MV Viewer 2016-2017 Issue 5

THE VIEWER

VOLUME 64 ISSUE 5 | JANUARY 23, 2017 Maya Gebeily @GebeilyM

There is no total number of casualties in Besieged #BREAKING: Agreement reached for evacuation of civilians & rebels w/light weapons from east #Aleppo, rebel officials tells @AFP

The White Helmets @SyriaCivilDef

The Fall of Aleppo

199

There is no total number of casualties in Besieged #Aleppo today, all streets &destroyed buildings are full with dead bodies. It’s hell.

105

6:11 PM - 12 Dec 2016

Zouhir_Alshimale @ZouhirAlShimale

A LOOK INSIDE THE CONFLICT

#Aleppo yesterday & over the past months that 10,688 draw us to die or on the edfe of every minute. #SOS3437 6:11 PM - 12 Dec 2016 #SaveAleppo Bana Alabed @AlabedBana

208

Dear @MevlutCavusoglu & @rt_erdogan please please please make this ceasefire work and get Monther Etaky us out now. We are so tired.

-Fatemah #Aleppo @montheretaky

96

1:57 AM - 13 Dec 2016

3,013

@Mr. Alhamdo

I would like to thank all the humans whose stood for the humanity with our case, i will never forget you if we passed to the other life

5,658

8:19 AM - 18 Dec 2016

@Mr_Alhamdo

I can tweet now but I might not do it forever.

615 please 816 save my daughter’s life and others. this is6:a54 PMcall - 12 Dec 2016 from a father.

Minca

@minca40218520

I’m so sorry the world has failed you #Aleppo 1,761

2,194

1:28 PM - 12 Dec 2016

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 22

34

1:28 PM - 12 Dec 2016

JEFFREY HU 03/ 2016 TRENDS 08/ VIEWETTES 11

2

News

Education Rising

by Aman Rao staff reporter At Mounds View High School, education is considered to be a basic factor of an individual’s future. As students start to realize the importance of their education, they become more willing to take harder classes in order to succeed. However, a rising number of young adults are not considering a career in the field of education. As a result, staff have been focusing on how to help students understand the true feel for a job in the education field. A chapter of Education Rising has started at Mounds View to accomplish this task.

Education Rising is a nationally recognized club designed to help students find education careers that interest them. The club consists of many volunteer opportunities to help younger students and holds many competitions around the world. These competitions include real-life scenarios where students

2016-2017

Viewer Editors Editor-in-Chief

Kailey Newcome

Managing Editor - Copy

Amber Zhao

Managing Editor - Online

Daniel Yong

solve problems to better understand education.

The founder of the club at Mounds View, English teacher Mikayla Meyer, started the club because of the number of students who, she believes, take education for granted. “Students are willing to take hard classes and put in the stressful hours to succeed in that class, but students repel at the idea of repetitively teaching the same subject,” said Meyer.

Students also acknowledge this negative outlook on teaching. “Teaching can be looked at in a negative view by many students, because of the repetition of teaching the same thing over and over again to students who, a lot of the time don’t pay attention. This in my opinion is why a lot of people look at education negatively,” said Ben Jepko, 11.

Other students see teachers as a caring mentor, helping kids learn and grow.

“Teachers are always there to

Monday, January 23, 2017

guide us, and without them, I would not be...ready to move forward with life,” said Sajel Dutt, 12.

Meyer believes that this club is vital for the forthcoming generation. “Teachers are there to help foster a student’s educational growth, and shape the student for the future. Without teachers, further education will no longer exist. It is the building block to a new society,” she said.

Meyer points to the success of Hamline University’s Education Rising program, which has offered scholarships to help promote an education-based atmosphere for students who are willing to pursue education as a career path. Mounds View has just started the program and plans to expand the program to make it a good learning experience for all students.

Students are welcome to stop by Education Rising meetings held in room 125 after school every other Monday.

Students study in the Information & Learning Center.

photo by Sunny Lim

New year, new library

Business Manager

Rigney Cunningham Front Cover

Amber Zhao News

Sunny Lim Features

Kallie Slotvig

Editorials

Benjamin Davis Jake Rosenow

center fold

Daniel Yong

what’s trending

The new Shoreview library will open Jan. 28.

arts & entertainment

by Zoe Lindberg staff reporter After being closed since Nov. 23, 2016, the Shoreview library will reopen in its new building on Jan. 28, 2017.

The library’s new home, located at 4560 Victoria St. N. in Shoreview, is next door to the old building. An official ribboncutting ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. to celebrate the opening of the new building.

Mounds View High School’s chamber orchestra will be performing during the event in the library’s new cozy fireplace area. In addition, 3D printing, portrait painting and ice carving demonstrations will take place. A detailed schedule of events can be found on the library’s website.

This building project was made possible by a $806,500 State Library Construction grant. This grant was designed to help public libraries fund renovation, construction and improvement projects. In the case of the Shoreview library, expanding and renovating the existing building proved to be more costly than building a

Samuel Kwong

Rigney Cunningham

Good question

Marley Jones Sports

Jackie Gaworski back cover

Kailey Newcome Photographers/Artists

Samuel Kwong Marley Jones Adviser

David Ostrom Staff Toni Baraga, Jaden Blomberg, Cassandra Downs, Sanjana Dutt, Elly Gustafson, Shannon Haffely, Ameni Hajji, Haley Keeney, Lauren Lafaye, Zoe Lindberg, Mitchell Mattison, Riley McCorkell, Jack McKoy, Christina Mehrkens, Emily Meyer, Joe Pasdo, Mihaela Pinzari, Aman Rao, Parker Ruedy, Ethan Stromquist, Olivia Stuart, Sarah Tang, Ada Joy, Carysse Villar, Michelle Wang, Felix Zhang, Diana Zhu

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

photo by Sunny Lim

new one. “We had always wished to be closer to Highway 96 for greater visibility. When property became available, we planned to build in the new location,” said Carol Jackson, Shoreview Library Branch Manager. The old library building is set to hold new administrative offices for the district.

For students, the new library will offer many new and improved resources.

The new 38,000 square-foot facility has added more than $50,000 worth of new materials including a larger teen area, community room and children’s section.

Jackson is especially excited to introduce a new teen librarian, Paige Fuller. This is the first time the library will have a librarian dedicated to teens and teen programming. “He’s super excited to get started at Shoreview, and we’re so excited to have him,” said Jackson.

Many Mounds View students have been waiting to see and use the new library study spaces and check out books and movies. “I’m really excited to use [the library] again because it’s really close to my house. I love checking out CDs and

movies,” said Amira Bushagour, 11.

Morgan Dahl, 9, is planning to use the library as a place to study. “I’m most excited for the study space because the old one didn’t have that much. [I’ll] go to the new library if I need a quiet place to study,” said Dahl.

Nandini Avula, 11, agrees that the library can be a great place to get homework done. “The library helps me with my school work especially when I have a research project due or need a place to study,” said Avula.

On the other hand, some students won’t be affected by the opening of the new library. “I don’t care about the new library opening because I have all the resources I need to do school work at home,” said Angela Kim, 12.

The new Shoreview library is prepared to offer a fantastic selection of books, movies, CDs, video games and innovative technology. With an expanded study space and teen area, the library is sure to be a great place for students to get work done and explore new materials.

features 3

Monday, January 23, 2017

Jeffrey Hu at Stanford U

by Sarah Tang staff reporter

While most juniors are worried about their grades and tests scores, Jeffrey Hu, 11, has already gotten into his dream school: Stanford University.

During this past summer, Hu visited Stanford, where the mix of sunny weather, friendly atmosphere and the proximity to Silicon Valley motivated him to pursue his academic goals. He exemplifies the fact that through hard work and determination, dreams can be achieved. By taking online courses, multiple classes during the summer and as many classes as possible during the school year, Hu has managed to complete all of his credits in just three years.

The summer before freshman year, Hu sat down and typed out his plan to graduate in just three years. He ultimately took 12 AP courses, allowing him to fulfill his dreams. “Well, it was my goal to get into a good college because I saw so many of the people I had admired put 200 percent of their effort in and achieved their dreams,” said Hu.

Hu manages to balance homework, extracurriculars and relaxation day to day. His typical routine includes extracurriculars

after school, relaxation before dinner, homework until 9 p.m. and working on projects for clubs such as Science Olympiad for one to two hours. His amount of sleep differs depending on the

the amount of work he has to do and upcoming competitions, but Hu usually functions on five to six hours of sleep.

Science Olympiad has been part of Hu’s life for four years now. He specializes in building events and has gotten 15 gold and 36 medals in total.

Last year, he won first place in electric vehicle at the national tournament last May. However, making time to take several courses a year comes with its downfalls, “I missed out on having some fun with friends,” admitted Hu, “So that’s a regret I have.”

Throughout Hu’s path to graduation, people have always been there to support him.“My parents have always been really encouraging and my dean has always been open and supportive, and having my friends there is always nice,” said Hu. Sacrifices and hard work are vital for people to achieve their goals. Hu advises students aspiring towards their dream to make a daily schedule, pursue their interests, and dedicate themselves.

photo courtesy of Jeffrey Hu illustration by Kallie Slotvig

Ballet in the blood Junior takes on Nutcracker

by Joe Pasdo staff reporter

Ingrid with friend Annika Knutson before performing the Nutcracker

Ingrid practicing at her studio in Minneapolis photos courtesy of Ingrid Sampson

This past December, Ingrid Sampson, 11, a ballerina who dances for the Minnesota Dance Theater and School company, performed for a very large audience at the annual Nutcracker performance at the State Theater in downtown Minneapolis.

In order to be accepted into the Nutcracker, a dancer either has to audition, or in Sampson’s case, learn every part so they can be put into the performance wherever the artistic director needs them.

“Sometimes you get thrown into a spot during intermission of a show and you are expected to know it perfectly,” said Sampson.

“Learning the choreography takes months to perfect.”

The Nutcracker has been a tradition in Minnesota for 52 years and is held in the extravagant State Theater, which can seat around 3,000 people. The show includes over 100 dancers who impress and enchant the audience.

Sampson started dancing when she was just two or three years old and has loved it ever since. “I dance because it’s fun, rewarding and it gives me something to constantly perfect,” said Sampson. “Not to mention it takes my mind off of stressful things like school.”

To prepare for a show like this, Sampson practices seven days a week for two-and-ahalf to three hours each day. However, all this dancing doesn’t come without sacrifice. Sampson has a severe chronic stress fracture in her lower back, so many times she has to dance through pain. “It makes me a stronger dancer,” says Sampson. “I now know it is not worth [doing something] if it will put your health at risk.”

The routine for the Nutcracker takes around a week to learn, then the choreographer needs to place it and make changes accordingly. Finally, each dancer must master the choreography which takes months to accomplish.

This is a painstaking process because each detail needs to be flawless.

The week before the show, dancers practice at the theater to become familiar with the stage and scene changes. During this process, the crew works out the lighting and special effects and makes sure there are no problems.

On Dec. 16, opening night, all the hardwork and dedication that Sampson put in paid off in a spectacular performance that wowed the audience. “The Nutcracker was amazing!” said Sampson.“The shows sold out almost every single night.” illustrations by Samuel Kwong

4

editorials

Monday, January 23, 2017

‘Putin’ the country at risk

by Jack McCoy staff reporter

The relationship between president-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin should be highly concerning for all Americans.

The current government of Russia, led

by Putin, has some very frightening goals and should not be an ally of the United States.

Over the past few months, more and more details of Trump’s ties with Russia and Putin have surfaced. It seems that as more information gets revealed, the more worrying the relationship becomes.

Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump was criticized for his ties with Russia and Putin, and Hillary Clinton often went after them. She even claimed that Trump would be nothing more than Putin’s “puppet” while in office. At first, this claim seemed like a stretch, but since the election, Trump has continuously demonstrated since being elected president that this claim is a real possibility, through both his choices for his cabinet and his consistent defense of Russia after they were revealed to have meddled with our election.

Unfortunately, Trump’s friendly relationship with Putin dates back further than just the last few months. In March of 2014, Trump first revealed his liking for Putin after tweeting, “Putin has become a big hero in Russia with an all-time popularity. Obama, on the other hand, has fallen to his lowest ever numbers. SAD.”

One of the most troubling developments in this relationship came when Trump picked ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State. Tillerson has proven to have close ties with Putin and has spent years working in Russia and the Middle East on behalf of ExxonMobil. Trump’s choice underwent great scrutiny, even from fellow Republicans in Congress.

Despite this, Tillerson took part in a hearing to be the next Secretary of State on January 11, and labeled Russia as “a danger.” Nevertheless, many members of Congress still adamantly oppose him. If Trump wants his Secretary of State to have close ties with Putin, he is clearly being influenced by the Russian president in choosing Tillerson.

More recently in this chain of events, Russia was revealed to have been involved in a hacking of the United States election results, an act allegedly approved by Putin. In response, the the United States, lead by the Obama administration, imposed sanctions on Russia. The U.S. sanctioned four Russian individuals and five Russian entities for election interference.

The Obama administration also ordered 35 Russian diplomats to leave the country and two Russian compounds are being closed. The biggest outcome of the sanctions was blacklisting those involved with the hacking, including a close aide of Putin. Trump, of course, did not approve of the sanctions, but in fact, praised Russia and Putin for refusing to retaliate on the sanctions. By siding with Putin over Obama, Trump

is clearly demonstrating his intentions to be an ally of Russia in the future.

With its current administration, Russia should be classified as a very dangerous country that needs to be kept in check, rather than one to be sided with. Russia is acting as a villain, as evidenced in their attacks on innocent civilians in the Middle East in the past year. Both Syrian forces and their Russian allies have been bombarding Aleppo. Of the roughly 250,000 people trapped in the subversive fortress of the divided northern Syria, 100,000 of them are children. Yet, Russia continues to intensify bombings in this area.

Russia also demonstrated its contemptible behavior under its current administration in 2014 when the country made several military incursions into Ukrainian territory.

After the fall of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, Russian soldiers without insignias moved in, fighting Ukrainian citizens and taking over several strategic positions throughout the province of Crimea. Russia then annexed Crimea, essentially taking it as their own territory after a controversial referendum in which Crimeans voted to join Russia. Many powerful countries around the world, including the U.S., condemned Russia following its actions in post-military Ukraine, accusing the country of breaking international law and violating Ukraine sovereignty.

President Obama then implemented an executive order authorizing sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for violating the sovereignty of

Ukraine and for stealing the assets of the Ukrainian people. These sanctions put into place restrictions on the travel of certain people and officials, and showed a continued effort of the U.S. to punish Russia and all responsible parties for the situation in Crimea.

Recently, one of the most alarming decisions made by Russia was the choice to expand its collection of missiles stationed in Eastern Europe.

On Nov. 21, news broke that Russia had plans to install new S-400 surface and air missiles and nuclear-capable Iskander systems on the coast of Kaliningrad in retaliation for the NATO deployment of a “defense-shield” in Eastern Europe. The Kremlin released a statement stating that they believed the goal of the defense-shield to be to neutralize Moscow’s nuclear arsenal long enough for the United States to strike Russia in the event of war. Washington D.C. and NATO both denied this. The development of these new powerful missiles is a threat to world safety.

Putin has a foreign policy centralized around his desire to spread Russian power and influence around the world.

Taking advantage of Trump would be a perfect method for him to accomplish that. The United States must not risk drastically changing its relationship with Russia in a time of such dire consequences, but Trump’s fondness for Putin is foreshadowing exactly that.

photo fair use from Kremlin

photo fair use from Wikimedia Commons

Student Opinions Would a friendly relationship with Russia help or hinder the country?

67% of students believe that a friendly relationship would help the United States.

33% of students believe that a friendly relationship would hinder United States.

100 students polled information compiled by Jack McCoy

“The United States should not become any closer with Russia. Simply “Having a positive because Russia is a very radical relationship with Russia country and cannot be would be very beneficial trusted.” for our country for both -Daniel Murray , 11 economical and political reasons.”

-Mateo Rosendahl, 10

Debates 5

Monday, January 23, 2017

Is tenure beneficial?

illustration by Samuel Kwong

Yes, it secures teachers’ jobs No, it leads to misuse

by Felix Zhang and Christina Mehrkens staff reporters Academic tenure is an imposing phrase with even more dramatic implications. Often discussed by students and faculty in hushed voices, the concept itself has gained a polarizing reputation mired in misconceptions. Yet, as notorious as its reputation and critics may suggest, the truth of the matter is that tenure is fairly reasonable and has many benefits.

According to the American Federation of Teachers, academic tenure ensures that teachers have the right to know why they are being fired and can have the decision decided by a hearing. More often than not, this right can help promote a more stable and capable faculty while encouraging a more inclusive school atmosphere.

One of the defining characteristics of academic tenure is the ability to create a better school environment through the protection of teachers.

Once tenure is given, educators are safe from personal and political issues such as discrimination or an unpopular opinion. This allows them to focus on education without worrying about being fired for saying or doing things the administration doesn’t agree with.

Furthermore, when students are in disagreement with administration, teachers are able to stand up for their beliefs without the fear of losing their jobs due to complaining parents. While some may argue that this could cause favoritism and possibly lead to unfair grading, teachers can still be fired if adequate proof of misconduct is present.

Editor opinions What your Viewer editors think of this Issue

Another benefit of having tenure is that it improves the overall quality of teachers in schools by encouraging administrators to carefully select good teachers. The school has to hire teachers knowing that whomever they hire will be difficult to fire after three years (the average amount of time it takes a public school teacher to get tenure in Minnesota) and, therefore, will be more inclined to select higher quality candidates.

Additionally, academic tenure prevents schools from firing more experienced teachers to reduce costs by hiring cheaper and less experienced ones. This, along with a longer working history, helps to increase the stability and cohesiveness of the faculty. A more stable faculty can help work together to solve academic challenges and lead to a better teaching environment.

In a time where teaching might not seem as glamorous as other jobs, many people write off being a teacher as low paying. However, students still need teachers to teach, and education is as important as ever. While tenure might not convince everyone to become a teacher, it still can draw candidates by ensuring stable job possibilities.

Without a doubt, academic tenure is crucial for the continued growth of education. While there are some downsides to academic tenure, they are easily outweighed by the stability and improved education it brings. As dramatic as the phrase “academic tenure” may seem, it is a better alternative than having a poor education.

“Wow, that’s a lot of paper.”

-Marley Jones good question editor

by Olivia Stuart and Shannon Haffely staff reporters After teaching several years, public school teachers can be offered tenure, a practice that ensures job security for the long term. While eliminating the stress of losing their job can allow teachers to focus more on the students’ well-being and their career as a whole, the program can also lead to misuse.

As teachers get tenured, many slip into a sense of job security and can “take the easy way out.” The result is a less productive learning environment for students. For the benefit of student education, tenure should be reformed, eliminating the growing population of poorly performing tenured teachers.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, one in every 500 tenured teachers is fired for poor performance. Further, a study done by the New Teacher Project in 2009 found that 81 percent of school administrators knew of a tenured teacher who had poor performance at their school, and 86 percent of said administrators did nothing to dismiss them. This unfortunate outcome results from the difficult and pricey process of firing a teacher once tenured. While many advocates of tenure argue that it prevents schools from reducing costs by replacing old teachers with newer ones at a lower salary, teacher tenure actually reduces costs for a school, since firing tenured teachers is just as costly, if not more.

Since many poorly performing tenured teachers keep their jobs due to the expense of firing them, this makes it harder for new teachers to find jobs

“Pokemon Go helped me make hundreds of new friends and lose them all two weeks later.”

-Sam Kwong what’s trending editor

“Jeffrey who?”

in that school. Newer teachers, possibly equipped with better and more efficient teaching skills, get crowded out by older teachers with outdated styles, maintaining the “last hired, first fired” tradition.

Whether or not they’re tenured, teachers are the fundamental building blocks of academic environments everywhere. Tenure is a tradition that benefits teachers, but it needs further control by administration.

Schools should protect the education of students, rather than the jobs of incompetent teachers.

Schools are about teaching students and giving them knowledge to prepare for higher education or careers.

However, this is impacted negatively by the practice of tenure. Former DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee said in 2008, “Tenure is the holy grail of teacher unions, but it has no educational value for kids: it only benefits adults.” There is no benefit to the students with this policy, and since there are now civil laws that protect the rights of teachers, tenure policy is rendered futile. Some may argue that tenure strengthens the protection of teachers and shouldn’t be eliminated, but it could do with monthly — or even weekly — unexpected observations by administration. This would keep teachers on their toes and encourage them to be innovative with their lessons. Learning environments would improve in the classes of the new, the old, the untenured and the tenured.

“Who is Joebama?”

-Daniel Yong online editor

-Dave Ostrom staff advisor

The Fall of Aleppo

by Cassandra Downs, Michelle Wang, Diana Zhu staff reporters “Dear [Mevlut Cavusoglu] and [RT Erdogan], please please please make this ceasefire work [and] get us out now. We are so tired,” said Fatemah Alabed. This tweet on December 18, 2016,

by Alabed and her 7-year-old daughter, Bana, represented a mere fraction of the countless pleas made by the tens of thousands of trapped civilians in Aleppo, Syria, sent out through social media.

Although Alabed and her daughter’s pleas were answered, many were not as fortunate during this chaotic conflict in their city, the Battle of Aleppo.

The Battle of Aleppo entered its final phase last month after nearly four years of a war of attrition.

It ended after the Syrian government declared total control over Aleppo on December 22, handing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad what most people consider his biggest victory in the war.

With a population of over two million, Aleppo was the largest city in Syria before the war. As Syria’s main center for industry and finance, it was a critical economical and political capture point during the war. Aleppo’s Old City is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities, consisting largely of Sunni Muslims, most of whom are Arabic.

The battle over Aleppo began in July 2012, when the National Coalition for Syrian

Revolutionary and Opposition Forces attacked Aleppo in an attempt to drive out Syrian government forces, who were backed by the Russian and Iranian governments, and gain control of Northern Syria. The offensive was only partially successful and ended up dividing Aleppo along the constantly shifting rural versus urban line: rebel forces occupied the east, the government controlled the west and Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) held the north.

The rebel groups, ranging from the radical alQaeda affiliations to the Free Syrian Army, have greatly differing views on their fight against alAssad. Until recently, rebel forces had maintained control over most of Aleppo. The loss of Aleppo is a huge setback in the rebellion against the Syrian government and a blow to the western-backed rebel groups fighting against ISIS. The conflict in Aleppo is further complicated because both sides are supported by other countries.

Russia is helping the Syrian government because it has military bases stationed in Syria, while the United States is assisting Syrian rebel forces by training and advising Syrian troops. Both countries claim to be fighting against Islamic terrorist groups like ISIS. The crisis of Aleppo’s residents became prominent in November, when government forces launched an attack to retake the opposition held in the east. Tens of thousands of civilians were

forced to flee their homes. According to the United Nations, up to 100,000 civilians were trapped in a rebel-controlled enclave during this time, as the government advanced inwards and rebel forces prevented civilians from leaving.

Civilians were trapped in Aleppo due to the constant shelling, sniping, and bombing of the city.

Though the Syrian government and their Russian allies have occasionally opened routes for the civilians to leave Aleppo through “humanitarian corridors,” residents were dubious of the safety of these routes.

Often, civilians did not leave Aleppo because they did not want to leave their homes. Others did not leave because establishing a life outside of Aleppo would be very difficult, especially while trapped in destitution.

Though U.S. news sources have only started to report on the issue recently, the conflict began in early 2011 with the Arab Spring, a series of uprisings and protests across the Middle East. After anti-government protests erupted across the country in March 2011, government authorities took action to make sure the rebels did not take hold of Aleppo.

Initially, al-Assad announced peaceful plans to appease citizens, such as increasing state employees’ salaries. Although he acknowledged his failure to meet the country’s needs, he made no further concrete decisions, and the rebels ultimately took over the city.

Casualties in the Syrian Civil War (thousands)

continued on next page...

Total Death Toll:311,564

Casualties in the Syrian Civil War (thousands)

73.5

76.0

55.2

49.3

49.7

Total Death Toll 311,564 7.8 2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Who controls Syria?

infographic courtesy of Al Jazeera

In late 2011, the European Union and United States began imposing sanctions on Syria, increasing tension on both sides. After a failed proposal with the Arab League to end violence between protesters and the government, fighting ensued at the start of the new year. Even though the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted for al-Assad to step down from office, he refused and instead proposed a new constitution.

Brutal battle ensued for the next few years.

By mid-2016, government troops supported by Russian air strikes cut the opposition force’s route to the east and pushed into several northern districts, forcing thousands to flee their homes and placing 250,000 under siege, according to CNN. Last September, Russia’s violent bombing campaign on Aleppo cut off necessities, destroyed critical infrastructure and massacred countless aid workers and innocent civilians. Speculators viewed this largely as a political move on Russia’s part in an attempt to make the rebels ally with extremists, thus invalidating their legitimacy.

Meanwhile, the Syrian government played the rival rebel groups against each other in order to spark conflict among them. Then, in early November, Russia offered the residents of Aleppo an ultimatum: either evacuate or face extensive bombardment.

From a broader social perspective, the war in Aleppo devastated the otherwise tranquil lives of civilians. In an orphanage, around 40 children begged for assistance during the siege

of the Syrian government. Jasmine Kaimouz, a 10-year-old girl, spoke on behalf of the kids in a video that surfaced mid-December: “This may be the last time you see or hear me. The planes are launching air strikes. In the name of human rights and child rights, we hope they will get us out of Aleppo,” said Kaimouz.

Thankfully, Kaimouz and the rest of the children at the orphanage were safely evacuated from city. However, many children were not as lucky. The New York Times reported that hundreds of civilians perished while waiting to evacuate or in attempts to flee the city.

The United States did not take any direct action during the war. Although the U.S. had the military power and resources necessary to break the siege and prevent the city from falling, doing so risked exacerbating the conflict further.

However, according to The New York Times, the U.S. did provide over $500 million to rebels by the end of the war through non-lethal aid and rebel training.

Despite these actions, outside support for Syrian opposition is still arguably less present than it is for the Syrian government. Lionel Beehner, an assistant professor at the U.S. Military Academy, wrote, “The world has stood by and watched as the worst humanitarian disaster since World War II has unfolded in slow motion.” He believes that America is largely responsible for the fall of Aleppo for not taking more offensive action against the Syrian government.

But the violence did not go unnoticed in other parts of the world. To show their opposition to these massacres, Israeli Jews and Muslims formed a human chain between Russian and United States embassies and displayed signs with anti-war crime phrases.

The Syrian government now controls the major population centers of the country. Although the rebel forces still haven’t lost the war, the loss of Aleppo has made victory significantly harder. With al-Assad’s reasserted authority over the country, the future of Syria remains unclear. Russia’s role in al-Assad’s victory has given them significant influence over the region, and President Donald Trump’s actions regarding the conflict remain uncertain. Now that Aleppo is under government control, there will potentially be open humanitarian acts, such as aid, healthcare, and education and housing for the victimized families.

Ultimately, the Syrian Civil War devastated both the country and the city of Aleppo, with an estimated 400,000 Syrians killed during the conflict, according to the United Nations. As Jan Egeland, the United Nations humanitarian adviser for Syria, stated, “It took 4,000 years to build Aleppo, hundreds of generations, yet one generation managed to tear it down in four years.”

information compiled by Daniel Yong

8

what’s trending

Monday, January 23, 2017

2016’s top trends...and flops

Fashion’s top models

Live video

by Mihaela Pinzari and Samuel Kwong staff reporter and what’s trending editor

by Mihaela Pinzari and Samuel Kwong staff reporter and what’s trending editor

Live video was popularized this year when Facebook implemented its own unique platform, Facebook Live. With Facebook Live, users ranging from the casual Facebooker to companies started live streaming to other viewers. Facebook Live’s popularity influenced the addition of live video to other platforms, including Instagram and Twitter.

Last year Americans engaged in various kinds of fashion trends, including velvet dresses and mom jeans. Velvet’s popularity from last year began in June and stemmed from the material’s ability to give wearers a gentle and kindhearted appearance. A photo fair use from Facebook throwback from the ‘90s, velvet was popular for its diversity, looking good for both formal and casual events.

However, velvet was far from being the only attractive style.

Various different styles of jean styles showed their faces last year, including embroidered jeans, and mom jeans, allowing the wearer to show their flair and individuality. Pin rolled jeans were also another popular jean style this year. Consisting of a simple roll up to show off the ankles, this design was well worn by numerous American teens.

Despite these hot new trends, 2016 marked a throwback to the late 1900’s with the mom and bell bottom jean designs. Mom jeans were a new style this year, forgoing the typical “tight” build of jeans to create a more spacious, yet chic jean design.

2016’s massive variety of clothing was a great way for tons of people to show off their own unique styles, while introducing a popular way for teens and adults alike to bond over a common topic.

Instagram stories

by Mihaela Pinzari and Samuel Kwong staff reporter and what’s trending editor Nearly every teenager in North America has heard about Snapchat. The app’s well known “Snapchat stories” have been a staple since its introduction. However, it was the debut of Instagram’s similar “story” function that made the top social media platform news this year. Instagram was a difficult platform for brands to use in the past, primarily because Instagram doesn’t hyperlink web addresses. However, Instagram Stories is a massive stride forward for both typical users and businesses alike.

photo fair use from Instagram

Mobile optimization

Pokemon Go couldn’t “Catch them all”

by Samuel Kwong what’s trending editor

by Mihaela Pinzari and Samuel Kwong staff reporter and what’s trending editor

2016 was the golden year for Pokemon with the introduction of Niantic’s Pokemon Go app. Throughout the summer, millions of people around the world journeyed outside to capture elusive Pokemon to add to their collections. However, despite being the hottest app of the summer, this cool game was far from being a great trend. Due to the vast influx of players every day, servers and games often crashed or would not load, frustrating players in the middle of catching a rare Pokemon, and limiting play to 10 minutes. Additionally, while this app gave many players some much needed exercise, it also proved to be a danger. Throughout the summer, numerous people suffered injuries, including broken bones, as a result of not paying attention to their surroundings. While it may have been exhilarating to “catch them all,” the tedious process definitely wasn’t worth such minimal gratification.

Some apps, such as Instagram, are only present as mobile apps, nowhere to be found on your typical computer. However, while other apps, including Facebook and Imgur, do have their faces on desktops and other platforms, many of them have custom edits made for mobile users. It’s rather unlikely that this momentum is going to stop, especially as various companies, like Google, keep striving towards greater mobile functionality.

The year of Joebama

by Emily Meyer staff reporter With the highly aggravating and divisive recent election, politics have been a very hot topic this year, with rumors and wild stories constantly circulating the media. However, despite various altercations surrounding the recent election, one positivity has provided a distraction from the recent craziness: The epic bromance between Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden has been the headshow of numerous “Joebama” memes recently. These memes often depicted Biden as a hilarious and not-so-innocent child, while Obama takes either a mentor or friendship role to Biden. Even in the midst of controversy, the people proved that they can turn a difficult situation into one full of laughs.

Obama: Did you replace all the toiletries with travel size bottles?

Biden: He’s got tiny hands Barack, I want him to feel welcome here

photo fair use from Kevin Broberg

photo fair use from Wikimedia Commons

Virtual Reality: from screens to actuality

by Emily Meyer staff reporter

While some new innovations, such as Apple’s disappointing wireless earbuds, weren’t a top hit, 2016 marked massive breakthroughs in technology. Attempting to bring their gadgets to life, scientists set off on their technological endeavours. One way technology became more lifelike was through the introduction of virtual reality, an outlet that completely immerses oneself into a game or other simulation. Essentially a 3-D image seen through specialized headsets, the user can explore and interact with virtual reality to a degree where they will feel like they are photo fair use from Wikimedia Commons physically there. Innovations like this in technology and entertainment produced during 2016 created new ways that technology could be incorporated in people’s entertainment experience.

Arts & Entertainment 9

Monday, January 23, 2017

Where to for the weekend?

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

by Ethan Sandwich and Mitchell Mattison staff reporters Rogue One is an impressive film that fits neatly into the previous Star Wars movies. It takes place just before the classic Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and is a must-see for Star Wars fans and all movie-goers alike.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, Rogue One is a Star Wars “side story” that stars character Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, as the new recruit of a rebel group along with six new characters, including a robot, with a goal to obtain plans for destroying the Death Star.

The movie has a steady kick off, where the audience is introduced to Jyn, the daughter of the man who engineered the Death Star. Rogue One does a good job of making the audience connect to each one of the characters, despite so many new faces. This is

prevalent when the audience is introduced to characters Baze Malbus (Wen Jiang) and Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen) as well as in the introductory scene with Captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) who ends up helping Jyn in her epic journey.

The film suffers slightly when it becomes difficult to keep track of the spliced-together events that follow the introduction, primarily due to the necessity of introducing a large set of characters that haven’t been in the previous Star Wars films.

For Star Wars fans, or fans of action sci-fi movies in general, Rogue One is a must see. The mass introduction of characters in the first half is made up for by the enticing plotline. The movie ends with a smooth yet unexpected wrap up that transitions to Episode IV, leaving the audience with exciting new connections in their heads and the desire to view the film multiple times.

photo fair use from Flickr

The Verdict Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a fantastic film blending perfectly into the iconic Star Wars series, bringing nostalgia and excitement for more Star Wars films to come.

90

Vertical Endeavors

by Riley McCorkell staff reporter Vertical Endeavors is a great place to get fit, throw a party or just have fun. Activities such as rock climbing, working out in the fitness area and challenging your friends to a climbing race are guaranteed to keep climbers entertained all winter long.

After entering and paying for a pass, visitors complete an orientation on how to climb the walls safely. The staff demonstrates proper safety precautions and how to put on a harness. After a brief orientation, visitors are free to climb. There are walls with auto belay, rope chains, a single rope and ropeless walls with a trampoline

underneath. Vertical Endeavors offers climbs of all different levels, including advanced options for the more experienced climbers and easier alternatives for younger participants.

The facilities are cutting edge with two stories of faux rock and a cushy surface of shredded tires underneath the walls. Shoes, harnesses and chalk bags are all available to rent at $5 each.

Vertical Endeavors is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The daily pass is $18 and covers an entire day, so climbers can come and go as they please. Vertical Endeavors is located on 2540 Nicollet Avenue, South Minneapolis and 855 Phalen Boulevard, St. Paul. illustration by Samuel Kwong

Zero Gravity

by Lauren LaFaye staff reporter

During the winter, outdoor recreational activities are few, hard to come by and the indoors become a haven for fun. One indoor park that’s fun for all ages is Zero Gravity.

The main attraction at Zero Gravity is the open jump area. Trampolines cover the floors and walls, allowing participants to practice various flips and turns. Next to the open jump area is a pit of memory-foam cubes. This is a particular favorite for those looking to do daredevil stunts and jumpers can use the galaxy-themed rock climbing wall to climb out of the pit. The park even offers a suspended ropes course for thrill seekers who aren’t intimidated by heights.

Zero Gravity’s laser tag takes place in a 3,000 square-foot space with platforms, ramps and plenty of places to hide. Players are each given a gun and a vest. Once in the arena, participants shoot at each other with lasers to rack up points and win the game. Each game lasts about about eight minutes and costs $6. Up to 20 people can photo courtesy of Lauren LaFaye Lauren LaFaye,10, climbs Zero Gravity galaxy wall above the foam pit

play, making it a great activity for a large party.

Zero Gravity is open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Zero Gravity is located on 2292 Woodale Dr., Mounds View.

The entrance fee is $12 for 60 minutes and $16 for 120 minutes.The Ultimate Pass is $26, which covers two hours of unlimited use of all amenities including laser tag and the obstacle course. Jump socks are a mandatory purchase of $2; however, they are yours to keep. They have a special grip on the sole that prevents participants from slipping on the trampolines.

With everyone pent up during the winter, Zero Gravity brings something new to the table. Not only does it have a massive trampoline park, but it also offers laser tag and a ropes course. Zero Gravity is a fun way for people to burn off their energy and have fun in the winter months.

10

good question

Monday, January 23, 2017

The paper problem

by Toni Baraga staff reporter

It’s common to hear a chorus of groans from the students when a teacher hands out a new homework packet due at the end of the week.

While most kids are thinking about the amount of work they have to do, it’s unlikely that many are thinking about the paper itself. So how much paper does Mounds View really go through in a week?

Although it doesn’t seem to be a pressing issue, it has crossed some students’ minds. Claire Demay, 11, admits she has pondered the issue: “I honestly have no idea how much paper we go through, and I’ve always kind of wondered.” It’s probably not surprising to find out that the school goes through quite a lot of paper.

With packets, study guides and homework assignments, it adds up, leading to overstuffed backpacks and groans of protest from students.

Associate Principal Mike Schwartz, estimated how much paper the school uses. “Well, we probably go through about 12 boxes in a week.

There are 12 reams in a box with about 500 sheets per ream.” Adding all of that up, the total amount of paper used comes to a whopping 72,000 sheets per week.

Despite the colossal number, the school is actually down on its paper consumption from 2013, which used to be as high as 90,000 sheets per week. Schwartz attributes this to the switch to Chromebooks. “The technology has helped paper consumption, no doubt about it. A lot more quizzes and assignments are on some form of electronic platform.”

Many students seem to like this switch from paper to electronic assignments. “I’m not too surprised by the amount of paper used because we use a lot of paper for tests and worksheets almost every day. I prefer online quizzes and assignments because they aren’t as wasteful as paper tests,” said Nandini Avula, 11.

Although the number is still large, Schwartz expresses his thoughts on how he believes the school will see an even bigger decrease in paper consumption in the future. “Will we ever get paperless?

Probably not, but I think each year it will go down. We’re already seeing it.”

If Mounds View could place all of the paper used in one week on top of each other lengthwise, the stack would be taller than the Empire State Building.

The truth about cafeteria cookies

by Haley Keeney and Ameni Hajji staff reporters

It’s safe to say that cookies are one of the most popular items sold in the Mounds View cafeteria. They are in such high demand that the cafeteria is required to bake an impressive 3,960 cookies on a weekly basis.

Every day, 792 cookies are made for lunch. This large order consists of 600 chocolate chip, 96 M&M and 96 sugar cookies. According to nutrition staff member Debra Longen, while the majority of the cookies are sold throughout the day, approximately 20 to 25 cookies are leftover from the day and are sold at breakfast the next morning.

All of the cookies are made with whole grain flour and are purchased from the food vendor Sysco. “They come in frozen, and then

we put them on a sheet pan, four-by-six. We can cook 20 sheet pans in an oven at a time,” says Longen. The cookies bake in a rotating oven that spins for 13 minutes until they become golden brown and are perfectly soft and chewy.

The cookies are sold for 55 cents each. Normally, however, they’re sold in bunches of three for $1.59. “They’re definitely worth the price,” said Emily Schrampfer, 9.

Students are undeniably in love with these cookies. Eric Besonen, 12, said, “They’re the best. There’s an ooey gooey deliciousness that you can’t find anywhere else. It’s like a Sweet Martha’s cookie. I wish I could have it every day.”

With their lovable chewy texture and delicious flavor, these cookies will retain their position as the best cafeteria treat.

600

Number of cookies per day

600

Do you have a Good Question? Send it to daniel.yong@mvviewer.org 200

150 96

96

100

50

20-25

Chocolate chip

Sugar

M&M Type of cookie

Leftover cookies

illustrations by Marley Jones, Kallie Slotvig and Sam Kwong

MOnday, January 23, 2017

Athlete of the issue

Yasmeen Awad Dance Q: When did you start dancing?

A: When I was about five.

Q: How many types of dances do you participate in?

A: Ballet, jazz, musical theatre, pointe, lyrical, modern, hip hop and tap Q: What form of dance did you learn first?

A: Ballet. It’s the foundation of dance.

Q: Where do you dance?

A: MYDT which is Midwest Youth Dance Theatre.

Q: Who or what inspired you to choose dance as your sport?

A: My sister danced, and I tried a lot of sports. I stuck with dance, and it turned out.

Q: What are your plans for dancing in the future?

A: I would like to dance in college recreationally in a dance club.

Q: What keeps you dancing?

A: A nice community. Having a group of friends who are separate from school. It helps me grow as a person.

All about dance

Sports

The viewettes are on pointe

by Sanjana Dutt staff reporter After qualifying for state last year, the Viewettes have high expectations for their performance this season. The team could not have made it this far if it weren’t for their hard work and countless hours put into routines. However, in order to be as successful as last year, they must continue to put full effort into everyday’s practices and competitions.

The Viewettes’ daily two-hour practices consist of fun warmups along with rigorous conditioning and drilling. “I love doing weird warm-ups dances before we practice… some days we drill ten seconds of a dance for over twenty minutes until it is perfected,” said Vicky Li, 10. Along with the intense conditioning during the season, the team trains throughout the summer to maintain fitness and improve for the upcoming season.

“We drill turns, condition in summer workout routines and do continuous technique training so we don’t lose our abilities,” said Bri Sislo-Schutta, 11. This season, the program’s main focus is improving technique, the starting base to all dances.

The Viewettes have many goals on their mind for this season, but the most prominent one is to return to state. “We haven’t gotten off to a great

start, but our number one goals is still to make it to sections and state in both jazz and kick,” said Sislo-Schutta. The Viewettes continue to push themselves everyday in hope to achieve their goals.

Continually pushing themselves everyday is not the only step to the team’s success. They have also worked hard to welcome and integrate new members onto the team. The new members of the Viewettes were warmly welcomed and felt as though they have been there for years. Throughout the season, the upperclassmen helped the younger dancers transition from studio dance or any other programs they had previously been involved in. “I look up to all of my varsity teammates that I am lucky enough to perform with. I look up to their perseverance and drive to improve and make the team the best we can be,” said Brooke Voytilla, 9.

If the Viewettes make it to state this year, it will be their third consecutive year competing as a team. “It’s one of the best experiences, and it’s everyone’s highlight of their year,” said Selena Brills, 11.

The next step for the Viewettes is to win over all the other teams from around Minnesota in their section to ensure a spot to compete at state.

Q: Favorite memory?

A: The winter show. It showcases one style of dancing each year, instead of multiple kinds.

Q: What is your favorite part about dance?

A: Probably the performances and being able to showcase all of my hard work.

Q: What are future goals and achievements you would like to reach?

A: I am excited to learn from other instructors and experience new technique.

photos courtesy of Megan Hopkins

11

12 Games

Monday, January 23, 2017

top 10

is h t In ! e u iss

ways to get ready for semester 2

10

Become BFFs with your dean (for scheduling purposes) Find smart people to carry you through group projects Vandalize the bathrooms again

9

8

Join a sport, give up and get fat

Down

Across

1. What is the most sold item at Mounds View?

2. What teacher bikes to school?

4. What you’re dreading.

5. Putin’s homeland.

6. What can a teacher get after working a while?

7. What Education Rising inspires.

8. A new building opening.

10. Teacher with a dachshund.

3. Is now a Stanford Tree.

6. Our new president.

9. how tall would a week’s woth of MV’s paper be?

11. What is the dance coming up?

12. Which MV student is a super talented ballerina?

Viewer Mission Statement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6

7

Stock up on hot chocolate

5

Hug a cafeteria lady

4

Play hide and seek in the library

Make Pokemon Go popular again with Tyler Hong

2

3

Worship the meme gods

Accept your fate and quit school

1