VOLUME 68 ISSUE 6 | FEBRUARY 25, 2021
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2 NEWS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
No more Subject Tests and SAT Essays
by Shivam Vashishtha staff reporter
The pandemic is bringing changes to the SAT college entrance exam. In a statement released on Tuesday, Jan. 19, the College Board, which administers the test, said that it is eliminating the optional essay section of the SAT exam as well as the SAT Subject Tests to reduce the workload of stressed students. The College Board will no longer give SAT Subject Tests in the United States effective immediately. (Subject Tests will still be offered outside of the United States through June, as Subject Tests “are used internationally for a wider variety of purposes,” according to the College Board’s statement released on its website. Students can also take the SAT with Essay through June in the United States.) “In actuality, Subject Tests aren’t really that useful,” said Olivia Chen, 12. “They’re just used to boost your Common App just a little bit for those Ivy-tier schools, and so time would be more better spent on AP tests where you can actually use those as credits across many schools. Some of the Subject Tests are really poorly written as well, so that’s that.” Chen has a similar opinion on the elimination of the essay portion. “I never really liked the essays anyways,” Chen said. “You’re not gonna get a good representation for what you can do or write in just 45 minutes. And essays just suck in general.” Although students can still submit scores from previous tests, it is up to each individual college whether or not it will consider them when admitting students. With the pandemic raising safety concerns about in-person testing, many students have had stressful experiences with standardized testing in the past year because the virus was at its peak during the testing season. In the spring, the College Board tried to create a test that could be taken digitally from home but announced plans to discontinue the initiative in June, citing con-
cerns that not all students would have the technological capabilities to take the exam. Most colleges ended up dropping testing requirements for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. This has led standardized testing to become less relevant ever since the pandemic hit, causing some to speculate that the College Board eliminated these tests for financial reasons. The numbers of students signing up to take the optional essay portion and the Subject Tests have been decreasing, especially since the start of the pandemic. According to Forbes, in 2017, when colleges more commonly required the essay, 70% of those who took the SAT chose to take the writing portion. However, in 2019 and 2020, that number plummeted to 57%. Similarly, Subject Test registrations were down 8% from 2016 to 2019 and plummeted amidst the pandemic, according to the College Board. CEO of the College Board David Coleman, said the organization’s decision was not a financial one, but rather its goal was to eliminate redundant exams. “Anything that can reduce unnecessary anxiety and get out of the way is of huge value to us,” he said, according to the New York Times. The College Board also acknowledged in its statement that students have other opportunities to demonstrate their writing prowess outside of the SAT with Essay, and Advanced Placement Exams are already a way for students to show colleges their mastery in a specific subject outside of the Subject Tests. “I don’t think they should keep the Subject Tests because most colleges don’t need or look at them anymore,” said Mike Zhang, 12. “I think that if students were going to take Subject Tests, they should just take more AP classes,” he said. Before this decision, there were many factors contributing to why students took these tests, such as helping students to stand out, communicating their hobbies and interests and offering potential college credit. Col-
leges seriously considered these scores in applications. Students can see both pros and cons of the College Board’s recent decision. Sandesh Jha, 11, says that it may help students who felt overwhelmed by so many exams. “I think that those kids with access to AP classes, for whom SAT Subject Tests doubled their test burden, had a sort of win situation,” Jha said. “Also, the Class of 2022 and 2023 students, such as myself, who were overstressed about how to take tests amid pandemic seating limitations, are better off.”
“I think that if students were going to take Subject Tests, they should just take more AP classes.” -Mike Zhang, 12 However, Jha also acknowledges that the College Board’s decision to eliminate the essay and Subject Tests may harm other students’ applications. “On the contrary, for people who were really good at writing essays, and used it to prove to the admissions teams that they could write compelling essays, had a losing situation,” Jha said. “Also, home schoolers who want to demonstrate mastery in all subjects had a failed circumstance as well, because now, they can’t prove themselves as well.” In total, the College Board will discontinue 20 different specific topics in the SAT Subject Tests as well as the SAT essay section. Although these cuts may pose a disadvantage for some students in the admissions process, it could also provide advantages to others by lightening the already overwhelming workload some students face. Regardless, students will have to seek out other opportunities, such as AP Exams, to demonstrate their intellect to colleges.
Master Classes come to MV
by Hanzu Vu-Tran online editor This year’s new schedule requires students and teachers to make massive adjustments but also offers opportunities that would not be available in a typical school year. Mounds View now offers Master Classes, creating exciting learning opportunities for students on Learning Plus Days. Social studies teacher Martha Rush and equity specialist Heather Ward first came up with the idea of offering these classes. “We have these Fridays where kids don’t necessarily have a commitment to be in class. Wouldn’t it be fun to have some different things that the kids could do?” Rush said. After the administration accepted their proposal, there was an overwhelmingly positive response from the teachers and staff about the idea. “As soon as we put it out there, Mr. Chiri totally jumped in,” Rush said. “And he was like, ‘I’ll teach one. It’s great.’ So we’ve had some good support. Mr. Hinseth, same thing. Mr. Hairrell, same thing.” This year’s schedule of three-block days, four days a week, leaves Fridays a flexible day for many students. “I typically use Fridays as a day to contact teachers if
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I need to, but this doesn’t happen often so Fridays usually end up being an extra day of the weekend,” said Emma Lu, 11. With the option of Master Classes, there are more ways for students to spend their Fridays. The classes offered recently had a wide variety of topics, ranging from rock and roll journalism to making a homemade pizza. Ten classes have already taken place or are scheduled for later this spring; However, there is a possibility that more classes will be added. Whether or not there will be more classes is purely up to student response to classes already offered. “We’ll see if we add more,” Rush said. “If there’s a really positive response and kids are signing up and we have people who are willing to teach more, then we’re willing to add more.” On the student side, the responses are positive. “I think Master Classes are a good idea because they are a way for students to socialize and learn during the pandemic,” Lu said. Others see the Master Classes as a way to learn vital life lessons not normally taught in schools. “I attended Mr. Hinseth’s ‘How to Figure Out What You Want to Do With Your Life’ [Master Class], and I had signed up for it because that’s a very relevant question to high schoolers; it isn’t a topic or conversation that’s exactly
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covered in my day-to-day classes,” said Sidney Lee, 11. Some teachers view the Master Classes as a way to teach lessons that they think are important based on what they have experienced in their own lives. “[Throughout] my high school experience, as great as it was, I never really had someone ask me the question of ‘What do you want to do when you grow up?’ ‘Who do you want to be when you grow up?’ and it was very much up in the air when I left high school,” said social studies teacher Alex Hinseth. “So I just wanted to expose students to some of those questions as early as possible.” However, students are not limited to just attending a class. “I would love to see students offering classes,” Rush said. If students are interested in offering classes, they can email Rush to discuss the class they envision or submit a response to the Google Form linked in the daily e-newsletter. The hour-long Master Classes are now available for students to attend on select Fridays at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Many students feel that these classes are a time to socialize and learn important skills and ideas unrelated to school, a welcome reprieve from the stress and isolation that the pandemic has caused.
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FEATURES 3
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
Mrs. van Bruggen guides seniors by Olivia Sperbeck staff reporter This year, student services clerk Anne van Bruggen, along with others on the student services staff, helped seniors navigate the college application process during the pandemic. Along with sending student transcripts to colleges, van Bruggen makes sure that seniors are going through the college application process correctly. The process of applying to college has been different this year due to COVID-19. Seniors use Naviance, a college readiness platform, to request letters of recommendation and transcripts. Without the in-person connection that van Bruggen usually has, she has to trust that Naviance is user-friendly enough to aid these students adequately. However, van Bruggen prefers to do it this way. “I mean, it’s where we needed to go anyway,” van Bruggen said. “[Naviance has] kind of been nice to push us into where it should be for moving forward I think.”
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We’ve had 330 students [apply to college] so far and I’ve had 1,854 transcript requests so far from those 330.” - Anne van Bruggen, student services
In the past, van Bruggen led big group senior meetings to explain how to use the Naviance system to apply to college. This year, these meetings were done individually, and the seniors got the information from their deans instead. “There are pluses and minuses to every-
thing,” van Bruggen said. “It’s good to be able to have [students] one-on-one and answer specific questions, but also they are all getting the information a little bit differently because every dean has different knowledge on how to use the tool.” Many challenges surround applying to college during a global pandemic. Since students are unable to stop into van Bruggen’s office to ask a quick question, she holds Google Meets instead. “That’s the hardest thing is just not being in-person,” she said. “It just takes a little bit longer to get through some [information] because of the connection and the back and forth [emails].” Even with these obstacles, van Bruggen has helped hundreds of seniors apply to college this year. “We’ve had 330 students [apply to college] so far and I’ve had 1,854 transcript requests so far from those 330,” van Bruggen said. “We’ve had 481 different colleges that students have applied to, so it’s a lot of numbers.” Although it has been harder to depend on technology instead of face-to-face conversation, van Bruggen believes the process is not significantly more difficult than in previous years. “There are a few steps here and there that are different [this year],” she said. “I have to do some more follow-up with [seniors], so it’s not perfect yet, but it hasn’t really been that bad.” Each year, van Bruggen has time to build connections with college representatives, and every year, she learns how to navigate the college application process more effectively. “It’s my fifth year in this role now, so every year I get more involved just because I am learning more about all the colleges,” van Bruggen said. As she learns more about college applications and the colleges themselves, she has become better equipped to answer questions and more knowledgeable about the application process as a whole. Her increased involvement in the college application process has allowed her to get creative with how to
show support for students from a distance. “I would say what’s more involved is learning how to share the information [about the college application process], how to connect with the student, how to communicate and finding new ways to support them,” van Bruggen said. “That’s probably how I’ve gotten involved more is just looking for new ways to do things better.” In short, van Bruggen has helped countless students navigate the college application process during distance learning. With her involvement and willingness to answer questions, she has helped many seniors successfully apply to college.
This program offers a unique, six-month-long opportunity for participants to spend time in different countries all over the world. This program consists of two threemonth-long phases, the “lecture phase” followed by the “outreach phase.” During these phases, participants will first learn about God in the lecture phase and then
venture out into the world during the outreach phase. The outreach phase is meant for participants to learn about the diversity of cultures and take part in hands-on experiences in different countries. “I will be living on the YWAM base that I choose, which could be in any state or even country.” Stromquist said. “Right now I’m looking at either a base in Colorado or Hawaii.” The unique part of the YWAM program is that Stromquist will be able to choose whichever base fits her best. Stromquist hopes her gap year will provide her with more clarity on what she should study in college, but she already has a few ideas of what she wants to do with her future. “After my gap year, I am definitely going to be going to college, but I am not sure where yet,” Stromquist said. “I am looking into studying possibly nursing, communications, psychology or a Christianrelated degree like apologetics.” Christian apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith. Overall, Stromquist hopes to learn more about the Bible and the world during her gap year. YWAM will undoubtedly present Stromquist with interesting and insightful opportunities and be a great way for Stromquist to help others at whichever base she chooses. Stromquist is eager to start her non-traditional post-secondary experience. “I am excited that I am not going straight into school again after this year, and I am thankful to be fortunate enough to take this opportunity,” Stromquist said.
photo courtesy of Anne van Bruggen
College on hold for Stromquist
by Isabelle Schrab online editor Many seniors are struggling with the decision of what to do after graduation. This choice is already difficult and even more so now with restrictions on college tours due to COVID-19 and the possibility of school being online next year. With this uncertainty in mind, Kylie Stromquist, 12, has chosen to take a gap year to decide.
“ I am excited that I am not going straight into school again after this year and I am thankful to be fortunate enough to take this opportunity.” -Kylie Stromquist, 12 Stromquist plans to join an organization called Youth With A Mission, or YWAM, during her gap year.
illustration by Sienna Wood
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.
4 EDITORIALS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
A new approach to Valentine's Day
by Morgan Dalton online editor Even though Valentine’s Day has passed, the entire month of February is thought of as a time for showing appreciation for loved ones, especially romantic partners. While appreciating a partner or loved one is important, it should be a natural gesture of affection, not an obligation. If Valentine’s Day evokes genuine appreciation and makes someone feel validated, celebrating it should be important. However, if it is only celebrated because it feels like a requirement, then it does not amount to thoughtful appreciation. Many couples feel as though they are obligated to celebrate Valentine’s Day and feel pressure to make the day special. This, in turn, makes Valentine’s Day seem hollow and performative, while it should be sincere and heartfelt.
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While appreciating a partner is important, it should be a natural gesture of affection, not an obligation.”
This idea that Valentine’s Day is obligatory and for show creates a holiday built on box checking and strays away from allowing people to think more deep-
ly and actually reflect on why they appreciate their partner. Individuals are more focused on what to buy or how their actions on Valentine’s Day portray their relationship to others than actually appreciating the people in their lives. Modern Valentine’s Day also puts most of its significance on romantic relationships and minimizes the importance of platonic relationships and family members. This puts intense pressure on romantic partners, while also minimizing the amount of appreciation people should have for other relationships. Things from Valentine’s Day movies, TV episodes or even Valentine’s Day gifts in general are mostly geared toward couples. Valentine’s Day is so narrowly focused on romantic relationships that it forgets to acknowledge that other relationships can be equally as important and deserve to be celebrated. Finally, it is easy to use Valentine’s Day as a oncea-year opportunity to express appreciation, when love should be expressed year round. Valentine’s Day could serve as a good reminder to show love, but oftentimes too many individuals forget to show appreciation on the other 364 days of the year. Especially during this time, individuals should keep in mind that showing love does not just have to be limited to Valentine’s Day, and it is something that one should always keep in mind. Aside from this, individuals should expand their appreciation to more than just their significant others, like those around them such as their family members, friends or even health care workers or others who deserve recognition during this time. They should
also take the time to stray away from the performative perspective of things and think about activities or meaningful ways to express their affection. For ex-
illustration by Sienna Wood
ample, instead of going with the stereotypical box of chocolates out of obligation, consider something more heartfelt like taking on a new art project or learning to cook a meal together, and just reflect and appreciate one’s relationships with a genuine mindset.
Modern feminism needs a change by Zige Wang arts and entertainment editor It is easy to look at the modern feminist movement today and think that it has brought impactful change to people all over the world, as the movement tries to spread inclusivity, empowerment, justice and more. However, when looking more deeply into the situation, it becomes evident that these messages have not brought enough change to claim success, primarily due to the movement’s harmful focus on surface-level change. This new wave of feminism, often called third- or fourth-wave feminism, is often centered around individualism, compared to earlier fights for voting rights, independence and other basic freedoms. A main example of this is the focus on “choice feminism,” or the idea that any feminist individual choice is representative of greater change. Instead of prioritizing widespread social, political and economic change that supports women’s rights on a greater scale, many modern feminists focus primarily on individual decisions, such as that of personal sexuality, what a woman chooses to wear, the career she chooses to pursue and other aspects of everyday life that have been historically restricted for women. For example, many women have taken to embracing their sexual identity in response to their rampant and often unwanted sexualization by men, and while decisions such as these can be personally liberating, movement-wide focus on individual change neglects wider issues. Despite many changes in individual feminism, media and society do not allow feminine-presenting bodies to be treated with respect. No matter how many individual women become more empowered, larger social institutions must also be pushed to change to support them in a way that current feminist thought does not. Masking individual decisions as widespread change is an easy way to avoid the necessary fighting that needs to be done for greater things such as legal rights and the end of gender-based violence. Even when feminism attempts to take on larger issues, the movement often ends up providing a false sense of change, often due to the inadequate demographics of leading feminists. Take a look at the “Me
Too” movement. While it positively raised awareness about sexual harassment, it did not bring change to the average woman. This is primarily because it only gave a consistent platform those who are wealthy, white, cisgender and heterosexual.
easy to control, or how indigenous women make up 40% of those who are sex trafficked in America according to Freedom United. Without formally acknowledging and bringing power to women of color, low-income and queer people, full liberation is not provided, and change remains only a benefit for the elite. Even the body positivity movement, while good at heart, subconsciously projects harmful ideas. In theory, spreading the message about inclusivity and that “all bodies are beautiful” should bring good to people, yet it does not. This common phrasing still attaches importance to beauty, insinuating that
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Without formally acknowledging and bringing power to women of color ... full liberation is not provided, and change remains only a benefit for the elite.”
image courtesy of pixabay
The majority of celebrities who are the faces of this movement, such as Jennifer Lawrence, Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon, are white. When the movement is represented only by a relatively small demographic of women, it excludes the unique varieties of misogyny that those outside of those categories face. Neglecting issues like the role whiteness plays in today’s beauty standards and how other minorities are impacted by a combination of racism and misogyny is particularly harmful, as it is a very prevalent and forgotten issue. Take, for example, how Asian women are viewed as exotic as well as submissive and therefore
people have to be attractive to have worth in this society. Again, it only provides an invisible safety net for people in a world where women need to be pretty in order to be worthy of respect from others. This movement does not reject the idea that societal beauty is connected to the worth of a person, it is just slightly less complacent to it. In the end, mainstream feminism does not fight the systemic issues of our patriarchal society; instead, it only provides women and other gender minorities a brief sense of empowerment and safety within their oppressed roles rather than trying to make equality the reality. Instead, all feminists should advocate for the dismantling of the patriarchy as it creates unreasonable hierarchies in our society and projects white supremacy beliefs. By doing so, this will directly create the equality feminism pushes for, benefiting all people.
MOUNDS VIEW THEN VS NOW 5
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
Then vs. Now: School spirit
1972: Pep Club saves spirit at MV by the 1972 Viewer staff Due to influences from Kathy Sweet, 12, and Dar Olson, 12, there is a new breed of people invading MV. They call themselves “Pep People.” Three weeks ago the pep club met for the first time. The purpose of the organization was explained by Kathy to be a means of “waking up a lot of dead people walking around
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The purpose of the organization was explained by Kathy to be a means of ‘waking up a lot of dead people walking around MV.’”
MV.” She hopes that, with the help of the pep club, students at MV will take on an attitude of “the basketball tournaments all year long” in regard to sports. Dar stated that in addition to adding spirit to MV, the pep club is a great place to get to know other people. “Pep People” are planning on earning money by selling bumper stickers proclaiming “Mounds View Mustangs.” All earnings from this sale will be used to help finance some group activity, such as attending a North Star hockey game. The pep club advisor is Linda Johnson, typing
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“If the guys think there’s someone behind ‘em, it motivates them.” -Dar Olson, 12
behind ‘em, it motivates them.” Also featured at weekly meetings will be various MV celebrities to speak about their sport. In their effort to generate enthusiasm, the pep club plans on organizing a car pool, in which club members could get rides to sports events at MV. They will also be purchasing pep club sweaters and green cowboy hats lettered with Mounds View Mustangs. The pep club will now join the cheerleaders in
teacher, who Dar describes as a “super advisor” and Kathy adds “we couldn’t have done it without her.” Pep club meets every week on Thurs. With a special committee holding meetings every Mon. At these club meetings, the members practice cheers so that at games they can follow the cheerleaders. Dar feels that MV students should familiarize themselves with the cheers because “if the guys think there’s someone illustration by Sienna Wood
making signs for around the building and in arranging bus transportation to sports activities away from school. The club members are pitching in on the homecoming activities at today’s pre-game parade. They plan to feature a float that is sure to be a “horse of a different color” as far as floats are concerned.
illustration by Sienna Wood
2021: School spirit staying alive? by Sienna Wood front page designer, illustrator Although school spirit plays a vital role in bringing the Mounds View community together — as important now as it was back in 1972 — many have noticed a recent decline in enthusiasm for school spirit activities. Especially with distance learning, this decline is ever so evident amongst the school community. “It’s been really hard to get people involved in school spirit through distance learning,” said Student Council co-president Lauryn Jones, 12. One of Student Council’s main focuses is getting the student body to come together through spirit days, after-school activities and dances. Now, stay-at-home restrictions have caused these events to go virtual or
“We had pretty good turnouts in our fundraisers throughout the year, but school spirit themes and activities have been harder.” -Lauryn Jones, 12 be completely canceled. “We had pretty good turnouts in our fundraisers throughout the year, but school spirit themes and activities have been harder,” Jones said. Jones and other Student Council members have been making extraordinary efforts to bring the school together and make sure that no one feels alone during this time. However, their efforts have not been com-
pletely effective due to the new pressures of social media during distance learning. “In such an isolating time, it’s hard for students to participate in school-related activities,” Jones said. “No one wants to be the only one participating, and being alone makes it hard for people to gauge that.” Student Council hopes that participation will increase when students go back to school and can see each other again. “We are hoping for more involvement and activities when we go back to hybrid!” Jones said. “But for school spirit and Student Council-related activities to be successful, we need a lot of participation and enthusiasm!” However, these current conditions are affecting more than just the students. The teachers and faculty have also been affected since they have not been able to interact with all of their students face to face. “I really miss attending events in person,” said business and marketing teacher Cheryl Braman. “In past years, I really enjoyed seeing students competing and performing as well as students cheering and applauding for their classmates.” However, like Jones, the teachers are hopeful that participation will increase when in-person learning starts again. “I love seeing students wearing jerseys on game days and dressing up on theatre performance days,” Braman said. In addition to school events, teachers also miss seeing students’ actual faces. Having cameras on during classes held over Zoom is optional, and many students opt out of having them on to avoid the stress of being on camera. This can make it challenging for teachers, since they cannot see facial expressions to gauge understanding. They can even feel as if they are only talking to themselves. “Over the years, it has been fun to see what
students are interested in by what they wear,” Braman said. “I miss that opportunity to connect with students beyond talking about the coursework. It’s a work in progress.” Despite this challenge, teachers often stay on the call after their Zoom meetings end in case a stu-
illustration by Sienna Wood
dent needs one-on-one help or even just wants to chat. Student Council has also been increasing its social media presence as a way to communicate with the student body and create fun virtual events and activities. For example, council members have asked students to send in their favorite high school memory for a chance to be featured on their Instagram page. This has helped students look back on their positive high school experiences in a time where school is held remotely. With limited interactions amongst teachers and students, the importance of school spirit has never been more exemplified. As some students begin the transition back to in-person learning, many hope to begin rebuilding Mounds View’s school spirit in order to revitalize the community.
A politically divided country
Capitol riots mark historical event by Joseph Hoffman staff reporter
The heated political climate in the United States today played a role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., a historic and unprecedented event in the history of this country. The insurrection has also been quite divisive, with nearly everyone having their own perspective and opinion on the context behind the historic event. On Wednesday, Jan. 6, a group of former President Donald Trump’s supporters gathered in front of the White House, then marched to the U.S. Capitol to protest the results of the presidential election. Eventually, the protest escalated and the group broke through the police barriers and entered the capitol building, smashing windows and forcing open doors. This was all to keep Congress from confirming President Joe Biden’s win. As Trump supporters swarmed the Capitol, the building was evacuated due to the imminent threat of the situation, putting all people in attendance in serious danger. The evacuation proved to be well-advised, as rioters eventually made it to the Senate floor. The violence ended in the death of four rioters and
citizens hold the perspective that the insurrection at the capitol was an unforgivable offense and something that Trump was at least partially responsible for. Many Republicans agree that the insurrection was not acceptable but disagree with Democrats over Trump’s involvement in inciting the riot, saying his words were not responsible for the actions. “I think that it was unnecessary violence and that the people who caused it should be held accountable, but I don’t think that Trump told them to storm the capitol or incited the violence,” said Nathan Swanson, 11. While the details are heavily debated, this still stands as one of the few times democracy was actively obstructed. “This was also the only time,
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I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up in our textbooks in the future.”
protestors and was not a goal of the protestors.” These capitol riots are happening in an age where teenagers are more aware of politics than ever before, and the effects of the capitol riots have reached the Mounds View community. Social studies teacher Emily Daggett gave time in class for students to discuss their thoughts because she believes
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It did seem like the last straw that really showed how radical some Trump supporters had become and how Trump was doing little other than encouraging them.” -Spencer Fellman, 11
-Jenna Claflin, history teacher
illustration by Sienna Wood
one police officer. Reinforcements arrived in time and cleared the building, and Congress returned to finish confirming Biden’s victory. This event was a clear demonstration of the volatile nature of the political climate in the United States. However, it was an event that the majority on both political sides agreed went too far. “It did seem like the last straw that really showed how radical some Trump supporters had become and how Trump was doing little other than encouraging them,” said Spencer Fellman, 11. Most left-leaning
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I think that it was unnecessary violence and that the people who caused it should be held accountable, but I don’t think that Trump told them to storm the capitol or incited the violence.” -Nathan Swanson, 11
other than the secessions of states after the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln ... that didn’t have a peaceful transfer of power in our presidential election,” said history teacher Jenna Claflin. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up in our textbooks in the future.” Comparisons of this event to previous ones in history are often made, with one of the most common being the armed Black Panther protest at the California State Capitol in 1967. Despite the fact that the Black Panther protest was legal and took place at the state capitol in California and not the national capitol, both protests consisted of a group entering a capitol protesting a government they disagreed with, so comparisons between the two are commonplace. However, “they were very different in their goals, actions and the response of the public,” said social studies teacher Justin Benolkin. “The Panthers’ actions were completely legal and were not meant to intimidate, harm or prevent democracy from happening. The Panthers were attempting to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the California legislature.” Another historical demonstration often brought up is the Bonus Army during the Great Depression, and although this may be more similar, the insurrection earlier this year stands alone in the history of the
illustration by Sienna Wood
United States. “This is the first time where the federal government faced an insurrection like this,” Benolkin said. “You could point to the Bonus Army during the Great Depression, but again, the violence that happened there was a result of police action towards the
it is important to acknowledge what is happening in students’ lives. “Due to social media and the internet, students are very aware of the events that are happening in our world,” Daggett said. “I believe that it is important to give students time and space in school to process the news and discuss it
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I believe that it is important to give students time and space in school to process the news and discuss it with their peers.” -Emily Daggett, social studies teacher
with their peers. If [teachers] fail to do this, we are not acknowledging the lives and experiences of our students.” Daggett noticed that students have been affected by the storming and are hungry to understand what is going on around them. “Many students wanted to know exactly what happened and what caused the storming of the capitol,” she said. “Some students asked about the role of race in these events, pointing to the differences between the BLM protests and the events of January 6th.” Many Mounds View staff and students agree that the storming of the capitol earlier this year marks a significant point in history. History teachers even see it as something that stands alone, only being comparable to one or two events in the history of the country. While opinions may vary, and the details disputed, it remains clear that the insurrection is a major part of the current political climate.
Trump faced second impeachment by Isabel Newhouse online editor
On Wednesday, Jan. 13, former President Donald Trump made history by becoming the first president to be impeached twice. Along with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Andrew Jackson, Trump joins a line of leaders who have been deemed not fit to serve as commander-in-chief in the eyes of some people in the nation. During Trump’s rally on Wednesday, Jan. 6, the day of the capitol riots, Trump allegedly urged his supporters to fight back against members of Congress in the capitol who were certifying the results of the election, foreshadowing the groundbreaking event that would happen later that day. In response to the former president’s actions, Congress impeached Trump due to “incitement of insurrection.” This impeachment differs from his first impeachment where he was charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Congress called
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I think generally impeachments aren’t actually about removing someone from office so much as they are a way of keeping negative attention on the other party.” -Owen Arndt, 11
for Trump’s first impeachment due to accusations of his involvement in Russian interference in the 2020 presidential election, while his second impeachment sprouted from what he allegedly told his supporters about election fraud after the 2020 presidential election. Some believe that this propaganda was one of the causes of the capitol riot. Though both impeachments revolve around Trump’s conduct regarding an election, he is being accused of contributing to a fraudulent election in one case but promoting disinformation about the validity of last year’s election results in the
illustration by Sienna Wood
other. On Saturday, Feb. 13, the Senate voted to acquit Trump a second time with a 57-43 vote. Falling short of the two-thirds threshold for impeachment, the verdict of this trial failed to prohibit Trump from running for office in the future. If Trump were to be convicted, he would also have lost benefits that former presidents typically receive, including funding for an office and staff and an annual travel budget. However, seven Republicans joined the Democrats in impeaching the former president. As a result, many anxiously wait to see how the two political parties respond to these few senators who went against their party’s agenda. Students at Mounds View have their own opinions on Trump’s impeachments. “I think generally impeachments aren’t actually about removing someone from office so much as they are a way of keeping negative attention on the other party,” said Owen Arndt, 11. “For example, as this is happening, the Biden administration broke its campaign promise to
not ban fracking, which probably caused them to win so narrowly in Pennsylvania.” Arndt brings up a point that the goal of Trump’s impeachment may be more than just revoking his ability to run for office and his benefits as a former president. Ava Frey, 10, has different thoughts on why Trump was impeached. “After so many unbelievable moments in the past four years, Democrats saw this as a way to back Trump and his Republican followers into a wall,” Frey said. It seems like for many at Mounds View, the impeachment is about exercising the country’s ability to maintain democracy. “The damage that he has caused this country cannot go without accountability,” said Zoke Sackih, 9. Trump has made notable impacts on the country, whether that be positive or negative in the eyes of different people in the nation. This impeachment has shown the people what the nation is capable of as a democracy and where its citizens can go in the future.
illustration by Sienna Wood
Restoring unity amidst polarization by Namitha Narayan staff reporter Political polarization has fueled the recent hostility in the United States. Many distinctive and diverse perspectives guide people to build up anger and hate for those who do not share similar opinions. Evidenced by the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, it has been hard to create a unified political community as extreme tension in the political atmosphere accumulates. This has significantly impacted many communities and raises the concern of how this conflict of opinion can be resolved before it leads to more violence and chaos. Social media makes it easy for users to be reluctant in stepping outside of the content they agree with. “In terms of the accounts you follow and the people you’re friends with, social media can be somewhat of an echo chamber so it doesn’t always give you a fresh perspective,” said Riley Stern, 11. This leads to the creation of a media bubble: the information one interacts with only represents one ideological perspective and misrepresents others. Media bubbles often portray negative aspects of the opposing political perspective, which does not allow for a person to see the full spectrum of information surrounding a specific policy or debated topic.
illustration by Sienna Wood
The lopsided, biased perspective built by media bubbles can create ground for contention. Siding with the political views of influential people or brands can also encourage polarization. “People associate one party or the other with a particular brand and they deem them as the good-guy party and can never be wrong,” said Owen Arndt, 11. This allows for a one-sided outlook on different policies and ideas that different parties have to offer. In fact, the company MyPillow offered the discount code of ‘FightforTrump’ on the day of the mob attack at the Capitol and CEO Mike Lindell has been a fervent supporter of Trump throughout his presidency. Neglecting the perspective of the other side comes with consequences that are unfortunately very apparent in current events. The Capitol insurrection is a prime example of how divided this country has become. Respectfully disagreeing could be foreign to those who think the other side is unreasonable, which makes them unwilling to start conversations about politics. “Having a conversation can’t really happen when people are afraid of losing a job because of their beliefs, being related to someone with the wrong political beliefs or getting ostracized,” Arndt said. However, taking steps prior to when disagreement escalates to large-scale events could prove to be beneficial for communities in the future. Although there has been a significant amount of political conflict across the country, it hasn’t changed how the topic of politics is approached here at Mounds View. Jude Houle, 12, shares his opinion on how politics is discussed at school. “I only had maybe my social studies teacher talk about [the insurrection at the Capitol]. Everyone else ignored it, following the ‘don’t ask and don’t tell’ policy we have here.” In fact, social studies teachers conducted a survey of students regarding the material taught in classrooms. “The vast amount of comments we had were students desiring to see more current events connected to classroom material across courses,” said social
studies teacher Justin Benolkin. The reason teachers can be hesitant about creating a dialogue in their classrooms is due to how they may feel about leading such discussions. “I think this belief that students are not comfortable with [discussions] or don’t want to do this is completely a projection upon the part of teachers who often don’t feel prepared to lead those types of conversations or have tried to in the past and it kind of blew up in their face,” Benolkin said.
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I only had maybe my social studies teacher talk about [the insurrection at the Capitol]. Everyone else ignored it, following the ‘don’t ask and don’t tell’ policy we have here.” -Jude Houle, 12
The destructiveness of a divided country will only continue to grow if action isn’t taken. Students and teachers pointed out how people must be made cognizant of how they can stimulate open-mindedness and encourage respectful discussions. Disagreement is inevitable, but unnecessary violence can be prevented by understanding others’ different perspectives.
8 SPORTS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
Hockey indicates a promising season by Maya Betti staff reporter Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Mounds View varsity boys hockey team hopes the season will bring many achievements. With wins against both Stillwater and Irondale, the team looks forward to improving its 5-4-1 record (current as of the time this article was sent to publication, Thursday, Feb. 18), while also dealing with the many ad-
“I don’t think COVID has changed the way our team plays, honestly. We know our formula and we know how to win hockey games.” -Evan Peterson, 12
justments to their routines due to COVID-19. The team’s victory against Stillwater sets new expectations for this season.
“I think that win sort of saved our season because that really gave us a momentum boost,” said Ivar Westerman, 11. “Stillwater’s always a good team, and we love playing them. They’re one of our biggest rivals so it’s always a fun time after we beat them.” Jacob Drews, 12, had similar thoughts. “It’s a good feeling to beat a team that is always a state contender for our section,” Drews said. “It goes to show that when we play our game, no team in the state can stop us.” Even non-players involved with the team share the same excitement. “I was honestly shocked when we won,” said team manager Grace Peltier, 10. “It was just a mistake on Stillwater’s part and the guys that were out there really went for it, got the puck and scored. It was pretty crazy.” The Mounds View team uses its speed to its advantage, tiring out its opponents. “We have a fast team and are very good at wearing teams down,” said Ben Bronco, 9. A strong defensive lineup has also contributed to the success the team has seen so far. “Our strength is definitely our goaltending and team defense as we don’t let up many goals,” Westerman said.
Even on the sidelines, team manager TT Troung, 12, has noticed the team’s stellar defense. “We have a lot of boys contributing to the team and continuing
“We are a good enough team to be able to compete with the best teams in the state.” -Jake Drews, 12
to work harder, but especially also our defense and our goalie.” Though the team is seeing success, there are still obstacles due to the ongoing pandemic. Along with all the other winter sports, the hockey team has to abide by COVID-19 regulations. A limited number of spectators are allowed at games, and players have had to significantly alter their pre-game readiness routine. “This year we aren’t allowed to be in the rink for more than 10 minutes before starting time, so the energy isn’t the same [as pre-COVID],” Westerman said. But according to Evan Peterson, 12,
COVID-19 is just another speed bump on the road to success. “I don’t think COVID has changed the way our team plays, honestly,” Peterson said. “We know our formula and we know how to win hockey games. We’ve been able to have our masks down while playing, so that’s been good. The only thing that sucks is you gotta warm up by yourself before the game, but it is what it is.” Goals are what keep the team focused during the pandemic. “My goals for this season are just working as hard as I can for my teammates and being a leader to the younger guys,” Peterson said. As a team, the players hope to advance all the way to state. “We would like to make a Section Championship and ultimately go to the State Tournament,” said Zack Schulte, 12. Drews shares the same mindset as Schulte. “We are a good enough team to be able to compete with the best teams in the state,” Drews said. Players also express their confidence in the team’s ability to reach state. “We are on a good win streak right now, and we need to keep it going. We lost a few of our first games that we shouldn’t have lost, but our team knows what it takes to win games,” Peterson said.
Girls basketball loses a close one On Thursday, Thursday, Feb. 4, the varsity Mounds View girls basketball team had a tough game against White Bear Lake that resulted in a 45-52 loss. While the girls fought hard in the first half and carried a lead of 24-20 at halftime, the Bears came back strong in the second half, making two three-pointers in the first two minutes. The momentum carried them through the game and past Mounds View’s tricky zone defense. The Mustangs tried to regain their lead, but came up short as the clock ticked down to zero. Player 20, Jessica Eichens, 10, was able to make two quick baskets, but it was not enough to tie the game. While most defeats come with an understandable feeling of disappoint-
ment, this game was an improvement from the last time the Mustangs took on the Bears. In the last game between these two teams, the Bears dominated with a 30-46 game, with Mounds View losing by 16 points compared to the seven-point loss in the most recent game. Even though they lost, the more recent game demonstrated the Mustangs’ progression and growth as a team. The varsity team’s improvements follow the many adjustments the players made this season. When starting player, Maddie Hanson, 11, injured two fingers that kept her from playing, the team had to adjust its strategy for the season. “We played [White Bear] about two and a half weeks ago,” said new head coach Dave Bratland in a game day interview. “We had Maddie Hanson [at the time] but we do not have her tonight.
We haven’t had her since that game, so the last four games. We are going to do a couple things differently and see how that works.” Going forward, Bratland hopes the team can continue to improve and maintain its positive atmosphere.“I think everyone is just so happy to be playing and hanging out together,” Bratland said. “My hopes are that we continue to make progress as we go throughout the season and that we all remain positive and can support one another. And to make the best out of the time we have.” As for points, there was a fairly even spread between the starting players in the game. Leah Ban, 12, had a total of eight points. Rachel Kluz, 11, was “Ms. Threes” of the game with three confident swishes. She had a total of 11 points at the end of the game. Jessica Eichens,
10, notably had the most rebounds for Mounds View and scored 15 points. “Bright Shoes Briah’’ Stenstrom, 9, was an influential defensive player, keeping the opponents on their toes. She was easily visible to spectators as her bright red shoes flashed down the court. Stenstrom banked a total of four points by the end of the game. Even with a loss, this recent White Bear game was a mark of the team’s progress as a whole. Their determination and grit is visible even while watching through a live stream. They are an entertaining team to watch, and it will be very interesting to see where their skills take them the rest of the season.
Leah Ban, 12, dribbles around White Bear’s defense.
Claire Redlinger, 11, reaches for the ball.
Jessica Eischens, 10, dribbles the ball on the court.
Zoe Thompson, 10, jumps to take a shot.
by Marie Diffley staff reporter
photos courtesy of Laurin Isabel
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020
Landberg leads the race
ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE 9
by Alissa Zhao online editor-in-chief
Many children find themselves participating in the sports that their parents love. Claire Landberg, 11, tells a similar story. “I started skiing when I was 3 because my parents really like skiing, so they took me,” Landberg said. She began racing at 12 years old after a friend invited her. Since then, Landberg has skied for Team Afton and participated in the development team at Afton Alps. She currently trains with Team Gilboa at Wild Mountain where she also works as a member of the ski patrol team. In addition, Landberg has been skiing for the Mounds View Alpine ski team since she was in seventh grade, making many memories during her five years on the team. “My favorite memory is probably when our team took a trip to Lutsen last year, just the entirety of that,” Landberg said. “It had so many funny moments and was just an overall good time.”
When Landberg is not hitting the slopes, she is hitting the gym in preparation for ski season. She also runs for the Mounds View cross-country team in the fall and for the track team in the spring. She hopes her commitment to Alpine ski racing, even in the off-season, will contribute to her success in the sport.
Landberg also credits her enduring dedication and success in skiing to her desire to continue to improve and reach the goals she set for herself. Additionally, Landberg is motivated by the racers she looks up to, such as World Cup champion Mikaela Shiffrin and Olympian Alice Merryweather. “I look up to Mikaela Shiffrin because she’s just an incredible skier, and she always has such a positive outlook,” Landberg said. “I also look up to Alice Merryweather because we share similar stories, and she’s a very strong person despite her setbacks.”
As an experienced skier, Landberg offers helpful advice to those who are new to the sport. “Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and do things that scare you,” she said. “Skiing is really scary in general, so get yourself used to the fear so you can push past your limits.” After leaving Mounds View, Landberg currently plans to ski intramurally for the University of Utah and is interested in coaching while she is there.
Fun Facts About Claire Landberg » Favorite Fast Food: Jersey Mike’s » Favorite Movie: “Mamma Mia!” photos courtesy of Claire Landberg
» Favorite Brand of Skis: “For racing, I’d say Rossignol. For freeskiing, Black Crows or Liberty!”
10 PHOTOGRAPHY
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
photo by Janae Lee
photo by Janae Lee
Valentine’s Day by Josie Mackenthun and Janae Lee photographer and editor-in-chief
photo by Josie Mackenthun
Visit mvviewer.org for more Valentine’s Day content!
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 11
The new but not improved “Winx Club” by Maya Betti staff reporter When I heard that Netflix made the color-filled, fairy-fighting show from my childhood into a liveaction TV series, I went ballistic. In my youth, “Winx Club” was always something exciting to watch, starring red-headed fire fairy Bloom and her magical friends. It became a staple for many others as well, and it retains its popularity among those who watched it as children to this day. Because of this, I knew I had to watch the new adaptation.
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cluded for no other reason than to show adult themes. I understand that Netflix is catering toward a different audience than the original show’s target demographic, but there are more effective ways of showing maturity than inserting every teenage trope available. While some found the decision to make “Winx Saga” meant for older audiences the worst part of the show, some find other decisions more contemptible. Viewers of the original show know that Flora, the fairy
I find there are more effective ways of showing maturity than inserting every teenage trope available.
As the show is a remake of “Winx Club,” it would only be fair to compare it to its roots. Side by side, the new “Fate: The Winx Saga” is a loose take on the original show, only keeping some of the characters and their magical abilities the same. In this adaptation, the characters swear, use drugs and have sexual encounters. This seems like an obvious move that Netflix would make because the original animated show’s audience has aged since Winx Club’s initial release in 2004. However, the more mature scenes felt unnatural and unnecessary to the plot. Scenes like the stereotypical high school party, including drug use and sexual connotations, are in-
illustration by Sienna Wood
who wields earth’s magical powers, was left out of the new show. Instead, Terra, her apparent cousin, was cast as a white woman. In “Winx Club,” Flora was seen as an important representative for the Latina community. The decision to leave out this figure takes away from the much-deserved representation of people of color in television and the potential plot lines that could have been explored. “Winx Club” is known to have a di-
verse set of characters, intentionally designed in a way that no one feels excluded; this type of representation should have been carried into this adaptation. Despite these shortcomings, the story of Alfea and its magical students still has the right amount of mystery, drama and, most importantly, magic. The graphics in this show are amazing to watch and draw the viewer into the plot line which, in itself, is not bad either. The allure of a girl blessed with chaotic powers entwined into a mystical mystery is undeniable, and the plot increases in excitement as it unfolds. As new characters are introduced, the plot reveals secrets that were hard to see coming. With every episode, I was drawn more and more into the stories of each individual character, gradually changing my opinions on characters over time. I even came to love the side characters more than the lead as I learned more. The enticing character development, beautiful scenery and growing mystery of the show made watching it worthwhile. I would recommend this series even to those who have not seen the original show or to those who saw the original and do not hope for a scene-by-scene recreation of “Winx Club.” The magic itself is what makes giving it a watch well worth it.
The Verdict: 5/10
Eating adventurously at Petite León by Joseph Hoffman staff reporter Petite León, which opened last fall at 3800 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, offers a more adventurous take on takeout food. Its unconventional options, such as pollo al carbon — a Yucatán inspired take on chicken — and its range of classic, upscale cheeseburgers, let customers try something new while social distancing is still recommended. For those simply looking for a more upscale take on a classic meal, the cheeseburger, fries and Mexican chocolate ice cream provide the comfort of familiar foods with the sophistication of a dine-in restaurant. The cheeseburger’s double patty and generous amount of cheese is satisfying without being too overwhelming, and the caramelized onions give it the feel of
photo courtesy of Joseph Hoffman
something one would have at a fancy restaurant. The fries are soft and not overly seasoned, a perfect complement to the meal without being overpowering, and the chocolate ice cream is a fantastic way to finish off the meal; it is a fairly classic chocolate ice cream but with a much richer flavor than most found here in America. Overall, this option is a great way to get a classic-feeling meal with an upscale twist rarely found in takeout food. Where Petite León really shines, however, are its more adventurous options. The restaurant’s flagship meal is its pollo al carbon, a grilled chicken inspired by owner and chef Jorge Guzmán’s childhood in the Yucatán along with sides such as chips, heirloom tortillas and guacamole. Chicken is a common food in America, especially in the takeout world, but this Mexican take is entirely different. With a little bit of a bite and a pleasing mix of spices, this grilled chicken offers a great way to try something experimental without straying too far away from the typical offerings of takeout food. An even more unique choice is the spaghetti al salmorejo, which brings even more bite than the chicken. This heat comes from the piquillo sauce, seasoned with a combination of dill, mint and cilantro. Before trying it, the fusion of spices sounds strange, but they all work well together and it ends up being a highlight on the menu. However, if spice easily irritates a customer, this dish may not be the best option. “Right now. we are offering comfort food with really bold flavors,” Guzmán said. “There is definitely a Mexican flavor profile that runs through the menu, along with Spanish and French influences. We also offer the best cheeseburger in Minneapolis. Our takeout is fast, easy and a step above normal takeout.” The striking flavors and certain degree of elevation are the main attraction, and Guzmán believes the pollo al carbon is the best way to get the Petite León experience. He went on to give his personal recommendations for those really looking to step out of the box. “More adventurous eaters would do well to try our pozole, meatballs and fried chicken sandwich,” Guzmán said.
No matter the meal a customer ends up ordering from Petite León, it is more than likely going to be delicious, not only due to the expertise and experience of the chef, but also the way the pandemic has affected how the restaurant is run. “All the food we’re doing right now are fan favorite types of items because we need to garner as many sales as possible,” Guzmán said. All in all, this res-
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More adventurous eaters would do well to try our pozole, meatballs and fried chicken sandwich.” -Jorge Guzmán,
owner of Petite León taurant offers a fantastic selection of exciting takes on American takeout classics. A couple downsides are the price and adventurous nature of the food. At $15 for the cheeseburger, $12 for the ice cream and $60 for the pollo al carbon meal, it is not cheap. The food is often more eccentric and different than most takeout options, so it certainly works best as a celebration or a once-in-a-while experience when a craving for new flavors arises. Despite this, it is still well worth a try as something exciting and new while many are still stuck at home.
The Verdict: 9/10
12 ARTIST OF THE ISSUE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
Dreamscapes information compiled by Madeline Edgar photos courtesy of Allison Tran
Allison Tran Tran, 11 uses both traditional and digital mediums to paint familiar yet surreal scenes.
Allison Tran, 11, has been an artist since age 6. She began by drawing Disney princesses, but before long she began spilling her imagination out onto paper, conveying characters and stories of her own in a delightfully genuine way that still remains evident in her works today. Tran sticks primarily to portraits, painting expressions and personalities with ease, using pastels and wide brush strokes to breathe life into her canvas. Along with telling the stories of others, it is clear that Tran’s art is in some ways a reflection of herself. “When I draw, I energetically recalibrate and reboot,” Tran said, and this sentiment seeps into the mind of the viewer as well, guided by the dreamlike colors and soft personable nature of her subjects. Tones of surrealism overlap with warmth to form a hazy, memory-like feel to Tran’s pieces, which alternate between traditional acrylic or watercolor and digital paintings. Tran cites Johannes Vermeer’s “The Girl With a Pearl Earring” as an early source of inspiration for her style, a factor that is apparent in the slice-of-life nature of much of both Tran’s works and Dutch Renaissance art. “I want my art to evoke a sense of safety, nourishment, warmth and soulfulness,” Tran said, and she exceeds this goal with ease with a combination of technique, talent and creativity that lends itself to pieces that seem as otherworldly as they are familiar.
All art featured is by Allison Tran