MV Viewer 2023-24 Issue 7

The Viewer Volume 71

Issue 7

March 28, 2024

Website: mvviewer.org

Instagram: @mvviewer

Sports Betting Legalization: Teenage Risks, Addiction Concerns and Impact on Native American Reservations

News 02

Theater casting sparks controversy

Features 05 Community spreads support for Evan Kirkland

Opinion 09

Happiness is not a cabin in the woods

Reviews 10

‘Dune: Part Two’ review

Sports 11 The Timberwolves’ #1 cheerleader: Chad Schlosser

2 Theater casting sparks controversy NEWS

THE VIEWER • MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

The recent casting for the Cinderella musical has sparked conflict within the department and scrutiny towards the director of the program.

| Maya Gjelhaug & Tyler Quattrin PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF By request, student sources are kept anonymous to protect their position in the theater program or to prevent scrutiny. Anonymous sources are each provided with a different number for differentiation.

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oon to end his second year as director of Mounds View’s theater program, Irondale graduate Matthew Van Bruggen has recently faced controversy following the decision to cast white actresses for lead roles over Black actresses.

The controversy The spring musical, based on the 1997 live-action Cinderella starring Brandy and Whitney Houston, is often cast with two Black leads, as in the film.

“We have the Enchanted version, which is the one based on the ‘90s movie, which was such a landmark for Black people in media,” said Theater Member 1. “Brandy was our first Black Cinderella, [our] first Black princess. That was such a big thing for representation, especially in the United States.”

Upon the announcement of the spring musical, many looked forward to a chance to showcase that representation on Mounds View’s stage. “I remember me and other Black members of the cast, we were so excited that this was, this was our time, this is our time to shine. Usually, there’s no representation in our theater department,” said junior Natavia Griffin.

It seems that the writers of the musical also intended for the show to feature a diverse cast. The beginning of the script contains an inclusion statement: “In this show, the race of the characters is not pivotal to the plot. We encourage you to consider diversity and inclusion in your casting choices.”

Three Black actresses, Griffin, ju-

nior Zariyah Howell and junior Jayda McAdams, auditioned for roles in the cast. None of them got speaking roles, and both Griffin and McAdams were instead cast as understudies. Griffin has since decided to drop that role. “I dropped the understudy role [...] because the representation and toxicity [...] and just the fact that I would have to be at every single practice that Cinderella was at.” Senior Hridaya Ghosh, who was cast as Fairy Godmother, was the only person of color cast in a speaking role.

The decision to select this particular version of Cinderella, without opting for diverse casting, has led to questioning of Van Bruggen’s motives. “[Diverse casting] is not a requirement for the show, of course, but I just think it’s kind of weird.

Why would you choose that specific show?” said Theater Member 2.

Van Bruggen responded to these comments, claiming that the Enchanted version was chosen to offer a “fresh and captivating experience” for the actors and audience. “It aligns with our goal of presenting productions that are both entertaining and meaningful, allowing students to explore timeless themes such as kindness, resilience and the power of dreams,” he said.

In response to criticism of the casting choice, Van Bruggen said, “I understand and deeply respect the concerns raised about representation in our production of Cinderella. It’s important to acknowledge the significance of this version for Black representation, and I want to assure everyone that our casting decisions were made to strive to provide opportunities for all students, regardless of race, to showcase their talents and be part of our productions. I am committed to listening to feedback, learning from this experience, and implementing changes to ensure all students feel seen, heard, and valued in our future productions.”

Many theater students believe that the artistic team had a cast planned be-

fore auditions even took place. “[Van Bruggen] chose this version with a specific person in mind to be Cinderella that is a white person. And that just feels really racist to me,” said Theater Member 3.

“Typecasting” According to some theater students, casting choices have been controversial before this show, accusing the artistic team of typecasting, a common concern in the industry, which refers to casting actors in roles that closely resemble ones they have played before.

“If you look at previous cast lists, it is the most typecasted. This show especially. I knew every single person [...] what role they were gonna get. It’s kind of insane,” said Theater Member 2. “It’s the same exact people every time, and it’s not like they’re the only people auditioning. There’s a lot of other talented people auditioning.”

Van Bruggen responded to these allegations, stating, “As this is only my second year as the director, I have cast a total of four productions since I began.

As shared with those auditioning, all shows have been cast by a team of people to include the assistant director, music director and choreographer, depending on the production.”

Reetz’s response In response to the tension, Principal Rob Reetz explained how he met with the cast to discuss dignity as a value of Mounds View and how he views gossip as a dignity violation. While he anticipated everyone involved in the spring musical would be there, it turned out to solely be the cast. Van Bruggen was also not present.

Reetz explained how he isn’t in a position to involve himself in the casting decisions and still believes those who were cast are “incredibly talented and

worthy of the role they got.” “I would never tell a coach who to start. I would never tell a theater director who to cast,” he said.

Still, like most, Reetz acknowledges the argument against the casting choice.

“If I’m in a position of choosing these things, given the training I’ve had, the lens I have on wanting to create an inclusive school, I may have done some things differently.”

Many students involved in theater have not brought their complaints to administrators, citing fear of punishment from Van Bruggen, including losing their roles. “I have been too scared, to be completely honest, because I do not want to jeopardize my role in this production,” said Theater Member 1.

Nevertheless, Reetz said that feedback would be necessary for any action against Van Bruggen. “If people are concerned, they should come talk to both myself and Mr. Galvin. Because at the end of the day, those are the two people that want to know what the student experience is like,” he said. Additionally, Reetz highlighted the significance of the seasonal activity surveys sent to students and parents in evaluating leadership.

It is important to note that few theater members deny that senior Eva Manrodt, who was cast as Cinderella, is undeserving of her role. “I defend the people in the cast in their roles. I do believe that those people are deserving of their roles,” said Theater Member 4.

While there is a minority of students who approve of his leadership, most want to see Van Bruggen take accountability for the casting decisions. “The problem has never been anyone in the cast [...] it is literally only Mr. Van Bruggen,” said Theater Member 1.

This story may be developing and could be updated on mvviewer.org.

Mounds View to adopt Food to Hog program

| Elijah Easton STAFF REPORTER any schools in Minnesota have adopted the Food to Hog program to combat the impact of their food waste. This program allows hog farms to obtain permits to use post-consumer food waste as feed for their hogs, providing an easy way for schools to recycle the food waste that students create. Starting the 2024-2025 school year, Mounds View and Irondale will implement the program in their cafeterias.

Next school year, Mounds View will have sorting tables in

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the cafeteria. After eating, students will sort their leftovers into bins. The food scraps will be sent to farms, where they will be processed and fed to hogs. The sorting tables will be supervised, either by custodians or by student organizations such as Student Council.

Currently, the Mounds View school district participates in this program with both its elementary and middle schools feeding their food waste to hogs. Mounds View and Irondale, however, only have this program in their kitchens.

Mounds View seniors Allison Yu and Ben Refsell have advocated for the high schools

In Issue 6, the article on Rice Creek Commons (RCC) had inaccuracies: • Outlot A was part of the original 427-acre parcel that Ramsey County purchased in 2013 and has always been part of the overall Rice Creek Commons development site. It is not a new integration.

• Ramsey County still owns Outlot A. Ramsey County, as the land owner, has entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Ryan Companies. The sale is not final yet and the agreement includes a 15-month due diligence period. The City of Arden Hills did not purchase Outlot A and did not enter into the agreement with Ryan Companies; however, through the Joint Development Authority, the city was involved in reviewing proposals and recommending Ryan Companies as the selected development partner.

• Water to Rice Creek Commons is not supplied from wells. It is supplied through municipal systems from Saint Paul Regional Water Services.

• Alatus and Ryan Companies are working with the Joint Development Authority to meet shared goals for the overall development.

The two developers are not working together on goals.

• While the City Council voted to amend the Arden Hills 2040 Comprehensive Plan, it still needs to undergo Metropolitan Council review and approval before the change is final.

• Councilmember Monson’s name is misspelled in the last sentence.

Corrections courtesy of Goff Public, the PR firm for the RCC project.

to scale up their Food to Hog program by meeting with the school board as a part of their AP Government Civic Engagement Project to discuss instituting the program for student waste at Mounds View.

“We do technically have a Food to Hog program, but it is just the food that is leftover in the lunch line that has not been eaten by the students. It is not the food that has been thrown out by the students, which makes up a much much larger portion of our food waste,” said Refsell.

According to Building Management Supervisor Todd Hansen, the Food to Hogs program started around eight years ago at Island Lake Elementary.

From there, it spread to other schools, such as Snail Lake Kindergarten Center and Pike Lake Elementary. He said the plan has been to introduce the program to elementary schools to familiarize students with it and then to middle and high

PHOTO | Benjamin Refsell and Allison Yu

BEN REFSELL AND ALLISON YU (front) with the Mounds View School Board (back) after advocating for a Food to Hog program at Mounds View High School.

schools as they grow older.

Adding the program to the high school kitchens was the next step before adding sorting tables for students’ waste next school year.

However, the program faced problems when it was phased into the middle schools at the beginning of the school year. “It was quite a struggle for

Highview and Chippewa because a lot of those kids didn’t know anything about it,” said Hansen. This, along with staffing issues, are major concerns for implementing Food to Hog in the district’s high schools.

Despite these issues, the district is moving forward with the Food to Hog program this September.

3 Mounds View students get Diwali recognized as holiday NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024 • WWW.MVVIEWER.ORG

Two Mounds View students recently collaborated with the school board to advocate for recognizing Diwali as a religious holiday and having it removed as a school day. | Suha Sharif STAFF REPORTER he Mounds View Public School District has become increasingly more diverse in recent years.

To make room for inclusion, the district has implemented more days off during the school year to include more cultural holidays. But it wasn’t until last semester, when two seniors wondered, “What about Diwali?” that the popular Indian holiday was added to the calendar as a religious holiday and given off to students beginning next school year.

Diwali is a holiday celebrated by more than a billion people worldwide and over 50,000 Hindus, Sikhs and Jains in Minnesota. The holiday symbolizes the victory of good over evil. This is significant to many Hindus, Sikhs and Jains because it honors history for many and allows worshippers to grow spiritually, have inner self-reflection and renew bonds with loved ones.

When senior Hridaya Ghosh and her mother looked over the changed calendar for

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the 2024-2025 school year, they were surprised to see no mention of Diwali.

Another concern was how busy families who celebrate get

“When Eid and Rosh Hashanah were added to the school calendars, [...] my mom was like, ‘We should have the Diwali too, because the Hindu students deserve representation in their school too.’”

Hridaya Ghosh, ‘24

around the holiday. “So that we could also have a chance to fully celebrate our culture and our religion without having to deal with the stress of schoolwork on top of it all,” said Ghosh.

Coming from India, this was a momentous occasion with days of celebration for senior Pratham Snehi, so it was a disappointing surprise to see

how little acknowledgement this holiday had in Minnesota.

“But coming here, there wasn’t any kind of holiday so we had to celebrate all of this while having to go to school the next day. So it was kind of a bummer,” says Snehi.

This convinced Ghosh and Snehi to advocate for recognition of Diwali in their civic engagement project in AP Government.

Aided by their teacher, Ms. Carlson, who directed them on how to raise the issue with the school board, Ghosh and Snehi reached out in hopes that they would address it. After contacting the school board secretary, they scheduled an in-person meeting with the school board and discussed their proposal, meeting little resistance except

“I believe a lot of people did not know about this, but they definitely know it now.”

Pratham Snehi, ‘24

PHOTO | Hridaya Ghosh

MOUNDS VIEW High School seniors Hridaya Ghosh and Pratham Snehi pose for a selfie with Mounds View School Board members.

for concern over the date of Diwali.

After discovering that the proposal was approved, Snehi and Ghosh felt a sense of accomplishment. They were happy to see it had an effect on the many students who celebrate Diwali. “[There was] A Sikh guy in my class who was like, ‘That’s so important for us. I’m so glad you’re doing that,’” said Ghosh.

Through their advocating for the holiday came their realization that students can make

change within the school. With this recent accomplishment, they hope minorities at Mounds View will feel encouraged to engage with their culture more openly, advocate for their identities and reach out to those who want to make students’ voices heard. “[The school board is] so kind and they want to help you, and as long as you advocate for yourself, you can get anything accomplished,” said Ghosh.

What to expect after the El Niño winter

| Justin Shao STAFF REPORTER ast Christmas, many expected a traditional cold and snowy winter,, but instead they were met with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees.

This unusual weather wasn’t just due to global warming, but also El Niño, the warming of surface weather in the eastern Pacific Ocean. El Niño is part of the broader climate phenomenon known as the El NiñoSouthern Oscillation (ENSO).

El Niño is a weather phenomenon that happens due to changes in the Pacific trade winds. “Normally, Pacific trade winds blow to the west towards Asia. However, during an El Niño event, like we had this past winter, the warmer than average ocean temps and the ocean currents end up directing the trade winds back east instead,” said Allison Beardsley, science teacher. Minnesota experienced much less precipitation and mild temperatures this winter due to these warm air masses from the southern tropics.

El Niño isn’t something new; in fact, it was first recorded in 1578. This climate phenomenon occurs every two to seven years at irregular and unpredictable intervals. Although

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they have been around for centuries, the most impactful ones happened recently during the 1980s and 1990s, according to National Geographic. . Though the relationship between climate change and El Niño hasn’t been completely confirmed, studies such as one by Nature Climate Change, which shows increasing events of extreme El Niño effects due to greenhouse warming, suggest that climate change could have an impact on El Niño.

The warm winter has had a large effect on the ecosystem.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), around 30% of the moose population in Minnesota died last year due to a winter tick infestation, one that would not have been possible without the early warming effects of El Niño. The ticks will live on the moose all winter until they hop off and lay their eggs into the soil duringApril. A majority of these ticks would then drown due to all of the snow on the ground, and their eggs would not hatch. But if there isn’t any snow by April and the ground is dry, then the ticks will thrive.

Lakes are freezing later and thawing earlier across the state because of El Niño. Due to this, algae is growing at a faster rate

than before, sucking away oxygen within the lake and forcing the fish into smaller and smaller spaces, slowly killing them off.

Ciscos, a small white fish that lives in the cold, deep water is a prime example. Half of their population has been lost in the past 30 years, according to the DNR, due to the effects of El Niño.

El Niño is the first part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle while La Niña is the second. “La Niña is the opposite [of El Niño], where the ocean currents run more strongly west, increasing the wind in the same direction as well,” said Beardsley. “During La Nina events, we’d see more of the ‘polar vortex’ air masses coming down from Canada and moving over Minnesota. This would cause our temperatures to drop more than usual, and we’d likely see a lot more precipitation in the form of snow that winter.” Currently, there is a watch for La Niña as historically, in extreme El Niño events, La Niña tends to follow. According to the National Weather Service Climate Protection Center, there are increasing possibilities of La Niña occurring between June and August of this year.

Neither of these events is inherently good or bad, but with

the rising of ocean temperatures, there will be an increase in these events and likely more extreme versions. “We experienced El Niño this year, which is what caused our warmer, dryer winter. But while we experienced warmer weather, states to the south of us experienced

an increase in precipitation and cooler temps than normal,” said Beardsley. El Niño had many effects on Minnesota as well as the rest of the U.S. in the 20232024 winter and will only continue to make a lasting impact on the environment.

PHOTO | Charlotte Krum

PHOTO taken during winter 2024 shows lack of snow and ice outside in Minnesota.

4 FEATURES All a-boat sailor Jack Colosi THE VIEWER • MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

| Isabel Li SPREAD EDITOR hen it comes to sailing, many people picture a big sailboat with rich old men cruising leisurely along the ocean.

The competitive side of sailing, however, is often overlooked.

Junior Jack Colosi comes from a family of sailors. As a child, he sailed with his mom and grandparents, who owned a sailboat on Chesapeake Bay, near the Atlantic Ocean. In seventh grade, Colosi joined the White Bear Sailing School and began sailing competitively on the sailing school’s high school team.

When Colosi first joined, he immediately loved it, citing the team as helpful and uplifting. He also noticed the unique generational dynamic of the sailing community, with older, more-seasoned sailors frequently interacting with younger sailors. “The traditions are passed down through the different people,” said Colosi. “The boats that [the older people] sail are then passed onto the newer generations and the newer people are taught by the older people.”

Among the different types of competitive sailing, Colosi does fleet racing, which involves identical boats racing against each other on a designated course.

One key component of his races is the relationship he has

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COLOSI (left) sailing with teammate Robbie Dresen (right) in Jensen Beach, Florida.

with his partner. Colosi sails on a 4.2 meter boat that is operated by two people: the skipper and the crew. As a skipper, Colosi steers and controls the larger mainsail, while his partner, the crew, controls the smaller jib sail.

Sailing with a partner takes a large amount of communication and synchronization. Together, Colosi and his partner must choreograph their movements from one side of the boat to the other to operate the vessel smoothly and move around various buoys on the course.

Many sailors switch partners almost every day, but Colosi prefers to stick with the same partner who he began sailing with two years ago — junior Kaitlyn Anderson from

Stillwater. “I find I sail best if I’m sailing with the same person because we kind of get in a groove,” said Colosi. “I think it’s really important to have someone that you can be in sync with because sailing is […] all about how well in sync you and your crew can be — little changes you do together that can make the boat go a lot faster.”

Beyond the relationships, what really sets competitive sailing apart from other sports is its incredible mental challenge.

“There’s so much stuff to be thinking about at once, like how should I be pulling in my mainsail? How should I be steering?

What’s this other boat doing?

Where should I start? How is the wind gonna shift? It’s just a

PHOTO VIA Jack Colosi

lot of strategizing that you really have to do, and I think there’s so many complexities to it that I think are just really hard to get down,” said Colosi.

He adds that every race presents a unique situation, with varying wind and water conditions, and picking what strategy to use is far from straightforward. “At every moment you have like 15 options of what to do and it’s like 11 of those will be wrong,” said Colosi.

Training for these challenges requires intensive practice, which Colosi takes very seriously. During the competitive season, which lasts from April to October, he practices four or five times a week for up to three hours per day. Training sometimes consists of practice

races, drills or lessons about boat mechanics.

Colosi also sails in state races once a week and competes against other high school teams in the area, including Minnetonka and Minneapolis.

One notable accomplishment is his 1st place finish at the Brad Robinson Victory Regatta last summer. He also attends national-level races, such as the C420 race in the upper-level high school division or the Melges Midwinter Series in Florida.

Beyond his own training, Colosi has extended his sailing journey and begun teaching little kids how to sail during the summers. “I really enjoy sailing myself, and I really wish I would have found it earlier in life, because I think I really would have enjoyed it, so [I enjoy] being able to share that with younger people and maybe getting a spark to start in them and to continue sailing,” said Colosi.

Colosi hopes to sail competitively in college at the varsity level and to continue teaching younger sailors. For him, sailing is not just a leisure activity, but rather a rewarding intellectual challenge and lifelong sport. “It just feels so good once you get it right. If you just have a perfect race where everything is strategized, and you’re just on top of it, then that’s just the best feeling in the world,” said Colosi.

Q&A with poet Shaun Canas

| Isabella Kunc

as I was so limited in what

SPREAD & FEATURES EDITOR I could communicate er-

Senior Shaun Canas is a nonverbal autistic poet. He recently entered the Teen Poetry Slam Contest and won second place. Azure Merrill recorded the poem and played it while Canas was on stage.

Q: What inspires your poems?

A: My greatest inspiration is my autism and the various hidden and obvious disabilities it creates in my life. I think it’s important for others to hear my perspective so they understand me and my odd behaviors better.

Q: When did you start writing?

A: I started writing when I learned to type at age 12.

Up until then, I was only taught to use the picture exchange communication system (PECS) with my iPad as voice output. This system was confusing and took years off my education

ratically with others. Once I learned to type, the entire English language was at my disposal. Poetry allows me to use my deep vocabulary, turning groups of words into something original and mine.

Q: What is your favorite poem you’ve written?

Why? A: My favorite poem of mine is the last one I wrote called “Elusive Friendship” which describes the difficulties of making friends as a nonverbal communicator.

I like the truly fundamental message of what obstacles I face, as well as its structure and repetition. The theme demonstrates that we all deserve friends.

Q: Why did you enter the contest and what was participating like?

A: I entered primarily to share my poetry, with the objective of being sort of an outlier as a nonverbal poet using someone else’s voice to speak my poetry. It has been a thrilling and fright-

ening experience all going in circles. I am quite glad I did it.

Q: Poet Trish Jones was moved to tears by your poem “Off Track.” How does that make you feel?

A: Tish Jones wrote a poem called “Tracks” that we read in English class and wrote a short response to. My response essentially became my poem “Off Track.” It was very special that she was in the audience, and I was surprised and touched very much by her reaction.

Q: How do you feel about winning second place?

A: I was elated by my second place finish since I’ve never done a poetry competition before. It all seemed like a dream in the moment. Like a dream come true.

Q: What are some challenges you faced in this contest and writing poems in general?

A: The most obvious challenge that I’ve faced in this contest is onstage slam po-

etry in the face of nonverbal autism. My English teacher Ms. Merrill had the clever idea of recording another student reading my poem that could be played when it was my turn. That way, the attention would be on me and my poetry. Doing this allowed me to stand in the spotlight holding the mic stand while the voice recording of my poem played through my iPad and was broadcast through the sound system. Writing the poetry is the easy part for me; it flows out and I type it.

Q: What are your favorite parts of writing? Why do you continue to write?

A: The best part of writing is finding unique word combinations or phrases on particular subjects to make it my own. We all want a chance to feel smart, and because I can’t talk, writing gives me PHOTO VIA Shaun Canas the opportunity to share my true thoughts and be smart.

CANAS on stage at the Teen Poetry Slam Contest while his poem was read by Azure Merrill.

FEATURES

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024 • WWW.MVVIEWER.ORG

5

Community spreads support for Evan Kirkland

| Lale Akkin STAFF REPORTER

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n Feb. 16, many Mounds View students began reposting Instagram posts about a GoFundMe fundraiser for senior Evan Kirkland, who, on Jan. 30, suffered a tonic-clonic seizure, also known as a grand mal seizure.

Upon reaching the St. John’s Hospital emergency room after his seizure, doctors discovered Evan had a 105-degree fever and brain swelling.

He also had three extremely rare blood infections, viral and bacterial meningitis and encephalitis. “[Evan is] very disciplined when it comes to his health in general, which is why this was such a scary shock,” senior Noah Hammet-Divine, one of Kirkland’s close friends and teammates, said. Under these conditions, Evan will be unable to return to school in person for the remainder of his senior year.

Evan is known as a talented athlete, among the top in the state for hurdles. He likes weightlifting and running track, but he must take a break until he’s recovered and will miss the spring season. Even with this setback, he is determined to get back to doing what he loves

once he recovas “an inspiration ers. of a human being” E v a n because of her had to take dedication to her medication to family. “It is inreduce brain sane. She’s a crazy swelling and person in a good had to have way and it shows a PICC line the love that a persurgically imson who raises you planted. Inhas,” he said. surance could As of March not cover the 2, the fundraiser medical costs met its goal of $50 that he and his thousand with 481 family faced, donations.

“We such as six feel extremely IVs per day, grateful for the home health love and support, care, his hosand how our compital stay and munity has ralmultiple doclied around Evan tor appointand carried him ments per through this hard week. Evan’s time. We cannot single moththank everyone er, Michelle enough,” said MiK i r k l a n d , EVAN’S GoFundMe, which as of March 22, has raised $50,198. chelle Kirkland. could not cov“It’s really acrecovery has been no easy task er these costs tually just a very on her own, which prompted for Michelle Kirkland. Hav- good feeling about the Mounds family friend Glenda Vizecky ing to administer IVs every six View community as a whole, to organize the GoFundMe fun- hours, including at midnight, and about all of this connection has caused her to lose sleep. throughout the world. I guess draiser.

Helping her son through Hammet-Divine describes her that we have so many people

who all just shared it, shared it, shared it, gave it like five, ten bucks and just kept it going around,” Hammet-Divine said.

Evan’s condition has now improved. He had his PICC line removed on Feb. 27 and no longer needs IV antibiotics. This lets both he and his mother return to full nights of sleep after 28 days of IVs. “Although Evan still has a way to go on his recovery journey, we are grateful for every step, large or small in the right direction. He continues to amaze me with this strength and determination,” Michelle Kirkland said on a GoFundMe update.

Evan’s GoFundMe:

Karin Hoyt’s artistic talent displayed in Washington, D.C. | Lillian Landberg STAFF REPORTER very year, districts in the U.S. encourage young artists to submit their art to the Congressional Art Competition. One of the 2023 winners was Mounds View junior Karin Hoyt, who is the first Mounds View student to win the competition for the fourth district of Minnesota. Her piece, “Flyaways,” which she said took her around 25 hours to complete, now hangs in the Cannon Tunnel in Washington, D.C., which connects the Cannon Office Building and the Capitol.

“I’ve always loved art.

My mom is an art teacher, she majored in art, so I’ve always just been exposed to it from a young age,” said Hoyt. Hoyt’s mother is an art teacher at Yinghua Academy, a Chinese language school in Minneapolis, where she attended from kindergarten to eighth grade. “She would come home and check on me, and I would ask, ‘Oh, what do you think of this?’ and she would go, ‘Oh, change this,

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change that.’” Hoyt explains it was like having a personal art teacher at home, constantly giving constructive criticism.

When Hoyt started AP Art her sophomore year, she experimented with new art styles. She began painting with oil-based paints and found her new favorite medium. “The first assignment, you were supposed

“I’ve always loved art. My mom is an art teacher, she majored in art, so I’ve always just been exposed to it from a young age.”

Karin Hoyt, ‘25

to do something you weren’t comfortable with, and I’d never done it before. All my favorite paintings were oil. Very much like Renaissance artists.”

Oil paints tend to have a longer drying period, allowing artists to go back, change and refine their paintings. This was

a struggle for Hoyt at first, but she later found that the ability to blend paints later on was more favorable than finishing every painting in one go. With increasing confidence in oil painting, Hoyt began submitting her paintings to competitions. Her first submission was to a contest at Irondale. Though she didn’t win any awards, she was still motivated to submit her work, so she entered the Congressional Art Competition.

Inspired by this success, Hoyt hopes to continue as an artist and involve art in her future career. She wants to major in either art, education or combine those two and major in art education. “I would love to [continue art], but I feel like if I just focus on my painting or not try for anything else, I would get burnt out,” said Hoyt.

On average, Hoyt said she spends about two hours a day drawing. “I would watch YouTube videos because they’re so fun, but they weren’t like tutorials. It was people drawing,” she said. Throughout middle

HOYT’S painting, “Flyaways,” which won the Congressional Art Competition for the fourth district of MN and now hangs in the Cannon Tunnel in Washington, D.C.

school, she watched Youtuber DrawingWiffWaffles draw people and learned from their techniques. “I’d also just keep practicing and then ask for feedback. Don’t take it personally, just see it as constructive criticism,” said Hoyt.

Her passion for art is stronger than ever, and she looks

forward to submitting more of her work to competitions in the future. Hoyt recently entered The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition, where she earned a “gold key,” meaning she was one of a few winners.

She is now qualified to enter the national competition and earn a full-ride scholarship toward an

6 SPREAD

THE VIEWER • MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Sports

betting ‘Sports Betting’ (verb) predicting sports games results and wagering on the outcome.

New legislation in the works

| Lillian Landberg STAFF REPORTER n August 2022, Minnesota passed legislation to begin the process of legalizing sports betting. Since then, two bills have come to the forefront: HF2000, proposed by Democrats, and SF 3803 (Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0), proposed by Republicans.

Back in 1992, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was passed and outlawed sports betting nationally with the exception of Oregon, Delaware and Montana. These states already had sports betting explicitly allowed in their laws, which other states did not have. Overturned by the Supreme Court in 2018, the U.S. legislation left the status of sports betting to state governments. Since then, 38 states have legalized sports betting, and 11, including Minnesota, are undergoing the process of legalization.

Currently, the biggest obstacle to legalizing sports betting in Minnesota is reaching a compromise between Republicans and Democrats, specifically regarding how much

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control racetracks and Native American tribes should have over sports betting.

The Republican proposal, known as the Sports Betting Act 2.0, combines multiple sports betting bills. Proposed by Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona), this act aims to legalize retail and mobile sports betting at racetracks, sports facilities and online platforms. The bill will also enforce a 15% tax rate on sports betting revenue, which will be used to provide tax relief to local charities and, ironically, to fund gambling addiction resources.

Another component of the bill is revisions to restrictions on e-pull tabs from the 2023 Sports Betting Act. E-pull tabs, a digital version of traditional paper pull tabs, were legalized in 2012 as legislation has deemed them unable to mimic traditional pull tabs. Currently, 6% of the price of e-pull tabs are taxed, and its tax revenue has successfully filled the state tax coffers and paid off the debt from building the U.S. Bank Stadium. The new Republican bill aims to reintroduce free plays and bonus games on epull tabs, increasing tax rev-

enues for charities.

The Democratic bill, called HF 2000, also proposes legalizing sports betting. Unlike the Republican Bill, this bill gives 11 Minnesota Native American tribes exclusive rights to provide sports betting. However, racetracks and other horse racing facilities feel that this is unfair because it would take away from their revenue.

With efforts to compromise, the Democratic bill has

“People will do it [here] or they’re going to do it in another state.”

Carolynne Ladd, psychology teacher

gone through numerous amendments to enforce gambling safety measures, including the prohibition of in-game betting and an increase to the sports betting tax rate from 10% to 20% according to Star Tribune. Each compromise has faced resistance from one or more groups, including local tribes, charities or racetracks.

As of now, the Republican bill is in the Senate, and the Democratic bill is in the House of Representatives. Whether the Republican or Democratic bill will pass first is up in the air. However, legalizing sports betting is ultimately something that both parties want because it will allow Minnesota to enter the $100 billion sports betting industry according to Miller, quoted in a legislative session.

If legalized, it will also allow Minnesotans to participate in sports betting legally. Currently, many Minnesotans illegally sportsbet in the state or travel to Iowa where it is legal according to MPR News. Legalizing it would allow the government to collect tax revenue for youth organizations, charities and educational purposes.

“If we know people are going to do it, you might as well get some revenue from it, which is probably what’s going to happen,” said Carolynne Ladd, psychology teacher. “People will do it, or they’re going to do it in another state, or they’ll go to Las Vegas.”

While it will be too early to tell what consequences the legalization of sports betting will

bring, it could potentially increase the risk of huge financial losses for Minnesota gamblers.

However, it can also yield great economic benefits by bringing in more revenue and job opportunities, as seen in states that have already legalized sports betting. According to the Census Bureau, New York collected $188.53 million in tax revenue from sports betting in the third quarter of 2023.

Some people also have concerns about rising gambling addiction. Although increasing addiction rates in states that have legalized sports betting have not been measured, many states have seen an increase in the number of calls for gambling hotlines. In Connecticut, for example, the Council on Problem Gambling saw a 91% increase in calls in 2022, the first year sports betting was legal. Minnesota may see similar trends, especially around big sports events like the Super Bowl or March Madness, but for now, lawmakers will continue to debate the status of legal sports betting.

SPREAD

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7

Teens hit the “slots” | Mara Peacock & Via Yang STAFF REPORTERS ver the past few years, the U.S. has seen a significant increase in the number of teenagers gambling and participating in sports betting. According to a study done

by Rutgers University, gambling in young adults ages 18 to 24 has increased by 400% since 2017.

Gambling in children can start as young as 10 years old as they are introduced to different games and websites, such as online poker, black jack and slots.

Although gambling in the United States is illegal for people under 18 years old, teenagers still find ways to gamble, both online and in-person.

Due to the growing popularity of technology, teens have a much easier time accessing online gambling websites than before. For many online platforms such as BetOnline, SportsBetting and MyStake, the age of each user cannot be verified, making it easy for teenagers to fake their age and place bets. For websites that require an ID or social security number, some teens may even go behind their parents’ backs and use their driver’s license, according to MV students.

Gambling websites, as

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well as free downloadable apps such as Play To Win: Real Money Games and PrizePicks, are highly addictive, as shown through the millions of player downloads on the playstore app. These games often use partial reinforcement, meaning that players never know exactly when they might hit it big. “You’re like, ‘Well, I spent $400, but this next buck might be the one that makes me [...] thousands of dollars,” said Carolynne Ladd, psychology teacher. The continued anticipation of the next play keeps players hooked.

Social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, also promote gambling for teenagers. Many videos show young gamblers going crazy over big-time wins, as well as people sharing advice on how to start gambling or increase one’s chances of winning. This content can make gambling seem extremely attractive and push the idea of making a lot of money quickly to impressionable teens. For example, junior Rylan Pike started sports gambling with his friends two years ago around the Superbowl after seeing gambling content online. “We wanted to make some money, and [sportsbetting is] interesting because I always see ads about it.”

Early exposure to gambling content and games that emulate gambling can increase teens’ risk of trying real gambling and forming unhealthy habits later in life. Some students at MV already get together to play blackjack or poker on the weekends, and many are excitedly awaiting the day they can go to a real casino. “I know that one of the things that teenage boys and girls do when they turn 18 is some of them want to go right away to the casino,” said Fleming. “For some, they would say it’s a rite of passage.”

All of this exposure to gambling can lead to compulsive gambling, which the Mayo Clinic defines as the uncontrollable urge to continue gambling even when it takes a toll on a person’s life. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), teenagers — especially teenage boys — tend to be more susceptible to developing gambling addictions because the prefrontal cortex, which regulates thoughts, actions and emotions, develops fully later. “Younger people are more prone to addiction because their brain is not as developed as people in their mid-20s.

That’s why it’s even more dangerous for younger people than for older people,” said Ross Fleming, health teacher.

As gambling becomes a larger issue among teenagers and young adults in the United States, treatment centers and helplines have received a large spike in the number of people seeking help for gambling addictions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common treatment for compulsive gambling. It’s an approach that uses problem-solving skills in order to cope with difficult situations while also helping individuals figure out their problems through personalized lessons.

Implementing regulations and educating teens can also prevent chronic gambling from becoming worse. For example, schools can teach students about addiction and spending habits. “In personal finance, we discuss the behavioral economics, specifically the psychology behind why we buy and/or overspend. In marketing, we discuss the psychology of why we buy (motives) and various advertising appeals,” said Rebecca Allard, sports marketing and personal finance teacher. By building a deeper understanding of

why teens overspend or grow addicted to gambling, teens can increase their awareness of their susceptibility to developing bad habits before they form.

The lack of oversight and growing popularity of online platforms and gambling content has led to an increase in teenage gambling. And if sports betting becomes legal, teenage gambling might only continue to rise, resulting in what was originally a fun pastime with friends having lasting consequences.

Impact on reservation casinos | Sinim Dhuguma STAFF REPORTER ambling on Indian reservations has been a source of income for indigenous tribes for decades because in the U.S., Native American reservations are regarded as independent nations, so fewer restrictions exist on gambling at casinos on reservations.

In 1988, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which regulated gaming on reservations. State governments required tribal governments to make compacts, or deals. These compacts would sometimes call for a portion of reservation gambling revenue to go to state governments in exchange for authorization to provide certain forms of gambling at tribal casinos. Some tribal leaders viewed the IGRA as an infringement on tribal sovereignty. However, gaming proved to be a significant source of revenue, and many tribes ultimately decided to comply with the IGRA to continue making this money. These compacts became essential to the welfare of Native Americans living on reservations.

While gambling is not the

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only way reservations make money, there are not many other viable sources of revenue on reservations. “They’re trying to diversify. But it’s really, it’s not easy,” said Andy Kozak, a representative of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. For many tribes, revenue from casinos decreases dependence on federal grants and helps provide necessary advancements in education, healthcare, housing and other spaces. “It is sustainable.

But it’s not the total salvation if you put it that way, especially for the tribes that are there in the real rural areas,” said Kozak.

Although casinos help create jobs on reservations with extreme unemployment and poverty rates, only a fraction of these establishments achieve great success due to the location of tribal casinos in sparselypopulated rural areas and poor management of casino revenue.

Now, tribes that operate gambling facilities are expected to lose business due to the emergence of sports gambling.

The ease of online gambling has already led to a decrease in revenue for some tribal casinos in other states as people choose the simpler, more accessible option. This year, two bills, SF

3803 (Minnesota Sports Betting Act 2.0) and HF 2000, have been proposed to legalize sports betting in Minnesota — each with different provisions for

“It’s the wave of the future. By and by, all the states are going to have it […]

It’s okay, but it’s not going to radically change the economics of the reservation.”

Andy Kozak, representative of the MIGA

reservation gambling.

Tribes in Minnesota believe that if sports betting is legalized in the state, they should have exclusivity over conducting it to protect reservation economies. HF 2000 would grant tribes the exclusive ability to obtain licenses to conduct sports betting in person and online.

However, racetracks seeking sports betting licenses believe HF 2000 is unfair and want the opportunity to offer mobile

and sports betting at their own businesses as well. If SF 3803 passes, sports betting would be legal at tribe-owned casinos, commercial establishments like racetracks and online.

Whether either bill passes, tribes will have the option to offer sports gambling at their casinos. The effects of this, however, may be less significant than initially perceived. “It’s the wave of the future. By and by, all the states are going to have it […] It’s okay, but it’s not going to radically change the economics of the reservation,” said Kozak.

did you know? $66.52 billion in revenue generated from in-person and online casinos and sports betting. $7.56 billion in nationwide sports betting revenue in 2022. $10.92 billion in nationwide sports betting revenue in 2023.

9.7% increase in gaming taxes from the previous year to this year. $14.42 billion in gaming taxes paid throughout the year.

58% of 18- to 22-yearolds have engaged in at least one sports betting activity 67% of students living on campuses bet and usually at a high frequency 41% of college students who bet on sports bet on their school’s teams 4-8% of teenagers in the U.S. have a serious gambling problem 10-15% of teenagers are at risk of developing issues related to gambling.

INFORMATION VIA American Gaming & NCAA

8 PHOTO CONTEST Photo contest winners THE VIEWER • MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

TOP LEFT: Artist: Sam Hagen TOP RIGHT: Title: “Eli Roe - Mounds View Artist: Isaac Tsai Boys Basketball” Title: “Team First” Caption:: Slam Caption Caption:: Ben Arnold gets a pat on Caption the back when called to substitute against district 621 rival, Irondale.

MIDDLE LEFT: Artist: Sofie Olhoft Title: “Cyber Gaze” Caption:: A portrait of Axel OlCaption hoft. A projector was set up to cast the digits across the room.

A commentary on how media and electronics surround and consume us

BOTTOM LEFT: Artist: Lulu Ma Title: “Stag Beetle” Caption:: Female stag beetle Caption resting on pink petals

MIDDLE RIGHT: Artist: Victor Cai Title: “Shy Flamingo” Caption:: A flamingo’s attempt to hide Caption amidst its elegant curves and vibrant hues of its feathers.

View honorable mentions here:

OPINION

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9

Public speaking should be mandatory

| Isabella Kunc

SPREAD & FEATURES EDITOR

I

’ve seen some bad class presentations from students who speak quietly, classmates who ramble for far too long or slides with more text than this article. I’ve also seen good speakers: people emanating confidence while interacting with an audience and having intriguing presentations on topics I had never cared about before.

Public speaking, when done poorly, can be boring or downright awkward; however, when done well, a speaker can motivate audiences and be a driving force for change.

According to Harvard University, public speaking is one of the most common fears.

However, according to Ingrid As someone with parKleinjan, the only speech teach- ents who constantly motivated er at Mounds View, me to learn to speak just about a hundred better, I was never restudents a year take ally into public speakSpeech. This means a ing as a child, but after little over 5% of all stumany years of speech dents dedicate time to and debate, I’ve reallearning public speakized how important ing, leaving many public speaking is, unable to share their even in everyday life. thoughts confidently Public speaking can and concisely. This is Isabella Kunc boost confidence, allowwhy public speaking ing students to share their ideas should be a required course for without seeming ashamed of students.

ILLUSTRATION | Lale Baylar

their opinions and in the words of Dale Carnegie, writer and lecturer, “win friends and influence people.”

According to Forbes Council Member, Bobbie Carlton, public speaking can help career growth, boost your reputation and expand your network as a working adult. A study published by the National Library of Medicine showed that better communication skills led to lower work stress and less burnout, and such skills allow

students to better connect with teachers, peers and coworkers.

A well-rounded public speaking class also allows for all students to gain exposure to public speaking beyond the occasional class project.

Additionally, public speaking is a skill that one can develop throughout their life and continue improving no matter their skill level, making it a perfect class for different skill levels. Over time, students could learn to write and design pre-

sentations and practice presenting to various groups. Through fun projects, students can learn how to deal with anxiety better, connect with their audiences, use constructive criticism and perhaps even learn to improvise.

Many people have legitimate issues with public speaking beyond just general anxiety, so a mandatory public speaking class would have to be flexible.

Students who struggle with speaking could try a silent presentation or partner up and have the other person do the speaking. Students who can’t stand in front of the class could give their presentation to a smaller group or even just to the teacher and perhaps work their way up during the class. As long as the curriculum is open to different types of expressions that suit different ways of learning, a public speaking class could serve everyone, even those who would otherwise never take such a class.

All things considered, a well-taught, engaging public speaking class is beneficial to all students and so should be required in high school. Hopefully, we can not only give better speeches but also catch more interesting presentations.

Happiness is not a cabin in the woods

| Maya Gjelhaug the wilderness — appealed to me most. I’ve always fantaPRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF efore I moved to Shorev- sized about going on a Cheryl iew, I lived in Roseville Strayed-esque solo thru-hike near a secluded Protes- through the Pacific Northwest tant church surrounded by a or Appalachia, somewhere with wooded enclave. It was prob- mountains and waterfalls. It ably only a few acres of trees, would be a solitary journey of but the densely packed conifers girl power and self-discovery sheltered my adventurous illu- — and a perfect opportunity to sions from reality. For the first upgrade my granola-girl Insta12 years of my life, the woods gram feed (kidding, kind of).

This desire to escape were my after-school modern life through escape. solo eviction to the I built impreswild is nothing new. sive forts out of fallen It appeared in Thobranches — fortified reau’s confinement with snow during winto Walden Pond and ter — and hunted for legendary “explorer” toads and painted turEverett Ruess’ solitles in the shallow pond tary odyssey of the next to the woods. I reAmerican Southwest.

Maya Gjelhaug member climbing monAnd perhaps the most strous stumps with fungi renowned solo thru-hike was steps to witness the pocket of Jesus’ 40-day wandering in the untamed beauty: an expanse of desert. trees encircling an overgrown At the root of each “marker marsh. Sometimes, I would of manhood” lies a begrudging bring others along, but often, I distaste of modernity and, bewould come alone. yond a yearning to find meanThe ideas of transcendening in a seemingly superficial talism — especially those of leaving humanity behind for world, an underlying need to

B

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prove oneself against the elements.

A few years ago, after first falling in love with the Eddie Vedder-written soundtrack, I watched Christopher McCandless’ fateful voyage through the Alaskan wilderness in Sean Penn’s “Into the Wild.” And like every supercilious teenager who watched the movie, what I took away was not a healthy fear of no man’s land but a bewitching desire to brave it myself.

Since then, equipped with either my mountain bike or my hiking boots, I’ve traveled most of the “uncharted” (doesn’t appear on Google Maps) territory in the greater Shoreview area.

Maybe not that impressive of a feat, and I’m not claiming it to be, but the amount of practically untouched land in the area may surprise you. I traveled alone, not necessarily because I preferred it that way, but it surely fueled my Walden fantasy.

By the headline, you can likely infer my opinion on solitary expeditions. But there is something to be said for the

therapeutic quality of spending time alone in nature, the transcendent experience of sitting alone with one’s thoughts while lying near a stream or shaded by willows. But my solo hikes, which never last far beyond sunset, are incomparable to McCandless’ 113-day trek through Alaska.

Soon before he passed alone at age 24, McCandless wrote above a “Doctor Zhivago” passage: “Happiness only real when shared.” Over the years, fans and critics have interpreted this note in different ways. But I see this realization as the ultimate tragedy of McCandless and Ruess and the like.

Upon recently rewatching “Into the Wild” and diving further into the story of McCandless, I realized the true beauty of the story comes from the connections he makes with others during his trip to Alaska — or, if I may be more cliche, the friends he made along the way — more so than the expedition itself. And towards the end of his life, I think he understood that, no matter how much

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1. To publish news, information and opinion articles for and about students, 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.

Gjelhaug, Tyler Quattrin ILLUSTRATORS - Lale Baylar, Charlotte Krum COVER DESIGN - Tyler Quattrin ADVISOR - David Ostrom

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

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comfort the solitude of the wilderness brought him, it would never be as deep or meaningful as the joy shared with other people. Hearing the stories and perspectives of others while sharing your own is such an inextricable part of being human that it’s (ironically) unnatural to neglect it entirely.

This doesn’t mean I’ve given up my Cheryl Strayed thruhiking dream. On the contrary, my deep dives into the legendary solo hikers of the U.S. have only inflamed my ambition to partake in a relatively legendary trek — I’ve got my eyes on a summer trip along the Superior Hiking Trail. But I will definitely be bringing a buddy or two along with. Not only because my parents would never allow me to camp alone or because I need a designated photographer — again, for my Instagram — but also because there’s no point in experiencing the wonder of the wilderness without someone to share it with.

staff reporters Lale Akkin, Matthew Betti, Sinim Dhuguma, Elijah Easton, Graham Hanson, Zariyah Howell, Lillian Landberg, Elijah Mattfield, Vincent Meyer, Will Overbo, Mara Peacock, Justin Shao, Suha Sharif, Sidharth Sharma, Via Yang

10 REVIEWS

THE VIEWER • MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Sea of choices: Mediterranean food near MV 4.5/5

| Suha Sharif STAFF REPORTER

Mediterranean cuisine has long been known for its delicious, healthy, diverse and plentiful food. I decided to see if these restaurants in the greater Twin Cities live up to this reputation.

Shish Restaurant

St. Paul

Shish is located on Grand Ave in St. Paul. It serves a wide variety of Mediterranean cuisine, from breakfast to dessert. The service didn’t particularly stand out, but the atmosphere was upbeat, and the restaurant’s decor also uplifted the mood. The seating was comfortable and relaxing. I enjoyed the amount of food given here — it was a filling amount and left nothing to want. I ordered the chick-

en shawarma, and while it was nicely done, the tzatziki sauce stood out the most to me. It was tangy and had a homemade, fresh taste.

The chicken shawarma was nicely seasoned and had a little bit of a kick to it. One thing I like about this restaurant compared to the Lisbeth Cafe & Restaurant is that it is a little cheaper, and you get different options for the platings.

4/5

New Brighton

Located in New Brighton, Lisbeth Cafe & Restaurant is a unique blend of American and Mediterranean cuisine. While it offers a variety of dishes, the Mediterranean options are somewhat limited. The cafe, though clean, could benefit from more polished decor to enhance its warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The metal seating, while not a major issue,

could be more comfortable. Considering the extensive positive reviews, I ordered the gyro, which seemed the most popular option.

The gyro was cooked through, but not overdone. It was flavorful, but the seasoning was not overpowering. The service was nice, with the workers being attentive and checking in periodically.

Lisbeth Cafe and Restaurant

Recommendation:

Caspian Bistro and Marketplace

Overall, I recommend the Shish Restaurant for this review. It holds its own while also being the cheapest of the three restaurants.

3.5/5

Minneapolis

For the last restaurant in this review, I went to Caspian Bistro and Gourmet Marketplace near the University of Minnesota campus.

This place was slightly more pricey than the other two, with an average of ten dollars per dish. It is a cozy spot perfect for long conversations with old friends or maybe a romantic date with a lover. The service was a little slow as the restaurant was busy. The atmosphere was set nicely, and the decor accompanied it, creating a warm ambiance. Because there were an overwhelming amount of options to choose from and many appetizers to boot, I

chose a small appetizer to start and a filling entree to finish. My appetizer of choice was hummus with pita bread, and the entree was Mahicheh, roasted lamb baked in a sauce and served with rice. The hummus didn’t stand out from what I’ve tasted before, but it was still good. The entree was something different, as I had never tried lamb before and was eager for it. It was tender and easily chewable, and the sauce made the rice taste flavorful. I liked this place, but I feel I could get a better deal somewhere else.

PHOTOS | David Ostrom

‘Dune: Part Two’ — Continuing the journey across Arrakis | Will Overbo STAFF REPORTER

Verdict: 3.75/5

“D

une: Part Two” is an American science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve. It is an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel “Dune,” and serves as the sequel to Villeneuve’s 2021 movie adaptation.

The plot follows Paul Atriedes (Timothée Chalamet) as he unites with the Fremen people to wage war against the House Harkonnen army. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista and Christopher Walken.

In December 2020, Warner Brothers Studios planned to release Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune simultaneously in theaters and on streaming, a COVID-era release model that caused many films released to underperform financially. Even with the challenging circumstances, Warner

Bros. would likely avoid greenlighting the sequel to the first film if they didn’t see an immediate profit and critical success. With a nearly $450 million worldwide gross and ten Oscar nominations, it’s safe to say “Dune: Part One” blew all expectations out of the water.

There isn’t a director in Hollywood who works more efficiently and with higher standards than Denis Villeneuve.

Those standards are reflected in the talent of all cast and crew members. Director of Photography Grieg Fraser builds on the foundation he laid in the original film by working with unusually high-contrast images that are very eye-catching and help to create the expansive world that Villeneuve was looking to build.

Villeneuve’s longtime editor, Joe Walker, also aids in the film’s dreamlike quality with transitions between scenes that volley between feeling hypnotic and abrasive, making it an engaging watch. Just like the first film, the sound design was perfect throughout the entire movie. There were so many effects and adjustments that pair beautifully with Hans Zimmer’s score, which is another improvement on the original film, and that was one of my favorite

scores he has ever done.

There isn’t a weak link in the entire cast, and actors like Florence Pugh and Christopher Walken still manage to create an impact with their limited screen time. Austin Butler gives a hilariously over-the-top performance that comes across as tongue-in-cheek, and he gets the freedom to be an erratic character, injecting some muchneeded energy into the story.

However, the clear standouts are Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya. There are so many layers to each of their performances, and they do an amazing job of giving this story the emotional weight it needs.

Watching the political buildup of the first movie fully unfold was extremely interesting for me as someone who wasn’t as familiar with the novels. Many might consider this decision to focus on the Fremen’s belief system and internal conflict anticlimactic, but I personally enjoyed how the film separates followers of the central prophecy of Paul and those who are opposed to it, which makes that conflict very compelling to me. However, many sequences are intentionally slow-paced, sometimes grinding the story’s tension to a halt even more so in this film than

the first.

The action sequences are few and far between, but when Villeneuve decides it’s time to pick up the pace, “Dune: Part Two” takes the form of a highoctane thriller with some of the last year’s best action. The set design shines during these sections, and the spaces they use are intricately designed. Many consider this an improvement over the first film, and there are many moments throughout that I agree with this. I do prefer “Part Two” in terms of writing and storytelling, but I also think that “Part One” has better pacing and contains more original action sequences. Therefore, I can see myself rewatching

“Part One” more often. I also feel more connected to the relationship between Paul and his father in the first film, which gives “Part One” a slight advantage over “Part Two” for me.

Overall, “Dune: Part Two” is another unconventional blockbuster that ultimately succeeds on a technical level, but its slow-paced storytelling will be divisive for many. I appreciate the level of care and detail Villeneuve brought to the story through the editing, set design, and performances. If he chooses to follow up with an adaptation of “Dune: Messiah,” I’d be interested to see how the rest of the story unfolds.

POSTER | Legendary Entertainment

SPORTS

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Timberwolves’ #1 cheerleader: Chad Schlosser Timberwolves hype squad, the Action Pack, actively engages with the crowd during timeouts and other breaks. One member of the Action Pack is none other than Mounds View Math Teacher Chad Schlosser.

Basketball has been a pivotal part of Schlosser’s life since his early years, where he developed this passion despite exposure to various other sports and activities. At age five, Schlosser began his basketball journey and continued this passion throughout middle school and high school, where he played for local leagues and traveling basketball. During his middle school years, playing basketball also allowed Schlosser to get the opportunity to compete against nowNBA professional, Tyus Jones, a player for the Washington Wizards. Schlosser continued to play in college, where he spent several years honing his skills as a forward for the Saint Mary’s University Cardinals.

After college, what drew Schlosser to the Action Pack initially was his cousin’s involvement with the group.

Schlosser notes that at holiday family dinners, his cousin would love to share stories of his experience with the Action Pack and would pester him to join.

PHOTOS VIA Chad Schlosser THE ACTION PACK hypes up the crowd and gets photos with fans at the NBA game. What made Schlosser hesitate to join the Action Pack was his limited free time, Year candidate Rudy Gobert. As of this as he had originally worked at Mercer | Sidharth Sharma January, according to Minnpost, the in the science field before becoming a STAFF REPORTER Wolves defensive rating (points allowed math teacher at Mounds View. This tranhe Minnesota Timberwolves per 100 possessions) was 2.2 points sition freed up more of his time, which have been playing the best in higher than the next-best team. With changed Schlosser’s mind. With this seafranchise history this season, intense matchups between teams and son being his second year on the Action having the best defensive rating in the ecstatic fans cheering in the stands, the Pack, Schlosser had originally planned NBA led by Defensive Player of the

on participating in the Action Pack for one or two years, but the inviting atmosphere at NBA games made him realize that he would like to continue it.

Just like its name, the Action Pack requires a lot of movement on the court and excitement thrown at the fans in the stadium. Schlosser’s role in the Action Pack can be many things, such as tossing Timberwolves t-shirts into the crowd or inviting fans to compete in shooting games on the court. The Action Pack also greets the fans at the entrance before the game starts. “We’ll be in small groups of three or four at the different entrances, and I’ll just be like saying ‘Hey’ to the fans and ‘Go Timberwolves.’ We’ll play music for them, and if fans just want to talk about the players or the game, we’ll talk to them about that,” said Schlosser.

Growing up as a more introverted person, Schlosser says joining the Action Pack helped bring out another side of him. “I really like the people I work with, and you get a group that’s comfortable, like having fun and everything, and you kind of feed off the crowd. I’ve gotten a lot more used to it and a lot more comfortable,” said Schlosser.

Schlosser enjoys working with the Action Pack not only because of the fun and hype but also to continue his passion for basketball, even if it is not playing on the court. .

T

Student athletes face transfer rule

| Vincent Meyer STAFF REPORTER or students transferring to Mounds View High School, navigating through new classes, teachers and peers can be an overwhelming task. However, for student athletes, in addition to becoming adapted to the school

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PHOTO | Chris Hammerbeck

JUNIOR CASEY POPPLER, POPPLER, who transferred to MV from TG and is ineligible to run varsity Cross Country as a result, wins his JV events by over 30 seconds .

environment, a transfer means not only adjusting to new teams and coaches but also unexpected barriers regarding varsity eligibility.

The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) rules state that students who choose to transfer schools during their time in high school are ineligible to compete in varsity sports for one calendar year unless they move their residence to the school’s district or appeal the ruling. Appeals can be made for having divorced parents living in different school districts, drops in family income or extenuating circumstances like bullying at previous schools.

Although the eligibility rule can create challenges for transfer students hoping to compete in varsity sports, it exists to ensure that students are transferring schools for the primary purpose of academics and not to compete in sports. “You don’t want kids just coming in just switching schools just for

sports. People are here to go to school,” said James Galvin, Mounds View sports and activities director.

Junior Tre Doran, a sprinter who transferred from Irondale at the start of the second semester of this school year, is a student who has been impacted by the MSHSL varsity eligibility rules. “And it did affect me because I’m currently still going through the process to try to run varsity. Currently, right now, I’m running JV. Me and my mom are about to send in an appeal soon to run so I can run varsity,” said Doran.

Despite uncertainty, Doran hopes to continue his track success at Mounds View. Given that he already competed for Irondale in the 4x100 meter relay at last year’s state tournament, he hopes to compete in the 4x100 meter relay as well as the 100 meter and 200 meter at Mounds View.

Similarly, junior Casey Poppler, a cross country and

track distance runner has dealt with the consequences of MSHSL eligibility rules. Poppler transferred to Mounds View from Totino Grace during his sophomore year, and even though he continued to live in the Mounds View district while attending Totino Grace, he was still ineligible for varsity athletics after transferring back to Mounds View.

At the start of Poppler’s junior year, he was one of the top runners for Mounds View’s cross country program, so not being eligible to compete in varsity hurt the team’s varsity results and impeded his own growth. In addition to missing out on the opportunity to be a valuable asset to the state team, in JV, Poppler won all of his regular season races by at least 30 seconds — a large margin in cross country. “I had a blast, but I mean, winning and running by myself was not fun,” said Poppler.

Ultimately, for the MSHSL,

the challenge becomes ensuring that transfers are not abused for the sake of athletics while also ensuring varsity athletics still remain attainable for students changing schools. Depending on where the line is drawn, transfer students at Mounds View can be affected in their athletic involvement making it difficult for them to compete at the highest level.

PHOTO VIA Tre Doran

JUNIOR TRE DORAN, DORAN, who transferred to MV from Irondale, is ineligible to run varsity track.

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