HOPKINS HIGH SCHOOL 2400 LINDBERGH DRIVE MINNETONKA, MN 55305
RP. the royal page
APRIL 16, 2018 VOLUME 36, ISSUE 7 hopkinsrp.org
HEF raises more than $93,000 for mental health initiative At the 2018 Royal Bash gala and the days following, HEF fundraised for new mental health support centers in the junior highs and HHS. page 5 Track and field lines up to start the regular season After securing third and eighth place at sections, the Royals track and field team begins the season hungry for victory. page 11
INSIDE NEWS 2 FEATURE 4 IN-DEPTH 6 OPINION 8 SPORTS 10 BACKPAGE 12
village it takes a
After the deaths of three students at Hopkins West Junior High, students, staff, and the WJH community join together to support one another.
in-depth, page 6-7 photo: Adam Segal
Late snow affects turf fields, spring sports schedules Sam Segelbaum Staff Reporter
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s the winter season comes to a close, the snow continues to stay. The spring season of sports is upon us and teams are struggling to get outside because of bad weather conditions.
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doors,” said Seth Schricker, junior. “The weather will also affect upcoming matches and we may have to cancel a few because the courses won’t be open by then.” The baseball and softball teams are also struggling to get outside and prepare for their
recently got a brand new field which is now covered in snow, but the new turf allows the team to get on the field much earlier because the material dries faster than grass. “The weather has definitely been frustrating because we have this nice brand new field waiting for us, and we aren’t able
Every spring sport is scrambling for space to practice, and every school is in the same boat. Finding space outside of the HHS campus is very difficult and when we do find it, it comes with a price. Jason Mihalakis, Head Coach, boys baseball
Since the courses are currently buried in snow, the boys golf team has to continue to stay indoors by using golf simulators and indoor driving ranges. Both resources are scarce because they have to rent the facilities while others continue to use it. “The weather has delayed tryouts so we have been forced to just continue to practice in-
respective seasons. Both teams have been working in the offseason to prepare for opening day. The baseball team held multiple practices at the Braemar dome in Edina which allowed the team to throw long toss and hit fly balls. They now are forced into the Lindbergh Center because of bad weather. The team
to utilize it due to weather,” said Luke Polyak, junior. “We were out there a few times a couple weeks ago shoveling, but the snow has just kept coming and we are going to have to stick to indoor practices at Lindbergh.” The boys baseball team, for example, is not only struggling to get outside, but they are also struggling to get time in the
photo: Adam Segal
The newly renovated turf fields remain covered in snow in April, preventing their use by Royals sports teams including boys baseball and girls softball teams.
Braemar Sports Complex. The Braemar Sports Complex rents out their facility to Edina sports teams first and then rent out the rest in a "first come, first serve" basis.
“Every spring sport is scrambling for space to practice, and every school is in the same boat,” said Jason Mihalakis, head coach of the Royals baseball team. “Finding space
outside of the Hopkins campus is very difficult and when we do find it, it comes with a price.”
continued, page 11
APRIL 16, 2018
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the royal page I don’t like AirPods. They’re too easy to lose and super expensive. Angela Perez, junior
DISCONNECTED Apple AirPods gain popularity, lower productivity Dena Rosen Staff Reporter
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e it in class or in the hallways, the popularity of Apple Airpods at HHS is very noticeable. AirPods themselves, however, are not easily noticeable in people’s ears, so listening to music at inappropriate times is much easier. AirPods are sold for 159 dollars before tax by Apple. “They are definitely an investment, but I use mine everyday so I definitely think they are worth it,” said Sophie Sandler, senior. Many teachers at HHS allow their students to listen to
music during work time, but see it as a distraction if it were to be listened to during the lesson. “Only [allow students to listen to music] during work time and after they finish an exam early. No music during instructional time,” said Mr. Greg Bartz, math. Bartz sees both pros and cons to listening to music as a learning tool. He strongly believes that the biggest distraction in the classroom for students is their phones. “For some students it helps them focus and get into rhythm,” Bartz said. “For some it is a distraction. It all depends on what type of work you need to get done.” Since AirPods are wireless,
it’s much easier to listen to music more discreetly during class. Bartz has started to notice that students are wearing wireless headphones more and more during class. “What makes it harder for teachers are the wireless bluetooth headphones. Students can have those things in and you hardly notice them,” Bartz said. Some students see it as a benefit that AirPods are difficult to see and take advantage of this. One student that takes the opportunity to listen to music in class is Sandler. “My teachers either don’t see them or don’t care that I’m wearing them. They are easy to wear discreetly,” Sandler said. According to a study conducted by the University of Ne-
braska-Lincoln, students spend on average 20 percent of class on their smartphones. UNL added up how much time this would be over the four years of school, and it adds up to be two-thirds of a school year. One student at HHS that has AirPods, Jane Weesner, senior, finds music to be more distracting than helpful when she is working. “I don’t listen to music in class; I listen to music during passing time, then when I get to class I take my AirPods out,” Weesner said. “I am definitely less productive when listening to music, especially through headphones.”
“Normal earbuds work too, and they are a lot cheaper. I think that it’s really a personal preference.”
“It would be cool to have AirPods, but honestly there’s a stigma around them, only cool guys can wear them.”
Gabe Fishman, senior
Ariel Shaver, senior
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the royal page Activism is great because it has the power to bring people together.
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ll across America, students are becoming more and more involved in politics and change, saying that they are doing what the adults won’t. “I think it’s admirable that these students are taking this into their own hands, but it’s a shame that we have to feel like adults aren’t doing enough to protect us,” said Nafi Soumare, junior. Student activism has been a focus of the media lately, since the survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, FL have begun organizing marches and participating in talks with lawmakers about gun control and reforms. While media coverage of this has increased recently, students involvement in the political process at Hopkins is nothing new. Readers of the last Royal Page issue will remember that members of the group Girls United have been attending hearings at the Capitol for a new bill that would allow for curriculum in schools that educates on sex trafficking. “All of the representatives
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Nikki Bank, junior
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Participation in local government, politics give HHS students outlet for activism Sam Buttress Staff Reporter
APRIL 16, 2018
and senators expressed support for the legislation,” said Girls United leader Jessica Melnik, junior. Joe Ramlet, sophomore, is known by his friends as “Mr. Local Government”, for his involvement in local politics. He is the sophomore school board representative for student council and a member of the Legislative Action Coalition. “I think politics are an opportunity to look at the big picture and make an impact. Perspectives are always changing but student voices really are important because we are the future,” Ramlet said. Ramlet is also a member of the Golden Valley Environmental Commission. “If we’re the ones who are gonna be living on this planet, shouldn’t we get a say in protecting it?” Ramlet said. Ben Herstig, senior, is a leader of HHS Responds, a student delegate, and undeniably a very politically active student. “Activism has helped me to find my voice even when I was told to shut up and sit down. Politics can help you to express and even discover what you stand for,” Herstig said. “I think there’s always more
that can be done, but especially recently the safety and needs of students haven’t been respected in the way they should be,” Herstig said. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas were behind the Washington, D.C., March for Our Lives that saw close to 800,000 participants, and have raised millions of dollars in donations. Some are trying to dismiss these student voices, arguing that young people don’t have the education or experience necessary to make changes. In an interview with the Star Tribune, Minnesota Senator Carrie Ruud said of student led demonstrations, “The signs are fun. The parades are fun. But when you ask them questions, they really don’t have a base of knowledge.” Ramlet says that these arguments are a desperate attempt to preserve the policies that youth are looking to reform. “The adults are scared. We’re gonna change some stuff. They’re starting to realize that what happens now is lasting, and we aren’t gonna stop,” said Ramlet. “We want to make them as uncomfortable as possible.”
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photo: Sam Eklund
Open-mindedness and connectedness help students learn, take action Eve Clarkson Staff Reporter
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rom Malala Yousafzai being shot in response to her activism surrounding women’s education to Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, garnering more followers than the NRA on Twitter, teens have been using their voice to promote change. Students at HHS have different ideas surrounding why the current generation has been so outspoken when it has come to promoting justice. Connor Erickson, junior, thinks our progress is due to our accepting attitudes. “Just the fact that we are able to listen to new ideas that may seem bizarre has helped our generation immensely,” Erickson said. According to the Pew Research Center in 2014, if a student were to live in a “traditional family,” they were a minority. This is part of the reason why today’s high schoolers are so accepting, as the idea of what a family should or should not be has been blurred. Holly Den Hartog, agrees with Erickson, but also thinks
that it is one thing to care about an issue, but another to act on our ideas and opinions. As USA Today reported, in the case of the Parkland shooting that happened last month, teenagers were able to react in real time due to social media and within a month of the tragedy, marches and walkouts had been planned. The Washington Post reported that tens of thousands of students from all across the United States walked out, which would not have been possible without the use of social media. Emily Johnson, junior, feels like the access to social media has made teenagers more aware of the problems in the world and that it gives teenagers a voice that they never had before. “Social media has given me the opportunity to learn about people from different cultural backgrounds than me that I otherwise would not have been able to,” Johnson said. Megan Phelps Roper, a former member of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, is a great example of how social media can bridge people from different ideologies. In Phelps Roper’s Ted Talk, she discussed how she had been
raised to believe that everything was black and white, good or bad. She also said that without the use of Twitter and discussions, she would never had been able to have the opportunity to hear the other perspective and would probably still be holding up the hateful signs the Westboro Baptist Church promoted. Phelps Roper highlighted that after she left the church, a defining moment was when a rabbi she used to target and harass allowed her to spend time with his family and learn more about Judaism. Though she does acknowledge that there are cons to social media interaction such as bullying, she is a great example of how social media can be used positively. The politicians of today have been criticized for their constant dehumanizing of the other side. However, a bright light to many people is that hopefully the combination of teenagers access to social media, acceptance and redefining of what is considered normal can mean that there is a more tolerant and open-minded future ahead.
Administrative actions aim to promote inclusivity, increase success
Junior Unity Day, Connectedness Surveys, Collaborative Workspaces increase student involvement, improve school culture Andy Pelerine Staff Reporter
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n the past few years, Hopkins has pushed for a more welcoming and connected class through the introduction of Junior Unity Day and Collaborative Workspaces. According to the American Physiological Association (APA), the best way to decrease bullying and create a connected environment is to build a safe environment. This means making sure every student feels like they belong and enjoy their time at school. With a higher percentage of
kids attending Junior Unity Day this year compared to last year, many students think HHS is becoming more connected. About Junior Unity Day and its effect on the junior class, Hannah Triske, junior, said, “I think it allowed people to really get to know their peers and really get closer to each other” Joe Fahnbulleh, junior, said, “We all put our problems aside and came together as one.” Even with Junior Unity Day only lasting three hours, there seems to be a positive, lasting impact on the class. “People are being more friendly and are more open to talk to others,” Triske said.
The introduction of Junior Unity day was implemented to create a more connected school environment, and it seems to have done just that. “Junior Unity Day is focused a lot on social and emotional learning,” Doug Bullinger, principal said. Students aren’t the only ones at HHS who believe the school has become more connected in the past few years. Staff think so as well. “I believe there has been a push over the past few years to have a strong sense of connectedness within Hopkins High School.” said John Sammler, science department. “Principal
Bullinger states that this is one of the three key things that our school should be working on.” Bullinger was equally optimistic about the efforts of the staff. “They are doing a great job. They foster strong relationships with students and between students. Take the extra time to get to know each and every student as a person, in addition to as a student,” said Bullinger. “Use activities that allow students to get to know one another during their lessons. Switch up seating charts and validate and affirm each and every student’s culture and viewpoint.”
With HHS students coming from all over the metro area, with different cultural backgrounds, it’s more of a challenge to create a space where everyone feels welcome. According to a 2010 study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “Research has also demonstrated a strong relationship between school connectedness and educational outcomes, including school attendance, staying in school longer, and higher grades and classroom test scores.” “If students don’t feel a sense of belonging at their school, they are less likely to be successful in their academics, activities,
and other programs.” Bullinger said. The Hopkins School District’s mission statement is “Hopkins Public Schools serves the community by welcoming all learners, honoring culture, and inspiring remarkable growth and achievement. Our district is a special place and unique in many ways. “We are academically focused, but also human-focused. There is no typical Hopkins student, and we value that diversity. We are a blend of faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, forming a district of individuals with rich stories.”
APRIL 16, 2018
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the royal page It’s a good feeling to make nationals especially for two years in a row, and as a senior, it kind of reaffirmed my place in the state.
Alex Jono, senior feature Green Card Voices participate in panel open to public Mia Sparrow and Ali Winter Staff Reporters
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n 2013, the nonprofit organization Green Card Voices was started to “help share various stories of our nation’s 40 million immigrants” and “put a human face to the current immigration debate.” Green Card Voices has published four youth books telling the stories of students from high schools in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Fargo, N.D. and Atlanta. LEAP High School is a St. Paul public school, specialized solely for English Language Learner students (ELL). Rachel Mueller, the program associate with Green Card Voices came to HHS on Feb. 27, along with two LEAP High School immigrant students, Abshir Muhammed and Kzee Ya, seniors. They participated in a panel that was open to questions from the public. Muhammed came to the United States from war-torn Somalia, where he lived with his aunt. After a three year waiting period for a visa, he could finally make the journey. He traveled here alone off of the money that his mother had been sending him from the U.S. When reflecting on what
he missed from home, he didn’t have much to say. “Here, we expect alarms to wake us up, but back home it was a rooster,” Muhammed said. “That’s one thing that I miss.” Ya came here from Thailand where her parents, two brothers, and five sisters struggled to make ends meet. She had to wait eight months for a green card to come to the U.S. even though she didn’t want to leave her old life behind. At the time she didn’t know a single word of English, but Leap High School taught her to speak, understand, and eventually love the once foreign language. “I think my life is better than before, here in the United States,” Ya said. Ms. Angela Wilcox, the North Junior High IB Coordinator, applied for the grant to fund the Green Card Voice books that are incorporated in a new seventh grade class called Literacy in a Digital World. Seventh graders read these immigrant stories and explored their own origins and heritage to make a presentation for the class. “It would be amazing if we organized and published our own version of a Green Card book here. There are so many stories to be shared in the Hopkins district,” Wilcox said.
Student immigrants share their story
Ifrah Amin IFRAH
AMIN
ALEX COUNTS
Ifrah Amin, sophomore, was born in Kentucky, but was raised in Africa. For years, she was forced to travel back and forth from Somalia due to passport expirations and other conditions. When she was 13 years old Amin came back to the U.S. and has been living here since. She said the difference between schooling here compared to back home, is that it is actually easier here. In Somalia, she had to write in multiple languages and the math there was very different. “When I came here, everything changed,” Amin said. “I’m a straight A student now.” Although she has experienced lots of positive things here in America, Amin admits that she misses her friends back home and would like to go back in the near future. “If I could choose between living in Minnesota or in Africa, I would choose to go back there,” Amin said. “I’ve faced a lot of hardships and good things in America, but I just feel like I belong there.”
When Alex Counts, junior, was just nine years old he travelled to the U.S. all the way from Ukraine. While there, his family was broken up, and he was taken away to an orphanage where he lived for a year. He was eventually adopted by a Minnesotan couple and has been under their care ever since. “Here I get food everyday rather than every few days, like back in Ukraine,” Counts said. “My parents just couldn’t provide for me.” Counts hasn’t seen his birth parents since leaving Ukraine but is happy to have come to the U.S. because it has given him the chance at a better life. “If I had stayed in Ukraine I would’ve been dead by now,” Counts said. “I was so close to dying so many times.”
ISATOU KANYI Isatou Kanyi, junior, is from Gambia and came here with her family when she was 14 years old. After her mother and sister came, the rest of her family followed, including herself and her brother. “My family came here because they wanted more money, freedom, and education,” Kanyi said. “Coming here meant a better life for all of us.” Kanyi said that it can be difficult for some to continue school in Gambia. Back home, school was only free for grades one through six, and afterward it becomes a financial burden for families. She said that women are not exactly encouraged to attend, either. “[In Gambia] women don’t have to go to school, they can just stay home, look after the kids, and cook. That’s what my mom was doing before we left and that’s what I would probably have ended up doing too,” Khayi said. “I see myself living in America the rest of my life, but I definitely want to go back to Gambia to visit,” Kanyi said.
photos: Mia Sparrow and Ali Winter
Hopkins DECA succeeds at state, anticipates nationals After spending the season working with mentors and completing simulations, the business organization sent 36 team members to state conference and four to nationals Riley Lennon Staff Reporter
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n Febraury, four students qualified for Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) Nationals. In April, they’ll be on their way to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA to compete against other qualifiers from across the country. “DECA is a great opportunity for forming relationships and connecting with different companies,” said John Otieno, senior. DECA is a nationwide career and technical student organization that consists of thousands of high school and
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college students. The teachers educate and prepare students for careers in marketing, finance, management, hospitality, and many other business and entrepreneurial areas. In order to qualify for nationals, students first had to compete at Districts, which included HHS students as well as students from other neighboring districts. “After I competed in Finance Operations Research and Human Resource Management at districts, I made it to State, which consisted of all the other students in the state of Minnesota that also qualified,” Otieno said. “The top three competitors from each event at State then
qualified for Nationals.” In order to advance through DECA, students must write essays, take tests, and present ideas to judges. “For Human Resource Management they gave me two role-play scenarios, and I used the information I had to answer questions and resolve any problems,” Otieno said. Alex Jono, Nika Issaenko, seniors, Dante Reminick, junior, and Otieno all qualified for DECA Nationals in their respective categories. On the first day of Nationals, they’ll be competing against everyone else in their category in order to narrow it down to the top three. “I’ll be competing against
DECA is a great opportunity for forming relationships and connecting with different companies. John Otieno, senior
photo: provided by Dante Reminick
36 members of Hopkins DECA competed at the state competition the weekend of March 3. Four students: Dante Reminick, junior, and Alex Jono, Nika Issaenko, and John Otieno, seniors, advanced to nationals, which will take place in Atlanta from April 21 to 24.
probably 200 or 300 students,” Otieno said. “Nationals consists of the top three students in every event from every state.” Winning and even simply competing in DECA Nationals can award students with vari-
ous scholarship opportunities, and the top competitors will receive a plaque award. The knowledge and experience gained from the opportunity gives students a head-start for their post-secondary success.
“It’s a good resume booster,” Otieno said. “I want to go into Healthcare Management, so the topics that I’ve learned about are bound to come up in the future.”
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the royal page
APRIL 16, 2018
Winning the Caring Youth Awards meant a lot to me because it’s really cool to be recognized for volunteer work. Lily Zdechlik, junior
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feature
Five HHS students win Caring Youth Awards Willow Scherwinski Staff Reporter
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hether it be with local churches or non-profit organizations, HHS students take active roles in the community through volunteering. On Thursday, Feb. 22, the youth of Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Golden Valley were rec-
ognized for their outstanding involvement in their communities. All together 24 students, including five from HHS, were awarded with the Caring Youth Award. “I love community service, and I love helping people. It [Caring Youth Award] was never something I thought I would get,” said Angie Raney, senior. “It means a lot that the work that I am doing is being noticed by other people, and I’m glad
that it’s making a big impact.” Any student in grades 7-12 who shows ongoing awareness of others and takes action through volunteering is eligible for the award. They can then be nominated by another member of the organization they are serving. Lily Zdechlik, junior, one of the Hopkins recipients volunteers with the nonprofit organization called Girls United MN. The organization works
photo: provided by HHS Twitter
The five HHS and three WJH and NJH recipients of the Caring Youth Awards pose with Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, superintendent, and Mr. Doug Bullinger, principal.
to provide a space for girls to discuss issues that are not often talked about in schools, such as sex trafficking and perfectionism. She was nominated for her outstanding work in the club by founder and president, Jessica Melnick, junior. “Lily is on our youth advisory board. She has always been a hard worker and instrumental in organizing events for Girls United MN,” Melnick said. Many teenagers are overwhelmed with their busy lives filled with multiple sports, school and homework, various clubs, jobs, and other extracurricular activities. For Zdechlik, this was no reason to abstain from volunteer work. “Taking time out of your day to change other people’s lives is a really important part of being a person and contributing to society,” Zdechlik said. “The younger you can start, the more impactful it will be in your life.” She looks at her involvement in the community as a priority. As Vice President of Girls United MN, Zdechlik is known as being in charge of all the bits and pieces. “It really meant a lot because my actions were being recognized. It was really special,” Zdechlik said.
For Raney, volunteering with her church, Shepherd of the Hills, sets a precedent that the younger generation can usher in change. The past three years, Raney has been working with the younger children of her church. Her biggest responsibility is leading a group of 30 kids age K-5 in singing, art projects, and worship activities. “I get to hang out with them and be a good role model. Hopefully, I inspire them to volunteer and get involved with our community when they are older,” Raney said. As Raney moves into her years attending DePaul University, she hopes to continue her community service work. Though she can’t keep volunteering at her church, she is going to look for some non-profit organizations in Chicago. The future of Girls United MN looks bright as well. A majority of the club members are juniors and will move beyond HHS within the next few years, but the leaders are in the process of training underclassmen to take over.
MEET THE WINNERS Eve Clarkson, sophomore YMCA of Greater Twin Cities
Sydney Kerber, senior All Saints Lutheran Church
Sahra Ismael Mohamed, junior Summer Smarts Eisenhower
Angie Raney, senior Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Lily Zdechlik, junior Girls United MN
HEF raises more than $93,000 for mental health initiative Mia Sparrow and Ali Winter Staff Reporters
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t the Royal Bash headed by the Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF) on Feb. 24, it took all of 20 minutes to raise more than $93,000 for mental health efforts within the district from a simple show of hands at the dinner. “I genuinely don’t know what sparked HEF’s interest in addressing mental health, but all I can say is that I’m thrilled. Nationally there have been conversations about the need for mental health support in schools. The topic has generally become destigmatized and more openly shared within the last decade,” said Kelly Richey, school social worker. The money raised at the bash is intended to go towards an after-school Mental Health Center projected to open at the beginning of next school year. Recently, a group of approximately 25 HHS students have been sharing their insight and opinions to orchestrate a
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student-led Mental Health campaign. “My biggest suggestion is to not address this so much as a campaign, but rather as an ongoing commitment to the betterment of the mental health of students and staff alike,” said Annika Patterson, senior. “Campaigns tend to have a short lived legacy, often associated with temporary passion and posters that ‘address the issue’. Students need to feel like mental health betterment is important to the values of the school, and that it isn’t seen as a joke to fellow peers, teachers, and administration.” Community Blueprint is an agency that develops campaigns surrounding prevention, policy, and behavior-change initiatives. Kaylen Larson, Project Manager, and Andy Berndt, Director of Social Marketing and Health Promotion have been leading the after school discussions. Holly Magdanz, Coordinator of the Hopkins One Voice Coalition, applied for the HEF grant to fund this upcoming campaign. HEF has also been the
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Sylvie Gitler, senior
leader of a Student Wellness Initiative in the district, through which the mental health center will be funded. The current discussion for the format of the center is a three-tier system. At the base, referred to as “Triage”, there will be a social worker or counselor available after school each day. It is still undecided whether or not students can just walk-in or will need to sign up to meet with someone. “We are kind of using the ASC model because students and faculty have experience with it,” Richey said. The College Career Center will serve as the center’s location. The conference room and many private offices will grant confidentiality and security to students who utilize the space. “Conversations in this space can be about anything. Maybe a student wants more time to discuss school related anxiety or their plans for the future, or maybe someone wants to talk about a traumatic event,” Richey said. These first tier meetings will not act as a therapy session, but
rather provide the given social worker or counselor the information they need to refer a student to the right resources. The second tier will be some type of community agency that would come in to provide small group support based off of the popular needs of students. “If hypothetically, 10 random students expressed concerns about an unhealthy relationship they’re involved in, we would reach out to an agency with expertise in that topic to lead a weekly group,” Richey said. Finally, the third tier includes a contract with Move Forward, a community agency located at Eisenhower Community Center. Move Forward offers counseling services equipped with licensed practitioners who do diagnostics. These practitioners would come to the school and meet with students for free. “This final layer opens up therapeutic services to students who don’t have access to healthcare or a clinic, or maybe can’t get a ride from a parent,” Richey said.
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I genuinely don’t know what sparked HEF’s interest in addressing mental health, but all I can say is that I’m thrilled. Kelly Richey, social worker
infographic: Mia Sparrow
april 16, 2018
06 in-depth
the royal page
it takes a
village After the deaths of three students at Hopkins West Junior High, students, staff, and the WJH community join together to support one another. michael korsh, hannah goldfarb, sam eklund and maya kupritz editor-in-chief, managing editor, news editor and feature editor
On Feb. 22, Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, Superintendent, was preparing for a full-day leadership retreat with students when she got a phone call. It was WJH principal Dr. Leanne Kampfe, urgently asking for more assistance from the district. Another student had tragically died, the second in two weeks. In response, Mhiripiri-Reed and about 37 employees from throughout the district dropped everything and headed to WJH, all between 9 and 10 a.m. The group set up a command center and quickly established plans for staffing, district wide communication with families, and most importantly, a support plan for students. This proved the heart of WJH’s efforts to help students cope with the ramifications of the tragedies. Between Feb. 15 and March 9, three WJH students would tragically and unexpectedly pass away. According to Mhiripiri-Reed, developing a plan to handle student’s grief after each death changed with the unique circumstances. Preceding the second death, the district simply offered additional aid if Kampfe deemed it necessary. With two deaths following, however, it became clear that the message and intention of the district had to shift. “What we learned from the suicide professionals is that once you have two suicides within a very short period of time, then you’re talking potential contagion. You have to put some conditions in place to make sure that it doesn’t continue,” Mhiripiri-Reed said. “So you take a firmer approach— your messages are different— because it’s a different set of circumstances.” The Hopkins School District worked with Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) to develop a plan for working with students and staff to cope with grief. Mhiripiri-Reed said that SAVE professionals emphasized the idea of com-
pounding loss, as the three deaths occurred in such close proximity. “In our partnership with SAVE, he was coaching us through how you deal with second or third loss of life is different than how you deal with the first or second because of the complexity of compounding impact on the brain, on the mindset, on the psyche,” Mhiripiri-Reed said. “And you don’t want to provide the same support you did before, because kids are going to feel like ‘Oh, this is how it’s going to be every time,’ thinking that it’s gonna be a pattern.” It took a village to unite and provide WJH students with the backing they needed. More than 50 mental health professionals from Hopkins, neighboring districts, Park Nicollet, and Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) came to WJH to help students cope. Even 10 therapy dogs were stationed at the school to relieve students’ grief. In only her first year as principal at WJH, Kampfe said that assistance from staff and providers outside of WJH was crucial to helping students heal. “We had amazing support from the schools in the district, from the district office, from the families in the community, from outside service providers for mental health, just incredible help,” Kampfe said. “If something that awful had to happen, I could not have imagined a better response from the outside world in terms of helping us get through it. Everything that you would hope people would do, they did.” Though much of the counseling and support came from staff, many students around WJH found ways to unite the student body during difficult times. The annual Variety Show fell on March 15, and in the wake of tragedy, Student Council used the event as a way to create unity within the student body while remembering the classmates that passed. Linda Nyakundi, WJH freshman, has been on the Student
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Council since seventh grade, and each year she has helped make the Variety Show happen. “This year we incorporated poems and performances that were directed towards what happened because we didn’t want to completely shy away from it and move on,” Nyakundi said. “We had the orchestra play a piece for [their former classmates]. We also had some other students read poems, just to continue the theme of remembrance.” Emerson VanWiele Nolan, WJH freshman, first auditioned for the variety show as a seventh grader. Every year she played the guitar and sang, but when the tragedies occurred she decided to write a song about everything that has been going on. “I wanted to write a song, but I couldn’t figure out what to write it about and I had writer’s block for almost a year and then after hearing about everything that day at school, I went home and wrote the song,” VanWiele Nolan said. “I thought it would be good for people to hear what I have to say and what the perspective is from other people. As students have began to heal, some think the process has been rushed. Though WJH has followed the advice of SAVE in dealing with the trauma students are enduring, students say overarching conversations about mental health have been rare. “They took down the posters we made and put them in a secluded place in the office and basically tried to tell us to stop and act normal and push it down, so I think everyone was trying to go about their day even if they were not ready to do so,” VanWiele Nolan said. “They still haven’t talked about suicide prevention at all or mental health….but so many people who have had experiences with the mental health and illnesses think that we should be talking about it.”
Student Council hopes to replace the posters, which were signed by North Junior High students showing their support for their WJH counterparts, with something more permanent. Plans are already underway to purchase benches with the students’ names as a lasting memorial. On a day-to-day basis, each student is recovering and healing at a different pace. Kampfe noted that these differences have impacted staff’s roles— changing from merely instruction to caring about students’ overall wellness. “The staff has been really great about being responsive to what students need. If students needed to not be focused on content, then they took a break from it; they spent time being more concerned about who we are as people,” Kampfe said. Mhiripiri-Reed says that prioritizing student wellness is paramount to improving mental health in the longer term. “I think it would be better if we didn’t have a school system where in math class you walk in, sit down, and the teacher says, ‘Open your math books.’ How about a system where the math teacher spends the first few minutes saying, ‘How’s everybody doing? Is everybody feeling good today?’” MhiripiriReed said. “How about we have a system where there’s an observable, measurable recognition— we’re paying attention to kids as people first and students second?” As WJH, and especially the freshman class, moves forward, their classmates’ legacy will stay with them, through their memories, and new ones forged after their passings. “I’ve gone to Hopkins since kindergarten, and this is the first time that the people I go to school with have been hit with something this big. We’ve seen it happen to grades above us and grades below us, but never to us,” Nyakundi said. “It will always stay with us, and it makes us a lot stronger than we were before. It’s cool to see everyone bonding again. As horrible as it was, there has been a positive outcome.”
april 16, 2018
07 in-depth
national suicide prevention hotline
1-800-273-8255
APRIL 16, 2018
08
opinion
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the royal page NERF Assassins has been going on for way longer, just because of Parkland doesn’t mean we’re going to stop doing something that’s been going on for so long. Charlie McAllister, sophomore
STAFF EDITORIAL
photo: Lily Smith
To continue the legacy of Parkland survivors, it’s time for self-reflection
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tarting April 13, students will start walking into HHS wield-
ing guns. Not real guns, obviously. Rather, dozens of students will stash NERF foam blasters in their backpacks, lockers, and cars. Because on April 13, HHS’ annual game of Assassins begins. Assassins involves working in teams to generate “kills.” Kills are awarded when a player shoots a member of a different team while trying to stay alive themselves. For the longest surviving player and their team, a cash prize. For everyone else, an intense, time-consuming, and even deadly game. The game continues for months, and the tradition has continued year after year. But this year, Assassins takes on a new meaning in the wake of the
tragic shooting in Parkland. Students buy the highestcapacity NERF guns, carry them everywhere they go, and shoot each other at malls, parks, and public spaces. Is this the future that students walked out for on March 14 or marched in Washington, D.C. for on March 24? People may argue that students have an understanding that NERF guns aren’t real. Many students probably do. But Assassins still poses real dangers, including the tragic death of two students at Lakeville South High School three years ago. The game also trivializes the very idea of murder. While we protest and are horrified by the actual killings of students, here in Assassins we glorify the act of killing and reward the number of kills.
Even the simulation of gun violence through Assassins poses some very important questions and ethical dilemmas about teens’ willingness to care about an issue. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Parkland survivors, the #NeverAgain movement has brought teens to center stage. The generation that’s been criticized for the Tide Pod challenge, our constant use of social media, and other cultural phenomena is now geared to be taken seriously by lawmakers, reporters, and adults. If students play Assassins, they’re showing the world that’s watching us that they’re hypocrites. What kind of image does it portray for the same students who organized or participated in walkouts and marches across the country to be firing NERF guns at one another only weeks
staff Michael Korsh Andy Weisman Hannah Goldfarb Sam Eklund Maya Kupritz Luis Felemovicius Lily Smith James Gulden Adam Segal Jake Birnberg
Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Feature Editor Sports Editor Opinion/Variety Editor Multimedia Editor Photo Editor Business Editor
Jeff Kocur Adviser
later? This isn’t just about Assassins, though. More importantly, it represents the idea of activism when it’s convenient. HHS students walked out of class for 17 minutes on March 14 because they could easily do so— administration’s accommodations for the walkout arguably detracted from it being a protest in the first place. While the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. was less convenient, it still landed on a weekend the middle of many students’ Spring Breaks, allowing for them to find the time to protest. As soon as protesting or advocating for a cause becomes inconvenient, however, we’re unwilling to make any changes to our own lives to participate. If supporting gun control means we have to stop Assassins, then
HHS students will stop being activists. The students who organized the walkout on March 14 did a great service when they organized protests, lobbied for gun control, and rallied support on social media. Protesting against public figures is easy. Protesting against your peers is harder. Why isn’t HHS Responds coming out against Assassins? Of course there’d be backlash. But if you’re not afraid of backlash from the NRA, you shouldn’t be afraid of backlash from your classmates. Sure, Assassins is fun. But are high school students willing to sacrifice even a little bit of fun for something that’s greater than them? The walkout is over; the March for Our Lives is over. Right now— how we move forward— is the time that matters.
Before you think about putting your money into the pot for Assassins, think about the impact it might have. Think about the legacy of the victims in Parkland. Think about the future.
Staff Reporters Mason Arneson Sam Buttress Alex Bank Logan Barham David Campbell Eve Clarkson Olivia Cohen Alex Condon
Neil DeVries Smith Ben Herstig Jacob Lehman Riley Lennon Ayanna Maddox Andy Pelerine Dena Rosen Willow Scherwinski Adam Segal
Sam Segelbaum Alex Shriver Mia Sparrow Gianni Tejada Alex Weisberg Ali Winter Abigail Yousha Paul Zeitz
EDITORIAL BOARD VOTE
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DISAGREE
Editorial Policy The Staff Editorial represents the opinion of the Editorial Board. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the administration, the student body, or the adviser. Viewpoints with a byline represent the view of the writer. The Royal Page operates as an open forum student publication, and student editors make editorial decisions regarding content.
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APRIL 16, 2018
We get a lot of criticism from older generations for being on our phones too much, but that’s what we grew up with since we were seven years old...I think that criticising us for doing things on technology all the time isn’t fair to us.
09 opinion
Bryn Kahle, senior
Generation Z forced to grow up too fast Olivia Cohen Staff Reporter
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hether it’s the way we dress, the language we use, our use of drugs, or the way we act, it’s a fact that our generation has been forced to grow up too quickly. We are Generation Z. We were born into the decade where crop tops revealing our midriffs are nothing new. You’re treated like less than if you don’t participate in activities that thirty years ago would be considered adult constricted. Why? We’re like this because we were born in the midst of Columbine and 9/11. We remember hearing about the events of Sandy Hook while school was in session. The threat of tragedy and violence has always been in the back of our minds. If you are anything like me, you explore the “what if ” far too often, but ultimately thinking that horrific occurrences could
never happen to you, or at HHS. Over the past twenty years, these rare occurrences are getting less and less rare. In turn, they become less and less shocking. It is appalling that situations like this can happen and are rarely discussed beyond the day’s news cycle. The cold truth is that none of us are truly safe from this epidemic. Undeniably there is some fear in all of us. I end every day so drained of being scared from what others might do in this world. Why should some students have to fear that they may leave for school and never return home? Somedays I feel the need to hug my mom extra long before I leave for school or look at what my brother is wearing as we drive to HHS, just on the off chance I have to identify his body. We’re scared. The honest truth is we are scared. Society makes it seem as if Gen Z are only good for their social media skills, being able to hide behind a text and present a fake presence with a selfie.
Adults in this day in age think we are addicted to our phones, and don’t care about the events going on in the world. And as that may be true for some, do they really know what we do? The Parkland shooting has sparked an unnoticed passion that lies within our generation, resulting in protests, peace rallies and our communities fighting for a change, all student and teenage led. The fact that students have been leading our country to change is proving that Gen Z has untapped potential, opening the door for a level maturity. The result is that some of the youngest participants of our generation are growing up too quickly. We’re researching and constantly learning. We’re planning walkouts and calling our local congress. We are creating change. We have the world at our fingertips. And when you think that we’re tweeting and posting our lives away, have you ever thought that maybe we’re not? Whether older generations realize it or not, the kids in to-
The last (disposable) straw Making this simple change can make a huge impact on the enviroment
Eve Clarkson Staff Reporter
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ccording to the National Park Service, Americans use around 500 million plastic straws every single day despite the fact there are very few instances in which they are actually necessary. The website One Million Women highlights that straws have specific detrimental impacts on the ocean and its inhabitants. A video of someone removing a straw from a sea turtle’s nose has been viewed several million times and is one of many instances that happen every single day due to this disposable and unnecessary product.
An incredibly scary, yet eyeopening statistic is that by 2050 the amount of plastic will be greater than the amount of fish in the ocean as reported by the organization Strawless Ocean which is working to advocate for cleaner oceans. While there are certain instances where the use of the plastic straws is necessary, generally stopping the use disposable straws is an easy and effective way to reduce the amount of trash you produce. As Strawless Ocean reports, most plastic straws aren’t recyclable and compostable straws are very detrimental to marine life as well. If you actually care about whether or not you have a straw, there are hygienic straws that can be washed and reused and
are more economical in the long run than disposable straws. The Last Plastic Straw is another amazing organization that is basically echoing the idea that the best way you can help combat this problem is simply by asking for no straw at restaurants. There have even been movements that want to make straws “available upon request.” Author Sandra Cisneros once said, “The older I get, the more I’m conscious of ways very small things can make a change in the world. Tiny little things, but the world is made up of tiny matters, isn’t it?” Not using plastic straws is a small and impactful way you can make your Mother Earth proud.
day’s society aren’t alright. For teenagers and students living in Gen Z, the saying “when it rains, it pours” truly applies. When one problem gets placed upon us, they tend to pile up then after. A 2015 study from The Independent showed the rise and fall of Generation Z’s “risky” behavior. It showed that our generation’s teens are becoming less and less involved in the use of drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, teenage pregnancy and unprotected sex, but are now suffering from eating disorders, self-harm, and lack of sleep that are at unpredicted levels. According to Mentalhealth. net, these self-harming tendencies are described as “a physical expression of emotional distress or mental stress.” These characteristics can induce anxieties and undeniably create an increased level of worry for events such as school shootings. As a generation, our most prominent problems cannot be seen. They are talked about, but never heard. Our problems have been brushed under the rug. When will it end?
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infographic: Mia Sparrow
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Things to do this spring
Sled. Spring is a myth, it will be winter forever PPPRRRAAAAMMMMM
Watch the Wild and Timberwolves crumble under pressure
Write Punxsutawney Phil hate mail
Build an igloo Send a Mother’s Day card to someone who isn’t your mom Watch ASMR videos on repeat Learn to ski, there’s still time Wreck the summer body you’ve worked all winter for
Commit to a college and hit the senior slip and slide
APRIL 16, 2018
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sports
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the royal page We have only been together for three weeks and I feel that we have already have been playing forever.” Parker Stoddard, junior
Late snow affects turf fields, spring sports schedules Sam Segelbaum Sports Reporter
Teams adjust schedules, training in response to weather continued from 1 The boys baseball team also would have to spend roughly $200 for half a field for an hour after school. This can create problems for the team because they are forced to raise extra money from the booster club to pay for these facilities. “Fortunately we have a great activities office that manages everything really well, and provides financial support for outside options when all of the facilities at the school are booked. Erin Brown (assistant athletic director) has been helping the baseball program with scheduling practices and she’s been really great,” Mihalakis said. The girls softball team is also having the same problem as the boys. They are also continuing to practice on the tough basketball court floor instead of their brand new turf field. The team has been forced to the Eden Prairie dome to have more space to hit and field fly balls. “The weather is a real pain because I wish we could just be outside already,” said Parker Stoddard, junior. “Not being outside doesn’t allow us to practice right after school because we have to share gym space with other spring sports.” Along with the softball and
baseball teams, the boys tennis team is having a tough time. Tryouts occured in the North Junior High structure with only two courts available. There are roughly 35 players this year and with two courts, there wasn’t much match play to evaluate. “Having only two nets has caused the courts to become crammed with large numbers of players,” said Felix Johnson, junior. “The weather also has the team practicing on a worse surface that people are not used to. This causes players to have trouble showcasing their full potential at tryouts.” Girls lacrosse is continuing to struggle to get out on the field. They’ve been playing on turf, which can help get the team outside earlier. The team held tryouts in the Hopkins Pavilion “Our lacrosse team is able to practice indoors at the Hopkins Pavilion. The weather isn’t really holding us back at all,” said Kristin Mandeville, junior. “We are just practicing on turf indoors instead of outdoors a little longer than anticipated.” Although most teams are able to find alternatives to practice, the snow continues to fall setting back all teams in some way.
Luke Polyak, junior, goes through his warmup before the Royals start practice at the Braemar Sports Complex. Polyak is a captain for the 2018 season.
Atharv Kulkarni, senior, does a backsquat in preparation for the upcoming season. Kulkarni played football in the fall.
Photo: Adam Segal
Softball looks to make another run at state David Cambell Sports Repporter
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or Evie Barczak, senior, this softball season is more than just winning some games. It represents all the hard work put into the offseason. “Personally, I lifted and conditioned every day with one of the track coach’s programs from the end of summer to the beginning of my season in March,” Barczak said. “As a team, we played domeball every monday night for a couple of weeks in the winter.” With a 2017 record of 15-9 and a state tournament appearance, the Royals are looking to improve even more. “Of course every year is different, but I’m really excited for this season. We have a lot of new girls and people moving positions but we’re all working hard and have gotten better,” Barczak said. “I’m really excited
to see what’s to come.” The Royals are going to be relying on Barczak and Natalie DenHartog, senior, to be the stars of the team. Despite having these superstar seniors, the Royals will also need some underclassmen to play well. “I wanna play as much as possible and have a good season,” said Annika Crouser, sophomore. Barczak knows the importance of the younger players performing well. “It’s hard to say with this being the first week of practice, but we have some open spots this year and there are definitely some younger girls that will have the opportunity and are talented enough to step up and fill those spots,” Barczak said. Led by Head Coach Mark Peterson and Assistant Coaches John DenHartog, Jeanna Peterson, and Cary Yancy, the Royals are sure to be just as good if not better than last year.
Yancy believes this team will be solid with great veteran leadership. “Our captains lead by example,” Yancy said. “Hopkins softball is a very prestigious program that all-around has a lot of talent, and leaders. Our young core buys into the prestige that the leaders show.” Coming off a successful season, the Royals believe their coaches will lead the way. “We all love the coaches, they are great people and great at their jobs,” Crouser said. The Royals’ main focus for
the season is to not overlook any opponent and take it one game at a time. “Our goal is to go 1-0 every game,” Yancy said. “ If we take it one game at a time, it will translate into success late in the year.” The Royals won crucial games against teams like Edina and Wayzata before losing to Anoka in the state quarterfinal. The Royals will use their depth, star power, and coaches to hopefully repeat the same success and make it back to the state tournament.
The softball team brings it in after a hardfought game. The File photo: Bea Frank Royals lost to Anoka in the state quarterfinal game last year.
Photo: Luis Felemovicius
DJ Davis, Anthony Davis, Annika Patterson, seniors, and Joe Fahnbulleh, Photo: Adam Segal junior, train at HHS in prepartion of the upcoming track and field season.
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APRIL 16, 2018
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The offseason was a grind. We were day in and day out going to work for three straight months”
sports Track and field lines up for the start of the regular season Joe Fahnbulleh, junior
Mason Arneson Sports Reporter
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espite the cold temperatures and the massive snowfall, Joe Fahnbulleh, junior, did not hibernate inside. Instead, the winter meant that it was time for the track and field team to start warming up. “This offseason has been a true grind. In the weight room for three months, indoor for three months. I’ve been eating right, sleeping right, trying to do all I can to get better,” Fahnbulleh said. The track and field team started their regular season practices on March 12 .The boys team took third place in the Section 6AA meet and the girls took eighth at the same event. “Winning state as a team is obviously one of the big goals for us. I think that we all have a lot of heart and with good people on all of the teams and I think we will be good and better than last year,” Fahnbulleh said. Fahnbulleh, one of six captains for the boys team, feels pressure to repeat his success. “I don’t feel any added pressure with me being a captain, but I always feel pressure as an athlete. I’m trying to break another school record and go Division 1, so there’s a lot of pressure in those regards,” Fahnbulleh said. This year’s squad will hope
Eli Hoeft, junior, runs the 3200 meter race for HHS in the true team sections meet. Hoeft placed seventh in the event. to add to the program’s rich history from earlier this decade, with the boys team taking the crown in 2014 and the girls winning back-to-back state titles in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Sprint coaches Mr. Austin Salargo and Mr. Nick Lovas
and long-distance coach Mr. Mike Harris hope to provide the guidance to help them improve and reach state championship caliber. “The coaches know how to have fun, but they also know how to be serious as well. They
don’t give up on teaching you if you don’t know them,” said Maddy Gieseke, sophomore. However, work ethic and training away from the track is ultimately what creates winners more than anything else. “Me and my teammates on
Royal Season previews:
photo provided by: Eli Hoeft
the throws team try to workout by lifting weights and by doing cardio three times a week during the offseason,” Gieseke said. While strength is important to throwing discus and shot put for Gieseke, getting stronger is just as important for the runners
as well. “Speed is strength so in order to run faster, you first need to get stronger,” said Mozi Punni, sophomore. Mr. Harris believes that everyone must be willing to put their best foot forward in order to achieve success. “When you do something, do it with passion, do it with a sense of you want to accomplish something, in other words, have some goals in mind, and then do whatever it takes to get them. It just takes time and energy and a lot of people aren’t willing to do that, so if you’re willing to do something, then you’ll get something out of it,” Harris said. For Colby Branch, sophomore, he believes that same work ethic and attitude in training must be carried into practices and meets as well, especially in long-distance events such as the ones he runs. “The hardest part about running for me is just pushing yourself to keep going. You have to forget everything else and keep on running,” Branch said. In the end, however, crossing the finish line first isn’t the only part that these athletes like about track and field. “The bond between me and my teammates is my favorite part. Everyone is just really fun to be around, and being on the throws team, we all get to know each other a lot better,” Gieseke said.
What’s coming up in HHS sports this spring
Baseball
Softball
The boys baseball team is rebounding this season after losing in the sections finals to Wayzata last year. They are ready for redemption. “I’m looking forward to having a very deep team, winning a lot of games, and making a deep run into sections and hopefully state,” said Tommy Auth, senior.
After winning sections last year, the Royals lost in the first round of the state tournament last year. “We have a lot of open spots this year and I’m excited to see who fills them. We also played in some dome scrimmages this winter for the first time and I’m excited to see the impact that has on the season,” said Evie Barczak, senior.
Boys Golf Last season wasn’t the most successful season for the boys, but they are ready to rebound and want more than to just have fun. “This season we aren’t just looking to compete, we’re looking to beat Lake Conference teams unlike last season,” said Connor Sedoff, senior.
Girls Golf The HHS girls golf team has many new faces coming to the squad this year. The girls also look to build on the successes and fix some of the struggles that occured in the past season. “I am looking forward to getting to know some of the new girls and winning some matches this year,” said Alison Hall, sophomore.
Boys Tennis Last year the boys had a subpar season but were able to make it to the semi-finals in sections. This year they are looking to improve as a team all around. “Last year we lost a few really solid players, so I’m looking forward to seeing how well the team will bounce back and be even better than last year,” said Ari Segal, sophomore.
Synchronized Boys Lacrosse Girls Lacrosse Trap Shooting Swimming
After many members qualified for the state tournament last year, Alyssa Peck, senior, has high expectations for this years squad. “Everybody is really hoping to do well in the regular season meets and sections so they can compete in state. ” Peck said.
The boys lacrosse team is getting ready for the 2018 season. The recent weather conditions have not been great for the Royals. “The weather changes a lot during the season and we always adjust, no matter how cold or wet it is. We can’t waste waiting for the snow to melt. Our first game is in two weeks,”said Jackson James, junior.
The Girls lacrosse team is also looking to get ready for the 2018 season. The Royals are committed to making this season great. “We had captains practices once per week, and many people on the team spent their own time out of captains working out” said Kristin Mandeville, junior.
The HHS Trap Shooting team has started their 2018 season. After a season in which some of the shooters showed great growth, the Royals look to work off of that improvement. “The season was great last year, the State Championship last year was really fun. It’s the competition with all the best shooters in Minnesota” said Troy Schroers, junior.
APRIL 16, 2018
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THE VOICE OF OUR GENERATION.
photo: Isaac Richert
The tragedy in Parkland, Fla. is inspiring students to take a stand by particpating in walkouts and marches in their communities. and shared their reasons for be- part of the biggest gathering of Willow Scherwinski Staff Reporter
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undreds of HHS and NJH students gathered in the bus loop on March 14 at 10 a.m. after walking out of class in solidarity with the victims of the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. At the front end of the crowd, members and leaders of HHS Responds stood on the bed of a parked truck, rallying students with various chants and impactful posters. To the left, a table encouraging students to register to vote was set up with computers and information. In the crowd were students wanting to make a change. For Marcella Reese, junior, participating in the walkout gave her hope about the future of the movement. “It was very powerful seeing everyone united to end gun violence in schools,” Reese said.
Some students took advantage of the gathering as an opportunity to usher in a new generation of voters. “I hope to see people register to vote and get involved in their community,” said Jensen, junior. “I want people to take this tool with them and stand up to gun violence.” Others saw the walk out as a significant step in bringing the younger generation into activism, reform, and politics. “I hope to see our younger generations really strive to make changes in the future, especially because we are the future,” said Rielle Miguel, senior. Containers were also passed around to raise money for Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization that advocates for gun control and against gun violence. Any donation was accepted and appreciated. Over the course of the 17 designated minutes, Ian Feagler and Shannon Maroney, seniors, stood with megaphone in hand
photos provided by: Willow Scherwinski
“I HOPE TO SEE OUR YOUNGER GENERATIONS REALLY STRIVE TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ARE THE FUTURE.” RIELLE MIGUEL, SENIOR
ing there. “These 17 people were like us, with jobs and homework and normal high school stressors, like parents, friends, and college possibilities,” Maroney said. “But what is not and should not be a normal high school stressor is watching your peers and teachers get shot at, injured, and killed by a former classmate, followed by questioning, accusations, and even victim blaming by our own president.” The walkout ended with a moment of silence, where the 17 names of the people who were killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting were recited, followed by the crowd of HHS and NJH students’ response of “You will be remembered.” The movement did not end there. The nationwide push for gun reform continued with the March For Our Lives on March 24. Mia Cytron, junior, traveled to the nation’s capital to be a
the movement. “I wanted to make sure my voice was heard and wanted to be part of something bigger than just me,” Cytron said. “I felt going to D.C. was the ultimate place to be for this since this is where the main march would be happening.” For those who could not make the trip to D.C., there were sister marches across the country. Callie Smith, senior, attended the one in St.Paul. “I feel that protesting an issue like gun violence raises awareness and can gain media coverage that can create change,” Smith said. Though most high school students are not able to vote in the upcoming elections, they are still capable of ushering in change. “By doing this march, we showed how powerful us young adults are,” Cytron said.