HOPKINS HIGH SCHOOL 2400 LINDBERGH DRIVE MINNETONKA, MN 55305
DECEMBER 22, 2017 VOLUME 36, ISSUE 4 hopkinsrp.org
RP. the royal page
Aspiring politicians get a taste of Congress, leadership Three HHS students get involved in politics through Rep. Keith Ellison's Congressional Student Advisory Council program. page 3 Ink spreads through HHS Even with legal and health implications, HHS students are getting tattoos as an outlet for self-expression. page 4
INSIDE NEWS 2 FEATURE 4 IN-DEPTH 6 OPINION 8 SPORTS 10 BACKPAGE 12
Royal Productions begins auditions, rehearsals for One Acts Paul Zeitz Staff Reporter
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ollowing the success of the lively production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Royal Productions is quickly moving on with their annual winter One Acts. The shows that will run this year are titled "Broken Hearts," "Eukiah," "Hard Candy," "Outlaws," "Just a Little Sniffle," and their competition piece "Kuwait". These six new productions put an interesting twist on the play format as all of them tell a complete story in a single act. Hopeful student actors had to prepare a monologue of their choosing for their audition. With hopes of impressing director Natalie Foster with their acting abilities. “Going into the first rounds of auditions I was nervous, since this was my first time trying out for One Acts,” said Mason
Arneson, sophomore. “You have to be up there and stand and talk for a good minute and a half. That’s pretty stressful.” For Arneson, these nerves paid off, as he was given a chance at a callback the following week. In these callbacks, the actors perform lines from their desired roles. They also are able to perform with the support of their fellow actors to see how different people interact on stage and the overall chemistry of the production. One of these fellow actors was Aerin O’Malley, senior, a veteran of four years in the theater program, who was able to make into and out of the callbacks. O’Malley’s commitment to the program was rewarded as she was given the lead in the competition piece, "Kuwait." A play about the struggles surrounding a reporter in a wartorn area, "Kuwait" will be performed against multiple school’s pieces. Royal actors hope to im-
prove from last year and move on through the rounds of judging. If they are able to move forward, "Kuwait" would then move onto MSHSL sections and ultimately state One Act Play competition in February. Beyond this competition piece, five other plays are also being put on. Shawn Bollinger, junior, was lucky enough to be able to put his acting skills up to the test, as he has been cast in both "Kuwait" and the lead in "Outlaws." This is a substantial task for anyone, especially for Bollinger as it is the first production that he has participated in. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but it is a great honor to participate with all these people. It’s such a great community and I couldn’t be happier,” Bollinger said. These six pieces will be open to the public the first week of February, with a more variable show schedule for "Kuwait."
Royal Page file photo: Bea Frank
Aerin O'Malley, senior and Sam Clague, HHS alumnus, perform in "After Midnight, Before Dawn," Royal Productions' competition One Act performance from last year. This year's competition performance is titled "Kuwait," where O'Malley will perform the lead role.
DECEMBER 22, 2017
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the royal page ABOUT THE COVER Zach Greenwald, sophomore, performs a Russian jump. The "IX" refers to Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sexual discrimination in education and school-sponsored sports, which is the focus of our in-depth this month.
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photo: Isaac Richert
Edquity program helps students plan for the future Samantha Horowitz News Editor
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or the past 22 years, the Hopkins Education Foundation (HEF) has contributed a series of grants annually in order to enhance student education and innovation. This fall, one grant awarded by the non-profit organization provided $1,600 to AVID’s Edquity: Preparing for College with Finances in Mind software program. “I believe that Edquity can be a game changer for our students. Edquity will allow students to enter in all of the necessary educational and financial [information] that they need to know to make informed decisions about their future,” said Mr. Erik Thompson, Spanish teacher and district AVID director. HEF awarded a total of $44, 159 in the form of 13 grants, six of which were focused on student health and wellness. According to Thompson, without the support of HEF,
AVID would never have been able to test out the potentially beneficial Edquity program. “Programs such as Edquity are difficult to fund under the constraints of school budgets. Since technology can be expensive and there is little research into the benefits of Edquity, since it is a relatively new program, we need to look for other sources of money to try it out,” Thompson said. “HEF allows teachers and departments to be innovative and try new programs that we feel can really benefit our students.” Edquity is a software program for juniors and seniors in the AVID program to curate a list of feasible colleges based on GPA, ACT/SAT scores, and financial factors. The program helps HHS counselors guide students through the application process by showing what each school’s cost will be, as well as the student’s financial responsibility after graduation. By using Edquity, students may discover that their favorite college or university which they
photo provided by Jolene Goldade
AVID students and advisors along with Doug Bullinger, principal, pose with a check from the Hopkins Education Foundation. The $1,600 grant will go towards the Edquity program, which helps students prepare for college finances.
dismissed as unaffordable, is actually a good financial fit. “Edquity is one of our first truly big leaps into using new
technology to benefit all of our students. In the past, AVID has used Naviance in a number of capacities to help students look at potential careers for their futures,” Thompson said. Students in AVID, including Sharon Lin, senior, have come to utilize the benefits that AVID has to offer when it comes to planning for college, from software programs to ACT tutors. “Since junior year, we got time in class for ACT prep that would have cost hundreds of dollars and outside of school. One of our tutors is an ACT teacher, so she will help us gain
skills and strategies on taking the test,” Lin said. “Even before high school, AVID has taught us how to stay organized and how to take and review notes we take in class.” Lin has also gotten an extra push from AVID advisor Mrs. Jennifer Heimlich, social studies. Along with other tutors, Heimlich has helped to proofread essays and applications, and encouraged students to take academically rigorous courses. “When signing up for classes, Mrs. Heimlich wouldn’t let us have an empty block in our schedule. She also pushes us to try at least one Honors or AP
class,” Lin said. “If a student was struggling in a class, Mrs. Heimlich as well as other AVID teachers and tutors will help you understand the topic to the best of their abilities.” With the help of advisors and technological programs such as Edquity, students are given a better understanding of all the costs that come with a postsecondary education. “Many students do not know all of the potential options that they have after graduating. Edquity allows students the opportunity to not only dream big, but make their dreams realities,” Thompson said.
Plymouth ordinance latest in fight against youth smoking Ellie Fishman Staff Reporter
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hile students living in Hopkins are not directly affected by the new Plymouth Ordinance, other high school students across Minnesota are beginning to face many obstacles in the purchase of tobacco products. On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the city of Plymouth joined Edina, St. Louis Park, and Bloomington in raising the legal age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21. The Plymouth City Council passed the ordinance in a 4-3 vote, which was closer than in some of the other surrounding cities. Enforcement of the new law will go into effect on July 1. The ordinance does not only
apply to cigarettes and chewing tobacco, but it is expanded to include to e-cigarettes. Sagit Nachmias, junior, lives in Plymouth and has helped advocate raising the age to 21. She got involved when a family friend, Elyse Less, who works in community health, reached out to Sagit. “I believe the age should be changed to 21 because a lot of 18 year olds are in high school and can then buy tobacco for their friends who may only be 16 or 17,” Nachmias said. Statistics show that nearly all smokers start by the time they are 18, and that by raising the age to 21, it would reduce the number of youth and young adult smokers in Minnesota by more than 30,000 within the next 15 years. “If the law was brought
to Hopkins, I would go to other cities to buy cigarettes. People will still find ways to get cigarettes even if they are still 18 and the law goes up,” said Beverly Osborn, senior. “I think if the law was for all of Minnesota then I don’t think there would be nearly as many people smoking.” With the number of cities in Minnesota raising the legal purchasing age, there is still no talk about Minnesota as an entirety changing the legal age to 21. According to an Institute of Medicine report conducted last year, raising the legal buying age to 21 throughout the nation would cause a 12 percent decrease in the number of teens and young adult smokers. “At the meeting, the mayor and some of the other council members mentioned that other
cities in Minnesota were not interested in making ordinances themselves,” Nachmias said. According to a letter written by Eric Huppert, Allina Health’s Public Policy Specialist, smoking costs in Minnesota are more than three billion dol-
lars annually in excess health care costs. On average, cigarette packs in Minnesota cost about $8.10, which is more expensive than in 39 other states. “I don’t think this new ordinance will actually stop 18 year olds from buying to-
bacco because they can go to the next city over, but I think it will send a message to the state government so that they can make it a statewide thing. It’s more symbolic than it is effective,” Nachmias said.
photo illustration by Isaac Goldfarb and Navit Nachmias
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the royal page
DECEMBER 22, 2017
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It was good for us to know and hear what other young people have concerns about.
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Jessica Melnik, junior
Aspiring politicians get a taste of Congress, leadership Willow Scherwinski Staff Reporter
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n Nov. 27, 13 high school students from Congressman Keith Ellison’s 5th District gathered for a meeting of the Congressional Student Advisory Council (CSAC). With a lack of Latino presence in politics, Andrea Olvera, senior, felt inclined to join. “I think participating in politics, especially as young people, is really important and for me it was more about being Latina. I want to be a catalyst for the movement,” Olvera said. The CSAC was designed to engage motivated students in government and local policy issues, while simultaneously providing an experience of overall professionalism. The goal was to recognize issues in the local community and create policy recommendations with potential to help. After the application process, 13 qualified students were selected to participate. Among those young individuals were three students representing HHS: Olvera, Jack Acomb, senior, and Jessica Melnik, junior. “I wanted to meet with other like minded individuals and talk about political issues that they felt passionate about and share my own ideas as well,” Melnik said. The first task of the council was to choose an area of legislation in which they all felt pas-
photo provided by Timothy Owen
Jessica Melnik, junior, Jack Acomb, senior, and Andrea Olvera, senior, pose with U.S. House Representative Keith Ellison. The three took part in the Congressional Student Advisory Council, in which they introduced research on behalf of their respective topics.
sionate about. Education was the topic that this group of students landed on. From there, each student decided on a subtopic that they personally felt the need to change. Their research on this topic was then brought to the meeting with Ellison. After hearing the story of a person protected under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Olvera was inspired.
With this as her topic, she hoped to be a positive voice on behalf of DACA youth. Educating people on the issue so that they can make informed decisions about was also a priority to Olvera. “I think a lot of people are misinformed about DACA, or have a personal bias because they are like, ‘This is what Democrats believe’ or ‘This is what Republicans believe,’ when really DACA is more than a
black-and-white issue,” Olvera said. Acomb decided to research the issue of chronic absenteeism in schools. He wanted to explore what the effects of not being able to go to school, whether voluntary or forced, have on a student, as well as the ramifications this serves to the education system as a whole. Melnik felt passionate about the issue of educating people on mandated sex trafficking
and chose that as her subtopic. In addition to her research, she helped organize an in-school field trip where survivors of sex trafficking will be speaking about their experiences, which will take place in the upcoming months. “[My topic] was a little narrow, but I think it’s important for students to know about the issue,” Melnik said. At the meeting, the students presented their research to Elli-
son and the rest of the council. They shared their policy recommendations and gave their opinions on what the Congressman could potentially do in response to their issues. “It was a really collaborative environment. Everyone was really supportive and it was an interesting experience to work alongside of someone who does that everyday for their job and the perspective that that brings,” Acomb said. “It was also kind of a humanizing experience to be able to laugh with him and talk to him as a person.” Many of the students felt that the positive atmosphere and shared energy of the CSAC sparked hope for the betterment of the community. “There are a lot of things that I think really have a chance to make an impact. I think it has the potential to get people involved and really reach out in a meaningful way to the people we are trying to help,” Acomb said. Melnik has high hopes for what’s to come. “Well, there is definitely hope for our future. I think that there are a lot of young people that have a voice and want to be heard, and so I think that we should definitely start listening to the younger generation,” Melnik said.
Under pressure? Students seek extra time for test taking
In the face of standardized tests, students who need more time are given the opportunity to excel Eve Clarkson Staff Reporter
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espite being diagnosed with anxiety and having a 504 plan, Maya Duffy, sophomore, has pushed past obstacles in order to succeed both in and out of school. Duffy is an articulate student who is a skilled artist, as well as a freshman varsity letterer on the Synchronized Swim Team. “A student’s diagnosis, teacher feedback and doctor’s recommendations are just some of the things evaluated when a student requests a 504 plan,” said Ms. Denise Colicchia, guidance counselor. Before obtaining the 504 plan, Duffy was experiencing anxiety that was getting in the way of her quality of education and well-being at school. Duffy
reached out to her guidance counselor about what she could do, and this resulted in her 504 plan. One of the accommodations on the 504 plan is the option of having extended time on tests. “I do not normally use the extended time on tests, however, just having the safety net of extended time has helped me immensely,” Duffy said. According to KidsHealth, a 504 plan is designed to help parents of students with physical or mental impairments in public schools, or publicly funded private schools, to work with educators in order to design customized educational plans. Individualized education programs (IEPs) are another way in which the public school system tries to accommodate students with recognized disabilities.
According to KidsHealth, IEPs are to "provide students with delayed skills or other disabilities with eligibility for special services that provide IEPs in public schools, free of charge to families." All IEPs and 504 plans are tailored to each individual and their specific needs. Some accommodations may be more common, but there is not a universal list of accommodations that all students with 504 plans or IEPs are required to have. Caity Clift, special education, has been working with autistic students at HHS since the fall of 2017. “Some students get so much anxiety about the test that they forget the information. Other students take longer than their peers to process information, whereas others get easily distracted. Those are the three
photo by Time and Date
biggest things I take into consideration when I am writing an IEP,” Clift said. Regular school tests, such as math, only require a 504 plan or IEP for the extended time if that is one of the accomodations. However, getting extended time
on standardized tests including the ACT and AP tests include more intensive procedures. According to PrepScholar, most students who get extended time on the ACT have IEPs or 504 plans, but having one does not guarantee extended time on
the ACT. Working with school coordinators, applications are carefully reviewed for each student. If a student qualifies for extended time, they usually get 50 percent more time than the default test time limit.
the royal page
DECEMBER 22, 2017
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Ink
spreads
I think tattoos are meaningful if you think them through.
Callie Smith, senior
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HHS
through
photos provided by Leah Stillman and Max Schwartz
Students receive and give tattoos as outlets for self-expression, despite legal and health issues Riley Lennon Staff Reporter
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nderneath the sweaters and jeans of some HHS students lies a secret language; pictures that are worth a thousand words. Whether it’s to spread a message, set a reminder, or just for fun, students are repping tattoos all over. For Max Schwartz, senior, it’s something to remember his grandfather by. “I got it on my eighteenth birthday. It’s the date he passed away,” said Schwartz. “I wanted something sentimental for
my first tattoo, and we were really close, so I’m honoring him this way.” Bobbi Pointer, School Nurse, thinks that the minimum age to get a tattoo should be 21. “I think some people are very impulsive,” said Pointer. “You have to remember that either it’s there for the rest of your life or you’ll be spending a boatload of money to remove it.” Callie Smith, senior, has an Aquarius symbol on her neck to represent her astrology sign. “I also have a pulse symbol on my ankle,” said Smith. “It
represents the ups and downs of life; living and dying.” But because Smith wasn’t 18, her method of obtaining a tattoo was different than Schwartz’s. Stick and poke (also known as hand-poke, homemade, or DIY tattooing) is a method in which a threaded needle is dipped in ink and poked through the skin. Stick and poke tattoos aren’t permanent and will slowly wear off over the course of a few years. “My friend gave me my first [tattoo],” said Smith. “After watching her a bit I felt confident enough in myself to do it, so I did.”
With the stick and poke method, students can ink themselves without spending big bucks on a professional tattoo. Leah Stillman, junior, offers her artistry to her friends. “I’ve given about 10 tattoos at this point,” said Stillman. “Even if you’re getting it in the heat of the moment, I think it’s meaningful. It’s a fun way to express yourself. I have an om symbol and a smiley face myself.” While body art offers selfexpression, it can also come with dangers. If a needle isn’t properly disinfected, it can lead to infections and diseases such
as hepatitis, tetanus, and HIV. According to the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), 25 percent of adults in the U.S. have a tattoo, and in the last 30 years, there have been 67 documented cases of serious complications during or after the process. With those numbers coming from tattoos given by professionals with the right equipment, it’s even more dangerous when students are using a DIY. method. “I personally get my needles and ink online in order to be sanitary,” said Stillman. “I don’t want anybody getting sick.”
In addition to the health risks that come with getting a tattoo, there are some legality issues to look out for as well. An individual cannot get a tattoo if they are under the age of 18 in the state of Minnesota, even with parental consent. It is also against the law to give a tattoo if you are not licensed to do so. “I think people make a bigger deal out of it than they need to,” said Laura Frank, sophomore. “It’s just a fun way to show off what you’re passionate about.”
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DECEMBER 22, 2017
I play HQ every day at 8 p.m. and try to get on at 2 p.m., but usually I don’t play at 2 p.m. because I’m doing something during class. Gabe Fishman, senior
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A KEY CHANGE
Musically inclined students participate in multiple ensembles at HHS Maya Kupritz Feature Editor
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typical music student follows the path of taking eitheir respective band, choir, or orchestra class every other day for the whole year, but that is not the case for all. Some HHS students have the opportunity to be involved in multiple choirs, or choir and another musical ensemble Sagit Nachmias, junior, is one such student. Nachmias is in choir and orchestra, alternating between A and B days. “This year is the first year that I’m taking both choir and orchestra,” Nachmias said. “I was really interested in both, but couldn’t choose one over the other and figured I wouldn’t have had as many opportunities to do them outside of high school so I went for both.” Ms. Katie Irvin, Music, strongly approves of students
who participate in more than one music course. “They are often a little bit above musically because they get double the amount of music and they usually understand music a little bit better than some of the kids who are just in one or the other,” Irvin said. “But, they are also very busy.” Part of doubling up requires students to put their time and effort into both courses, although it can become very busy. “I practice and work on what I think is the most important at the time, whether that be a piece for band or listening to rehearsal tracks for certain songs in choir,” said Abby Feitl, senior. “Sometimes it gets crazy with concert schedules, like this month I have a band concert and then the next day I have a choir concert.” On top of splitting up time, there is always the chance of rehearsal or performance overlap, but the teachers try their best to
HQ
photo: Isaac Richert HHS Orchestra performs at their concert on Dec. 5. Orchestra is one of the music courses offered to students who wish to continue their musical education throughout high school.
not have that happen. “I actually have a student who is in both Chamber Orchestra and Midori, so we’ve just pretty much split rehearsals and made it work for both so
at
New live trivia app gains popularity among thousands, including HHS students and staff Ayanna Maddox Staff Reporter
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rivia game shows are nothing new, but being able to play from the comfort of your own home is a convenience like never before. With the release of HQ live trivia, now any iPhone user can experience the thrill of live trivia game shows. HQ is a live trivia game show with cash prizes. The game has the concept of a traditional game show, but is played in a style more similar to the popular app Trivia Crack. “My favorite thing about HQ is that it is more interactive than other trivia apps. Whenever someone pulls HQ out, people always surround them, and there is always yelling and enthusiasm as the questions are read off. I also think that it is so fun because it only happens twice a day, so people get excited about it,”
said Gabe Fishman, senior. The app was created in late August of 2016 by co-founders of Vine, a short-form video hosting service, Rus Yusupov and Colin Kroll. The partners seem to have perfected the science behind an addicting app, as HQ is receiving the same early energy and excitement. “I first heard about HQ when I was at dinner with some friends. One of them yelled out that it was eight o’clock, and we all huddled around their phone as they played the game. After that, I downloaded it right away,” Fishman said. The show is hosted by a variety of personalities. Presently, Scott Rogowsky is the primary host. Weekdays at 2pm and 9pm EDT, and 3pm EDT on weekends, Rogowsky broadcasts live from New York. Though the app has risen in popularity quickly, Rogowsky
predicted its eventual success. “From the get-go, I thought this could be the future. I did not think it would be happening so quickly. The speed of it all is overwhelming and it’s truly incredible,” Rogowsky said to Page Six. Each show features 12 questions that must be answered correctly in ten seconds in order to win the cash prize. If you answer one incorrectly, you’re out of the game. However, players can gain extra lives by inviting friends to play the game, though only one extra life can be used per game. The cash prize, which is usually $1,000 or $1,500 but increases on weekends, is split between all winners and deposited into their accounts via PayPal. Michael Korsh, senior, won $202.38 alongside 42 others playing the game on Dec. 3, when the grand prize was $8,500. “I think that with so many
that they are splitting up their time 50/50,” Irvin said. “If there is a concert coming up for one or another, then they choose to stay at the full rehearsal for one. It’s all about communication.”
Joining any class right off the bat can be difficult, but Nachmias was up for the challenge. Nachmias has been playing the cello for about two years and
has also performed in many of Royal Productions’ musicals. Although she has never been in a choir or orchestra class, picking up the skill sets necessary for the courses wasn’t as complicated as originally expected. “Splitting my time between both hasn’t been too difficult. Both teachers do a great job of communicating and minimizing conflicts between the classes. Sometimes it gets a bit hectic around the concert times because both concerts are usually around the same time, but they never overlap,” Nachmias said. In general, Irvin recommends doubling up to prospective students who are interested in pursuing music throughout high school. “The more music the better. And I love that my kids have the opportunity to be in two choirs as well, which is really something special,” Irvin said.
HHS
people playing and the difficulty of the questions, nobody ever thinks they’re going to win,” said Korsh. “But when I won, I think it proved to people that it’s possible, and that makes HQ more appealing.” Since its release in early 2017, the apps popularity has skyrocketed. It sits comfortably among the top 50 apps in the Apple App Store, surpassing established hits such as Pokemon Go and Candy Crush Saga. As the apps popularity continues to grow, so does the amount of money in the cash pot. Cash pots have reached as much as $8,500. So far, the app is only compatible with iOS devices, but android users should expect a very merry Christmas this year with the release of Android- compatible software.
“It’s a great game that you can win real money from. ” -Sam Menge, senior
DECEMBER 22, 2017
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in-depth
the royal page Title IX was established to break down barriers for women in education, including school-sponsored sports. 45 years following its inception, are these protections striving towards accommodation or equality?
Michael Korsh, Navit Nachmias, and Ati Hernke Editor-in-Chief, Copy Editor, and Staff Reporter
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hen Zach Greenwald, sophomore, started dance in seventh grade, he did everything with his female counterparts— the same practices, technique classes, and skills. But as winter comes around, Greenwald and his friends dance 14 miles apart. While female dancers at HHS join the school-sponsored Hopkins Royelles Dance Team, Greenwald does studio dance year-round at Velocity Dance and Theater in Chanhassen. According to Greenwald, in seventh grade his father attended an informational meeting for prospective members of the Royelles. At the meeting, he was told by the team’s coach that boys were unable to participate on the team. “I was upset, but I think I stuck to studio dancing and was happy there,” Greenwald said. “But going into the high school and having so many friends from NJH and from WJH on the dance team has reminded me again that I wanted to do this.” Marit Green, coach of the Royelles, was reached out to for comment but did not respond. Greenwald quickly learned that his inability to compete wasn’t due to Hopkins policy, but Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) policy, state statutes, and fed-
eral laws as a part of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These statutes are efforts to provide accommodations for women in school-sponsored atmospheres, including sports. Dan Johnson, Athletic Director, explained the possible repercussions for allowing males to compete on female-designated athletic teams. “As these are competitive sports, we would be in violation of the rules of competition if we were to allow a male student to participate on what is deemed a female-specific team,” Johnson said. “As a result, we would be required to forfeit any of the competitions because we would be using an ineligible athlete, as per MSHSL policies. As well, we would be penalized and possibly suspended from MSHSL competition if we willingly and knowingly allowed an ineligible athlete to participate on one of our teams.” According to the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), before the law’s inception, 1 in 27 girls played a high school sport, and opportunities for females received only 2 percent of collegiate athletic budgets. “The underrepresented class in the Minnesota statutes and Title IX requires the underrepresented class to be set aside. That’s why we don’t have boys’ volleyball yet, even though it’s been identified,” said Dave
photo illustration: Isaac Richert
“No person in the United States shall, on the b be denied the benefits of, or b under any education program or activity
TITLE
“I think I could contribute the royal page a new layer of dance, a new dynamic. What dance is really trying to convey is stories, and when you bring in a boy or another minority in dance it can add something different; it can portray more.”
DECEMBER 22, 2017
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in-depth
ZACH GREENWALD, SOPHOMORE Stead, Executive Director of the MSHSL. “Volleyball is only for girls because we call it girls’ volleyball. And it’s limited to the underrepresented class— girls and women have been identified as the underrepresented class.” Stead also said that since its inception in 1996, girls’ dance team has been limited to female participation only. Under federal law, Title IX protections extend to interscholastic activities, including school-sponsored athletics. However, Stead says that due to Title IX’s intentions to provide females increased accommodations, its protections— including those in sports— don’t apply to males. “Title IX specifically addresses the underrepresented class as women,” Stead said. “It requires the underrepresented class to be treated differently, and they identify women as the underrepresented class.” One accommodation for school-sponsored sports is allowing female students to try out for all-male teams, provided that a separate team isn’t available for females. Ellie Fromstein, HHS alumna, participated as a kicker on the Royals football team. “I played rugby at Hopkins— I still play [in college]— and I was the team’s kicker. I was pretty good and they were like, ‘Why don’t you try out for the football team?’” Fromstein said. After talking to the coach, Fromstein joined the team and played for one season during her sophomore year. “For the most part, I got a ton of support from the boys on the team. They were very excited that they were adding a member to their team and they actually had a lot of respect for me, surprisingly,” Fromstein said. While Fromstein had Title IX and her kicking skills on her side, in Greenwald’s case his
athletic ability is not enough to secure him a spot on the Royelles. Policy-based gender divides in sports aren’t the only divides that students experience— more implicit, cultural gender divides have developed barriers for students to participate in certain sports. Success stories of Title IX’s accommodations can be seen nationwide in a wide array of sports. A study from the National Women’s Law Center found that women’s crew teams increased twelve-fold from 1991 to 2009; NCAA women’s soccer teams increased threefold. The National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education (NCWGE) points out numerous benefits of female participation in athletics, ranging from short- and long-term health improvement, decreased likelihood of drug usage, and improved academic performances. Fromstein says that thanks to increased opportunities on high school, collegiate, and professional levels, women have been increasingly breaking down these barriers. “I think that women are starting to find that, with the last Olympics and World Cup, there is a lot of pride in playing those really hard-hitting, difficult, physically challenging sports, and I think a lot more women are pursuing it harder and working harder than they have in the past,” Fromstein said. While increased accommodations have empowered females to participate in more male-oriented sports, Greenwald believes males still struggle to gain acceptance in femaledominated sports. “At competitions, all the girls get a huge dressing room, and the boys get like three feet of space,” Greenwald said. “I think we all bond that way— we’ve all had such similar ex-
periences because we’re such a minority in dance, so we talk a little at competitions and we understand each other.” He even has support from most of his friends on the Royelles. “I was just talking with one of my friends recently, and she said that around 90 percent of the dance team wishes that I could dance with them, and they said it would be really interesting and that Hopkins would stand out as a team and would bring a whole new dynamic, a whole new layer to dancing,” Greenwald said. “People know that the dynamics of dance team will change— some people think that’s amazing, some people think that’s not so good.” The NCWGE says that barriers still exist for females, too— including low participation levels for African-American and Hispanic females, a lack of female coaches, and more nuanced participation barriers such as facilities and publicity. As gender dynamics change within society and more people are participating in opposite gender sport, the question arises— should Title IX’s implementation be updated to meet these changing gender roles? Greenwald hopes to set a new precedent. “I know that if I get on the dance team, it’ll be by the time I’m a junior or maybe even a senior,” Greenwald said. “So I think my biggest goal with this is giving it to the next generation as something I couldn’t have as a seventh grader, but kids coming into the high school and junior high should be able to have this opportunity and should get something that people before us hasn’t had.”
photo: Isaac Richert
basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be subjected to discrimination y receiving federal financial assistance.”
E IX, EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972
DECEMBER 22, 2017
08 opinion
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I was able to actually gain confidence from going vegan. Ali Winter, junior
STAFF EDITORIAL Amid Edina controversy, school clubs should remain platforms for student expression and assembly
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uring a Veteran’s Day During a Veteran’s Day assembly at Edina High School on Nov. 9, a number of Edina High School Students remained seated during “Taps,” a song traditionally played during flag ceremonies and military funerals. The protest mirrored those taking place on professional sports fields throughout nation during the National Anthem, including HHS turf. Quickly, members of the Edina High School’s Young Conservatives Club (YCC) tweeted a video of the occurrence, calling it “disrespectful” during a press conference. Later, it was revealed
members of the club made disparaging remarks about the seated students in the club’s GroupMe, many of which were blatantly racist. These comments were made public by an anonymous Twitter account under the username “EHS Antifascists.” Eventually the video, along with the GroupMe messages, were brought to the administration’s attention. While EHS Antifascists’ Twitter and subsequent video were being investigated, the Edina Administration terminated the YCC, though they were never a school sanctioned club, according to the Zephyrus. In response, five Young Conservative members and their
parents have brought litigation against the school, arguing their First Amendment Rights were being violated. It is the opinion of the Royal Page that the Edina High School administration was wrong in their terminating of the YCC. To punish approximately 250 members based on the remarks of a few is unjust. We obviously do not endorse the racists remarks, and strongly believe that school should be a place where students feel safe and welcome. However, achieving this through an indiscriminate and overarching punishment is too simplistic. If the Royal Page was in a similar situation, and a reporter had violated our policies in a
way that reflected negatively on the staff as a whole, the specific student or students should be punished, not the paper. When instances such as the one at Edina occur, the people, not the paper, club, or class, should face consequences. If the Edina YCC is no longer able to meet, the Young Liberals Club shouldn’t either, nor should the Ping Pong Club or the Harry Potter Club. This issue is not one of political affiliation, rather the belief in diversity of opinion. This principal is further supported by the Equal Access Act (EAA). The EAA was passed with the goal of ensuring that all non-curricular, or those activities unrelated to school
curriculum, are afforded the same access to public secondary facilities as others. Specifically, the U.S Department of Education’s legal guidelines regarding the EEA, state, “It [The EEA] instead broadly provides that schools allowing at least one “noncurriculum related student group’ may not deny comparable access to any other student group because of the ‘religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at [the group’s] meetings.’ The Act therefore prohibits schools from banning student-led noncurricular groups because of the content of the speech at the groups’ meetings.”
More broadly, the EAA is important as it allows for diversity of opinion outside of the classrooms, and provides that all non-curricular activities have equally opportunity to initiate discussion. When one voice is silenced, the influence of the other voices are amplified. A school, especially a public institution, should not be able to hand select which clubs messages they like, and which they do not.
EDITORIAL BOARD VOTE AGREE
DISAGREE
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Why I went vegan, and how it might save the world Ali Winter Staff Reporter
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an. 8, 2016 is a day that I will always remember. I was laying in bed looking at YouTube videos, when I came across an interesting video that was “recommended for me.” It was titled “101 Reasons to Go Vegan.” I decided to click on it and see what it was about, not really thinking too much about the whole thing. As the man in the video presentation talked more and more about the environmental effects as well as health benefits of going vegan, I began to wonder
why meat and dairy are so integrated in our culture. I thought to myself, “But wait, milk gives you the calcium that your bones need, right? Meat is what you need for protein!” These things are the lies that are continuously told to our society in order to continue the facade put on by the meat and dairy industry. The truth is that almond milk actually has 40 percent more calcium than dairy milk- that’s a pretty significant number. According to The Washington Post, proof has recently come out that during a test conducted by the American Heart
Association, they found that eggs contained dangerous levels of cholesterol for most Americans. When the researchers were about to release this information to the public, they were swifty paid off by the egg manufacturers to keep quiet, and to change their article. These things happen far too often, and are seldom talked about as nearly 87 percent of Americans consume animals. There are simply not enough people who care- at least there haven’t been until now. When I saw the portion of the video where cows were being treated with brutality, I im-
mediately paused it and began to tear up. It seemed insane that this was legal. As I mustered up enough composure to continue watching, I began to realize that this vegan movement was important; really important. The fact is, is that these horrific things are happening to animals at this very moment, whether you choose to believe it or not. The most important thing is to be informed, and to make a change if you are opposed to the cruelty. Going vegan is a process; I know that. For me there was the issue of eating enough in the beginning, but it’s all about find-
ing balance. After reading this article, I don’t expect you drop animal products from your diet immediately, but I would highly advise you to to look into where your dollars are really going at the grocery store. Hint: it’s not a happy farmer with a big red barn and rolling green pastures. are a registered dietician. Since going vegan I have been inspired to encourage others in my life like friends and family to move towards a more plant-based lifestyle. After seeing all of the positive effects that it had on my life, it really made me believe that this is the way that modern humans are meant
staff Michael Korsh Andy Weisman Hannah Goldfarb Samantha Horowitz Maya Kupritz Natalie DenHartog James Gulden Adam Segal Navit Nachmias Jake Birnberg
Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Feature/Copy Editor Sports Editor Multimedia Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Business Editor
Staff Reporters Ryan Baker Alex Bank Logan Barham David Campbell Eve Clarkson Alex Condon Luis Felemovicius Ellie Fishman Julia Fromstein Jake Goldfarb
Mario Hadley Ati Hernke Rhegan Holmes Joey Knisely Abby Kotlarz Riley Lennon Peyton Lome Ayanna Maddox Charlie McNeil Christoph Michailow
to live and will help them to prosper. Not only is vegan beneficial for your health and farmed animals, it has a huge impact on the earth. With fossil fuels being a huge part of climate change and global warming, it is important for us to avoid adding to thisand that means avoiding animal products as much as possible. Eventually, after finding a balance in my life, I was able to actually gain confidence from going vegan. It gives you incredible energy, makes you feel like you’re helping the planet, and automatically connects you to a certain group of really amazing and like-minded people.
Jacob Ratner Isaac Richert Willow Scherwinski Mary Schutte Ari Segal Luke Sheldon Ali Winter Paul Zeitz
Jeff Kocur Adviser 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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DECEMBER 22, 2017
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My biggest conern with the decision Trump made in the Southwest is that it will be a precedent for future behavior regarding our national landscapes
opinion
Willow Scherwinski, senior
National Parks are an escape, should be protected Willow Scherwinski Staff Reporter
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ast summer, I spent two weeks exploring the American South-
west. Driving through the Red Rock Canyons, paddling down the Rio Grande, hiking across national parks, and connecting with native Navajo people all struck in me a sense of awe. The untouched landscapes were eerie in comparison to the busy backdrop of my life. This land that I and countless others have come to cherish came under federal attack on Monday, Dec. 4 when President Donald Trump used his executive power to drastically decrease the size of two national monuments in the region: Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante. Bears Ears National Monument was reduced by nearly 85 percent of its original size, putting the nations highest density of cultural resources and the land itself at risk. Grand Staircase Escalante was almost cut
in half. Motivated by the prospect of increased development of public land, Trump’s fixed businessman mindset ignored the voices of many. During the Department of the Interior’s 60-day public commenting period, a record breaking number of people shared shared their views on the issue. Over 98 percent of the 2.7 million comments spoke in favor of maintaining or expanding national monuments. I was one of these people; one of the voices that was disregarded when he shrunk the size of the national monuments. The preservation of the countries national parks and monuments means that I have a guaranteed escape from the contant commotion of an urban environment. What happened with the land in Utah diminished my confidence that it will remain. Strong local voices in the southwest were also disregarded when Trump decided to rid the land of its protections. Five native american tribes residing in the Southwest including the
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Navajo, Hopi, Ute Mountain Ute, Ute Indian Tribe, and Zuni all lobbied for years to for Bears Ears to be created. Though there was considerable support from Republican lawmakers and large fossil fuel companies when the decision was made, the backlash is significant, not only in public opinion, but litigation as well. Lawsuits have been filed by outdoor goods retailer Patagonia CEO and The Wilderness Society in defense of the lands. My biggest concern with the decision Trump made in the Southwest is that it will be a precedent for future behavior regarding our national landscapes. If President Trump so easily did away with the original size of these two monuments, there is little that will stop him from doing so in the other 27 national monument under review by his office. “Climbers, hikers, hunters and anglers all agree that public lands are a critical part of our national heritage and these lands belong not just to us, but to future generations,” was dis-
Things to do over Winter Break
Go sledding down a snowless hill
Ask for an official Red Ryder carbineaction 200-shot range model air rifle. Miss your family trip to Paris and defend your house from burglars Make a New Year’s resolution that you won’t keep Ditch MN and go somewhere warm
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Go caroling with your friends but only sing Migos songs
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Spend your Christmas eating Chinese food and watching movies “Maintain a normal sleep and eating schedule”
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“MaINtAIn A NoRmAL SLeeP aND eaTiNG ScHeduLe”
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Order pizza on Dec. 31 at 11:58, and ask for a free pizza because you ordered it last year
played on the Patagonia website. It is crucial that our nation acts sustainably. This will allow
the beauty that I and so many others have experienced in the natural world to be preserved and enjoyed by others. Reduc-
ing the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante moves us in the opposite direction.
cartoon: Mary Schutte
Lindbergh Mondale Center? Perhaps it’s time to rename our athletic facility Christoph Michailow Staff Reporter
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n November, after two years of debate, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners narrowly voted to rename Lake Calhoun to its original Dakota name, Bde Maka Ska, which translates to White Earth Lake. The lake was previously named after John C. Calhoun, who served as Vice President to John Quincy Adams, and more controversial, Andrew Jackson. Calhoun was notoriously for defending slavery. Although this is part of a bigger, nationwide debate that seems to be mostly taking place in the South, Hopkins is also affected as our athletic center is called the Lindbergh Center. Charles Lindbergh was the first person to ever cross the Atlantic in a non-stop flight in 1927, but also well known for his sympathy towards the racist and antisemitic Nazi party. Lindbergh made several anti-semitic remarks, one of them said that Germany had undoubtedly a difficult “Jewish problem.” Another comment can be found in one of his diaries: “We must limit to a reasonable
amount the Jewish population. Whenever the Jewish percentage of total population becomes too high, a reaction seems to invariably occur. It is too bad because a few Jews of the right type are, I believe, an asset to any country.” Those kind of views deserve no other comment than that they are simply wrong and offensive. Furthermore, he was a white supremacist and wrote the following: “We can have peace and security only so long as we band together to preserve that most priceless possession, our inheritance of European blood, only so long as we guard ourselves against attack by foreign armies and dilution by foreign races.” Nobody who had ever said such things deserves to be recognized and honored for anything, which is why I call for the renaming of the Lindbergh Center. The name is especially offensive to students who had ancestors killed in the Holocaust. They shouldn’t be reminded everyday of a man who sympathized with an ideology that killed their ancestors. Considering the active and abundant Jewish population at HHS, it is surprising that this is something not yet addressed.
While the name was never intended to be an endorsement of Lindbergh’s beliefs, it still acts as a negative reflection on the school. Many may argue that changing the name will not be effective, and that students will continue to call the facility the Lindbergh Center regardless. What is fundamentally important, however, is the symbolic gesture a name alteration would represent. Although Lindbergh’s accomplishment was remarkable, honoring such a man with naming a public place after him is not the right thing to do. By having these kind of names in public places, people eventually start assuming that what they did was right and deserves to imitated. Instead, name the center after a famous Minnesota politician, like Walter Mondale, who served as Vice President to Jimmy Carter, and who was a Presidential Candidate in 1984. Then, we may be reminded of Minnesotans who used their influence to promote solidarity and American values, instead of Naziism.
DECEMBER 22, 2017
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the royal page We are working on playing our game the way we need to so we can stop other good teams.” Johnny Kahner, senior
The cash behind the competition David Campbell Sports Reporter
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illiam Brodersen, senior, has been playing hockey almost his entire life. After all those years, one thing stays the same, the expense of the game. All athletes, especially hockey players, can struggle with the financial problems of sports. “Sticks are $200 and you need two just because they will break, I had five break last season,” Brodersen said. “Skates are $400-$1000 and all the pads plus you helmet together is around $25-$75.” After it’s all added up, Brodersen’s cost comes to around $1300. However, this cost is slightly decreased because HHS supplies some essential equipment. “The team gives us breezers, gloves, and helmets as a part of our uniforms,” Brodersen said. “However, during the summer, we have to buy some stuff ourselves which costs around $600$700 per year. Brodersen’s older brother, Tyler, is in college and plays hockey for St. Olaf. Tyler also played semi-professional hockey in Canada.
“St Olaf pays for helmets, sticks, and most pads,” Tyler Brodersen said. “Everything else comes out of my bank account.” Tyler has been paying for 18 years of hockey. “After all my years of playing, it has probably cost around $30,000,” Tyler said. “I usually go to the Bauer store or Total Hockey because they have the best deals.” Hockey is a very expensive sport with all the equipment. Other athletes, who play different sports, also struggle with costs and expenses “Soccer is one of those nice sports where you don’t have to spend a lot to get what you want,” said soccer player Tyler Elliott, sophomore. “If you re-
ally wanted that really nice ball or shin guards, you could spend the extra cash, but you don’t need to.” Most sports are more like soccer than hockey. The costs of basketball, for instance, is very similar to costs of soccer. “You really need shorts, shirts, a ball, an air pump, and if you want, some accesories,” said Gabriel Hicks-Stohl, sophomore. “All of that is about $20 at Dick’s Sporting Goods.” Basketball gear also include shoes, which can be very expensive. “I wear Lebron’s and those are $140 at Dick’s,” HicksStohl said. “I think it would be ok if players want to spend the extra money, but not everyone
can afford that.” Many athletes don’t buy the extra special equipment because they can’t afford it. For instance, club and travel teams in all different sports are becoming more and more important, and expensive. “Club soccer is a big deal in Minnesota,” Elliott said. “Some teams cost over $1000 just to play.” Elliott plays for Park Valley United FC, which costs $50 just to tryout. Soccer is not the only club sport in Minnesota that is a big deal. Club baseball and softball
photos licensed via Creative Commons
Supersititons, traditions hold strong for HRDT Peyton Lome Sports Reporter
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he Hopkins Royelles Dance Team (HRDT) practices nearly every day and takes part in many meets throughout the winter season, but they hardly ever go through a day without upholding a superstition or tradition as a team. “Being on HRDT has made me a way more superstitious person, but it all makes practices and meet days really fun with my teammates,” captain Josie Sandford, junior, said. There are many superstitions that HRDT abides by, but one that all the girls talk about is the “doubts and worries” sticky board that’s used before they perform at any conference meet or invitational. The team managers will hold up the board where on the back there are two boxes, one with the word “doubts” and the other with the word “worries”. The girls go through one by one and punch the boxes to metaphorically squash their doubts and worries going into the performance. Then they lay it on the ground and stomp on the sticky part of the board to give their shoes more grip before go-
ing onto the floor. “The sticky board is one tradition that I don’t think I could go without. I honestly think that without it I would fall on my face,” Mallory Auth, sophomore, said. “The punches on the back are all in your head, but it really helps to alleviate the stress of dancing and performing.” The sticky board tradition is just one of many meet day
rituals. Another tradition that the girls stick to when they perform is putting a tiny piece of a starburst that they stick to their teeth in the back of their mouth right before going on. Some Royelles say that this helps them to salivate so they don’t lose their breath when they dance, others say it’s a mind thing. “You have to eat a starburst
photo: provided by Peyton Lome Carly Marschinke, sophomore, and Sally Reed, junior, kick in the HRDT kick line at a competition. The Royelles finished fourth in their first meet of the season.
every time before you go on and you stick it to your teeth so you can salivate when you’re dancing because otherwise you can’t quite breathe,” Sandford said. One widely known superstition that the team never forgets is “Knock on Wood”. This is one that the whole team takes part in, sometimes even the coaches. “Last year before sections, our entire team would knock on the floor three times with our right hand after anyone said anything that was relatively close to jinxing it,” said Auth. Aside from the team-wide superstitions, some dancers have their own that they can’t live without. Sandford does three frog jumps every time before she goes on the floor, otherwise she believes she will have a bad performance. “My 10th grade year, I didn’t do my three froggy jumps before I went on and I went to do my russian in the front row and I fell right on my butt and ever since then, I knew I had to do it every time,” said Sandford. Superstitions and traditions are greatly important to the Royelles Dance Team throughout the season and impact each dancer in their own way.
is just as big or even bigger. In the Hopkins/Minnetonka area, the baseball club, Pine Tar Academy cost $1000 to play. They offer tournaments in Kansas City and all round the Twin Cities area. Other big club programs include, Blizzard Baseball, MN Starters, and MN Icemen. All of those clubs also cost more than $1000, compared to the fee for high school athletics, which is close to $300. “I believe that playing for a club is worth it,” Elliott said. “If you have the money and the drive to do it, you should.”
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the royal page
DECEMBER 22, 2017
I’m super excited to get out on the snow and see how we can do! We’ve got big goals and it’s going to be a good season.”
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Lily Den Hartog, senior
Basketball rivalry runs deep
The high school feud between Hedstrom and Oturu will likely continue to one of the biggest college basketball stages in the nation. AJ Condon Sports Reporter
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ost times high school rivalries end after graduation, however, sometimes they continue into college and that’s exactly what will happen between Joe Hedstrom, senior, and Daniel Oturu, senior at Cretin Derham-Hall. On Dec. 2, the rivalry between Hedstrom and Oturu started and it looks like it will be a longer one. Oturu is currently playing for the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders and will stay home and play for the Minnesota Golden Gophers next year. Hedstrom is playing for the Royals and after this season finishes up, he will head off to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and play for the Badgers. According to 247Sports, Oturu is ranked second and Hedstrom is ranked sixth in the state of Minnesota for the class of 2018. In the game the rivalry started, Oturu and the Raiders were able to win 86-73. In that game,
Hedstrom was only able to score six points while Oturu put up the same in far less minutes after being forced out early in the game with an ankle injury. “[Oturu] is obviously going to the Gophers for a good reason; he is a very good player,” Hedstrom said. Though Oturu didn’t play much of the game, he was still able to win the first matchup between these two big guys. Hedstrom wasn’t able to get much going in his first game of his senior year. Hedstrom has many things he would personally like to work on for the rest of the season. He’s been struggling early in the season and is trying to push through it. “I need to rebound and find a body to box out and pursue the ball more aggressively. I also need to be more patient with the ball, and then make my move. On and off the court, I need to have more energy and be a better leader,” Hedstrom said. Hedstrom noticed some strengths he saw in Oturu’s game.
“I think [Oturu] uses his body very well to get positioning and leverage his weight to his advantage.” Hedstrom said. “He’s also pretty athletic and it’s a task to keep him off the boards.” The Royals won’t see the Raiders for the rest of the regular season. The only time they could matchup again would be in the state tournament in a game the Royals would want revenge in. Neither player was really able to show their full skill set in that matchup. Hopefully these two will face each other again in their final year of playing in high school before they make the big transition into college. Hedstrom has continued to struggle this season and will want to step up his play as this is his last year that he will be playing in a Hopkins uniform. As of now the Gophers have two other signed hometown commits with Jarvis Omersa, senior, at Orono high school and Gabe Kalscheur, senior, at DeLaSalle high school. The
photo: Adam Segal
Badgers only have one as of now with Taylor Currie, senior, at Clarkston, Missouri high school. Overall, the Gophers are going to be getting the second, third and fourth ranked players in the state of Minnesota. The Badgers are getting the sixth and ninth ranked players in their respective states. Throughout their college careers, the two are bound to
Royal Season updates
face each other multiple times. Since the 2012-2013 season, the Badgers have the upside with an 8-2 record against the Gophers. The Gophers and Badgers will face off this year on Feb. 19. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen two stars face off in high school and then have the rivalry continue into college. Amir Coffey, Hop-
kins alumni and now Gopher, and Nathan Reuvers, Lakeville alumni and now Badger, were both star players for their respected team. The two of them only met once in Coffey’s senior year and Reuvers junior year and that was in the state championship game. Coffey was able to win and take home the title 64-55. The two have yet to face off in college but that time will come in Feb. for Reuvers to get his revenge.
Catch up with Royal teams that are currently in action
Boys Hockey After their first seven games, the Royals boys hockey team walked away with one win and six losses. The Royals are being led by Henry Sweeny, junior, and Johnny Kahner, senior, who both have four points on the season. Sweeny with one goal and three assists, and Kahner with two goals and two assists.
Girls Hockey The Royals girls hockey team has had a very successful season thus far, winning eight of their first eleven games. Kylie Hanley, senior, leads the Royals point game by a wide margin, with 16 goals and 11 assists, for a total of 27 points. Mary Gleason, junior, and Amanda Olson, senior, are the Royal’s next highest point earners with 11 points each.
Boys Basketball Despite a close loss to the CretinDerham Hall raiders in their first game of the season, the Royals boys basketball team bounced back and won their next four games, three of which by a margin of over 18 points. The Royals have multiple standout athletes, with four of their players averaging over 10 points per game. Zeke Nnaji, junior, currently leads the Royals in stats with an average of 18.2 points per game.
Girls Basketball The Royals girls basketball team is back on a hot streak, currently undefeated after their first seven games. Paige Bueckers, sophomore, leads the Royals’ offense game with an average of 26.3 points per game. Reana Suggs, senior, and Dalyaya Chakolis, junior, have also been key players for the Royals so far, both averaging over 10 points per game.
Nordic Up until the recent snowfall, the Royal nordic team has been preparing for this season by running both indoors and out, as well as doing different drill training during practices. Three meets have already been cancelled for the team due to lack of adequate snow. Ellie Munger, sophomore, Lily Den Hartog, senior, Logan Hoffman, senior, and Sean Hunwardsen, senior, are all expected to be the Royals top skiers this season.
Alpine The Royal alpine team is getting into gear by starting their first practices on snow at Highland Hills, last week. Their first meet is scheduled for Tues., Dec. 19th at Afton Alps. The Royals will be looking to Nick Kanitz, junior, Evan Kompschillis, sophomore, and Sarah Huffman, junior, as standouts skiers this season.
Wrestling This season, the Royals wrestling team is looking to some key underclassman to make statements at meets. RJ Chakolis, Aaron Bertsch, and Demetrius Patton, sophomores, are this year’s top Royal wrestlers. At practices, the Royals have been focusing on specific moves that will help the team, as well as continuing building strength and conditioning to help prepare them for meets.
Dance Team The Hopkins Royals Dance Team (HRDT) has completed one fourth of their winter season, competing in three conference meets and two invitationals. HRDT finished fourth in their first meet and has performed similarly at those following. This year, HRDT is led by captains Sally Reed, junior, and Josie Sandford, junior, both of which are the team’s top dancers.
Gymnastics A young, and newly combined with Benilde - St. Margaret’s’ gymnastics team started off the season strong, receiving one of their highest scores of their past few years in their first meet against the Eden Prairie Eagles. The Royals are led by captains Sydney Schaefer, senior, and Riley O’Neil, junior.
photos: Adam Segal, Bea Frank, Ari Segal, Abby Kotlarz provided by: Amanda Olson, Logan Hoffman, Carmen Garigos, RJ Chakolis, and Peyton Lome
DECMBER 22, 2017
BOOKED Hannah Goldfarb, Navit Nachmias, Ati Hernke Managing Editor, Copy Editor, Staff Reporter
“The book was written in the perspective of a defense attorney who created his own law firm. The book discusses the injustices of the death penalty, specifically against people of color.” “The book was not sugarcoated which made the book so much more genuine. Different opinions about the death penalty were shared so the book wasn’t bias.” Grace Luke, senior
Photo: Isaac Richert
“A South African man and his family move to the United States where he gets a job as a chauffeur for a company that is falling apart. As he is seeing this affluent company deteriorate, he is trying to get American citizenship.” “The fact that he was trying to gain citizenship was an interesting perspective because it is not very common for books to be written in this point-ofview.” Jane Bremer, senior
Between textbooks, essays, and general class reading, it can be difficult to find the time to read for pleasure. Students who were once avid bookworms in elementary school often find themselves without the time or motivation to pick up books they once loved. Instead, they seem to increasingly turn to Netflix as a way to decompress after a long day, and a long night, of attempting to absorb class materials.
“The book is about a mixed race girl growing up in an African orphanage. She struggles with finding her racial identity, as well as figuring out how to leave the orphanage.” “As somebody who is mixed race, I felt a personal connection to the novel. I also think it would be really beneficial to somebody with totally different experiences than this girl’s to read the book.” Nafi Soumare, junior
According to a study done by Common Sense Media, only 24 percent of people ages 15 to 17 read for fun five to seven days a week. This trend continues as 57 percent of adults did not read a book in 2015, according to The Washington Post. Despite the general trend, some HHS students are still finding the time to read, and encouraging their peers to join them.
“Vivian is growing up in a small town and isn’t one to rebel. However, with her school’s sexist dress code and preferences to white male athletes, Vivian is fed up and starts to write an anonymous feminist newspaper.” “I enjoyed that Vivian was not this extraordinarily exceptional kid. She got decent grades and had close friends, but was somebody most high schoolers could relate to...” Eve Clarkson, sophomore