Echo issue 10, May 8 by SLP Echo

Echo

CELEBRATION

NO-HITTER

‘ENDGAME’

Club event promotes cultural inclusivity PAGE 4

Team celebrates after strong victory PAGE 9

Movie sets new box oﬃce records PAGE 12

Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Volume 92 Issue 10 St. Louis Park High School 6425 W. 33rd Street St. Louis Park, MN 55426

SLPECHO.COM

Facility vandalism locks bathroom Administration responds to slow reopenings Dani Orloﬀ & Abby Intveld daniorloﬀ@slpecho.com abbyintveld@slpecho.com

s sophomore Cal Stokes walks from class to class, he said passing time is not enough time to go

to the restroom. “I can end up being late for class and being marked tardy because I have to use the bathroom that’s in a different hallway,” Stokes said. According to Principal Scott Meyers, numerous bathrooms have been closed throughout the school due to vandalism. “I can safely say that we are not closing bathrooms, and I’ve said this a couple of different times throughout the year, because of concerns about chemical use or vaping,” Meyers said. “Right now

the bathrooms that are closed are from ceilings being destroyed, sinks being destroyed, and so it’s a pretty frustrating situation for all of us.” According to Meyers, the administration has not had to address vandalism to this extent in many years. “This year it seems more so, and I’m not really sure what the motivation is. We would love a little more information because it’s frustrating,” Meyers said. For more content go to slpecho.com

Photo Grace Farley

Sinking: A destroyed sink placed in one of the toilets of the boys’ bathroom in the B3 hallway March 28. According to Meyers, the district is working on various other projects, which has slowed the repair process for vandalism in the bathrooms.

Photo Grace Farley

Changes: Rising controversy about the oﬃcal name of Lake Bde Maka Ska or Lake Calhoun divides the city.

Local lake name sparks controversy

Department of Natural Resources seeks appeals Ben Sanford bensanford@slpecho.com

Photo Grace Farley

On a roll: Sophomore Ben Cantor unlocks his bike after school May 6. Many students ride their bikes to school and their routes will potentially be impacted by the light rail construction which is closing the bike paths near Park.

Light rail construction temporarily closes bike paths Detours necessary until summer 2020 David Bryant davidbryant@slpecho.com

s construction begins for the Southwest Light Rail, St. Louis Park Council member Margaret Rog said she realizes the negative effects of the Cedar Lake Avenue and Kenilworth trails being closed. “I do I don’t think having recognize the those trails closed irony in siwill aﬀect me too multaneously promoting almuch because I don’t regularly use ternate forms of transportathat path but I do tion, particuthink the light rail larly biking will help improve and building that area a lot. bikeways in St. Louis Park, (but) at Asher Danicic, freshman the same time

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we are shutting down some of our most popular bikeways,” Rog said. Senior and biker Dylan Brandt said the temporary closing of the trails will shift transportation away from biking while its closed. “I think the construction will make St. Louis Park more dependent on other modes of transportation as some areas are less accessible without the bike paths” Brandt said. Rog said suggested detours along Minnetonka will provide alternate routes for bikers and walkers. “There are a variety of proposed detours, both pedestrian walkways and on roads throughout (St. Louis Park) and Minneapolis, and I predict most bikers will use those detours, but there will also be a segment of folks who choose their own detours that work out better for them,” Rog said. Freshman Asher Danicic said although the bike trail is closed for the time being, it is better for St. Louis Park as a whole. “I think the light rail is a good

method of mass transit that isn’t super bad for the environment and is a better way to get around instead of everyone using their own car,” Danicic said. Rog said after the completion of Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) the bike paths will be refurbished. “It’s to my understanding that all the bike trails will be completely redone once SWLRT is done, there will be newly refurbished bike trails and pathways,” Rog said. Danicic said that the Cedar Lake path being closed won’t affect him too much but the SWLRT will be beneficial to the community. “I don’t think having those trails closed will affect me too much because I don’t regularly use that path but I do think the light rail will help improve that area a lot,” Danicic said. The bike trails will close around May 13 and will reopen 2021-2022, according to the Metropolitan Council.

ommissioner of the Department of Natural Resources officially renamed Lake Calhoun to lake Bde Maka Ska in January of 2018. On April 29, 2019, the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed this ruling, stating the Commissioner of the DNR did not have the authority to change the name. The DNR is now appealing that reversal, and President of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) Brad Bourn said he is hopeful that the Minnesota Court of Appeals will have a satisfactory solution. “There’s a resolution that successfully passed the Democratic Control House, and stalled out in the Republican Control Senate, and understand how that process works now,” Bourn said. “Basically (the Minnesota House and Senete) have to work out language so that the bill is the same. Folks are optimistic that the legislature will resolve a solution.” Despite all of the issues with the name of the lake, the MPRB holds jurisdiction over the signs around the lake. Bourn said the Parks Board plans to keep the Bde Maka Ska signage around the lake. “The signage that we have around the lake, the Park Board pays for exclusively, so we have no intention to take those signs down. We have no obligation to sign that lake as anything else,” Bourn said. For more content go to slpecho.com

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NEWS

Echo Wednsday, May 8, 2019

WEB PREVIEW

Photo Grace Farley

Echo wins Online Pacemaker

Vaccines help protect people with weaker immune systems Aidan Lattin, freshman

Measles outbreak raises concerns

cho received the 2019 National Scholastic Press Association Online Pacemaker Award at the National High School Journalism Convention, according to adviser Lori Keekley. According to the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Echo was one of 44 publications recognized and one of 18 recipients. Dani Orloﬀ daniorloﬀ@slpecho.com

Vaccination percentages at Park

PSI: 98% Aquilia: 93% Peter Hobart: 99% Susan Lindgren: 96% Infographic Maggie Klaers Source Star Tribune Art Maggie Klaers

Vaccination proven beneﬁcial for community Henry Brettingen & Jade Shionoya henrybrettingen@slpecho.com jadeshionoya@slpecho.com

Photo Yonah Davis

Nature Center breaks ground

s the rain ceased, community members celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Westwood Hills Interpretive Center. St. Louis Park broke ground April 22 on the $12 million building of the new interpretive center, which the City Council voted to approve May 21, 2018.

Yonah Davis yonahdavis@slpecho.com

Photo Ruby Stillman

Girls’ golf loses to Southwest

espite a tough loss to Southwest, junior Lily Rostal said she felt the team persevered. “I think we all really bonded as a team and we got through the match together,” Rostal said. “After someone would hit we would cheer them on, and we all went out to dinner afterward, too.”

Soﬁa Seewald, Ruby Stillman & Ethan Meisler soﬁaseewald@slpecho.com ethanmeisler@slpecho.com rubystillman@slpecho.com For more content go to slpecho.com twitter.com/slpecho facebook.com/slpecho

s the amount of measles infections continue to rise, biology teacher Julie Schilz said she believes the problem lies in the lack of education and common misconceptions. “From my extensive knowledge on antivaxxers, they are upper-class white people who think they know more than doctors,” Schilz said. “The anti-vaccination movement is just people who are extremely entitled, to the point that they think they know better than their doctors.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of measles cases reported so far this year has reached the highest point since it was declared eliminated in 2000 in the United States. According to the Des Moines Register, this increase sparked debate on whether vaccines should be required for everyone.

Sophomore Matthew Tucker said he acknowledges the risks associated with vaccinations, but believes that, overall, vaccines help more than harm. “There are definitely risks associated with vaccines, but if you weigh in the benefits vaccines produce, you’ll see that they far outweigh the negatives,” Tucker said. Schilz said vaccinations aren’t a private matter, but rather a public safety concern that affects everyone. “It is medical health and a public health issue that is going to affect everybody. It should not be an option to decide to do what you think is best for your kid when there is medical evidence out there saying otherwise,” Schilz said. According to the Star Tribune, 2.5 percent of students attending St. Louis Park elementary schools are unvaccinated. Sophomore Ella Miller said she believes the solution to the recent rise in measles outbreaks is widespread vaccination use. “The measles outbreak is a worry, and it could become a larger problem than it is, but if we once again rely on vaccines, we’ll be able to prevent it,” Miller said. According to Schilz, the anti-vaccination movement hurts the most vulnerable in-

dividuals in a population, such as babies, who cannot receive vaccinations until they are older. She said babies are not able to get the measle, mumps and rebella vaccines so babies are at increased risks. “You can’t get the (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine until you’re 1,” Schilz said. “So if you have a six- month old baby, you basically have to keep them quarantined away from people who would have been exposed to measles or who have measles.” Schilz said people who are suffering from a disease will be even more susceptible, as they have weakened immune systems. “People who have compromised immune systems, people undergoing chemotherapy, people who have autoimmune diseases and people who have health issues where they can’t get vaccinated are now exposed to the measles virus unnecessarily,” Schilz said. Tucker said he hopes the current measles outbreaks will quickly subside before more people are infected by the deadly virus. “Being vaccinated helps prevents outbreaks. Without (vaccines), diseases would spread like wildfire,” Tucker said. “I hope that through education about vaccines, these outbreaks will once again take their place in history.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar visits select students Some upset at exclusivity Dani Orloﬀ & Grace Farley daniorloﬀ@slpecho.com gracefarley@slpecho.com

atiently waiting outside of C350 for the arrival of Rep. Ilhan Omar after hearing of the event last minute, senior Aisha Abdi was ecstatic Omar allowed Abdi and others who were not on the list into the room to hear her story. “I was so glad that she let us through. There were police officers and the GLC’s and they were not letting people in, and I was like, that’s my role model. I’m going to be in that room I don’t care. I need a picture with her,” Abdi said. According to Principal Scott Meyers, Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District Rep. Ilhan Omar visited Park April 23 and spoke to 40-45 students about her experience as an immigrant growing up in Minneapolis. Meyers said it was two students in Honors English, as well as an East African group, who wrote letters directly to Omar, initiating the opportunity. As sophomore Roselyne Iwundu sat in a circle among her peers in C350 to hear Rep. Omar’s story, she said her message resonated with her and motivated her to pursue her future goals. “The message that she sent to us was powerful and the way she grew up is the same way that we grew up too, and it is just making it seem like we can all do something great like her,” Iwundu said.

Photo Grace Farley

Star struck: Junior Ayan Ahmed stares up at Rep. Ilhan Omar as she addresses her peers in C350. Attendees sat in a circle that included Omar and Park students of all grades. Sophomore Claire Diamond-Wheeler said she wishes everyone’s beliefs are taken into account before hosting speakers at the high school. “Because it wasn’t publicized at all, no one really knew about it. I didn’t get a good feeling from that. Due to this secrecy and everyone knowing about her anti-Semitic comments and the fact that St. Louis Park High School has a very high Jewish population, that just didn’t sit right with me,” Diamond-Wheeler said. In an attempt to respect the requests of the speaker, Meyers said the meeting was kept secretive, which sparked disappointment. “That was not our intent at all. It was not kept quiet. That’s where I think there was some confusion,” Meyers said.

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(CBD) is proven to help with mental conditions and with your body ... it has helped my mom with her head injury for a while now. Brendon Johnson, senior

STUDENT LIFE

Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Cannabidiol oil generally not controversial Oil serves as alternative to regular medicine

What do you think of CBD?

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I think CBD oil has lots of beneﬁts, and I feel for some people it’s a really good option, and it’s the best option they have available. Maya Lee, sophomore

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I don’t really see a problem with (CBD). Everyone can do what they want, I don’t have a problem (with them). Jackson Schaehrer, junior

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I think the use of CBD oil should be allowed to continue. It has many beneﬁts, and as long as it isn’t hurting anyone, it should be allowed.

Talia Lissauer & Ben Sanford talialissauer@slpecho.com bensanford@slpecho.com

ost medications for anxiety and chronic illness come with a list of side effects; however, according to owner of Vibe Organic Juice Bar Amber Thielen, cannabidiol oils are often therapeutic and effective for individuals that suffer from a variety of disorders. “It’s a great alternative to being on medication. A lot of times those pills and things you go on for anxiety have a lot of other side effects,” Thielen said. “The great thing about (cannabidiol) is you don’t have any side effects from it.” According to the New York Times, cannabidiol (CBD) oil is legal under federal law if it has under 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In addition, both chemicals are produced from the cannabis plant. Sophomore Izzy Lien said the oil is becoming popular among teens because, even though it comes from the marijuana plant, it is an effective stress reducer. “I think (high schoolers) are using it because it’s the part of weed that relaxes your body instead of getting you high so it’s the better part of it,” Lien said. According to Thielen, people have reacted well to the CBD oil used in her store. “It has probably been about five months. It’s been great,” Thielen said. “We sell it also, so if you want to try it before you buy a bottle, you can get it added to any menu item to see if you notice an effect. If you do, we offer it in two different sized bottles.” Junior Sam Sietsema said CBD is an easier form of treatment for mental health conditions like anxiety. “CBD is more for medicinal pur-

poses. It is legally regulated, you can get it at a pharmacy,” Sietsema said. “It’s becoming more accessible. It’s also working better than a lot of other treatments. It helps with people who have anxiety.” Thielen said many people use it to help with anxiety but it takes time to work. “In order for it to work with anxiety, you want to keep getting a build up in your system. So you want to have it every day, five to 10 drops of this a day, just to keep a good buildup of it in your system,” Thielen said. According to Lien, more observations should be taken to know the long term effects CBD can have on people even though it is helping some right now. “It could have unknown health risks. I think more long term studies (should) be done for it, but I know CBD helps people with Parkinson’s and other illnesses,” Lien said. Thielen said Vibe discovered the use of CBD oils from other health places and decided it fit in their philosophy and began offering it in December of 2018. “In looking at other juice bars, and keeping with (the) health and wellness industry, it’s something that’s been really popular,” Thielen said. “It’s all oil extracted from a plant, we’re a plant-based restaurant, so it just made sense to offer it to our customers.” Sietsema said there are a variety of other dangerous substances surrounding us in our daily lives, but there are no obvious dangers currently associated with CBD. “If your main reason for being anti-CBD, anti-THC or (anti)-weed, in general, is because of the health (risks), you need to look at everything around you — like alcohol and cigarettes and walking outside in the sun,” Sietsema said. According to Thielen, CBD has worked in certain instances; however, it should be watched and everyone should make sure they are using it correctly. “With anything, you have to monitor it really carefully. I don’t believe it’s addictive in any way. I have heard many success stories,” Thielen said. “I think it’s a really great thing if you use it correctly, and you just monitor what you’re doing.”

Serena Moore, senior

CBD by the numbers • 62% of CBD users in a study used it to treat medical conditions • Of those users, 36% reported it treated their conditions “very well by itself” • 4.3% reported “not very well” in the same study Infographic Katie Hardie Source Cross-sectional study from National Center for Biotechnology

Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

WHAT'S THE POINT

Scientiﬁc study exceeds expectations Ruby Stillman rubystillman@ slpecho.com

he day I went around school sticking a thermometer in the air, a lot of people gave me some skeptical looks, even after I explained it was for a scientific study. Running around with a thermometer might not seem significant, but it was beyond meaningful to me. Dr. Michael Sheterensis, my biology teacher when I was studying in Israel, was a very peculiar guy. An immigrant and research scientist from Russia, he was animated and heavily accented. When he asked me to participate What’s the in an internaPOINT? tional study Breaking regarding boundaries thermal for girls in comfort, STEM I didn’t know what to expect. A few months after my return home, he emailed me following up with specific instructions. I was excited to be a woman involved in STEM. I was aware of the many boundaries young women face in STEM fields, and I couldn’t wait to break them. My role was to collect data about thermal comfort by having my peers fill out surveys with questions about their sleep history, comfort level in regards to temperature inside a room, and more. I borrowed a thermometer from the science department and recorded the temperature while they answered the questions. I am appreciative of my peers who completed the survey and my teachers who were supportive of my endeavor by giving me some class time to have the class fill out the surveys. I hope I can lead by example and encourage other girls to take advantage of opportunities to explore science and investigate questions. I took a risk by doing something I had never done before, and went outside my comfort zone to explain the survey in front of my classes. Other research is being collected from Los Angeles, Australia, Israel, Ukraine and now Park. I really enjoy being a part of something with people from all around the world. Although I don’t know what will become of the findings, I am excited to see what ways I will take my newfound scientific confidence.

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FEATURES

(Festival for Latino Association Day) seems like a good plan but it needs more exposure to work, to make people care." Alex Staib, sophomore

Festival celebrates Latino culture Club event promotes cultural inclusivity Noah Orloﬀ & Isra Mohammed noahorloﬀ@slpecho.com isramohammed@slpecho.com

s junior Victoria Caraballo smashed the piñata open, leading to cheers, candy and chaos, she said she felt validated by Latino Association Day May 2. “It was so fun. Everyone was telling me that I couldn’t do it because they thought I was weak but I proved them wrong,” Caraballo said. Senior Margarito Castañeda said he enjoyed the cultural celebration and liked the piñata the most. “I love my culture. I love the colors. I love the candy. It’s just a big celebration for us,” Castañeda said. Caraballo said organizers set up the event May 2 near the end of the day and the celebration allowed people to recognize and celebrate groups within Park. “(May 1) during seventh hour we decorated the lunch-

Photo Anna Benishek

Strike one: Multicultural liaison Carmen Rudin blindfolds junior Victoria Caraballo as she prepares to hit the piñata during the celebration May 2. The group celebrated during ﬁfth hour May 2.

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Kids brought snacks to share, we had music and we played Lotería, which is kind of like a bingo, but with pictures.

Carmen Rudin, multicultural liason

room,” Caraballo said. “I was just celebrating with the whole community, since we don’t really have a big population in Park. It was just kind of fun to have everyone together,” Caraballo said. Park’s multicultural liaison Carmen Rudin said she hopes students are in an atmosphere where they can feel comfortable. “I want the students to embrace their culture," Rudin said. According to Rudin, the party included ways for students to celebrate and have fun.

“Kids brought snacks to share, we had music and played Lotería, which is like bingo, with pictures,” Rudin said. According to Castañeda, the event was key to his identity. “It’s my tradition. I’m Mexican. I love my city. I love everything,” Castaneda said. "(My) parents are Mexican, it’s me.” Sophomore Miguel Salas-Rea said the celebration provides students with additional education. “It’s like a holiday toward a culture and many people can learn from it,” Salas Rea said.

Clarinetist wins Best of Site Award at contest Honor received for ﬁrst time in ﬁve years Katie Hardie, Gabe Kaplan & Maria Perez Barriga katiehardie@slpecho.com gabekaplan@slpecho.com mariaperezbarriga@slpecho.com

fter winning the Best of Site Award for her clarinet solo performance, sophomore Anavey Hosack said she was overjoyed. “I feel really awesome, I was a little nervous about it,” Hosack said. “It’s pretty big and not easy to win.” According to band teacher Steven Schmitz, this is the first time a Park student has won the award Orchestra Best in five years. of Site Awards “I am really • Amara Foner, cello excited because solo, superior rating the St. Louis Park band program • Angelica Lopez-Solis, has only gotten violin solo, superior three Best of Site Awards that I rating know of, and the • Chamber Orchestra, last ones were both superior rating in 2014,” Schmitz said. • Mari Hanchi, violin Junior Shaqued solo, superior rating; Ben-Harush perfect score said she believes Infographic Carly Joseph Hosack earned the Source Kou Lee award because of

Photo used with permission from Anavey Hosack Award in sight: Sophomore Anavey Hosack practices her clarinet. Hosack went on to win the Best of Sight Award, the ﬁrst time someone from Park has won the award in ﬁve years.

her work ethic. “(Hosack) deserves it because she is the kind of person that puts a lot of dedication to the work that she is doing,” Ben-Harush said. “She has practiced so much for this." According to Schmitz, the band program is proud of Hosack, who beat out competitors from better funded schools. “Everyone is excited for her and really positive,” Schmitz said. “I’m really excited because region 6AA, where we are placed for music, is really competitive. Most of the top funded and top respected programs in the state happen to be right around us such as Edina, Wayzata, Eden Prairie and so that’s what the judges are hearing.” Sophomore Maya Lee said she was proud of Hosack as well. “I’m really proud of Anavey, she is a really good player and deserves it,” Lee said.

“(The award) uplifts the rest of the band because it is saying that our band is that much better to have a player that is so good.” According to Schmitz, the judges rank everyone based on their performance and people earn awards based on their ranking. “Every student who goes gets a ranking, if you get the top ranking, which is called Superior, you get a metal and a certificate,” Schmitz said. “It’s not just these lucky few (who) are getting rewarded.” Schmitz said all of the awards, including Best of Sight, were given to him and the band players will receive their awards at the end of the year banquet. “It’s a contest so the awards are given out to me (and) to each teacher right after the contest is done,” Schmitz said. “I have (planned) the band banquet and (students) will get awards later.”

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If they want to go to college in a diﬀerent country then good on them. It’s their choice to go to college or at least it should be."

FEATURES Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Jacy Demcisak, freshman

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Senior to attend college in Lebanon

Najib Rahal pursues postsecondary education abroad

Najib Rahal, senior When did you ﬁrst begin traveling to Lebanon? I was six months old when I first traveled (to Lebanon). When I was younger we used to go every summer, and now it has been less and less. The number one reason (we traveled) is because my entire extended family lives in Lebanon. How has your experience during your trips changed throughout your life? (Traveling to Lebanon) definitely gets more fun the older I get because I am able to go out on my own and travel throughout the country. What is your favorite memory from your last trip? I went this past summer for four months from the end of May to the middle of September. The most fun experience was hanging out with my family and friends. We just traveled the country with them and did all sorts of activities. How does being a graduating senior aﬀect your upcoming trip? I am actually in the process of trying to apply to universities in Lebanon to study for a couple of years, but that is not 100 percent sure. It is a goal as of now. Regardless of what school I will decide to attend, I will still be able to visit the country every summer. What are your thoughts on being able to travel regularly? Even though I do not get to see my family as often as most people, I still feel like I am really lucky that I get to use

Photo used with permission from Najib Rahal

A great view: A photo taken by Najib Rahal in Lebanon showing his brother Gabi Rahal. Najib Rahal will be returning to pursue his education at the University of Notre Dame Louaize and transferring to the Lebanese University. family as an excuse to travel to such a beautiful country. Are there any struggles you have faced when traveling to Lebanon? There is definitely the culture difference between the United States and Lebanon. When I tell people that I travel to Lebanon, they ask me whether I have had any dangerous encounters or not. From my experience it has been just as safe as living in Minnesota.

What would you like the Park community to know about Lebanon? From what I have noticed, people tend to assume, because of Lebanon being in the Middle East, it is a desert. There are actually no deserts there — it is on the Mediterranean. What are the dates for your next trip? I will be leaving June 12, if everything works out with the universities, I will probably Evelyn Nelson be there three to four years. evelynnelson@slpecho.com

ACTIVITIES & AWARDS

Class of 2019

Buy your ticket for the Graduation Party immediately following graduation on Thursday, June 6! NO tickets will be sold after May 10! $50 covers everything! Win cash prizes! www.slpseniorparty.com

NHS inducts members

tudents with the necessary requirements were inducted into the National Honors Society, an organization established to recognize hard working high school students. According to junior Amelia Ryan, the necessities for each grade vary, but the group assists students. “For juniors, I believe you have to

Photo Ruby Stillman

have a 3.75 GPA or higher, you have to get in 30 hours of volunteer work and three group projects,” Ryan said. "It was a really positive experience with a lot of staff members and some of the leaders of NHS also talked in front of everyone." Inductions occurred from 7:15 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. May 3.

Senior receives two awards

fter senior Yonah Davis was told he had won the Rose Rees Peace Award, he said he was enthusiastic about the opportunity. “I had heard about (the award) in the past so I felt excited,” Davis said. Davis said he did not expect to win the Howie Stillman Young Leadership Award, as well, because of the many other candidates.

“The Howie Stillman Young Leadership Award had many amazing nominees who are doing really important work,” Davis said. Davis said the honors represent more than just him. “I never did it with the intention of getting an award so I'm really grateful to all the people that have supported me,” Davis said. For more content go to slpecho.com

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IN-DEPTH

Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Deﬁnitions to know Pescetarianism Diet includes seafood, but no other meat

Vegetarianism

Will not eat meat, but will eat other animal products

Veganism

Do not eat meat or any other animal products

(Being vegetarian) a nice thing for people to actually do. It’s a good as long as they don’t judge people who do eat meat. Atheo Thompson, junior

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for two years Grace Farley, Abby Intveld gracefarley@slpecho.com abbyintveld@slpecho.com daniorloﬀ@slpecho.com

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According to Adams-M to not eat meat for two yea develop anemia — a condi a deficiency of iron in red b “I was super iron defici I was taking iron pills,” Ad “With anemia I was basica then get tested because I w fatigued and having less en As a vegetarian herself, Jessica Gust said it is easy the necessary nutrients wh vegetarian or vegan diet. “To be vegetarian, you about understanding wher micro nutrients come from Improved cardiovascula major benefit of a plant-ba cording to Vegan Club pre a senior. “There’s been a lot of p cardiovascular health disea tion of meat as well as dair lot of saturated fat,” Garci Science teacher Al Wach

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I am neither (vegan or vegetarian). I would want to, but I am not going to lie, I ﬁnd it diﬃcult. But it would help the environment for sure.

IN-DEPTH

Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Kimberly Jains, junior

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Americans who consume meat are at a higher risk of various diseases. “Our beef is grown to be extra fatty because that’s what the American public wants, and red meats are associated with heart disease and minor afflictions like gout. Red meat is a precursor to that,” Wachutka said. Adams-Mass said she became a vegetarian for moral and ethical reasons, yet could not continue with that lifestyle. “I didn’t like the idea of eating meat and killing animals,” Adams-Mass said. To stay healthy when going vegan, Garcia said it is important to focus on the plant-based aspect of veganism. “It’s more about eating healthy because you can still eat unhealthy as a vegan,” Garcia said. “But when you’re just eating a variety of whole plants it’s kind of hard to be unhealthy.” According to Gust, high schoolers especially need to be cognizant of their health when eating vegetarian or vegan. ‘During puberty and your early 20s, you want to make sure that (you’re) setting yourself up to be as healthy as possible when you’re old,” Gust said. “There are huge advantages to eliminating meat from your diet, but at the same time you could be creating other health issues if you’re not careful.” Adams-Mass said she wishes she would have been more aware of the health impacts before changing her diet. “Just make sure you know ways to incorporate enough protein and iron into your diet,” Adams-Mass said.

ng the risks

Reducing the footprint

Mass, her decision ars caused her to ition in which there’s blood cells. ient, even though dams-Mass said. ally able to tell and was feeling really nergy overall.” biology teacher for students to lack hen changing to a

Wachutka said the influx of the transition to veganism and vegetarianism has had a positive impact on the environment. “Being vegan, when you talk about energy, you’re eliminating an entire level. This is food energy that would be saved,” Wachutka said. “It actually saves quite a bit in terms of carbon dioxide output.” Garcia said she became vegan because of her concerns with industrial agriculture. “Cows in industrial agriculture are still slaughtered once they are done producing milk,” Garcia said. After watching a documentary about the animal industry called “Cowspiracy,” Garcia said she learned about the positive environmental effects of veganism. “Animal agriculture produces more greenhouse gasses than the whole transportation industry in total, so it’s pretty damaging to the Earth,” Garcia said. Although junior Matthew Meredith is not vegetarian, he said he sees the environmental impact of not eating meat. “I understand the environmental aspects of

have to be savvy re your macro and m,” Gust said. ar health is also a ased vegan diet, acesident Lara Garcia,

proven links between ase and the consumpry because it has a ia said. hutka warns that

Tropical Smoothie Tropical Smoothie sells many different types of smoothies and sandwiches. 8140 MN-7 #335, St. Louis Park, MN 55426 Vibe Organic Juice Bar Vibe Organic Juice Bar offers a variety of juices and smoothie bowls. 4720 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 SLP Nutrition SLP Nutrition sells drink sets that include teas, protein shakes, and wellness shots. 6538 West Lake Street, St. Louis Park, MN Fresh Thyme Fresh Thyme sells groceries and hot food. 4840 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 GNC GNC offers protein, vitamin supplements, beauty and skin care, and snacks. 8332 MN-7, St. Louis Park, MN 55426

those diets, but I don’t understand how anyone in their right mind could stop eating meat,” Meredith said. Wachutka said for students who don’t want to become vegetarian or vegan, they can alleviate their impact on the environment by purchasing locally sourced meats. “If they are buying local, there would be less transportation, so less fuel burned. It would be eliminating machinery and transportation and industry involved in meat packing and selling in the grocery stores,” Wachutka said.

Popularity at Park According to SLP Nutrition co-owner Allyson Oman, the local nutrition club that opened in March has seen an increase in visitors, including those who are vegetarian and vegan. “We do see some people that have restrictions or choose to eat all vegetarian or vegan,” Oman said. “We have a selected protein (for them) because before that, a lot of people didn’t want to necessarily drink the whey protein. This new option is strictly plant-based, so there’s a little bit for everybody.” Garcia said she was a vegetarian for six months before becoming vegan in order to make the transition smoother and healthier. “It was way easier and better in my opinion to be vegetarian first. Just to dip your toes in the water and see how it is,” Garcia said. According to Garcia, the price of veganism was daunting at first, but ultimately turned out to be a cheaper option. “The price was a really big concern for me because I heard about veganism being really expensive,” Garcia said. “It’s actually way less expensive than when I was eating meat because I mainly swapped out the meat with other forms of protein.” For students looking into becoming a vegan, Garcia said social media is a great resource to turn to for inspiration. “I started by going on YouTube and looking at ‘what I eat in a day as a vegan’ videos and that introduced me to a lot of vegan inspiration,” Garcia said. “I followed (vegan influencers) on Instagram, so I knew what to eat as not only a vegan, but as someone who’s very active and wants to keep up with macronutrients.” Wachutka urges students who want to make the dietary transition to educate themselves and be conscious about the types of foods they are consuming and what nutrients they could be lacking in their diet. “You have to be better than the average teenager and pay attention to what you’re doing because it is easy to miss out on some very necessary things in your diet, proteins being one of them,” Wachutka said.

Which of the following can vegans not eat?

What can vegetarian diets lack?

Which food can replace a protein source?

What disease is linked to meat consumption?

A. Beans

A. Protein

A. Lettuce

A. Crohn’s disease

B. Eggs

B. Vitamin C

B. Bread

B. Heart disease

C. Olive oil

C. Carbohydrates

C. Beans

C. Ebola

D. None of the above

D. None of the above Answers: 1.B 2.A 3.C 4.B

st your wledge

Local options

Art Maggie Klaers

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SPORTS Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

I feel like (softball) should have got a second w, maybe postpone the game and let them redo it. Rahwa Berhane, sophomore

Swing girl: Freshman Sophie Schmitz prepares to hit the softball against Richﬁeld May 4. Park lost the game 9-10, after playing seven innings.

OUT OF THE PARK

Swimming becomes lifetime activity Emma Yarger emmayarger@ slpecho.com

ick, paddle, breathe, repeat. This summer I will teach swimming lessons at Foss Swim School, but I have never swum competitively, and honestly I am not a strong swimmer. It seems like an odd choice for a summer job to teach something you don’t really feel qualified to do. But I feel passionate about keeping kids safe. I took swimming lessons when I was younger and have found so many uses for this lifelong skill: pool parties, days on the lake, canoe trips and confidence in any interactions with large bodies of water. According to Minnesota State Facts, Minnesota has more than 90,000 miles of shoreline, so it is essential to know how to swim in order to stay safe and confident while at the lakes. For my job I will be teaching young students simple skills like putting their face into the What’s the water POINT? and basic swim strokes. Thankfully, there’s no need to be the fastest or best swimmer around. As I went through the training process to become a teacher, I was nervous my butterfly and breaststroke wouldn’t be up to par. My trainers ensured me the most important skill is the ability to work with kids and make swimming fun. With this in mind, it was easier to loosen up and just enjoy swimming. While training for this job, I remembered how crucial swimming is as a lifelong skill. I am so grateful I learned how to swim when I was young and will continue to utilize and grow my ability as I age. Understanding you don’t need to be an expert in order to participate in a sport or activity encourages me to continue to try new things. Swimming isn’t my strongest skill, nor will it ever be. However there’s so much time to keep improving and learning. With this job I can give this gift to so many young swimmers that will cherish this skill forever.

Photo Sophie Livingston

Softball perseveres with smaller roster Prom causes absences Claire Bargman clairebargman@slpecho.com

lthough a majority of the varsity softball team was gone during its game May 4 against Richfield, coach Bobby Crumpton said the younger players stepped up. “That (roster) was half the freshmen and JV teams. Seniors

and juniors (on our team) went to Prom, so the team got beat, but I saw great things from the young girls who were developing,” Crumpton said. Sophomore Selee Olmen said despite having a new set of girls, they could have improved on being consistent with catches and grounders. “The team could improve in communication and making sure we reach for every ball so that it doesn’t go through our gaps,” Olmen said.

Freshman Ayelet Prottas said the team has been practicing a variety of plays to prepare for what would occur in a game. “If we don’t have games, we have practices on our off days, and we run scenarios and plays to make sure we’re prepared for anything that will happen on the field,” Prottas said. Olmen said the team had a day off of practice to help mentally develop as a team. “One day we had a training workshop. We focused on mak-

ing sure we didn’t get down on ourselves in the middle of our game,” Olmen said. Crumpton said the team showcased incredible skills during the game, but there is still a lot of work to do. “We did good on bunting and stealing, but we’ve got a billion things to improve on,” Crumpton said. Park’s next game is against Richfield for the third time this season. It’s at 4:30 p.m. May 6 at Richfield Middle School.

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Passion takes precedence over skill

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AN ACADEMIC EVALUATION

Photo Hayley Westwood

Toss it: Junior Sarah McCallon looks to pass the ball to her teammate April 26. The team won 15-2. McCallon is one of the current captains for the girls’ lacrosse team.

Source website.com

The Huntington Advantage:

Upcoming game schedules May 9 • Boys’ golf: 3:30 p.m. at Oakridge Country Club • Girls’ lacrosse: 5:15 p.m. at Visitation School • Boys’ tennis: 4:15 p.m. at Aquila Park May 10 • Baseball: 7 p.m. at Athletic Park-Chaska • Softball: 4:30 p.m. at Chaska High School Infographic Sadie Yarosh Source gopark.org

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“

I think (baseball) is going to do really well because, although they hit a rough patch, they continue to keep a positive attitude. Savannah Romero, senior

SPORTS

Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

MEET THE ATHLETE

Freshman pitches no-hitter

Who Sarah McCallon Grade Junior Sport Lacrosse

Team celebrates after strong victory

When did you begin lacrosse? I think I started playing in sixth grade, so this is my sixth year.

Talia Lissauer & Maddie Schutte talialissauer@slpecho.com maddieschutte@slpecho.com

What position do you play? I play midfield, and I take the draws, so I’m the center.

fter pitching a 10-0 shutout game against Robbinsdale Cooper in his first time starting for varsity, freshman Kristofer Hokenson said his teammates made this record-breaking win feel special. “At first it didn’t really feel like anything, but toward the end it started to feel really special because the teammates excited me,” Hokenson said. According to coach Brian Kelly, Hokenson lead the team to victory because he guided his team through the game plan. “We started our freshman pitcher, his third varsity appearance and his first start. We were really proud of how he executed the game plan,” Kelly said. Senior John Meyer said he John Meyer, senior thought the

“

After beating some of the big teams (this season) it shows that we can beat anybody.

Photo Ben Sanford

Pitching in: Freshman Kristofer Hokenson pitched a no-hitter game against Robbinsdale Cooper. It was Hokenson’s ﬁrst time pitching for the varsity team. win against Robbinsdale Cooper lifted the team’s spirits after previously losing two games. “I think it was good for our team especially coming off two losses, just to get our bats going again,” Meyer said. Hokenson said he felt self-assured throughout the game knowing his team had his back. “I felt confident because I love the guys (on the team), and I knew when (the other team) hits the ball, they could back me up,” Hokenson said. According to Meyer, the team has the potential to perform well in Sections after beating difficult opponents. “After beating some of the big teams

(this season) it shows that we can beat anybody,” Meyer said. Hokenson said after seeing the team play well and have one of his own personal best performances, he can see the team ending the season at State. “I feel really excited for this team,” Hokenson said. “I can see us winning the championship this year.” Meyer said ending the game with 10 runs while Hokenson was able to shut out Cooper created a great feeling for the team. “We started off kind of slow and got it going, and then at the end to get the 10 run rule was good,” Meyer said. Park baseball recently beat Wayzata May 4 with a score of 4-3.

Girls’ ultimate beats Blake

Why do you like playing midﬁeld? You get to play offense and defense, so I really like being able to help on all parts. Why did you start playing lacrosse? I started playing because I play hockey too, and it’s a really good crossover sport. I started playing a sport (that would) help me in hockey, and I ended up just loving it and wanting to get a lot better at it. What is your favorite part about lacrosse? My favorite part is the fact that you are with a team. Everything you do in the game is dependent on everyone’s coalition and joint effort. I really like that we are all working toward one central goal and everyone is contributing. What is the most challenging part about lacrosse? It’s that aspect of having to play as a team because it is really rewarding. Also we need every person to be working. All the wheels need to be turning in order to produce a really good result.

Team’s universe point wins close game

What are your goals for the rest of the season? I want everyone to live up to their potential. As a group we can do really big things as long as everyone is giving everything they have.

Isabel Kjaer & Kaia Myers isabelkjaer@slpecho.com kaiamyers@slpecho.com

s junior captain Ally Feller reflected on her team’s recent game against Blake, she said she was proud of how the players worked together in a tough game. “We all played really well. We were all really into it until the very last point, which we won on a universe point,” Feller said. “A universe point is when it’s the very last point of the game and the teams are tied. Whoever wins that one point wins the whole game.” Coach Kevin Ruda said players worked together to score points and to improve their defense since past games. “Our offense was nice and crisp and clear and we know when we should and should not throw the disc. We are possessing it as well as resetting it. Also defense — that was much better overall,” Ruda said. According to sophomore

Photo Carissa Prestholdt

Soaring, ﬂying: Junior Svea Bleske jumps to block a Blake player from catching the disc. Girls’ Crush ultimate team won the game against Blake 9-8 April 30 by scoring a universe point.

Hopkins Hustle Tournament schedule for May 11 • 10:15 a.m. Roseville • noon Armstrong •1:45 p.m. Blake at National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. Infographic Sadie Yarosh Source minnesotaultimate.org

Marit Gabel, the team’s experience playing against different teams at the Madison Mudbath tournament improved its skills. “Madison helped by having more time playing different teams instead of a scrimmage or something that’s more scripted. In games it’s much more fluid,” Gabel said. Feller said the team wants to work on some other plays in practice now that the weather has improved “We could improve on our horizontal stack and focus on

that in the beginning,” Feller said. “We have not had much practice because of the weather.” According to Gabel, the team is striving to talk more on the field to help its plays run more smoothly. “I would like to improve communication between our players because that’s not always our strong suit and that’s something I struggle with personally too,” Gabel said. The next girls’ ultimate tournament is May 11-12 in Blaine, Minnesota.

What motivated you to play club lacrosse outside of the high school team? I just really wanted to get better. I really fell in love with the game, so I wanted to do everything I could to play at my highest level. How has lacrosse impacted your life? It helps me stay organized. (Lacrosse) helps me plan out my time, and it also has really impacted me by working with teammates and being so dependent on other people — that has really helped me understand the importance of working as a team in life. Emma Leﬀ emmaleﬀ@slpecho.com

“

10 OPINIONS

Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Echo Editor-in-chiefs: Marta Hill, *Isabel Kjaer Managing editors: Noah Orloff, *Gabe Kaplan, Sofia Seewald, *Kaia Myers Photo editors: Emily wZiessman, Abby Prestholdt, Carissa Prestholdt Design editors: Maggie Klaers, Sophie Livingston, *Lucy Zumbrunnen Copy editors: Emma Leff, Ruthie Posada News editor: *Talia Lisseur Features editor: Carly Joseph In-depth editor: Maddie Shutte Special projects & profiles editor: Samantha Klepfer Sports editor: Sadie Yarosh Opinions editor: *Maria Perez Barriga Entertainment editor: Ben Sanford Broadcast editor: Izzy Kanne Business manager: *Adin Zwiegbum Video editor: Izzy Kanne Staff: *Amaia Barajas, Claire Bargman, Neb Bekele, David Bryant, Henry Brettingen, Jenna Cook, Yonah Davis, Tamar Gewirtz, Tenzin Gyaldatsang, Anika Hanson, Creston Halstead, *Grace Farley,*Katie Hardie, *Abby Intveld, Nolan Kelly, Yonit Krebs, Alejandro Manzano-Gomez, Ethan Meisler, Samiya Mohamed, *Evie Nelson, Dani Orloff, Megan Raatz, Rachel Salzer, Sam St.Clair, Ruby Stillman, Kate Schneider, Jade Shionoya, Breanna Thompson, Sophie Olmen, Hayley Westwood, *Emma Yarger Principal: Scott Meyers Printer: North Star Media

I think (the lake) it should be called whatever most people want it to be called.” Jacob Favour, freshman

OUR PERSPECTIVE

Lake’s name change provokes discussion

ake Calhoun’s name was reverted to its original Dakota name, Bde Maka Ska, in 2018. Save Lake Calhoun, an organization advocating to reinstate the old name, has recently raised the issue of the legality of the name change. The group claims the Department of Natural Resources, among other state departments, did not have the authority to take this action. The conflict has been reviewed by the Minnesota Court of Appeals and will move on to the Minnesota Supreme Court by the end of May, according to MPR News. While the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) should be kept in check when it comes to following legislative procedures, changing the name back would be a waste of time and money. Additionally, the name Calhoun praises former Vice President John C. Calhoun, a known supporter of slavery and a significant player in the relocation of Native Americans. The concern behind this issue surfac-

Photo Grace Farley

Making waves: Despite the name change to Bde Maka Ska everything surrounding the lake is named after Vice President John C. Calhoun, a supporter of slavery. ing months after also calls into question the legitimacy of the intention of Save Lake Calhoun. If the group’s motivation is only to return to a more familiar name, the harm suffered by Native Americans far outweighs the comfort of white people. Educating the populous on minority issues is key to ensuring all groups feel heard and understand the magnitude and connotations of their desires. Knowing Calhoun’s views, keeping the lake named after him is a slap in the face to the Native American community.

Changing it back after it has been reverted to its original Dakota name invalidates the Native American culture. Education on these issues and minority history as a whole within our own classrooms at Park would also help people understand why their views are harmful. As students we must seek to inform ourselves on these issues as they arise. Incorporating these nuances into our curriculums would help make each group feel represented outside of their relation to whitewashed history.

Adviser: Lori Keekley *Denotes editorial board member MEDIA POLICIES The Echo is the official studentproduced newspaper of St. Louis Park Senior High School. It is published triweekly for the school’s students, staff and community. The Echo is a designated forum for student expression in which students make all decisions of content without prior review from school officials. The adviser will not act as a censor, but will advise students. Students have the final decision on all content. The Echo will work to avoid bias and/ or favoritism. We will strive to make our coverage and content meaningful and interesting to all our readers. We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an invasion of privacy. We will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph unless clearly labeled as a photo illustration. Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board arrived at by discussion and will not be bylined. Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Echo staff or administration as a whole. The Echo welcomes reader input. Letters to the editor and suggestions must be signed and should be no longer than 250 words and may be emailed to slpecho@gmail.com or submitted in room C275. Emailed letters must be verified prior to publication. We will not necessarily publish all letters received and reserve the right to ask the writer to edit for length and clarity. Anonymous letters wherein the Echo does not know the identity of the writer will not be printed. Advertisements will be sought from local businesses and school clubs and sports. We maintain the right to reject any ads we believe to be false, misleading, inappropriate or harmful. The Echo does not necessarily endorse the products or services offered in these advertisements. NSPA Hall of Fame member; 2011, 2016, 2017 NSPA Print Pacemaker Finalist; 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 National Print Pacemaker Award Recipient; 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 Online Pacemaker Finalist; 2018 NSPA Online Pacemaker, CSPA; 2019 CSPA Gold Crown; 2015 CSPA Hybrid Gold Crown; 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 CSPA Silver Crown; JEM All-State.

Delayed remorse for hateful, antiSemitic cartoon The New York Times apology far overdue Adin Zweigbaum adinzweigbaum@slpecho.com

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he New York Times apologized for their anti-Semitic cartoon three days to late. Uploading the cartoon in the first place was a mistake, let alone waiting three days too apologize. The New York Times published a cartoon April 25 depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a guide dog with a Star of David collar, leading United States President Donald Trump. This image received instant backlash and was later removed. The cartoon is not only incredibly antiSemitic, but is also offensive to President Trump and the country of Israel. By depicting the two in this manner, it implies that Israel is controlling, while the United States blindly follows. In a tweet by The New York Times Opinion, they apologized for the extremely offensive cartoon three days after its release. In their “apology” The New York Times spent little time actually apologizing and mostly wrote excuses for why it was

The fact that it took The New York Times so long to apologize makes the

Art Sophie Livingston uploaded. Instead of justifysuch as the Chabad of ing publishing the cartoon, situation even Poway synagogue shootThe New York Times ing, only to fuel my disshould assured its readers worse. tress toward this issue. an instance like this will not With only 0.2 percent of the world happen again. practicing Judaism, it is devastating that This cartoon should not have even 26 percent of the world holds anti-Semitic been uploaded in the first place. Due to its beliefs, according to Anti-Defamation status, The New York Times has a much League. The New York Times should not higher responsibility to its readers. As the be fueling these beliefs. They should be one of the most read publications in the supplying readers with facts, not hatred. United States, according to Pew Research As a professional publication, The New Center, The New York Times has a duty to York Times should have never published provide its readers with the truth, not the such an inappropriate cartoon. harassment of a religion. I never want to see another discriminaAs one of many Jews at Park and in the United States, I am deeply offended. In ad- tory cartoon like this in any publication again. dition however, recent anti-Semitic events,

To locked bathrooms: What a crappy situation.

To veganism: If you don’t talk about your diet, are you really vegan?

To facial recognition: At least the airport thinks I’m cute.

Art Maggie Klaers

E.Y, Y.D, C.H.

“

It should not be mandatory because students should have the choice if they want to get vaccines and also it should be the parents’ choice. Sumaya Moalim, freshman

Vaccine requirements protect public Cities, states have right to implement mandatory vaccinations Emma Leﬀ emmaleﬀ@slpecho.com

utbreaks of diseases like measles are extremely dangerous. It is unfair to the rest of the population for individuals to refuse vaccinations without proper cause. Cities and states can limit the harm done by these preventable diseases by requiring vaccines. Cities can and should order residents to get certain vaccinations, especially during outbreaks. If residents still choose to refuse to get vaccinated, it would be unethical to physically force them to get vaccinated. However, if an individual refuses to comply, it is fair to threaten legal or financial consequences.

OPINIONS

Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

The controversy over vaccinations centers on the debate between personal liberty and public safety. Even in the United States no person is completely free. Sacrifices must be made as a compromise to living in this society. Attempting to deal with a severe measles outbreak, earlier this month New York City officials mandated residents in an area heavily impacted by the outbreak to get vaccinated or be fined up to $1,000. Within nine days, more than 500 children were vaccinated. City officials made the right call in this case and set an important example that sometimes the government’s duty to protect an individual’s freedom must be forfeited in favor of saving lives. People’s vaccination rights do not justify the untold results of widespread outbreaks of easily preventable diseases. An individual cannot protest a violation of their rights if they refuse to be vaccinated because they are putting everyone around them at risk. Although measles was declared eradicated in the United States in 2000, the disease has made its way back into our country. Cities and states need to take action to resolve current outbreaks and prevent new ones from occurring. Minnesota school vaccination laws are fairly extensive, but there are numerous

Art Maggie Klaers

Vaccine myths • • •

Vaccines causes autism Vaccines contain unsafe toxins Vaccines can infect children with diseases Infographic Sophie Livingston Source Publichealth.org

ways parents can find a way to opt-out. Those who do so endanger everyone around them. St. Louis Park, and Minnesota in general, need to re-examine vaccination laws to ensure they are effective. Cities including St. Louis Park, need to further develop vaccine education campaigns to ensure the information surrounding vaccines is accurate.

POINT COUNTERPOINT

Facial recognition technology raises privacy issues for travelers According to JetBlue airlines it recently began using facial recognition software as a part of its boarding process in order to ensure safety on ﬂights Facial recognition will improve overall experience at airports New technology reduces wait time, provides security Anika Hanson anikahanson@slpecho.com

llowing passengers to check themselves in with facial recognition technology will significantly reduce wait times and make passengers’ trip to the airport much more efficient. The new technology could eliminate the use of document checks and boarding passes, which would also have a positive impact on the environment. This technology will add an additional layer of security to protect everyone at the airport. This technology is not an invasion of privacy — our pictures are taken everywhere without us knowing and our information is easily accessed by various large companies. The use of facial recognition should not cause concern for privacy invasion because it is being

PARK TRAIL

used in order to protect people. The Department of Homeland Security gives the Customs and Border Protection database access to perform background checks on passengers flying in order to prevent security threats. People are often racially profiled in airports, especially people of Middle Eastern descent who are often stereotyped as terrorists. According to The Guardian, ethnic minorities are 42 percent more likely to be stopped by airport security personal than white people. As a result of racial profiling, people of Middle Eastern descent need to add in extra time to their trip to the airport to ensure they don’t miss their flight. This technology could reduce racial profiling from airport staff. The use of facial recognition technology in airports will reduce the wait time of all passengers, provide an extra safety precaution and possibly reduce the amount of racial profiling in airports.

STUDENT VOICES

What do you think about airlines replacing boarding passes and passports for facial recognition?

New technology invades privacy, requires proper consent Easy system for airlines seems too good to be true Isabel Kanne isabelkanne@slpecho.com

C “If a security breach happens people’s privacy can be invaded Emma Amon, sophomore

“It’s easy to manipulate peoples faces now because of plastic surgery so people could easily take your identity Aminah Ali, sophomore

onsent is not being given for JetBlue’s facial recognition and privacy is being invaded. Airline JetBlue uses facial recognition which passengers can opt-out of this step but even so, they are still in the airline company’s system. Using the data in this system without passengers consent is a complete misstep. The Department of Homeland Security gives the Customs and Border Protection database access to photos of anyone. Who has applied for a US passport or visa or anyone who has interacted with Customs and Border Protection in the past according to Travel and Leisure. JetBlue claims that it has no access to the photos or information used in this process.

Some passengers are worried about the process invading their privacy. Even if the passenger wanted to opt-out of the facial recognition step, their information would already have been passed on without consent. In doing so this not only violates privacy, but also creates a break in trust between the company and potential flyers. Facial recognition is already being used on some cell phones, but that is a more private use of the software. Although people may speculate phone companies then have access to facial information, many have come out and said your information will never leave your device without your permission, according to Apple’s privacy policies. While facial recognition may begin to revolutionize other industries, air travel should stay away from it unless the passengers have given consent to have their information used in that way.

Creston Halstead crestonhalstead@slpecho.com

I just saw “Avengers: Endgame”, it was so good. Don’t spoil it. Seriously, I have not seen it yet.

Psst...

NOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOO

Just kidding, haha gotcha.

“

ENTERTAINMENT Echo Wednesday, May 8, 2019

‘Avengers: Endgame’ records

1) Most revenue opening weekend, making $1.2 billion.

2) One of ﬁve movies ever to reach $2 billion at the box oﬃce.

3) Second biggest movie in history, making $2.189 billion.

I think it’s funny that it broke box oﬃce records before it came out. Thomas Hanson, freshman

4) Reached $2 billion faster than any other ﬁlm has before.

5) All 22 Marvel movies have accumulated $22 billion in total. Infographic Creston Halstead Source Vox, Variety, Movieweb

Fair use from Marvel Studios

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Talia Lissauer talialissauer@slpecho.com

vengers: Endgame” opening weekend was one of the most hectic weekends sophomore Marcos Alvarez has experienced while working at the ICON Theater in St. Louis Park. Alvarez said all employees had to prepare for the loads of people coming. “I expected it to be that crazy. The (number) of people did not surprise me because it is the end of a giant series, so it made sense that it would get this kind of turnout,” Alvarez said. “It was a lot of work to prepare. They blocked off that weekend so no one was allowed to take it off.” According to CNBC, “Avengers: Endgame” is the fastest movie ever to surpass $1 billion and the second-highest grossing movie, just behind “Avatar.” Going into opening weekend, “Endgame” had already broken the presale ticket record in America. Sophomore Kaylee Quick has been invested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for about five years, and said the build-up to the film made “Endgame” the success that it is. “It felt like a combination of a lot of years of effort in universe building, and it felt like it all came together in a few hours,” Quick said. “I think it was a really epic moment for Marvel fans.”

METRO METRO AT A GLANCE Ben Sanford benjaminsanford@slpecho.com

Photos used with permission from WB Studios, WB Records, HBO Films, Matthew Murphy

‘Endgame’ breaks records in a snap ‘Avengers: Endgame’ sets new box oﬃce records

According to Alvarez, the theater was able to predict how many people would be attending based on presale tickets, but he was still surprised by the number of people who showed up. “We (could) tell from pre-tickets that opening weekend was going to have a lot of people. Every 10 minutes there were about 100 people coming in,” Alvarez said. “By the end of the weekend, it was about eight times more than we usually get.” According to Quick, most of the records made were set by the fans. The film deserves the glory it’s getting. “Marvel put a lot of effort into marketing this movie and into putting it together. If moviegoers made it break (the box office) records, then it deserves (the recognition it’s getting),” Quick said. Alvarez said seeing Marvel movies every year has become a tradition for him, and since it is ending, it is understandable that it would have this kind of reaction. “It deserves to break every record. It was a pretty good movie. The series of movies has been my childhood,” Alvarez said. “You see a Marvel movie every year — it’s one of those things that you do. With (the Avengers series) wrapping up, it makes sense that many people are going to see it.”

May 10

May 17

May 19

May 28-June 9

Ryan Reynolds stars in the new live action adaption of the Pokémon universe. The movie takes inspiration from video and card games alike.

Indie folk band The Head and the Heart set to release its fourth album “Living Mirage,” with a new rock sound. Its previous album was “Signs of Light.”

“Game of Thrones” concludes its eighth season with an hour and 20-minute long episode, in its series finale. “Game of Thrones” started airing in April, 2011.

The six-time Tony Award winning musical hits the road to perform at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets on sale at TicketMaster.com, starting at $120.