MV Viewer 2021-2022 Issue 8

VOLUME 69 ISSUE 8 | APRIL 18, 2022

THE VIEWER

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Diversity at MV 02/ “Ornamentalism” 08/ Badminton Club 09

02

News

Monday, April 18, 2022

Behind the scenes of prom

by Isabel Newhouse online editor-in-chief

With prom approaching in the next month, Mounds View juniors and seniors are finalizing their plans for a night of friends, food and fashion. Despite the popularity of the event itself, many event-goers overlook the planning done by the Student Council, specifically the Junior Class Officers (JCOs), who coordinate the dance.

“[Prom planning] has allowed us to work well together in this big project.”

Erica Ganske, 11

presses what challenges can arise when restrictions on gatherings are in place, especially due to COVID-19 last year. “We had to pivot many times, so we spent a lot of time in the weeks leading up to prom [planning],” Gregory said. After everyone’s first-hand experience of the past school years, it goes without explaining the difficulties of maneuvering the obstacle course life was at the time.

However, even with a smoother planning process, challenges still arise — especially following said uncertainty. “Although last year’s JCOs did a fantastic job planning, it is very different from what had been done in the past and what we are doing this year,” Ganske said. “Because of this, it has caused us to need to reach outside of the box and to rely on our own ideas.”

Despite these challenges, the three juniors find aid in their advisor. “Our advisor, Ms. Hinnerichs, who has been planning prom at MV for many years now, has helped a ton, including keeping us on track and guiding

This year’s Junior Class Officers — Emily Else, Erica Ganske and Emily Zhao — started planning for the 2022 prom back in August, before the official school year even started. A majority of this time is planning out the big picture, such as the theme. “We have a long list of themes, and we narrowed down our choices until we decided on our theme, a Night of Lights,” said Emily Else.

Compared to last year, this year’s planning has followed a more streamlined process. Student Council President and former JCO, Elizabeth Gregory, ex-

Diversity at Mounds View

by Thierry Thao staff reporter

This year, Mounds View High School has a total of 1,897 students, and the district recently announced that Mounds View is the eleventh largest school district in the state. Within the sizable community, it is undoubtedly true that each individual brings diverse backgrounds and perspectives to the table – whether that be unique personal interests or identities. Mounds View has traditionally aimed to embrace diversity. For example, the school board’s District Operational Plan (DOP) for this year includes goals to build “meaningful family/community partnerships,” especially in regards to new families in the district.

Recent steps the district has taken to be more inclusive include changing the district calendar for 2022 and 2023 to include holidays from various cultures. “We did change some things around and now we actually have some days off to be observed for Rosh Hashanah, Eid for the Muslim community and then we also have Indigenous Peoples’ Days off as well,” said Yolanda

Magee, the newest school board member. These actions send a message of acknowledgment and embracement to diverse communities within Mounds View.

“I still think we have pockets of where I don’t feel

“I definitely think there have been more conversations about diversity.”

Lisa Hinnerichs like certain members of our community are celebrated or embraced or even welcomed into the community, so I do think we still have some areas where we can improve,” Magee said. “Diversity comes in many forms but like I said, I do want to see us continue to grow.”

Elected last November, Magee herself is the first person of color to serve on Mounds View’s school board. The board’s history of little diversity was a major motivation for her campaign. She believes in the importance of the community being represented. “Having a diverse perspective on the board, I think, is long overdue,” she said. “It brings totally different experiences and different advantage points.”

Another recent change made in an effort to incorporate learning about diverse perspectives is through the curriculum at school. Lisa Hinnerichs, social studies teacher, mentions how the social studies department has been really adamant in pushing to try to provide a more diverse curriculum, one that would be more rep-

us in the right direction,” Else said. Lisa Hinnerichs, social studies teacher, helps maintain continuity between the years of prom planning as she helps oversee each planning process.

All JCOs note that no matter how stressful their job has been, one of the most enjoyable parts of the process has been spending time with each other. “[Prom planning] has allowed us to work well together in this big project,” Ganske said. Because of COVID-19 re-

“We had to pivot many times, so we spent a lot of time.”

Elizabeth Gregory, 12

strictions in the past few years, they have lacked the opportunity to plan something like prom.

Since many COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in the past year, the current JCOs are able to put more of their prom visions into action. Students are able to enjoy a prom without any pods, and also experience a venue in Stillwater with no student size restrictions.

As the excitement from the student body grows as prom approaches, the workload for the JCOs follows suit. Feeling a sense of pride in their plans and future creation, Ganske anticipates the event and all of the ways students will enjoy it. “Although we are a long way from the end line, we can’t wait to see and for everyone else to see how it turns out,” Ganske said.

resentative of all the students in our school. “I definitely think there have been more conversations around diversity and there definitely needs to be continued conversations,” Hinnerichs said.

Part of learning to embrace diversity is living in and interacting with a diversity community like Mounds View. “[A diverse community] is a place where people from different backgrounds and different places all have a voice in the community, are part of the community and actually have ownership in the place,” said Aaron Oseland, social studies teacher. “If all you surround yourself with are people who were exactly the same as you, and you don’t understand what’s going on in the rest of the world, I mean, that’s a huge loss,” he said.

High school provides a good opportunity for people to connect with one another and learn from different perspectives. “Mounds View exists to educate high school age kids and expose them to diverse ethnicities, income levels in general. It is healthy because it allows these students here to see what the world is really like and who they are,” said Scott Oberg, social studies teacher.

photo and illustrations courtsey of Pixabay

Viewer Staff 2021-2022 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING COPY EDITOR MANAGING DESIGN EDITORS BUSINESS MANAGER NEWS EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR SPREAD EDITORS EDITORIALS EDITORS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR ILLUSTRATOR

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

ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ONLINE MANAGING COPY EDITOR WEBSITE MANAGER ONLINE EDITORS STAFF WRITERS ADVISOR PUBLISHER

Isabel Newhouse Hanzu Vu-Tran Isabel Newhouse Maya Betti, Morgan Dalton, Joseph Hoffman Namitha Narayn, Hanzu Vu-tran Lale Baylar, Madeline Boespflug, Sarafina Dillon, Maya Gjelhaug, Morghan Larson, Tyler Quattrin, Thierry Thao, Michael Wang, Lucy Zhao David Ostrom Sauke Centre Publishing

Mounds View High School ‌• 1900 Lake Valentine Rd. Arden Hills, MN 55112 • www.mvviewer.org‌ • @mvviewer • business@mvviewer.org

features 03

Monday, april 18, 2022

Academic clubs at Mounds View

by Rachel Zou staff reporter

Science Olympiad With events ranging from Environmental Chemistry to It’s About Time, Science Olympiad allows students to explore unique areas of STEM outside the classroom. As there are over 60 members, Science Olympiad’s popularity can be attributed to many years of winning big competitions Erik Hall, Science Olympiad coach, states some big achievements the current team has accomplished. “We’ve done very well every year.

This year we just had our state tournament and got second in the state so we were very proud of that,” said Hall. “We [also] had a lot of students get first place in regionals and in state so it’s very exciting.”

State and national competitions require a lot of time to prepare. “I spend a lot of time testing my different events, like practicing, [and] making sure that everything is calibrated to the best of my ability,” said Ian Tsai, 12.

Hall also helps prepare his students for competitions, while still taking into account how COVID has changed things. “I guess lately, you know, the past couple of years COVID has been

a challenge, but hopefully we’re starting to get to the other side of that,” he said.

With different events, team members often have different roles. “I am one of the event leaders for two events and then I also participate or compete mostly in building events, so events like planes and cars and towers and such,” Tsai said.

With each student having a partner in their events, teamwork is crucial. “It’s a pretty big team as a whole. I think we have four teams of 15 at least, so 60 people. You do all your events with either partners or groups of three, so you’re supposed to have a lot of collaboration in that aspect,” Tsai said. “But it’s a fascinating environment because everyone is super smart and really hard working so it’s pretty cool.”

At the completion of this year’s Science Olympiad competition, Mounds View’s team placed second in state with much excitement. The students are energized with the possibilities of an even more successful season next year.

Econ Challenge

Mounds View’s Econ Challenge team, part of Econ Team, helps expand on students’ interest in economics beyond what is taught in class while building close-knit relationships between team members.

Since Econ Challenge focuses on preparing students for competitions as well, students work together to study and comprehend varying fields in the all-encompassing umbrella of economics. “We study economic theory, microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics…as well as history and current events,” said Matteo Meyer, 11, one of the team members. Doing so enriches their knowledge of economics.

Learning about new topics can be a fun time for the team. For their preparation, the group practices quiz bowl, where team members are split into two different groups and buzz in as fast as possible to answer a question. It’s a lot of fun since we have a lot of seniors and sophomores. We do quiz bowl together and that’s always fun,” Meyer said. The competitive nature of quiz bowl coupled with the close relationships between team members make practices enjoyable. photo courtesy of Matteo Meyer Last year, there were fewer competitions to

Math Team

Mounds View’s Math Team, led by Leah Higginbotham, math teacher, trains students in problem-solving and advanced math concepts while building strong team skills.

Many students on Math Team say that they enjoy working with each other on hard problems. Good collaboration skills become useful as the group faces team-oriented math problems.

“The goal of our club is to basically collaborate with other people and expand your knowledge on math and discuss problem solving strategies with others while making new friends,” said Aurora Wang, 11. For her, the team is a fun place to explore math in ways not addressed in a normal school environment.

“

The goal of our club is to basically collaborate with other people and expand your knowledge on math....”

-Aurora Wang, 11

There are many ways Higginbotham prepares her students for a competition. For example, she provides worksheets and practice tests to challenge student’s knowledge. “As a coach, I make sure we are registered for our competitions that we do and that my students are prepared for them so I post materials and post practice materials for them to practice during our practices,” Higginbotham said. “I [also] try and suggest things for them to study for the competitions, too.” On top of the preparation, she also proctors online and on-site competitions as well.

Students on Math Team are undoubtedly well-accomplished. “This year, I qualified for the Math Bowl, which is the top ten at the State Invitational Tournament. I was also the highest scoring girl in Minnesota,” Wang said. Another team member, Linden Lee, 11, also qualified for Math Bowl and went on to win the competition.

After an exciting season, the team placed second at the state tournament, one of their best placements in recent years. By allowing students to apply their prior knowledge of mathematics, Math Team bolsters students to continue to excel as next season approaches.

photo courtesy of Bria Farmer participate in because of COVID, but this year, preparation became especially important for some members of the team as they participated in both the Pre-Collegiate Economics Challenge at Harvard University as well as the Northwestern Economics Tournament.

Senior Cameron Dolbow, team captain, holds practices on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Tuesdays, the team focuses on doing practice tests. “We work together in pairs or groups of three or four to work on tests and focus on really teaching each other concepts that we don’t know,” Dolbow said. “Then, on Wednesday afternoons, we usually have more casual practice. There, I focus on teaching them new, cool concepts that might interest them.” This preparation has paid off, as Econ Challenge teams recently placed third at both competitions at Harvard University and Northwestern University.

The team usually also competes in the National Economics Challenge, but this year, rule changes with the regional competition does not allow most upperclassmen to participate. Because of this, Dolbow has now switched to teaching underclassmen economics to prepare them for competitions.

photo courtesy of Mounds View Daily News

04

editorials

Monday, April 18, 2022

Legacy admissions

by Lale Baylar staff reporter

Legacy admissions, where universities prioritize applicants with alumni parents, have often been used as a determining factor between students. Simply put, universities give children of past alumni special consideration, which in some cases, unfairly discriminates against smarter students with no family history of alumni. This practice is unfavorable because family connections are not a good indicator of an individual’s intellect or personality and furthers disparities in society.

Although unfair, some universities defend legacy admissions for the financial gains, and the community it provides. They believe that by admitting children of alumni they increase their likelihood of receiving donations from those families. Furthermore, college admissions counselors see legacy admissions as a way to maintain tight-knit communities among students. The practice is also used as a “tiebreaker” when choosing between two applicants. If two students seem “equal,” schools use family ties to make the final decision.

However, according to Chad Coffman of Winnemac Consulting, attorney Tara O’Neil, and a student, Brian Starr, there exists no connection between legacy admissions and alumni donations. Instead, elite schools use legacy preference policies as a tool to discriminate based on socioeconomic status by accepting the alumni with wealthy families, rather than depending on merit. Legacy preferences come with many drawbacks. For example, by basing acceptances

Car culture

by Maya Gjelhaug staff reporter

Car dependency has been a major characteristic of American cities for nearly a century. When cars became affordable for the average American in the early 1900s, they connected rural communities with urban ones so that people were able to travel quicker than ever before.

Previous methods of transportation grew obsolete as highways replaced trains and streetcars, which are near extinction. Today, the car dominates transportation, leaving almost no room for public transportation and walkable communities, detrimentally affecting human health and the environment. To combat these harmful effects of car dependency, the U.S. must fund more public transportation programs and remove current carcentric urban planning guidelines.

When American planners design cities in a way that encourages driving over walking or biking, people have no choice but to sit in their cars for long periods to commute. Drivers can often find this draining, especially in stress inducing situations like traffic.

In fact, a study from the Journal of Transport & Health found that car commuters had a higher risk of being screened for clinical depression than transit commuters.

Knowing this, American cities should begin prioritizing public methods of transportation to combat the negative mental health effects of car-dependency and also create a greater sense of community. Furthermore, the National Library of Medicine found that driving for long periods of time was associated with many negative physical and mental health effects, such as insufficient physical activity, shorter sleep and obesity. This statis-

on familial ties, universities increase the pre-existing generational wealth and status of a specific group of people while leaving others behind. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2019, only 27% of Black students, 22% of Hispanic students, 25% of Pacific Islander students and 24% American Indian/ Alaska Native students have a parent that has a bachelor’s or higher degree in education. In comparison, 54% of white students have a parent with a

legislation would outlaw universities taking part in federal aid programs from giving favorable admissions to students whose families had past alumni or donated to the school.

“

By basing acceptances on familial ties, universities increase the preexisting generational wealth and status of a specific group of people while leaving others behind.”

bachelor’s or higher degree. Thus the existence of legacy admissions, although mainly found in elite schools, tends to benefit white students with class privilege in comparison to some minority groups by providing them with better opportunities in education,employment and furthering their status.

Recently, progressive lawmakers, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), introduced a piece of legislation that aimed to ban legacy admissions, a practice known to benefit white students, so that students of all race and status have an equal chance when applying for an admission. If passed, the

tic is concerning and demonstrates how the car-centric design of American cities hurts its citizens.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, transportation accounted for 29% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. Pollution from cars not only harms the environment, but also the people who live in it. A study from King’s College London established a direct correlation between the amount of pollution and number of people with clinical depression in neighborhoods across the U.K. Gasoline-dependent public transportation contributes to this statistic, but at significantly lower levels.

Given that only about a quarter of seats are filled on U.S. transit buses at the moment, buses still emit 33% less greenhouse gas per person than automobiles, and could emit 82% less if seats were filled. Other public transportation, such as light and heavy rail transit, emit even less greenhouse gas emissions, and can easily compete with the speed and efficiency of private automobiles if the U.S. invested in public transportation instead of adding additional lanes to highways.

Cities around the U.S. have begun promoting electric vehicles (EVs) as a solution to the ongoing climate crisis, with the federal government allocating over $7 billion for EV investments. While some companies claim that these climate-saving machines produce zero emissions, in reality, the electricity that powers EVs is often generated by fossil fuels. Furthermore, the manufacturing process of an EV is arguably worse for the environment than a gasoline-powered vehicle. According to the Guardian, the mining of lithium, which is the main component of an EV battery, is tremendously harmful to the environment and the communities sur-

Since many inequalities and disparities arise, legacy admissions decrease the opportunities average students have available to them in society. Inequality in admissions can further the inequality and discrimination that exists today. Eliminating legacy admissions, one of the many causes for inequality, would help decrease the gap between the different socioeconomic statuses present in our society today, and allow students to have a more equitable chance.

rounding the mines. Although consumers feel as if EVs are more environmentally friendly, in reality, it simply redistributes pollution along the supply chain to minimize customer guilt. In order to truly offset pollution caused by transportation, we must shift to public transport and zero emissions.

Walking and biking are examples of transportation that produce zero emissions. Unfortunately, these methods are rarely convenient and often dangerous in the U.S. This is due to the car-centric design of nearly every American city that prioritizes automobiles over people. In most cities, Americans cannot walk to the grocery store or bike to work because residential areas are purposely located far from retail areas due to Euclidean Zoning, extensive zoning that separates land uses by type. For example, in Shoreview, the majority of land is allocated for single family homes, or “detached residential,” and further restrictions mean that only 2% of land in Shoreview is allocated for retail.

The worsening obesity epidemic, mental health crisis and climate change in the U.S. demonstrate that cities need to redesign the structure of American cities.

While initially pricey and time-consuming, improving public transportation and establishing walkable cities will create jobs, boost the economy in the U.S. and increase the quality of life for Americans. Progress can already be seen in Seattle, which has improved cycling infrastructure, and Indianapolis, which constructed a rapid electric bus line. Once the U.S. breaks ties with car-dependency, Americans will develop both better lifestyles and stronger communities.

illustrations by Iris Ren

debates

monday, april 18, 2022

Which is the superior pencil?

Wooden pencils

by Morgan Dalton business manager and online editor

School — public, private or homeschool — is a shared experience across the U.S. Through all its many different iterations, it evokes different memories for everyone. Some people think of bubble sheets, while others reflect on brick buildings, textbooks and school buses. However, few objects have come to be as iconic as the yellow wooden pencil. Aside from its legendary status as the writing instrument of choice for school children, it is unequivocally the best type of pencil.

They are affordable, durable, made of a renewable, natural resource and pay homage to a common experience that unites millions of people.

Firstly, the price of mechanical pencils, ranging from two to six dollars for a pack of eight to 12, greatly exceeds the price of wooden pencils, sold for as little as 99 cents for 24 pencils. This is an unnecessary expense when considering the nature of pencil usage in a land of plenty, especially in schools. Pencils are intended for temporary use. They are easily and frequently lost, often discarded and are obviously not long-term investments. They have little to no emotional meaning and are primarily a tool for school work.

By investing more money in fewer, smaller pen-

cils that are likely lost more quickly, especially if they lack the distinct coloration of wooden ones, students could end up spending significantly more in pencil purchases in the long run than their counterparts who use wooden pencils. This is an entirely unnecessary expenditure, as the quality of a student’s work depends on their work ethic and personal application, not their pencil’s material.

Secondly, wooden pencils, as the name suggests, are made out of wood, a renewable resource, unlike its plastic counterpart. The environmental benefits of wooden pencils begin before they have written their first word. This means they take less energy to produce than the mechanical ones. Though they cannot be refilled to extend their lifespan, they are biodegradable.

Furthermore, while mechanical pencils have the potential to be reused indefinitely, most people lose their mechanical pencils before they can have a positive effect on the environment. Unlike wooden pencils, at the end of the mechanical pencils life, it ends up in a landfill, where it will never decompose. The hollow, leadless husks of former pencils will outlast every student who used them. Furthermore, wooden pencils are broken down over time into wood shavings, allowing them to break down faster.

Thirdly, since their invention in 1812, modern wood pencils have become a cultural icon, a symbol of the formative years of a person’s life. Their sharp, woodsy smell provokes nostalgia and memories in a

way that a mechanical pencil cannot.

Finally, it would be near impossible to find a way to break a wooden pencil so that it is unusable. If it snaps in half, both pieces can be sharpened to have two pencils. If the lead snaps off, it can be filed back to a point. With a mechanical pencil, all it takes is a broken spring or a shattered plastic piece to make the whole pencil unusable.

There are some benefits to mechanical pencils: they do not require sharpening, they are refillable and it is true that they last longer. Unfortunately, these benefits may be their greatest downfall: they last forever. Somewhere out there, the very first mechanical pencils sit in landfills, no more decayed than they were the same day they were made. Perhaps if pencil culture was different, if people placed value on the mechanical pencil and made sure not to lose them, passed them on to second and third users, they would be a more ecofriendly option. However, that is not the case.

Throughout the centuries wooden pencils have been in use, no major modifications have been made.

This is not because of a lack of ingenuity, it is because the wooden pencil is akin to the wheel — simple and dependable enough to require no revision. The wooden pencil is one of the few inventions that is almost entirely perfect, it poses no significant problems, and solves many. It may be one of the best simple tools of the modern world, one we have not yet adequately appreciated.

illustration by Iris Ren

Mechanical

by Shivam Vashishtha online editor

Pencils are one of the most important items of all school supplies. Even though any writing utensil is okay to use for school, an important question that everyone should ask when buying school supplies is what type of pencil is better: mechanical or wooden? Just like many generations have evolved, so have pencils. Nowadays, we see people using plastic mechanical pencils, expensive polycarbonate mechanical pencils and tiny, slim aluminum mechanical pencils. They have almost completely replaced wooden pencils primarily because of their precision, reliability, ease and beauty.

Mechanical pencils are unarguably the best writing tool in today’s world because of their accessibility. They last longer, they are always sharp and they do not require a person to get up in the middle of a test to sharpen. All a mechanical pencil requires is a little click and users are ready to write. One of the major positives of mechanical pencils is that they can be used over and over, just by refilling lead. It is an ideal tool to travel with because it can be stored by pushing the tip into the pencil.

Another beneficial point of mechanical pencils is their safety features. Safety is always a priority in the classroom, where pencils are frequently used. As far as

pencils go, mechanical pencils are the safest. The point of a mechanical pencil is not nearly as sharp as that of a freshly sharpened wooden pencil, which clearly makes it less hazardous. The fact that pencil users do not have to sharpen mechanical pencils eliminates the possibility of a potential mishap.

Mechanical pencils are also reusable. They last longer than standard wooden pencils because they do not need to be sharpened. Writers just have to refill them with lead. Unlike wooden pencils, these always keep their length, so there is never a situation of the pencil “shortening” in length, which makes them quite a handy object. Moreover, they are a much better alternative because people tend to discard their wooden pencils before they are fully used.

The unique design of these pencils is what makes them stand out from the old-fashioned wooden pencils. It is generally found in a combination of a woodcase pencil and a ballpoint pen. When you write with a wooden pencil, the overall carving & shape of the pencil become altered. Eventually, problems with the size and grip start to show. With a mechanical pencil, though,this never occurs, since it is the lead that wears away, not the pencil itself.

Not only that, but a mechanical pencil comes with a built-in eraser that is easily replaceable. On the other hand, a wooden pencil has an eraser which can be used for a definite period of time, and once it runs out, there is either a need to get a new pencil or to use a separate eraser. But considering these two options, getting a new

05

illustrations courtesy of pixy.org

wooden pencil is more convenient, and hence, the previous one doesn’t get used to its maximum capacity.

Mechanical pencils can be found with various graphite sizes for different activities. It is comparatively easier to achieve a specific type of precision and detail, which cannot be established with a regular wooden pencil without excessive sharpening. They are perfect for adding detail to any project, as the handwriting remains consistent and neat.

Apart from the positives of using a mechanical pencil, there are also some downsides. Mechanical pencils are usually made out of plastic, and that makes them non-biodegradable, meaning that they cannot decompose as easily as wooden pencils would. Another disadvantage is that they are relatively more expensive, which makes people buy wooden pencils. There are also instances where people don’t trust the build quality of these pencils, as the material they are made out of could be cheap, which leads to the pencils breaking easily. Moreover, in some of the tests that require students to fill in their answers in a bubble sheet, only allow for a wooden pencil to be used because currently, most answer sheet scanners are specifically calibrated to detect the marks made by a wooden pencil.

As our world is evolving, so are the pencils people use. The mechanical pencil has become more reliable and comfortable than its wooden counterparts, yet retains its style. For its versatility and widespread usage, one could suggest it could be one of the greatest inventions of modern day.

by Michael Wang staff reporter

Ever since Atari’s release of Pong in 1972, the gaming industry has rapidly grown alongside technology to a worth of almost 200 billion dollars at the end of 2021, according to Mordor Intelligence. This growth has been seen in high schools firsthand, with the Pew Research Center reporting that 72% of teenagers ages 13 to 17 play video games. Of course, Mounds View is no exception.

Gaming has become ingrained in the culture of Mounds View — it is a way for people with common interests to come together, whether it is seen as a fun pastime for some or a serious activity for others.

The wide variety of games has caused Mounds View staff and students to give gaming a try.

Suhaib Aden, 10, sees gaming as a fun hobby that helps him connect with friends. “The interesting game mechanics hooked me in, the games are fun,” he said. “I continue to play because it is a fun pastime, and I get to spend time with my friends.” He mainly plays Valorant, but also plays whatever game his friends are enjoying.

In addition to being a fun pastime for students, gaming has created a way for them to connect with their peers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person activities have been limited. “I think that gaming has shaped a new culture in Mounds View where individuals can connect through these fictional universes that video games provide,” said Andrew Hermes, 10. “It has provided for new means of social connection and the ability to connect with people easily without having to go to a location in person.” Many students share this view of gaming as a common interest or a fun thing to do in their free time.

However, general views of gaming are far from all positive. According to a January 2021 survey published by Statista, 54% of responding gamers in the United States admitted that they had skipped sleep in order to keep playing a video game. Additionally, 11.6% of survey respondents stated that they had missed work in favor of gaming. Hermes has a negative view of gaming and has seen these statistics firsthand. “I see gaming as a negative thing, as it causes addiction in many individuals and also discourages healthier uses of time such as exercise,”Hermes said. He sees gaming as an unproductive use of time, as it has almost no physical or mental benefits.

On the contrary, Evan Zumbolo, 10, has seen the benefits of gaming, especially during the pandemic.

“In the 21st century and especially during COVID, video games and overall online interactions are becoming more important,” Zumbolo said. “Through the games that I play, I can make deeper connections with people.” Zumbolo recently moved back to the U.S. from China, and he believes that gaming has helped him grow closer to old friends in China and new friends in the U.S. Gaming has influenced people and created communities for around 50 years, but the impacts have only become more significant. With the majority of the school population playing video games, Mounds View has felt these impacts firsthand. “[Gaming] has aided in creating more distractions for students, and negatively impacted the grades and performance of some individuals in academics,” Hermes said. Aden also agrees. “It is a good hobby to do with friends, but there can be toxic atmospheres in gaming and you can get easily addicted.” It is clear that the impacts of gaming are not clearly black and white.

Gaming will continue to grow, both as an industry and as a way for people to connect with others.

Countless communities have centered around the common interest of gaming. However, the negative

Genshin Impact

by Tyler Quattrain staff reporter

Released in September 2020 by a Chinese video game developer formerly now known as HoYoverse, Genshin Impact has become popular with many students at Mounds View. It can be played on many different platforms including PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, PlayStation 5 and Windows. The game has received high ratings and has even been nominated for awards such as the 2022 NME Award for Best Ongoing Game and The Game Award for Best Role Playing Game in 2020.

The game has an anime-style environment and most

players love the game’s open-world immersiveness and combat mechanics. Home to seven unique nations, the setting of the game is the fictional world of Teyvat. Each nation links with a different element and is led by a different god. The story follows a traveler in search for their lost sibling and becomes involved in the nation of Teyvat’s affairs. Many players enjoy the way you can advance through the game. “I like the idea of progressing throughout the levels and then also getting new characters,” said Grace Feng, 11. By doing so, players are increasingly drawn into the game.

Valorant

Minecraft

Valorant is a first-person shooter computer game released in June 2020 by Riot Games. In the game, teams of five compete to plant or defuse a bomb with the objective of being the first team to win 13 rounds. What many players like about the game is that it has a good balance between individual play making and the necessity of teamwork. Communication is one of the most crucial parts of the game, as is with most first-person shooter team games. Some players find that the community is not always welcoming when it comes to maintaining a good team environment. “It’s really really toxic and it drains you but it’s still really fun,” said Quentin Longe, 11.

With around 238 million sales, Minecraft is the best selling game of all time. It has been popular ever since its release in 2011. Social media, online parodies and adaptations, merchandise as well as the Minecon convention have played a huge role in the popularity of the game. Minecraft is a sandbox style game with its iconic terrain made of only blocks. There are no required goals, giving a player freedom to do whatever they want. There are many unique ways to play the game. A person can build anything in creative mode, set out to defeat the ender dragon in survival mode, play on servers with friends or play games in mods. “It’s very creative and you can let your imagination go wild, you don’t need any set of rules or anything,” said Ben Pratt, 11. The possibilities are endless and that’s what players love

Clash of Clans Although Clash of Clans was released in 2012, it has maintained its relevance. It is a fantasy themed, real-time strategy mobile game published by Supercell.

Users play the role of being a chief or leader of a village and advance by using resources gained from attacking other player’s villages. Gold, elixir and black elixir are the main resources used in the game. Players can team up to form clans, which are groups of up to fifty players that can compete in Clan Wars with each other and also contribute and receive soldiers. Matches are relatively quick and that is something most players enjoy in a mobile game. “It’s really convenient,” Feng said. “If you’re bored, it’s really something you can do really quickly and get a lot of fun from it.”

Wordle

Wordle has recently become one of the biggest trends of the year. According to the New York Times, which currently owns the game, over 300,000 people play it daily. The New York Times bought the game for $1 million from software engineer Josh Wardle, who originally created the game for his partner who is a fan of word games. In the last few months the game picked up massive traction. For most students at Mounds View, it is hard to go a day

Elden Ring To many students involved in gaming culture, Elden Ring is the biggest game at the moment. The action roleplaying game was released last February and has built up popularity since. It was created in partnership with fantasy author George R. R. Martin, who contributed material for the setting. The game is played in third-person with players freely navigating the game’s open-world and immersive environment. Combat, which includes a variety of weapons and magic spells, horseback riding and crafting are all part of the game. Within three weeks after its release, the game sold 12 million copies worldwide.

Jonathan Bowler, 10, thinks that it will take a long time before the game gets old. “It’s unlike any other game,” he said. “It just has everything. There is nothing I hate about it.”

without hearing a conversation about the daily word. Having only one a day is what many players like about it. “It’s really fun and it feels special that you only get one once a day,” said Tommy Ash, 10.

In the game, a player gets six chances to guess a random five letter word. A letter in the right spot shows up green, a correct letter in the wrong spot shows up yellow and a letter that is not in the word in any spot it shows

up gray.

The game’s popularity can be attributed to a few reasons. With only one new word a day, everyone is playing the same puzzle. It makes a great conversation starter and an easy hobby to have in common with someone. It is also easy to share your results. Since the internet is filled with people posting about their score for the day, Wordle is promoted to more and more people. illustration by Iris Ren

MONday, April 18, 2022

Oliver’s tasty twist

by Morghan Larson staff reporter

If you are ever looking for an urban feel without having to go into the city, the restaurant Oliver’s in Shoreview is a great option. They serve classic American food with a stylish, upscale twist. Oliver’s opened early 2020 and is located on the first floor of an apartment complex surrounding the restaurant. Despite that, it feels like it is its own entity.

As I walked in, I was greeted with a cozy cafe counter where customers can order more convenient, ready-to-go items such as coffee and baked goods. Past the counter, an expansive city atmosphere with a modern design style lies in the heart of the suburbs. The hostess was the first to welcome us. On a Wednesday night, there was about a 25-minute wait to be seated, but the waiting area was enjoyable and we were offered water. In anticipation of busier nights, I recommend making a reservation or calling ahead to ensure there are enough seats.

There were several areas to sit, including booths

along the windows, larger tables for big parties and intimate tables for two. We sat at a high-top table towards the back of the restaurant. The atmosphere felt airy because of all of the windows and views of the patio. I ordered the brussels sprouts from the side menu as an appetizer. They were brought out quickly and the portion size was more than enough for two. While not my favorite brussels sprouts, they had a sweet smoky flavor coming from the balsamic glaze and the cashews added a crunchy texture.

For my main course, I ordered their Carolina BBQ Burger. It was created with their house-made BBQ sauce and crispy onion rings. The burger was served on a homemade pub bun with a side of rosemary salted fries. This dish definitely stood out because of the smoky, tangy flavor not often found in burgers. In addition, Oliver’s rosemary fries were more elevated than typical fast food fries and had an excellent flavor.

Similar to the Brussels sprouts, our food came out quickly and was delivered by a friendly, casuallydressed server, who set an welcoming tone at the restaurant.

Arts & Entertainment

The only critique I have of Oliver’s is that the food is more expensive than the average restaurant.

My burger was $17.00 itself; coupled with a drink, one meal can easily be over $20.00 for a person.

There are not many restaurants like Oliver’s in this area, which is why I was drawn to it. They provide a pleasant urban ambiance that is hard to find in the suburbs, as well as delicious meals with flavorful twists to the dishes that make them more interesting than many other restaurants. I would strongly recommend this place, and I plan to return soon.

Verdict:

4/5

Asiatic femininity in the west

by Zige Wang managing copy editor A mixture of philosophical and sociological theory, “Ornamentalism” dives into the personhood of Asiatic femininity in the western world. Anne Anlin Cheng, the author, takes the well-known theory of “orientalism” (the depiction of Asiatic cultures through colonialist lenses) and transforms it into a new theory. In this book, Cheng argues that society not only objectifies people but that it also personifies objects. Through historical analysis, and literary and media critiques, “Ornamentalism” dives deep into how this theory affects Asian women in the west.

This book is split into five chapters with an introduction and a conclusion. Each chapter discusses different articles of evidence that Cheng uses to back up her theory. For example, the first chapter “Borders and Embroidery,” shows how the Orient, for lack of a better term, is connected to ornate objecthood. She analyzes the historic case of the “22 Lewd Women” (Chy Lung v. Freeman), showing the way legislation securely put Asian women into a state of objecthood.

This chapter also takes a look at photographs taken by Arnold Genthe, who spent a lot of his time in San Francisco’s Chinatown before being known for his portraits of politicians.

Throughout the chapters of the book, Cheng dives continually deeper into her theory of ornamentalism. Starting with the unique objectification of Asiatic femininity within the first few chapters, she moves on to how western society personifies the inanimate.

I truly appreciate how she analyzes the pieces shown in the 2015 Met Gala, where the theme was “China Through a Looking Glass.” Cheng shows the effects of oriental aesthetics and what that means for Asian women philosophically. As the reader gets further into the

book, Cheng hypothesizes that the Asiatic femininity portrayed in the west rides a line between synthetic and atavistic aesthetics.

One movie she points out is the 2017 “Ghost in the Shell,” where a Japanese robot is portrayed by the actress Scarlett Johansson. As Cheng points out, many critics of this movie feel that Johansson should not have played this role as she is white. But Cheng argues how Johansson’s role is parallel to the character she plays; the robot is made of synthetic flesh that is supposed to carry the brain of a real Japanese woman. This parallels her argument that we can have the Asian woman’s aesthetics without having the Asian woman present.

Throughout the book, Cheng makes an important distinction between the ways Black women and Asian women experience misogyny, and this distinction is an important one. As she puts it in her introduction, “Where Black femininity is vestibular, Asiatic femininity is ornamental.” In other words, Cheng argues that Black women are seen as flesh, and Asian women are seen as ornaments. However, in the last chapters, Cheng brings together how being viewed as non-human, an ornament, not only affects Asian women but other people, too. Specifically, in the conclusion, Cheng uses her ornamental theory to discuss how it affects black women.

However, the book does have its downfalls.

When I first started to read this book, it was almost impossible for me to digest the content due to its complicated diction. The words used reminded me of the side of academia that I dislike as so much of the content seems inaccessible to the average person. This is especially distressing when the subject matter of the book is about people. Incidents like this lead to the assumption that academia is elitist; in order to understand the book, a person already has to have previous knowledge of certain topics and to know those certain topics, a person has to have previous knowledge of other topics, and so

08

photo by Joseph Hoffman

on and so forth. Even now, I still do not know if I fully grasped all of Cheng’s points.

Another thing that bothered me about “Ornamentalism” was Cheng’s referral to Asiatic femininity. Asiatic, at least to me, should include all of Asia, but this book uses it to refer to East Asian femininity. There is a clear distinction between what Southern Asians experience and what a person like me, who is Chinese, experiences (this can be due to colorism, cultural differences and so on). In the book, Cheng frequently uses the term “Yellow women” and “Asiatic femininity” as if they are synonymous, neglecting the diversity of all Asian people.

As someone who is affected by racialized misogyny, this book was liberating to read. It has always been difficult for me to explain my experiences of feeling erased as an East Asian person. This book helped put into words the way I have felt for a long time. I think it does a very good job of dissecting the complexities of living in a racialized body by looking at art, entertainment and history.

The Verdict:

4.5/5

MONDAY, April 18, 2022

Badminton club kicks off season

by Johnny Yue spread editor When people think of racket sports, badminton is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. However, badminton has many similarities to tennis, as both involve similar equipment, rules, techniques and teamwork needed to be successful. Coupled with a rise in popularity of the sport, Mounds View recently added badminton as an after-school club for students to join.

Badminton is a coed, student-led club that shines a light on the inner workings of the sport. Led by captains Iris Ren, 11, and Claudia Zimmermann, 12, the club allows students to participate in drills, play scrimmage matches and compete in tournaments throughout the spring.

terview that they have more freedom this year. “In the past, we weren’t able to play against other schools due to the pandemic, but this year, we have two games set up with other schools.”

With badminton being a relatively uncommon sport, Ren and Zimmermann hope more people will give the sport a shot and learn the unique techniques needed for badminton. “My family loves badminton and I have been playing since I was really little,” Ren said. “I joined the club in freshman year and it just reminded me how much I love the sport.”

“

I hope that more people will be able to appreciate badminton more and learn some more skills along the way while having fun.”

sports

09

needs to know the strengths and weaknesses of their teammates in order to form a successful partnership.

This ultimately allows for everyone to help each other with improving on their technique, strategy and sportsmanship. “Badminton emphasizes teamwork and a healthy team dynamic because we make sure to get to know our teammates and create a welcoming environment,” Ren and Zimmermann said. “Our team consists of people of all skill levels, so badminton allows everyone to learn from and challenge each other in a supportive environment.”

With the start of the season approaching, the captains have high hopes for how the club will perform. “I hope that more people will be able to appreciate badminton more and learn some more skills along the way while having fun,” Ren said. The captains ultimately hope to lead a team that embodies companionship, sportsmanship and perseverance.

-Iris Ren, 11 Badminton requires players to use rackets to hit a shuttlecock over a net and aim it in a designated court.

To win a point, one can either force their opponent to miss in the net or hit the shuttlecock outside the court area. To win a match, a player needs to win 21 points, with the majority of matches being best of three sets.

The captains see this season as a perfect opportunity to expand their outreach to different students and schools. Ren and Zimmermann stated in an email in-

Depending upon effective communication and collaboration, the club frequently establishes team building events to bring the team together. “It’s important because it’s a really fun sport that teaches teamwork and hard work; there’s always room for growth and learning new techniques,” Ren and Zimmermann said.

“It’s also a great way to learn new things and make connections with people.”

The club also offers unique opportunities for each player to learn from others’ skill sets, as each player

photos courtesy of Iris Ren

MV boys track and field sprints for state

by Madeline Boespflug staff reporter

200-meter dash, as well as the longer 400-meter and 800-meter races. For long distance, there is both a onemile and two-mile race. The main difference between sprinting and long distance is the strategy that racers use. Sprinters run as fast as possible for the duration of the race, while long distance runners usually pace themselves more than sprinters. These runners have a consistent pace throughout the race, whereas sprinters increase their speed while they are running.

photos courtesy of Ethan Zhao

With Mounds View spring sports kicking off, the Mounds View boys track and field are excited about the season. The whole team is hoping to have another successful track and field year, especially by winning true team state later this year.

Some of the boys began training after the conclusion of the cross country season in the fall to make their goal a reality. “I started preparing for this season at the end of the cross country season last fall. I did a mix of lifting and running on the Bethel indoor track to improve strength and conditioning while concentrating on my winter sport,” said sprinter Ethan Zhao, 10.

In track, there are several different races that runners can participate in. There is the 100-meter and

“

I started preparing for this season at the end of the cross country season last fall. I did a mix of lifting and running on the Bethel indoor track to improve strength and conditioning while concentrating on my winter sport.”

-Ethan Zhao, 1o

After their first meet in the afternoon on Saturday, March 26, athlete Gajan Dileepan, 11, was unhappy with his results. However, he is proud of the team. “I am disappointed [in my performance], but it is more my motivation to run faster,” Dileepan said. However, most of his teammates exceeded his expectations, “We

actually did really well [as a team], I was surprised that the newcomers were doing really good,” Dileepan said. He especially feels that the sprinters are a strong group of runners.

Pole vaulter Thor Berthiaume also feels Mounds View has a solid team. “I’m feeling really good about the season and the team. I feel like we have a strong team this year. We have a lot of depth in a lot of areas,” said Berthiaume, 11.

Pole vaulting is when vaulters use their pole to jump over a bar set at a certain height. and there is a bar at a certain height. Each vaulter has three attempts at each height, and the bar moves up six inches at a time.

This sport is difficult because it requires a lot of technique. There is no scoring for pole vault, as athletes win by successfully vaulting the tallest height. The bar height will keep increasing until there is a winner.

“I feel like this season is going to go better because we have again, a really strong team,” Berthiaume said.

Additionally, the boys throwing team is in good shape for the season. Throwers have two options: discus and shot put. A discus is a 3.5-pound disc, and the shot put ball is a 12-pound ball. While discus requires speed and technique, shot put requires more physical strength. Both events have similar goals of throwing the objects as far as possible.

After getting first place at true team sections last year, the athletes have high expectations for themselves this year. They hope to win true team sections and qualify for the state competition for the 10th year in a row.

Clarification: In Issue 7, the sports article “Racism in the NFL” refers exclusively to the NFL, not Mounds View’s football program.

10

Puzzles

MONDAY, April 18, 2022

puzzle by Puzzleopolis

Student submissions

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

Save Snail Lake

by Sophia Huang and Iris Ren guest writer and illustrator

Last year, 580 Hwy 96, the Shoreview campus of the Union Gospel Mission, located in the northeast part of Snail Lake, was sold. According to an article from the Star Tribune, Union Gospel officials say the property was once used to hold a summer camp for underprivileged kids and a residential treatment facility for men dealing with addiction; however, the property has been “underutilized” in recent years.

The property was designated to be developed into a Christian school in the summer of 2020 and its planned unit development (PUD) was institutional, however that deal fell through. Last July, Urban Works Architecture, on behalf of Tycon Companies, proposed a plan to build 268 apartments, 22 villas and 7 single-family lakeshore homes on this property. In order for Tycon to develop the land according to the plan, they need the approval from the Shoreview City Council to rezone the property from “institutional” to “mixeduse” or “high density.” Although this proposed plan would provide needed affordable housing, especially considering the rapid rise of housing prices in Shoreview, there are some environmental concerns for this proposed development.

The first environmental concern for Tycon’s plan is the loss of hundreds of trees. Tycon’s current design estimates that around 300 trees will need to be removed, 46 of which are landmark trees, which are large old trees with historical and or cultural value. Tycon does note that they will comply with the Shoreview city guideline regarding tree removal, which requires for six new trees to be planted for every landmark tree removed and a 1:1 replacement ratio for regular trees. However, Tycon also states that if there is not enough space

to plant trees on the property, they will instead plant the trees off-site in the city. This has raised concerns among the local community as there is a possibility that hundreds of trees will be permanently removed from the area.

Another environmental concern is that Tycon is proposing to partially fill in a wetland to build a road. A drawing of the site shows that approximately over one half of the wetland, 0.16 acres, would be filled in. Tycon claims that they may counter the damage done through the “purchase [of] wetland banking credits from the local area to fill at a 2:1 ratio” accordingly with the wetland permitting process.”

However, this would still pose threats to the natural habitat of the wetland and surrounding area of Snail Lake. The loss of wetland area and trees would most likely give rise to a significant issue: the loss of local wildlife. Various animals like mallards, swans, bald eagles, owls, frogs, turtles, and fish rely or live in large trees, natural shorelines, or wetland areas. If Tycon proceeds with its proposal to fill in around 0.16 acres of wetland and cut down hundreds of trees, animal populations would decline. The loss of these animals would undoubtedly change the diverse landscape of Snail Lake.

In Tycon’s proposal, the apartment buildings are listed under R-3 (residential) zoning standards instead of R-1 (shoreline) zoning standards. However, site drawings showcase that the apartment buildings are planned to be built with a Snail Lake dock and lawn reaching the edge of Snail Lake, which all comply with the definition of a shoreland property: access to a lake through features like having a lawn down to the lake and access to a dock. Failure to zone the apartment buildings correctly serves as a significant environmental issue as properties under R-3 zoning standards are

not required to observe rules that protect nearby bodies of water. This inconsistency has raised concerns; at the city council meeting, one community member said, “The proposal… does not comply with recommended shoreline development guidelines from the DNR.” Some local groups have already formed to voice their opinions on this redevelopment. One group is the Snail Lake Preservation Alliance, which is composed of Shoreview residents who have spread awareness about the issue to the general community. They have created a website with more information about the impacts of the redevelopment, contact information of the Shoreview City Council members and a request form to get a “Save Snail Lake” yard sign. They also created a change.org petition, which has around 3000 signatures already.

Within Mounds View, junior Ava Frey leads the Students For Climate Awareness (SFCA) club, a student-led club with the hope of making “tiny differences that have a huge impact on what our planet’s future will look like,” according to Frey.

Staying true to the club’s mission, SFCA is spreading awareness about this issue through school and community outreach.

As of now, the approval for the proposal of 580 Hwy 96 is not complete. The city is currently reviewing the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) of the property under Environmental Quality Board rules, which is a process that will take four to five months. If the EAW is approved, Tycon will be one step closer to its goal of redeveloping the Snail Lake property, and the various environmental consequences may be close to follow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MONDAY, April 18, 2022

Athlete of the Issue

11

Athlete of the issue Q: Now that your season is over, how do you feel?

Q: What do you love most about the sport and being on the team?

A: This season was a little bittersweet for me. I knew going in that not only would it be my final season as a Mustang, but my final season as a competitive swimmer. After swimming for so long, I realized that it was finally time to hang my goggles up but I wanted to have a good final season. It was definitely a different experience being a captain but it was a lot of fun. It is going to be weird not having swimming full time in my life anymore but I will cherish the memories for the rest of my life. I’m looking forward to seeing what the guys can do in the coming years.

A: I think most swimmers would agree but there is somewhat of a love-hate relationship with the sport. No matter how much we say we hate the early morning practices or the excruciating sets, we keep coming back to it. It’s hard to put into words why exactly we keep going back everyday, and that’s what I love most about it. Despite being primarily an individual sport, the team atmosphere and community are unparalleled. It’s always more fun to have some competition at practices and seeing the shared success as a team at big meets is incredible.

Matthew Shen Shen (12) has been swimming for over 12 years, and recently captained the boys swim team. He also competed at sections.

Q: How did you start swimming and why did you stick with it?

Q: What is your proudest moment or biggest accomplishment?

A: I started swimming when I was 6 years old because my sister swam and because I was scared of water. I remember going to swim meets when I was younger and they looked really fun.

Eventually, I decided I wanted to try it and my parents signed me up for a swim club. While initially I thought it was boring and really difficult, I eventually grew to love it and I haven’t looked back since.

A: There are so many to choose from but I would have to say finally beating Stillwater for the first time in 10 years this past season at True Team Sections.

Ever since I was a rookie, I constantly heard about how great the Stillwater dynasty is and how they were seemingly unbeatable. It was an incredible feeling to finally see our name on top of the leaderboard and to see the pure joy of my teammates. To finally see the result of all of our hard work that went into making this dream come true is something that I will never forget.

photos courtesy of Matthew Shen

12

MONday, APRIL 18, 2022

Artist of the Issue

Artist of the issue Chandan Sankar

Sankar (12) is a music enthusiast who enjoys composing his own pieces by mixing contemporary jazz and electronic music.

Q: What kind of music do you make?

A: When I started, I made generic beats that were rather minimal to avoid creating beats that were too crowded to fit a vocalist.

Around when quarantine started, I found jazz and that’s influenced me quite a bit (as well as the many genres I listened to already) to try making complete songs and try combining different genres.

Now I usually make something that’s between contemporary jazz and electronic music (which could range from softer genres like lofi to harsher ones like riddim). That said, I have interest in making more than just electronic music, but currently I’m limited by what I have—which is just a laptop, some software, and a MIDI keyboard.

Q: What do you love most about what you do?

A: There’s a few things. I love the process, from composition and sound designing to researching acoustics and signal processing. Not only was it fun to write new music and make new sounds, I found that music made even physics interesting enough to me that I actually did research of my own into how acoustics worked (which to be completely honest, I would have never seen myself doing four years ago). I also really appreciate the online jazz community, especially the contemporary jazz-influenced producers, as we often participate in beat battles and challenges where we have to make music from specific samples.

photos courtesy of Chandan Sankar

Q: How did you start making music?

A: I screwed around for a while on things like Garageband and Sonic Pi as I came across them, but never really took making music seriously until high school. My friend Kishanth (class of 2021) had introduced me to Genius’ series Deconstructed on Youtube, where producers broke down how they made their beats. Curious, I downloaded FL Studio and tried making some stuff on the demo version. It was pretty fun, so I kept going for the next two and a half years until I could buy the full version. I also started learning to play percussion in our school band, which gave me experience with performing music and exposure to other styles of music I hadn’t previously heard much of; however, that experience was mostly unconnected to this, as I didn’t own any physical instruments myself and could never read sheet music well.

Q: What are your future aspirations in music?

A: Short term, I’ll be trying to get some songs released on streaming platforms, and of course, actually finishing more songs. Beyond that, I’d like to acquire and learn to play guitar and saxophone in particular, but also reach a level of proficiency at playing jazz piano/keyboard that I’m satisfied with.