MV Viewer 2022-23 Issue 2

The Viewer

Volume 70

Issue 2

October 31, 2022

Website: mvviewer.org

Instagram: @mvviewer

News 02

Features 04

Good Questions 09

Arts & Entertainment 10

Sports 11

Upcoming elections

Mens chorus

What does MV offer for college/career prep?

‘Smile’ review

Girls volleyball

Photo courtesy of The Word Finder

02 News

Monday, October 31, 2022

Increasing online threats

by Ahmed Sharara staff reporter Online threats have been an increasing problem in this age of social media. Whether these threats have been made jokingly or seriously, they have caused much chaos and turmoil, especially in schools. Minnesota school districts have experienced their fair share of threats, with the most recent example occurring in Richfield, where an online school shooting threat led to school cancellation on Sept. 26, just days after a shooting at Richfield High School’s homecoming football game. With the frequency of online threats made toward schools on the rise, many students and staff have questioned their safety and the measures being taken to protect them.

Mounds View High School is not immune to such online afflictions. On Oct. 3, 2021, an online shooting threat was made against Mounds View. Some students decided not to come to school the next day. “I felt unsafe going to school that day,” said junior Nick Moeller.

Others, like junior Maya Surve, did attend school that day but had some concerns. “I felt mad that day.

I wasn’t exactly scared, because I knew it was just a threat. However, the fact that they only talked about it for a day and moved on was a problem,” she said.

Other students have also criticized Mounds View’s response to online threats. Several, like senior Hudson Hirsch, believe the school needs to focus on the mental health aspect of its response. “The only thing the school can really do is to have better outreach to the community because, a lot of the time, school shootings like this happen because there are mental health issues.

They should do more to address this,” said Hirsch.

Some students disagree and find the school’s ad-

dress to the mental health aspect to be adequate. “I think the school does a good job addressing mental health,” said senior Jason Walker, “They have helped me through some tough times in my high school career.”

Many Mounds View students suggest that the school should increase security. “I think there should be a more immediate response. Sometimes, it takes a while for them to respond. Maybe add some more onsite protection, however, going overboard would lead to a sense of tension, which I think will not be a good thing to have,” said junior Benjamin Wasson.

Acknowledging students split decisions on their response to the threat on Oct. 3rd, administration clarifies their decisions by saying, “That was a very complicated situation given the nature of what had happened, every incident that we respond to is a different kind of incident, and we have protocols that we must follow that are given to us by district administration and law enforcement,” said Associate Principal Ben Chiri. “That situation was one we have not experienced before, and although we have had online threats before, the particular details of this situation we knew, which forced us to act on the fly and abide strictly by protocol.”

In response to the shooting at Richfield’s football game, Mounds View’s administration implemented tighter security measures at their homecoming game.

All bags, excluding crossbody bags, were banned from entry, and additional on-duty police officers were on duty. Once again, these decisions drew strong opinions among the students and staff.

Biology teacher Mark Johnson agrees with the new changes. “It’s sad that school administrators and law

by Megan Jaros staff reporter State midterm elections are coming up this NovemState midterm elections are coming up this November.

The candidates for Governor are Tim Walz, running as a Democrat, and Scott Jensen, running as a Republican, and four others. Both candidates have many highly debated policies including abortion, funding for public schools and crime management.

Walz has said he will increase funding for public schools, whereas Jensen says he will reduce it. Walz expresses that schools deserve increased funding because it will ensure everyone has an equal opportunity, regardless of their home and financial situation. Jensen’s reasoning for cutting school funding is, as stated on his website, that he wants to “fund our kids, not failed institutions.” Jensen said we must “empower parents with the finances to make a choice for their kids.” How he will do this has not been disclosed.

Commenting on education quality and equality, sophomore Cali Stevens says, “some schools have terrible options. I feel like everyone should have an equal opportunity.” She thinks increasing funding will make equal opportunity possible. Specifically, Stevens believes that school lunches need improvement and that more funding will make that possible.

On abortion, Walz has stated that he supports reproductive rights and will continue to do so if re-elected.

Jensen has said that despite being against abortion, he will not challenge abortion laws if elected. This is because Jensen does not think he can ban abortion. Origi-

nally, Jensen supported banning abortion and was planning to put laws in place to do so if elected. Over time, his public statements about abortion have changed.

Initially, he campaigned as being completely against abortion, then to making exceptions for rape and incest, and finally, saying that he will not be challenging abortion laws. He says that he can not ban abortion because abortion is a constitutional right in Minnesota and that a governor can not change that.

Opinions on abortion are divisive among Mounds View students as well. “I feel like women should have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies,” said junior Ella Presser. Presser supports Walz because she thinks he will be the better option for empowering women and their right to an abortion.

Other students, such as senior Evan Newberg, disagree with abortions. “I see in my eyes that abortion is murder,” he said. He supports Jensen because he “[sides] with whoever does not support abortion.”

Both Jensen and Walz believe that crime is a big problem in Minnesota, but have different ideas as to what to do about it. Jensen proposes harsher punishments, such as longer sentences and more fines, to deter people from committing crimes. Walz proposes creating safer communities by advancing police reform.

Walz wants to do this without defunding or abolishing the police. Some of the reforms have been the creation of new violence prevention programs, making sure law enforcement wears body cameras and bans on chokeholds. He has proposed more funding for these programs in hopes to improve public safety.

enforcement have to take those steps, but if that’s what it takes for myself, students, my daughter and anybody else associated with this community to be safe, I am willing to submit to whatever searches,” he said.

Others say that these new changes will not make any difference. “It’s virtually impossible to stop something like that unless police officers are patting down every single person who gets in and out,” said Hirsch, “I mean, you can carry a firearm anywhere, not necessarily just inside your backpack.”

Ultimately, it has become clear that these threats are becoming a recurring problem, and although finding a solution is necessary, the road to get there has proven to be a long and complicated one.

image courtesy of Pixabay

Upcoming elections

Viewer Staff 2022-2023 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING COPY EDITOR MANAGING DESIGN EDITORS BUSINESS MANAGER NEWS EDITOR FEATURES EDITORS SPREAD EDITORS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR ILLUSTRATOR

Maya Betti Tyler Quattrin Maya Betti, Tyler Quattrin Sarafina Dillon Michael Wang Ariana Eschenbacher, Rachel Zou Maya Gjelhaug, Rachel Zou Morghan Larson Sarafina Dillon Iris Ren

ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ONLINE MANAGING COPY EDITOR ONLINE EDITORS STAFF REPORTERS

Junior Gus McDonald believes harsher punishments are ineffective. “Historically, increased punishments have not changed anything,” he said. McDonald does not support Jensen because he believes that harsher punishments have little to no effect on deterring crime.

Although Newberg agrees harsher punishments may not work, he also questions what Walz will do about the crime problem in Minnesota. While Walz has proposed more funding for police and says he is able to do that while also supporting criminal justice reforms, Newberg remains skeptical and does not think Walz has been effective in office so far.

With Jensen and Walz having very different views and policies, no matter who gets elected, education, crime management and abortion policies in Minnesota will have some substantial changes.

Shivam Vashishtha Michael Wang Sarafina Dillon, Ariana Eschenbacher, Morghan Larson Khadra Abdulahi, Khalid Abdullahi, Nolan Anderson, Graydon Bandt, Alex Bi, Luke Daigle, Ava Dempster, David Golridge, Ruthie Hottinger, Megan Jaros, Jonathan Jones, Charlotte Krum, Nikhil Kulangaroth, Isabella Kunc,

image courtesy of Pixabay

Isabel Li, Gloria Liu, CeCe Maves, Alaina Pundsack, Mary Schmidt, Owen Schwalm, Ahmed Sharara, Ava Surface, Gao Zhong Thao, Mika Tuerk, Isaiah Wallerstedt, Faith Yang, Kia Yang

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

editorials 03

Monday, October 31, 2022

Student debt cancellation

by Caroline Maves staff reporter

In August, the Biden administration announced its Student Debt Relief Plan. This includes student loan forgiveness of up to $20,000 for students who have federal student loans and earn less than $125,000 annually. It was rolled out mainly due to economic challenges created by the pandemic. This decision has many people asking questions, not only about student loan forgiveness, but about student loans and debt in general as well. Student loans and debt are getting out of control, and the issue will persist unless a significant change is made to the tuition system. The U.S. government should increase funding for higher education and put a cap on tuition that allows all students to get through college debt free because all students should have an equal opportunity to succeed in later careers without drowning in debt.

Student debt existence alone has been widely debated for years, and many have strong opinions on it.

People have argued that Biden did not even have the authority to order student debt relief. The Biden Administration does have the authority to cancel student debt, however, due to the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act of 2003.

The HEROES Act of 2003 allows the government to modify any requirement or regulation of student financial assistance programs if they served in the military or suffered direct economic hardships due to a war or national emergency. Because the pandemic was not only a national emergency but also a global emergency, many would consider this applicable.

As for student debt as a whole, it is not a blackand-white issue. It is not as simple as “colleges can easily be free, but they are not.” Colleges currently are not free because of the way the tuition system is structured.

Schools can charge however much they want, which causes many ridiculous and unreasonable tuition fees. One of the reasons college tuition continues to increase is the fact that the government cut spending on higher education according to the Public Broadcasting Service. The fact that students are forced to take out practically limitless loans also encourages colleges to inflate prices. According to Forbes, undergraduates can borrow a maximum of $9,500 to $12,500 annually and $57,500 total. Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 annually and $138,500 total, which includes undergraduate loans. A solution to this problem is reducing college costs so that students do not have to take out loans in the first place.

According to Forbes, college costs have risen four times faster than the rate of inflation and eight times faster than wages. This is an issue because tuition costs are already overwhelming for many students and prices are still increasing. Furthermore, balancing a job with rigorous university schoolwork can be nearly impossible for some students. This is not sustainable for students that are already struggling to stay afloat financially.

Solutions from other countries prove that a debtfree education for all is achievable. A good example of a country that changed its financial aid system to help college students with financial struggles is Sweden.

The Swedish government has an extended repayment

window, where loan recipients have more time than Americans to repay what they owe, and borrowers can request reduced payments to as low as 5% of their income if they encounter financial hardships. This is a great example of a government taking necessary action to reduce student debt.

Another great example of a country tackling student debt is Germany. In 2014, Germany stopped charging German and international university students for tuition. Because of its tuition-free policy, many American students opt to study in Germany. This shows that it is in fact possible to have tuition-free college.

While changing the college tuition system is not easy, it is something that will become a necessity to level the higher education playing field for those of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds.

pared to its population of roughly 748.6 million. According to the Small Arms Survey, Americans owned about 46% of the 857 million firearms in civilian hands around the world as of 2017.

A 2021 Gallup survey shows that 88% of U.S. gun owners own guns for crime protection, which is up from 67% in 2005. But if someone is using a gun to protect themselves from someone else who has a gun, it is contradictory.

Most people have no need to protect themselves if they live in a safe neighborhood and do not know anyone who would have motivation to harm them. Guns should only be used by military, police and government officials. As for civilians owning guns, there are times when it can be a good option. If someone has been receiving threats or feels that they are in genuine danger, owning a gun could protect them. However, they should take a class first so they can use it correctly and safely.

Of the world’s nearly 200 constitutions, there are three countries that have the right to bear arms: Mexico, Guatemala and the United States. The U.S. is the only one of these three that does not have tight restrictions.

dreds yet still stands by the Second Amendment. For example, not too long after a British gunman killed 16 people in 1987, the U.K. banned semi-automatic weapons like the ones used by the gunman. They did the same with many handguns after a 1996 school shooting. Now, the U.K. has one of the lowest gun-related death rates in the world.

In the U.S., there are currently no federal regulations prohibiting military-style 50 caliber rifles, handguns, large-capacity magazines or semiautomatic assault weapons. There is also no government requirement that individuals purchasing firearms must take any kind of instruction in weapon safety. In order to get a firearm, an individual should be required to take a gun safety course so they know how to better use it.

Guns should not be a right, they should be a privilege, and countries who see it like that have considerably fewer mass shootings and gun violence. Hemenway’s Research Center has discovered correlations between possessing a large number of guns and an increase in gun-related killings, suicides and accidents. According to a 2016 analysis of 130 studies from 10 different nations, the introduction of new gun regulations has also been linked to a decrease in firearm-related fatalities.

The U.S. should adopt some gun control laws of other countries, such as changing the process of getting a gun. Recently, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act added additional steps to the process of getting a gun as an 18 to 20 year old. This proves that people are aware of the danger that comes with having an overly easy process to purchasing a gun. The Second Amendment should be questioned because having the constitutional right to own a weapon that is only used to harm is very outdated. Congress should look at studies and realize that the safety of citizens is more important than having a reputation of allowing people to do whatever they want.

illustration by Iris Ren

European gun control

by Ava Surface staff reporter In the last 10 years, nearly 1,000 school shootings have occurred. According to the Sandy Hook Promise, which is a nonprofit organization managed by family members whose relatives died during the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, 12 children pass away and 32 children are injured from gun violence every day in America. Since the attack at Columbine High School in 1999, almost 300,000 students have been on a campus during a school shooting.

“...there is more than one gun for every person in America according to the Washington Post.”

Ava Surface Gun laws need to be more restrictive. Mass shootings are too common, and there are many ways that mass shootings can be prevented. To solve this inexcusable violence, the U.S. must begin to adopt the gun control tactics of European countries as they have significantly lower gun violence.

Even with the extraordinary amount of violence that comes with guns, people still have different opinions on the matter. A popular statement is that “guns don’t kill, people do,” but a 2016 review of 130 studies in 10 countries, published in Epidemiologic Reviews, found that new legal restrictions on owning and purchasing guns tended to decrease gun violence.

The U.S. has more than 393 million firearms compared to its population of about 330 million, which means that there is more than one gun for every person in America according to the Washington Post. In comparison, there are 79.8 million guns in Europe com-

photo by Michael Wang

Other countries severely restrict their gun control laws after just one shooting, while the U.S. has had hunThe Viewer Mission Statement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

04 features

New theater director

by Ava Dempster staff reporter “Cast on stage,” says Matthew Van Bruggen, starting another theater practice the same way as always. He then announces news or updates that would relate to the cast. Van Bruggen calls cast members only on the days of their certain scenes. Van Bruggen works with the cast on stage while the other theater departments work hard in the background. He sits in the front row seats, and lets the actors begin the scene.

During the rough stages of the show’s production, it is common for stops and starts to occur for the actors to receive notes on how they performed.

One of the immense after-school activities at Mounds View resides in the auditorium, the Mounds View theater department, where Director Van Brug-

“Organization and communication is something I think are extremely important and that was reiterated to me many times by many people. A lot of things can happen if you’re good at communicating.”

Matthew Van Bruggen, director gen, the cast and crew are developing their production of the fall play“Almost Maine,’’ originally written by John Cariani.

Last year, Van Bruggen was working in student services when he was asked to take on this new role.

With his help in being the assistant director at Irondale last year, people knew this job may interest him, he said. During the day, Van Bruggen works in the school

Monday, october 31, 2022

office. “I am now the district performing facilities manager. Which is a long way to say that I oversee all of the usage and training and scheduling of the district auditorium facilities,” he said.

“I have been pleasantly surprised by the

Bruggen.

Van Bruggen brings many new ideas to the theater department. The outcome will be shown in the upcoming play, “Almost Maine” which is available for viewing on November third through sixth.

amount of interest in what I see this program potentially being.”

Matthew Van Bruggen, director For some students, Mounds View is the first place they got exposed to the life of theater. At Irondale, where Van Bruggen attended, he was student director and student tech manager for their department. On the way, he fell in love with the creative process.

The response to the new director has already started to form. “I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of interest in what I see this program potentially being,” said Van Bruggen. He wants it to still be collaborative, does not want to make changes for the sake of change and have more belief in what the changes would do for the department, he explains.

When Van Bruggen first accepted this job, he had coffee with his old high school director and asked him to give him everything he knew, said Van Bruggen.

“Organization and communication is something I think are extremely important, and that was reiterated to me many times by many people. A lot of things can happen if you’re good at communicating,” said Van Bruggen. No one wants to be a part of something where you’re told what to do. You want ownership and creative liberties. To allow this, he has been trying to keep people notified of schedule changes and other opportunities outside of Mounds View, stated Van

photo courtesy of Matthew Van Bruggen

Chicken owners of Mounds View

by Jonathan Jones staff reporter

Many students at Mounds View have pets, but few are more unique than chickens. There are many advantages to owning chickens including the agricultural education they can bring to families. With food prices rising, many have also seen owning chicken as a reliable way to get cheap eggs. According to the American Pet Product Association national pet survey 2021-2022, 22% of millennials and 19% of Gen Z own chickens.

“Chickens are fun and really different from other pets.”

Sophia Loegering, ‘24 There are many reasons students would want to own chickens. For some, like junior Alton Luke Supena, it is important to have the sense of responsibility that comes with pet ownership. For other students, it is enjoyable having an uncommon pet. “Chickens are fun and really different from other pets,” said junior Sophia Loegering. In addition, having access to fresh eggs is a huge bonus to owning chickens.

Many just see chickens as animals that produce eggs, but students can connect to their chickens just like any other pet. “They see me and they want to go out,” said Supena.

Other students are fascinated by the novelty of owning and looking after chickens. “It’s cool just watching a different species,” said junior Sophia Loegering.

When students need to feed the chickens, they focus on price and nutrition. The monthly cost of feeding varies based on the number of chickens owned, but for an average of four chickens it is around $40 a month with expenses like food, water and coop upkeep if needed. “It’s about $25 for a 15-pound bag when we go to the farmer’s supply store,” said Supena.

For snacks, there is a wide variety of items to give

a chicken. “We feed the chickens a mix of grains and veggies, while we give them apple slices as a treat,” said Loegering. Some food, such as tomatoes, pits of fruit and appleseeds, must be avoided as they are toxic to the animals.

forced it with chicken wire,” said Supena.

Students also need to pay special attention to waste from chickens, as it is dangerous to both humans and chickens. Maintaining a clean enclosure requires frequent cleanings every couple of days, including replacing bedding, hosing down the coop and using soap to thoroughly “An average chicken will lay one egg scrub down the exterior and interior. Through all these a day normally in the summer and one activities and more, students are able to both care for and connect with their chickens leading to a beneficial every few day’s in the winter.” relationship for both parties. The chickens get safety and a comfy life and students get a pet relationship, Delaina Thill, ’24 with a side of some delicious eggs.

When expecting eggs, students need to show patience. The results can vary with things like weather and daylight. “An average chicken will lay one egg a day normally in the summer and one every few days in the winter,” said junior Delaina Thill. Students also need to be aware of other factors that exist that affect the number of eggs laid such as feed, water consumption and sun exposure.

While things like food and freedom are important factors when raising chickens, protection is another huge component. To protect a chicken, students need to consider how much space is needed, the average coop should have three to five square feet per chicken. For free roam space, chickens should receive around ten square feet of roaming space to properly move around.

Fences and boxed chicken coops are the best way to protect chickens throughout the year. Cheaper pre-made coops come in around $250, but some students make their own coops.

“We built our coop with wood from Home image couresty of Delaina Thill and reinDepot

photo couresty of Alton Supena

features 05

Monday, October 31, 2022

Men’s Chorus

by Caroline Maves staff reporter

“Students learn general music terminol-

Men’s Chorus is a male singing group at Mounds View, open to students, teachers and administrators.

The choir director, Sarah Waller, leads this ensemble, which rehearses every Thursday before school. This group allows young men to pursue their musical talents and improve upon them, while allowing them to make lasting connections.

The Men’s Chorus is all about giving students a break in their week where they can learn, sing and connect with others. “I really like how silly the people in the group are. It’s always a really fun start to my day on Thursdays. I also really like how you don’t have to be in choir to join, so I get to meet a lot of people I normally would never see,” said senior John Nitti. The group has a great time together and they learn more

ogy, confidence in performing and new music that they wouldn’t normally listen to...”

Sarah Waller, choir director bershop tags, songs sung in a capella style that gained large popularity in the 1930s.

Being a part of the Men’s Chorus gives students opportunities to further their musical knowledge and meet new people who share interests in singing. “Stu-

“I also really like how you don’t have to be in choir to join, so I get to meet a lot

dents learn general music terminology, confidence in performing and new music that they wouldn’t normally listen to,all while creating long-lasting relationships that can continue throughout their high school careers and beyond,” said Waller. Participating in singing groups such as the Men’s Chorus has numerous benefits. Students gain many skills that prove useful throughout their whole lives such as practice working together as a team, developing musical abilities and performing experience. In addition, participants also benefit from improving their mental health. Students increase their self-esteem and feel included when singing together as a team. The Men’s Chorus provides a way for students to relieve their stress and boost their happiness.

Overall, singing in the Men’s Chorus is a great way for students to engage with the Mounds View community. “I would definitely recommend people to join. It’s a very fun thing to do especially if you enjoy singing but don’t want to commit to a choir class or if they are in choir and just want to meet new people and have a little bit more involvement in the concerts,” said Nitti.

of people I normally would never see.”

John Nitti, ‘23 about music while having fun.

The chorus performs in four different concerts throughout the school year: the fall concert, winter concert, mid-winter concert and spring concert. During rehearsals, the group practices songs from a variety of genres and engages in many different fun activities.

A few of these include using kazoos and singing bar-

graphic countesty of Public Domain Picture graphic countesty of Public Domain Vectors

Environmental clubs

by Caroline Maves staff reporter Climate change is slowly affecting students’ edManIn recent years, concerns of the global climate crisis have become a hot button topic in many political circles, especially for the younger generations. In order to raise awareness and encourage sustainability practices, many Mounds View students have begun

“I’m planning a lot of events, [and] making sure the exec team and board know what they’re doing.”

Ava Frey, ‘23 to join clubs like Students for Climate Awareness (SFCA) and Synergy to take action against climate change within their local community.

SFCA was founded in 2019 and is currently advised by Mark Johnson, science teacher. Since 2019, the rate of membership has increased significantly.

“There are up to 25 to 30 participants depending on what I’ve seen,” said Johnson.

images courtesy of Ava Frey

Senior Ava Frey has been president of SFCA for almost three years. Her duties include planning events, making slides to introduce topics for the club and making sure that all club members are actively participating. “I’m planning a lot of events [and] making sure the executive team and board know what they’re doing,” said Frey. Along with all of her other duties, she has been working hard with her club members to come up with new ways on educating the school about climate change.

The activities that the club does range from making PSA videos for local issues to removing the invasive plant buckthorn on Mounds View’s campus.

“I personally helped make a video to raise awareness about Snail Lake and what would happen to the wildlife if the complex was built,” said senior Claire O’Quinn, member of the club.

Synergy is an older club that was founded in 1997, with the current advisor being Aaron Oseland, social studies teacher. Over time, attendance at each meeting has increased. “Depending on the certain projects, I’d say currently we have 10 members and three presidents,” said Oseland.

Junior Brian Kim was recently elected to his position and began his leadership this school year within Synergy. His role is to help coordinate events and take other members’ opinions into consideration.

Students in the club are allowed to speak freely about what they think would help with the school’s environment along with what they think the school as a whole should work on. Some projects that they plan to take on are spreading awareness about recycling and composting and saving leftover student lunches to feed hogs.

One goal that Synergy is currently working towards is increasing awareness on different sustainable solutions for the school. To do this, they are working on maintaining a school garden while also getting the school to work on composting. The impact it would create is that it would reduce the amount of food waste from students tossing leftover lunch into the garbage.

The clubs are currently working together on getting the school to do more recycling and composting to improve the school’s environment. “The more that we can do together, the better because more people allow more good things to happen,” said Oseland.

Both clubs believe working together will increase their chances of accomplishing their shared goals and hope they can bring about a change at Mounds View High School.

“The more that we can do together, the better because more people allow more good things to happen.”

Aaron Oseland, social studies teacher

Youth In Media Exploring the media’s often-inaccurate portrayal of teenagers and the high school experience, as well as the harmful pressure the media places on people to remain forever young.

Portrayal of teens

by Nolan Anderson staff reporter

Teens in the media are often portrayed as angsty, antisocial and superficial. Compared to teens in the real world, the media often exaggerates its teenage characters.

When it comes to television, there are some shows that accurately portray teenagers. However, some teens agree that Hollywood typically gets it wrong. “In television teens are extremely over dramatic,” said junior Robin Yost. Overly dramatic acting can lead to the characters being one-dimensional and unlikable, giving viewers a negative, false impression of teenagers.

One-dimensional characters fall into one stereotype that is then overdramatized. Since the 1980s, movies have featured the jock character, the dumb blonde and the nerd. These characters are generally poor representations of what it is like to be popular, play a sport or participate in academic clubs.

“...we tend to mirror things we see. Seeing all of the perfect characters in shows and movies can hurt our self-esteem.”

Josette House, ‘23 Real teenagers are not one-dimensional and actually have many interests that are not portrayed in the movies. Stereotyped characters generally have one hobby or interest, which makes teens think they can only participate in one activity. In reality, many teenagers participate in multiple activities. Many teenagers enjoy having fun with their friends while also keeping their grades up.

When teenagers watch movies and see that they are not like the characters on-screen, they often feel hurt. “Because of our self-concept, we tend to mirror things we see. Seeing all of the perfect characters in shows and movies can hurt our self-esteem,” said senior Josette House. The teenagers portrayed in movies are often perfect, with clear skin and a perfect body. Seeining inaccurate teenage representation is harmful for teenagers, especially for younger teens.

Stereotypes can be especially hurtful when there is not enough diversity in the shows and movies teens are watching. “Cliches can really hurt, especially when you do not see yourself in the media you consume,” said Lexi Runnals, English teacher.

The media’s lack of diversity for teenagers when it comes to LGBTQ persons, people of color and disabled teens is clear. Not seeing yourself

in the characters on-screen can lead to poor mental health and make teenagers feel like an outcast.

Along with the issue of not having enough diversity in the media, Hollywood often casts adult actors to play teenage roles. “It feels awkward to me, seeing 30-year-old women playing teens,” said Runnals. When the actors are playing a teenage role as an adult, directors are more willing to sexualize the character and give them a more mature, adult-like role. For example, Rachel McAdams, who starred in “Mean Girls” as Regina George, was 24 years old when she played the high school queen bee. Throughout the movie, she participates in many provocative activities, from drinking alcohol to having sex with her boyfriend. There is no doubt that some teenagers do the same, but when movies and TV shows consistently push this narrative, viewers develop a false perception of real teens.

Movies like “High School Musical” and shows like “Euphoria” paint teenagers in a negative light while playing into harmful stereotypes. For example, High School Musical portrays characters, such as Sharpay, as over-dramatic and superficial. However, “Euphoria” does not get it all wrong. “Euphoria” is really intense and tends to be overdramatic, but mental health issues and drug abuse, which the show portrays, certainly affect many teens.

However, teenage mental health struggles still receive limited recognition in the media, and when there are characters in films who struggle with mental health, they are often portrayed as violent and dangerous. In the show “13 Reasons Why,” there was a fake shooting done by the principal to scare the high schoolers. In this episode, Clay has a moment of emotional struggle and grabs a police officer’s gun.

This causes unknowing viewers to judge and discriminate against individuals like Clay who suffer from mental health disorders. According to the Center for Disease Control, 37% of high schoolers struggle with regular mental health declines.

When the media does not portray mental health issues accurately, it can cause teens who deal with poor mental health

to feel unrepresented and isolated.

On the other side of the media, there are shows and movies that portray teens very well. Shows like “Girl Meets World” and “Stranger Things” had very positive reviews. “Girl Meets World” accurately represented some of the issues young teens deal with, and “Stranger Things” portrays a diversity of teens, showcasing different races, sexual orientations and interests.

“Cliches can really hurt, especially when you do not see yourself in the media you consume.”

Lexi Runnals, teacher

While “Stranger Things” is a fictitious series that is not about the normal lives of teenagers, the characters are still believable and fun to watch. Because “Stranger Things” is set in the 1980s, however, there are still many stereotypes within the show. The main cast of characters are nerds who, in turn, get bullied by the popular kids. But the show is not only focused on these stereotypes, and it usually focuses more on the characters themselves and the plot.

In the media there is often a popular teenager who is always seen as the “prettiest girl in school” and is often the antagonist in a lot of teenage films, such as Regina George. “Popular people are always skinny and blonde, and everyone follows them around,” said Yost. For young teenagers, seeing the popular and pretty characters as skinny and blonde with flawless skin can be damaging. This portrayal teaches young teens that in order to be pretty and have friends, you must be thin with clear skin like the girls in the movies.

However, teenagers who are blonde, skinny and conventionally attractive can be impacted as well. When popular characters in the movies are always mean and antagonizing to the protagonist, this connotes popularity with a lack of empathy, which is not necessarily true. Furthermore, the “dumb blonde” stereotype can make female teens the victims of misogynistic attacks on their intelligence.

While the media does not always accurately portray teenagers, producers are beginning to realize that portraying teenagers accurately can make a story more interesting and relatable to real teens. There certainly seems to be a trend of producers including more diversity in films and TV shows, whether that is diversity in race, gender or personalities, and this is only bound to increase.

photo courtesy of Disney Channel

False expectations

by Ruthie Hottinger staff reporter

The glamorous life of Regina George, an arguably iconic character from the 2004 comedy “Mean Girls” does not exactly resemble the lives of actual teenagers. Her family owns a mansion, her “I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom” mother allows her to participate in risky activities and she basically rules the entire school. While most teens would, like Regina, break the “no sweatpants on Monday” rule, most teens would not be kicked out of their friend group because of it.

The portrayal of the teenage years in the media is often inaccurate. Most teens on television have a lively social life, as they are relatively free from the pressures of school and parents.

“I don’t have a lot of friends, but everyone in the movies seems to,” said junior Nicholas Thao.

Because many teens are exposed to these unrealistic social lives — where the typical afterschool routine of a TV teen includes going to house parties that the whole school was somehow invited to and getting completely wasted and going to bed at around four in the morning — it leaves them disappointed when they do not get invited to a single high school party. “My life is depressing and theirs is fun,” said senior photos courtesy of www.unsplash.com

Hudson Hirsch. This proves that teenagers are not left unaffected by these inaccurate portrayals of the teenage experience.

“I don’t have a lot of friends, but everyone in the movies seems to.”

Nicholas Thao, ‘24 Examples of unrealistic teenage lives can be seen in “Gossip Girl.” Some of the more unrealistic moments shown in “Gossip Girl” scenes portray characters with unrealistic amounts of wealth and easy to access adult-like activities. In highly privileged areas such as Manhattan, where “Gossip Girl” takes place, there are equally unrealistic representations of wealth and privilege. Jenny, one of the show’s main characters, dropped out of school at 15 years old to take an incredibly distinguished internship. She got famous from her fashion career very suddenly. This is unrealistic for many reasons. For starters, she gained an internship at 15. Internships still have to follow child labor laws, which would likely inhibit her from being recruited in the first place. It is also not realistic to drop out of school to continue a career that may not be sustainable in the long run. These examples can be found all over the media. This creates a false narrative of what being productive and successful as a teenager really is.

The stereotypes of friend groups within the media can be blurred and not true, but some students acknowledge that the media portrays friend groups accurately every now and then. “Sometimes they get it right. The nerds stay with the nerds, the athletes stay with the athletes. Sometimes there’s the kid who’s with every group,” said Thao. However, cliques in the media are not always realistic. There are pressures from the media to fit into a certain friend group or clique and to have friends that share the same inter-

ests, beliefs and personalities as one’s self.

Family members and older friends often perpetuate the unrealistic expectations manufactured by the media. Adults will share stories with teenagers about their own high school years, often reminiscing about their favorite high school memories while leaving out everything else. Because parents only see the lives of teenagers that are portrayed in movies and TV shows, parents often forget that the high school experience of today’s teens differs greatly from their own. This causes parents to push their own expectations onto their kids, urging their kids to achieve at a high level and maintain good grades.

Even though many teens feel disappointed that high school barely resembles that of movies and TV shows, some feel a sense of relief. “I was expecting it to not be so chill. I was expecting more than I was given, which is kind of a good thing. There are no parties or anything crazy,” said sophomore Madeline Hakes.

“I was expecting it to not be so chill... There are no parties or anything crazy.”

Madeline Hakes, ‘25 While there is still a divide between the media’s portrayal of the teenage experience and the actual teenage experience, it is important to appreciate media that attempts to reconcile the misrepresentations of past movies and TV shows. As people push for more accurate portrayals of the high school years, false expectations about high school will surely be minimized and may even become a fad of the past.

Obsession with youth

by Mika Tuerk staff reporter As Sarah Jessica Parker stepped onto the Met Gala red carpet a few years back, she certainly did not anticipate social media’s reaction to her appearance.

The 53-year-old modeled a metallic gold Dolce & Gabbana maxi dress, along with a nativity headpiece and a makeup look featuring bright, blue eyeshadow.

Yet, the most shocking part of the look, according to Twitter users, was her transition from 30-something Carrie to “so old” Sarah.

The media’s distaste towards age is no secret, and it can easily be seen in how Twitter users treat aging actresses and models. While aging is just a part of being a human, people try to avoid showing signs of age through beauty products and plastic surgery.

“...the anti-aging market has made $44.76 billion so far in 2022 according to Market Data Forecast.”

Mika Tuerk In the media, there are many influencers that talk about wrinkles or anti-aging products. While wrinkles are just a natural part of aging, many industries take advantage of the obsession with how skin changes as people age. In fact, the anti-aging market has made $44.76 billion so far in 2022 according to Market Data Forecast. The beauty industry is the biggest indicator that society has an obsession with youth.

Along with encouraging anti-aging skincare routines, the media promotes botox and plastic surgery to look younger. According to Pew Research Center, 4% of Americans have had a plastic surgery proce-

dure, with most patients being women in their 30s to 50s. Women seem to receive more pressure than men when it comes to maintaining their youth, as seen in the ridicule Sarah Jessica Parker received from Twitter trolls for looking “too old.”

“The feedback we get shapes us.”

Aaron Redman, teacher Even students at Mounds View feel the pressure to remain young forever. “We see age as a bad thing because you see more flaws,” said sophomore Ari Erdmanczyk. Because teenagers witness the mockery of aging celebrities, they become worried about losing their youth as well. “The feedback we get shapes us,” said Aaron Redman, social studies teacher.

When young people only see 60 year olds with baby-smooth skin, it creates a false narrative that it is normal to be wrinkle-free at 70. This can be a harmful expectation for younger people because it pressures them to never age. Because of that pressure, many people think they must buy products to stop their skin from aging. Teens on TikTok can be seen promoting their anti-aging skincare routines, often including wrinkle-preventing retinoids in their routine.

While nobody can deny that society frowns upon aging, it is important to understand why aging has such a negative connotation in the first place. Society sees age as unpleasant mostly because it means people are getting to the end of their life, and people are inherently afraid of death. However, this does not explain why many people think that their life is over by their 30s. The obsession really had a running start when movies started to come out in the 1900s, as many people fell in love with how smooth they made the actors’ skin with editing and makeup. Now, people have created lots of ways to change their appearance to fight this insecurity, such as pills, surgery and creams.

Yet, these beauty standards are not necessarily set in stone. There can be many ways individuals may change this mindset and social expectation of acting and looking youthful. Being more aware that everyone will age and that flaws are quite normal can help society to accept that age does not necessarily equate to unattractiveness or unsuccessfulness. Most would agree that people also have to be conscious of what influence these beauty standards have on young adults and teens.

Many, including Redman, advise the media to understand the potential harm of promoting unrealistic beauty standards. “Be more mindful of what’s being portrayed,” said Redman. Instead of continuing to encourage hiding blemishes or wrinkles, seeing more “imperfections” in the media may help reverse this mindset about age.

As the media begins to portray aging more accurately, teens and adults alike will gain a less distorted view of what it means to age.

08 Debates

Monday, october 31, 2022

Should the voting age be lowered?

18 is just right

by Nikhil Kulangaroth staff reporter

Recently, legislation was reintroduced to lower the voting age in America to 16 years old. “Our young people, including 16 and 17 year olds, continue to fight and advocate for so many issues that they are passionate about from gun safety to the climate crisis,” said U.S. Representative Grace Meng, D-NY. “It’s time to give them a voice in our democracy by permitting them to be heard at the ballot box.” However, while young people have started to become more politically active in recent years, this doesn’t necessarily guarantee a larger or more positive effect on politics because this could have a significant impact towards the results of the political office and ultimately the country’s future.

Firstly, people under the age of 18 ultimately have not established how to filter fake news. They can be swayed by the influence of social media or the popularity of a candidate without really thinking about who they want to choose and why. According to a 2019 survey by Common Sense and Survey Monkey, 54% of teenagers ages 13 to 17 get their news information from social media platforms, such as FaceBook and Twitter.

Additionally, many 16 year olds may not be interested or educated enough about politics to vote. Eighteen is the age where teens become legal adults and accept responsibilities that they didn’t previously have. Not only this, 18 year olds typically have a broader understanding of topics such as economics, mathematics and history simply due to the fact they have completed more schooling. As graduates or soon-to-be graduates of secondary education, their knowledge gives them leverage over possible younger voters, making it logical that they be allowed to vote.

Another large factor is the fact that teenagers, specifically those 17 and under, are still considered minors and not legal adults. This means when they are tried in court, they tend to have more leniency and easier sentences than someone over the age of 18.

If these minors are not thought to be as developed enough to be held responsible for their crimes, why would they be responsible for giving an opinion on who is to lead?

On top of that, it is statistically proven that teenagers can not think through decisions as well as adults can. Temple University researchers conducted a study where people between ages 10-30 were tested in a series of puzzle building tests. They found that solving difficult problems made strong demands on the brain’s frontal lobe, a part of the brain that is still being developed in teens. This, along with peer pressure from society and emotions that teens face on a daily basis, makes a valid statement on why poor decision making is common in teenagers.

There is also another setback when it comes to youth voting. Turnout rates for voting are significantly lower in younger people than older people. A Gallup poll was conducted on voting turnouts, which revealed only 26% of people ages 18-29 planned to vote. Inherently, it becomes more difficult to vote the younger the age as most youth haven’t made voting a habit, aren’t educated enough on the process or simply do not have time to go and vote.

While it is certain that the youth of today’s society show some passion regarding a variety of topics, there is no guarantee that this will actually benefit America, especially when considering factors such as the brain not being fully developed until the age of 25, poor decision making in teenagers, lower turnout rates among younger people, or simply not having the time. High school is a time to explore your interests, passions and hobbies. Voting is something most young people would rather deal with later in life.

Scan here to watch student and staff opinions on this topic.

16 makes sense

by Luke Daigle staff reporter What do you know about politics? Do you want a say over happenings in your What do you know about politics? Do you want a say over happenings in your community? Do you feel that your voice is heard?

The voting age in the United States should be lowered to 16 because young teens are more politically involved than ever, they are contributing to the government through taxes and because they are used to taking on responsibilities.

Every day, more adolescents are getting engaged in politics. According to the Hamilton College of Liberal Arts, in 2020 88% of surveyed 18-24 year olds were registered to vote, and 78% said they would be voting in presidential elections.

Young voters are holding more relevancy in voter turnout than ever before, as in 1996, only 33% of 18-24 year olds were voting in presidential elections.

According to The New York Times, this massive addition to voter turnout can be attributed to the recent political shifts in the United States, examples including the public killing of George Floyd, as well as the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. More recent changes in nationwide society will continue to drive young voters to the polls, such as the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. When these life-altering events take place, lots of people they affect will take notice, hence the influx of teenagers now interested in learning about their government.

Across the world, the voting age varies based on the country. There are nine countries that allow 16 year olds to vote: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Germany (not nationwide, only in local elections), Malta, Nicaragua and Scotland. What these countries have seen since allowing 16 year olds voting rights is pretty simple: They have been voting for more progressive candidates who want to make a difference. Compared to the more centralistic politics that older generations tend to hold on to, young people have been shown to vote more based on individual policy and the candidate’s urge to make change within. This is the voice of the future.

Multiple countries including the U.S., Australia, the U.K. (all of its countries), New Zealand and Canada are currently experimenting with lowering the voting age in populous counties during local elections. This is in an attempt to see if it could be successful for those under the age of 18 to vote. The widespread conclusion is that it is possible, and it ingrains good habits in the next generation of voters.

Young people would become more involved in politics and the world around them if given the opportunity to vote. “If the voting age was lowered, I’d become more into politics because it would be more relevant,” said Sara Pijoan, ‘24, who turned 16 earlier this year. This would better teens in terms of connection to their country and state, as well as to their global citizenship. Worldwide, it is clear that teenagers are capable of taking on responsibility. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 55% of young people ages 16-24 are part of the workforce.

If someone is determined enough to hold a job and apply to colleges, they are able to make a thoughtful decision whilst voting, because they are familiar with responsibility.

“No taxation without representation” is a founding belief of American democracy, one of our main conflicts with the British that spurred on the Revolutionary War (see: the Boston Tea Party). This basically means that if the government is taxing someone and using the money, the one being taxed should be able to have a say in how that money is spent. This would be through voting for an official with an agreeable outline for where the money is going, because after all, the government wasn’t the one who earned the money.

However, many legal workers under the age of 18 are taxed on their wages without having the right to vote for their representation in government. They are vital to the economy, and their hard earned funds go to aid public projects, yet they are not awarded one of the most crucial rights the United States was founded on.

The voting age for the United States should be lowered to age 16, because to follow the foundations of democracy would be to require it. The basis of the United States is citizen participation in governing, and youths are understanding politics more than ever before in U.S history. Teenagers are responsible and engaged in politics. They should legally deserve a say in determining the future of their country, a future they’ll be living.

Good Question 09

Monday, October 31, 2022

How can students find balance?

by Alaina Pundsack staff reporter

Balancing a schedule can be difficult for many students, especially if they are participating in sports or other activities on top of their school work and social life.

It is no surprise that school takes up the majority of students’ time throughout the day. With classes to attend during the day and homework to complete when they get home, it can feel like they do not have time for anything else.

Students at Mounds View tend to have around two hours of homework every night according to a survey of 50 students conducted by Viewer staff. This might not sound too bad, but when students have nights when they are overwhelmed with homework and activities, it

“It’s better to do one [advanced] class and do really well in it, rather than taking five classes and struggling the whole way through [them].”

Meghan Childs, dean is essential that they are getting the necessary amount of sleep.

High school students should be getting around nine hours of sleep each night, while the majority are getting only seven. According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, when students are not getting the correct amount of sleep it can affect their mood, such as getting upset or frustrated more easily. It can also affect their ability to learn and retain information which could decrease their academic performance.

School work can cause a lot of stress for students, but there are ways to manage or decrease the amount of work. Whether it is using techniques to cope with stress, creating a good balance of classes or making todo lists, writing down an effective schedule can help students to improve their time management and subsequently decrease their stress.

For instance, students should begin by looking at the classes they are taking. Of course it is important to take challenging classes, but too many of those can become too stressful. “It’s better to do one [advanced] class and do really well in it, rather than taking five classes and struggling the whole way through [them],” said Meghan Childs, dean.

She stresses the importance of quality rather than quantity when it comes to course difficulty.

There are also ways students can manage the stress of school work.

Making a todo list, breaking down tasks and making mini deadlines can all help students to improve their time management.

These strategies may help students to avoid leaving everything until the last minute when big projects are due. A few students shared in the survey that they try to use their time in class as much as possible to their advantage so that they would not have quite

photo by Maya Gjelhaug

as much work later at home.

Creating time to relax is also necessary to a balanced schedule. “It’s not always all about homework and school, and we still need to have that work-life balance of jobs and hanging out with friends and getting exercise and doing things that bring you joy,” said Childs.

“...we still need to have that work-life balance of jobs and hanging out with friends and getting exercise...”

Meghan Childs, dean For some students, sports can be a way to escape and have that social time. However, most school sports can be a big commitment, with student athletes not getting home until close to five or six. “I have a lot of late nights trying to get homework done,” said junior Maya Arnold. Arnold is a student athlete who dances year round and plays golf for Mounds View in the spring on top of taking a few AP classes.

When students start to feel particularly overwhelmed, they should consider using a grounding technique. “Naming something you can see, something you can feel, something you can smell, something you can touch. All those things to kind of help in that moment when you’re feeling a little bit of panic.” Using all five senses to name things around you is one technique Childs suggests.

Finding a balance is a common struggle for students, and an effective schedule will look different for every individual. Students should quit pressuring themselves to take the most difficult classes and participate in many activities and instead focus on improving their own wellbeing by creating a balanced schedule.

What college prep does Mounds View offer?

by Graydon Bandt staff reporter

College can be a stressful topic for many high school students. Thankfully, Mounds View High School offers numerous college prep opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing a higher education.

The Career and College Center (CCC) offers many different resources for college prep, including information on different career paths and internships, resources on how to find the right college and advice for earning college credits in high school. According to Madison Hendrickson, career and college coordinator, students should feel free to stop by if they have any questions or concerns about their postsecondary experience and how to prepare for it. “I love sitting down with students and having them tell me all of the things they are interested in and then helping them explore what opportunities they might be interested in,” she said. The CCC is open to all students and Hendrickson encourages anyone to come to her with any questions related to the CCC or to make appointments to discuss college resources.

“I love sitting down with students and having them tell me all of the things they are interested in and then helping them explore what opportunities they might be interested in.”

Madison Hendrickson, career and college coordinator One resource Mounds View offers to prepare students for college is Anoka Ramsey Community College (ARCC) and College in the Schools (CIS) courses.

ARCC classes offer college credit and course material from the college, but are taught at Mounds View. They

give students the unique opportunity to earn both college and high school credits at the same time. Additionally, if students take enough ARCC classes, they have the ability to earn their Associate of Arts Degree (AA). The AA degree takes two years to complete and requires 60 credit hours, however, it requires a strong work ethic and is very difficult to receive. According to a district pamphlet, only 2 Mounds View students received an AA degree in 2020.

“It becomes challenging, but we prepare students to get ready for the college-type classes.”

Ev Bjork, math teacher Another reason students should consider taking an ARCC course is because it is very similar to college classes. However, unlike Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), there are more opportunities for one-on-one help if it is needed. Along with the support one would expect from high school teachers, Anoka Ramsey Community College is also there to support students. “There is help from Anoka Ramsey, they have some supportive people if you want as an online support,” said Ev Bjork, math teacher. Bjork encourages students who are interested in taking an ARCC course to take one sometime in highschool. “It becomes challenging, but we prepare students to get ready for the college-type classes,” said Bjork.

Another option for students hoping to earn college credit in high school is taking CIS classes. CIS classes are run by the University of Minnesota for Minnesota high school students. The program offers students the ability to take college classes at their high school with no cost to the students, making it another great way to gain college credits in high school for academically prepared juniors and seniors. Many students have

found these classes difficult, so if students are interested or have any questions, they should reach out to the CCC staff.

If you have found a college you want to apply for, Mounds View can also help with the application process. In October, which is College Knowledge Month, 54 Minnesota colleges offer free applications to all students. After the month of October has passed, there are still opportunities for free applications to 34 colleges.

The list of colleges that offer this can be found on the Mounds View Public Schools webpage.

There are also resources available to help students find scholarships. On the CCC section of the Mounds View webpage, students can find local scholarship opportunities, although there are other college-specific scholarships that students should look into that are not listed on the CCC website.

The College and Career Center is a great resource for college and career guidance. They help students find college level classes, prepare for college and plan for their future. If you have any further questions or are inspired to visit the CCC, please do so, you can walk in to make an appointment or email Hendrickson at madison_hendrickson@mvpschools.org.

photo by Grayden Brandt

10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Monday, October 31, 2022

‘Smile’ won’t make you smile

by Khadra Abdulahi staff reporter On Sept. 30, “Smile,” directed by Parker Finn, was released in theaters and grossed an estimated $100 million on its first weekend, according to Insider. “Smile” is rated R for the explicit scenes and the irritating events. From jumpscares to humor to fear, “Smile” is hard not to enjoy.

The story begins with Dr. Rose Cotter, a therapist, played by Sosie Bacon. Other actors include Caitlin Stacey, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner and Rob Morgan.

While they all had strong performances, Sosie Bacon’s portrayal of emotion stood out.

The Storyline makes it easy to sympathize with the main characters. Not only is the script able to make strong comments on the stigmatization of mental health in society, but it also makes the main character likable.

In the beginning, Cotter deals with a traumatic experience when a patient commits suicide in front of her. When dealing with this trauma, she is left without support, leaving the audience feeling desperate. As the film progresses, it goes in-depth about Rose dealing with mental illness and how she fights to overcome it.

She begins hallucinating, seeing smiling faces in her everyday life.

Mental health is an overlooked issue and should be talked about more. I believe the message of this film was meaningful because it shows the external struggles of mental disorders and the extreme effects they can have on people’s lives. Although the ending of the film was very traumatic and sad, it shows a realistic perspec-

tive of a person dealing with mental illness.

“Smile” provides a very uncomfortable, eerie feeling, especially when watching alone. It kept me

ting a sinister tone as she moved throughout the house.

Even the furniture contributed to this, as it was spaced sparingly. In addition, Dora was constantly alone in the house, as her husband was always at work. This was a good example of isolation because it shows ways she distanced herself and started to feel darker from her presence.

Sadly, despite the compelling storyline, the ending is dissatisfying as it ends on a cliffhanger. Besides this criticism, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. There are many reasons why people might not like this movie, but it is undeniable that the film is a very good representation of why mental health awareness is important.

Fans of chilling, psychological thrillers with strong meanings will love this movie because of how well it captures real human emotion with vivid intensity. People certainly won’t be disappointed by the fear-inducing cinematography this movie displays.

Final Verdict: 3/5 photos courtesy of Smile

on the tip of my toes and keeps me wanting more. The cinematography creates a very isolating atmosphere.

The rooms in Dora’s house were always darkened, set-

The Dead End Hayride

by Morghan Larson arts & entertainment editor Haunted events and attractions are highly wellliked fall destinations throughout the Halloween season and draw sizable audiences every weekend. In Wyoming, Minnesota, there is a spooky attraction called “Dead End Hayride.” This attraction adds a grim, scary factor to the traditional fall hayride as they give the haunted house a new spin.

I turned right onto this dark sideroad that led me to Pinehaven Farm. Coming up to the farm, there was a plethora of parking attendants who escorted me to an open spot. Even though it was a Thursday, it was still quite busy. I was in the far back of the parking lot, but walking up to the entrance I could hear some of the attractions in the back that are hidden by a fence, it all but added to this creepy experience. Once I made my way up to the front they scanned my tickets, and I was immediately transferred into a different universe upon entering the farm.

The front of the farm contained a variety of food trucks accompanied by a few fire pits so guests could stay warm on chilly autumn nights, along with different kinds of lighting to set the scary mood. Heading into the back of the farm to get in the line for the hayride, scare actors are going up and down the lines trying to

get heart rates up by jumpscares, throwing objects and just simply standing next to people.

Getting on the hayride I was directed to the back

ticular house was the spinning tunnel. This is an optical illusion tunnel where the surrounding neon-splattered walls spin around you while you walk along a short bridge. It causes a visual optical illusion that affects the visual system, as well as the other two sensory systems.

The last house was a clown house. Upon walking in you can hear loud music blasting from the inside, this house would be best described as a horrific neon party. This clown party consists of fake walls where they can pop out and scare you and even the clowns flying above you attached to a harness. The finishing factor was a terror-struck junkyard filled with old cars and a run-down vibe. Walking through, the actors had fake chainsaws that pushed out air and made the sound that mimicked a real one.

This pushed us back at the beginning of the attraction to make just a short walk to our cars. Overall, I was blown away with the theatrics all together. There was never a corner we turned that was not decked out in the appropriate theme. The one thing I believe that pushed this haunted attraction in front of the others is the actors being able to touch you. I felt it added to the experience and wouldn’t be the same without it. It should be noted that at a point when you’re walking from one house to another there is a strobe effect that makes you feel like you’re walking in slow motion because of the visual photo by Morghan Larson impact of constant rapid flashes of light. This haunted activity may not be suitable for some audiences, but I row, and after a little briefing we were off on the adven- thought this was one of the best fall activities in Minture of the night. They use the hayride to bring guests to nesota, I will definitely be returning next year. a multitude of haunted houses which they walk through to make their way back to the beginning. The experience goes through scenes such as an old country town, run-down buildings and prehistoric times. With each theme, scare actors appear to yell at guests, get in their faces and even touch them.

Once I finished the hayride, I got off and the staff shuffled us into the correct line for the kind of ticket I bought. At the first attraction, I was met with a creepy insane asylum-themed building, fake blood and dirt lining the walls adding to the all but sickening experience.

The next house we entered had no set theme but each room was different. An insane dentist, thrilling graveyard and psychotic butcher gave a great spook while walking through. My favorite part of this par-

Final Verdict: 5/5

photos courtesy of The Dead End Hayride

Sports 11

Monday, October 31, 2022

Athlete of the Issue

Volleyball Q: How and when did your passion start?

A: I have been around volleyball all my life because of my dad. He would play in many grass tournaments, which would cause me to be dragged around to these tournaments. At first, I didn’t care about watching my dad and [would] rather have played at the park with all the other kids. It wasn’t until I was around 13 years old that my mother took me to an open gym to play volleyball with her friends to fall in love with the sport.

Q: What is your favorite thing about volleyball?

Boys soccer — one goal

by Gloria Liu staff reporter The Mounds View boys soccer team trains intensively to make this year a success. With goals and passion set in place, the boys hope to continue their win streak at state and accomplish greater things while also bonding with one another. Through the challenges they face, the team tries their best to stay on top of their goals, push themselves to accomplish more and have fun while doing so. As the season progresses, the athletes make sure they are prepared to take on each game. From possession to technical drills, they train with focus and diligence.

Many of these athletes started playing soccer at a young age and continue to improve after each game. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was four years old. I used to play when I was little because my dad got me into it and since then I’ve been just playing for literally the rest of my life,” said junior Samuel Lopez.

Not only do the athletes have people who inspire them, but they also hope to inspire many young soccer players. Senior Mateo Nacusi explains how he has experienced moments where he felt like he was good enough for a better team, but was not picked. Despite this, he still always made an effort to enjoy his time spent with his team. “My advice is just to have fun no matter what because you might not always make the team you want,” said Nacusi.

Last month, the team was able to win their game against Park High School on Sept. 29, with a score of four to one. But despite this victory, they have also faced some setbacks this season, including

A:I will say that it is worth it to someone who is thinking about boys volleyball.

Whether it is for scholarship reasons or just for fun, volleyball is a great option as a sport. Boys volleyball has very low competition in America so many colleges are willing to take in most players.

photo by Samuel Lopez

goal was to be a starter, and now I’m starting, and I’m playing most of the games,” said Nacusi. He also says he wants to make section finals this year as it approaches.

Playing high school soccer is a passion for the team members. For Lopez, it’s a dream he hopes to continue after high school. “I’m trying to continue my academics and try to at least go to a college and play for a college,” said Lopez. For Nacusi, he thinks it’s enough to play for his high school soccer team. “Not really, if anything I just play like intramural soccer or something. Nothing like super competitive,” said Nacusi.

As they continue to build on their skills, friendships and ambitions, they realize that while it’s important to win, it’s also important to enjoy the moment and have fun. Going forward with the season, the team hopes to not only develop as a group, but show that playing a sport is not all about the competition. It is more about the lasting relationships that are made.

Girls volleyball ties up the season

by Owen Schwalm A: My favorite thing about staff reporter volleyball is that it is a nonWith students filling the stands each contact sport, especially when game, it is obvious that girls volleyball is it comes to the position I play. a popular sport at Mounds View. While the As a libero/defense specialist, regular season ended on Oct. 19, the team I would never make any conhas found success in sections, including a tract with the other team. Not 3-0 upset win over Tartan on Oct. 26.

The season started on Aug. 15, and making contact with the opcompared to the beginning of the season, ponents is very nice because the team’s chemistry and overall play has it decreases the likeliness of significantly developed. “We have some me getting injured. incredible leaders stepping up this season.

It’s a nice change. These girls are learning Q: Do you have any how to be leaders. I like what I see,” said Kressen Anderson, assistant coach. Krespre-game “rituals”? sen believes their chemistry is still a work in progress, but improving steadily.

A:Before I start playing any of The conference the team is in has my games I enjoy just putting on my headphones and just listening to music. Listening to music helps me get into my zone and stay locked in.

Q: What would you say to someone who wants to join boys volleyball?

losing their game to Roseville on Oct. 3. After losing that game, it was a challenge for them to recover a positive spirit. Nacusi explains that it was a learning experience and showed opportunities for improvement.

“I just try not to get disappointed in how I play or how anybody plays. I say like, ‘Oh, you know we could’ve done this better’ but not in a disappointed way, [but] in a ‘let’s work on it and practice’ way,” said Nacusi.

When playing competitively, there are always moments when games do not go as expected. “We’ve definitely had our times of struggle. It varies in what it might be about, whether it’s on or off the field, but everything gets resolved at one point or another. This year we’ve had a few things happen, but it all got resolved really quick and that’s really good for our team,” said senior Aidan Petrich. He explains that while mistakes happen, the team is quick to fix them.

Although the season has had its ups and downs, the athletes still work towards their personal and team goals. “My first

“We have some incredible leaders stepping up this season.”

to,” she said.

Thinking about the future of the volleyball team is always interesting. Whether that is because of the seniors leaving or the possible improvements of the underclassmen. Senior Manager Fred Trapp said, “The seniors leaving will leave holes the underclassmen will need to step up to fill; however, I think they could be competitive.” He thinks that the team has some strong players that will be able to fill those gaps and possibly even improve the team as a whole next year.

For new players on varsity, the change between varsity and junior varsity may be surprising. “It’s a little more intense than JV. [There are] longer practice times, more practices and more work to do outside of the practices,” said Bronson, who moved from JV to varsity this year.

Themes and school spirit are important for bringing energy to the games. For many spectators, themes are one of the most enjoyable aspects of the games. The team has had a wide variety of themes so far, including construction, Adam Sandler, white lie tee shirts and Mustang spirit.

With the creativity of each theme, there are many different favorites. For Schmidt, she enjoyed Adam Sandler the most, while Trapp’s favorite was white lie.

The team finished their regular conference schedule on Oct. 18 with a 0-3 loss to Forest Lake, but with their win over Tartan in the section quarterfinal and advancement to the section semifinals, they will have a solid foundation to build upon in the offseason.

Kressen Anderson, assistant coach some tough opponents to measure up to.

However, senior Taylor Schmidt believes the team is up for the challenge saying, “We’re a bit more of an underdog and underestimated, but then when we start playing they have to play seriously. We’re more threatening.”

She believes that they have had a chance of winning nearly every game they played. The biggest goal for senior Cece Bronson and the rest of the volleyball team is to compete at state this year.

“I think it’s going to be a challenge, but if we work hard enough we might be able

photo by Taylor Schmidt

12 Puzzles

Monday, October 31, 2022

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puzzle courtesy of www.opensky.ca/sudoku

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