Learning walks and Deans on Duty
Mounds View implements new programs to improve student learning
| Henry Anthony STAFF REPORTER
Recently, Mounds View High School has implemented two new programs — learning walks and Deans on Duty — as a way to improve students’ learning and increase student and teacher engagement with administration.
Learning walks is a program where administrators observe students and teachers during class time to gain a deeper understanding of what is happening in the classrooms. Specifically, they look for visibility of learning targets, student and teacher engagement and how well the students are learning the material in class. “We’ve got a Google form that we fill out that has some very specific questions. Can we tell what the learning target is? Does it look like students are engaged with the learning target and then talking with students?” said Benjamin Chiri, associate principal. They also ask students several questions: “Can you tell me what you’re learning about right now? What’s the objective? Why is this important to you? And how will you know when you’ve learned it?”
These learning walks help administration improve teacher training and professional de-
velopment based on what they observe. Prior to this, Mounds View primarily used student grades and teacher reports to understand what was happening in classrooms. Now, administrators use a spreadsheet system and go on learning walks when their schedules allow. “What I usually do is when I have time open in the morning, I’ll go on some learning walks. When I have time in the afternoon, I’ll go on some learning walks. And I can usually visit three to five classrooms in a single class [period],” said Chiri.
“I only really ever get to really interact with [my own students], and Deans on Duty has allowed me to really interact with pretty much all the other students in the building.”
Kasim Shahzad, dean
Learning walks are based on administrative training Mounds View has done in collaboration with the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership. Their
program “5 Dimensions of Teaching and Learning” recommended learning walks to ensure that students were properly engaged in classes and that administrators could give effective feedback to improve classrooms. Chiri says that many Mounds View teachers have been displaying learning targets more consistently since they implemented learning walks. While administrators make the rounds with learning walks, deans are busy engaging with staff and students in the halls. This new practice, called Deans on Duty, has replaced hall monitors with two deans who spend a period each day walking around and talking to students. They have also taken over the task of checking bath-
rooms and locking the locker rooms to make sure students are in class. “If students need to be redirected, we’re able to do that, but also because we’re out in the hallways, if there is ever any kind of incident that comes up, then we’re able to respond to it as quick as possible as well,” said Dean Kasim Shahzad.
The decision to implement Deans on Duty came after the administration noticed a need to engage more deeply and often with students and staff. “The entire premise really is that it gives us the opportunity to get out in the hallways and make more connections with all the different stakeholders in the building. And by that, I mean your teachers, your students, the administration, the janitorial
POP Culture closed after 10 years
| Ryan Wirrer STAFF REPORTER
OP Culture Frozen Yogurt, previously on Lexington Street, was a staple for many Mounds View students. It was the place for after-school hangouts, late evening meetups and a place for family and friends to spend time together. However, it closed on Sep. 23 after operating costs became too high.
POP Culture gave customers the opportunity to create customized frozen yogurt. Customers also liked that they did not have to pay by weight. However, like many other small businesses, Pop Culture struggled to main tain financial stability. In an Instagram post on Sept. 16, they an-
nounced, “It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the closure of POP Culture due to rising costs. We have appreciated your support over the past 10 years and want to thank all of you. As a small, locally owned business, we have had so much joy in employing local youth and seeing all of you come in and enjoy our business with your friends and family.”
The announcement of the local store closing led to a range of emotions from workers, customers and Mounds View students. “I think all of sad to see us go, and I think the community has definitely lost a very popular hangout spot.
Even before working there, I remember going to celebrate there after concerts
and performances, which I am sure many other students relate to,” said Josette House, class of 2023 and former employee.
The impact of POP Culture’s closure extends beyond the frozen yogurt offered. It was a place that built relationships, held valuable memories and served as a prominent hangout spot for many students because of its close proximity to Mounds View and other nearby stores like Target. “Me and some of my volleyball friends went to POP Culture after a tournament, and we stayed there for like two hours and just talked and had a really good time,” said senior Emily Luo, a frequent customer.
With the closing of POP Culture, there is hope that it could reopen in the future. “The owner would not like to disclose too much about this, but if it was possible, he would like
to re-open again, but that is undetermined,” said House. Many students are curious about other places they could go for meetups and hangouts. “Maybe they will reopen, but if they don’t, hopefully an ice cream shop or another good spot to hangout will replace POP Culture,” said sophomore Grace Emerson. Potential alternatives include CherryBerry in Blaine and Vadnais Heights. However, other students are unwilling to give up on the fond memories and frozen yogurt. “Honestly, nothing will replace POP Culture for me because I actually loved it so much,” Luo said. “POP Culture is forever in our hearts and our stomachs.”
staff. So it’s just that we are out there and more present, and so that we can really build more of a connection,” said Shahzad. Deans on Duty has allowed deans to build more meaningful connections with students all across the building. “I only really ever get to really interact with [my own students], and Deans on Duty has allowed me to really interact with pretty much all the other students in the building, which I think is a great way to get to know the students,” said Shahzad. By enacting both this and learning walks, the administration hopes to strengthen their connections to students and teachers, improving education through increased communication.
Local elections to keep track of
U.S. Senator
• Rebecca Whiting (Libertarian)
• Royce White (Republican)
• Amy Klobuchar (Democractic-Farmer-Labor)
Joyce Lynne Lacey (Independence-Alliance)
U.S. Representative District 4
• May Lor Xiong (Republican)
• Betty McCollum (Democractic-Farmer-Labor)
State Representative District 40A
• Kelly Moller (DemocracticFarmer-Labor)
Council Member (Arden Hills) (Elect 2)
• Kurt Weber (Nonpartisan)
• Richard Priore (Nonpartisan)
• Brenda J Holden (Nonpartisan)
David Radziej (Nonpartisan)
Associate principal Ben Chiri quietly observes Mr. Rivers’ class and notes down his observations.
PHOTO Suha Sharif
The double standards of liberalism
Liberals must confront the disconnect between policy and practice
s a lifelong liberal, after the 2016 election, I thought the world would end (it did not) and that anyone who associated with the “other side” was wrong. However, after moving from Vermont, a very democratic state, to Minnesota, a moderately democratic state, and talking to more people with different political beliefs than myself, I realized that the political views I believed in were not always perfect either. Before blaming conservatives for America’s issues, liberals must first recognize their hypocrisy in policymaking.
One big component of the Democrats’ platform runs on affordable housing. Affordable housing has become a vital part of liberal policy as housing prices have risen by 47%, and rent has increased 26% nationwide since 2020 according to a report by Harvard published this June. Nevertheless, Democrats fail to address the issue in states where they hold a political majority. For example, left-leaning groups such as the New Democratic Coali-
tion, made up of 100 House Democrats, advocate for changing zoning laws to decrease the number of single-family homes in favor of multi-family homes.
The reasoning behind this policy centers on the greater affordability and environmental friendliness of multi-family homes compared to most single-family homes. However, many liberal areas in the country have failed to reduce single-family housing in favor of multi-family options.
For instance, in San Francisco, the average home price has risen above $1.2 million according to Zillow. One would expect a city where 85% of people voted for Biden in 2020 to align with liberal zoning policies. Nonetheless, the city’s zoning laws delegate almost twothirds of residential housing to single-use, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Even when new multi-family housing plans are considered, liberal neighborhoods representing wealthy single-family home communities reject them, fearing denser housing will alter aesthetics and security. To summarize, liberals say they support afford-
able housing but fail to accept change in their own neighborhoods that would reduce house prices because they fear the consequences it could bring.
Moving on to another shortcoming, the Democratic platform runs on equality in
“Liberals say they support affordable housing but fail to accept changes in their neighborhoods that would reduce housing prices.”
education but fails to meet this policy agenda in blue states. Much of this depends on school funding, a major indicator of student success.
According to the American Federation of Teachers, liberal states such as Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts have the largest education gaps despite high funding. These large gaps in education stem from funding based on property taxes collected by school districts. Therefore, richer neighbor-
hoods get more school funding because more people live in expensive homes, which have higher property taxes.
Wealthy, liberal school districts can change district lines to include a more even distribution of high-income and low-income areas. They choose not to incorporate poorer areas because it would decrease their property tax revenue proportional to their population, leading to less school funding per student. In other words, while wealthy liberals say they support equalizing education opportunities, they fail to make the steps to give schools more equal funding because it would take away the financial advantages in their own districts.
Nevertheless, even when districts are redrawn to integrate wealthier neighborhoods with poor neighborhoods, liberals remain reluctant. In 2021, Minneapolis’ school district was redrawn resulting in students from wealthier neighborhoods going to high schools in lower income areas. One example is North Community High School, where several liberal families zoned into its district boundar-
Don’t forget the other things on the
he presidential election approaches, evident through the copious number of TV commercials, social media posts, and flyers in the mail that have appeared over the last few months. While the election captivates for a reason (as of October 20 neither candidate is statistically leading in any of the seven main swing states, making it very close), I implore you to remember local elections, which hold equal importance to national ones.
Elections for members of the national legislature are crucial. While the president is key in deciding what legislation is signed, the political party controlling Congress significantly influences whether that legislation reaches the presi-
dent’s office. This year, control of the Senate and House of Representatives remains a tossup, as both the Democrats and Republicans could come away with control of either chamber.
This means that every last seat remains crucial for each party’s focus. One crucial district lies just 35 minutes away from Mounds View. Minnesota’s House District 2 includes cities such as Lakeville, Northfield, and Eagan, and has been a contentious seat for the past few election cycles. In 2022, the candidates broke a record for the most money spent on a Minnesota congressional race, with Minnesota Public Radio reporting that the candidates had spent over $10 million on top of the $15 million spent by political action committees (PACs). So far, candidates Angie Craig (D) and Joe Teirab (R) have spent less
than last cycle, but still quite a sizable amount at around $7 million (KSTP). Close congressional campaigns such as this one are vital for voters to engage in, as the results can determine which party controls Congress and the subsequent policy passed. But that race is still on quite a large scale. What about the state government?
Last year, the Minnesota state legislature passed a myriad of bills. Because the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party controls the governor’s office, house and senate, passing their intended legislation was very efficient. This led to many bills, such as the codifying of abortion rights, paid family and medical leave, legalization of cannabis and gun reform. While this may seem distant to high school students focused on sports, classes and clubs, the state legislature also passed bills that directly affected students. That came in the form of free school breakfast and lunch,
ies chose to drive their students to charter schools or the suburbs instead of “risking” their own children’s education by sending them to North, which has a mean family income of $18,000 and where 90% of students are children of color. This further demonstrates how liberals advocate for integrating schools for educational equality, but are unwilling to take the steps to get there.
Ultimately, liberals have much ground to cover to convince Americans they can follow through on their agenda. To do so, they first need to look at their contradictions such as their failure to change zoning laws to provide affordable housing and continued contributions to education inequality through unequal school funding.
ballot
an increased public education budget and allotting money to fix the potholes that may have
“The
annoyed you on your drive to Mounds View in the morning.
The state government impacts everyone on a day-to-day basis, highlighting the importance of contributing your voice to it. It is also a lot easier to influence than the national presidential race. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office reports that the north suburban districts of 32B, 35B and 36A, which cover cit-
ies Blaine, Coon Rapids and North Oaks, respectively, had a voting margin of less than 3% between the main candidates in 2022. In District 35B, the result of that election was decided by fewer than 250 votes. Every vote counts in these races, and the legislation those candidates propose can impact constituents (like you) drastically. That is why it is so important to remember state and local elections.
Aside from the national and MN state legislatures, a plethora of other governmental positions will be filled this election. In Arden Hills, elections for county commissioner, city council, state supreme court judges and a statewide amendment to extend lottery proceeds for environmental protection await voters.” With so many levels of government to contribute your voice to, it is important to remember the other races on the ballot on November 5.
Anthony, Carter Ballman, Julia Gron-
Jadyn Heath-Hlavacek, Aydin Kendic, Kieran Lindahl, Gabriella Markegard, Joey McVean, Alyssa Oertel, Sean Oh, Ella Opsal, Michael Quiggle, Gabrielle Skiba, Grayson Then, Ryan S. Wirrer
Illustration | Elijah Easton
Men of Character: local blockbuster
| Julia Gronert STAFF REPORTER
From a story of winning True Team State to facing traumatic injuries, senior Isaac Tsai’s documentary Men of Character details the inspiring journey of Mounds View High School’s Boys track team in spring of 2024 and their eventual win at True Team State. This entirely student-made film has received both local and international acclaim, with the dramatic lighting and inspiring story making its way across film festivals around the world.
Previously, Tsai had worked as a photographer and videographer for a few of Mounds View’s sports teams, such as cross country, and basketball. However, taking and editing photos is a different story than a full length feature film. Inspired by his track friends, he decided to take the next step up, working on a movie. “As I grew up in middle and high school, most of my friends were involved in track. [...] I really admired them as people and their character, and so that was sort of my spark, I guess, is to just discover what they were made of.” The track team always emphasized the importance of certain values, like punctuality and positivity, and as the center of their program, Tsai hoped to be able to capture this commitment in his documentary.
“Every single senior had experienced their previous captain saying and beating [it] into our souls,” Noah Hammet-Divine, class of ‘24
Throughout the Mounds View boys track program, a longtime ambition had been winning the True Team State meet. Before last season, Mounds View went through a stretch of zero True Team State wins in 17 years. “Every single senior had experienced their previous captain saying and beating [it] into our souls,” said former senior track captain Noah Hammett-Divine, class of 2024. Wayzata High School in particular was the team to beat, with seven previous True Team State wins, including most re-
cently in 2023. “We call [Wayzata] the Death Star because it’s just huge. It blocks out the sun,” said Ross Fleming, Mounds View Boys Track Coach.
Over the course of the year, the track team had had an unusually high number of people training in the off-season, from doing different sports to putting in extra miles through the summer, fall and winter. “I knew we had some talent, but most importantly, I saw a dedicated group of guys who worked all winter,” said Fleming. According to him, this year seemed like it could be the one.
However, even though his documentary focused on the team’s journey to winning, that wasn’t what had initially drawn Tsai to make this film. “It was more what kind of story can I tell about this track team,” said Tsai. He points back to his prevailing goal of highlighting their character, rather than the success of the team.
Tsai shot the entire movie
on his Sony A7C2 over the course of the March-June track season. He filmed around 50 hours of practices, pep talks and meets. Time spent working on the movie had to fit around his own busy schedule, including practices and games for Ultimate Frisbee. At the events themselves, it wasn’t any less hectic. “I certainly got my own exercise and steps in running around trying to capture the different [athletes],” said Tsai. As often as he could be, Tsai would be with the team, getting footage. “Isaac is very assertive... eventually he embedded himself in the program...[soon] I didn’t even know he was there,” said Fleming.
With feedback from his parents and Coach Fleming, and support from the team, Tsai cut the 50 hours of film down to a one hour long feature film on Adobe Premiere Pro. “It was mostly fun. Exciting. Exhilarating. But I would be dishonest to say there weren’t moments
where I felt exhausted. Producing a film or documentary takes a lot of diligence, patience and humility. Interestingly, my own character was tested in these areas, but as I edited, I found inspiration and motivation in seeing the very subjects of my film conquer their obstacles with success,” said Tsai. The film premiered in Mounds View’s auditorium on August 22 to an audience of track team members and people from the community. “Some of my friends were sending me pictures of their parents watching it at home... It was really nice to see that I had an impact beyond the track team,” said Tsai.
After the preview, Tsai’s next goal was submitting his finished documentary to film festivals. Across the world, there are countless film festivals that creators will submit their work to for awards. “Most filmmakers make it big at these film festivals if they aren’t known before,” said Tsai. There are
typically three categories for which a film can be awarded: selection, nomination, and the best of all, awarding best of the category in which the film was submitted. Men of Character was submitted in total to thirteen different film festivals, 11 of which have been judged already. The film won awards for Best Student Film, was a top five finalist for Best Documentary at the Atlantis Awards, Best Student Film for the American Golden Picture International Film Festival and was selected by both the indie-centered film festival focused on giving opportunities to upcoming filmmakers, Los Angeles Lift-Off and the Twin Cities Film Festival. The level of competition varies greatly between film festivals, from first time filmmakers like Tsai to celebrities. At the Atlantis Awards for category Best Documentary, the first place winner was Escape from Extinction, narrated by three time Oscar winner Meryl Streep. “When I found that out, I was like, ‘Dang…top five isn’t too bad,’” said Tsai.
“As I edited, I found inspiration and motivation in seeing the subjects of my film conquer their obsticles with success,”
The film also had a showing on October 26 at the Twin Cities Film Festival. Beyond that, Tsai’s plans for the film quiet down. He admitted that he does not think that the movie has much of a chance to get produced in Hollywood, due to its relatively low production value and it being a first-time film. Tsai learned a lot through this process, creating a film for the first time. This experience was influential in shaping how he thinks about videography, as well as in giving him a new perspective on what he might want to do in college. Though grateful, he remains humble about the accomplishments of the movie. “I’m not disappointed that it didn’t do better. I’m surprised every time I get an award. I’m always surprised, but in terms of my own film making, I definitely learned a ton.”
PHOTO VIA Isaac Tsai
Men of Character poster submitted to film festivals
Runners prepare to race at True Team State. PHOTOS VIA Isaac Tsai
Runners line up to compete. Levi Hammerback, ‘24, interviewing for the film. Coach Ross Fleming motivating his team.
Isaac Tsai, senior
Mounds View’s EMTeacher
| Grayson Then STAFF REPORTER
Every day in Room 225 at Mounds View High School, students pass by and see science teacher Mark Johnson teaching biology. For the past 27 years, Johnson has educated students while encouraging them to challenge themselves both in and out of the classroom. However, what many students may not realize is that in addition to his role at Mounds View, Johnson works as a part-time firefighter and EMT for the Lake Johanna Fire Department.
Johnson started his career as a firefighter seven years ago after he was recommended to join by a friend who was a member of the fire department. Johnson initially asked his friend about what being a firefighter entailed out of curiosity and admiration, and his friend recommended the job to Johnson. “One day he said, ‘You know, Mark, you asked me a lot of questions about the department. You should think about joining us,’” Johnson said. “And I was kind of like, ‘Now, me? I'm too old?’ Because I was 43 at the time. And he said, ‘No, we have people in their 60s that do this, and I think you'd be a great fit.’”
To become a firefighter,
Johnson had to follow a lengthy process. “The different steps of the hiring process [are] an application, a background check, a physical agility test, a psychological exam and meeting with the chiefs to know exactly what we're signing up for,” said Johnson. After months of going through all of the steps, Johnson was able to join the department.
Because Johnson teaches during the week, he works only on Saturdays for 10.5 hour shifts at the fire department, working a total of 25 hours per month. During his shifts, sometimes the department receives no calls, but other times they can be very busy. “A minor medical, like a sick person, a cardiac arrest, a car accident, a house fire. Anything is possible,” Johnson said. When he is not too busy, Johnson does his best to be productive. “If I'm working at the fire department and it's a quiet Saturday, then I can do schoolwork,” he said. “I'm just waiting for the next call, so I can get schoolwork done, correcting, planning, whatever. And my colleagues in the department know that I'm a teacher, so they understand if I have a bunch of papers spread out in front of me that I need to correct.”
Even though it is a stressful job and takes time out of
his weekends, Johnson believes that being a firefighter is worth it. “I think it's amazing because one old saying in the firefighting industry, if we could call it that, is that we run towards a difficult situation or towards a problem when other people run away because somebody has to, right?” Johnson said. “I'm grateful for everybody in my fire department that has taught me so many things about how to help people, and I have a lot of great role models. [...] Some of them are much younger than me that have taught me a lot about how to help people and to be at my best when it's a difficult circumstance.”
Working as a firefighter and EMT has been a huge achievement for Johnson, but he says he would not be able to do it without his team. In all, there are around 85 members of the Lake Johanna Fire Department. “All of them go to work every day, ready to serve people, ready to do anything that is asked of them. And that's amazing, to be served by a group that will drop out whatever they're doing, and they'll come to help you, or your neighbors, or whoever is in trouble. So it's powerful to be a part of that,” said Johnson.
Back at Mounds View,
Johnson hopes to inform students about his experiences and encourage them to try new things. “If students have any questions about what it would
take to become a firefighter or EMT or paramedic, I hope they'll come visit me. And I'll be happy to help them explore these potential careers.”
Mounds View to host national tournament
| Zariyah Howell ONLINE EDITOR
On Nov. 2 and 3, Mounds View High School will host the 40th annual Courage Kenny Classic Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, organized and sponsored by Allina Health. This tournament features teams from around the country, and it is hosted at the beginning of the wheelchair basketball season, which starts in September and goes until April.
According to the Allina Health website, the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute has the longest-running wheelchair basketball tournament in the country, highlighting many athletes with disabilities, and it has worked closely with the NWBA (National Wheelchair Basketball Association) since the ‘70s. Allina Health employee and tournament organizer, Ali Brickner, explains that this tournament was started out of necessity. “At the time of the first tournament, it was one of four tournaments nationally. This tournament was created to give local athletes the opportunity to compete close to home. It also allowed greater opportunities for athletes to compete [nationally] who might not have the opportunity to otherwise,” Brickner said.
The institute hosts several
teams in two age groups, youth (ages 5-18) and adults (18 and older). Youth has four teams: the Rolling Rascals which is non-competitive, the prep Junior Rolling Rowdies, the junior varsity Rolling Gophers and the varsity Junior Rolling Timberwolves. The adult teams have two divisions of Rolling Timberwolves.
The institute had many hardships getting the Courage Kenny Classic started. According to Brickner, there was a lack of opportunities for women and younger players to play wheelchair basketball until the late 1970s and 1980s, and teams would often have to play against able-bodied individuals. “Although the sport was growing fast during the 1960’s and 1970’s, the original tournament planners had to overcoming all the challenge of growing awareness and increasing opportunities for athletes in Minnesota, the upper Midwest and the United States,” she said. Another large challenge for Allina Health each year is finding a suitable venue for the tournament. After researching different spaces, organizers decided on Mounds View High School, which has never hosted the tournament before. “In the past few years, the Courage Kenny Classic has been without a reliable home venue. Each year we do extensive research
about the basketball facilities and accessibility of the venue.” said Brickner. “We are very excited about the opportunity to host our tournament [at Mounds View].”
Not only is the event being held on the MV campus, but Mounds View has a student participating in the tournament. Senior Ian Fallgatter plays for the varsity Junior Rolling Timberwolves and has made fond memories since joining the team. “[My] favorite parts of the tournament is the camaraderie of the team and the traveling,” Fallgatter said. He has been
playing basketball for eight years and this is his third year playing for the varsity team. He originally did not like basketball when he was younger, but after his parents signed him up, he tried it and loved it. Prior to playing basketball, Fallgatter tried other sports such as martial arts, tennis, track and sled hockey. This year, Fallgatter is excited that the tournament is at Mounds View this year and thinks it is a good way to show his progress to his peers watching. “Every tournament is a chance to prove to everyone
that you’ve been working on your game and that hopefully it’s enough to win,” he said. He expresses that this tournament is not only important to him, but to the disabled community as well. “What I would say to people who think disabled people can’t do anything is simply this: Watch a basketball game. This tournament and league is so important for the disabled community to make a difference in the world and to foster lifelong connections. I’m so proud to be a part of this program, and I hope it continues to grow.”
Mark Johnson driving a fire truck for the Lake Johanna fire department.
2024 Presidential Election SPREAD
Platforms and policies
| Jadyn Heath-Hlavacek STAFF REPORTER
Choosing a president is a difficult choice for many voters, as the candidates have varying viewpoints on a range of issues, including immigration, abortion and the economy. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have starkly contrasting takes on major issues, and it is important for voters to know what they are.
Republican candidate Trump has a degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a business owner of his father’s real estate company, Trump Management, since 1971 and had
Republican for most of his life but switched to being Democratic from 2001 to 2009 before switching back to the Republican party. He was then elected as President of the United States of America from 2017 to 2021.
Harris is a Democrat who started out as a deputy attorney in 1990 before later rising to California attorney general. She became a U.S. senator for California during Trump’s presidency. After attending Howard University, she graduated with degrees in political science and economics. She later went on to earn her law degree at the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law.
The topic of abortion is one
to choose whether they will allow abortions but has gone back and forth on his views on a federal abortion ban, from avoiding answering the question to saying he will veto it. When asked whether he would sign a ban on abortion in his debate with Harris, he said, “I won’t have to,” according to CBS News.
He has, however, repeatedly credited himself for the overturning of Roe v. Wade — a case well known for its backing of constitutionally protecting abortion rights — via three Supreme Court Justices he appointed. On his social media platform, Truth Social, he stated, “After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade…” He later goes on to say that he put the prolife movement into a
six of his former Cabinet secretaries helped write or collaborate on it according to CNN. “I have no idea who is behind it,” Trump said on X. Trump also stands against illegal immigration while simultaneously making pathways to legal immigration more difficult, demonstrated by his support of the RAISE Act in 2017, which would reduce the amounts of legal immigration by halving the number of green cards issued in the US. He also promotes continued construction of a wall along the U.S.Mexico border in order to prevent people crossing.
income Americans. Experts in budget analysis say that by 2035, this could add $7.5 trillion dollars to national debt, and some trade experts argue that this policy will jeopardize jobs and prices for consumers according to Reuters. “I am promising low taxes, low regulations, low energy costs, low interest rates, secure borders, low low low crime and surging incomes for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed,” Trump said in a speech before the Economic Club of New York in September.
ing lines up with the goals of
tage Foundation. It outlines a plan to use
trative state. This plan
icaid, reducing climate change regulations and
Although Trump ate himself with Project
Harris agrees that illegal immigration should be minimized. “We can create an earned pathway to citizenship and secure our border,” she said in a speech at the Democratic National Convention. She aims to open up more ways for people to become legal citizens while also working to help with the root causes for migrations from Central America. This is shown in her work with Mexican and Guatemalan leaders to improve conditions in their respective countries by encouraging investment into them.
Another point of contention is the shrinking middle class. According to an analysis from Pew Research Center, the number of adults living in middle-class households decreased from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021. This has been alongside a disproportionate rise in the cost of necessities that wages have not kept up with.
Trump’s economic policies include raising tariffs and cutting taxes, including for low-
Meanwhile, a large part of Harris’s campaign is trying to grow and help the middle class by lowering the cost of necessities like housing, food and energy through banning price gouging (which is when companies price goods at an unreasonable level) and providing down payment assistance for firsttime buyers. She also plans to cut taxes for the working class while accelerating the speed of Medicare’s drug negotiations that would lower costs of drugs. “We will create what I call an opportunity economy,” Harris said when accepting the Democratic nomination for President.
The differing stances and beliefs of Harris and Trump, both presidential candidates, stress the importance of understanding topics that currently influence the country. In the end, the voters will decide the next president of the United States based on who will best represent their values.
2024 Presidential Election
Gen Zers’ thoughts on the election
| Kieran Lindahl STAFF REPORTER
Around 41 million Gen Zers are of voting age. With the next presidential election just days away, there is no better time to see the effects of a whole new generation of voters who are willing to fight for what they believe is right and change what they want to see in the world.
When it comes to voting, younger generations tend to lean further left. According to Pew Research Center, about 66% of people aged 18-24 associate with the Democratic party, and only 34% associate with the Republican Party. Here at Mounds View, students tend to lean further left as well, with 55% of students aligning with the Democratic Party, 21% with the Republican Party and 24% aligned either independently or ‘other’ according to a survey by the Viewer.
Gen Z also has high voter engagement. According to a survey by Cosmopolitan, about 82% of Gen Zers who are of legal voting age are planning to vote in the upcoming 2024 election. In the last midterm
election, members of Gen Z also came out in massive numbers to vote and contributed to the Democratic party doing better than expected, which could foreshadow a large role in the upcoming election. If Gen Z voters keep up this enthusiasm towards voting, they could swing the election heavily in favor of the Democratic party.
Gen Z has a large range of issues that they would like to see addressed by each of the candidates, spanning from social issues to the economy. Mounds View students who participated in a survey by the Viewer believed abortion policies (50%) are more important than inflation (38%) and cared more about immigration (32%) than better wages (26%).
Inflation is at the top of priorities for Gen Z because it is hitting the hardest right now, especially for those who are graduating and heading to college. According to USA Today, Gen Z is struggling to get by because the price of rent and other necessities have risen significantly the past few years. “The economy is not doing so well with the inflation, so as a person
from a middle class family, we value having a strong economy with affordable prices,” said one Mounds View student in the anonymous survey. Despite inflation slowing down in recent months, many Gen Zers remain concerned about prices and the economy.
After inflation, abortion takes the number two spot among issues for Gen Z voters due to Roe V. Wade being overturned just two years ago. This ended the federal right to abortion with multiple states outlawing it. Female voters are more likely to vote for Harris, who wants to reinstate federal protections for abortion. “Being a female, I think abortion is a personal choice that should be respected instead of outlawed,” said one Mounds View student in the survey. Young women are also more likely to be prochoice due to lower desire to have children at a young age or because abortion has been shown to be essential in cases where it can be life-saving for the mother.
Social justice is another issue on the minds of Gen Z voters, especially when it comes to
gun laws, climate change, LGBTQ+ rights and racial equality. 36% of responders to the anonymous Viewer survey chose gun laws as important issues this election. “As a young person, it is frightening that guns are now the number one killer of young people in this country,” said one student who responded to the survey. Climate change was also ranked of high importance among students with 39% of respondents choosing it as an important issue. Topics like LGBTQ+ rights and racial equality had less responses on the survey but tend to be large issues among young voters as a whole.
The candidates’ viewpoints on abortion and the economy are major factors in the outcome of the election because they are most significant to young voters. Whether going to the ballots for the first time or having voted in previous elections, Gen Z will greatly impact this upcoming election.
“Brat,” Truth Social and the impact of the internet
| Joseph McVean STAFF REPORTER
According to CivicScience, a consumer analytics platform, over 90% of Gen Zers and 88% of millennials use social media daily. With social media use high among younger audiences, presidential candidates running in the 2024 election are turning towards social media as a way to reach these demographics.
With more than 1.5 billion active users, TikTok has played a huge role in presidential campaigns. From fans making edits to the verified presidential TikTok accounts spreading their message, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President
“I become more engaged because I get to know more about each political party.”
Nabeeha Rizvi, junior
Donald Trump have increased their social media presence as the 2024 presidential election approaches. Both candidates have also seen increasing followings on social media, with Harris’ TikTok account, “@ kamalaharris,” gaining around 4 million followers in two months and Trump’s, “@realdonaldtrump,” peaking at 11.7
million followers.
Trump uses influencefocused as well as dramatized content to try to inspire viewers to vote for him. In one TikTok, Trump can be seen posing with Jake Paul, a popular influencer, with the caption “POV: 100 Days left before Donald Trump delivers another knockout.” Associating with celebrities that younger audiences follow is the primary way in which Trump attempts to leave a positive impression on that demographic, ultimately hoping it translates in the voting booth.
Apart from TikTok, Trump uses X to express his political opinion on his private account, often posting political content supporting his campaign. He also posts continuously on his social media company, Truth Social, averaging over 24 posts a day, according to Roll Call, and over 9,000 posts so far this year.
Harris’ social media presence has an overall focus on creating engaging content, specifically referencing some of her more popular moments, with memes, gifs and pop culture references. Her personal account focuses on the comical approach to winning over viewers using pathos, while her campaign account focuses more on the facts with an informational stance.
Another way social media plays a role is through celebrity
endorsements. Many celebrities have either supported or fully endorsed both candidates. After the first presidential debate in September, Taylor Swift made an Instagram post endorsing Harris. However, while Vote.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of annoyed. I don’t want it to be super political all the time, especially if I’m just trying to go on Instagram. ”
Riley Fields, junior
endorsed Trump in July and has since then been using his influence through his social media company, X, to further promote Trump. At Mounds View, students have been viewing the political content on their social media in different ways. Some students like junior Riley Fields find all the political ads and banter frustrating. “I’m not going to lie, I’m kind of annoyed. I don’t want it to be super political all the time, especially if I’m just trying to go on Instagram,” Fields said.
Other students find
engaged because I get to know more about each political party,” said junior Nabeeha Rizvi. All in all, it is clear that the social media accounts and content of the candidates are affecting their campaigns as well as the students at Mounds View. Looking forward, social media will continue playing a critical role in allowing the candidates to reach more people and shape their perceptions of the campaigns.
The vote split: People vs Process
The electoral college is the system the United States uses to choose its president. Instead of deciding the winner based on the national popular vote, each state is assigned a number of “electors” based on its population. When voters cast ballots, they are actually voting for electors who then vote for the president. In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state gets all of its electoral votes.
Electoral College Popular Vote
| Carter Ballman & Sidharth Sharma STAFF REPORTER & DEBATES EDITOR
The electoral college is one of the most important systems in the United States. It should be preserved, as it embodies the foundational principles of the United States. This system plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and representation in our democracy.
The electoral college protects the interests of minority groups and smaller states because it makes sure they are not overpowered by more heavily populated states. Instead of assigning electoral votes solely by population, the electoral college awards smaller states at least three electoral votes. For example, Wyoming has three electoral votes for a population of 576,851 people, while California has 55 electoral votes for a population of 39 million people, giving each electoral vote around seven times more weight for Wyoming voters than California voters. This prevents candidates from only focusing on densely populated areas. The system ensures presidential candidates must address both local and national issues. Without it, rural and less populous states
would be marginalized in the favor of large cities, leading to an imbalanced representation.
In addition, the popular vote complicates the process of choosing a winner. In close elections, a razorthin national margin could trigger recounts on a massive scale, complicating and prolonging the election process. Recounting millions of votes across various jurisdictions would be chaotic logistically and introduce significant delays in determining a clear winner. The electoral college, by contrast, localizes recounts to specific states rather than the entire nation, providing a clear and more manageable system from resolving close contests. In the 2020 election with Trump vs Biden, election officials only had to recount in close states like Georgia, Arizona, and Florida, as opposed to the entire nation. Furthermore, the electoral college shortens the process because as soon as a candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, they are declared the winner.
The electoral college also promotes political stability by strengthening the two-party system. The structure
of the electoral college makes it difficult for third-party candidates to gain enough support to influence elections, encouraging voters and candidates to align with one of the two major parties. This dynamic helps prevent political fragmentation, which can result in a fractured government with multiple smaller parties vying for control. In countries with multiparty systems, such as Germany or Brazil, forming stable governments often requires complex alliances, which can lead to instability and gridlock. By encouraging candidates to appeal to a broad base of voters, the electoral college supports a more stable political environment.
The strengths of the electoral college, from protecting minority interests to ensuring balanced representation, highlight its critical role in American democracy. While the system faces criticism, it remains essential for upholding federalism and preventing the domination of populous areas. As we move forward with the upcoming election, it is crucial to recognize how the electoral college reflects the voices of all Americans.
The electoral college should be replaced by the popular vote. Disproportionate campaigning strategies and discrepancies in vote values are only the beginning of the vast array of flaws in the electoral college that are fixed by the popular vote.
This current system pushes many states wayside. Candidates will often concentrate their campaigning, including advertisements and rallies, to swing states and states with larger numbers of electoral votes. Meanwhile, smaller states and “safe states” get pushed to the side. Pennsylvania is an example of one of these large swing states. According to the Pittsburgh PostGazette, Pennsylvania has seen almost $1 billion in election spending as of October 5, more than any other US state in history. The popular vote doesn’t require this strategy. One vote is one vote no matter where it comes from.
The purpose of voting is to decide based on popular sovereignty, or the majority. Yet with the electoral college, candidates have won with fewer votes than their opponent — the most recent cases of this being Hillary Clinton losing to Donald Trump in
2016 and Al Gore losing to George W Bush in 2000.This phenomenon has occurred five times throughout American history. A system where you can be less popular, less desired, less voted for and still win the election is unjust. It’s an insult to the foundations of the US as a democracy. This glaring hole in the electoral college could be rectified through the popular vote.
Many of the most vital aspects of our democracy, including the electoral college stem from long standing traditions. However, the electoral college no longer holds the same importance. It was originally created because legislators had a fear that the mostly illiterate and uneducated population of the time would make ill-informed decisions. Thus, they created a system of electors who would make the ultimate decision, the electoral college. Widespread public education, literacy and access to information through the internet have rendered this original purpose obsolete.
Not only is the electoral college outdated, but it was also directly exploited to strengthen slaveholders through systematic racism. From 1787-1868, the three-
fifths compromise allowed the southern slave states to receive threefifths population representation for electoral votes from slaves while simultaneously withholding those slaves from voting. Slavery and the dehumanization of slaves in the South was perpetuated and strengthened by the three-fifths clause. By giving the Southern states more representation based on slave populations while not giving the slaves representation allowed them to create laws that restricted the rights of slaves and free Blacks in the South. The flaws of the electoral college, from unequal campaigning to ignoring the choice of the majority, highlight the need for change. The popular vote ensures every vote is equal, reflecting true democratic value. As society advances, it’s time to adopt a system that better represents the people’s voice.
Sean Oh | STAFF REPORTER
GOOD QUESTION
How and why should you vote?
| Michael Quiggle STAFF REPORTER
The 2024 presidential election is just around the corner, and eligible high school students have an exciting opportunity to participate in one of the most important parts of our democracy. As first-time voters, high schoolers can make decisions that will affect their generation for years to come. It is their chance to engage in civic duty and determine the direction of the nation.
In recent years, the youth vote has grown increasingly influential. According to data from the Center for Information and Research at Tufts University, around half of all Americans aged 18-29 voted in 2020, a large increase from 2016 in which only 39% voted. This surge of youth voting played a crucial role in key elections including the presidential race. With the growing influence of the youth vote, students 18 and older now have an opportunity to have their voices heard and create the change they want to see.
“Half of all Americans aged 18-29 voted in 2020, a large increase from 2016 in which only 39 percent voted.”
Tufts University
For Mounds View High School students interested in voting, there are a couple ways to register. One way is to download a voter registration form to print, complete and return to a local elections office. Voters can also register online at the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon website. Another way is to register at polling places on election day or early voting locations before Election Day.
In 2023, the Minnesota legislature also approved Automatic Voter Registration, allowing eligible Minnesotans to register when they apply or renew state identification documents. Minnesota’s online pre-registration is now closed, and absentee votes have to be received by November 5. To register, students will need to provide basic information such as name, address and identification. Students can vote at their local polling station (which can be found here: pollfinder.sos.state. mn.us) or they can mail their vote through absentee ballots. Students can request absentee ballots online at the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
For students who are interested in voting but are not yet 18, pre-registration is an option worth considering. Preregistration allows students to fill out a form to be added to the voter registration list, ensuring that when they turn 18, they are ready to vote. The easiest way students can pre-register is on-
line, but a paper copy of the form can either be mailed to or dropped off at a county Elections Office or the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Senior Emily Ren, who spearheaded a pre-registration drive at Mounds View, stresses the importance of voting early. “[It is crucial to] get anyone who’s 16 and up to build those healthy habits and already get into the system. That way when they’re 18, they can automatically vote. We’re able to just increase voter efficacy and make sure that people are understanding the importance of voting because
“The easiest way students can pre-register is online, but a paper copy of the form can either be mailed to or dropped off at a county Elections Office or the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.”
building those healthy habits two years before you can even legally vote is so so valuable,” she said.
As the presidential election approaches, Mounds View students can seize the unique opportunity to make their voices heard. Participating in voting not only shapes America’s future but also empowers students to advocate for the issues that matter to them. Whether through in-person voting or preregistration, students can get involved in several ways to make the youth perspective heard in our democracy.
Why should you learn a second language?
| Gabriella Markegard STAFF REPORTER
In today’s world, learning a second language offers numerous opportunities, like experiencing different cultures and increasing academic and career prospects. It can also create a sense of community between people of all diverse backgrounds, bridging cultural divides and promoting inclusivity.
According to a 2019 study by the British Academy, learning a second language can significantly boost a student’s cognitive abilities. In the study, bilingual children saw greater abilities to concentrate and were more efficient in completing tasks. Additionally, these cognitive improvements often lead to better academic performance, as many bilingual students demonstrate advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills. For example, junior Alyssa Gatumbo found it challenging but rewarding to learn new pronunciation and grammar rules in Spanish. “It definitely has made me use my brain more, having to listen to the endings and figure out whether it’s fe-
male or male,” she said. “This is my fourth year of Spanish. I’ve loved learning about the different cultures behind the peoples that speak Spanish as well as learning how to speak the language.”
Beyond cognitive benefits, being fluent in a second language is of growing importance in the job market. “Knowing more than one language is really beneficial with global econo-
mies because so many jobs have opportunities [where] you could work in many markets, and even when you work from home in the states, you could have to collaborate with someone in another country,” said social studies teacher Carolynne Ladd. According to data from New American Economy, from 2010 to 2015, bilingual job opportunities grew by almost 40%. Learning a second language is
“It’s like this lifelong thing, opening doors to worlds all around you. There’s [...] all sorts of amazing things that I can do with language.”
Laura Rivers, Spanish teacher
Taking a second language is more than just an extra class. It enhances cognitive abilities, fosters academic success and opens a world of cultural experiences that deepen our understanding of different communities. By learning a second language, students are better prepared to engage with today’s modern, interconnected world.
an excellent way to stand out in the job market, increasing your chances of getting hired. Furthermore, learning a new language can be a transformative experience, allowing people to create a deeper understanding of another culture. Beyond the classroom, it enables individuals to interact with native speakers, creating new connections between different cultures. “It’s like this lifelong thing, opening doors to worlds all around you. Instead of just checking it out for school, it’s more like ‘Oh my gosh, there’s people and places and food and cultures and traditions and all sorts of amazing things that I can do with language,’” said Spanish teacher Laura Rivers.
REVIEWS
Brat summer becomes brat fall
Verdict:
harli XCX marked the continuation of “Brat Summer” with the release of her newest album “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” on Oct. 11, 2024. The new release follows her albums “Brat,” released on June 7, 2024 and “Brat and It’s the Same but There’s Three More Songs So It’s Not,” released June 10, 2024.
“Brat” was Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, and though she has been internationally recognized for hit songs such as “I Love It” featuring Icona Pop, “Boom Clap,” and more recently “Speed Drive” on the Barbie album, “Brat” put Charli XCX heavily in the spotlight. In July, Charli XCX began to trend again after making a post on X
calling presidential candidate Kamala Harris “brat,” which was her message of support towards Harris. “Brat” continued to blow up in popularity on social media and sparked many trends for its simple bright green branding and the cool, party-girl feel of the album.
“Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” contains all of the same songs from the original “Brat” album, but each song is remixed and includes a feature from at least one artist. Many songs, such as “Girl, so confusing” featuring Lorde and “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish were available to stream prior to the release of the new album.
In my first listen-through of the album, I didn’t know what to expect with the remixed songs and all of the different artists, as I only knew a handful of the artists. Although five remixed songs had been released before this album out of the 17 remixed songs that would eventually be released, I had only listened to three of the songs. To my surprise, the first track, “360” featuring Robyn and
Young Lean, kept the lovable melody and beat from “Brat,” and molded the song around the new artists to flatter their voices well.
Other songs, such as “I might say something stupid” featuring The 1975 and Jon Hopkins, took a complete 180 both in the overall composition of the album and from the original, non-remixed song. While the majority of both the original and remixed album falls under the genre of house and electronic pop, this song took on a slower piano melody. The only other song that had the same feel as this one was “I think about it all the time” featuring Bon Iver, which definitely piqued my interest seeing the announcement for the album, as Bon Iver and Charli XCX collaborating felt very surprising to me because of their different styles. The song, however, blended some of the electronic beats and slower lyricism much better than I would have expected.
Because of the success of her original album, I found myself hearing a lot of Charli XCX’s songs online, which
made me a little tired of hearing them. With the new remixes, especially for overplayed songs like “Apple,” it felt refreshing to listen to them now on the new album. Even with songs I did not hear much before, I preferred the new remixed songs because of their unique takes on the original songs. “Talk talk” featuring Troye Sivan is one of my personal favorites on the new album, and though I did like the original song too, Sivan’s vocals and flow in the song matched Charli XCX’s style perfectly. Though I really appreciated the remixes for nearly all of the songs, there were some which I felt were better without the features. While I really liked the remix of “Sympathy is a knife,” especially with Ariana Grande, I overall still pre-
Spooky time off to a good start:
‘BeetleJuice BeetleJuice’
eration, Lydia Deetz’s daughter, Astrid. Astrid and Lydia find themselves in trouble when paranormal events begin occurring, and a gateway between the living world and the afterlife opens. The storyline involves conflict within the family and ends with a unification that puts an end to the family dispute.
eetlejuice Beetlejuice,” sequel to the 1988 classic, was released in theaters on Oct. 6. Directed by Tim Burton, it begins with the return of the Deetz family to the fictional town Winter River with a new gen-
I appreciate the permanence of the cast throughout the “Beetlejuice” series. By reuniting some of the cast from the original “Beetlejuice,” it caters to fans who are invested in certain characters and their stories.
Astrid Deetz, played by Jenna Ortega, had a key role in this film. Her character is the re-
bellious daughter, who is simultaneously grieving the death of her father while adjusting to her move to Winter River. Ortega has a record of pulling off deadpan, angsty characters, such as in her role of Wednesday Addams in the Netflix Original Show, Wednesday.
Micheal Keaton, playing Beetlejuice, had a great performance throughout the movie. Even in a limited number of scenes, he was really impressive, and he captured the facial and vocal dramatics very well. In GQ magazine’s recent interview with Keaton, he said that he requested limited screen time, as Beetlejuice’s character did not have as much of a key role in the sequel compared to characters such as Lydia and Astrid Deetz. Keaton’s performance compared to the original film is relatively similar, but the sequel depicts a more restrained Beetlejuice, which I prefer over the original depiction of Beetlejuice.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was a pretty fast-paced movie and I often found myself not knowing what was going on due to the persistent change of scenes and multiple plot twists.
The randomness would be a negative aspect of the film, but the chaos is what made the movie what it was. The fast pacing made the movie more enter-
“The randomness would be a negative aspect of the film, but the chaos is what made the movie what is was.”
taining, and it created a more engaging experience since I was constantly trying to follow along. In the beginning, the plot seemed clichéd and predictable. The romance aspect of the movie was especially overused and lacked depth with the “bumping into each other and falling in love” trope. The introduction of the possible connection between one of the main characters, Astrid, and Jeremy, another newly introduced character to the “Beetlejuice” saga, was corny and did not make a lot of sense if applied to the real world. However, although the beginning seems disappointing, the rest of the film has
fer the original song. The remix repeats the same beginning for almost the entire time, which I did not love as much, while I thought the original song was much more creative.
Charli XCX’s ability to reshape her already iconic songs from “Brat” into this remix album with the various artists clearly shows her range and talent as an artist. My expectation going into the album was that feature artists would generally take the original songs, sing a couple verses on them, and maybe change a few of the lyrics. Instead, Charli XCX created a unique album with various wonderful artists that was able to showcase all of their talents beautifully and in a creative way.
many plot twists regarding the romance aspect, which eventually ties everything together and justifies the cliché introduction.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s” writing is nicely executed. The witty style caters to a large audience, having humor both older and younger generations can enjoy. One thing I would note before seeing this film is it will not be enjoyable for those with a weak stomach, like myself. The CGI and realistic props were impressive, but at times, a bit gross. Although the film is listed as a horror-comedy, most of its themes lean more towards the comedic side.
My overall rating of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is 3.5 out of 5 stars. I am not sure if I would rewatch it because I was a little repulsed by the CGI, but the movie is worth at least one watch. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is a decent mix of humor and horror. Personally I enjoyed the movie mostly due to its quirkiness and the overall aesthetic. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was a nice way to kick off fall and stir up the Halloween spirit.
| Mara Peacock
EDITOR
| Gabrielle Skiba STAFF REPORTER
Early swims and late wins
| Aydin Kendic STAFF REPORTER
At the brink of dawn, members of the Mounds View Girls Swim & Dive team wake up long before other students. It is 6 a.m. and they make their way to practice at Edgewood Middle School. The pool is cold as the girls hover around the edge. They collect themselves as they know they have to plunge into the freezing water for practice to fully start. “‘It’s 6:30, let’s get in the pool,’” said senior captain Hannah Song, quoting her coach. One by one, the girls jump in, and morning practice officially begins.
For the members of the Mounds View Girls Swim & Dive team, morning practices have become a new addition to their training schedule. The swimmers have a quick 15 to 20 minute warmup before hopping into the pool and starting their main set. The coaches split the main sets for the swimmers so that each swimmer can practice both of their specialties — their primary stroke and secondary stroke.
In the past, the team had morning practices in the summer only, but this year, the coaches decided to extend morning practices into the school year twice per week. “This year, we made the decision to continue that during the school year… in the past, when we’ve done them, they’ve been optional, but [we have] made them a required morning prac-
Q: What made you start swimming?
I think it was just a sport to do. We’re a pretty athletic family, so I played soccer and basketball and stuff like that growing up, so I think it was just another activity to join, and it stuck.
Q: When did your passion for swimming start?
When I started club, because when I started swimming, I went to a small Catholic private school, so I started swimming for their team for fun. I wanted to do it, and I joined a club team in fourth grade, and it’s just kind of gotten progressively bigger in my life.
tice,” said Rachael Ostrom, swim coach.
This practice usually lasts about an hour, and then the girls transition from practice to school. The team seems to have adjusted to this transition already. “You would think that I’d feel really tired the whole day, but if anything, waking up that early and doing a workout when people are sleeping and then getting ready in the locker room and then heading to school, it makes everyone feel productive,” said Song.
The team’s training has been reformed this year with a focus on increasing intensity and conditioning and improving
technique. The addition of the mandatory morning practices at Edgewood Middle School and increased practice time after school have benefited all swimmers, but especially the rookie group. This new schedule gives the rookies more time to build on their basic techniques while also building a stronger foun-
“Our rookie group this year is incredible. They came in very strong... 20% of our team is rookies”
Rachael Ostrom, Swim Coach
dation for the future. These practices have also been helping the swimmers build confidence, which has made the team stronger as a whole. “What we have seen this year is better technique for the girls in their swims. Also we have seen them getting stronger times earlier in the season than we’ve seen in past years,” said Ostrom. One reason the coaches increased the training rigor is because during last year’s season, they had several disappointingly close matches with rival schools. “We had three meets that were very close, Woodbury, Creighton and Roseville, where we came up short, and
issue
Q: What are your future plans for swimming?
Right now I’m going through the recruiting process because I know I want to swim in college, so that’s been really exciting to do.
I’m just looking forward to going through that experience as a student athlete. [Also] competing in college at a very high level [and] making it to NCAA. It’s a big college meet where you have to get a cut time, and then all of the best swimmers from all of division one will compete at that.
Upcoming events
Cross Country State Meet
• Nov 2
• 12:15pm @ University of Minnesota
Girls Hockey vs White Bear Lake
• Nov 9
• 7pm @ White Bear LakeSports Center
Girls Swim & Dive State Meet
• Nov 14-16
• 5pm @ University of Minnesota
Q: How does it feel to have broken 3 school records?
Good, especially this year because this year I broke the 200 IM record, which was something I was really going for last year, and I was close, but I never got it. And then the first meet I was back at this season, I broke it. I think it was just like the pressure kind of all just came off, and I just swam it as the first one back, and that was really rewarding.
Performance Team JAZZ Conference
• Nov 22
• 7pm @ Woodbury High School
we ended up losing all three of those meets last year, and for the coaches and for the girls on the team, we wanted to come in strong this year and try to win some of those close meets,” said Ostrom.
These effects of the new training schedule have been seen in positive results at recent meets. They won against teams that they have struggled against in the past, such as their victory against Woodbury in their dual meet. These recent wins have allowed them to compete at True Team State this year. The athletes have also noticed the results as well, and knowing that they are improving is directly contributing to boosting their confidence. “I’m faster, and I bet that goes for everybody on the team, because there’s no way you’re in the water that much and you don’t get faster,” said senior captain Olivia Landberg.
The swimmers are not the only ones who are excited with this success, as the coaches also seem to be enjoying how far the girls have come this season. “The coaching staff [have] been really happy with the success and how the team has done this year, mostly because they’re excited. They’re excited when they get good times. They’re excited when we win those close meets, and that’s been really fun to see,” said Ostrom.
Q: What is your biggest motivation for breaking records?
My biggest motivation is probably the team. They are so supportive and encouraging no matter what, and I want to do my best for them.
Q: How did you feel knowing that you’ve broken records that you’ve already broke?
Again it’s just something that I can use as like a marker to see progress during the season and from season to season being able to watch the progression.
Girls Basketball vs Shakopee
• Nov 22
• 7pm @ Kaul’s Court
Boys Hockey vs Totino-Grace
• Nov 30
• 3pm @ Brooklyn Park Community Center
Athlete of the
PHOTO VIA Rachael Ostrom
Girls Swim & Dive cheering at True Team State held at the University of Minnesota
PUZZLES
Crossword
Across
3. The university which Mounds View collaborated with to create learning walks.
4. The state George W. Bush won in 2000, allowing him to win the presidential election.
6. What Fleming calls Wayzata’s track team.
7. The number of years Fallgatter has played basketball.
9. First name of the character Jenna Ortega plays in “BeetleJuice BeetleJuice.”
10. The day of the week Johnson works at the fire department.
Down
1. The side of the political spectrum younger voters tend to lean to.
2. 20% of the Mounds View Girls Swim and Dive team is this.
3. Unlike other frozen yogurt stores, POP Culture did not use this to determine pay.
5. The name of Trump’s act in 2017 to reduce illegal immigration.
8. The last name of the politician Charli XCX labeled “brat” in a post on X.
Guess
The Viewer editors
First three students to complete all of the puzzles and DM @mvviewer on Instagram win a free snack or drink from the Mustang Marketplace.
Sudoku
