MV Viewer 2021-2022 Issue 4

VOLUME 69 ISSUE 4 | DECEMBER 22, 2021

THE VIEWER

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Astroworld 02/ “Entrelazados” 07 / Bowling team 08

02

NEWS

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Astroworld Concert

by Sarafina Dillon staff reporter

Travis Scott’s Astroworld music festival in Houston drew widespread attention as a panicked crowd resulted in ten deaths and numerous injuries. The tragedy not only sparked controversy over organizational accountability but also brought attention to the security of events involving large numbers of people and heightened emotions.

At Mounds View, events such as school dances, sports games and even potential fires, natural disasters or lockdown situations could incite hysteria or anxiety, creating an atmosphere ripe for similar accidents to happen. The school administration is in charge of making sure that students and staff are prepared for these situations.

Benjamin Chiri, Mounds View associate principal, says that there are numerous ways the school ensures safety, especially for events with large crowds.

“At school events where large numbers of community members are involved, such as football games, dances and graduation ceremonies, we have additional staff supervisors and law enforcement officers to support event security,” Chiri said. Because of the heavier supervision, there is a much lower chance of having something go wrong.

There are also other methods the school uses to ensure the situation at Astroworld will not repeat itself at Mounds View. “Each year we have five fire drills, five lockdown drills and one tornado or severe weather drill.

These are spread throughout the year to make sure everyone is fresh on the procedures,” Chiri said. Practicing these procedures ensures that students are prepared and not panicking in case a real accident ever occurs.

Another key component of keeping the school environment safe is holding participants accountable.

With the situation at Astroworld, students are split on whom the blame falls upon. Some people believe that

Scott is not at fault for the incident. “This should not be blamed on Travis,” said Caden Ashford, 9. “He can’t see the crowd. Because of the position on the stage and the lighting, Scott would be unable to help.” In relation to Mounds View, even if a handful of people instigate chaos, the school and the administrators must deal with the situation.

On the other hand, some students believe that even though Scott might not be able to see the crowd, he still inspired chaos and energy. “He is what motivates the crowd to act that way,” said Emily Olson, 11. “I personally believe that the crowd is going to listen to him and match his energy because everyone there enjoys his music and looks up to him.” Olson connects this back to school, as she says that if one student starts a disruption and encourages others to join in, that student would contribute to a widespread negative outcome.

At Mounds View, the responsibility of school safety falls on everyone’s shoulders. “We also highly encourage students and teachers to report any safety concerns to a dean, an administrator or any other trusted adult in the building so we can help resolve concerns before they escalate,” Chiri said.

“The school takes security amongst the students very seriously.”

Alexandra Runnals, English teacher English teacher Alexandra Runnals also believes the community aspect is important. By creating a positive environment at school, it is less likely that dangerous situations will arise. “The school takes security amongst the students very seriously,” Runnals said. By

Build Back Better

by Maya Gjelhaug staff reporter

President Joe Biden’s administration currently faces low approval ratings, and with midterm elections on the horizon, Democrats hope to approve Biden’s Build Back Better plan before the holidays. Congress already passed a $1.2 trillion bill on Nov. 5 that heavily invests in infrastructure across the nation, and the Build Back Better Bill is the next goal. According to the White House, the bill includes major investments in climate and clean energy, universal preschool, medicare expansion, extended child tax credit and affordable housing.

On the other hand, because of recent inflationary and national debt concerns, some people oppose the bill since it has a price tag of $1.75 trillion.

Viewer Staff 2021-2022

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combining the administration’s effort with the accountability of students, there can be a safer environment for everyone.

From extra adult supervision to getting familiarized with emergency procedures, many aspects go into safety in public situations. The situation at Astroworld serves as a reminder for leaders such as the Mounds View administration to make large events as secure as possible.

Specifically, the bill allots over $500 billion for clean energy, which may seem like an important investment to some. However, people such as freshman Emily Ren believe that this amount of money is excessive. “I think climate change is a real problem that should be worked on in a way, but I don’t feel like $500 billion just from America alone is going to do much,” she said. “It’s a good initiative, but it’s also really pricey, and I don’t think America has the money for that right now.” Many Americans share this sentiment, fearing that excessive spending could increase the national debt.

While proponents of the plan argue that the expensive price of the bill will be paid for by taxes on corporations and billionaires, others say that the weight of paying for the bill could fall on typical citizens instead.

“Taxes pretty much always end up on the consumers in the end,” said Martha Rush, economics teacher. “There is no easy way to tax people. Nobody wants to pay more taxes, and at some point, we will have to because of our big debts.” However, she hopes that the 15% minimum corporate tax recently agreed upon by top countries will help ease these taxation worries.

Especially with current high consumer prices, opponents of the bill worry about the inflationary effects.

Rush explains how the timing of the spending addresses this concern. “This bill, although it is a lot of spending at a time that we have a lot of rising prices, is going to happen over a long period of time,” Rush said. “If all

Elisa Guo Zige Wang Darah Ostrom, Johnny Yue Morgan Dalton Yatharth Sharma Maya Betti Darah Ostrom, Johnny Yue Junha Yoo Joseph Hoffman Olivia Sperbeck Iris Ren

illustrations by Iris Ren

of that spending was going to happen in January, clearly that would cause inflationary pressure, but it’s over many years, so it’s a little bit different.” She notes that the bill’s growth-centered investments will also help to combat inflation by increasing economic potential.

The economic growth stemming from this proposal would also bring more employment opportunities. “I know there is a lot of fear because it is such an expensive program, but I also know that it is going to create a lot of jobs,” said Kristin Heinz, social studies teacher.

With the unemployment rate currently at 4.2%, Build Back Better could help people gain employment opportunities at pre-pandemic levels.

Some teachers expect that this bill holds benefits for the local Mounds View community. Heinz said, “It will help people who have young children. I think it will offer more opportunities for preschool and for working families, and maybe it would get more people to invest in clean energy and focus more on the environment.”

While low labor-participation rates and high inflation continue to affect the daily lives of American citizens, Biden hopes the Build Back Better Bill will resolve the negative post-pandemic effects and help relieve other widespread issues such as climate change.

Whether the bill will help or worsen the economy, the actual consequences of the bill will remain obscure until the Senate passes the bill.

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features 03

wednesday, december 22, 2021

Our Chinese language teacher

by Lucy Zhao staff reporter

In this increasingly interconnected world, learning different languages and cultures has become an important component of removing barriers between people. As China is the world’s most populous country and Mandarin is the second most spoken language, learning Chinese has many benefits. Liya Wegner, the Chinese language and culture teacher at Mounds View, has played a significant role in advancing the school’s foreign language program.

Wegner grew up in Shanghai and received her undergraduate degree from Shanghai Normal University as a Chinese major. After graduation, she became a middle school Chinese teacher. Wegner said that teaching the Chinese language in China is “kind of like an English teacher here, to teach language arts, so Chinese is like language arts in China.”

After teaching in her homeland for a year, Wegner decided to move to the U.S. for her master’s degree

“I wanted to have a different experience, make friends, have a different life.”

-Liya Wegner, Chinese teacher and explore the world outside of her home country. “I was very young. I thought, oh the world is so big and I want to have a different [experience],” Wegner said.

She resigned from her job, prepared for the required language test, the TOEFL, and applied to graduate schools for her master’s program in the U.S, looking forward to a new lifestyle.

Although she has been learning English as a required second language since she was 10 years old, Wegner still faced many challenges as both a foreign student and teacher in the U.S. “When I first came to the U.S. for my graduate school, it was difficult,” Wegner said. “It’s very different when I learned English in China, and I speak and use English in the U.S.” Living in another country with a completely different culture made the transition difficult for Wegner.

Even though she has been teaching in America for 11 years now, she still struggles to understand students at times. “Language was a barrier for me. I am improving a lot, but in the beginning, I [needed] to understand the students’ questions and also culture,” Wegner said.

“I learned a lot, but I didn’t really understand sometimes.” Spending time with students every day has helped improve her comprehension of American culture and language.

The main difference to Wegner between the Chinese and American student cultures was in the availability of extracurricular activities. Unlike in China, Wegner mentioned that students in the United States seem to be given more options as to what they want to do with their lives outside of the classroom, instead of solely focusing on academics. “Two countries, different education systems, and students’ way of thinking is very different,” Wegner said. “I think American students have more fun; students have a strong sports program, after-school programs, student clubs, groups,

and a lot of student-oriented activities. In China, everybody focuses on academics, especially in high school.”

Since arriving in the U.S., Wegner has been able to share her enthusiasm with a wide variety of people. “I just feel like I enjoy the Chinese language, especially Chinese literature a lot and I want to share Chinese language and culture with American students,” Wegner said. She will continue to spread her knowledge to her students at the Mounds View for years to come.

board is needed for. “This almost could be the most important step because you have to make sure everyone gets fed and you have to factor in allergies as well,” Landberg said. Determining the size of the board is crucial because that determines the pricing for a small, medium or large assortment. If her customers prefer something larger, she recommends her custom boards, best for weddings and baby showers.

Though she has had success with her business, there are always challenges with starting a business as a high schooler. “What I learned while making that board is I need a lot of time in advance to ensure the best products for my customer,” Landberg said. This school year, Landberg had to stop taking orders because her business became too time-consuming and she needed to focus on her academics.

Boards by Olivia

by Morghan Larson staff reporter

Olivia Landberg, 9, started baking at an early age with the help of her mom. In fifth grade while making dinner for her family for the very first time, her love and passion for making food skyrocketed. Since then, she has explored her newfound talent for creating works of art with food.

Now at age 14, Landberg has turned her passion for culinary arts into a business, Boards by Olivia. The idea first was mentioned on her way to swim practice, when her dad joked with her that she should start a business. “I didn’t really think it would go anywhere, I thought of it as a funny joke from my family,” Landberg said. She went home that night and casually made her Instagram account. However, six months later, she was catering for baby showers, engagement parties and even weddings.

Landberg’s process starts by getting an email or a direct message from a potential client. She usually starts off with what size the board will be and what the

photo courtesy of Liya Wegner

“I love going to local places to support other local small businesses. It makes the process feel better.”

Olivia Landberg, 9 Once she and the customer have discussed the details, Landberg starts their order by buying her ingredients. “I love going to local places, to support other local small businesses, it just makes the process feel better,” Landberg said. If she cannot quite find everything she needs from those places, she will head to Kowalski’s to get the rest of her ingredients. In addition, with her culinary expertise, Landberg is able to create her own charcuterie components. For example, her homemade signature jam, cranberry sauce, shortbread and spice blend are all ingredients she regularly uses in her orders.

After she finishes prepping, she makes sure to have an idea of what she wants planned out beforehand.

Once she finishes the final product, she adds some finishing touches and wraps it up for pickup.

The Viewer Mission Statement

photos courtesy of Olivia Landberg

There are always some obstacles, but Olivia defies the odds of being a full-time student and a full-time athlete while owning a business at a young age. She believes that she can overcome anything with constant support from family and friends. “I am very grateful for all the support my family, friends, and customers have provided me for the past six months,” Landberg said.

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.

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Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Intricacies of the s

Rule transparency and updates

by Tyler Quattrin and Michael Wang staff reporters

Rules and regulations have always been a necessary part of various institutions. Students at Mounds View are required to follow regarding attendance, dress code and academic dishonesty, among others.

However, some students feel that there is not enough transparency or communication about these policies from the school administration.

Even though Mounds View’s school rules are stated in the handbook, students feel the school needs to do a better job of informing students what the regulations are. Brynn Entner, 10, points to how this could lead to students accidentally breaking rules and suffering consequences. “[The rules] are present,” she said. “It’s just the unfair factor that some students are not aware of them fully.”

“I don’t see a lot of rules in the handbook being enforced all the time, and there’s a lot of regulations. ” William Overbo, 10

Occasionally, teachers are either unaware of or lenient with the policies they are supposed to be enforcing as well, which could contribute to students being confused. William Overbo, 10, said, “I don’t see a lot of the rules in the handbook being enforced all the time, and there’s a lot of regulations.”

Alex Hinseth, administrative intern, was previously a social studies teacher, and he can envision students having to deal with such issues. “As a teacher, I’m sure there were consequences that students had that I didn’t even know about,” he said.

However, some school staff believe that teachers should be fairly familiar with the rules and how to enforce them. Patty McDonagh, attendance clerk, said, “Teachers have many meetings at the start of the school year and monthly thereafter.” One example of a policy that teachers are consistently reminded of is the attendance rules. “The attendance policy is reviewed by building admin and teacher leaders so everyone

the rules in the handbook and decide which ones are the most applicable to everyday operations,” Overbo said. By doing so, the handbook would be more readable, and thus accessible, to more of the student body.

The process of changing the rules, however, is tedious because it takes a long time to do so, and the alterations must be approved by different people. “You start at a government level,” Hinseth said. “From there you go to the school board, who sets certain policies which all schools must be consistent with. They are also not usually specific. Then [Mounds View] takes its own interpretation of those.”

is aware. An attendance document is also available online for our staff.”

Hinseth fully acknowledges the issue of students and staff being unaware of the rules. “How it’s carried out and what the consciences are for that, I’m sure it’s not very public, so that’s something we want to work on as a school,” he said. “I definitely think we can make improvements…we can always make improvements.”

“I definitely think we can make improvements. We can always make improvements.”

Alex Hinseth, administrative intern

In fact, Ben Chiri, associate principal, said that the school is already working on making the rules more transparent to students. “We are revisiting these policies over the changes last year, going into this year,” he said.

Some students believe simplifying the regulations in the handbook could boost general knowledge about the rules for students. “A quick fix would be to review

Rule enforcement

by Michael Wang staff reporter To enforce rules, teachers and administrators must impose punishments for students who violate guidelines. These punishments range from detention to the To Reevaluate Yourself (TRY) assignment. However, because of varying strictness in enforcement, students can grow frustrated at the inconsistency.

To deter students from breaking school policy, staff enact certain policies. Yet, students have become concerned over recent incidents, where many students have to deal with consequences of others’ actions. One example of this is the frequently locked bathrooms.

“I think it’s unreasonable for people to be locking the bathrooms and restricting times when people can go to the bathroom,” said Ashley Truong, 12. Some students may feel that such rules at Mounds View have become more of a hindrance than an advantage.

In addition to this, teachers across Mounds View have varying degrees of strictness. According to Ben Chiri, associate principal, teachers operate on a “fixedand-flex” policy, where they have certain rules that they must abide by, but have more freedom in handling things such as device usage and tardies.

Administrators acknowledge the difficulties this

flexibility could cause students. “The current state of affairs, we need to improve upon,” said Alex Hinseth, administrative intern. “It’s good to have flexibility, but it should be within some sort of structure.” He adds that these rules are revisited every year to make sure that the school continues to maintain student success and safety.

“I think it’s unreasonable for people to be locking the bathrooms and restricting times when people can go to the bathroom.”

Ashley Truong, 12

Newer developments have also contributed to these problems at Mounds View. Many unprecedented developments such as distance learning due to the

COVID-19 pandemic have led to a new normal.

“This year has presented a lot of challenges,” Hinseth said. “For a student who was last in school in middle school, and is not in high school, it takes some getting used to.” As the underclassmen transitioned to both high school and in-person school, they needed to overcome more obstacles than usual.

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Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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student handbook Tardies and absences

by Tyler Quattrin staff reporter Pages six through eight of Mounds View’s student handbook dive deep into everything involving attendance, such as reporting an absence, pre-arranged absences, unexcused absences and verification of absences and tardies.

Alex Hinseth, administrative intern, explains that there are two different categories of attendance policy violations. The first is truancy, which is when the student frequently misses a lot of school. If a student does not show up to class a certain number of times, then Mounds View can send that information to Ramsey County. From there, the student may be taken to court because, by law, students are required

to go to school.

There is also the issue of occasionally skipping and missing class. After teachers report recurring tardies and absences to administration, faculty will have a conference with students to decide the consequences most appropriate for the situation.

The student handbook outlines a clear, four-step tardy process that involves teacher-student communication, contacting parents or detention if a student has five or more tardies per course. Both students and staff are expected to be aware of this policy.

However, some students still find it difficult to understand the details of certain attendance rules.

“If you’re like, a second late to class, then they will immediately count you as tardy,” said Brynn Entner, 10. “Sometimes there are reasons why we’re late to class and we don’t even get a chance to explain.”

Students are often frustrated by seemingly unreasonable punishments.

know if students realize that, as they are surprised when they are marked absent.”

Again, the general guidelines regarding the attendance policy can be found in the handbook. Many find that clearer communication between students and staff can help establish better understanding of these rules.

“Sometimes we’re late to class and we don’t even get a chance to explain. ” Brynn Entner, 10 Patty McDonagh, attendance clerk, manages attendance records, so she has encountered many students who are unaware of the specific rules regarding late arrivals to class. “If you are more than 10 minutes late into a class without an excused pass, it is no longer a tardy. It is an absence,” she said. “I don’t

Dress code

by Poppy Robertson staff reporter

against the dress code goes against the school’s whole response to COVID,” said Samuel Notch, 11.

“Having [masks] against the dress code goes against the school’s whole response to COVID. ” Samuel Notch, 11

However, administrative intern Alex Hinseth explains that that aspect of the handbook has not been updated since the COVID-19 pandemic because the mask guidance is only temporary. “This is a temporary measure and it kind of goes ahead of [the student handbook] for now,” he said. “Guidance for what masks are acceptable from the COVID perspective… can be found on the school’s website.”

By following the dress code and checking more recent guidelines, students can contribute to creating a positive academic environment.

illustrations by Iris Ren

Dress codes in school settings can give rise to many questions among students about what they are allowed to wear at school. What is actually considered respectful to wear? When do certain items of clothing violate the dress code? At Mounds View High School, the student handbook may be the closest resource students have to answer these questions.

Many students believe that Mounds View’s dress code is lenient compared to other schools. “Mounds View’s dress code is super chill,” said Ben Branco, 10. “There’s a stigma about dress codes being gender biased, but I think that everybody can express themselves in an educational setting just fine.”

Whereas former dress code policies included regulations on sleeves, length of skirts or shorts,

among others, the current handbook is much broader.

The most notable bans are on vulgar, discriminatory, or unsafe clothing and accessories. Other than those, the handbook states that “Mounds View reserves the right to address any behavior or dress that are not appropriate or causing a distraction.”

However, certain aspects of the dress code do not seem to be updated to reflect current times. The handbook explicitly states that students should not wear items that make them unidentifiable, including masks. This does not incorporate Mounds View’s current COVID-19 safety regulations. “Having [masks]

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editorials

Bias in the courts

by Junha Yoo editorials editor

On Nov. 19, Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges by the jury in the Kenosha County Circuit Court. Rittenhouse was charged with five counts of first degree murder, after shooting two men and injuring another on Aug. 25, 2020, during a protest against the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The ruling in itself was highly controversial, but the clear bias shown by the court on such a high-profile case was also notable.

Regardless of whether Rittenhouse is truly innocent or guilty, Judge Bruce Schroeder’s blatant disregard of court standards reflect the shortcomings of the U.S. judicial system.

When judges are sworn into office, they take an oath of impartiality. However, Schroeder demonstrated his clear bias in favor of Rittenhouse in many circumstances. The judge banned the use of the word “victim” to describe those who were injured or killed in the incident because he stated that because of presumption of innocence, “victim” was a “loaded word.” However, he permitted

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“Some findings show that trial court judges ‘rely extensively on intuition, more than deliberative judging, in deciding matters before the bench.’ This provides more opportunities for the judges to apply their implicit biases to the matters at hand.”

-University of Conneticut School of Law

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

the use of descriptors such as “looter,” “arsonist” and “rioters,” despite the fact that none of the victims were tried as such. Schroeder also argued with the prosecution throughout the case, at one point questioning the reliability of the evidence presented by making an unfounded speculation about whether zooming in on an iPad video altered the video using logarithms.

Although not directly related to the court case, Schroeder began reading a cookie catalog during a recess. He also allowed his phone, with former president Donald Trump’s campaign song as a ringtone, to ring during the case. Aside from indicating the potential influence of a political prejudice, the unprofessionalism displayed in these moments was inconsiderate to those involved in the trial, especially for those who have lost loved ones.

Schroeder’s blatant bias reflects a larger issue of the reliability of a court system where favoritism is so prevalent. According to the University of Connecticut School of Law, “Some findings show that trial court judges ‘rely extensively on intuition, more than deliberative judging, in deciding matters before the bench.’

This provides more opportunities for the judges to apply their implicit biases to the matters at hand.” Because a majority of judges are white males, the court system disproportionately reflects the perspective of a single demographic and therefore cannot fully account for the socioeconomic backgrounds of those on trial.

As a result, they may not consider the discrimination or hardships individuals have faced when making their decision, which reinforces institutional discrimination.

Ultimately, a court system that leaves room for implicit bias is an inherently unjust one.

Preconceived notions are prevalent in the jury as well. The jury is randomly selected by registered voters and people with driver’s licenses. Then, both lawyers are allowed to ask jurors questions and excuse those that demonstrate potential biases. While the court accounts for explicit bias, implicit bias remains undetected. According to a study done by Duke University, “the application of criminal justice is ‘highly uneven’...because conviction rates vary substantially with random

variation in the racial composition of the jury pool.” It is concerning to consider the subconscious preconceptions that have influenced many court cases because of the lack of diversity. Some argue that because rulings reflect the attitudes of the American people, the system is not necessarily flawed. However, because members of the jury could have prejudices, the courts uphold these biases. Furthermore, during the case, the jury may form a leading verdict, where the jury makes a decision early on in the case and focuses only on evidence that supports their beliefs. The prejudices of society should not taint the courts; instead, the courts should hold a moral high ground that supports the basic human rights and Constitution it has sworn to protect.

Court cases can determine the shape of one’s life, and as a result, should be handled without malice or prejudice. The current state of the U.S. judicial system poses a threat to the liberties and freedoms of the American people because there is room to deprive people of their unalienable rights. It is important to recognize the shortcomings of the courts and hold people accountable for their actions in order to create a more equitable society.

illustrations by Iris Ren

Marijuana legalization

created more than 18,000 jobs and increased economic activity by more than $2.4 billion, according to The Washington Post. Stimulating economic growth is especially important in the context of COVID-19, as the U.S. strives to return to normalcy.

Additionally, criminalization of the drug has deep roots in racism, and has been used to disproportionately discriminate against people of color through media perception and incarceration. It is not ethical or justifiable to continue intolerance for the drug if it leads to the marginalization of an already disadvantaged group. Decriminalization is just a small step to recompense for the harm done to minorities, but it is a necessary step to begin helping minority communities and combating institutional racism.

by Nick Zwiener staff reporter

Since the marijuana ban of 1937, legalization of the drug has become a highly debated topic as its popularity has increased. Recently, as more research about the benefits, risks and history of marijuana has become available, more states have legalized its use. Currently, Minnesota is one of 36 states that allows marijuana for medical use. It is also pending approval of a bill that could allow recreational use in the state. Stigma around the drug has led to misinformation and improper legislation that has had detrimental impacts among citizens. As a result, recreational use of marijuana should be federally legalized for those 21 years of age or above because of its minimal level of harm, the economic benefits and social influence.

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Studies have shown that light use of marijuana does not significantly affect the brain for people ages 18 to 21.”

Studies have shown that light use of marijuana does not significantly affect the brain for people ages 18 to 21. Although the brain does not stop developing until the age of 25, marijuana does not interact with all parts of the brain when inhaled. When consumed, marijuana only interacts with the frontal cortex, responsible for cognitive functions, as well as the cerebellum, responsible for balance, coordination and reaction time. According to the University of Rochester’s medical center, a person’s cognitive functions, which are responsible for short- term memory and reasoning, are fully developed

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Criminalization of the drug has deep roots in racism, and has been used to disproportionately discriminate against people of color...”

by age 18. It is important to realize that with proper regulation and education, it is possible to avoid cannabis abuse and Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), which can lead to bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and psychosis.

From an economic perspective, legalizing marijuana will have wide spread beneficial effects such as opening up jobs, increasing economic activity and bringing in tax revenue. The industry will have beneficial impacts across the supply chain, from new health-focused companies to increased manufacturing. The additional tax revenue from marijuana could also be used in the future to help low income families and build cities.

For instance, legalization of marijuana in Colorado in 2015

The minimal level of harm and potential economic and social benefits make it clear that marijuana should be legalized, and the government should release people who are currently incarcerated or have marijuana charges against them.

Similar to alcohol and cigarettes, individuals above a certain age limit, 21 in this case, should have the choice to use marijuana at their own discretion.

Arts & Entertainment

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Churchill Street

by Ariana Eschenbacher staff reporter

Churchill Street is a new restaurant in Shoreview, aptly named for its location on Churchill St. The owner, Carly Gatzlaff, has dreamed of opening a restaurant since she was child, and her dream finally came true as her restaurant was made to be a welcoming spot for family and friends in the heart of Shoreview.

Walking in, I noticed how the layout of the restaurant is very open, which normally causes some issues of sound traveling. However, at Churchill, other people’s noise sounded more like friendly chattering than a rowdy disturbance. The set up and presentation of the building is very homey and clean, as the interior design has a good mix of modern and rustic design.

I went to Churchill on a late Saturday morning, a busy time when every table was full. In spite of this, the wait time felt like nothing at all; it was at most 5 minutes. The service was amazing, and the workers were more than willing to start friendly conversations. I felt welcomed from the moment I stepped in. I noticed the workers making positive remarks to almost every customer. For example, they complimented my jewelry.

After the honey biscuit, the others and I ordered a breakfast sandwich. Unfortunately, the bread was extremely burnt and very difficult to swallow. Other than that, the hint of lemon with the aioli sauce and fresh arugula saved the sandwich. Aside from the bread, it was still very tasteful.

Another dish I tried was the breakfast burrito. Between my friends and I, this was the favorite dish we ate. The burrito had a bold but harmonious combination of flavors. The eggs and potatoes provided a rich, filling base, and the onions, peppers and breakfast sausage complemented the other components well.

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register and pay. This eliminates wait time for waiters to serve people and hand out bills while the customer is seated.

Ingredients, quantity, quality and service all add up in price, but at everything Churchill spans from around $2.50 to $16, which is reasonable considering the fact that they did not require a tip or even provide an opportunity to give one.

Overall, with the interior design, the amazing staff and service, the delicious food and affordable price, I would definitely recommend it to people in search of a casual dining experience.

photos courtesy of Ariana Eschenbacher

For the meal, my friends and I first started with drinks. The restaurant has a variety of different beverages and add-ins, such as sweetener and milk. We decided on a chai latte, cinnamon cappuccino and a normal cappuccino. The chai latte was delicious, and I could taste the chai without it being too overpowering. However, the coffee in the cappuccinos was very strong.

Second, we ordered a honey biscuit.The texture was creamy, fluffy, buttery and soft. Nothing about it was bland, and the flavors made it a good start to a meal.

Finally, I ordered the sweet potato hash. Once again, the dish was very flavorful and had a beautiful presentation. The piquancy of the sweet potato hash is very different from other potato based meals I have eaten before. It was a perfect mix of sweet and savory with a dash of lemon to bring out the delicious taste. In addition, there was a perfectly cooked over-easy egg on the top. Similar to the breakfast sandwich, the potato hash came with a slice of bread that was overly toasted.

Overall, the proportions of the food was great. The meal was just enough for us to feel full without being uncomfortably stuffed. The presentation was clean and looked appetizing. It was not too extravagant, and it fit the homey ambience of Churchill very well.

One aspect of Churchill that distinguishes it from other restaurants was the ordering process. First, the staff shows the customer to a table and hands them a menu. When they are ready to order, they go up to the

Verdict:

5/5

The world of “Entrelazados”

by Bria Farmer staff reporter

Although Disney makes most of its movies and shows in Hollywood, Disney+ recently added more shows produced outside the U.S. They released “Entrelazados,” which translates from Spanish to “intertwined,” an Argentinian series filled with drama and mystery produced by Pampa films and Gloriamundi Producciones.

The plot centers on Allegra, who wants to act in a “Freaky Friday” musical, but her mother, Caterina, will not allow her to try out for the production. Allegra then finds a bracelet that brings her back in time to 1994, where she joins the cast of the “Freaky Friday’’ musical, makes friends with her mom and finds love. Allegra then explores the fascinating mystery of the relationship between her mom and grandmother and improves her relationship with her mother. The intriguing characters and time travel aspect keep the plotline moving.

“Entrelazados” is one of many projects that feature a strained relationship between a parent and child.

Occasionally, the characters in this show compare their relationship troubles with their parents to those in “Freaky Friday,” but thankfully, they do not overuse this comparison. However, the troubled parent-child relationship trope in “Entrelazados” does not feel original, as it has been used in other shows and films as well.

On the bright side, the two generations of poor motherdaughter relationships gave some originality to the plot.

In addition, well-rounded characters drive the

show. Each character comes with their own motivations, even the minor roles. All the different characters’ desires create a complex, engaging plot. For example, the love triangle in the show pushes all the characters involved to act according to their emotions.

One critique about the show is that it does not explain important details about time travel well. Viewers are left to figure out the exact logistics about the two timelines themselves. For example, Allegra does not return the romantic advances from her neighbor because she fell in love with Marco in the past. In 1994, they are both teenagers, but in the present time, Marco would be the same age as Allegra’s mom. This age gap in their relationship made me uncomfortable, but the show doesn’t address this problem.

Furthermore, “Entrelazados” does not reveal how Allegra could change the past until later in the season.

The show only explains that every time Allegra jumps timelines, a band disappears from her bracelet. The limited number of bands serves as a countdown to the number of trips into the past.

However, even without details on the logistics, the plotlines in the past interest me because of the drama and mysteries. Allegra investigates these same mysteries in both the past and present. Although the middle of the series failed to focus on the plotline in the present, which made me forget some of the characters, the past and present timelines flowed well with each other throughout the story. I enjoyed finding out how some of the characters changed in the 20 years between the past

and present. The last of the ten episodes ends with another character wearing the bracelet, an intriguing hook for a second season.

As “Entrelazados” is a Spanish-language show, I would recommend this show to any intermediate language learners. I found the dialogue mostly understandable, especially with the Spanish subtitles. If viewers are not that advanced in Spanish yet, I would recommend the English captions over the dub because the emotions of the dubbed voices did not match the character’s expressions.

Overall, because of the intriguing plot, teenage drama and complex characters, I became invested in this show and will look forward to a second season of “Entrelazados.”

Verdict:

4/5

08

Sports

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Mounds View ping pong team

by Lale Baylar staff reporter

From challenging each other in the Chippewa Middle School gym to discussing strategies over carboloads, the student-led Mounds View ping pong team works together to improve ping pong skills and build a close community. They hold two hour practices every Friday and organize scrimmages with other schools in order to get ready to compete.

Joshua Lange, 12, one of the team’s captains, elaborates on the matches they attend. “For big competitions, there is really only the state tournament in February, which is where a lot of different high schools, such as Edina and Wayzata, compete. But, throughout the year, we will have some scrimmages,” Lange said.

They start with practice matches in the beginning of the season and focus on practicing techniques and skills, such as playing as doubles, to help fine tune each player’s capabilities.

According to Kevin Xiong, 12, another captain, during each practice, the team starts with warmups and by doing different drills. Afterward, they play practice matches to improve their table tennis skills and challenge matches to compete against other players. “Challenge matches are used to determine the lineup of the strongest players and to take spots on the roster,” Xiong said. He states that members of the team challenge each other to earn one of the ten singles and five doubles spots for competitions.

Many of the players joined the team to spend time

with friends and people who have similar interests. “I wanted to join the team because many of my upperclassmen [friends] were in table tennis,” Xiong said.

He mentions that he already played ping pong in his spare time, and he would be able to socialize with others on the team.

Similarly, Lange joined the team because it sounded like an enjoyable time. “Ping pong has always been something that I have played at home with my parents

ter every point was really hype, and having a team that supports you when you’re playing is also a great feeling,” Xiong said.

In addition to the team spirit aspect, Mounds View’s success was another highlight. “The first year that I played the full year, we went to the state tournament and we got third place in the state,” Lange said.

Both captains hope to recreate the fun environment for their team this season. “The biggest goal for the team is just for a lot of new players to have a really good time, like just have them show up and have them enjoy ping pong and have a sport that they really like to participate in,” Lange said. “I think that for some of the more experienced players, just [help them] get more match experience.”

With their goals in mind, captains and members are ultimately preparing for their upcoming state competition in February. During that time period, they “practice like usual, but we play more practice matches and scrimmages,” Xiong said. “We also typically have a carboload the day before tournaments for more team bonding and last-minute advice, etc.” He explained that the increased number of practice matches and photo courtesy of Joshua Lange scrimmages help get the team in competition mode.

Through the ongoing season, the ping pong team and has been something that I thought was pretty fun,” looks forward to having a fun time with each other and Lange said. Since he knew a few members of the ping learning new skills to apply in tournaments. pong team at the time, he decided to join as well.

Both captains recall the state tournament as one of their favorite memories. “Cheering for teammates af-

MV bowlers have talent to spare

by Terry Thao staff reporter

photos by Tom Bondhus

First five students to finish both puzzles and DM @mvviewer on Instagram win free coffee from Mustang Mocha!

9 3 1 8 5 5 6

5 6 4 7 3 8 4 1 1 7 6 9 7 2 3 4 2 1

2 4

Puzzle puzzlebybywebsudoku.com websudoku.com

While most people’s bowling experience consists of going to a bowling alley over the weekend with family and friends for entertainment, the Mounds View bowling team takes the sport to another level. By fine tuning their skills and working together as a team, five players bowled their way to ninth place at the state competition early December.

Tournament-style matches determine the rankings of bowling teams in the conference. Athletes face off against other schools in their conference by playing five games, and the rankings are determined based on cumulative score. The top six in the conference compete as a team against the top six of another conference team. This process is repeated until all the bowling teams in the conference are ranked. Qualifications for the conference are based on fill percentage—or how many total pins a bowler has left standing after two balls per season.

While Mounds View bowlers Connor Peterson, Lex Jahnsen, Ryan Mauer, Nathan Swanson and Vince Bondhus, who are all seniors, performed strongly as a team, these athletes have individual accomplishments as well. Swanson and Bondhus received All-Conference Honors, which means both bowlers placed in the top six in their conference. Bondhus has also been named to

the first team for the All-State team and finished third among other Minnesotan high schoolers.

Even with his successes, Bondhus has more ambitious plans for upcoming competitions. “My goals for the future are to win my first tournament and bowl an 800 series,” Bondhus said. Bowling an 800 series is one of the toughest things to do in the sport, because one must score 800 points in three games. Since a perfect game of bowling is 300 points, an athlete must average 267 points or higher per game.

The bowling performance has to be nearly perfect in order to achieve this goal. There are fundamental aspects to be aware of when bowling, such as oil patterns, revolution, release technique, ball speed and approaching the lane. Mounds View bowlers enjoy trying to master these principles. “I like bowling because every time you bowl you always learn something new and there’s always something to improve on,” Bondhus said. With each game, there is always an opportunity to work on their skills.

Winning together as a team is also one of the best parts of the sport.“I just like the challenge of throwing a great shot every time,” Swanson said. “ We have a competition all the time, trying to beat each other, so it’s just fun to do it with friends.”

Just from examining their past season, the Mounds View bowling team is successful at competitive bowling. From making state to placing in the top ten, both the team and the individual athletes have a lot to celebrate.

puzzle by puzzlopolis.com

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Artist & Athlete of THE ISSUe

Artist of the issue

became more contemplative and critical. I feel like I really came into my own during the pandemic, however, when the feelings of loneliness and futility drove me to write some of my best work.

Q: Do you have a writing process?

photos courtesy of Connor Pedorson

Connor Pederson Pederson (12) enjoys writing poetry.

Q: When did you start writing poetry?

A: I first dabbled with poetry when I was nine or ten, but it wasn’t until middle school that I really took it seriously. During the seemingly endless standardized testing season, I had a lot of free time and was only allowed to have paper and a pencil in the testing rooms—ergo, I fiddled around with what to write for a while and ended up writing poems to keep myself occupied.

Q: What do you usually write about?

A: At first, my poems were long stories, usually historical epics that explored dignity, humility, and humanity. As I got older, however, I started using my work as an outlet, and the subject matter

A: Short answer: no. I’ll usually start with a specific line or verse in my head, then structure the poem’s rhyme scheme and rhythm around that.

I’ve historically preferred four-line stanzas in an ABCB rhyme scheme, but recently I’ve started experimenting with different lengths, rhythms, and so on - it really depends on what I’m trying to say.

The Clock

The brazen Sun beats back the timid Moon, Then slips asunder past the Earthlings’ Goon.

Returned whence Tomorrow hails His climb, To wind the ever-ticking clock of Time.

Q: Which poet(s) inspired you the most?

A: Probably Robert Frost. He was my first real exposure to poetry, and I always found his work really meaningful. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve taken inspiration from Shakespeare, Poe, Burns, and Byron, among others.

Q: What do you love about poetry?

09

them and how they can have entirely different meanings based on the context. Poetry carries a sort of power when it comes to communication; it allows me to say things I could never say out loud, even if I’m the only one who knows what I meant.

Fallow Fields To gaze upon the fallow fields, Composing in Mind’s Eye, The joyous celebrations here Partook in days gone by.

Once gentle sun and weather fair And raucous laughter round, The forborne spirits wander still Upon this hallowed ground.

That life, forgotten long ago, Those memories of the past, “Tomorrows” turned to “Yesterdays,” And youthful hope surpassed.

No longer dreaming Freedom’s dream, The mythos can’t enthrall, To rise above the stupor seems The greatest crime of all.

A: I love words, especially the interplay between

Athlete of the issue

how many majors they have to choose from because I’m not fully sure on what I want to do yet.

Q: What is the biggest thing that lacrosse has taught you?

A: The value of a team. When I joined high school lacrosse everyone was so welcoming and supporting. My team would always encourage me to get better and lift me up when I’m down.

Raegan Valois

Valois (12) will be playing lacrosse for University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire next year.

Q: When did you start playing lacrosse?

A: I started playing lacrosse in 7th grade.

Q: What position do you play?

A: I usually play midfield but sometimes I will get moved to attack.

Q: How do you manage to play multiple sports and keep up with school?

A: I manage to keep up with my school work by not taking too many hard classes but just enough to push me. I also try to finish my homework with any available time I have.

Q: How many hours a week do you play?

Q: Why did you decide to commit to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire?

A: It depends on the time of year but when in season I practice 12 hours a week.

A: I decided to commit to Eau Claire because I love how open and green the campus is and like

photos courtesy of Raegan Volais