Echo
FIND THE PERFECT OUTFIT
TRAVELERS RETURN HOME
LOCAL CUISINE TO SAMPLE
From low to high-end, learn where to buy dresses PAGE 2
Students recount their summer adventures PAGE 2
New restaurants offer variety of food options PAGE 4
Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Volume 91 Issue 1 St. Louis Park High School 6425 W. 33rd Street St. Louis Park, MN 55426
SLPECHO.COM
‘Glow-coming’ to offer inclusivity Photo Devin Raynor
New location results in food, decorations Anna duSaire, Atticus Raasch & Annabella Strathman annadusaire@slpecho.com atticusraasch@slpecho.com annabellastrathman@slpecho.com
W
ith the Homecoming dance occurring the second week of school, students’ faces won’t be the only things glowing. According to Student Council adviser Sarah Lindenberg, the dance will feature a glow-in-thedark theme similar to that of a previous year. “There was a glow-in-the-dark kind of theme a couple years ago, before you guys got to the high school,” Lindenberg said. “(People) bought a ton of glow sticks and they wore bracelets and that kind of thing.” The Homecoming dance, hosted by the Student Council,
will be at the high school this year, as opposed to an off-site location as in previous years. Principal Scott Meyers said he is optimistic the changes will allow more students to attend. “Having (the dance) on-site will allow for cheaper ticket prices, and people won’t have to make that tough decision,” Meyers said. Senior George Hare said high ticket cost made the dance impractical. “When the dances are $100 for a date pair and it’s on the guy to pay, that’s stupid expensive,” Hare said. Senior Ambriya Reese said the Mall of America location made the dance feel like a special night. “I did like going to the mall because that was fun,” Reese said. “There’s something about it at the mall. It was more glamorous.” Lindenberg said Student Council is working to plan an inclusive event with entertainment that interests all students. “I think the Homecoming
dance committee has tried to put in some activities throughout the evening that will hopefully provide some different things for students to be involved in throughout the night,” Lindenberg said. “People can kind of look forward to later in the evening.” According to Lindenberg, previous venues restricted decoration, food and other activities that would enhance the dance experience. “In past years Student Council has been limited in the amount of food and decorations they are able to have,” Lindenberg said. “The change in venue will allow for more opportunity when decorating the gym to fit the glow-in-thedark theme.” Lindenberg said students will be permitted to leave the dance unlike previous years. “What I’m imagining will happen is that students will be able to leave when they want, but they are not allowed to come back in if they leave,” Lindenberg said. According to Meyers, the
administration has no plan for informing parents of the students’ option to leave. “There has not been a discussion about whether there would be a notification home. Probably • Dance hosted at high a more realistic plan might be to school gymnasium take note when people leave just • Ability to leave dance so that we know • More elaborate so we can share decorations information,” Meyers said. • More food options Freshman Emma Amon • Glow in the dark theme said she is lookInfographic Sam St. Clair ing forward to Source Sarah Lindenberg her first Homecoming dance experience at the high school. “It’s interesting that they’re having (the dance) at school,” Amon said. “I’m excited for the dance, just for the experience, also I feel like it’s a big part of high school.”
Homecoming dance changes
Day One schedule Pep fest pressure Junior Grace Steffy prepares to shoot the half court shot at last year’s Day One pep fest. Activities planned for this year’s Day One include afternoon competitions with a sidewalk art contest and wacky relay races. Photo The Echo Newspaper
8:00-8:40 Students arrive and receive schedules 8:40-9:15 Pep fest along with a cereal drive 9:20-12:20 Run through schedule 12:20-1:15 Picnic lunch 1:15-2:15 Afternoon competitions 2:15-3:10 Carnival treats
1st hour 2nd hour 3rd hour 4th hour 5th hour 6th hour 7th hour
9:20-9:50 a.m. 9:55-10:15 a.m. 10:20-10:40 a.m. 10:45-11:05 a.m. 11:10-11:30 a.m. 11:35-11:55 a.m. noon-12:20 p.m.
Infographic Sam St. Clair Source Sarah Lindenberg
2
“
FEATURES
Echo Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Learning abroad Culturally immersive vacation Eli Curran-Moore elicurranmore@slpecho.com
Don’t be reckless, don’t be stupid and make good choices that night. Joshua Somaiah, senior
Before buying a Homecoming ticket Ticket price
Theme
$8-10
What is the dance like
What do I do before the dance? Get a group together and take pictures
Homecoming week dress codes
Do you need a date? You can go with friends or a date
What can I expect? Dancing, food and friends
Is there a king and queen? Seniors vote for the Homecoming king, queen and court
• Pizza • Popcorn • Candy • Cotton candy • Snow cones
Glow in the dark
Date Sept. 16
Location High school gym
Apparel Semi-formal
Monday Decade day Tuesday Tropical Wednesday College Thursday Jersey Friday Class colors
Food
Source Student Council Infographic Devin Raynor
Photo used with written permssion by Zoë Weinmann
Zoë Weinmann, Canada
S
enior Zoë Weinmann said she gained a new appreciation of for stereotypically French speaking locations, and expanded her knowledge of the French language. “One thing I definitely learned is that the accent in Quebec, especially certain words, are really different from the accent you would hear in France — almost sounds like a country accent,” Weinmann said. As far as influencing goes, I heard some people before my trip saying ‘why Canada? That seems so lame.’ But then, during the trip, I ended up disagreeing and also gained a lot of respect for the country.”
Photo used with written persmission by Erica Dudley
Erica Dudley, India
J
unior Erica Dudley traveled throughout India during the course of three weeks. Dudley said she wanted to go to India to learn more about the culture and to go outside her comfort zone. “I wanted to go on the trip because I wanted to immerse myself in a completely new culture,” Dudley said. “I figured the best way to do that was to go with a group of strangers. I chose this trip because it combined my loves of volunteering and photography in one trip.”
Photo used with written permission by Doreen Moranga
Doreen Moranga, Kenya
S
enior Doreen Moranga said she experienced new places in Kenya she hasn’t visited since she was a child and reconnecting with family. “We stayed in Nairobi and then we went to our hometown, which is Kisii. We travelled around both places because I haven’t been (to Kenya) since I was like 7, so (my family) showed me around Nairobi and Kisii town,” Moranga said. “I stayed in Nairobi with my grandfather, and then later we went to Kisii town. Where we stayed our house was in a rural area, but (my father) owns an apartment, so we stayed there also.”
In pursuit of the perfect Homecoming Dress
The guide to finding affordable, local dress options Evelyn Nelson evelynnelson@slpecho.com
Buffalo Exchange
Nordstrom Rack
2727 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis
8344 Minnesota 7, St. Louis Park
Atmosphere: Considering Buffalo Exchange is a thrift store, keep in mind you may need to spend extra time to find a dress that caters to your style. The staff makes finding options simple and also offer changing rooms to try on at the store.
Atmosphere: Located at Knollwood Mall, Nordstrom Rack offers high-end dresses at costs cheaper than most retail prices. With help from the store’s involved employees, students can find dresses geared toward their specific style.
Quality: With brands ranging from H&M to Urban Outfitters, Buffalo Exchange is a cheaper way to find higher-end dresses for any upcoming dance.
Quality: Nordstrom Rack offers brands such as Topshop and J. Crew. The Rack offers an affordable variety compared to the dresses displayed at a regular Nordstrom.
Price: Buffalo Exchange offers popular formal occasion dresses ranging from $10-30, decent discounts and perfect for buyers searching for an appealing, yet affordable, dress.
Price: The prices at Nordstrom Rack range from $15-200, with high-end items discounted up to one-half the original price. Students looking for longer-lasting dresses may find their dresses here.
Goodwill
Dry Goods
3575 MN-100, St. Louis Park
1060 Ridgedale Center, Minnetonka
Atmosphere: Similar to Buffalo Exchange, Goodwill is also an affordable thrift store. While it may take longer to find the perfect dress among the store’s extensive selection, they offer several changing rooms for easy decision making at the store itself.
Atmosphere: Located at both the Ridgedale Center and Southdale Center, Dry Goods has a helpful staff and an sizable selection of options geared toward any style. The boutique is a perfect place for students looking for a fun and new twist on the typical Homecoming dress.
Quality: Goodwill is a great option for those seeking a vintage approach to Homecoming dresses, with a wide selection of brands, patterns and styles for each person. However, Goodwill customers may have to sacrifice their designer-dress aspirations in exchange for inexpensive dresses.
Quality: Dry Goods’ dresses have a wide range of styles and fun patterns. The store also offers rompers, a combination of both a dress and shorts, an increasingly trendy substitute for the typical Homecoming dress.
Price: With prices ranging from $5-20, Goodwill is the most comparatively affordable local option for Homecoming dresses.
Price: Dry Goods’ prices range from $40-200. The price tag reflects the higher quality of the dress material. They also have a website, where customers can purchase clothing and find additional discounts.
“
I like (being able to leave Homecoming early) because before you were roped into staying the whole time.
OPINIONS Echo Tuesday, September 5, 2017 2017
Lily Johnson, junior
Echo Editors-in-chief: Mimi Fhima & Annabella Strathman Managing editors: Anna duSaire, Alec Pittman, Dani Orloff & Atticus Raasch
Copy editors: Alex Balfour, Elise Riley, Nicole Sanford & Sophie Yarosh Design editors: Devin Raynor & Sam St. Clair Photo editors: Caroline Green, Grace Farley, Emma Kempf & Hannah Wolk Assistant photo editor: Breanna Thompson News editor: Yonit Krebs & Sumaya Mohammed Features editor: Amaia Barajas & Maddie Lund In-Depth editors: Isabel Leviton & Hanna Schechter Sports editor: Sam Birnberg & Jacob Stillman Opinions editor: Hannah Leff & Lukas Levin Entertainment editor: Isaac Wert Diversity editor: Makagbe Kuyateh Web design editor: Josh Halper & Adam Johnson Profiles: Ndunzi Kunsunga Staff: Tjessa Arradondo, Maximillian Bechtold, Beck Bergland, Malaika Bigirindavyi, Chloe Blodgett, Daebreona Byrd, Natalia Caraballo, Culver Carden, Jenna Cook, Eli Curran-Moore, Nietzsche Deuel, Maia Doherty, Brooklyn Donelson, DaShaun Emerson, Racquel Fhima, Esther Gendler, Tenzin Gyaldatsang, Katie Hardie, Calvin Hatcher, Marta Hill, Abigail Intveld, Avia Kaner-Roth, Isabel Kjaer, Samantha Klepfer, Eleanor Kline-Olson, Alexis Machoka, Kimon Malone, Kahiro Lara Martinez, Stuart Monicatti, Evelyn Nelson, Sophie Olmen, William Phelan, Carissa Prestholt, KJ Preston Pepperell, Leila Raymond, Hadeal Rizeq, D’aviyan Robinson, Mariana Sanchez Zapata, Ruby Stillman, Jaye Townsend, Amber Tran, Isaac Wahl, Hayley Westwood, Emma Yarger & Samyu Yenamandra
Business manager: Yonah Davis Principal: Scott Meyers Printer: Quad Graphics Adviser: Lori Keekley
MEDIA POLICIES
The Echo is the official studentproduced newspaper of St. Louis Park Senior High School. It is published triweekly for the school’s students, staff and community. The Echo is a designated forum for student expression in which students make all decisions of content without prior review from school officials. The adviser will not act as a censor, but will advise students. Students have the final decision on all content. The Echo will work to avoid bias and/ or favoritism. We will strive to make our coverage and content meaningful and interesting to all our readers. We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an invasion of privacy. We will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph unless clearly labeled as a photo illustration. Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board arrived at by discussion and will not be bylined. Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Echo staff or administration as a whole. The Echo welcomes reader input. Letters to the editor and suggestions must be signed and should be no longer than 250 words and may be emailed to slpecho@gmail.com or submitted in room C275. Emailed letters must be verified prior to publication. We will not necessarily publish all letters received and reserve the right to ask the writer to edit for length and clarity. Anonymous letters wherein the Echo does not know the identity of the writer will not be printed. Advertisements will be sought from local businesses and school clubs and sports. We maintain the right to reject any ads we believe to be false, misleading, inappropriate or harmful. The Echo does not necessarily endorse the products or services offered in these advertisements. NSPA All-American and Hall of Fame member; 2011, 2016 NSPA Print Pacemaker Finalist; 2013, 2014, 2015 National Print Pacemaker Award Recipient; 2014, 2015, 2016 Online Pacemaker Finalist; CSPA Gold Medalist; 2013 CSPA Gold Crown; 2015 CSPA Hybrid Gold Crown; 2012, 2014, 2016 CSPA Silver Crown; JEM All-State.
3
OUR PERSPECTIVE
Administration must prepare for dance changes
I
n hopes of allowing more students to attend the dance this school year, Student Council elected to host the Homecoming dance in the high school’s gym. For the past several years, the Homecoming dance has been at a location other than the high school. This resulted in higher ticket prices ranging from roughly $25-35. The higher price was mainly because of the bus cost and rental space required to accommodate hundreds of students each year according to Sarah Lindenberg, Student Council adviser. As opposed to previous years, the new location will allow for cheaper ticket prices, a more accessible location and the ability for students to leave at their will. During dances, students have previously been forced to stay for the entire duration of the dance. Not only have there been adults to assure no student leaves, the distant location made it difficult and discouraged students to leave the dance until they could be bused home. With the convenient location of the dance, in the school, it makes the act of leaving early a lot easier. Because the dance usually lasts several hours, leaving early can cause a student to be unaccounted for until the dance end. Nowhere in the Student Handbook
Art: Nietzsche Deule
Taking Off: Leaving dances may jeopardize the security of students. Administrators should notify parents and students should stay for the entirety of the dance. and Policy Guide is it stated that the school is liable for students during dance hours. Because of the celebratory nature of the event, being in a supervised environment may lead to students making better choices. Allowing students to leave early raises the editorial board’s concerns of students’ safety and parental awareness. We urge students to act safely and responsibly during, and especially after, the dance. With new freedoms given, it is important
to consider not only personal safety, but also the safety of peers. The editorial board believes the administration should fully prepare for students to leave the dance early and develop a complete plan to inform students and more importantly, parents, of this development. The administration should send out an email regarding their policies during the dance to let parents know their child may not be where expected during dance hours.
Echo Policies 2017-2018 Who’s in charge of the Echo? The Echo is the official student-produced newspaper of St. Louis Park Senior High School. Students make all decisions of content without prior review from school officials or censorship from the adviser. Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board, consisting of the Echo staffers. Additionally, the editorial board should discuss coverage concerns, ensure their voice represents the student body and should be mindful of creating an inclusive environment for all staff members. Because students learn more when they make publication choices, prior review or restraint does not teach students to produce higher quality journalism. The only way to teach students to take responsibility for their decisions is to empower them to make those decisions freely. Additionally, democracy depends on students understanding all voices have a right to be heard and knowing they have a voice in their school and community.
What are our ethical guidelines? The Echo will work to avoid bias and/or favoritism. We will strive to make our coverage and content meaningful and interesting to all our readers. We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo, and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an invasion of privacy. We will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph unless clearly labeled as a photo illustration. In order to strive for objectivity, journalists should avoid covering stories of which they are involved. Journalists should
avoid a real or perceived conflict of interest as well. The publications will not shy away from covering newsworthy controversial issues of importance to students. Journalists should work to cover these topics robustly. Reporting in scholastic media that omits essential pieces of information because of review or restraint is an indirect form of fabrication. It destroys not only truth but credibility and reliability.
What happens if we make a mistake? While journalists strive for accuracy, we know errors can occur. In the event if an error being reported by readers or noticed by staffers, students should first check to see if the information is erroneous. If students deem the material to be incorrect, they should alter any online content to reflect the correction and then print a correction in the next edition. Students should be careful not to restate the error, but to correct the erroneous information. In regard to material appearing on the website, nothing will be taken down unless it’s proven factually false or otherwise legally deficient as of the time it was published.
What do we do with reader input? The publications welcome reader input. Letters must be signed and should be no longer than 250 words and may be e-mailed to slpecho@gmail.com or submitted in room C275. Emailed letters must be verified prior to publication. We will not necessarily publish all letters received and reserve the right to ask the writer to edit for length and clarity. Anonymous letters wherein the publication name does not know the identity of the writer will not be printed.
Additional policies can be found at slpecho.com
PARK TRAIL
Nietzsche Duel nietzscheduel@slpecho.com
Dharamsala
Places we went this summer ...
Kenya Nairobi
Quebec Montreal
India
4
“
ENTERTAINMENT
Echo Tuesday, September 5, 2017
It’s important to know restaurants near school so students can support the community. Veda Cole, senior
New options for quick bites
Three local food options within walking distance City Street Subs Marta Hill martahill@slpecho.com
L
ess than five minutes from the high school lies City Street Subs. The shop offers parking right in front of the store. Wait time can be dragging, but worth it. There are a few tables inside and a small one located outside. With friendly employees, and a modern atmosphere, City Street Subs offers a nice spot to sit and eat a quick sandwich. The upbeat music heard throughout the shop creates a positive environment and an enjoyable food experience. The shop offers many different sandwich
options, including a build-your-own. Sandwiches can be customized by choosing one of their various bread options. City Street Subs sells classic sandwiches that can satisfy anyone, but also specialty sandwiches named after Metro Area city streets. Along with the sandwiches customers can buy Address donuts, cookies, muffins and 6318 Minnetonka more to complete the meal. Blvd., St. Louis Park City Street Subs uses Hours locally made bread and slice 8 a.m.-6 p.m. all their meats and vegetables Distance from school fresh. The price is cheap to 0.5 miles moderate, so students can enjoy a nice sandwich for less than $10.
Half LaSalle Avenue Sandwich $6.89 Jetty Punch Smoothie $5.09 Island Green Smoothie $5.89
Tropical Smoothie Café Eli Curran-Moore elicurranmoore@slpecho.com
A
lso a five minute drive from the high school, Tropical Smoothie Café is a tasty new addition to the lineup of restaurants at Knollwood mall. Wait time is minimal, even with long lines, which don’t occur often. Both table and counter seating are available. The café, staffed by friendly employees with an upbeat family atmosphere, features tropical island-inspired decor and summer-reminiscent music. Those interested in healthy options with transparent ingredient lists should check out the made-to-order real-fruit smoothies, toasted
sandwiches and flatbreads, wraps, bowls, salads, all day breakfast items and more. Tropical Smoothie Café’s menu caters to various types of customers with options for people with speAddress cific dietary needs or 8140 Hwy 7, Suite preferences, including 335. St Louis Park gluten-free, vegan and Hours vegetarian options. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. None of these specifiDistance from school cations are unreason1.5 miles ably expensive. Tropical Smoothie Café uses a variety of ingredients, none of which are artificial or contain preservatives, as well as various supplements and proteins.
Blueberry Bliss Smoothie $5.09 10” Fresh Spinach Pizza $9.84
Parkway Pizza Lukas Levin lukaslevin@slpecho.com
N
ew local pizza option Parkway Pizza offers lighthearted decor and a relaxing place for students to hangout before games and shows. Although the wait can be long, students can pass the time playing foosball with a table available to customers. The great customer service and welcoming staff fosters a neighborly environment. Despite the ambiance of the restaurant, the pizza is mediocre and doesn’t meet expectations. The pizza crust is crispy enough so the
METRO AT A GLANCE Isaac Wert isaacwert@slpecho.com Photos Used with permission from Ryan Engstrom, 20th Century Fox, Bendo LLC, Xcel Energy Center
slice doesn’t fall apart in your hands, the sauce was bland. While the sauce is not excessive, it undermines the other Address 6325 Minnetonka flavors present. Blvd., St Louis Park The restaurant also offers Hours other food options such as 8 a.m.-6 p.m. salads, hoagies and pastas at fair prices. Distance from school 0.5 miles Parkways Pizza’s partnership with Sebastian Joe’s allows customers to buy scoops of their popular local ice cream for dessert, a halfway-decent save for a low-quality meal.
Aug. 19 -Oct. 1
Sept. 20
Sept. 22
Sept. 24
In Shakopee, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival takes visitors back in time to the 16th century, simulating a day in a fantasy kingdom. Tickets are $12.50 for children and $20.95 for adults.
Adventure comedy “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” hits theaters Sept. 20. The film is a much anticipated follow-up to its successful 2014 predecessor, “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”
Macklemore releases his second solo studio album “Gemini” Sept. 22, following his split with longtime collaborator, producer Ryan Lewis. “Gemini” is currently available for preorder.
Following the success of the Weekend’s third studio album, his “Starboy: Legend of the Fall 2017” world tour hits the Xcel Energy Center this September. Tickets start at $38.