Mounds View High School Viewer 11/18/11

Mounds View

VIEWER

http://mvviewer.org Friday, November 18, 2011

INSIDE

Volume 59

2011-2012 Issue 4

<editor@mvviewer.org>

Back on Board

Mustang Cup The Mustang Cup competition will be returning!

Sandra Westerman graduated from Irondale and is now an attorney. She was a former trustee of the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation. Her main concerns with the district are the achievement gap, financial health, and the enrollment decline. Westerman believes that her personal relationship with the community will benefit her as a board member. photo courtesy of Sandra Westerman

by Joy Xie staff reporter

Procrastination Why it happens, and how to avoid it.

On Nov. 8, voters re-elected school board members Bob Helgeson, Lisa Sjobeck, and Sandra Westerman, along with new member Amy Jones, from a field of nine candidates.

The board is responsible for many things, among them making policy decisions to meet the district’s educational goals. It consists of seven members who serve four-year terms.

Since three of the four newly elected members are incumbents, it is expected that

Newly elected

Incumbent

Cheating A look at cheating inside and outside of Mounds View.

Incumbent

Incumbent

Three incumbents reelected to Mounds View School Board

Bob Helgeson is a returning board member who ran for his third term this year and is “committed to hearing the many voices in the community and deliberating openly and carefully regarding the investment of public resources and the education of our children.”

Helgeson has a Ph.D. in English, and said that being a teacher at Apple Valley High School helps his job as a board member.

Lisa Sjobeck has devoted much of her last 10 years to the Mounds View community and has been vice president and president of the Ramsey County League of Local Government. She thinks student preparedness for college is essential, and said, “By working collaboratively, maintaining positive relationships, and continuing respectful dialogue...

I firmly believe that together we can continue the proud legacy of Mounds View Public Schools.”

photo by Max Wang

photo by Joy Xie

Amy Jones is a licensed elementary school teacher and has worked in the district for nine years, including volunteer work at Island Lake and Chippewa. She has also been a teacher and curriculum specialist for Stillwater Area Schools. In addition, Jones was a member of the Oak Hill Montessori Board of Directors and hopes her knowledge of public education will help the Mounds View District. photo courtesy of Amy Jones

the decisions made by the school board won’t change dramatically with this election.

Financial spending seems to be well planned for.

“The board has built up a fund balance that provides a significant measure of stability without compromising on quality or increasing class sizes,” said Helgeson, who is now serving his third term.

Another important goal for the school board is maintaining the quality of schools and encouraging students to continue into post-secondary education.

One way the board is addressing

this issue is through Early College High School, which is being introduced at Irondale.

This program allows students to earn associate’s degrees while still in high school.

In addition, going into the 21st century means issues dealing with technology and efficiency. All of the new school board members seem to agree that technology is now an inevitable influence in the lives of students, and they will work accordingly to incorporate it to its full potential.

One of the ways the district has been applying

“21st century skills” is through the STEAM program, which stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.

Sjobeck believes that the program will be integrated into their curriculum and the rigor will help all levels benefit, and said, “I am very much in favor of the STEAM program...and am really excited to see how that plays out.”

All the newly elected members have extensive experience within this district as well as knowledge of public schools and education.

Research and Policy, 59 percent, although low, “is a lot better than zero.” The vaccine is at least doing something to combat the disease, despite its limitations.

Some students don’t believe getting a flu shot that has such a low chance of being effctive is worthwhile. “Why would you even get it if it is only 59 percent effective?” said Graham Goodwiler, 10.

According to the CDC, from 1976 to 2006, 3,000 to 49,000 people have died every year from common influenza in the United States. The vaccine uses an inactive virus, like most modern vaccines, allowing the immune system to adapt and create antibodies to protect the user.

Other than basic hygiene,

such as frequent hand-washing and covering a cough, getting

the vaccine is one of the best precautions to avoid the flu.

They’re still worth a shot

by Tristan Aschittino staff reporter Top 3 Local Bands Jeremy Messersmith, Red Pens, and Howler

Concussions A closer look at the symptoms and causes of concussions.

As flu season begins, people of all ages flock to get their flu shot, believing that the vaccine will protect them. Unfortunately, this may not be true. According to a University of Minnesota study, researchers have found that there are “major holes” in the flu vaccine. This new study shows that flu shots may provide effective protection from the flu to only about 59 percent of Americans that received flu shots, compared to the originally estimated 70 to 90 percent of Americans that received flu shots.

According to Dr. Michael Osterholm, the lead scientist of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease

Flu shots-—they’re still worth it.

cartoon by Sophie Gorham

2editorials op It’s the Celebreality T 10 November, 18, 2011

Ways to decline an invitation

10 8

Sorry, I have to floss my cat’s teeth The president said he might stop by

The news anchor told me to stay tuned

I have to finish my peanut butter sculpture

6

I’m teaching my cat to yodel

4

Ask Keshav, he probably doesn’t have any plans

2

I’m finally going to talk to her

My mommy said it’s bed time

I’m camping in front of Kim Kardashian’s house

I have a court date

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7 5 3 1

2010-2011 Viewer Editors Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editorials Features Spread Variety Reviews Sports Gallery

Ryan Slechta John Ke Max Wang Zane Muller Alyssa Belsito Tristan Gustafson Nimmy Koshy Mali Bacig John Knopf Alvin Ma Akshay Patke Camry Kelly Catie Mattson

On the 72nd day of marriage my true love gave to me… a lovely stack of divorce papers?

As you have no doubt heard, that is exactly what Kris Humphries received from his wife Kim Kardashian on Oct.31.

The couple tied the knot in a ridiculously lavish wedding on August 20, but less than three months later, they announced their pending divorce.

After her fairytale wedding aired on E!, Kim’s former publicist Jonathan Jaxson stepped forward to say that the event was not only viewed by millions, but also made Kim millions. Jaxson echoed Saturday Night Live’s spoof of Kim’s wedding, saying that her vows were nothing more than an act.

The SNL parody, snidely named “Kim’s Fairytale Divorce,” hit upon several of the most scandalizing points of Kim’s marriage. Kristin Wiig (Kim’s mom’s doppelganger) scorned the assumption that Kim got married only for the $17 million dollars by pointing out that she also did it for attention.

Although it’s pathetic that this needs to be said, getting married should not be about exploiting the event for its lucrative possibilities. How on earth can you build a loving—or even stable—relationship if the entire thing is built on greed?

Marriage, especially among celebrities, has become little more than

Adviser

by Bob Madison guest writer Mounds View High School athletics enjoyed another successful fall season.

There were many victories along with tough losses. Through both there were common themes: school spirit and respect.

I have never received more compliments from our opponents than I have this fall. All of the credit should go to our student body. Our seniors especially deserve recognition for their

Lauren Nguyen

Youngjun Park Anders Nygaard Martha Rush

Staff

- Tristan Aschittino, Anthony Blustein, Anastasia Brodsky, Brian Burke, Neal Callinan, Alexandra Fream, Aaron Hammerly, Allison Hare, Peter Ingraham, Martha Kauls, Benjamin Kramka, Paul Kroska, Selin Kurtoglu, Margaret LaMere, Zachary Laughlin, Thomas Lazorik, David Liu, Ryan Mackey, Quinn Madsen, Helena Nguyen, Nathaniel Nikoi, Peter Olson, John Petersen, Alexander Safanov, Nicholas Schmidtke, Stephanie Schuba, Alexandra Severson, Christopher Severson, Madeline Shaw, Adam Toninato, Matthew Voges, Alexander Wald, Conner Walsh, Mikaela Warner, Joy Xie, Christina Yoon

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

a joke; “publicity stunt,” “convenience arrangement,” and now even “moneymaking scheme” could all be sufficient replacements for what the setup has become.

It seems as though, in the celeb world, getting a divorce has become the

photo courtesy of mctcampus

fashionable thing to do; J Lo & Marc Anthony and Demi Moore & Ashton Kutcher are just two more high-profile celeb couples that have broken up in the past few months.

Do celebrities inherently lack the ability to maintain a relationship, or is it the constant drive for attention, status, and

money that corrupts their marriage’s stability? True, celebrities do lead a public life. Their actions are constantly scrutinized and over-analyzed. But this is simply no excuse for the corrupt, superficial flimsiness of their marriages.

We should recognize and applaud Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who have lived as a couple for several years, despite the fact that both are legally single. You have to hand it to them; minus the unromantic aspect, their single status protects their financial assets and allows them to walk away with less emotional suffering (should they ever choose to do so).

Jolie said, “We are obviously extremely committed to the children and as parents together... to have a ceremony on top of it is nothing.”

Perhaps Brangelina has the right idea. If being a married celeb couple means such a high risk of divorce, it’s probably better to forgo the sparkly ring and simply focus on creating a working relationship.

So we have to ask ourselves: is the phrase “successful celebrity marriage” a possibility, or is it simply a sad, ironic oxymoron?

14 editors agree, 3 disagree

Letter to the editor

Business Manager/ Online Erika Batiz Design Editor Megan Ruan Photographers

staff ed itorial

photo courtesy of Ellie Pierce

leadership.

There were a few moments that exemplified this leadership. The section quarterfinal in volleyball versus Osseo, the section cross-country meet, state quarter-finals for girls’ tennis, and section football both home and away. The home crowd for the volleyball game was the largest in ten years.

How about the finish in football versus Stillwater? I will never forget our student section and the team on the field together.

Here are a couple of examples of feedback sent to me following games this fall: “We really loved the spirit of the Mounds View student section. They were very energetic, entertaining and respectful.”

“Your players were the epitome of class, and you should be so very proud.

I also know that game could have gone either way, as both teams were so well prepared and so well coached. So often we only hear negative feedback on our students, but I just wanted you to know from your fans in the stands, to your parents to your team and coaches it was the best of the best!!”

Win or lose on the scoreboard,

Viewer Mission Statement

Mounds View students made a positive lasting impression. Thank you for a great start to the year!

“

I

have never received more compliments from our opponents than I have this fall.

”

-Bob Madison

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Corrections from the 10/28/11 issue: None.

November 18, 2011

editorials3

Are the Ivies worth it?

They’re Just a Name

Famous for a Reason

by Martha Kauls staff reporter

by Ben Rush and Keshav Mangalick guest writers

onversations about where people are planning to go to college are always interesting to listen to. Things like, “Harvard has an acceptance rate of 6.2%, but I’m sure I’ll still get in,” or perhaps, “Stanford’s average ACT score acceptance is between 31-34, I need to go there,” make me laugh a little.

The people who say these kinds of things are so absorbed by the prestige of a good school that they forget to see if they will actually be happy going to an ultra-competitive college.

It seems like everyone is focused on the “name-brand” aspect of college. The “Ivy League” is just the name of schools in the same conference for football. It doesn’t guarantee money, success, or fame.

Sometimes it seems that parents won’t settle for anything less than perfection, and perfection includes the “perfect college.” People aren’t looking for what’s best for them personally--it’s about making other people impressed or even jealous by where they’re applying. You want to dazzle everyone and show that your intelligence, charm, and extracurricular involvement finally, finally paid off.

People need to take a step back from their egos and realize what college is actually about. Yes, going to a good school might cause someone to get a higher-paying job in the end than someone who went to the local community college, but there will be a much bigger loan to pay off.

The average college student graduates over $20,000 in debt, and the first-rate schools are some of the priciest in the country. According to thedailybeast.com, Stanford has a total annual cost of $52,048, and is ranked the second most stressful college in the country under Columbia University. Meanwhile, at University of Minnesota Twin Cities, in-state total cost is $23,058, less than half of the amount at schools like Stanford.

It’s true that people all over the world recognize the names of the top-notch institutions. Finding a job might become easier after a degree from an Ivy League, but it’s not guaranteed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that in today’s job market, there are more than five job seekers for every opening. A diploma from Harvard isn’t the answer-all to every problem.

At one of the top schools, you’ll definitely have bragging rights over almost everyone. But would you rather brag about the great friends and experiences you had, or the miserable allnighter you pulled because you had papers due in three classes?

Harvard is ranked as a C+ by studentsreview.com for social life. No doubt, there will be times at any college where you feel stressed and swamped by work. It just happens with greater frequency at the ultra-competitive schools.

Prominent colleges definitely have that prestigious factor over the average state school. They have beautiful campuses and the quality of learning material is spectacular. There’s nothing wrong with applying to a good school--but you have to want to go there for the right reasons.

There’s no denying that it’s a huge achievement to get accepted to one of those top schools, but it shouldn’t be the driving motivation behind good grades and involvement in extracurriculars. If you’re not truly passionate about a schoolrelated activity, don’t do it just because you think it will “look good” on a college application. Will that extra activity be the deciding factor for the extremely bored admissions officer who sees hundreds of stellar applications daily? Doubt it.

If you think an exclusive college will somehow make your life perfect, you will be sorely disappointed. By all means, if you know that you can be happy and satisfied at one, go there and be proud. But don’t come crying to me if your college experience doesn’t live up to your expectations.

t’s hard to understand why the phrase “Ivy League” has such negative connotations at Mounds View. There are many clear advantages to attending one of these schools, whether it’s one of the original eight, or any comparable elite institution.

One area in which the Ivies excel is in their personalized attention on individual students. In state schools, many of the classes are huge, and students end up getting most of their education through teaching assistants, not actual professors.

However, at elite private institutions, there is a strong focus on small class sizes: 87 percent of the classes at Harvard have less than 30 students, whereas only 40 percent of the classes at the University of Minnesota stay within this number. Also, at Harvard, classes are not cancelled because of small enrollment.

The number of classes will actually be increased so that each student is able to take whichever class they would most prefer, rather than students being kicked out of classes in the heirarchical method of class-choice that occurs at the University of Minnesota.

These professors are also more inclusive of undergraduate students in terms of research opportunities. For example, at Duke University, two-thirds of their undergraduate biomedical engineering students conduct their own research projects, whereas such an endeavor at a state school would be unlikely or impossible due to the decreasing funding from the state and the lack of resources to accommodate research projects for a larger number of students.

More importantly than resources, however, is the strong research focus in general. Since more of these students are doing their own research, they gain better connections with the academic world, which many agree is the key to success.

Another reason that Ivy League schools have such a high reputation is the extremely connected network of alumni that come from these schools. One of the things that gives the Ivy League Schools and their prestigious counterparts the resources to better prepare their students is the large endowments that the schools receive from their alumni.

In 2010 alone, the endowment of Harvard was $27.6 billion, with the endowment of its often cited rival, Yale, at $16.7 billion. This large amount of donations from alumni allows Harvard and other elite institutions to provide a lot more for their approximately 6,500 undergraduates than the University of Minnesota can provide with $2.2 billion for its approximately 35,000 undergraduates.

The most uninformed belief about Ivy Leagues and other elite institutions is that they are extremely expensive to attend relative to other schools. This is far from the case. Many of the Ivy League schools, such as Princeton and Yale, have developed a “no loan” financial aid policy, meaning that all student financial need will be met by the school, without anything needed to be paid back at the end. 61 percent of Harvard students will receive an average financial aid package of $44,100 towards their undergraduate education, lowering the cost of attending Harvard to approximately $14,300 per year. This is a significant amount less than the approximately $20,000 that a University of Minnesota student pays for tuition and housing.

While the University of Minnesota and other respected public institutions are indeed great places to attain one’s post-secondary education, it is undeniable that most students who are admitted to Ivy League schools will have more opportunities than they would at another institution.

Students do not attend Ivy League schools and other elite institutions purely to raise their egos; the true goals of these students are to enhance their educational experiences with increased opportunities.

C

Editor opinions What your Viewer editors think of various issues.

“The act of making the food from raw ingredients shows me that the restaurant respects cuisine and that they are not in the food business solely to make money.”

- Alvin Ma Variety editor

I

“Each day does not have an assigned outfit. Dress as you please. Wear what you want whenever you want.”

-Catie Mattson Sports editor

“Kim Kardashian’s 72-day marriage is much more of an insult to the institution of marriage than allowing the marriage of same-sex couples who have been together for decades.”

-Erika Batiz Business manager/ Online editor

CODE OF CONDUCT

by Deputy Gulden guest writer We had a great fall sports season here at Mounds View. Some athletes have ended their high school athletic careers, others are starting up the winter season and some are looking forward to spring sports. One of the biggest deterrents to alcohol and chemical use in high school and college is the sanctions of the Minnesota High School League and penalties by colleges and universities if caught.

The Minnesota High School League sanction for a Code of Conduct violation involving tobacco, alcohol or chemical use is a two week or two game suspension from competitive events.

The Mounds View School District holds its students to an even higher standard of three weeks or three games.

With the holidays and school breaks approaching, there may be many opportunities where students may be in the position to make poor decisions involving the use of alcohol and chemicals.

These decisions could affect your athletic career as well as your safety and the lives of others.

Although these may be a one-time decision, they could have lifelong lasting outcomes. In the words of Activities Director Bob Madison, “Don’t eliminate opportunities for yourself by making poor decisions.”

Deputy Tim Gulden 651-621-7123 Tim.Gulden@ moundsviewschools.org

Cop’s

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“Students should be allowed to frolic in the courtyard. It’s a beautiful space that should be better utilized.”

- Max Wang News editor

4features

November 18, 2011

Cheater, cheater, SAT beater The heat for the cheat

SAT cheating scandal raises questions about student integrity

by Sasha Safonov staff reporter

students and education.” Erin Zagursky, from wm.edu, agreed, saying that standardized testing has forced teachers to focus on test content instead of deeper comprehension of various topics.

The Daily Beast, a website published by Newsweek, reiterates this sentiment, stating that “for the first time, research shows that American creativity [defined as “the production of something original and useful] is declining.”

Also, the implications of standardized testing’s large effect on college admissions and financial aid have pushed even brilliant students to cheat on tests, placing doubt on whether the majority of test results are valid.

In a study done by the Josephsen Institute, 59 percent of students polled admitted to cheating on a test, yet 92 percent of the same sample group were happy with their ethical behavior. As college admissions become more cutthroat, some students are willing to cross the line in order to get into

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owever, the pressure to earn high grades in such a competitive high school setting leads many students to cut corners and instead cheat.

Recently, Mounds View has had an issue involving academic dishonesty in Advanced Placement Literature.

Students had a take home test on which they could work on together. But some students went online and found the answers; as a result, the tests were thrown out.

“My biggest concern is that students who actually tried felt guilty, even though the ones who cheated didn’t seem to care,” said Gretchen Nesset, English teacher.

There are several types of cheating, mostly in the form of copying, that students have been able to take advantage of either in the classroom or at home.

When asked about the prevalence of cheating at Mounds View, Dean Amy Alvarez said, “I get about an average of 5 cases of cheating a year. The entire school gets about 50 cases a year which is not including incorrect documentation [of sources].”

One situation students might find themselves in is resorting to cheating during a test, usually done by simply glancing over to another student’s test.

This is the most risky form of cheating, considering how easy it is to get caught.

It has bigger drawbacks such as the public embarrassment of the individual after

Th St et ud en ts re tu

their dream school.

This situation raises questions on the morality and integrity of students today.

According to thedailybeast. com, there are “2,500 suspected cheats out of 2.25 million kids who take the [SAT] annually.” Yet, that statistic also points to the millions of students who don’t cheat on the test. Those millions realize that there is a certain level of integrity expected of students who take these standardized tests.

To Colin Kraut, 12, cheating not only causes repercussions for the perpetrator, but also to others who had integrity in the first place. “Integrity is important because the tests represents how ready you are for college, and if you cheat, then you could make someone who has put a whole lot of effort into getting their score to not get into the college they want to,” he said.

Despite the fact that much of the blame falls on students, others have targeted their complaints toward the

“Mounds View students are expected to achieve success with integrity.”

This statement opens the section on academic dishonesty in the student planner; it is also what the Mounds View administration expects out of the high school’s students.

ad es

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Great Neck High School in New York has long been a respected secondary school, with a 97 percent graduation rate and around 97 percent of students planning to pursue higher education. However, arrests regarding honesty when taking the SAT test have recently tarnished the school’s standing.

According to the New York Times, on Sept. 28, Sam Eshaghoff, a college student at Emory University, was arrested for charging students at Great Neck $1,500-$2,500 to take their test for them. So far, nine students who received help from Eshaghoff have been caught and charged with misdemeanors.

These arrests have caused increased questioning in the validity of standardized tests and the integrity of today’s students.

According to fairtest. org, “High-stakes testing causes damage to individual

Education Testing Service (ETS), the administrators of the SAT. Bernard Kaplan, principal of Great Neck High School criticized the organization directly, saying that “very simply, ETS has made it very easy to cheat, very difficult to get caught...”

Yet, the ETS say it is doing everything in its power to prevent cheating. Analyses of test score changes, handwriting samples, and a comparison of wrong answer choices between students sitting next to each other have all been used in order to sniff out cheaters.

While these allegations do cast a dark shadow over the relevancy and integrity of standardized test results, they are just another small battle in the war over high-stakes testing.

by sta Nick ff r S epo chm rte idtk r e

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y biggest concern is that students who actually tried felt guilty...

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being caught.

Students who use this method sometimes claim it’s -Gretchen Nesset “because I have no idea what’s going on; some teachers don’t teach,” said one senior student.

More frequently, students try to get away with plagiarism: simply copy and paste. This is more common because to some students, researching at home wastes time.

“Homework mostly tends to be busy work so I get bored easily and I find it easier to copy and paste,” said another senior.

Another new form of cheating is online translators.

“Don’t use online translators, they don’t work and I consider them cheating. They don’t show your true proficiency,” said German teacher Jessica Trost.

Whether it is copying a homework assignment, plagiarizing an essay or peeking at a test, it’s all regarded as academic dishonesty and is reprimanded very harshly.

Penalities for academic dishonesty range being disqualified from joining or belonging to the National Honor Society to being removed from the class. The reasoning boils down to: “If the work you turn isn’t truly your own, it completely undermines everything we are trying to do to help students learn,” said Associate Principal Doug Bullinger.

photos by Anders Nygaard

November 18, 2011

5 features

Mustang Cup is making a comeback

by Tony Blustein staff reporter Many students thought that the Mustang Cup departed along with former dean Adam McDonald. However, it is actually starting up again, possibly this month.

“I thought the Mustang Cup was cancelled after Mr. McDonald left,” said Alec Mitchell, 12.

McDonald left Mounds View this summer to become assistant principal at Hopkins.

This means that for the first time in five years, he will not be advisor of the student-run program.

American Sign Language teacher Therese McKenzie volunteered to take over. With teacher and student support, she hopes to get the program under way and fill the void that was left without McDonald’s presence.

“We have all of his notes, and we are ready to go,” said McKenzie.

However, changes are on the way, the biggest of which

involves team structure. This year, each team must have at least two members of each gender competing.

“We want Mounds View to be more connected, whether it is different genders or genres,” said McKenzie.

With this adjustment, McKenzie hopes to unify Mounds View by putting different skill sets together.

She imagines seeing “football players and orchestra players on the same team.”

This change could even out the competition. In previous years, the Mustang Cup tended to be dominated by two teams. Last year, Team Bobliae and Team Feliz Navidads tied for first place, which they won by a large margin.

However, Connor Kennedy, 12, who was on the Feliz Navidads, believes that the Mustang Cup was fair enough last year.

“I remember in winter sports we were calculating the number of points we needed to be in first, but then the

fourteenth place team ended up winning the whole event,” said Kennedy. “Just goes to show you how close the competition is.”

In each individual week the competition appeared to be close, but the standings suggested otherwise. This was because many teams failed to show up to several events.

This is an issue the presidents and McKenzie are working to address.

“We will be having announcements and posters.

We also emailed teachers and asked them to discuss it with their classes, and got in contact with the school newspaper,” said McKenzie. She hopes to get the Mustang Cup started by the end of November.

While a few key aspects of the Mustang Cup are still in limbo, such as sign-ups and funding, many of the events will stay the same. The advisors want to keep favorite events from years past, such as the photo scavenger hunt and the dodgeball tournament.

They also hope to add new

by Matthew Voges staff reporter Everyone needs time to have fun and take a break from all the stress of academics. Many high school students turn to such impersonal forms of escapism, such as TV, video games, or surfing the web; yet there is another way to have fun while still interacting and forming friendships.

Meet the Board Gaming Club. It meets every Thursday from 2:10-4:30 in room 252, and is available for a $15 activity fee.

Students can sign up by attending any of the meetings.

Students can also attend free all-night affairs–including one tonight at 7 p.m.

The club was founded by art teacher Richard Lemanczykafka, after he was given control of the chess club.

Soon it evolved into the board gaming club as members found this to be a more entertaining prospect.

“I have a diverse background of experience in all types of gaming,” said Lemanczykafka, who wants the club to “reach out to the kids who might not be involved in athletics.”

Activities include chess and other multi-player games that often involve strategy.

“It presents an opportunity to learn some games pretty quickly and play them pretty quickly,” said Lemanczykafka.

Board games can encourage groups to bond and learn more about each other. According to Scholastic magazine, they improve social development, raise confidence, improve memory, and relieve stress in children.

Not only are there many great classic board games, but also, “there’s an amazing amount of possibilities when it comes to board games,” said Lemanczykafka. Students can even bring in board games that they have laying around the house.

“My favorite part of board gaming club is getting to learn new and interesting games. It seems like he’s got something new every week,” said Isaac Jones, 9.

When compared to the increasingly popular spectrum of video games, board games stack up surprisingly well. They offer such benefits as face-to-face contact which leads to personal connections, are typically more relaxed, and also get people away from their computers for awhile.

In addition, Dr. Albert Frank conducted a study in Zaire in 1973-74, which showed that those who learned chess tend to develop better spacial and numeric skills among other improvements such as verbal logic.

Now available at Mounds View, the Board Gaming Club is a way for students to enjoy themselves while developing important skills and building friendships that has stood the test of time.

photo courtesy of Peter Ingraham

Feliz Navidads, one of many teams that took part in the Mustang Cup 2010, posed for their team picture. events, such as bocce ball and mini golf.

McKenzie admitted that the Mustang Cup isn’t a finished product at the moment.

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She said, “I realize that it is getting off to a bumpy start, but it is a good program. It is very fun and out of the ordinary,”

www.procrastination.com/ Napping

The science behind procrastination n o i t a v i t o m s ’ n o i t a n i t s a r c

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protect their onscious way to nation as a subcsurvey done by the Journal of self-esteem. A logy showed that fear of nega an

by Megan Ru School Psycho ce feedback” accounted for or it tive “performaneyed procrastination cases. design ed you: When r fo le dd ri half of the surv ason for procrastination ky Microe, Here’s a tric os cl ” ly ed ct Another re unexpe lanning fallacy does the library“error” boxes at you repeatibuted to the “pRoger Buehler and tr at be n ca oined by soft Word spit et Explorer decide to “not phenomenon. Csearchers at Wilfrid Laurier re edly, and Internat the same time? n, tish Dale Griffi niversity of Bri respond” -- all learly, the last thirty minutes rsity and the U this term describes ve ni U C : n. er Answ anada, on turniti Columbia in C ion of the amount of time ge essay is due at im before your hu st re de an un explains why couldn’t these ke. This theory tmas shopping com. ta hy ill w w r, de sk ta on a w And so you eeks ago rs’ le leave Chris ve struck two w ey so many peopas Eve. Unfortunately, retaileit. catastrophes ha y was assigned? Why did th tm es until Chris or only reinforc when your essa til the last minute? se to this behavir last-minute sales, they on sp re hy un w t , ai k is ices fo have to w r question to as By lowering pr ers for their procrastination.e Maybe the bettet until the last minute? th um ns co d ar rew wai at ve discovered, did you have to ere is someone to blame; th r- As Buehler and Griffin ha ute rewards in evBut of course thtime, the one thing that unde u frequency of such last-minto turn to procrasties people sneaky thief of ng your conscience knows yo eryday life causions where they shouldn’t. e hi yt er ev es ion. min nation in situatgoes without saying that som g: procrastinat should be doin ation always has been and nd. In a Finally, it ike the job at haonstanz in dillysl Procrastin e di th y of pl l m al si nf le w K of peop r the do the University always will be t. A million different cures fo study done by p of international psycholo e om en fr ud s, st ok g in bo ou in or gr dally e, m a e lin y, ar on an e m pl d: eo Ger foun the obvious: “p the fault can be rmer procrastinators... gists proved... s that seem simpler and easy fo s of on ce as vi re ad sk the s shown that likely to do ta sks that seem hard and time ” But research haness may drive people to to finish, but ta more likely to be postponed. zi la e beyond simpl e habit. consuming arerestingly, the brain tends to this unfortunat n for extravagant amounts of But, more inte scope of a task’s difficulty sole theories As concer tip ul m d, se ea exaggerate the e can be blown out of propor s incr wasted time haregarding the psychology that a challeng e task made to seem efforthave surfaced of proscrastination. According tion, or a simpl behind the act i, associate professor of psyless. s everyone. And to Joseph Ferraraul University, “Procrastina- s stination affect get to the end of ra oc Pr dn’t even chology at DePnot born.” Recent research haiyou probably di use you got distracted. st e, ra ad oc m pr e ar of ca rs es to e this article be three main caus found that the of self-confidence, time-fram nation are lack sk aversion. t illusion, and ta low self-esteem tend to pu People with failure. Ferrari deems ar of off tasks for fe s “avoiders” and claims that al du vi di in the fact e es th ation stems from their procrastin rather be called lazy than that they would , these people see procrastiincapable. Often

illustration by

Sophie Gorham

Text

/Mounds View students are no exception Other

Tips for staying on task

How do you procrastinate?

Video games

100 boys and 100 girls surveyed

1

Boys

Facebook

Texting Napping

TV

ting

TV

Girls

Make lists: create a list of everything that you need to do.

Set realistic goals for yourself.

Facebook

Other

Video games

information compiled by Quinn Madsen

3

Procrastination Horror Stories Mounds View students are faced with many opportunities to procrastinate.

Teenagers are prone to putting off their work, which causes unnecessary stress. These are a few stories from Mounds View procrastinators.

“My teacher gave us a research paper that was due in a week. I procrastinated until the night before and the next morning I woke up with split ends! If that isn’t karma, I don’t know what is,” said Alyssa Parise, 10.

huge off this cause t u p I t be ime “One t board projec ing my n r i e a t r t pos oo busy t all nigh I was t on. I worked was due Pokem day before it l only to on the ived at schoohe next and arr t it was due t hat you find ou uess that’s wng,” said day. I g procrastinati . get for ouwagie, 12 Tony L

informa

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piled by

David

Liu and

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llinan

Write a statement of intention.

Don’t selfdeceive.

5

2

4

Promise yourself a reward when you finish a task.

Source: Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D, associate professor of psychology at De Paul University

8variety

November 18, 2011

the case for food:

Give peas a chance

by Tasia Brodsky staff reporter

When one sits down to dinner with steak, potatoes, and side of corn, they do not take a second to consider the worldly implications of consuming the slab of a living creature resting on their plate. The mental image of a living creatures that never had a real chance at life, raised in inhumane conditions, would inspire most people to drop their fork and reach for a carrot instead.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to going through the endless routine of eating animals and pretending that it isn’t murder. Vegetarianism is for everyone.

Vegetarianism is a lifestyle choice in which the individual chooses to eat few or no animals.

A vegetarian who chooses not to consume, use, or wear any animal products is called a vegan.

There are several reasons for someone to become a vegetarian.

Some people choose not to eat meat because raising livestock causes

an increase in pollution. The meat industry contributes to about 18 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions world wide.

Some vegetarians choose not to eat meat because of the health benefits of vegetarianism. Vegetarians have also been proven to live longer. In the Sept. 2003 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, several studies were put on testing the longevity of vegetarians verses meat eaters. Four of the six studies analyzed showed that vegetarians live longer than people who ate meat.

Vegetarian diets also offer lower levels of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, along with higher levels of fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants.

By turning to vegetarianism one can improve not only their own health but the health of our planet.

Remember, every person can make a difference.

Fanatic about BBQ

by Peter Olson staff reporter

Q Fanatic BBQ is bringing southern flavors to the people of Minnesota.

Main courses include sandwiches, racks of spare ribs, chicken, and pulled pork dinner.There is also seven types of BBQ sauces, including espresso, honey, and Asian ginger teriyaki and a multitude of sides, like corn fritters and french fries.

Don’t be fooled by the appearance of the food that comes on a red tray covered in aluminum foil -looks are indeed deceiving.

When I received my Rib Tips Sandwich meal, the pork was tender and moist with a subtle taste of smoke. The spicy, bitter flavor of the espresso barbecue sauce perfectly complimented the taste of the smoked

meat.

Overall, Q fanatic BBQ is an excellent restaurant when great tasting food. The savory barbecue sauce and tender, mouth watering meat will have you coming back for sure. For all meat lovers out there, this is the restaurant you are looking for.

Hard Times Cafe falls

by Allie Severson staff reporter Hard Times Cafe is an all vegetarian restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. For being one of the only all vegetarian restaurants in the Twin Cities, It is very inexpensive, but the food was far from outstanding.

To be honest, most of the food that I saw and had was soggy and lacked flavor.

VS.

I ordered a seitan gyro for $7.

The seitan “meat” was made of wheat gluten and was accompanied with tomato, onions, topped with a lemon sauce, then stuffed inside pita bread. Although the gyro looked appealing, the taste left something to be desired. The bread was soggy, and the vegetables were stale.

The atmosphere of the place is weird

and kind of gross.

Alternative and grunge music plays in the background which is accompanied by the swearing of the cooks.

If I had the choice to eat at Hard Times Cafe again, I wouldn’t because of the atmosphere and the poorly cooked entrees. Overall, to me, it was an uncomfortable place to sit down and have a meal.

Steak: savory not sinful

by Alx Wald staff reporter Is it wrong for a society to cruelly slaughter innocent animals and devour them for their own sick enjoyment? We can all agree: Yes it is. But is it wrong for a society to eat meat? Maybe not so much.

In 1906, journalist Upton Sinclair published The Jungle, a book describing the horrors of the of the conditions of meatpacking factories, and sent the meat industry into a complete tailspin.

The book graphically portrayed rats crawling over piles of meat and sick animals being beaten in slaughter-barns.

It raised some legitimate concerns at the time, but more than 100 years later, the United States Department of Agriculture (UDSA) restrictions and regulations, have made the industry much safer and cleaner than it was in 1906. These include the Humane Slaughter Act

of 1958 which requires that cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep and swine be unconscious before they are slaughtered or harvested.

The USDA is in the process of passing new regulations to improve the working conditions of meatpacking factory workers. Generally speaking, most harvested animals are treated as ethically as possible.

It can also be detrimental to your health to stop eating meat.

Meat contains iron, protein, and an amino acid combination that cannot be found in vegetables. This amino acid combination is important to the operation of the human body and cannot be replaced by eating only vegetables.

True, too much red meat can be detrimental to health. But people consume these animals because they are an important part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Not to mention, they’re delicious.

November 18, 2011

9 reviews

Top Three Local Bands Coldplay captures the The Twin Cities have always had a very strong local music scene. Before our time, bands like Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, and Prince rocked the stages of First Avenue and 7th Street Entry and even gained attention around the world.

Today, the local music scene is still staying strong and is by far one of the best in the country.

Howler

1

Howler started as a side project by Jordan Gatesmith, lead guitarist from the indie-pop group, Total Babe, another exceptional local group.

They released their EP, This One’s Different, last winter through the local label So-TM. In late spring, Howler got signed to the legendary London-based label, Rough Trade. Howler’s EP has a surfy-thrashy-punk sound. Gatesmith’s voice reminisces that of Jim Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain and Paul Westerberg of The Replacements, the surfy guitar riffs blend in perfect with the vocals. The band plans on releasing photo courtesy of www.retna.com their debut album in mid-January.

Red Pens

2

Red Pens is a fuzzed-out-punk-ish duo made up of Howard Hamilton III and Laura F. Bennett.

Their first album, Reasons, was released in 2009 and was mixed, mastered, and produced by Hamilton. The band uses fuzz, or distortion, like none other, making them sound like a mixture of The Jesus and Mary Chain, a band famous for their extreme use of fuzz and noise, and Sonic Youth, another post-punk band. Red Pens songs also add looping and many other cool effects to the mix. The best way to listen to them is with the volume cranked up while dancing.

photo courtesy of www.forthebeat.com

Jeremy Messersmith

3

Jeremy Messersmith is an indie-rock/pop artist.

His first album, The Alcatraz Kid, was released in 2006 and quickly gained the attention of local music critics, and helped make him into one of the most successful local musicians today. He has released two other albums since, The Silver City in 2008, which is about our beloved Minneapolis, and his newest album, The Reluctant Graveyard, in 2010. Messersmith’s gentle voice works perfectly with his acoustic guitar giving him a sound very similar to Elliott Smith. photo courtesy of www.ticketingminneapolis.blogsopot.com

by Aaron Hammerly staff reporter

world

by Max Wang and Selin Kurtoglu news editor and staff reporter

Mylo Xyloto is one of those albums that hits a listener between the eyes, or, if you will, in their ears. The lullaby ballads that have defined Coldplay’s style for a decade are now gone; instead, they have been replaced by a grand, almost U2-like texture, paired with a childish impatience. Like the albums Kid A by Radiohead and Achtung Baby by U2, Mylo Xyloto is a new start for an already highly successful band.

This new sound is no accident: the name of the album (pronounced my-low zy-lo-toe) is a jumble of random consonants that has no meaning, which, as band members have stated many times, is their symbolic way for starting anew - by using something that had no history attached. A new visual style has accompanied their new sound: graffiti and other forms street art decorate everything from the band’s cover art to their piano keys.

Of course, it cannot be claimed that Coldplay has deserted everything that they were before.

Chris Martin still writes poignant lyrics about the wrongs of the world.

In the first half of their 14 track album, Coldplay showcases their sweeping new texture.

From the hook-laden “Charlie Brown” to the arena-rock anthem “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” every chorus soars, and every verse sparkles.

“Paradise,” the album’s lead single, is a prime example: a U2 atmosphere of sound combined with a bit of Nirvana angst, and then a smothering of optimism.

The optimism

springs from one of the album’s heaviest influence: The White Rose movement, a 1970s movement where the youth embraced the arts as a means of resistance and expression.

Despite their success with the new sound, Coldplay has trouble making it theirs. They lack the subtle style that they had elucidated on their earlier tracks. In fact, the openness of this album makes it sound frivolous, adolescent - not like the band that wrote songs about paranoid monarchs, in “Viva la Vida,” and lonely Christmases, in “Christmas Lights.”

After climaxing at “Major Minus,” the album’s seventh track, things begin to calm. Tracks like “UFO” and “Up in Flames” are formed by a thin melody, almost like Coldplay’s old sound in tracks like “Clocks” and “Yellow.”

Almost, but not quite, as the melody is built on an ever-present foundation of synthesizers and beats.

Coldplay tried to make a move with this album to define themselves not just as international rock-stars, but as legends of rock, in the same way that Bob Dylan transformed American folk music by going electric. Mylo Xyloto is definitely an electrifying album, but it isn’t the once-a-decade masterpiece that Coldplay was probably hoping to produce.

8/10

Ceremonials meets expectations

by Allison Hare staff reporter In today’s music industry, there is no artist quite like Florence Welch of the British group Florence and the Machine. It takes a certain talent to combine turbulent ballads, Celtic-tinged rock, and eerie anthems onto one fluent album, but Welch manages it with ease. On Nov. 1, her band released their second album, Ceremonials.

It is an understatement to say that the album avoids the dreaded sophomore slump– Ceremonials soars.

The great success of Florence and the Machine’s

debut album, Lungs, seemed hard to match. Released in July 2009, the album topped the UK Albums Chart for 65 consecutive weeks, making it one of the best-selling albums of 2009 and 2010. This success was understandable– Welch had combined her powerful vocals and brilliant backing band to create a nearperfect debut album, with everything from melancholy jazz to melodramatic soul.

In 2010, during the early stages of writing Ceremonials, Welch was approached by her label with an offer to work with American pop producers.

As a fan of pop, Welch was initially tempted by the offer,

but she soon realized it would stamp her unique style of music.

“I [couldn’t] just suddenly leave behind everything that made Lungs,” Welch said in an interview with Billboard. Thus, she chose her own artistry and style over mainstream appeal for her new album, a move that destroyed many potential sales. It’s clear, however, that Welch had no regrets in her decision through Ceremonial’s undaunted sound.

The album’s leading single, “Only If for a Night,” is wrapped delicately in harp scales and powered by booming piano chords and

photo courtesy of www.fanatix.com

tribal drums. It is a strong start to the album, but the chorus can get a little repetitive at times. “What the Water Gave Me” also brings boldness to the album; the five minutelong single is a rocky ballad laced with strong guitar and drum backups, leading to a climatic crescendo that can only be described as epic.

Without being a simple repeat of Lungs, Ceremonials relies on intricate melodies and Welch’s exceptional voice, much like the first album did.

Although not as musically diverse as Lungs, the album will please Florence

and the Machine fans with its beautiful layering and near-spiritual essence. The album’s haunting vibe is unlike anything that can be heard on the radio, and will leave listeners chilled and full of awe.

9/10 photo courtesy of www.fromgotowhoa.com

10sports

U S C S C U NS S O C S I N O C NS U S CO I S O C NS ON I N O November 18, 2011

Increase of head injuries leaves an impact on youth sports

by Brian Burke staff reporter It is usually obvious who is injured and why they can’t be on the field, but sometimes someone who appears totally healthy on the outside can’t be participating because of something that isn’t casted or wrapped.

Concussions are an internal injury that can’t be seen, but according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention they account for 130,000 injured high school students each year.

The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) rules include many precautions to prevent head injuries. Still, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, high school concussion doctor visits have gone up 200 percent in the last few years.

The MSHSL has authorized new rules in order to protect athletes even more.

Girls’ softball now requires that all batters, warm-up hitters, runners and retired runners in play must wear a helmet.

Pole vaulting also requires a helmet in order to warm up, practice, and compete due to the great heights the athletes are launching themselves.

Coaches are also required by the MSHSL to learn about concussions and pass a test on how to identify and treat them.

Even with all of the precautions put in place, concussions are still occurring.

When the head is moved so abruptly that the brain moves around in the skull, it can cause a traumatic brain injury or concussion. The important thing to remember about concussions is that there is structurally no change in the brain and skull. It all has to do with biochemistry and the changes in neurons in the head.

This is what makes it hard to identify a concussion by visible symptoms. The human skull has spinal fluid surrounding and protecting the head from mild trauma. If the force is too strong for the fluid the protect it, the brain can physically move around inside the skull.

“It’s not necessarily the force of the blow, but its the sudden movement that causes the injury,” said Activites Director, Bob Madison.

This impact on the brain will eventually cause physical and emotional symptoms. Most athletes suffering a concussion will get a headache, loss of

coordination, balance and sensitivity. The athlete can also lose focus and have trouble concentrating on simple things.

Some concussions, though very unlikely, can even result in post-traumatic seizures to the players. If a player suffers numerous concussions, some are even know to have some memory loss. A concussion may seem like a bump in the head, but can be a very dangerous matter.

Doctors will usually recommend a lot of rest to treat a concussion. In a high school sport, if a player suffers a concussion during a game, “the player is not allowed to return to the game until they have clearance from the doctor, which is usually a week after symptoms disappear,” said head football coach Jim Galvin.

There isn’t a way to prevent concussions. injuries come from sports and recreation. Most athletes just should remember to wear helmets and protective gear for their sports if needed and just be aware of other players.

Although concussions are easy to treat, they still need to be taken seriously.

Sidelined ’stangs

Doctor Sebastian Mangiamele

on Concussions

MD, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Physicians Clinic Minnesota

Q. What do concussions cause?

A. A concussion causes confusion and dizziness, and is linked to a few force trauma to the brain.

Q. Are there multiple types of head injuries that are classified as concussions?

A. It depends on the severity of the concussion, so yes there are many variations.

Q. Can concussions be potentially fatal?

A. Absolutely, they should be taken very seriously.

Q. How should someone treat a concussion?

A. Rest and time away from contact at a minimum, but staying away from physical activity altogether for a period of time is also beneficial.

Q. How can they potentially affect focus?

Matt Harding, 11, got his concussion during football season. He was out of practice for one week and out of games for two weeks.

“I was going low to tackle the ball carrier, and another player came in from the other side, and in the collision my head got smashed into the ground.” photos by Youngjun Park

Julia Kruger, 12, has had three concussions throughout her high school soccer career.

She knew something was wrong because she couldn’t pass a simple word memory test at the doctor’s office.

“To recover I just laid low, took a lot of Advil, and slept.”

TJ Horn, 11, got his first concussion when his helmet came off and his head hit the ground during the homecoming game against Roseville.

“I felt foggy and my vision was blurred. I had headaches the week after the incident.”

A. It can affect normal activities such as driving and impair focus.

Q. What steps should be taken to prevent a concussion?

A. Head care and avoiding forces.

Wearing a seat belt is a easy precaution.

information compiled by Nathaniel Nikoi

information compiled by Ben Kramka

November 18, 2011

sports11

Winter Sports Preview Dance

Girls Hockey Captains: Maddie Peake (12), Annie Mata (12), Lindsey Wolter (12)

Captains: Elizabeth Kohen (11), Ashley Winden (12), Kat Tillman (11)

Practice: Skate to warm up, shooting drills, break out drills, (breaking out of their end of the rink while the opponent is in it)

Practice: Monday and Wednesdays are kick days where the team practice perfecting their kicks.

Tuesday and Thursdays are jazz days to work on technique.

“I really enjoy the high intensity of the sport and working together with my team mates to win the games.”

- Kirsten Rasmussen, 12

“It’s a fun way to stay in shape through the winter, and we get to wear lots of spandex and fake eyelashes.”- Elizabeth Kohen, 11

Captains: Rachel Parupsky (12), Alexa Patnode (12), Andrea Schwartz (12), Katie Hultberg (12) “We have a lot of talent and experience so I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do this year. It will be interesting to see how much we can accomplish with a new coaching staff who has known most of us since middle school.”

- Alexa Patnode, 12

Wrestling

Alpine

Nordic

Girls Basketball

Captains: Aaron Hammerly (12), Nora Crist (12), Britta Hardel (12), Chris Hemstad (12)

Captains: Katie Mackay (12), Rachel Pilgrim (12), Paul Smith (12), Chris Meader (12)

Captains: Richard Carlson (12), Zach Laughlin (12), Mick Nelson (11), Dan Keeler (12)

Practice: Coaches choose between skate or classic, the workouts vary every day, there are sometimes morning practices.

Practice: Every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at Wild Mountain the team keep runs gates from 4 to 7.

“I love everything about wrestling from the exhausting practices to losing my voice cheering for teammates. I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and building friendships with first year wrestlers.” - Richard Carlson, 12

“Nordic skiing is a great way to get through the winter while staying fit.”- Aaron Hammerly, 12

“Alpine is the best sport in the world because you go really fast wearing really tight clothes.”

- Saphia Boutaghou, 12

Boys Hockey

information compiled by

Captains: Phil Boje (12), Peter Cole (12), Ryan Parise (12), Morgan Puncochar (12)

Captains: Kevin Sharpe (12), Chris Severson (12), Brett Burckhardt (12).

Captains: Julia Wicks (12), Kari Fitzpatrick (12)

Practice: “Run, train, and wreck people” - Peter Cole, 12

Practice: Running and dribbling warmups, dribbling drills, shooting drills, mostly defense practices, passing drills.

Practice: Practice at Midwest, warm up- running, floor, beam, bars, vault, condition at the end

“This year, I’m looking forward to being better than the girls team for once” - Morgan Puncochar, 12

Tom Lazorik and Adam Toninato

Boys Swimming

Gymnastics

Boys Basketball

Captains: Cody Erickson (12), Jake Loewen (12), Ryan Slechta (12)

Summer Brills sophomore

Athlete of the Issue

Long time tennis player, Summer Brills, 10, is storming the courts and leaving huge impressions with her undefeated conference record.

Q: What’s your favorite part of the sport?

A: Competing and playing different competitors.

We practice all year long and go out and play other competitors and hope for the best.

Q: What are your personal strengths?

“This year is Ziggy’s last year so that gives us extra motivation to go all the way and win state.”- Paul Kroska, 12

The team practices six days a week for two and a half hours. Weight lifting is before school every Monday and Wednesday.

“It’s a fun and unique way to stay fit.”- Anna House, 10

“Practices are long and hard, but it’s worth it when we tear up the competition.”- Jake Loewen, 12

A: My mental game. I always stay calm and not get mad. It helps me pull through my match if it’s long and tiring.

three to four days a week during the off season and Saturday matches. It’s to help me stay in shape for next season.

Q: What are your goals for next year?

A: To make it to state as an individual again because it was so fun.

Q: What was state like?

A: It was such a great experience with the team. At first, I was nervous because I thought this is state, this is what we practice for all season, but then our coach and captains talked to us and told us not to be nervous and that helped me calm down.

Q: What is your training schedule like?

A: We practice everyday after school from 2:30-5 and Saturday practices from 9:30- 12. I play

photo by Youngjun Park

information compiled by Stephanie Schuba

12gallery Turkey Talk November 18, 2011

Discovering different and new ways to commence stuffing of the face.

Carving the Tofurkey

by Maggie LaMere staff reporter Imagine a Thanksgiving dinner table, filled with mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing and... Tofurkey?

While many Americans embrace the traditional turkey dinner, some families have unusual traditions that keep things interesting.

“My family goes to KFC instead [of eating at home],” said Nik Razskazoff, 10.

Other families order in.

“Every year my family orders

pizza and then we all go bowling as a family,” said Joe Stark, 10.

No matter how odd the tradition, the primary goals of “different” traditions is generally about spending quality time with loved ones.

“My family isn’t consistent on Thanksgiving,” said Seth Cline, 9, “But we always get together for dinner and bond over the terrible taste of Tofurkey (tofuturkey).”

The family of Jin Young Chang, who graduated from

the class of 2011, has a ritual that accompanies every Thanksgiving.

“We cover the turkey in gravy and push it down the [apartment complex] slide,” said Chang. “A lot of people seem to think it tastes better that way.”

These are just a few of the unusual traditions celebrated. To some it may seem strange, to others this may be the norm. Whatever the tradition is, it can bring a family together for Thanksgiving.

photo by Benjamin Kaiser

All of Mounds View’s favorite foods served on one dish for Thanksgiving.

Tasty traditions

by Maddie Shaw staff reporter Tuck in your napkin.

Hold out your plate. Throw on your stretchy pants.

Thanksgiving is almost here – which delicious dish are you salivating for? “[Stuffing] tastes good,” said Kristen Jacobs, 10. “I [enjoy] making it with my family.”

Others go for a more unique Thanksgiving dish.

“Broccoli casserole is really good,” said Janni Holzenthal, 12. “It’s a family recipe.”

Though stuffing and casseroles are delicious, some students will always be turkey fans. “I love it because it’s my favorite kind

of meat,” said Sami Seeler, 11.

Since turkey is the main meat for many families at Thanksgiving, it’s hard to pass up. However, Mounds View students seem to lean toward another option.

In a poll of 98 students, 34 say mashed potatoes are the obvious choice.

“There can be bad turkey. [But] no one can possibly ruin mashed potatoes,” said Simon Cecere, 12.

With so many choices and so many differing opinions, it’ll be hard to choose just one favorite this Thanksgiving. Whatever you decide, remember to give thanks and stuff your face.

How to make your host sing: “Be our guest!”

1. Make sure you arrive when you say you will; no surprises.

information complied by Alex Fream

2. Bring a small gift when you arrive to say thank you.

3. Be careful about technology usage; don’t over do it and ignore your host!

4. Offer to help with dinner/ household chores.

5. Play with the family pet.

photos by Benjamin Kaiser