ICE arrests on the rise
The number of arrests have jumped 100% under Trump
| Suha Sharif NEWS EDITOR
nder the new administration, the topic of immigration has become a heated debate. Trump has issued multiple executive orders which aim to reduce immigration and deport those who are here illegally. On March 15, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, allowing him to deport unauthorized immigrants without due process. These actions have received pushback, from lawmakers to multiple civil rights organizations.
Over the past few months, the number of ICE arrests has increased to 20,000, which is about 100% more than under Biden according to the Department of Homeland Security. Arrests have increased in an effort to abide by Trump’s campaign promises to address immigration, focusing on those who are here illegally and who may be committing crimes.
Supporters of ICE and deportations argue that ICE detentions remove dangerous criminals and immigrants from the streets in a controlled manner. Between 2021 and 2024, 79% of ICE deportations were of someone with a criminal
conviction, according to the Migration Policy Institute. And although at-large arrests, which are conducted in public rather than prisons, garner the most media attention, they only constitute 29% of all ICE arrests.
“[I’m seeing turmoil] in the communities around us... It’s becoming a place where you used to feel safe and you can’t anymore because [arrests are] just happening so arbitrarily. Anywhere, at any time, your entire life could be upturned for no other reason than being from another country.”
Nadyne Sattar, junior
However, many of the actions taken by the administration have faced criticism for being too harsh. “[Trump’s adminis-
tration] wants to deport people who have committed crimes, but I feel like they’re taking it up a step in just deporting anyone who came here illegally, which technically is a crime. But they may be here, not causing any problems, just living their life, working, just trying to create a better life for themselves and their family,”said Andrea Giles, school resource officer.
Minneapolis has been a “sanctuary city,” a place that limits cooperation with the federal government regarding immigration laws. As a result, Minneapolis has seen ICE raids that include the controversial arrest of an international University of Minnesota student at his
residence. “[I’m seeing turmoil] in the communities around us, especially in the Twin Cities where there’s a high density of immigrant populations, especially in certain neighborhoods where ICE is patrolling. It’s becoming a place where you used to feel safe and you can’t anymore because [arrests are] just happening so arbitrarily. Anywhere, at any time, your entire life could be upturned for no other reason than being from another country,” said junior Nadyne Sattar. These raids are not limited to homes. They are happening in schools and workplaces too. However, ICE agents still need
DEI in schools and beyond
| Sean Oh STAFF REPORTER
The topic of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has become a divisive issue, with much pushback at what is perceived as unfair discrimination on the basis of gender, race and sexuality. To address this, President Donald Trump has issued orders that remove funding from agencies and schools that include DEI initiatives. These directives have been followed by a variety of reactions, with many orders being blocked before they could be implemented.
Some see DEI as an alienating ideology that seeks to divide and paint America’s history in an unfavorable light. Proponents of DEI disagree and say DEI levels the playing field and addresses the unique issues that people of different backgrounds might face. Though DEI initiatives have only become popular recently, they have faced intense backlash.
The Department of Education (DOE) complied with Trump’s order by requiring a recertification from state commissioners that they are devoted to ensuring anti-discrimination measures and will cease programs involving DEI in order
to continue receiving funding. According to Education Week, 16 states immediately signed a certification that DEI initiatives would cease in their schools. Meanwhile, several states, including Florida, Alabama, Iowa and Idaho, already have antiDEI laws in place according to Best Colleges. For example, in Iowa, a 2024 budget bill was introduced that included a provision banning DEI offices at state colleges and universities and limiting the types of positions and viewpoints an institution can promote.
“We’re all living in a little bit of uncertainty and fear about what’s going to happen. and I don’t think kids should have to deal with that.”
Rob Reetz, principal
However, many other states have come out and refused to restrict or remove DEI in their schools including California, New York and Pennsylvania according to News One.
Minnesota has been one of the states that affirmed their commitment to DEI. In a letter to the national DOE, Minnesota DOE Commissioner Willie Jett confirmed his support for programs and policies that allow every student the same opportunities. Although the state commissioner’s criticism of the order ensures continued DEI efforts in MN, a loss of funding could be devastating for the already underfunded areas of the education budget.
According to The Star Tribune, Minnesota receives about 10%, or $1.4 billion, of its school funding from the federal government. A loss of federal aid could harm special needs education, as Minnesota schools already rely on state general funds to help cover costs. The potentially withheld Title 1 federal funds are also al located to other groups includ ing low-income students, free school lunches, charter schools and native tribes. “We’re all liv ing in a little bit of uncertainty and fear about what’s going to happen. and I don’t think kids should have to deal with that. I think they ought to be able to come to school and learn what they want to learn and be who they want to be without threat of taking away opportunities
because of some DEI connection somewhere,” said Principal Rob Reetz.
While specific effects in Minnesota are yet to be seen, budget cuts have already happened nationally, particularly in universities. The Trump administration has frozen $2.2 billion in grants from Harvard University. However, the university has stood up against the Trump administration and refuses to comply with requests that would allow the administration considerable power over how Harvard is run, including cutting DEI in admissions and hiring. On the other hand, the University of Michigan decided to cut their Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) and
warrants to enter private areas, and many places have been refusing to grant ICE admittance. “ICE is not supposed to be able to enter buildings without a warrant or arrest,” Sattar said. “When schools do [stand up to ICE] and make it obvious that they are going to do that by primarily supporting their students, by primarily supporting the immigrants in their communities… it reminds them that they have a support system.”
Despite the rampant concerns about ICE raids and detentions, the Trump administration hopes to increase the number of ICE arrests to upwards of 1,500 per day.
in fear of budget cuts. They faced backlash from university faculty and students alike. Many at Mounds View have been worried about these recent developments. “I fear that in some cases, there is concern that we are privileging people and equity has been villainized,” said Reetz. He explains his commitment to branching across different cultural waters. “I understand what a challenge that brings to [students’] experience to not have your faith as well represented here, to not have your culture as well represented here. There ought to be ways for us to change and adapt,” said Reetz. “Our ability to be responsive is at threat, and that’s just not the kind of school
The flip phone revival
Flip phones support versatility without introducing bad temptations
| John Stepnowski GUEST WRITER
hat was once a relic of the past has now become a badge of individuality — welcome to the triumphant return of the flip phone. For the past five years, I have been living life in simplicity with my trusty flip phone. It transformed me into a more independent person, forced me to flex my problem-solving muscles and gave me a fresh perspective on what matters. Let me show you why, sometimes, less is truly more.
Contrary to popular belief, carrying a flip phone is not just practical — it is downright fun. When I whip out my cellular artifact, the reactions are priceless. People either laugh, ask if I am a time traveler or wonder if I am auditioning for a reboot of a 2000s rom-com. I crack a joke or two about it being my “little communication brick,” or about sending messages faster in Morse code, and boom — instant entertainment.
Even better, my flip phone forces me to engage with the world around me. There are no mobile games, no internet rabbit holes, no doom-scrolling Instagram at 2 a.m. Instead, I find myself having fun and creating real memories with friends. If no one is around to chat with, I just let life sink in — a rare treat during long bus rides or quiet evenings. I can think, dream and experience the moment.
Of course, using a flip phone means ditching the easy convenience of modern tech, but that is half the fun! Missing GPS? A paper map will do just fine (that has started some hilarious conversations). Need to take notes? A good ol’ pen and my custom planner are more satisfying than a finicky touchscreen. Want to hang out with a friend? I meet them faceto-face instead of sending lifeless messages through a screen. This analog lifestyle has a surprising side effect: creativity. In 2024, a psychological study
published by the International Society for Justice Research revealed that time spent scrolling through reels decreases attention span and academic performance. But let us flip that around — from my experience, less phone time means more imagination. Without a smartphone as a social crutch, I have channeled my energy into quirky projects that make my friends laugh. I have built a cardboard cutout of a friend, crafted a custom Pokémon card for another, constructed a “fake iPhone” out of concrete (the “Ifone”) and even created an epic Halloween costume. Who needs apps when you have got creativity on overdrive?
“There are no mobile games, no internet rabbit holes, no doom-scrolling Instagram at 2 a.m. Instead, I find myself having fun and creating real memories with friends. ”
And while we are on the topic of brilliance, let us talk practicality. My flip phone cost me a whopping $60 — roughly 10% of the price of most modern smartphones. That’s right, 10%. Plus, this bad boy is built like a tank. Because it lacks a large, delicate glass screen like an iPhone, my sturdy flip phone could take punches from The Rock, and it wouldn’t even need a case! And charging? Forget daily rituals; my flip phone
sips energy so slowly, I charge it maybe once a month. Meanwhile, modern smartphones drain their batteries faster than you can say, “low power mode.” The flip phone even excels in environmental terms. Fewer complex components mean fewer rare earth metals, less ewaste and a far smaller carbon footprint. Unlike smartphones, which practically beg you to replace them every few years, my flip phone’s simplicity keeps it going strong. A battery swap, and this trusty companion could easily last another decade or more.
Now, I get it: trading a smartphone for a flip phone might sound like giving up a limb. But there is a whole world of time and fulfillment waiting for you on the other side. So, if you are curious, why not give it a shot? You might find that simplifying one part of your life makes all the other parts shine brighter. Who knows? You might even find yourself flipping out (in the best way possible).
Money buys happiness — until it does not
he pursuit of happiness ultimately lies in the experiences and relationships we choose to build throughout life. The question of whether or not money can buy happiness has been interpreted differently throughout history, but in my opinion, the happiness money provides plateaus, and deeper fulfillment must come from elsewhere.
Happiness is more often than not an emotional or psychological state, whether that be peace of mind, contentment in relationships or finding purpose. On the other hand, money is consistently used as a material source to gain temporary satisfaction. Society normalizes the use of money to buy entertainment and experiences that can generate happiness. Take the club,
for example. These are places to enjoy and have “the night of your life” with your closest friends or even people you have just recently met, but they typically require a cost to get in.
While these places are enjoyable experiences with friends, you can have just as much enjoyment, if not more, by simply hanging out with those same friends, whether it is exploring something new or throwing your own party for free.
Having money is necessary for stability and health, but pursuing excess wealth will not lead to more contentment.
According to professors Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton’s income-well-being study at Princeton University, money can help reduce unhappiness, but only to a certain point. As soon as basic necessities are met, the striving for additional material goods begins. Often, the never-ending chase for ma-
THE VIEWER
terial possessions only leads to lust and greed, as there is no maximum for how much one person can have. Furthermore, while material possessions are limitless, an individual’s capacity to enjoy them is finite. People often fall into a trap thinking the more possessions they have, the more fulfilled they will become, but this is not necessarily true. As I said before, their happiness plateaus, and this sequence becomes cyclical.
There was a time when I sought temporary satisfaction by constantly shopping and spending every dime in my wallet. I was happy with what I had, but it was not a sense of gratitude, but rather a possessive feeling I could not shake off. Each time I bought my way to joy, I would also look back on why I was doing it and what I was trying to accomplish. I constantly wanted more, and greed was seeping into my life. Yet, that quickly ended as I started hanging out with my family and friends more often. There was
an immense difference between how I felt seeking joy from materialistic items and my happiness from going through experiences with loved ones.
“As soon as these necessities are met, the striving for additional material begins, and it will only lead to lust and greed for more, as there is no maximum for how much one person can have.”
When I stopped using money as a tool for happiness, I found gratitude and joy in life, shifting my focus to experiences over temporary material pleasures. My relationships became a crucial source of my happiness. My family and
friends are such positive influences on me, and they help me appreciate what I have in front of me. To me, having great connections and close relationships with other people will always be worth more than having all the money in the world. People find greater fulfillment by cultivating gratitude for the world around them and embracing the simple joys that money cannot buy.
I believe that having a good amount of money can make life significantly easier by providing more opportunities and experiences. However, when it comes to whether that money will bring you happiness, there is a large gap between the temporary fulfillment that material possessions offer and the memories created by the experiences from close relationships and new opportunities. You can buy your way into creating joyful moments, but without that money, you can make just as many, if not more meaningful times, that can evoke true happiness.
| Elijah Mattfield REVIEWS & ONLINE EDITOR
ILLUSTRATION | Via Yang
Minnesota HOSA president: Ivy Lee
| Via Yang SPORTS EDITOR
On April 8, junior Ivy Lee stepped into the role of Minnesota HOSA president for the 202526 school year. As presidentelect this year, Lee worked closely under the past president, finding her community and gaining leadership skills.
Since freshman year, Lee has committed hours of her high school career towards HOSAFuture Health Professionals, previously known as Health Occupants Students of America (HOSA). This is a government funded organization that allows students who are interested in medicine to gain hands-on
experience through role-play competitions, attend college and career fairs and make connections with industry professionals.
Introduced to the club by her mother, Lee has had a leadership role in the Mounds View HOSA chapter since her sophomore year. Her first official position was the club treasurer, where she helped organize the club’s finances, registered them for conferences and booked hotels.
Lee has always wanted to become a doctor, but talking to other students and professionals at HOSA conferences is where she found her passion for neuroscience. “I really discovered
my love for neurology through the people [at HOSA] that I’ve talked to,” said Lee. “Meeting so many people with the same passions and being able to talk to them about leadership experience and healthcare stuff was really amazing to me.”
“I definitely still feel a little unprepared and shaky, but the support from my state officer advisor has definitely given me a lot of confidence.”
Ivy Lee, junior
At her first fall leadership conference, she also met the previous Minnesota HOSA President Elaine Phan, who Lee explains was not only incredibly kind to her, but also inspired her to run for president-elect. “Elaine made such a big impact on me, and I really wanted to be the type of leader that she was, and I wanted to have the same impact that she made on me,” said Lee.
After winning presidentelect in 2024, Lee spent this past year planning activities for conferences with her team, such as speeches and events, and
working closely under the president to learn the duties, such as weekly homework emails and check-ins. While doing these activities, Lee also carried out her regular state officer duties as well, reaching out to start new chapters. At times, Lee struggled with the weight of being the up-and-coming Minnesota HOSA president. “I felt a lot of pressure to be the exact same leader that the president was because I knew that we were very similar,” she said. Yet, she also found support from the close-knit HOSA community. “Throughout my term, I really learned how to be my own leader and kind of step out of that
New volunteer club emerging
| Carter Ballman STAFF REPORTER
Community service and volunteering are some of the core values in many clubs at Mounds View. Yet, this year, sophomore Audrey Stenzel and junior Sofie Olhoft plan to bring a wellknown volunteer organization, Key Club, to Mounds View students during the 2025-26 school year. One of the oldest high school national clubs, Key Club is an international, student-led organization that focuses on community and leadership.
“Every student in Key Club gets to connect with students across the country and across the world at these conventions... So I think it has a lot more opportunities than NHS with all the conventions, especially at an international level.”
First established in Sacramento High School in California in 1925, Key Club was created as a youth version of Kiwanis Club. Kiwanis, a club focused on serving the community, strives to create better lives for citizens. Today, Kiwanis and Key Club continue to share the same goals, with Key Club gaining over 200,000 members in over 5,000 chapters across many schools around the globe since its founding.
After joining Key Club, members participate in a variety of activities. “We most commonly do volunteering in Key Club, but we also help students explore service projects, along with opportunities to become a leader,” said Stenzel.
Similarly to the National Honors Society (NHS), Key Club will seek to aid the community and bring leadership experience to the members. However, Key Club does not require a minimum GPA to join. “A big pride in Key Club is giving all students access to it. Sometimes it can be disappointing for students who want to be involved with NHS but haven’t met the academic standard, so we hope students can find a place in Key Club either way,” said Stenzel. Other differences between NHS and Key Club come in the differing hourly requirements with
Key Club having none, along with the volunteer events themselves.
Unlike NHS, Key Club is not limited to national institutions and hosts yearly international conventions focused on leadership and service seminars, project planning workshops and networking. “Every student in Key Club gets to connect with students across the country and across the world at these conventions,” said Olhoft. “So I think it has a lot more opportunities than NHS with all the conventions, especially at an international level.”
Some of the many activities Key Club provides are volunteer trips to the community, such as going to nursing homes, food shelves and other community staples. Although similar in core values, Key Club and NHS differ in how their clubs run. Stenzel and Olhoft hope that with the difference, students will find just as much enjoyment and fulfillment through Key Club.
Stenzel heard of Key Club through a friend from another school. “One of my good friends from Youth in Government and Model United Nations, Malik Bah… asked me to explore starting it at Mounds View,” said Stenzel.
After Stenzel recruited Ol-
imposter syndrome and really be confident within my leadership skills. I think everyone struggles with imposter syndrome at some point,” said Lee. “The support from my state officer advisor has definitely given me a lot of confidence.”
While their initiative goals are not finalized, the Minnesota HOSA state team is working on restructuring and improving the communication between local and state officers for next year. More importantly, Lee hopes to emulate the past president with her similar expression of kindness and empathy during her presidential term while creating her own mark in the Minnesota HOSA chapter.
hoft, both students have been working to get a Mounds View chapter chartered through the official organization. “We have to become a club at Mounds View, which isn’t necessarily the hardest part, but we have to get basically chartered through Kiwanis,” said Olhoft. “We would be chartered through the Minnesota-Dakota district and get funding as well from the Kiwanis so that we can go on the trips and etcetera.”
Key Club is expected to
form its first Mounds View chapter in the next school year. “For now, we’re going to have an interest form, and once we get started, we’ll have biweekly meetings, and so we’ll just have people apply through us, and then it comes with a $25 fee,” said Stenzel. With their goals to build the community, Olhoft and Stenzel are optimistic for the coming year for Key Club.
Lee at the Minnesota Capital talking to Minnesota Legislators.
PHOTO VIA Ivy Lee
Sofie Olhoft, junior
Lee embracing with the MN HOSA State Officer Advisor, Lauren Trygstad.
PHOTO VIA Ivy Lee
Ella Wan: local piano prodigy
| Lale Akkin SPREAD EDITOR
Freshman Ella Wan has always had a connection to music. At five years old, Wan’s mom signed her up for piano lessons with her school’s piano teacher. Wan quickly developed a strong interest in learning the piano and found a passion in playing music. Over a decade, she has studied under three teachers and won prizes in large regional and national competitions.
For the past five years, Wan has studied under Alexander Braginsky, a famous piano professor at the University of Minnesota who studied at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. Although he has high expectations, he lets students develop their own ideas on how to interpret a piece of music. Wan admires Braginsky for his passion in guiding his students. “He has an incredible attention to detail. It’s really inspiring and motivating to see someone be so dedicated and disciplined,” Wan said. “He pours his whole heart into teaching his students and makes sure each one of them has their individual repertoire that best suits them and their playing styles.” Wan typically practices
two hours a day, and despite the rigorous schedule, her parents are not very overbearing. “My mom mostly lets me practice by myself, and I think that really helped me develop a better understanding of music for myself,” Wan said.
In March, Wan won the 2025 Music Teachers National
Association piano competition, one of the most prestigious music competitions, with thousands of competitors yearly. This competition required her to progress through state and regional competitions before advancing to the finals. Wan has participated since seventh grade, when she made it to the
regional competition. In eighth grade, she went to Nationals but did not place. “This year it was just really emotional [for me] to be able to win first place, because I honestly didn’t really think that would be possible,” Wan said. She also competes in the Schubert Club Bruce P. Carlson Student Scholarship Competition, a difficult regional music competition where students compete for scholarships and win prize money. In late March, Wan won first place in the 7-9th grade piano division, receiving $2,000. She has participated in the competition since seventh grade, receiving third place twice. Wan plans on participating in more competitions throughout high school.
When approaching a competition, Wan increases her practice to three or four hours daily. She also plays in front of others to become more comfortable performing. “Before a competition, my piano teacher would have me go to his performance class for his college students and play for them… So after a lot of performance opportunities, I just got used to going on stage and wasn’t as nervous anymore,” Wan said.
Despite the long hours of practice, Wan recognizes the
importance of not burning out and pacing herself. “It’s really important not to overwork yourself for the competition,” Wan said. “If you’re not relaxed during the competition, you’re not able to express yourself musically, and you’re also more likely to have little slips.”
Some days, practicing the piano for several hours presents a challenge. Alongside schoolwork, Wan is part of the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics program (UMTYMP), as well as Mounds View’s Math Team. Although she focuses primarily on the piano, she also plays the violin. “Time management is really important, getting everything done when you can as efficiently as possible without overthinking and overdoing things,” she said.
Wan plans on continuing with piano in school and throughout her life. However, she wants to keep it as a hobby rather than build a career off of it. For now, she hopes to one day get into a dual music program and challenge herself to play more difficult pieces, such as Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and No. 3. “[Music is] a really good way to express your emotions without having to say anything,” Wan said.
PDTG provides an accessible prom plan
| Isabel Li PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Every prom season, thousands of high schoolers purchase expensive dresses, only to be worn once and sit untouched in their closets for the rest of the year. Pass Down the Gown (PDTG) — a non-profit, female-owned organization — offers an alternative by renting out dresses for special occasions, such as prom, homecoming or formals.
Ruby Franzen founded PDTG in 2018, when she was a senior at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul. “There’s always people trading dresses. If you have a friend who has that dress, you can ask them to borrow it. And I feel like that probably was the original thought of, ‘Why don’t
we blow this idea up?’ where you don’t have to know somebody to get that dress you want. You can just have this network of people donating their dresses,” Franzen said.
In the beginning, Franzen recruited her friends and went classroom to classroom to ask her peers to donate their dresses. Now, seven years and 30+ volunteers later, PDTG has over 500 dresses in their inventory. “We have people donating dresses from all over the Twin Cities, from all different ages… I would say we get almost like 50 a week,” Franzen said. After receiving a dress, PDTG volunteers will clean, measure, take photos and post the dresses on their website.
“I would say we get almost like 50 a week,” Ruby Franzen, PDTG
The rental process is simple, with customers paying a rental deposit that costs anywhere from $15 to $60 or more. However, since PDTG strives to be as accessible as possible, the dress is actually free, as customers get their deposit money back after their rental.
At the time of PDTG’s
founding, sustainability was not at the forefront of the fashion industry. As fast fashion became more popular, however, PDTG also moved to make it one of their core missions, using dresses for sustainability projects. “We’ve done an upcycling event where we turned dresses we couldn’t use into purses and stuff like that. We’ve also partnered with a woman who was reconfiguring them into a different upcycling project. So we’ll do stuff where it’s not going to the landfill for the dresses we can’t keep,” Franzen said.
The most unique part about PDTG is that it is almost entirely run by high schoolers. Senior Sophie Elton is one of these high school volunteers who brought PDTG to Mounds View this year. She joined last fall after being inspired by her friends at Cretin-Derham Hall who already volunteered there. “I’m the head of outreach at Mounds View, so I basically put up posters and host pop-up events so people can actually see our dresses in person. Other than that, I do codifying things, so I’ll make things for our website or ‘how to’s’ and stuff,” Elton said.
Aubree Lang, a sophomore, also joined in March, and she and Elton helped organize a pop-up event during ReFLECT
on March 19. “We had dresses, and people got to ask us questions… And many people thought it was just prom-based, but you can use your gowns for homecoming, you can use them for formal events. You can even just rent a dress just because you want to… And a lot of people were interested in donating,” Lang said.
Though Lang has only been involved with PDTG for a short few months, she has already gained valuable volunteering and marketing experience that she hopes to use in her future career. With the help of Franzen and another marketing mentor, Lang hopes to create handwritten cards to promote PDTG at Mounds View. “I wanted to
do something that I think would catch my attention if I was a high schooler…so I thought [I could] maybe put around the school cute little handcrafted letters and stuff like that,” said Lang. “Lovey dovey handwritten love notes always speak to me.”
Although Elton is graduating, Lang will continue to stay connected to PDTG at Mounds View. She hopes to take on more marketing projects to promote PDTG and expand the number of volunteers at the school. “Besides what Pass Down the Gown is for, I feel like [volunteering is] a really good thing for girls to kind of get experience,” Lang said. “Pass Down the Gown is so uplifting to girls.”
Freshman Ella Wan with her 2025 Music Teachers National Association piano award.
PHOTO VIA Ella Wan
Pass Down The Gown members at a photoshoot.
PHOTO VIA Ruby Franzen
PHOTO VIA Ruby Franzen Photographer moving a rack of donated dresses.
founder
The American
Bringing ethical concerns to the table
| Julia Gronert STAFF REPORTER
Food production is arguably the most important industry in the world. But as the agricultural industry becomes globalized, concerns have been raised over its ethical issues. Because everyone relies on this industry, exploitative and unsustainable practices are increasingly common.
Meat production is one of the biggest ethical dilemmas when it comes to the food supply because of animal cruelty and greenhouse emissions. According to the World Resources Institute, meat and dairy contribute to 11-20% of the total greenhouse
gases in the world.
One way people work to reduce their own impact while still eating meat is through purchasing beef shares, where people will buy a quarter, half or whole cow directly from local, organic farmers rather than just buying certain cuts of meat at the store. Though a larger expense initially, by pound, they are much less expensive than traditionally processed meat.
A large appeal of vegetarianism and veganism is the minimal harm to the environment. According to the UN, a vegetarian typically reduces their carbon footprint by 1.5 tons annually, and even more with a vegan
diet, reducing impact by 2.1 tons compared to an omnivorous diet. Additionally, vegetarian and vegan diets have been associated with lower mortality according to the National Institute of Health. This is largely because they cut out meats that are harmful to long-term health. “I think a big [cause] of health problems in America is red meat because it clogs arteries, and it’s just really unhealthy for you,” said senior Cali Sidler, a vegetarian. Red meat is viewed as one of the unhealthiest meats due to its link to cardiovascular issues, but remains very common in America.
In addition, many of the animals bred for food live in in-
humane high-density feedlots, leading to higher rates of disease and pollution. The treatment of animals is one of the largest reasons people go vegetarian or vegan, as animals are put into confinement in tight spaces according to the Animal Welfare Institute. To facilitate this, painful physical alterations such as cutting off tails, dehorning and debeaking are common in farms.
Many animals are bred solely to be slaughtered for their meat, intended to be overweight so they can be slaughtered quicker. While not illegal, growth implants exist to increase growth
rates and hormone production, but they can also increase stress and decrease immunity in animals. “These types of chickens are bred to be slaughtered after three or four months of growth, so they just kind of eat and live a horrible lifestyle, and then their
Processed foods: convenient yet dangerous
| Grayson Then STAFF REPORTER
The American food industry uses countless products, systems and workers in order to feed the domestic population and recipients of international exports. One controversial tool frequently used is processed food, which the Food and Agriculture Organization estimates make up over half of all calories consumed by Americans. While processed and artificial foods are a large part of America’s food supply, they have been subject to criticism and questions over the impacts they may have on peoples’ health and well-being.
According to Harvard Health, processed foods are any food that has been altered from its natural state, whether it has been washed, cleaned, chopped, heated, pasteurized, cooked, canned, frozen, dried, mixed, packaged or any other statealtering technique. Some foods take it a step further, creating “ultra-processed” foods (UPFs) that barely resemble the original product and often contain added ingredients including preservatives, coloring, flavoring, sugar and salt.
Processed foods and their many added ingredients have faced significant backlash for as long they have existed, with many people worrying about the impact on their health. According to a study by The BMJ, higher intakes of UPFs lead to
higher risk of premature death, with meat, poultry and seafood based products showing particularly strong associations with mortality. UPFs tend to have low levels of the essential nutrients required for the body to function, which can have disastrous health effects.
“We’re drinking all our sugar, and now all of a sudden, we’re either pre-diabetic or [have] type two diabetes all because of what we’re eating.”
Julie Coopet, culinary arts teacher
According to the National Institutes of Health, people who eat diets full of ultra-processed foods consume more calories and gain more weight than those who eat minimally processed diets. This surplus of calories becomes body fat, which too much of could eventually lead to obesity. The United Kingdom National Health Service says that the unhealthy amount of body fat puts stress on organs and bone structures, which increases the risk
of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and certain cancers.
A study from JAMA Internal Medicine linked higher proportions of ultra-processed foods in a diet to higher risks for type 2 diabetes.Unlike type 1 diabetes, a genetic disease where the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells, type 2 diabetes is an acquired condition that develops from insulin resistance over time, causing the body to not produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. “We’re drinking all our sugar, and now all of a sudden, we’re either pre-diabetic or [have] type two diabetes…all because of what we’re eating,” said Family and Consumer Science teacher Julie Coopet.
The abundance of processed foods in America’s food supply can be traced back to their benefits. Processed foods
tend to be cheaper for consumers than fresh whole foods due to their low-cost efficient production. According to The Nutrition Source, using frozen and canned foods can make preparing meals easier and less time-consuming, and their long shelf lives allow them to remain edible for long periods of time after buying them. “You can go in and get a cinnamon roll that’s a processed food with all the preservatives in it, and you can
“You start making the choices now. You’ve got a lot of power. You can choose your direction.”
Julie Coopet, culinary arts teacher
throw that in your backpack for days,” said Coopet. “It’s easier to eat the processed food that’s already established.” Because of the easy access to UPFs, they have become increasingly integrated into the American diet. But while experts warn about the dangers associated with UPFs, it has proven difficult for people to turn away from them. The University of Texas Medical Branch explains that high levels of refined carbohydrates and added fats, such as candy and salty snacks, have addictive properties. Refined contents can
cause similar dopamine levels in the brain to additive substances such as nicotine and alcohol, showing how difficult it can be for someone to give them up. “We can eat an apple…but when we eat that fruit roll up, or that fruit leather or that fruit drink, it’s got processed things that take the flavor up to here, and it’s like, super powered flavor,” said Coopet. “[To] eat an apple, it’s like, ‘Oh, this is so boring. I want this [enhanced] flavor because I’m accustomed to it.’” People who frequently eat UPFs may also experience excessive intake, loss of control over consumption, intense cravings and continued use despite negative consequences, all of which are often seen in other forms of addiction.
As research about UPFs uncover more details about their health effects, people have started to realize that the simple choices they make in their diets can have lasting effects on their lives. Movements supporting organic foods, vegetarianism, healthy alternatives and regulation of GMOs have popped up with the goal of educating people on making smart dietary choices and turning the tide on America’s health crisis. Armed with education on these health impacts, consumers can make more informed decisions about what they buy. “You start making the choices now,” said Coopet. “You’ve got a lot of power. You can choose your direction.”
Food Industry:
or harmful?
legs give out on them, and then they just get slaughtered or die,” said senior Lucas Brady, who has experience raising chickens at home.
With so much of the United States’ food supply coming increasingly from other parts of the world, it is important to make sure food producers, especially those in developing countries with less regulations on working conditions, are treating their workers well. Products ranging from meats, dairy and produce are some of the most exploitative fields. This remains a major issue in the U.S., where according to the United States Department of Agriculture, around 42% of ag-
ricultural workers are working illegally, making them an easier target for unsafe working conditions.
Thus arises the debate between local or imported food. For many years, local produce has been praised for being the more sustainable option; however the difference in emissions between the two is actually very small because of global transport being more efficient than more short-range options like cars and trucks. However, this does not apply to homegrown food, which uses minimal transportation and avoids relying on exploitative labor. For those looking to get involved with cheap home-grow-
Socioeconomic
| Vincent Meyer SPREAD EDITOR
Artificial and processed foods have many adverse effects on the health and well-being of U.S. citizens. Social attitudes towards and the affordability of food in the U.S. also play a large role in the food industry’s effects on American health and well-being.
In addition to the cheapness of many processed and artificial foods, proximity to groceries can play a big role in how healthy people eat. A term that is commonly used for areas with little food choices are “food deserts,” areas where there are few to no grocery stores available to individuals. According to the Economic Research Service, about 8.4% of the U.S. population live in low-income neighborhoods that are more than a mile from a supermarket.
This makes it difficult for individuals living in these areas to get access to affordable, healthy food, as grocery stores often have little economic incentive to have stores in low-income communities because these areas tend to be less profitable. The result is individuals living in these areas being more dependent on cheaper, artificial foods or fast food because stores have less space and equipment to accommodate fresh food.
However, there is also some research that suggests that food deserts and disparities in food access play less of a role in food-related health issues. For instance, Priya Fielding-Singh, a Family and Consumer Studies researcher at the University of Utah, notes how the meaning food has to households is just as important as food accessibility itself. This is due to the fact that parents in lowerincome households are more likely to give unhealthy foods, such as candy or
ing, many local libraries offer free seeds to its patrons through seed library programs.
Avoiding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) can also be an important step in improving ethical standards. Though GMOs have been essential in allowing farmers to produce more crops and improve nutri-
tional content, they still have downsides, especially for their producers. Monsanto, a large agricultural corporation with patents on GMO seeds, until recently, would sue producers if they found their patented crops contaminating a non-GMO field.
It is easier than ever for consumers to be aware of what they are eating. For produce, they can look for items labeled local and certified organic to get more sustainably farmed food. Another signifier for ethically produced food is a Fair Trade Certification, meaning that the company and product abides by many ethical and environmentally conscious standards in its production. All
U.S. food products are legally required to state if they use bioengineered ingredients, and many brands will also display their non-GMO status on their packaging.
While many food industries have various harmful effects on the environment and animal well-being, there are effective ways consumers can reduce these impacts. This could range from anything from moving toward a diet with less meat to making an effort to buy ethically sourced products.
status impacts food equality
soft drinks, to their children as a way to indulge them because they cannot afford other things they may want.
Another factor that could play a large role in finding healthy, affordable food is education. Often, knowing how to make healthy food is just as important as having access to it. “There are so many people that don’t know how to cook that go out and they’ll buy the packages of oatmeal, and they’ll give to their kids in the morning, and it’s very
expensive; if you’d get the large container of real oats, it’s not that expensive,” said Julie Coopet, family and consumer science teacher. Education in general also has a big impact on health outcomes with 36.5% of adults without a high school diploma being obese compared to only 27.1% of college graduates.
Moreover, fast food remains a large part of the American diet, especially with the increased digitization and marketing used to get consumers to buy. For
example, the National Institute of Health suggests that the use of delivery apps increases the number of times people consume foods outside of the home and increases the availability of unhealthy foods, more specifically in Black and Latinx communities. Furthermore, fast food apps themselves are an additional incentive for consumers as they can earn rewards and deals that keep the food cheap.
Students at Mounds View have mixed experiences about accessibility to nutritious food in their own lives. “It’s not hard to find healthy food at my house or at school. I mean, they have pretty healthy options, but it’s just easier to choose the unhealthier options,” said senior Amaris Tu.
Meanwhile, other students note that despite the ease of choosing unhealthier options, they believe choosing healthier options has long-term benefits that are worth the extra effort. “Health leads to affordability later on in life. Medical bills, insurance, all that stuff adds up if you’re not taking care of yourself,” said senior Kyle Dolbow.
Ultimately, what people choose to eat can often be a reflection of their socioeconomic situation in life. Having less access to groceries or coming from a lower income household can make it difficult to access food, and growing up in a fast food culture can make eating unhealthy simply much more convenient. However, there are steps that some suggest could reduce these harmful impacts. For example, regulating fast food restaurants at higher levels, limiting marketing schemes that encourage buying unhealthy foods or expanding cooking and health education could be potential solutions for the future.
ILLUSTRATION | Lale Akkin
Behind the Greek letters
Live the life Stick to dorms
| Lillian Landberg FEATURES EDITOR
Fraternities and sororities stand as pillars in the college experience, representative of a university’s culture and embraced in popular media. Schools like University of Alabama and Florida State University pave the path to participation in Greek Life, with some students applying to schools specifically for the involvement in Greek Life.
Although Greek life is often looked down upon, participation in these organizations extends beyond graduation, shaping and building lifelong personal and professional connections.
Connections from Greek life are unparalleled compared to any other connection in the professional world. The connections made in Greek life span across the entire nation. Since most sororities or fraternities, like Chi Omega or Kappa Alpha Theta, are national organizations, they provide members with a network of alumni and other connections that can serve them well in finding internships, careers and other professional opportunities. Furthermore, according to Honor Society, 76% members of Congress and 85% of Fortune 500 company executives have belonged to fraternities. Though it is difficult to prove causation between Greek life and career success, it is evi-
dent that there is a high participation in Greek life from high-ranking individuals. It is not just the well-known national organizations that are beneficial to students. Other organizations can represent diverse groups of students, giving them a support system and moving beyond the “traditional” Greek life scene. For example, Gamma Rho Lambda represents LGBTQ+ students, while Lambda Phi Epsilon, a fraternity founded at UCLA in 1981, supports AsianAmerican students. Sororities and fraternities also foster community and friendship on college campuses. Moving to college, especially across the country, can be tough.. Joining these organizations can be a solution to the biggest problem facing college students: loneliness. According to Psychology Today, 64.7% of college students have reported feeling lonely. Loneliness can lead to not just mental health issues, but poor academic performance. Without fostering friendships in college, many students find themselves unsatisfied with university life. With the priority in building connections and relationships in Greek Life, students can find an instant community.
Many sororities and fraternities also value academics. Ac-
cording to The Sorority Life, many sororities have GPA requirements ranging from 2.5 to 3.5. Because of this requirement, some sororities also offer tutoring or other academic resources to help students who are struggling.
Greek life is known to give back to universities and neighboring communities. At Rowan University, each sorority and fraternity is required to complete 10 service projects per year, but many groups surpass that number. This is a common bar for each organization at different schools. For University of Alabama, the school with the largest Greek life culture, organizations are not required to have a minimum of service projects, but are expected to hold gatherings, volunteer events and host service events on campus. Fraternities and sororities create campus culture through socializing events and game days at many universities.
Greek life motivates students to foster relationships not just between students, but between the members and the school. Between service projects and benefiting students beyond school, in years and decades after graduation, the investment of time and money into Greek life organizations proves to be a massive advantage.
n Oct. 19, 2021, University of Missouri freshman Danny Santuli was blindfolded and led to the basement of his fraternity house, where he was forced to drink an entire liter of vodka and guzzle beer from a funnel. This left Santuli with severe brain damage — he is now blind, unable to talk and reliant on a wheelchair. This is one out of hundreds of horrific incidents that have occurred and still do occur in Greek life.
When students enter college and begin adjusting to the new environment, many seek community. While Greek life is often marketed as a welcoming community, it frequently falls short, especially due to the prevalence of hazing. According to the 2008 University of Maine National Study of Student Hazing, 73% of students involved in social fraternities or sororities experienced behaviors meeting the definition of hazing in order to join or maintain membership in their group. While this is older data, hazing is still common today, with at least one hazing-related death occurring each year from 1959 to 2021. These hazing events include anything from requiring members to steal items, paint others’ property and even publicly wear exposing and degrading clothing.
Fraternities are often male-dominated spaces
that foster a culture of objectification, dominance and hyper-masculinity. Combined with a heavy party culture and lack of accountability, often due to universities’ reluctance to discipline Greek organizations for fear of losing wealthy donors, this culture leads to another troubling issue: sexual assault. A 2004 study by researchers MohlerKuo, Dowdall, Koss and Wechsler — published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Studies on Alcohol—found that fraternity men are three times more likely to sexually assault a woman than non-affiliated classmates. Additionally, for women in sororities, it was reported that they are 74% are more likely to be raped than other college women. Some may argue that this is blown out of proportion, but the fact is that this risk exists. For many freshmen seeking friendship and a sense of belonging, the dangers often remain hidden, making Greek life a risk not worth taking.
Fraternities are often maledominated spaces that foster a culture of objectification, dominance and hypermasculinity.
Predominantly white since their founding, these fraternities and sororities were often built on principles of racial exclusion, principles that are still present. For example, in 2018, a photo of a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity in California Polytechnic State University was shown with his face painted black. In another photo by the same fraternity, the group can be seen posing as stereotypical Mexican gangsters. Such incidents reveal a persistent pattern of racial insensitivity within some chapters. Not only are these organizations racially discriminatory, but they also discriminate financially. Membership fees for chapters vary across campuses, costing from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands a semester, making participation inaccessible for many students
While many believe that Greek life is a harmless way to make friends and have traditional college experiences, the reality is far more concerning. The physical and financial risks associated with fraternities and sororities are welldocumented. Instead of investing time and energy into a system that often fosters harm and exclusion, students should explore healthier, more inclusive alternatives: ones that truly support personal growth and safety throughout college.
ILLUSTRATION | Ben Riddle
EJ Easton | OPINIONS EDITOR
GOOD QUESTION
What are tariffs?
| Isabella Kunc MANAGING COPY EDITOR
The word “tariff” has been thrown around liberally in the past few months, and more importantly, tariffs have been implemented and paused more than a few times in the past few months. However, for the average American, or better yet, student, this economic term may still be a mystery or some kind of unknown policy that affects the global economy in unpredictable ways.
To answer the simplest question, a tariff is a tax implemented by a government on foreign goods when said items are imported. This cost is most directly paid by the company importing the goods, but can often be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.
The history of tariffs in the United States begins before the 1800s, when the U.S. relied on tariffs for government funding before the income tax was established. They disappeared for a while before coming back after World War I in the form of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. Created to protect American industries from foreign competition, the tariffs incited a trade war that ultimately reduced global trade. A trade war happens when tariffed countries implement reciprocal tariffs, causing domestic companies to lose foreign markets and prices to rise all over. After the second war, a number of countries, including the U.S., signed the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), a treaty to reduce trade barriers between countries. According to the Federal Reserve, GATT created an open environment for post-war economic growth and wealth creation.
One of the biggest reasons President Donald Trump cites for implementing tariffs is to restrengthen and bring back certain industries. This idea is called protectionism, where tariffs are implemented to make foreign goods more expensive and thus promote nationally made goods.
“Right now, you’re seeing businesses pull back because they don’t know what will happen next. And while that won’t affect prices now directly for most of us, what it will affect is, there’ll be fewer new inventions in the future.”
Aaron Oseland, social studies teacher
While tariffs can bring jobs and reignite industries, Aaron Oseland, social studies teacher, said, they should be applied to specific goods, and domestic policies should be implemented alongside to help develop those
industries. “Classical economists would say you implement the tariffs and eventually the industry will come, but it might be decades. To build a new steel mill takes something like a decade.… And so to implement tariffs without also trying to develop those industries at the same time or slowly phasing them in, all it does is hurt us,” Oseland said.
A problem with attempting to revive certain industries, however, is that it could actually harm our economy and productivity as a nation. Today, the U.S. focuses on industries like education, finance, service and high tech, and many of the industrial jobs that Trump hopes to bring back with tariffs have actually been replaced by machines and automation. The United States’ focus and advantage in specific industries is called comparative advantage. “Not all countries have the same resources, the same environment [and] the same skills. Some countries do stuff better than others…When countries are able to focus on the thing they do best, they can then get really good at that and do it for super cheap. Then it’s cheaper for everybody around the world,” Oseland said. The loss of comparative advantage that can come about because of broad tariffs can lead to a loss of productivity.
Another reason Trump had for implementing tariffs was because of the trade deficit that the U.S. has with other countries. A trade deficit is when
one country imports more than they export. However, trade deficits do not usually take into account service trading, like information, finance or accounting, which the U.S. provides a lot for other countries. Beyond that, trade deficits are not always negative. “Even if we have a trade deficit with a country, because we bought this stuff in American dollars, now this country has tons of American dollars that it can’t use in that country. What do they do with those American dollars? Invest it back into the United States. They buy stocks in companies [and] invest into financial firms. So, even if we have a trade deficit, there’s more investment in our economy, which increases productivity,” Oseland said. While tariffs have longterm positive and negative effects, the implementation and pausing of tariffs can just lead
to an unstable and uncertain economy. When the economy is stable, businesses are more likely to invest in development, which grows future wealth. “Right now, you’re seeing businesses pull back because they don’t know what will happen next. And while that won’t affect prices now directly for most of us, what it will affect is, there’ll be fewer new inventions in the future,” Oseland said. Thus, tariffs, like many economic decisions and policies, will have national and global effects that economists can only predict for now. Whether they revive American industries or lead to a recession or even a depression, only time, Trump’s decisions, and the market’s reaction will tell.
What are the benefits of taking a PSEO course?
| Joseph McVean STAFF REPORTER
For many Mounds View students, high school is not limited to just high school classes. First introduced to Minnesotan high schools in 1958, PSEO stands for “Postsecondary Enrollment Options.” Available at almost every local college including University of Minnesota, Bethel University and University of Northwestern St. Paul, PSEO classes are a unique way to customize the high school experience, expand career opportunities and save some money on college tuition.
One of the main strengths of PSEO classes compared to high school classes like AP is the difference in class structure, often with classes taught by professors and TAs in lectures. “With PSEO, you are indistinguishable from any other college student. Your professor doesn’t know you’re a PSEO student, your classmates don’t, your TAs don’t, so you act exactly as any other student would in the class, which means you are directly experiencing college,” junior Nadyne Sattar said.
PSEO classes also have more class offerings, moving away from broad high school classes to specific courses studying eras of history or literature or subjects like criminology. PSEO also allows students to take more advanced courses that are not offered at Mounds View, often in areas like higher level mathematics or science under professors. “Having a professor teach about a subject that they’re passionate about and that they’ve done research about previously and are continuing to do research about (...) is much more engaging, and I feel like I develop a deeper understanding of the topic because I get to hear their specific examples,” said senior Lucas Brady.
Students have the option to do part-time or full-time PSEO, with part-time consisting of 1-2 college classes and full-time consisting of 3-4 classes, or a minimum of 12 credits, per semester. Since many college courses do not meet five days a week, part-time students often report to the forum during their off-days. However, students doing full-time PSEO often do not come to Mounds View for classes at all. At times,
this can be lonely, but according to Brady, making friends at PSEO is essentially the same as in high school. “Nobody knows that I’m a PSEO student unless I tell them, so in both my labs this semester, that’s where I made my friends that I hang out with during lecture… So it is about as easy to make friends on campus as it is to make friends at Mounds View,” Brady said.
On top of in-person PSEO classes, PSEO classes are available online as well. Online PSEO classes give students more of a flexible and independent-based curriculum with teacher support as an option to learn. This adaptability in curriculum appears to be very beneficial for students who understand prioritizing and time management. “Some days I would only do school work if I needed to catch up and some days I could just do PSEO. It gives you a lot more freedom,” Jacob said.
Another benefit to taking PSEO classes is the lack of cost, as PSEO is entirely free. For manykids, paying for college can be the reason for not being able to attend, and using
PSEO classes can help students graduate early. “We deserve the same opportunities as kids that have a college fund. That’s why PSEO is so beneficial because you can get so many credits done that are transferable and cut down the money [you spend on college],” Bassas said. Even with such great benefits to education and affordability, only a fraction of Mounds View students enroll in PSEO. One reason is the lack of knowledge around applying. “A lot of people in our grade have asked me for help because they haven’t really had easy or straightforward access to resources when they wanted to apply. I think the school should do a better job at sharing the op-
portunity with students so they know how to apply for it and what they would gain from it,” Sattar said.
In the end, whether one should take PSEO or not comes down to the type of student. Some students who prefer flexible schedules, more class variety or independent focused learning may do better with PSEO than students who need more structure. “I think everyone could benefit from [PSEO], but I’d definitely say there’s a certain amount of maturity [required], and you have to be OK with letting go of high school because it’s pretty independent,” senior Maggie McGann said.
REVIEWS
Yearning for a better Minecraft movie
Verdict: 2/5
| Grayson Then STAFF REPORTER
fter 11 years of development, “A Minecraft Movie” finally arrived in theaters on April 4. As a long-time Minecraft player, I was excited that the best-selling video game of all time had finally gained a spot on the big screen. However, the film, led by “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Nacho Libre” director Jared Hess, managed to stir up controversy before it was even released. Trailers and promotions were criticized for their live ac-
tion and animated designs and casting choices, most notably Jack Black playing the role of Steve, the game’s iconic playable character.
Even though the promotions generated dissatisfaction and countless memes from the general public, the Minecraft community showed up en masse, helping the film earn $301 million globally during its opening weekend — the biggest movie of 2025 so far.
The movie follows Henry, a creative outcast; Natalie, his older sister; Dawn, a real estate agent and Garrett “The Garbage Man,” a down-on-his-luck former video game champion played by Jason Momoa. The four are transported by a mysterious blue cube to the Overworld, a blocky land with endless creative possibilities. They
then meet Steve, a master crafter who guides them through their new surroundings and tries to return them home.
Viewers severely criticized the art style of the trailers, but I got used to the designs rather quickly and grew to enjoy the reimagined look of the Minecraft world. Black and Momoa are an incredibly humorous duo and have the best acting in the film. Hess leaves traces of his signature directing style, with a comedic and unserious tone throughout the film. One particular scene of students drawing in art class feels like something straight out of “Napoleon Dynamite.” There are plenty of references and inside jokes directed towards the Minecraft fandom. The movie even features cameos from famous Minecraft YouTubers including DanTDM, Aphmau, Mumbo Jumbo, LDShadowLady and a tribute to the late Technoblade. Unfortunately, the movie’s flaws overshadow its positive moments. The plot follows a predictable Jumanji-like storyline where the characters get transported to another world. The introduction of Steve feels rushed and involves too many details crammed into the first five minutes, while the introduction of the other main characters feels much longer than it needs to be and not interesting
in the slightest. The characters themselves are very one-dimensional and boring, and the use of greenscreens that make live-action characters appear in the animated world look lazy and low-quality. The antagonists, Malgosha and her piglin army, were terribly written and are barely an inconvenience for the protagonists to defeat. A majority of the film consists of Steve giving Henry and the others a tutorial of Minecraft, dragging on for far too long.
“Unfortunately, the movie’s flaws overshadow its positive moments. The plot follows a predictable Jumanji-like storyline where the characters get transported to another world. ”
Even though the film has several references to the game, it is lacking in terms of Minecraft features. The characters do not build or craft that much, which is ironic due to the largely creative theme of the game and the movie itself. Multiple characters and items from the game
are either absent or reduced to a cameo in the film. It is disappointing that there is so much unutilized creative potential.
As much as I loved Black’s acting, it does not fit the character very well. Black often plays a specific role in movies such as “Nacho Libre,” “School of Rock” or “Kung Fu Panda” as a fun and comedic character. However, his performance feels out of place. Instead of seeing Steve on the screen, the character just seems like Black acting his same goofy persona. There is also a moderate amount of mild profanity and adult jokes for a PG-rated movie, which is surprising considering the intended younger audience.
The Easter eggs and references for Minecraft fans are fun, but the worst mistake the movie makes is focusing too much on the fan-service and not enough on quality storytelling and world-building. My overall rating of “A Minecraft Movie” is a 2/5 because, while it is not an objectively good movie, it is an entertaining experience for Minecraft fans, reigniting interest in the world’s most popular video game.
Living the best life with “Mickey 17”
| Gabrielle Skiba and Alivia Yang STAFF REPORTER AND SPORTS EDITOR
ong Joon Ho’s new comedy sci-fi feature “Mickey 17,” based on the 2022 novel “Mickey7” by Edward Ashton, leaves viewers filled with laughter, confusion and disturbed thoughts. Taking place in the year 2050, the film captures a dystopian era where Earth is no longer habitable due to climate change. The film follows the main character Mickey, played by Robert Pattinson, a 20-something newly recruited “expendable” tasked with colonizing a new planet. He does this with the help of a newly designed human printer, which produces a new Mickey every time his previous copy dies
“I was skeptical of this film’s casting mainly because of Robert Pattinson’s role. Reflecting on his career, the roles Pattinson plays in ‘Mickey17’ do not exactly align.”
during his harsh expeditions.
The South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, best known for directing and producing familiar favorites like the hit horror movie “Parasite,” repeatedly takes the audience’s breath with his complex and unique storylines while encompassing darker and more serious themes. Bong’s thought-provoking films often incorporate political statements and “Mickey 17” is no exception. This includes a jab at multiple politicians with the unlikable antagonist, Kenneth Marshall, played by Mark Ruffalo. These statements seen in the film clearly mock and make major digs at America’s government in a comedic way, shedding light on “what could be” through the authoritarian dystopian storyline.
Initially, I was skeptical of this film’s casting mainly because of Pattinson’s role. Reflecting on his career, the role Pattinson plays in “Mickey 17” does not exactly align with the personalities of characters played in the past. In his past roles in movies like “The Batman” and “Twilight,” Pattinson is known to take on edgier
characters. Nevertheless, Pattinson’s performance in “Mickey 17” truly impressed me, not only because of his change of character, but also because of the versatility of his characters in this film and his range of emotional expression.
“The movie overall is well-paced, especially with the placement of dark humor and the scenes of Mickeys’ deaths. While it sometimes struggles with the weight of ideas hidden behind the movie. ”
What I was most intrigued by in the movie was the director himself, Bong Joon Ho. The success of his previous films sets the bar high for “Mickey 17.” As mentioned before, his advocacy for change and awareness commonly shows up in his films and in what I believe to be in very unique ways. “Mickey 17” aligns with
real life political affairs, more specifically, American politics. This allows for the readers to reflect on the political world around them.
The movie overall is wellpaced, especially with the placement of dark humor and the scenes of Mickeys’ deaths. While it sometimes struggles with the weight of ideas hidden behind the movie and the tonal shifts, the thematic pacing allowed me to grasp the complex ideas of the movie and the main theme. Despite this, it made some parts of the movie harder to understand because of the shifts in tone, which threw my attention off the main plot and ideas in the movie.
My general opinion on the movie “Mickey 17” is that it is
very well done, reaching the expectations of a classic Bong Joon Ho movie. The clever use of dark humor mixed with the range of emotional expressions that Pattinson portrays, creates an enjoyable viewing experience. The movie is worth watching for fanatics of psychological thrillers and those who enjoy Bong’s creative directing. I give this movie 4/5.
Verdict:
4/5
PHOTO VIA Warner Brothers Pictures
PHOTO VIA Warner Brothers Pictures
MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2025
Girls flag football makes history
| Via Yang SPORTS EDITOR
This spring, Mounds View High School joined the first Minnesota high school girls flag football league after being recruited by the Rosemount High School football coach.
The Minnesota Vikings donated $600,000 to 51 high schools in support of the girls flag football program in 2025. This is a continuation of the 2024 pilot program where the Vikings worked with four high schools in Minnesota to introduce flag football on a smaller scale. Originally the league was supposed to consist of 20 teams, yet it was so popular the program extended to 51 teams. “I think it’s great that they’re sponsoring everybody so that we can just have a good season. People can be introduced to it, they can see what it is with the benefits of not having to struggle…We have a great support system,” said senior Amelie Sorensen.
Mounds View received $10,000, which they put towards equipment, transportation and uniforms, making it
easier for girls to participate in the activity. This donation money will dwindle as the flag football league continues in Minnesota. “We were given $10,000 this year. Next year, we’ll be given $5,000 and year three is $2,500. So we have to look at it as we have $17,500 over the next three years. And the plan is hopefully that by year four, the Minnesota State High School League would come in and take over and then it would become an official [sport],” said Coach Michael Odom.
Practices at Mounds View began on April 8, leading up to the competitive season, which consists of doubleheaders played on Sundays between April 27 and May 18, playoffs on June 1, and the championship the following week on Monday, June 9. There are three practice times throughout the week —Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays — in order to accommodate athletes who are in spring sports. “A lot of people that are joining football who have a spring sport [are] not joining football as their main sport. It’s just testing it out and to have fun because no
one knows what they’re doing right now,” said senior Maddy Hakes.
In fact, one of the biggest concerns the coaches had with starting a flag football team was finding out if there were enough students interested in competing, since many girls were in other spring sports. Despite this, after talking to and recruiting multiple girls from different grades, many students were excited for this opportunity, and they were able to form a team of 30 girls. “I saw how excited they were about it, [and] that really got me more excited, and I
realized that there is this opportunity here at Mounds View,” said Odom.
Many of the athletes on the team participated in the powderpuff event last year, which opened their eyes to the world of flag football. The positive and fun atmosphere of powderpuff inspired girls to break the gender norms and continue playing the sport. “When I saw that there was an opportunity to play football, or an actual sports season, I thought to myself ‘this is such a good idea’ [because] there’s people here who would just love to play football as
Boys volleyball becomes legit
| Matthew Betti GOOD QUESTIONS EDITOR
After years of fighting to be an official sport, the boys volleyball team is finally stepping into the spotlight. For the first time in Minnesota State High School League history, boys volleyball is being played as an officially sanctioned spring sport. With a full schedule, dedicated players and a tight team bond, the Mounds View team is ready to make their mark.
The road to becoming an official sport was not easy. Initially, the team competed in a statewide club league starting in 2019. Then two years ago, a vote to officially sanction the sport was held, in which boys volleyball lost by one vote. Instead, boys volleyball was classified as an “emerging sport,” giving schools a chance to build programs and gain more support. After another year of club play, a second vote passed in 2023, officially making boys volleyball a sanctioned high school sport for the 2024-25 season.
The switch from club play to playing as an official sport comes with a lot of positive changes such as more school pride, better organized competitions and more funding and other resources provided by the school. “When [boy’s volleyball] was run as a club team, there were a lot of independent things that you needed to do as
a club team. But with the high school league support, we get treated just like any other high school sport, and so we have the full support of the school, and we get to do things like play conference games, and things that all the other sports are to do,” said Head Coach Kessen Anderson.
With the transition comes heightened expectations. The players no longer represent themselves or a casual club. They represent their school at a high level of play. “Now that it’s an official sport, we have higher expectations. Before, it was kind of whatever, but now we’re more organized, we actually have captains, and we’re expected to take things more seriously,” said junior captain Hazam Haidari. While some aspects, like practices and opportunities for postseason play, existed before, the level of competition has risen. With the change has come new opponents and more meaningful matches, eventually leading to the sanctioned state tournament.
Despitethis increase in expectations, team chemistry has remained a crucial part of the team. While the sport has taken on a more serious tone, the players are intentional about maintaining a culture that balances hard work with enjoyment. “We’re very casual. We like to have fun,” said junior captain Tate Sorensen. “But when it comes down to it, we
girls…that’s not really a popularized thing,” said Sorensen. With many girls excited to compete against other schools and try for state champion, the team hopes this season is a good start to girls flag football at Mounds View. “If they have a positive attitude, and they give full effort, the results will come along the way, but as long as they’re trying hard and they’re having fun and they’re positive about it, that’s really all I care about.” said Odom.
consistency and build enough momentum in conference play to earn a spot at the state tournament. Whether it is improv-
another or pushing through tough matches, the Mustangs are focused on making this sea son count.
PHOTO VIA Dalphine Wilson
MOUNDS VIEW GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center with the other participating schools to meet the Vikings.
PUZZLES
Sudoku
Across
4. Last name of the actor who plays Mickey in “Mickey 17”
6. Acronym for foods that barely resemble the original product and often contain added ingredients
9. Jack Black plays this iconic character in “A Minecraft Movie”
11. Junior Ivy Lee’s first role within Mounds View’s HOSA
12. This city has been named a sanctuary city as it limits cooperation with the federal government regarding immigration laws
14. Grade level freshman Ella Wan first participated in the Music Teachers National Association piano competition
15. Key Club derives from this club, focused on serving the
1. High school where Pass Down The Gown was first founded
2. Lambda Phi Epsilon Fraternity was founded at this university in 1981 to support Asian-American students
3. Areas where there are little to no grocery stores available to indi-
5. University where $2.2 billion from grants were frozen by President
7. The room where part-time PSEO students meet during off-days at
8. This football team donated $600,000 towards girls high school flag
10. Acronym for the treaty to reduce trade barriers between countries 13. Last name of the boys volleyball head coach
