Issue 9 Full

Editorials

In This Issue Wednesday March 16 2016

Sports

Features

Grading Teachers

Are sports too expensive?

TSAI SiSters’ travels

Viewer

ReFLECT lives up to the hype

Volume 63 Issue 9

The decline is over

District predicts enrollment increase of 1000 in next decade

by Kailey Newcome staff reporter

by Jack McCoy staff reporter

Mounds View recently ran two trial ReFLECT hours to test implementation for future years. Overall, the hour was viewed as beneficial. However, it may see a few minor adjustments before it becomes a weekly occurrence next year.

Standing for Re-Focus, Re-Learn, Re-Examine, Re-Connect and Re-Teach, ReFLECT’s purpose is to allow students to meet with teachers, do homework and take a break to reduce school stress.

Many students saw the hour as a great way to catch up on their schoolwork. “Before the ReFLECT hour, I was seven Calculus assignments behind, but after I was only five,” said Blessie Tandon, 11.

Teachers also appreciated the extra time. “A lot of students have been absent, so it was nice to have a time where they could make up work without having to come in before or after school,” said English teacher Rebecca Hauth-Schmid.

However, other teachers raised concerns over the possibility of students and staff relying too heavily on ReFLECT. “If students and staff begin to overuse the hour, they’re going to become overbooked,” said chemistry teacher Graham Wright. “I teach a sixth hour class, and by the time I see my students to ask them to come in, they’re already seeing three other teachers.”

In addition, the ReFLECT hour may have a few other kinks to work out.

Less than five minutes into the first trial, administrators blocked students from entering the ILC because too many people had planned to spend the period there. “I spent the hour in the computer lab to get access to computers since the library was full,” said Jocelyn Landwehr, 10.

Ethan Gin, 11, felt that ReFLECT was good in theory but less successful in practice. “I feel like it wasn’t executed well,” he said. “The restrictive format and lack of prior notice made it less effective than it could have been.”

Administrators acknowledged these concerns.

“The ILC had to be shut down [in the first trial], so we need to fix spaces for rooming the kids,” said Principal Jeffery Ridlehoover.

The school is already working with this year’s Junior Achievement Company, Rhidian Tech, to fix the problem. The company is developing an app called “MVPass” that will replace teacher signups and more effectively track students.

“We hope that by making sign up more convenient and dynamic, it will be beneficial for both students and administrators,” said Rhidian Tech’s Chief Technology Officer Jake Weightman, 12. “We’re now looking into adding a feature to let students see how many people are signed up to go to each room in real time, and setting limits to avoid traffic to the most popular destinations.”

Overall, the hour was highly regarded by the Mounds View community. “It went better than we could’ve expected. We’ve received numerous parent emails saying thank you, and students and teachers all had positive feedback,” said Ridlehoover. “I even got two calls from other schools asking about it and wanting information since it was so successful.”

In 2005, the Mounds View School District closed Pike Lake and Snail Lake elementary schools as district enrollment decreased, forcing some current juniors and seniors to switch schools after kindergarten or first grade.

In an effort to keep numbers up, the school district increased efforts to recruit out-of-district students.

Now, the district has the opposite problem.

The school board may soon have to consider expansion possibilities in order to accommodate skyrocketing enrollment projections.

Resident enrollment projections expect district enrollment to increase by 18 to 29 percent in the next ten years. Many single-family housing units with elderly residents within the district are expected to “turnover” in the next five years, resulting in a demographic change towards more school-age residents.

Since 2011, resident enrollment has increased 8.2 percent, or by 728 students. The majority of growth has been concentrated in elementary grades, as more preschool children have moved into the district. As the predicted increase in the next ten years is even greater, the high school population can expect to see the effects of this influx of new residents in around six years.

According to Principal Jeffery Ridlehoover, the growth is a demonstration of positive developments within the community. “Enrollment growth is a sign of strong communities and strong local schools,” he said. “A growing enrollment is a very good ‘problem’ to have.”

Due to the significant increase in students, Mounds View will likely have to expand staff to accommodate for increased class size.

“I do anticipate our resident enrollment to grow and believe this growth will stretch our building classroom capacity,” said Ridlehoover. “I would anticipate additional staff as our resident enrollment dictates.”

Mounds View is not the only district experiencing rapid growth in enrollment; other local districts have seen similar increases in recent years. Spring Lake Park, for example, has experienced a 22 percent increase in enrollment since 2011.

To handle the increase, the district is making renovations to its high school and building a new pre-kindergarten 12000 to fourth grade school.

The Mounds View School Board is meeting on March 29 to examine facilities and make sure the district has the capacity to move forward. In an interview with Sun Focus, Board Chair Amy Jones said, “We are currently right sized, but we are going to start to feel some of the intensity of our enrollment increases over the next few years, and we want to make sure that we plan for that appropriately.”

2025

2025

years (since 2010-11) resident enrollment is up

728

2015

students, or

8.2%

Mounds View District Enrollment numbers since 1986

Low in 2008

2009

2009

10000

Peak in 1997

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8000

2008

8000 1986 1990

2010

1986 198

1995

2000

2005

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infographic by Eva Hoffman

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editorials

top 10 Things to do during Spring Break

10

Should students ‘grade’ teachers?

Study for the ACT and cry

Have a magical time singing with songbirds

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wednesday, march 16, 2016

9

Make flower crowns

7

Get ready for an adventure with books

6 Pray for snow 5 Peter 4 Kidnap Yong’s brother 3 2 1 Have a party with your Grandma

Burn something with a magnifying glass

Clean out your closet for once

Frolic through the dead brown grass

2015-2016

Viewer Editors Editor-in-Chief

Emily Ruan

Managing Editor - Copy

Persis Ke

Managing Editor - Design

Eva Hoffman

ONLINE Managing Editor

Alex Jiang

Business Manager

Jordan Counihan News

Daniel Yong Editorials

Kevin Sabeti-Oseid Furqan Syed Features

Emily Moses Katrina Renacia Spread

Samuel Kwong Katie Karjalahti Variety

Aaron Voiovich Reviews

Matthew Cooper Sports

Jordan Counihan Persis Ke Gallery

Amber Zhao Photographers

Eva Hoffman, Julia Sacay Cartoonist

Clare Carroll

photo illustration by Eva Hoffman

Hold teachers accountable

Students aren’t the best judges

by Samuel Kwong spread editor

by Katie Karjalahti and Emily Ruan spread editor and editor-in-chief

When you think of a teacher, what do you see? A smart, intelligent adult who you can look to for homework help? Or perhaps the first image that comes to mind is closer to the Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street?

Not only do teachers determine students’ learning and grades, but they also influence student views on course material. But what happens when a teacher isn’t doing their fair share in the classroom?

In order to ensure that each teacher educates to their full potential, students should be required to review their teachers. When the school board looks at the results, it would identify and reward exceptional teachers, and make less successful teachers take action to improve.

Student reviews would provide teachers with feedback for their improvement. In order to ensure that reviews are based on quality of teaching and not subjective to factors such as extra credit and other bribes, students would be required to answer questions that focus specifically on teaching quality and how enjoyable the teacher makes the class. This would help identify areas for improvement and bring attention to teachers who put exceptional effort into their classes.

While some teachers give semester reviews to their students to receive constructive criticism, this has not yet been an effective method of ensuring quality teaching.

“I feel like some teachers only look at the positive aspects instead of looking at both positive and negative criticism,” said a Mounds View student.

Also, some students shy away from sending an email or talking to a teacher about problems with their teaching style because they fear repercussions. While most teachers treat their students fairly, having students turn in anonymous reviews at the end of every semester would free students from worrying about getting on a teacher’s bad side.

The student community should be able to offer feedback on ways a teacher can better their performance, or any specific techniques they should keep. These ratings would help the school board choose which teachers to reward with higher salaries or other benefits for their hard work and which to penalize for their lack of work ethic. Teachers with lower ratings could be required to observe the teaching styles of higher rated teachers or have cuts to their vacation days.

Teachers have an obligation to ensure students are prepared for a bright future. In order for that to happen, they must teach at their full potential. Student opinion must be taken into consideration, since teachers do not always reach excellence on their own.

Students reviewing teachers sounds like a good idea, but there’s more to such a system than meets the eye. In theory, surveys would help pick out the best teachers, diagnose areas of improvement and enhance quality of teaching as a whole. However, this approach oversimplifies key problems associated with student reviews. Though well-intentioned, student evaluations would do little to improve the quality of education at Mounds View and could even encourage a negative outcome.

Supporters of student evaluations argue that reviews benefit students by allowing them to pick teachers whose teaching styles best fit them. While this is a valid concern at the university level, where students can choose between hundreds of professors and courses to take, it is less relevant at the high school level. Mounds View has a relatively small selection of courses, and students generally have little control over selecting teachers and classes. Instituting a system of teacher evaluations would only cause frustration.

In addition, today’s high school students are often tired, overbooked and eager to take the easy way out. As a result, good teachers who challenge their students to do their best work might see the effects of their dedication reflected negatively in student reviews.

A 2014 study by Michele Pellizzari, professor of economics at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, sought to compare student ratings of professors with quality of teaching, as measured by how the same students performed in subsequent courses. The results were unsurprising: better teachers received lower ratings from students.

Many students simply don’t like teachers who assign more work, even if it benefits students in the long run—ratings could bring out unfair feedback that reflects poorly on dedicated and exceptional teachers.

It’s likely that student evaluations would be subject to a host of influences other than teaching ability. Student reviews are inherently subjective; everyone defines “good” teaching differently.

While great teachers can both educate and befriend their students, a teacher’s ultimate job is to ensure that their students are learning what they need to. Currently, executive decisions such as hiring, firing and salary are based off of teachers’ experience. If they were to be based off of student opinion, teachers might be incentivized to hand out all As or to lower the difficulty of their classes—decisions that would negatively impact students in the long run.

While the intent of student evaluations is to improve the quality of education at Mounds View, this system would instead hurt it.

Mounds View already takes action to ensure high quality teaching, including doing random classroom walk-ins and hosting professional learning communities to discuss new methods of teaching.

Not only would the new system disincentivize good teaching, but it would also encourage teachers to dumb down their classes and give out less work in order to achieve high ratings. To ensure classroom excellence for years to come, Mounds View needs to look elsewhere for methods of monitoring and improving teaching quality.

Adviser

Martha Rush Staff Rigney Cunningham, Ben Davis, Jackie Gaworski, Marley Jones, Sunny Lim, Jack McCoy, Kailey Newcome, Jake Rosenow, Kallie Slotvig, Kenan Smith, Ben Yoch

The Viewer is published by the student editors at: Mounds View High School 1900 Lake Valentine Road Arden Hills, Minnesota Sauk Centre Publishing

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.

editorials

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

3

Should prisoners work?

Let them work

by Jeman Park staff reporter Private companies profiting from prison labor has recently created controversy due to concerns of supposedly poor working conditions and low wages. Companies like Whole Foods have responded by promising to stop selling any product made with prison labor by April 2016. This decision implies that the usage of prison labor is a shameful aspect of our society.

However, this implication demonstrates a complete ignorance towards prison labor and its benefits. Prison labor opportunities should be cherished, not despised.

Many people are against prison job programs because they imagine prisoners forced into gruesome conditions. In reality, prison labor programs are open to just a small number of wellbehaved prisoners who choose to participate.

Many prisoners enter these programs as a way to make money and gain job skills. By doing so, prisoners can quickly enter the labor force after being released.

Prison work can also help prisoners in other ways. Sociologist Gordon Hawkins argues that prison work programs help prisoners gain the independence, pride and self-reliance necessary to survive outside of prison. Hawkins’ observations were supported by Jeff Beeson, executive director of Maryland Correctional Enterprises’ board of directors, who observed that prisoners who worked for the plants in Maryland reoffended and returned to prison at roughly half the rate of prisoners who didn’t work in prison.

Working as part of a labor program can help prisoners feel a sense of attachment to society.

Incarceration in the United STATES For example, Ronita Bell, a 37-year-old prisoner serving a life sentence in Arkansas, worked for Actronix, a company that manufactures parts for medical devices like MRI units and CT scanners.

Bell was able to find a sense of fulfillment through her work. “I love being part of building something in a medical field,” she said in an interview with Forbes. “I know that it’s going to be a machine that could possibly save someone’s life. I love it.”

Labor programs can also stimulate the economy. By employing prisoners, companies can save money on health care costs, payroll taxes and turnover costs. For example, before partnering with the Pine Bluff Correctional Facility, the Glove Corporation lost $156,000 over an eightmonth period due to employees leaving for other jobs. After the partnership, things ran far more smoothly in the factory, as it didn’t have to deal with a constantly changing labor force.

While some fear that prison labor will take away jobs that would have normally gone to law-abiding citizens, in reality, companies aren’t allowed to make partnerships with prisons until they can prove that prisoners won’t take away jobs from other citizens. This ensures that the only jobs being delegated to prisoners are tasks that local citizens weren’t interested in pursuing in the first place.

It’s clear that prison labor is something extremely beneficial to prisoners, private companies and society as a whole. Using prison labor shouldn’t be taboo. Instead, companies and citizens should be proud of prison labor and the benefits it can bring to everyone.

1 out of every 106 white males above 18 are incarcerated...

...but 1 out of every 15 black males above 18 are incarcerated

The U.S. Has

of the world

Stop exploiting prisoners

by Jake Weightman guest writer The ratification of the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. However, slavery continued in another form—our prison system. While prison labor is certainly within the bounds of the law, it is an immoral and barbaric practice. We as a society must stand up and stop the use of prison labor.

Prison labor traces its origins to the postCivil War period. To avoid further upsetting the fabric of the Southern economy, prison labor was implemented as an alternative to slavery. The Jim Crow laws, together with prison labor, were used to create a new cheap labor supply, which was and still continues to be overwhelmingly African American. In fact, at the time of the last Census, blacks made up roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population and 40 percent of the incarcerated population. Today, in keeping with the original intent of the practice, prison labor is a means of continuing racial oppression and persecution within the United States.

This racism is only exacerbated by the conflict of interest prison labor creates within the justice system. According to a paper published by the Vanderbilt Law Review, prison labor is a multi-billion dollar industry backed by powerful corporate lobbies. Since prison labor can cost a mere fraction of paying the minimum wage, with typical pay rates ranging from 23 cents to $1.15

an hour, private interests are strongly vested in its continuation. This not only manifests in harsh sentences, but also in bribery in courts. This was seen in the Kids for Cash scandal in 2008, in which two judges received millions of dollars in kickbacks from youth detention centers for giving longer sentences to juveniles. While the perpetrating judges are now in prison, the scandal is a clear reminder of what can happen when conflict of interests incentivize the government to imprison its own citizens.

Given that the purpose of the prison system is to reform criminals into contributing members of society, one might assume that meaningful labor will help rehabilitate prisoners. However, considering that most prison labor is in menial manufacturing jobs, it’s unlikely that prisoners are gaining meaningful and valuable work skills.

Instead, working prisoners are stuck in abysmal working conditions with extremely low wages.

Without the agency to negotiate wages or even strike or unionize, prisoners receive no insurance benefits for their families, leave or workers’ compensation pay.

Due to its racist origins, persistent racial inequalities and exploitative nature, prison labor is nothing more than an ongoing form of slavery.

Prison labor doesn’t teach useful skills and won’t help rehabilitate prisoners. Americans must stand up and pressure companies and politicians to end this modern form of slavery.

25%

prison population

Incarceration rates from 1970 to 2013 2010

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infographic by Eva Hoffman

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features

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

photos courtesy of Mitchell Aplikowski

48 states down, two more to go

by Kallie Slotvig staff reporter By age 14, Mitchell Aplikowski, 10, had already visited every state in the continental United States.

Aplikowski and his family have taken road trips every summer since 2005. On their first road trip outside the Midwest, they passed through Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania to reach Niagara Falls in New York.

“I was able to go somewhere exotic and interesting and to just see what other parts of the United States were like and compare it to home,” he said.

In the past 11 years, Aplikowski and his family have been on 22 different road trips. On each trip, they have seen many parts of America, from the redwood forests of California to the energetic city of New York.

Out of all the states he visited, Washington is his favorite.

“From the beauty of the Puget Sound to the bustling cities of Seattle to the glacier peaks of the Cascade mountains to the deserts of Eastern Washington—it just really stood out to me. I was so amazed by it,” said Aplikowski. “It was like being in a giant Yellowstone. It was so invigorating.”

For Aplikowski, traveling to these diverse places has been a great learning experience.

“[We travel] to enrich our sense of culture, to learn about what it’s like in other parts of the country, to experience the real thing, to go beyond the textbook,” he said.

As a geography junkie, Aplikowski gains navigation skills from his constant roadtrips. “From Minneapolis to Virginia, I had to give my mom directions. We stayed up all night. It took an entire day; we had to drive 22 hours to Virginia,” he said.

With an 11-day spring break coming up, Aplikowski and his family are eyeing California and Saskatchewan, a Canadian province, for their next road trip.

Allyson Manns in wonder lands

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by Katrina Renacia features editor From snorkeling in the Caribbean to climbing the pyramid of Teotihuacan to eating a baguette under the Eiffel Tower, English teacher Allyson Manns has crossed many things off her bucket list.

“I love experiencing new cultures that are so different than my own and gaining a broader understanding and deeper awareness of the world that we live in,” she said.

Manns’ love for travel began at an early age. She first flew by plane when she was less than a year old, and a trip to Disney World in first grade cemented her passion.

Since then, Manns has been to 42 states and 17 countries.

“I try to go on at least one big trip every year,” she said.

“It’s a big perk that comes with teaching… the fact that you have summers and long winter 3 and spring breaks.”

Teaching led her to one of her biggest adventures— moving to Mexico to teach for two years.

“It was a whole new adventure— moving away

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from my parents and my birth country for my first job. That trip was very impactful,” she said.

In preparation for her trips, Manns makes sure to do her research. “I always try to find the best deal both economically as well as experience-wise, for where I stay and how I travel,” said Manns. “So I’m not going to choose the cheapest place just because it’s the cheapest. I truly want to be immersed in the experience.”

While she enjoys the company of others, traveling alone helps Manns fully engage with different cultures. “It allows me to be totally independent and in total control of my time and my decisions,” she said. “Traveling alone definitely pushes you out to a different comfort zone.”

Although she is an experienced traveler, one skill has eluded her: packing. “Packing will forever be a challenge of mine because I’m a high maintenance person so I tend to overpack a little,” she said.

In addition, Manns struggles with language barriers and cultural quirks when she travels. “How do the train time tables work, or how do you catch a taxi, or how early do you have to get to this reservation to make sure it’s not canceled? Small things like that [are] hard and confusing when it comes to traveling alone,” she said.

Despite these challenges, the memories she makes and the people she meets make traveling worth it. “I’m usually attracted to the visual aspect of a country. The buildings and beautiful landscapes are what prompts me to visit a place,” said Manns. “But… the reasons that I want to return lie more on the people that I’ve encountered than the architecture or the landscape.”

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photos courtesy of Allyson Manns 1: Biking around Copenhagen, Denmark (2015). 2: Ziplining in El Yunque Rainforest, Puerto Rico (2014). 3: A wedding in Guanajuato, Mexico (2013). 4: Manns and her brother in Portland, Maine (2014). 5: Family vacation in Fort-de-France, Martinique on a Southern Caribbean cruise (2016). 6: Manns and her brother in San Juan, Puerto Rico (2014). 7: Kissing a dolphin in Cozumel, Mexico during a Western Caribbean cruise (2008).

features

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Dr. Aaron Tsai faces the depths of Bryce Canyon.

Dr. Aaron Tsai skis down the slopes in Vail, Colorado.

photos courtesy of Ellie Tsai A shot from the Avalanche Lake Trail in Glacier National Park.

Nature travels over resort destinations The Tsai sisters take on the world with an adventure in mind

by Jake Rosenow staff reporter Sisters Ellie Tsai, 10, and Emma Tsai, 11, have been traveling ever since they can remember. From camping in northern Minnesota to swimming in the Dead Sea in Israel, the assortment of destinations have exposed the Tsai sisters to a variety of diverse cultures.

“Some of my favorite places have been Israel, Paris and Mexico,” said Ellie. “We try to go to a lot of national parks like Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, [and] Yellowstone… and to California every year.”

“My favorite type of vacations are nature-oriented,” Emma added. “I love visiting national parks and doing a lot of hiking.”

Though each vacation has brought lasting memories, Ellie remembers her trip to Montana as one of her favorites.

“We didn’t have any service and were driving through the mountains, not looking down at our phones, but enjoying the wilderness,” she said. “We had all of our windows down, stopped at the side of the road, and I got to admire this beautiful sunset and just take it in.”

Her adventures to beautiful locations led her to develop a passion for photography.

“I love sharing photos on social media. I also make film Traveling has documentaries and I’ve recently been experimenting with that. opened my eyes That’s really something I want to to the vast [work on] and submit to interdiversity in the national contests and things like that,” she said. world.”

However, sometimes Ellie decides to set the phone and camera -Ellie Tsai, 10 down and simply enjoy the beauty of the location she is in. Both she and Emma recognize the importance of immersing themselves in the experience.

“Traveling has really opened my eyes to the vast diversity in the world, as well as its limitless beauty. It’s good to get away from distractions and just relax among nature. There are always problems to solve and challenges to overcome, which makes it even more fun,” said Emma.

Emma’s passion for traveling also comes from learning new things about different cultures and languages. Her most memorable vacation was experiencing the diverse cultures of Portugal and Spain.

“I traveled to Spain with my grandmother this past summer, and it was an awesome experience,” said Emma.

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“We got to see so many different parts of Spain and Portugal. Each place’s geography, culture and even language are so different. Europe is just so interesting because of the thousands and thousands of years of rich history,” she said.

Both sisters have found that traveling offers new perspectives. As they continue to go on many vacations, their bucket list of future vacations is constantly expanding. For Ellie, her dream is to head to Greenland.

“It’s not a place where many people would [want] to go, but I believe there’s so much you could learn about climate change and the world,” she said.

Emma also has future desires to explore internationally. “I’d like to visit Taiwan, where my grandparents are from,” she said. “I’d like to just immerse myself in my own heritage, and I’ve heard that it’s beautiful there.”

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2 1: Ellie and Emma riding a camel on the top of Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel. 2: Ellie and her brother in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. 3: Ellie sitting on top of her car during her drive through Montana. 4: A view of the Narrows Trail in Zion National Park. 5: A scenic view of the Zion National Park landscape. 6: A view of the clouds hovering over the Montana plains.

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Self-driving car

by Ben Yoch staff reporter

Each year, 1.2 million people die from traffic accidents worldwide. Google hopes to cut that number dramatically by perfecting its selfdriving car.

Since 2009, the company has been creating an autonomous car that only requires the push of a button to take riders wherever they want.

The car has sensors designed to detect objects including pedestrians and vehicles as far as 200 yards away in all directions.

The car’s software processes all the information collected by the sensors to help it safely drive.

If successful, the car could bring ample benefits. For example, it could drive an intoxicated person home safely, as well as allow riders to do productive things such as homework during long commutes.

Although the benefits could be great, some students still find it hard to put their faith into machines. “I don’t really trust them to make a moral decision like if you’re about to hit another car, or you swerve into pedestrians,” said Oliver Swingen, 10.

Swingen’s concerns were legitimized on Feb. 14 when a Google self-driving car hit a bus. The car was driving at 2 mph while the bus was going 15 mph. At such a low speed collision, the Google car was

expected to easily figure out how to avoid the bus. Its failure in doing so reveals how far the car still has to go.

Google’s self-driving car still has some kinks to iron out; however, when it’s done, people can expect a safer and more convenient transportation system.

Bioprinter

by Katie Karjalahti spread editor

Every day, about 21 people die from lack of organ transplants. But now, with the technology of a bioprinter, muscles, bones and cartilage can be created for those in need of a transplant. This complex machine uses a patient’s stem cells, rather than plastic ink, to form a =body part. Since the tissues are made with the patient’s own cells, their immune system will not fight it.

According to theverge.com, the tissues are created by neatly arranging cells around a polymer shell, which is used to support and hold the shape of the tissue.

The shell also guarantees that the cells will survive until the tissues are implanted, at which point the polymer is removed. Once implanted, the expected nerves and blood vessels form.

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photo fair use from flickr.com

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VOOC Flash Charge

by Ben Yoch staff reporter

Some of the worst things about smartphones are their short lifespans and slow recharge times. Now, with the introduction of the new Super VOOC Flash Charge, Oppo Electronics may have finally brought an end to this struggle.

The Flash Charge is capable of fully charging a smartphone in 15 minutes.

According to the company, the charger uses a low-voltage pulse-charge algorithm that keeps the temperature of the battery under control, allowing for fast and safe charging.

If this product reaches the United States, students will no longer have to keep plugging their phones in during class every day, hoping that the battery percentage will increase to a measly 15 percent. This would be a huge relief for many.

“My iPhone dies really quickly, so this would be super helpful,” said Andy Peterson, 10.

Although the Flash Charge only works on Oppo devices currently, it has the potential to improve all chargers on the market.

In addition, the VOOC is extremely durable. Made with military-grade materials, it’s bound to outlast your usual flimsy Apple charger.

While the charger has not been released worldwide, it’s hard to not feel excited for the new super chargers and wait for their effects to take place at Mounds View.

Virtual rea

by Ben Davis staff reporter

The phrase “get your head in game” takes on a whole new mea when talking about virtual reality goggles. These systems are gainin popularity, and the science behind relatively simple.

Oculus Rift, for example, is a VR system with a screen that pro field of vision of up to 100 degree the need to even move one’s head order to get a 360 degree field of a camera tracks infrared lights on headset and translates their move the game.

Oculus VR, the company beh Rift and a few other headsets, ma the majority of the VR market, bu manufacturers are gaining momen John Snyder, 12, pre-ordered the Vive, a VR headset that emphasiz body experience.

“It’s like being on another pl fraction of the cost,” Snyder said. this immersion is certainly cheap

So far, ears, muscles and bones have been created for humans. Miniature scale organs such as lungs and brains have also been printed.

This technology has been strongly sought after by the military to help wounded soldiers. The military has provided funding to the Wake Forest School of Medicine to carry out these experiments. One experiment consisted of infusing a human ear under the skin of a rat. After two months, they discovered that the ear maintained the correct formation of blood vessels and shape.

If bioprinting takes off, it could impact the lives of many in need of replacement tissues and organs.

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going to a different world. The Vive has “lighthouses” that shoot lasers across a room in order to sense movement.

Oculus VR, HTC Vive and other VR companies are pioneers paving the way for future explorations in this new industry.

“There are entire digital worlds out there to explore, completely different than ours,” said Snyder. “There is simply no better way to escape than [to] experience the in-experienceable.”

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photo by Eva Hoffman

photo fair use from Wikipedia.com

Drones

by Ben Davis staff reporter

People may think of drones as unmanned aircraft flying over war zones dropping bombs, but they’re much more than that.

There are many different types of drones, but they are all remotecontrolled vehicles. Drones’ designs can range from helicopters to spiders, and everything in between.

Not only do drones come in all shapes and sizes, but they can also be used for a range of purposes. “We sold a house last summer, and the realtor took pictures with [a drone],” said science teacher Michael Cartwright.

In the past, drones were used mostly for commercial reasons, such as capturing images of Cartwright’s house, but there is a growing market for recreational drones. Cartwright loves flying his five drones and figuring out how to counter various factors.

“I like to try to land my drone on the roof in the breeze, because that adds an extra challenge,” he said.

Cartwright incorporates this technology into his classes as well. In one impromptu physics experiment, he and his students removed a few ceiling tiles and flew a drone through the gaps.

“We were launching a marble through the roof to test the physics, and I thought it would be interesting to fly a cloud copter through it. It was a fun and interesting experience,” said Ben Chen, 10.

Whether used in the classroom or in a commercial business, drones have definitely made their mark in the ever-evolving spectrum of technology.

8

variety

wednesday, march 16, 2016

New places and new flavors Rojo Mexican Grill

Bistro La Roux

by Rigney Cunningham staff reporter

by Marley Jones staff reporter

A new addition to the Rosedale Center in Roseville, Rojo is a great place to go after a shopping spree or a movie at AMC. From fajitas and quesadillas to chips and fresh guacamole, Mexican favorites fill the menu. The Rojo experience is filled with bold flavor, great service and a stylish Mexican aesthetic.

Rojo has a substantial menu with enough choices to make your head spin.

A typical meal costs between $11 to $30.

Rojo’s appetizers are very popular; one of the favorites is The Trio, which includes three dips—fresh guacamole, roasted poblano queso, and green tortilino salsa—with chips on the side.

The tacos and the enchiladas are also among the customers’ favorites. Their amazing chicken enchiladas, served with roasted poblano sauce, asadero and manchego cheese, are an explosion of flavors in your mouth. To top off your meal, the Fried Ice Cream (vanilla ice cream wrapped in corn flakes and dusted with cinnamon) will put you in a food coma.

The service at Rojo is decent. It’s a little slow, but considering the restaurant is always packed on weekend nights, it’s understandable. Since Rojo is a popular destination, it’s important to call ahead and make a reservation, especially for larger parties.

Although the crowds can slow down service, the friendly staff, along with the bright neon walls and artwork, help maintain an upbeat vibe. In addition, the food is prepared with an authentic touch, giving customers a good idea of what a classic Mexican restaurant is like.

If you’re looking for a taste of another culture, Rojo Mexican Grill is your ideal destination. With flavorful food, reasonable pricing and a convenient location, Rojo can be your new favorite spot to visit with friends and family.

If you are looking for a unique place to catch dinner, Bistro La Roux, located at 9372 Lexington Ave. NE in Circle Pines, is the place for you. With its plain black exterior, the restaurant may seem boring and uninviting, but it’s anything but that.

The Bistro has an open kitchen, with bright, Mardi Gras-inspired colors lining the walls.

The jazz music and friendly environment make it seem as though you are dining in New Orleans.

While the restaurant mainly employs high school students, it still retains an air of sophistication. The Bistro’s menu offers a diverse selection of seafood, something rarely found in abundance in Minnesota.

Some of the most popular dishes served at Bistro La Roux are alligator and catfish po’boys and jambalaya. Jambalaya is a rice-based dish that includes Cajun shrimp, chicken and sausage. This dish is extremely spicy, so be sure to have a glass of milk nearby. However, the overt spiciness of the dish is more than worth it for the delightful flavor of the jumbalaya.

The catfish is fried and tastes surprisingly similar to the delicious flaky white fish found in fish and chips. Another Cajun favorite is the alligator po’boy, which includes a large sausage link made up of ground alligator, making the meat tough and flavorful.

With all of the crazy seafood dishes served at Bistro La Roux, the familiar desserts are a treat. The beignets and key lime pie add to the Mardi Gras vibe of the restaurant, as beignets are a staple dish of the holiday.

Bistro la Roux is the perfect place to try Cajun cuisine. From the fresh fish, delicious desserts and unique alligator dishes, there’s no shortage of amazing food to try.

photos by Rigney Cunningham Rojo Mexican Grill’s newly designed location at the Rosedale Mall.

Bistro La Roux’s bright interior creates a pleasant, Mardi Gras-like atmosphere.

photos by Marley Jones Bistro La Roux’s fresh jambalaya (upper left) with catfish (right) and alligator sausage po’boy (lower left).

reviews

Wednesday, march 16, 2016

9

The Witch: an arthouse horror success

by Matthew Cooper and Hassan Lubega reviews editor and guest writer

photos fair use from comingsoon.net

The supernatural often plays a big role in the average horror story. Unfortunately, occult folklore is rarely that believable, leading to diminished audience reactions. However, Robert Eggers’ The Witch subverts this horror trope with a great sense of authenticity—even in its strangest moments.

The Witch follows a Puritan family of seven in 1600s colonial America. Religious divisions have caused them to break off of the main settlement and establish their own homestead. While fighting to survive against the expected challenges associated with rural living, their youngest child, Samuel, suddenly disappears under the watch of their oldest child, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy).

They initially blame a wolf, but mounting evidence suggests the presence of a witch in the neighboring woods. As the film progresses, the supernatural starts to overtake the mundane, gradually ripping the vulnerable family further apart.

It’s essential to note that The Witch is absolutely not a mainstream horror movie for a typical audience. It’s practically devoid of the unwarranted jumpscares that plague the genre nowadays. Instead, The Witch is more akin to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining; it’s a slow and methodical buildup to a surreal and divisive conclusion. It isn’t scary per se, but succeeds as a disturbing and unsettling film that’s far superior to most modern horror movies.

At the center of the film lies the family dynamic. While many a horror film might focus on the cause of the terror, The Witch wisely chooses to show how the family is affected by the fear. The real scares result from the realism of the characters’ reactions as they turn on each other in increasing desperation.

The Witch achieves this through an excellent ensemble cast with standout performances from child actors.

Taylor-Joy anchors the film as the conflicted and vulnerable Thomasin, while Ralph Ineson is strong as the loving and religiously devout father, William. Ellie Grainger and Lucas Dawson impress the most as twin siblings Mercy and Jonas, respectively. The youngest of the cast, they manage to be mischievous without ever becoming annoying. Harvey Scrimshaw’s Caleb occasionally struggles with the period-authentic dialogue, but makes up for it in some of the film’s more unnerving sequences.

The Witch’s tone is bolstered by the incredibly bleak cinematography. Long, mostly static takes are unsettling and effortlessly build suspense. The feel of the era really comes through the dark, subdued color palette. While effective, the dreariness can prove draining.

With a $3.5 million budget, The Witch is truly an independent film, and with that comes a great amount of artistic risk. The film takes its time and mixes in a healthy dose of strange elements. The intense stare of a rabbit or a goat standing on its hind legs is surely nontraditional, but is genuinely creepy. The customary excess gore and blood-curdling screeches are nowhere to be found—accepting that this is an arthouse film is essential for enjoyment.

The modern horror genre is more about cranking out quick, thoughtless cash grabs than achieving excellence. While The Witch doesn’t always manage to be gripping, it’s still a nice change of pace to see a legitimate attempt at making a quality horror film. It might not go down in cinematic history, but it’s still an engaging and unnerving experience.

The Verdict The Witch is a slow burn, but great acting and genuine suspense set it above most horror films.

79

Zootopia is as wildly entertaining as it is socially relevant

by Matthew Cooper and Hassan Lubega reviews editor and guest writer Disney is no stranger to featuring talking animals in its films, but Zootopia takes it to the next level.

What if there were a whole world populated with anthropomorphic animals? What would it look like?

How would it reflect the same problems found in the human world?

Disney Animation’s latest film, Zootopia, answers these questions to great success. Just like the best family films, it is a wonderful piece of entertainment that possesses a deeper meaning.

Zootopia follows Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a rabbit born and raised by mundane carrot farmers in the country, as she realizes her dream of becoming the first rabbit police officer, a job usually held by much larger animals. Hopps hopes to make a difference in the world, but she soon finds herself underwhelmed with her assignment as a parking enforcement officer. Seeking a way to prove herself, she takes on a seemingly unsolvable missing persons case that unfolds into a larger conspiracy. Along the way, she partners with and eventually befriends a hustler and urbanite fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman).

Similarly to last summer’s Inside Out, Zootopia thrives through wickedly clever writing. The screenplay by Jared Bush and Phil Johnston is fastpaced and witty, with playful dialogue between likable and fleshed out characters.

Ginnifer Goodwin’s native Tennessee cadence brings out the farm girl in Judy Hopps. Hopps is

photo fair use from eclipsemagazine.com

a consistently positive character and her energy is endearing. Jason Bateman’s eloquent line delivery gives Nick Wilde a sense of cunning intelligence and dry wit. Other well-known actors such as Idris Elba, Jenny Slate and J.K. Simmons round out the wonderful voice cast.

Thanks to detailed backgrounds and strong worldbuilding, Zootopia feels like a real, living place.

The city is divided into 12 districts, and each has a distinct feel. Although only a few are shown, it’s obvious that there is a lot more of Zootopia to see in the future. Pair this with beautiful, colorful animation, and Zootopia is as much an enjoyable experience for the eyes as it is for the heart and mind.

Zootopia is also indicative of Disney’s continuing success at dealing with relevant social issues in an

age-appropriate manner. While Inside Out addressed mental health and wellness, Zootopia takes a look at prejudice in modern society. The world in which Zootopia exists is based on principles of equality; “anyone can be anything” is the oft-repeated motto of the diverse metropolis. Of course, just like in the real world, this isn’t really the case.

Different groups of animals experience different types of prejudice. Whether predator or prey, rabbit or fox, or big or small, each group faces stereotypes left over from a time when social stratification was entrenched in their identity. Zootopia mirrors our own system in which equality is guaranteed in theory but not always in practice. The film does a phenomenal job at portraying the reality of discrimination in modern society, showing that it can take just as many forms as the people it affects.

Although Zootopia inevitably falls back on conventional Disney tropes and has bit of trouble keeping up with its brisk pace on one or two occasions, this is another triumph from the beloved studio. With an intelligent screenplay and polished animation, Zootopia is both a great way to introduce children to the concept of discrimination and a delightfully entertaining film for people of all ages.

The Verdict With terrific writing, beautiful animation and a relevant message, Zootopia is another smash hit from Disney Animation.

87

10

Sports

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

photo by Eva Hoffman

Winter training helps spring athletes bloom

by Jack McCoy staff reporter The spring track season has just begun, but many of the team’s most dedicated members have been training for months already. With training sessions at Bethel’s indoor track throughout the winter, boys track has been focused on preparing for the upcoming season.

The team trained at Bethel every Tuesday and Thursday after school. Hurdlers like Nate Duchenes, 11, took practices very seriously. “If you don’t work hard in the offseason, you won’t be prepared for the season and you won’t have much success,” he said.

Offseason workouts include similar exercises to those performed during the actual season, but are generally less intense. At Bethel, usually only runners and hurdlers are in attendance, and they work on their respective events.

“Offseason workouts are more relaxed than what we do during the season just because nobody wants to get hurt before the season starts, and we don’t have any meets or anything to worry about in the winter,” said captain Michael DeGroot, 12.

Head track coach Ross Fleming also emphasizes the importance of offseason training to his team. “The track season is very short, so offseason training helps

to accomplish what runners aren’t getting during the short season or over spring break,” he said. “Championships are won in the offseason.”

As a result of their dedication, the boys track team has experienced great success in the past few years.

The team has won the Stillwater Pony Classic Relays, a meet consisting of nine different metro-area high school track teams, for the past two years, and is looking forward to similar success this year “I’m really excited about this season,” DeGroot said. “So many runners have been devoting time to training this winter and I think it’s going to make for a great season.”

Softball takes on Disney Team goes south for training

by Sunny Lim staff reporter While Florida is a popular spring break destination for relaxing at the beach, the softball girls are going for a different reason: spring training.

Every other year, the softball team attends the spring training program hosted by the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, and they are returning once again in 2016.

“The softball fields are some of the best fields in the country,” said head coach Frank Roth. “Walt Disney World is an ultimate experience for an athlete, and it provides a safe environment for everyone.”

The trip, which runs from March 20 to March 25, is open to all softball players.

“The goal is that every girl gets the opportunity to go once during their four years,” said captain Becky Volkert, 12.

To cover some of the costs, the Mounds View Softball Booster Club hosts two fundraisers every year, selling poinsettias and hosting a band blast that together raise approximately $5000.

This year, 16 girls will be going on the

trip, along with four chaperones and four coaches.

While at the complex, the team will be practicing four to eight hours per day, Monday through Thursday. On Friday, the girls will get the day off.

Included in the long practices are scrimmages, informal games, batting cage time and field practices.

“It’ll help a lot with our fielding because we’ll have a chance to practice outside because the fields are still wet here,” said Roxy Adolphson, 11.

The trip is not all hard work: as a reward, the girls are given a three-day hopper pass to Disney World.

“We’ll have about 26 hours of practicing and then in our free time we can go to Disney and to the pool,” said Adolphson. “It should be pretty fun.”

Team member Mattie Mclennan, 11, is excited for this unique opportunity. “I knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel with all my teammates,” said Mclennan. “Since I am not playing in college, [the trip is] going to allow me to travel playing the sport I love.” cartoon by Clare Carroll

sports

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The High Cost of Sports Hockey Skates: $50 - $650 Stick: $15 - $280 Gloves: $30 - $170 Helmet: $50 - $310 Puck: $2 Shoulder pads: $50 Mouth guard: $80 Registration and ice time: $330

11

Soccer Ball: $6 - $200 Cleats: $20 - $300 Goalie gloves: $10 - $240 Shinguards: $60 Registration and field costs: $190 TOTAL: $286 - $990 per season

TOTAL: $607 - $1872 per season

Tennis

cartoons by Eva Hoffman information compiled by Sunny Lim

Racquet: $20 - $130 Tennis balls: $10 - $50 Shoes: $50 - $170 Registration and court time: $190 TOTAL: $270 - $540 per season

How much do you have to pay to play?

by Sunny Lim and Persis Ke staff reporter and managing editor of copy Sports are a great way for anyone to stay active and establish team bonds, but becoming an athlete can come at a steep price.

From private lessons to summer leagues to equipment fees, athletic expenses add up quickly.

Daniel Frink, 10, has been playing soccer since age six. Since getting serious about the sport in eighth grade, Frink’s equipment costs have ranged from $300 to $350 each season.

In the past year, Frink has only seen the cost of the sport grow as his involvement in soccer leagues and lessons has increased. “This is the first year [my brother and I] have done [sessions] and we will have done 20 sessions over the course of six months—so about $130 a month for each of us,” he said.

While Frink has found additional training beneficial, for many other athletes, the accompanying costs may not be worth it. According to a 2015 report

by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, among children aged six through 17, participation in almost every major sport has declined since 2010. The report cites high costs as a major reason behind the decrease.

MVPT and lacrosse team member Shelley Wang, 10, thinks that the high price tag on sports is a deterrent. “Oftentimes, one of the major factors of whether or not I’ll do a sport comes down to the cost,” she said. “I’m just a high school student, and I need to save up for college, so I don’t really think you should have to pay so much to exercise and stay healthy.”

However, Nick Simser, 10, disagrees. This year, he spent nearly $2500 on hockey equipment, lessons, and other fees. While the cost was high, Simser believes the benefits outweighed the hefty price. “The memories and experiences I have had have made the price totally worth it,” he said.

With only 29.4 percent of students in the district eligible for sports subsidies, the cost of additional training can prove a major barrier to athletic involvement.

In fact, year-round training can almost double the costs parents pay for their children’s athletic endeavors, according to WCCO. For instance, Blizzard, an elite baseball camp, requires members to pay for five tournaments, insurance, the Beyond Pitching Arm Care Program and nine other fees, totaling over $400 for the fall. Although some may view these expenses as the bridge between youth and professional baseball, baseball player Carter Rholl, 12, thinks otherwise.

“There are a lot of people who don’t do Blizzard who have made it onto Tri-City Red [an elite baseball team based in New Brighton],” he said.

According to Rholl, cheaper alternatives in the form of local batting cages and small summer camps can be just as beneficial as Blizzard.

In the end, athletic commitment to sports is still a large investment, with many parents spending thousands of dollars each year. Although there are less costly options for training, some costs are simply unavoidable for students looking to push themselves.

12 gallery

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Mounds View’s Environmental Science class

by Jackie Gaworski staff reporter With global climate change becoming an everintensifying “hot” topic, a greener future couldn’t be more relevant. While most students have heard of environmentally friendly options like recycling or using solar power, not all students realize the benefits. The environmental sciences class at Mounds View seeks to educate students about what “There are so many sustainable resources I had never resources are, as well as how heard about, like their usage using ocean waves affects the world around and currents to it. generate energy.”

Taught by science teacher -Jeff LeMay, 12 Donna Andren,

“

the class studies the world and environment, focusing on ecosystems, energy resources, water resources and climate change. Students spend time in the classroom learning about theories of sustainability and study the effects of local development in the real world.

For example, when studying water quality, the class conducts a field study at the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) to examine the health of the ecosystem. Throughout the semester, the class goes to the TCAAP site twice—the first time to make observations, and the second to collect data and spend the rest of the week analyzing it.

“The students are looking for turbidity, pH, fish analysis, vegetation study, bird study, stream velocity and dissolved oxygen,” said Andren.

The class also discusses energy sources, studying conventional resources like oil, coal and tar sands, as well as renewable energy sources like wind, solar and tidal.

Some students, like Amy Felegy, 12, were inspired by the unit on energy sources. “[The energy unit] changed my views because it was less of the

“

planet being a thing and more like being a place to live,” she said. “I hated science “I loved feeling inbefore I took the tensely small and class, but [now] I’m thinking about doing powerfully large something related to at the same time.” renewable energies as a career path.”

For Andren, -Amy Felegy, 12 broadening students’ views is rewarding.

“The eclectic nature of environmental science fascinates me,” she said. “The challenges of learning and keeping up with an ever-changing field and finding creative ways to share this information with students is why I love teaching.”

Renewable Energies in the U.s.

Energy is used in many ways throughout the world. Although some forms damage the environment, others can help save our planet.

Solar Scientists use technology such as photovoltaic panels, solar collectors and thin-film solar sheeting to capture energy from the sun. The solar cells can change this sunlight to energy. It’s non-polluting and there is no need for any generators. However, these panels can be expensive, and they generate less energy on cloudy days.

Biomass This source of energy utilizes plant matter and animal waste. It is a low-carbon source of energy that generates minimal pollution.

The downsides to this renewable source include the not yet fully developed technology and negative impacts on our environment if not properly managed.

Wind The United States can create 10 times the energy it needs with wind power. This is one of the least expensive fuel sources, and it doesn’t pollute the environment. However, wind turbines can affect migratory patterns of birds and bats.

Hydroelectric This uses flowing water which moves turbines that then generate electricity. According to the United States Geological Survey, this source can provide 20 percent of the world’s need for energy. However, there are some difficulties. Rivers must be dammed and this often causes flooding downstream and destroys wildlife habitats.

Geothermal This energy source uses heated water and steam from the earth. The steam then runs to power stations that convert the steam into electricity. However, building these plants is often expensive, and the most efficient plants must be built near fault lines in the earth’s crust.

infographic by Eva Hoffman