A Cut Above the Rest: Behind the scenes in the HHS kitchen.

A cut above the rest es n e c e s hen h t d itc n k i h S H Be H e th

in

Tuesday, December 15, 2009 Volume 28 Issue 5

The Royal Page 2009-2010 Editors in Chief Nate Gotlieb Danny Mann

Managing Editor Rosie Mann

Content Editor Scott Gannis

Copy Editor Tom Guthrie

News Editor Rosie Mann

Opinion Editor Dylan Browdie

Feature Editors Zahra Bashir Amy Gallop

Centerspread Editor Tsana Allen

Varitey Editor Kent Wee

Sports Editors Bill Gregg Emma Peaslee

Back Cover Editor Naomi Litman-Zelle

Editors in Training Danielle Fink Lissa Martinez

Webmaster Ben Jolson

Head Photographer Ben Jolson

Business Manager Danielle Fink

Staff Reporters

Meg Burnton Saxon Dorshow Michael Frey Jasmine Geschwind Eli Goldaris Andrew Herzog Ari Lederman Lindsey Kaufmann Aly Ketover Elana Kravitz Katia Tonge Alex Schneider Elissa Weis-Engelen

Adviser Jeff Kocur The editorial represents the opinion of the newspaper staff. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the administration, the student body or the adviser.

Signed viewpoints represent the view of the writer. The Royal Page is an open forum newspaper, where students decide editorial content.

Advertising information available by mail, fax and phone. Annual Subscriptions are available for $20.

The Royal Page encourages letters to the editor. Letters are not guaranteed publication, are subject to editing for content and length, must be signed and meet deadlines. Compliments and suggestions are also welcome.

Contents cover story 8

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A Cut Above The Rest Visit us online at www.royalpage.org Behind the scenes in the HHS kitchen

news 3-5

Palin Speaks Out to ‘Real America’ Former VP candidate visits MOA A New Method of Bullying An Inside look at cyberbullying

opinion 6-7

One Year Down Obama’s first year in the White House College Athletic Standards Athletes priorities in wrong place

feature 10-11

Studying Abroad Two HHS students reflect on expierence Bound for Honolulu HHS senior prepares for triathlon

variety 12-13

Hooting up a storm HHS grad in band Owl City Cities 97 Sampler CD RP reviews Sampler 21

sports 14-15

Hockey Midseason Report A look at the girls and boys teams The Challenges of Making Weight What it takes to be a wrestler

Teen bullying

Technology innovations lead to teen bullying Rosie Mann News Editor

Shyguy37: She keeps telling me I look fat in my profile picture. What should I do?

DrSmArtStuFf6: Talk to an adult you trust. Maybe they can help you.

Shyguy37: What if she keeps making fun of me?

DrSmArtStuFf6: You should try blocking her. Then she can’t see your pictures anymore.

Shyguy37: That’s great advice. Thanks for your help!

Photo by Ben Jolson

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Who’s in the article?

Eric Freeman, 10 “I dont think [cyber bullying] is a problem. You can turn off the computer whenever you want.”

Heather Levandoski-Erickson

W

ith the advent of websites like Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter, public harassment has reached a whole new audience.

Due to nonrestrictive websites, anyone with Internet access is capable of harassing someone via technology. This type of harassment is such an issue that a new term has been created to describe it: cyber bullying.

According to www.stopcyberbullying. org, “cyber bullying is when a [person] is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another [person] using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.”

On Nov. 9, 2009, four Minneapolis teens were arrested for allegedly assaulting civilians and posting the violence on You-

Dan Sterud

Stopcyberbullying.org

tube. The 6-minute-long video featured 5 Minn. teenagers randomly attacking people walking and biking on the streets.

While this particular type of cyber bullying has not been reported to have occurred at HHS, other types of cyber bullying have.

For instance,Heather Levandoski-Erickson, senior, has first-hand experience.

“Last year I was being called names on MySpace. I was targeted online, and I was threatened as well. When those horrible things were said, I didn’t feel safe going to school, and I was scared,” LevandoskiErickson said.

As a result, Levandoski-Erickson sought help. “I was scared, heartbroken, upset, and angry. I reacted in such a manner that I had to take [the issue] to the

school. I had to talk to the Dean and the Principal; they helped me get through it and helped put a stop to it,” she said.

“If [bullying] happens off school grounds but affects things here, the school can have a role in that. [Cyber bullying] is still bullying and may mean cause for intervention,” said Dan Sterud, guidance.

While HHS does not have an official position on cyber bullying in its handbook, any type of offensive behavior could result in a scheduled meeting with parents and possible suspension.

An additional resource for students experiencing cyber bullying is guidance counselors. “[If a student came to me for help], I would support the student in talking to the Dean or Associate Principal,” Sterud said.

Nina Wong, 12 “I think it’s worse than physical bullying because it’s on the internet for everyone to see. When people say mean things, they can be easily forgotten, but when it’s on the internet it’s more permanent.”

Consequences for inappropriate videos YouTube staff review flagged videos 24 hours a day, seven days a week Unapproved videos are immediately removed Sometimes a video doesn’t violate our Community Guidelines, but may not be appropriate for everyone. These videos may be age-restricted.

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Northstar rail presents benefits for Minn.

Q&A

With Phil Eckhert Head of Housing and Transportation Development for Hennepin County ROYAL

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Are there plans for either trains to come out to the Hopkins area?

“Yes. The Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority approved on October 14 the future alignment for the Southwest Corridor light rail transit (LRT). That alignment will bring light rail transit to Hopkins from downtown Minneapolis on the east and ending in Eden Prairie on the West. There will be three LRT stations in Hopkins: one in the Shady Oak Road/ Excelsior Boulevard area, one in downtown Hopkins in the 8th Avenue/Excelsior Boulevard area, and one in the Blake Road area just north of Excelsior Boulevard.”

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How would the Hopkins community react to trains?

“We believe the Hopkins community is perfectly positioned to use LRT and will do so. Hopkins is unique in many regards in that it is already a fairly dense and compact suburban community. Residents are able to bike or walk to meet many of their regular needs from shopping to entertainment and are used to “non-driving” ways of getting about. LRT will provide convenient options for moving from Hopkins to downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, the airport, Mall of America, and other destinations. The public response to our first LRT line, Hiawatha, has been overwhelming. We have already exceeded ridership projections for the year 2020 and we’re expanding platforms built for 2-car trains to accommodate 3-car trains to meet future ridership demands. We expect Hopkins’ residents to respond every bit as enthusiastically.”

Danielle Fink Staff Reporter

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hile many commuters in the Twin Cities haven’t made the switch to public transportation, Dani Abraham, senior, who has lived in large cities, understands the benefits of an accessible public transportation. Abraham who used to live in Connecticut, has used public transportation in order to get to New York City for various occasions. Abraham would travel to the city by the Grand Transit, a train into New York City. After getting off the train she would go to the subway, which would bring her to her final destination. Abraham traveled to the city for shopping and Broadway shows with her friends and family. Even though she didn’t travel daily, there are many commuters going through the New York City train station everyday to avoid rush hour on the streets and having to deal with parking in the city. The daily travelers buy a monthly pass that is efficient for them. If the future light rails and commuter rails are expanded to the various suburbs, many HHS students would likely use public transportation if it is provided for them. “I would go to more of the places like the Mall of America and the airport,” said Abraham.

Photo courtesy of: Metrotransit.org

T

he Metro Transit throughout the Twin Cities has gone green. In 2002, the first hybrid electric bus was on the road. Today, there are 67 hybrids in service, and the company plans on having 75 in service by 2010. As for light rails, the Hiawatha light rail is the first rail in the Twin Cities to run on electricity. “Electricity can be environmentally friendly...but it doesn’t usually solve all problems. What is great about it is that the car/train/vehicle itself is not burning fuel directly and therefore not directly putting air pollutants from fuel burning into the air,” said John Sammler, science, “You need to make the electricity somehow. So, if the electricity to run the light rail line is made by a coal power plant, then you are still polluting. It is all coming out of the power plant instead of the car/train directly,” Sammler said.

With this new Hiawatha rail open, Sammler believes the future is bright for the Metro Transit. “A strong and well-connected public transport system makes a city more eco-friendly and more competitive economically. People use these systems if they are designed well,” Sammler said.

Sarah Palin supporters gather for book signing Naomi Zelle & Zahra Bashir Back Page Editor, Feature Editor

I

t’s four a.m. on the morning of December 7, 2009. For those who aren’t asleep, the cold winter air is enough to keep them in their homes. However, some people have found a reason to hop in their cars and go that trumps the desire to stay inside.

Sitting in their cars in the Mall of America parking lot waiting for it to open, these devoted fans came out on that chilly morning to ensure their prime places in line for Sarah Palin to sign their copies of her recently published book, Going Rogue.

Palin, the Vice Presidential candidate for the republican party in the 2008 election, has been around the country signing her book, and was at the Mall of America last week.

“Oh, I stood in line for three hours,”

said Gayle Quinnell, a devoted fan that attended the book signing. This event wasn’t the first time Quinell has publicly shown her support for Palin. She has attended events in both Blaine and Lakeville and was even able to speak to Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee from 2008.

That morning, Quinell stood among throngs of people waiting in anticipation to meet Palin and show her their loyalty and admiration.

Of course, they also came to get her signature. “Sarah, she looked everyone in the eye, asked them their name, and shook their hand. So as much as she could take a personal moment with each person, she did,” said Colleen Kelley, an attendee of the event who got two copies of Palin’s

book signed.

Later on in the signing, the staff of the event had to limit the number of copies one person could get signed because earlier in the day people brought as many as eight copies for Palin to sign.

The event began at noon and continued until almost four in the afternoon in order for everyone with a wristband to get their book signed. At the conclusion of the event, Palin stood up and smiled at the cheering crowd. However, when she took a step, she stumbled over the foot of a staff member walking by.

At first, there was a still silence in the room. But after a few moments, some people on the second floor of the mall shouted, “We love you Sarah!” and the crowd once again applauded for Palin.

“Last fall in Oct., I campaigned for John McCain from then until the day before the elections. And I saw him down at Lakeville at the hometown meeting and Sarah Palin called into the office while we were there on a conference call just to kind of give us support and tell us that we were doing the right thing. So I got to hear her, but I’ve been supporting her ever since.”

Said Dianna Strauss, one of many Palin supporters who was at the Mall of America on Dec. 7

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Equity team receives national recognition Ari Lederman Staff Reporter

I

n a large public school like HHS, it can be easy for minority students to get lost in institutional policies that do not give them the same opportunities as students from different backgrounds.

But due to the efforts of a group of six HHS teachers and administrators known as the Equity Team, there is a support system in place for those students who might have otherwise fallen through the cracks.

This past month, the Equity Team traveled to the Summit for Courageous Conversation, a national conference in Baltimore, Md., to give a presentation to educators from around the country titled “The Underground Railroad: Empowering Black Males to Navigate the System.”

Valarie McWilliams-Jones is a Special Ed. teacher and has been a member of the Equity Team since its inception. At the convention, she was surprised to receive an additional honor for her years of unapologetically and enthusiastically “promoting equity and racial justice” for Black males at HHS. “Jones instills courage and determination in black students on the road through a changing suburban high school to college admission,” said fellow team member Rita DeWane, Special Services Coordinator, in a letter she prepared for the occasion.

DeWane characterized Jones as “the conductor of the Underground Railroad at Hopkins High School” for her efforts to give students guidance in their personal and academic lives while maintaining a trustful relationship.

This “Underground Railroad” that was the subject of the Equity Team’s presentation to the convention was described in convention literature as “the subsystem that black male students use…to address the racial inequities that exist in their school.”

The team, currently comprised of Jones, De Wane, Lydia Kabaka, Guidance Counselor, Terrall Lewis, Youth Development Program Specialist, Carl Yancy, Special Ed., Patty Johnson, Assistant Principal, Nancy Marcy, PE, Maggie Temple, Social Studies, Ryan Hogan, English, Jennifer Heimlich, Social Studies, Jay Katzenmeyer, Math, Sue Westegaard, Math, and Willie Jett, Principal, meets regularly to examine HHS’s activities and policies in order to find ways to ensure that all students are being granted the same opportunities to succeed in school.

An example of a problem with institutional policy came when the Equity Team noticed that the rear ‘bus’ entrance to the building, which more minority students use, was much less aesthetically appealing than the main entrance. Their response was a beautification project near the rear doors that made the comings and goings of all students much more pleasant.

For the past several years, the team has been working behind the scenes to address the difficult and contentious issues of race and discrimination in our school. Most of this support happens on an individual basis. If a student thinks that he/she is being treated unfairly, team members will counsel

them on how to speak about race and advocate for their needs from an adult.

Much of the individual support that the Equity Team gives is geared towards helping with the college admission process. Team members have helped minority students register and prepare for college admission exams, fill out complicated financial aid forms, and have even chaperoned field trips for them to visit colleges in the area.

And after the recent convention, the passion equity team members feel towards the work they are doing has only grown stronger. “Going to the convention really validated the work that we do,” Jones said.

“

My favorite part of being on the equity team is the relationship I have with the children and the ability to allow them to self advocate.

-Mr. Terrall Lewis

” “ ”

Youth Development Program Specialist

[My favorite part is] creating awareness and giving back to my race.

-Ms. Valarie McWilliams-Jones Special Education

A quarter of a million dollars for safety benefits The Grant Breakdown For staff training and getting a part time assistant

For supplies and equipment

For contracts between emergency responders during drills

For outline fees

For other expenses including travel to federal meetings

Aly Ketover Staff Reporter “Attention, Hopkins High School is in lockdown mode. Please turn on your T.V. and wait for further instructions.” We all know this mundane message and know how to get into the corner of our classrooms. But what if this happened at lunch; would anyone know where to go then?

The Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) grant that the Hopkins School District received this past summer from the U.S. Department of Education is here to address these concerns.

Of the 14,556 existing school districts in the U.S. and the 519 school districts in Minn., Hopkins School District was one of only 108 schools in the nation, and the only school in Minn., to receive the REMS grant.

This $250,000 grant is already being used to improve the emergency management in our schools. There are four phases of emergency management that are taken into consideration: prevention mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The goals of this program are to reduce the likelihood of injury to people and property.

Much of the money is being spent on staff training, which takes place during non-school hours. This can be an overwhelming task, especially given the extensive time the staff already puts in during the day. Along with the school staff, school-based community personnel, like coaches or Community Education employees,

and district-level departments also need to be trained.

HHS staff has been fully cooperative with these new measures. In November, 36 staff members went to a National Incident Command training session to be trained in emergency preparedness. “The key is that we all play a role in the safety and security of our students, staff, and buildings,” said Amy Weinzierl, Coordinator of REMS grant.

A large-scale drill is currently being planned to take place over the summer as another opportunity to increase our preparedness. This drill will be much more extensive than the standard fire drills, lockdowns, or severe weather drills that we are so accustomed to.

Communication adds another cost into the program. HHS will be in contact with law enforcement, local government, public health, and mental health officials. The district will also be working on new forms of communication with parents if they should ever need to alert or inform them of an emergency.

Along with ensuring the staff is trained as well as possible and equipped with all the necessary tools and knowledge, vulnerability assessments are being conducted in all of the schools in the district. These assessments look at an array of external and internal factors to identify and prioritize the risks of the specific school. Evaluations may identify the location of the school, assess the security in that area, look for areas in school where illegal drug activities occur, and check the fire alarm.

A vulnerability assessment was just performed at HHS on Nov. 30 by Patty Johnson, Assistant Principal, Dustin Stenglein, School Resource Officer, and local Minnetonka Police and Fire personnel.

Recently, our school practiced a reverseevacuation drill, which is different than a lockdown in that even though the doors are locked, students are still able to move freely around the classroom and cont=inue their work. This drill is practiced in the event of an emergency in a nearby building, like a chemical leak or intruder, which may not necessarily be direct threats.

“I was legitimately concerned during this drill because I didn’t know what was going on or what it was,” said Nia Sotto, Senior. This is one of a few of the new drills students in the Hopkins District will be experiencing in the near future to ensure that as many precautionary measures as possible can be put into practice.

Ultimately, this grant will enable Hopkins to become a much more secure and ready school district should an emergency arise. “With more staff being up-to-date on the best practice methods in school emergency management and the resources available to assist them, the better we can address the needs and concerns of you – our students,” Weinzierl said.

Economy (Dylan Browdie)

By the time Barack Obama entered office in 2009, the global financial crisis had taken a massive toll on the U.S. economy. Already, the nation had entered a recession, and in order to avoid a full, long-lasting depression, immediate legislative action was necessary.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into law in mid-February, 2009. The bill, comprised of $787 billion worth of government spending and tax cuts, was intended to avert a depression and put the economy back on track to recovery. Nine months later, the economy is experiencing quarterly gains, and unemployment is slowly leveling off.

Experts in the field are now largely viewing the ARRA as a success. The debate now turns to future action (or inaction).

Some economists have taken the unemployment rate topping 10 percent as evidence that the ARRA was too small and that more legislative action is required. Others say that the ARRA was large enough (or even unnecessary) and that more action would lay waste to our economic future by increasing the already large federal debt.

The best option falls in between these two extremes. Because the Obama administration relied on overly optimistic economic assumptions when creating the recovery package, more action would probably speed up a recovery and be worth the investment (especially since our current investments are paying off ).

The new bill should be constructed using the ARRA as evidence of what works and what does not work.

The most effective areas of the ARRA should be expanded.

These areas include infrastructure spending, general state aid, food stamps, and unemployment checks.

Areas of the ARRA that are operating at a loss should be left out of the new bill. These areas include most temporary tax cuts.

The successful and unsuccessful aspects of the ARRA illustrate a general principal that should be followed in creating the new bill. Spending and programs to put money into the hands of those that will surely spend it quickly work, and tax cuts and one-time handouts encourage saving, not spending.

Health Care (Emma Peaslee)

Health care reform has been something President Obama has been pushing since he came into office, and it’s something that will undoubtedly be a defining part of his presidency, whether or not it passes. It is pretty easy to say nothing has changed. No one has any more health care benefits than when Obama took office.

On paper, Obama has not fixed the health care crisis but that is taking a complex issue and reducing it to simplistic terms.

Health care is not something that can be fixed overnight. Obama has championed this cause, and the reason the bill has made it so far is largely because of him. The current health care bill (in both houses): 1. Requires that all Americans are insured and government will help make premiums more affordable 2. Bans insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more to people with health problems 3. Sets up new insurance markets for those who now have

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ingly important for a successful world leader. World leader- truly that term has never been more apt, as in today’s world, any decision a leader makes has powerful and far-reaching global ramifications.

Today’s leaders must work together as they never have before.

Unfortunately for the United States, our last president was not particularly adept at dealing with the outside world. Indeed, by the end of his second term, our country was involved in two wars, owed China trillions the hardof dollars, and was widely hated throughest time out the world. finding However, with the 2008 election of and keepd Barack Obama, there was new hope for er, an t r o ing coverage p Re improved American global relations.

Staff of self-emw is a o h s r Obama was young, charismatic, intelo D . e ployed people ag xon or, Sa he Royal P ligent, and perhaps most importantly, not t i d E and small t r orts George Bush. itor fo he Sp businesses ee is t pinion Ed l s a e P Immediately, the citizens of the world became enamored with O a e h m 4. Ensures is t Em him. Obama was the kind of worldwide phenomenon not seen in owdie r B that seniors n Dyla American politics since the days of John F. Kennedy. Suddenly, would get betAmerica was no longer the villain of the world. ter prescription However, on his recent trip to Asia, Obama visited China and coverage had several specific goals in mind. Among them were fixing the With those pieces alone, the health care system would see massive trade deficit that exists between the two countries and drastic improvements. However, a lot of the success of the health encouraging greater political freedom in China. care bill isn’t directly in Obama’s hands. Right now, Congress has On his first day there, Obama called for a free and uncensored more control over the bill.

Chinese Internet, a plea that fell on mostly deaf ears. In the next Although Obama has and is continuing to use his political few days, he failed to obtain any real concessions in meetings with capital to get the bill through, Congress still has a lot to debate.

Chinese leaders. His trip ended with him being coerced into atAbortion and how the bill will be paid for are just a few of the toptending a Chinese government “press conference,” in which no ics of debate. One of the biggest problems with the bill is the idea questions from media are allowed and a government agent simply that people could use federal money to finance abortion. Although recites what basically amounts to government propaganda. abortion maybe a polarizing and important issue, it’s not the bigOn the warfront, things don’t seem to be much better. gest thing wrong with the current health care system.

Eight months into his term, the military is no closer to withThe Democrats should consider saving the abortion debate for drawing from Iraq then when his term began. In Afghanistan, another time. Right now, it could cost them the entire bill. Not Obama is currently instituting a troop surge that will greatly into mention people want answers to a much bigger concern, how crease the American presence there. privatized health care plans will fare against a government health The bottom line is that President Obama is greatly improving care plan? our standing in the world. However, he still has many compliIntl. Policy (Saxon Dorshow) cated global issues to address. This should not be seen as an inAs the human race creates an ever more complicated and indictment of him however, as he inherited a truly terrible situation terconnected world, skills in global relations are becoming increasat home and abroad.

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Grad rates signify university priorities HHS graduate and University of Minnesota freshman Royce White has a stat column that would make O.J. Simpson feel tingly. White is not only under investigation for shoplifting and assault, but he has been implicated in a dormitory burglary. Another Gophers star, Trevor Mbakwe, is facing assault charges, and football player Michael Carter was recently arrested for minor consumption of alcohol and obstruction of justice.

Situations like these are the norm in the two most popular sports in American collegiate athletics. In November, three University of Tennessee football players were arrested for armed robbery. Believe it or not, all of these crimes have something do with a little school in Indiana that is coached by a very husky middle-aged man (no, not Norm from Cheers).

Charlie Weis has been fired for the sub-par performance of his Notre Dame Fighting Irish on the football field. Some of this grief is warranted, as the Fighting Irish have looked about as good on the field as Charlie Weis has looked off of it (ZING!), but the vast majority of it is ignoring something vital: Notre Dame is struggling because it refuses to compromise the goals of the university with the goals of the football team.

Most of Notre Dame’s struggles can be attributed to placing significance on academics.

Why would a 6’4” 240 pound man-child named Cletus attend Notre Dame (where football players graduate 94 percent of the time) when he could play ball at Oklahoma and have no intellectual expectations (46 percent football graduation rate)?

Graduation rates indicate whether or not students are expected to attend an institution to be students. An athlete can stay eligible for sports while not staying on pace to graduate with his class. High rates demonstrate if athletes are solely at a school to play sports or if they are stu-

dents as well.

If a major college basketball or football program wants to improve performance on the field, it should eschew academics as much as possible.

It’s nearly impossible to keep any semblance of academic priority and succeed on the field or court as well. North Carolina basketball has done it, graduating 86 percent of its players, but this is the exception, not the rule.

Across America, as soon as the pretense of providing an education to its players is cut, basketball and football programs find success. In 2001, the Alabama football team had a mediocre 7-5 record and a respectable 80 percent grad rate. This season, with a team ranked amongst the top two in the country, there is a 55 percent grad rate.

Some will argue that poor academic performance can be attributed to a better quality athlete. They say that since a program is improving, it’s only logical the athlete will leave for the pros before he obtains a degree. However, this is a myopic argument.

The University of North Carolina and Notre Dame churn out ample professional athletes every year, and these athletes are graduating at a better rate than their peers. Given the opportunity, it is hard to argue with an athlete’s decision to leave school early for the pros. But then why is it a seldom occurrence at Notre Dame and the University of North Carolina?

It comes back to the quality of athletics departments in terms of character, integrity, and values. One can not pass judgement on the U of M athletes with law troubles in good conscience, but one can look at the university’s athletic goals as a whole.

Even after a rough season, many people still feel that the U of M football team is on the uptick from a couple years ago. Likewise, the basketball team has seen more on court success that it did two or three seasons ago. Academically,

Academic/On-field Success Rates

Team

-Notre Dame Football -Alabama Football -Stanford Football -UNC Basketball -Texas Basketball -Duke Basketball

Graduate %

94% 55% 93% 86% 31% 89%

both programs are struggling with grad rates of 51 percent and 36 percent respectively.

No one ever hears a peep out of Stanford football regarding player arrests, and it comes as no surprise that football players have a 93 percent graduation rate. Stanford holds every student and athlete accountable academically while still fielding a very competitive team.

The reason Stanford doesn’t have off-field problems is because there are no classroom problems. The university has made a commitment to treating college as what it is: an opportunity for higher education. Its coaching staff has decided to recruit players who fit this vision, and consequently, it has been rewarded with excellent behavior and academics.

Fans need to realize the “win at all costs” mentality that is so prominent in major Divi-

Win/Loss

(6-6) (13-0) (8-4) (7-2) (7-0) (7-1)

sion I athletics is a choice. If the University of Minnesota wants to avoid off the field problems, it makes a lot of sense to prioritize academics and sports. Sure, it might suffer on the field a little more, but it can’t be any worse than Tim Brewster’s Gophers or the basketball team’s rap sheet.

The U needs to use Stanford, Notre Dame, and the University of North Carolina as examples. An athletic program can be successful in all facets of university life if a commitment is made to academics.

I’ll do my part. Once I see the U make this commitment, I promise a Macy’s shopping spree to a certain freshman basketball player.

Scott Gannis is the Content Editor for the Royal Page

New jet dryers efficient, not most sanitary Aside from the immature bathroom stall graffiti, there is another problem with the majority of the restrooms at HHS: the new hand dryers.

The highly powerful, space age Xcelerators were installed in some HHS bathrooms a couple of months ago and cost the school roughly $500 each, according to Ernie Bonkowske, custodian. The problem is that with the advent of the new Xcelerators, along came the disappearance of the paper towel dispensers.

People might be pondering why an article concerning such a mundane, trivial topic would ever be included in the school newspaper, but, let me assure you, this is an issue of significant importance.

Bankowske said that the decision to install the machines was primarily based on saving money and keeping the bathrooms as clean as possible. Bankowske said that, overall, hand dryers are better for the school. Before, paper towels would be scattered all over the floor and stuffed into the toilets.

They also cut down the cost of stocking the restrooms with paper towels. We received several pallets of paper, and it’s better environmentally anyway to have the dryers instead.

But paper towels are so versatile. When a facility’s towel dispensers are entirely replaced by hand dryers, people no longer are able to clean up spills or wipe off messes on their clothing; true, we could just use toilet paper, but the towels are much more

durable. Paper towels are also more hygienic than dryers.

This is a high school of over two thousand, and there are bound to be some people who immediately leave the washroom without washing up, so having towels to hold the door handle is imperative in order to avoid infection. I recognize that this is quite strange, but when I am in a public restroom without paper towels, I will idle around in the bathroom for a while until someone else opens the door to avoid touching the filthy doorknob. Though this behavior is exceedingly eccentric, it is not without reason; it’s a way of being defensive.

According to a 2008 study by the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom, “air dryers cause an increase in the number of bacteria on people’s hands by 254 percent as well as potential contamination of the washroom environment.”

The study also said that warm air dryers, the ones we used to have, could house Staphylococcus aureus, the penicillin-resistant bacteria that causes the potentially deadly staph infection. “Jet” dryers like the Xcelerator increase bacteria by an average of 42 percent on the fingers. In contrast, the UK study found that the traditional paper towel actually decreased spread of bacteria by 76 percent.

When the whole H1N1 hysteria began, suddenly every public bathroom in America had a “Wash Your Hands” poster hanging from the wall. They say that after you wash your hands, you should turn off the faucet and grip the restroom doorknob with a paper towel. It would be nice if they had any so we could actually do these tips.

Besides, what’s the point of washing your hands if you’re only going to soil them again by using a seemingly-innocent drying machine sprawling with pathogens?

Now that the school has already spent a considerable amount of money on installing these hand dryers, I’m not expecting instant return of the paper towels.

Sure, having hand dryers does cut down on the paper waste that comes with having to stock every restroom with rolls of paper, but a lot of paper companies are modifying their products to make them more environmentally sustainable. And it is true that the new hand dryers do an efficient job of drying off the hands (while also nearly blowing one’s skin off of the bones and making a deafening noise that can be heard from the opposite end of the hallway in the process). A few rubbish bins full of used tissues is a small price to pay for staying healthy and hygienic.

The Staff Editorial represents the opinion of the Royal Page Staff

Taking a bite out o

The Royal Page looks inside the most p

‘Skim’ the

Story by Danny M 1,236 lunches, four times a day, 172 times a year may seem like an impossible recipe to follow, but the 25 staff members of the Royal Cuisine make it look like a piece of cake.

Lunch operations start well before the school day begins. “By 5:00 in the morning, I’m pretty much turning on the kitchen, and I get things ready to go,” said Paul Kapalo one of 11 cooks for the Royal Cuisine. He has been working in the district for six years.

The reason the cooks are in the kitchen so early is because all the food in the kitchen, with the exception of the pizza dough and macaroni and cheese, is cooked from scratch that same day. “Everything is done fresh.

Nothing is pre-made and shipped here; we do everything like a bakery would do,” Kapalo said.

This unique aspect of HHS’ cafeteria can make it more time consuming for the cooks. “I have to cut everything fresh. So prepping everything and getting it ready is difficult. It can be hectic and take a lot of time,” said Sha-

numbers 6

lunch stations

11

Cooks

25

cafeteria staff members

746

A piece of the cookie

Fries

waters sold a week

10%

2,059

One hundred students at HHS share their favorite cafeteria food. What’s yours?

45%

cookies sold a week

6,458

ron Bendtsen, Cook for Ethnic A Cuisine veteran of four years.

And time is not something t staff has to waste. “The most di is timing. The clock can be our said. “When you come into the ki focused on the task at hand. We oritize.”

In order to be most product food is cooking throughout th school is not the only time we go during lunch and in between l around freshening up the lunchro food. Our goal is to make first lu just and stocked as fourth lunch,” Meeting this goal means a lo alone, the kitchen goes through 552 oranges and 450 bananas. A pounds of lettuce, 2,500 poun pounds of onions, and 46-69 pou With so much foo ing is a daily oc source of food is re service 3 days and Nut two Co-op 2-3 da

Burrito

lunches sold a week Cookie

Chicken fingers

5% 19%

21%

Sandwich

What’s on the menu? A day of wo 5:00am First cook arrives

Delivery man comes 6:00am

6:30am 7:00am 8:30am Breakfast cashier arrives Dishwashers arrive Lead cashier arriv Cooks arrive Breakfast is served Lunch is served Co 11:00-1:00pm 7:00am 7:00-8:30am

of lunch

popular subject in school: lunch

Mann, Editor in Chief

Adventures and Royal

that the Royal Cuisine ifficult part of the job worst enemy,” Kapalo itchen you have to stay e all multitask and pri-

tive and time efficient, he whole day. “Before cook. We cook as we lunches we are turning oom and cooking more unch just as good and ” Kapalo said. ot of food. In one week 1,000 cartons of milk, Additionally it uses 157 nds of apples, 50-100 unds of peppers. od being used, restockccurrence. “Our main eceived from U.S. Food a week, Bergin Fruit days a week, Hastings ays a week, Pan of Gold

2 days a week and United, DSD, and Golden Valley once per week,” said Sandra Rulec, Back of the House Operations Manager. “This year we added to our program Homestead Orchard which is located right here in Maple Plain; they are the suppliers of our delicious apples. We have also added Riverbend farms located in Delano, which supplies us with many fresh and tasty vegetables.”

The hours of preparation and tons of food cook up a recipe for success that gets the Royal Cuisine staff through another hectic day.

“We have pride in what we do and care about our cliental. Every morning I come to work because I want to. You kids are the future and it gives me pride to teach you to eat healthy,” said Kapalo.

Who chips in?

The workers behind the scenes Name: Carol Sanbtorf Job: The Depot cashier

Years at HHS: Six Favorite: Buffalo chicken Name: Beth Lewers

Job: Catering/Concessions

Years at HHS: Six Favorite: Anything spicy

ork

3:00pm ves The Depot closes oncessions/catering arrives 3:00-4:00pm

10:00pm All events wrap up

Name: Brittney Were

Job: Dishwasher Years at HHS: Two Favorite: Pizza

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Q&A Two points of view on an exchange experience These two HHS students both participated in an exchange program. Tori Hondik, senior, is a originally from Minnesota, while Niklas Gustoff, senior, Home country: United States of America Country visited: Ecuador

Tori Hondlik, Senior

Q: Why did you choose to go to Ecuador versus another Spanish

Niklas Gustoff, Senior Home country: Germany Country visited: United States of America

Q: Why did you come to America?

A: I came mostly to improve my English and get a different experience. I also wanted to meet some new friends.

speaking country?

A: My older sisters went and thought it was fun. I went to Ecuador because my two other sisters went to other countries that I would have wanted to go to, so I wanted a different experience.

Q: Was it hard to leave your family?

Q: Was it hard to leave your family?

Q: What was your first thought when you arrived in the United

year is definitely long enough. I started to miss them.

A: It was a whole group of us, all from Germany and we were all

A: At first I was just really excited and was having a lot of fun, but a

Q: What was your host family like?

A: I switched families halfway through. I stayed with the first family in the capital city, Quito, but it didn’t work out due to complications. For the last three months, I switched families and went to another city.

Q: What kinds of activities did you participate in while there?

A: Parties are really big there and dancing. Dancing is a weekly thing they do. Also, soccer is really popular. My three year old [host family] cousin was already starting to get involved in it.

Q: How is school different in Paraguay than it is in the United

States?

A: School is really different. They wear uniforms in most schools. I don’t know how to explain it, but basically you’re in one class of about 40 people and you move classes with the same people, but the teachers move too. School days are the same, some schools get out a little bit earlier though.

Q: What was your favorite thing you did there?

A: Visiting the Galapagos Islands with a group of about ten other

exchange students was the best. We went to visit other islands there and took a tour. We got to go snorkeling.

A: At the airport, I was really excited and wasn’t thinking about it.

About two or three weeks later, I started to think about home and friends.

States?

speaking German, so it didn’t feel like it was a different country at first. It was exciting to meet with our families though.

Q: How did you get matched to your host family?

A: I was matched the Sunday before I flew in, so I only had five days

before. I was in the last group that came in on Sept. 3. The family got a list of exchange students and I was on it, and they chose me. Grant Dammann, sophomore [is a part of my host family]. I also have other siblings, but they’re in college.

Q: Is the United States different than you thought it would be?

A: I had no idea what it would be like. In Germany we have television with shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons and reality shows, but that’s all I knew.

Q: What are the activities in which you are involved here?

A: I am in Young Life, and I’m going to join a soccer team.

Q: What’s the best part of your trip so far?

A: Mountain Dew and free refills.

Martinez Staff Reporter Q: You don’t have MountainLissa Dew in Germany?

HHS Student’s passion is much more than “fishful” thinking Amy Gallop Feature Editor

Nathan Ferris admires one of three sixty gallon aquariums he built in eigth grade

N

athan Ferris, senior, got his first fish when he was six years old. It was a small goldfish that came in a plastic bag for a birthday party-favor. Like most kids his age, he cried the next day when it died. But unlike most kids, his passion for underwater life did not die with his goldfish.

In eighth grade, while most students were struggling to memorize the comma rules, Ferris was carefully constructing his three, sixty gallonsaltwater aquariums. He spent over a week installing filters, power-heads, lights, and arranging live coral to mimic the ocean.

His aquariums have held sea creatures ranging from eels to his favorite fish, the Blue Tang (Dori from Finding Nemo is a Blue Tang). He has caught a variety of fish including a stingray.

Ferris blushed as he looked down at his feet and said, “I was pretty obsessed with fish in eighth grade, but I’d like to think I’ve expanded my interests since then.”

When constructing his aquariums, Ferris did just that by combining his love of fish with his other passion, engineering.

Photo courtesy of Nathan Ferris

Throughout elementary school, Ferris was involved in his school’s Lego league. As a PSEO student in upper-level calculus, he is now a member of the University of Minnesota’s Solar Car racing team, and a captain of the HHS robotics team.

This will be Ferris’s third year on the HHS robotics team.

From the first day of practice, his robotics’

coach Mr. Tim Amlie, technology education coordinator, said he recognized Ferris’s understanding of how machines operate. “When I first met him, I was impressed with his quick wit and ability to think on his feet,” Amlie said.

Ferris keeps his love of fish separate from other aspects of his life. Although Amlie has known Ferris for about three years, he was not aware of his depth of knowledge and impressive collection

of fish.

When asked if he knew a lot about fish, Ferris looked away and shrugged, “I don’t know, I don’t want people to think all I live for is fish,” said Ferris, smiling sheepishly. He is humble about his abilities, but Ferris is more than willing to help other people with aquarium problems.

During his sophomore year, Ferris helped construct a saltwater aquarium for Eshaan Rao, senior.

Rao explained that when he began to constuct his aquarium, he had no prior knowledge of aquariums, and with Ferris’s help, he was able to set the tank up in one night. “I don’t think I would have been able to do it that quickly or that smoothly,” Rao said.

Although he hopes to pursue a career in the field of engineering, Ferris knows he will always own aquariums. He isn’t looking to leave the Midwest in the future, but Ferris loves the ocean. “[An aquarium] brings a piece of the ocean into my own house, so it’s really peaceful,” Ferris said before he started to laugh, “that sounds so cheesy, but I guess it’s true.”

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Iron Man Triathlete Bo Billy bound for Honolulu, Hawaii Scott Gannis Copy Editor

S

Photos provided by Bo Billy, senior.

Biking, running, and swimming are all a part of Billy’s triatholon training regiment.

Billy began training about a year ago, and since then, he has lost over 50 pounds, gained muscle, and drastically increased his indurance. Billy’s goal is to compete in the Iron Man Championship Series in Honolulu Hawaii.

enior Bo Billy is a dreamer. He isn’t necessarily looking to change the world, but he is looking to do something uniquely great. His dream involves the sun-drenched beaches of Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean’s rolling blue waves.

For now though, Billy is biding his time on a stationary bike at Lifetime.

Billy is a triathlete with his mind set on competing in the Iron Man World Championship Series in Honolulu, a competition with a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a marathon. Before he qualifies for Hawaii, Billy must reach certain time thresholds in regional qualifying rounds. Billy is yet to compete in the qualifying rounds, but because his practice times are acceptable he has already registered for Hawaii despite having no guarantees of qualifying.

So this is why Billy is at Lifetime Fitness. He’s putting in his usual day’s work at the gym: a five mile run, ten mile bike ride, and twenty-five laps in the pool. His day consists of at least two hours of work for a competition in June that gives him no guarantee of participation.

It takes a certain type of person to commit to something so physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting, and Billy prides himself on his distinctive sport.

“The only sport I really do is skiing, and I wanted a unique and different sport. I had heard about marathons, but I was interested in the mental preparation [associated with triathlons]. Usually younger people aren’t into it because it requires a lot of devotion,” Billy said.

Billy’s devotion manifested itself from the very be-

ginning. Nobody prompted his new-found love, which doesn’t surprise Billy. “I’m kinda an independent person,” he said.

One has to be independent to thrive in this sport.

Billy has a trainer, Mark Vifian, but the desire to succeed is innately his own creation. “When I first met him, I thought I would have to do a lot of encouraging to make Bo work hard and show up for his training. Since day one he has shown up 100% [of the time] without scheduling issues or being sick. Bo is very determined, devoted and does not want to give up in anyway,” Vifian said.

It’s only natural for an athlete to make sacrifices if he or she wants to compete at the highest level, but Billy has gone above and beyond similarly driven athletes.

He has altered his diet and his entire routine, cutting out sugars and fats almost completely and changing the portions of his meals. In the process, he has lost over 50 pounds and altered his body composition. Additionally, he woke up early everyday this summer to work out.

The sacrifices and hard work are all part of the rewards package for Billy. His experiences have changed him, but he sees it for the better. “It takes a lot of determination and a lot of self-discipline. I never really give up on things anymore. I used to not do things if they were hard or difficult, but now I realize it’s rewarding,” Billy said.

Although, he hasn’t been assured that his effort will materialize in Hawaii, it doesn’t really matter to Billy.

“What I’ve gained from training is more rewarding than what might happen if I don’t make it,” Billy said.

If a solitary stationary bicycle at Lifetime has anything to say about it, there’s no way he won’t.

Segal, Jones take musical approach to Independent Study Program Andy Herzog Staff Reporter

D

uring fourth block, the vast majority of HHS students are sitting in a classroom, watching the clock, eagerly awaiting 2:35pm when they can bust out of school and make a break toward home. Meanwhile, Edward Jones and Sam Segal, juniors, huddle around a piano in a rehearsal room, pounding out the fine details of their collaborative effort toward personal fulfillment.

Segal and Jones, widely known amongst their friends and peers as innovators and cut-ups, have chosen to channel their boundless creative energy into writing a concept album as an Independent Study credit.

“Sam and I wanted to pursue something where we could explore our own interests in philosophy and music and create something out of them and sort of revel in the feeling we get from doing it ourselves,” Jones said.

The pair approached Ryan Hogan, English, at the beginning of the school year and pitched the idea. Hogan was on board immediately and since the start of second quarter, he has watched over the project, offering guidance and advice when asked and keeping to himself when Jones and Segal would rather work at their own pace.

“I want to see if, by immersing myself in

something I love, I can come out the other side of the project a more self-motivated and satisfied person,” Segal said.

So far, the writing process has proven challenging but rewarding.

With a theme based on the evolution and progression of thought throughout an indivdual’s life with an emphasis on dreams and the mind at rest, the album is highly lyrically-driven and relatively simplistic musically.

Eventually, Segal and Jones would like to complete their work by recording it with equipment available in the KHOP studios at HHS, and ideally have it mastered at a Twin Cities facility like Winterland or Copycats.

The real reason these eccentrics are pushing their limits, however, goes deeper than their own personal strengths. Both are strong proponents of unconventional education and hope to promote the Independent Study program at HHS while they create. They believe students should choose their own route to success and find what they are passionate about early in life when the opportunity to do so is clear and present within the IS program.

“I really wish that HHS would

Sam Segal and Edward Jones, juniors, let their creative juices flow during their fourth block independent study under the guidance of Mr. Ryan Hogan, English.

Photo by Andy Herzog

promote and publicize IS a lot more than they do. Kids deserve the chance to follow their own goals and ideas starting at a young age, while they’re still impressionable and energetic, no matter how specific their interests may seem to others. There’s something for everyone, they just need to figure out what it is,” Segal said.

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ROYAL

Tis the Holiday Season

All I want for Christmas is...not this

An inconsiderate present opened on Dec. 25 always seems like a slap in the face. There is little one can do to avoid receiving a dud under their tree, but anyone can help nip the problem in the bud by knowing some commonly given awful gifts.

While some may still succumb to the wily, allergy-inducing fragrances wafting from a Bath & Body Works package, many women hold a dark and terrible secret: while they feign excitement and enthusiasm over that new pump of sweet pea lavender vanilla moisturizing lotion, they are already picturing it thrown in with about a dozen others they have cached in a box somewhere deep in their closet to be re-gifted. Females are inundated with smelly things, so avoid them.

9

A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie: Running until Dec. 30, the play follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he encounters the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.

what is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa Quiz In what year was Kwanzaa founded?

A. 1954 C. 1966 B. 1982 D. 1968 What does Kwanzaa literally mean?

A. First fruits of the harvest B. Festival of Music C. Peace and equity D. Festival of Fruits What is a gift that is always given during this holiday?

7

A classic holiday activity is the traditional carriage ride. The Hitchhiking Company serves the Metropolitan area as visitors explore downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul from the warmth of a horse-drawn carriage.

6

Many get caught up in the spirit of the holidays and forget what the season is really about. Volunteering is a great way to help out others.

5

Not every activity during the holidays has to cost money.

Make a day of simply staying at home and relaxing. Go sledding or make a snowman. Make some hot chocolate and cookies or cozy up by the fire to watch your favorite movie or board game.

4

The St. Paul Winter Carnival has served as a cornerstone to the holidays here throughout its 122-year history. From Jan. 21 to Jan. 31, the carnival gives visitors several activities to get involved in like the ice-carving contest, Queen of the Snow competition, and Bear-ly open golf tournament.

3

Located in Edina, Centennial Lakes Park offers one of the Twin Cities’ finest outdoor skating venues, where try out one of the park’s Norwegian ice sleds, or relax by the warmth of a fireplace in the warming house.

2

The annual Target Holidazzle Parade has marched down Nicollet Mall to an audience of over 300,000 spectators who converge on downtown Minneapolis to join in the fun. The parade continues through Dec. 20 on Thursdays through Sundays.

1

Changing their menu often is nothing new to Yum! Kitchen and Bakery. During this time, they make seasonal food all from scratch, such as potato pancakes, challah, holidazzle salad, and red velvet cake.

Answers: C, A, B

Story by Jasmine Geschwind

Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area is the place to be when it comes to skiing and snowboarding. The park is full of a variety of hills in skill levels ranging from easy to advanced and is complete with a chalet and lessons to those who have never hit the slopes before.

8

There is another gift that, tantalizingly simple and versatile as it may seem, is all too often a thinly veiled booby trap. Gift cards appear to be the clever way to skirt the problems associated with clothing or taste in music or movies. Yes, gift cards offer a friend the opportunity to pick his/her own pleasure. However, one runs the risk of coming off as insensitive to another’s interests and desires. No card is guiltier of this implication than the Target gift card, one that screams, “Eh, they have the first Die Hard on sale for nine bucks; go crazy. The only way to successfully give a gift card is to find one from a place your loved one visits frequently for an esoteric or expensive endeavor.

Story by Andy Herzog, Staff Reporter

A. An African symbol B. Chocolate C. A stuffed toy D. Squash

10

The Macy’s in Minneapolis will once again present “A Day in the Life of an Elf ” through Dec. 31. It tells the story of how elves help Santa prepare for Christmas.

Clothing is a notoriously poor choice for the holidays. Clothing says to a recipient, “I’m exceptionally confident that I have not only a firm grasp of your aesthetic sense of style and self-image but have your waist or chest size pegged, presumably through covert observation.” The odds that this statement is going to be validated by the gifted are very slim. If any part of the criteria is not met, you have just embarrassed or insulted your loved one.

Kwanzaa is a unique holiday that takes place from Dec.26 to Jan 1. Unlike Christmas and Hanukkah, Kwanzaa has nothing to do with religion; rather, it is a time for African American people to reaffirm themselves, their ancestors, and their culture.

Kwanzaa comes from the Kiswahili word meaning “first fruits of harvest.” There is traditionally a feast, or Karamu, where they eat foods like fried okra, chicken and sausage gumbo, collard greens, coconut biscuits, and corn bread. The areas in which people hold their celebrations, a house or church, are decorated in red, black, and green.

To prepare for this celebration, the following items are required: Mazo (crops), a Kinara (candle holder), and Mishumaa Saba, which is seven candles: one black, three red, and three green.

Another part of Kwanzaa is the gifts. They are meant to be instructive and inspirational about African American heritage. Some common gifts are African American books, tickets to African American events, African art, and sometimes handmade clothing.

The original idea of Kwanzaa began in ancient times. However, it wasn’t made an official holiday until 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, an author, scholar, and activist. There are seven principals of Kwanzaa, which he created: unity, self-determination, work and responsibility, collective economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Many people don’t know the significance of Kwanzaa, even though there are around 18 million people who celebrate it throughout the world. It is a holiday that is not religious, but is based on the unity of African American people.

Top Ten places to go and winter activities

Story by Tsana Allen, C-Spread Editor

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HHS alum finds fame as Owl City’s drummer Michael Frey Staff Reporter

I

t’s a brisk September night at the HHS homecoming football game in the fall of 2005. The Lean Mean Performance Machine (LMPM) is playing to open the game, and young Matt Decker is on lead snare drums, blending into the crowd of blue and whitestriped shirts. But now, Decker doesn’t exactly blend in; he’s standing out as the touring drummer for Owl City.

Decker has been playing the drums his whole life, starting with lessons and then moving up to playing in the Wooddale Church band. He played with bands around the twin cities and in his own band with friends and also played with random bar bands in need of a drummer. However, this was all mere practice for him.

He did this all through high school along with LMPM getting minimal pay for the bar gigs. It was just a hobby for him. He went to Bethel College and kept playing the drums with new bands, where he was exposed to fresh faces.

One fresh face was his friend Austin Tofte, who played in a band called Swimming with Dolphins, along with Owl City’s Adam Young, a native of Owatonna, MN. Tofte liked what he heard from Matt and knew Young needed a drummer for the live performances in the years to come in Asia and the United Kingdom. Lo and behold, Young liked Decker, and, consequently, has been performing with Owl City and

Decker performing with Owl City at a concert. Photo courtesy of the Decker family.

Swimming with Dolphins since last winter.

“Matt loves the band and has a lot of fun on tour with them,” said Jeff Decker, junior and Matt’s younger brother. Owl City is still a oneman recording band consisting of Adam Young.

He writes all the songs and makes all the sounds, but to do all that onstage in front of a roaring crowd is too hard, even for Young.

Technically, Matt, as well as the rest of the band, is ‘hired’ member, but a member none-

Helping charities and pleasing listeners Each year, the radio station 97.1 releases a compilation of studio recordings to raise money for various charities in the Twin Cities.

Elissa Weis-Engelen Staff Reporter

Top Three Tracks

Every year since 1989, the popular radio station Cities 97 releases an original album filled with 20 tracks of live recordings by popular artists that have never before been released. The album cost about 25 dollars, but 100% of the proceeds go directly to Minnesota charities. Only a few copies are released due to publishing and licensing restrictions, so it is very difficult to get a hold of this popular album. This year, volume 21 sold out in a matter of two hours, even though there were people lining up outside local Targets stores in hopes of getting a copy.

“Nothing Ever Hurt Like You” by James Morrison. There is a unique and pleasing combination of R&B and jazzy soul beats in this song by this award-winning British singer.

How to get your hands on a copy If you weren’t able to get your hands on a copy of volume 21, the radio station still keeps a few copies for charity fundraising throughout the year.

• Participate in Sampler Charity Auctions.

• Join the Cities 97 Frequent Listener Club.

• Listen to Cities 97 for a chance to win a copy.

Charities Helped Animal Humane Society Autism Society of Minnesota Helping Paws of Minnesota Make-A-Wish Foundation Ronald McDonald House Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure

“More” by Tyrone Wells. The artist, whose music has been featured on Grey’s Anatomy, blends inspiring lyrics with soft rock, leaving the listener wanting “more.”

“Her Diamonds” by Rob Thomas. This song is a lively mix of reggae and indie, matched by the singer’s romantic, crooning voice.

r Fo 30,000

copies were released to local Target stores this year.

the Recor d Typically, the CDs generate over

$500,000

for Minnesota charities.

This year, Volume 21 of the collection made over $700,000 for local charities.

theless. This includes, of course, Matt Decker, Breanne Duren on Keyboard and background vocals, Laura Musteen on violin, and Hannah Schroeder on cello. Matt’s friend, who first introduced him to Young, was kicked out of the band for personal reasons.

“He’s having the time of his life doing this; we’re really happy for him,” Jeff said. Although Matt had to drop out of college to join the band on tour, he’s having quite the experience. He’s been playing live shows over the last year and was recently touring in China and other parts of Asia.

“At first, my parents were unsure about Matt dropping out of college for this, considering the pay wasn’t great and he still had student loans to pay off,” Jeff said. When Matt joined, Owl City had a small listening audience, until this past summer when their new song “Fireflies” was a number one hit on iTunes. Now, the pay has increased substantially for Matt and his bandmates, and the touring van and trailer have been upgraded to a much bigger touring bus.

Owl City made a return trip to the Twin Cities for KDWB’s Jingle Ball on Dec. 6. Matt doesn’t just come home for shows; he has not forgotten where he comes from and stays at his home in Hopkins when he can. “He lives just like he always has at our house, he does chores and stuff just like me,” Jeff said. He even brought the band over to his house for dinner one night to meet his mom and brother.

Owl City Flying High Brand new musician Adam Young and his band are excelling in the U.S. iTunes chart with their hit “Fireflies.”

In good company: Lady Gaga “Bad Romance”

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys “New York State of Mind”

Black Eyed Peas “Meet Me Halfway”

Owl City “Fireflies”

Source: iTunes

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Girls hockey battle opponents as well as allegations Meg Burnton Staff Reporter

K

ersten Calder, senior, swerved around a defender, set up the shot, and scored another goal, breaking up the tie in the game against Centennial on Nov. 19 for the HHS Girls Hockey team. Calder, who was flooded with high fives and a dog pile, later had two assists in the four-to-one HHS victory.

This is Calder’s first year playing for HHS. With four new members on the varsity lineup, three seniors and one sophomore, and eleven returning HHS players, this year’s hockey team is fairly new. Given that in last year’s season there were no new members to the girls team, this recent influx is a change. However, each player is an asset to the team regardless of where they are on the depth chart.

While there are rumors of recruiting on the HHS Girls Hockey team circulating, the team stands strong on its defense that these accusations are false. “I am not entirely sure that those saying we are recruiting know what recruiting even means,” said Ashley De-

ick, senior captain. Head coach Vin Paolucci, Physical Education, explained that no recruiting has occurred and that the new players to the team came on their own accord.

“Recruiting means that the coach is actively seeking a player by going to player’s practices and making contacts with the desired player. Coach Paolucci never went out to find and bring these girls to our team, so their sole decisions to come to Hopkins were completely their own,” Deick said.

The recent additions to the team agree with Paolucci and Deick. “I came to play for Hopkins because it was a better fit for my sister, Mari, and I, and we both wanted to play with a great team and great girls,” said Missy Mankey, senior and new team member, “We both decided we liked the coaching style at Hopkins and the work ethic.”

Another draw of switching to HHS is that Paolucci was named the Minnesota Girls High School Hockey Coach of the Year in 2009. “The team I used to play for in Coon Rapids didn’t work as hard, and I know all the girls at Hopkins want to be there, and I feel more apart of the team here,” Mankey said.

Deick believes that these tales are floating around only due to the fact that HHS Girls Hockey placed second in the state tournament the previous year. “If we hadn’t made it to state or gotten very far, then nobody would be freaking out. They just assume we recruited to keep our place for this year’s state tournament, which is ridiculous,” Deick said.

Despite these charges, the HHS Girls Hockey team has been thriving with the help of its newest players. “Having these girls joining has really helped to add size and skill to the team,” Paolucci said, “They all have great character, continually putting the team first.” The returning players found it easy to get along with the newcomers as well.

“At first I was a bit intimidated because all of them could have easily taken my spot, but I love the thrill of competition and once I met them, we connected right away,” Deick said, “Their personalities mesh perfectly because we are all a little crazy and fun.”

Fitting in with the team and shooting down the rumors of recruitment has the HHS Girls Hockey team ready to bring on its best.

A look at Top: Cara Johnson, senior, waits to congratulate teammates after the game Bottom: Archie Skalbeck, senior, faces off against team USA’s Natalie Darwitz. The game was played according to a special set of rules, one of which was no checking.

Hopkins Hockey

Top: Kersten Calder, senior (left) and Ashley Deick, senior (right) wait for their coach in the locker room after their 3-0 win over St. Cloud Tech.

Bottom: The Women’s Team USA hockey team lines up for the National anthem.

Photos by Michael Frey and Meg Burnton

Boys hockey faces off against Women’s Team USA Michael Frey Staff Reporter

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he HHS boys hockey team started its highly anticipated, event filled season on the right skate, defeating North St. Paul 5-3. Top returning scorer and captain Archie Skalbeck was busy in the first game with a goal and three assists.

Skalbeck and the Royals look to build on this high-octane game throughout the season including conference games and a very talked about game when they skate outside on Hockey Day Minnesota.

Unfortunately, in another very highly anticipated game, the Royals were unable to find the offense, falling short to team USA by a score of 3-2. Whether one was supporting HHS or team USA, it was an exciting game to watch for the sold out crowd in the Hopkins Pavilion. The crowd erupted for all five goals.

The women got the scoring started in the first period and never lost the lead throughout the game, however, Skalbeck tied it up briefly in the first period before the women scored for the second time and took a 2-1 lead into the second period. Senior forward and captain Matt Hazuka was able to knot it up at 2-2 in the second period, but yet again, the women answered and took a 3-2 lead into the final period. This game was more about pride than

anything, and going into the third period, both teams had a chance to earn bragging rights.

The boys skated hard and did everything they could to win including pulling Alex Fons, senior captain and goaltender in the final minute. Despite the Royals best efforts, the women’s team USA prevailed on the road to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games.

That was only game three for the Royals and they have a lot to look forward to this season. One game the players are excited for is the outdoor game. “I’m excited just to play outside and play old school hockey against a great team,” said Jimmy Kortum, sophomore forward.

Not only is it played outside, but it will be broadcasted on Fox Sports North (FSN) as part of the fourth annual Hockey Day Minnesota on Jan. 23, sponsored by FSN and the Minnesota Wild.

The Royals will face off against Duluth-Marshall at 10 a.m., a time the boys aren’t used to. By then, the team will be set as far as new players knowing what their role on the team is.

After losing one of the top players in the state, Travis Boyd, the top two proven scorers looked at to fill the void will be Skalbeck and junior forward Kyle Dalton. Also, coach Chad Nyberg has added sophomore forwards Kortum and Tanner Holmquist, along with freshman forward Connor Thie. Holmquist has looked sharp

thus far, scoring two goals and adding three assists to his total.

“I see a lot of potential in the underclassmen this season; it’s also important to get them ready for next season,” Fons said. The majority of the team will be back next season and by then all the younger guys will have found their role on the team. But Fons, Skalbeck, and Hazuka are going to do their best to get the team on the right track as soon as possible, before all the important conference games come up.

The Royals will close out the final nine games of the season with eight conference games. The skaters will have to be their sharpest when it matters most. Last season, Fons looked especially sharp against Edina and Minnetonka, two of the top teams in the state, and won both games at home.

This will be Fons’ fourth and final year in net, so it’s important to him and the team to go as far as they can in sections. Fons says he’s going to play junior hockey after this season. He will stay focused on the season at hand and winning the big games as well as preparing the new skaters.

The Royals have an exciting season to look forward to this year, as do the fans. For a hockey fan, the outdoor game should be the most interesting and fun to watch, and so will the final nine games of the season and sections.

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the ROYAL

Girls basketball: Not just a winter sport

What it takes to play girls basketball:

Lindsey Kaufmann Staff Reporter

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ovember 16 may have been the first official day of varsity girls basketball practice, however, all of the girls on the team began their training long before this date. In fact, for girls on the team it seems as if last year’s basketball season never ended.

The regular season lasts from November through March, and mostly all of the girls are involved in some type of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, which typically involves tournaments in the spring and early summer.

Tori Joransen, senior, has been playing competitive basketball since she was in the second grade. Being a captain of the team this season, she has been highly devoted to all of the elements of Hopkins Girls Basketball: on and off the court.

Joransen finds it hard to believe that she’s in her last year of high school basketball. “It honestly feels like yesterday I was sitting in the stands watching Leslie Knight (‘04) hoping I would be just like her one day,” Joransen said.

Her dream not only came true, but it will live on as she recently committed to play at the college level along with fellow senior captain, Hana Potter.

On November 12, the girls signed letters of intent on National Signing Day. Joransen will attend the University of Minnesota-Crookston and Potter will play for Washington State University in Pullman, WA. Even with all of the positive experiences, there are still hard times the girls must endure in order to call themselves a member of the team. Since there is so much of a time commitment, many girls find basketball overtaking other parts of their lives. “You have to be completely dedicated to the team and be willing to sacrifice what is considered ‘normal’ in most teenager’s lifes,” said Tracy McGregor, senior.

Although the boys basketball team gets most of the attention, the girls team has a likely chance at making it to the state tournament.

“The girls have done everything they’ve needed to do in order to be successful.

They’ve done everything all of my strongest teams have done in the past,” said head varsity coach, Brian Cosgriff.

Leading the varsity squad this season are senior captains Joransen, Potter, and

Meghan Westman and junior captains Jill Greenfield, Julia Wiemer, and Brianna Williams.

A new face to the varsity program this year is Shannon O’Toole, junior. She came to HHS last year from Wayzata and competed on the junior varsity team, but won’t be able to compete on the varsity level until January 27 due to the transfer rule.

Not only is the varsity team solid, but the younger teams are looking up as well. “We had 35 girls try out for the freshman team, and seven of them were pulled up to higher level teams, but most importantly, no cuts were made,” said sophomore coach Gary Westman.

All girls had to start their basketball career somewhere, and for most of them, it was the Hopkins Girls Basketball Association (HGBA). The traveling program now has teams ranging in age from fourth to eighth grade.

With all of the dedication that goes into girls basketball at HHS, one might think the team goal is to always win, or that because of this, it can’t possibly be any fun. However, the philosophy of the team is much different. “Our team goal isn’t for the girls to win; it’s to work as hard as you possibly can while still having a smile on your face,” Cosgriff said.

Tori Joransen, senior, plays for Metro Stars, an elite AAU team in the off season Photo by Lindsey Kaufmann

350

Days of playing basketball

80

Hours of coaching younger girls at summer camps

68

Hours of breakfast club throughout the summer

16

Teams in the Minnesota “Sweet Sixteen” tournament in August

4

Seniors on the team

Wrestlers trim down to throw down on the mat HHS athletes go to great lengths to make weight and stay great Tom Guthrie Copy Editor

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hey fast, throw on layer upon layer of clothing and jog endlessly, tirelessly, sacrificing their bodies simply to reach a numerical goal. Although it’s hard to believe someone would ever do these things, they are the cornerstones of wrestling ethics at HHS. Wrestling is a fierce, intense sport in which maintaining weight is essential. Weight is such an important part of wrestling that wrestlers are defined by it. Competitors are placed in one of 14 weight classes that range from 103 to 285 pounds.

The weight associated with the specific weight class represents the maximum weight a competitor in that class can have in order to wrestle. Also worth noting: there is a two pound growth allowance for each weight class following winter break.

Sometimes, when time runs short, wrestlers must take dramatic steps to lose weight in very short time frames. Although pain, discomfort, and stress will inevitably occur, the wrestlers know that their efforts will pay dividends in the long term by contributing to a team effort.

“It is definitely worth it for the team’s sake and my sake,” said Michael De Jolsvay, junior, referring to the personal sacrifices he makes for

the team. De Jolsvay has been wrestling since he was three years old and is hoping to bolster his exploits on the mat; he made it to the State Tournament last year.

Jogging with layers is a common method wrestlers at HHS employ to make weight. The abundance of clothing aids the weight-loss process by producing more sweat, which is a result of the warmth created by the extra layers. Other strategies vary individually; some don’t have much difficulty maintaining weight.

“Once we get into the season, I’ll probably drop weight naturally,” said Andrew Cornelius, senior.Cornelius also noted that the temperature of the wrestling room impacts his weight situation. “The room gets hot because there are so many people moving around.”

As would be expected, competitors must be self-disciplined and very thoughtful about their choices in the lunchroom and kitchen.

Although the lifestyles of wrestlers may be considered bizarre, extreme, or dangerous by many, De Jolsvay and Cornelius spoke about their habits openly; they consider them completely appropriate. They feel that the success of the wrestling team is contingent on personal sacrifice.

Andrew Cornelius

Year: Senior Experience: 3 years Weight Class: 171 pounds Why do you wrestle: “I like the challenge, the atmosphere, of wrestling.”

How do you maintain your weight?

“I once ran around in a sweatshirt and sweatpants for one-and-a-half hours.”-Referring to a time when he lost five pounds in one day to make weight for a match.

Michael De Jolsvay Year: Junior Experience: Has been wrestling since age three Weight Class: 119 pounds Why do you wrestle: “I’ve been wrestling for so long that it’s kind of a normal state of mind; I don’t really think about it.”

How do you make or maintain your weight: “I eat lots of protein and avoid carbs and sugars.”

Photos by Tom Guthrie

The varsity kick line has gotten their season off to a great start and hopes to keep their performance up for the meets and shows to come. Here they are shown smiling for the camera in full costume.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Bradley

Naomi Litman-Zelle Back Cover Editor “Are you ready?” Melissa Bradley, senior, asks of her teammates. She looks out as the girls quickly take their places. Because their coach hasn’t arrived and they have no music, Bradley and fellow captains Grace Gerring, senior, Lindsey Burton, junior, and Anna Johnson, junior, chant the numbers five through eight to get the team in rhythm for their routine.

Without hesitation, all 23 girls on the HHS varsity kick line assume their positions and, focusing on the rhythm of the counts, rehearse their routine.

To think dance is a frivolous and dainty sport is a common misconception. With looks of immense concentration emerging on their faces, the girls execute each move with precision and ferocity. As the girls count out loud, almost mechanically, their bodies begin to move together like clockwork.

Varsity head coach Allison Bridges walks into the gym to see her girls already entranced in their routine.

Bridges watches quietly, letting the captains continue to lead their warm up without her help.

After their warm up concludes, the girls take a quick break before they begin doing stretches. A few girls go over their routine with each other, just to make sure each one is doing the correct moves. There appears to be a certain closeness among the girls that probably comes from the countless hours they spend together at practice.

Their season began the week after MEA, and both the dancers and the coach seem optimistic about the upcoming competitions. “Our strength is that we’re so connected, and that drives us,” said Bradley. “There’s no one ‘star’ on the dance team.”

Now come the death kicks. The girls complain to themselves when they hear this and have definitely not been looking forward to this part of practice, but without protest, they form two lines facing each other. The girls in the line on the left all grip the arms of the girls on each side of them, creating support when they do their kicks.

Then, as “Calabria 2007” begins to play through the speakers (by request of the team), the left line starts kicking. With the other girls facing them, cheering them on, the line kicks for what seems like minutes without any rest. The girls must be growing tired, but their faces show no sign of strain, and their performance never slumps.

Once the left line finishes kicking, they become the cheering section as the other line begins their kicks. “We increase the number of kicks by 15 percent each week.

Today the girls are going to do a total of 475 kicks,” said Bridges.

“By the end of the season, we’ll be doing 700 kicks a day,” she says. The girls continue to do their exercise, not taking into account that the coach isn’t even looking to see whether or not they’re on track.

There is a remarkable sense of leadership and inde-

The varsity kick line does what the coach calls “death kicks” during practice to improve their performance during meets.

Here each line is shown doing the kicks, but while each line goes the other line cheers them on.

Photos by Ben Jolson

pendence present in the HHS dance team. The girls are fueled by each other’s energy and drive, giving their routine strength and balance. Even during practice, the girls seek guidance from each other and, most importantly, from the captains.

Gerring and Bradley are both secondyear captains, and Johnson and Burton became captains this season. “The captains have been a great team,” says Bridges, “They do a lot of work outside of practice that no one really sees.” It’s obvious that the captains are a major driving force on the team and that their fellow dancers benefit from having these four girls as their captains.

With the season off to a good start, the girls look forward to what the rest of the season has in store for them—from competitions to performing at sporting events. From the looks of their practices, these girls are prepared to rock the dance floor. Are you ready?

“We are having a really strong season and I think we can go far. I’m proud of where we are. I like HHS dance because of the girls on the team. We’re all really close.”

-Grace Gerring, senior