www.mvviewer.org | Wednesday, March 11, 2015 | Volume 62, Issue 9
‘None for me, thanks’ Mindful eaters limit food groups on their plates by Emily Moses staff reporter
cartoon by Michaela Morse
Move over, Shakespeare Library renovation on its way by Amber Zhao staff reporter Everyone who has an Instagram knows this shot all too well. The classic coffeehouse picture of a book and hot drink covered with the Inkwell filter to create a perfect vintage look. Now imagine those pictures in a completely new setting: the Mounds View library. Breaking all the rules of “no food or drink” allowed in the media center, Mounds View has big plans to upgrade the library, complete with its own coffee shop. “It’s fine, but it could use some new tables and computers,” said Samuel Lee, 12, of the current library. “There should be more private study rooms.” While the Paddock was created in 2012 to provide students with an additional place to study, students and administrators alike have noticed the increasingly crowded conditions. “It’s hard to get my work done where there are so many people in the Paddock. It gets really distracting,” said Ilias Bailey, 10. Principal Jeffery Ridlehoover decided an upgrade was in order.
IN THIS ISSUE
Renovations will include a café and more comfortable seating for group studying “The Paddock, we are outgrowing,” said Ridlehoover. “We certainly don’t have enough space in there, and that’s where the idea [to renovate] was generated.” The renovations are aimed at creating a space resembling a college campus library. Coming improvements include more comfortable seating, lower bookshelves, more pods of chairs to allow for easier group studying, and a café that will serve coffee and light refreshments to students throughout the day. “We’re trying to go more towards a space that’s usable for lots and lots of things, whether it’s visiting with friends, homework, technology use, studying, [or] having a cup of coffee,” said Associate Principal Michael Schwartz.
Although all the improvements are welcomed, students seem most excited about the new café. “I think it’s a really good idea,” said Hayden Oliver, 12. “It also gives a more relaxed study environment. There’s something about a coffee shop that’s different than a library.” The café will be open for the entire day, and will boast a menu of coffee, bottled drinks, and snacks. Mounds View students will run the shop and serve customers during the day. Many students are excited about this opportunity. “I would definitely take the chance,” said Carly St. George, 9. “It would be a perfect ‘first work experience’ kind of thing.” Profits earned by the café will go back into the school system. The remodeling of the library is set to take place summer 2015, and should be completed by the start of the 2015-2016 school year. While the school board has approved the plan, administrators say it is too early to estimate costs. “We’re still in the preliminary stages of design,” said Ridlehoover. “We’re hoping to do something right rather than fast.”
While most teenagers live off fast food and carbs, some students have adopted more mindful eating habits. Out of 100 students surveyed, 13 said they follow some sort of restricted diet as a choice. Of these 13, three claimed to be Paleolithic eaters, following what has been called the “caveman diet.” Paleo enthusiasts support the idea of eating what was available to their ancestors. Their cuisine encourages a nutritious diet while restricting the consumption of processed foods like pasta, cereal and candy. Despite the common labeling of Paleo as a diet, Katrina Carabio, 12, considers it to be a lifestyle. After following Paleo for years, Carabio finds making food choices easier. “It’s become habit now,” she said. Some may find a restricted diet boring, but for Carabio it’s enjoyable. “I like the certain foods that are in it, and I enjoy following it,” she said. An equally popular diet among Mounds View students is vegetarianism. Eve Sahulka, 11, has been a vegetarian for the past two years. Appalled by the gruesome bluntness in the documentary Earthlings, Sahulka decided to cut meat out of her life. “It was traumatizing to see,” she said. “I felt kind of cannibalistic, even though we are a different species.” Following her decision to become a vegetarian, Sahulka discovered a noticeable difference. “My skin is clearer, and I feel healthier,” she said. Although Carabio and Sahulka find their lifestyles beneficial, both have encountered some challenges. As a vegetarian, Sahulka sometimes finds it hard to take in necessary nutrients. “You have to be careful because it’s easy to resort to carbs,” said Sahulka. “It makes you balance your meals. You have to find your protein elsewhere.” In the past, Carabio found herself in a similar situation. When she was younger, she was hospitalized because she lacked potassium. With experience, however, Carabio has learned how to balance her meals. Eating selectively has become more common within Mounds View. Whether it be small nutritional adjustments or extensive dietary alterations, teenagers are becoming more aware of what’s on their plates.
IN FEATURES 5
IN SPREAD 6-7
IN SPORTS 10
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March 11, 2015
American Sniper: American Propaganda? Military movie draws unwarranted criticism
First world problems during spring break
forever. 10 OurSandflightis took like, way too hot 9 Can’t. Reach. 8 Sunglasses. 7 Anything Joe Janey 6 complains about Tide is coming up 5 fajitas, 4 Soso many little time 3 cell service 2 Noin Mexico :( 1 Too much free time.
It rained for 20 min, omg
You stayed home.
2014-2015 Viewer Editors Editor-in-Chief
James Birr Managing Editor - Copy Maddy Rosenow Managing Editor - Design Kyoka Millard Managing Editor - Online Alistair Tang Business Manager Nina Bertelsen News Emily Ruan Editorials Clara Wang Josh Yuan Features Monica Kemp Katrina Renacia Spread
Rebecca Nara Namrata Gadela
Variety Reviews Sports Gallery
Aaron Adams Emma Blume
Nolan Carlson-Stevermer Persis Ke
Staff Writer
Sarah Dhols-Graf Ryan Yoch
Photographers/Artists Eva Hoffman Lily Sacay Hana Gulli Michaela Morse Adviser Martha Rush
Staff
Claire Carroll, Sarah Conrad, Matthew Cooper, Jordan Counihan, Taylor Graw, Jackson Hoemann, Alex Jiang, Katie Karjalahti, Samuel Kwong, Emily Moses, Kofo Mustapha, Kevin Sabeti-Oseid, Olivia Schultz, Furqan Syed, Aaron Voiovich, Daniel Yong, Amber Zhao
The Viewer is published by the student editors at: Mounds View High School 1900 Lake Valentine Rd Arden Hills, Minnesota Sauk Centre Publishing
Picture from teaser-trailer.com
Chris Kyle, a man of iron discipline and simple morals, was looking for a cause to fight for when the government announced a terrorist attack on American soil. Kyle is, in many ways, an ideal soldier. He’s fiercely patriotic, and doesn’t ask too many questions – he just wants to kill the bad guys. But the bad guys aren’t so clear-cut anymore. Women, children, old people; any victim could also be a perpetrator in a war increasingly stained with shades of grey. The portrayal of Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle as a hero in a much-criticized war has drawn many attacks; actor Seth Rogen even likened the movie to Hitler-era propaganda and called the film a “mock Nazi movie.” Critics say that the film was Clint Eastwood’s debauched attempt to spur patriotism and support for American action in the Middle East. However, this isn’t the case. American Sniper focuses provides a realistic view of war. Far from encouraging it, Clint Eastwood presents a visceral case against killing of all kinds, providing a three-dimensional lens to the causes and consequences of each tense, bloody scenario. Civilian deaths are never painted as a joyous occasion, but are another notch on the belt of post-traumatic stress disorder. Kyle’s first kill is a young woman and a little boy carrying a grenade. If there was a right-wing political agenda in the movie, the heavy realities of war portrayed in the movie are more than enough to dissuade the layman from celebrating
the deaths of the enemy. Although Kyle is clearly delineated as a hero, Eastwood makes it clear to the audience that it’s Kyle, as an individual, harboring the heroism - not any government forces or agendas. There’s little glorification of the cause or trumpeting of American righteousness. Essentially, it’s a human story, a peek into the world of men who risk their lives to keep the man next to them alive. The danger in movies with marginalized minorities as “the enemy” is to not raise enough questions: Why are they being killed? What is the cause for the conflict? Is it a just cause? “American Sniper” continues this line of questioning throughout the movie: If we’re killing women and children to keep the troops alive in Iraq and Afghanistan, there better be a good reason. If the situation is so desperate that children are throwing grenades, and those who would normally be civilians are having their lives hijacked by terrorism, then obviously things aren’t black and white. The audience is constantly being challenged to think past the surface; so much violence, against, such an ambiguous opponent, innately just feels wrong. Fighting against a vague, ghostlike threat of an enemy, that has the same face as the people they’re trying to protect, is as confusing to Kyle as it is to us.
Student Opinions: Is American Sniper war propaganda? Yes
No
“It [tries to] shows that all Muslim people are awful.” - Kimberly Mansur, 10 “I think it’s purely propaganda.” - Sean Wentworth, 12 “They only show the parts they want you to see.” - Shihab Ahmed, 11
“I don’t think it’s propaganda... they portrayed war accurately.” - Kevin Duffy, 11 “I think it’s a realistic portrayal of war, not intended as propaganda. His trial was right around the time it came out so I think it was coincidental.” - Lauren Redmond, 12 “The entertainment industry is a bureaucracy run by money. They don’t care about political agendas.” - Evan Christenson, 12
Viewer Mission Statement 1. To publish news, information and opinion articles for and about student, faculty and administration activities, interests and policies. 2. To maintain high ethical standards with regard to fairness, personal and legal rights, responsibilities and accuracy. 3. To provide a forum for free and responsible expression of student opinion and present well-balanced, locally researched coverage of issues of broader student interest. 4. To strive for a high level of competency in the technical aspect of writing, including grammar, spelling, clarity, and precision. 5. To welcome diversity and increase the scope and depth of our coverage in order to heighten mutual understanding and awareness throughout our entire school community. Articles and letters to the editor appearing on the editorials pages represent solely the opinions of the writers and do not represent in any way the viewpoint of Viewer, our advertisers, Mounds View High School or its staff. The editors of the Viewer welcome and encourage the publication of all viewpoints.
Correction: An Infographic on p. 5 (Issue 7) should have said that over 300 ambassador crews are selling “Love Your Melon” caps.
March 11, 2015
editorials 3
New rules won’t fix driving issues by Claire Carroll staff reporter Near the end of 2014, teens were rushing to get their license. The requirements for driver training changed as of Jan. 1, and now teens must increase the amount of time they need to practice driving before they get their license. The time changed from 30 to 50 hours, 10 of which need to be at night. Although the reasons behind the new rules are logical, these steps taken to change driving habits are not. This attempt to prevent teens from fabricating the hours they’ve driven will only get worse when the amount of required hours goes up. Teens now must submit a written log that includes the amount of time they drove on specific dates and the skills they practiced while doing so. However, if parents attend a 90-minute safety awareness session, their teen only needs to
complete 40 hours of driving. Parents must also sign off on each driving log to confirm it’s legitimate. These changes are an attempt to reduce the number of car crashes teens are involved in. Last year, there were 12,384 crashes that involved a driver from the age of 15 to 19. Minnesota officials hope that the changes to the amount of driving hours will help reduce car accidents. Another reason for these changes is to try to make it harder for teens and parents to lie about their driving time. But if teens were already fabricating their driving hours and either tricking or convincing their parents into signing them off, adding more hours will only make this problem worse. While the reasons behind the required driving hours are understandable, they may not necessarily fix the problems of car crashes and teens making up fake driving logs. More
hours of driving could be not only useless but also be a waste of time, because what happens on the roads isn’t always in control of the driver. Implementing more techniques into driving classes regarding what to do in unexpected situations would be more beneficial towards lessening the number of car crashes. Learning how to react
when spinning out on the ice, or what to do when approached by a drunk driver could change the style of how teens are driving and their mindset when they’re out on the road. In order to fix the number of car crashes, the heart of the problem is to change how driving classes are being taught and to make teens take them more seriously.
photo by Maddy Rosenow
Jake Rosenow, 10, works on driving hours with his mom.
In light of the recent threats on the Mall of America from Al-Shahab, a Somali terrorist group, some Minnesotans are calling for an increase in military spending in the Middle East for wiping out fundamentalist terrorist groups. However, it’s important to question to what extent is the cost reasonable for a military force with the current American threats and political environment. In 2011, military expenditures accounted for 20 percent of the federal budget. For something that consumes this much of the federal government’s money, it’s clear that constant and continual reform is necessary to have an ethical and up-to-date military spending that is beneficial for the world. In 2011, the US government spent roughly $718 billion on defense and international security. Part of this money was used to supply arms to foreign governments and organizations which the government deems helpful for American interests. Unfortunately,
Editor opinions What your Viewer editors think of various issues.
“
In 2011, the US government spent roughly $718 billion on defense and international security.”
some of these funded governments or organizations are dictatorships or radically religious organizations. To this day, the Middle East is still plagued by the radical elements of Islam that are dangerous to the American government. While the operations in Middle East weren’t ever intended to be cheap, it’s disheartening to see little change in the Middle East despite the enormous amount of money being
“With the new coffee shop and everything, will people even go to the library for books anymore?” -Alistair Tang
pumped into the region. It’s clear that financial reform in military expenditures is necessary to make endeavors in the Middle East more efficient. Instead of using money to create alliances with politically strong terrorist groups, the American government should instead seek to promote the necessary education and infrastructure in this region for the mass of Middle Easterners to be able to have a liveable wage. Removing the dependency on terrorist groups for the Middle East middle class will severely lower the amount of recruits that these terrorists can attract. Another major feature of why the American military is in perpetual warfare is because of the military industry complex that continually incentivizes never-ending war. The military industry complex is able to do this by pandering to the fear of the average citizen. The concept of an unseen and ambiguous enemy, an unknown terrorist, is an extremely scary idea. This creates a useful scapegoat for increasing the money spent on the
“The thought of Prom gives me hives.” -Maddy Rosenow managing editor
“I don’t think it’s necessary to increase the hours. Usually the instructor has half an hour of stuff to teach you. The rest is just driving around. Adding hours is an unecessary waste of time and money.” -Matt Lubratt, 12
“I think 30 hours is already a lot; adding 20 more hours of driving wouldn’t help that much.” -Marya Schuelke, 9 photos by Josh Yuan
U.S. needs military reform by Furqan Syed staff reporter
Student VIEWS
military industry conflict. Continual war means more money for home defense companies, which incentivizes the companies to use their money to keep politicians and citizens in constant fear of terrorists. While having a military and defense system is essential for public safety and progression of peace, military expenditures need to be reformed to ensure the efficient allocation of funds in the Middle East. Funds should be transferred from making alliances with immoral organizations, and instead be used to improve infrastructure to modernize the middle class in the Middle East. It’s clear that the current endeavors in the Middle East are as effective in helping the region as burning money. The government should be allocating fees away from operations involving alliances with radical groups, and instead should be focusing on improving the region by providing infrastructure to support moderate groups.
“Struggling to put off senior slide.” -Nina Bertelsen business manager
“Less than 50 school days until graduation!” -Namrata Gadela spread editor
4 features
March 11, 2015
For some, college starts now by Katrina Renacia features editor
photo courtesy of Krystal Jamison
photo by Eva Hoffman
photo courtesy of Pushkar Chaubal
Front top to bottom: Krystal Jamison, 12, Brenda Ta, 11, and Pushkar Chaubal, 12
While some students are content taking challenging courses like AP classes, in high school, others want a more authentic college experience. Students who take Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) classes are not only exposed to more challenging courses but to a whole new environment as well. There are currently around 85 Mounds View students enrolled in part-time or full-time PSEO. Students taking PSEO get to choose whether they take classes online or at a college of their choice. Some of the colleges that accept PSEO students are Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC), Bethel University, Century Community College, University of Northwestern, and the University of Minnesota. Brenda Ta, 11, is one of the few students who is taking full time PSEO classes at the U of M. “I always knew I wanted to do PSEO because I was really photo by Eva Hoffman eager for college,” said Ta. Senior Tori Van Sickle poses inside her dorm room at Bethel. Although Ta has a fairly open schedule, about one to three classes per day, she still feels the weight of her classes. campus. “Living on campus made the transition to a college life “PSEO classes are a lot more difficult than what I’m used a lot easier,” said Van Sickle. “I feel like I’m finally at a place to,” said Ta. “It requires a lot more reading, analyzing, and where I could fully be who I am.” deeper thinking.” She also feels the pressure of being in a college Van Sickle’s schedule includes classes that start around 8 a.m. campus. “I almost got caught up in the college lifestyle, so much and end at noon. Living on campus and having an open schedule that I almost neglected school.” allowed Van Sickle to participate in college activities. She is a Ta’s classes are not the only thing that’s harder about taking member of the Bethel University student government and has two PSEO. Something as simple as transportation has become more off-campus jobs. difficult to navigate. “One of my greatest struggles would be There are many benefits to doing PSEO. Not only do students commuting to school. Unlike high school, they don’t offer a free get both high school and college credit, but it also saves them time busing system,” said Ta. and money in college. There is a lot to learn from this experience. Pushkar Chaubal, 12, has a tighter schedule, balancing U “PSEO really opened up my boundaries and gave me a sense of of M classes with Mounds View obligations. “I have a lot of responsibility,” said Van Sickle. “I feel more capable of making leadership positions in MV,” said Chaubal. “I had to schedule my classes in such a way that I could go to MV whenever I need to be big decisions than ever.” Jamison agrees with Van Sickle. “In high school, I developed there.” Chaubal’s leadership positions include being on the executive a lot of bad procrastination habits like never reading an entire book for English classes and taking a lot of shortcuts in math board for both the National Honor Society (NHS) and Diversity classes,” she said. “Taking all of my classes at Bethel has refined Council, as well as being a Speech captain. Krystal Jamison, 12, who does full-time PSEO at Bethel, also my study habits, and because there is less busy work, I can pour more of my attention and energy into the homework that I’m feels the pressure of her schedule. assigned.” “For me, the greatest struggle has and always will be finding For students like Ta, Chaubal, Jamison and Van Sickle, PSEO enough time for all the things that I should and want to do,” said serves as a transition between high school and college. After Jamison. “Balancing Science Olympiad, volunteering, Bethel having such experience, there isn’t much of a struggle to adjust to classes, somewhat of a social life, and family responsibilities is college life. “PSEO also threw me into the college world, and it’s difficult and always leaves me wishing for more time in a day.” a sink or swim experience,” said Jamison. “Now that I’ve learned While most PSEO students get a partial feel of college life, how to better time manage and I’m used to the atmosphere and Tori Van Sickle, 12, is getting the full college experience. Van expectations of college, I’ll hit the ground running next year when Sickle takes PSEO classes at Bethel University and lives on
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are back Mounds View Theatre reinvents a classic by Alex Jiang staff reporter Think about the last movie you watched or book you read. Surely you can recall the main characters, each with their own exploits and defining characteristics. Now think about the random extras that appear for a few scenes and never really do anything: how do they live their lives? One take on this investigation will be coming to Mounds View in the coming months. Mounds View’s Theatre program has recently begun preparing for the upcoming spring play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, originally by Tom Stoppard. It follows the lives of two minor characters (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and their perspectives on the story that pushed them aside. Mounds View Theatre is taking the classic tragicomedy and putting a jazz spin on it. “There are gangsters instead of pirates and trains instead of boats,” said Ethan McGowan, 12, who plays Guildenstern. “It’s kind of like Gatsby; the jazzthemed costumes are gonna be really awesome, and the set is gonna be something that wows the audience.” Theatre members are proud of this meshing of cultures. “I think the content of the play will be the
most enjoyable part,” said Alex Keske, 11, who plays Rosencrantz. “There’s going to be a lot of funny parts, but it’s going to get dark really quick; it’ll be very interesting to see how it’s perceived.” This production is considered a unique endeavor by the stars of the play because of its centralization on two main roles, rather than a large major cast. “The journey is more daunting,” said Keske, 11. “There’s a ton of lines, and we really have to take a look at our characters themselves. We’re trying to figure out what drives them and try to portray that.” McGowan agrees with the added difficulties but faces them with confidence. “The amount of lines is for sure going to be [a challenge],” said McGowan. “But it hasn’t been too hard so far. It’s actually been pretty good, and it will stay that way.” “I’m really excited to work with Ethan and get to know him more,” added Keske. “But mostly, I just want to have a great show with my Theatre friends and have fun with it.” Overall, the Spring play prospects are looking great. Crew and cast alike see the production as a great, unique experience, and expectations are optimistic. “There’s a family [in Theatre] and the people there are a family to me,” said Keske. “That’s all they’ve ever been. And we’re a family that gets things done.”
photos by Lily Sacay
The cast rehearses their lines in the cafeteria with choir director, David Phelps.
March 11, 2015
features 5
photos courtesy of Livia Masci
Masci and her collection of books (left). Masci’s self-portrait overlayed with a map (middle). Masci enjoying the sunset on a rooftop overlooking the sea (right).
The
beauty of photographs
Masci makes ordinary things look beautiful by Katie Karjalahti staff reporter A camera stands at the ready, light streams through an open window, and a sheet is draped over the wall. Livia Masci, 12, is ready to take pictures that go beyond reality and inspire others. Masci began photography at the age of 12, when her father first lent her his camera. He taught her few camera tricks, but Masci discovered most of the techniques she knows herself. “I mostly figured things out on my own until I got my camera when I was fourteen,” she said. Three years later, Masci is still inspired by photography. She believes that it makes ordinary day-today scenes beautiful and unforgettable. After creating a Tumblr account, Masci was inspired by the reality-changing pictures she saw, and decided to take some herself. “I love how people make everyday life seem a lot more beautiful than it actually is,” she said. At the time, Masci was also following two 18year-old photographers’ Facebook pages. They were
Teacher of the Issue
Aaron Ogdahl Science
young and talented at photography, which motivated Masci to take more pictures. “I try to make reality seem the way I look at it,” Masci said. “To make people look at [it] in a different way.” Masci never passes up the opportunity to make the real world appear more positive. “I just bring my camera whenever I go somewhere special,” she said. “Just in case I find something interesting.” She also documents memories through photography. “You can just go back through that and look at all of the beautiful things you did,” she said. “And it always cheers me up looking back at all of the pictures and videos I made.” Other than taking inspirational pictures and documenting memories, Masci also likes to take self portraits. “I love portraits a lot, but I like taking self portraits more,” she said. She prefers self portraits because it is easier to portray emotions by herself rather than making someone act out the emotions. Her self portraits are nothing like a typical teenager’s selfies. Masci sets up her camera near a window, with a wool sheet or bed sheet draped on the wall to
capture the perfect effect. After fixing the settings on the camera and taking the portrait, Masci spends time editing the photo so it has the right amount of light and appropriate colors. These edited pictures are not only for her own use; she shares them for money through the website Getty Images. “[Getty Images] buys my pictures,” Masci said. “I upload them and send them pictures and they choose the ones they want, and sometimes they’ll buy it.” Last year alone, she made almost $200. Some of the best photos she has taken and sold were taken at her grandparent’s house in Italy, where Masci is from. The house has a roof that directly overlooks the Adriatic Sea and allows for what she describes as stunning pictures. Back in Italy, Masci was in a photography club in Rome with over 2,000 people who encouraged her photography. “Taking pictures to me is simply a way for me to tell people my story,” Masci said. “That’s why I love sharing them.”
Q: What was your favorite subject in school? A: Science! My science teacher mentioned that I’m very meticulous in a cat dissection. He asked me if I’m looking into science, and I told him I’d never really thought about it. Well, then, I thought, if this is something I’m really good at and I like, why not pursue it?
Q: What was your favorite school lunch? A: It was always the day where they gave popcorn chicken with mashed potatoes and corn and you combine the whole thing. It was so good.
Q: What sports or activities were you involved in? A: I was in football, hockey and baseball for all four years. I was a peer helper, where I would go into K-6 classrooms and help kids who were struggling. I was a volunteer coach for youth sports. I was in choir for one year. That was terrible.
Q: What was your greatest fear growing up? A: I had nightmares for two years. Chucky the doll would haunt my dreams.
Q: Do you have any siblings? A: I have a twin brother. We are fraternal.
Q: What’s your favorite kind of music? A: I’m definitely in a country kick. I love country, but I listen to all, like oldies, like Led Zeppelin, and things like that.
Q: What is your favorite movie? A: Gladiator, without question. Q: Who is your favorite actor/actress? A: It used to be Adam Sandler, before his terrible movies. I guess I don’t have a particular favorite one. Actress? If I could marry one actress, it would be Natalie Portman. I feel like Natalie and I would make a great couple. Q: If you could have one superpower what would it be? A: The ability to read minds. It would be eye-opening to know what people are thinking. I heard a stat that we lie 177 times a day, on average, so it would be interesting, especially as a teacher, to be able to read minds. information compiled by Monica Kemp
information courtesy of www.fearexhibit.org/brain/full_body_experience www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274346.php
Physical reactions to fear Eyes
Widen to help expand our field of vision to identify danger
Respiration
Breathing picks up, carries oxygen in the blood and delivers it to the muscles
Heart
Goosebumps
Sympathetic nerves trigger bra to release adrenaline, which m the heart beat faster
Ancestral response, made them look bigger because they were more hairy than humans today
Muscles
Shake in preparation to fight or run away
Origin of phobias
photo by Hana Gulli
Jake Dingman , 12
Fear is an emotion induced by a perceived threat. The m (nyctophobia), and heights (acrophobia). Overcoming fea
Nyctophobia:
fear of the dark.
Most people begin to be afraid of the dark starting at two years old (Children’s Fears). It isn’t necessarily a fear of the dark itself, but rather a fear of possible dangers concealed by darkness. Darkness represents the unknown, and when we can’t visualize what’s there, the mind takes over. Being afraid of the dark is a trait that many people lose as they grow older. However, if the fear continues into adulthood, it is known as nyctophobia. Along with fearing the unknown within the dark, nyctophobic people also fear the dark itself. To overcome the fear of darkness, it’s important to not let one’s imagination run wild.
Arachnophobia: fear of spiders.
According t and Psychiatry, a fear. What is it e seems most prob spiders. It’s Londo “s
spid shown t
What are you afraid of? Spiders Death of a Loved One Failure The Dark
Fac
ain makes
c n u ing
by Samuel Kwong staff reporter The lights are off, the stairs creaking and bending under the strain from every horrifying step. This isn’t a cut from a horror movie, it simply describes a stroll to the basement. However, for Joseph Floeder, 10, walking down the stairs is a phobia that still lingers from his childhood. “When I was little, I was always too scared to go to my basement because I always thought the Joker would get me. Even to this day I’m still slightly scared, so when I go to the basement, I still feel uncomfortable,” he said. It’s hard to find someone without a fear or two, but sometimes a person can have an intense fear, or phobia of something that borders on the brink of oddness. Omphalophobia is the fear of belly buttons. Try explaining that to the world.
n o m m o
s r o r r e t
While walking down the basement steps can send chills down anyone’s back, Mounds View is host to a wide selection of different phobias. Phobias fit into three categories: social phobia, which is related to social anxiety; agoraphobia, which is the fear of being in crowded or enclosed public spaces; and, most commonly, specific phobias, which is the fear of a particular idea or subject. Senior Jake Dingman has an intense specific phobia. “If someone grabs my ankles, I freak out,” he said. “This tickly feeling in my leg makes me feel uncomfortable.” Clare Schooley, 9, developed a phobia of elevators after hearing a story of someone who lay down in the middle of an elevator and was dismembered. “Whenever I go on an elevator, I’m scared out of my mind because I’m scared I’m going to get cut in half,” she said. According to phobias.about. com, elevators commonly trigger claustrophobia and agoraphobia. After a life-threatening situation, junior Pierce Hintz now suffers from
Dying Public Speaking
claustrophobia. A few years ago, he and his friends were street racing when he lost control and slid straight into a lake. “I just slid into the lake and all the doors were locked. I felt I was going to drown. I was terrified for my life,” recalls Hintz. There are many remedies to help reduce or even eliminate a phobia. The first step is to recognize and accept it. Research has proven that accepting a phobia will help lead to the second step, which is exposing oneself to one’s particular fear. Once exposed, although difficult, a person should remain calm and and think positively. Along with positive thoughts, another way to cope with fears is visualizing positive outcomes. In a scientific research, anxious athletes who relaxed and visualized their routines before a meet conquered their fear of failure more effectively than those who had not. Furthermore, incidents with a phobia can teach lessons and help the person overcome a fear. Hintz stated he had learned much from his experience. “I learned to calm down and evaluate the situation and build up the courage to conquer my fear,” he said.
Being Alone Fish, Bees, Seagulls The Unknown Needles Robots, Zombies, Clowns Injury Heights Germs
125 students polled Information compiled by Kofo Mustapha
2
most common fears include the fear of spiders (arachnophobia), darkness ars isn’t an easy task, but breaking them down greatly helps the process.
to the Swiss Archives of Neurology, Neurosurgery an estimated 3.5 to 6.1 percent of people have this exactly that constitutes this terror? Contrary to what bable, getting bitten isn’t the main reason people fear their movement. In a 1991 study at City University on, results revealed that “legginess,” sudden movement, speediness,” and “hairiness” were the main reason why people found spiders terrifying. Furthermore, the angular-shaped legs and dark colors are also believed to increase spiders’ fear factor. Now, understanding the fear is one thing. But what about overcoming it? There are multiple “home cures” for arachnophobia. According to a study from the Karolinska Institutet, social learning, such as watching someone else interact with a spider, helps reduce the fear response. Additionally, slowly getting more comfortable with proximity to ders, as well as describing feelings aloud, have been to help dissipate fear.
Acrophobia:
fear of heights.
Between 2 and 5 percent of the general population have acrophobia, and it is twice as common in women. Unlike arachnophobia and nyctophobia, acrophobia is one of the most commonly suggested inborn fears, suggesting that the fear of heights is an evolved adaptation. Sufferers of acrophobia are often unable to trust their balance at high altitudes, leading to panic attacks that can cause them to become too agitated to get themselves down to safety. According to the Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, this is due to the tendency of acrophobics to over rely on visual cues to retain balance. Visual cues are an integral part of balance, and as height increases, visual cues recede. As a result, overall balance is poorer. Information compiled by Daniel Yong
8 variety
March 11, 2015
So you’ll be staying here.... Check out these museums by Kevin Sabeti-Oseid staff reporter For those who can forego the wild revelry of spring break, museums can be a great way to spend your week off. Celebrating its 100th year, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) is a fine arts museum offering over 5,000 years of art from around the world with free general admission. Its mission, as stated on the website, is to “[enrich] the community by collecting, preserving, and making accessible outstanding works of art from the world’s diverse cultures.” The MIA displays art from every continent but Antarctica with departments in contemporary, textiles, sculptures, paintings, photographs, and so much more. The MIA is located at 2400 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis and only closed on Mondays. The Science Museum of Minnesota offers a wide range of activities with focus on inspiring learning. For non-members, a ticket will cost $13 a n d will grant access to exhibits featuring an o v e r v i e w of the human body, a cell lab, an experiment gallery, dinosaurs and other assorted fossils, a sampling of objects from the Dakota and Ojibwe people, and countless other activities. For an extra $7, you can watch one of the museum’s omnitheater films, now showing Journey to Space and Hubble. The Museum can be found at 120 W. Kellogg Boulevard, across from the Xcel Energy Center and RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul. The Bell Museum of Natural History is great place to visit for those interested in appreciating our state’s large diversity of animal and plant life. Multiple collections display a variety of organisms including amphibians and reptiles, birds, fish, fungi, lichen, insects, invertebrates, mammals, and plants. The museum includes exhibits with dioramas imitating Minnesota’s many habitats.
The museum offers a spectrum of traveling exhibits consisting of a history of John James Audubon and his bird illustrations, sustainable shelters, information on the endangered peregrine falcon, and many more. Open every day of the week with free admission on Sundays, the museum can be found at 10 Church Street SE in Minneapolis, on the university campus.. Whether you’re looking for art, science, or history each museum provides a fun and educational way to spend your Spring break, at a relatively low price. Additional information can be found on museums’ websites.
photo by Kevin Sabeti-Oseid
Museums are great ways to get some culture. Here is just a fraction of the art available.
Walk the Green Mile at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade by Aaron Voiovich staff reporter To fully understand the St. Patrick’s Day parade in St. Paul, one simply needs to ask anyone there, “What’s the Craic?” “Craic” is an Irish word for the news, recreation and conversation. It can also be the perfect conversation starter with one of the outgoing and friendly parade-goers. Regardless of the cold weather, hundreds of people gather each year for the warm atmosphere that the spectacle embodies. “Everyone’s having a good time. It’s very easy to walk up to people and make a friend,” said Jimmy McArthur, a special education teacher, who has also been to a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland. With the parade marching down 5th St. all the way to Rice Park through the heart of St. Paul, there’s no shortage of interesting people to meet.
You won’t see many cars or parade floats at the St. Paul parade, however. The goal of the parade is to focus on proud Irish families, so motor vehicles are kept to a minimum with the exception of dignitaries. In an effort to showcase Irish culture, the parade also includes Irish music and promotes several local Irish shops taking part in the festivities. Every year they offer commemorative parade buttons for around $3.00. The button sales fund the parade, and leftover profits are donated to local charities. Another annual staple of the parade is the Miss Shamrock contest. Contestants will compete to represent the association in cultural events and other parades throughout the year. Miss Shamrock is chosen from a group of secret judges to be sure she boasts the very best of Irish culture. Miss Shamrock is crowned a week before St. Patrick’s Day, and will play a part in the parade.
The title of Miss Shamrock isn’t the only thing you can win at the parade, however. One lucky attendant will walk away with a trip to Ireland. There is no cost to entering and the winner will receive an all-expenses paid flight to Ireland and $500 to spend while there. There were some issues with St. Paul officials regarding the day of the parade being a Tuesday. The reservations were based on the fear of disrupting school and business schedules. St. Paul officials went as far as to suggest rejecting all future parades that did not take place on a Saturday. Despite the issues with the date, the parade will take place in St. Paul on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday March 17. The fact that St. Paul officials made the concession to keep the parade on a weekday is a testament to the tradition of this event. The St. Patrick’s day parade is one of the largest, most unique parades in St. Paul and certainly is worth a look over spring break.
March 11, 2015
reviews 9
\The Wins of
Whiplash
This film awards season, Whiplash proved to be a major force at the Golden Globes, Oscars, and more. See a list of just some of the awards and nominations the film received here.
3
Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Simmons), Best Sound Mixing, and best Film Editing.
J.K. Simmons also won awards for best supporting actor at the...
72nd Golden Globe Awards 68th BAFTAs 21st SAG Awards 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards
At the
30th Sundance Film Festival,
Whiplash won the
Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award.
photo courtesy of myentertainmentworld.ca
Terrifying, masterful symphony by Matthew Cooper staff reporter
Whiplash opens with the steady pitter patter of a drum roll. It slowly crescendos and accelerates; piano, mezzo forte, forte, fortissimo and then... nothing. Silence. Just a single musical dynamic perfectly captures the tone of the film. Whiplash is increasingly unnerving yet constantly amazing. It’s an unrelenting masterpiece that will leave audiences breathless from beginning to end. In Whiplash, Miles Teller plays ambitious jazz drummer, Andrew Neyman - a freshman at the fictional Shaffer Music Conservatory in New York City. Despite not excelling at the drums and having a virtually non existent social life, Neyman aspires to be one of the best musicians in the world and catches the eye of infamous band teacher Terence Fletcher (played by the immaculate J.K. Simmons). Unbeknownst to Neyman, Fletcher is a vicious force to be dealt with and will do whatever it takes to help a student realize their full potential. Whiplash succeeds at making
music genuinely suspenseful. The interactions between Neyman and Fletcher have an unparalleled intensity. Much of this is due to Teller and Simmons, who both give the best performances of their careers. Teller gives Neyman a likeable awkwardness and does an impressive job on the drums (Teller has played since he was 15 years old), especially in the film’s breathtaking musical climax. But as fantastic as Teller is, J.K. Simmons is a revelation. Fletcher is undoubtedly one of the most terrifying antagonists ever put to screen. Like all the greatest villains, his motivations are understandable in spite of his despicable actions. Simmons’ Academy Award winning performance is one of the best parts of this masterpiece and will be remembered for decades. Fletcher’s physically and verbally abusive teachings shine light on Whiplash’s main theme: is success always worth it? Neyman goes through hell and back to please his foul-mouthed conductor, shedding blood, sweat, and tears in the process. At what point is it all too much? It’s
New movie, same idea by Jackson Hoemann staff reporter
Despite the slew of Hollywood movies of different genres, it is hard to find an interesting film with an uplifting message. Now, there’s a movie out there that may be the answer. Director Niki Caro’s ninth directing effort, McFarland, USA tells the story of a struggling cross-country coach (Kevin Costner) who finds himself moving around the country due to a series of incidents in his career. He finds himself in McFarland, California, one of the poorest cities in America. There he trains a group of high school students and slowly transforms them into a team of champion cross-country runners.
photo courtesy of screwtopreviews.wordpress
This movie could have been another feel-good sports movie put out by Disney, and it follows the same formula, but it took a different angle. It focuses not just on the team itself, but the town where its members came from and the people who inhabited it. The cast, mainly Costner, gave decent performances that were enhanced by good cinematography and music, increasing the atmosphere of the town the characters inhabited. But this is still a sports movie made by Disney. Much like the Mighty Ducks series, also made by Disney, the film is predictable. Even though it has a different angle, it follows the same formula as all other sports movies in the past 30 years: A washed up coach finds himself training a team of misfits; they lose their first game or match but start to get better; the coach finds himself drifting away but has an epiphany and returns to coach the team in their final competition. The plot becomes repetitive and predictable in its more than two hour run time. Even though this movie is repetitive, it still is able to find an audience. Those who enjoy sports movies will find this movie interesting. Despite its predictability, McFarland, USA can be enjoyable at points and will likely grab the attention of some.
a topic that Whiplash isn’t afraid to cover and a bold choice for writer and director Damien Chazelle’s first film. Although Chazelle is new to the film industry, he shows no signs of inexperience. His screenplay is spectacular. It’s emotionally resonant, anxiety inducing, and very original. Chazelles directorial style is also stunning. Whiplash is filmed in a very unique way. Chazelle utilizes extreme closeups of drum sets, brass instruments, sheet music, and bloody hands, as well as sweeping shots of Shaffer’s studio band to make the movie come alive. Film editor Tom Cross also has a lot to do with Whiplash’s style. The film features swift cuts, often synced with the music, and feels consistently electric. Perhaps no other film captures its subject matter so beautifully because Whiplash is jazz. Throughout the 107 minute running time, Whiplash never slows down. It’s a movie that is always raising the stakes and rarely gives the audience time to breathe. It’s an audacious tour de force that never misses a beat.
Top Grossing Movies Along with Whiplash, many movies were released at the domestic box office in 2014. Here are the highest grossing movies for the previous year.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 $336,775,442
Guardians of the Galaxy $333,176,600
American Sniper $332,241,639
Captain America: The Winter Soldier $259,766,572
The LEGO Movie $257,760,692
information compiled from boxofficemojo.com
10 sports
March 11,2015
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photos 3&5 by Lily Sacay
photos 1,2,4 & 6 courtesy of Matthew Baker & Veronica Rasmussen
Breaking into the Big Ten
Matthew Baker
Veronica Rasmussen
Get ready. It was June 7, 2014, and another race in the Minnesota State High School League track and field championships was about to begin: the boys 110m hurdles. Matt Baker, a junior at the time, approached the starting line. Baker has been doing track since he was a fifth grader and hurdles since he was in eighth grade. Standing at a lanky 6’1’’, his long legs and knack for quick bursts of speed made him a logical choice for hurdles. “In eighth grade, I could take three steps in between each hurdle before anyone else could,” said Baker. “That’s when I started to realize I was good.” He only got better from there. At the beginning of his junior year, Baker was ranked seventh in the state, but after shattering Mounds View records and placing first in four out of the five meets, Baker’s aspirations began to change. “Going into the season… my goal was just to make it to state,” said Baker. “During the season I kept getting better and by the time state came, I was number one.” “I knew that as long as I kept focused I’d win.” Get set. The gunshot sounded and Baker took off. Ahead from the very beginning, Baker crossed the finish line first after only 14.54 seconds. He did it. He won the state championship. His smile, like his talent, could not be contained. Colleges began recruiting Baker almost as soon as the summer started. After looking at Wisconsin, Minnesota State-Mankato, and Iowa State, Baker has decided to stay true to his Twin Cities roots and attend the University of Minnesota. A Big Ten Conference school with a flourishing Track and
School, lift, train, study, rinse, repeat; this is the life of Veronica Rasmussen, 12, a future Gopher thrower at the University of Minnesota. Her journey to the U began during junior year when she began getting mail from colleges across the nation. “It came down to UND, NDSU, and the U of M,” she said. After official visits to all three, she narrowed it down to UND and the U of M. “I really liked both their athletic programs, but I chose [the U of M] for the academics,” said Rasmussen, who received both an athletic and academic scholarship to the U. To reach her current level, Rasmussen had to train rigorously, lifting three times a week, attending a throwing clinic once a week, and doing daily ab workouts. “To be a thrower, you need both upper and lower strength. The U of M’s throwers run, sprint, jump. Their philosophy on weight lifting is: you’re going to work out to become a better athlete, and being a better athlete is going to help you in whatever what sport you do,” said Rasmussen. Besides growing stronger and learning to balance pain with performance, Rasmussen fell in love with her sport. “I just loved it right away. The throwers, they’re all just quirky and inclusive... kind and inviting,” she said. “It’s become that those are the people who are my closest friends.” Rasmussen began her throwing career at the urging of her childhood gym teacher at St. Odilia’s, who still coaches her today.
by Nina Bertelsen business manager
by Ryan Yoch staff reporter
photo by Eva Hoffman
Field Program, the U of M seemed like an easy decision for Baker. “The process was pretty easy. There was a few great schools so it was hard to decide, but in the end I felt most comfortable at the U of M, so that’s why I chose to go there,” said Baker. Despite all his successes, Baker is always quick to redirect the conversation away from himself. If he is forced to discuss his recent recruitment, however, he does so with a sheepish grin and a grateful attitude. “It’s an amazing feeling,” said Baker. “I’m very lucky and blessed to have this opportunity.” Go. The gunshot fires and Baker takes off again, this time for much higher stakes. It is his junior year in college and he is racing to secure his All-American team title. Nearly eight years of hard work have led him to this moment, and Baker is not about to let it slip from his grasp. He crosses the finish line and grins. The other racers didn’t stand a chance. In college, Baker hopes to improve on his successes by being named to the All-American track team. Though he doesn’t think his chances of “going pro” are very realistic, Baker plans on pursuing hurdles as far as his legs will take him. “My ultimate dream would be to compete in the Olympics,” said Baker. “And working hard is how I’m going to get there.”
photo by Eva Hoffman
“[In 7th grade] he started telling me, ‘You should come and throw.’ So after a full year of talking to me, I decided to come give it a try my 8th grade year,” said Rasmussen. Since that moment, Rasmussen has never stopped throwing. Her dedication to throwing and track earned her the position of girls track captain for the 2015 season. Rasmussen says she’s really excited for what her future holds. “I think the coach is going to be a really good fit for me, and all the throwers I met there seemed really nice.” Before Rasmussen can officially become a Gopher, she will have to spend her summer training. “It’ll be super different. I’m going to trust that they’ll help get me to the level.” Instead of joining other throwers for a weight training class at the U, Rasmussen plans to find a lifting program elsewhere and consult her future coach. Even though there are few opportunities for throwers after college, Rasmussen has learned lessons she can take with her for the rest of her life. “With throwing, you’re not out of the competition until you’re done with your last throw, so really being able to let a bad throw go and refocus on the next one is essential.”
sports 11
March 11, 2015
Athlete of the Issue
photo by Eva Hoffman
Mounds View and Irondale players scrimmage during captains practices at the Vadnais Heights Sports Center.
No time to reLAX
Sarah Arfstrom
Boys lacrosse has high expectations this season by Olivia Schultz staff reporter With 10 of last year’s members now attending college, the boys lacrosse team expects more challenges this season. Although a lot of talent has moved on, there are some promising core players who are willing to tackle this season head on. Logan Maccani, 12, is one of those players. Maccani is committed to attend Ohio State University next fall as a D1 player, and many of his teammates consider him the MVP of the team. “He’s been our top offensive player the past two years and can break down any defense to score goals,” said teammate Colin McMurray, 12. Maccani is flattered that his team thinks so highly of him, but also feels the responsibility to perform well and hold up to these expectations. “I think that I only do well though because of my great teammates. So in my mind, the whole team needs to be the MVP,” said Maccani. Although the team has a strong offensive player, they lack strength on the defensive end. “We could also use a good face-off guy because we lost a
senior that went All-American last year for face-offs,” said Cameron Lemay, 10. Despite the loss of talented seniors, the team is hopeful for another successful season, and is aiming for a spot at State. “We have lost to White Bear in the section championship for the last three years, so our game against them will be one of our harder games this year,” said Lemay. Beyond games, the team is working on winning ground balls and attending practices in order to achieve playoff contention. However, the season isn’t all about work. These boys are not just part of a team; they are part of a family. “Not everyone on our team is best friends with each other but, as in a family, everyone is friendly to each other off the field,” said Luke Berndt, 12. “On the field… all the guys are playing for the guy next to them, trying to get better and doing what is best for the team.” While this season could prove more challenging than last year’s, the boys lacrosse team still has hopes of success and reaching State.
The Most Important Traits for Lacrosse Athletes Strong Work Ethic For players, it’s important to have a good work ethic and athletic ability to play on the field for as long as needed.
Cooperation Cooperation and coachability are important. All of the coaches have a lot of experience and know how to train the team for success.
Being Able to Trust Teammates It is important to trust your teammates. “The team functions well because you can trust all the guys around you to do their job and to back you up if you can’t do yours.” - Luke Berndt, 12.
Softball aims to beat .500 record by Amber Zhao staff reporter Since March 9, Mounds View’s girls softball team has been getting ready for the season ahead. After a wintry offseason, the girls are ready to go back – this time with high hopes. The team ended last season with a 50/50 record. Although the record could be improved, members like Tina Rosenow, 11, are focused on more than just scores. “We’ve won half of our games and lost half, but I still feel like we’ve won more, because we have good team spirit,” said Rosenow. In fact, one of the team’s greatest accomplishments from last season was their team bonding. “We really came together as a team, especially during Sections,” said Bailey Thompson, 11. “Our team is mostly juniors and seniors this year, and that’s very beneficial in terms of getting along, since most of us will be
photo by Hana Gulli
Jeanna Lavalle, 10, and the girls softball team practice throwing at captains practices. from last year’s team. We still have to get used to being on a team together, but it will be easier than building a new team.” However, there are still challenges that affect how fast the girls can pull together on the field.
“Every other year we go to Florida down at the ESPN Sports Complex, and we do some spring training there,” said Rosenow. Since the team is not going to Florida this year, spring training can be tough with weather conditions. “The weather is always a challenge with the snow and rain, especially at the beginning of the season,” said Rosenow. One way the team combated the problem was by hosting indoor captains practices. At these practices, the team focused on hitting, fielding, and conditioning. This season, the team’s goals not only include doing better at Sections and going to State, but also taking advantage of their positions at bat. “We are really going to focus on limiting errors in the field and trying to capitalize on our at-bats,” said Thompson. “We have a lot of good hitters this year, so hitting will be a big component for our team.”
Senior Lacrosse Q: How long is the lacrosse season? A: It’s about nine weeks, give or take – wish it were longer actually. Q: How did you get into the sport? A: My brother started playing before I did, so I would often help him with drills in my backyard and instantly fell in love with the sport. Mounds View didn’t offer a girls youth league, so I took advantage of as many camps and private lessons as I could. Q: What’s your favorite part of the sport? A: I love how fast-paced it is. The ball is constantly in motion, can come off your stick or opponent’s stick quickly, and keeps us on our toes even when it’s down on the other end. Anything can happen, which keeps it so fun and exciting. Q: What are your goals for the season? A: My personal goal for the season is to become more familiar with my off-hand. Getting comfortable with the other hand takes practice, but it is something I would like to improve by the end of the season. Players usually avoid it, but being able to play effectively and confidently with the non-dominant hand is critical in the sport of lacrosse. Q: What advice would you give other lacrosse players? A: Have the mentality of never being satisfied. Be the first one to every ground ball and the first person in line for drills. Be the first one on the field at practice throwing the ball around with a teammate. Be assertive and don’t settle. Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? A: Pretty basic, but I’d love to be able to fly. It’s that one power every little kid dreams of having, but it would be unreal to be able to see the world from a bird’s eye view. information compiled by Persis Ke
“ “ “ “ “ “ March 11, 2015
k a 2 e r 0 B
I’m taking a senior trip to visit St. Thomas.”
Sprin
15
g
12 gallery
I’m going mountain climbing in Montana.” -Claire Kim, 12
-Katie Clements, 12
I’m going to Georgia with my paddling team.”
-Sam Hohenshell, 11
I’m going on a cruise through the Bahamas.”
-Sophia Marvin, 10
I’m going to Hawaii this year.”
My family is going to Florida.”
-Ben Ebert, 10
-Jillian Axelson, 9
photo by Eva Hoffman illustration by Rebecca Nara
go i
n
where ov ome er s g s
87° in Fort
65% Yes
Myers, Florida
b re a k ?
35% No
ing
in some sun, and enjoy their last trip together before graduation. “I’ll be hanging out with my friends, laying in the sun, and even maybe snorkeling or paddleboarding,” said Mari Ballinger, 12, who is part of the group going to Mexico. “I’m just looking to have the time of my life.” Some younger students are starting to get excited for their own senior trips, even though they are years away. “It’s such a fun part of high school that planning it early makes it even more enjoyable,” said Lyndi Porch, 10. While seniors used to travel in more intimate groups, it is becoming increasingly popular to go in a larger crowd. “It’s nice to go in big groups because there’s so many different people to hang out with, and you never get sick of each other,” said Ballinger. Senior trips offer a good way to spend time with people before the split from high school to college or any other opportunity.
pr
by Sarah Conrad staff reporter Many Mounds View students are making the most of spring break by going on trips together—especially seniors. Senior trips are often used as a last hurrah among friends as they head off to the next step of their life. “I think it’s an awesome way to make memories together before we all head in separate directions for college,” said Katie Clements, 12. This spring break, Clements is going on a trip with eight senior girls and their families to the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, something that these girls have been planning with their families for nearly all of senior year. “Last year, we all just decided that it’d be really fun to go on a trip together,” said Clements. Also at Mounds View is a group of 80 people, including seniors and families, going to Mexico over break. This is a fun way for them to relax, soak
Spring break stats Ar e y o u
Seniors plan group trips
85° in
Cancun, Mexico
50° in New York City, New York
48° in
83° in
Tucson, Arizona
Shoreview, Minnesota
60° in Seattle,
Washington
information compiled by Taylor Graw