Echo issue 5

Echo

LIBELLU LINE DEBUTS

TEAM GROWS IN NUMBERS

NEW “STAR WARS” MOVIE

New skincare line available for teens made by teens PAGE 4

Parkettes successfully recruit more members PAGE 8

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” entertains audiences PAGE 12

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Volume 91 Issue 5 St. Louis Park High School 6425 W. 33rd Street St. Louis Park, MN 55426

Flavored tobacco ban passes

New ordinance effective May 1 prevents sale of youth-targeted products Nicole Sanford nicolesanford@slpecho.com

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t a St. Louis Park City Council meeting Dec. 4, the city banned the sale of flavored tobacco within city limits in a unanimous 7-0 vote, following a previous meeting Nov. 20.

City Council member Sue Sanger, who proposed the legislation, said removing flavored tobacco sale will increase citizens’ well being.

“Those products are clearly marketed and aimed at young people, and it is a way that young people have become addicted to tobacco,” Sanger said. “I think that (the ban) is a way of improving the public health in St. Louis Park by making it more It’s showing that difficult for the youth to the City Council really cares about gain access and use both the health of those prodthe people of St. ucts.”

Senior Louis Park and Annie also just the future Van-Pilsum of the teenagers Johnson said and young people she does not believe living here. banning Eitan Weinstein, sophomore

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SLPECHO.COM

flavored tobacco in St. Louis Park will prevent youth from continuing to use it.

“I think it’s a good effort, but I don’t think it will be that effective because a lot of kids can just go to other cities that are just a few minutes away,” VanPilsum Johnson said. “I don’t think (the ban is) going to steer kids away from the use of tobacco, I think they can just get it by other means.”

Sophomore Eitan Weinstein, who spoke at the meeting Nov. 20, said he thinks passing the ban will prove beneficial for the community.

“It’s a really good sign not just for St. Louis Park, but for all cities in the West Metro that hopefully they’ll all move to follow similar courses of action,” Weinstein said. “It’s showing that the City Council really cares about both the health of the people of St. Louis Park and also just the future of the teenagers and young people living here.”

According to Sanger, in addition to improving public health, passing a flavored tobacco ordinance in St. Louis Park will begin the process of influencing other cities to do the same.

“I had two major goals in proposing this legislation,” Sanger said. “One was the public health issues, the other was to build momentum and to encourage other communities to institute similar bans and ultimately to try to convince the legislature to institute this kind of a ban statewide.”

The ordinance will be effective beginning May 1, 2018.

Photo Illustration Grace Farley & Devin Raynor

PLACE brings hub to Park Shops, hotels included with light rail addition David Bryant & Atticus Raasch davidbryant@slpecho.com atticusraasch@slpecho.com

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s a supplement to the future Park light rail station, the city has partnered with PLACE developers to create a multi-use development building with apartment spaces, a hotel and various other shops, according to city planner Jennifer Monson. “(The development) has 300 dwelling units, 110-unit hotel, a restaurant, coffee shop coworking space (and) a bike shop,” Monson said. “There’s an arts and transit plaza, which is located directly at the light rail station so it’s a really unique design. I think it’s the only (light rail station) that will have something directly at it, so it really provides a community asset to make that station a destination in the community.”

Junior Casey Kreie said the development will give general quality of life improvements to St. Louis Park. “(PLACE) will bring new people into St. Louis Park and create new business along with easier access in and out of Minneapolis,” Kreie said.

Monson said a major proponent of the

development is the idea that it will allow all citizens to have the opportunity to live at a more affordable price in St. Louis Park.

“The project brings a lot of affordable housing to SLP. This is something we’re always seeking, because we have a lot of really high housing costs,” Monson said.

“Affordable housing is really how people like teachers, public servants and firefighters who want to live in St. Louis Park can live here.”

Kreie said the location of the development will allow easy access to all of its amenities such as the bike path and various stores. “(PLACE’s) location is super convenient and will give some more people affordable and homey living,” Kreie said. “I just like the fact that all the stores are right on the bike trail so it will be very accessible for people on foot and bike.”

English teacher Christoph Nordmark said the development’s connection to the light rail will give residents an easier way to live and travel.

“I think the whole addition could give more people options to convenient and affordable living with its connection to the light rail and bike paths,” Nordmark said.

“I could see myself using it a bit to get to downtown.”

According to Monson, the high cost of

Photo Ella Hammerstrand

Rolling in: The Metro Transit light rail pulls into Target Field Station making its way to the Mall of America. A light rail station will be built at Wooddale in 2019. the development will allow for a high quality foundation making sure the area will be safe and habitable.

“The total project cost is something like $127 million. (PLACE) has received about $3 million in grants from the Met Council and Hennepin County,” Monson said. “A lot of that is for contamination cleanup. It makes the site for innovative and better for the community in general.”

Monson said although the cost is high, the city will not pay any money for the

development, but rather cuts taxes for the property in order to aid PLACE in building in the city.

“The city doesn’t have any money in (the development), it’s all the developer.

One of the things the city does to help developments in St. Louis Park is we have tax increments, which is a mechanism to help keep the taxes lower for a number of years,” Monson said. “It’s really an investment for the city. There’s zero risk the city takes with development like this.”

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NEWS

Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

WEB PREVIEW

Photo used with permission from Jeffery Cohen

Trip to Spain and Portugal approaches

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P European and world history teacher Jeffrey Cohen prepares to take students to Portugal and Spain during spring break.

Sophomore Amelia Huebsch said having learned more about Europe in AP European history will make the experience more powerful.

“It’s a really good learning opportunity, and experience. It allows you to see the places we have learned about (and) it makes it so much more real,” Huesch said.

For more information students can talk to Cohen in room C361, or go to EF tours website, www. eftours.com.

Marta Hill martahill@slpecho.com

Photo Sophie Olmen

Senior volleyball player commits to Augsburg

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enior Kim Lindgren said she has been working toward a college volleyball commitment for a while, and feels excited she is finally committed to Augsburg University.

“It’s been a really long process, I’ve been working on it ever since I was a sophomore,” Lindgren said. “To finally be done with it all and not having to worry about it is a really good feeling.”

Jenna Cook jennacook@slpecho.com

Rupi Kaur releases new book of poems

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o. 1 New York Times best seller and illustrator Rupi Kaur is back again with her most recent book, “the sun and her flowers,”another collection of self-written poems.

Kaur released her first book, “milk and honey,” in 2015, which addressed love, loss, trauma, abuse, healing and femininity. The book is divided into five chapters of poems relating to an overarching subject.

Evelyn Nelson evelynnelson@slpecho.com For more content go to slpecho.com twitter.com/slpecho facebook.com/slpecho

Ellen Poulter, sophomore

Minneapolis passes sanctuary city ordinance Committee seeks undocumented immigrant protection Mimi Fhima & Annabella Strathman mimifhima@slpecho.com annabellastrathman@slpecho.com

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n ordinance passed by the Minneapolis City Council Dec. 13 gives protection to undocumented immigrants seeking to report a crime.

If they are willing to cooperate in the investigation, this will grant them time to apply for U nonimmigrant status (a U visa), according to Adriana Cerrillo, a representative of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U visas are for undocumented immigrants who were victims of a crime and suffered abuse. If they cooperate with law enforcement and meet the requirements stated, they are eligble for a U visa.

According to Cerrillo, the committee requested for the city of Minneapolis to clearly execute the law.

“We asked the city to have that process a little more transparent and to implement the ordinance because we don’t want the police department to

About the visa Available for victims of listed criminal activities The crime must have occured in the United States or violated U.S. laws The ordinance protects victims of crimes and aids investiagtion One way to petition for the visa is by completing a personal statement regarding the crime Infographic Mimi Fhima Source U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Photo Hanna Schechter

act freely on whatever they feel they should be doing,” Cerillo said.

Cerrillo said the committee chose to make change at the city level, because it is here that the biggest impact can be created.

“It has been a political football how our community has been used and played by both parties,” Cerrillo said. “Unfortunately right now, we haven’t built that political model that we need, at the federal level we don’t have much hope.”

Senior Kiyonna Brooks said the diversity of the St. Louis Park community makes this issue increasingly important.

“St. Louis Park is a very diverse school, and I believe probably there’s a possibility that some people’s parents may be possibiliy (undocumented) immigrants,” Brooks said.

“In any given situation if their parents are deported that puts them in a hard situation.

We should understand that,” she said.

Junior Morganna Oberdorfer said she appreciates the ordinance and believes it is a just course of action.

“I think it is a really good thing because it’s really unfair that (undocumented) immigrants aren’t given a place to live here especially considering the circumstances,” Oberdorfer said.

According to Cerrillo, Minneapolis’ status as a sanctuary city has not created tangible change.

“It doesn’t mean anything at all, honestly.

It doesn’t stop our communities from being deported because the city has the police force, but the county runs the jails. Let’s say a person is detained by the police, they take them to the county jail,” Cerrillo said.

According to Cerrillo, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) aims to create legal change to the process of deportation of undocumented immigrants.

“We don’t have any paid staff — everybody is a volunteer. We try to stop the deportations of undocumented immigrants in the state of Minnesota,” Cerrillo said.

Money stolen from Special Education department GoFundMe exceeds goal

Photo Breanna Thompson

I think (the GoFundMe) has been so effective because it just hit home for a lot of people.

Atticus Raasch atticusraasch@slpecho.com

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ollowing a theft of around $400 from the Special Education department, senior Mimi Fhima said she and senior Sophie Yarosh felt inspired to act by start a GoFundMe fundraiser.

“We felt really bad about how the money had been stolen,” Fhima said. “We couldn’t do anything directly to help, so we (figured) this is the best way (to help).”

According to Special Education teacher Christine Tvrdik, the money was taken from room C159, one of the department classrooms.

“We’ve kept (the money) in the same place because a lot of staff and a lot of students need access to it,” Tvrdik said.

Senior Savannah Kjaer said after finding out about the incident, she donated to the GoFundMe as a way to show support for the Special Education department.

“I thought (donating) was just a way to do my part to fix it just because (the robbery is) such a terrible thing to happen,” Kjaer said.

Fhima said she got the idea to start a fundraiser after Yarosh posted about the robbery on Facebook. “(Yarosh) posted it in the senior Facebook group, and obviously a lot of people were really upset,” Fhima said. “I was looking through the comments a couple of days later and senior Alec Pittman had said someone should start a GoFundMe.” According to the GoFundMe website, the fundraiser has accumulated $775 since it began Dec. 1.

Photo Cecil Jacobson

But first coffee: Students rush to Cafe 159 1/2 to get their morning dose of coffee and donuts Dec. 12.

Tvrdik said she was overwhelmed by the community support.

“I was really blown away,” Tvrdik said. “It’s really sweet and really supportive of students and people in the community. I saw there was parents and students who donated money.”

Following the GoFundMe donations, Tvrdik said the class decided to donate the money to the Toys for Tots drive run

by Quill and Scroll and Student Council.

“We talked as a class and decided it would be fun to make a donation to Toys for Tots. We decided that we would put $100 of the raised money to purchasing toys on Amazon,” Tvrdik said. “We had a great time thinking of things that kids of certain ages would like.”

The GoFundMe is currently closed, but donations can be brought to room C159.

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Fresh Thyme has lots of health foods that people are really into these days with the prices of Trader Joe’s, which makes it more affordable for families.

Amaya Fokuo, sophomore

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Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Working shift: Senior Kyle Hedblom works his shift at the cash register after school Dec. 4.

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market currently employs multiple students, including Hedblom.

Photo Isaac Wahl

Price comparisons Apples

Fresh Thyme $1.79 per lbs Trader Joe’s $1.47 per lbs

Baby carrots Fresh Thyme $1.99 Trader Joe’s $1.79

Cereal Fresh Thyme $3.00 Trader Joe’s $3.99

Bread loaf

Fresh Thyme $2.49 Trader Joe’s $2.99

1/2 gallon of milk

Fresh Thyme $3.39 Trader Joe’s $1.69 Prices taken from lowest cost at each store Dec. 13.

Fresh Thyme

creates new atmosphere Grocery store brings more fresh produce to suburbs Tenzin Gyaldatsang tenzingyldatsang@slpecho.com

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ccording to Fresh Thyme Regional Marketing Coordinator Rebecca Rowe, the store has a mission to influence customers’ health for the better.

“We want to make sure all of our customers are having a great experience and having healthy, happy lifestyles at home,” Rowe said.

“What we want to do is to provide any type of natural, organic health products that they can integrate into their families and ultimately build stronger communities through health,” she said.

Freshman Mira Malka said she likes shopping at Fresh Thyme because it has accessible, wholesome food.

“It’s like a Whole Foods, but it is cheaper and it’s better. It’s more convenient to get healthy food,” Malka said. “I would recommend this to another student because it’s important to eat healthy, and it’s better than other stores.”

Sophomore Fresh Thyme employee Parker Brynildson said the market is a great place to work and shop. Brynildson said there is a wide array of products that include fresh, local food.

“It’s a good place to work for the employees. They all know their stuff and can answer questions that customers have,” Brynildson said. “The selection is also very nice ranging from (food) grown here to other states.”

According to Rowe, Fresh Thyme has lower prices for healthier products because it competes with other stores in the area.

“It’s good for our customers to have competition,” Rowe said. “It’s good that we can drive

those prices lower for everybody who’s coming to our community.”

Sophomore William Pinney said he enjoys shopping at Fresh Thyme because of the prices and friendly employees.

“It has all the best and healthiest foods for good prices,” Pinney said. “I like how the employees are helpful and know their stuff. The customer service is good.”

According to Rowe, the market aims to cater toward many different groups of people in the community.

“A lot of young families shop at our store, so families are a huge part of our identity and who we would like to become,” Rowe said.

William Pinney, sophomore “You can see some of our kids carts and various kids activities that we have around the store.”

According to senior employee Kyle Hedblom, working at Fresh Thyme has many benefits.

“It’s really relaxed, but it’s also just a business,” Hedblom said. “It is run very smoothly.

All of the staff are very friendly and can help you out if you need.”

Pinney said he recommends products from Fresh Thyme because they are fresh and of good quality.

“It has food that tastes good for lower prices than other grocery stores and that’s why I would recommend it,” Pinney said.

The Fresh Thyme Farmers Market in St. Louis Park is located on 4840 Excelsior Blvd. It is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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It has all the best and healthiest foods for good prices. I like how the employees are helpful and know their stuff.

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FEATURES

Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

For what it’s WORTH Anna duSaire annadusaire@slpecho. com

Song promotes difficult conversation

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earing a white man wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat use the N-word in the opening of a music video sets off several warning signs for me.

The song and video “I’m Not Racist,” released Nov. 28, by Joyner Lucas shines a light on the uncomfortable conversation about race in the United States.

The video poses a white man and a black man seated on either side of a table, expressing their opinions on race relations.

The strong language and brutal honesty of the lyrics makes the experience uncomfortable for many people. However, I feel it is an important song to hear and understand living in the United States in 2017.

In the first half, the white man presents many arguments and accusations about the black community and black culture. Many of his points come from stereotypes about black people. These points are statements I hear white people say. One of the most common being, ‘I’m not racist because I have a black friend.’ Hearing him make these accusations is a remainder of how What’s the divided the country still POINT? is.

Listening In the creates second half of the productive the conversations song black man responds to the accusations, while also addressing his frustration with the white community and the systematic racism and oppression in the United States. One of the most prominent lines said by the black man was “blame it on everybody, except for your own race.” Seeing him defend himself without interruption made me feel heard even though I wasn't the one speaking.

The video exemplifies this by having one man sit and listen, without commenting, while the other speaks. This point is made very clear in the last line of each man’s verse.

The video closes with the men hugging and a quote on the aspects of society that have caused divisions. This pushes for people not to agree on issues such as race but to come to a mutual understanding for the other opinion.

It is important for students to listen to the song and have conversations about its content because it discusses one of the biggest issues in our country and community. The video gives me hope that people are able to have emotional, yet productive conversations about race.

For more content go to slpecho.com

Skin care is important because you're taking care of your body and (being) healthy.

Sutra Abdullahi, sophomore

Team Libellu launches teen skincare line Interns promote beauty confidence Dani Orloff daniorloff@slpecho.com

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ccording to Reprise Skincare founder Kristi Shepherd, Libellu, which is a branch of Reprise Skincare, focuses on catering to the needs of teens. “(The makeup is) made with pure and natural ingredients that are very simple to understand,” Shepherd said. “Our branding and our marketing is geared for a younger audience. We use a lot more social media to market the product.”

Senior Reprise Skincare intern Makagbe Kuyateh said she assisted the brand through providing a teen’s perspective.

“She wanted to ask us what type of products do teens use now, and we brought up the attention that we use face masks and stuff like that,” Kuyateh said.

Shepherd said she hopes to expand the conversations inspiring young men and women to embrace their skin.

“We want people to start having the conversation and the awareness of what it means to be a strong, confident young person who respects other people for who they are under the skin,” Shepherd said.

“That’s the big goal.”

Freshman Kristi Thompson said hearing about the opportunities students have in the community gives her pride.

Photo Emma Kempf

Boss Lady: Libellu interns senior Makagbe Kuyateh and junior Rachel Young showcase the brand's skincare products to passing students in the B1 hallway Dec. 5.

“I think it is really great that St. Louis Park students are getting a chance to be in entrepreneurs,” Thompson said.

According to Shepherd, the Libellu line consists of dry mixes and oils that allow each consumer to customize their routine.

“We created two separate dry mixes.

One is a facial scrub, and then we made a facial mask that you mix with the oil to either scrub your skin or give your skin a facial,” Shepherd said.

According to Shepherd, team Libellu researched ingredients that benefit young skin before creating the products.

“We did a lot of research online, and we also talked to a chemist who advised us on some of the things that would be better for skin than others,” Shepherd said.

Kuyateh said she enjoys her role in external marketing for the brand.

What is Libellu?

• Teen skincare line • All natural ingredients • Named after French word for dragonfly, "Libellule" Infographic Katie Hardie Source Kristi Shepherd

“I try to find places where we can market at," Kuyateh said. "I’ve also brought attention to other schools where we can market at."

According to Shepherd, Libellu is hosting a pop-up party at 3:15 p.m. Dec. 22 at Reprise Skincare for those interested in testing and buying Libellu products.

Community service provides meals during break Birdfeeder organizes food distribution

Donating to the Birdfeeder What

Donations include food items and gift cards.

Money can also be given to help buy items.

When

Students and families can pick up donations anytime between Dec. 18 to Dec. 22.

Where

Donation packages can be picked up in room B226.

Brooklyn Donelson, Yonit Krebs & Sumaya Mohamed brooklyndonelson@slpecho.com yonitkrebs@slpecho.com sumayamohamed@slpecho.com

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ith a few months of volunteering experience accomplished, junior Leensa Ahmed said she has enjoyed helping people within the Park community.

“It's been pretty cool going out and being able to shop for families who need it, and being a student who’s helping out other students in the St. Louis Park High School community has been a great experience,”Ahmed said.

According to business and marketing manager Sophia Ross, the Birdfeeder is donating food to help families during winter break.

“It's really important that over these long breaks kids still have access to food,” Ross said. “So what we did was we put together a winter break request form and students and families from St. Louis Park can fill it out for anywhere from five to 10 bags of groceries, and that could include a holiday meal.”

Ahmed said the Birdfeeder wants to allow students to pick the foods they will receive during the holidays.

“Because everyone celebrates Christmas differently, we wanted to create a way where we would still give certain foods

How to receive

Application forms can be filled out in the counseling office.

Everything remains anonymous.

How to donate

Write a check out to the Birdfeeder, bring in cash or non-perishable foods.

Infographic Devin Raynor Source Sophia Ross

and request bags, but also have a way that people can decide what they want on their own,” Ahmed said.

According to Ross all personal information is kept confidential.

“We don't go up to students and talk to them about it,” Ross said. “Typically students find out about it from the posters or a social worker.”

Ross said these donations opportunity benefits everyone involved.

“I think it's good for the people who are receiving as well as the people who are donating,” Ross said. “Obviously when kids and families are being fed in St. Louis Park, they feel good about themselves, (and) not worry about where they are getting their next meal.”

According to Ahmed, families have recognized and requested food donations from the Birdfeeder.

“We went shopping last week for turkeys and hams and any other food items that anyone would need,” Ahmed said.

“We’ve gotten a lot of requests so far, but people can still feel free to put in a request until tomorrow.”

Ross said donations will be accepted through the district website and the Birdfeeder.

“At school, we have an account set up for money. Anybody can donate, and then we use that money for shopping and the things we need like backpacks to put food in, or sometimes we’ll purchase gift cards and send to families as well,” Ross said.

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(Makeup) allows you to be creative and show your style through how you want your face to look.

FEATURES

Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Hannah Greenstein, sophomore

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In the SPOTLIGHT

Artist develops unique makeup style Senior Jake Henry expresses his art, passion Jake Henry, senior How did you first begin doing makeup?

I just wanted to do it, but I could never could figure out why. Then I started watching “RuPaul's Drag Race,” and I started getting into the drag aspects of that.

Who inspires you when creating your makeup looks?

Instagram. I follow a lot of different accounts. Most of them aren’t even drag queens, they can be just random makeup artists that I find or performance artists with full makeup.

How do you express your technique to others?

For daily life I don’t wear makeup just because it takes so much time. I work at a makeup store, Midwest Makeup Supply, and when I'm there, it's a lot of playing around. I do a lot of special effects makeup along with drag. I love blood and gore, or burns, plus other things like that. So when I’m at work I try to do a lot of special effects, and when I'm at home and I have more free time, that's when I can do drag makeup.

Have you faced any challenges when doing makeup?

Finding time. Specifically brush cleaning time because cleaning brushes just takes a lot of time. Also, learning that I’m growing. At the beginning, (my makeup skills) weren't very good and it was kind of a mess, and so just giving myself time to develop and knowing I have to be bad before I’m good was something that took a lot to learn.

How have you overcome the obstacles you have faced with makeup?

Part of it was working — it was a validation for the makeup I was doing and it made me feel more efficient.

Photo Malaika Bigrindayvi

Man in makeup: Senior Jake Henry experiments with different shades to make his special effects makeup more realistic. Henry works at Midwest Makeup Supply in Uptown, but also helps in the theater department.

Also, recognizing what I did good and talking positively to myself as opposed to saying ‘this is bad’ and saying ‘this is just an area I can grow in.’

How can students get involved with makeup?

You can stop by (Midwest Makeup Supply). I work pretty much regularly every Tuesday. Or join theater — sometimes we have fun makeup, I made lesions for one show.

Honestly starting on your own is the best, being able to know what the makeup vocabulary is, it's just a good place to start.

What are the main styles of makeup looks you enjoy creating?

I am primarily a special effects artist because I consider drag to be special effects, but I do all types of makeup. I can do glam makeup, I can do everyday makeup, I don’t

like body painting but I can do it. Anything that is really character-based and involves the use of special effects and color, I love colorful makeup, I love anything that is not everyday makeup.

What would you want to tell students who also aspire to do makeup?

If you want to start makeup, (Midwest Makeup Supply) is great. We work a lot with people who are going through transitioning or performers or if you are just curious about starting. Honestly, Walgreens or NYX even has really great products that you can start out with. Plus, YouTube is a great way to start.

Evelyn Nelson evelynneslon@slpecho.com

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IN-DEPTH

Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

I think that it’s an issue especially because of the amount of drug abuse that’s taken place in our country.

Ellen Poulter, sophomore

Opioid crisis persists Prescription drug addiction, overdoses impact Park Nicole Sanford & Sophie Yarosh nicolesanford@slpecho.com sophieyarosh@slpecho.com

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unior Sara Anderson said she felt uncomfortable using prescribed opioid painkillers after undergoing a major chest surgery because of the possibility of becoming addicted.

“I was prescribed narcotics to take home and use for a month and then general stuff like Ad-

vil,” Anderson said. “I used them at the beginning, but then I went off them a few weeks early, because I’ve heard stories of people getting addicted to painkillers after surgery. I didn’t want to do that.”

What are opioids?

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ccording to drug counselor Kjirsten Hanson, opioids are extremely addictive painkillers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and percocet.

“They’re highly addictive — very, very highly addictive,” Hanson said. “It (helps) calm the central nervous system. That’s where you get where the person stops breathing because it slows that down to try and alleviate some of the pain.”

Hanson said opioid overdoses cause harm because they directly affect the brain.

“They act on a very specific part of the brain in terms of kind of easing pain, and they also suppress some of the systems that are in place,” Hanson said.

Amy Busch, pharmacy manager at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, said there are five different schedules, or categories, of controlled narcotics that correspond to how addictive a given drug is.

Busch said prescribed opioids fall between Schedule II and Schedule V. Illegal opioids, such as heroin, are considered Schedule I because of their severe effects. “(Heroin is) in the (opioid) family, but that is an illicit drug. There’s different schedules of controlled narcotics,” Busch said. “A lot of patients that get addicted to opioids through legit prescriptions, so through real legitimate medicine, when they run out of that and they can’t get that, they’re turning to heroin.”

According to junior Sam Jensen, the opioid crisis remains an alarming problem affecting both individual cities and the country as a whole.

“When I first heard about it, I didn’t think it would ever be this big, but now that it’s continuing to go on it’s kind of scary,” Jensen said. “It’s still affecting pretty much every community around us and in the country almost, so it’s a big deal.”

Busch said many teenagers are introduced to an opioid addiction by experimenting with opioids prescribed to someone they know.

“Mostly they are getting them out of medicine cabinets either at their home or at their friends’ parents’ homes,” Busch said. “That’s why it’s just really important if you are prescribed something and you don’t end up using it all, don’t let it sit in your

medicine cabinet. It is a danger out there. It really is a dangerous thing in your home.”

According to Hanson, local libraries provide space for people to throw away any unused prescription medications.

“In Ridgedale Library, Brookdale Library (and) Roseville Library, there’s places where you can take in any kinds of (medications) in your house, and no questions asked, nothing, you just put it in,” Hanson said.

Issue affects community

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reshman Elizabeth Hodges said she has seen the impact of opioid addiction in her everyday life.

“I know some people who have been affected by the opioid crisis. They’ve just ended up in situations where they needed those medicines or painkillers and (then) they just got started abusing the medicine,” Hodges said.

According to Busch, naloxone (Narcan) is a drug that reverses the effects of an overdose.

St. Louis Park Fire Department community outreach coordinator Nancy Schmelzle said since this past summer, Narcan has been available for city firefighters to administer when there’s an overdose.

“Generally those people are not breathing, so if they’re not breathing, of course we start CPR. Then beginning late this summer we also started carrying Narcan,” Schmelzle said. “We start with a small amount and give them the nasal Narcan and then continue to administer CPR if needed.”

Schmelzle said although Narcan has the ability to save people during an overdose, addiction and replication of opioids remain a significant concern.

“The bottom line is we don’t want these calls, so there needs to be more done about the crisis in general, none of which we have the power to do,” Schmelzle said. “If they don’t go through proper treatment and solve the problem, the likelihood of us seeing them again is pretty great.”

Jeremiah Gardner, manager of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, said opioids can impact anyone.

“Substance use disorders affect every kind of person, every socio-economic status, every race.

Nobody is immune to the effects of substance use,” Gardner said. “Not everybody gets addicted, but a

“I didn’t think it would ever be this big, but now that it’s continuing to go on, it’s kind of scary. It’s still affecting pretty much every community around us.”

Sam Jensen, junior

significant minority do, so it’s a risk for all of us when we try substances.”

According to Hodges, opioid abuse not only affects the user, but also affects the people around them.

“It’s just really sad to see the effect it has on their life because it can destroy them financially, destroy their relationships with family and friends,” Hodges said.

Senior Kenya Brooks, who knew someone who struggled with opioid addiction, said addiction impacts more people than just the addict.

“They’re homeless. They don’t keep a job.

They’re using state pensions and SSI instead of bettering themselves or surviving off of it they spend the whole entire thing on drugs like opioids,” Brooks said. “A lot of times at this age group, we’re so quick to jump into things without knowing the effects it will have on our body.”

“

It’s killing a lot of people. A lot of people are addicted to it. It’s important to talk about it because it’s a huge issue.

Matthew Powell, freshman

Signs of an overdose

Breathing stopped or slowed

Skin and lips are blue or grey

Unconscious Infographic Marta Hill Source American Society of Anesthesiologist

What to do if someone overdoses 1 Lightly tap or shake person. If no response, rub knuckles on breast bone.

2 Call 911: specify their condition

3 If person is not breathing, begin mouth-tomouth resuscitation. If no pulse, begin CPR.

4 If vomiting occurs, place person on their side in recovery position.

5 For more information, contact substance abuse and mental health services at 1-(800)-662-4357.

Infographic Hanna Schechter Source American Society of Anesthesiologist

IN-DEPTH Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Federal grant nationally distributed Organizations receive money to improve recovery programs Nicole Sanford & Sophie Yarosh nicolesanford@slpecho.com sophieyarosh@slpecho.com

A

ccording to vice president of clinical programs at Wayside Recovery Center Jessie Everts, the recovery center received grant money that will be used to develop a peer recovery program at their treatment centers, one of which is located in St. Louis Park.

Everts said Wayside Recovery Center is part of a group of women service agencies and aids in opioid addiction.

According to Everts, the federal government recently administered grants to states in need of support for the opioid crisis, and Wayside Recovery Center was one of the thirty organizations in Minnesota to receive funding.

“It’s from the federal government passed down to the states to disperse around the opioid epidemic, so I believe each state got an amount to give to local organizations,” Everts said. “Our grant came directly from the Minnesota Department of Human Services.”

According to junior Parker Brynildson, Wayside is using the grant money in ways that will effectively help people in their facility.

“It’s good that they’re getting people over their addiction with the money and not using it for other stuff, because some kids are probably addicted to opioids, and they’re too scared to ask for help. So if they have those grants, they Source Sun Sailor can ask for help easier,” Brynildson said.

Additionally, Everts said they will aim to use the money to increase education surrounding opioid use.

“One of the focuses of the grant money is to get more education and resources out there about opioid use,” Evert said. “We want people in the communities to understand that there are resources out there if they do become addicted to them and that there are emergency response opportunities out there.”

Wayside Recovery Center is located at 3705 Park Center Blvd, St. Louis Park. For more information, visit waysiderecovery.org. -

On Nov. 3, a

$16.6 million

grant was issued to more than 30 agencies in Minnesota to combat the opioid crisis.

Law, policies protect confidentiality Emergency services available to students Nicole Sanford & Sophie Yarosh nicolesanford@slpecho.com sophieyarosh@slpecho.com

M

edical director for the Minnesota Poison Control Center Jon Cole said in 2015 the Minnesota State Legislature passed a law allowing any person to be free of legal jeopardy if they call 911 during an overdose emergency.

“If you bought drugs illegally and you and your friend use them and your friend overdoses and you freak out and you call 911, by law in Minnesota they can no longer prosecute you for possessing illegal drugs for personal use,” Cole said.

According to Cole, the Minnesota Poison Control Center is available to take calls regarding ingestion of harmful substances.

“Anybody can call us, 24/7/365, (if) it’s Christmas Day and you want to call us you can,” Cole said.

“It’s free and confidential 100 percent, even if you just have questions about drug use or opioids.”

Hanson said her job is bound by federal and state confidentiality guidelines.

“State statute says students under the age of majority, which is 18, can give consent for chemical and sexual health information and treatment without needing parent permission,” Hanson said.

Hanson also said the information shared with her is confidential unless it appears life-threatening.

“If we’re talking about heroin use or something like that, I am going to break your confidentiality. I’d rather have you pissed off at me and alive than dead and no opportunity to try (recovery) again,” Hanson said.

Gardner said the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a national system of addiction treatment care with five sites in Minnesota.

“Our mission (is) beyond just to treat addiction, but it’s to educate the public about the problem of addiction and also the possibility of recovery,” Gardener said. “We do things along the entire continuum — not just treatment but also prevention.”

Brooks said students need to be more educated about the risks of using opioids.

“We probably should take the time to express to the youth at this school how it affects the body and the soul because it’s really important,” Brooks said.

“I feel like maybe an awareness day, have a guest speaker come in who’s been struggling with opioid addiction who overcame it (and) maybe watch videos.”

Hanson said she aims to support students who are struggling and guide them toward helpful resources.

“What a student reveals to me is not able to be used against them in a punitive sense here at school,” Hanson said. “My whole piece is to circumvent any kind of suspensions or things like that, so if we can get on board kind of an assessment being done or some therapy help outside of school or any of those pieces that is the ultimate goal.”

Gardner said the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation focuses on discussing addiction and informing people about the various aspects of it.

“We’re really trying to impact, in a positive way, how addiction is addressed in different levels of society and at different stages of the disease process,” Gardner said.

According to Hodges, talking about the opioid crisis is the best way to begin raising awareness.

“I think just starting a conversation is the most important thing to start out (with) because a lot of people just aren’t aware of the effects that it’s having on people,” Hodges said.

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8

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SPORTS

Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Uthman Adam, freshman

Parkettes increase in numbers

Out of the PARK

Inclusion efforts result in 22 members

Alec Pittman alecpittman@ slpecho.com

Adapt mentally, not physically

Ruby Stillman rubystillman@slpecho.com

F

G

oing into my final fall season with my club swim team, I assumed the culture would behave as it had always in the past — no cliques and no conflict.

However, as the season progressed, I came to find my expectations were not reality as the team looked to be more divided and less communicative than in years past.

Early in the season, the team had scheduled a day with our regular sports psychologist, Shaun Goodsell. Feeling the need to talk with him about my thoughts on the disgruntled team environment, I connected with him after he led a discussion on hopes What’s the and plans POINT? for the season.

I shared with him the conflicts at practice, how those conflicts caused different friend groups to arise and how in the end they created a disunified team as a whole. Instead of responding directly to my questions about the team, he targeted his response more specifically to my character.

Shaun asked how it was that I was able to see the issues while others could not. He pointed out my skill of interacting with all my teammates and how it gave me an understanding of the team others didn’t possess. He asked me to use my skills to lead the team toward a better environment and future not necessarily by being the best physical swimmer in practice, but by being the most positive and interactive of all my teammates.

Taking Shaun’s words to heart, I began to try and lead my team by encouraging teammates to keep going in tough sets or by talking one-on-one with friends. However, seeing no real progress, I began to question whether it was worth it or not to lead my teammates.

But, choosing to stay positive, I continued to try to help as a leader not in the pool, but rather just as a friend. Soon enough, day by day my teammates began going out of their way to lead one another both in and out of the water. The entire team worked as one to motivate, provide encouragement and most of all create companionship with all the members on the team.

The rest of the season all my teammates embraced one another in positivity and encouragement.

Shifting from the mindset that I couldn’t lead without physcially being the best to the idea anyone could lead, I felt more a leader than I ever had before. I now know to be a successful leader, leading through positvity matters so much more than physical skill.

It’s my first time hearing (about the eSports team) so I think it’s pretty cool.

Anyone can lead despite skill level

Photo Grace Farley

ormer Parkettes and current codirectors Faith Schway and Marcia Brucciani made it their mission to bring back the Park dance team and said they feel pleased with the team’s success so far.

“There have been four or five attempts to try and start the group back up, and I said, ‘failure is not in my vocabulary,’” Schway said. “We will succeed, and we are succeeding tremendously right now.”

According to Schway, through many publicity efforts, the Parkettes reached out to as many people as possible to make their dream a reality.

“Marcia and I have put up posters, we have done a career day, we have worked with incoming freshmen, we have done everything that we have learned about that we could do,” Schway said. “We have talked to kids.

We have handed out fliers. You name it, we did it.”

Sophomore Parkette Aleah Schuman said she appreciates the diversity within the team.

“There’s so many different nationalities that are in the group — it’s not just one race. So there’s a lot of

different grades and people coming together,” Schuman said.

Brucciani said the co-directors’ outreach attempts accumulated 22 members on their roster, who she believes will benefit greatly from the lessons they will learn as Parkettes.

“We are dedicated because it’s something that we love, and being Parkettes gave us so much,” Brucciani said. “It created discipline and responsibility and integrity and friendship, and we learned skills that we have brought with us into the next decades of our lives.”

Schuman said she notices commitment issues on the team.

“It’s fun to have more people in it because all you guys are having fun together and there’s more of us, but not everyone is committed to constantly going,” Schuman said.

Although their group has grown, Brucciani said she hopes to continue including more girls and advance the status of the team.

“Our goal is we’d like to have a dance line of 24 or 32 or 40 girls, and we’d like to have them be very consistent with their attendance and dedication to the group,” Brucciani said. “We are hoping at some point to become a full-fledged team sport — a dance team. We would love to take the girls to the state competitions.”

For more information on how to join the Parkettes, contact Schway or Brucciani through the student office.

eSports moves on to nationals Park video game players qualifies for trip to Texas Lukas Levin & Isaac Wahl lukaslevin@slpecho.com isaacwahl@slpecho.com

s sophomore Joseph Lindstrom’s Overwatch team launched to victory, he said he felt proud of his achievement.

“I’m just having a good time with my team and getting that feel that we are united. (We are) good at the game, the team can play well, we feel that we matter, we’re at a high position.” eSports coach Jacob Utities said the team worked vigorously to attain the win.

“The team we played in the finals was just not prepared for us, and we knew exactly what they were going to do. We watched every one of their films, we figure out each player and what they excelled at and are good at,” Utities said.

“Then we just created a Jacob Utitties, adviser strategy just to counter that and we just destroyed them.”

Senior Graham Campbell said their win was easier than expected.

“It was so easy for us. We didn’t feel

A

“

How exciting would it be to know that in your sport, in your game, you are the best in the country?

Photo Alexis Machoka

Game on: Junior Alessandro Giannetti and sophomore Joseph Lindstrom participate in esports practice Nov. 9. The Overwatch team is currently ranked first in the country.

Road to Nationals Format

Dates

•

Best of 3

•

•

Competition Rules

Dec. 16 clenched nationals

•

Kill cams Disabled

•

Jun. 8

•

Dallas, Texas

Source Graham Campbell & High School Esports League

challenged. We were expecting (the final game opponent) to be a lot harder and we were so prepared for every character on their team.”

The eSports team won the national championship Dec. 16, becoming the number one Overwatch eSports team in

the nation, according to Utities.

Campbell said he feels proud to represent a team in Park that can be recognized at such a prestigious level.

“St. Louis Park has always been a school looked down upon with other sports. It’s actually exciting to win a pretty big title.”

Utities said both he and the players are ecstatic to go to Dallas in June to compete with some of the other top ranked teams in the United States.

“Oh my God we’re so excited. The kids are pumped. A bunch of professional eSports players, coaches and recruiters will be there from colleges looking for kids to play. There is going to be a 32 team tournament,” Utities said. “We get a trip to Dallas, the kids are the best in the country.

How exciting would it be to know that in your sport, in your game, you are the best in the country?”

“

I support (the gymnastics team) a lot I think gymnastics is a very hard sport to do.

SPORTS

Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Ava Tronson, sophomore

9

Meet the ATHLETE

Who Jac Cullen Grade Junior Sport Basketball How long have you been playing basketball?

All in all, I have played for about eight years.

Photo Malaika Bigirindavyi

Springing into action: Junior captain Savannah Romero attempts a “half on half off” vault at Park’s meet Dec. 15 against the Orono Spartans. The Orioles lost 127.05 to 129.65.

Gymnastics falls short to Orono Anna duSaire receives score of 9.15 on beam Alex Balfour, Hannah Leff & Izzy Leviton alexbalfour@slpecho.com hannahleff@slpecho.com izzyleviton@slpecho.com

C

heers erupted from the Park gymnastics team and fans as senior Anna duSaire received a new personal record for her beam routine with a score of 9.15.

“I’m proud of myself for that because it’s something I’ve been working on. Beam has been my strongest event for last year especially and this year,” duSaire said.

“Last year at Sections, I got really close to qualifying for State and so getting this nine (was) really validating and it really makes me want to work hard to get to State this year,” she said.

According to gymnastics head coach Gretchen Novak, despite being defeated by Orono, the team should be proud of their personal accomplishments.

“We were at 127.05 and they were at 129.65,” Novak said. “Anna duSaire was first place all-around. She also had her PR on beam, (Anna) just

totally stuck her beam routine.”

Novak said she aims to focus on refining the team’s current routines and skills moving forward this season. “(We will) continue to work routines and the skills that we already have and make our routine stronger,” Novak said.

Junior Savannah Romero said although the team lost, there were multiple positive takeaways from the meet.

“We all thought it went really well although we didn’t win. We did have some personal records and we are already three points away from our season goal, and it is only our second meet,” Romero said.

The next meet will take place 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at Hopkins High School.

TUTORING SHOULDN’T BE

TORTURE

s s s

Why did you start playing basketball?

Growing up, I saw my brother playing basketball and having good success with it and that really made me want to try it myself.

What is your favorite high school basketball memory?

Beating Chanhassen freshman year. They were a really good match for us, and for us to put together a good performance and get a win was special.

What individual goals to you have this season?

Playing some varsity minutes. The games are such a high level of competition and I think it would be a great experience.

What team goals do you have?

I would say one of our goals is really to take advantage of every single day, whether it be a practice or game. The season isn’t that long so we need to make the most of it and leave it all out there on the court when we can.

William Phelan williamphelan@slpecho.com

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O RI N

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10 OPINIONS

Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

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 Assistant photo editor: Breanna Thompson News editor: Yonit Krebs & Sumaya Mohamed 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 Web design editor: Josh Halper & Adam Johnson Profiles: *Ndunzi Kunsunga Staff: Tjessa Arradondo, Malaika Bigirindavyi, David Bryant, Natalia Caraballo, Culver Carden, Jenna Cook, Eli Curran-Moore, Nietzsche Deuel, Brooklyn Donelson, Racquel Fhima, Esther Gendler, Tenzin Gyaldatsang, Katie Hardie, Marta Hill, Abigail Intveld, Avia Kaner-Roth, Isabel Kjaer, Samantha Klepfer, Alexis Machoka, Kimon Malone, Evelyn Nelson, Sophie Olmen, William Phelan, Carissa Prestholdt, Hadeal Rizeq, Mara Zapata, Ruby Stillman, Isaac Wahl, Hayley Westwood & Emma Yarger Business manager: Yonah Davis Principal: Scott Meyers Printer: ECM Inc.

TransCanada shouldn’t build more pipelines because they’re destroying the environment and sacred land.

Anand Datt, junior

Our Perspective

PLACE project benefits community

P

rojects Linking Art, Community and Education, a non-profit organization focused on city renovation, has started working on plans with St. Louis Park to create a new ecovillage and creative center in the center of the city.

The project plans to introduce “Via,” a new accessible hub, complete with more living spaces and new buildings, including both workspaces and 100 hotels units.

These changes should be welcomed, as there are very few negative repercussions of PLACE’s plan.

According to its website, PLACE will position the project at 5725 State Highway 7, right next to where Highway 7 and Wooddale intersect. It will run adjacent to the Cedar Trail bike path where the future light rail will run through. The location of the project will allow for the light rail station to become a central destination in the city.

The useful placement of the building makes it accessible to many in the city, particularly because of the proximity to and use of the regional bike trails.

The project is also a short walk southeast from the high school, allowing high school students to access downtown

Photo rendering used with permission from Jennifer Monson

more easily while keeping the new buildings relatively close to the center of the city.

One advantage to the project is that the PLACE will not receive any payment from the city.

Anybody concerned with how the city will pay for such a project should take solace in knowing PLACE, as a non-profit organization, will pay for the $127 million project by themselves and will not receive any money from the city. Additional funding will only come from grants from the Met Council and Hennepin county.

However, PLACE will receive cut taxes for the property in order to aid PLACE in

building “Via.” The renewable aspects of the buildings also add confidence to our support for PLACE’s plans for the city.

These aspects include the use of anaerobic digesters, wind turbines and solar panels which, in combination, will provide for a large majority of “Via”’s power.

Modern updates for the city should always welcome. The editorial board believes PLACE needs to make information about development more accessible to all St. Louis Park residents, not just city council, and students should stay updated on the overall process.

Adviser: Lori Keekley *Denotes editorial board member

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, 2017 NSPA Print Pacemaker Finalist; 2013, 2014, 2015 National Print Pacemaker Award Recipient; 2014, 2015, 2016 Online Pacemaker Finalist; CSPA Gold Medalist; 2017 CSPA Hybrid Crown Finalist; 2013 CSPA Gold Crown; 2015 CSPA Hybrid Gold Crown; 2012, 2014, 2016 CSPA Silver Crown; JEM All-State.

Concern arises after TransCanada oil leakage Oil companies losing public trust following spill Hanna Schechter hannaschechter@slpecho.com

I

n November, approximately 210,000 gallons of crude oil were spilled from the Keystone pipeline in South Dakota.

The pipeline is owned by TransCanada Corporation which has already began cleaning up the spill.

The progress TransCanada has made in cleaning up the leakage does not excuse the fact that thousands of gallons of oil are still in the soil.

According to TransCanada, 44,400 gallons of oil have already been recovered as of Nov. 24. Although TransCanada has cleaned up almost a quarter of the spill, roughly 166,000 gallons of oil still remain in the ground.

TransCanada has released information to the public concerning the spill and said it’s carefully assessing the damage.

A plan to start repairs has already been approved by the Hazardous Materials Safety.

Although TransCanada has handled this incident very well, they have proposed to build another pipeline through the United States, the Keystone XL. This project was approved by President Trump’s administration in March because

the construction of the pipeline will generate more jobs.

However, these jobs will only be temporary and when the Keystone XL line is finished the workers will be left unemployed.

Furthermore, the Keystone XL line will carry oil made from oil sands that produce 17 percent more greenhouse gases.

The Keystone XL project will also cross the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the largest aquifers in the nation. According to Scientific American, the Ogallala Aquifer waters around $20 billion in food products a year and is very important for sustaining agriculture in the west.

If the Keystone pipeline were to leak, it would be disastrous. Although TransCanada has stated it would take the necessary precautions to minimize their impact of the environment, it is hard to trust the company after this last oil spill.

Many oil companies take precautions and use advanced technology to try and prevent oil spills.

However, with 1.3 million gallons of petroleum spilled in the United States, according to the Department of Energy, it’s becoming harder and harder to trust these new pipelines.

In Minnesota, the oil company Enbridge has proposed a new line that will cross native lands and water resources. If this project were to be passed, it’s hard to

Down to Fresh Thyme: Nobody has thyme for that.

Art Devin Raynor

TransCanada pipeline route Current pipeline Proposed pipeline

Infographic Devin Raynor Source BBC

believe that an oil spill will not occur.

If a spill were to occur, like in South Dakota, it would harm Minnesota’s wildlife and land.

With so many spills happening this decade, it’s becoming more difficult to place trust in the oil companies building these new pipelines.

Up to PLACE development: Seems like the place to be.

Up to blood drive: I just really wanted a juice box.

L.L., A.R., Y.D.

“

We’re treating (gun control) like it’s a taboo. Nobody wants to talk about it and it’s a serious issue in America.

OPINIONS

Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Navjot Kaur , junior

This country needs gun control

Politicians’ thoughts, prayers are not enough Hannah Leff hannahleff@slpecho.com

A

gunman killed four people while attempting to enter an elementary school in Northern California Nov. 14. Just nine days prior, 29 people died in a shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

These incidents have increased the number of mass shootings in the United States to 413 during 2017, according to Mass Shooting Tracker.

The fact that we have a website that tracks how many mass shootings occur in the United States should be proof enough that this country needs gun control now.

The Second Amendment states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This Amendment was intended to protect the rights of militias, not the “right of people.”

However, the National Rifle Association (NRA) insists the Second

An American citizen does not and should not need the right to buy semi-automatic assault weapons or high-capacity magazines.

11

Amendment is an individual right, just like the rest of the Bill of Rights, according to the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action.

The NRA and those who oppose gun control base their argument on a constitutional Amendment that was written when the large majority of guns had to be reloaded after every shot.

It’s not 1791 anymore.

It’s 2017 and someone can legally buy parts to modify a gun to function like an automatic weapon, and then aim that weapon at a Las Vegas concert and fire nine rounds per second, according to Time.

It’s one thing to own a handgun however, it’s completely different to own a weapon capable of firing thousands of bullets on a crowd of people.

An American citizen does not and should not need the right to buy semi-automatic assault weapons or highcapacity magazines. There is no situation where a civilian would need a gun that fires 400 rounds per minute.

The United States continuously breaks its record of people killed in a mass shooting each year. Last year it was Orlando with 49 deaths and more than 58 injuries, according to CNN; this year it was Las Vegas with 58 deaths and more than 500 injuries, according to Los Angeles Times.

It is not nearly enough for our politicians to tweet out their “thoughts and prayers” to those affected by mass shootings.

It’s simply an empty substitute for legitimate action.

We need action, and we need it now.

Photo illustration Brooklyn Donelson & Devin Raynor

POINT COUNTERPOINT

Resignation of Minnesota senator results in controversy Minnesota state Sen. Al Franken declared his intent to resign Dec. 7, after allegation of sexual misconduct.

Being named one of St. Louis Park’s distinguished alumini, some feel conflicted about Franken’s honor.

Senator undeserving of almumni award Community should support assault victims Mimi Fhima mimifhima@slpecho.com

S

en. Al Franken was awarded the St. Louis Park Distinguished Alumni Award and recognized at the high school for his political achievements in 2010. After recent sexual assault allegations, Senator Franken no longer deserves this honor.

Allowing Franken to remain a distinguished alumnus validates his actions and sends the message that despite his gross misconduct, his political endeavors warrant distinction. This cannot and should not be the case. Simply because he has an accomplished resume does not mean he deserves to keep his honored reputation.

As a prominent political figure, people looked up to Franken

PARK TRAIL

for his achievements. Taking away this nomination will send a permanent, strong message that sexual assault is not OK under any circumstances, and will not be rewarded or accepted by society.

Not only is he undeserving of the award in and of itself, allowing him to remain listed next to other, more deserving alumni diminishes their work.

Despite Franken’s apologetic statement, his actions remain inexcusable. Franken can apologize and profess his sincerity as many times as he wishes, but that cannot change what occurred.

Continuing to recognize Franken as a distinguished alumnus begins to unravel any progress that has been made in validating victims of sexual assault and changing societal norms. Franken deserves to be punished for his actions and allowing him to keep this award is a strong step backward.

Nietzsche Deuel nietzscheduel@slpecho.com

How do you feel about Al Franken’s resignation?

“

Accomplishments make him a great candidate Tenzin Gyaldatsang tenzingyaldatsang@slpecho.com

I feel like he shouldn’t have left his job because I think I heard that many other people are accused of that too.

Rakesh Plantz, sophomore

“

Franken shouldn’t lose distinguished status

I feel proud because he went far, but it’s very bad because a lot of people trusted him.* Gabriella Nuga, freshman *Translated by Ruby Stillman

S

en. Al Franken should continue to be a distinguished alumni of the city of St. Louis Park. Even though Franken has been exposed for sexual assault allegations, his work remains influential in the state.

According to St. Louis Park Historical Society, Franken was a student in the Park district from kindergarten to tenth grade, when he moved to The Blake School.

Even with these allegations, Franken has still done a lot of good for the state of Minnesota and the country.

According to the Star Tribune, some of Franken’s accomplishments include pushing for millions of dollars to be

redirected to mental health in schools across the country.

Franken won bipartisan support for funding to assist low-income students afford AP tests, along with after-school programs.

Franken also has been a strong believer in net neutrality. Without net neutrality, big companies would control what people can see online.

According to CNN, Franken apologized for past mistakes in the past stating “There’s no excuse. I look at it now and I feel disgusted with myself. It’s completely inappropriate,” Franken said.

Franken’s devotion to Minnesota and the country as a whole should not be overshadowed by these allegations.

Franken’s accomplishments should result in him being a Distinguished Alumni of the district.

Illustration of four of “20 corny Star Wars jokes for any occasion”

At the movies...

Why do doctors make the best Jedi? Because they have patience.

What do Jedis use to open a PDF file?

Adobe Wan Kanobi.

Why did the Jedi cross the road? To get to the dark side.

Will you please be quiet?

What do you call a sith who won’t fight? A sithy.

“

12 ENTERTAINMENT

Echo Wednesday, December 20, 2017

I love “Star Wars.” The movies are so exciting, and I’ve fallen in love with the characters.

Ella Trotter, senior

Star Wars strikes again Eighth episode further develops the saga Annabella Strathman annabellastrathman@slpecho.com

“S

tar Wars: The Last Jedi,” directed by Rian Johnson, furthers the story of intergalactic war between the First Order and the Resistance with a new generation of fighters. To understand the plot, viewers should make sure they’ve seen the seventh movie.

The originality of the plot in this episode squanders any concerns that the new trilogy follows the original too closely.

Comparing opening Johnson adds to the classic box office sales saga with moxy, while maintain• “Star Wars: The ing the feel of a Force Awakens” true Star Wars $247,966,675 movie, allow• “Rogue One: A ing avid fans to Star Wars Story” naturally return $155,081,681 to their beloved • “Star Wars: The Last galaxy.

Jedi” $220,009,584 The plot Infographic Brooklyn Donelson choices, Source Box Office Mojo particularly those involving Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) during the first hour of the movie are frustrating.

While original, the plot feels unnecessarily complicated, often presenting issues irrelevant to the core of the story. This,

METRO AT A GLANCE Isaac Wert isaacwert@slpecho.com

Photos used with permission from Hennepin Theater Trust, Universal Studios, Ad Hominem Enterprises, Sony

however, does not stop viewers from being sucked in to the movie experience.

The balance present between new and old characters keeps the film rooted in the original trilogy while expanding upon the saga. New members of the galactic family are, for the most part, brought in organically, still giving old characters room to shine.

The acting in the film is of much higher caliber than in previous episodes, particularly from the newer characters.

Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) redeemed himself with an emotionally-charged performance proving his multidimensional acting abilities unseen in the last episode. Rey’s (Daisy Ridley) performance, however, is passable and forgetful.

The movie brings about a surprising amount of humor, more than other episodes, but it does not detract from the viewing pleasure. Overall, the comedic elements add a refreshing layer to the evolving franchise.

The film balances awe-factor and emotion: the masterful use of computergenerated imagery (CGI) and special effects amaze, while the well-executed acting pulls at the emotions of viewes.

Neither element overpowers the other.

Overall, the newest episode of the Star Wars franchise brings sincere character development, beautiful cinematography and light-hearted comedy, causing the 153 minutes to fly by at nearly light speed.

With a combination of the actionpacked fight scenes, callbacks to previous films, and moments of comedy, the sum of the new Star Wars movie, “The Last Jedi,” is greater than its parts.

Dec. 13-31

Dec. 22

Dec. 22

Jan. 12

The Broadway-classic “The Phantom of the Opera” comes to Minneapolis with Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original story. Tickets start at $39.

The Barden Bellas return to complete their trilogy with “Pitch Perfect 3,” taking their acapella skills to an international competition for one last performance. Tickets are currently for sale online.

“Downsizing,” starring Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig, follows a couple who undergo an experimental procedure: shrinking down to 5 inches tall. Tickets are currently for sale online.

This January, break-out popstar Camila Cabello releases her selftitled debut album, following lead single, “Havana.” The record is currently available for pre order on iTunes and pre-save on Spotify.