Issue 6 2012-2013

Nearly one-third of Minnesota’s current sophomores may not graduate from high school in 2015 because they won’t be ready to pass the state’s Graduation-Required Assessments for Diploma (GRAD) test for math.

The Minnesota Department of Education has convened a task force to search for an alternative to this test. The five-year waiver, which had allowed students who failed the test three times to still graduate, is expiring soon.

A statewide group of parents, school officials, teachers, and business leaders, recently suggested 12 recommendations to improve the state’s standardized test requirements. One recommendation was to eliminate and replace the GRAD tests with a new set of comprehensive tests beginning in eighth grade, which would include math, reading, writing, and/or science, according to the committee meeting draft.

One proposed alternative is the ACT test. Associate Principal Doug Bullinger said, “The ACT definitely gives us a lot more information about where are students struggling, where do students need a little bit more help.”

Some would prefer that the GRAD test remain. Jim Bartholomew, education policy director at Minnesota Business Partnership, a group that helps shape Minnesota’s current education system, believes dropping the GRAD test would be “a disservice to high school students.”

“Some people argue that it’s more fair to students to give them a diploma even though they’re not ready,” he said. “We would argue that it’s more ‘fair’ to students to help them while they’re in the K-12 system.”

Bartholomew is concerned about an alternative. “Replacing the GRAD with something like those ACT exams would probably be passed and then the question will be: do we set minimal expectations for students to graduate or not?”

Mounds View’s passing rate is higher than the state average. The class of 2012 had a first-try passing rate of 83.9 percent, while the state’s rate was 57.7 percent. Mounds View math teachers ensure that students who do not pass the math GRAD test on their first try receive the remediation they need.

Math teacher Leah Higginbotham believes there is a need for graduation requirements. “I think we need to have something because right now it’s three math credits as a graduation requirement, but the actual knowledge base is important, too. I think they definitely need to have some sort of standards.”

www.mvviewer.org Friday, December 21, 2012 Volume 60, Issue 6

Mounds View

SEE THE WORLDMV STYLE

IN FEATURES 5

12/21/12 DOOMSDAY

IN GALLERY 12

Today’s StudentsTomorrow’s teachers

ONLINE mvviewer.org

Dean Mark Nelsen begins Future Educator’s Club.

Engaging students in reading

Mounds View’s reading test scores have flat-lined in recent years, and teachers speculate it’s because teenagers are no longer reading for pleasure, thanks to technological distractions and busy schedules.

The other problem is that students sometimes do not read the entire assignments, and instead, according to Spanish teacher Laura Rivers, just “scan for answers.”

District administration is focusing on increasing reading ability and trying to stop it from becoming a tedious task. Over the summer, the district administration encouraged teachers to read Kelly Gallagher’s book, Readicide: How Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It.

Gallagher criticizes many schools for their lack of effort in teaching kids to be independent readers. Schools say they care about student reading, but they only care about increasing average scores on standardized tests. The book pushes for more in-class, independent reading time and presents studies showing correlations between time spent on independent weekly reading and reading test scores.

Rivers was part of a group that read and discussed Readicide,

which was offered as a way to earn “clock hours” for teacher license renewal.

The book had a lasting impact on the group. The teachers discussed many aspects of the book, including how to better engage kids in reading.

“We talked about ways to get kids more interested in reading,” she said.

Rivers believes strongly in pleasure reading. As a child, she remembers being immersed with books.

“I had a ton of books around me,” said Rivers. “My parents encouraged me to read what I wanted.”

According to Librarian Becky Stouten, one of the leaders of the Readicide group, one way to help students read more is “trying to integrate more reading time into classroom time.”

River states that having time set aside for reading in school will make students read more.

“By physically having a reading material, it helps students read,” she said.

However, it is most important for students to read what intrigues them during that time.

If many students were given free time outside of school, they would only devote a small fraction of their time to reading. “I would probably use about 10 percent of my time reading,” said Sam

Mastenbrook, 11. Teachers are trying to get

students more engaged in their reading by promoting in-depth and free discussions of the book. English teachers Bethany DeCent and Shannon Belland have implemented a literature circle this year for the story, The Book Thief. In a literature circle, each student is given a specific task, such as researching the context of the novel, defining vocabulary, and coming up with context questions. DeCent likes how engaging it is.

“Literature circles are very engaging and focus on including reading, writing, and discussion,” said DeCent. “So far, it seems students are very engaged in the process as they rotate their parts every week and discuss the various chapters of the book.”

Ultimately, according to Rivers, if students are to become better readers and read more, then they must have the desire to do so.

“If you want to be a good reader, you have to read,” said Rivers. “We forgot that at some point, you need to want to read.”

VIEWER

STUDENTCLUBS

IN SPREAD 6-7

by PHOEBE KEstaff reporter

by TRISTAN ASCHITTINO and PETER OLSONbusiness manager and news editior

GRAD math teststatus: disputed

photo by Ben Kaiser and Megan Ruan

Ear

ly

bird gets the worm

2editorials

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87

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431

2012-2013Viewer EditorsEditor-in-Chief

Max WangManaging Editors

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Business ManagerTristan Aschittino

NewsPeter Olson

EditorialsDavid Gonzalez-Dysinger

Allison HareFeatures

Mali BacigCammie Kelly

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Selin KurtogluReviews

Matt VogesSports

David LiuAdam Toninato

GalleryYoungjun Park

Photographers/ArtistsJoy Xie, Ben Kaiser,

Anders Nygaard, Kevin Lee, Sophie Gorham, Angela Nan,

Christian Oswood Adviser Martha Rush

Staff Samantha Baschky, Josephine Berg-mann, Nina Bertelsen, James Birr, Nolan Carlson-Stevermer, Alec Edgett, Kobi En-drizzi, Namrata Gadela, Molly Hancuh, John Hingos, Jospeh Janey, Phoebe Ke, Monica Kemp, Jonathan Kim, Mitchell LeMay, Kyoka Millard, Matthew Montgomery, Rebecca Nara, Ntonobari Ollor, Kyler Roberts, Mad-eline Rosenow, Neha Sethi, Mark Sheldon, Thomas Sletten, Alistair Tang, Nicole Wahlin, Ryan Yoch

The Viewer is published by the student editors at:

Mounds View High School1900 Lake Valentine RdArden Hills, Minnesota

Sauk Centre Publishing

December 21, 2012

Viewer Mission Statement1. To publish news, information and opinion articles for and about student, faculty and administration activities, interests and policies. 2. To maintain high ethical standards with regard to fairness, personal and legal rights, responsibilities and accuracy.3. To provide a forum for free and responsible expression of student opinion and present well-balanced, locally researched coverage of issues of broader student interest.4. To strive for a high level of competency in the technical aspect of writing, including grammar, spelling, clarity, and precision.5. To welcome diversity and increase the scope and depth of our coverage in order to heighten mutual understanding and awareness throughout our entire school community.

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

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

2 Duct tape

Silver-tipped Nerf darts

Chocolate

Guns, knives, swords, and a plastic spork

The last remaining Twinkies

The Complete Collected Works of Juicy J

Not Robbie He

A Zombie-Englishdictionary

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Supplies You Need for the End of the World

Copies of Viewer

Shark repellent

by DAVID GONZALEZ-DYSINGEReditorials editor

More holiday cheer, less Grinchyness‘Tis the season for holiday

cheer, but not at Mounds View High School.

Instead of building friendships through holiday celebration, students and staff are forced to take on the mundane task of testing.

We were once given two weeks off to spend time with our families. Now, after completing six hours of testing, projects, and presentations, we’re rewarded with a mere seven school days off.

There should be more appreciation for the winter holidays by allowing more celebratory time during school and more time off for students to spend with their families.

Though it can be helpful to wrap up units before a long break, winter celebrations should not be ignored in the classroom. They help make high school memories for everyone (especially seniors) with their friends and teachers,

helping build a stronger community.

Most students can’t focus on tests before Winter Break, so test scores will likely be lower than average.

It’s great to hear that there’s a longer summer vacation; however, it’s still important that we have time off with our families in the winter. A break during the school year gives students time to refresh brain cells and get ready for the remainder of the semester.

Mounds View should respect students’ hard work during the year by rewarding them with sufficient time off to celebrate the seasonal holidays—and have some time to relax.

Whatever holiday you may be celebrating—Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, Kwanzaa, or Boxing Day—you deserve to have the time off to enjoy the season. Overall, Mounds View should start getting a little more into the holiday season.

When the first school cal-endars were set, it made sense to keep children home until September to help with the harvest. Now that the majority of students in Minnesota do not live on farms, this school cal-endar is outdated, and can be inefficient for many students, especially those in AP courses.

Currently, the Mounds View school year ends on June 6, exactly one month after the start of AP exams. With two weeks after AP testing, students can often lose motivation after the big test. Most kids have at least one class to zone out in due to AP exams being over.

First semester should end

before winter break, allowing second semester to end with AP exams. This way, students could avoid wasting time in school and take their finals while knowledge is still fresh in their minds, immediately preceding winter break or AP exams.

The advantages of switch-ing to an earlier school year are numerous. Teachers would be given more time to better prepare students both for AP exams and state tests. A greater part of the school year could be devoted to preparation for these tests, and students could spend the end of May and beginning of June enjoying the best part

of summer, rather than killing time in hot classrooms until school is out.

A few problems would arise with this new school cal-endar, however. There would be less time for traditional family vacations in August, and students who work at the State Fair would no longer be able to do so. And although it’s no longer true that all Minnesotan children are required to help with the harvest, there still are some rural families that need their kids on the farm.

Additionally, students enrolled in both AP and honors courses would have coinciding finals and AP exams, making it

more stressful for them to study for all tests at the same time. This could have the potential to overburden such students and impair their test performance.

So, is it time for Minnesota schools to begin earlier in the year? It’s the 21st century, after all, and continuing to follow a system established almost two hundred years ago when our state was a very different place is absurd. Mounds View needs to revamp its school year to promote efficiency and meet the needs of its students.

by KYOKA MILLARD staff writer

cartoon by Sophie Gorham

photo by Anders Nygaard

12 Editors Agree, 3 Disagree

The school year should start and end earlier

Editor opinionsWhat your Viewer editors think of various issues.

“The arts requirement for UC schools is ridiculous and unfair for artists and musi-cians who work without taking classes at school in their art.”

- David Gonzalez-Dysinger editorials editor

3editorials

“In terms of college admissions, this may be Mounds View’s best year yet!”

- David Liu sports editor

“No one should be offended by someone wishing them a ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Hanukkah.’ Regardless if you are religious or not, it’s a nice greeting you should respond to with a simple, ‘Thank you!’” - Akshay Patke

managing editor

“Allowing students to turn work in late promotes lazi-ness and all-nighters among students. Why do homework until the eve of semester finals if it won’t be docked late?” - Peter Olson news editor

December 21, 2012

Keep on walking

It’s 6 a.m. in the bitter cold of the morning. Snow lands on your jacket, your breath forms in front of your face, and your fingers shake as they hold an icy grasp on your backpack in the subzero temperatures. As it gets later, you feel as if you will freeze to death waiting for your ever absent bus.

Finally, after what seems like a lifetime, the bus arrives, wheezing through the morning fog with its headlights blaring in your eyes. You can see the slumped silhouettes of your classmates through its windows as they struggle to stay awake, looking sickly in the terrible lighting and miserable atmosphere of the bus. Finally, it’s here: the loser cruiser.

Okay, okay, okay. The experience of riding the bus to school is not always that awful. For some reason, though, it’s the way students always seem to picture taking the bus—as the least desirable mode of transportation possible. In reality, however, the bus is not really as bad as people make it out to be.

Although there are pros and cons to every mode of transportation to school, students are often quick to

write off the bus, choosing to look past its benefits and see only its downsides. For example, the bus can be a great way to meet new friends and talk with them on a daily basis. Many students do not realize this because they feel as if they are above any sort of social interaction the bus could provide.

The benefits of taking the bus can be more serious as well. The free, easy-to-get rides are incredibly helpful for those who have no other way of getting to school. Besides being more environmentally efficient, the bus is prepaid by the taxes of students’ parents, saving families $112.50 per semester for a parking permit and endless amounts of money on gas.

Although there’s always an awkward 20 minute period in the morning between bus arrivals and the first bell, this gap of time ensures that bus-riding students will always be on time for class. Additionally, the bus is much safer—bus drivers have years of experience driving, which is very helpful for blizzardy days when the roads are coated with black ice.

There are many instances where driving to school is definitely the better option. Students who participate in certain sports like alpine, nordic, hockey, or snowboarding, require large

amounts of heavy equipment that would not fit well on a bus. Other students simply have many before- or after-school activities that require additional time spent at school.

With a car, students aren’t limited to time constraints like they are when riding the bus, so taking a car is the more convenient option. It’s important to remember, however, that there is a bus option for students with many extracurriculars: activity buses, which run throughout the week.

Does the bus really merit the title of “loser cruiser”? With all its benefits, like saved money and safer driving in the winter, the answer is no. Perhaps it’s not the bus that’s so bad, but the attitude of many students at Mounds View. Driving a car to school every day is a privilege, not a right. Students should stop feeling so entitled to drive to school and give the bus a fair chance before they write it off as the “loser cruiser.”

It’s the season for giving, right?Wrong. While simpletons may

be giving their petty change to bell ringers through charities like the Salvation Army, you have better things to be spending your money on, like the new iPhone 5 or that pair of Uggs you had your eyes on this Christmas.

These devious bell ringers can be found lurking on street corners or mall entrances, just waiting to solicit your money. They either force you to part with your precious quarters or shamefully pace around their jar as you try to avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.

Why should you part ways with your hard-earned cash when these

charities are just giving the money to the lazy, mooching, less-fortunate? With all the time and money already devoted to your own personal holiday celebrations, there’s absolutely nothing to spare.

Giving to these people only enables their entitlement—how dare they want basic necessities like food, clothing, or toys for their children over the holiday season? Charities are unworthy of the coins you have to contribute to their bell ringers’ jars, especially since they use sneaky, money-taking tactics like overly convenient options for giving.

These “good samaritans” have perfected the art of guilt-tripping;

along with the inescapable clanging of their shrill red bells, they will wish you “Merry Christmas” or another politically incorrect seasonal expression solely to remind you of the coins you’re too busy to put in their jar.

But you must be strong—you cannot be swayed into giving. Instead, continue to celebrate your own good fortune and family, and leave others to deal with their own problems.

You can’t be expected to participate in these “good will” gestures, especially since charities have started taking it too far. In certain cities, bell ringers from the Salvation Army now carry smartphones equipped with postage-stamp-sized credit card readers to make sure you have no excuse not to donate.

Forget “convenient giving”, this is obviously a scheme to steal your credit card information and get off with as much money as they can. In addition, the Salvation Army has made it possible to donate online. The ease with which one can donate this holiday season is simply outrageous; how far will organizations go to make sure people have ample opportunities to donate?

In short, the guilt that these volunteers impart on others dampens the holiday spirit. No one should ever have to feel guilty for hoarding their petty cash. So, the next time you walk past one of these bell ringers, hold your head high, keep your coins in your pocket, and give them a very fitting “bah, humbug.”

School bus or loser cruiser?by NOLAN CARLSON-STEVERMERstaff reporter

by SAM BASCHKYstaff reporter SATIRE

This holiday season, do not stop for charity under any circumstance

photo by Ben Kaiser

December 21, 2012

by NEHA SETHIstaff reporter

Chris Collins was exasperated. As a Student Council member and Mustang mentor, he had trouble finding information and commu-nicating about upcoming events. He also had trouble finding volun-teer opportunities. But after an idea and almost a year’s worth of hard work, he’ll soon be able to say, “there’s an app for that.”

The app, called Helping Hands, will be an electronic student center, where information about school-wide events, clubs, and volunteer opportunities can be all in one place for students. A website will be paired with the mobile app for greater functionality.

Collins created this app because he believed that posters and morning announcements had become an outdated system for student communication.

“I came to the conclusion that technology was the best way to reach the student body. Until this point, I had never even thought about developing, but once I realized that it would make my vision into a reality, I dove right in and started the learning process,” said Collins.

Simply forming the idea, though, took a long time. “I started sketching outlines of what the site would look like and what would be needed in the first version, both as an app and an online website. After spring break 2012 when I first came up with the idea, I came across an opportunity to win some grant money to get started,” said Collins.

Collins and his cousin, who is his business partner, won $1,000 from the Regional Banking on Youth Competition, and attended a national Youth Entrepreneurship Summit in George Washington University last summer, hosted by Ashoka’s Youth Venture, a global nonprofit. Ashoka recently featured the duo as one of the top 25 ven-tures on Microsoft’s Give for Youth microfinancing website, where they raised over $4000.

Collins spent most of his time setting up this app to get it just right. He learned Xcode, the development software used to create iPhone apps, through online tutorials. Using their new skills, he and his cousin spent their summer building a database. But then, they realized their database was bugged.

“We needed to change our database engineer and start from scratch. We have found an awesome database engineer to help with us to make sure we take the time to build the foundation strong and solid. We learned that we needed to spend more time making the base for our app, rather than focusing on the user-flow and design you see on the front-end,” said Collins.

Their website will launch after the new year, and the app a little after that. Collins does not see himself going into technology in his future—he just wanted to see his vision become reality.

“I don’t see myself studying computer science in college or becoming a programmer, but I find the field really interesting. You never know where life will take you, so I don’t want to rule anything out,” said Collins.

APPlying his skillsJunior Chris Collins created an “app” and website to connect communities

photo by Anders Nygaard

4features

At Mounds View, the biggest rivalry is the an-nual jeering between the seniors and freshmen at pep fests. At Erika Batiz’s new school in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the divisions run much deeper, between ethnic groups that were at war just 20 years ago -- but healing is taking place.

Instead of attending Mounds View her senior year, Batiz is studying at the United World College (UWC) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The school is located in the city of Mostar, where Batiz will study for two years. While she is missing her senior year at Mounds View, Batiz said she is “living a different way of life.”

The Bosnian Genocide of the early 1990s left many parts of current-day Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina devastated. In a post-conflict society, much of Mostar is separated by ethnic groups -- Bos-niaks, Serbs, and Croats. The city of Mostar is divided by the Neretva River. One side of the river is mainly Croats, and the other, mostly Bosniaks.

The neighborhood Croat and Bosnian kids attend separate schools, and as far as Batiz is aware, the locals generally do not interact with each other. There is still tension between the groups. Bosniak, Croat, and Serb students are trying to bridge this divide and taking a large step towards unity by living and study-ing together at UWC. With around 150 students in two grades, about half of the attendees are local students of the Balkan region, and the other half are international students from 39 countries, like Batiz.

UWC Mostar is “an example to the community that peace and a combined education are possible,” Batiz said.

Through living in a foreign country, Batiz has no-ticed many cultural differences. Instead of taking a car or bus, Batiz walks everywhere she goes, including a 25-minute walk to school each day. A Balkan supersti-tion is that one will get sick if he has the window and door open at the same time in his room. Those of the Balkan region eat a considerable amount of bread dur-ing meals, even more than the other European coun-tries. Compared to grocery stores in the U.S., there is less fruit and vegetable variety, but if a person wanted a pomegranate, he could pick one off of a tree.

Not only does Batiz notice cultural differences be-tween the U.S. and the Balkan region, but she also has noticed cultural differences between other foreign stu-dents. Some are very organized and on time, others are loud and passionate. Also, the Americans are teased for being “so American.” For example, using overly

expressive words like “awesome” or “amazing.”“Everything is different here, from the currency to

the school supplies to the electrical plugs. I’ve gotten used to walking down the street and not understanding advertisements. I’ve gotten used to trying to communi-cate with shopkeepers with my limited local language skills. I think the fact that everything is so different makes it easier for me to adjust, because it’s all new,” said Batiz.

The curriculum, however, is not entirely foreign to Batiz. Currently, Batiz is in the last stage of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, called the Diploma Program, which takes two years. Many of her classes are similar to classes offered at Mounds View such as math, physics, French, English language and literature, economics, and psychology. Though the classes are taught in English, only one of Batiz’s teachers speaks English as her native language.

Because Batiz is studying abroad, she had to leave some things back home. “It’s not easy missing your senior year, leaving your friends and family behind, and leaving the safety and comfort of everything you know behind,” she said.

Her friends have also been affected by her move to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Casey Sladek, 12, said, “Honestly, it has been pretty hard going through senior year and not being able to share it with someone that you have shared everything with. I knew that going in this year, things would be different without Erika be-ing here, but my friends and I Skype and Snapchat her often and keep her updated on everything so she feels

like she is here with us.”“We even Skyped her the night of Homecoming

and told her all about the dance and game so she felt like she was there with us, and I know she really ap-preciates it. I think that it has been somewhat hard for her, too, but I know that she has adapted very well in Bosnia and is having a blast.”

Sladek can see that studying abroad really reflects Batiz’s personality. “She is a brilliant girl and loves learning as much as she can. She is also very indepen-dent and mature, and I think that living on her own in a different country was a challenge that she was ready to take.”

“Most people our age would never think of travel-ing so far alone, but I know that she enjoys every part of it. Ever since we were little, she would travel to many different places, and I think that being in Bosnia has been so wonderful for her because she has learned so much about the different lifestyle and has definitely given her a taste of the grown-up world.”

Batiz’s view of the world has changed dramatical-ly because of her experience. “The world has become so much bigger and diverse to me, yet smaller and more united at the same time,” said Batiz. “There’s something so priceless and indescribable about sitting down for lunch and being surrounded by kids around the world.”

In attending this program, Batiz had many hopes for an eye-opening experience. “I wanted to learn new things in a personal way, not just from reading a book. I wanted to meet people from all over the world. I wanted to have new experiences and try new things. I wanted to try my best to understand other points of view, to not only see differences but also [see] what I have in common with different people... I’ve realized all these hopes and more.”

5featuresDecember 21, 2012

photos provided by Erika Batiz

A senior year spent far from homeby PHOEBE KEstaff reporter

Want to learn more about the conflict in Bosnia?

This book, Safe Area Gorazde, illustrates the conflict between the Muslims, Croats, and Serbs during the war and ethnic cleansing in Bosnia during the 1990s.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in southern Europe bordering the Adriatic Sea.

Batiz works on a documentary for a school project. Mostar is a modern city, divided

by ethnic conflicts.

Cevapi, a common cheap and delicious meal in Mostar.

Classrooms in the World College are set up in a U-shape.

A copper stand in Old Town sells jewelry and artwork.

Be your own boss

phot

o by

Chr

istia

n O

swoo

d

One of the biggest challenges facing student-run clubs is longevity

Clubs that are active

Clubs that are no more

• Knitting• Fashion• Russian Literature and Philosophy• Sailing• Film • Bible Study • Young Democrats• Do it Yourself • Praise and Worship

• Teenage Republicans • Anime• Video Gaming• Venue-Generon Arts• Art Interact• Mounds View Book Club • Amnesty International• Guitar Clinic

How much time do you spend on your activity each week?

Knitting

Sailing

Russian Literature and Philosophy

1 Hour 2 Hours 3 Hours

Do it Yourself

Mounds View has websites, e-mail messages, daily announcements, and hallway posters all promoting school sports and activities.

Still, students might have to learn about their favorite activity by word of mouth, since student-run activities are not allowed to use any of these means of communication.

A student-run activity, such as Shakespeare, does not have activity fees, faculty advisors, lettering opportunities, a yearbook page, or the ability to use official school channels of communication.

In addition, these clubs are only allowed to use school facilities for a half-hour before school and an hour after school, as opposed to a school-sponsored activity.

So what is it about student-run activities that students find so enticing, and how do they survive?

The annual Shakespeare production has been a student-run activity for nine years. This year’s directors are Sophie Gorham, Sam Keillor, Nathan Austen, and Olivia Schroeder. The Shakespeare production has subtle yet significant differences from official school theatre.

“Shakespeare Play has a more relaxed vibe, with fun and poking around. It’s kind of funny, because it actually makes us more productive, which is what a big part of what theatre is,” said Braxton Haake, 11. “We work multiple scenes at the same time. We focus on keeping everyone busy, instead of just acting out one scene at a

time.”Shakespeare is fortunate since revenues from

its ticket sales covers costs for the production. “Shakespeare is really good at making productions that are very low budget without seeming to be so, and we get a lot of people to come to our shows because we get a lot of people involved in them,” said Sophie Gorham, 12.

Advertising can be problematic for many student-run clubs. Shakespeare can only place posters on one bulletin board in the Commons.

“Shakespeare can advertise in teachers’ rooms if the teachers says they can, so especially for auditions and show dates you’ll see them in the corner of teachers chalkboard, whiteboard or whatever,” said Keillor.

Other student-run clubs have worked to become school-sponsored, to overcome these challenges.

Group Leading Against Destructive Decisions (GLADD) used to be a student-run club called SADD. The group has found many benefits in school sponsorship.

“We definitely got more followers,” said Selena LeGarde, 12. “We can now be in the captain’s parades and advertise in school.”

In addition to more publicity, the transition from SADD to GLADD served an economic purpose. On top of the donations that SADD received, GLADD now receives money from the school.

Business Professionals of America (BPA), a club for students who aspire to earn business degrees, was another club that felt the limitations of being student-run.

“For student-run, we can’t do anything, we can’t have posters, we can’t leave school for competitions and we can’t have teachers with us,” said Ming Dai, 12, founder and president of BPA.

Jenny Wang, 11, Vice President of BPA, noted other disadvantages as a student-run club. “Funding is a problem and it’s hard getting people committed, so that they show up. They need incentive.”

With these realizations, BPA decided to become a branch of Econ Team with Martha Rush as its advisor.

Not every student-run club has the option to become school-sponsored, however.

“The number of school-sponsored activities is limited because of budget constraints,” said Bob Madison, activities director.

Students who are interested in gaining school sponsorship for their clubs need to make a proposal to Madison. He has a list of criteria for approval, including impact on other activities, budget needs, available coaches and facilities required.

For some groups, it’s easier just to remain a student-run club. Despite the difficulties, the freedom allowed on Shakespeare has kept it from becoming school-sponsored.

“It is driven by passion and love towards Shakespeare and such and its a way for the student community to bond together and put on something wonderful,” said Tori Leksen, 12.

by MONICA KEMPstaff reporter

School Sponsored vs. Student RunThespians Sammie Hallgren, 11, Robert He, 12, and Kevin Bucher, 11, practice for the Shakespeare production of the Tempest while others watch.

Be your own bossStudent-run clubs come and go based

on student interest. Which student-run clubs are currently active?

“Russian literature is placed in the empyrean of world literature,” said junior Matt Voges, one of the co-founders of Russian Literature and Philosophy Club. He speaks with the sophisticated air expected of a literature fanatic.

The students in Russian Literature and Philosophy Club read a wide variety of Russian novels, short stories, and poems, many considered classics of world literature.

“We’re planning on reading Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky, Eugene

Onegine by Pushkin, oh, and Dostoyevsky’s The House of the Dead--because it’s a good Christmas story,” said Voges.

Participants spend their weekly meetings discussing the prior week’s readings.

“Even the shortest Russian poem will have themes regarding freedom, honor, and social commentary,” said Sasha Safonov, 11, the other co-founder. The group meets at 2:15 p.m. on Fridays in Gretchen Nesset’s room, room 126.

x 7x 0

Who is in it?

Russian Philosophy & Literature Club

“I’m on a boat and, its going fast and...” Much like Lonely Island’s skit, sailing club participants are on a boat, and they’re definitely going fast. The sailing club meets in the spring and fall at Bel Air Beach in White Bear Lake. The club has participants from other schools, with about 20 other students from White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi, and Mounds Park. Seven of the sailors attend Mounds View.

Practices start with a “chalk talk,” where members learn new techniques, such as rigging a boat, sail setting, and knotting. Afterwards, the sailors are assigned boats and boat partners. “The coaches like everyone to help. Once on the water,

we usually do sailing drills that involve tacking and jibing, mark rounding, etc.,” said Jan Waszczuk, 12.

Sailing is a sport like no other. “The atmosphere is really friendly and relaxed. It’s all about getting together and enjoying sailing,” said Waszczuk.

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Who is in it?

Saili

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Tired of doing it all yourself? Do It Youself (DIY) was formed by Häldi Nielsen, 12, and Sabrina Batiz, 10. The two frequently talked of craft projects they had worked on, such as friendship bracelets and crayon art. Interested in including others, they formed DIY to design crafts and meet new people.

“The main purpose of DIY club is to create a welcoming environment for students to come together and craft,” said Nielsen.

Group members have experience with a wide variety of projects. “Students have done puff paint, keychains, collages, and much more,” Nielsen said. Although DIY hasn’t started officially yet, weekly meetings will be on Wednesdays starting after Winter Break in the Forum or cafeteria.

Do it Yourself Club

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Who is in it?

information compiled by Sasha Safonov, Tristan Aschittino, and Kobi Endrizzi

“[Our] slogan is, you can do it too, it’s not just for your grandma,” said Abena Abraham, 11, the student leader of Knitting Club. Recently, French teacher Madame Guyer helped start the Knitting Club, hoping to end the stereotype of knitting as an old person’s activity.

The group meets Wednesdays after school in room 267 and teaches its members about interesting things to knit. Most start

with knitting a scarf; eventually some learn to knit a hat or even a pair of mittens.

Of the 20 participants, there are about as many boys as girls. “It’s quite diverse, there’s people in it you wouldn’t normally think would do it,” said Josh Torkelson, 12.

Knitt

ing

Club

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Who is in it?

December 21, 2012

A major staple of holiday cheer is the almost mystical, childlike dream of a gingerbread house. It doesn’t matter what religion is being celebrated or how it is constructed, everybody loves gingerbread houses. There are two main ways to make a gingerbread house: with a kit or completely from scratch.

Many people don’t have the time to bake, sculpt, and decorate an entire gingerbread house, but still want the end result of a delicious candy-coated tiny home sitting on their kitchen table. Fortunately, most grocery stores carry pre-baked gingerbread house kits. These are a great way to make a gingerbread house without all the hassle. Target sells these kits for under 10 dollars; they include everything necessary for a gingerbread house. Making one takes under an hour and is great to do with kids, friends, or family. Most kits come with all the decorations needed, including frosting and candies. Assembly is easy. The pieces all fit together, just

make sure enough time is allowed for the frosting to dry or it will collapse upon decorating. These are especially good if there isn’t time to mix up batter, bake it, and fiddle about with it, trying to construct the house. Downsides include cracked pieces upon opening the box and/or missing pieces. The frosting and candies are also of a lower quality, so if more or better candy is desired it must be purchased separately.

If more time is available, gingerbread houses can be made completely from scratch. This is a bit more elaborate and time consuming, but makes for a great weekend activity with family or friends. Many versions of a recipe for a homemade gingerbread house from Martha Stewart are available online, each taking about three hours to complete. The recipe used, titled “Gingerbread for a Gingerbread house” requires an electric mixing bowl, with paddle attachment. However, recipes can be found that don’t require any special equipment. The dough is easy to shape and work with, and having a pattern or idea of what to

make is helpful, however making everything uniform is difficult. It also has to set for at least an hour in the refrigerator before baking. Baking only takes around fifteen minutes. After that all that’s left is decorating. Arguably the best part of gingerbread house construction is decorating, but it can be disastrous if not done carefully. The gingerbread can be fragile, and if not cooled enough will crumble or crack — care must be taken. It’s also nice to be able to pick out decorations, instead of being limited to what’s in the box. Making a gingerbread house from scratch is fun, and makes the home smell great. However, it’s time consuming and doesn’t always turn out well.

If time isn’t an issue and care is taken a homemade gingerbread house can be a lot of fun. If a quick decoration or small activity is all that’s desired, then a kit is the best way to go.

Holiday Cheer

Bright bites

Two households, both alike in dignity...

With all the hustle and bustle of wintertime, it’s nice to slow down once in awhile to celebrate the holiday season. The Holidazzle parade is a great, Minnesnowtan way to do just that! This annual parade highlights many of the favorite holiday stories that we love to hear each year. And as the 20th anniversary of Holidazzle being celebrated this holiday season, it truly does dazzle.

Holidazzle first started in 1992, and each year, more than 300,000 spectators have come to see the famous parade. This parade runs rain or shine, sleet or snow, only being cancelled ten nights in the last twenty years.

Although the theme varies each night, the Grand Marshal float always kicks off the parade. Some

themes of the Holidazzle this year are Despicable Me and Glen Perkins. The circus train stood out among all the other floats; little kids dressed up as baby animals were displayed in each train car, while clowns wrapped up in Christmas lights danced around the platform on each car.

The Sounds of the Season float with its peppy musicians passes next, happily playing a continuous loop of holiday cheer. Wrapping up the parade, Santa’s Workshop with all of his elves dancing followed by Santa and his sleigh waved to the crowd, wishing onlookers a Merry Christmas.

This absolutely joyful expression of holiday cheer is run Thursday through Sunday, the last parade on Christmas eve. Starting at 6:30 p.m., the whole event only lasts about a half an hour per day. That way, Santa is done by 7 p.m., allowing him to get a head start on another previous engagement he made.

20 years later, Holidazzle still shines

For those who don’t celebrate it, Hanuk-kah may seem mysterious. The holiday started in 165 BCE, when a small container of oil burned for a remarkable eight days in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.

This year, the Festival of Lights, another name for the Jewish holiday, lasted from the evening of Dec. 8 through Dec. 16. Though the dates for Hanukkah change on the Western Calendar, it is always the 25th of Kislev, a month on the Hebrew Calendar. The reason for the variation is the Hebrew Calendar is based on solar and lunar events, whereas the Western calendar is not.

Food is a vital part of any celebration, and with eight days to enjoy it, there are many dishes to go around.

In remembrance of the oil miracle, a traditional food to eat during Hanukkah is the latke, or potato pancake. Patties of shredded potatoes are fried in oil and closely resemble hash browns. They are spiced with garlic, marjoram, and caraway seeds and are dipped in apple sauce, ketchup, or sour cream.

Samoan Panikeke are like spherical pan-cakes fried in oil and served with powdered sugar or honey. Like the latkes, they are a great side or snack--delicious, but not filling or healthy.

Dairy is another symbolic ingredient in a Hanukkah meal. It reminds Jews of Judith, a girl who saved her village from the Babylo-nians with the clever use of some salty cheese. Some recipes that feature dairy are cheesecake and blintzes, which are a pancake-crepe hybrid filled with cheese.

Trying these foods is a festive way to ex-perience a culture that many would not sample otherwise. Preparing, serving, and eating holi-day dishes can be an event that brings families and friends together.

by REBECCA NARAstaff reporter

by JOSIE BERGMANstaff reporter

by NICOLE WAHLINstaff reporter

photo by Ben Kaiser

8variety

photo by Josie Bergman

photo by Rebecca Nara

reviewsDecember 21, 2012

Editor SinglesThe Offspring- “Days Go By”

8/10

Will.I.Am and Britney Spears- “Scream and Shout”

-Adam Toninatosports editor9/10

Scream and shout was good for one reason. Britney Spears. Without her this song would be another trash half techno half pop song. Britney Spears is arguably the best female performer in history and turns this song into some-thing special.

Sounds like: The best thing since “Die Young.”

Dr. John-“Getaway”

-Anders Naygardphotographer

Despite lacking medical qualifications, Dr. John manages to heal wounds in “Getaway.” It may not have been influ-enced by crack-cocaine (he’s sobered up), but its every bit as innovative as his previous works.

Sounds like: Ray Charles with a greater rock influence.

“Days Go By” mirrors the style of their earlier Rise and Fall Album with a punk-rock sound. This is the first song that their new drummer Pete Parada played in, and I’m not disappointed.

Sounds like: Four minutes of fast-paced nostalgia

-Tristan Aschittinobusiness manager

plethora

Best of the...East

9

by MARK SHELDONstaff reporter

The Hobbit: meets expectations

9/10

photos by Alistar Tang

Tired of take-out or just feeling adventurous? For a taste of authentic Chinese, look no further than Evergreen, a small restaurant that’s big in flavor and variety.

Located on Nicollet in the basement of a flower shop, Evergreen is easy to miss, but this simple, undecorated Chinese restaurant is easily one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Twin Cities. Offering a blend Cantonese, Taiwanese, and Hakka style cooking and a surprisingly extensive vegan menu, Evergreen caters to the tastes of meat lovers, vegetarians, spice hunters, and casual diners.

The menu has a large variety of Chinese dishes, ranging from American favorites like egg rolls and sesame chicken to more authentic food like the three cup tofu and sea bass with crispy soy bean

topping. While the more familiar dishes like the sesame chicken may sound appealing, it’s definitely worth the risk to try something new.

The three cup tofu, a heap of crispy, flavorful, fried tofu bites, is easily one of their most underrated dishes. This restaurant excels at their making their dishes extremely flavorful. Every sauce is an expert blend of salty, tangy, and spicy. The only bland thing here is the white rice they serve on the side. Following their Taiwanese roots, they also offer an extensive assortment of bubble tea drinks, which make an excellent complement to a hot bowl of spicy noodles.

One thing that sets this restaurant apart from the others is the great customer service. The owners are a husband and a wife; the husband serves while the wife cooks. They are both extremely nice and willing to take special requests for customers. One example of this

is how they offer to alter almost every dish to suit the needs of vegetarians or vegans. Naturally, they are extra-friendly if you speak to them in Chinese, so be sure to practice before visiting this restaurant!

Overall, Evergreen is a delicious, authentic experience. Most menu items are under $10, so it is possible to eat there every night, as some people do. If you’re looking for a great tasting Chinese restaurant that is also easily affordable, try eating at Evergreen.

by ALISTAIR TANGstaff reporter

Few, if any, stories have eclipsed reality like the fantastic works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Now, his epic narrative returns to the big screen with the first part of a three part prequel, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Peter Jackson, the original director of The Lord of the Rings movies, is back, but can his new films match the awe and wonder of the Lord of the Rings movies?

The Hobbit is less than one quarter the size of The Lord of the Rings books, yet, troublingly, this new set of movies are just as long. These fears are only somewhat verified. The Hobbit could easily be an hour shorter or

more, but the added time is not necessarily wasted.

The movie follows a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, as he is convinced to join a company of dwarves determined to take back their home mountain. Led by the legendary warrior-prince Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo is thrust into an awkward position in the company. Gandalf, the grey wizard, and a prominent figure in the group, maintains that Bilbo could be valuable to the party, while Thorin mistrusts Bilbo’s bookish ways. Bilbo finds himself questioning his role in the party as well as his own courage.

Like its predecessors, the soundtrack is epic, sporting both old tunes from The Shire

and new guttural dwarvish chants. The new music is composed by Howard Shore, who also composed the music for the original three Lord of the Rings movies.

Unfortunately, the 3-D in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey isn’t worth the extra cost of the ticket. While the added depth of vision is always a nicety, it doesn’t add anything to the overall experience.

Luckily for fans of the series, Peter Jackson has certainly not forgotten how to direct an action sequence. However, this new trilogy is much more comical than the old Lord of the Rings movies, appealing to a wider audience, but costing the movie some of

its sobriety.The game of riddles

between Gollum and Bilbo is written fantastically. Both Bilbo and Gollum are acted and animated perfectly; the confused or contorted expressions on both character’s faces clearly express their emotions.

Yet even through Bilbo’s interactions with Gollum, it is plainly evident that The Hobbit is less serious than its predecessors. Gollum is no longer cast in a confusing manner, but in such a way that his facial expressions give away whether or not he will aid Bilbo. This easier-to-understand portrayal is consistent with the movie, but inconsistent with the Gollum

we have seen in the past.Ultimately, listing this

movie’s failures feels like nitpicking. There is no single segment that ‘makes’ this movie, but over its 170 minute duration it never failed to capture and entertain the audience. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a good movie in every sense of the word, but it stands in the shadow of perhaps the greatest trilogy ever and fails to seriously distinguish itself from that shadow. However, it is still very entertaining and well made: certainly not a wasted trip back to Middle-Earth.

8/10

fair use from billboard.comSEE

ONLINE

9.5/10

2424 Nicollet AveMinneapolis, MN 55404

10sports December 21, 2012

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. The Alpine and Nordic Ski teams’ wishes were granted with a downpour of snow Dec. 8-10. It was quite a relief; they started out the season with just a dusting that quickly melted off, leaving them with nothing but brown, burnt out grass.

“It sucks [not having snow]”, said Joe Morey, 11, a Nordic team veteran. “We do a lot more land training and roller skiing as opposed to skiing on snow, so there’s no commute to get to practice most days. It’s not as beneficial in the actual racing because when you race on snow it’s different than when you race on roller skis.”

His coach, Kate Babbit, agreed, adding that the team is more motivated when there is snow because roller skating gets old.

During the dry weeks, the Alpine team bided their time working on core and leg strength, as well as race tactics and gate combinations. Coach Mark Dunsworth said they had expected a few weeks of dryland training. Now, the skiers are prepared to put those skills to the test as they hit the slopes, earlier than many teams who live farther away from ski hills like Wild Mountain where they practice.

“It’s just overall better with the snow,” said Jesse Elder, 10, a second year Alpine member.

But lack of snow is not as uncommon as one might think. Three of ten Christmases in Minnesota are “brown,” having less than one inch of snow on the ground, according to the Minnesota Climatology Working Group.

In the past, Minnesotans had come to expect freezing temperatures and lots and lots of snow. But in 2006 and 2011 there was no snow on the ground.

“Last season was very disappointing. We had very little natural snow, and the temperatures did not get cold enough to make snow until December. This some-times means we have to cancel meets, or reschedule them for January. The Alpine Ski season is the shortest season of any winter sport in the Minnesota State High School League, so we really benefit from early snow, and our schedule ends up very crazy in January if we don’t get enough snow before winter break,” said Dunsworth.

Now that there is snow, both teams plan on being on snow and skies as much as possible. Alpine will head to Wild Mountain and Nordic to trails in the area such as Lake Como.

Even with a slow start both teams are really positive. Hannah Schmidt, 10 , said “I think it’s going really well. The team’s really

fun and the coaches are great”.

NINA BERTELSENstaff reporter

Usually first-round draft picks establish themselves as star players in the NFL pretty quickly. Others might take their rookie year to find their rhythm. Quarterback Christian Ponder has yet to shine

When Ponder came to Minnesota, I believed he had the potential to fix the “quarterback problem” that had plagued the Vikings since Daunte Culpepper left for the Miami Dolphins in 2005. The Minnesota Vikings have had nine different starting quarterbacks. We’ve had very little success with each. Brett Favre was the only quarterback that offered any hope, but after his first season, it was clear that he was done.

Halfway through last season, Ponder got his chance. He started his first game facing the Vikings’ long time rivals, the Green Bay Packers, and the reigning Super Bowl champs at the time. Ponder showed some promise in that game, but it was beginner’s luck.

It’s ironic: We have

offensive assets like Adrian Peterson, arguably the best running back in the league, and Percy Harvin, yet we are barely able to keep a winning record. But now, after constant subpar playing, it’s time to assess how well he will fare in the years to come.

First of all, with 22 starts and 24 interceptions, Ponder is averaging more than one a game. Quarterbacks shouldn’t throw one, let alone multiple per game. It’s sad to watch so many intercepted passes.

Additionally, Ponder’s ability to complete the pass is sub-standard. During the Vikings first game against the Chicago Bears, it wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter that he even completed a pass. When passing fails time and time again, giving the ball to the best running back in the league is the best choice to make, Ponder

didn’t hand off to Peterson until the fourth quarter. Shocking that the first time Peterson got the ball he carried it for 30 yards.

An important question still remains through all of this. Who would replace Ponder? The next man on the list is Joe Webb. Although Webb is quite the athlete, he was drafted as a wide receiver and for him to start might be a stretch. However, Webb has played the role of quarterback and in the few games he has played he averaged more passed yards than Ponder. Without even practicing as a quarterback, Webb is playing close to Ponder’s level. In the long run, Webb is the better choice.

The Vikings have been doing a little better recently than they have the past couple of years. But history would suggest this hot streak will be very short lived. The Vikings have a bleak outcome for the next couple of seasons. If Ponder can get his act together though, there is still a slim chance for success.

By MITCHELL LEMAYstaff reporter

Something to PonderOpinion

After school skier and snowboarder’s get ready to hit the slopes after school

photo by Ben Kaiser

Ponder’s jersey tossed in the trashphoto by Adam Toninato

Fresh snow met with an avalanche of enthusiasmphoto by Ben Kaiser

Q: How long have you been a member of the Mounds View gymnastics team?A: Since 8th grade. So, four years.

Q: How did you get started with gymnastics?A: My mom just signed me up.

Q: What is a typical practice like?A: We warm up. And then we split into Varsity and [Junior Varsity]. Then we do the events and condition at the end.

Q: What’s your favorite event?A: Floor [exercise]

Q: To have a skill that you particularly enjoy or specialize in?A: Twisting on floor and tumbling

Q: What are your personal goals for this year?A: I want to go to state again.

Q: What are the team’s goals this year?A: Probably to beat Roseville, which the meet is on Friday. Or to go to team state, but would still have to beat Roseville.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve received?A: I guess that it’s more for the team, especially for the high school level, and not just for your individual accomplishments.

Q: Is there anyone on the team that you see as a role model?A: Nicole Birr, 12, because she’s always motivated. She’s always getting new skills and that motivates the rest of the team.

Q: If you could have one superpower what would it be? Why?A: To never get hurt. Actually, no. [I would want] to fly because I skip over lines, especially at the airport.

One bone-crushing check. The boards clattered, and young Jack Jablonski slid to the ice. Moments passed, and still Jablonski was immobile. Minutes later, he was loaded onto a stretcher and rushed to the hospital.

Jablonski’s spinal cord was shattered in seconds by a powerful check from behind—sidelining Jablonski for life, and changing the rules in the state of hockey.

After the paralyzing check to Benilde-St. Margaret’s Jablonski, the Minnesota Hockey Board of Directors decided it was time to take a stand. They concluded that harshly enforcing checking rules was the way to do it.

With the start of this year’s season, the enforcement of checking rules is being felt at every level.

The message was clear. Any check from behind earns a minimum five minute major penalty. Extra instruction is given in the youth levels as well. The two oldest age groups in youth hockey, Peewees and Bantams, are being taught how to check properly and avoid checks. Only Bantams are actually allowed to check, when two years ago Peewees could as well.

The change is frustrating to many hockey players. As Danny DeWitt, 10, puts it, kids feel they can’t go 100 percent. “I’m going to be cautious in my play,” said DeWitt.

They fear that going into a check fully is going to get them in the penalty box for five minutes, or even worse,

ejected. Neither situation is one a player wants to put their team in.

When the boys find themselves in the box for hitting cleanly, their frustration escalates. “The clean hits are called if they’re big,” said Grant Herbert, 10.

Jacob Reisdorfer, 10, also feels that penalties are being wrongly dealt.

“I got a five-minute major for checking from behind,” he said. “It’s really unfair because earlier in the game I was hit from behind, and they just called the other kid for a boarding penalty. It’s not consistent,” he said.

The new rules may take some getting used to and experimenting with what and what not to call, but the good intentions are there.

“The rules are positively placed, but they need to be used positively,” said Thomas Conlin, 12.

Minnesota hockey coaches are encouraged by the Board of Directors to provide a safe and skillful environment for all players. The boys may have disagreements, but the stricter calls are intended to protect them.

Dangerous play will not be tolerated, and no player should feel intimidated by their competition. Safety was the main concern vocalized in these harsher calls.

“Do I agree with them? Yes, to an extent,” said Nathan Douvier, 12. “Players should not be getting hurt from playing hockey.”

It’s only been a short time since the one check that changed a kid’s life and the rules of the game. The new rules may be problematic to the boys in the short run, but they will decrease the chances of situations like Jablonski’s happening again.

11sportsDecember 21, 2012

Athlete of the Issue

Anna HouseJunior

Varsity Gymnastics

by MADDY ROSENOWstaff reporter

photo by Kevin Lee

The Jablonski Rules

$pendy $ports

New rules implemented after the infamous hit

The fiscal cliff of high school sports

Griff Anderson, 11, leaves the penalty box.

In these times of economic uncertainty, every penny counts. When examining the costs associated with sports, many families find that all sports are not created equal. Equipment prices, booster club fees and private lesson rates can add up quickly, creating costs of over $2,000. That’s a lot of pennies.

Hockey, despite being one of the most popular sports in Minnesota, is very expensive. Costs for equipment can amount to approximately $815. When booster club fees are added, the costs climb to well over $1,000.

For Mary Dingman, 10, $1,000 doesn’t begin to cover the additional costs that come with being a goalie. “It’s much more expensive to be a goalie, and the school doesn’t help [to defer] the cost,” said Dingman. An average hockey player wears $370 worth of gear. However, the additional pads and equipment required to play goalie raises the cost of gear to well over $800.

In contrast, cross country is very cost-effective. After paying a booster club fee of $20, students only need to purchase a bag and a good pair of shoes for a total of about $130.

Activities Director Bob Madison agreed that cross country is relatively inexpensive. “Less equipment is necessary and not as much is needed prior to high school,” said Madison.

Tennis also requires much less investment. A good racquet, plus tennis shoes and a bag, bring the total

equipment cost to a manageable $320. A well-made racquet can last a player for life. Plus, there are many free public courts in the area, which helps lower the cost.

The costs of tennis, cross country, and hockey combined do not match the price of alpine skiing. Extensive padding, pricey ski equipment, and a season pass to Wild Mountain help make this sport’s costs soar to an average of $2,300.

Alpine Skiing Coach Mark Dunsworth acknowledges the cost of skiing, but offers solutions to the problem. “It is more expensive than other sports, but renting equipment and discounted tickets make it manageable,” said Dunsworth.

Dunsworth is not the only one with ways to help supplement the cost. Activities Secretary Chris Thielke explained how Mounds Views steps in to help. “For families on the free or reduced lunch plan, we waive activity fees. We have a special fund for it,” said Thielke.

Thielke also added that “each sport is given a budget at the beginning of the year” and “every sport receives a different budget based on their needs.” If a team exceeds their price range, the booster club for that team is responsible for picking up the remainder of the costs. As that remainder increases, so does the individual booster club fees players are responsible for paying.

Many players seek to reduce these fees through fundraising activities like selling wreaths and cookie dough. Next time you see a player trying to raise money, remember that even a small donation can make a big difference, because every penny counts.

by RYAN YOCHstaff reporter

December 21, 201212gallery

DOOMSDAYWhat is doomsday?

by JOE JANEYstaff reporter

ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

PLANET NIBIRU COLLISION

WEB BOT PREDICTION

photos by Anders Nygaard information compiled by Namrata Gadela and Youngjun Park

Attention to all living people: In just a short time from now, the world will come to a catastrophic end. The Earth seems to have gotten along just fine for billions of years, but according to the Mayan calendar, that is no longer the case. On Dec. 21, 2012, anything from a total blackout to a big bang will end our precious world.

The Mayan civilization was located in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and part of Central America. Their calendar uses a series of counts or cycles of different lengths. Based on inscriptions, it seems that the Mayans believed in a linear conception of time, with a starting and ending point.

Likewise, some believe the world will end on December 21 due to certain passages in the Bible. A prophecy spoken by Daniel leads to the assumption that coincides with the Mayan prediction.

However, many NASA scientists believe all of that talk is just gibberish. All of the intensive research show no credible threats that could cause anything devastating on the 21st. “Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then—just as your calendar begins on January 1—another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar,” said a NASA researcher, Holly Zell, on the NASA website.

Students at Mounds View High School do not seem too concerned over the possibility of the tragedy striking on December 21. “I am not sure, but I have been stockpiling Axe body spray and Scooby Doo fruit snacks for years just to prepare for this day,” said Carter Jones, 10.

In case the world does indeed end on December 21, some students have come up with a bucket-list. “I would go to the zoo and let all of the animals roam free,” said Aruni Rahman, 12.

Whether the theory is just a legend or becomes reality, the world can only wait and see. Whatever happens, now is your chance to confess your deepest secrets to your significant others.

This planet is located somewhere out beyond the orbit of Pluto. The theory states that this planet will collide with the earth at the end of the year, resulting in great floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, a pole shift, and other natural disasters, bringing an end to our world.

Web Bot is a computer designed in 1997 to make predictions about the stock market. However, some conspiracy theorists believe that the Web Bot was also able to make accurate predictions of significant events such as the 9/11 attack and Hurricane Katrina. The computer predicts that the next big event is to occur in December 2012. This theory, combined with the popular Mayan calendar theory, makes many conspiracy theorists believe that there will be an apocalyptic end to the current world.

According to the “Zombie Apocalypse” theory, a spread of zombie contagion will result in the breakdown of society. This theory originated from apocalyptic fiction and gained ground through blogs and the film Zombieland. A widespread rise of zombies hostile to human life will begin an assault against human kind. The zombies then transform their victims into zombies, leading to an exponential crisis that brings on the collapse of society itself.