MV Viewer 2019-2020 Issue 2

VOLUME 67 ISSUE 2 | OCTOBER 25, 2019

THE VIEWER

MUSTANGS VS KNIGHTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SCHOOL BOARD 02/ ACT 03/ SPORTS INJURIES 12

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News

Friday, October 25, 2019

Meet the school board candidates

by Sterling Hills and Zige Wang staff reporters

photo courtesy of Derek Whitcomb

photo courtesy of Jim DeMay

Derek Whitcomb is a father of three, soon to be four. He and his wife are involved in the Sunnyside Elementary School community, and they both believe in giving back to the community, which inspired Whitcomb to run for school board this year. “I believe that we need to make sure that we leave a great legacy for the Mounds View School District,” Whitcomb said. “One that is built on the student experience, being successful in the classroom and being prepared for the next step in life.” If elected, Whitcomb wishes to focus on closing the ongoing achievement gaps, continuing to focus on students’ safety and ensuring fiscal responsibility. However, one of the most important things Whitcomb wants people to know about him is that he is a friend, a neighbor and a parent. “I want the residents in our district to know I represent them because I am one of them,” Whitcomb said.

Jim DeMay, along with his children, grew up within the district. He is involved in many activities centered in youth and schools and believes this would make him a good member for the school board. “You need to show and participate to really foster our youth and community,” DeMay said. There are a few goals DeMay has in mind for the Mounds View district. These include reducing construction- related issues for teachers and students, striving to keep a low class size for elementary school students and improving the dean system to help with career pathways for high schoolers. Overall, he wishes to improve the Mounds View district student experience. “I am committed to providing opportunities to all students that will prepare them for a strong future,” DeMay said.

photo courtesy of Sandra Westerman

photo courtesy of Heidi Danielson

Sandra Westerman, a graduate from Irondale High School who lives in Shoreview, is the mother of two students in the Mounds View School District.

Since she was first elected in 2011, she has helped the district go through a number of noteworthy changes. “I have led our district through significant changes including school start time changes, Early College in the schools, superintendent hiring, a district-wide capital improvement project and now in the midst of a student mental health audit,” Westerman said. “If I am re-elected, I will focus my energies on ensuring that Mounds View remains a high rigor district, while creating a culture that supports better balance for students.”

Heidi Danielson was appointed to the school board last June and is running for re-election. Danielson plans to spend her time on the school board addressing a few particular issues. “The three issues that I feel are the most important for our district to address right now are student mental health, realizing the Equity Promise statement and post-secondary preparation,” Danielson said. As a mother of an Irondale High School student and alumnus, she understands that students have to deal with a multitude of struggles and pressures. “I would be honored to continue my work with the Mounds View School Board advocating for the needs of our students,” Danielson said.

Minnesota’s local elections are being held on Tuesday, November 5. This year, voters are able to choose among five candidates to fill four spots on the Mounds View District School Board. The school board is comprised of seven people who adopt policies that lay out the general outline on managing the school district, create assignments for the committee and school liaison, and elect officers. Editor’s note: Jonathan Weinhagen is also running for office but did not respond to questioning.

“Done for a decade” levy request

by Elisa Guo and Yatharth Sharma staff reporters

The Mounds View District School Board requested a levy titled “Done for a Decade” on Aug. 30. The proposal asks to combine the two current voter approved levies, along with an increase that would account for inflation.

The levy is a portion of property tax paid for by those residents who own homes in the district. If a majority of voters approve it on Election Day, classroom sizes will be stabilized, student programs will be maintained and security will be upgraded throughout the district.

One of the current levies is about to expire, and that would contribute to a monetary loss for the district.

“We have two levies out right now, and the second one expires at the end of November, and if that one does not renew [or] the levy does not pass, then we start to lose $7 million a year,” said Diane Glasheen, school board member. The new levy would provide the district with $12 million per year in revenue for the next decade.

One benefit the levy could provide is a stable, smaller class size. Currently, the school board approves 34 students per class for a core high school class. However, many class sizes seem to push over this limit, making it difficult for both students and teachers.

Scott Oberg, social studies teacher, lists several benefits from having a reasonable class size. “One, you have enough desks for students to sit in. Two, fewer students in class means more interaction and feedback from the teacher. Three, fewer kids in class means less

distractions from classmates and four, fewer kids in class [means we] can do more in terms of activities.”

Students also highlight the benefits of having a controlled class size. “When class sizes are smaller, I feel more comfortable asking the teacher questions in class,” said Erin O’Rourke, 10. “There isn’t as much pressure from students for not knowing how to do something, and I don’t feel like I take time away from other students.”

Besides keeping the number of students per class down, the levy will also provide funding for the needs of individual departments. “The science department always needs a lot of disposable equipment,” said physics teacher Michael Cartwright. “We tend to exceed our budget, so being able to expand our budget to get more things for laboratory opportunities would be great for our students.” Another staff member, biology teacher Mark Johnson, made similar remarks. “Some of the lab materials we use in science in particular are expensive and perishable [like] chemicals, dissection specimen, etc. That stuff is invaluable to what we do in a science classroom,” Johnson said. He pointed out that if students want to have hands-on learning opportunities, materials would need to be purchased.

Without the levy approval, student programs across the district would have to be cut. “We are talking about band, orchestra and choir. We’re talking about after-school activities; we’re talking about athletics,” Glasheen said. These programs are valuable to the school as “it’s important for kids to be well-rounded so they can continue the activities [the school] provides already and have fun,” said Kate Milkert, math teacher.

The school board is also seeking to add more mental health support to schools across the district, as they believe that the schools are currently under resourced.

“Mounds View is committed to identifying ways to enhance programming and increase the number of support positions in all of our schools in order to best meet the needs of all of our students,” Glasheen said.

With ongoing concerns about school safety, school board members also wish to update schools with security enhancements. “Last year, the district identified a number of safety and security needs. These included updates to visitor management systems, door ajar alarm notifications improvements and enhanced camera and intercom systems,” Glasheen said. A successful levy this fall will fund these safety upgrades.

For residents living inside the district, the passing of the levy will result in an approximate $28 per month increase in property tax, regardless if the family has students currently attending school within the district.

Still, the school board noted that it is important for residents living within the area to vote for the levy.

“When you have good schools, that also affects your property value as well,” said Stephanie Bruggers, Mounds View principal. “People know that, and I think that’s why we do have a really supportive community, not just for your property value, but they want the people living in their community to have access to really good schools.”

The official voting for the levy request will be on Nov. 5. However, voters also have the option to cast their ballot on Oct. 29 and Nov. 4 alongside options to vote through an absentee ballot from Sept. 20 to Nov. 4.

News

Friday, October 25, 2019

MV teams advanced in MNCup

by Ellis Maloney staff reporter

Two startup companies created by students at Mounds View, See Your Dream and EcoSlurp, have yielded great success this past year and have recently been awarded for their efforts in the Minnesota Cup (MN Cup). MN Cup is a statewide startup competition hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management that aims to catalyze entrepreneurship in the state.

About a year and a half ago, Michael Cao, 2019 graduate of Mounds View and freshman at Stanford University, independently created See Your Dream which offers interactive virtual reality experiences to children’s hospitals. The company focuses on developing experiences that prepare pediatric patients for procedures that could frighten them. Cao’s success came from his ability to balance time and effort, which was especially crucial as a one-man team.

Cao’s project won first place in the youth division at MN Cup and brought him $10,000 along with an opportunity to compete against the other division winners for $50,000. Cao plans to use his winnings to improve his company. “I am reinvesting the prize money towards hiring additional VR developers,” Cao said. “I hope to reach additional hospitals in California to continue working on developing new VR experiences.”

In October 2018, nine current Mounds View students created EcoSlurp, selling single-use, plastic, biodegradable bubble tea straws to help cut down on plastic waste. The straws are made out of polypropylene with added resins, which allow them to biodegrade 250 times faster than regular plastic straws. EcoSlurp’s success comes from the camaraderie on the team which was necessary for important matters. “Our team has a really good dynamic,” said EcoSlurp member Joey Tan, 10. “We make sure to let everyone have an equal say when it comes to decisions, and we all put in effort toward helping the company as a whole. We have all pitched in and our work and success show that.”

Finishing right behind See Your Dream, EcoSlurp was awarded second place in the MN Cup youth division, earning them $7,500.

The two teams had to submit an online application that detailed the logistics of the company. The judges then evaluate the submissions and choose the semi-finalists — EcoSlurp and See Your Dream both qualified.

Teams that make it this far are then matched with experienced entrepreneurs and advisors to help them perfect their commercials, business plans and pitch decks that will be evaluated when choosing the three finalists in each division. Due to their importance, the company materials require a lot of time to make them flawless in the eyes of the judges. “The business plan is the most time-intensive part of the preparation as it is an over 10page report about our company,” said EcoSlurp member Matt Nelson, 12. “It includes future projections, financial information and our company fundamentals.”

In August, both Mounds View teams were selected as two of the three finalists and prepared for the in-person pitching round that took place on Sept. 17 at Carlson. “We presented to a panel of judges. For the youth division, there is a 12-minute presentation and then an 18-minute question period,” said EcoSlurp member Savannah Guiang, 11.

On Oct. 14, both teams attended the final awards ceremony where each division finalist and runner-up had the chance to speak about their product. Guiang and Sanjana Pattanaik, 11, represented EcoSlurp on stage and won the “audience’s favorite pitch for runnerup companies” award for an additional $1,000. “Once we got on stage, all of my nervousness disappeared, and it was actually kind of fun,” Guiang said. “When we found out we won the award it was unexpected but very exciting.”

With a passion to change the world for the better, both businesses are beginning to see their dedication and hard work pay off.

EcoSlurp team members attending the MNCup final awards ceremony. Members in order from left to right: Savannah Guiang, 11; Matthew Nelson, 12; Joey Tan, 10; Neha Sriram, 12; Ivy Yu, 12; Aunika Zheng, 12; Michael Gennaro, 12; Sanjana Pattanaik, 11 (not pictured: Renee Lee, 12).

ACT adjustments coming 2020

by Katherine Spence and Junha Yoo staff reporters

A major part of most Mounds View students’ high school career is taking standardized tests, and one that many students opt to take is the ACT. The exam contains five subsections: English, math, reading, science and an optional essay opportunity. Currently, if a student wishes to improve their score, they must retake the entire three-hour test. However, effective September 2020, students will be able to retake individual subsections of the ACT and combine their scores to show their highest achievements to colleges.

The immediate reactions to such a significant change from teachers and students alike are mixed. “It’s nice, and it benefits the student because obviously you can’t do well on your first try,” said Jackie Pennington, 10. “I think it’s a good opportunity for students to showcase how well they can actually do without the stress of doing well on the first try.” Taking the ACT can be a daunting task, and there is a lot of stress that can come along with it. Allowing students to focus on improving one or two sections may relieve some anxiety that comes with the test.

On the other hand, some teachers believe that students now face heightened disadvantages due to the new policy. “If you have the advantages to go to a good school, to have after-school resources or parents who follow up on the ACT, there’s a direct correlation [to a higher score],” said Justin Benolkin, social studies teacher. Benolkin believes the preexisting disadvantage is now worse, as there is an additional fee to retake sub-

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sections. Physics teacher Michael Cartwright agrees.

“People who are financially better off tend to score better,” Cartwright said. Instead, Cartwright suggests more accessible options such as shorter, more frequent testing administrations and less costly opportunities rather than the newest change.

Students’ mental health is a major contribution to the debate on whether the ACT change is appropriate or not. “I think it will help their mental health because they can compartmentalize what they need to redo to do better rather than just the whole thing,” Benolkin said.

He believes the new change will allow students to challenge themselves on their weaknesses, thus creating a positive academic impact and reducing fear of potential failure. Allowing students to retake individual sections will also reduce the load of studying to prepare for the reassessment. “If [I] mess up on one section, I can go and redo it. It’s not that big of a deal,” said Ben Rosin, 11. By reducing the study load and letting students focus on a single subsection, students and teachers are hopeful that this change will decrease test anxiety.

On the contrary, some feel the new change will result in more stress among the student body. “I think that allowing students to micro-focus on parts of their score is actually [going to] make things more stressful, not less stressful,” said Cartwright. “Because now they’re going to nitpick every single section score and try to improve each one incrementally instead of just looking at the overall score as a reflection of their ability to take a test.”

Although receiving a high score is the goal for

many students, Cartwright believes that the test is simply a way to show how they take a test, not necessarily if they mastered the curriculum. Therefore, receiving a perfect score in each section is not imperative. Additionally, Leo Cui, 11, sees both sides. “[This will affect students] the same way it affects people’s mental health with the retake policy at Mounds View,” Cui said. “It gives them more opportunity, but it also gives them a different kind of stress.”

Despite controversy regarding the effect on students’ mental health, some students and teachers wish this change had been implemented sooner. “It’s bad that it’s right when we’re starting to graduate because we don’t know how to use it to our advantage,” Pennington said, as the immediate effect of this change is uncertain.

Even seniors who will not personally experience the effects of this change agree. Gaelan Smith, 12, believes that if implemented sooner, this change would have been extremely beneficial and helped him with college admissions. Members of the MVHS administration also share this idea. “I absolutely wish [my sons] would’ve had the opportunity,” said Jeanne Hass, testing coordinator. With three sons who have already taken the ACT, Hass believes this change would have aided them in high school if it were implemented earlier.

While students and teachers may disagree upon whether the change is a positive or a negative, one thing is for sure: The change will affect how the students view the test dramatically and may change the future of standardized testing.

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features

Friday, October 25, 2019

Battling with Cancer

Catherine Jaspal

by Irene Lampredi and Johnny Yue staff reporters

As the 2018-2019 school year began, Spanish teacher Catherine Jaspal was looking forward to a brand new school year. However, all of her plans were interrupted last October when Jaspal received devastating news: She had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I never felt it could happen to me,” Jaspal said.

“One in eight women can get it, and it never crossed my mind. It was just hard to understand it. The biggest question I had was why. Why me? I felt I did something that I wasn’t supposed to do,” Jaspal said.

But as time progressed, Jaspal realized that it was important to concentrate on what was important to her, not just the negatives. “It doesn’t pay to focus on why that happened; it just did,” Jaspal said. “What helped me was waking up to what I was grateful for everyday as opposed to focusing on the negative, because it will drive you nuts.”

Jaspal was originally diagnosed with stage two breast cancer, meaning that her doctors believed that the cancer had spread into the lymph nodes underneath the arm. Her surgery would have to take place during the week of Thanksgiving last year.

Fortunately, her high hopes were accompanied with relatively pleasing news. Miraculously, on the day

photo courtesy of Catherine Jaspal Jaspal with Salvador Dalí at the wax museum in New York City

before Thanksgiving, her post-surgery diagnosis pacified to stage one breast cancer after being informed that she had clean lymph nodes. This means that Jaspel’s cancer was relatively treatable.

This whole experience has allowed Jaspal to view her life from a completely different perspective. Realizing that health comes first and being optimistic about little things have sprouted gratefulness in her life. “You realize that what’s important is staring at you saying, ‘you need to take time for yourself now.’ Now I’m trying to enjoy life more on a day-by-day basis and find joy in the monotonous, like the daily routines,” Jaspal said. “I had to be more light-hearted about things because, in the end, it’s not worth your time or energy.”

Hoping her story will help Mounds View students and staff, Jaspal wants others to be more conscious of the fragility and unpredictability of physical and mental health. “It is easy to have a false sense of security that you’re always going to have perfect health, which may cause you to take your health for granted,” Jaspal said.

Although cancer and other forms of life-changing diseases may seem purely disadvantageous to many, Jaspal’s story is just one example of being able to find the silver lining in dire times and ultimately brings awareness to the importance of not taking your health for granted and living life to its fullest.

photo courtesy of Tina Tanner Students send Tanner get-well poster cards

photo courtesy of Mounds View High School

photo courtesy of Tina Tanner Tanner enjoys a day at Lendt’s Pumpkin Patch

Tina Tanner

by Isabel Newhouse staff reporter Since teachers are there to teach and support students, many parts of their personal lives go unnoticed.

While students seem to be constantly reminded that cancer affects them much more than they assume, the severity of the situation does not cross many students’ minds.

Spanish teacher Tina Tanner is one of the four Mounds View teachers struggling with cancer. Tanner, who is currently on school leave and is planning on coming back in May and finishing the year strong, is in the midst of her chemotherapy.

Before teaching at Mounds View, Tanner taught in a missionary school in Belize. With Tanner’s teaching in Belize in the past, she now enjoys not only teaching students, but also all the little moments that come with it. “My favorite part of being a Spanish teacher is the students. It’s not just when they ‘get’ Spanish, but also when a shy student smiles or when a class comes up with an inside joke,” Tanner said.

Ever since her diagnosis, Tanner’s outlook on life has completely changed. “Before, I was on auto-pilot and just going through the motions of life,” Tanner said. “Now, I take in all of it, the good, the bad, all of it.

I’ve been forced to slow down.”

Since her diagnosis, Tanner has needed to demonstrate enormous amounts of mental strength because

of her sickness. She says that her mental support has largely come from her husband. “He was there when I was diagnosed. He just held me and cried with me at the beginning. He comes to all my chemotherapy treatments with me and most of my doctor’s appointments.

Going through this without him would be challenging,” Tanner said.

In addition to her husband’s encouragement, Tanner has found the Mounds View community to be extremely supportive. Despite her physical absence, many people have reached out to her to offer their support.

“Several cards and gifts were a pleasant surprise,” Tanner said. “Some are giving my children rides [to school/ events]. It has been amazing to see all the support for me out there.”

In addition to gifts and help offers, Tanner has received verbal support and encouragement from fellow staff members. “Various staff members have shared their stories with me of loved ones who have suffered from similar cancers to mine,” Tanner said. Through this, she has been encouraged to push through her procedures. “Sadly, cancer will affect everyone [in] some way or another at some point in their lives either by having a loved one with cancer or getting it themselves,” Tanner said. “Treatment can be tough, but keep reaching out to those even if you think [you] are bothering them.”

photo courtesy of Mounds View High School

features

Friday, October 25, 2019

The final leg of a long run

by Isabelle Schrab and Lucie Henrich staff reporters

Ever since seventh grade, Morgan Dahl, 12, has had a passion for running cross country. Whether it is her natural ability or her love for the sport, Dahl continues to amaze everyone with her quick speed.

Throughout her five years on the high school team, she has amassed many accomplishments and was also named captain this year.

Dahl’s cross country career started in seventh grade when her mom noticed her enthusiasm for running. “My mom signed me up for middle school cross country because she knew I liked to run. Then, in eighth grade, I joined the high school team with some friends who had done high school track with me,” Dahl said. She is also on the Mounds View track and field team where she competes in a variety of longdistance events.

In order to improve, Dahl creates new goals for herself each season. “I would love to PR [personal record] in the 5k [kilometer] and get top 25 at state,” Dahl said. She has fulfilled many goals during her time running cross country. “Sophomore year I won the section meet, and then at state I got top 17. Last year we went to state as a team,” Dahl said.

Because Dahl has been in the cross country program for many years, her leadership skills have grown with each season. “I think Morgan just has a ton of experience,” said cross country coach Jimmy McArthur. “Just being in the program so long, and having so many different leaders above her, she’s been able to see what has worked and what hasn’t.” Dahl uses her experience in the cross country program to help make each year better in addition to setting a standard for

her teammates to look up to.

Dahl, along with her co-captains Jessie Tollander, 12, and Belle Berggren, 12, help keep the team focused on the race ahead. All the runners cheer each other on and push each other to do their best. This helps create an environment at both practices and meets that the whole team is able to benefit from. “The thing that sticks out the most to me right now is the team atmosphere,” McArthur said. “I love the way our team is coming together, the way they look after each other, the way they love one another, the way they are selfless.”

Aside from the effort the runners put in every

should be ready and shouldn’t be nervous to race,” Dahl said.

On and off course, Dahl works hard to bring the team together. She works on her personal goals, as well as pushes others to reach theirs. In addition to the running aspect of cross country, Dahl enjoys spending time with her cross country friends each day. “I love hanging out with all the girls every day; it really just makes every day better,” Dahl said.

“I love the way our team is coming together, the way they look after each other, the way they love one another, the way they are selfless.”

- Jimmy McArthur day, Dahl ensures that the team also has lots of fun outside of practice. “We do a lot of stuff outside of the sport, like we do sleepovers, and we did a camp out in the summer,” Dahl said. She noted the importance of keeping the team involved, even during the off season.

Cross country goes throughout fall, but the runners train throughout the winter and summer to prepare for each season to stay in shape. “I remind them [the runners] that they put in so many hours and miles throughout the season and the summer, and that they

photo courtesy of Morgan Dahl (right)

Girls cross country gets foody

byAndy Devine staff reporter

As the Mounds View girls cross country (MVGCC) season comes to an end, new coach and dietitian Elizabeth Narigon could not be happier with how the team performed. Her job includes helping the runners achieve their personal running goals, as well as educating them on healthier diet habits and proper nutrition.

During her high school years, Narigon ran on the MVGCC team and then continued her running career at Montana State University. She is able to assist the girls in finding creative and healthy ways to work around any possible dietary restrictions as she is a registered dietitian.

Narigon works to help the team learn more about the food that they are consuming and how it will affect them during practices and races. “My goal is to help them develop a better relationship with food and feel like they can come to me with any of their questions,”

“Elizabeth [Narigon] pushes me during workouts when I don’t think I can do it.”

- Mari Thomas, 11

photo courtesy of Elizabeth Narigon

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Narigon said. “I just want them to feel healthy and ready to compete.” Narigon’s dedication to the runners has led to their improvements throughout the season.

“Elizabeth [Narigon] pushes me during workouts when I don’t think I can do it,” said Mari Thomas, 11.

“She is always willing to hop in and run with us.”

Narigon brings with her a division one running perspective from her time as an intern for the sports dietitian at one of the top running programs in the country. “I shadowed the University of Oregon’s sports dietitian, and I was able to work with the track and field team,” Narigon said. “They’re a nationally ranked team so that was just a great window of op-

portunity.”

The team trains vigorously with a variety of strenuous workouts: hill repeats, long runs and tempo runs. If not properly fueled, the runs will take a toll on the body and hinder its performance. With Narigon’s expertise in nutrition, she can give helpful tips so that the runners recover, do not get injured and are ready to run again the next day.

Each problem that comes forward requires an individualized solution because everyone reacts differently to certain adjustments. “I think the most challenging yet rewarding part of my job is putting together a puzzle since every athlete that comes to me has a very unique issue or question or personal history,” Narigon said. She also uses her personal experience as a runner to understand the viewpoints of the athletes coming to her with concerns.

One reason why Narigon was excited to return to Mounds View and work with the cross country team was because of the tight-knit bonds that form during the season. MVGCC trains throughout the whole year to prepare for each season, so naturally friendships are formed that create a positive atmosphere among the team. “Being here feels more at home, and it’s a family-like aspect,” Narigon said.

On the horizon for Narigon is more sports-related dietitian work, possibly for a division one college or professional sports team.

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A Knight for a day

by Amy Binder staff reporter

Tensions often run high between Irondale and Mounds View, the two high schools in the Mounds View School District. After hearing jokes made at Irondale’s expense about the drugs, gangs and poor academic performance, I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands. On Oct. 9 at 8:20, I arrived at Irondale High School to experience the daily life of an Irondale student for myself.

The Irondale student I shadowed for the day, Lauren Letnes, 12, met me at the door with a Bru House coffee and a friendly smile. The first detail I noticed about Irondale was the high ceilings in every classroom and hallway. Of course, it was also hard not to notice the sea of maroon and gold sweatshirts; it was clear from the moment I stepped inside that I was no longer at Mounds View.

Lauren led me through the hallways of Irondale, pointing out key locations and areas of the school amidst the sounds of construction and chattering students. Irondale’s diverse student body was apparent through signs advertising student clubs like Africa Club, Bible Study, Black Student Union, Christian Fellowship Club, Girls’ Club, Latino Club and Muslim Student Association. As we walked toward the administrative wing, Lauren told me that construction on the main entrance has shifted the bus and parent drop-off zone to a side door outside the gym hallway. The office area had just been remodeled, and the vibrant blue paint, fresh carpeting and open office space with large glass windows reminded me of Mounds View’s new administrative offices. She also identified freshman hall, where the freshmen hang out in the mornings by their lockers, and senior hall, where the senior lockers are. Irondale students tend to gravitate towards certain hallways to spend time with friends in the morning, whereas Mounds View students gather in places like the commons and the ILC. The lockers at Irondale are slightly wider than the ones at Mounds View and stacked two high in each hallway.

I shadowed at Irondale a week after their homecoming, which was evident from the hallways decorated with the remnants of tissue paper and posters for sports teams. Unlike Mounds View, multiple clubs at Irondale are involved in homecoming planning; although Student Council plans the dance and organizes homecoming royalty nomination, DECA runs the homecoming showcase, a talent show with performances by the homecoming royalty.

Lauren’s first class of the day was AP Statistics. A substitute teacher passed out a thick packet of problems on scatterplots, least squares regression lines and calculating errors. With the disdain of substitute teachers universal to students, Lauren’s table in the back participated in an impressive variety of activities: debating the likelihood of the soccer teams winning their sections games, comparing their AP Calculus 2 grades and shopping online for shoes.

Students perked up at the sound of the bell but soon deflated again—the bells were set to the wrong schedule. Knight Time, the Irondale equivalent of ReFLECT, typically takes place on Wednesdays but did not on the day I shadowed because of the shortened week. I was quickly familiarized with the Mounds View-esque AirPod culture at Irondale during passing time; more students in the hallway were listening to music through their AirPods than not.

Next, we walked to Lauren’s TA hour for ARCC Biology. Each classroom at Irondale has a painting above the door; ARCC Biology’s sign featured green leaves and the word “biology” in yellow paint. The walls of Irondale also feature several large murals, including a painting of Martin Luther King Jr. and his “I Have a Dream” speech in senior hall.

The class was taking a test, so we left to explore the media center. To my surprise, Lauren asked the teacher for a pass to leave the classroom. Students at Irondale must have a pass to leave class at any time, even for trips to the bathroom or lockers, and the activities director monitors the hallways outside the cafeteria to ensure that students do not roam the hallways during lunch. Once we got to the media center, Lauren explained that free hours are much rarer at Irondale than they are at Mounds View. Most free hours are not approved unless the student takes an online class or TAs, so the media center is rarely used throughout the day and students must check in with their ID numbers as they enter. Although Irondale’s policies may appear strict to Mounds View students, Lauren believes that they are fair. “It’s strict because of the way kids acted when it wasn’t strict,” Lauren said. We sat at a familiar-looking high table with chairs similar to the furniture in the Mounds View commons.

We found our way to third hour ARCC College Writing through a labyrinth of hallways off one of two main hallways running parallel to each other. These hallways connect the second and third floors with a ramp, one on each side of the building. According to Lauren, one of the ramps was under construction until the day before I shadowed, causing major congestion in the remaining hallway. The ARCC College Writing class completed a reflection on the personal narratives they wrote the previous week as the teacher introduced the next project: writing a persuasive essay with an infographic. He also walked the class through answering critical-thinking questions on an article about gun violence in video games. Throughout the day, I noticed that fewer Irondale students bring their own Head over to laptops to school than Mounds View students; only a few people in mvviewer.org each class used personal computers.

Students got feedback on their résumés for a video broadcast of and prepared for mock interviews during other students’ shadowing Advanced Marketing. The class discussed the experiences! job skills Generation Z lacks in the workforce and how students can overcome these challenges when they work and intern in the future. I attribute their enthusiastic engagement to the cinnamon bread, pumpkin pastries and fruit cups provided in the back of the room. After four long classes, everyone, including me, was ready for lunch. A, B and C lunches at Mounds View correspond to first, second and third lunches at Irondale. Business Management took third lunch, and I headed off to the cafeteria with Lauren and her friends.

The cafeteria at Irondale looks similar to the one at Mounds View, but it’s decked out in maroon instead of Mounds View’s characteristic dark green. Although the lunch menu at Irondale is nearly identical to Mounds View’s, Irondale has yet to switch over to Hangry Bear pizza like Mounds View did earlier this year. Just like Mounds View, however, the most popular entrée at Irondale is popcorn chicken on Wednesdays, closely followed by taco in a bag on alternating Tuesdays. I found one of Irondale’s surprisingly few water fountains in the corner of the cafeteria and filled up my water bottle before doing my best to answer the most burning questions about Mounds View from Lauren’s friends.

Lauren’s health class was in the basement with the gyms and weight room.

The class watched a video about the connection between uncontrollable anger and activation of the frontal cortex, but students were more focused on the upcoming assignment: the Phone Detox. Students were challenged to either turn off their phones for 24 hours and automatically get an A on the next test or take the unit test like normal. As students lined up one by one to report their decision to the teacher, tensions flew sky-high at Lauren’s table. One student questioned her ability to finish the challenge while Lauren herself worried that she would not be able to aux on the car ride to Olive Garden for a team dinner that night. The third student at the table gave up before the end of the hour and turned his phone back on. I heard the detox referenced many times throughout the day by current health students and survivors of the challenge alike.

The beginning of sixth hour was interrupted by the daily announcements. Although the Student Council representative’s sign-off did not include an upbeat “it’s a great day to be a Mustang” or “have a Mustang-tastic day,” I recognized the steady stream of sports updates and school-wide news from typical second hour announcements at Mounds View. Lauren’s 15-student physics class followed along with the teacher as she described how to find the position and acceleration of a car from a velocity graph.

At the final bell, I joined the swarm of students leaving Irondale and walked to the side street lined with buses. Unlike the end-of-the-day congestion Mounds View experiences, Irondale hallways remain relatively clear because students leave through multiple entrances instead of one main door. My drug-free and gang-free journey at Irondale was ending, but Lauren’s day at Mounds View was just beginning. Check out mvviewer.org for a broadcast episode highlighting the experiences of Irondale students at Mounds View.

VS

AP vs. artsy

by Nicholas Stenlund and Morgan Dalton staff reporters

“Ironjail.” This one nickname shows Mounds View’s negative perception of Irondale— and Irondale’s opinion of Mounds View is similarly demeaning. Despite these impressions, statistics show both schools to be successful, even though they have slight differences in academic; Irondale offers courses with a stronger focus on fine arts, whereas Mounds View offers a more traditional academic course list.

Both Mounds View and Irondale, despite the stereotypes, are high-achieving schools. According to U.S. News & World Report, over 60 percent of students in the class of 2017 at both schools took at least one Advanced Placement (AP) exam during their high school career. Of those students who took an exam, 83 percent at Mounds View passed at least one exam and 63 percent did at Irondale. Both schools are in the top 20 public high schools in Minnesota, with Mounds View ranked as seventh and Irondale as 18th.

In correlation with the rankings, Mounds View as a whole tends to score higher on the ACT. As reported by the district in 2018, Mounds View’s average score on the ACT was 25.6 for the 2017-2018 school year, and the Irondale average was 21.7.

Other indicators show that Mounds View students collectively perform better on standardized tests than Irondale students. According to U.S. News & World Report, Irondale’s national percentage on their College Readiness Index is 91.1 percent, and Mounds View’s is 95.5 percent. U.S. News determines College Readiness using information on AP/IB exam participation and the percentage of students who pass at least one AP/IB exam.

As suggested by the difference in statewide ranking and test scores, the academic atmosphere differs between the two schools as well. Mounds View students seem to feel more academic stress than students at Irondale. “Here [at Mounds View] people are more stressed out about academics, and over there [at Irondale] people are more stressed out about other things, like more social situations,” said Jadie Pang, 10, a Mounds View student who goes to Irondale for marching band and drumline.

DaNae Klimek, a business and careers teacher who recently moved from Irondale to Mounds View, attributed the heightened academic stress at Mounds View to external pressures, while students at Irondale seemed to feel more internal pressure. “I think kids at Irondale, the ones that are motivated, are very motivated internally,” Klimek said.

French teacher Christopher Mester, who teaches mornings at Irondale and afternoons at Mounds View, said that both schools have similar stress levels. “Both places, students seem a little bit stressed out. For a lot of students, I think they feel overworked,” Mester said .

Even though typical electives like French are offered at both schools, Irondale has some unique electives that Mounds View does not. “I think as far as electives [go], Irondale probably has more CTE [Career & Technical Education] elective offerings, with their autoshop and construction and welding, and so that’s definitely a plus for Irondale. I know that you guys [Mounds View] have strong AP classes and a lot of students who are gifted academically and push themselves in that way, and you guys have gotten a lot of recognition for that over the years,” Klimek said . Mounds View students who wish to take these STEM application classes must take a bus to Irondale, and likewise, Irondale students who want to take upper-level classes in certain subjects must come to Mounds View.

Art classes, as well as STEM application classes, have a stronger presence at Irondale. With courses like AP Studio Art, Pottery 1 and 2, Sculpture, Painting, Drawing and Cartooning and Animation, the array of art classes offered at Irondale is much more diverse than the options at Mounds View.

Irondale’s dedication to the arts extends to musical pursuits as well. Irondale has both a marching band and drumline, while Mounds View has neither.

Consequently, any Mounds View students who wish to participate in extracurricular band activities must go to Irondale. Even though Mounds View students go to a different, often poorly thought of school than most of their bandmates, the community still welcomes them. “[Marching Band] really strives for excellence, and they’re just themselves. If you’re within the marching band or the drumline, you’re close-knit with everybody else,” Pang said.

S

Half and half

by Kaitlynn Badger staff reporter

The ongoing rivalry between Mounds View and Irondale could cause one to wonder why students would transfer from one school to the other. The feud stems from the negative perceptions that each school has of the other. From Irondale’s perspective, Mounds View is the snobby and stuck-up school, while in Mounds View students’ eyes, Irondale is the beatdown, sketchy school. These stereotypes, however, do not stop students from transferring between Irondale and Mounds View, giving them unique insights into the parallels and contrasts between the two schools.

Sydney Ulven, 11, who transferred from Mounds View to Irondale before her sophomore year, said that people at Irondale are more open and social, while at Mounds View, there are more cliques and social groups that do not interact as easily. “I feel like at Irondale people are more welcoming. It’s easier to talk to different people,” Ulven said.

Chela Hernandez, 10, who transferred from Irondale to Mounds View halfway through her freshman year, had the opposite experience. Overall, she said she prefers Mounds View and enjoys going to school there because of the friends she has made; she did not connect to the people at Irondale as easily as she has at Mounds View. “At Irondale it was hard to learn because people were kind of mean. It was hard to fit in. It’s better here [at Mounds View],” Hernandez said.

Besides contrasts between students at each school, Hernandez also found a difference in the two schools’ teaching techniques. According to Hernandez, Mounds View teachers instruct at a faster pace than those at Irondale, which was better for her learning style. At Mounds View, she added, teachers meet with students outside of school hours more often than Irondale teachers. “Teachers at Mounds View are more supportive in the sense that they’re more available before and after school. It was harder to arrange time at Irondale,” Hernandez said.

Ulven, however, found few differences between the teaching styles at Mounds View and Irondale. “There is less homework at Irondale, it seems, and the teach[ing] styles, I would say, is the same: teach the lesson, give notes and usually an assignment.”

Both Hernandez and Ulven agreed that Mounds View has more competitive athletic programs, which played a big part in Hernandez’s transfer. “My parents wanted me to transfer because of sports,” Hernandez said. In contrast, Ulven said her parents did not have anything to do with her transfer; rather, she switched schools because she had more friends at Irondale. Once Ulven settled at Irondale, she knew it was the better fit.

Although the schools have many differences that played a role in why each student transferred, the transfer students agreed that neither school is better than the other, and attending one school over the other is a personal choice.

8

editorials

Friday, October 25, 2019

NCAA’s unfair pay to play act

by Brock Nelson sports editor Picture this: you are a college athlete and you are hungry after a long day of workouts, practices and classes. If you were offered a free plate of food from your favorite restaurant by a university employee or coach, would you accept it? Well, if you said yes, then congratulations. You have now violated the NCAA’s rulebook for athletes and will most likely never play the game you love for your school again. Unfortunately, this is the sad truth for most NCAA athletes since any form of benefits, besides tuition and room and board, are outlawed. However, California is looking to turn the tides by passing

the “Fair Pay to Play Act,” a bill that allows athletes to profit off their name in the form of commercials, shoe deals and agents,

among other things; the university itself still will not have to pay the students a dime. Yet the NCAA is up in arms, threatening to bar any schools from bowl games or championship games that utilize this law, saying it will provide an “unfair advantage” in terms of recruiting. With the law set to take effect on New Year’s day of 2023, universities and the NCAA have roughly three and a half years to answer the following: How can schools allow athletes to make ends meet, while still keeping the same spirit and fairness college football offers? Although the NCAA is justified in keeping their opposing viewpoint, they cannot claim “fairness” or “integrity” while they continue to refuse payment to the athletes that keep the organization in business.

For countless former NCAA athletes, the institution has done nothing more than profit off their athletic ability. Richard Sherman, cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, has said that he hopes this new law “destroys the NCAA,” while other prominent athletes like Lebron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Paul George have all voiced their satisfaction with the new law, citing the fact that any student has the right to profit off their skills, therefore, athletes should not be treated any differently. With pressure mounting, the NCAA rightfully faces less support and more criticism than ever before.

However, the NCAA does have a valid reason to be fair use from Wikipedia.org concerned, mostly due

Let’s talk days off

by Michael Gennaro editor-in-chief

As students, the days we get off begin to pile up once the second month of school starts. Obviously, these days are never disputed by the students who do not have to wake up at the crack of dawn. However, the district should instead give its students an extended period of time off as opposed to the sporadic day here and there that we have currently.

The Mounds View School District follows a relatively standard high school schedule in Minnesota, which is shaped by starting the day after Labor Day and ending in early June. During that time, Mounds View gifts its students a week-long Thanksgiving break, a seven day-break for the winter holidays and another seven days for spring break. Although these periods should be kept, the individual days off are nothing more than a nuisance. Instead, Mounds View should transition to start school in mid-August–arguably the worst time of the summer–and end in late-May, just as the summer heat begins and students are anxious to start their breaks. In addition, the short break that separates semesters one and two should occur in conjunction with Christmas Break to offer an even clearer split.

This plan, which is followed by most colleges, would be another step to further Mounds View’s identity as a “pre-college” high school. By adopting this, students will have a better feel for what it is like to work through a semester and then be truly rewarded at the end with upwards of four weeks of time off from school. That longer period could be used to refresh and do other exciting things like travel. Also, if winters continue to snow and send the temperature below freezing like they normally do, then snow days would not be an issue as

school would not take place during most of January.

Without the snow days, teachers’ schedules could stay as planned.

With our current system of scattered days, it only screws up sports schedules, lets down students’ hopes of ReFLECT happening and creates a longer period of time to forget the course material of a given unit. An additional problem lies within the elementary schools as

to how the new bill will further complicate recruiting.

With larger schools already dominating the recruiting class, adding a big market with plenty of opportunities to make money will help those big schools significantly and further handicap schools with smaller markets, taking away almost any reason a big-time recruit would want to play for their smaller home state. Furthermore, schools with larger athletic budgets could simply buy out all of the best recruits, leaving other schools scraping to play against a team full of five stars. This could jeopardize the competitive nature of the NCAA and could make upsets much less likely to the point where games would become predictable and boring.

Some former athletes have spoken against the new law, most notably Tim Tebow, former Florida Gators star and two-time national champion. When interviewed during a recent episode of College Gameday, Tebow stated that he never “expected a dime” while he was playing college football because the real reason college sports are so popular is because the passion of the game is first and foremost, whereas in the NFL, money is the main reason for most players. While his comments resonated with many, others saw them as ignorant since many athletes come from much worse backgrounds than Tebow and often do not have enough money for groceries, rent and other necessities during their time at school. While I can see where Tebow may be coming from, it seemed to only apply to those of his socioeconomic status rather than being representative of all athletes at the collegiate level. A majority of athletes come from underprivileged backgrounds, and it is unfair to deny them compensation for basics such as food, clothing and rent.

With many questions and not enough answers, it may still be a while before this change spreads nationwide. With legislators in Florida, New York, Illinois and a half dozen other states proposing similar laws, the NCAA faces two choices: They can either accept the movement and work closely with schools to end the almost century-long amateurism state they have been in, or they can get steamrolled by it. With the growing trend of high school basketball stars such as Lamelo Ball and RJ Hampton choosing to go overseas instead of college, the NCAA’s fate might just be the latter.

to create an extended time off.

The district does, however, cancel school for some obvious reason which should be continued. For example, we do not have school on MLK Day or Presidents’ Day which is important, but what becomes more tricky is P-Days. P-Days are designed to give students a break from school while teachers prepare for future lessons and catch up on grading. Conveniently enough, a PDay falls on Good Friday annually which is a major holiday during the Christian Holy Week. If the district decides to adapt to this new system of getting rid of spread out days, they would have to take caution when deciding whether or not to continue to allow that day off under the disguise of a P-day.

Overall, the district should go forward with plans to alter the schedules of schools. A day here and there leads to greater problems than benefits provided, and students would most likely enjoy the extended time off instead of the seemingly rushed breaks we currently have. With this change, students can focus at a higher level and become exposed to a routine they will most likely have in the future. illustration by Michael Hu

those kids are often too young to stay home alone, yet their parents still have work. Ridding our calendars of these days is beneficial to the students’ learning, while also preventing the conflicts that currently occur. The no-school days should then be attached to winter break

DEBATES

Friday, october 25, 2019

“You could­be the greatest”

9

What role should the administration play in helping students achieve their goals?

“Let it be, let it be, let it be”

by Darah Ostrom and Madeline Edgar staff reporters Mounds View High School is one of the highest-ranked schools in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report, and has shown its commitment to academic challenge and extracurricular excellence throughout the years. This means that increasing the pressure put on students to achieve is unnecessary.

Mounds View’s excellence is reflected in its high test scores and A+ ratings by various school review sites, as well as in its staggering numbers of Advanced Placement (AP) and other higher-level classes. While the average high school offers only eight of the 34 AP courses offered by the College Board, according to collegetransitions. com, Mounds View offers 22. Mounds View also offers semester-long versions of typically year-long AP classes (such as Human Geography, Literature and Composition and Language and Composition), which greatly increase the workloads of those classes.

Of course, the fact that these classes are offered proves little, but with 757 students taking a total of 1,592 AP exams last year, averaging to 2.1 exams per student, it is clear that the number of students who are taking on these difficult

courses is startlingly high. Even with the current amount of pressure from the administration, students are already pushing themselves to achieve high scores.

The average Mounds View ACT score is 25.6, over four points above the national average. Even with these high achievements, Mounds View still maintains a graduation rate of 96 percent, compared to a national average of 85 percent and the state average of 83 percent. This shows that all Mounds View students are contributing to our high academic standing, the weak ones aren’t being covered by few strong students.

Students are encouraged to get college credit throughout high school by the administration and the achievements of their peers have turned a student’s norm into one of advanced classes, test prep and heavy homework loads. All together, Mounds View is an extremely rigorous school and has an impressive academic reputation. These impressive test scores and the high number of challenging classes offered at Mounds View show that Mounds View students are high achievers—so why do people think its students need more encouragement to aim high?

Mounds View’s reputation for academic excellence is not to be outdone by its clubs, activities and associations.

“Push it , push it real good”

by Arthur Nghiem and Joseph Steil staff reporters

Staff members at Mounds View emphasize the importance of “maintaining balance” to students. They often give this advice to suggest that students should take easier classes. In reality, it is not that simple. Ideal balance will look different for students with different goals and different motivations. In some cases, an easier schedule will not be the best choice for a student.

No one is suggesting that students should be forced to take harder classes against their will. However, the school should advise students to push themselves when and where it is appropriate.

The primary role of Mounds View is to educate and prepare students and pushing them helps achieve that. Students sometimes overlook this fact, so staff members should remind students that taking more rigorous classes can be a good thing in and of itself.

Students will likely benefit from taking more difficult classes in their strongest subjects. They will gain great-

er knowledge in fields that are relevant to them and their future career goals.

Rigorous classes also help students develop more complex skills and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. For example, the Advanced Placement (AP) history classes at Mounds View emphasize skills in document analysis and writing organization, and all challenging classes foster better study habits and a stronger work ethic. These general skills are valuable for students in high school and beyond.

Some argue that advisors should not encourage students to push themselves. In their view, students already experience too much pressure, so the school should not add to that burden.

It is true that Mounds View is already a competitive environment; nevertheless, advisors are always responsible for helping students achieve their full potential. They may need to push students harder in order to fulfill this duty.

In fact, deans should also advise students to challenge themselves outside of the classroom through extracurriculars if that is necessary. Extracurricu-

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With everything from tennis and theater, to politics and Harry Potter, Mounds View offers many after-school activities. Some students are even involved with multiple clubs and extracurriculars in order to impress colleges and get the most out of their high school experience.

Whether it is to beef up college applications or simply because they want to be involved, students invest plenty of time into activities outside of the classroom and hardly need to be pushed toward more.

While the administration and student body works hard to promote student and school organizations to students already laden with AP classes and ten-page readings, this certainly has its benefits in regards to student social life and the school’s reputation; however, it can be more of a burden than necessary.

With one club meeting or another taking up precious after-school time, students may stay awake into the early hours of the morning with their books and worksheets. This nullifies any argument that the school needs to push students toward more academic achievement and extracurricular excellence, as many students are already striving to reach impossible levels of perfection in class and involvement beyond.

With all of these factors combined,

Mounds View has become a school in which a lot of its students face pressure from their peers. The competitive atmosphere can be even more of a burden to students because it pushes them to take harder or more rigorous classes that they feel they need to take in order to keep up with their classmates. This can result in students constantly comparing themselves to others expectations and choosing classes that are not the right fit for them. Plenty of pressure exists already without added encouragement from the administration.

Students should not feel pressured to put in an immense amount of work to get into the top colleges, but rather choose the school that is right for them when the time comes. Mounds View does not need to be pushing kids harder to apply for the best schools because, ultimately, it is up to the students to decide which school is the right fit for them and makes them feel the most comfortable.

Instead of pushing students harder, Mounds View should stress a balance between school, extracurriculars, work, social life and health, as opposed to more difficult classes and higher test scores. A healthy combination of all these aspects can promote a better learning environment for all students, both on and off campus.

graphics from Publicdomainvectors.org

lars are also important in the application process, and many freshmen are unaware of this fact. Deans need to inform them so that they understand what they must do to be a competitive applicant for selective universities.

For example, many students at Mounds View want to attend prestigious universities. These students need to take honors and AP classes to maximize their chances in the admissions process. Therefore, deans should be allowed to encourage students with ambitious goals to take more difficult classes. Colleges will be impressed if a student takes many difficult classes. To admissions officers, a record of difficult classes is generally more important than perfect grades. “Colleges are looking for students who push themselves, are intellectually curious and are interested in learning. More demanding courses are a reflection of this,” according to International College Counselors, an online group that provides world class college counseling “A ‘B’ in an honors course is better that [sic] an ‘A’ in regular. A ‘B’ in an AP course is better than

the ‘A’ in honors.” Even if they do not achieve straight A’s, their course history will still set them apart from their peers.

Taking college-level classes during high school can also save students large sums of money later on. Students can use credits obtained during high school to fulfill graduation requirements during post-secondary education. For example, according to U.S. News & World Report, “scores on APs often allow freshmen to skip certain introductory college courses or gain credit toward graduation.” College students pay higher tuition costs if they have to take more classes, so credit from high school classes can save thousands of dollars.

Students at Mounds View should still be able to choose what classes they take, regardless of what others tell them.

However, it is still the responsibility and role of the school and advisors to encourage and push students to take more challenging courses when it makes sense to do so.

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10

Arts & Entertainment

Friday, october 25, 2019

Joker hits theaters with controversy

by Blake Friedman staff reporter This past October, theatergoers witnessed the return of an infamous, iconic DC villain: the Joker. However, unlike previous movies, viewers finally get to witness the chilling backstory of his rise to evil.

In the past, the role of Joker, in the cinema, was played by many actors such as Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto and arguably the best, Heath Ledger. Many of these actors have attempted to portray the Joker accurately, yet none have come close to Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight. The cast of Joker includes Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, better known as Joker, and other famous actors such as Robert De Niro, a talk show host, and Brett Cullen, Batman’s father.

Joker takes place in Gotham City in 1981 where Fleck, who struggles with a mental illness, works as a party clown and lives with his mother, Penny Fleck, in a run down apartment. Sections of Go-

tham are flooded with crime and poverty due to the city’s income inequality, which makes viewers relate to these real life situations in today’s society. Throughout the whole movie, Fleck struggles with his neurological disorder called pseudobulbar affect (PBA) which results in uncontrollable laughter. Fleck aspires to become a comedian by writing down jokes in his “feelings” journal— hence the name Joker—but is ridiculed due to his dark sense of humor and awkward laughs. Society looks upon Fleck as an outcast and is beat by people of the upper-class and lower-class because of his disorder. Eventually, a co-worker hands Fleck a gun to help defend himself from

those people. This leads to the rise of the Joker and his criminal behavior.

One of the main complaints about this movie is the realistic violence, when it is “supposed” to be a fictional movie.

The movie displays anti-capitalist and anti-wealthy movements which hints at the controversy in current politics.

Also, Joker sheds light on a villain which goes against the cinematic norm that only heroes earn the spotlight and attempts

not for the faint-hearted. In fact, The Dead End Hayride ranks 28th on the list of America’s scariest haunted houses according to The Lineup Staff.

Overall, it was a really great experience. Right along with apple orchards and pumpkin patches, the haunted hayride is a perfect fall activity, especially when done with friends. After walking through strobe lights, fog and spiderwebs, guests can also enjoy the attraction’s on-site DJ and food. Even when people were eating, the actors would go up to them and play with their hair or hold their hand. The Dead End Hayride is one of few haunted attractions without a “no touching” rule and is completely interactive.

The quality of the actors’ performance is what made it so fun. They would constantly jump out at us, which

made it suspenseful and a little chaotic at times. Regardless, they did a fantastic job of scaring everyone and never broke character. The actors’ ages range anywhere from 16 to 60 years old according to The Dead End Hayride and even include some students at Mounds View.

I went on a Friday at 9 p.m. and stood in line for about 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the wait in line can get up to two-and-a-half hours long, which is pretty inconvenient for the customer.

Nevertheless, it is unique and only has one location, so the demand is understandable.

As far as affordability goes, the prices are comparable to other haunted houses. General admission ranges from $16 to $35 depending on the day you go—Fridays and Saturdays being the most expensive as they are popular

illustration by Jenna Stellmack

to make the viewer sympathize with the Joker. The filmmakers did a great job with this because I eventually started to

More than just a hayride

by Savannah Guiang staff reporter Hayrides and Halloween go hand in hand. Just thirty minutes north of Mounds View High School, The Dead End Hayride brings in thousands of teenagers and adults every October. Perhaps it is because the attraction is not just a hayride as the name suggests. Nearly 10 years ago, Jeremy Hastings turned the farm, which his family had owned for almost 70 years, into three terrifying attractions: a hayride, haunted house and corn maze.

Located in Wyoming, Minnesota, it is apparent that the farm is in the middle of nowhere which makes it even more frightening. From the costumes and makeup to the props and decorations, everything was designed to be remarkably realistic. This attraction is definitely

pity him after witnessing the traumatic events he experienced.

The blood and gore are also realistic and, at times, made me a little uneasy.

Throughout most of the movie, I felt uncomfortable because of the Joker’s excessive laughter and lack of background music. However, I feel that was the goal the writers had in mind when creating the film. Phoenix’s performance will definitely be one to remember, even rivaling Ledger’s famous depiction of the villain, and will most likely be a nominee for the upcoming Oscars as Best Actor.

From his laugh to his quirky movements, Phoenix is able to portray the Joker with minimal flaws.

Overall, Joker is a fantastic movie, but it certainly is not for everyone. I advise people who are not a fan of realistic, gory films, to not see this movie. However, if you are able to deal with these types of films, I highly suggest going to see Joker as it is, in my opinion, one of the best movies of the year.

times. The whole attraction takes about an hour to get through, so I would say it is worth it.

Since it needs to be fairly dark for the actors to be able to scare you, their hours are limited. It is open from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Their hours on Fridays and Saturdays are 7 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

photo courtesy of Evan Leebens

The Bad Waitress is what it sounds like

by Hanzu Vu-Tran and Josie Mackenthun staff reporters The Bad Waitress opened over a decade ago and is located in a 120-yearold building on Central Ave NE. The diner-style restaurant was recently remodeled with floor to ceiling windows and a minimalist style so patrons do not feel caught in the past. The diner also features a stunning painted wall that includes many symbols of Minneapolis, such as Grain Belt Beer and Gold Medal Flour, combining the past with the future.

Their menu consists of old classics such as burgers, mac & cheese and grilled cheese with newer options as well, like tofu or vegan cheese options.

The food is also organic and locally sourced with prices ranging from $7-13.

The Bad Waitress is most popular during breakfast and brunch times. Although the diner does serve dinner and lunch, those times are not as favorable as their breakfast and brunch.

Unfortunately, I went for dinner, and it was not as busy as expected. I had the Blacktop Burger with a side of chips and salsa, which I do regret because the salsa was not up to par. It was too watery, with only some salsa chunks and had minimal flavor. The burger was nothing exceptional; the best part being the bacon. The bacon had a fair amount of flavor and was not overly greasy like the rest of their food. I did try some of the hash browns, and they were not as bad as I expected. It was not the best, but they were crispy on the outside and a lot better than the salsa. Sadly enough, they still lacked the nice potatoey flavor of good hash browns. Overall, the meal was what I anticipated for the price. It was not impressive by taste, but considering the portions I received, I got what I paid for.

Desserts, on the other hand, were the real highlight. I had a chocolate milkshake, which was sweet with the right amount of chocolate flavor. The consistency was creamy enough to use a straw and the whipped cream was a

perfect addition to the top. The chocolate milkshake most certainly met all the expectations for a dessert at any diner.

Overall, their service was average and the staff was welcoming, but not overly friendly. They were not exceptionally conversational and kept things partially formal, which is ironic because the setting was more casual. The Bad Waitress is optimal for those wanting to grab a quick milkshake or have a decent meal and fun with friends. However, if you are looking for some high-quality food, look elsewhere.

The Bad Waitress is located on 700 Central Ave NE in Minneapolis and is open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Verdict

6.5/10

photo courtesy of Hanzu Vu-Tran The only good part of the meal, the chocolate milkshake

friday, October 25, 2019

Believe the hype

by Samuel Magnuson and Katelyn Welle staff reporters

The varsity football team is an aspiration that many young boys have when deciding to pursue a sport. Because of the mass appeal and popularity of the sport, football is the most attended sport at Mounds View, as well as the largest athletic program offered at Mounds View. For every starting varsity player that is scoring at the football games, there are many determined athletes who want a piece of the action.

In a sport where the best athletes dominate the spotlight and lead the team, Will Conlin, 11, stands out as a passionate player who carries his team to success in ways besides his own athletic achievements. “He brings a lot of energy to the team,” said Kyle Obrreit, 11. “He just brings energy every day during practice,” said Bill Ketola, 11.

Conlin joined football as a freshman. “I had only really done baseball before, and I saw that there were lots of opportunities and activities to do [at Mounds View]. I was friends with a lot of football guys, and they said, ‘Why don’t you come out and play football?’

So I tried that,” Conlin said. Joining football as one of

the least experienced members in his grade put him up against many highly experienced athletes who had played throughout middle school, but Conlin’s passion for the game motivated him to make himself, and more importantly the team, superior. “We actually have a team saying, it’s ‘we before me’,” Conlin said. “It’s focusing on how I’m going to help another person today become better.” Conlin strives to embody this mantra.

“He is really selfless because he gives a lot to the team even though he doesn’t get a lot of recognition for it,” Ketola said.

Conlin plays on the offensive line, also known as the O-Line, where the players defend the quarterback from the defensive line. “If one player on the O-line does something wrong, the whole team goes down,” Conlin said. He also believes the O-line sets the standard for the rest of the offense. “Protecting the quarterback is our number one goal; we also get the running lanes open for our running backs,” Conlin said.

Conlin has been influenced by the coaching staff at Mounds View, who have worked tirelessly to create a supportive team environment. “Coach Moberg is an excellent coach, and from day one, that [teamwork] is

Down but not out

by Sienna Wood staff reporter

It makes headlines within all sports. It has sidelined various superstar athletes, from Adrian Peterson to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, or the ACL for short, is one of the most common injuries in sports and also one of the most feared.

Within the last year, ACL tears have ended multiple seasons for varsity girls players on the soccer team.

This was devastating for both the individual players and the team as a whole.

ACL tears affect the stability of the knee and can, but not always, require surgery to heal properly. “An ACL tear stops interior translation, so when it’s torn it feels unstable and everything can shift,” said Katie Espe, the school trainer. Espe works closely with all Mounds View athletics, but she is especially familiar with the common injury as she played soccer in college. “[It’s] because [soccer] is so lower extremity based.

Any other sport you don’t use [the ACL] as much,” Espe said.

Gabby Eubanks, 12, was injured in April during a college showcase when an opposing player ran into her leg, which she then fell on wrong. Ana Ranallo, 10, was injured over the summer when she was practicing.

Unsurprisingly, neither injury was caused by contact.

“ACL tears are non-contact, so a simple stop and pivot could cause it. Usually, it happens when someone cuts to the ball,” Espe said. “Cutting to the ball can cause injury since it is a fast motion and can cause the player to fall.”

The timing of this injury was especially unfortu-

nate for Eubanks. “I’m out of my senior season for high school, so like that sucks, but I just have to stay positive,” Eubanks said . “It also delays the college scouting process because coaches can’t see me.” For Ranallo, the healing process is frustrating. “I have to sit out of everything. I can’t run, I can’t jump,” Ranallo said.

Even though ACL tears can instantly end a season, it is the process after the surgery that keeps players sidelined. Recovery varies depending on the original strength of the leg muscle and the efficacy of the surgery. “[It’s usually] 6-9 months because you’re in a brace so long that you lose so much muscle, so it takes a while to gain that muscle back,” Espe said. ACL tears typically do not affect people long-term due to increased quality of technology and recovery methods.

Ranallo is still in the early phases of her postsurgery recovery and attends physical therapy twice a week. On the other hand, Eubanks is further along in her process and was cleared to start running again at the four-month mark, which was in early October for her. Eubanks is looking forward to starting non-contact activities at the six-month mark.

Although both athletes look forward to returning to soccer, they do have some concerns. “I’m a little nervous to go back,” Ranallo said. “I’m more nervous for my other leg because I can’t mess up this one anymore.”

Although Ranallo was worried about her return physically, Eubanks remains wary about the mental aspect of returning to a contact sport after an injury.

“I want to try to get back so I can play soccer in college,” Eubanks said. “It’s going to be a lot of mental

Sports Trivia

sports

11

what we strive for,” said Conlin. This creates a team culture that has lead to the Mustangs’ success so far this season.

When such a tight-knit group of guys exists, with many energetic players like Conlin, the team is going to have high aspirations. “Mounds View football is coming for all these other teams,” Conlin said. “We’re ready to do well and hopefully set ourselves up to be in the bank [home of the state tournament] at the end of the year.”

Seeing that Conlin has helped to bring his team towards success, only time will tell if they can take that success into their first section game tonight.

Will Conlin, number 68, takes the field with his fellow O-linemen when playing Stillwater photo courtesy of Will Conlin

stuff when I get back, like when I start tackling.” Fortunately, Espe confirmed that there is only a small risk of reinjury after the surgery. Due to this, athletes should not worry about reinjury and instead focus on getting back to play the game they love again.

Eubanks, number 15, attempts a shot preinjury versus Woodbury photo courtesy of Gabby Eubanks

Who did boys soccer play in their

True or False? The Gophers Guess who: This football

section championship?

are ranked 23rd in the

athlete has amassed over

newest AP top 25 poll.

5,000 yards from scrim-

B) Totino Grace C) Irondale D) Saint Paul Central

mage for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2017-2019.

Answers: D, False,17th Jonathan Taylor

A) Saint Paul Cathedral

12

Friday, october 25, 2019

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information courtesy of Lisa Hinnerichs

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