Issuu

Stillwater Area High School | 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N, Oak Park Heights, MN | Oct. 27, 2017 | Issue 1, Vol. 62

Ness redefines living with cystic fibrosis Mikayla Cousineau Distribution Reporter

Center stage in front of a large audience sounds like a place most people would find themselves in a nightmare. For junior Sabrina Ness, the stage is where her dreams have come true and the spotlight is where she finds her heart. When she was only three months old, Ness was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease that causes a buildup of mucus in the lungs and other organs. She has used her passion for singing to become a representative for her condition at various galas and charity events.

GETTING STARTED

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES Junior Sabrina Ness explains how music has changed her outlook on life. “I think that the most valuable or rewarding part of singing is that you get to make a point about what you believe in,” Ness said. Putting her all into music is a way to express her thoughts and feelings.

What is cystic fibrosis? Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a

genetic mutation

which causes a mucus buildup in the lungs.

1,000 cases of CF are diagnosed

every year.

INFORMATION FROM CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION

“I always have sang ever since I was little,” Ness said. “I loved putting on shows and running around my house singing and just being in the stage and lights. I started young and I’ve always liked it.” As a sixth grader, Ness was able to live out every child’s dream when her wish was granted through the MakeA-Wish foundation. She was able to exhibit her enthusiasm for music by writing and recording her own album that included three songs, followed by her own release party. “When I’m singing it’s just like I’m in my own world,” Ness explained. “I forget about everything, and I think that can relate to music no matter what to anyone. I don’t know where I’d be without it sometimes.” Ness has involved herself in choir throughout elementary and middle school, and continues to stay in touch with music as part of the concert choir and by taking private music lessons outside of school. Adding all of these activities to a busy school day calls for a busy agenda, but it does not end there.

TREATMENT

“Every day I do vest treatments,

two of those a day-one in the morning and one at night,” Ness explained. “I take probably 30 to 40 pills a day, which to most people seems crazy, but that’s normal to me.” While sacrificing an hour or two of sleep every day for these tasks may seem like a nuisance, Ness claimed learning the importance of a schedule and prioritization is crucial to living the life she does. “Sometimes things will go on the back burner, but it’s never my health because if I’m not healthy, then I won’t be able to go to school or sing. If you mess one thing up with your health, the rest is like dominoes,” Ness added. The main concern with CF is typically the lung function, and it is easy to assume with a simple Google search that this applies to all who are affected by the condition. Yet for Ness, this is not the case. “Most people wouldn’t know I even had CF because I’m so normal. It’s definitely an invisible disability, it’s not something people can see,” Ness said. “My lung function is as normal as anyone else. Because I’ve been so healthy, I live really normally. I go to school every day, I have a job, I can drive and sing.” Though living with this time consuming condition continues to impact her day-to-day life, Ness is determined not to let her hindrances detract from her achievements. She noticeably demonstrates her willpower to achieve anything in the classroom. “You can tell that she’s committed to singing by the way she holds her posture, by the way she makes eye contact, the way that she’s listening to those around her,” choral music teacher, Angela Mitchell explained. “I just have to be impressed by any student who would choose a passion and just really go for it and keep working at it.” Currently, Ness is taking her

talents to the next level as she performs and competes with the band 40 Below. This will be her second year as part of the band comprised of Stillwater and St. Croix Prepatory students. Ness revealed that she plans on continuing to journey down the musical path as she moves on from high school.

A FUTURE IN MUSIC

“If I were to pursue music, it would be positive. It would be to make people feel like they have a purpose,” she said. “I feel like everyone needs that reminder no matter what.” Ness admitted that one of her concerns with modern day music and media is that it lacks a valuable message. While many high school students can be found listening to pop or rap on the radio, she turns to some of her own favorite artists including Adele and Stevie Nicks, who she believes make more purposeful music. “I think Sabrina’s music can really inspire others because it shows you that despite adversity, you can get through it and make something out of your life,” Anna Fahrendorff, junior and Ness’ lifelong friend, explained. “Through her pain she doesn’t complain about it. Instead she sings and turns it into something positive.” In Ness’s album, her message to listeners was to find “What Lights You Up” — the title to one of her songs. She hopes that in the future she can continue to spread a meaningful message to others through music. “I feel like it’s cool getting to inspire people or make them not only happy with music, but to prove the point that you are not defined by something just because you have it,” Ness said. “I think that’s the most valuable or rewarding part of singing is that you try to get to make a point about what you believe in.”

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REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM KENDRA MIDDLETON

Student council hosts movie on football field. Article on page 3

PHOTO BY AUBREY KELLEY

PHOTO BY MORGAN GRIM

PHOTO BY WILL GLEASON

Building blocks: putting together Myers-Briggs type, one letter at a time.

Hard work pays off: girls cross country sprints toward successful season.

What’s in Mr. Weaver’s desk: a look into science teacher Andrew Weaver’s desk.

Article on page 6

Article on page 11

Article on page 12

News

Oct. 27, 2017

Flex time presents new options:

Teachers enforce updated class room cell phone policy Levi Gregg Copy Editor

What the policy means for class room cellphone use

Administrators enacted the updated cell phone policy to formally differentiate cell phones from “nuisance items.” This fall, there was a newly implemented standardized phone policy, defining permissible cell phone use, while outlining the punishments for noncompliance. Despite the new policy’s implementation, many teachers and students saw no change in cell phone use. The policy update was precipitated by the normalization of cell phone use. As the school website phone guidelines explained, “The overwhelming majority of our students use their cell phone in an appropriate and acceptable manner.” One of the main purposes of the new policy is to provide clarity and consistency to phone regulation. The last formal policy did not differentiate cell phones from a range of “nuisance” items including e-cigarettes and stink bombs. Senior Keyan Shayegan said, “Having a cell phone has made high school a lot easier just because it gives you so much more access to information.” Quick access to the internet is a tool that has become inseparable from the success of many students. While students understand the need for cell phone regulation, many feel cell phone use is a necessity in difficult classes. Shayegan explained, “In high level classes, kids know not to mess around and can be trusted with phones.” Creating a cell phone policy that allows for educational use of phones is task that has proven difficult for many schools. Since the release of the iPhone, schools have been conflicted between treating cell phones as an essential learning tool, and restricting their use, frequently leading them to being banned altogether. As of this year, neither Stillwater Middle School, Oakland Middle School or Hudson High School allow for any

use of cell phones during school hours. Open cell phone use is an option that neither students nor teachers wish to lose. Band teacher Dennis Lindsay said, “I hope cell phone policy does not go to its extreme. Hudson High School does not allow cell phones out and I think that’s stupid because these are the modern devices. Cell phones are able to be devices to teach with.” Before this fall, the school relied on the BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device policy. In this policy, regulation of cell phones has fallen to the teachers rather than on administrators. Despite the policy change, the school has not seen any substantial change in cell phone use. However, some teachers are afraid of backlash that could follow attempts at further curtailing phone use. For this reason, many suspect that if the current policy is escalated into an attempt to substantially limit cell phone use, it would only succeed in eliminating the productive phone use during class. “If you tell people they can not have cell phones, it just makes the pocket texting more pervasive,” band teacher Joel Bryan explained. During the time of the BYOD policy, many teachers were able to develop successful policies allowed students to continue using phones in class. These policies varied wildly from the virtually uncontrolled cell phone use, to policies employed that allow for the educational use of cell phones. “I always tell my classes ‘monitor your use, you come up with your policy, you know how it works,’” Lindsay said. Self regulation was especially effective in his highest level class, where students knew when cell phone use became a distraction and responded by leaving their cell phones in their lockers. “We can’t fight cell phone use, it’s what life is going to be like and we need to learn how to deal with it,” Bryan said.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY LINNEA PHILLIPS

Time used for homework and extracurricular options Cassie Ales

Layout Editor

In addition to the new building expansions, upgrades and a larger school student body, students can also expect a change to their schedules with Flex time; a free period of 40 minutes, which will take place between third and fourth hour every Tuesday and Thursday. Flex time is expected to build relationships for staff and students, provide academic equity and improve the social and emotional well-being of students. With the new EDU Pass app, students can choose to be part of clubs, study hall or even socialize with friends during Flex time. With the ninth graders coming up to the high school this year, a lot has been changed in the school in hopes that the transition will be easy for all grades. Flex time is one of those changes. “We formed a ninth grade transition committee and flex time was a product of that. We thought it would be a helpful time for not only ninth graders but for all the grades,” teacher Katie Barre said; she also is a member of the Flex time committee. When students are allowed to choose their location for Flex time, they can do so by checking into a teacher’s class or location with the [EDU Pass app], which can be downloaded on their phone. The app allows students to search for teachers to go to during Flex time and it even allows them to see where their friends will be headed during the free period. However, the app does offer a “stealth in” feature, which allows students to pick a location without their friends being able to see where they are if they desire a quiet study. With the app crashing in the

first week of it being used by the roughly 3,000 students of Stillwater, there was a question whether the app would work for the school at all. However, counselor Kate Nelson explains that if the app is used throughout the week by students over different times, the app should work. “The app was discovered when Principal Bach was visiting other schools. It was what those schools were using. It was developed by students who were computer whizzes and have now graduated. If the company does not fix the problem, students using it during the week and not all at once should still allow us to be able to use the app,” Nelson said. If the app does work for the school, it will be essential to students when they are in the process of planning what they will do for their Flex time. While the majority of Flex times will be free for students to choose what activities to participate in, one-fourth of the Flex times will be dedicated to personalized planning, such as ACT Prep, MCIS planning or registrations. For these sessions, students will be placed into their scheduled rooms, which they sat in on during the first day of Flex time, with the teacher who is meant to be their students’ adult advocate for all four years of high school. Principal Robert Bach, decided this was a necessary change to the school and Nelson recalled Bach’s visits to Mahtomedi High School and Centennial High School, which took place in last April. “He researched and visited quite a few schools and received a lot of positive feedback. He wanted for students to be able to alleviate stress and have a time during the day to access teacher,” Nelson said.

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES Freshmen Destinie Vang and Sunisa Yang spend their flex time working in the courtyard. “Flex time is a good amount of time to get homework done,” Yang explains.

News

Oct. 27, 2017

Student council hosts movie night on football field Rose Deziel Copy Editor

With the new freshmen added to Stillwater Area High School, there are more students attending the school than ever before. Student Council is focusing on student inclusion this year. To do this, they thought that it would be best to bring the school together for a movie on the football field. On Oct. 7 at 7 p.m., the classic movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was shown on the football field. Students were welcome to watch the movie for no charge

at all. Concessions, however, did cost money. Planning and resources were needed in order to bring the event together. “I got the idea from other colleges that I was looking at. It’s a big, big thing at universities to do movie nights on the football field. So I thought, ‘What a great way to include the whole school in something that’s not a dance, or like a football game,’” senior Annabel Gregg, Student Council President, said. The idea was originally thought up during one of Student Council’s summer brainstorming sessions. This is the first time the school has had a movie night out-

side. Although Student Council initially wanted to have it on the football field, it turned out that the administration only wanted the field to be used for sports. This meant that students would not be permitted to sit on the field. Though the reason for this was not known, there was some speculation that it was because the field is turf and the administration did not want food to get on it. This has not been the only roadblock for Student Council however. “Summer Tuesdays was nice enough to donate one of their screens to us, however, that one has to be staked down, which you can’t do on the turf, so there’s a

little inside drama,” Gregg added. Because of this dilemma, Student Council had to use a large screen that the school already owned. Once the screen was placed somewhere in the field, a school projector was wheeled out, and the movie was played just like how it would be in a classroom setting. Little money and resources were needed in order to make the movie night possible. The event only required a large screen, a projector, some speakers and snacks. These things were important, but the most important part of the movie night was the attendance number. “We just want a huge turn out. If

you don’t have anything planned that Saturday night, you might as well come out,” junior Abdulaziz Mohammed, Student Council member, said. If Student Council thinks there was a successful turn out, then another movie night could be hosted as early as sometime in the spring. If the movie night is unsuccessful, however, there is a way to suggest other events. Student Council is always looking for new ways to bring the school together, especially this year. “If you go up to anyone on Student Council and say, ‘Oh this would be cool,’ then we will always look into that kind of stuff,” junior Isabella Portelli, Student Council member, said.

Reprinted with permission from Kendra Middleton

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Editorial

Oct. 27, 2017

Staff Ed: new restrictions unfairly affect innocent fans Ellie Faeth

The Pony Clapback EIC Column

Print Editor-in-Chief As students line up to enter the Pony Stadium for another exciting football game with bags in hands and on backs to hold items, they are faced with security telling them they cannot bring them inside. The stadium policy, more strictly enforced this year, does not permit items such as bags, purses, water bottles and blankets. This rule is upsetting to students for obvious reasons, yet it is understandable why this restriction is needed for the safety of students. These items are the perfect places to hide and disguise items such as bottles of alcohol, cigarettes and e-cigarettes. This allows kids to bring them into the student section to use, as some poor decision makers have done in past years. Starting with Prohibition, the nationwide ban on the production and sale of alcohol in 1919, the substance has always been a tentative subject. Even though this law attempted to prevent people from the consumption of alcohol, people still found a way to get their hands on it. Throughout the past decade, drinking and smoking has become a more common pastime for some underage kids due to the want to be popular among their peers, parental influence and peer pressure and addiction. According to Activities Director Ricky Michel, the policy is in place for a significant reason: to make

Hannah Boardman Print Editor-in-Chief

CARTOON BY MADI WEISPFENNING sure all of the students make good choices and focus on their safety. This restriction makes complete sense; it will prevent students from consuming or using any kind of substances during the game, but it cannot prevent kids from doing so before hand. Some students make the decision to come to the game after using some sort of substance, whether it be alcohol, marijuana, nicotine or a combination. Even the restriction itself has flaws. Students can manage to sneak

in substances easily by concealing them under their clothes or even in pockets. On the other hand, the majority of the students do not make poor decisions, and therefore are being punished for something they did not partake in. An easier solution would suffice. However, these would also cause some difficulties. If security deemed a student suspicious and checked their bags, it would be an invasion of privacy, especially if the assumption was incor-

PONY EXPRESS STAFF PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF ABBY BANKS HANNAH BOARDMAN ELLIE FAETH MIRA LANASA LINNEA PHILLIPS

PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL GLEASON MORGAN GRIM AUBREY KELLEY ANDREW PHAN CHLOE SQUIRES

ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF HUNTER HIPPEL EMMA LOWEY HAILEY WILLIUS

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS JOE BLOMQUIST ALYSSA BUMP ELLIE FEDEROWSKI AREIANNA JUNGHANS NOAH PASIUK JOSIE SCHEREK MARK O SHEA JACK SEIPEL WYATT WASKO

LAYOUT EDITORS CASSIE ALES KENZIE COYLE RACHEL DANKERS KENZIE MOTZ HANNAH SWEEN ONLINE EDITORS ROSIE BRAUN LILLY SAMPLE TESS SCHOENBORN JAMESON STAHL EMMA POLUCHA MICHAEL VANLIESHOUT COPY EDITORS ROSE DEZIEL LEVI GREGG JOSH MATHWIG NOAH SCHOOLMAN

EDITORIAL CARTOONISTS SOPHIE JENSEN MADI WEISPFENNING BUSINESS EDITORS TREYTIN BURNETT LUKE DICKINSON HANNAH HABIB ROSE JUNKO KAITLYN KIRBY ANNOUNCEMENTS EDITORS ABBEY FACE JUDI JOHNSON

FOTINI KLOOS BEN VALERIUS READ AND WATCH TEAM ABBY BEGIN AUSTIN BERGNAUD GABI DANIELSON GRANT HIETPAS SUSAN HUBBARD MYA LYSNE MASON WYLIE DISTRIBUTION REPORTERS MIKAYLA COSINEAU JOSH FRAMKE LUKE HIGGINS LOGAN HUBER MAX KENNEDY KATE POOR BEN RECKSIEDLER STUDENT PLAYLIST REPORTERS IZZY ALLEN MICHELLE BURTON JOHN CASKEY MALAINA FRAGNITO ALEX HAUKOM KATELYN KRECH EVELYN YOUNG PODCAST REPORTERS JESSE BROWN

rect. Funding for a breathalyzer test would cost too much, therefore students cannot be tested if they are coming to the game under the influence. Whether or not people like this new policy, it has made a difference. Students now know to make better and smarter decisions, because the actions of a few create ramifications for many. The most important thing to know is that the reason these rules are in place to protect students from seriously harming themselves or others.

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ISAAC GUNDERSON MAC SCHLENKLER PAXTON WATSON ADVISOR RACHEL STEIL PRINTER ECM CANNON VALLEY PRINTING PRINT AND ONLINE CONTENT POLICY The Pony Express is a publication of Stillwater Area High School. This paper is an open forum for the community and students’ views. Letters to the Editor are encouraged. The Editorial Board reserves the right to publish and edit letters: correction will be made in order to correct content, spelling, grammar and length. Letters and comments may be submitted to rooms D220. The staff editorial is written by the Pony Express staff and headed by Editors-in-Chief. The Pony Express is a member of the High School Press Syndicate, the Co-

lumbia High School Press Association, International Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and the Minnesota High School Press Association. The Pony Express print and online newspapers strive to provide a form of media that embodies the strongest professional standards while working to present current and relevant stories about the community, inside and outside our building’s wall. The goal is to adhere to all legal and ethical standards of best journalistic practices, while informing, enlightening, and entertaining our publication’s readers.

In politics today, sexual assault has become a hot topic. What should count as evidence has been debated over, with the Obama-era policy wishing for a different standard of evidence as the Trump-era standard. The guidelines set forth by the Trump administration make the debate even harder, with more rigid standards of evidence. The new policy makes it more difficult for students to get the help they need, and may push people away from reporting an act of sexual violence against them. “[The new policy] makes me feel... less prepared to go to college, knowing that if something does happen to me it’s going to be harder to make the person who committed such an act receive their consequences...and that to me is a really unsettling feeling,” senior Grace Luloff explained. With more people going to college every year, a new sexual assault policy is surprising. College freshmen can be impressionable, with little practical knowledge of the outside world. Young adults may not know the warning signs of a sexual predator, or the techniques to keep from falling victim to roofies and other under-the-radar drugs. Without this information, it makes it much easier for innocent students to fall victim, and not get the justice they deserve for this terrible crime. According to Doug Anderson, Director of Communications and Media at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, “At the colleges and universities of Minnesota State, the process through which individuals alleging sexual misconduct may pursue a complaint is defined under System Procedure 1B.3.1. This procedure states that investigations and disciplinary procedures concerning sexual violence must ‘be based on a preponderance of evidence standard.’”

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Opinion

Oct. 27 , 2017

Social media, love it or leave it Rachel Dankers Layout Editor

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA JENSEN

Social media is becoming a crisis regarding communication between all ages. This issue has greatly impacted the lives of people around the world due to their constant need to be up to date with current events. This ongoing issue has been creating an uproar. People use social media to spread ridiculous amounts of lies, threats and negativity in general, while reducing social skills and self esteem. People all around the world are using their phones more than interacting with people face-to-face. They are so focused on being up to date with current things that they seem to be shutting out the world around them. They may be up to date with current news in their community, but the result of constantly being on social media is they may not be up to date with news in their personal lives. “It decreases social skills. People are so addicted to the point where social media is all they know,” senior Maeve Caswell said. Social media has caused an epidemic of people being attached to their phones. People are trying to be up to date and in the know of the latest trends, news, gossip, and are isolating themselves. This will continue to dehumanize

people until the issue is addressed. According to Pew Research Center “smartphone users - particularly younger adults, minorities and lower income Americans depend on their smart phones for internet access.” “I think it is an issue, people always look at their phones and they run into people in the hallways,” freshman Zach Coyle said. The distractions do not stop there. People all around us use their phones while walking in the halls, in stores and even while driving. For some, this may cause minor injuries. For others, people lose their lives due to inconsiderate people using their phones while driving. The Federal Communications Commission stated that “at any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010.” “You don’t always get the same contact and might take thing out of context. You might interpret it differently. You can’t see facial expressions,” junior Miah Janisch said. Social media offers things like emojis to show how a person is feeling, but the recipient of the message may not know what the real feeling of the message is. Although emojis may be an attempt to put life back into a person’s message, the emotion may not be genuine. With face to face communication,

one can see how a person is reacting to the conversation that is taking place. Face to face communication offers a more genuine, heartfelt conversation. “People think things that aren’t true. People are just now recognizing this and we can change it by putting an age restriction on social media and try to limit phone use,” freshman Chance Atkinson said. Many adults comment on the excessive phone use of teenagers and young adults. They stress the fact that the world is going on around them while they are attached to a cell phone or social media. This is an issue that can easily be solved. Phone use at school has been limited in recent years and students do not seem to know why. Phones are commonly being revoked if a student is on their phone while a lesson is going on. Somehow, they think that what they post on Instagram or who is Snapchatting them is more important than their education. Social media is compelling and has created plenty of obstacles in recent years. Limiting phone use is a way to prevent things like fatal car accidents, a decline in someone’s education, someone being run into in the halls, or someone simply lacking the emotion and facial expressions that a face to face conversation would have. Completely cutting off social media may not be an answer, but self monitoring might be a step in the right direction.

Confederate monuments create controversy Battling for better healthcare Joshua Framke Distribution Reporter

Ever since the Charleston church shooting in 2015, there have been controversies around confederate statues and monuments. Many people believe that they should be taken down because they stand for hatred and racism. While that may be true for some, blatant hatred makes people want them gone, when really they should remain. The statues being taken down are often of major confederate leaders like Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. These characters are often criticised for defending slavery and racism, but they do not account for all the statues and monuments honoring hatred. “My dear pastor, in my tent last night, after a fatiguing day’s service, I remembered that I had failed to send you my contribution for our colored Sunday-school. Enclosed you will find my check for that object, which please acknowledge at your earliest convenience,” Stonewall Jackson wrote in a letter home. Stonewall Jackson was troubled by the prospect of slavery since he grew up and considered slaves a part of his family. It is not fair to condone him for racism and hatred. “So far,” General Lee wrote in a letter, “from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interests of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this, as regards Virginia especially, that I would

Grant Hietpas Camera Editor

PHOTO BY ANDREW PHAN The Minnesota State Capitol has civil war paintings inside of it. Arguments over their removal have arisen. “These monuments celebrate a fictional, sanitized Confederacy,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu in a speech on May 19. cheerfully have lost all I have lost by the war, and suffered all I have suffered, to have this objective obtained.” Again, a major leader in the confederacy proves that slavery was not his aim. He seemed overly pleased that slavery was ended, yet there are even arguments that Abraham Lincoln only abolished slavery to win the war. Another problem is that people can not just blame monuments in honor of the confederacy. Taking down a statue of Lee does not make leaving a Minnesota state park named after Henry Sibley, who was directly responsible for the death of some innocent 300 Native Americans, right. “These monuments celebrate a fictional, sanitized Confederacy ignoring the death, ignoring the enslavement,

ignoring the terror that it actually stood for,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu in a speech on May 19. “They may have been warriors, but in this cause they were not patriots.” The arguments presented by Landrieu are valid for a large portion of confederwates. The problem is that not all of the monuments being taken down represent the evils of slavery. Taking them down and erasing history is definitely not the solution. There are a number of possible solutions. The first and easiest of which is simply to put plaques on the monuments stating what and why it’s there. A second idea is instead of destroying them and removing them, open a museum that presents them to the public in an educational light. Then, they are explained.

With the failure of the Graham Cassidy Bill, many are wondering what comes next in the debate surrounding government-provided healthcare. It is extremely important to understand this debate if America is to protect both the health and the liberty of American citizens. While its importance is undeniable, the issue of healthcare is not easy to understand. Democrats and Republicans have been fighting each other, as well as members of their own parties, to settle on a plan that makes at least most of America happy. In essence, the debate is over how much state governments should grant easy access to healthcare to lower class citizens at the cost of the middle and upper classes. “This is an issue between liberty and security,” teacher Roger Stippel said. “What is the right amount of government that we are providing security but not infringing on liberty?” Liberty is what has always made the United States unique and great, but security of the rights of the people is also extremely critical. The goal of the healthcare debate should be to settle on a bill that balances both of these values. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, favored security over liberty. Some pieces of the ACA make sense. However, the ACA places taxes

and restrictions on health care plans. “My cousin, he’s 28, so he just got past that age where he needs to get his own [health care], and actually at first he didn’t buy insurance, he had to pay the fine, just because with him insurance premiums would be higher than the fine he’d have to pay,” senior Adam Johnson said. Access to healthcare does not mean that everyone should be forced into taking advantage of that right. The ACA requires American citizens to pay for certain health care plans deemed “adequate,” or face a heavy tax penalty. This means many middle class citizens are paying thousands more for a health care plan that the government tells them they need, or face being criminalized by a tax bump. “We need to look at Obamacare and see the flaws instead of saying that it’s a flawed system and we need to get rid of it...What can we build upon to make this system work for everyone?” Johnson said. The ACA clearly has flaws, but it is a start towards a health care policy that will make members of both the right and left happy. Over the next few years, Democrats and Republicans need to work towards a bipartisan health care system that makes healthcare easy to obtain and access, but does not force it upon citizens who do not want it.

GRAPHIC BY HANNAH SWEEN

Focus

Oct. 27, 2017

Putting together Myers-Briggs types, one letter at a time

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GRAPHIC BY ABBY BANKS

People

Oct. 27, 2017

Sophie Vogel stars in ‘Grease’ Mira LaNasa Layout Editor

Senior Sophie Vogel’s day begins at 6:10 a.m., and ends later than 12 a.m. She wakes up, goes to school, orchestra, work, rehearsal and finally home to study and do homework. All of this work is worth it to her though, as she finally has her dream role as Sandy in the musical ‘Grease.’ ‘Grease’ is a musical from 1978 that stars Sandy and Danny, two teens who fall in love, but have very different lives. They struggle to find a way to make their relationship work through the troubles of high school. Sophie’s day is packed full with classes and work, leaving little time for much else. She auditioned for ‘Grease’ knowing her days would be endless, but was shocked and elated to hear she got the lead role as Sandy, though she pictured herself as Sandy from the start.

Fitting the role “Sandy is kind of demure and sweet and pure, so I kind of tried to find a song that fit that so may-

a little girl, so I’m really excited to be able to fulfill that,” Sophie said. Sophie was grateful to have achieved her dream role. Director Grif Sadow believed Sophie deserved the role of Sandy because she brought variety and depth to the character. “There was a lot of possible Sandys, but I think we went with Sophie because of her ability to embody the role, and she’s very strong vocally and can portray the character changes needed,” Sadow said. “She also works hard and is dedicated to everything she pursues.” Sadow is not the only one who believes Sophie deserved her role. Mason Michalksi, junior and Sophie’s co-star, said that he knew she would earn the role of Sandy.

The Danny to her Sandy “Sophie is literally good at everything. She’s a really good actor and a really good singer,” Michalski said. “I didn’t think somebody would be that good.” Michalksi is starring in ‘Grease’ as Danny, alongside Sophie. He got the male lead role even though he has little theater experience. Despite this, she

but you’re also supposed to be at orchestra, but I’m also supposed to be at rehearsal, so I kind of have to talk to the administrators of all of those things, like my boss, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Sadow, and figure out where I’m supposed to be, and sometimes they’re not so happy. I feel really bad but there’s nothing much I can really do,” Sophie said. “I’m usually here until 7:30 p.m. at night right now with rehearsals, and when it gets to a week before [the show] we’ll be here even later, so it will get crazy, but it’s worth it.” Sophie said it has been a lot of work, but will pay off in the end. The rest of the cast, which consists of upwards of 70 members, is also hustling to get things done, as they only have about 60 days of production. The typical cycle is longer than three months. “I think people should know that we put this on in a month and a half, because it’s a big show. It’s a huge cast, there’s lots of lines, it’s a lot of work. We’ve put so much time into it, so it’s kind of impressing considering the time crunch,” Sophie said. Despite the show’s short production cycle, Sophie says the

PHOTO BY AUBREY KELLY

Senior Sophie Vogel and junior Mason Michalksi take a break between scences. “He’s fun. It’s not awkward, which is good. He’s never been involved in theater before so it’s cool to see him,” Sophie says. be he [Grif Sadow] would see me as Sandy when I auditioned before even the callbacks,” Sophie said. After Sophie’s audition, in which she sang ‘In My Own Little Corner,’ from the Broadway version of ‘Cinderella,’ she got to spend time with her theater friends and soon-to-be costars. Michelle Larson, vocal director and choir teacher, helped assemble the cast and was expected to hang the casting list before school. After seeing the listings, Sophie was thrilled to see that she earned the role of Sandy. “I’ve been involved in theater for a really long time so I kind of have a tight-knit group of friends in theater now, so I kind of just wanted to do it to be with them, but also this is really fun for me because Sandy in Grease has been my dream role since I was

said it has been great working with him and that he has done very well so far. “He’s fun. It’s not awkward, which is good. He’s never been involved in theater before so it’s cool to see him,” Sophie said. “He’s your typical hockey boy, and he’s doing theater so that makes me so happy.” Sophie is excited to be working with such good friends, though finds herself struggling occasionally to get everything done. She not only has to juggle a part-time job at a preschool, but also extra-curriculars such as Con Amici, an after-school orchestra and rehearsals.

A hard day’s work “Sometimes it happens where you have to be in two places at once. Like, you’re supposed to be at work,

production quality is incredible. “I don’t get to dance that much because Sandy’s kind of a party pooper when it comes to prom, but I’ve been able to watch the rest of the cast learn the dance, and they’re all so talented and it’s going to be amazing,” Sophie said. “The costumes are amazing for the dance, and I’m just really excited for everyone to see their hard work pay off.” Sophie was eager for everyone to see their performance of ‘Grease,’ and said that her fatigue will be worth it. “I’ve been staying up so late, I can’t remember the last time I’ve gone to bed before midnight. I’m tired all the time, but it’s OK,” Sophie said. “I’m getting more excited; nervous-excited. But I think nerves are a good thing. They encourage you to do well and stay on your game.”

GRAPHIC BY CASSIE ALES

A&E

Oct. 27, 2017

GRAPHIC BY ELLIE FAETH

Classic

Sophia Jensen

Editorial Cartoonist ‘Grease’ is the first musical theater production of the school year. The performance involves a variety of students. The performance runs Oct. 13-15 and Oct. 26-29 in the high school auditorium. This musical demonstrates the romance between two teens involved in a previous summer romance. The couple tries to maintain their relationship during school with the pressure and conflict of their friends. “We normally don’t

favorite

do a musical first thing,” Sadow said. “but ‘Grease’ is something I know interests a lot of young people.” Multiple people were in charge of organizing ‘Grease.’ The team includes the theater director Grif Sadow and the technical director Brian McTier. There are also two choreographers and a vocal director who are in charge as well. Those involved in the making of this musical were “a production team,” choir teacher Katelyn Larson said, “which includes the director who oversees everything.” The addition of freshmen is new this year, caused ‘Grease’ to become the next product i o n . ‘Grease’

PHOTOS BY ELLIE FAETH Check us out online at sahsponyexpress.com • Videos • Podcasts • Fashion blogs • Pony Express TV

draws

was chosen because young people were interested and this musical would help the theater department gain prominence. The directors wanted to get more students involved in theater. Musicals tend to interest many young people as well. “We thought this would be a great musical to get people more involved,” Larson added. “This is the largest cast in a musical we’ve ever had.” This is different from previous musicals because this is the largest cast in a musical and over 70 students will be performing on stage. There will also be students helping

major

with the technical aspect backstage during the performance. The biggest difference from previous theater productions and musicals was “that we have two choreographers,” Sadow said. There was a male and female choreographer that could help create movement specifically to both genders. This production is the junior version to make it more family and student f r i e n d l y. “We had two rounds of auditions,” Larson said, “and we called back students who we felt sang and acted in a way that would be appropriate for their roles.” The auditions consisted of singing, reading lines, and creating move-

attention

ment to see who was suited for each part. Students had to meet the vocal, movement and acting demands. “The cast and tech group both have a lot of work but it’s just different kinds of work,” Larson said. The tech group prepares the set and are at every single show to make sure things run smoothly. Tech is responsible for costume design, running lights and sound, along with painting and building sets for the performance. The cast learns their songs, acting and dancing during a short rehearsal time of 5 weeks. The cast spends more time in rehearsals after school, but about a week prior to opening night, the tech group will run the show with the cast. “We have students learn the music first, then add choreography and add the technical elements last,” Sadow added.

Trending

Oct. 27, 2017

Tips to look bangin’ on a budget Chloe Squires

growing by approximately seven percent every year. NARTS explains the growth may have to do with Over the past few years, a cloth- Americans becoming more aware ing trend has been taking shape, of the need to reduce waste by reswinging students’ wardrobes from cycling clothes and other goods. Students explain that there are traditional retail store purchases to unconventional items found at sec- several reasons to convert to shopping ond hand stores. Students are trading at second hand stores, from finding their name brand clothes for time- one-of-a-kind items to saving money. Junior Anna Krusinski identidistressed, retro and original pieces that reflect their own personal style. fies herself as an avid thrift shopper. “I shop at second hand stores For some, the idea of buying used clothes may seem undesir- probably once a week; I don’t go to able. But with a few tips and tricks regular stores anymore except for from student experts, anyone can when I need essential things like successfully and affordably ex- shoes or coats.” Krisinski explained. Krusinski enjoys spending her pand their wardrobe by thrifting. According to the National Asso- free time shopping at Goodwill. ciation of Resale and Thrift Shops The non-profit chain is a popular (NARTS), the resale industry is choice of many because of the low

Photography Editor

prices and wide variety of items from clothing to decor. Anything you could want you can find at Goodwill Walking into large, often unorganized resale stores may seem intimidating at first, but senior Chad Bardwell explained the tendency that many students have when thrifting. “When I first went [thrift shopping] I was like okay I’m not going to find anything I like but as I kept going more and more, then I started finding more and more stuff,” Bardwell said. Another tip mentioned by regular thrifters is to spend a lot of time looking through all of the sections. Unlike retail stores, clothing items are unique and are hard to organize. At least 5,000 clothing items are put out for sale daily at Savers alone, as stated in the Making Lemonade

blog. Therefore, making the switch to the resale industry will take time and effort to find the best clothing. Junior Phoebe Lesk also enjoys exploring new places to thrift shop. “I like to thrift at Goodwill, and if you’re looking for, like, higher class, there’s a place called Buffalo Exchange in Minneapolis that’s good,” Lesk said. There are hundreds of resale stores in Minnesota alone, such

as Junket: Tossed & Found, Assistance League Thrift Shop, and Little Bird on Grand, stores which are all conveniently located in Minneapolis. When searching for new items to expand one’s wardrobe it is important to try all of the different stores and build up a preference. To many, the idea of thrifting may seem overwhelming, but with a little practice, one may discover a new favorite hobby.

PHOTO BY WILL GLEASON

Goodwill often has promo events, such as those meant to celebrate Halloween. “I like to thrift at Goodwill, and if you’re looking for, like, higher class, there’s a place called Buffalo Exchange in Minneapolis that’s good,” junior Phoebe Lesk says of her thrift store preferences.

Chick-Fil-A rises to top of fast food chain Andrew Phan

Photo graphy Editor Fast food has always been a major part of American life. Although fast food is not the healthiest choice many Americans, still eat it. Chick-Fil-A may be the new hottest fast food restaurant on the block with their menu showing to be healthier than other fast foods. In prior years, McDonald’s has been the dominant fast food all around the world. Chick-Fil-A has not been a known restaurant in the north until recent expansions. Even with Chick-FilA being a much smaller franchise, they ranked 8th for overall fast foods in the U.S. Some people have said that this is

the new healthy fast food. Chick-Fil-A is known for their good quality chicken, amazing service and flavorful sauce. “They enjoy it because there’s less preservatives making it healthier and tastier,” senior Harrison Koivu said. Unlike McDonald’s reputation for being unhealthy Chick Fil-A is known for their quality chicken. Teens love the quick and easy fast food but at what cost is it to their health. Teens love the quick and easy fast food but at what cost is it to their health. Unlike McDonald’s reputation for being unhealthy Chick Fil-A is known for their quality chicken, using whole chicken breast which is healthier than grounded chicken.

Every restaurant is known for something and Chick-Fil-A is known for their quality service and food. Fast food is a major trend in America and Chick Fil-A is offering healthier options. Chick-Fil-A has proven to care about their quality with spending millions of dollars finding healthier recipes. Their service is known to be the best of all fast food restaurants. “Well I feel like it’s just a more of an open experience compared to other fast food chains and it doesn’t seem like a fast food but more of a restaurant,” junior Abdulaziz Mohamed said. When customers walk into a Chick-Fil-A they don’t get the feeling of a greasy fast food place but

more of a dine-in place. Although Chick-Fil-A doesn’t have beef on their menu, they have many different kinds of meals they can get made with chicken. Many fast food restaurants serve the same menu with different recipes, however Chick-Fil-A offers a variety of healthy options. Fries are the typical side for a meal, but not the only option at Chick-FilA. Customers can also get a fruit cup, side salad, chicken tortilla soup and even a hearty breast of chicken soup. Chick-Fil-A spent $50 million perfecting the grilled chicken recipe. Chick Fil-A offers fresher ingredients such as cabbages and carrots they shred themselves for their coleslaw. As teens,

one doesn’t have much money, so fast food restaurants are always a go to. Now there’s a new and healthier option available. With this new expansion offering healthier options, teens will still be able to go out with their friends. Although Chick-Fil-A is a much smaller franchise than McDonalds, their quality service and chicken fried in peanut oil, get the consumers coming in. The hope of this expansion is to help people eat a little healthier while still getting the speedy fast food. Teens are be able to get cheap fast food without having to be putting terrible things into one’s body. Chick-Fil-A is leading the charge to a new solution to healthy foods.

Sports

Oct. 27, 2017

Cross country girls run to state Logan Huber Distribution Reporter

The girls cross country team has been successful so far this season with winning or placing high in invitational meets and they look to head to state and perform well. The team has been strong because of the hard work the girls have put in over the summer and the younger runners who are stepping up and being leaders. This hard work has been shown through their results so far this season, like placing first in the Faribault and Mayo meets. “The amount of hard work and running in the off season has made up for the loss of our seniors last year,” coach Dawn Podolske said. Over the summer, the girls put in a lot of work. They ran six days a week, one time a day on average. They ran for many miles in order to build strength not only for themselves, but also for their teammates and teamwork. “Running isn’t fun by yourself, but when you have your team there to cheer you on it is so much better and more enjoyable,” freshman Maddie Motz said. Cross country is a supportive sport and when the girls are feeling tired, they always have their teammates on the side or next to them cheering them on. It doesn’t matter their grade or what team they are on, the girls

are there to support and cheer on their teammates, and this is what leads to the team’s success. “I have two goals, one is to make it to state and the second is to make it through the season without getting hurt,” freshman Ana Weaver said. A very common injury with cross country is shin splints. Shin splints are pains felt in the shins caused by overuse of the shinbone. Many runners experience this injury and it is definitely a fear of many runners on the team. “We do have a lot of young runners stepping up and making a difference,” Podolske said. The top runner is Weaver. She has helped lead the team to top finishes in the first two invitational meets the girls have competed in. There are only two seniors on the varsity team, so many of the younger girls have had to step up to help carry the team to victory. “Coach Podolske pushes us to be our best and is always there for support and encouragement,” Weaver said. Podolske has been coaching cross country for many years and she knows how to lead. She is a strong coach for the girls and is hard on them when needed. She strives for what is best for the girls and has goals to go to state and to stay injury free. The team has been performing well so far this season because of their hard work and determination.

PHOTO BY MORGAN GRIM Junior Megan Lampright runs along side her teammates during practice. “Running isn’t fun by yourself, but when you have your team there to cheer you on it is so much better and more enjoyable,” fellow teammate freshman Maddie Motz says.

Chlorine hurts swimmers Chlorine in pool damaging to girls’ health during season Kenzie Motz Layout Editor The girls swim team’s biggest struggle is not keeping their undefeated streak alive, but instead keeping their health in top condition despite the conditions of the pool they swim in each day. The team has to battle hair loss, yellowing teeth, hair turning green, skin becoming irritated and a terrible chlorine cough throughout the season each year. The girls have tried to find new ways around these health issues by applying Vaseline to their eyebrows so they will not fall out and showering before getting into the pool, but only some tricks work. Each year, girls try different things to keep their bodies in satisfactory condition. “Showering before getting in the pool has helped, but it is a ventilation issue more than anything,” senior Summer Jack said.

The air around the pool has chlorine mixed in with it because of the poor ventilation system at Stillwater Middle School. The mix of sweat and a strong dose of chlorine that are not able to be pushed out of the pool space is the main reason for the chlorine cough. The shower does help for those with irritated skin, but the benefits stop there. “Sometimes our coach will crack open the door to get some fresh air in which kind of helps,” junior Allison Kobilka said about what was being done to help the girls. Many girls stand outside coughing, trying to get more fresh air to settle their lungs and stop the chlorine cough. Unfortunately, the cough can last anywhere between a couple of minutes to a couple of days, so even fresh air does not always help. “I would say it affects our performance because we can’t take a deep breath without coughing, which can really be a difficult when you’re swimming because you need to take more breaths,” Jack said.

Taking more breaths while swimming can slow them down, which would affect their performance. Though the cough is not the only side effect of the chlorine that affects the girls. There are many other things they have to deal with over the course of the season. “Every practice, lots of the girls put Vaseline all over their eyebrows multiple times during the practice if they want to keep their eyebrows,” junior Claire Zdechlik said. The girls figured out this trick and it has been a big help to many. Some swim girls whose teeth turn yellow have turned to whitening strips and treatments until the season is over. Once the season is over their teeth no longer yellow and their eyebrows regrow. “The chemicals in the pool are just really harsh and the air in the pool area is really bad,” Zdechlik said. The girls work hard to keep their bodies healthy despite the troubles they face as they continue to keep their undefeated streak going.

Lifestyle

Oct. 27, 2017

Meme of the month:

October

PHOTO BY HANNAH BOARDMAN

According to Uproxx.com,

It is a difficult process to

According to USDA, an apple

Will Ferrell had to pitch the

dehydrate an entire orange,

has 19 grams of sugar, yet a

“I happened to be behind him, driving to work, and [Mr. Weaver] ran out to my [car] and said, ‘I’ve got your lesson plan in the back of my truck’...he opened the tailgate and there was a dead deer.”

plot of Anchorman 20 times.

yet it is common for slices.

donut has 11 grams of sugar.

-Doug Long

ALTERNATIVE COPY STORY BY JACK SEIPEL, PHOTOS BY WILL GLEASON

GRAPHIC BY ABBY BANKS ART BY EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Upcoming events around Stillwater

Trick or treat downtown

OCT. 28-29

Halloween

PHOTO BY HANNAH BOARDMAN OCT. 31

Christmas at the Thanksgiving courthouse!

CREATIVE COMMONS IMAGE THROUGH PIXABAY BY JAZZ- NOV. 17-19 MENT

PHOTO BY HANNAH BOARDMAN NOV. 23

CREATIVE COMMONS IMAGE THROUGH FLICKR BY VXLA NOV. 24

Black Friday

CREATIVE COMMONS IMAGE THROUGH FLICKR BY DIARIOCRITICO DE VENEZUELA

Stillwater Area High School | 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N, Oak Park Heights, MN | Dec. 1, 2017 | Issue 2, Vol. 62

BSU promotes racial acceptance Ben Valerius

Announcements Editor Every week, a number of different clubs can be found meeting in and around campus. The Black Students Union, or BSU, meets every Tuesday in the main forum from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Typically, they will see 20-30 students ranging from freshman to seniors coming out to talk about experiences of being students of color in a predominantly white school. “The goal we have [in mind] is to make Stillwater a more safe and comfortable place for students of color...we want to make sure new,

incoming students have a place to call home,” junior Donyea Davis, president of the BSU said. The BSU was in the process of creation since the 2016-17 school year and from the start, the students involved in the creation of the club knew they did not want it to be a club where a few close-knit friends come to fool around after school. The BSU board wanted to see students of color more comfortable speaking out and standing up, in order to educate themselves and their peers around issues that they see in our community and in our world today. They also had the entirely new population of the school in mind. That being the freshmen and sophomores, and what the club could do to

make them feel more comfortable at SAHS. They run much like other clubs that promote diversity such as Students Promoting Cultural Awareness.

“I think we basically do the same thing, when we were creating it, we had to have a meeting with the SPCA and our club because...we wanted to have something different...we wanted our own space,” junior Alicia Soltero said. The BSU operates differently from other clubs that promote diversity such as the SPCA or the GSA, in that a lot of its members or their parents are immigrants and come from Nigeria or Ethiopia, meaning they can share firsthand experiences of what

they have seen as people of color. In addition to being a safe space to share experiences, the BSU also exists to educate its members and encourage discussion on certain topics. Certain topics discussed so far this year include dealing with conflicts, standing for the pledge and standing up to bigotry in the school environment or in the world. They also look for projects and ways they can put an end to bigotry. “We were looking for a project... we recently received one called ‘Speak Up!’ about how you can confront issues of bigotry when you’re around family... in the workplace, at school...it’s a little booklet,” junior Fatima Menawa said.

“Speak Up!” is an 89 page informational book about how to respond to everyday bigotry. It gives both students and adults the tools to confront all sorts of common bigotry in the school or in their workplace. Davis, Soltero, Menawa and other members of the BSU board hope to put these ideals into play in everyday life, to hopefully put an end to bigotry faced by students of color in our school and community today. They hope to continue to foster an educational and social club in the BSU that can help the students of color at our school succeed in the future. Members of the BSU have high hopes for the future of their club, best said by Menawa, “We want BSU to last.”

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES GRAPHIC BY MIRA LANASA Like us on Facebook! Stillwater Pony Express

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES

GRAPHIC BY ABBY BANKS

PHOTO BY AUBREY KELLEY

PHOTO BY CASSIE ALES

Lake Elmo Elementary adds Spanish immersion program, now open to kindergartners. Article on page 2

Changing influences: District changes approach to community outreach with new programs. Article on page 6-7

Rogers lends hand to United States Virgin Islands through community donations Article on page 8

What’s in Mr. Hamilton’s desk: a look into the math teachers’ lives. Article on page 12

News

Dec. 1, 2017

Lake Elmo adds Spanish immersion class Katherine Poor

outside of our district wanting to attend our program. Immersion education is very popular and the deLake Elmo Elementary is adding an mand is increasing.” Larson said. Day to day communication with exciting new addition: a Spanish Immersion program is being introduced people who speak English or Spanto the district for kindergarteners. ish becomes easier for bilingual “This is our first year beginning with people. In the future, students will kindergarten. Every year we will offer likely be able to handle internaimmersion to incoming kindergarten tional business better; people who students... The program will expand are bilingual also have an advaninto middle school and various opportu- tage when it comes to the job search. Spanish Immersion starting at nities will be provided in high school,” explained Rachel Larson, Director of a young age such as kindergarten Learning and Student Engagement. is also beneficial because children This is a dual program, with native have been proven to learn languages Spanish and English speakers. They are faster than adults. The students spend doing this because it gives kids more about 80 percent of their day learnopportunities for international matters, ing content in Spanish. As they proghelps with problem solving, and more. ress through elementary school, the With a growing number of balance of Spanish to English will Spanish speakers in the United become closer to 50 percent each. There are several educational States, being fluent in multiple languages is helpful for many things. benefits to a Spanish Immersion pro“We already have families from gram. It can improve mental flexibil-

Distribution Reporter

ity, given that learning two languages at once is difficult. An example of this is how the students may take a math or history class taught in entirely Spanish. The program helps with pattern recognition, noticing patterns within the languages. Also, it can be helpful with problem solving. As many positives have come to mind, there are also downsides to a program like this. “Right now a con to the program is that there is a waiting list and not everyone who wants to be in the program can be,” said Larson. It can also be difficult process for students, taking much focus and effort in order to succeed. Larson added, “I feel so fortunate to work in a community and district where language and cultural diversity is celebrated, welcomed, and prioritized. Our students deserve the opportunity to become bilingual and expand their worldview.”

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES Kindergarten Spanish immersion teacher Jennifer Nelson helps her students with math problems. “It’s fun to see how excited they get about learning,” Nelson explains. In the classroom, the majority of the talking is done in Spanish to help students learn new words and understand the language better.

River Grove Elementary school shares vision Three facts about River Grove: 1.) The school is teacher-based

ALTERNATIVE COPY BY MIRA LANASA

2.) River Grove students learn by doing 3.) Students’ education goes beyond the classroom

News

Dec. 1, 2017

Big changes coming for Snoball dance Evelyn Young

Student Playlist Reporter As December begins, the talk of many students is the upcoming Snoball dance. This dance is a favorite amongst students. However, for this year’s Snoball dance Student Council plans on making the popular tradition have many new and fun twists. In the past, Snoball has been held at Withrow Ballroom. This winter, the venue will be unavailable because the ballroom is up for sale. Through collaboration with students and administrators it has been determined that this year’s Snoball dance will be held in either the Pony Activity Center at school or at Judd Sather downtown Stillwater. Since Withrow Ballroom is no longer an option for the dance, finding a new venue has been difficult. The PAC is an ideal option because of its ability to accommodate large numbers of people. However, the gyms in the PAC are completely booked through December.

“Snoball acts as a magical night during all of the cold weather.” -Annabel Gregg “The hard part is choosing the time. Like when to have it,” special education teacher and Student Council Director Dusty Dennis said. “There are basketball games, hockey games, the holidays and finals. We need it at a time where kids are able to show up. If we have it in the PAC it will be in the middle of January.” If the dance is held at the PAC Student Council understands that

students will be disappointed. Snoball has alway been at a different venue. But because of the chance the dance could be in the PAC, Student Council would use decorations to make the PAC unrecognizable. “We want Snoball to stay popular so we would go all out. Make it the best decorated dance we have ever had. We would want to do something with the entrance to make it cool and we could use the track above too,” Dennis explained. Besides Snoball not being held at Withrow Ballroom, Student Council is considering making changes regarding music. In the past, DJs have been hired to play music from a student selected playlist. However, the music students want is only played a fraction of the time. Student Council may eliminate the a hired DJ all together. “This year we are thinking about having students DJ it [Snoball] instead of older people,” junior Student Council member Nettie Johnson said. “We were thinking of having Noah Ness and Amit Kumra do it.” Even if the dance is held in January, it will still be in the winter, which is one of the factors that makes Snoball a favorite for many students. It serves as an event students can look forward to having break up the winter. “Winter is a really horrible time,” senior Student Council President Annabel Gregg said. “It is cold and miserable, but Snoball acts as a magical night during all of the cold weather where you can get dressed up with friends and go out and enjoy that time of the year.” Snoball will undoubtedly be different than in the past. Student Council is aware of the issues this may cause and is working hard to create a successful winter dance regardless of the location. “It is not about where the dance is at but how it is done and the people you are with,” Gregg explained. “Change isn’t bad it’s just different.”

Outfit ideas for Snoball

Photo by Hannah Sween Graphic by Kenzie Coyle

Stop by Ross Orthodontics to find your best smile! 2215 Vine Street Suite B Hudson, WI 1068 South Lake Street Suite 205 Forest Lake, MN www.smilesbyross.com 651-464-6988

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Editorial

Dec. 1, 2017

Staff Ed: Photoshop affects body image Media outlets and advertisers who use Photoshop to alter images of women causes harm among viewers and readers. With teenagers having more access to the internet, it creates the perception that everyone has to be a certain shape and size to be “good enough” and Photoshop within the “media culture” is only amplifying this negative thinking. With increased access to the internet at a younger age, this promotes the idea that everyone should be skinny but curvy at the same time. Be it through computers, phones, and other devices used to access social media, younger and younger girls are facing the pressures of body image and the insecurities that arise. Thirteen year-olds are stepping out in full faces of makeup and crop tops, because of these ideals of women perpetuated by a photoshopped media. The altering of images in the modeling industry plays a major role in the overall idea that women have to look the same as everyone in a magazine or on the internet. Often, magazines market articles saying that they will teach the reader how to work out to look like a Victoria’s Secret Angel. However, by saying that this look is achievable to the masses, when in actuality, many models simply are born with that body type, it increases insecurities in women who may not have been born with that body shape, especially when many of the women who they are aspiring to be have been Photoshopped. Teenage girls are looking at models in the industry and getting the idea that they have to weigh a certain amount

or look a certain way to fit in. When media outlets alter images or publish pictures from different photoshoots, such as those from Victoria’s Secret, it creates insecurities in young women. Altering of images can lead to problems like eating disorders. A study on medicalnewstoday.com, explains 20-40 percent of models in the industry are facing an eating disorder. Anorexia is the most known eating disorder however, bulimia is the most common in models. Although not all women who look at altered images or super-thin models develop an eating disorder, it does create questions about various other impacts of images on readers and viewers. There are ways companies around the world that are trying to fix this problem. France has put a minimum weight limit on models; AERIE and Dove are promoting plus sizes. This encourages both the idea that all sizes are beautiful and that Photoshopping women, as combatted in the Aerie Real campaign, is unnecessary. By beginning to introduce diversity in sizes, women are more readily able to see themselves in a position of societal beauty, helping to combat the insecurities due to the previous modelling standards. In modeling, there seems to be an increase in plus size models and size 0 as well. There are not as many size 5 or size 6 models. While the majority of women are plus size, it causes an awkward in-between stage where the extremes are shown and many young girls who are not a size 2, but aren’t at plus sizes yet aren’t necess-

EIC Column

Emma Lowey

Online Editor-in-Chief

CARTOON BY MADISON WEISPFENNING rily seeing themselves represented. The encouragement of plus sizes is important, but the most prominent victims, teen girls, still are not necessarily seeing themselves represented. Even still, this situaton affects men as well. Bodybuilders are upheld as what men should look like, when in actuality, the work required to build that much muscle tone is actually damaging to men’s health, especially at the early teen year stages of puberty, when the body has not fully developed. The strive for perfectly toned pectorals often causes men to be even unhealthier than having young boys who do not comply

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with that standard of fitness and health. The media industry and models should make it clear that teenage girls should not have any expectations of themselves to look like models or change themselves to be a certain shape or size. By trying to promote the image of women who are often suffering from an eating disorder as perfection and an ideal of which American women should strive to be is especially damaging and shows the remnants of a patriarchal society in which women are expected to look a certain way for men without being concerned about their own health.

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JESSE BROWN ISAAC GUNDERSON MAC SCHLENKLER PAXTON WATSON ADVISOR RACHEL STEIL PRINTER ECM CANNON VALLEY PRINTING PRINT AND ONLINE CONTENT POLICY The Pony Express is a publication of Stillwater Area High School. This paper is an open forum for the community and students’ views. Letters to the Editor are encouraged. The Editorial Board reserves the right to publish and edit letters: correction will be made in order to correct content, spelling, grammar and length. Letters and comments may be submitted to rooms D220. The staff editorial is written by the Pony Express staff and headed by Editors-in-Chief. The Pony Express is a member of the High

School Press Syndicate, the Columbia High School Press Association, International Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and the Minnesota High School Press Association. The Pony Express print and online newspapers strive to provide a form of media that embodies the strongest professional standards while working to present current and relevant stories about the community, inside and outside our building’s wall. The goal is to adhere to all legal and ethical standards of best journalistic practices, while informing, enlightening, and entertaining our publication’s readers.

The Trump administration has sparked controversy for being unprofessional and incompassionate to the people of Puerto Rico and lacking in the call to help fellow American citizens. The behavior reflects poorly on America’s image as an aiding country because it makes it seem as though we are neglecting our territories. Despite this, communities all around the world, including Stillwater, have answered the call to action that our country’s leaders have not. Central American countries and the southern Unites States have been plagued with four devastating hurricanes in the last month. Puerto Rico has recently plagued with Hurricane Maria, which caused irreplaceable damage and death. Puerto Rico has also learned that they will be without power for at least six months, which will set back the country’s rebuilding process. Trump’s administration has been criticized for the delayed call to action in assessing the islands damages in comparison to hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Puerto Ricans waited 12 days before a visit from President Trump and are still waiting for federal aid. The two previous hurricanes in the U.S. received aid and a visit from the president shortly after their storms hit, the fact that Puerto Rico has not shows the lack of urgency the administration feels. “I think it was a failure on our government because we have to make sure our laws can conform to any situation that can happen even before it happens, like hurricanes,” sophomore Christian Howlett said. It was announced on Oct. 18 that a small Montana based energy company called Whitefish Energy would be given a $300 million contract to restore the islands power. Not only does this decision breed nepotism because it is from the hometown of Interior Secretery Ryan Zinks hometown, it also jeopardizes the task of restoring the power grid. The company had 2 full time employees and little experience with major jobs like this, so it does not seem as though Whitefish can perform the urgent task.

Read more at sahsponyexpress.com

Opinion

Dec. 1 , 2017

Severe vetting replaces travel ban Lilly Sample Online Editor

In recent months, the Trump Administration has started cracking down on immigration and refugees in a new way. President Trump rid the country of his latest travel ban back in September after numerous failed attempts, and instead settled for new restrictions and screening of all people trying to enter the United States. Over the course of Trump’s presidency, people have been affected by his unfair travel restrictions. Under these restrictions, people from numerous countries within the Middle East have been prevented from entering the United States under any circumstances because Trump believes this is the answer to solving terrorism. From the beginning, many people in the United States have been infuriated with the bill, and every time Trump has issued one, it has been shut down in some way. What people probably weren’t expecting, though, was for Trump to agree to ending his ban. Instead, the Trump Administration proposed restrictions and screening, which could be just as bad. “The U.S. vetting process is already firm enough, it took my parents 5 to 7 years to get into the country,” junior Dawn Mohamed said. The new proposal of screening and restrictions can be viewed as already extreme vetting becoming more extreme. The Trump Administration also stated that 11 undisclosed countries will have an even lesser

According to DoSomething.org, there are 16.7 million refugees worldwide.

Under international law, In 2011, 850,000 applications for asylum or refugee status were filed. Only 11 percent of

Developing countries

these were fulfilled.

host 80 percent of the

refugees are not allowed to be forced back to the country they fled from. 50 percent of refugees are under the age of 18.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIE JENSEN

chance of entering the U.S. because they are viewed as a bigger threat. To become a citizen of the United States, one has to go through screening and background checks already, and this program does not need to be amped up because it works. According to Cato.org, no refugee has carried out an act of major fatal terrorism in the United States since the Refugee Act of 1980. “I hate when we declare war on concepts. We had the war on drugs that we have largely deemed a failure. George W. Bush started this war on terror after the 9/11 attacks. There is terror anywhere someone uses their free will to inflict harm and damage on another individual,” A.P. Governmentt. teacher Roger Stippel said. Declaring war on concepts will only achieve fear. Terror is everywhere, depending on your definition. According to FBI.gov, more caucasian males commit fatal terror attacks in the United States than anyone else by a long shot, but there is no fear of them. From Johnstonarchive.net and Politifact.com, just over 100 people have been killed by Islamic terrorists since 2000, not including 9/11, and according to Newsweek.com, President Trump allegedly killed almost 1,500 innocent civilians in the Middle East through U.S. Military coalition airstrikes in one month alone. “When [President Trump] makes these types of plans, he definitely thinks that his way is the only way. ...what he thinks just doesn’t align with reality,” senior Megan Ramberg said. Trump and the Trump Administration lack facts, clarity and reasoning.

More Americans support legalizing marijuana According to mpp.org, Marijuana is less harmful than tobacco.

GRAPHIC BY HANNAH SWEEN

smoked marijuana more than once,” freshman Sydney Rogness said. In reality, 11 percent of 8th gradPodcast Reporter ers, 28 percent of sophomores, and The legalization of marijuana 36 percent of seniors have reported has been an increasingly discussed smoking marijuana, according to PBS. topic in the United States. In fact, The prevalence of marijuana is ex29 states currently have laws en- tremely clear. It is slowly becoming couraging the legalization of mari- more common. By legalizing it, the juana. Therefore, marijuana should system will be more controlled. Combe legalized in the United States. panies and the government could moniMarijuana was first recreation- tor and control who is able to access ally used in the early 1900’s. It was and use the drug, much like how alcothen made illegal in 1931. How- hol is regulated in the United States. ever, many people continued to ex“More students and people would plore the drug and usage rates were start smoking marijuana if it was made at an all time high in the 1970’s. legal in the United States,” Rogness said. This spike, was followed by the However, according to scpr. first legalization of marijuana by the org, the legalization of marijuana state of California in 1996. This has would not directly affect the persince been followed by various states. centage of people who smoke. Currently, for the first time ever, If marijuana becomes legal in the more people say that they are sup- United States, fewer people will use porting legalizing marijuana than not. marijuana. The reason people find “I think around 60-70 per- themselves participating in these accent of students at our school have tivities is generally because it is seen

Paxton Watson

as exciting and dangerous to do something illegal. Therefore, making it legal would help diminish usage among the population, which would mean fewer arrests and less tax payers money going toward jails, to house inmates for petty crimes, such as possession of marijuana. “Marijuana being legalized would decrease drug related violence in gangs,” community member Chris Zufall said. Experts from the Canadian Press stated that legalizing marijuana would cut gang violence. In general, gangs are constantly fighting over drugs. By legalizing one of the most popular drugs in the world, the country could help fight and diminish gang violence. Decreasing violence is always a good thing and could help improve the lives of many, including young children wrapped up in the gang and drug world. Legalizing marijuana in the United States would be a smart and strategic decision for the government.

Dec. 1, 2017

C hang ing influences District changes approach to community outreach in new programs Abby Banks

“I’m never going to vote yes on any future school district [levy]. That bond referendum was such a slap in the face,” Denise Knoll, parent of three fourth-generation Stillwater graduates and member of the Superintendent Advisory Committee, said. The $97.5 million bond referendum and the BOLD 5-2 vote broke much of the community trust with the school. Accusations of a conflict of interest in regards to Kathy Buchholz, whose husband works for one of the architecture firms in one of the projects, dominated conversation, while the district faced three different lawsuits.

closures, to be honest, and not being able to do as much of the work as we’d really like to do. So I think that you’ll see a lot of these things changing,” Pontrelli said. As the committee continues, the school district is becoming more active in engagement between groups in the district, especially within the last two years, which Pontrelli had stated earlier. “The first meetings of that council we were very intentional about getting people from all over the district, whether they have kids, don’t have kids, to come together. The first year they created a list of topics of things they wanted to know more about. So we spent a lot of time sharing information, getting feedback from them, trying to understand some of these topics,” Pontrelli explained.

Superintendent Advisory Committee

Community Outreach

Print Editor-in-Chief

The uproar of the community contrasted with the years where no levies were passed. While the outpouring of criticism has subsided, much of the community still is stinging. Superintendent Denise Pontrelli, who was in charge of the BOLD plan, cited wanting more community involvement and input as her reason for beginning her Superintendent Advisory Committee, which entering its second year. “We spent a lot of time those first two years on school

While some of the community wants to be more involved, almost 80 percent of the district population does not have kids in school. The school district is focused on outreach, and currently has online Think Tanks, the Thought Exchange which has been up for about 18 months, as well as partnerships with outside organizations like Lakeview, Optum Health and Anderson Windows. The Thought Exchange was not only distributed in the

Focus district, but are also sent to voter registrations. Optum is using IdeaQuest to allow people to propose ideas, and then will bring the district through a process of looking at top issues. “I think that gives us an extra challenge as a school district, to communicate with folks who might have had students in our district in the past and were very supportive, but now that their kids are gone, they’re focussing on something else. . . I think that’s something everyone in the Metro Area is struggling with right now,” Pontrelli said. “I think whenever there’s big decisions to be made that it’s wonderful to have the community involved and active, and we definitely have a very active community,” Andrew Jurek, math teacher at Stillwater Middle School and member of the Advisory Committee, said.

Students’ participation

In terms of student involvement, the new flex time windows are opening opportunites for student feedback. Pontrelli plans on opening up discussions for students on what they find important during the newfound free period. Student Council has recently distributed polls and surveys centered around issues relevant to student life, which Annabel Gregg and Ava Yokanovich, seniors and class presidents, share at school board meetings. “Concerns mentioned in the Quarter One survey referred to the school having a later start time, keeping PLC Wednesdays, having more passing time in the hallways, parking pass expenses, and the parking lot in general. These are issues and concerns that are at the forefront of students’ minds that are worth considering for the near future,” Yokanovich explained at the Nov. 9 School Board meeting. Last year, Pontrelli also began the Student Innovation Council, meeting with students to try and get their feedback on district changes. “We each time brought new students in to get more perspective, but then they weren’t able to hear how we were following through on some of their concerns. I went to the Student Council just on Monday [Oct. 30], and visited with them. They are going to create a group for me of 20 students who represent diverse perspectives from the high school, and are going to meet during flex time, once a month, to sit down and have conversations about what’s important to you, what’s working, and what’s not. And when that’s a consistent group we will be able to go back and talk about what has changed what has not,” Pontrelli added.

Dec. 1, 2017

Bridging the gap

However, some students and parents feel that the district does not actually pay attention to their feedback. Knoll, who has been a consistent committee member for years before her work on the Superintendent Advisory Committee replied with “No,” when asked if the school used Superintendent Advisory Committee ideas, whereas Pontrelli said, “I could give you a laundry list of opportunities that we have where kids and students and community members and parents are involved in making some of the decisions.” “It was that BAAC. Budget Adjustment Advisory Council. I don’t know how many hours we put in. . . When we went to go present [her proposal for elementary music programs], they said ‘Oh, we’re going to cut the fifth grade orchestra program,’” Knoll explained. “I remember I drove a young lady home who didn’t have her license yet. They wanted students on [the council]. She was friends with one of the school board members that was there, supposedly being involved. And she said, ‘Oh yeah, his son is a friend of mine and said his dad just sits there and texts back and forth to him.’ So he’s there physically, so he can say he was part of the program, but he didn’t do anything,’” Knoll said. “So you walk out thinking, this is all predetermined, and they can just say, ‘Oh, we had X amount of people come to X amount of meetings, and so they were part of this.’ And that’s the same dang thing with that bond referendum too. I always feel that things are already determined and we are just going through the motions, and its very sad. I don’t even know what’s come out of this Superintendent Advisory Committee, to be honest with you,” Knoll further explained

tive introduced by Pontrelli in recent years. It tackles issues related to mental health, and was initiated after the first of three suicides in the past three years in Stillwater. “I think what people don’t always understand is the work that has been going on behind the scenes. For instance with this mental health initiative, since the day one that I’ve been here, we’ve been working on reimagining what the support for students can be. Part of that part of the whole school consolidation was taking the money that we were going to quote unquote ‘save,’ and reinvest in student advocates, student councils, mental health counsellors, which we’ve done. That doesn’t happen overnight, that started two years ago I think people are sometimes quick to judge without asking really what’s happened so far,” Pontrelli commented. Information in small communities tends to have a breakdown in internet connections. In in aging community such as Stillwater, internet newsletters aren’t always the most effective tool, and Pontrelli cites word of mouth as the as the most effective method of information distribution in Stillwater. “Unless you’re working on it, you don’t always know that it might be happening, so one of the things we have these groups doing is working on communication, because obviously there’s a communication gap between what we’re doing and what people are understanding is happening,” Pontrelli said.

A Time for Change

In the past two years with the introduction of a large portion of these groups, there are many more opportunities for any community member to get involved, and to see their peers doing the same. “The Superintendent’s Advisory Committee is one thing that’s happening where we do that, the other piece is our Mental Health Initiative. . . Those are all action based groups that are out there going and doing the work,” Pontrelli explained. “We have a very with-it community here, and a very tight knit community, and I think any impact that the community has, good or bad, when we all band together and care about kids we do great things,” Jurek added. The Mental Health Committee was another initia-

PHOTOS BY MORGAN GRIM, INFORMATION FROM STILLWATER CURRENT AND DISTRICT OFFICE

People

Dec. 1, 2017

Rogers lends hand to Virgin Islands Rosie Braun Online Editor

Senior Lauren Rogers took initiative to help raise money for the Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma hit northern United States and Puerto Rico at the end of August. She used the organization All Hands Volunteers in order to wire money to the United States Virgin Islands to go toward building the islands back up again. Rogers used the helping hands of Spanish teacher Kristen Carter and senior Katie Schuenke in order to create this fundraiser and make it happen. The three made a “team” for the school on www.hands.org where people could add a donation of their choice. Two weeks prior to the actual raising of the money went to planning and increasing awareness. Posters were put up around school to notify teachers and students of how they can donate to the team online and how they could get involved. Oct. 6-13 was the main week of raising money for the cause. “They were hit first… people are complaining like, ‘Oh Puerto Rico isn’t part of the United States and nobody is showing anything’, and I’m like, ‘Well this is just as bad!’ Like, these people, they’re not as good as Puerto Rico in the first place, they were hit just as hard, or harder, because they were hit first. And they’re smaller: barely any government, any money, still part of the U.S, They’re a territory,” Rogers said. According to CNN, many of the 100,000 residents of the Virgin Islands had no place to stay after the hurricanes hit. For multiple weeks after the disaster, the islands were still left with no power and slim amounts of running water. Rogers wanted to get involved by sending money down to help pay for the expenses of the damage. “We decided we were going to raise money for the Virgin Islands, and then we were searching everywhere around on the internet and found All Hands Volunteers and found that we could make a fundraiser and start our own team page,” Schuenke said. “I am really proud to see Still-

water students stepping up any time that they get the chance. It’s important for all of us to remember that we’re part of the world as citizens and not just living isolated.” All Hands Volunteers is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 that helps bring volunteers and money into places in the United States that have been struck by natural disaster. People are able to create “teams” on their website to generate money for a natural disaster of their choice, and the money is then directly wired to their headquarters. “Lauren often is thinking about other people so I was not surprised at all by how much it upset her to see what was happening in the Caribbean. She was absolutely passionate about taking action and doing whatever she could to make sure people could receive support in such a difficult time,” Carter added. To get involved with this project, Google search “All Hands Volunteers Stillwater Area High School team.” Click on the first link that shows up and there is a big blue “DONATE” button on the left hand side of the webpage. “I am really proud to see Stillwater students stepping up any time that they get the chance. It’s important for all of us to remember that we’re part of the world as citizens and not just living isolated,” Carter said.

PHOTOS BY AUBREY KELLEY Upper right - Senior Lauren Rogers raised money for the United States Virgin Islands following the attack of hurricanes Maria and Irma. “This was completely student led. I had no part in this; Lauren handled everything, Spanish teacher Kirsten Carter explains. All of the money collected through the school was donated directly to relief funds in the Virgin Islands. Lower left - The Virgin Islands were hit hard in the tropical storms. Any donations aid in getting supplies and the rebuilding following massive amounts of devastation. “We decided we were going to raise money for the Virgin Islands, and then we were searching everywhere around on the internet and found All Hands Volunteers and found that we could make a fundraiser and started our own team page,” Schuenke says.

Teachers recall powerful moments with previous students

Kaitlyn Kirby

Business Editor Teachers often have unpredictable days while at work. Those very unpredictable moments can sporadically shape their lives. Three teachers share their most memorable experiences and between 40 combined years of teaching at Stillwater Area High School, there are a lot of stories to tell. There is never a dull moment while at work as a teacher. Something is bound to happen that is out of the ordinary or unforgettable. Whether it is beating Hill-Murray in double overtime and having the hockey team go to state, saving a student’s life or getting the

job in a very unexpected way, teaching provides a lot of different experiences. Pete Hamilton is a math teacher and assistant hockey coach. His most memorable event was beating Hill-Murray in double overtime and going to state. “It just came down to the wire there was like 6,000-7,000 people there,” Hamilton said. Having so much support from a public school that he and his family members are greatly involved in, made the game very special to Hamilton. “I really dislike private schools. I am a really big believer in public education. I don’t feel like private schools play by the same rules,” Hamilton explained. The game was so close that every-

one was on the edges of their seats the entire time, and all that Hamilton wanted was to beat his all-time rival. Luckily, Stillwater pulled through during overtime, beating Hill-Murray and moving on to state. English teacher Kim Thompson’s most memorable moment involved saving a student’s life. Thompson gave the student hope and made her feel like she had a purpose in life. “[A student] came back to me after two years. She said she only came to school because I had her sixth hour. She wanted me to know I kept her from suicide,” Thompson said. This significant incident changed Thompson; she now tries to make

a deeper connection with students. “I felt a force to commit to the quiet kids,” Thompson said. Ever since that day, she has connected with the quiet kids and still continues to form a unique bond with them. Science teacher Doug Long said his most memorable moment is a somber story about how he got his job. In 1991, Long got a job as a teacher aid at SAHS. Soon after he got his job he got a phone call from the principal saying, “You will be teaching until further notice.” Later that day, Long found out the teacher he would be filling in for had died. “The teacher was putting up a weather station at Stillwater Jr. High and the teacher fell off the roof from three

stories and died,” Long explained. Ever since that day Long feels like he has big shoes to fill because the teacher was a great guy: very well liked by his students and staff, and many people looked up to him. Often times, when teachers go to work their day is going to have something unexpected happen. By having such an unpredictable job they can not help but form some of the most memorable memories in their life while teaching. They all commented on how much they enjoy seeing past students years later. “The memorable moments are when I see [past students]. You can see the physical imprint you had the kids year later,” Hamilton said.

A&E

Dec. 1, 2017

Improv Troupe prepares for showcase Mya Lysne

Read and Watch Editor When Stillwater students think of the holiday season, many things come to mind: chestnuts roasting on an open fire, snow, Christmas parties, more snow, peppermint mochas and hot chocolate. However, the students involved with Stillwater’s improv troupe “The Jockeys of Comedy” do not have time to think about these things, since they have already started getting prepared for the Winter Improv Showcase. Improvisational Theater is the art of acting and performing a scene on the spot, without any previous preparation. Many popular examples of improv exist on TV, such as “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?” and various components of NBC’s iconic “Saturday Night Live.” Junior Wyatt Ecker has been involved with improv for just two seasons, and he enjoys it.

“Improv is really special [compared to] other kinds of theatre,” Ecker said. “Because in many other kinds of theatre you have a director kind of telling you how to be.” Sophomore Elsa Persson had been involved with improvisational theatre for a while. She started out at HUGE Improv Theater in Minneapolis. This is her first year doing improv with Grif Sadow at Stillwater. “I’ve had a lot more experience in long form [improv], and here we’ve only really done short form,” Persson said.

“Improv is weird. It’s really weird. You never know what’s going to happen.” -Sophmore Elsa Persson

Long form improv is where actors perform a whole scene using the skills they have learned and create a story. Short form is more brief, usually focuses on one aspect of improv and is more of a warm up or exercise. “Short form is like a Youtube skit, and long form is like a TV episode,” Persson explained. Freshman Deklan Boren is just testing the waters of improv this year. “I’ve been doing theater and drama for a while, but I’ve only been in three plays,” Boren said. “I haven’t

GRAPHIC BY ELLIE FAETH

The improv show will take place on Dec. 1 - 2, and the students are working hard to make the show the best they can. “It’s more like having fun and playing games with the people that you’re surrounded by than worrying about other things,” freshman Olivia Bystrom says.

done very much improv in the past.” In rehearsals, improvers do a range of activities. These activities can range from games and warm ups to long form scenes. “One of my favorite activities is Freeze and Justify.” Ecker said. “It involved two improvers, and in any point during the scene they have going, someone who’s watching can call ‘Freeze’ and they tag someone out, take their exact body position, and continue the scene.” The Stillwater Theatre department has been putting on improv shows for a few years. “Improv is weird. It’s really weird. You never know what’s going to happen, and that’s the whole point of it,” Persson explained. “It’s so fun to see the spontaneity of it and how random it is.” The Jockeys of Comedy perform on December 1 - 2, and again in the spring. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

PHOTOS BY HANNAH SWEEN

Trending

Dec. 1, 2017

Cutaway Productions displays self-expression Tess Schoenborn Online Editor

From music videos to advertisements, Cutaway Productions creates many different kinds of videos. Cutaway was created by video production teacher, Debbie Drew. Drew handpicks students from the middle school video production class to join Cutaway Productions when they move up to the high school. Students say the course encourages creativity, support of fellow classmates and laughter. “[Cutaway] is giving them real-world experience… being able to work with clients, having deadlines,” Drew said. The Cutaway program pushes students to work hard and gives them a way to experience the world around them in a way that a lot of high schoolers do not get to. It could influence them to get a job in the video production industry when they are able to. This course also teaches the students involved everything they need to know for a career in video. This includes how to work with computers and computer software, working with the fine arts aspects like creating visual arts, and how to work in teams. “[Drew] gives you a lot of creative freedom and lets you really do whatever you want, and you get really awesome opportunities while doing it, like getting to work with movie producers…,” freshman Olivia Hanson said. Drew creates an environment

ALTERNATIVE COPY STORY BY HANNAH BOARDMAN, PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY CUTAWAY PRODUCTIONS

in which the students involved are allowed to create the kinds of content they like to create and produce. Students work together to create fun, entertaining content for audiences around the world. Many videos produced by Cutaway have been posted to YouTube

and have received millions of views. In 2011, Cutaway won $1,000 and an MTV Music Awards TV spot for a PSA about distracted driving. The program was participating in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and AAA Auto Club ‘Don’t Drive Distracted’ video contest.

“We make impactful videos that are deep and are meant to have a reaction from the audience, and we make really weird videos too sometimes… those are ones when [Drew] gives us free reign and just says make a video and you can go any direction with it,” sopho-

more Meghana Acharya explained. The videos produced within the Cutaway program are sometimes created to be serious and meaningful. Other times, students have opportunities to explore their imagination and creativity. This way, they are working together to create a goofy, fun video and learn more about video editing, producing and teamwork throughout the process. “[Cutaway] is a really nice space to be in because everyone is really supportive and if you need help with other classes, there is study time too because you do not have to be doing [videos] every day,” Hanson said. Cutaway has given many students an opportunity to get to know themselves and to learn more about the world of business and the world of video production. With countless hours put into creating good quality videos, students learn not just about video production, but also about working with others, being supportive of other students and more. With this time, Drew has allowed students an hour out of their long school day to express themselves and enjoy themselves creating and editing videos. “The kids learn something new with each video and then are able to put that to their creative and technical knowledge to make a really good video and then everyone is happy. The kids are happy, I am happy and the clients are happy,” Drew said.

Pacific Viporfish Films pursues filmography dreams Fotini Kloos

Announcements Editor Many students have edited or uploaded a video to Youtube either for school purposes classes, like video production, or for fun when they have down time. Seniors Miles Schindel, William Bestler and Victor Brasch have a channel called Pacific Viperfish films. They use their channel to display their creative abilities to their viewers and subscribers. After using intricate strategies to create the foundation of their videos, they upload them for themselves to look back on. These friends have been making videos since eighth grade. Since then, all three want to go to college and strive to be filmmakers. They started their channel because they wanted to “archive and dump” their footage for them to look back on. “It’s for nobody. That’s why we don’t really care if people see it,” Bestler said. “We only upload it on the internet just so we can get easy access to them,” Schindel added. These three mainly upload for personal use and to expand their knowledge and creativity making films. Their inspiration was English teacher Andrew Smith.

“Mr. Smith told me to. He’s such their video production and film career. “We’re constantly uploading, an inspirational man,” Bestler said. They describe their channel but I just don’t see it as a platform as being dark and random stories to build off really,” Schindel said. “I don’t see it beneficial to our they come up with. The trio has a unique and creative way into mak- filming career,” Bestler added on. Each of them wants to go to ing their storylines for their videos. “I think of a video idea every day, college for filmmaking and purjust random things in my head… sit- sue their dream for filmmaking ting down and writing a script and and education there. Will wants thinking of ideas is two different to go to California, but says it is things because, personally, I don’t too expensive and the others are write a script until I have an image in still deciding on other colleges. “I don’t see myself anywhere my head and then it kinda just comes as I go along,” Bestler explained. else but film. I don’t want to go do “One of our videos last year a desk job, I don’t want to work at we did, we really liked one part McDonald’s,” Bestler explained. They are serious about their film of it and the rest of it we thought was kinda garbage, so we’re gon- career. Bestler and Brasch have been na like take the one part and build producers for their videos. Bestler has off of that” Schindel explained. been a main character in all their films They regularly work with ac- as well and Schindel has been the editors and include some of their tor for the group. Over the summer, friends as well. They use expensive Schindel lived in New York for an inequipment to make their videos. ternship as a video production assistant “I’ve spent $1,000 on the and made about $1,000 working there. lens, $500 on a tripod, and the It can take up to three months rig was $300,” Brasch said. to put in work to make the films. They all use Adobe as their editBestler said, “I really like film ing equipment for their videos. The because it’s such a diverse platform group does not think Pacific Viper- for media. It’s writing, it’s music, fish will really go anywhere because it’s visuals, all in one holistic experithere is not much progression. The ence and I think what film does, no friends are just using it as a base for other medium can do. I think it just

evokes feelings on so many different levels. Anybody can watch a movie and be moved by it, you know,

whether you’re a music person or photography or whatever, so I think that’s why I like film as an art form.”

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL DANKERS

Sports

Dec. 1, 2017

Girls basketball team ready to meet high expectations tight or hold the lead. Coach Willie Taylor hopes to use a full bench this season, in order to utiHigh expectations wait at the lize the maximum potential and front door for the girls basket- talent within every player. It was ball team this upcoming season. only a matter of time for the proSenior captains Rachel Houle gram to create a deep lineup with and Elizabeth Ogren have made many strengths and few weakit clear that this year is going to nesses. In coach Taylor’s fivebe a step in the right direction. year tenure at Stillwater, he saw While finishing last year 11-15 potential for the program since and a first round exit in sections, he first applied for the position. this year’s team holds a chip on their “Potential for growth here shoulder. While finishing in the was and still is fantastic,” Taylor lower half of the conference in the said. “I have high expectations... last few years, the Ponies are ready I expect to get a home game this to turn their heavily awaited po- year for playoffs, possibly have tential into wins and the likelihood a shot at the state tournament.” of a conference championship. With strong teams such as East “[Our goal is to] make it past Ridge, White Bear Lake and Crefirst round of sections, which we tin-Derham Hall competing for a haven’t been able to do for the berth to the state tournament, the past couple of years,” Ogren said. road to state will be a tough one This seems to be the common for the Ponies. However, with goal for everyone on the team, fight more speed, experience, chemfor one more game. With more ex- istry and new talent from incomperience, a strong junior and senior ing players, a more dynamic ofclass and a deeper roster with many fense will help the Ponies succeed. returning players, making a run “It’s really important for us to in sections is extremely realistic. make sure we’re a strong, con“We can go more into nected team outside and inside the bench,” Houle said. “In the gym. Last year, there was past years, we’ve only been some tension and it didn’t really able to use seven players.” work out for us,” Ogren said. “I By using the bench, key play- like the team. It’s really fun to ers can get rest, while trusting have people outside your friend that the bench can keep the score group to look forward to at end

Jack Seipel

Social Media Editor

of the day where you see everyone and play the sport you love.” To the seniors, it is important to have a strong bond with everyone on the team, including the upcoming freshman and sophomores. The Ponies have attended many open gym opportunities, months before tryouts began. Many players play on summer league teams, while others play on year round club teams. With all the preparation leading to the high school season, the Ponies are bound to turn heads around the conference and the state. Basketball continues to be a large component to the player’s lives. Working in teams and communicating with others encourages life lessons learned through basketball, that they will cherish for the rest of their lives. “[Basketball] helps to form relationships with people I never would have talked to if they weren’t on the basketball team. [It will] help in college to form new relationships, [as I learned] how to because of basketball,” Houle said. Hoping to utilize chemistry and create stronger relationships on the court, expectations have risen to more wins and a conference title. A new era of Ponies basketball is in full stride, from fans, to coaches, to players after the trials, tribulations and dissatisfaction of past seasons.

ILLUSTRATION BY KENZIE MOTZ

ALTERNATIVE COPY STORY AND PHOTO BY MADISON WEISPFENNING

Lifestyle

Dec. 1, 2017

Meme of the month:

December

ALTERNATIVE COPY STORY AND PHOTOS BY CASSIE ALES

PHOTO BY ABBY BANKS

Upcoming events around Stillwater Hanukkah

Dec. 12-20

Holiday Concert

Dec. 14

Coffeehouse

Dec. 22

Christmas

Dec. 25

New Years Day

Jan. 1

PHOTOS BY WILL GLEASON

Stillwater Area High School | 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N, Oak Park Heights, MN | Jan. 12, 2018 | Issue 3, Vol. 62

What’s the big deal about the Super Bowl? This is the first time since 1992 that Minnesota has hosted the Super

Bowl. The state is projected to earn an estimated $620 million in revenue.

Max Kennedy

Distribution Reporter As the football season comes to an end, many Minnesotans become exited for Super Bowl LII. On Feb. 4, students and teachers will fill up couches, restaurants and streets to watch the annual spectacle. The last Super Bowl to be played in Minnesota was on Jan. 26, 1992, at the Metrodome in Minneapolis where the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills by a score of 37 to 24. The Super Bowl is a rare opportunity for cities, and it brings in $620 million on average. While this may be a huge win for local business owners, tickets for the Super Bowl are selling for around $6000. This is why many students and teachers celebrate the annual competition away from the arena. Instead they may go out in the community, spending time at restaurants or with family. “I’d rather watch the game at home than at the stadium because I feel like you get a better view on TV,” junior Jonathan Kraemer said. On TV, viewers will always get every possible angle, and people can pause whenever they like, whereas at a game, fans could look away for one second and miss the most important play. Many people watch the game with beverages, snacks and any other food that they can order or cook. Americans are expected to spend $14.1 billion on Super Bowl festivities. They will also eat 28 million pounds of

chips, 1.25 billion chicken wings and 8 million pounds of guacamole. Students and teachers will have hundreds of choices for Super Bowl treats. Local businesses will likely host viewing parties, especially restaurants. “My favorite Super Bowl food is chips and guacamole, but it’s always nice to have a little pizza to go along with it,” math teacher Rob Benson said. After stuffing their faces, some will head home in the fourth quarter to watch teams battle it out in the comfort of their own homes. There are some teams that have not been to the Super Bowl in some years, such as the Vikings and Rams, while the Patriots are looking to defend their title. With a solid offense, stellar defense and home field advantage, many people this year are expecting Minnesota to go the Super Bowl. “I think the Vikings are going to the Super Bowl this year,” junior Jaxon Leverty said. Although the Vikings may make it to the Super Bowl, that does not mean they will go unchallenged. The Steelers, Patriots, and Eagles have been the top ranked teams all year, along with the Vikings, and they have many skilled players among their starters. Regardless of who makes it to the Super Bowl, it is a unique opportunity for students and teachers to experience it, even if they cannot attend the game. Some may go to a local restaurant such as Leo’s or Acapulco to view the game, while others will sit at home with family. Wherever viewers go, it is a rare occassion, expected to bring in great revenue for the state.

are helping

over

Super Bowl,

people are

Some students prepare for the

1 million

such as senior Ellie Speedling

expected

“I will be volunteering in the Skyway. Basically I’ll be welcoming people to Minneosta, asking them if they need help getting somewhere and giving recommendations about restaurants and other stuff to do around the Twin Cities area.”

the Twin Cities

to visit over the course of

10 days Minneapolis St. Paul

- senior Ellie Speedling

PHOTO COURTESY KRISTO SWEEN Super Bowl LII will be hosted at the U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis in February. Many people, such as senior Ellie Speedling, tried out for a volunteer position at the stadium. “I believe that 30,000 people were interviewed and 10,000 people actually got a volunteering position,” Speedling said.

PHOTO BY MIRA LANASA GRAPHIC BY MIRA LANASA INFORMATION FROM CBS MINNESOTA Like us on Facebook! Stillwater Pony Express

PHOTO BY MORGAN GRIM

PHOTO BY AUBREY KELLEY

PHOTO BY EMMA LOWEY

Petition to end Pony Athletic Center fees: new facilities’ fees spark objection.

A year in review: 17 things that characterize 2017 as a year to remember.

Boys hockey shares their traditions, superstitions, hope for successful season.

What’s in Mrs. Bartlett’s desk: an inside look to the science teacher’s life.

Article on page 3

Article on page 6-7

Article on page 11

Article on page 12

Jan. 12, 2018

Speech prepares for state

Cassie Ales

Layout Editor Every Tuesday the speech club will meet from 2:20-3:00 p.m. The meetings are lead by coach and English teacher Laura Hammond, who has been involved with speech

on Saturdays and can last as long as the average school day. “I love watching students improve and get to know themselves better through speech. It’s amazing how much a student can improve throughout the season , and it’s so fun watching them succeed in

choose from: creative expression, exempt reading, storytelling, duo interpretation, humorous, poetry, drama, prose, original oratory, informative, great speeches, exempt speaking and finally discussion. Throughout the year, speech members will participate in fun-

News

cesses that are sure to come this season, as the club has already grown from the addition of freshmen. Hammond encourages all students of all grades to join the speech club, whether they feel comfortable giving public speeches or not. “Speech is absolutely the place

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES Members of speech club play a get to know you game. Speech club helps improve student’s critical thinking skills; English teacher Elizabeth Lamb explains, “There is a lot of energy in the group this year.” since 1996. Hammond typically reveals information to the students about upcoming tournaments and then leads club members into games designed to help young speakers improve in their speech. Speech club members have begun another hopeful season this December as they prepare for competitions starting in January. The competitions keep the students busy as they take place

what they set out to do this could be simply to make more friends, bask in the spotlight, or simply be more comfortable with public speaking,” Hammond said. Speech has a branch of two main categories: dramatic interpretation and public address. From the two main categories, several other categories stem off dramatic interpretation and public address to create a total of 13 categories to

draisers. This year the speech team will be bagging groceries at Cub on Feb. 4. On Feb. 13 50 percent of Chipotle’s proceeds will go to the speech club if customers voice their support of speech to the cashier and a similar opportunity will be provided on March 28 at Pizza Ranch. Despite the need for more funding, Hammond looks continues to look forward to many more suc-

to make yourself a more confident speaker! When you compete in a competitive round at a Speech tournament, the only people you are performing in front of are about six other students and one adult judge! I have lots of people who join Speech who want simply to become more confident in front of others. It works! It also looks wonderful on a college application,” Hammond said.

GRAPHIC BY LINNEA PHILLIPS

Media center adds new books to collection Rose Deziel Copy editor

ALTERNATIVE COPY BY LILLY SAMPLE

From the beginning of this school year, the media paraprofessional, Mary Peters had been searching through an extensive list of books to find ones that would best suit the high school, in her opinion. In the end, the list was narrowed down to about 60 books. With the list complete, Peters ordered the books which have been trickling into the media center since Dec. 5. Some of the new books include Stephen King’s “IT” and John Green’s “Turtles all the way Down.” The books were selected based on ratings. Peters hopes that the new library books spark students’ interest in reading as well as heighten their awareness of the world. “I go through a long process. I start at the very beginning

of the school year,” Peters said. First, there was a set price limit before Peters made any purchases. To select the books, she initially went to the Young Adult Library Services Association’s website because the group reviews young adult literature. Brandon Maxwell, English teacher and AVID instructor, believes that reading is what pushed him to become an English teacher. Although he admits that he did not always enjoy reading, he said that once he found the right book, reading became one of his passions. Because of this, he wants to send a message to students. “I would challenge students who haven’t found that one book that has ignited a passion for them, that has been something that they have really enjoyed, to get down to the media center. Keep working to find that one book because it will change their life when they get it,” Maxwell said.

News

Jan. 12, 2018

Petition to end Pony Athletic Center fees:

Students want fees removed for all students in new facilities Levi Gregg Copy Editor Hundreds of students join junior Bryn Carter in petitioning school authorities to remove a student fee for use of the Pony Athletic Center.

THE FEE In December, about 900 students and staff members signed a petition which seeks to remove a monthly $20 fee for the Pony Athletic Center (the PAC.) Despite the petition’s broad support, the athletic department maintained that the fee is a necessity to offset management costs. “I think it is extremely unfair that we have to pay to use our own facilities taken that we have used them in previous years for free,” petition founder Carter explained. “The goal of our petition is to make the PAC free for all students and teachers.”

UNEXPECTED NEEDS When the PAC was completed this fall, many students were surprised by the administrative fee, given that Stillwater area residents already paid for construction of the multi-million dollar facilities. However, the PAC fee covers an expense that may not be immediately obvious. “Since we have the facility, we need to have some supervision of those students that use it and supervision costs money,” Activities Director Ricky Michel explained.

FUTURE Anticipating the school’s resistance, Carter set high goals for the petition and laid the groundwork for an effort that might take years. “We do have to bring our petition out into the community more, not just the school itself. It might not work this year, but as long as we get something started for ongoing years, we will be fine,” Carter explained. Even with continuing support, the petition might face a challenging path towards success. Removing the activity fee would involve more facets of the district administration than just the activities department, which is in charge of managing the PAC. “We did have a meeting with a few of the people who work in the PAC including [Michel] and they basically told us ‘No, we’re going to need more data for five or ten years before we can do anything about changing the price,’” Carter said.

CONFUSION The fee for the PAC also created confusion among athletes currently participating in sports who wish to use some of the unique facilities in the PAC. Many fall sports teams were misinformed about when the PAC is open for their use. “They have to be with their coach, they can’t just walk up there and start using it. We ask our coaches, ‘If you’re going to use anything, be

with your team so it’s easy to identify the group,’” Michel explained.

EXPENSES Still many students, including senior Jack Degonda, feel that the PAC ought to be completely open to sports participants, who already pay an ac-

tivity fee of around $195 per sport. “Contributing members of sports teams have in enough hours that the PAC centers cost is only reasonable for people who don’t go to this school,” Degonda said. Ultimately, regardless of how carefully reasoned the PAC fee is, it faces opposition simply because the school offers many pay on de-

mand services which used to be free. “The reality is your generation is used to user fees. When I was a student at Stillwater High School, it was just part of the whole package. Unfortunately we have blanketed everyone to say that if you’re going to use something that the school does not fund, you’re going to have to pay for it,” Michel said.

Editorial

Jan. 12, 2018

Staff Ed: Paying for PAC generates pushback This year, Stillwater Area High school opened its new multi-million dollar athletic facility, known as the Pony Activity Center (PAC). The new facilities - which include an indoor track, weight rooms, gymnastics and basketball gyms - had teams and individual athletes excited. It’s not hard to see why students were shocked when they were told they had to pay to use all of the school’s shiny new equipment. In order to use the PAC, students are charged $10 for a one month membership or $3 a day. However, students who can not afford the fee are given leniency similar to in the lunch program. Community members can also purchase membership for a slightly higher price. Recently, students have created a petition to lift the membership fee for students and make the PAC free for students to use. Anyone can see that the PAC is part of SAHS. Logically, this should mean that it should be open to all teams and students of SAHS. The problem is, it isn’t. Not only do students have to pay $90-$120 a year to use it, teams also can have trouble using the PAC. Teams that are off-season, even though they are teams that represent Stillwater, are also barred entry to the school’s activity center without paying a fee. This policy of charging for entry to the PAC is both ridiculous and harmful to the school. If students want to better themselves, then the administration should let them be examples of how great SAHS is.

EIC Column

Linnea Phillips

Print Editor-in-Chief It’s no secret that public schools have been pushing healthy lifestyles heavily for the past decade. From healthier foods in vending machines to better cafeteria food to simply charging students extra who don’t take fruits and vegetables, eating healthy has become a priority for the Stillwater school district. With this in mind, it makes no sense that it should be harder for students to access the workout equipment that they need to pursue this healthy lifestyle. Obviously eating healthier and working out are two of the most important ways to stay healthy. If students want to work out, they should be

welcomed and encouraged to go to the PAC, not forced to pay an entry fee. It is worth noting that the administration had its reasons for charging students to use the PAC. Students who use the PAC are a liability, so to keep everyone safe community education pays two supervisors $15 an hour, for only two hours a day, to keep an eye on things. It makes sense that students’ safety should be important. It doesn’t make sense that students have to pay for it. Students don’t have to chip in to help pay the security guards. Both the security guards and the supervisors at the PAC are part of the

PONY EXPRESS STAFF PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF ABBY BANKS HANNAH BOARDMAN ELLIE FAETH MIRA LANASA LINNEA PHILLIPS

PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL GLEASON MORGAN GRIM AUBREY KELLEY ANDREW PHAN CHLOE SQUIRES

ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF HUNTER HIPPEL EMMA LOWEY HAILEY WILLIUS

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS JOE BLOMQUIST ALYSSA BUMP ELLIE FEDEROWSKI AREIANNA JUNGHANS NOAH PASIUK JOSIE SCHEREK MARK O SHEA JACK SEIPEL WYATT WASKO

The Pony Clapback

EDITORIAL CARTOONISTS SOPHIE JENSEN MADI WEISPFENNING

READ AND WATCH TEAM ABBY BEGIN GABI DANIELSON GRANT HIETPAS SUSAN HUBBARD MYA LYSNE MASON WYLIE DISTRIBUTION REPORTERS MIKAYLA COUSINEAU JESSE BROWN JOSH FRAMKE LUKE HIGGINS LOGAN HUBER MAX KENNEDY KATE POOR BEN RECKSIEDLER

BUSINESS EDITORS LUKE DICKINSON ROSE JUNKO KAITLYN KIRBY

STUDENT PLAYLIST REPORTERS IZZY ALLEN MICHELLE BURTON JOHN CASKEY MALAINA FRAGNITO KATELYN KRECH EVELYN YOUNG

ANNOUNCEMENTS EDITORS ABBEY FACE JUDI JOHNSON FOTINI KLOOS BEN VALERIUS

PODCAST REPORTERS AUSTIN BEGNAUD ISAAC GUNDERSON MAC SCHLENKLER PAXTON WATSON

school’s everyday function, it is up to the school to find, somewhere in its budget, the money to pay this relatively small price next to the small fortune that was payed to build the four gyms, over 7,000 square feet of weightlifting room, and much more that makes up the PAC itself. No student should be restricted access to any part of SAHS or any public school. Public schools exist so that students to have free access to what they need to get a head start in life. Thus, if SAHS truly cares about the health and wellbeing of its students, it needs to open up the PAC for free and unlimited use for all students.

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ADVISOR RACHEL STEIL PRINTER ECM CANNON VALLEY PRINTING PRINT AND ONLINE CONTENT POLICY The Pony Express is a publication of Stillwater Area High School. This paper is an open forum for the community and students’ views. Letters to the Editor are encouraged. The Editorial Board reserves the right to publish and edit letters: correction will be made in order to correct content, spelling, grammar and length. Letters and comments may be submitted to rooms D220. The staff editorial is written by the Pony Express staff and headed by Editors-in-Chief. The Pony Express is a member of the High School Press Syndicate, the Columbia High School Press Association, International Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press

Association and the Minnesota High School Press Association. The Pony Express print and online newspapers strive to provide a form of media that embodies the strongest professional standards while working to present current and relevant stories about the community, inside and outside our building’s wall. The goal is to adhere to all legal and ethical standards of best journalistic practices, while informing, enlightening, and entertaining our publication’s readers.

Varsity athletes have to have dedication, work ethic and sportsmanship to succeed in their sport. But not all students who letter in varsity sports even play the sports they letter in. Many students are turning to the alternative of volunteering with a team in a management position or assisting position to help out and letter in that specific sport. This is a viable option for students to letter in sports they do not necessarily play. Many students do not have the option to play some sports for many different reasons. This option gives them an opportunity to be a part of the team and help out in a sport that they choose. Senior Katie Kelzenberg and her friend senior Andria Barrett both lettered in varsity football this year for being water-girls. They were in charge of getting water for the players on the team and ensuring that all of the little odds and ends needed by the players were present and accounted for. Throughout the season it was up to the girls to ensure that non of the team members became dehydrated. The team was appreciative of the girls help and honored them at the banquet with a thank you card as well as their letter patches. “I really just wanted to be able to help out in any way that I could,” Kelzenberg said. She and Barrett were excited to help with the team and just wanted to lend a helping hand. The girls, though they were not players, spent as much time after school for this activity as the students out on the field did. Given that these girls spent just as much time committed to the sport during the season as the players did, it only makes sense that they should have as much of an opportunity to letter in the activity as the boys. They spent nearly every afternoon working to help the team and gave up their Friday nights to go to games and help there too.

Read more at sahsponyexpress.com

Opinion

Jan. 12, 2018

FCC votes to repeal net neutrality laws Hannah Sween Layout Editor

The internet is like a grocery store. It is full of all different kinds and qualities of foods and is open to all people. Grocery stores are set up like this because everyone needs and deserves open and equal access to food. The same goes for the internet, anyone with access to a computer can go anywhere they wish to on the internet and can gather the same beneficial information from it as anyone else. Republican chairman Ajit Pai of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was able pass his plan within the FCC to repeal Net Neutrality, which are the rules put in place by the government in 2015 preventing the blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization of content on the internet. If

his plan passes Congress, the internet would no longer be completely open to everyone. The internet without net neutrality would become like a grocery store that is set up with the healthiest most beneficial foods at the back and the least beneficial, processed and prepackaged foods at the front. It would then have barriers that people would have to pay to get through to have access to the most beneficial foods. “There are communities or schools that use the internet services for learning that have been very beneficial for them. But if we repeal Net Neutrality, they won’t have access to those services anymore or they’ll have to have to pay for those services which can put a strain on those communities or they might not be able to use them at all,” sophomore Sophie Browning said. Low income schools and commu-

How students can express their frustration and make their voices heard:

nities would be the hardest hit by the repeal. Because of the FCC’s “E-Rate” Program, which reduces internet prices for public schools, 99 percent of U.S. k-12 schools have internet access, however just because they have internet access through this program does not mean they will not be affected by the repeal. Many of the low income school rely heavily on free educational services and resources available on the internet. If Net Neutrality were repealed, an intense strain would be placed on already tight budgets or they could lose access to these services all together. “I think what we would see with that as far as impacting the public school is that we wouldn’t notice a difference. I think that, you know, we’d pay a little bit more here or there which then gets metered out... In our $40 million budget I think there are a lot of ar-

eas where we wouldn’t notice it,” Assistant Principal Aaron Drevlow said. According to Drevlow, students would not notice much of a difference in internet use after the repeal. Within the $40 million budget, a $15 or $20 thousand increase would not make much of a splash, slight shifts would have to be made in individual budgets within the school, however, which is not ideal. The repeal is not a bad thing for everyone, it is extremely beneficial for internet service providers (ISPs). ISPs would profit from making websites “pay to stay fast”, putting a price on the speed with which internet users can use their websites. Wealthy companies also benefit from the repeal because, in partnership with ISPs, they can essentially eliminate any competition from smaller businesses on the internet by paying to have priority over other websites.

Though the repeal passed within the FCC, the fight for maintaining net neutrality is not over. It is still possible for Congress to pass a “Resolution of Disapproval” which would overturn the FCCs vote. People in support of net neutrality should write and call Congress and their representatives to tell them that they should pass the “Resolution of Disapproval” and protect net neutrality for all U.S. citizens. People who wish to do this can go on battleforthenet.com where they can put in their email, address, and phone number and can send a generic or customized letter to congress and their representatives. They will also be given the option to call their representatives using a script provided by the website. It is important for students to make their voices heard if they are unhappy with a policy change.

www.5Calls.org: Provides a script and five phone numbers of state officials to call.

http://action.aclu.org: Provides a petition to be signed. Also provides the option to become a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

www.BattleForTheNet.com: Provides a generic letter urging Congress to protect net neutrality that can be customised and also provides the option to make a call to state officials.

Alternative Copy Story by Rosie Braun Graphic by Hannah Sween

Jan. 12, 2018

A YEAR IN REVIEW Malaina Fragnito

Student Playlist Reporter

17. 15.

On June 1, President Trump withdrew the United States of America from the Paris Climate Accord. This was a document that had been put into effect in April 2016 that was intended to increase contact between countries to help combat climate change. “There’s no legal binding to [the Paris Climate Agreement] so Trump left. Of course it was disappointing because one of the major things to combat climate change is to work with other countries. The Paris Climate Agreement was a non-binding way to increase contact with other countries,” senior Ben Wiklund, member of Youth for Sustainable Solutions said.

Trump has released the files that the government had of the assassination of JFK. There was a law written in 1992 that the files be released to the public after 25 years. “It has been a big topic of debate for about 50 years because it is such a mystery because no one really knows what happened. It helps the general public, people just like me, and it helps the conspiracy theories get answered,” senior Nicholas Gag said.

13.

16.

This year has been a big year for music as well. Many artists dropped new albums including Big Sean, Niall Horan, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone and G-Eazy. Kesha also released a new album this year which was very influential because her signal from the album was about her personal experience with sexual harassment. Taylor Swift was out of the spotlight for two years and then dropped her newest album, “Reputation.” “Taylor Swift was always in the spotlight so when she disappeared for two years no one knew what to think. It impacts the fans a lot because they have been waiting for music for a long time and with it being so different from her other music it shows the side of her that the media doesn’t portray,” junior Britney Stanger said.

14.

Along with the addition of freshman and the expansion to the high school, the Pony Activity Center (the PAC) was built. There are basketball courts, weight rooms, treadmills and much more that are offered to students in sports and to the community. “I think it’s a great resource for the community because you don’t have to be locked into a membership you only pay when you go, however, I don’t think students should have to pay for it,” Koenig said.

The freshman transitioned into the high school this year, which was a major change for the district. This benefits upperclassmen because they can have more leadership opportunities, such as Link Crew. This can also have a positive impact on the underclassmen because they will have more resources, opportunities and choices of classes. “I like it a lot better because we get treated like adults in most of our classes and we get more opportunities and choices,” freshman Brodie Watson said.

11.

Hockey Day Minnesota 2017 was held in downtown Stillwater Jan. 21. This was the 11th annual Hockey Day celebration. The celebration consists of hockey games of all ages from high schoolers, collegiate athletes and professional athletes. “It was pretty cool looking around and being one of the youngest ones on the ice, and especially to be on TV was a surreal moment. I definitely thought the community rallied around us to build the rink and everything else just a ton of support from our fans and community,” junior Adam Eisele said.

12.

Flex time is a new program that the administrative team put on a trial basis this year. There are 40 minute time periods on Tuesdays and Thursdays that students can study, meet with teachers, take tests, explore clubs and be social. “I like the idea of flex time. Students that have come to me for help have found it very useful. I like to connect with students and see where they are for students who may not be comfortable asking questions in class. I would like to find a way for everyone to have something to do,” math teacher Amanda Banick said.

10.

This year, many teams had successful seasons and were able to attend the state meet. The girls swim and dive, varsity cross country and volleyball made it to the state competitions. For the boys, soccer and cross country were both runner-ups. The debate team also made state. The mountain bikers were the state champions this year. “[Boy’s] soccer definitely got the most recognition. I think because they won last year there was a hope they could repeat this year,” junior Annika Johns said.

The historic Stillwater Lift Bridge closed on Aug. 2 and the new bridge that connects to Highway 36 opened on that day as well. Many community members waited in line to cross the new bridge on the first day it was opened. There is a walking path as well as lanes for traffic going both directions. The old lift bridge has been turned into a walking bridge only. “It was very fun. I was excited to be one of the first people to go across the bridge because it’s brand new and we’ve been waiting for a while,” Watson said.

Next up is the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21. This event brought excitement to many Americans because it is the first total solar eclipse the United States has seen since Feb. 26, 1979. “My whole family all drove to Nebraska where it was a total eclipse for two minutes. It basically looked like the whole horizon was at sunset or sunrise and the crickets were chirping, the stars came out, the plants shrunk like they do at night and the temperature dropped,” junior Morgan Gibbs said.

Focus

Jan. 12, 2018

17 things that characterized 2017 as a year to remember 2017 has been a time of change, devastation followed by hope and success. From events that impact the whole world to things that impact the community of Stillwater, this year has been filled with everything from tragedies due to natural disasters, to controversy over the President, to people coming together to help each other overcome sexual harassment, to lots of success. “Going into 2018 I am looking forward to seeing how America continues to progress economically and politically,” freshman Keaton Koenig said.

There were many hurricanes this year, specifically Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, that hit the United States and U.S. territories with respective magnitudes of 4, 5 and 5. “I think in the six or seven hurricanes in that short period of time, that seemed obvious to me that it was a result of climate change. Since the reaction of help should be a rallying cry to increase preparedness for these events. They’re happening more often,” Wiklund said.

Trump officially moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This means the United States is recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Turkish president told Trump that if he moved the embassy to Jerusalem, it would be crossing “the red line” and Turkey would have to cut their ties with Israel. “When Trump moved the embassy [to Jerusalem], my immediate reaction was ‘how would the Arab world respond?’ The tough thing about Jerusalem is it’s an important religious site to so many. I am also worried about the people in Jerusalem, about attacks from Palestinians and Muslims. It is a really controversial area,” sophomore Grace McDonough said.

Time Magazine has named their Person of the Year the “silence breakers”. A group of women who have spoken out against sexual assault and started the #Metoo campaign. These women and their campaign are a way of empowering women to speak out against sexual assault and harassment and stop feeling ashamed or like it is their fault. “It gives young women and women in general a platform to speak on. It gives them confidence to come forward faster or sooner than those first women did,” Banick said.

Minnesota Senator Al Franken resigned Dec. 7. He resigned due to a rising number of sexual allegations against him; at least six women have said he groped them or made unwanted sexual advancements on them. “I think there should be some sort of recourse or trial of some sort. Everyone, especially someone in power, should have the right to justice, innocent until proven guilty. If I was responding only on emotion I would say no, he should not still be a senator,” Banick said.

3. 2.

In the sports world, the NFL seems to have taken most of the spotlight this year. Many of the players followed in Colin Kaepernick’s protest to kneel during the National Anthem. The Minnesota Vikings never took part in this protest, and while many high schoolers did as well, the Ponies never did. “It is respectful that they [Vikings and Ponies] stood for the anthem and it’s disrespectful that some people didn’t,” junior Caroline Reed said.

Jan. 20 started the year off with the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump. “I think he’s doing a good job. He’s being very stern with other countries, we [Americans] are not wimps anymore,” Watson said.

The deadliest shooting in American history happened this year in at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Nevada. Fifty-eight people died from this tragedy and over 500 people were injured. “I don’t think it had to do with guns, I think gun control is a little out there. It has more to do with crazy people because most of the people who do this are mentally unstable. The people who say their family members aren’t the type of person to do this after they’ve done; this is just more of a repressive tactic,” junior Nathan Breisler said.

Jan.12, 2018

What’s in a (nick)name:

People

How Brice Hafemeyer developed the long-lasting nickname ‘Saudi’ Mira LaNasa

Print Editor-in-Chief Brice Hafemeyer attempted to mentally prepare himself to move halfway across the globe to Saudi Arabia. He was apprehensive. It was his sophomore year when his parents broke the news. His outlook on the rest of his high school career was splintered, though he never ended up departing. Since then, he developed the nickname ‘Saudi’ as an homage to his almost-future. Most people know senior Brice Hafemeyer by his nickname, ‘Saudi’. Countless classmates ask him weekly where the nickname originated from, considering it surely isn’t in his genetics, as he dons all-American blond hair and blue eyes. After a back and forth possibility of moving to Saudi Arabia for his father’s job, the nickname ‘Saudi’ stuck around up until now, more than two years later.

Initial reaction

“A few years ago, I think I was going into sophomore year-ish, around then, I was told by my parents there was a good chance I was moving to Saudi [Arabia], or actually Bahrain to be more specific, but my dad was working in Saudi. Originally you know I was kinda sad about it and I started telling my friends about it,” Hafemeyer said. Hafemeyer felt frustrated at both the news of the move and his soon-to-follow nickname, ‘Saudi’ dubbed because of his future home. “I was angry so I didn’t pay attention to it. I was kinda sad at first, ‘cause

you know, I was leaving everything behind, I thought, and they kept on calling me Saudi and I’d actually get kinda sad, and, you know, of course, I didn’t tell anyone then because they would’ve stopped and also I didn’t want to be a buzzkill,” Hafemeyer said. After two years of the possibility of moving across the world, Hafemeyer’s trip was called off, similar to when he almost moved to Detroit. “We didn’t end up going because it was too late. It was a two year program for me at the school I’d be going to, so they actually let me stay here for my senior year, but the nickname Saudi stuck because for years, you know, whenever I meet new people, everyone would be like, ‘Yeah, he’s moving to Saudi,’” Hafemeyer said.

A new title

One of Hafemeyer’s friends, in poking fun, created a video on Ditty, a service which creates songs out of text. The song sang, “Brice have fun in Saudi,” six times over. “I remember sitting at the lunchroom table and a kid actually made a video, but it’s pretty funny,” Hafemeyer said. “At the time it wasn’t funny, it was actually kinda sad, but now I can look at it and I think it’s hilarious; and I was only really sad about it for like a month, and after that I learned to accept it, but it was kinda weird not going.” Hafemeyer, though grateful not to have left Stillwater, would not mind visiting Saudi Arabia again. “I visited it once for two weeks, and it was a nice place, and it definitely had good food, but I didn’t re-

ally see myself living there,” Hafemeyer said. “It would be fun to visit now that I know I’m not living there.” Hafemeyer was in the running for Homecoming King earlier in the year, but received Prince instead. “I remember talking to my guy, Hunter Hippel, and I was like, ‘Hunter, I really hope you win, buddy, because I really don’t want to’, and from what I recall he felt the same way,” Hafemeyer said. “I actually had a fun time on the entrance, and I didn’t care about being king at all, because it’s just a title, but I still thought it was actually pretty fun.”

The end of an era

Hafemeyer, now a senior, has chosen to go to a four-year college after graduation and is considering both in state and out, though Saudi Arabia is a hard ‘no’. “I got accepted to a few colleges so I’m deciding on some of those. I might move far away or I might stay close. It just kind of depends,” Hafemeyer said. “I got into Washington State, NDSU and St. John’s. Those are my top three but I’m still waiting on a few schools. I don’t know, I feel like it’d be kind of weird if I show up at college and they call me Brice, and I’m like ‘Call me Saudi’ I’d be living in the past.” Senior Ryan Sheppard, Hafemeyer’s best friend since second grade, claims that he doubts Hafemeyer’s legitimacy. “He almost left in seventh grade too. He almost moved to Detroit for his dad’s job. So it was kind of sad then and now we’re all just skeptics whether it was true in the first place. Nobody knows if he just pretended. You never know,” Sheppard said.

PHOTO BY LUKE DICKINSON PHOTOS BY MIRA LANASA Senior Brice Hafemeyer likes to spend his class time studying and working with his friends, seniors Mason Urban, Nick Gag, David Leintz (top, left to right), and Ryan Sheppard (left middle). “At the time it wasn’t funny, it was actually kinda sad, but now I can look at it and I think it’s hilarious, I was only sad about it for like a month,” Hafemeyer says.

Bahrain Facts: • Bahrain is centered between Quatar and Saudi Arabia. • Bahrain consits of 30 islands in the Arabian Gulf. • English is widely understood in Bahrain. • Political parties are illegal in Bahrain. INFORMATION FROM ENCYCLOPEDIA.COM

GRAPHIC BY CASSIE ALE

A&E

Jan. 12, 2018

Family means no one gets left behind

Critically acclaimed concert choir members share their love of music Madison Weispfenning Editorial Cartoonist

Sopranos, altos, tenors, baritones, and basses are working hard to show their dedication to singing. The Stillwater Choir proves that they are more than just a choir. Not only do they have in class rehearsals, but they also have sectionals once a week at 7 a.m. Though many hate to wake up early, these students do not mind doing it for their passion. Last year, choir director Angela Mitchell switched from conducting Belle Chanter to take over for Erik Christiansen who retired after the 2016 school year. Tak-

nual choir tour. Over the years, Stillwater choirs have travelled all over the United States. Last year, Concert travel just to Virginia, Bemidji and Brainerd, Minn. The Trip was called “Minnesota Triangle Tour.” A majority of the students who have ever gone on choir trips always regret not meeting people earlier and that they create so many friends by the end. This year they will be going to New York City. Though it is a costly trip, many are excited and ready to go. “[I’m] totally pumped [about going to New York] I’m excited to go to Broadway. I’m excited to sing in another state. I’m excited to fly

somewhere instead of a coach bus,” sophomore Madeline Haase said. This choir can offer relationships through the power of music and emotion. Choir can bring people together just by one single note. “It’s a really amazing thing that we do. That we start from nothing, like a piece of paper with back dots and every day discover problems, and solutions until you get the this moment where you’re in front of an audience and are sharing this emotional connection to the music and each other and all of the battle you went through to get there and it’s that moment in time where you just make music,” Mitchell said.

ing over a choir that had such a tight bond between conductor and singers is a difficult transition. Mitchell was intimidated at first to take over. “The most nerve racking thing was how can I continue the tradition and the pride that they have, but bring my own personality to it,” Mitchell said. She still felt as if she knew the students after working with Christiansen for many years. Mitchell, who has done women’s repertoire for 20 years, has picked a variety of music that has a completely different feel than Christiansen. “[Christiansen] sang very traditional music, we kind of had the

same order and Mrs. Mitchell’s had more of an upbeat personality and the music, it has a lot more variety,” senior Elise Luoma said. This year’s winter concert showed the variety of music conducted by Mitchell. “Beati,” which is a slower, Latin text song, “O Magnum Mysterium,” which is also Latin, but a Christmas hymn, “Praise to the Lord” is English text about God himself, and lastly “Gaudete” which is of Latin text that is a Christmas carol. It is said that when a group of people sing together ,their hearts beat to the same rhythm. This can bring people to feel more liking to others. Same has to do with the an-

GRAPHIC BY ELLIE FAETH

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY ANGELA MITCHELL “It’s a really amazing thing that we do. That we start from nothing, like a piece of paper with back dots and every day discover problems, and solutions until you get the this moment where you’re in front of an audience and are sharing this emotional connection to the music and each other and all of the battle you went through to get there and it’s that moment in time where you just make music,” Mitchell said.

Jan. 12, 2018

Trending

Warm up with a whole milk latte or coffee Chloe Squires Photographer

With the holiday season comes parties, presents, and peppermint mochas. Students go to their favorite coffee shops to get homework done, socialize with friends, and sip on their favorite seasonal drinks. Warm coffee drinks help students get through the frigid Minnesota winters. According to statista, as of 2015 there were over 30,000 specialty coffee shops in the U.S., so coming up with a favorite may be difficult. Every year chain coffee shops such as Starbucks or Caribou release new seasonal drinks, but so do local coffee shops, like the Daily Grind, with their “Mint truffle” specialty drink. Students pick coffee shops to spend hours at a time at, and here are their favorites. Caribou Coffee is one of the leading coffee companies in the U.S. with over 273 locations, and it is a popular choice for students. With 14 “signature” drinks, students have the opportunity to explore the menu to find the best drinks for the season. The “Ho Ho Mint Mocha” and “Fa La Latte” are both new and popular options from Caribou. Junior Thomas Haggard explained his favorite seasonal drinks, “At Caribou there’s this one peppermint latte that’s very tasty. I get it a lot when I’m studying in the winter.” Haggard goes to Caribou often to enjoy a warm drink and do meet for study groups during the school year. Another popular option on a local scale is Tin Bins Cafe. This cafe and is a popular spot for locals to enjoy a delicious meal, or something lighter such as baked goods and coffee. Tin Bins operates in the Commander Building, a his-

toric structure in downtown Stillwater. Students often go to Tin Bins for tea, coffee, or other specialized drinks. Sophomore Paige Sanders explained, “I really like Tin Bins’ chai tea because in the winter it’s really cold and it’s nice to have a warm drink.” One of the largest coffee shops in the world with over 24,000 stores in 70 countries is Starbucks Coffee. This chain offers several “seasonal sips” such as the peppermint mocha, eggnog latte and gingerbread latte. Junior Megan Ulrich can be found with a Starbucks drink at hand at nearly any given time, “This year I’m keeping a tally and I have gone [to Starbucks] 217 times so far,” Ulrich said. With the convenient location of being right across the street from SAHS, Starbucks is constantly packed with students studying and working on homework. According to businessinsider. com, coffee shops are the fastest growing niche in the restaurant business. Seasonal offers bring a new twist to coffee shop’s menus, drawing in all sorts of customers. Haggard said, “If I’m feeling the chill of winter, I need to have that peppermint.”

PHOTOS BY WILL GLEASON Junior Peyton Classon sips on a warm mug of coffee at Tin Bins, a local favorite and longtime staple of Downtown Stillwater waterfront. “I really like Tin Bins Chai Tea because in the winter it’s really cold and it’s nice to have that warm drink,” sophomore Paige Sanders said. During winter students often visit coffee shops to fuel up on caffeine and warm themselves as the long stretch of Minnesota cold drags on. “I drink coffee about 4-5 times a week,” junior Meghan Ulrich said. According to the University of Minnesota, teens should only drink one cup of coffee per day.

PHOTO BY HANNAH SWEEN Juniors Aurora Hiveley and Amy Longtin enjoy a specialty latte at downtown Minneapolis’s famous Spyhouse Coffee, a shop famous for their rustic ambiance and selectively roasted in-house coffees. Hiveley enjoys a Caramella, a caramel and vanilla latte, while Longtin PHOTO BY ABBY BANKS sips a Spygirl, their signature honey-lavender latte.

Sports

Jan. 12, 2018

Boys hockey team shares traditions and superstitions Aubrey Kelley

Photography Editor High school sports are both physically and mentally demanding; the hours before the big game are nearly as important as the performance itself. Athletes are often known to practice unique pre-game rituals for good luck. Hours before games in the boys hockey locker room, players can be seen practicing and preparing for the upcoming game. Many prepare themselves in unique and uncommon ways. However, these rituals have been ingrained in them for many years throughout their hockey careers.

Bjorn Borg and Serena Williams are known to wear the same outfit before games or follow a specific routine to insure success and safety throughout the day and into the game. Raleigh is no different, “After school I go home, take my dress clothes off, and hang them in the same spot every time. I then take a 20 minute nap, shoot some pucks at my house. I leave my house to get a turkey, ham and lettuce sandwich from Brines, tape my stick at the rink and get ready with the boys.” Diet and hydration

Drinking water is a vital part of that preparation and athletes will not be successful if they don’t continue to drink water throughout the day leading up to the game. Music

According to the Health Science academy, “listening to music before, during, or even after sport and activity can contribute to motivation, performance, and skill learning in a very broad way.” Music is physically proven to excite the players and keep them motivated throughout their perforEating a well balanced diet mance; this is often why coaches alDressing and equipment is vital towards the performance low music within the locker room. of a competitive athlete. For this Music plays a large role in exciting Players have very specific pre- reason, on game days competi- the whole team as well as individuals, game routines at the high school, tors eat a much more focused diet “I always listen to the same mucollege and professional levels. Spe- that will help their performance. sic, it’s a large variety. We all listen cific dressing and order of equipHydration and a balanced diet to pump up music, we don’t have ment is the ninth most common rit- are what make a great athlete, “[on any specific songs, but the team has ual in the National Hockey League. game days] usually I just eat re- a huge playlist that we listen to bePlayers dress very specifically, “I ally healthy, typically sandwiches or fore games in the locker room,” sealways put on my right skate and right high protein snacks to keep me full nior captain Matthew McGinley said. shin guard before my left. I feel like throughout the day. Also I drink a if I put on my right we’ll win,” Adam lot of water,” senior Josh Long said. Suey Eisele junior assistant captain said. According to Penn State athMany athletes are very supersti- letic studies, water is the single Before every game the entire team tious and often times mental prepa- most important nutrient within partakes in a game they call “suey”. ration is the key to a good player the body and directly leads to ath- The players all stand in a circle and a successful game. By practic- letic success. The most talented and pass a soccer ball around. The ing these rituals, it mentally pre- athlete is simply average if they game brings out the players compares them for the game ahead. become dehydrated. To compete petitive nature and unites the team. Captain junior Joe Raleigh is a to the best of an athlete’s abiliWhen asked about “suey”, all great example of extreme supersti- ties it is essential that they intake boys replied very similarly, “It’s fun tions. When asked about why he has enough water throughout the day. to get with the team and have some Water is very important to coaches fun with the boys before we get into so many specific pregame traditions, “I like to say don’t change something and athletes, “I drink a lot of water a serious moment,” McGinley said. that’s not broken,” Raleigh explained. because it keeps me healthy and gives Many universities have studme energy for the game,” Long said. ied the relationships formed within Coaches take this seriously and athletics. Athletes perform betGame day routines want their athletes physically pre- ter when they form friendships Many famous athletes such as pared in every form before events. and trust each other. Games such as “suey” bring the team together and enhance their performance by creating relationships and healthy competitiveness within the team. Every player prepares themselves differently, however they come together and unite as a team to win games. The athletes all get along and they have a lot of fun playing together; the team has become very close due to common interests and their dedication to hockey. Before games they come together and focus on what they need to do in order to win, “A couple hours before the game there is a lot of energy in the room; we’re all getting excited and prepared for the game. The last half hour before we hit the ice it’s pretty serious [in the locker room], no one is saying much. We’re all preparing ourselves together as a team,” McGinley said. No matter how uniquely the PHOTO BY MORGAN GRIM athletes prepare themselves, the team chemistry is what is most Boys hockey team surrounds the net shooting against their important. They all work togethstarting goalie, junior Jesse Brown. “We’re all preparing er and are hopeful for a successourselves together as a team,” senior Matt McGinley says. ful season doing what they love.

Lifestyle

Jan.12, 2018

Art classes foster young students’ creative passions Sophia Jensen

Editorial Cartoonist Sophomore Peter Wilhelmi enjoys art classes high school has to offer and continues to learn new skills. Graphic design class expands his talents and interests in the arts. There are many young adults drawn to the arts. High school art classes have much to offer to striving students. Many students are inspired to learn the basics and improve their current art skills at a young age. “When I was really young, my mom signed me up for art lessons in the back of a Korean art studio,” senior Marianna Arndt said. “They did step by step lessons.” Very few students have taken art classes prior to their current ones in high school. While Ardnt began art at a young age, she continues to attend art lessons outside of school and improves her skills as time passes. “I really like art classes because it’s something you can do that’s creative in schools,” Wilhelmi said. “I also like learning new skills.” Art classes embrace creativity and new ways of problem solving for students. Many students that have taken previous art classes, will learn and improve their skills to create well made pieces of art. “Every artist has to start somewhere, so no matter how bad your drawings are, you can make a career out of it,” Ardnt said. Any student that enjoys art will improve over time with plenty of practice. Art is an easy way to see improvement as opposed to other classes. Drawing subjects that people can see will create different and unique perspectives in a piece.

“You just get to draw and to listen to music. There’s no wrong way to do something,” freshman Maria Delwich said. Delwich enjoys taking art because this can improve her creativity and there are less mistakes to make. A majority of art classes make students feel comfortable in expressing their passions and sharing them in class. “It’s fun to have a different class from other classes and it’s fun to draw things your interested in,” sophomore Joseph Young said, “some of the cons are that you don’t always get to draw things you want to.”

Read more at sahsponyexpress.com

Stillwater Area High School | 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N, Oak Park Heights, MN | Feb. 23, 2018 | Issue 4, Vol. 62

When in Greece...

PHOTO BY ABBY BANKS

Drama department makes history with One-Act team Abby Banks

Print Editor-in-Chief This year’s cast of the One-Act production makes it in the books as the first one act team at Stillwater Area High School to move on to the state showcase for production of scenes from Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses. The cast consists of 20 students, 19 actors and one tech, competed in a set of performances through which students are judged on their acting and technical abilities through a prepared performance of a one-act play. A panel of three judges rank the team on everything from volume to whether or not anything flies off the stage. After spending the past two weeks advancing through Regional and Sectional brackets, they

performed on Feb. 8, on the stage of the O’Shaughnessy Theatre at the University of St. Katherine. “The whole team seemed more united and kind of feel more like a family then just a group of actors, which helped all of us succeed in the competition,” sophomore Elsa Persson said. The show is set in ancient Greece, and follows five classic myths woven together by narrative laundresses into a observation of the different forms of love. “We all worked super hard and had such a great script, and the way Mr. Sadow twisted it was special. And I think we all felt like we had something good to go on,” Emma Atkins said of the production. “The show is called Scenes from Metamorphoses. Metamorphoses is changing from one thing to the next,

Wyatt Ecker ALCYONE

Greta Geiser CEYX

just like I am Midas and I change from a greedy man to a lovable father at the end. It’s all these stories that combine into one plot, and finally goes out with a boom,” junior Jerod Ormond-Miller said. “[The focus on love stories] was kind of by a fluke... One myth that we hadn’t intended on doing, Orpheus and Eurydice, we got permission to use. We started playing around with the order, arranging them how we wanted to do. We decided to put that in, and we realized that they all were kind of the ones that were based in relationships of love. And then just magically, in the order we put them in, it kind of follows a woman’s journey from daughter to bride to wife to goddess to immortality,” Director Grif Sadow said. Grecian architecture, famous for its

Emma Atkins PSYCHE

Ben Valerius ORPHEUS

white stone pillars, can be seen in the show’s elaborate tech. Student techie junior Anne Sullivan worked hard to build all the lighting, set pieces and leads the lighting work during a performance day. “In the past, we’ve never done super intense light setups. But this year we went for it, because, why not? I think it just makes the show much cooler, because the lights can help convey a certain emotion, make certain scenes more powerful,” Sullivan said. The group worked extremely hard to get where they are today, starting to rehearse. “We are rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing, getting on top of things, the minor tweaks that we can have, even in the state qualifiers there were still some things to work on from that. We want to peak at state; we don’t want

to peak now,” Ormond-Miller added. Though the team did not manage to nab that starred review at state, at the end of the day they simply expressed their excitement at the honor that they have received. They have become closer as a cast, and they believe it is a great way to expand their department. “We get to have a day of celebration and take the day to celebrate theatre and our journey of competition, and go to state,” Sadow said. “In a school that is exceptional in music, exceptional in athletics, there’s that mindset of going to state, especially in athletics, that we get to compete on that level and are looked upon on that level, it absolutely then elevates our department to the status of what our music department and then our athletic departments are.”

Olivia Bystrom NARRATOR

Elsa Persson NARRATOR

PHOTOS BY ABBY BANKS Like us on Facebook! Stillwater Pony Express

PHOTO BY MIRA LANASA

PHOTO BY MORGAN GRIM

PHOTO BY HANNAH BOARDMAN

What would you do if...? Four of our editors conducted social experiments. Articles on page 6,7

Girls gymnastics looks forward to state meet, currently ranked second in the state. Article on page 10

Boys hockey team on road to Xcel Energy Center for state championship. Article on page 11

Guess the staff member’s tattoo and learn about students and their tattoos. Article on page 12

News

Feb. 23, 2018

BIZZA club enhances childrens’ lives

Evelyn Young

Student Playlist Reporter Students in all grades met with Spanish teacher Kirsten Carter for the first meeting of the Basic Institute for Zonal African Advancement, also known as BIZAA on Jan. 22. The club will sponsor a student in Nigeria, Africa so that the child will receive an education and not get involved with human trafficking. BIZAA will meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month in room E133. Since the club is new, at the meetings the groups will work out details of the club, checking progress on the child they are sponsoring and they will work with the BIZAA organization to learn more about upcoming plans. Students will be able to donate to BIZAA, as well as participate in fundraisers such as grocery bagging to make money to support children in earning an education. Okey Anyanwu is the founder of BIZAA. Anyanwu is from Nigeria, which is why BIZAA is mainly based in Nigeria at this time. He has come to Amnesty Day at school for the past few years to explain that his mission is to identify and protect child laborers and trafficking victims. Anyanwu’s passion for these children spoke to students and staff and soon many people wanted to help. “Last year, [Okey] came to speak at Amnesty Day and he was so passionate and inspiring,” Carter said. “The next year, this year, he came back. He has such a powerful way of drawing people in not only to the cause, but as a call to action. After the presentation I

PHOTO COURTESY KIRSTEN CARTER The BIZZA club meets to discuss young kids like in Nigeria they can sponsor to give them an education. “The purpose of BIZAA is to put children in schools who are normally in the fields in Africa, Nigeria specifically,” junior Cleo Haugen says. The club meets every other Monday morning in room E133.

looking for someone to lead the club. It was impossible to say no to him.” Without proper education, children in Nigeria find themselves working in fields and doing other jobs related to child labor. These children

over 200 children in Nigeria and their families and in turn, their communities,” Carter explained. “[The children’s] brighter future will have a multiplier effect in their communities.” With demand for products increasing, people in Africa look to chil-

dren to do the labor since traffickers can use them for work, but do not need to pay them. Providing education to these kids will give them an alternative to the harsh lives in poverty that they have led. The children will be able to find real jobs and afford to live a satisfactory lifestyle. “A lot of these children are treated as objects and they are a way for big cash crop farmers and companies to make money. People sell these children to other places so they can be servants, slaves, or workers without pay,” junior Cleo Haugen said. “BIZAA targets and chooses one child at a time to fully educate them, clothe them and support them. It prevents them from going back into that poverty cycle.” BIZAA’s first meeting had a successful turn out of about 45 students. Students found that BIZAA is an easy opportunity to get involved, but it has a big impact on the lives of people

SNAC advisor Darrell Salmi describes the group as, “a healthy, proactive approach to nutrition.” Also, Salmi emphasizes that the group is, “student-centered. Nobody really wants to be told how to do things or what they should eat or shouldn’t eat. The reality is our students are really smart people and they can help to make decisions and guide the process of providing healthy snacking opportunities throughout the school.” Allowing the group to be studentcentered makes it easy for smart students to take the matter into their own hands if they want to truly benefit themselves and improve. The group can help teach proper nutritional practices such as drinking enough water to stay hydrated. From there, it is up to

the students to implement the things they have learned into their daily life. The group has multiple student leaders. The “ambassadors” of SNAC are seniors Emma Salmi, Jenna Schwingler, Andrew Wilcek, Matt Crowell and juniors Kate Pelletier and Will Gleason. Wilcek is a strong believer in helping improve the schools nutrition. “I thought it was a great idea to get involved and help out the school obviously, because I think it’s one of our problems,” Wilcek Wilcek has known Salmi since seventh grade. Also, he was drawn to the group because he was friends with the son of the school nutritionist, Susan Crowell. After joining the group, he was elected as a captain. Right now to help improve the food

options at school, the group has implemented the second chance breakfast program. Wilcek explained, “Second chance breakfast is between first and second hour and it’s like if you didn’t get a breakfast, you type in your lunch pin and everything. There’s like parfaits, fruit, snacks, stuff like that.” Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between proper nutrition and school performance. According to The Food Research and Action Center, students who eat a full nutritional breakfast in the morning have shown that they work faster and make fewer errors compared to students who do not. To promote SNAC, advisors Salmi and health teacher Ryan Bartosiewski are working alongside

approached him and asked about the club and it turns out he was

live in poverty and do not know any different. In Africa there are not adequate laws in place to protect these children. BIZAA will be giving education to victims of child labor and trafficking and also to children who are at risk. “BIZAA has already impacted

PHOTO COURTESY KIRSTEN CARTER With Bizza club, Chidalu, a boy from Nigeria, will be getting payments to help with education and basic needs. “BIZAA has already impacted over 200 children in Nigeria and their families,” Kirsten Carter explains.

in need all the way across the world. “[BIZAA] is a good thing to do and the outcome is very rewarding. Everyone can join together and help. A lot of people don’t realize that not everyone has a very easy life. They have to work hard just to stay alive,” junior Jaxon Leverty explained. The club will affect people on both sides of the earth. BIZAA brings people together for the common good, whether that be people sponsoring children or children actually being educated. BIZAA has the ability to educate people in the community about issues that happen everyday in the world. “Anyone should join BIZAA if you have the incentive to help people and this is a great outlet to be able to do something like that. We take anyone. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you stand for as long as you are a human being and you want to help other human beings,” junior Abdul Mohamed said.

with the students to make a promotional video. The plan is to show the school the video to help gain awareness to the group. The video will be high quality because as Wilcek explains, “We are actually partnering with Power Up, so they are helping involved and helping us with the video with like ideas and editing and stuff.” At this point, the group is made up of mostly juniors and seniors. The goal of this promotional campaign is to help attract more underclassmen to get involved with SNAC and ultimately grow the group so it can become a more widespread club at the school to be able to help make it a healthier place for all. “It doesn’t just have to be for athletes, we want to help everybody,” Wileck said.

SNAC club modifies school-wide nutrition

Jameson Stahl Online Editor

A majority of the options in the vending machines are unhealthy. Filled with Mountain Dew kickstart and soda, healthier options like chocolate milk are rarely seen in stock. The Student Nutrition Advisory Council is here to help make the school a healthier place, and help guide students towards healthier options. The Student Nutrition Advisory Council, or SNAC, is a studentcentered group that was founded to help students look for ways to make healthy choices in school and outside of school. Another goal of the SNAC is to provide healthy snacking and lunch opportunities around the school.

News

Feb. 23, 2018

Young Republicans tour State Capitol Emma Lowey Editor-in-Chief

The Young Republicans club was recently invited on a trip to the Minnesota State capitol on Jan. 24. They were guided by Senator and State Representative Karen Housley, whom the club has sponsored in the past. Housley is a Stillwater native and has been in touch with the club for almost two years, but under the new leadership of junior Victoria Caliguire, the club has been

able to provide new and exciting opportunities for its members. “I was arranging for Sen. Housley to come to speak at one of our meetings and she offered to take us on the tour,” Caliguire said. While on the tour they got to see some of the newly renovated areas of the building. Some of the paintings and artifacts in the building have been recently renovated and the group was one of the first to see them. “The tour was filled with a lot of history about the capi-

tal and all the new restorations. It was really cool to see,” senior member Sydney Johnson said. In addition to the new renovations, they also spent some time visiting the House of Representatives and the Senate floor, where legislation is voted and finalized on. “It was so interesting to learn about all the different facets that go into passing bills,” Johnson said. Johnson hopes to pursue a career in political science and has followed Sen. Housley’s career as influence.

“She definitely an inspiration for me. I hope to maybe intern for her in college, meeting her was so cool,” Johnson explained. The club enjoyed the tour and it provided a great bonding experience over their love for politics. “Senator Housley is an amazing person and politician. We were so thankful that they invited us to experience this,” Caliguire added. The group plans on creating more interesting and engaging opportunities for the rest of the school year. The

group meets every Wednesday in room D102 to listen to speakers, plan volunteering or talk about politics with likeminded peers. With the upcoming 2018 midterms and the possibility of Senator Housley running for U.S. Congress, the group is sure to have a busy year. “I enjoyed getting to see how Senators and Representatives spend their day. I learned a lot about the history of our Capitol and our state legislator, which is something I will definitily take back with me to the club,” Caluguire added.

Karin Housley, Republican senator -Housley represents district 39 , which includes Stillwater, Forest Lake, Lake Elmo, Bayport, Oak Park Heights and Saint Croix Valley. -She supports repealing Obamacare -She serves as chairwoman of the Aging and Long-Term Care committee, Vice-Chair of the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee -She also serves on the Veterans and Military Affairs, and Job and Economic Growth Committees GRAPHIC BY RACHEL DANKERS CREATIVE COMMONS IMAGE THROUGH WIKIMEDIA COMMONS BY CONNECTEDEQUALITY

PHOTO BY ANDREW PHAN

Editorial

Feb. 23, 2018

Staff Ed: seniors and juniors should not receive priority when buying tickets

Snoball, one of the most popular dances for students, took place on Jan. 20, with tickets sold out well before then. The dance was held at the JX Event Center, where the maximum capacity is 720 people, meaning tickets were limited to under one third of the student body. Because of this, some juniors and seniors were not able to attend, with freshmen and sophomores filling their places. For some, the limited number of tickets has created frustration. With the freshman added this year, many school events are more prone to selling out faster because the places they are held in cannot accommodate the growing numbers. When seats and tickets sell fast, juniors and seniors have a slimmer chance of attending events during their last years of high school. Tickets in the Activities Center sell out a lot faster for events such as band, orchestra and choir concerts with more students now in the building. Some events make more sense for juniors and seniors to attend, specifically sporting events that require students to drive to a stadium. The front row at games and pep rallies should also be reserved for seniors, who have waited their turn to sit there and typically cheer the loudest. But with the increase of younger Pony fans this year, keeping tickets available to everyone ensures that stands will fill.

Freshmen and sophomores are a big part of the high school, so they should not be excluded from all events. It should be a priority, though, for juniors

and seniors to get to attend big dances, concerts and sporting events throughout their last two years. Some juniors and seniors have suggested an “upperclassmen prior-

PONY EXPRESS STAFF PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF ABBY BANKS HANNAH BOARDMAN ELLIE FAETH MIRA LANASA LINNEA PHILLIPS ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF HUNTER HIPPEL EMMA LOWEY HAILEY WILLIUS LAYOUT EDITORS KENZIE COYLE RACHEL DANKERS ROSE JUNKO KENZIE MOTZ HANNAH SWEEN EMMA POLUCHA ONLINE EDITORS ROSIE BRAUN ISAAC GUNDERSON LILLY SAMPLE TESS SCHOENBORN JAMESON STAHL MICHAEL VANLIESHOUT COPY EDITORS ROSE DEZIEL LEVI GREGG JOSH MATHWIG

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ity system” due to their limited time left to attend functions at the high school, where underclassmen have many more years to attend. In time, freshmen and sophomores will become juniors and seniors and will have the same privileges that the juniors and seniors ask for now. If tickets for high demand events were available to juniors and seniors the a day earlier, upperclassmen who wanted a ticket could buy one. The following day the remaining tickets would be available to everyone. However, with the 9-12 community philosophy, that w o u l d not be inclusive to everyone. A statement from Student Council says, “In our opinion, that [upperclassmen priority system] encourages class divide and that is a moral violation of what our mission statement discusses.” Upperclassmen may just have to get into the habit of buying tickets as soon as possible to avoid losing out on a spot to an event, as opposed to waiting a couple of days until finally purchasing their ticket.

5701 Stillwater Blvd., Stillwater, MN, 55082, sahsponyexpress.com

The Pony Clapback EIC Column

ALC transitions to high school, builds community Hailey Willius

Online Editor-in-Chief The St. Croix Valley Area Learning Center (ALC) has been moved to the high school campus this year. With each school running on different time schedules, a complete change in building size and environment, ALC students are adjusting to the new environment. Having the two separate student bodies within the high school come together as a community will benefit all students. The ALC is an alternative schooling opportunity for students who have struggled with a more traditional high school program. In previous years they had a separate building space to work in with the privacy and space needed for their program. The ALC provides students a place to continue to learn without the large environment of the high school and a more one-on-one experience with the staff. Principal Mary Leadem Ticiu and all of the other staff members have done an excellent job of keeping this family of students together. Even with a supportive staff, the students still have new obstacles to overcome with the new learning facilities for them. Adjusting to the size difference and amount of noise is no small task. With support from the high school’s student body it would ease many of theses issues. With so many new changes this year, students and staff can be more aware for the ALC program, their spaces, and welcome them into the school community.

Opinion

Feb. 23, 2018

Celebrities should not run for President

Gabi Danielson Field Reporter

With a charged political climate, when someone like Oprah is mentioned to run for president people often become supportive and excited about the idea. They fail to think of the political aspect of how they would deal with certain issues like terrorism, education, climate change and much more. Celebrities tend to not have a political background so they should not run for president. Most career politicians who become president have worked towards it for a long time and are just waiting for their perfect opportunity. With social media, some people think that because they have that platform they could run for president, they usually have not put much thought into the responsibilities they would have. The responsibility that comes with being president does not come from someone who mentions it during an award speech, but rather, someone who is ready to take on political problems and making the world a better place. According to PBS Newshour, 2.6 percent of the deaths in the 21st-century were from terror attacks that took place in Western Countries which included the United States, Canada, Australia and parts of Europe not including those that died on 9/11. Nobody wants there to be terrorist attacks, but in order for us to prevent them higher security measures have to happen. To

CARTOONS BY MADI WEISPFENNING

do this, different immigration policies are needed. Every issue comes with more issues and someone with no political background would not know how to handle these issues. In order for to move forward, the U.S. needs someone who has a political background to make the informed decisions. Education is a problem around the world. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 14 percent of U.S. schools exceed capacity when children need the most attention to be successful in school. Overcrowded classrooms are making it hard for students to learn and even harder for

teachers to still be effective. If teachers were paid more, there would be more teachers and smaller classrooms and students would be able to have more one-on-one time. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Everyone wants kids to get an education, but money goes to other more important things. We need someone with a lot of political background to fund and direct our education system. Climate Change is a major issue today. NASA has recorded that the average surface temperature of the planet has risen 2.0 degrees Fahrenheit since the 19th century because of the large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmo-

sphere. For past 35 years, the majority of the warming has occurred 16 out of the 17 warmest years since 2001. The warmest year recorded was 2016, with eight out of the 12 months being the warmest they have ever had on record. We need a leader who believes in climate change, not someone who will erase info and data on climate change The country needs a president that is not invested in their public image and what people are saying about him/her. America needs someone who has a political background so when major problems occur they will have a plan on what to do. It is also good to have someone

who other countries respect greatly. Celebrities have a platform to build from if they want to run for president ,which is beneficial for them, but without any background in politics they will end up taking the country, as well as the citizens, in the wrong direction. With time, this will cause bigger problems in the long run. I f people want the country to burn to the ground, they will vote for someone like Kanye West during the 2020 election. If citizens want it to grow and flourish, they will vote for the person with experience who wants to create change and move forward.

Seven hour school day should not be implemented Paxton Watson

Podcast Reporter Recently, schools like North St. Paul have implemented a seven hour day. Many students use it as a free period, much like Flex Time here at Stillwater. With registration behind us, the topic of an added period has been increasingly talked about. However, adding an extra hour to our day would be unnecessary due to our added flex time. The seventh hour could be used for a variety of things. Most likely, a class or study period would be added. By doing this, school would be wasting resources and time. Making students stay in school longer than six hours will not help them to enjoy learning or get more work done. An added hour at North St. Paul is known to the students as a zero hour. This zero hour is used as a study hall or for extra meeting time for classes that may need more time, like an AP course. “I am a tutor for half the free hour and I just help other kids with homework and the other half of the hour I work in the school store for DECA,” North St. Paul senior Jared Baetzold said. A seven hour day would not help due to the fact we have already taken 45 minutes out of our days on Tuesdays and Thursdays for Flex Time.

This time is already used for a study hall, social hour, or homework help. “I don’t think a seven hour day would be beneficial because at the end of regular day everyone is tired and ready for a break. Adding another hour would only make them worse. Plus we already have Flex Time, which we use to catch up on our assignments and to talk to our friends,” junior Rose Then said. Most students would not take an added hour very seriously. It would most likely just be used as a social hour, which would waste our time along with the time of teachers. Many students do not take Flex Time seriously and the problem would only worsen if they are given even more time to spend on their own. “I do not think Stillwater would benefit from a seven hour day because a lot of kids would probably just want to go home and possibly even skip,” freshman Grace Sneeden said. Students would not benefit from a seven hour day. At Stillwater, only 43 credits are needed to graduate and with the extra hour, students would have a total of 56 credits. Students also already have an added Flex Time twice a week. Many students do not see the value in having added time to our already long day, making an added hour a completely unnecessary idea.

Schedule of a busy student Busy students often feel they do not have enough time in the day. Junior Zach Sessing said his schedule and sports do not allow for an extra hour of school. “It would give me less time to do homework at my house since I’m in sports. I don’t really have much time outside of school to do anything besides homework and sports,” Sessing said.

He also thinks that because Flex Time is provided, a longer school day would be redundant. “Flex time lets students choose a club they want to be in or work on homeswork. It takes time out of the school day rather than a student’s personal time,” Sessing said. Sessing’s schedule

Junior Zach Sessing

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZACH SESSING GRAPHIC BY EMMA POLUCHA

Feb. 23, 2018

Y I o D o W uld

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Focus We sent four of our editors to conduct social experiments to get into the minds of our students. Here’s what they found.

Feb. 23, 2018

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able part.” e most believ , Payton th as w t ha tely said. “T h drove separa vel,’” Payton to the next le t to dinner, and while Hanna y she only had about five er ov it w re ou entl st th . I said, ju That night we decided to go on our way there. Consequ mentioning it to Hannah. r ting on her,” ut I he n ea ho ld it he ch to T w I is e. er e. tc m si m nn aa h na di t through tioned his t. “I think Is ayton Filipiak who was d hitched a ride wit si en se to m n d e g. su ha in sh l e en en ti th P ar ot un hile t happ and th a red light w dinner. I turned to senior friend’s boyfriend. “I he d. minutes to react, hanging out I kind of forg do. I pretended it wasn’ r r Instagram We waited at to ke t to ere ou he as ha w ay d e n w w ed w an to r nc n ow ay m ou re he P kn ra fe ” on ’t ag re “W I s? st dn d d ou di In nI an an ri ? s ly r s se at hi al e nd u d se re r re yo ke for you. I I stalke ght was whe ting on h a my frbeieside me in the passengeiend a e h ie,” I said. “A ting senior Isaac Goetz that was glaring at e hung out that’s when ned. “That ni h. ‘You have c rl ai s ha pl a C ex w n to d fr ng n ac ew Pay rw ell. Isaac kn But then afte I got heated. Furious,” ade me sick to my stom what I said.” Mira LaNas f tihim talking about it toHhiansnah Boardman, has besenunda nd’s boyfrie believably w m about it. I had hen st m .’ [is] w ju ll ie ’s h nd ba or he at ie ni no e -C th fr S se us d r in r hi Your best frie , ca ran ou he to ’t ruin early to d out to g with g him be My friend Print Edito ball venue He gets alon meone reache Korman, on his way in n’t, I will. Don d confrontin te no so s. do S ar ar u d at st e ye yo th th o If se r. tw ca s go to nearly Charlie in the ally. We ha to tell he ian clas g to do this friend, senior ncy Medical Technic he has until Sunday ing day she had to essage Isaac occasion to respond. in s go hi e to er w g e in w , talk erge not Mr. Kiedro The follow she continued to m heard Isaac ird hour after his Em was in bed. Fortunately class. ened, but “I did wski, supposedly th his messages op Snoball,” Payton said. There, girl in ng r r . ri rl he he up gi du ot a t t of an ol se ou l ho as od al ab me of sc w I go so It e s d . w to hi av e] an ho le ed m s in t There is wo abou him to my friend this girl h, so I talk r [you told t na to te ld ou af an to ed y H ab and lk h da d ta it e em rd S ar w , th th o going arou meone offer as to ing “I’ve he was like someone g “Okay so it w kid and I knew he was go l not be named. I talked and yeah, nd APUSH T class and I , they e M o d E t to h il o e ,’ w s ld th ys e at e students th gu of the test ll you the an Abby Banks test and is ‘Wow not want to se tudent Council friends th have a mission for you ey figswers to a te name is Abselling them for $1a0nswers for tomorraot o, I my S up. Then th they ‘Y , m P hi ke ri li n at t as be s E w t? d I to n w b it . o y he ’s I I rem T B b ap in th c. e a pr -C li n aa ld oach eve the stu ks. People hief swers bec I to as Is Teens are se swers to th ed kids in my APU ured out it w en to da on Moodleause they may haveaare saying she got thdent’s S y e H as and generally class to te te tally put th upcoming unit test, , but I’m no e an c awful. The ba ens have been seen thro snitch but th em on his saying that ll them I had the ughout histor t certain. Icidentally been poste tion avoiding by boomers’ si annc M Kiedr y w e e oo th ar on millenn don’t like b d dle page. taken down, more I reali more I thought academic pr e brunt of the ageism, bu ials sees the te lazy, ungrateful, In my scen owski had acciden- know, Abby, I respect th eing a but I had a z b es I t e o a su en d fi e f*ck ou hi u rs ar re sa s th t gh t io of s ve th di ly , at it’s reall has seen our gene I ap d them and d a dr e situation actually tr evolvi th century. In fa was charging ey had been dem proached a group in the ce t of what you’re doing he the ct, an estimat a steady increase in anxi ng job market and the resu ra- swers, but didn’t y run on my best friend how manyy hard to do well oyn unfair for people w og re. I look up nter of the ra $1 ed qu phic w ety lting offer to send A 0 per key. It’s not surpri to you now.” That went them to her, urora. I told her that I sing how man arter of teens suffer from amongst teens over the pa I was asked to ould be a bit more action he room, my hypothesis be and there ppeople have gotten these tests. I’m notho ov ha si er y nc d A st so in re av “v P li e th g sp m y. ke U er th e sh e on Im S if ly is particular been asked by two pe an e fo th y” se H a ro s m ha rm is u s un ed th e po I d b to re got asking fo of anxiety to at they were th fazed, told iately after I m answers at ably isn’t m ry (APUSH) pped balloo already take “Abby, just but I figure ople that A r da te dv m n ad n is e y. st e A co However, an e co th u an so m P rr al ce le ns c U is y sw ec l h t d S pr id ti to me tell you t H. one sa ers, nu p Place d this was s th y ered one of th when I di day if I was still sellin about. that you have answers and that it was th oposition, mates id, and the e harder AP cl given this climate. th ed eating lunch afte e answers were on M speak - she was high omethingoyu can do to containoint and beastly to ment social studies are g d finally imm e ac r vo whole group pi em, and 2) oodle anyw asse - umentge th it, ou should b tell the cl and/or using the answer ays, and co Based Quest laughed. I w cked the right group to tual test. er similar ediately yelled, “I told I was mes icing her assumption I’m not asha e incoming AP kids. Kie nerally seen as a given by s the school has. as s. s, one of e notified nco as asked if si When I told med side conver drow the ov that 1) I my classThey then di ion, a part of the essa I had the D me to,” a couple of gr ng with her anyway sations proc you it was a sting!” didn’t need That being sa to admit I have to work ski, while being a great te erachievers, “I y th sc in po us s B k rt ee se ou A Q I st io so de d ud ps n ap (D co amongst them d, hard in his cl acher, is toug ents on the w of our exam in my history proached sm w one wallet em oc- asse uple of oth-Student isn’t there, be id, I have the time to pu ) pr h. lunch. ass to learn hole are willi and the class went selv all groups class, it wen hy did it matter? ss erged from a t in it on as norm My class is t over quite di of students ng to cheat or backpack or es who was going to do ompt as well. get ments if they feel like it T hi s of extracurri due to sports, speech and to his class. For some stud all the material. w as al. pr ff ta in cu wil po eren lk edominantly bit calmer, to the colleg t cu The first clus de en male, which ing after we got back tly. est kids in e that they th l give them the grade th corners on any kind of as I had ap cket, and I moved onto it, more than ter I approa (if they’re lo lar activities the school ha bate, music, theatre, or an ts, that time just plet T m hr at in th of pr y ou fr th k e oa ne om ey co gh they want to ch xt school, muc ched, who I urse skews ok el ou think they ne s. y ing as I go an h less my ed easily some of th group. buying the t this whole experim w possible lead ing at an Ivy League scho Pressures put on studen of the multitude if I y believed me. I told th told them, ent, many of to,” Kiedrowski told m ed to e smartem, they all ould say I know decent y statistics. ts to gain a ‘s answers from would break to overcomm class. Both ol or it’s equa an d O ne bo e late ly st pi th th refused, itment and th a ed by the cl ar of them m ke e l) bu later told ese mental il , or to be as well-rounde ,’ no money on th twenty by one of them ted laughing a bit, and well, comassroom riot e, but none did. This m kids I talked to discus r. saying they rst out laughThe follow m lnesses seen em I im al d , e sed ay w ly as am m di as at be I ed do dn as that time. T ing day, a ia ’t need it so they coul amongst our he others sa tely, another saying th ked dent, naming Kiedrowski would “make bank,” . I only any of this - partially be massive overachiever because I, as illustratd see how teens. ey id an m re ca st do w ha th d e ce ay us el in ey d never ived an would neve As I was w l they were specifically email from g this. and bein ed long enough to get e I’m a huge wimp. It r actualking over met) an (I had doing befo would get back to m also may be g altogether an impulse to the next a stu“The more I d letting him know no idea who she w re group, one of re they bought the “k e, because ca ac ge ti tu y on al ab ly fr thought abou ou om as of ey.” peop t , fe ab th them called an r me any m we had out test yone, mov t the le who actual after me, “Y oney or confi e entire situation befo ied I’d like to ly try hard to situation the more I realiz answers circulating. re anyone co ing on ou rm that they .” She had tr be ly al li ev W tu ed do e he en uld acth w th n ev w at el I at th ante finally came it l ough. Maybe th eventu on its own clean to my cl on these tests,” the stud ’s really unfair for it’s naïveté on ey weren’t actually go d to buy my “answers. w times, but hand. fe ld come out as a ou y h en w ly et da as it t te e ” in s, br t sa y m th g m ig id gh y part, but al inutes before ht capa in the email. ughout said. “I thou e there was lipstick on m sure to apologize before on l of the kids to buy those answers the test itself thought thro the swipe of lipstick on my peers. the fact rem ble people. They don’t of g m ck in in , ti ll I ak m te ha ps m y li d , ly class are extr ains that kids already ne let beont of said it I had to subt em ery day - an deal with th ed the answers spoon at a few people told to spare me in fr e embarrassment of me right out and ugh the day told me teeth? ir d people are fed to them ee pressures ance down ichols e ght letting th un ly just came gl N ri ro th al a e al go th ld tr ar n e h ou in sp o et er on S h? w te w rs k . But pu et to fu y c pe te yey t ey m ll ti tr y on th y th y ch tr s if m t ca ea s: th p pa ye em ey li as e gn ng bl th si or h h, d ni e of actually by et Bef tale n teet Why would ve lipstick on my te bright red lipstick stai cheating if th the school eve enw three tell a simick their ow e their lips as Someone ilhliaps e a very ey so choose I ha through som up back in k rs mmon was y teeth I sa t twice, they would li with at li e m co pu th m ls em e ld in ey d . ld th le er th fe to ou d h t w ng t g nd ha at P d to. “I in g to s ende t subjects h at leas person th ess as po experimen day beyo then they ith a stra ay le in et Linnea w nf a w st y e, y te th er al co ll te n m m M y th te io d ta sa y at f m h ra , o at ul m th e ly ie s ug tu ld co th ee te h s go thro Minn r-in-C ersation We wou and poli so they e to do . If som le this si teeth. t each of be accept .” nv . m ht g os ly nd it to y ns co ig in ll m h bt m ha tr io te lk is re al su at ng em o ta ou w ld on g to ct e ni th n to in ou sh ai g pe W y ig em ck t Print Editoou n- in abou lipsti to fini tell th ld rather tr The only th ocess in how they w at every level in society. d ignore imperfec- tert me place: societal ex could be co barrassing ted for me teeth than a smear of ow what People w the sa ght pr cepted mething em g we all have in com litely an or on their in a person’s teeth they in their teeth. they wai ey could that I had experience; people kn s that ac ou so po ok th be t in lo r ac to er to t la e t ng ov w an in hi sc w et so po in th y di a d ow th f el e. it ng an as il kn at e al uf e ne s hi st er on on sm ak e ly eo et nd sp h rs m te m m te ie have som on it he li w so r fr and poli very n. T People de out of pe point out so I have lipthe person -workers, ou by nar said. “E eone’s teeth. on their ow re know how to fake a smile politely “It comes one were to and risk embarrassing ne would tell me that ily Scherbe r peers, our co l or fixable they are. We swipe of lipstick on som “Because selves out , ic creatures ething su m er et ou e E th th w by ge pa or at to ed ni em th t, yo se is e pu al a de . semie if an like,” h som though eople ar r how sm at us like son said sidered ru the test to se unting. it’s mpts to look assment.” P someone going throug lled to help. tions no matte t at the glaringly obvious first impression,” Ben ht not tell them.” mon I put this to h. Generally, tone atte lipstick was a little da ink it type of embarr pe ig bu e d m m se re ba I co he e w a so e th e n w e feel every y teet embarrassed, ant to mak ving messy at you might eth told m , and whe ally felt w stick on m “I don’t w ng me, they might be purposely ha you, but I did consider th any throughout the ture ow and have person e lipstick on my te far as inof ea id ti e ll th kn m as te mee so th ionally. we ost people who saw e people even went was the first of rst instinct to they’re just me. one th “It was my fi Isabel Solheim said. She they were put there intent M ILLIPS Som could tell H P d. ey plar to th at was more simi- re ul A th li co E N as or so ve ey w ew ni IN th ha e kn L se t ng er ” e victim n’ as Y em ki th ally uncomfo n, th ld th B ea at e ea on ou of sp m m was more was none as so told was and one PHOTO obably w "I was similar to know, though people came out and y friends and peers me as I something to rtable and looked really nd you I pr was a popular train pe ou ng ne ar ti a d] up le th rr e li op day to let me m te tt ab if le tormentor. stop him," so out either un better discove other pe id. This er it if tention,” phmore Om comfortable, so I was messing up worried [before Omar and Would it be h, or would I pref rest of the day and “If there wer acher Robert Benson sa our From kind go ar Omar said it hapy? sophomore da “v or et ic te te le e ti h ga m ho th y at w ” in m de T r er m in , who has S ing to go and say he e garten thro senior year nts who Millie Ose g too muc sophmore experiment ld you,” rance fo stick on d for th to no re pa ig , ls i he ug of nish with ht st ho h ul bo ar h ig ud ic w bu N sf d th br N ou at at is en ll a ha son Koi ying an bl ld begin w ts are or sa began to re tr en through prog "When I firs Willius hen Willius niel left me in that my teeth had be to ignore it,” senior Sin act. Of all Willius. t saw what w w anything, only rams, videos d what to do in bull taught signs him na vu who would then es sa . id A . cc g w or the stuin or ly ou rr as th di thos happen. I was begi ld run into ying situatio ng ha mes and tell an sota er in ho ns, of th about to turn ppening, I was kind of sh e two tried to ing him that n to raise his voice Harritics are alar to stopbullying.gov, on d instructional tasks in a very Minne e help. T ar at oc ming, and as he e in four ki ha he ou m ke ll “It feels like W nd needs any classway. second time d. illius ds ar were bullied I we conducte and go stop the guy from ..[these situations] rare"I was a bi The hope was that th to learn to walk on the , calling hallway, be if from a yo read them I began to w e bullied. These statis bu d tw ll th is t ying him," O right side e experimen nervous beca would man ung age ever onder why I decided th the scene, I een B and C lunches. se t, y students’ use so many kids would think. Would As Koivu an it took place in the i said. saw many m attention. they think it I was thinking about senior, a huge at the best way to test yone is taught to step ce T or upstairs d he rn e W in th ed he w fi w il ha is rs , li ad as Hannah Bo di an t us bu t w ff s d re ex ou er ot t tu be al st pe ag en he ld rn op it. tim gan to run and that I w riment took ain ce in power r people no . People wer be betwee two plac a thro e watching tice a thing, no one stepped in. T mean?" Koi Print Editor- rdman their lockes around the school: the .neThe plan was to conductntha freshman and a ginnesinbetween third and fourthplace on the morning of as and obviousl ugh he majority vu said. w he n in of F y re er ho eb g, no one w e experimen in-Chief O w addition, al s, and an up pe . ur ne it op 6, y s in le in se th th ey ni as th e or, Thomas ked said they cone pass as ob unde ha t in whe stai have their cl Johnson, di d blatantly stared at didn't asses. The tw rs hallway, where the re mostly freshman have ever, more people wou viously noticing or look rclassmen hallway. At th ing er, and he said d notice w th he maj ing. As the ti e o different ar ld hat was ha e confrontation. me went on, be- walked by he ha was surprised to see eas provided ority of upperclassmen were posted to help ga pay attention. At either pp K howen ug two differen "I noticed H d a look of confusion oivu in a situation su ening, howevt audiences, thing everyone said no e reactions. When they d of the hallway, two ed arrison was ch as this. on his face itors then , even if it w asked people "When I firs As he ta , lkin and he coul I kind of saw as obvious th if t saw, I thou dn't look aw his face was g to the kid. At first I di at they had du they saw anyght he was I w ay. dn as m e 't ad di to th think anythi sh an joking with ng him, but then eir stares. er, not putt eartened by the lack of re d I thought something ing their head was off," Jo of it, but action. Peopl the kid felt hnson e shou s dow situations like these. It's bett n and walking away. Too ld be standing up for on said. e another to stand up often there ar for someone now than wis e only bystanders in PHOTO BY h you did in hi HANNAH ndsight. BOARDM AN

You saw som e

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rassed?

People

Feb. 23, 2018

Lola Wallace travels around the world Abby Begin

Read and Watch Reporter Only a junior in high school, Lola Wallace has traveled to many places most people only dream about. She began traveling with National Geographic at age 15. Through these trips, she has been able to expand her knowledge about different cultures and create meaningful relationships. Wallace first discovered her love of traveling in sixth grade when she ventured to Canada with a school friend for 12 days. From then on, she has gone on numerous trips including an annual trip to Maui with her family. National Geographic expeditions were first started in 1999. They now have hundreds of trips each year all across the seven continents. The reasoning behind these trips is to get people to care about the

planet by giving them opportunities to explore it. They work with travel partners to advocate for protecting our earth and seeing its treasures. They take pride in the authentic experiences in their different trips. “Nat Geo really wants you to focus on investing yourself in the culture. So they do tons of activities and you go to tons of different places to really help you do that. It can be from walking around a really rural city to hiking on a glacier with crampons or rappelling down cliffs. Doing stuff that pushes you out of your comfort zone,” Wallace said. People are starting to travel at a much younger age. According to the United Nations, about 20 percent of all international tourists are young people. They travel for many different reasons. Some have a desire to see new places, others want to get away from stress. Regardless of the reasoning, young-

e Welcom

er aged people are appreciating the beauty of our planet like never before. “My favorite trip with Nat Geo would be going to Switzerland and France. There are so many reasons why. Switzerland and France are so beautiful. You feel so small because we were actually in the midst of the French and Swiss Alps and you don’t realize how big these mountains are until you are there. We had a really great group of people. We became like a super big family,” Wallace said. Traveling is beneficial for teenagers; there are many reasons why parents believe it can be good for their child. Traveling can teach independence and give adolescents a more enriched education. It can also decrease stress and enables for more creative thinking. Lola’s father, John Wallace, believes the benefit of Lola traveling is crucial

help better her life. “My wife Judy and I believe that global travel is important for our youth to experience and understand other cultures as Americans. We decided when Lola was very young that her understanding and becoming a global citizen was critical. From an early age, Lola has been adventurous and curious to better understand people, culture and science from different perspectives. Allowing her the chance to experience this first hand, in our opinion, has helped shape her views on life and dreams to be chased,” John Wallace said. Lola added, “If you have the opportunity to do it, definitely go for it. It is something that really opens your eyes because you’re expanding your horizons besides just from where you live. You’re meeting so many new people from all

over the states and you meet people from different countries. It’s good to know that there’s are other places out there than just where you are from.” Traveling is one of the best ways to get a front row seat to what our world is like. Our earth is vast and has many things to offer. Even though Wallace may be a young traveler in some eyes, she handles her trips with great maturity and appreciates the opportunity to view the world. “Going to different places is just awesome in general. The beauty of our world is insane. Also, meeting different people is something that’s probably my most favorite thing about traveling because there are so many different people in this world. You get to see what everyone has to offer. Every person I met becomes a different part of me. That has shaped me into who I am as a person today,” Wallace said

Wish yo u were here!

to...

! , Iceland n t a v y Lake M

Greetings from...

Maui, Hawaii!

Charmo nix, France

nt Cook, Made it to Mou New Zealand!

Oh the places she’s been! GRAPHIC BY HANNAH SWEEN PHOTOS REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM LOLA WALLACE

Stop by Ross Orthodontics to find your best smile! 2215 Vine Street Suite B Hudson, WI 1068 South Lake Street Suite 205 Forest Lake, MN www.smilesbyross.com 651-464-6988

A&E

Feb. 23, 2018

I Love To Read month kicks off with a bang Emma Polucha Layout Editor

In this day and age, technology is everything. People often look to phones for entertainment but it is not always the healthiest option. Putting down the phone and picking up a book is a very different way of entertainment. During I Love to Read month, that is exactly what happens. Every year schools spend the month of February celebrating books and the ability to read. Classes have different activities throughout the month that get students to interact with different books and get them interested in an activity that does not involve electronics. Each year contains different activities, depending on the books focused on that year. The American Library Association (ALA) announces winners for the Caldecott and Newbery awards on Feb. 12. These awards are given to books that are outstanding or are above a typical level. “I am more likely to look at a book if it has been recognized for something,” junior Connor Kilkelly said, “it means that it will more likely be a challenge to read and push me past my comfortable reading level.” During I Love to Read month this year, there are roughly 49 young adult book releases. At the top of the list are Daughter of the Siren Queen, the second book of the Daughter of the Pirate King series written by Tricia Levenseller, and The Queen’s Rising, which is a stand-alone book written by Rebecca Ross. Both books are fantasy novels and based around a teenage girl who finds new experiences. “I’ve been looking forward to Daughter of the Siren Queen for ages now. I loved the first book of the series and I can’t wait for more. The storyline caught my attention so quick and it was

different than the other books I typically read,” junior Hannah Ferguson said. One author I Love to Read month focus’ on is Dr. Seuss. Seuss’ style of writing is very different than most authors. His books help students to think outside the box and embrace their creativity. They show abstract and wacky worlds where “normal” does

“The storyline was different than the other books I typically read.” - junior Hannah Ferguson not exist. Interactive activities like draw your own character or make up your own alphabet are easier with Dr. Seuss books since his writing is so abstract that anything could be creative. “I am thrilled to see more books depicting characters and lives that are diverse that will be able to touch readers and allow them to relate to the book in a much more intimate way,” media specialist Natasha Thorager said, “I do feel that we owe much to Dr. Seuss, how ever, and all he has done for getting beginning readers excited about reading.” I Love to Read month is a fun and interesting way to start reading. “As I kid, I couldn’t wait for this month to come around. It was one of the best experiences of school I have ever had,” junior Connor Kilkelly said, “it really made me interested in reading more and sharing my favorite books.”

PHOTOS BY ROSE JUNKO

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Sports

Feb. 23, 2018

Boys hockey road to Xcel Jack Seipel

Social Media Editor The varsity boys hockey team has created waves across the state of hockey this season. Their relentlessness and willingness to win is evident, despite being undersized and inexperienced. Starting out the 2017-2018 season on a six game winning streak has shown that the Ponies’ winning mentality has not disappeared after the loss of last year’s senior class. While playing some of the best high school teams in the country, the Ponies are after yet another conference championship, and to make a run to the Xcel Energy Center for the third time in five years. The trek to the Xcel will be a long vigorous one, but the Ponies are prepared to lay it all on the line for each other to get there. High school hockey is some of the most exciting, emotional and passionate hockey in the state of Minnesota. Great teams create chemistry, relationships and memories far before coming together on the varsity team. Summer camps, youth teams, tournaments and playing on club teams are some of the many ways teammates build their connections. “Growing up, the best memories were the Duluth tournaments or any out of town tournaments where you really got to know your teammates,” senior captain Matthew McGinley said. “Hockey Day Minnesota last year was a great high school experience… [As well as] the bond you form with your teammates throughout the years.” After losing 15 seniors to the class of 2017, there was to be some “reloading” to do in order to make up for the losses. With only five seniors, nine underclassmen have joined the boys hockey team, including freshmen sensation Noah Tussey, who is currently committed to the University of Minnesota. “I’ve liked playing with [the upperclassmen], they’ve taken me in as best as they could. I don’t see me that much different from them,” Tussey said. “It’s just a good team atmosphere… I like them a lot and I like the senior class a lot too.” “Early in the season, not as many of us five seniors knew the younger guys,” McGinley added. “But right away. we got to know them pretty good and a lot of them have stepped up in big roles this year.” Tussey and junior Spencer Scott lead the team with 14 points each, fol-

PHOTO BY MORGAN GRIM Senior Matthew Mcginley prepares for face off with an opposing team, hoping to qualify for the state championship, “We’re all preparing ourselves together as a team,” McGinley says. lowed by sophomore Cooper Wylie and junior captain Joe Raleigh with 13 and 12, respectively. This is huge for the Ponies, as increased depth has encouraged everyone to take part in contributing to wins. Key wins against Cloquet, Benilde-St. Margaret, Mahtomedi, as well as hard fought losses against Cretin-Derham Hall and Roseville has shown the Ponies resiliency throughout the season. “The biggest thing we got going for us right now is to play simple and not try to do too much in order to succeed,” Raleigh said. “[Considering] this years team, we’re not the most talented, but we work our hardest and our chemistry is improving.” With pivotal games to finish the regular season at St. Thomas Academy, and at home versus Cretin-Derham Hall, East Ridge and Holy Family, Coach Hamilton preaches consistency in order to bring home a conference title and to make a run in sections. “[We need to] make sure to play all three periods and be consistent for three periods,” Hamilton said. “Realize that every time we step on the ice, every moment is a crucial moment, especially when you’re playing tough teams. Come sections, when you lose, you’re out. The next couple weeks are going to be crucial for many of our guys to learn that.” Stillwater hockey is known for its winning tradition. Completing three trips to the state tournament in five years is what the Ponies have

PHOTO BY MORAN GRIM Parker Wylie scans the ice with defender watching, “It’s fun to get with the team and have some fun,” McGinley says. been focusing on since the summer. Hours of training, ice time and dryland has prepared them for a long season, hoping to end at the Xcel. “Every kid in the locker room wants to win just as much as every other year,” McGinley said. “You should expect us to win, we expect nothing less for ourselves.”

McGinley’s statistics Goals: 2

Points: 8

Assists: 6

Shots on goal

PHOTO BY: LOGAN HUBER

percent: 100

Sports

Feb. 23, 2018

Senior Kiley Cannata performs on beam during Senior Night. With hardwork and help from her teammates, Cannata had a successful season in the sport she loves.

Gymnasts on road to state The team runs to the floor as junior Sami Chang sticks the landing and gets a near perfect score. The support is one of Chang’s favorite part of the sport. “The team is like a family,” Chang says. “We have a tight bond and I couldn’t have asked for a better team.” GRAPHIC BY KENZIE MOTZ

PHOTOS BY MORGAN GRIM

Another strong season for wrestling team Ben Recksiedler

Distribution Reporter The Stillwater boys wrestling team has become one of the powerhouses in the state of Minnesota for the past couple of years. Last season the wrestling team made it all the way to the state tournament, and all of the wrestlers are working very hard to try and replicate last year’s success. Stillwater has had a strong season under coach Rich Keller. Currently Stillwater has a overall team record of 10-6, and has also had many outstanding individual performances, all while competing in one of the hardest conferences in all of Minnesota. Everyone expects nothing less than for Stillwater to return to the state championship for another straight year. Junior Colin McCarthy said, “We’ve all been working really hard at practice to get back to the state championship, and I definitely think that we can accomplish that.”

Each year, wrestling sets one major team goal for the upcoming season, that goal is to at least qualify for state as a team. While this goal may have seemed like a stretch many years ago, this goal has been achievable for previous teams and it looks well within reach this season. “Injuries have been really devastating this season because we haven’t had our full team on the mat yet in any meets this year,” Keller said. Injuries have played a major role this season and have kept notable wrestlers such as senior Kevin Thole was out for two months because of a concussion. This loss in particular was especially difficult because Thole is such a good role model for the younger wrestlers with his great work ethic and how vocal he is on the mat. Keller said, “Our young guys have really stepped up when our older wrestlers have gotten injured or sick. It’s actually our underclassmen that are our best wrestlers.” The fact that some of the team’s

best wrestlers are eighth graders is exciting and promising for future seasons and should lead to even more upcoming success. Eighth grader Reid Ballantyne placed second this year in a Rochester tournament, and has already won a state championship. Although he still finished in second place, this was his first ever high school loss and it shows that he will be ready for future seasons. Junior Porter Estensen said, “It’s all about making some memories that will last forever, and everyone remembers when you win as a team. Our coaches tell us to only focus on the team and the rest of the individuals will take care of themselves.” Wrestling allows for these athletes to create some great memories that will last a lifetime. Coaches love to work with these athletes not just because of the competitive aspect, but because they also like to assist these young men on their journey of becoming adults.

PHOTO BY ANDREW PHAN Jared Christian raises his hand after his victory in a match against a student from Roseville. Coach Keller said, “Our young guys have really stepped up when our older wrestlers have gotten injured or sick. It’s actually our underclassmen that are our best wrestlers.”

Lifestyle

Feb. 23. 2018

Tattoos gain popularity among teens Match the staff member to the tattoo Many teachers have tattoos that students don’t know about. Match the tattoo to the staff member in the right column!

Fotini Kloos TV Anchor

Tattoos have become a trend in the Stillwater community, especially with the seniors turning 18. Tattoos and body art have always been a way for students, especially in high school, to express themselves. Recently, students have been posting on social media with their friends getting the new and trendy tattoos. Students think this trend is starting to appear again because of it being very influential and wanted when people turn 18. It is unclear how many American teenagers have tattoos and piercings. A report cited from the Pew Research Center study that said about 38 percent of young people ages 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo. In many places it is illegal to get a tattoo done professionally without a parent or guardian’s written consent, but in the state of Minnesota it is legal at the age of 18. Twenty nine percent of people, with and without tattoos, believed there was a link between tattoos and “deviant behavior” in 2008. That percentage was 24 percent in 2012, the report said. Rankin’s family always travels to Hawaii every year for their vacation. The significance for her tattoo is her family all parting after her sister, senior Hailey Rankin, will depart for college. She thinks that the wave is an impor-

tant part of Hawaii and really symbolizes where her family always goes. “We didn’t really have a meaning. The reason why we chose it because we were in Hawaii and we’ve been going to Hawaii as a family, so we’re like, ‘this is our last big family vacation’ because next year Hailey will be in college and the year after that I’ll be in college,” junior Tanna Rankin said. Rankin explained that she has a high pain tolerance, so she did not feel significant pain going into the process of getting it. She explains how it feels like a bunch of bee stings and that she has gotten stung a lot by bees, so it did not really feel like anything. Tattoos tend to hurt some people a lot, but, Rankin had experienced no pain whatsoever. “I was not scared at all. Everybody went before me except for my aunt and my stepmom, so I watched like my grandma and my sister and my other aunt get it. I don’t get scared of needles so I just like sat down and watched him do it and it didn’t hurt,” Rankin said. Rankin states her decision with getting the tattoo was a good one and she does not regret it. Rankin, among a lot of other students think the age to get a tattoo professionally done in Minnesota is stupid. A lot of teens try to find their way around getting a professional tattoo, like getting stick and pokes, which they can easily do themselves or with friends. “I don’t regret it at all. I really like

PHOTOS BY HANNAH BOARDMAN Senior Sintra Nichols (left) and junior Tanna Rankin (right) both love their tattoos. “Research the place that you’re going to get your tattoo so it’s not sketchy,” Rankin says.

it. It makes me want to get a bunch of more tattoos, but it’s not legal in Minnesota under 18 at all so I can’t and that makes me mad.” Rankin said. Rankin plans on getting multiple tattoos in her future about things that resemble her life like her friends and family. She stated that she likes getting meaningful tattoos rather ones solely for design. “I’m going to get one that’s like dance with [my friends] Riley and Kacey, we’ll get matching ones and then a Canada maple leaf because I’m Canadian and I’m a citizen there,” Rankin said. Senior Gracie Thomas also gave her feedback on some of her own tattoos she got. Tattoos have been a skin-deep language in various cultures for centuries. A lot of people get them for different reasons, or no reasons at all. Thomas originally wanted a large sunflower on her side, but instead got two mini tattoos of a sun and moon, one on each side of her ankle. Thomas stated she wanted to know what she was going to expect for pain and that is why she chose to get smaller tattoos first. “I have always wanted a bunch of tattoos for that like arty aspect of it. I don’t really have any meaningful ones...I kinda got these like on a whim because it’s not like I’m getting another tattoo right there and these are really cute so I decided these will be my tester tattoos,” Thomas said.

Match the staff member to the tattoo Match the teacher to the tattoo in the left Answers on theon bottom! column. are Answers the bottom!

F. Answers: 1.C (Profe Skogen) 2.F (Mr. Parker) 3.A (Mr. Long) 4.E (Mr. Halbakken) 5.B (Mr. Ryan) 6.D (Mrs. Thompson)

Stillwater Area High School | 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N, Oak Park Heights, MN | April 6, 2018 | Issue 5, Vol. 62

WE ARE CHANGE

students organized the walkout

purpose

Remembering Parkland victims with walkout demanding safety

Mira LaNasa

Print Editor-in-Chief One student stood halfway up a half-frozen snow bank with three peers, megaphone in hand, while three others crouched on the cement below, using blue and red lighters to light white tea lights in glass votives. “Alyssa Alhadeff, 14,” senior Erica Lemcke began. “Scott Beigel, 35,” she continued. Lemcke read off 15 more names and ages: the 17 victims of the Parkland, Fl. shooting. Fourteen students and three teachers passed away after a former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fl. walked into his old school and fatally shot 17 people on Feb. 14. To call for safer schools and in honor of those who have lost their lives, not only in Parkland, but in every school shooting, a group of students planned a school-wide, 17-minute walkout. Multiple hundreds of students joined the rest of the country in a school walkout on March 14 at 10 a.m. The students crowded out the main doors, past the cafeteria and down to the plaza, just outside of the Pony Activities Center, exercising their First Amendment rights to promote school safety. “I think now is the time to be respectful and to mourn victims and to make a change that works for everyone, not just a certain political party, but to make our schools safe,” Lemcke said. Seniors Hannah Gilsdorf, Chelsea Lai and Maggie Jones kneeled on

the ground in front of a crowd. They lit tea lights and a moment of silence was called. For about two minutes, all was silent as some observers cried and hugged one another among a mass of their peers, an estimated several hundred students. “I teared up because all of those candles represent human lives that were lost. It really hit me. Seventeen is a lot of people. It’s too many and just sitting there in complete silence [was emotional],” Gilsdorf said. Most of the walkouts around the nation have been organized by students, including the one held outside the Pony Stadium. Since most high schoolers are not of age to vote, some are attempting to sway public policy in any way they can. “We may not be able to vote now, but we will be able to vote in one, two years, and our votes will matter, and our votes will change who is in Congress and they will hopefully make an impact on what they decide to do for legislation,” Gilsdorf said. The organizers are looking forward to potentially planning an April 20 event similar to the March 14 walkout, and are hopeful they would have the same participation and energy weeks from now, but have no plans yet. “We have a lot of support. We have a lot of people who are angry, and this isn’t going to go away,” Gilsdorf said. “It’s still going to be just as important and matter just as much in April as it did yesterday, as it did a month ago, as it has since Columbine.”

Teachers approximate

hundreds PHOTO BY MIRA LANASA

of students participated in the walkout

candles were lit for the 17 victims of Parkland, FL

Like us on Facebook! Stillwater Pony Express

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES

PHOTO BY MIRA LANASA

PHOTO BY LINNEA PHILLIPS

Asian Student Union strengthens bonds, provides safe space for Asian students. Article on page 2

A hallway search: We sent a group of editors around to ask 50 people 1 question. Article on page 6-7

Female role models: Athletes look up to females who participated in the Olympics. Article on page 10

Seniors engage in local government, attend caucuses, nominated as convention delegates. Article on page 12

News

April 6, 2018

Asian Student Union strengthens bonds

Rose Deziel Copy Editor

In a school lacking diversity, it can be difficult for minorities to feel included. New this year, the Asian Student Union helps students find peers with common interests. The group meets on Tuesdays during Flex Time in room E124. Shannon VerDuin, a print room paraprofessional, advises ASU as well as K-Pop Club. Originally started by senior Darling Lee and junior Angie Vang, the club has grown to 16 members. “As a leader, you have to understand who your audience is, and I realized that there were a lot of Asian students,” Lee explained. Last year, Lee was the president of Students Promoting Cultural Awareness, which is now known as Diversity Club. SPCA was the base for what ASU is today. After, seeing the Black Student Union form, Lee decided to organize a club of her own to satisfy the interests of her classmates. With the help of Vang, ASU was created. “I got involved with the Hmong community approximately 15 to 20 years ago when the last group of people were being evacuated from Laos,” VerDuin said. By having many cultural Asian experiences, especially with the Hmong culture, VerDuin felt like a good fit for the ASU advisor. Many years ago, VerDuin aided new Hmong immigrants by organizing a warehouse full of household items. She sorted couches, tables and beds to make it easier for the immigrants to set up their houses. Several years later, she found herself working at Wausau East High School. With 30 percent of their student population in the district be-

ing Hmong, she had the opportunity to learn about the culture. Now, she even has an authentic Hmong outfit and gets invitations to Hmong events. “This has been a great way for them to meet each other and get to know their different ethnic backgrounds,” VerDuin said. ASU focuses on both similarities and differences between various Asian cultures. By eating assorted Asian foods or by simply talking, students gain knowledge about their own culture, as well as the culture of their own peers. Activities outside of school are also incorporated in the club. On President’s day, club members made about 200 egg rolls and held an egg roll fundraiser. For the fundraiser, ASU delivered the egg rolls to the high school teachers that attended meetings. The money made went towards their trip to the Festival of Nations. The club plans to visit to the event on May 3. VerDuin has brought students to Festival of Nations before and she noticed that the students thoroughly enjoyed their visit. In the near future, the club plans on hosting a community event to provide community members the opportunity to sample a variety of Asian fruits. “The members are all over the place. You have people that are really passionate, then you have people who are always being sarcastic, but you know they care,” Lee explained. Lee described the group as crazy, serious and goofy. Members come from a variety of different cultural backgrounds as well as grades. Many members are Hmong, but there are also a couple that are mix of Japanese and Caucasian. One member is from the Philippines and several are native born Koreans. The group

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES Senior Darling Lee leads a discussion about future opportunities for the Asian Student Union. “As a leader, you have to understand who your audience is, and I realized that there were a lot of Asian students,” Lee explains. dynamic keeps things fun and interesting for the club members. With some time, the group has grown so close that they even made a group Snapchat, which they use frequently. “Everyone just kind of thinks that we’re always smart,” junior Laurel Bremer said. One issue that Bremer and Lee expressed was that people automatically

think they are highly intelligent simply because they are Asian. Both explained their annoyance because they feel as though they are held to unrealistic expectations, so they feel ashamed when they do not meet those set expectations. Lee also pointed out how she wishes that classmates and staff would make an effort to try to get to know them. ASU provides an out-

let for not only Asians, but for anyone to learn more about their classmates. The club is open for anyone to join. Members of BSU have participated in a few ASU meetings, enabling them to understand their peers more. “We’ve really grown close as a group learning our about differences as well as our similarities, so that’s been really awesome,” VerDuin said.

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES Feminism club members work on posters for promotion. “I just consider it a place where I could get together with others and have good discussions,” sophomore Amy McElin said.

have to believe in equal rights.” Everyone is welcome to come and learn about feminism, and discuss what feminism means to them. Through this club people of all different backgrounds can come together to educate each other and themselves on topics that are relevant to everyone in the case for equal rights. “I considered myself a feminist before and I just consider it a space where I could get together with others and have good discussions,” sophomore Amy McElin said. Students joining together to create a space that is safe for all students to learn about feminism is not something that is solely at Stillwater Area High School. All across the U.S. students are forming different variations of Feminism Clubs to preach equality and inclusion for all. “A big inspiration [for starting the club] was the MeToo movement and all the publicity feminism got from that, and I thought it would

be a lot more relatable to people to see all these famous people coming forward and say that there still is discrimination,” Lemke said. By including everyone into their club the place really is a safe space to ensure that all students are treated equally. With a strong new leadership the club meets in social studies teacher Jerry Washburn’s room, D130, every Thursday morning at 7:10 a.m. The club works to strengthen the relationship with people and their definition of feminism any way they can, including engaging in conversation about what feminism looks like and means to them, and watching documentaries about important feminist movements throughout history. The club is working to empower students in their lives and make sure everyone knows that they are entitled to equal rights. The club started later in the year than most, but they are still prepared to have a great year.

New Feminism Club fights for equal rights Linnea Phillips

Print Editor-in-Chief When the Feminism Club opened for students in the 2016-2017 school year, leaders were excited and ready for any and all activities planned for the students interested in the club. However, dissension and disagreements on what the club meant and what it should do caused the leaders to shut the club down. Now, seniors Erica Lemke, Bakange Ajak and Adam Johnson are ready and organized to welcome students back into the brand new Feminism Club with one clear message: equality. The club is open to all students no matter their gender, race or age, and they encourage everyone who is curious or interested to join the club. “It doesn’t matter what level you’re at with feminism,” Lemke said. “You don’t have to be super in the know to join, you just

News

April 6, 2018

Proposal to push back start time voted out by school board

Levi Gregg

the district to change their own start times. In order to deal with this challenge, the school board drafted a comStillwater School Board canceled plicated multi-tiered busing proposal. “The preliminary proposal would planned high school start time change. Pressure from students and par- provide four tiers of busing, The first ents at Stillwater Area High School tier schools would begin before 8 a.m. led the school board consider chang- and the high school (tier two) would ing the high school’s start time from start around 8:30 a.m. The remain7:40 to 8:30 a.m. However, after ing elementary schools in tier three looking at the issue for several years, would start after 9 a.m. and charter and the school board decided to delay the non-public schools in tier four would change, initially scheduled to be imple- likely begin by 10 a.m,” the school mented in the 2019-2020 school year. board explained on the SAHS website. The push to change Stillwater’s start Delayed start times would also time follows a University of Minnesota study showing improved academic performance with later start times. The study followed students from Edina and Minneapolis high schools, both of which recently changed their own start times. The study found several positive changes including a, “Significant increase in attendance for [students] at all Minneapolis high schools.” Despite this research, school administrators were cautious while considering the changes. Ultimately, during a meeting on March 8, the school board concluded that the district was not yet ready new start times. “I feel like we just went through one of the most difficult years any district can go through with the amount of changes we went through last year,” said board member Sarah Stivland in a post to the school’s website. “We haven’t even gotten to the new normal yet from the changes we did at the beginning of this year. I think we should put this decision off for at least another year.” The school board came to this conclusion after considering the negative impacts a late high school start would bring. One of the challenges they looked at was how it would affect other schools in the district. Starting high school classes at 8:30 a.m. would require other schools in

Copy Editor

create conflicts at the end of the day. Shifted class times would cause students to miss more class for out of school activities that do not currently affect classes, such as sports matches. “Most athletes at our high school are good students and would still be able to balance their schedules. For this reason, while the changes might require them to work a little harder, I don’t believe it would affect their abilities to be in sports. On the other hand, for students already on the margins this may push them to the point of needing to choose between

sports and their academics,” Assistant Principal Aaron Drevlow explained. Students at the high school have conflicted opinions about the changes. While many are concerned about the challenges, most still support the concept of a later start time. “I think it’s a pretty smart thing to do because biologically teenagers need to go to sleep later. I think for sports it’s not really that big of a deal because for athletes there is always time to do work. If we are up late anyway we might as well be doing work,” senior James Kurtz said.

Ultimately, school officials acted to stall the proposal only because they were not prepared to handle the challenges the change would create at this time. Even though the school board decided to postpone changing start time, administrators still understood its potential benefits. “It is understood that for developmental reasons high schoolers get better sleep at the later times. Moving the start times could help increase school attendance, it could help reduce traffic incidents and it could really help increase the academic prowess of our high school,” Drevlow explained.

GRAPHIC BY ABBY BANKS

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Editorial

April 6, 2018

Staff Ed: Board says no change to school start times, students agree

These days, it is a common sight to watch hundreds of tired students shuffle into school every morning. During the winter, the sun hasn’t even fully risen; temperatures are below freezing for most of the school year. This scenario has lead administrators to question the time at which schools begin teaching and to debate starting school later. Most students, however, believe that a change to start times would help nobody. After years of conversation, administrators sent out an initial inquiry into the opinion of the community on Feb. 2. This inquiry asked about a hypothetical rescheduling that would start the high school 50 min. later for the sake of student health. This change, if implemented, would come during the 20192020 school year. At the school board meeting on March 8, the board decided not to change school start times for that year and students support the decision. Right now, most students have schedules that are so packed that they can not afford to start any later. They wake up early to go to school, but then after school comes work, sports and homework that takes well into the night to complete. It’s no surprise, then, that waking up the next day is not fun. In general, students miss out an valuable sleep. However, pushing back the bell an hour won’t help students get more or better sleep. Sure, the sun would rise with the students, but that hour has to

be made up somewhere else, which means cutting deeper into bedtimes. In fact while many students hate waking up early, they are thankful for the early start so that they have plenty of time after school to meet their daily goals. Shifting the start time of the high school an hour back will have massive ripples throughout the community. All bus schedules and start times for the district would have to be adjusted. Sport practices would have to be pushed back. Students that participate in jobs or club sports would have to change their schedules. Parents would have to find new ways to get their children to school. If start times would be moved, all of these things and more would have to be addressed or compromised in some way. Many students rely on their jobs to save money for college. Others rely on sports for relief from their difficult life as students. Overall, students would gain an hour of sleep, at the cost of possibly losing the things that they need to survive in modern society. One thing that many people forget about when considering the start time debate is students who miss school for athletics. Currently, student athletes and coaches that also teach, regularly miss portions of sixth hour for competitions. If start times were moved back, these students and teachers would be missing a lot more valuable education If the school decides to push times back, any health benefits would be negat-

ed by this missed school. Students who missed school would have to make it up later, without instruction from teachers. This would increase anxiety and decrease sleep, opposite the intention of moving the bell time. Also, teachers that had to leave school to coach would need substitutes, which would not only have to be paid for by the school, but would also hurt non-athletes’ ability to learn. The reason many schools have pushed back start times is because research indicates that sleeping more seems to improve student health. According to startschoollater.net, more sleep can help anxiety, depression, obesity, substance abuse and more. Ideally, pushing back start times would lead to students getting more sleep. The issue is, no one would get any more sleep. Students would, after starting school an hour later, get home an hour later. This means they will spend one

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more hour late at night working on homework. Obviously, this change, which has the goal of increasing sleep, would potentially have the opposite effect. As much as changing the schedule would mess up many students, most would agree that they love their sleep and they would love to get more of it. Unfortunately, this can’t happen until other action is taken. With school jobs, sports, and homework, a day in the life of a student is just too long. If SAHS really wants to push back the start time an hour, first they need to remove an hour of homework from their student’s schedule. This can be done by lowering homework load, which not only has been proved effective in increasing student health and performance, but would also allow school to start an hour later without becoming a nightmare for everyone involved.

5701 Stillwater Blvd., Stillwater, MN, 55082, sahsponyexpress.com

Ellie Faeth

Print Editor-in-Chief Dating all the way back to 1941, marching in protests on the streets of Washington D.C. (among many other state capitols) have become highly publicized, popular events, especially in recent years. These types of protests are extremely important in today’s society, as they were since 1941, and actually do make major political, social and economic change. On March 24, March for Our Lives took take place in over 488 places across the USA. After the recent school shooting in Parkland, FL, this event was created to protest the current gun control laws. Marching, or protesting in general, is extremely important. Not only does it grab politicians’ attention, it also sparks a chain reaction. When a protest is formed by a few, they are joined by several others. This causes others to become more politically active in their communities, states and even the country. Recent discussions, protests and the march are led by students, especially by those from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who are currently well known for standing up to gun violence. Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky and Ryan Deitsch , among others, are paving the way for others just like them in other high schools around the country, and are influencing other young people to create change in their communities. It is plainly obvious that now is the time for students to take action, and be as influential as older generations, if not more. “I think protests are about awareness and to make a statement to our democratically elected leaders that this matters to us. This is not off our radar. You need to take action,” Stippel said.

Read more at sahsponyexpress.com

Opinion

April 6, 2018

Hannah Boardman Print Editor-in-Chief

wearing black arm bands to protest the Vietnam War could not be forced to remove the arm bands by school officials,” lawyer Joe Paiement said. A “disruption” is a loose term that may be interpreted in vastly different ways. In the case of the activism surrounding the Parkland shooting, however, a walkout is a definitive disruption. This means that schools are allowed to be unsupportive of the protest and offer punishments for missing class. The fact that a school is allowed to censor disruptions is a very fair decision, due to numerous safety issues that may arise. Although some schools may try to stop the walkouts, many schools, including Stillwater, are embracing the efforts and students wishes to become politically involved which is commendable. Although students may not cause a disruption, they are allowed to peacefully speak and express themselves with protection under the law. According to the ACLU, students are allowed to wear clothing with political messages as well as express themselves in quiet ways. “I think that there is significant amounts of protection and I think students are really encouraged to share their own opinion [at school],” senior Annabel Gregg said.

#NEVER AGAIN

In the weeks following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Flo. there have been a wide variety of responses to the tragedy. As students gear up to protest, district administrators have reacted differently: some praise, some ban, and some have no reaction at all. These actions and responses, however, beg the question of students rights to protest and how far administrators are allowed to go. Although students don’t lose many rights in schools, times like these make light of the fact that students do not have the same First Amendment rights in school versus out of school, for a very good reason. Students have the rights that they need to peacefully protest, and asking for many more is asking for trouble. When in school, students do not have the same First Amendment rights as they would outside of school. Landmark cases such as Tinker v. Des Moines have set the standard for political activism and free speech and expression within the school walls. Administrators on the other hand, are at times limited on what they can and cannot censor and stop. The 1968 Supreme Court case of Tinker v. Des Moines established that when students enter a school they do not automatically lose their First Amendment rights. The case was started when Mary Beth Tinker and a few other students wore black arm bands to school to protest the Vietnam War. They were told to remove them, and when they didn’t they were sent home. Tinker challenged the school district in court, claiming that her First Amendment rights were being violated, and eventually won. “In Tinker v. Des Moines, the U.S. Supreme Court held that students

#MARCHFOR OURLIVES

First Amendment enables student protest

As students age from children to young adults they become increasingly politically aware. At the same time they are learning who they are and how they can express their opinions. Since these students spend everyday at school, the building becomes much

“It has been held that students in schools are not stripped of their rights.”

-lawyer Joe Paiement more than a place to learn about history and math, but a place to learn about the world, themselves and how to interact with each other in meaningful ways. “Students in high school are able to apply real world events to the his-

PHOTOS BY ANDREW PHAN Officer Lindsay Paradise (pictured left) is the only officer to carry a weapon in the school. She can usually be found in the cafeteria or in her office in the White Pony Center.

Paradise is joined by security guard Joann (pictured right). She can typically be found roaming the school hallways looking for mischief. They are joined by two more security guards (not pictured).

tory and the other topics that they’re learning. It’s become so prevalent because we’re at an age where we can fit it all together and see the whole picture and see how it affects us as young adults,” Gregg said. Dress codes cannot interfere with First Amendment rights, but schools have the right to enforce their dress codes. Codes cannot tell students what messages to wear or not wear, but they can prohibit students from wearing clothes they deem inappropriate. This is a fair standard, since schools cannot teach students what to agree with, only how to form informed opinions. If a school were to tell a student wearing a pro-gun teeshirt to take it off or turn it inside out they would need probable cause to. “Unless, student actions interfere with the educational process, the purpose of the school, the idea is that students should be allowed to exercise the same rights as adults, including free speech,” Paiement said. Administration has some limitations on what they can and cannot do regarding walkout situations. Some schools in Texas and Wisconsin have claimed that they will give students a suspension for participating in these walkouts. According to the ACLU, administrators have the right to punish students

for missing class, but they don’t have the right to punish students differently for participating in a political protest. “I don’t think that it is fair for schools to punish students for walking out or participating in protests. Such walkouts/protests are arguably part of the educational process schools are designed to provide students. In other words, this type of activity is planned to encourage both students and adults to think critically about a particular public policy, whether it be the Vietnam War or gun control,” Paiement said. Although students may not have the freedom to miss school whenever they wish, it is fair to expect administrators not to punish students extremely for missing school due to political protests. The opinions of administrators should not have anything to do with their work, and their feelings should be kept separate from their actions when regarding protests at schools. “I think [our] administration has been great, actually they’ve done an awesome job of allowing us to use student led initiative, but giving us all the tools that we need it to be safe and successful. I really appreciate that they’ve really been a listening ear for the concerns that are residing around this issue,” Gregg said. Students may have limited rights to protest, but the rights that they do have are sufficient for school hours. Students are allowed to express their political opinions peacefully without punishment. Anyone student who is looking to protest should be aware of what they are and are not allowed to do with regard to their rights. An informed student is a great asset to any political revolution or action, and students have the power to make change. Young people are leading the way in politics today with informed and strong voices, and being informed about school is only part of it.

Focus

April 6, 2018

CLAIRE DICKS Kris McCarthy

April 6, 2018

A HALLWAY SEARCH

AVA YOKANOVICH Lori Stippel

We sent a group of editors to stop 50 people in the hallways and ask one question to find out which staff members have left their mark on students. Here’s what they found.

Which staff member is your role model and why?

HEAR HIM KAUL

CLAY BATTERTON Kim Thompson

Teaching beyond the black board, social studies teacher Mike Kaul shows his students acceptance. Mira LaNasa

Print Editor-in-Chief

MADDIE OELTJEN Pam Bloom

Among the monotonous halls that thousands of students shove through daily, some students stay nestled in a photo covered room, eating, socializing or doing homework. The room always has someone in it, not because of the relaxing recliners or the ever-present snacks, but because social studies teacher of 32 years, Mike Kaul, has created a welcoming environment and close personal connection with countless students, where they learn more than just social studies. Kaul has photos of himself with both current and past students pinned around his room, gifts from them piled on bookshelves and always has someone in the collaborative spaces next to his classroom, waiting for a chance to vent to him or just catch a break, sometimes long after the school day is over, or before the school day even begins. On multiple occasions he has even found kids on his front porch, looking for help with both school and personal problems.

More than an educator

MAX KRUSE Gerard Coury

ANNABEL GREGG Mike Kaul

BRYCE WELSCH Mike Kaul

MEGAN MCCALLESTER Ing-Mari Ryan

“He’s never alone. Even if he’s walking in the hallway students see him and they change the directions to follow wherever he’s going. He’s funny and he’s relatable and he’s sometimes a little bit crude, but it’s crude in the way that life is crude,” senior Annabel Gregg said. Kaul teaches AP Psychology and U.S. History, and connects his experience as a drug abuse counselor and a consultant at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to relate to his AP Psychol-

PETER GRACE Dennis Lindsay

ogy class. He is widely known to be a fun teacher with sarcastic humor, but to many students, he is more than just a teacher. “I think he’s probably going to be the person from a high school that I miss the most. He was a great educator, and I really liked AP Psychology, but who he is as a person is something that I know I’m going to want to be a part of my life for the rest of my life. I know I’ll come back here or I know I’ll send him emails and check in because he’s not just a teacher to me. He really does feel like this second dad. You can tell him anything,” Gregg said.

Beyond the classroom

Senior Bryce Welsch was nominated for Homecoming King in the fall, and took the plastic crown home, but not before Welsch lassoed Kaul to the song Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean, while in a big cardboard green tractor (which was later taped onto Kaul’s podium). Welsch has built his relationship with Kaul over two years. He had two classes with him in his junior year, AP Psychology and U.S. History. In those years, Welsch has learned plenty from Kaul, not only in social studies, but beyond the classroom. “I remember last year one of the things that he talked about was that people try to control things that they can’t control. I think that’s really help me apply it to real life. If you’re going to try to do that you’re going to create too much stress in your life. Sometimes things aren’t going to be the way you want them to be and you just gotta let them happen,” Welsch said. With such a crowded side room, Kaul occasionally gets frustrated, but quickly recognizes it and takes a moment to realize his privilege in being the one many students turn to.

Personal acceptance

“I care about who you are and I care about you as a person and yeah, I’m here to do my very best job to teach psych or social studies or whatever curriculum...but that’s just a small piece of it. I wish I had all kinds of time to just get know what’s going on in your life. What’s your family, what are your interests,” Kaul said. “Your story is really important to me.” Kaul fondly recalls many stories of past students, many of which begin with a student who is struggling in both school and at home, but end in them being graduated, living their happiest lives. And, while it brings him much joy seeing these students flourish, he does not take credit for them or their successes. “I consider myself somebody who accepts people for where they’re at. I try as hard as I can not to be judgmental. I try not to be prejudicial and biased and all that kind of stuff, but I’m a human and I screw up a lot, but I try to just accept people wherever they’re at. I try to treat them with the respect that they deserve. I learned this really early on, I never take credit for people’s suc-

NICK GAG Ryan Miller

PHOTO BY AUBERY KELLEY Kaul instructs his AP Psychology vlass on the details of their next assignment as they have work time. Beyond his AP class, he teaches US History. “I’m here to do my very best job to teach psych or social studies or whatever curriculum... but that’s just a small piece of it. I wish I had all kinds of time to just get know what’s going on in your life.’ Kaul says of his students. cesses. You know, what you’ve done here is because the result of you,” Kaul said. “I also don’t take credit for your failures. I’m not the cause for you to struggle in my class. So I try to be encouraging and supportive, but I don’t take on your stuff. That’s yours.” Gregg and Welsch, as well as dozens of other students, look up to Kaul and from him have learned countless lessons about both the Civil War, the myelin sheath and life. He will continue to be a role model for students, though some seniors who he has connected with most will be leaving to college soon. Fortunately for them, wthey found their safe spaces in high school, as Kaul’s room serves as a home for students who sometimes feel they have nowhere to turn. “I just really appreciate the fact that it kind of feels like home and everything there is to share with others. I think that’s a great thing to have. He just is always sharing,” Gregg said. “He’s real, and I think that people really appreciate that.”

To read more about another popular faculty member, Jacqueline Parr, check us out at sahsponyexpress.com. PHOTOS BY MIRA LANASA, HANNAH BOARDMAN, MORGAN GRIM, HANNAH SWEEN, EMMA LOWEY, AUBREY KELLEY, LINNEA PHILLIPS AND ABBY BANKS

ISABEL GOETZKE Pete Hamilton

JOE PEARSON Peter Hoyem

People

April 6, 2018

Teaching sisters form a unique bond Jesse Brown

Distribution Reporter Sisters share an unbreakable bond that is like no other bond held between two people. Sisters tend to be with one another from birth all the way until, possibly, college. Adulthood is when sisters usually go off to work in different fields and different places in the world. However, math teacher Stephanie Nord and Assistant Principal Chris Otto are among the few sisters who remained close to one another. Otto and Nord both work in the same building doing what they love the most. Teaching and working in the same environment has allowed the two sisters to become even closer in their relationship and friendship. “It is easy for us to touch base on something if we want or need to do that. Knowing that she is here in the same building is comforting, so I do like being a part of the same work community that she is a part of. It’s kind of fun thinking about it that way,” Otto said. The two sisters worked at Stillwater Junior High school for about seven years and now they have met again here they have been working together for another three years. The two have worked together in the same school for about 10 years in total. “Much of the staff knows we’re sisters, so I figured much of the student body knew. I am surprised to find out that so many actually did not,” Otto said. “She has had a tremendous impact

ALTERNATIVE COPY STORY BY EVELYN YOUNG on my life. When we were younger she gave me babysitting experience and without knowing it she helped me learn patience and understanding many things,” Otto explained. There are many life lessons that sisters can learn from each other. Being so close to one another and growing up together in the same house they are together almost every single day.

Sisters can help eachother even though sometimes they may not know it, just like Nord did for Otto. Many experiences can come about when sisterhood carries into adulthood. “We are a lot closer as adults than we were as children because as children she took care of me and she told me what I had to do. She was my babysitter since she was much older than me, now

we are friends. We spend time together and do a lot more activities together,” Nord said. Both sisters went to each other’s weddings and take care of each other’s kids. They have been to several plays and concerts together, but one very interesting piece of their friendship is that they both share a lake property. They have built a getaway cabin for the two of them and their families to relax

and take time off to enjoy the little things in life. They have had the property for about 17 years and usually spend a lot of time there during the summer. “I go to her for a lot of advice. I toss a lot of stuff on her, but she handles it very well and it helps me a lot to learn from her. We are a lot alike, but also a lot different. We were raised the same by the same people. It felt like we had the same beliefs and the same morals. We grew up the same, and we thought the same,” Nord said. Even though the two sisters share a lot of similarities, especially the way they grew up, they also have a lot of differences. Nord was involved in sports and was the more athletic one between the two. While both sisters were very skilled and involved academically, they did not share an interest in the same classes. Otto liked English while Nord liked math. This was a constant subject of contention in their relationship. “[Nord] has certainly been somebody constant in my life. It has been kind of a sisters-by-birth, friends-by-choice thing. She is just a real stable part of my life. She is really fun. She really knows how to have a lot of fun and we have a lot of fun together, so she has really helped me branch out and get involved in different activities. She has been amazing to me and for me, and I can’t imagine not having her in my life. My life has been much richer because of my shared experiences with her,” Otto said.

From then to now-

PHOTO BY AUBREY KELLEY

PHOTO BY AUBREY KELLEY “Much of the staff knows we’re sisters, so I figured much of the student body knew. I am surprised to find out that so many actually did not,” Otto said.

Nord keeps a photo from 1998 on her desk in her classroom, “We were much younger then, many students don’t notice that it is us unless they look very closely,” Otto said.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY STEPHANIE NORD GRAPHIC BY HANNAH SWEEN

A&E

April 6, 2018

‘Bye Bye Birdie’ rehearsals pick up speed

Madison Weispfenning Editorial Cartoonist

The theater department is hard at work preparing for the spring musical Bye Bye Birdie. Originally performed as a Broadway show called Let’s Go Steady, in 1960, Bye Bye Birdie, eventually became a musical movie known for their Elvisbased character Conrad Birdie. Bye Bye Birdie’s namesake character is portrayed by senior and first time performer Isaac Krahn. His beginner’s acting experience involves many screaming, hysterical, teenage girls. His music producer, Albert, portrayed by junior Ben Valerius, and his secretary/girlfriend, Rosie, portrayed by junior Mya Lysne, attempt to have one last big publicity stunt for Birdie before he goes to war by having him kiss one of his adoring fans goodbye. Kim MacAfee, played by senior Sophie Vogel, is supposed to be Birdie’s last kiss, but her relationship with Hugo Peabody, played by first time performer and junior Thomas Haggard, slowly falls apart. All relationships in this show are tested and pushed to see how far they will go. “[The show is] playful, enjoyable, cheerful, groovy and moderately annoying. Once everyone is being as bright and ugly [musically] as they need to be, [Telephone Hour] is a wonderful song to be a part of,” junior and first time actor Ethan King said. As the third song in the musical, “Telephone Hour,” shows the close-knit community of Sweet Apple, Ohio. All of the teenage boys and girls of the town sing about Kim and Hugo becoming official. “It’s very tricky to sing and dance at the same time. Of course some people

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PHOTO BY ABBY BANKS Director Grif Sadow gives pointers to seniors Sophie Vogel and Isaac Krahn about their performance. “[The show is] playful, enjoyable, cheerful, groovy, and moderately annoying.” are better at it than others, but I think as a whole it’s coming along,” stage manager freshman Elsa Martin said. The dances are done at high intensity and the musical pieces are sung at full ability. Bringing the two together is the hardest mash-up to accomplish for a musical actor. While dancing, actors have to make it seem as if they are not out of breath. In preparation for that Director Grif Sadow tells his actors to try to sing while they workout to get their voices and bodies use to the movement. “During tech week I’m going to plan on doing my homework during my dinner break,” King said. “Or I’m going to plan on just crying and doing it at 3 a.m.” During tech week, the cast can stay as late as 9 p.m. after school. Tech week is made for the techni-

cians to run the show and learn their cues for lights and sound effects. This is also used for the pit orchestra, directed by Dennis Lindsay, to rehearse with the cast on stage and on cue. A majority of the actors consider tech week highly stressful, especially to fix the little things missed in rehearsals. “I’m completely set on the time requirement, but just not the amount of energy and effort that pours out of us on tech week,” another first-time performer, sophomore Fayuma Felema, said. At this point in the show the cast is working on fixing minor errors and perfecting their pieces. Bye Bye Birdie will be performed on April 6-8 with two shows on the April 7. The tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for students. “The shows are always a blast,” Martin said.

GRAPHIC BY ROSE JUNKO

Sports

April 6, 2018

Female athlete role models Athletes look up to females in the Olympics Logan Huber

Distribution Reporter Many students have important people in their lives who they call role models. Whether it is in sports, academics, music or just in life in general, these are people others look up to and are inspired by. Many students have been inspired and affected by the athletes of the United States in the Olympics in PyeongChang and other past Olympics. In these Olympics, the Women’s Ice Hockey team won a gold medal by beating Canada, but the most inspiring gold medal was from a hometown hero, Jessie Diggins. Diggins and her partner, Kikkan Randall, won gold in the Women’s Cross Country Team Free Sprint final. “Seeing someone just like me from my hometown really shows how much I could accomplish and that is why Jessie Diggins is so inspiring to me,” senior Hannah Beech said. Diggins is originally from Afton, Minn. She and her partner won the first ever gold medal in Women’s Cross Country Skiing. “Winny Brodt is a very inspiring person and is one of my greatest role models because of how she is such a good leader and teammate as well as a great hockey player,” sophomore Lauren Einan said. Brodt played for the U.S. National Team from 1998-2001. After playing for the U.S., Brodt wanted to share

her love of the game with other women around the country and began holding camps and coaching teams, which is how she ended up coaching Einan. “My greatest female role model would have to be Hannah Brandt because I have known her for so long and I have seen how much she has accomplished along the way,” sophomore Haley Eder-Zdechlik said. Brandt played at the University of Minnesota with Eder-Zdechlik’s older sister, and then moved on from college to the U.S. National Team where she played for the U.S. in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and won a gold medal. “It is amazing what you can accomplish in life, and these goals are set into place when watching the women in the olympics,” Einan added. About 4 billion people watch the Olympics from around the world, so what these girls do on television can affect many people worldwide. Olympians can have a positive or a negative impact on their fans which is why it is important for them to be good role models. The Stillwater nordic ski and gymnastics team both won state this year. Many younger athletes already look up to the players on those teams and they are already making an impact on the community. This win only furthers their impact. “Role models play a huge role in my life and they really do affect the way I feel and the decisions that I make in life,” Beech said.

GRAPHIC ART BY KENZIE COYLE

Hannah Beech Graduating year: 2018 Inspiration: Jessie Diggins Lauren Einan Graduating year: 2020 Inspiration: Winny Brodt

Haley Eder-Zdechlik Graduating year: 2020 Inspiration: Hannah Brandt

Sports

April 6, 2018

Boys tennis ready for run to state tournament

Aubrey Kelley

Photography Editor As spring slowly approaches, the boys tennis team is waiting in anticipation to finally practice alongside their coach and teammates for the first time in months. Throughout the winter, the boys have been individually practicing in facilities across the metro area. They are looking forward to playing together within their own facilities to begin the start to an incredible season. The team had a successful season last year and are looking to grow and improve throughout this season. Although they have lost talented seniors, they have gained a lot of young talent and are beginning to see important upperclassmen improve and step into the much needed leadership role. “As a team we did fairly well, but we didn’t quite live up to our expectations. We didn’t make section finals or state, so that was a bit of a dissapointment. However, we have many players who I expect to make huge improvements. We have a lot of younger players who have proven themselves throughout the offseason,” senior captain Keyan Shayegan described. Because of Minnesota High School Athletic Association rules, coach David Kahl is limited on the opportunities he has to work with the boys

during the offseason. He is unable to train the boys throughout the school year leading up to the season. Therefore, offseason training is the responsibility of each player as an individual. “Due to the high school state rules, there are limitations on the time that I can spend with the team, a lot of their training is done on their own, especially once the school year starts,” Kahl said. Senior captains Fred LeClair, Keyan Shayegan, Weston McGinley and Bode Akinshemoyin have set preseason goals for the team. Based on their success last season, they hope to improve and attend the state tournament as a team. This goal will require lots of hard work and diligence throughout the season, however it is in the realm of what they can accomplish. “Our main team goal is to return to the section finals We qualified for the section final our freshman year. However, we have not returned since then. If we make it to the section finals as we hope to, I am hopeful we can make it to state which is our largest goal,” McGinley said. If the boys hope to accomplish their goal of competing in the state tournament, they must first win their section. The boys are involved in a difficult section and have many tough matches they will need to win in order to achieve this goal. “Our most important matches are when we

compete against other teams in our section, because that is what is going to determine the seeding for the section tournament. This will help us move towards our goal of state. Performing at the lower level of matches is very important and can lead to a successful season,” Shayegan said. State is a goal the team hopes to accomplish; they need all the support they can get from students and parents. There is a lot of pressure to perform well each match in order to meet their goal, and with the support of the community they hope to achieve all of their goals this season. “The boys have high expectations for themselves. We will push them to perform their best and accomplish all of their goals. Stillwater has always very blessed with good support from parents and community members,” Kahl added. The state tournament is the team’s largest competitive goal. However, the boys are most focused on a fun, enjoyable season for all athletes. They hope to inspire each other to be the best athlete they are capable of and to enjoy each practice and match. “I am so glad to be captain as a captain this year I hope to have a great season in all aspects. We hope everyone stays healthy throughout the season, plays safe and enjoys every moment the season has to offer our team,” Akinshemoyin said.

PHOTOS BY HANNAH BOARDMAN Freshman Bruk Kassie squares up to hit the ball during one of the team’s indoor practices. “Performing at the lower level of matches is very important and can lead to a successful season,” Keyan Shayegan says.

April 6, 2018

Lifestyle

Seniors engage in local government, attend conventions Chloe Squires

Photography Editor For many seniors, 2018 marks the year they can become active participants in our nation’s political process. Students who are 18 years old have the opportunity to learn about Minnesota government first-hand by taking part in both district and state caucuses and conventions through becoming delegates. By getting involved in these real world situations, these seniors have the opportunity to learn more than any government class can teach. A delegate is someone chosen at the convention to represent their precinct at the district convention. Anyone who attends the convention has the option to become a delegate as long as they will be 18 by the next election. After the district convention they then have the opprotunity to go to the State convention in June. This opens up the opportunity to many seniors who wish to be involved in their community and politics. Students were presented with the opportunities in their government classes. AP Government and Politics teacher Roger Stippel informed his students about the district conventions that were to happen, as well as spoke about the potential to become delegates. Whether or not students became delegates was up to the student and their fellow convention participants. Senior Anna Koenning plans to participate in this year’s caucus. She hopes to use this opportunity to voice her political opinions in a legitimate, professional manner. “I’m going for Shelly Christensen, I will vote for her and support her. It’s really where you get to show what you’re passionate about, why you’re passionate about it and why you want to support this

candidate,” Koenning explained. Stippel encourages his students to get involved in the caucus as student delegates in order to learn in a handson manner. By endorsing candidates, students can bring attention to important issues, influence party decisions and meet community members with similar interests. By getting involved at such a young age, students are able to learn about government while at the same time gaining experience for potential future campaigns. “My mantra is you’re not learning government until you’re doing government. So, until you actually go out and do what these students are doing, government is just a theoretical thing that’s far removed,” Stippel said. The election calendar spans far beyond the general election in November. Precinct caucuses, special elections, endorsement conventions and primaries all play a role in the political process. Students who are interested have many opportunities to involve themselves in the caucus and voice their political opinions beyond becoming delegates. “It takes a commitment. You have to take time; it’s a couple of weekends, and the more you get involved in the process, the more commitment [it requires]. I think what students learn is there are opportunities to change public policy, to get involved in politics and to make a difference,” Stippel explained. Voting is a constitutional right that one is privileged to exercise. The opportunity for Stillwater seniors to participate in the political process marks an important step into adulthood and fulfilling their civic duty, “I just really think you should care [about government], have a passion, and care about what happens politically,” Koenning said.

Stillwater Area High School | 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N, Oak Park Heights, MN | May 11, 2018

| Issue 6, Vol. 62

Prom? Katie Kelzenberg asks The Rock Abby Banks

Print Editor-in-Chief “She gets recognized everywhere. Like, ‘You’re that girl. Congratulations.’ We were at the theater and some random old people came up and took pictures on their cell phones. An old man said, ‘Are you, like, the rock girl?’A lot of people think she won a contest,” Katie’s self-described bodyguard and friend, Andria Barrett, said. Bubbly Katie Kelzenberg filmed a video at her Minnesota home. Almost a week later, she attended a exclusive sneak preview of Rampage, the lastest film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It started with her friend Hannah Gilsdorf’s suggestion to prompose to The Rock. The fad of asking celebrities to prom has exploded over the past few years, with high profile stars such as Kylie Jenner, Rihanna and Taylor Swift all accepting promposals via social media. “I fell in love with the man, and I saw all these different videos around the nation asking celebrities to prom, and I was like, I could do that. And so why not ask The Rock. That would be fun,” Kelzenberg said. Gildorf and Kelzenberg worked together over an hour long session to create her video to ask her longtime celeb crush to the Stillwater Prom. The Rock responded quickly, promising a special video response later in the week. “I absolutely love everything about this. Including this lovely young lady, Katie. Unfortunately, I’ll be shooting my next film on 5/5, but I have a personal video response I will tweet you later on today. Stay tuned Katie,” The Rock said in a tweet on April 15. Friday morning, Kelzenberg received her answer via a school announcement. While The Rock was unable to make it to the prom, he offered a special movie showing to Kelzenberg and 232 other students, with free

PHOTO BY MIRA LANASA Katie Kelzenberg and 30 of her friends were given the VIP treatment at Marcus Oakdale Cinema before viewing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s new movie “Rampage”. Local news stations came to the theater to interview Kelzenberg and her friends about the experience. tickets and movie snacks. “People were looking at me. And I was like, why? They’re looking at someone else, like I don’t really contribute to this school as much as other people do. But then, like, I’m looking around and people were like, ‘I think it’s for you.’ And then all-of-a-sudden I hear Dwayne-‘The Rock’Johnson on the loudspeaker. And then he says my name and I just started bawling,” Kelzenberg recalled. “People were talking about it [in other classes] and then like my friends were like, ‘That’s her. That’s the girl.’” Kelzenberg has since gotten noticed by national media for her efforts, including interviews on shows like Good Morning America. Her video has about 3,000 likes, and counting. “People just keep watching this video and watching the video and I was like, it’s gross. Oh my god, it shows my feet at one part,” Kelzenberg explained. “My favorite part of the video,” Barrett chimed in. The next goal? Get Katie on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “I feel like she can help facilitate that meeting between me and the man,” Kelzenberg said. The film was fantastic,

according to her and many of her friends. Ticket sales were managed by the school, which caused a little bit of confusion. The school was given 232 tickets, though Kelzenberg was originally only given 10. However, between The Rock and Principal Rob Bach, Kelzenberg got to invite 30 people to spend time with her in an exclusive private waiting area before the film. “[There was] just kind of like a lot happening. But once they started letting people in, they would come and say, ‘Congratulations,’ or something nice or start talking to me for a little bit. I don’t know who all showed up, but that’s kind of nice because I was just focused on the people around me. I needed that.” Kelzenberg explained. Though Katie wants to make it to Ellen, she doesn’t feel as though this is a hugely brave moment for her. “I didn’t really think much of it like I’m just doing this thing,” Kelzenberg added. “Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, she’s so brave,’ and I’m like, no. I’m just like doing something I wanted to do, like, I don’t really feel like I’m doing outside my normal comfort zone.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY KATIE KELZENBERG

Like us on Facebook! Stillwater Pony Express

PHOTO BY CHLOE SQUIRES Let’s Eat!: A La Cart offers after school food options for hungry students. Article on page 2

GRAPHIC BY ABBY BANKS #PonyNation: The support of the surrounding community via funding. Article on page 6-7

PHOTO BY LILLY SAMPLE Para-professional Mary Peters leaves lasting impact on students and staff at school. Article on page 8

PHOTO BY MORGAN GRIMM April snow storms prevent spring athletes from practicing outside. Article on page 10

News

May 11, 2018

s ’ t Le ! t Ea

PHOTOS BY CHLOE SQUIRES

A La Carte offers after-school food options

Jameson Stahl

Online Editor-in-Chief “It is now 3 p.m. If you are not under the direct supervision of a teacher please report to the cafeteria,” the loudspeaker announces. Many students spend their time waiting in the lunchroom after the final bell rings. Some students are waiting for their ride while others do homework with friends. Some spring sports, like tennis, do not start their practices directly after school which leaves them waiting. To accommodate for these students and athletes, the A la Carte area of the cafeteria is now open after school from 2:10 to 2:45 p.m. The A La Carte after school op-

tion gives students a new way to snack after school. The goal is to get food out to anyone who needs it after school, especially providing athletes with the proper nutrition boost that they need to make it through practice. Every day, as junior Alex Wilhelmy walks to track practice, the line of students waiting at the snack shack catches his eye. He described this new addition as, “basically a little thing that you can grab without leaving the campus and you can go straight to your sport.” Wilhelmy believes that this can affect his performance as he explained, “It could affect me by just giving me on like a full stomach without eating a full course meal.”

It is important for athletes to have snacks before practice or games. Central Washington University suggests that athletes should eat two to three hours before playing as it is the ideal time to let the body process the food and get the energy and nutrients into the system. Utilizing the new after school option will allow athletes to eat at the perfect time for proper nutrition. The decision makers behind the scenes that made this all happen were Kelly Linquist, Supervisor of Nutrition Services and Amie Barr, Coordinator of Nutrition Services. Linquist said, “It started off with requests from students. We went and met with six or seven health classes and gave a little presentation and

asked for feedback and it came up in several of the classes for athletes after school. The vending machines don’t offer very healthy or filling snacks for them so after that we started talking and thought well let’s give it a trial run for the rest of the year.” As a result to student interest, this is now a reality at school. Anyone walking by will notice the immediate effect. Athletes can be seen lining up to quickly punch in their lunch code before racing off to the locker room with that little extra energy boost to push them through the rest of the day. Kitchen manager Sara Nelson explained, “People that stay after school wanted to be able to get snacks. Uncrustables, Gatorade,

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whatever so we decided we are going to try it right now until the end of the year and see how it goes. See if it makes enough revenue that we can continue keeping it open.” Opening the cafeteria up after school takes lots of work behind the scenes to make the transition smoothly. Most importantly, a cafeteria worker needs to be able to stay extended hours to run the A la Carte station. A new cafeteria worker was hired to work 11 a.m., to 3 p.m. to be able to work at lunch and then stay after school. “If it gets to a point where the numbers are sustainable and worth us opening it then we will continue it for next year,” Linquist said.

News

May 11, 2018

Jump into spring: Stillwater holds first 9/10 formal

Hannah Boardman

a photo ID when they arrived. This is the first time the school is implementing this system. Students were The addition of the freshman to also allowed to bring a date in the has brought much excitement this freshman and sophomore classes, but year, with the newest addition being dates from other schools or upperthe ninth and tenth grade formal. This classmen had to sign a guest contract. Spring Formal is centered around the The focus for the evening was to creunderclassmen, giving them an op- ate a fun night for all. The PAC was portunity to dress up and have a fun decorated with lights to set the mood. “[My favorite part was] dancing, night out. Typically, there is prom for juniors and seniors, with a small obviously. The photo booth was fun spring dance a month or so before that. too,” sophomore Marie Lecuyer said. The event featured live DJs from The dance took place on April 27 from 7-11 p.m. in the the PAC, which student council. The playlist included was decorated by Student Coun- many popular songs that students cil for the event. A photo booth was danced and sang along to. Students provided and students were able to also dressed up for the occasion. For purchase snacks if they so wished. many, this meant long/short dress“Prom was going to be too big if es with heels, khakis and a button everyone from the school was invited, down, or a nice suit. Overall, students so we decided to split it up and do a showed up dressed to the nines and nine/ten dance and have prom just ready for a fun party. There was also be eleven/twelfth grades,” senior and a photo booth for students to take picStudent Council Rep. Noah Ness said. tures with and remember the fun night. “[During] all the songs where evFor many students, this was their first time attending a dance at the high erybody sang and everybody knew the school. Traditionally, there was a ninth song, hearing everybody singing was grade formal on the Stillwater Paddle really cool,” said sophomore Sam NiBoats for the freshmen who attended tardy, who was featured in a dance circle. Underclassmen were able to let the junior high schools. This event was the culmination of the hard work they off steam and celebrate the end to a had done throughout junior high and great first year at high school. Joy was a kickoff to the start of high school. and fun seemed to be in the air, and Now, the dance gives underclassmen the students were able to experience a a fun spring formal, similar to prom, fun alternative to the upperclassmen and is an exciting way to bid fare- prom. For students who had never atwell to their first years of high school. tend a school dance before, the night “[The best part was] dancing with was an unforgettable experience. “[I wanted to be in the dance my friends and hanging out with them, everyone was a bit more dressy at this circle] because my friends told dance [rather than the boat dance],” me I could beat Hudson Day, who freshman Kasey Norman said. started the dance circle, and then Students were told to buy tick- it was just for fun because I love ets on Feepay, and to check in with to entertain people,” Nitardy said.

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PHOTOS BY MIRA LANASA Sophomore Sam Nitardy, bottom, dances in the middle of dance circle while underclassmen watch and dance along on the sidelines. “All the songs where everybody sang and everybody singing was really cool,” Nitardy says.

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Editorial

May 11, 2018

Staff Ed: year-round schooling a waste of time Traditionally, the public school year ends right before summer. This gives students and teachers a three-month break of summer vacation in between the school year. Over time, people have challenged this school year normality by starting year round schools that do not include a three-month summer vacation, but only a few short three week breaks. This new practice may seem like great idea or innovative, but by eliminating the usual school year for this year round school it would be detrimental to the education of students, the community and the microeconomics in their community. Year-round school has been around since the early 1900s. It may not be prevalent in the Stillwater school district, but it is still a hot conversation in Minnesota. Some schools have switched to year round schooling such as Apple Valley, Roseville and even in St Paul. More schools are switching to this new form of education and it raises the debate whether or not there should be year round schooling. The initial reason the three-month break was created was because children of farmers could not go to school because of the harvest. Although most children do not live on farms anymore, having year round school would still take away from them, their families and their community. The standard of learning and academic performance would go down. According to a study done by Healthy Schools, students who were held in a warm classroom and opened windows scored 13 percent lower than what they would in a controlled environment. Having school during the summer would

just bring more distractions towards students negatively affecting them. The main argument for year-round schooling is that it would benefit students academically by tackling this idea of “summer slacking.” Many students feel as though they do not go through this, that they do not lose a lot of prior knowledge and that it only takes them a few weeks to get the knowledge fully back. By making students go to school during the summer, it would take away from their learning experience in the real world. Sometimes the best education is one that doesn’t require a book and for students that is what summer means for them. Taking summer break away from these children would actually be less prepared for the real world, a contradiction what education is meant for. Year-round school would also be detrimental to people of the community. It would make it harder for children to get childcare and participate in extracurriculars. Already getting child care is hard enough but according to The Tenney School in Houston, it would be even harder. With many year round school they have a couple short breaks of up to three weeks having to find childcare at these short breaks would be difficult. Year round school would also negatively affect extracurricular activities. During the three week break periods children may not have transportation to get to games and practices since they can’t simply stay after school. According to the National Education Association (NEA) it can also be difficult for groups to schedule competitions. If every school a team plays

EIC Column

GRAPHIC BY ELLIE FAETH against isn’t on the same track, it may be hard to find dates within a sport’s season that work for all schools. Other extracurricular activities like summer camps will also be out of reach for kids who don’t have summers off. Sports and other extracurricular activities bring the community together, whether it is homecoming game for the football team or a community service club. Hurting these activities would hurt the bond of the community and also the opportunities for the students The Congressional Research Service tells us that with no large three month summer break it limits the number of job opportunities for teenagers. These jobs offer older kids a way to contribute finan-

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cially to their families, save money for college and provide opportunities to gain experience with important skills. Local or seasonal businesses like marinas, ice cream shops or campgrounds will be negatively impacted of losing these valuable employees during peak tourist season which would hurt their microeconomy. Year-round school does initially sound like a great plan, but because of the detrimental impact it would have on children, their families and their community the idea would only hurt in making it harder for children to learn real life situations, tearing the community apart and hurting local business. It is for the better that we stick to the traditional school year.

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PAXTON WATSON ADVISOR RACHEL STEIL PRINTER ECM CANNON VALLEY PRINTING PRINT AND ONLINE CONTENT POLICY The Pony Express is a publication of Stillwater Area High School. This paper is an open forum for the community and students’ views. Letters to the Editor are encouraged. The Editorial Board reserves the right to publish and edit letters: correction will be made in order to correct content, spelling, grammar and length. Letters and comments may be submitted to rooms D220. The staff editorial is written by the Pony Express staff and headed by Editors-in-Chief. The Pony Express is a member of the High School Press Syndicate, the Columbia High School Press Association, International Quill and

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Michael VanLieshout

Broadcast Editor-in-Chief Why me? That is a question I ask myself when time after time I am randomly selected for a frisking at the hand of a Transportation Security Administration agent. What is the deciding factor that distinguishes who of the over 1.7 million Americans who board domestic flights in the United States each day? TSA is an ineffective waste of people’s time and is in urgent need of change. For something as invasive to one’s personal space as being touched all over by a total stranger there should be a very good reason, which TSA is not. With school trips to Toronto, San Francisco and New York, some Stillwater students are getting a taste of the airport security for the first time. Arriving at the airport over an hour early to get through security is ridiculous. The college search for juniors will be starting soon and flying will be the easiest way to visit colleges outside the immediate area and with security at airports at an all time high, TSA will be a new reality for them. TSA was created by former President George H.W. Bush post Sept. 11, 2001. TSA actually covers more than just airport security, most of their resources and infamy comes from their role in airport security. After the attacks, the international commercial aviation industry came to a standstill. Since then, there is no definite evidence that TSA has ever stopped a terrorist attack in the United States. With the largest aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, and airline in world, Delta, the drop in commercial aviation could have hurt the U.S. economy if nothing was done. To regain the confidence of customers, the U.S. government created TSA to look imposing and intimidating to ward off potential attacks. The implementation of TSA was sloppy and rushed.