Issue 7

VOLUME 67 ISSUE 7 | MARCH 10, 2020

THE VIEWER

Suburban spring break Travelling internationally

Staying home

Travelling in the United States

“Where are you going over spring break?”

108 students polled by Isabelle Schrab and Madeline Jepko

INSIDE THIS ISSUE LIFE360 02/ CAFETERIA FOOD 03/ CORONAVIRUS 07

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News

Tuesday, march 10, 2020

The tracking app trend

by Katelyn Welle staff reporter

In a technology-filled society, there are many apps to share one’s location with family and friends. A good example is an app utilized by families at Mounds View known as Life360. Life360 shares locations with the user’s family, shows distracted driving reports and has a crash detection system. In addition, the app also has some controversial features such as reporting driving speeds, showing when someone returns home and displaying notifications when family member’s device is low on battery.

Furthermore, the app tracks major collisions and

“I think [Life360] is a complete invasion of privacy.”

Taylor Dullum, 11 assists quickly with either Life360 emergency help or 911 if needed. Ava Tomas, 10, believes that phone apps like Life360 are the best method of tracking technology as “we always have our phones on us.” However, Tomas is concerned about the issue of privacy with using the app. “Sometimes it is a little scary showing my location to an app where people probably hack,” Tomas said.

Ezra Haggerty, parent of Sakura Haggerty, 11, has a positive view on Life360 and believes the app tru-

ly benefits both teens and their parents. “I really like Life360,” Ezra Haggerty said. “This app is really helpful to make sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be.” Haggerty says that he fully trusts Life360 and not only does it alert him where his family members are, but also when they were at those locations, making life smoother for his family of five. Maddi Herter, 9, agrees with Ezra Haggerty’s opinion on Life360. “I think [the tracking apps] are very important,” Herter said.

While the tracking is beneficial to Haggerty and Herter, there are also disadvantages that students feel come alongside it. One popular example is that Life360 is leading kids to become more secretive. Many users have figured out a trick to avoid being tracked by their parents: leaving their phone at a friend’s house or in their car so that their parents think that they are in one location when they are somewhere else. Another method that students have developed is turning off their wifi for the app while using cellular data instead, so the app is unable to track them at all. These methods to avoid being tracked undermines the aim of the app to alert family members of a student’s location.

Another concern that students raise about Life360 is that “[tracking apps] take away your freedom,” said Abigail Morphew, 11. Students feel that utilizing this app contributes to trust issues within a parent-child relationship. “I think [Life360] is a complete violation of privacy,” said Taylor Dullum, 11. She believes simply trusting each other is a better alternative.

Life360 has received both positive and negative reviews from different individuals, with parents tending to find Life360 reassuring and comforting in tracking their kids, while teenagers distrust the app because of its violation of privacy and the loss of freedom. Nonetheless, whether students agree or disagree with the use of Life360, the numbers of Life360 users are continually on the rise; according to CNBC, the number of us-

ers were over 20 million in 2019, an increase from the 18 million in 2018.

information compiled by Janae Lee and Katelyn Welle

Women’s month at Mounds View

by Darah Ostrom staff reporter

Women’s History Month has evolved over time to recognize women and their contributions to history and to celebrate all of those who have helped to shape society and culture into what it is today.

Each year, Women’s History Month has a new theme that highlights different aspects of women’s fight for equality. For 2020, the theme is Valiant Women of the Vote which aims to honor the women in history who have fought for suffrage rights and for women who continue to do so today.

illustration by Jenna Stellmack

Even though Mounds View does not officially recognize Women’s History Month, clubs and teachers hope to get students more involved. For instance, Heather Ward in student services and advisor of the sister club Soror is a lead example of a staff member who strives to expand her student’s horizons.

Ward has plans for Soror during March. “I’m going to bring in some products that are women-owned, women-created, women-made, and we’re going to do a scavenger hunt throughout the school during one of our Soror meetings that will actually have facts and pictures of historical women and women from now,” Ward said. Her reasons for celebrating this month are simple.

“I love to celebrate just about anything,” Ward said. “I

think any time you get an opportunity to recognize and learn about your history and about the great things that those who’ve come before you have done, you’re enriching your own life.”

Oftentimes, students will overlook these national celebrations but Ward urges them to think otherwise. “I think that if students, instead of just seeing it as a day off school or a day where they’re going to have to do an extra assignment, look and realize that eventually what they do and accomplish will be history as well,” Ward said. “They might want to take a little more interest in what it is we are celebrating because it is a part of who they are.”

Students and staff alike agree that the school as a whole should play a bigger role in recognizing these events and getting people more involved. “We don’t [have anything planned] right now, but if anybody had a good idea, I am always open to ideas,” said Principal Stephanie Bruggers. She also encourages teachers to incorporate content from both Black History Month and Women’s History Month into their curriculum to increase awareness about a student’s history, so that they can learn something about their history that they did not know before.

Some students and staff have ideas that could potentially help to expand the Women’s History Month practices at Mounds View. “I think that the school should have an optional event that students and staff can attend and talk about our accomplishments in changing a male-dominant environment, as well as talking about things we still need to accomplish,” said Mailey Garcia, 12. She believes that by doing so, it will bring people closer to a solution and toward equality.

On the same note, history teacher Kristin Heinz agrees with Bruggers that these issues should be threaded into the curriculum. “I think teachers could do more activities in their class to highlight some of the issues with race in our country today and women’s issues,” Heinz said. “If you can understand [women’s] history, I think you can understand why they have so many obstacles today, and I think you can break down barriers and ste-

reotypes that students might have about all those different groups of people.”

However, there are some that do not believe anything should be done for Women’s Month. Cole Friedman, 9, personally does not believe that Women’s Month should be celebrated at Mounds View because “if there’s a women’s month, there should be a men’s

“I think any time you get an opportunity to recognize and learn about your history and about the great things that those who’ve come before you have done, you’re enriching your own life.”

Heather Ward, student services month.”

Even though Mounds View does not have official plans for Women’s Month in March, students and staff both believe that something more should be done this month, from having optional events open for students hoping to learn more about this month, or teachers incorporating Women’s Month into their current curriculum.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Cafeteria Food Controversy

by Sterling Hills staff reporter

A recent insight that has been brought up by many students at Mounds View is the lack of palatable food from the cafeteria. When students were asked to rate the food on a scale from one to ten, they rated it a four on average, revealing rather unsatisfactory opinions toward the food. The initial expectations of the cafeteria’s overall condition are not high, but many students are still disappointed with the poor quality of the food and environment. In the past month, several pictures of Mounds View’s cafeteria food have circulated social media, causing a great deal of concern for the students who eat it.

On Feb. 12, a popular Instagram account, @ moundsviewmemes.v2, uploaded a picture of a school lunch salad with a dead fly in it. Students Ashley Branco, 9, and Nya Aadland, 9, are credited with taking the picture and sending it to the Instagram account. “This wasn’t the first time I’ve personally found something weird in my school lunch, but this was by far the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard about or seen in a school lunch,” Branco said.

This is the first time a photo of a fly in someone’s food at Mounds View has been broadcasted on an Instagram account, but it is certainly not the first instance of students finding items that are not supposed to be in the food. “It’s kinda disturbing to see stuff like that in the food they give us,” said Michael Buyccanan, 11. “It’s probably happened more, and kids just didn’t notice.”

Some students even admit to finding foreign objects in the food on a regular basis. “Seeing hair in my food is probably a once-a-week occurrence,” said Charlie Brody, 11. “It’s unpleasant to think that many of us have eaten a hair or a bug without even realizing it.”

While students continue to raise concerns about the quality of the food, the cafeteria staff pointed out the many preventative measures they take to ensure there is nothing in the food that should not be there. “[When] we pour food into something, we kind of look to see [if there is anything in the food,]” said Mounds View cook Yvette LaQuessKnauf.

“We’ve got our gloves on and sometimes we move it around, especially lettuce because sometimes it can come that way in the bag because it comes from other Undercooked patty on a MV school hamburger photo courtesy of Osama Samaha

states that grow the lettuce, so we really try to watch for those things, but sometimes it’s hard when you get big bulky bags of stuff to [look] through it.”

Although the cafeteria staff handles the food directly, a lot of the food comes prepackaged, which can contribute to the likelihood of contaminants not being found in the food prior to being distributed to students.

“Ironically, some stuff we don’t have control of because it is sealed when we get it and when we open it up, we try and look for that stuff, and if we see it, we will obviously take it out and throw the whole batch away,” LaQuess-Knauf said. “I mean, anything can happen, we’re really unsure, but we do try to make sure that there’s no weird foreign objects like flies or worms or bugs or a piece of plastic. [It’s] not a perfect world, but it does happen, but we really try to make sure it doesn’t because it is alarming and can ruin someone’s appetite, and we don’t want that.”

Many students also like to argue that the cafeteria is dirty. “Once or twice I’ve seen the people who clean the tables go right from sweeping stuff on the floor to using the same broom on the table,” said Alan Tsai, 11.

The lunch staff has denied using this practice. “We have different mops and brooms for the floor and tables,” said Anna Ramsdell, a cook at Mounds View.

The staff members of the Mounds View cafeteria work hard to try and ensure cleanliness and safety of the food that is being distributed to the students. “[As someone who handles food,] you make sure you have good clean sanitizer water,” LaQuess-Knauf said. “You make sure that you wash your hands a lot. You have to change your gloves, make sure your hair isn’t falling out of your hairnet. You have to make sure you are using clean equipment because if it is dirty, then it just makes whatever you’re opening or putting something in contaminated.”

Some students argue that it is not only contaminants that make the cafeteria food sub-par, but the general quality of the food. “The fries are always really mushy and gross,” said Andrew Weber, 11. Instagram account @moundsviewmemes.v2 has also brought attention to other

News

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food items supplied by the school, all of which were noted as looking exceptionally unappetizing. On Feb. 5, Osama Samaha, 12, took a picture of his hamburger from the Grille Line which made its way onto the Instagram page. The burger appears to be red, and the bun was smashed. Many students have voiced their opposition to eating the cafeteria food. “I’d rather starve than eat school lunches,” Samaha said. Others seem to have no problem with eating the cafeteria food. “I think the food is so good,” said Kai Benson, 11.

Overall, many Mounds View students find many aspects of the school cafeteria to be unsatisfactory. In many cases, students feel as though they have to keep an eye out for any stray hair or bugs while eating the food supplied by the school. Some students claim to buy it reluctantly, and others avoid it altogether because they are concerned with the quality. Despite cafeteria workers’ efforts to maintain cleanliness and manage the many factors that pertain to the quality of school food, many students agree that Mounds View’s cafeteria food does not reach a satisfactory level.

Dead fly found in a Mounds View school salad photo courtesy of Ashley Branco

Graph average of: 4.09

infographic and information compiled by Angie Larson

MN Legislative Session 2020

by Madeline Edgar staff reporter

The 91st Minnesota Legislature convened for the second half of the two-year lawmaking session on Tuesday, Feb. 11, to resume the work they started a year ago.. For the next three months, a variety of topics will be discussed, and though many will never become written law, some particularly interesting bills may come to pass.

This year’s legislative session is inherently less demanding than last year’s, since a $48.3 billion state budget plan has already been passed, nullifying the threat of a government shutdown. When asked about this seismic difference in political pressure, House Speaker Melissa Hortman, Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party, told MinnPost, “Really, there are no mustdos. The state continues to function. There is no government shutdown threatened if the Legislature doesn’t get any bills to the governor’s desk.”

Nevertheless, lawmakers will address a plethora of petitions, drafts and topics. The most notable of these is a bill that would approve the construction and maintenance of state buildings, with several different plans in

mind with costs ranging from $1 billion to $2.6 billion.

The potential for partisan hostilities may seem likely, but in statements to the Star Tribune, Rep. Hortman emphasized collaboration between legislators of different political parties as well as taking advantage of the minimized pressure to explore the future of the state.

“This session we will spend some time articulating our vision for Minnesota, and some of that won’t become law,” Hortman said.

However, there are many political and social movements that are hoping to use this legislative session to bring their wishes before the government. Proposed bills include voter privacy, taxes, public transportation safety, and several more hot-button issues, such as insulin accessibility and security, gun control, mining and marijuana legalization. Legislators arriving at Tuesday’s session were greeted by gun control activists from both sides of the movement, reminding legislators of the underlying tensions that persist throughout most of the topics at hand.

One of the most widely discussed legal changes that may result from this session is the legalization of marijuana, with proposed bills making the possession and use of the drug legal for those over 21. Though this

age restriction means that legalization would not directly affect Mounds View students, the laws regarding marijuana have been a point of debate amongst young people. “Marijuana is so prominent in our society that legalizing it just means you can regulate it and make it safer,” said Julia Cook, 11. However, not all Mounds

“I think that [marijuana] at least needs to be decriminalized. Like, prioritizing rehabilitation over incarceration.” sddsk

Maddy Hunter, 12

View students seem invested in the issue. “I don’t think about it much, to be honest,” said Caleb Gayner, 9.

The 2020 legislative session will run until May 18 at the latest. Floor debates and votes are open to the public from the viewing seats above the Senate and House chambers, giving students who are politically active the ability to see the legislature in action.

To Mounds View students interested in state politics or how the government works and affects everyday life, be sure to keep an eye on the capitol building.

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features

Medics to the rescue

by Yatharth Sharma staff reporter

Quick thinking, intelligence and a strong sense of team unity are traits that high school students strive to develop when they attend Opportunities in Emergency Care (OEC) school in Spring Lake Park. Some Mounds View students participate in these classes in hopes of becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Emergency Medical Responder (EMR).

The class offers a unique opportunity for students looking to start progress toward a healthcare career through exposure and instruction in the medical field. Due to the difficulty of the tasks, the course requires the students to be responsible and dedicated. “I definitely

“To me, it doesn’t feel like a class; it feels more like a family than an actual class,” Alex Catrine, 11 know there is a hard-working atmosphere,” said Alex Catrine, 11, a student in the class. “There aren’t many people in the class who procrastinate; it’s a decent workload.”

The students are subject to rigorous course load; oftentimes, their work goes beyond simple tests. “During one of our

scenarios, all of the sudden chaos broke loose, and there were many people with fake injuries, and we had to triage [assessing how injured a person is] them and everything,” said Julia Cook, 11.

The students have different motives to participate in classes outside of school. Catrine is interested in the medical industry and feels that the experiences he has at OEC are invaluable.

On the other hand, Cook is interested in enlisting in the Army as a combat medic and sees OEC as a means to expedite her search for job opportunities. “After high school, I want to enlist in the Army and become a combat medic, and being EMT-certified helps me get there as well as getting me job opportunities as soon as I leave high school,” Cook said.

The classes are a decent commitment; they meet two hours every day, with many Mounds View students taking the classes during their fifth and sixth hour. “The class is held at Spring Lake Park [High School]; they have two different periods. One is hours three and four, the other is five and six,” Catrine said.

Apart from being a course that offers a successful career path, OEC is a time that many students enjoy and cherish. The classes are often close-knit, each student knowing the other. “To me, it doesn’t feel like a class; it feels more like a family than an actual class,” Catrine said.

This inspires many of the students to wear their OEC uniforms outside of their classes; many are seen wearing them in Mounds View. The uniforms are

Studio savants

by Joseph Steil staff reporter

When asked about today’s top songs, many high school students could probably name the artists. But what about the creators of the background music?

These creators are called producers, and several of them can be found at Mounds View. Eli Swanson, 12, produces music on Soundcloud. “I make the melodies, and I make the drum patterns for hip hop instrumentals,” Swanson said. “All of the stuff behind the lyrics, the stuff besides the singing, that’s all me.”

Many producers get their start with the help of other established producers, and for Swanson, this is no different.

“My friend was doing it already, so we went to his house and just started making music,” Swanson said. “That’s really how I got into it. It’s something that I’m good at, so why wouldn’t I try to see where I could take it?”

In order to create these melodies, Swanson uses several instruments and programs. “I use a guitar, a keyboard, my computer, and a software called FL Studio,” Swanson said. “It helps make the melodies and patterns simple to put together.” Using software, producers like Swanson individually create or record the different elements and instruments for their song, and then piece them together and balance the different elements, a process called mixing.

Swanson also sees a possible future with the skill, but says he plans on getting a different job first. “It’s just for fun right now, but I’m hoping for a future ca-

reer in it,” Swanson said. “I’m hopefully moving to Louisiana with a friend so I can keep the music thing going down

illustration by Jenna Stellmack

there.”

Swanson concluded by giving some advice to aspiring producers. “Be patient. It’s going to take time before you really get into it, before you start making good stuff,” Swanson said. “It can be really easy to get frustrated when things are hard, and you may want to quit. But you just have to get through it.”

While Jake McAlpine, 12, also experiments with the process of creating music, he has a different role than Swanson as he writes the lyrics and records vocals for the instrumentals. “Me and my friend will get a beat together, and then we’ll record over it,” McAlpine said. “I usually freestyle, which means I don’t write things down. I freestyle because it’s a lot more fun, and I always seem to rap better while I’m not thinking about it.”

Unlike producers who require instruments and computer programs, rappers like McAlpine only need a mi-

TUESDAY, MArch 10, 2020

Julia Cook, 11; Camryn Warner, 12; Megan Justin, 11; Kayleigh Hallen, 12, at Centennial High School (above). photo courtesy of Julia Cook

seen as a way for the students to demonstrate their virtue and represent the values that the program has instilled in them. “[Wearing the uniforms] shows that we can maintain our integrity of the program wherever we go,” Catrine said.

“A lot of things happen on an EMT shift, so the ability to show up every day to show that you want to go to the job is very important.”

The experiences that students attending OEC have are not only restricted to their careers. Many of them have gained valuable insight, allowing them to assist people in need wherever they go. “You can always do something,” Cook said. “If someone is injured and

needs help or if someone isn’t feeling too great, these medical skills that I have learned allow me to always help.”

Students attending OEC have varying reasons for their participation in the program. Some believe that the program can help them in their future career path, while others participate to explore their interests and have fun with their friends.

But regardless of their motivations, most agree that the program is helping them become a better member in their community.

crophone to record. “Some of my friends have really expensive mics, top of the line stuff, that sounds the best,” McAlpine said, explaining his own process of recording. While high-end microphones can be helpful, McAlpine also noted that they are not necessary. “But we’ll also

down, being more organized, there could for sure be a future in it,” McAlpine said.

McAlpine also had some advice for those interested in rapping. “You definitely can’t care about what people think,” McAlpine said. “A lot of people are really worried that if they post themselves they’ll get made fun of, that people won’t like it. But everyone has to start somewhere, so you just need to ignore the people who doubt you. You just need to think about what you want to say through your music and go for it.”

“Everyone has to start somewhere, so you just need to ignore the people who doubt you,” Jake McAlpine, 12 use smaller mics like this one, the snowball mics,” McAlpine said as he pulled a portable microphone out of his backpack.

Similar to Swanson, McAlpine got his start in making music with his friends.

“We just started rapping, freestyling, just for fun,” McAlpine said. “We were freestyling a lot and people started saying that we should make actual songs, some people thought we were already rappers.

Then we thought we should start making and posting our music.”

Many high school rappers see what they do as simply a fun hobby, but McAlpine believes there may be potential for the future. “I definitely think I could do this full time,” McAlpine said.

“Just because right now what I’ve done is so little effort. I feel that if I really put all my time into it, start writing things

Upcoming Mounds View events Music for Mounds View Where: Incarnation Lutheran Church

When: 7 to 9 p.m. on April 18 What: A night of remembrance

and music to bring our community together

Mental Health Walk Where: Long Lake Regional Park When: 11 p.m. on May 3 What: 5k fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

features

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Business casual

by Savannah Guiang staff reporter Most high school students groan when asked what they want to do when they get older. However, for Aryan Sehgal, 12, this question has an easy answer: economics. Throughout high school, Sehgal has gained exposure in economics through classes and extracurricular activities, giving him a clear picture of what he wants to pursue in the future. “I want to major in economics,” Sehgal said. “I really think that it is a huge portion of what I want to do and what I want to be.”

His interest was sparked during freshman year in Martha Rush’s AP Macroeconomics class in addition to his unique upbringing. “I thought [economics] was cool because as a kid, I used to move around a lot; I’ve lived in nearly a dozen places,” Sehgal said. “It’s interesting because I’ve lived in poor areas like India and then in the U.S., so I saw how they connected and how economics can help.”

involved in the high school’s community. Not only is he the captain of Mounds View’s Economics Team, but he has also been a part of all five of its branches: Economics Challenge, Euro Challenge, Investment Club, Personal Finance Decathlon (PFD) and StartupMV. Participating in every part of the Economics Team has given Sehgal an opportunity to gain experience in various aspects of economics.

In addition to the Economics Team, Sehgal is also in Quiz Bowl and on the Speech Team; both have come with benefits of their own. “Quiz Bowl and Speech Team are maybe not directly applicable to a career, but it will still help me,” Sehgal said. “Speech teaches me how to deliver speeches effectively and how to talk, which is really important. Quiz bowl is just learning in general and making sure I am always curious about the world.”

“Not everything will go your way and if everything does go your way, I don’t think you have really lived life to its fullest.” ~ Aryan Sehgal, 12

Aryan Sehgal pictured at the Entrepreneurship Tradeshow. photo courtesy of Aryan Sehgal

To broaden his knowledge of economics, Sehgal is enrolled as a full-time PSEO student at the University of Minnesota. “The economics classes at the UMN [University of Minnesota] are much more advanced [than Mounds View classes],” Sehgal said. Even without classes at Mounds View, Sehgal continues to stay

With all of these commitments, managing time can be challenging. Sehgal makes sure to keep a mental list of what he needs to do every day. “When I wake up in the morning, I say, ‘I need to do these three things today.’ When I check those things off, then I’m satisfied with my day,” Sehgal said.

Along with time, consistently giving full effort can become exhausting. “The one big [obstacle] is a continued effort because you can’t give 120 percent 24/7,” Sehgal said. Experiencing this challenge himself, Sehgal is aware that sometimes it is necessary to take a step back. “Knowing when to pull back a bit and to just say,

Uniting the youth

by Elisa Guo staff reporter Few teenagers recognize their power over lawmaking and youth-related state legislation, but over the last few years, Hufsa Ahmed, 12, has found a unique way to advocate for all Minnesota students through her participation in the Minnesota Youth Council (MYC).

A legislatively-mandated group, the MYC’s goals align with Ahmed’s passions, as the program aims to elevate youth voice and improve youth-related issues.

tee would,” Ahmed said. Although their votes do not decide whether a bill passes to the next level, the hearings are still a good way to give feedback to the bill author. After bills are presented to the MYC members, the group writes a feedback letter to thank the bill authors and give suggestions to improve the bill.

Ahmed takes pride in how the group is gaining a presence at the Capitol and continuing to spread their mission. “We’ve been making a big stride in making sure each legislator, whether they are a representative or a senator, knows the Minnesota Youth Council exists,” Ahmed said. MYC is now achieving its credibility and connecting with many other organizations to grow their influence.

“I was chosen as the liaison between [Governor Walz’s] Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and the Minnesota Youth Council.”

Hufsa Ahmed participating on the Minnesota Youth Council. photo courtesy of Hufsa Ahmed

Every year, members list a general outline of issues they wish to promote. “We solidify a platform of different issues and bills we want to support ― usually the issues are surrounding school safety, health, consent to sex education and [others] that are relevant to students,” Ahmed said. MYC members typically promote the bills through committee-session type hearings at the State Capitol or through feedback letters.

The hearings are similar to the ones the actual state government conducts. “The bill author presents their bill to us and we question their bill and give them our opinions on it, and we vote on it just like a commit-

‘I need this free time, I need this weekend, I need this day, will keep you in check,’” Sehgal said.

His ability to manage time has played a considerable role in Sehgal’s success. He has been a part of two startup companies, one of which competed at the Junior Achievement National Student Leadership Summit and finished as a semi-finalist in the Minnesota Cup, which was a state-wide startup competition. In The National Economics Challenge, Sehgal’s Economics Challenge team took second place. Additionally, his PFD team holds the 2019 Personal Finance Decathlon State Champions title.

(From left to right Aryan Sehgal, 12; Eric Feng, 11; Michael Pak, Mounds View graduate; Margaret Xiao, 10) Aryan pictured with his teamates at the State Personal Finance Decathlon in 2019.

photo courtesy of the Minnesota Council on Economics Education

While Sehgal has clearly achieved a lot, he is familiar with failure as well. “Feeling like nothing is going your way can get you down, but at the end of the day, you don’t remember the times you failed; you remember the times you succeeded,” Sehgal said. “Not everything will go your way and if everything does go your way, I don’t think you have really lived life to its fullest.” With a passion for economics, Sehgal is ready to face success, failure and whatever else his future may hold.

considering [it is] about youth but [it is] made up of completely adults,” Ahmed said. “I was chosen as the liaison between [Governor Walz’s] Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and the Minnesota Youth Council.”

Ahmed read proposals to give feedback and opinions to the authors, and discussed the proposals with the Children’s Cabinet.

Through MYC, Ahmed felt empowered as a student and a citizen. “[I have been more] involved in my community because I’ve been able to speak with legislators and create relationships with them,” Ahmed said.

She encourages others to be politically active. “Just [make] sure we’re voting, going to city council meetings, and being aware of what is going on inside our community,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed hopes to continue to use the skills she learned in MYC as she moves into college. “[It is important to continue] to be active in state government, [to advocate] for issues that are specific and important to me,” she said. Through programs like MYC, students learn to recognize their influential role in democracy and their ability to leave a footprint in the world.

~ Hufsa Ahmed, 12 Even with recent advancements, MYC is still trying to expand their impact. “We’ve most recently implemented testifying for much more bills than we used to,” Ahmed said. “Before, we used to just do hearings, and now we’re trying to implement a system where members are able to testify for bills that are on the platform.” This allows the students to share their individual perspectives on issues.

For Ahmed personally, the program gave her a rare opportunity to collaborate with Governor Tim Walz’s Children’s Cabinet, which is a group of adults who convene together to discuss youth-related issues. “Recently the MYC has partnered with the Children’s Cabinet to see if they could get some youth voice on the cabinet,

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photo courtesy of Hufsa Ahmed

Stunning sculptures

by Arthur Nghiem and Johnny Yue staff reporter

For many outsiders, Minnesota is solely defined by its harsh winter weather. However, one can discover many hidden gems in this underrated state. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the largest urban sculpture garden in the United States, serves as an excellent example of this.

Located near the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the garden allows visitors to get away from the hustle of the city and enjoy the ambience of the state’s outdoors.

Though the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is best known for its “Spoonbridge and Cherry” sculpture, the garden also exhibits more than 40 other unique and interesting works. One of these structures is Deborah Butterfield’s “Woodrow,” a depiction of a horse that seems to be made from tree branches. However, the sculpture is actually constructed from metal. According to the sculpture’s informative sign, “To create the sculpture, Butterfield collected sticks and bark, painstakingly cast each piece in bronze, then reassembled and welded them together to form the horse’s body. The sculpture was then

given a surface treatment, or patina, to mimic the color of the original sticks.”

Alexander Calder’s “The Spinner” is another statue prominently displayed at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The sculpture consists of light, metallic plates suspended above the ground atop a black triangular base.

Its abstract, brightly-colored shapes immediately catch the attention of visitors who enter the Sculpture Garden from its west entrance. In addition, the sculpture’s design allows its components to rotate with the wind, much like a weather vane. In this way, “The Spinner” exemplifies Calder’s characteristic moving sculptures, or mobiles.

Anyone interested in visiting the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden can do so easily. The garden is open from 6 a.m. to midnight, 365 days a year, and admission to the garden is free. Its relaxing atmosphere and striking artwork certainly make it worth visiting during this year’s spring break.

“The Spinner” is just on apolis Sculpture Garde

Zany zoo

by Isabelle Schrab staff reporter

A fun place to go for a quick day trip with friends or family, the Como Zoo has many exhibits that people of all ages can enjoy. What began in 1897 as an enclosure for just three deer is now a sprawling establishment that holds a variety of animals from locations around the world as exotic as the Galapagos Islands.

One of the most popular attractions that the zoo has added in the past decade is the Polar Bear Odyssey. This exhibit has massive windows surrounding the bears’ enclosure, which allow visitors to watch the bears swim and play. In addition, zookeepers have informative shows during the bears’ feeding times during which they explain why they feed the animals certain foods. Another main exhibit that will open in the summer of 2020 is the seal and sea lion enclosure, which is currently under construction.

The seals are being kept indoors with the other aquatic animals until their enclosure is finished.

The Como Zoo also features a variety of primates, including monkeys, orangutans and gorillas. Zookeepers teach the audience about the animals, where they are from and how they keep them happy and entertained.

In the winter, primates are kept in indoor enclosures to protect them from the elements, so zookeepers keep them entertained with toys. Visitors, too, are kept entertained as they watch the animals frolic and learn about the diverse world of primates.

For those with a passion for plants, the zoo is connected to the beautiful Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. The conservatory is filled with fragrant flowers and unique plants from around the world. Even during the coldest months of the year, the magnificent glass building allows plants of all types to flourish. Connected to the conservatory is the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden, which is open during the summer months. The gardens blend Japanese history with nature, featuring a variety of plants, statues and even a Japanese tea house in the back.

Admission to the Como Zoo is free, with a suggested $3 donation. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from October through March and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April through September.

Mysterious mansion

by Madeline Jepko staff reporter

When people drive down Summit Avenue in St. Paul, they often marvel at the sprawling mansion known as the James J. Hill House. Although many are familiar with this house, only some take time to see the impressive interior of this landmark. This location would make for a perfect mini spring break trip, as you could take advantage of your time off to finally see what lies inside the mysterious house and even learn a little about the history of the beginnings of modern America.

Uncovering the secrets of the Hill house was fascinating. The sprawling exterior of the Romanesquestyle house greeted me upon my arrival. When stepping inside, I felt like I was stepping into another era. Although tour groups can get quite full, I never felt cramped on the tour because of the spacious rooms and many points of interest. A 75-minute tour brought me through multiple rooms, each uncovering something new, from an enormous organ to an art gallery and stained glass windows.

While I continued to tour the decorative interior, I learned a lot from the tour guide. According to him, 10 to 12 servants lived with the Hills, and were paid an average

of only $4 a week in today’s money. This was pretty standard, but servants also received lodging and food along with this job. The most decorated parts of the house are the parts guests would see during the Hills’ elaborate balls or dinners. Oak wood carvings, gold ceilings, silver utensils and numerous chandeliers in the dining room and main hallway are jaw-dropping spectacles and arguably the most impressive part of the house. At the time of his death, Hill was estimated to be worth over $60 million, but he came from humble roots. When he was younger, he was a store clerk, and his wife was a waitress and daughter of an Irish immigrant.

Witnessing this landmark is not only impressive, but also inspiring. It shows that dreaming big can bring a lot of success to your life, no matter who you are or where you come from. For many people, spring break consists of a week-long trip to Florida, but you could one-up that trip by stepping into the home of one of the wealthiest families to ever live in Minnesota and finally finding out what lies inside the curious mansion.

One of the Como Zoo’

ne of many works viewable at the Minneen.

photo by Arthur Nghiem

Although “Woodrow” appears to be made of wood, the sculpture is actually built out of bronze.

’s lovable puffins.

photo by Isabelle Schrab

The exterior of the magnificent James J. Hill house.

photo by Arthur Nghiem

photo by Madeline Jepko

Spring break staycation

8

editorials

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

The promises of PSEO

by Hanzu Vu-tran staff reporter Simply put, college is expensive.

As students place more importance on obtaining a college degree, the cost of college tuition has also been steadily increasing. However, there are programs that help with reducing cost; Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is one of the dual enrollment programs that allows Minnesota high school students to gain official college credits in high school along with their required high school credits. PSEO is a wonderful opportunity that high school students should take advantage of because it allows students to save money, gain work experience at an earlier age and have an easier transition to college life.

Firstly, PSEO helps students save money in the long run. The cost of college has only risen dramatically in recent decades, and the tuition college students have to pay these days is ridiculous. For example, the full cost of tuition and fees at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, for the 2019-2020 academic year, is $28,822 per year for in-state students. Private institutions can be even more costly. Unless the student has support, such as financial aid or scholarships, four years of college can easily add up to over $100,000 of debt. If a student participates in PSEO, he or she could potentially cut their debt in half as

he or she would be able to graduate college sooner by already fulfilling certain credit requirements, thus paying less yearly tuition.

In addition to saving money, PSEO also allows students to graduate early from college. Since students in PSEO can earn college and high school

credits at the same time, they could theoretically graduate high school while having earned an associate's degree.

Those students could then enter the workforce immediately or apply the credits toward a four-year bachelor's degree, allowing them to graduate in two years. Regardless of the path, students who graduate early have the opportunity to enter the workforce at an earlier age and can thus gain more work experience

sooner than most.

Lastly, students who participate in PSEO have a headstart compared to their peers when they go to college, even if a student does not complete enough PSEO credits to earn an associate’s degree. Not only will many public schools accept PSEO credits, but PSEO stu-

stressful.

While PSEO is a program that students should take advantage of, there are some minor setbacks to the program.

It is important to note that credits will not transfer seamlessly; in order to have PSEO credits count towards college, one must already have fulfilled their high school graduation requirements.

Furthermore, since Minnesota is one of a few states that implement PSEO, few schools outside the Midwest will recognize PSEO credits.

Nothing is perfect, including PSEO. But regardless of fair use from pixabay.com the downsides to the program, high school students should still utilize the amazing opportunities of PSEO. By doing so, students can save money on college, gain more job experience at a younger age, graduate early and be better prepared for cold e n t s , lege when they get there. especially fulltime students, will have already experienced the rigor of college classes, allowing them to hit the ground running once they start college. They do not have to make the same adjustment to the difficulty of college classes that their peers will, making the transition less stressful and less overwhelming. Since there are many aspects that one has to adjust to when entering college, PSEO certainly helps the transition seem less

The real virus is racism

by Leon Wang managing copy editor Jonathan Mok is a 23-year-old Singaporean law student studying at University College London. According to BBC News, he was assaulted by four men on the street. One of the assailants punched him in the face, shouting “I don’t want your coronavirus in my country” as the group fled the scene. Mok suffered visible injuries to his face including a broken bone.

Amid the rampant media coverage of the coronavirus, which causes the disease known as COVID-19, instances of racism towards people of Asian descent are increasing, fueled by fear of the outbreak. Events like the one Mok was subject to have occurred across the United States as well. A Thai American woman riding the Los Angeles subway was verbally harassed by another man for 10 minutes. Yet another assault happened at a New York subway station, according to CNN. Coronavirus is undoubtedly an urgent threat and should be treated with caution. Unfortunately, the disease has been overwhelmingly blown out of proportion by the general media, causing unnecessary panic and xenophobia towards Asians and Asian-Americans.

People should continue to keep an eye

on the disease, but the behavior of the public in response to the disease has been unacceptable.

It is not difficult to scour the internet for the numbers on COVID-19 due to the generous coverage of the outbreak across essentially every major news source. Of course, this is beneficial in the sense that one can be kept updated with the events, but reading between the headlines does nothing but simply aggravate fear and misinformation among the public. For example, Kao Lor and Lee Lor, two travelers of Hmong descent, were stopped at a motel in Indiana, where an employee stated that anyone from China is supposed to be “picked up and quarantined for two weeks,” according to CNN. This is clearly a false statement targeting people of Chinese ethnicity; the actual decree was that

“

" The disease has been overwhelmingly blown out of proportion by the general media, causing unnecessary panic and xenophobia towards Asians and Asian-Americans”

any U.S. citizen returning from the Hubei province, regardless of ethnici t y,

would need to be quarantined for two weeks.

If people wish to know more about the outbreak, avoid skimming articles and take the time to properly educate yourself before coming to conclusions.

Of course, the media will continue to fervently report on the virus and its spread across the world, but the best that the public can do is to remain calm

and practice good hygiene, if that is not already normal practice. Yes, coronavirus has its origins from China, but that is absolutely no excuse for covert racism and hatred against those with Asian roots.

The outbreak is not a racerelated issue; it is a global issue.

fair use from flickr.com

DEBATES

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

9

Class credit vs. extracurriculars

by Isabel Newhouse and Junha Yoo staff reporters

Though many Mounds View students are involved in sports and performing arts outside of the school day, there are immense benefits to also taking physical education and fine arts in school. Students should be required to take a physical education or fine arts class to fulfill their high school credits even if they are already involved in similar activities because of how important the in-class experience is for student development.

Physical education classes taken in school go beyond the ability to just play sports. For example, the Fit For Life class focuses on students learning short and long term goal-setting skills to help them meet their fitness objectives. This not only allows students to be sustainably active but alsogoal-setting skills that can be applied to activities unrelated to fitness, which will be a vital skill in their future. Most sports teams do not focus on this individual goal-setting as much as the Fit For Life class does because teams concentrate on the performance of the team rather than the growth of an individual. Sustaining this skill will set students apart from those who are not capable of setting realistic and effective goals in their school and future workplaces.

Some students participate in one sport, which indeed increases students’ overall activity level; however, a single sport alone does not do nearly enough to provide a well-rounded exercise routine. When participating in a sport, a student is only exposed to a specific kind of movement rather than a wide variety of exercises. In school, physical education classes provide many different types of training and help students achieve a well-rounded physical activity level.

Similarly, fine arts credits also have their own benefits. Art classes promote creativity, problem-solving and outside-of-the-box thinking. Doing an extracurricular activity such as art class or music lessons does not impede these benefits. Instead, the wide selection of fine arts classes at Mounds View allows students to find a class that they enjoy and a class where they can learn a new skill. Students involving themselves in school music programs also help promote a good community within Mounds View. Creating music with fellow peers brings students together, and going to contests, festivals and trips with each other only further strengthens relationships. It is important for students to have stable support systems — involvement in programs such as band, choir or orchestra are great ways for students to create that tight-knit community.

Taking a physical education or fine arts course during the school day also provides valued variety in a student’s school day. With the history of Mounds View students overworking themselves by squeezing in as many rigorous classes as possible, being required to take a fine art or physical education class that often requires little homework will lessen the overall workload of an average student’s day. Because there is not a strict form of advanced physical education or fine arts, students have a chance to meet a new group of peers who are not in other courses, sports or clubs that they are in. This is especially important because the increased variety in a student’s social life enables them to learn important social skills that they might not experience without taking that class. By providing variety in a student’s day, art and gym classes allow students to gain new experiences throughout their years at Mounds View.

Overall, students should be required to take physical education and fine art credit in the same way students are required to take a certain number of math or science credits. Not only does the class allow students to learn valuable information about their physical and mental well-being, but they are also introduced to new social settings and learn new social skills that are crucial to working well with others in the future.

Class Credit

information compiled by Zige Wang, Isabel Newhouse and Junha Yoo (above and right)

graphics by Public Domain Pictures (above and lower left)

“Everyone should be subjected to the same graduation requirements regardless of their extracurriculars” extracurriculars” - Arya Tanksale, 11

vs.

by Zige Wang staff reporter Mounds View forces their students to complete 22 credits in order to graduate, which includes one semester of physical education and two semesters of fine arts.

Given this expectation, combined with a finite amount of time in school, many athletes and participants in outside performing arts struggle to fit those requirements into their schedules. Furthermore, demanding that students take classes on subjects they already understand just to graduate is an absurd misuse of time.

Athletes train multiple times a week for hours on end, which is why this exercise is sufficient to replace a physical education credit. Many physical education classes focus on encouraging students to be more active, yet student-athletes already exceed the requirements of a Mounds View physical education credit. If a person swims four times per week for two hours at a time, they would have eight hours of exercise, excluding the possibility of extra training at the gym. Mounds View only requires a semester of physical education;

“It just seems like a waste of time” time”Kaitlynn Badger, 11

assuming students exercise in every class, they would be exercising fewer than five hours per week for 15 weeks. These students would get at most 75 hours of laboring activity, compared to 120 hours of an athlete training an eight-hour week, thus proving athletes are above Mounds View standards of a healthy teenager. A physical education class is just an unnecessary obligation for student-athletes and a waste of time considering they have already mastered the skills required.

Schools in Arizona, Idaho and Indiana have already implemented policies where students can earn credit for their sports participation. Board members of the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) agreed that this policy created an easier workload for students. In addition, Texas schools have given athletes the opportunity to set aside a class period in order to work on other assignments, lift weights and more.

If the Mounds View School District were to implement a similar policy as the TUSD, they should also allow extracurricular performing arts — such as theatre, outside of school dance, orchestra and band groups—to

replace the fine arts requirement. Student-musicians and performers devote a tremendous amount of time to their arts and therefore should be exempted from completing their art credit.

Nuance in a schedule will tremendously help with a student’s concerns regarding other classes. With less pressure on completing specific credits within four years of high school, students would have more time available to experiment in other subject areas. This policy would free up a student’s school day, allowing them to take other required courses or an elective to fill up the 6.5 elective credits needed for graduation.

In short, these particular students deserve credit where credit is due; the amount of time dedicated to their work outside of school should make up for the physical education or fine arts credit. Class time should be spent in areas where students have not mastered, teaching them skills that will be useful in life. Mounds View should not make athletes and performers waste their time learning skills they already have.

Extracurriculars

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10

Arts & Entertainment

Spring Break Blues Eat Street

by Kate Spence staff reporter

As spring break quickly approaches, students begin to buzz about their upcoming tropical vacations. However, most students end up staying right here with the snowy hills. Not to fear, there are several fun activities to do that do not require the baking sun, such as visiting the food capital of Minneapolis, also known as Eat Street. The area features countless restaurants offering a multitude of cultural cuisines. As an Eat Street regular, I have selected my top three places to try, which students can spread out over break.

Spyhouse Coffee

Coffee is the classic starter to a productive day and Eat Street is packed with coffee shops, including Spyhouse Coffee. Spyhouse served their first cup of coffee in this Eat Street location in 2000, which soon expanded to five other locations in the Twin Cities. The menu is pretty typical, but the coffee has a rich, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with any foam, whip or latte art. In addition, Spyhouse works to support our environment and society by reducing waste and sourcing ingredients from small businesses. No matter what kind of milk customers take in their coffee, they will enjoy the modern, casual feel of Spyhouse, making it the perfect place to work on homework or chat with friends.

Zettas

Across the street from Spyhouse, one can find homemade, warm flatbread sandwiches from my favorite hidden gem, Zettas. They focus solely on perfecting the eight sandwiches and featuring unique flavor profiles in each. My favorite is the number five, which consists of soft prosciutto, earthy pesto, bright tomatoes, fresh arugula and Zettas’s sig-

MN Orchestra

by Amy Binder staff reporter

For homebound students in desperate search of entertainment during spring break, Minnesota Orchestra Hall Pass tickets will do just the trick — and will not break the bank, too. Students can reserve free tickets for select 20192020 Minnesota Orchestra concerts by choosing the “Hall Pass: Ages 16-18” price option during checkout and showing a valid student ID at the hall. A variety of Hall Pass concerts are scheduled to take place during spring break.

On Mar. 13, 14 and 15, Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein will take on composer Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” in a repertoire including Shostakovich’s “Leningrad Symphony,” a piece played in Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg, Russia, during World War II to defeat German morale.

Between binge watching episodes of the new Clone Wars season, students can listen to the music of Star Wars live on Sunday, Mar. 22, including the Star Wars theme, “The Imperial March” and “Anakin’s Theme.”

For students looking for a more intimate orchestral experience, “Chamber Music: Memories and Melodies” will also be performed on Sunday, Mar. 22. Chamber music is characterized by

nature ingredient, creamy, housemade ricotta cheese. Although the location is hidden, the flavor in these sandwiches will be worth the search.

Rainbow Chinese

Restaurant and Bar

Farther down the street students will find Rainbow Chinese Restaurant and Bar, featuring upscale, award-winning Chinese cuisine. One of my alltime favorite restaurants, Rainbow uses locally-farmed ingredients and makes every dish in-house. The szechuan wontons alone are a reason to visit, combining pork and shrimp in a juicy steamed dumpling accompanied by a sweet black bean sauce. Though the price is the highest of the three restaurants, the flavorful food is worth every penny.

The Verdict

All in all, even if you are not travelling to a remote destination in the tropics for spring break, you can certainly find fun right here in the Twin Cities. Eat Street features an abundance of cultural cuisine, including Spyhouse Coffee, Zettas, and Rainbow Chinese Restaurant and Bar. Even if coffee, sandwiches and Chinese food do not sound appetizing, everyone can surely find something to indulge in on Eat Street.

Spyhouse Coffee 7/10 Zettas 9/10 Rainbow Chinese Restaurant and Bar 10/10 a small group of musicians who often play without a conductor; students can expect to hear several pieces.

Minnesota Orchestra Hall Pass tickets will remain available through June for students traveling during spring break who still wish to experience the Minnesota Orchestra.

illustration by Jenna Stellmack

Gerstein Plays Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2

Mar. 14 8 p.m.

Star Wars and Beyond

Mar. 22 2 p.m.

Mar. 13 8 p.m.

Mar. 15 2 p.m.

tuesday, march 10, 2020

Justin Bieber makes Changes

by Arfa Ali staff reporter

After five years of silence, Justin Bieber makes a comeback to the Billboard charts with the release of his fifth studio album, ''Changes,” which came out on Feb. 14. The tracklist, consisting of 17 songs, was officially published that day, but fans were given teasers of the album through Bieber’s Youtube series “Justin Bieber: Seasons.” The entire series is made up of ten-minute, selfproduced episodes showcasing Bieber’s personal life and music-making process.

All of his previous albums have reflected a certain phase of the singer's life. His last album, “Purpose,” reflected his desire to encourage and help people around the world. “Changes” mostly reflects Bieber’s new marital life and new found connection to God. The entire album resembles a R&B style, similar to his 2013 album “Journals.” Bieber’s success on the album has been minimal, only containing two hit songs: “Intentions” featuring Quavo and “Yummy,” which has been popular while also being heavily criticized by fans.

Aside from the two chart-climbing songs, Bieber’s lyrics in “Yummy” seem to have little depth. For example,

“Yummy’s chorus only repeats “Yeah, you got that yummy, yum, that yummy, yum…” in a monotone fashion. For being the first solo song he has created in four years, the quality of the song seems to fall short in comparison to his other music.

All things considered, it is not enjoyable to listen to the new album.

“Changes” sounded atmospheric, and with the bar set so high with “Purpose,” it was almost inevitable to fail. After being in the music industry for a large portion of his life, it is obvious that he simply could have done better.

illustration by Jenna Stellmack

The Verdict

3/10

Songs 13. Changes 1. All Around Me 7. Forever 2.Habitual 8. Running Over 14. Confirmation 3. Come Around Me 9. Take It Out On Me 15. Thats What

Love Is 4. Intentions 10. Second Emotion 16. At Least For Now 5. Yummy 11. Get Me 17. Yummy (Remix) 12. E.T.A. 6. Available

Star Wars: The Clone Wars returns

by Isaac Vo isode III: Revenge of the Sith” which instaff reporter

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (TCW) is now streaming its seventh and final season on Disney+. The show is returning for its shortest season yet, of 12 episodes, to finish the story that was abruptly cut off when Disney canceled the show in Mar. 2014 for their own show: “Star Wars Rebels.”

Since Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars franchise back in 2012, they have undoubtedly released some questionable content. Disney’s Star Wars has commonly caused rifts within the Star Wars community, with plenty of controversy over the most recent Star Wars trilogy, many calling it a lousy cash grab. However, much hope rests on TCW’s strong conclusion to bring together fans of pre-Disney, as well as post-Disney Star Wars.

The show had a rocky start in 2008, with many fans falling under the impression that it was targeted toward children.

However, by the time the show finished its sixth season, TCW had garnered most of the fanbase’s love and attention, as well as mine, and I would go as far as calling it the best Star Wars media ever released.

TCW’s timeline starts between “Episode II: Attack of the Clones,” and “Ep-

cludes much of what the prequel movies exclude — extreme world-building and the close brother-like relationship and banter between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The series also introduces a new character and fan favorite, Ahsoka Tano, apprentice to Skywalker, who has become a role model for many young fans.

Overall, the reboot of TCW is a great move for Disney. This season brings back all these characters, as well as a new squad named Clone Force 99 with superhero-like genetic mutations.

With the recent success of the “Mandalorian,” hopes are high for a strong seventh season. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” can be streamed on “Disney+” with new content releasing every Friday until May 8. illustration by Jenna Stellmack

The Verdict

10/10

sports

tuesday, March 10, 2020

Volley ballers

by Nicholas Stenlund staff reporter

Originally, boys volleyball was never offered at Mounds View, but that all changed in 2018 when the Minnesota Boys High School Volleyball Association was created. Last year, 17 players participated in men’s volleyball for its inaugural season at Mounds View. The 2020 season will be the second year that the school offers boys volleyball.

For Evan Lebeens, 11, his passion for the game stemmed from the annual Chippewa Middle School volleyball tournament. “It all started in Chippewa [when] that timer started,” Leebens said. “I just enjoyed being on a team with people from different grades and cooperating, and I really love volleyball as a sport. My freshman year and the beginning of sophomore year I was like ‘man, if [boys] volleyball was a sport, I would totally do it.’”

Typically, there are about 10 athletes on a volleyball team, but with a surplus of 17 athletes last year, the team had to improvise. “We try to get at least 10 guys on varsity, but last year we had 17 guys overall between the teams, so we had to have some people crossover between JV and Varsity,” Leebens said. Going into the second season, Leebens hopes more students participate in order to complete both teams. “We’re hoping this year we’re going to have enough people to fill up a separate JV [junior varsity] team and a separate varsity team,” Leebens said.

While many sports often cut into time that could be spent studying, volleyball’s much more manageable schedule has proven to be a solid balance for Leebens and his teammates. “Honestly I felt like it [the volleyball season] didn’t interfere or anything,” Leebens said.

With the second Mounds View season approaching, Leebens is continuing his effort to recruit more people to the sport. “If anyone’s thinking about joining

men’s volleyball, [they] should just do it because it’s an opportunity that [is] not given to a lot of guys in high school,” Leebens said.

will help him make the top team next year. “[Coaches] are teaching us skills that we need so that we are ready to play better competition next year,” Peltier said.

Furthering his determination for varsity next year, he plans on doing a summer hockey training program and weightlifting during the off-season. JV also offers a less intense environment, with players being supportive and encouraging to their fellow teammates. “It’s not as serious as varsity and we had really good coaches, and I got to be with a bunch of guys who were there to have fun,” Peltier said. With a positive mindset and the skill to back it up, Peltier was one of the top offensive threats on the team, scoring 12 goals throughout the season.

Joey Bruggers, 11, made JV for basketball this year but was happy given the chance to improve for next year. “If I didn’t play at all, I wouldn’t get bet-

ter and we got a lot of good players on JV,” Bruggers said. He was disappointed to make JV, but he was ready to make the most of the opportunity given to him. “[I] didn’t mind it because there are a lot of seniors on our team who are really good,” Bruggers said, noting the increased chance of making varsity next year once the current seniors leave. “I hoped to make varsity, but it wasn’t a huge deal.”

JV helps to motivate athletes to put in more practice and can help them make varsity because of the leadership skills they learn and the support of their teammates and coaches. When asked if their experiences on JV made them even more determined to make varsity their senior year, both Peltier and Brueggers were on the same wavelength. “Yes,” they unhesitantly answered.

One of these athletes is Lizzy Rydberg, 11, a sprinter for the Mounds View girls track team. “It is definitely pretty hard some days to stay committed to training off-season versus training in season because there is no team to help push you,” Rydberg said. She believes that her labor in the winter will have a noticeable impact on her season, and that difference is what drives her to train off-season. “If I work hard and get stronger during the winter, I am already that much better going into the season,” Rydberg said.

Track is not the only sport that involves intense, off-season commitment. Baseball is another program that has shown that off-season training pays off in the regular season and beyond. For baseball players, a good training session requires a large, open space to throw and hit. Unfortunately, these players are at a disadvantage during the winter because outdoor conditions deter the use of outdoor fields. “Being in Minnesota, you have to make compromises or adjustments to become a

better baseball player,” said Cole Hinkel, 11, a catcher on the baseball team. “We can’t throw or hit outside, but thankfully in Minnesota, there are a lot of sports domes.” Hinkel argues that training in the off-season takes much more work and commitment, but pays off during the season because it improves performance on the field. “Something that drives me to work harder is that everyone is getting better and everyone wants to compete if they love the game of baseball,” Hinkel said. “So for that, I have to work out harder and more diligently to continue to be successful.”

Without a doubt, winter training builds character, shows commitment and can set you apart from your teammates during the season. Athletes like these show the passion they have for their sport through their offseason work despite the uninviting winter conditions.

Next in line

by Sienna Wood staff reporter

Although most sophomore and junior athletes would prefer to make varsity as soon as possible, there are not enough open spots for everyone to make the top team when they would like. Through tryouts and practices early in the season, coaches determine who will earn a varsity or junior varsity (JV) position, or in sports who have too many athletes at their disposal, who will get cut. Many of the sophomores and juniors that make JV are initially upset and disappointed. With that, it can either motivate them to quit or to improve their play so they can make a better team the following year.

Grant Peltier, 11, made JV for hockey this year, and although he was disappointed, he thinks that JV

Spring sports start

by Ellis Maloney staff reporter The snow is melting and spring sports are just around the corner at Mounds View. As student-athletes prepare to start running, lifting and practicing for their upcoming sport, others have been training all winter and will come into their seasons prepared. This off-season training, often strenuous and inconvenient because of the limiting outdoor conditions, facilitates these athletes to stand out from their teammates during the season.

Running in the winter can be inconvenient and hard to do because ice, snow and puddles envelop the sidewalks and roads. As a result, athletes who run for the track team have to face this problem every year.

Fortunately, there are ways to work around this obstacle. Many track and field athletes use Bethel University’s indoor track to run and do sprinting workouts.

The Rec Recap... o

11

Leebens (14) keeps his head in the game photo courtesy of Evan Leebens

North Orange hockey continues their immensely succesful season with a 10-0 start, led by the

teams leading scorer, Ike “Eke” Mezzenga.

O

The Senior Slimes, piloted by leading scorer Charlie Fleming, narrowly lost the recreational bas-

ketball championship, finishing with a record of 8-1. Fleming averaged 18.9 points per game this year along with an impressive 42% from beyond the arc.

o The Showtime Mustangs, led by a 17-point effort from Carter Dooner, overcame Team Perone in the 4th place game.The team finished on a three-game win streak after dropping their first six.

Members of the North Orange hockey team (above) participate in the Captain’s march at the winter pepfest (From left to right: Ezra Albright, 12; Carter Dooner, 12; Benny Lawson, Nolen Pederson, 12) photo courtesy of Ezra Albright

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tuesday, March 10, 2020

top 9 things to do during spring break!

Team Players Wanted WORK HERE. GROW HERE.

9

Explore your new travel spots

8

Enjoy your last weeks before AP season begins

7 Read the book

you have always wanted to

6

Finish the unfortunate projects you were assigned

5

Read pages 6,7 and 10 in this issue and pick something

4 3

$1 OFF ANY Dinner Entrèe Electronic versions of this coupon are not accepted.

Sleep

Disassemble your Physics Fair project and stop worrying about it

2

$1 off regular menu price. Please no substitutions. Not valid with any other offer. Value 1/200 cent.

Limit one coupon per person per visit. Valid only at Culver’s of St. Anthony and Vadnais Heights.

214-02/20

APPLY ONLINE TODAY AT CULVERS.JOBS Culver’s of St. Anthony

4004 Silver Lake Rd, St. Anthony, MN 55421 612-781-3450

Culver’s of Vadnais Heights

4485 Centerville Rd, Vadnais Heights, MN 55127 651-762-9600

Women

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Credits

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Readers Sound Off

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Have a great Spring Break

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