Issuu

VOLUME 66 ISSUE 2 | October 26, 2018

THE VIEWER

Clearing the Smoke around Vaping

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

MIDTERMS 03/ THE HATE U GIVE 10/ BOYS CC 11

News

Friday, October 26, 2018

Trump’s trade deal troubles China by Michelle Sung staff reporter

Since 2015, China has been the United States’ largest trading partner, and the U.S. has been one of China’s biggest importers. However, relations with the two economic powerhouses took a drastic turn when the Trump administration imposed one of many waves of tariffs on Chinese goods earlier this year. This trade war stemmed from when President Clinton’s signed off on a bill granting a permanent and normal trade status to China by allowing them to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2000. By joining the WTO, China established a connection with the world economy and global trade competition. However, President Trump disagrees with Clinton’s move, describing the U.S. relationship with China as a pattern of unfair trade practices and theft of American intellectual property due to the imbalance in tariffs by both sides. “[It’s] the largest deficit of any country in the history of our world,” said Trump.

“It’s out of control.” Starting with a 25 percent tariff on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods in June, the Trump administration acted on one of its promises from their campaign. Specifically, tariffs were imposed on 25 percent of steel and 10 percent of aluminum production, which effectively taxed any foreign import made with these metals to the United States. This tariff means a rise in the price for many products due to the fact that metals are crucial raw materials. Though there are risks regarding domestic businesses and the stock market with these tariffs, Trump argues that the imported metals have degraded the American industrial base. “People have no idea how badly our country has been treated by other countries,” said Trump. “They’ve destroyed the steel industry, they’ve destroyed the aluminum industry, and other industries, frankly.” The effects of these tariffs are not restricted between the U.S. or China either. The U.S.’ place in international society

and the U.S.’ economic stability will also be affected. “One of the other things we risk losing through all of this is we risk losing our place as a leader in the world,” said Aaron Oseland, social studies teacher. This broad set of tariffs was initially created to target Chinese importers, but it actually has more severe consequences on allies after Trump extended the tariff to the European Union, Canada and Mexico on June 1. The Pentagon, multinational companies and foreign governments have all pushed against these broad tariffs with the argument that it could create a break in economic and security ties. As a result, Trump has postponed the imposement of these tariffs on those countries. One of the main goals of the tariffs was to better support domestic companies, farmers and workers. Instead, American manufacturers of steel and aluminum are now divided in their opinion. Some said it hurts their ability to compete, while other companies said tariffs would raise costs and force

them to lay off workers or lose profit. Others said that tariffs have actually helped establish domestic companies that would have otherwise gone out of business with the huge imports of Chinese goods. “If you look in Northern Minnesota, the Iron Range has rebounded. The economy in the Iron Range is the best it has been in the past 10 -15 years since the recession,” said Oseland. These far-reaching impacts have some students concerned as well. “The threat of retaliatory tariffs is severe and will negatively impact our economy in both the short and long term,” said Economics team captain Abhishek Vijaykumar, 12. “Ad-

ditionally, breaking trade connections between the U.S. and China in the modern econopolitical climate will hurt our future prospects by reducing our connections to the rapidly growing Chinese economy.” Trade deals are often not a win-win situation for all. Some believe that the U.S. and China need to revisit these deals to negotiate a bigger margin of benefit. “[I] ultimately would like to see [China and America] sit down at a table and look at maybe where some inconsistencies are, where some things can be worked out,” said Jonathan Nuss, economics teacher.

Illustration by Audrey Wu

Harvard lawsuit sparks debate by Michelle Sung staff reporter

Commonly known as one of the most elite colleges in the world, Harvard University is currently involved in a court case that may tarnish its reputation. An applicant’s personal ratings are a critical part of the admissions process and deem whether a student has the respectable qualities the school wants, such as generosity, integrity and courage. Plaintiffs in a federal trial have accused Harvard of rating Asian-Americans lower than average on such traits, sparking debate and a lawsuit. This lawsuit dates back to 2014, when a group of AsianAmerican students claimed that Harvard University practiced illegal race discrimination in their admissions process, which ultimately denies qualified Asian-Americans admission to Harvard through an unlawful quota system. In late August, court arguments by plaintiff

Editor Opinions on the Harvard Lawsuit

Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) alleged that Harvard violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in programs that receive federal funding. SFFA is led by an opponent of affirmative action, Edward Blum. Affirmative action is used to improve opportunities for underrepresented minorities. Accusing Harvard of racial balancing and failing to have a race-neutral admission plan, SFFA filed a document to the federal court on August 30th. Though Harvard admissions officers deny all accusations, the Justice Department said it would comply with the plaintiff’s request for a trial. While race-based admission policies have fueled controversy, there are people, including Asian-Americans, still in support of affirmative action. “If college admissions were based on merit alone, black students would have a disproportionately mammoth task ahead of them…[It] would undoubt-

“I think the lawsuit has merit and the students should win.” -Ben Steil debates editor

edly cause their level of representation to plummet at elite universities, recalling an era of near-segregation as prestige becomes an excuse for racism,” wrote Elyse Pham, reporter for the Harvard Crimson. Though diversity is a valuable quality in any college, the achievement of such diversity may come at a price. AsianAmerican applicants boasted higher test scores, grades and stronger extracurriculars than any other racial group, yet these applicants consistently received lower rankings on personal traits, according to a statistical analysis conducted on behalf of SFFA. Not only are they marked lower for these personal traits, it has been shown that Asians actually get penalized in standardized testing as well. A study conducted in 2009 by the National Study of College Experience demonstrated that Asians, on average, need 140 SAT points higher than whites, 320 points higher than Hispanics and 450 points

higher than African Americans to earn entry into university. Mounds View alumnus and current Harvard freshman Justin Duffy reflects on how far Harvard has taken race-based admissions. “It is legal to consider race as a factor in admissions, and I think that a diverse campus is important, but Harvard has taken it too far,” said Duffy. As these studies uncover unfair practices against AsianAmerican students, some are frustrated that Asians are not recognized for their efforts. “Honestly, I think affirmative action really is a good thing in regards to communities that have less opportunities, but it’s frustrating for Asian students since it essentially downplays the work we do as students,” said Ming Shen, 12. “We work just as hard as other students to receive the scores we get.” Students hope that with this lawsuit, Harvard instills a fairer judgment process so that applicants don’t have to

“You can’t and you “Affirmative shouldn’t generalize a action is the manifestation race.” - Sanjana Dutt features editor of liberal guilt.” -Elliot Lee sports editor

fall into these unofficial quotas. “This lawsuit could allow higher achieving students to be admitted in a racially blind process, which is what is supposed to happen,” said Irene Kim, 12. Without racial consideration, the demographic of Harvard’s student population may drastically change to a white majority instead of the current 49 percent white student body, along with a substantial increase in Asian students. Racism in America has always been a sensitive topic to many, and this lawsuit has thousands closely watching. This court case could shape the future, either by upholding affirmative action or setting a precedent for other universities to end the practice.

“We should keep AA but update it to reflect more on socioeconomic status instead of race.”

-Michelle Wang

managing copy editor

News

Friday, October 26, 2018

SEC charges Tesla, fines Musk

by Josh Dai staff reporter

In early August, Elon Musk tweeted, “Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.” While the brief message may not have seemed influential, the tweet from the Tesla and SpaceX founder and CEO caused Tesla stocks to plummet almost 14 percent over just two weeks, the worst drop in almost two years. This tweet prompted an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commision (SEC), eventually leading to Musk losing his chairman position and being fined $20 million. The SEC carried out the punishment in early October. By suggesting that he would be turning Tesla into a private company in his tweet, Musk signaled that Tesla would be off the stock market. This led to a huge drop in stocks because many stock traders and brokers were scrambling to sell. In reality, the funding in his “funding secured” tweet was far from secured. He only had undergone minor talks with the Saudi Arabian government investment fund, with no cash present. Musk’s motive for this tweet was later revealed: During the early morning, while in his car with his girlfriend Grimes, a Canadian born rapper, he tried to impress her by rounding up the

$419 premium to $420—a number associated with marijuana—because it was “better karma.” As a result of the tweet, many people have questioned Musk’s mental state. In the past, Musk has admitted that he was taking a drug called Ambien to help him sleep. He has become so dependent on the drug that “It is often a choice of no sleep or Ambien.” The drug is also known for having a sleepwalking side effect, which “has sometimes led Musk to spend his nights on Twitter,” according to a source from Time Magazine. Musk also later revealed this year that “This past year has been the most difficult and painful year of my career,” he said to the New York Times. During the hour-long interview with the Times, he choked up multiple times and revealed that he nearly missed his brother’s wedding and spent multiple holidays and his birthday stuck in his office due to the new model’s production deadline. There are differing opinions circulating through the internet, as well as at Mounds View, regarding these recent events. “I think [the punishment] was too harsh” said Vijay Shah 12. “He was just joking around and didn’t really mean it.” Other students believe that Musk took things too far. “While the tweet was meant to be a joke, it had

many adverse effects that Musk should have seen coming,” said Luke Hermanson, 12. “It had a very big effect in the market, and I think the SEC was right to pursue this.” Stocks rose almost 15 percent when Musk stepped down as the Tesla chairman, a tremendous growth. However, Musk will keep his title as the company’s CEO, but because of his actions, he has lost a part of his authority.

“While the tweet was meant to be a joke, it had many adverse effects that musk shouldv’e seen coming.” - Luke Hermanson, 12 illustration by Audrey Wu

Midterms play key role for Congress

by Nancy Koshy staff reporter

Tuesday, Nov. 6, marks the midterm elections, and for Minnesota, there are key positions at stake that could disrupt the current government balance. This year, numerous seats affecting both local and national politics are up for running: the governor of Minnesota, U.S. House of Representatives and both Minnesota seats in the U.S. Senate. While the midterm elections may not be as high-profile as the presidential election, these positions can bring big changes for Minnesota and the composition of the overall government. According to Pew Research, the overall country’s voterturnout during midterm elections is significantly lower—between 10 to 15 percent—than that of presidential elections. But historically, Minnesota has been praised for having one of the highest voter turnouts, even during the midterm elections. With recent events such as Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation, interest to vote from both ends of the political spectrum has grown. Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Kanye West have expressed their political views; the former encouraged her fans to register to vote, leading thousands of people between the ages of 18 and 25 to register to vote. Mounds View students have conflicting opinions on the mixing of pop culture and politics. “I think celebrities sharing these [opinions] are fine because they have a right to their opinion, but they shouldn’t push it onto others and those who look up to them,” said Christopher Wikstrom, 10. In a time when the Trump administration relies on its majority in the House and Senate, the results of this upcom-

ing midterm election will be crucial to all political parties. Current incumbents Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar are up for re-election, as are several senators from other states. The current divide of 49 Democrats to 51 Republicans in the U.S. Senate could drastically change, resulting in a more divided government and making it harder for either party to pass laws and advance their agenda. To win this crucial election, candidates have utilized non-traditional platforms to encourage people to go out on election day. “Candidates have found direct mailings not as effective and instead have turned to social media,” said AP Government teacher Jennifer Carlson. Another common tool politicians have used is television advertisements, targeting their rivals with derogatory ads. However, many Mounds View students don’t find these ads helpful. “Too often [negative ads] misconstrue the positions and accomplishments of candidates, misleading the voters,” said Joey Bushagour, 12. Others agreed with this sentiment. “Ads should more be focused on what [the candidate] plans to do,” said Nathan Wiebe, 9. Even though most students are not yet eligible to vote, Mounds View students value the opportunity to express their political views. “Voting is extremely important because when young people vote, they usher in new ideas that are often not popular with the older generations and bring in political, economic and social innovation,” said Bushagour. On Oct. 23, students participated in a mock election during lunches and social studies classes. For students, this was a good opportunity to vote and may provide experience for the presidential election in 2020.

illustration by Audrey Wu

photo by Alec Nelson Students cast their ballets in the mock election held in the cafeteria on Oct. 23.

features

Friday, October 26, 2018

A need for therapy by Vicky Li staff reporter

In the past two years, the Mounds View community has stressed the importance of mental health within the school. Mounds View sought to better support its students and community, especially after students reported feeling more pressure from family, friends or themselves, rather than the school. Just this year, the school administration placed a larger emphasis on the school therapist’s role and presence in the school. Mounds View made space for a new office in the paddock for the school therapist, Carla Anton, improving the visibility and accessibility of her services for the student body. Anton has been working as a therapist at Mounds View for four years and helps students who are struggling with mental illnesses by providing therapy sessions at school. “They come to me about any type of mental health problems, issues, concerns [with] their self or sometimes for others,” said Anton. Anton did not begin her career with therapy work. “I’ve always loved working with adolescents, and prior to becoming a therapist, I was a teacher. At that time, I learned that I was spending more time in counseling than [I] was in teaching. Eventually, I decided to get my graduate degree in psychotherapy, and so I can help students. This opportunity opened up to be a school-based therapist, and I jumped on it,” said Anton. The job of a school therapist comes with many joys as well as hardships. Anton says that she loves the di-

versity of the students she interacts with, and of course, she enjoys helping others, especially adolescents. However, the job is not always easy. “The hardest part of the job is when my client is not ready to make the changes that are important for their mental health. And sometimes, I end up working harder than my client, and that just makes me very sad and sometimes feeling at [a] loss of what I need to do next to help the client,” said Anton.

Students have noticed Anton’s rising visibility. Some believe that a therapist is an integral part of a rigorous school and allow many students get help if they cannot do so anywhere else. “I think that it’s really important that we have one because therapy is pretty expensive in America, and in order for the general population to be helped, we can’t continue to just rely on

people being able to afford therapy,” said Sam Stucky, 12. While many students think that the school is taking positive steps towards making itself a better place for students who may be struggling, there is still room for improvement. “Even within the last year and [with] the administration changes, I’ve genuinely seen a more genuine interest in helping students, which I think is super exciting. I also think that it will lead to great changes in the future,” said Stucky. Oftentimes, the stigma surrounding seeking help for mental health averts many students from doing so. To encourage more students to talk with her, Anton ensures that her door is always open. Students can come into her new office on a drop-in basis, and Anton encourages any student who is struggling to visit. “I advise them that if they’re not going to follow through with the professional help, to seek out healthy and helpful adult mentors in their lives. It is good to have friendships, same age, but with that said, it is also good to have someone who has had some life experiences and are helpful in helping the adolescent with solutions and really coming up with solutions for them and being able to be open in a nonjudgmental fashion,” said Anton. The administration has worked to provide more resources to students, such as a wellness board with tangible resources, including handouts of professional contacts, and are promoting the deans as trusted adults within the school. As Mounds View continues to make positive changes in helping students struggling with their mental health, Anton will remain an important and

Mrs. Anton’s office is set up in a way that makes students feel more calm and relaxed when entering her room. Many aspects of her office such as her waterfall and dim lighting are used to help with this peaceful atmoshphere.

photos by Vicky Li

Women sing along

by Molly Shwiff staff reporter

For many years, male students at Mounds View who wanted to sing could meet before school to do so and sing without an official choir membership. However, the same could not be said for the girls who wanted to sing in a school group. This past fall, Mounds View students formed an all-girls chorus open to all female students, whether they were in choir or not. Many female singers felt that there was an unfair discrepancy between the rules for joining the all-men’s chorus and the women’s chorus. “There was a men’s chorus and anybody could join as long as they were a guy, and there was also a women’s chorus before school, but only choir members could join that, and I’m not in choir. I love singing in choirs, so I thought it was really great that they made something that I could actually

sing in,” said Emily Breuch, 10. The Women’s Chorus opened up a new opportunity for all female students at Mounds View with a passion for singing. “It’s just so accepting, and it doesn’t matter what kind of social groups you’re from. They are very open to us making friends,” said Mia Natividad, 11. The Women’s Chorus is a great way to meet new friends that have the same passion for singing. The group aims to have fun, sing new songs and create a good environment. “I like that anyone can be a part of it so many different people can come,” said Frannie Crego, 10. The Women’s Chorus practices once a week on Monday mornings in the choir room at 7:30 a.m. A typical practice for the Women’s chorus is filled with enthusiasm and lots of singing. “We’ll do warm ups and just jump right in. At the end there will be tea and doughnuts,” said Crego.

The Mounds View Women’s Chorus hopes “to be equal to the men’s chorus and to have a lot of fun,” said Natividad. By creating a group in which women feel empowered and welcomed to join, the chorus’s goal is to show people that a group of women, all very talented, are able to thrive in their own ways. In the future, the Mounds View Women’s Chorus will perform in choir concerts and at senior living homes. In addition, the chorus is planning to perform at fundraisers for women’s charities. “We are planning on [singing] more contemporary songs, and it will probably be by all female figures,” said Crego. The chorus hopes to express how much of an impact female singers can make on their community. If you are interested in joining or talking to a current member in the club, the Mounds View Women’s Chorus can be reached on Instagram at @mvwomenschorus.

illustration by Audrey Wu

photo courtesy of Molly Shwiff Women’s Chorus enjoys singing in the choir room before school on Mondays.

Friday, OCTOBER 26, 2018

Opening new worlds with words by Michael Hu staff reporter

The students write the letters of various languages on the board, rehearsing words and practicing unfamiliar syllables. Taking time out of their regular school day, they are learning languages outside of Mounds View’s curriculum. A majority of students, including those at Mounds View, take a world language course, as it is recommended by many four-year colleges. But when it comes to choosing a language to learn, some students resort to taking a language class they have no interest in or an online class for their language of choice, a far less immersive learning experience than in person. Language Club aims to teach languages not offered at Mounds View to those who want to learn. “A lot of people are interested in languages that aren’t offered at Mounds View, like Korean and Japanese,” said the club’s co-founders Meryl Wang, 11, and Sandy Zhang, 11. “We want to bring together people with similar lan-

guage interests, so we can help each other to learn the language and culture that we are interested in.” “The idea came over the summer when Sandy and I started self-studying languages because we thought it would be helpful to have a community of people who could exchange tips and study methods with each other,” Wang said. Leaders like Wang and Zhang invest lots of time preparing to help the club learn unfamiliar languages. Currently, the leaders are focusing on Japanese and Korean, as they are two most requested languages. “Sandy and I don’t think we’re ‘qualified’ to teach a language we don’t know,” said Wang. With that being said, they are in search of native speakers of a language to help out and teach the club. Like other members in the club, Lucy Zhao, 9, joined because of her interest in languages. “I wanted to learn different languages with other people around me. I also want to be able to travel all around the world without language barriers,” said Zhao. While first-year membership is currently low, the club are hoping to ex-

features

pand in years to come. However, some obstacles are bound to arise for a first-year club. “There are days where people couldn’t go due to overlapping schedules, and a lot of the club time isn’t very well planned. Otherwise, it is a good club overall,” said Zhao. The club remains optimistic for its future, hoping to spread their love for learning new languages to the entire school.

illustration by Leon Wang

Mrs. Mom and Mr. Dad by Brock Nelson staff reporter

The term “helicopter parent” is defined as a parent who is actively involved in their child’s social, academic and athletic life. While these parents may claim otherwise, there is no denying that they can be deeply invested in at least one of the three. In fact, some parents are more than just involved in their kid’s academics. Out of the thousands of students that are in the Mounds View School District, there are a few who share a common trait: having a parent as a teacher. While some parents have never had their child in class, others have not only taught their kid but have seen them in the halls, around school and even in the lunchroom. While this may seem daunting to some students, others find it to be advantageous. “I personally find it very helpful to have my mom as a teacher,” said Ben Rosin, 10. “It gives me free tutoring whenever I need help in English, which can even help for tests down the road like the ACT.” Rosin is not alone in seeing the benefits of having his parent as a teacher. Miles Huberty, 10, thoroughly enjoys having his dad and math teacher, Michael Huberty, at Mounds View. “It’s great to have my father as a teacher at Mounds View. He is able to help me with many school-related things such as homework and, of course, a ride to

school,” said Miles Huberty. “He is very optimistic about school, which helps me feel like school isn’t such a drag.” On the other hand, some students find it to have its ups and downs. “My mom always expected my 100 percent effort in her class, which led to me having to study a lot harder than I usually did,” said Ava Nelson, 9, who had her mother, Teri Nelson, as a Spanish teacher. Many of these teachers do their best to try to stay impartial when teaching their own kids in comparison to other students. “When I think about being in the classroom with my own kids, I had to make sure that I was sensitive to the fact that if I had to discipline the class or get on the class about certain behaviors or expectations,” said Teri Nelson. “I didn’t want my kid to feel awkward because they had friends in the class or feel like I was being too hard or expecting too much.” While having a teacher at Mounds View may bring a new meaning to “helicopter parents,” these students wouldn’t have it any other way. “We are still family,” said Ava Nelson. “Whether she’s my Spanish teacher or not doesn’t change that.”

Miles Huberty, 10, with his father and math teacher Michael Huberty.

FDA’s war on vape by Kimberly Shen staff reporter Scott Gleib, commissioner of the FDA, recently announced that the use of e-cigarettes (commonly known as vaping) has become an epidemic among American teenagers. Because vaping is a relatively new trend, its health risks aren’t completely understood. But its rapidly rising popularity, especially among youth, has prompted demands for tighter regulation of the e-cigarette industry. E-cigarettes can come in many different shapes and sizes, but all function using a similar general mechanism: a liquid in the e-cigarette is heated to produce an aerosol which is inhaled by the user. The liquid typically contains nicotine, the addictive substance in regular cigarettes, and various flavorings. Initially, e-cigarettes were developed to help adult smokers move away from combustible tobacco products, such as traditional cigarettes. Since vaping does not involve the combustion of tobacco, many harmful chemicals found in regular cigarette smoke are absent in e-cigarette aerosols. The FDA had hoped that e-cigarettes would become a safer way for smokers to satisfy their nicotine cravings. However, the introduction of vaping has been questionable and came with unexpected consequences. American high schoolers, many of them nonsmokers, have become the primary users of e-cigarettes. Between 2011 and 2015, vaping among teenagers rose by 900 percent. By 2017, nearly 12 percent of high schoolers had used an e-cigarette within the last 30 days, according to the CDC. Kid-friendly flavors, convenient usage and social media presence have been cited by USA Today as possible reasons for widespread vaping among teenagers. Tobacco products typically have a horrible taste, so fruit-flavored e-cigarettes could potentially be enticing to youth. Its small size also makes e-cigarettes accessible and easy to hide. Lastly, social media exposes teenagers to vape culture and provides an ef-

fective advertising platform for e-cigarette companies. Even though e-cigarettes contain less harmful chemicals than regular cigarettes, vaping is not without side effects. Nicotine is known to adversely affect brain function. Since adolescent brains are still developing, underage vaping puts teenagers at risk for lifelong nicotine addiction and permanently impaired impulse control. In addition, e-cigarette aerosols contain chemicals and ultrafine particles that have been linked to serious lung diseases. Earlier this year, the FDA launched the Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan which aims to reduce youth access to any type of cigarette product. The FDA recently issued 1,300 warning letters and monetary fines to various retailers in an attempt to crack down on illegal sales of e-cigarettes to minors. The FDA sent letters to the five top-selling brands of e-cigarettes—JUUL, Vuse, MarkTen, blu e-cigarettes and Logic—demanding extensive descriptions from the companies on how they plan to reduce youth access to their products. Additionally, the FDA is hoping to increase public awareness of the risks of vaping. Over 80 percent of high schoolers believe that there is no great harm in using e-cigarettes, according to the Monitoring the Future study from the University of Michigan. Last September, the FDA launched “The Real Cost” Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign to educate teenagers about the dangers of using e-cigarettes. This campaign could potentially reshape students’ attitudes towards vaping. A similar campaign, “The Real Cost” Smoking Prevention Campaign, was launched in 2014 to reduce teen use of regular cigarettes. In a separate announcement, Gleib said, “While we remain committed to … [promoting] the potential of e-cigarettes to help adult smokers move away from combustible cigarettes, that work can’t come at the expense of kids. We cannot allow a whole new generation to become addicted to nicotine.”

Th epi

MV vapers by Dayne Stone staff reporter

Vaping among teens is a growing trend, students, according to the CDC. Four stude anonymous, were interviewed about their own Students often vape both inside and o at home. But parents often don’t know about dren’s decision to vape. “Yes, they know [th okay with it,” said one student. “Mine don’t parents don’t think I do,” said a third student. The compact, pen-like shape of vape ceal and use. This can result in prolonged, u addiction. Some students began vaping as e took my first hit when I was 14,” said one stu There are many different motives for kind. “I just enjoy the way it makes me feel most vape liquids contain nicotine, people ty ence. “It helps with stress,” said another stud “most of [their] friends do it.” Since vaping is a relatively recent t are not known yet. As a result, teens are ofte that vaping could do to their health. “We do ways it affects our body,” said one student. are not concerned with the long-term effects gonna die at some point, so if we want to vap student.

Student si by Sandy Zhang staff reporter

Lily Bronson, 10, was taking a break dur Driver’s Ed sessions at Mounds View when her attention to the back of the room where a “It was really ironic because we were learnin and alcohol on driving that day,” said Bronso Vaping is neither new to the Mounds ety in general. In fact, it is common enough f tomed to it. “Our grade does it, so I’m kind of

he vape idemic

especially for high school ents, who wish to remain n experiences with vaping. outside of school, and even or disagree with their chilhat I vape], and they aren’t know,” said another. “My . es makes them easy to conundetected use and lead to early as middle school. “I udent. r vaping or drug use of any l,” said one student. Since ypically use it for its infludent. One student said that

trend, its long-term effects en unaware of the damage on’t really know all of the . However, some students of vaping. “We’re already pe, we vape,” said another

ide

ring one of her after-school n an unfamiliar smell drew few students were vaping. ng about the effect of drugs on. s View campus nor to socifor freshmen to feel accusf not new to it. They do it a

lot in like the bathroom mostly. Since I’m new to Mounds View, I’m not really sure [about other grades], but in my grade, they vape everywhere. They vape anywhere they can. I think maybe half of our grade actually vapes,” said Lita Sawansuk, 9. As with most controversial subjects, Mounds View students vary in their opinions concerning vaping. Societal and peer influence, as well as sensitivity towards the topic, put many in situations where they must make decisions and take action according to their values. Bathrooms tend to be the most popular place for vaping. “A few times I walk into the bathroom, I see people vape. I usually try to avoid it; I turn away or walk into a different bathroom where it’s not congested with chemical vapor,” said Justin Anderson, 12. Many students share similar attitudes about vaping. When asked about what he disliked about the habit, Anderson said, “The smell. Also, people pretty much being in a group in the bathroom, which is weird and can make it uncomfortable,” said Anderson. Some students also consider the environmental effects of vaping. “It’s annoying how people are releasing pollution from the stuff they do, and it’s not even healthy,” said Ivy Yu, 11. Made of stainless steel or plastic cartridges and metal atomizers, e-cigarettes are not recyclable and have no eco-friendly disposal. However, there are reasons behind someone’s decision to vape, and most students believe that the pressure to fit in is one of the biggest factors. “The upperclassmen do it, and [the underclassmen] feel like they want to blend in because it makes them feel good,” said Sawansuk. Societal influences also play an important role. “The advertising I’ve seen before promotes it as being kind of cool, and people also think it’s a healthier alternative to cigarettes even though it’s actually still bad for you,” said Bronson. Although it’s common for students to place the fault on advertising, many students still have differing views on the role that society plays in the use of e-cigs. “I think they are trying to say it’s OK even though it’s not,” said Rauenhorst. On the other hand, others believe that society is divided on the issues of vaping. “Overall, I think people know that it’s a bad idea, but if they are vaping, I think it might be because of the other part of the culture where it’s cool and it’s healthier than cigarettes,” said Bronson. Many believe that in order to discourage vaping in the broader community, we should start with the smaller school community. “There should be like a no-vaping campaign or show the consequences of it, like [they did for] cigarettes,” said Jeremy Anderson, 10. As the school year goes on, students will continue to face everyday decisions concerning vaping—both for themselves and their peers. “I would really try to get them to stop because a lot of times people get addicted,” said Bronson. Vaping has rapidly increased in popularity among teens over the last few years, and the Mounds View community is no exception. Vape products, including pens, e-cigs and Juuls, are considered tobacco products

Admin opinion by Ruth Grommes staff reporter by the district and are forbidden on school grounds. Students tend to vape in spaces with less supervision. “Last year, we noticed an uptick of people using e-cigs in the bathroom,” said Associate Principal Greg Martin. “Now, this year, we have increased supervision in the bathrooms—deans, hallway supervisors—and we haven’t seen nearly as much activity.” If a student is caught vaping or with a vaping device in their possession, there are several possible consequences. “They could get a citation, or a report could be written. They could end up in court or a diversion program, especially if they’re repeat offenders,” said Will Rzeszutek, Student Resource Officer. When a student is caught with an e-cigarette, “we confiscate that. We do not give it back,” said Rzeszutek. While there are legal consequences, vaping also impacts a student’s well being. Although the long-term health effects of vaping are currently unknown, substances in vape juice, the liquid inside vaping devices that is vaporized and inhaled, can be harmful. These effects are especially dangerous for individuals under the age of 25. “It definitely affects the developing brain. Nicotine is contained within most vaping products, or sometimes, people put other things into those vaping devices as well. Nicotine has an effect on the developing brain and can be highly addictive,” said Sarah Osterman, the school nurse. The vapor from e-cigarettes can affect others in the area as well, adding to the consequences. Even those who don’t vape can experience some of the effects if they spend time around people who do. “Much like second-hand smoke, I think that if you’re exposed to the chemicals that are coming from someone’s vaping device, or out of their mouth or nose after they’ve been vaping, I think that there can be second-hand impact from that,” said Osterman. However overall, the administration does not see vaping as a major issue. “I don’t think it’s a problem at Mounds View. I think that, just like anything, some students try it. I think that some kids probably do it more often than others. Sometimes people blow it out of proportion,” said Martin.

editorials

Friday, October 26, 2018

Musk-have car of the future

Electric vehicles: not just for the rich by Ben Gardner staff reporter Cars that ran on electricity were once inviable or toys for the wealthy, but not anymore. Electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly becoming sustainable alternatives to regular gas or diesel powered cars with the advancement of battery technology and the demand for more environmentally sustainable vehicles. Electric cars may seem like expensive, luxury vehicles, and while there are certainly a fair share of vehicles that match that description, there are affordable options with costs that fall in line with that of new gas-fueled cars. For example, an electric 2019 Chevrolet Volt has an Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $36,620, but that’s before the $7,500 federal tax benefit from buying new EVs. This is comparable to the 2019 Chevrolet Impala with an MSRP of $28,020. When looking at used

cars, electric vehicles don’t get as cheap as traditional cars simply due to the fact that they haven’t been around long enough to depreciate to the same level. According to a 2015 CNN Business article, the average American buys 11 gallons of gasoline per week. This, combined with the American Automobile Association’s data that the average cost of gas in Minnesota is $2.86 per gallon, shows that Minnesotans spend about $1,635.92 annually to keep our cars on the move for an average of over 15,000 miles every year. However, EVs, with an average of 30 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 miles and the average energy cost of $0.1377 per kWh in Minnesota, have an average annual electricity cost of $619.65. Additionally, EVs are not susceptible to political instability like gasoline, because electricity is exclusively produced domestically, while oil is often imported from other regions such as the

Middle East. Electric vehicles also require less maintenance than traditional cars due to the simplified nature of their electric motor, which doesn’t require many of the components that traditional cars do, such as oil or spark plugs. Unlike combustion engines, electric motors can also slow themselves down by using a technology called regenerative braking to recharge their battery when the brake pads are not in use. The only large part of the car that may need to be occasionally replaced is the primary battery of the vehicle. The battery can be expensive, but many companies provide warranties, and most batteries will outlast that warranty if not the car itself. The Environmental Protection Agency found that motor vehicles around the world produce 75 percent of carbon monoxide pollution as a result of their hydrocarbon combustion process.

They also produce half of the world’s volatile organic compounds (compounds that evaporate easily and are often carcinogenic), nitrogen oxide and particulate matter (combinations of organic and inorganic material that are very small but can be damaging to the lungs). The emissions from cars are not only harmful to us but also the environment. Cars and trucks produce one-fifth of the United States’ greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases help trap heat in the atmosphere, preventing our nights from dropping hundreds of degrees below freezing, but the excess of these gases has increased global temperatures, leading to global warming and unwelcome changes to temperature-sensitive environments. While you shouldn’t look towards a Tesla right out of school, keep electric vehicles in mind later in life. They will benefit you and the environment in the long run.

Kavanaugh? Kava-nah.

Newly-appointed judge should be held accountable by Audrey Welter staff reporter Last month, the Senate Judiciary Committee bomboarded Judge Brett Kavanaugh with all sorts of questions regarding his high school career. With a forty-year-old calendar by his side, Kavanaugh faced interrogations about his underage drinking, disturbing yearbook “entries,” and accusations of sexual assault. While he denies the latter two, he believes his actions as a teen shouldn’t affect his current credibility. If Kavanaugh’s reasoning is right, when do we grow up? Is misconduct okay at 17? How about 18? Does the way you live your life only matter once you’re an adult? Age is not just a number. If someone wasn’t accountable and responsible as a young adult, they may never be.

mains confidential, reports revealed that it was a shallow search. According to the New Yorker, comments by several of his college and high school acquaintances were ignored in the supplemental investigation. Although their claims were not addressed on the Senate floor, they recall “two sides to Brett.” A handful of his former classmates went as far as submitting their statements to the FBI, detailing how Kavanaugh would count off every keg he drank over the weekend. Some remember Kavanaugh as belligerent under the influence. His explosive, unstable behavior during his Sen-

“When do we grow up?”

For students, Kavanaugh’s beliefs are laughable. High school is accountability, where students are conditioned under high expectations. Colleges can deny a student’s application if they flunk a class, and the board of senators has full right to question someone over a drinking problem. Give Kavanaugh the benefit of the doubt. Accept his yearbook quotes as harmless and Ford’s testimony as a mad lib fiction. If Kavanaugh was charged with a misdemeanor, the statute of limitations would protect his resume. True, a few beers in high school shouldn’t snatch his Supreme Court seat. However, many of his classmates have suggested that Kavanaugh’s drinking was more than an isolated incident. While the scope of the recent FBI investigation re-

illustration by Audrey Wu

ate testimony doesn’t help his case. During the hearing, Senator Amy Klobuchar questioned how much Kavanaugh drank and asked whether he ever lost consciousness from his alcohol consumption. Kavanaugh’s response was simply, “I don’t know, have you?” He went on to rave about his favorite beverage and shocked senators by continually directing their questions back at them. Judicial temperament is key to making sound, ra-

tional decisions in the eyes of the law. It was extremely out of place to redirect the questions to the board of senators—no matter how frivolous the questions seemed to Kavanaugh. His behavior doesn’t necessarily demonstrate that he is dishonest about his drinking problem, but it’s apparent he doesn’t want to come to terms with it. Sure, he admitted to his alcohol consumption, but his dodgy response should be seriously evaluated when deciding his fit for the Supreme Court.

“His behavior doesn’t neccessarily demonstrate he can’t be honest about his drinking problem, but it’s apparent he doesn’t want to be” On Oct. 6, after a hasty five-day FBI investigation overlooked Dr. Ford’s brave and credible testimony and blatant, sexually aggressive yearbook notes, the Senate confirmed Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court Justice in a close 50-48 vote. Unless he is impeached, Kavanaugh will rule on the nation’s highest court until he dies or retires. Although many senators neglected Kavanaugh’s past in favor of his current reputation, the message highlighted by this incident remains clear: a lifelong position calls for a life-long background check.

DEBATES

Friday, October 26, 2018

Should you participate in a activities to beef up your college apps?

Do it for the app

by Jarod Koeppl staff reporter

illustration by Audrey Wu

Let your passions lead you by Medha Nayak staff reporter From as early as 9th grade, Mounds View students are encouraged to take challenging courses, join clubs and compete in sports. However, the stress soon builds up due to the numerous AP courses students take to impress colleges, along with sports and other academic clubs. Joining classes and clubs one enjoys makes the stress a lot more manageable. On the other hand, doing activities for the sake of college resume building can make the process extremely tedious and time consuming. Colleges tend to prefer applicants who have excelled or demonstrated leadership in their activities, and students who are passionate about their activities are likely going to excel at them. Mounds View has a competitive atmosphere; many of its top-performing students aim for elite colleges. Working hard and doing activities for the sake of college may help some students get into top colleges, but college is just a four-year period in a long life. Students who look further into the future and explore their interests are more likely going to be successful in life, regardless of which college they go to. It is important to keep in mind that college is a short-term goal, and high school life should not revolve around college. There is much more to life than university. Activities done solely for the college application may become trivial or forgotten in later years.

High school is a time to figure out what you want to do and who you want to be. Doing activities you love leads to continued passions or even professions. Someone who loves to play the piano and devotes many hours towards it may earn multiple awards throughout high school, but this passion could also lead to a future profession or lifelong hobby. As a side job, the pianist could teach piano and fuel other young students’ passions. From the college standpoint, admissions officers say that they like to see hours of dedication and several awards for a student’s activity. However, doing activities that you do not enjoy will not help you figure out who you want to be or what you want to pursue. Not only can a student excel and gain a sense of identity through the activities they enjoy, they can also find like-minded people to become close friends with. Most people tend to make friends with the people who are most like them. All in all, a student’s passions can help them find their niche and their identity. When students do the things they enjoy, they can make their high school experience much more valuable. While many may take AP classes for the GPA boost, doing the activities one loves not only can help students make friends, but it could also introduce a lifelong passion. Let enjoyment be the guide, not the college application.

Viewer Staff 2018-2019

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING COPY EDITOR MANAGING DESIGN EDITOR MANAGING ONLINE EDITOR MANAGING ONLINE DESIGN BUSINESS MANAGER FRONT COVER NEWS EDITORS FEATURES EDITORS DEBATES EDITOR

Diana Zhu Michelle Wang Sarah Tang Michelle Wang Leon Wang Diana Zhu Sarah Tang Alec Nelson, Michael Gennaro Sanjana Dutt, Leon Wang Ben Steil

As high school seniors begin their last year at Mounds View, many find themselves stressing over college applications, and getting accepted into their dream college becomes of utmost importance. While good grades are valuable to a student’s application, grades do not define a student. It is vital for students to participate in extracurricular activities so that colleges can also get a sense of each individual’s interests or talents. Students whonot only perform well academically but also participate in activities outside of school garner more attention for themselves and demonstrate to colleges that they are well rounded. A student may join an activity or take a more rigorous class because he or she enjoys the activity or subject, but many students don’t realize that the benefits extend beyond their enjoyment. Participating in an extracurricular activity can bring about many opportunities. According to The Princeton Review, college admissions officers seek to create a wellrounded student body of diverse interests at their college by looking at the types of extracurriculars a student is engaged in. By displaying skill and commitment in an activity, students create opportunities for themselves by helping admissions officers understand their talents and interests. It is also important for students to tackle tougher classes during their high school career. Similar to extracurriculars, exhibiting proficiency and interest in difficult courses can show colleges that a student is ambitious and hardworking. By taking a challenging class, students not only build their transcript, but they also leave with an enhanced knowledge of the subject area. When students challenge themselves academically, they prepare for the rigorous envi-

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ronment of a university while also displaying their dedication and interest in the course material and its related subjects. Additionally, participating in multiple activities and high-level courses allows a student to step outside of his or her comfort zone. By placing themselves in an unfamiliar environment, students are able to expand their horizons and grow as a person. For example, students that struggle with public speaking may join the speech team to overcome their fears and gain confidence in themselves, potentially discovering a passion along the way. Furthermore, participating in an activity makes it possible to meet new people who can have a positive impact on a student’s life. Extracurriculars and challenging classes open up an abundance of opportunities. Of course, being overworked isn’t the goal here. Push your limits, try new things, but there’s no need to do it all at once. Students interested in stepping up their level of rigor in the classroom may take ARCC classes, and if they hope to further challenge themselves, try a couple AP courses. Students should heed their dean’s advice and find some balance while still pushing themselves. As students complete their journey through high school and reflect on everything they’ve accomplished during the past four years, their list of achievements will not be limited to their transcript—their extracurriculars and advanced classes will enhance their future in addition to creating learning opportunities and a better overall high school experience. While it is easy to simply enjoy an activity and overlook its other benefits, it is important to understand and appreciate the myriad of other opportunities that come with it.

STAFF REPORTERS Nadeem Aqel, Andrew Boucher, Bradyn Buganski, Josh Dai, Hayden Eckert, Ben Gardner, Ruth Grommes, Michael Hu, Madeline Jepko, Jarod Koeppl, Nancy Koshy, Vicky Li, Medha Nayak, Brock Nelson, Natalie Nemes, Kimberly Shen, Molly Shwiff, Dayne Stone, Michelle Sung, Audrey Welter, Sandy Zhang, Alissa Zhao

Mounds View High School ‌• 1900 Lake Valentine Rd. Arden Hills, MN 55112 • www.mvviewer.org‌ • @mvviewer • editor@mvviewer.org

Arts & Entertainment

Friday, October 26, 2018

New movies take on big issues

The Hate U Give

by Natalie Nemes staff reporter

“The Hate U Give” is a politically charged movie that explores the troubles that young African-American teenagers face through the eyes of the main character, Starr Carter. Starr is a 16-year-old African-American girl who walks the fine line between two worlds: the preppy, mostly white high school that she attends, and the poor, rundown, mostly black neighborhood she calls home. Starr shuttles between these two worlds until, one day, they are smashed together when she becomes the sole witness of a white police officer shooting her childhood best friend, Khalil. Starr now faces pressure from activists in her community to testify to Khalil’s murder and from the town drug lord to lie about Khalil’s involvement in drug trafficking. The film follows her journey as she finds and learns how to use her voice. Based on The New York Times best-selling book “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, the movie adaptation addresses many hot topic issues prevalent in society today, including police brutality, racial injustice and inequality. Starring Amandla Stenberg as Starr, the movie packs an emotional punch that will no doubt resonate with audiences. Released in select theaters on Oct. 5 and everywhere Oct. 11, the 20th Century Fox film currently has a 97 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is uncommonly high praise from the go-to site for measuring the quality of movies.

A large part of the acclamation for “The Hate U Give” is due to the modern-day issues it boldly addresses. According to The New York Times, Thomas wrote “The Hate U Give” in response to the shooting of Oscar Grant III, an unarmed, 22-year-old African-American man, at the hands of a white police officer, which parallels the circumstances of Khalil’s death in the book. Thomas’s novel is part of a larger movement that uses writing as a form of activism. The movie makes it clear that the cycle of hate present in Starr’s world is only a small sample of the hate in the larger world. The film not only addresses issues of racial injustice, but it also highlights the hate induced by people’s varying differences and calls for empathy to overcome this hate. Stenberg gives an emotional performance as Starr Carter; audiences can clearly see the rage she feels at the injustice of Khalil’s death. The scenes of Starr and her other family members (her father, Maverick; her mother, Lisa; her older brother, Seven; and her younger brother, Sekani) are also incredibly touching. However, the movie contains an immense number of themes, moral points and point of views that may leave viewers feeling lost. Despite occasionally taking on more material than it can handle, the emotional impact and relevance of “The Hate U Give” far outweigh the film’s shortcomings.

The Verdict

4/5 Photo courtesy of Universal Studios (below)

5/5 photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox (below) photo courtesy of Getty Images, Paras Griffin (above)

The book cover for the “Hate U Give.”

Night School by Hayden Eckert staff reporter

The Verdict

photos courtesy of Getty Images (above)

“Night School” is a comedy film directed by Malcolm D. Lee starring Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish. The story follows a group of six adults who set out to earn their GEDs, a degree adults can receive that is equivalent to a high school diploma. To earn these degrees, they are forced to complete night school and pass the GED test. “Night School” starts out with a flashback to 2001 from the main protagonist Teddy Walker, played by Kevin Hart, at Piedmont High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Since then, Teddy has become a successful salesman. But after proposing to his girlfriend Lisa, his life takes an unexpected turn when he accidentally blows up his workplace by popping open a gas tank. To find another job, Teddy is forced to return to high school, and he’s not proud of it. He lies to his new spouse, Lisa, by saying he has a great job in order to impress her. Teddy soon finds himself dealing with a group of eccentric students, his former high school nemesis and a intense teacher, Carrie, who yells at her students and sometimes brings them to martial arts gyms to spar. Stewart, Teddy’s former high school nemesis, has since become the principal of Piedmont High School and has taken on a unique style of leading. He can be seen swinging a baseball bat

The movie cover for the “Hate U Give.”

around the school and hitting lockers. In order to graduate, students must face this intense situation along with an irritable teacher, all while carrying their own struggles. The students attempt to conquer night school and score over 145 on their GED test. While Teddy was not a strong student in high school, night school forces him to face his past struggles. One aspect of the movie that was strong was the fact that Teddy and his classmates change throughout their time at the school. When the students start to put effort into getting their work done, they are greatly rewarded. “Night School” also demonstrates that if you persevere through an activity, you will not struggle to complete it later in life. This is a good motivational film that encourages students and adults alike to go after their dream. With its many hilarious moments, “Night School” will have viewers engaged the entire time. Despite poor Rotten Tomatoes review, I thought producer Will Packer did an excellent job on this comedy movie, and I am excited to see what Packer produces next.

Illistration by Jenna Stellmack (right)

sports

Friday, october 26, 2018

Girls tennis underdogs to top dogs by Andrew Boucher staff reporter

The Mounds View girls tennis team is looking to cap off their exciting season with a top finish at the state tournament, which runs during the week of Oct. 22. The competition will be fierce, but the Mustangs are excited to prove themselves. “I’m looking forward to overall have the experience because I’ve never been there. I’m excited to show people the intensity and determination we’ve had all season on the court,” said Paige Trondson, 11. Captain Taylor Trondson, 12, who has been on the varsity team since 7th grade, is ready to take on the Edina Hornets during their State semifinal match. Having not been to state since 2013, she is eager to lead the team along with her co-captains Paige Trondson and Leah Brandt, 11. “I’m excited to be back at state after years of not qualifying. State is the most important and most exciting part of high school tennis. I’m excited to play against the best competition in state and see how we do,” said Taylor Trondson.

This year, the Mustangs are no underdog, posting a 19-1 record during the regular season and going undefeated within the conference to secure the conference title. This dominating performance earned them the four seed heading into the state tournament. One thing that the girls can attribute to their success is the team’s change in attitude towards training and matches. “We have really improved from previous seasons. In practice, we are working a lot harder and having more focused practices that prepare us for our matches,” said Taylor Trondson. The tennis team doesn’t only focus on their top competitors, but trains hard consistently for each match. No matter the strength or size of their opponent, their work ethic and mental game does not falter during the season. “I would say every team is our rival. I believe that’s why we made it this far this season because we have treated each match like it will be our last. We give it all we got no matter the amount of availing the other team has,” said Taylor Trondson. One of the team’s more impressive wins was against rival

Stillwater High School. “My best win, I would say, would have to be against Stillwater. I had played their first singles girl already, but with the added pressure, I’m happy with how I performed,” said Taylor Trondson. Leading up to the big day, players are eager to prove that they belong among the best. “Goal is to go in, play our best and prove we are good enough to be there,” said Paige Trondson. They aim to knock off the defending champs, Edina, who earned the number one seed and previously held a 19-year state championship streak. “Our main goal for state is to do well against Edina in the semis,” said Hannah Lindgren, 10. Unable to win sections for over four years, Mounds View’s win in the first match on Tuesday, Oct. 23 was memorable and significant for the players as well as their coach, Scott Sundstrom. With this goal in mind, the team will try to serve up some end-of-season magic, hoping their tireless efforts and grit during the regular season will culminate into the ultimate prize, a state championship.

Taylor Trondson, 12 sets up to return a serve.

Captains Taylor Trondson, 12, Leah Brandt, 11, and Paige Trondson, 11, give a pep-talk during team huddle.

photos courtesy of Sarah Tang

Cross country teams strive for state

Girls in the spotlight Boys set for podium by Madeline Jepko staff reporter The Mounds View Girls Cross Country team has experienced astonishing improvement this fall, and the team and its coaches are striving for state. Both their race times and their places earned at every meet have surpassed most of their previous years’ records. The team has long been outrun by the boys cross country team, which has consistently placed highly at the state tournament. However, this year, the girls team has high hopes of qualifying for state. “I’m excited because we’ve never had the chance to go to state. Even though we don’t compete with [the boys team], we’re hyped that we’re up and coming and on our way,” said Alyssa LeBow, 10. The head coach, Jimmy McArthur, is also excited about the team’s improvement. He attributed this year’s success to a number of different factors. “This year, we have over 70 girls on the team; last year we only had 45. We now have 7-12 [grade] program, so now seventh and eighth graders can run. In addition, the captains are very dedicated and our new coach, Coach Diane [Hessini], has helped out, too,” McArthur said. Training for cross country is rigorous. The daily schedule consists of a two-hour practice six days a week, but the whole team enjoys it and still manages to have fun. Practices are not only great exercise, but also a great way to socialize. “We practice Monday through Saturday. They’re hard, but we have lots of fun runs. We

also chat together,” said captain Cadyn Jones, 12. Many runners on the team are close, having found the team a great way to form new friendships. “I love the team aspect; we’re not a typical team sport. I love my teammates, and we have a great family bond,” said Jones. All team members are working their hardest to outrun their competitors and earn a spot at state. “I am so excited for the rest of this season and can’t wait to see where our team goes,” said Amelia Sparks, 10.

by Alissa Zhao staff reporter Currently ranked third in the state, Mounds View boys cross country is looking to secure a top three finish at state this season. “One of our goals is always to, well it is more of an expectation that we make state now, I would say. This year, one of our main things is we want to podium at the state meet, so top three in the state, and it’s definitely not unrealistic for us to win. But definitely to be top three in the state is a goal,” said captain Nate Moller, 12. They finished fifth last year, but with four out of seven members of their state team returning this year, they believe they can finish in the top three and even aim for number one. “We are confident we will definitely be in the mix come state,” said Moller. Winning state, or even being on the podium, would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the athletes. Before school, when other students are still sleeping, they have already started their training for the day. When everybody else is hanging out with

Lady Mustangs Greta Delaune, 12, and Lizzie Kauls, 12, push through a tough 5k. photo courtesy of Cadyn Jones

Boy and girl cross country teamates take photo after Alexandria race.

friends on the weekends, they are running laps around Pleasant Lake. To get into the top training group, they have to run at least 350 miles in the summer and run for 25 minutes before school, and even that doesn’t guarantee a spot on varsity. The Mounds View team has gone to state for the past several years, placing fourth two years ago and fifth last year. The team expects to make it to state again this year and hope to rank even higher than last year. “It is one of our goals to get top three and I think we can get that goal,” said captain Lukas Hessini, 12. The boys put in an incredible amount of energy and effort into each and every race. So far this season, varsity has attended two meets, the St. Olaf showcase and the Milaca Mega meet, placing second at both. At the Milaca Mega meet, Mounds View beat both Stillwater and Eden Prairie, boosting Mounds View’s state ranking to third. Though Mounds View lost to Edina by seven points in this meet, head coach Ross Fleming isn’t too worried. “Seven points in a cross country meet would be like winning or losing in the last 30 seconds of a basketball game. Seven points isn’t much; if one guy can run maybe five seconds faster, then we knock off the number one team in the state,” said Fleming. Their success at the Milaca Mega meet gave the team a confidence boost and showed them that their hard work has paid off. Throughout the season, the boys have demonstrated their hard work at every race. With every meet helping the team grow their conviction, the coaches and the runners are confident in their ability to secure a top three finish at the state tournament on Nov. 3. photo courtesy of Cadyn Jones

sports

Friday, october 26, 2018

Girls tennis underdogs to top dogs by Andrew Boucher staff reporter

Taylor Trondson, 12 sets up to return a serve.

Captains Taylor Trondson, 12, Leah Brandt, 11, and Paige Trondson, 11, give a pep-talk during team huddle.

photos courtesy of Sarah Tang

Cross country teams strive for state

Girls in the spotlight Boys set for podium also chat together,” said captain Caby Madeline Jepko dyn Jones, 12. staff reporter Many runners on the team are The Mounds View Girls Cross close, having found the team a great Country team has experienced aston- way to form new friendships. “I love ishing improvement this fall, and the the team aspect; we’re not a typical team and its coaches are striving for team sport. I love my teammates, and state. Both their race times and their we have a great family bond,” said places earned at every meet have sur- Jones. passed most of their previous years’ All team members are working records. their hardest to outrun their competiThe team has long been out- tors and earn a spot at state. “I am run by the boys cross country team, so excited for the rest of this season which has consistently placed highly and can’t wait to see where our team at the state tournament. However, this goes,” said Amelia Sparks, 10. year, the girls team has high hopes of qualifying for state. “I’m excited because we’ve never had the chance to go to state. Even though we don’t compete with [the boys team], we’re hyped that we’re up and coming and on our way,” said Alyssa LeBow, 10. The head coach, Jimmy McArthur, is also excited about the team’s improvement. He attributed this year’s success to a number of different factors. “This year, we have over 70 girls on the team; last year we only had 45. We now have 7-12 [grade] program, so now seventh and eighth graders can run. In addition, the captains are very dedicated and our new coach, Coach Diane [Hessini], has helped out, too,” McArthur said. Training for cross country is rigorous. The daily schedule consists of a two-hour practice six days a week, but the whole team enjoys it and still manages to have fun. Practices are not only great exercise, but also a great way to socialize. “We practice Lady Mustangs Greta Delaune, 12, Monday through Saturday. They’re and Lizzie Kauls, 12, push through a hard, but we have lots of fun runs. We tough 5k.

Boy and girl cross country teamates take photo after Alexandria race.

Pleasant Lake. To get into the top training group, they have to run at least 350 miles in the summer and run for 25 minutes before school, and even that doesn’t guarantee a spot on varsity. The Mounds View team has gone to state for the past several years, placing fourth two years ago and fifth last year. The team expects to make it to state again this year and hope to rank even higher than last year. “It is one of our goals to get top three and I think we can get that goal,” said captain Lukas Hessini, 12. The boys put in an incredible amount of energy and effort into each and every race. So far this season, varsity has attended two meets, the St. Olaf showcase and the Milaca Mega meet, placing second at both. At the Milaca Mega meet, Mounds View beat both Stillwater and Eden Prairie, boosting Mounds View’s state ranking to third. Though Mounds View lost to Edina by seven points in this meet, head coach Ross Fleming isn’t too worried. “Seven points in a cross country meet would be like winning or losing in the last 30 seconds of a basketball game. Seven points isn’t much; if one guy can run maybe five seconds faster, then we knock off the number one team in the state,” said Fleming. Their success at the Milaca Mega meet gave the team a confidence boost and showed them that their hard work has paid off. Throughout the season, the boys have demonstrated their hard work at every race. With every meet helping the team grow their conviction, the coaches and the runners are confident in their ability to secure a top three finish at the state tournament on Nov. 3. photos courtesy of Cadyn Jones

Friday, October 26, 2018

top 10 ways to spend Halloween

10 Go to the dance Go to an orchard 9 8 Carve pumpkins Carve pumpkins for your math class 7 6 Create a DIY custom costume 5 4 Give up and just wear your pajamas 3 2 Pumpkin spice up your life! 1 Cram to send your early college apps

Buy a corgi costume off of Amazon

Watch a scary movie (or Scary Movie)

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Pet of The Issue Name: Toasty Age: 2 years old Gender: Female Breed: Holland Lop Bunny Owner: Pualani Carmo, 9

Favorite Food: Tropical Carnival Favorite Toy: Cardboard

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Fun Facts: Likes to sleep in Pualani’s bed

NOV.

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photos by Pualani Carmo

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NOV.

HALLOWEEN DANCE Get spooky from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. in the Mounds View gym! NO SCHOOL Teacher work day.

NOV.

“SISTER ACT” MUSICAL

NOV.

ELECTION DAY

The opening show from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m marks the beginning of the musical, which runs through Nov. 10. Midterm elections will elect new congressional members. Register to vote today!