’s playing ability,” said Pratt. On the other hand, Bratager believes that the new members of the team contribute to the overall fun of practices. “I really love the dynamics of the team during practices because they’re really more focused on having fun than being competitive,” said Bratager. “You never have kids or coaches in your team yelling at you to do better. It’s more about fun and trying to improve your own skills.”

A lot of players also make practices more lively by jumping into gleeful episodes. “One second, people are just doing warm-ups and the next someone just starts singing and then suddenly so are five other people,” said Erin Renshaw, 10. “I think singing adds a small element of fun to our practices. Running around and sweating isn’t all that fun by itself.” The players also get a lot of say in how their practices go and what they do after every game. “We go out to eat somewhere after every game,” said Bratager. “We’re really a close-knit team. We have a lot of team bondings.” When bad weather conflicts with a scheduled practice day, the team often decides to forego outdoor games and do something fun indoors. “Since it’s snowing today, my coach texted me last night, ‘Don’t you think we should just have a team bowling session instead?’” said Bratager. Ultimate frisbee is a sport which is welcome for everyone and it does not make cuts. Its camaraderie promotes a fun and relaxed community.

May 9, 2014

sports

Looking ahead to greener grass A young boys golf team is hopeful in the face of poor weather by Thomas Doty staff reporter

year, and that will help them a lot in the future.” These younger players are gaining valuable experience that will help them become valuable varsity golfers when

Although it doesn’t look like it outside, it’s mid-way through spring sport season. Teams have gotten as many games and matches in as possible even though it seems that there has only been a millisecond of nice weather. Mounds View golf has already competed in a surprising number of matches and tournaments, including one in Iowa. Senior, Bill Quick, explains how the boys squad is coping with bad weather and cancellations so far this year. “The weather has limited our tournaments to three so far, but we plan on making all those up,” he said. “...That’s Ben Davis, 12, sets up his tee during just what you have to expect when you practice. play spring golf in Minnesota.” they are upperclassmen. “We have a 7th The team is off to a slow start, grader, three 8th graders and two 9th although the season is still young. graders in our top 12,” said coach Joe The team has six tournaments and one Voeller. “The future looks bright.” invitational under their belt. “The team “The JV squad battles consisthis year isn’t looking quite as strong as tently,” said Erik Sundberg, 12. “If they we have the past couple of years,” said play to their potential, they could be Quick. “We have a lot of young guys great [later on].” who are getting varsity experience this

Athlete of the Issue Jacky Volkert Junior Softball team whether it’s leading with physical skill or creating good chemistry on the team.

Q: When did you start playing softball? A: I started playing when I was nine for a traveling Mounds View association team that plays in the summer. Q: How is your team expected to do this year? A: We’ve never been expected to be a great team or a really bad one. But from the games we have played this year, we are improving each game so I think the expectations of everyone is to compete at a high level and play some good softball while building for the future. Q: What’s it like being on varsity for three years? A: It’s definitely a crazy experience. I started out as a timid freshman, listening to upperclassmen and basically being a rock for my team, I’ve watched the players I look up to graduate and see all the developing players below me kind of taking on the same situation I did. It’s actually a crazy experience. I have also seen my skills and confidence improve. Each year I become a more important factor on the

Q: How have you improved as a player? A: I have gained more confidence as an all around player at the plate and in the field. I’ve also increased my softball IQ so I’m able to react to situations without taking a lot of time to think about them. But maybe the key thing I improved on was not being afraid to fail. Thinking about only the positive outcomes and having the confidence to perform them is so important and really helped me grow as an individual. Q: What’s your favorite thing about your team and playing softball? A: My teammates are basically family. I love all of the girls and this year especially we have an amazing combination of chemistry and skill. I really love playing out in the sun, getting dirty, but tan at the same time. I love the game in general, being a catcher, specifically, I love being in control and striking girls out. That’s the best feeling. And hitting home runs, that’s fun as well. Q: If you could have any superpower what would it be and why? A: I would be invisible because I like to know everything.

information compiled by Joe Janey

Even with a rocky start, Quick has not lost faith in the group and has high hopes for the remainder of the year. “Even with our slow start, I think we can make a push towards the end of the

been difficult with the weather,” said Bob Madison, activities director. Most of our initial matches and practices have had to be modified.” Re-scheduling for golf is more

Brandon Smith, 12, chips a ball near the green.

Cooper Bordsen, 12, and the team practice at Gross National Golf Club.

season and into the section tournament,” he said. Although the weather has been less than ideal, spring sports are trying to stay positive. They hope that there will eventually come a time to make up for lost games. But until then, they play the waiting game. “All spring sports have

difficult because it is not played on any school’s property. “Golf is tricky due to the courses,” said Madison. The team perseveres, regardless of the conditions. “We’re practicing when we can,” said Quick. “Hopefully the weather will ease up soon. Real soon.” photos by Christine Kao

12gallery

May 9, 2014

Eggs-cellent Eggs

Pysanka A connection to then and now

t t e e l e m

1. Which is more enjoyable?

Physical activity... (go to 2) Mental activity... (go to 3)

2. What’s more important?

Being in nature... (go to 4) Outdoor activities are your Social interaction... (go to 9) passion. You are happiest moving around and exploring new places. 3. You are often more of a Leader... (go to 7) People find you easy to Follower... (go to 6) get along with and are enchanted by your quirks.

4. Do you prefer meals to be

d e il

On the go... (Egg Salad) A sit-down thing... (go to 15)

5. Which is more exciting?

6. You work best

Under pressure... (go to 10) Planning far ahead... (go to 14)

Devil

Talk... (Scrambled) Listen... (go to 11)

You have a wild streak, a stubborn confidence, and an uncanny ability to roll with the punches. People can count on you to take action and stay tough in the face of adversity.

You in an eggshell

d e h ac

You slip under the radar of most people. Those who are close to you know you as reliable, fair, and kind. You have a soft heart and loving personality.

Hunt for your personality in these egg dishes. Start at the top and follow the suggestions in parentheses.

8. When you don’t agree, you

Try to persuade them... (Deviled) Agree to disagree... (Fried)

9. Would you rather

Quich

Attend a big party... (Quiche) Have a small gathering... (go to 13)

10. Are you more afraid of

A haunted house... (Hard Boiled) A roller coaster... (Omelette)

11. You get your ideas from

Group brainstorming... (go to 16) Individual research... (go to 5)

12. Do you act on a whim?

Yes, I’m spontaneous... (Deviled) No, I’m cautious... (go to 17)

13. Are you involved in

Many diverse projects... (Scrambled) A few major projects... (Poached)

You are often the center of attention and feel most comfortable in a large group of people. A selfproclaimed Renaissance Man, you have an approximate knowledge of many things.

l e b d m a cr

14. Which do you prefer?

Haute cuisine... (Omelette) Comfort food... (Egg Salad)

15. Your dream home is

A warmly lit cottage ... (Poached) A modern loft... (Fried)

16. If you hit a roadblock

You fix the obstacle... (Quiche) You find a new path... (Hard Boiled)

17. You dress

For style... (Quiche) For practicality... (Egg Salad)

above photos provided by Noelle Stadler

7. Which do you do more?

A symbol of new life and fertility, eggs are a part of traditions that date back to preChristianity. According to the Huffington Post, while Iranians initially started to decorate eggs thousands of years ago to celebrate Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, egg decorating is also popular during Easter among the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches. Modernday Easter customs include an egg hunt that originated from pagan spring festivals and egg rolling, which signifies the rolling of the stone from Christ’s tomb. Egg decorating is also a Russian-Ukrainian tradition. Noelle Stadler, 11, celebrates her Russian heritage by making pysanky with her parents and brother before Easter. Pysanka (pysanky for plural) comes from the Ukrainian verb “pysaty,” which means “to write.”

A kistka (special stylus) allows her to draw designs on an egg with wax, after which it is placed in dye. The process may be repeated numerous times depending on the intricacy of the design. Once the coloring is dry, the wax is removed. The entire process can take from five minutes to several hours. “It really depends on how fancy you want to make it, because you can easily do an egg in five minutes, but it’s going to look really bad, and be kind of childish,” said Stadler. “My mom will spend two hours on an egg, so it really depends. Also, if you have different materials or techniques, it can take more or less time.” Egg decorating is a unique way to honor their Russian heritage as well as celebrate their faith. “We don’t really celebrate Russian culture besides decorating eggs,” said Stadler. “It’s just a great way to remember our faith, which is something that is very important to us. It really connects us, even when we are busy or get frustrated with one another.” Russian customs like egg decorating are especially significant to the Stadlers because it offers one of the only ways to connect to her cultural heritage. “Unfortunately, we do not have traditions from the German side of my family, because they came over right before the World Wars and didn’t want people to know they were German,” said Stadler. “That’s why we appreciate our Russian traditions so much.”

by Sarah Dhols-Graf staff reporter

Egg Salad

Versatility comes naturally to you. No matter what the situation, you look at it in a new light and use your creativity to fill the gaps in what needs to be done.

Hard Bo

A surprise... (go to 8) An adventure ... (go to 12)

You have many diverse talents that are hidden just below the surface. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses makes it possible to apply yourself to a situation with maximum efficiency.

You are relatable and easy to have a conversation with. People find you accepting and approachable. You pride yourself in multitasking and getting involved in your community.

ied r F

Holding fast to your opinions, even ones that are unpopular, is what makes you an independent person. Forming opinions based on personal experience is your strong suit.

above photos by Rebecca Nara