Echo issue 6

Echo

WINTER ONE ACTS BEGIN

NORDIC COMPETES

ARTISTS INSPIRE EMPATHY

Theater opens “Marcus is Walking” Friday PAGE 4

Team moves forward with late season following snow PAGE 9

Instinct Art Gallery explores human connection PAGE 12

Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Volume 87 Issue 6 St. Louis Park High School 6425 W. 33rd Street St. Louis Park, MN 55426

SLPECHO.COM

Medical marijuana in Minnesota QUALIFYING CONDITIONS

CONDITION CERTIFIED BY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL

REGISTER INFORMATION, PROOF OF ID AND PAYMENT

ADDED TO REGISTRY

Hibbing Moorhead St. Cloud Eagan St. Paul Eden Prairie Minneapolis Rochester

X Glaucoma X HIV/AIDS X Tourette Syndrome X Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

PATIENT CENTERS Infographic Kaylee Chamberlain & Harry Steffenhagen Source Minnesota Department of Health

ALLOWED FORMS

OIL

PILL

LIQUID

LOCATIONS AVAILABLE

NO PLANTS

NO SMOKE

Minnesota marijuana program to add condition Future patients with chronic pain may obtain drug Polina Pekurovsky polinapekurovsky@slpecho.com

W

“

hen junior Hannah Selvig first found out about the new medical marijuana program qualifications, she immediately saw the benefits.

“This addition will open up more pain relieving access to people across the state,” Selvig said.

According to the Marijuana Policy Project, severe pain may now become a qualifying condition for medical cannabis, Dotan Appelbaum, junior commonly referred

There is no legitimate reason for the banning of (marijuana)

to as medical marijuana, by January 2016 instead of July of the same year, as previously planned.

Laura Bultman, chief medical officer at Minnesota Medical Solutions, a medical marijuana dispensary, said the drug provides many benefits.

“It offers treatment options to patients that are often at the end of their rope and out of options,” Bultman said. “Now we can see the medical benefits of something previously simply regarded as a drug.”

Bultman said she first got involved in medical marijuana after researching at length the effects of the drug.

“I discovered that the chemicals in cannabis act in very interesting ways on receptors in our bodies,” Bultman said.

According to Bultman, the new qualifying condition expands medical marijuana access to many Minnesotans living with chronic pain and other health issues.

“Chronic, debilitating and/or intractable pain is the most common indication in medical marijuana states,” Bultman said. “Research suggests that the chemicals in cannabis act on receptors in nerve cells that can help alleviate pain.”

According to the Pain Research Forum, many doctors and researchers remain undecided on the safety and benefits on patients because of the lack of long-standing clinical testing.

Bultman said she thinks legal issues and regulations involved with medical marijuana makes conducting studies difficult.

“Doing business in medical cannabis has a lot more restrictions than any other kind of medical business,” Bultman said. “Patients must be very careful to adhere to Minnesota regulations, and avoid any sort of federal infringement like associating medical marijuana use with federally funded programs.”

Junior Dotan Appelbaum said he believes the Minnesota legislature should legalize marijuana for all users, not just medical patients.

“The federal and state governments have no right to control the use of a substance non-harmful to the public,” Appelbaum said. “There is no legitimate reason for the banning.”

According to Bultman, no age regulations exist for medical marijuana use in Minnesota.

“For patients, there is no limitation,” Bultman said. “We have small children taking cannabis high in the non-intoxicating chemical CBD to treat seizures and symptoms associated with cancer.”

Bultman said the new qualifying condition will have a positive effect on medical marijuana use in Minnesota.

“As more and more physicians and families start seeing benefits, people will slowly let go of some of the myths and stigma,” Bultman said.

School board considers gender identity policy Superintendent aims to make all students feel welcome Allison Cramer allisoncramer@slpecho.com

T

hough Park currently handles issues facing transgender students on a case-by-case basis, a new policy in the works could change that.

Superintendent Rob Metz said the actions of nearby school districts led him to consider whether Park should start creating its own policy regarding gender identity.

“There are several school districts around us that are working on a gender identity policy,” Metz said. “I would say that we’re at the exploration stage, but that I think it’s important, and I’m

starting to put a written policy together.”

Metz said he took bits and pieces mainly from the policies of the Blake School and Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools for his draft. According to Metz, the School Board could either decide to create a completely new policy, or update existing policies to include protection against gender identity discrimination.

Sophomore Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) member Jake Henry said he doesn’t know much about the policy but expects the GSA to be involved in the future.

“I think it’s really important to have a policy like this because our community is already played off as very accepting, and this would lead even more to a feeling of inclusion,” Henry said.

Metz said before he creates a formal draft, he will get feedback from district principals, the School Board and students.

“There’s a lot of details, like how we deal with bathrooms, how we deal with locker rooms, how we deal with overnight field trips, how we deal with names — both informally and on official school documents,” Metz said.

“We’re not there yet, but I’m making a list of these things and I’m getting advice and suggestions from other school districts and other people.”

Metz said he aims to focus on the students and not the adults and therefore he plans on finding a way to involve students in creating the policy.

“One theme is ‘all genders welcome,’” Metz said. “No one’s

going to be denied an opportunity to participate in anything and no one’s going to be discriminated against in any way — wherever they place themselves on the gender spectrum.”

Henry said he thinks the policy should include the handling and discussion of gender identity in the classroom.

“Teachers should always be aware of pronouns that a student uses,” Henry said. “They should also be aware of if that specific student wants their classmates to know they’re transgender, so they don’t out them to their peers.”

Metz said he has tentative plans to discuss the policy at a February School Board meeting.

“In the end, what I want is for St. Louis Park to be a place where everyone is welcome,” Metz said.

St. Paul Public Schools’ gender inclusion policy Respect gender identity by addressing students by their requested name and pronouns No separation based on gender Participate in activities consistent with their gender identity Provide students with access to facilities that align with their gender identity Source spps.org

2

“

NEWS

Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

WEB PREVIEW

Photo Heather Westwood

Band rehearses for performance

B

and director Steve Schmitz prepares the freshman band for rehearsal with a brief history of the piece and with tuning.

Members of the band recently began preparations for a casual student-organized performance, according to Schmitz.

Schmitz said while students have yet to determine the exact date of the concert, historically the performance takes place on a Monday in the spring.

Photo Deanna Afremov

Park Tech plans event night

M

embers of Park Tech plan their end-of-semester new member event in the B1 hallway.

As club adviser Jacob Utities looks back on the memories playing video games from last year, he looks forward to preparations for this year’s Park Tech event.

“Last year was awesome — we had a great time. We had Smash Brothers hooked up to the big screen and had people playing downstairs on Xbox and PlayStation,” Utities said. “We have Mesa Pizza hook us up — it’s pretty sweet.”

Plastic bag ban set aside City Council shifts focus to organic waste Makagbe Kuyateh makagbekuyateh@slpecho.com

A

ccording to City Council member Anne Mavity, the City Council decided to table the plastic bag ban when it found plastic bags contributed to less than 1 percent of municipal waste in St. Louis Park.

Mavity said the City Council worked together with St. Louis Park to find more effective ways to increase sustainability.

“A few years ago, St. Louis Park started a discussion on how to be a leader in environmental issues. Municipalities have been trying to deal with this issue and the use of plastic bags came up,” Mavity said. “We got input from Hennepin County, the state of Minnesota and Park residents.”

According to Mavity, after studying the issue of plastic bags, the City Council found cities that banned plastic bags also increased other waste output.

“We found that places who have banned plastic bag use paper bags, which takes a lot of energy,” Mavity said.

Senior Maria Lezama said residents’ need for plastic bags outweighs the environmental benefits of a ban.

“I think they shouldn’t ban plastic bags because people use them,” Lezama said. “It would be weird without them in our daily life.”

City Council member Tim Brausen said members introduced an idea called “Bring Your Own Bag” that could solve the plastic bag issue by requiring people to pay 10 cents when they get a plastic bag at the store, but the City Council didn’t get the four necessary votes for its passage.

“We thought having a 10-cent bag fee on plastic and paper bags would encourage people

Board aims to create consistency for memorials

P Twin Cities brought to life

T

he Norway House makes Caribou Coffee, a Minnesota based company, into a gingerbread house display.

The Norway House honors the Twin Cities this year, with a Gingerbread Wonderland commemorating famous buildings in the cities, according to director Rachel Peterson.

The exhibit remains open until Jan. 17. Tickets for students and seniors cost $5, adults cost $6 and children get in for free.

For more content go to slpecho.com twitter.com/slpecho facebook.com/slpecho

Photo illustration Harrison Barden

Bags put on table: In order to increase environmental sustainability, St. Louis Park City Council decided to set aside banning plastic bags. This came after research finding that cities that banned plastic bags end up using more paper bags, along with learning plastic bags impact St. Louis Park’s waste minimally. to bring their own bags rather than paying 10 cents,” Brausen said.

According to Brausen, City Council members who opposed “Bring Your Own Bag” felt it would place a burden on the residents if they had to pay 10 cents for a plastic bag and follow the new state law requiring businesses and homeowners in Minnesota to recycle.

Brausen also said City Council members took a closer look at St. Louis Park’s food waste.

“We want to focus more on the organic waste, which is the main waste in our waste stream,” Brausen said. “We haven’t thrown away the plastic bag idea. We are putting it on the shelf just for now.”

Freshman Aneadra Davis said she supports the idea of focusing on the organic waste.

“It’s a good idea that we are focusing on organic waste because it has a bigger percentage than plastic bags in St. Louis Park. Plastic bags can be recycled, but food can’t,” Davis said.

Brausen said residents of St. Louis Park should work together to make the city more sustainable.

“We’ve got to change our mindset on the single-use mentality of throwing away plastic bags.

We can’t always do the cheapest way,” Brausen said. “We should be healthy and sustainable, and we continue to encourage that.”

Plastic bag statistics

70% of plastic produced worldwide every year finds its way to the ocean floor.

More than 1 trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide.

The average American family takes home 1,500 plastic bags a year.

Infographic Daniella Etzion Source reuseit.com

Memorial policy passed

Adah Koivula adahkoivula@slpecho.com

Photo Emma Dietz

I think having (plastic bags) in St. Louis Park is fine. We have bigger issues than plastic bags.

Stephanie Duranzo, junior

ast tragedies at Park influenced superintendent Robert Metz and the School Board to unanimously pass a policy Jan. 11 detailing how the administration will handle student and staff member deaths.

“We have had some deaths of students in the last several years, and because I was high school principal in the past, I knew that we didn’t have a policy guiding what to do when that happens,” Metz said.

Metz said he designed the policy to provide guidance to the administration in case of future tragedies. It contains a set of recommendations for how the administration should conduct memorial activities, such as permanent memorials, moments of silence and recognition at Graduation.

“The policy says ‘these things happen and we need to be prepared,’” Metz said.

According to former school

board chair Julie Sweitzer, the policy attempts to discuss every memorial activity to set out guidelines for the future.

“The policy aims to describe any memorial or commemorative event from pictures on a wall to flowers on a school location; mention of a student at Graduation ceremony or any other kind of event that might happen,” Sweitzer said. “We tried to anticipate the many memorial activities and make some broad guidelines.”

According to Metz, irregularities existed in how the district dealt with past tragedies because of the lack of a reference.

“There is the potential for treating one situation very differently from the other. I thought it was important that we are somewhat consistent about what we do when a student or staff member passes away,” Metz said.

Senior Shea Swanson said she doesn’t see a need for the policy because the school can’t regulate grieving.

“I see the policy more as a way of handling students, rather than actually caring for them,” Swanson said. “I don’t believe

Photo Harrison Barden

Memorialized: Wreaths decorated with orange ribbon outside of the high school honor Damian and Evan McManus in April 2014.

With the new policy, memorials can be displayed for no longer than one week. each situation is always the same and shouldn’t receive the same treatment.”

Sweitzer said the school board recognized a need and responded in collaboration with Metz on a policy to fit the needs of Park.

“We thought there was a benefit to having parameters that guide the decision, but are flexible enough to allow some judgment on the particular circumstances without infringing on others’ grief,” Sweitzer said.

Metz said he presented the policy to the School Board in the fall, after which the board thoroughly reviewed it.

Purpose of the passed memorial policy To recognize loss of students or staff To support students, staff and families impacted Infographic Daniella Etzion Source Memorial Policy

“I brought it to our School Board and they have now looked at it four times, at four different meetings,” Metz said.

“Each time we have improved it a little bit, changed some words and thought about it some more. We have really taken our time.”

“

Poeple in school don’t recognize (binge eating disorder). It’s more of a personal problem.

Billy Nicholls, sophomore

STUDENT LIFE Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

3

Comfort found in food Binge eating disorder often goes undiagnosed Sophie Yarosh sophieyarosh@slpecho.com

W

hen Rachel* feels pressures from school and social drama, she consumes large quantities of food in order to cope. Rachel eats anything from candy, to chips to a whole pail of ice cream in 20 minutes when she binge eats.

In an anonymous interview, a Park student shared her experiences with binge eating disorder.

Rachel said when she experiences social drama, feels sad or stressed about an upcoming test, she said eating helps her temporarily escape reality.

“You can’t feel anything for a couple minutes,” Rachel said. “Because you eat so much, your body kind of just shuts down.”

Heather Gallivan is the clinical director at Melrose Center, a facility that treats people with eating disorders.

She said someone who has binge eating disorder is unable to control their eating and consumes a lot of food in a short amount of time.

“Binge eating disorder is the most prevalent of all the eating disorders,” Gallivan said. “It is when a person struggles with eating very large amounts of food where it feels like they can’t control or stop themselves.”

Rachel said her ongoing struggle with food began when she was bullied.

“In sixth grade, I got bullied a lot, and I would just go home. I wouldn’t cry because I never cried when I was in sixth grade,” Rachel said. “I just started eating and it’s not controllable.”

Gallivan said she notices many people develop binge eating disorder long before they receive treatment.

“A lot of times people are actually coming in for treatment, and they’re quite a bit older, like middle-aged, 40 and up,” Gallivan said. “However, most of them, almost all of them actually, started binge eating when they were in high school or college.”

Sophomore DaShaun Emerson said he believes students need to educate themselves about binge eating so they can empathize with those who have the disorder.

“Everyone should know what’s going on and what certain people are going through, or how to help people stop binge eating,” Emerson said.

Gallivan said binge eating became an official eating disorder May 2014, when the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders released its fifth edition.

A correlation exists between binge eating disorder and a person’s emotions, according to Gallivan.

“Most people, when they binge eat, are doing it for a reason,” Gallivan said.

“They’re not just doing it because they think they like the food. Usually it’s related to stress, depression, anxiety.”

Health teacher Allison Luskey said people must address their emotional and

mental health issues in order to treat binge eating disorder.

“I think the underlying issues (are) emotions, mental health, those things — until that gets addressed, it’s really hard to treat the binge eating,” Luskey said.

Luskey said because of the prevalence of binge eating disorder, she encourages those struggling to open up and ask for help.

Rachel said opening up to her friends about her eating disorder gave her people to rely on so she didn’t have to go through the struggle alone.

“My friends support me by watching what I eat, and they know what’s best for me and what’s not,” Rachel said.

School social worker Daniel Perez said people must acknowledge their struggle with binge eating disorder before receiving help.

“The first step in actually finding the help they need, and the encouragement and support and love that they need, is actually being honest,” Perez said.

Perez said he believes a negative stigma surrounds binge eating, causing people with this disorder to feel alone.

“I think binge eaters can feel so isolated and so alone because they can’t tell anybody, because if they tell somebody, they’re going to be judged,” Perez said.

Luskey said students can help someone struggling with binge eating disorder by showing healthy eating habits and openly talking about their feelings. “(Friends can help by) being somebody who models a healthy relationship with talking about feelings and emotions, but also a healthy relationship with self-image and body image and a healthy relationship with food,” Luskey said.

Luskey said people suffering from binge eating disorder begin overcoming some of their struggles by accepting help from others.

“I think the first and probably the hardest (step) is to open up and talk to somebody about it, because we wouldn’t be talking about it in class or have a name for it if it wasn’t common, and if it wasn’t real,” Luskey said.

Rachel said people should ask for help if they have the disorder because it’s not something to be ashamed of.

“If you have it, and you feel like you have it, you should go talk to somebody, because it’s not something you should hide,” Rachel said. *Name has been changed

Art Alyssa LeMay

3.5% of women in the United

States have binge eating disorder

2% of men in the United States have binge eating disorder

1.6% of adolescence in the

United States have binge eating disorder

43% of people who have binge eating disorder get treatment

Infographic Elise RIley Source anad.org, eatingdisorderhope.com & National Eating Disorder Association

4

Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

For what it’s WORTH Shoshi Leviton shoshileviton@ slpecho.com

Perseverance after failure

I

“

FEATURES

stood in the airport waiting to meet my roommate for the summer I would spend in Barcelona. I didn’t know anything about her beyond her Facebook profile picture, but I envisioned us becoming lifelong friends.

When I saw a 6-foot-1inch girl walking toward me, I knew it was her. She extended a hand and said, “you’re my roommate.” Before I could say anything, she turned around and walked away. The encounter was not what I expected.

In retrospect, it makes perfect sense. my roommate had other ideas on her mind besides making friends in Barcelona.

As we started to unpack, I saw rolling papers and many substances emerge from her bag.

She nonchalantly started smoking, disregarding the giant “no smoking” sign.

The first night felt awkward to say the least. As I sat in our room, I could only think “how did I get here?” Let’s just say I got rejected.

While a summer on the Mediterranean sounds like a privilege, I would have preferred a small camp in Wisconsin, to participate in a selective counselor-in-training program.

I naively assumed I would get accepted to the What’s the program.

POINT? It always If life takes a seemed like the different turn pinnacle of embrace the new experience the camp experience.

When I got the rejection E-mail, I felt shocked.

As my departure for Barcelona neared, I felt thrilled for the new experience. After the rejection, I challenged myself to move beyond the comfortable community where I had previously spent my summers. After all, I’m going to college soon.

In Barcelona, La Rambla was bustling, Park Güell was magnificent and the hike at Montserrat was breathtaking.

But what I remember most fondly is the space between the big events: getting to know the shopkeeper who let me pay him the next day when I didn’t have enough money, talking with our landlady about the best restaurants and awaiting the laughter sparked by my broken Spanish.

As for my roommate, her trip got cut short. The program didn’t tolerate her behavior.

No lifelong friend for me with this roommate (zero for two on my summer goals, perhaps).

But her presence provided me an opportunity to advocate for myself, adapt to a challenging environment and keep things in perspective.

(“Marcus is Walking”) is in a unique setting. It has never been done before.

Ella Trotter, sophomore

One acts revolve around cars

Theater prepares for performance, competition Abby Hickstein abbyhickstein@slpecho.com

T

his winter, students can experience humor and also learn from mistakes in the upcoming play “Marcus is Walking: Scenes from the Road,” according to director Jodi Hatzenbeller.

Hatzenbeller said the scenes in this year’s play take place inside of, or around, cars.

“It is a series of vignettes that take place in or around a car and explore themes of the journey,” Hatzenbeller said. “One, is a dad taking his son trick-or-treating. Another is a couple arguing over directions on the way to a potluck, another one is a couple who’s just been intimate in the backseat and now the guy is professing his love, so it is all different stories.”

Hatzenbeller said unlike plays performed in past years, this year’s one act consists of only one play instead of a variety of different ones put together.

“Usually when we do a one act, it is a larger show cut down into a smaller piece for competition,” Hatzenbeller said. “This play is about an hour long and we only take some of the scenes to competition. Other years, we do different one acts and pick one.”

Freshman Evelyn Nelson, who plays a young girl in a family of six, said the scenes divide up into different environments, each containing a moral involving the setting of a car.

In the SPOTLIGHT

Theater acts as medium to display talent

Photo Abby Hickstein

Recite to impress: Sophomore Ben Romain prepares for his upcoming date by rehearsing to a bouquet of roses in “Marcus is Walking: Scenes from the Road” at rehearsal Dec. 18. Multiple scenes are portrayed using cars as a setting.

“There is not a big plot in the story. There are just a bunch of different vignettes,” Nelson said.

“Just small scenes in a car and they all explain lessons you can learn in a car.”

Hatzenbeller said students should attend performances because the humorous show engages the audience.

“There are going to be moments of humor.

There are a lot of relatable scenes because almost all of us have been in a car at some point in time, so you can relate to what people go through,” Hatzenbeller said. “It is going to be a fun experience to play comedy and drama because the scenes differ so much.”

Performances take place 7 p.m. Jan. 15 and 16 and 2 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Auditorium. Tickets cost $5 for students and seniors and $7 for adults.

“Marcus is Walking” Dates: 7 p.m. Jan. 15 and 16 and 2 p.m. Jan. 17 Location: High school Auditorium Tickets: $5 for students and seniors, $7 for adults.

How to buy: General admission tickets available at the door or online at marcusiswalking. eventbrite.com Infographic Sari Hattis Source Jodi Hatzenbeller

What is your favorite aspect of acting?

You get to express your talents to everyone and can play any character you can imagine.

How much time do you spend acting or practicing during the week?

In the morning I practice for two hours.

What makes acting different than any other hobbies?

Acting is easier because anyone can do it and you’re able to present yourself to a lot of people.

You don’t have to practice as much as other sports. You practice on your own time.

Practice makes perfect: Freshman Ami Kuyateh reads her script Jan. 11. Kuyateh recently traveled to Los Angeles to perform for 180 agents to start her professional acting career.

Have you encountered any difficulties while acting?

When I first started, it was hard to memorize the script and I would mess up, but now it’s easy.

How are you preparing for your upcoming performance?

I keep practicing every day, and I do more facial expressions and body movements to prepare.

What is your favorite story or experience from acting?

One of my favorite musicals is the “The Wizard of Oz,” and I got to play the lion. It was very funny and people loved it. I also really like the movie.

Do you have any funny memories or experiences?

I did a showcase here in Minnesota at the DoubleTree, there was an IPOP! agent. She said she would call us if we got it. She didn’t call and told me I was in on the spot rather than calling.

What are you most excited about for the performance?

I am very excited because this is the first time I will perform in front of all those people who are important. I am scared but excited to see what real acting is like.

Do you have any favorite actors? Why are they your favorite?

Leonardo DiCaprio is my favorite actor. He is very good and uses great body movement and facial expression and always stays in character.

When and where was your last performance?

It was Jan. 2-7 in California and 180 agents watched me. When I was done performing, they gave me a list of all the agents interested in me. Now I have to choose one.

Who created this showcase?

It’s for this company called John Robert Powers and they made the showcase.

Ami Kuyateh Kuyateh, freshman How long have you been acting?

Since third grade.

What made you first interested in acting?

There was a musical that I saw in elementary school and I became very interested. The musical was “Cinderella.”

Photo illustration Mira Swartz

Is acting what you want to do as a career?

Yes, I want to act in movies and TV shows when I grow up.

Do you have any tips for other actors?

No matter what people say, keep going. People thought I couldn’t act, but I kept trying and following my dreams. Follow your dreams and you’ll make it far.

Are there any specific techniques to keep your composure?

I think “Ami, do you want to win?” I focus on that. I think only about myself and stay in character and focus on the script.

What roles do you enjoy playing the most?

I like drama but also like to play in action and comedy.

Alec Pittman alecpittman@slpecho.com

“

(Crosswalk) is cool because they are putting themselves out there and getting noticed.

FEATURES Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Kamia Guy, junior

5

Band finds expression Music influences Crosswalk to create emotion Sophia Skinner sophiaskinner@slpecho.com

S

Photo Peter Sherno

Basement Beats: Lead singer from Perpich Center for Arts Education Duncan Macklem-Johnson, junior drummer Ian Lockhart and senior guitarist Ryan Casey practice a song in Lockhart’s basement Dec. 21. Songs Crosswalk covers include: “Say it ain’t so” by Weezer and “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers. Perpich student Troy Richardson is also a member of the band.

enior band member Ryan Casey laughs as he talks about his band, Crosswalk, and its pre-concert ritual of channeling “High School Musical” and yelling, “What team? Wildcats!”

Junior band member Ian Lockhart said he co-founded the band with Perpich Center for Arts Education juniors Duncan Macklem-Johnson and Troy Richardson.

“A couple years ago, me, Duncan Macklem-Johnson and Troy Richardson had the idea of starting a band. We were already playing a lot together, so starting a band was a next step,” Lockhart said.

At the time, however, Lockhart said the three musicians lacked a drummer. The following January, Casey joined Crosswalk, completing the band.

“We still needed a drummer and then we met Ryan about a year ago,” Lockhart said. “Even though he is currently the lead guitarist, at the time he helped us become a full band.”

Casey said the primary intrigue of the band is having the ability to express emotions through song and rhythm.

“Music shows emotion that can’t be said with words,” Casey said. “A song becomes meaningful when both the lyrics and melody make you feel the artist’s intent.”

Lockhart said the band takes their inspiration from old and new rock songs.

“We get a lot of inspiration from ’90s bands and alternative bands like

Hippocampus or Vampire Weekend,” Lockhart said.

According to senior Ben Chong, the passionate musicians in Crosswalk engage their audience during a concert with musically intriguing songs.

“There is never a dull moment,” Chong said. “All the musicians are so incredibly involved in their craft that there is always life and emotion brought to the stage.”

Despite busy schedules and separate schools, Casey said the dynamic of the band members continues to be laid-back and low pressure.

“We usually get together once a week because we all have stuff going on, but within our busyness Crosswalk has always been pretty casual. We sometimes rehearse without everyone and it works fine,” Casey said.

Casey said he attributes the success of the band in finding gigs to MacklemJohnson and Richardson, who specialize in music at Perpich.

“Having half the band switch schools has made it tougher to communicate, but the connections they’ve made have helped us a lot,” Casey said. “Our last two gigs were both planned through people they met at Perpich.”

According to Lockhart, Crosswalk already performed four concerts around the Twin Cities and plans to put out an album this winter featuring all original songs.

“When we do concerts, we do both original music and (non-original) songs. We only have about five or six originals right now, which is not enough to fill a concert with our own music,” Lockhart said.

“We are looking to create more original music and potentially record an album this winter.”

Club receives Human Rights Award SOAR gains recognition, attention Sophie Yarosh sophieyarosh@slpecho.com

W

hen junior club member Peri Stephens heard about the award SOAR won, she said she felt proud of the work the club does to bring awareness about race to Park.

Stephens said she was surprised the Student Organization Against Racism (SOAR) club received recognition for work she thought went unnoticed.

“This award proves that our efforts have not been completely in vain and that we’ve been recognized,” Stephens said. “I didn’t expect it at all. I thought we were unknown, but this was really a great wake-up call to see that we’re making an impact.”

At the St. Louis Steps to receive the 2015 SLP Park Human Human Rights Award Rights Commission meeting Dec. 15, 1. Collect nominations the Commission announced SOAR won 2 The St. Louis Park Human the Human Rights Rights Comission members Award for 2015, vote on the nominees according to Human Rights Commission 3. The St. Louis Park Human board member Rhoda Rights Award is presented Quick. to the winner at a City “Once a year, Council meeting people from the Infographic Mira Swartz & community can go Sari Hattis online and nominate Source stlouispark.org an individual or a

.

group that fits the criteria for Human Rights Award and this year we received two,” Quick said.

Quick said the Commission reviewed the nominations for the award and SOAR won with a unanimous vote.

“The Human Rights Commission looked at the nominations. SOAR in the high school fits the criteria of the award,” Quick said.

According to Quick, SOAR won the award because of the work members do to bring awareness about race to the community.

Club adviser Joy Esboldt said she thinks the students deserve all the credit for this award and feels proud to be included in SOAR. “I nominated the students, and so I would pass on all credit to the students.

I think it’s awesome this organization exists,” Esboldt said. “I’m honored to help be a part of it, in terms of having an official adviser lead it.”

Junior club member and Human Rights Commission board member Willy Poulter said SOAR struggles with the number of active members in the club. He said he thinks the award will increase the attendance of club meetings.

“Something that SOAR has been struggling with for sure is how to increase attendance and how to be known and maybe how to get more of a driving force within the community behind us,” Poulter said. “I think that this definitely gives us a PR boost, and also could help us tap into some of the resources that the city of St. Louis Park

Photo Celene Koller

Plan for the future: Sophomore Thomas Bryant, juniors Willy Poulter, Callia Blake and senior Cedar Thomas discuss upcoming projects with Student Organization Against Racism’s adviser Joy Esboldt during the meeting Jan. 7. The group hopes to team up with the Human Rights Commission to host a potluck address racial issues in the community. is being involved in.”

Junior club leader Callia Blake said she noticed more people showed up to the SOAR meeting following the award announcement Dec. 17 and believes the award brought recognition to the club.

“I’m just really proud, and I’m glad that someone recognized us because there was such a small group that I feel like no one really knows about us,” Blake said. “I don’t know if it’s because of the award or not, but the meeting after we won the award, a few more people showed up.”

Stephens said she thinks the award will benefit SOAR and cause people to notice the actions they perfom. “(The award will) add validity to

our stances and people will realize that we’re not just a group of friends wanting to talk about issues, (but) that we’re actually a proactive group that is trying to get things done,” Stephens said.

Esboldt said she thinks the impact SOAR makes on the community deserves celebration.

“I think being able to have some points of celebration along the way are important,” Esboldt said. “I hope it will be an encouragement to them about the importance of the work that they’re doing.”

SOAR plans to receive its award at the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at City Hall.

6

“

IN-DEPTH

If someone does something wrong, you need to know what you can and can’t do.

Samyu Yenamandra, sophomore

Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

KNOW

your rights Increase self-advocacy by learning Constitutional rights

S

enior Raina Arntson walked to her car to go home after spending time with friends in July. A police officer pulled up beside her and wrote her a citation because it was 11:10 p.m., 10 minutes past the legal curfew.

“I was scared and even though I was going to my car, I understand why he

pulled me over,” Arntson said.

According to Jana Kooren, public education and communications director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, students should understand they possess the same rights as adults, for the most part.

“Young people should understand that all the rights outlined in the Constitution, almost all of those rights do not have an age attached to them,” Kooren said.

Kooren said students should be aware of the restrictions on their rights at school.

“You can’t say anything you want in school without getting in trouble.

Allison Cramer & Hannah Goldenberg allisoncramer@slpecho.com hannahgoldenberg@slpecho.com

That is definitely not true — there are restrictions on your rights in school,” Kooren said. “But you shouldn’t think that you have absolutely zero rights.”

Photo Max Kent

PULLED OVER

W

hile driving in Uptown in September, senior Alyssa Rauchman said she suddenly saw flashing lights behind her.

“I started freaking out and I had no idea what my problem was,” Rauchman said. “(The officer) told me he pulled me over for poor driving, and I didn’t know what to do.”

Police liaison Max Peltola said if a police officer pulls a driver over, the driver must identify themselves and provide proof of insurance and license.

“Once you’re pulled over you’re detained, so you can’t leave. And if, for instance, I smell alcohol or I have a concern, and I ask you to step out of the car, you’d have to go along with that,” Peltola said.

Kooren said students don’t have to answer other questions asked. In addition, passengers don’t have to identify themselves if they aren’t suspected.

“If the police officer asks you ‘do you know why I pulled you over?’ you don’t have to answer if you are not comfortable,” Kooren said. “You can say ‘no I don’t know why you pulled me over’ even if you suspect that it is because you sped.”

According to Kooren, if a student feels uncomfortable answering additional questions, they can simply ask if they are able to drive away.

“You should always wait until the police officer says you can drive away,” she said. “Usually after they give you your ticket, you can ask ‘am I free to leave?’”

Kooren said students pulled over for speeding after curfew can face a citation in addition to the speeding ticket.

Drivers must identify themselves and provide license and insurance, but don’t need to answer additional questions if uncomfortable

PUBLIC PROTESTING

I

n order to protest a grand jury’s failure to indict police officer Darren Wilson, sophomore DaeBreona Byrd said she participated in the in-school walkout Dec. 1, 2014.

“I just felt that was important because if you protest correctly then you can get heard, rather than if you’re yelling and screaming,” Byrd said.

Kooren said all people have the Constitutional right to engage in a protest.

“When you are protesting on the street or outside of school, you have the same rights as other protesters to be there, to be an attendant, to participate in the protest,” Kooren said.

Kooren said students have the right to participate in a protest during school hours.

“The school can’t bar you or block the doors and prevent you from leaving,” Kooren said. “However, if you are missing school time, you can be marked as an unexcused absence for skipping school.”

Kooren said if the student ends up in jail, schools can’t give additional punishments. However, participation in extracurriculars could be in jeopardy.

Kooren said in-school protests are legal as long as they don’t disrupt the school day.

“If other students who don’t want to participate can still go about their day and learn without a huge disruption, that would be OK,” Kooren said.

Students possess the legal right to attend protests, including nondisruptive in-school protests

BUSTING A PARTY

S

enior Fantayzia Borders said she thinks students should understand their rights if a police officer arrives at a party in order to protect students and those around them.

“You don’t want to be letting anyone in (a party), especially the police, because you never know what the outcome of the situation will be,” Borders said.

According to Kooren, students never need to let police officers into their houses without warrants, even if underage drinking is happening. Kooren said the only time police officers do not need a warrant is when the party takes place in a public area, such as a park.

“Even if there is drinking and you know something illegal is happening in the house, people do not need to let the police officers in unless they have a warrant. You do not even have to open the door,” Kooren said.

If police officers enter the house, Kooren said students have the right to not answer any questions if they feel uncomfortable, including undergoing a Breathalyzer test.

“It is perfectly OK for you to say, if you don’t want to, ‘I don’t feel comfortable answering any of your questions until I have a parent present,’” Kooren said.

Kooren said whoever answers the door should fully understand if the police don’t have a warrant, they don’t have to open the door until the police obtain one.

“If people want to get picked up by their parents, there could be a window open of an hour, a half an hour, or however long it would take for (police) to get a warrant,” Kooren said.

Students don’t have to let police officers in a private place without a warrant

RELIG

T

hough senior R examined pigs her teacher wa lowed her to watch.

“If you don’t want because you can religion, they will l you an alternative

In addition to dis accepts her religion’s a day.

“The school allow Said said. “They had and pray during that In public areas, w Kooren said student religion.

“A lot of student pray, but you should the right to practice public space,” Koore Kooren said stud gion at school, and t discourage it. For ex a student’s religion s hat should be allowe “The school shou pray. The school sho student-led, then it i

Schools can’t e religion but stud practice their re

“

[It’s important to know your rights] so you don’t get mistreated by an officer.

Sabrina Garcia, sophomore

t to dissect pigs n’t because of your let you do that and give e assignment,” Said said.

ssections, Said said the school s requirement to pray five times

ws me to pray when I need to,” d a class where you could go in t time.” which includes public schools, ts have the right to express their

ts get your school can’t make you d also understand that you have your religion when you are in a en said. dents may practice their relithe school can’t encourage or xample, if a school bans hats but states they must wear a hat, the ed. uld not be forcing students to ould not be leading it. But if it is is OK,” Kooren said.

endorse any dents can eligion at school

7

WHAT TO DO

if your rights are violated

GIOUS FREEDOM

Ridwan Said’s IB biology class s before winter break, she said as very accommodating and al-

IN-DEPTH Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

SEARCHES

I

n December, sophomore Aidan Gribbon was called into the Student Office due to suspicion he appeared at school under the influence. The administration searched his bag and confirmed its suspicions.

“Honestly, they caught me,” Gribbon said. “I’m not going to say it was the school’s fault because that would be lying. In the end, I was the person who was under the influence, and I got in trouble accordingly.”

Talk with your parents If possible, go directly to the offending party and address it If against the police, file a complaint at the police department

According to Peltola, as a police liaison he must follow different procedures for searches than school officials in the building.

“For me as a police officer, I have to act on probable cause. For the school, they need reasonable suspicion, so there’s a little bit of a difference,” he said. “For example, you don’t have as much privacy rights to your locker because it’s school property.”

If a police officer attempts to search a student, Kooren said a student can say “no, I do not consent to this search, however, I am not going to specifically stop you.”

“That is letting a police officer know you aren’t giving them permission, but you are also not going to walk away from them,” Kooren said.

However, Kooren said she still encourages students to state their rights if police continue to search without consent.

“Sometimes the police officers may still search you even if you told them no,” Kooren said. “But by exercising your rights and by telling them no, you have a stronger chance to win in court against them if you want to file a lawsuit.”

School officials must have a reason or suspicion to target you

If against a staff member, file a complaint in the student office

CONTACT AN ORGANIZATION American Civil Liberties Union

(651) 645-4097

Outfront Minnesota

(612) 822-0127

NAACP

(410) 580-5656

Minnesota Department of Human Rights

(651) 296-5663

Infographic Cedar Thomas & Hannah Goldenberg Source Jana Kooren, ACLU

8

“

SPORTS

Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Out of the PARK

Gymnastics is a great sport. It needs more support and funding though.

Ciara Wioida, sophomore

Elise Riley eliseriley@ slpecho.com

Proud to be a quitter

Q

uitting. Just the sound of the word makes any coach cringe. To many athletes and coaches, quitting is the ultimate crime — the sporting death penalty. To me, quitting is a part of life.

After playing basketball for four years, I made the decision to quit at the beginning of last summer. I didn’t love the game, and it became a chore to attend practice every day.

Laboring over this decision entailed much worrying, many sleepless nights and countless discussions regarding my basketball fate with friends and family.

I often What’s the wondered POINT? why so Life’s too short much to participate angst surin activities you rounded the decidon’t enjoy sion and why I felt stigmatized for even considering leaving.

Many people equate quitting with failure. I wanted people to view me as a committed athlete, not someone who gives up in the face of a challenge.

Knowing most high school students don’t play at the collegiate level, I wanted to get involved with activities that would have a lasting impact on me.

Basketball just didn’t allow the time for this. I now have time to learn to play piano and spend time with my family, among much else.

I came to realize I should only play basketball if I loved it and not just for the pasta parties and socializing. I didn’t want to sacrifice valuable schoolwork time if I didn’t love the game.

All the stressing out and worrying ended along with my basketball career. After quitting, I realized I felt happier and less worried.

I realized life’s too short to participiate in activities I disliked. I didn’t have to tough it out for the rest of high school and play basketball because I felt obligated to.

Some people might see me as a chicken, but I know I made the right decision for myself and I stand by that decision every day.

This experience helped me recognize that I have complete control over the activities in my life. I am proud to be a quitter because I would rather step out of my comfort zone and find something I really love than settle for what I’ve always done.

Line up: Varsity hockey players stand facing the flag during the pregame national anthem before playing Mound Westonka Dec. 10. Park won the game 2-0.

Photo Harrison Barden Photo Harrison Barden

Annual tournament ends in success Strong defense propels team performance Brigid Duffy brigidduffy@slpecho.com

T

he boys’ hockey team trekked to the annual Heritage Holiday Classic tournament to compete against high-performing teams, according to coach Terry Keseley.

Keseley said the team exceeded expectations, placing second in the Won tournament Dec. 28-30.

“In past years we 2-0 Duluth Denfeld were competing to not Won get last place, and this 1-0 Hudson, Wisconsin year we were competing for first place,” Keseley Lost said. “Our defense 0-1 St. Paul Academy played a big role in our Infographic Mara Bacig success.”

Source duluthheritage.com Sophomore

Heritage Holiday Classic

defenseman Luke Mobley said he believes the tournament signals a turning point for the team.

“We started playing more consistently, and our team defense really improved. We kept ourselves in the game,” Mobley said. “This tournament really helped bring us together as a team and show us how to play for each other.”

According to Keseley, they had one goal scored against them the entire tournament.

“Because of our aggressive defenseman, we were able to produce scoring opportunities and keep it out of our zone,” Keseley said. “We had one goal scored on us the entire tournament, which shows that the team was doing a lot of things right.”

According to senior Patrick Bordewick, the team feels satisfied with its performance.

“Going into the tournament we were looking to compete, and I think that is exactly what we did,” Bordewick said.

According to Mobley, the tournament benefits the season.

“The tournament helps bring us together as a team. We all became closer, which is important to create a group dynamic,” Mobley said.

Keseley said the tournament is a good test to see where the team stands in terms of competition.

“In previous years, when we played teams such as Hudson, we would get beat by a lot,” Keseley said. “This year we matched up more with these teams and each game was really close.”

According to Bordewick, finishing in second place exceeded expectations.

“We got second place to St. Paul Academy and we only let up one goal.

We have been improving each day,” Bordewick said. “We have become more comfortable playing tough teams such as St. Paul Academy, Duluth and Hudson because we can skate with them.”

The team’s next game takes place at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at the New Hope Arena against Robbinsdale Armstrong.

Girls’ gymnastics strives for victory after loss Tough competition stands ahead for gymnasts Paige Steward paigesteward@slpecho.com

A

fter losing to Chaska-Chan Dec. 15, the girls’ gymnastics team plans to use positivity to stay focused throughout the rest of the season in hopes of preventing future losses, according to sophomore gymnast Annika Eldridge.

Eldridge said the team filled out goal sheets at the beginning of the season to push team members to work harder and stay motivated throughout the season.

“It’s really interesting to see what goals we actually accomplish by the end of the season,” Eldridge said. “It helps us actually work toward something.”

Sophomore gymnast Amanda Weinberg said she strives to perform well and maintain a positive attitude throughout the season.

“I would like to keep consistent scores on every event, gain more skills and confidence and really try and keep a positive attitude about everything this season,” Weinberg said.

According to Weinberg, the support provided by teammates helps the team stay confident at meets.

“The support pushes everyone to go for skills they may be afraid of or didn’t know they could do,” Weinberg said.

Weinberg said the team’s supportiveness makes practice more productive.

“Our hard work will definitely contribute to our wins, and even if we don’t win our hard work shows in our scores,”

Photo Julia Nathan

Fly high: Freshman Savannah Romero competes in the balance beam competition at the gymnastics meet against Bloomington Jefferson Jan. 5. The next meet takes place Jan. 16.

Weinberg said.

According to head coach Gretchen Novack, the team holds many advantages it plans to capitalize on throughout the season.

“One of our current strengths would definitely have to be beam,” Novack said. “I really think that it will continue to be a strength of ours all season long.”

Novack said the well-rounded program gives the girls an advantage.

“I think the team has a lot of depth,” Novack said. “Our junior varsity team is scoring almost as high as the varsity team is.”

The next meet takes place at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 16 against Maple Lake at Maple Lake High School.

“

It shouldn’t affect them too much. I think they’re used to it by now.

Henry Feldman, senior

SPORTS Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

9

Meet the ATHLETE

Photo Mira Swartz

Nordic braves the cold temperatures Frigid weather impacts skiers’ speed Sam Crary samcrary@slpecho.com

S

enior captain Conrad Phelan shivered as he slid through the end of the course, breathing heavily with the rhythmic movement of his skis.

Phelan said despite the cold and the team’s lack of experience, it performed adequately.

“It was a really cold day, and people were able to race pretty well, despite our team’s lack of racing,” Phelan said.

Sophomore captain Caroline Green said a lot of younger skiers stepped up at Mesabi East Invitational race; demonstrating how quickly they improved.

“We had two seventh grade girls make the cut for Mesabi and a lot of other people new to this meet,” Green said. “That showed

us that even with a relatively young team we still had more young skiers who stepped up to varsity.”

Phelan said despite losing many good skiers, the team continues to thrive.

“It was a decent result, and shows us that we have some work to do,” Phelan said. “But despite the lack of some good skiers that graduated last year, we’re able to hold our own from now on.”

Assistant coach David Lindberg said the team had several racers place high in the race.

“Conrad Phelan got fourth in the skate race and Eric Hendricks placed 10th in the JV skate race,” Lindberg said.

Sophomore skier Annie Van Pilsum-Johnson said this meet is not as important for the team as conference races.

“This was just an invitational and not a conference meet. It does not affect the rest of our season but it is good practice at racing and it helps show us how we are

doing compared to other teams in the state,” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, they leaped forward seven places this year, improving their chances for the rest of the season.

“This year the girls took 19th whereas last year we took 26th so that’s a good sign,” Johnson said.

Phelan said the team is still developing.

“A lot of the other teams were a lot closer to their peak potential,” Phelan said.

“While we’re still on the upswing.”

Lindberg said the team will work on improving technique in practice.

“For the next race we will be working on speed and tempo insuring that we can keep up with the competition,” Lindberg said.

The next meet takes place at 3:45 p.m. Jan. 13 at Elm Creek Park Reserve.

Take the lead: Senior Ben Chong surges from the starting line in his heat at Hyland Hills Park Reserve Jan. 7. He placed fifth.

Nordic attire during freezing temperatures hat or face mask

windbreaker jacket one pair of gloves insulated pants under ski pants

Infographic Daniella Etzion

Program spurs academic success Classroom excellence a prerequisite for High Flyers program Max Kent maxkent@slpecho.com

A

Photo Max Kent

Drop it low: Sophomore Aaron Sledge performs a side lunge while participating in strength and conditioning practice after school Jan. 11. To apply for the High Flyers program, speak to Jessica Gust in room A302.

s a biology teacher and strength and conditioning coach, Jessica Gust said she never underestimates the importance of education for athletes.

The High Flyers program offers selected athletes the opportunity of a higher quantity and specialization of workouts to the regular strength and conditioning program, according to Gust.

Gust said she sees the new High Flyers program as an opportunity to help athletes prepare for future athletic plans.

“My goal is to create a higher level of accountability across the board for kids who are looking to play college sports because in order to play college sports you need to be able to balance academics and athletics,” Gust said.

Freshman Jake Olson said the program provides an opportunity for students to reach a new level of athletic ability.

“I have gone to strength for a few years now and I have seen a lot of im-

provements in my athletic ability, and I would love to take it up a notch,” Olson said. “I think (High Flyers) will create more interest for the athletes that are on a higher level in our school.”

Olson said although the coaches enforce academic performance, the weight room provides enough encouragement to do well in school.

“Having good grades has always been a requirement in my family to play sports, and I think this would just reinforce that,” Olson said.

Gust said students are required to submit grade sheets to the coaches and show up to 90 percent of the practices every four week period. From there, the coaches evaluate whether the student’s performance in the weight room and the classroom should allow them to continue in the High Flyers program.

“The tools for academic and athletic commitment cross over and you start to manage your time better in your sport and school,” Gust said. “That is why we discuss grades rather than use them as a consequence, because students should be accountable for their grades.”

To apply for the High Flyers program, submit an application to Jessica Gust.

Who Jonny Sorenson Grade Sophomore Sport Hockey What team are you on?

I play on varsity.

What position do you play?

I’m a left-winger.

Why do you like hockey?

I like hockey because it makes you feel so fast and I like moving fast and controlling the puck.

What is your favorite part of the sport?

Working with teammates and being able to just have fun on the ice, but then see a result. It’s one of the few things where you can have fun and still work hard and just great things come out of it.

What sets it apart from other sports?

The teamwork, the compassion and the motivation. You have to work on and off the ice. Also, the skill hockey requires. Everyone can run, but not everyone can lace up a pair of skates and be able to skate on ice.

How has hockey changed your life?

I think it’s helped me build some really good skills you need in life, like teamwork or companionship, and then also resiliency skills. And of course there’s the athletic skills. It’s really helped stay in shape over the years.

What makes a good hockey player?

I think being a good teammate, working hard and being respectful to the coaches.

What has been your favorite recent memory?

Going to Roseaux and winning the championship last year with our bantam team. It was pretty fun because we took a bus and ended up winning it all.

Anything at all that annoys you about hockey?

The other team kind of annoys me but that’s about it. I love hockey so there’s nothing really bad to say about it.

What sets you apart from other player do you think?

I think my determination and how I really badly want to win.

I’m very competitive and will work the hardest to do my best for the team.

Ndunzi Kunsunga ndunzikunsunga@slpecho.com

10

“

OPINIONS Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Echo

St. Louis Park Senior High School 6425 West 33rd Street St. Louis Park, MN 55426 Print editor-in-chief: Hannah Bernstein Web editor-in-chief: Kaylee Chamberlain Managing editors: Jackson Eilers, Hannah Goldenberg, Jamie Halper & Shoshi Leviton Copy editors: Allison Cramer, Jonah Kupritz, Jayne Stevenson & Emily Tifft Assistant copy editors: Sam Orloff, Alec Pittman, Elise Riley & Sophie Yarosh Design editors: Harry Steffenhagen Assistant design editors: Maggie Bahnson & Lauren VonEschen Art editor: Alyssa LeMay Photo editors: Harrison Barden, Celene Koller, Julia Nathan & Heather Westwood Assistant photo editor: Mira Swartz Video editors: Albie Sher & Paige Steward News editor: Olivia Sieff Student life editors: Deanna Afremov, Daniella Etzion & Sophia Skinner Features editors: Sari Hattis & Abby Hickstein In-Depth editor: Cedar Thomas Sports editors: Polina Pekurovsky Opinions editor: Ethan Brown & Adah Koivula Entertainment editor: Mimi Fhima Diversity editor: Makagbe Kuyateh Social media editor: Jane Anderson, Brigid Duffy Zoë Eilers & Alissa Meredith Staff: Mara Bacig, Max Blackburn, Joe Brandel, Sam Crary, Kate Huber, Max Kent, Jada CsikosMonroe, Emma Dietz, Anna duSaire, Raphy Gendler, Sydney Hall, Zack Hatcher, Ruthie Hope, Will Huyck, Ndunzi Kunsunga, Katie Orton, Neda Salamzadeh, Peter Sherno & Carlos Zeigle Business Manager: Genesis Buckhalton Principal: Scott Meyers Printer: Quad Graphics Adviser: Lori Keekley

MEDIA POLICIES The Echo is the official student-produced

There’s very little I think that is talked about between students and the administration.

Dashuan Emerson, sophomore

OUR PERSPECTIVE

Administration must involve student voices

T

he School Board passed a new policy regarding the treatment of deaths in the district at its meeting Jan. 11. Though this policy directly impacts the mourning activities of students, the School Board didn’t consult students.

We are deeply concerned the administration never recruited students to participate in this process of composing the policy.

Without student involvement, we believe it is impossible to consider the policy a reflection of our perspectives on the memorial policy.

The School Board’s decisions must have involvement by the student body, especially when they affect us as directly as this policy does.

It is the administration’s responsibility to ensure students know when the School Board meetings take place. The importance of attending these meetings increases when discussions involves issues such as the memorial policy.

The School Board will soon begin work on a gender identity policy for the district. It is crucial students have the opportunity to give input on the policy.

Without this, it is unlikely the policy will reflect the ideas of the student body, inevitably leading it to fail the students it seeks to serve. The policy can, however, address the issue of gender identity acceptance in our school if

Art Emma Dietz

When policies are made without student input, those policies fail to provide the services and support we need from our school district. students are invited to participate in the policy’s creation.

As of now, students do not have easy access to information regarding School Board meetings.

To improve communication to students about these meetings, the School Board should request information be included in school-day announcements or on bulletins around the school.

However, as much as it is the administration’s responsibility to actively involve students, it is equally as much students’ responsibility to demand they be

involved in these agreements.

When we fail to involve ourselves in district rulings that impact us, we give up our valuable right to direct these decisions in the way we prefer.

We, as students, are the only people who can represent our opinions on subjects discussed in School Board meetings.

Our involvement must include attending these meetings, educating ourselves on the issues discussed and, once old enough, voting in School Board elections to ensure those governing our

district represent our best wishes.

The path to creating a more productive relationship between the School Board and students in order to guarantee our involvement in these decisions begins with both sides committing themselves to communication and collaboration.

We must accept and defend each other’s rights and remember to exercise our own. Through this, we can be more successful in bringing policies to our district that more accurately reflect our positions on important issues.

newspaper of St. Louis Park Senior High School.

It is published triweekly for the school’s students, staff and community.

Police shooting statistics

The Echo is a designated forum for student 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

30.5%

and content meaningful and interesting to all our We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo and material that threatens to disrupt the learning process or is an We will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph unless clearly

of black people killed by police in the first half of 2015 were unarmed

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

16.1%

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 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.

of white people killed by police in the first half of 2015 were unarmed

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

Cedar Thomas cedarthomas@slpecho.con

T

readers.

invasion of privacy.

All Lives Matter perpetuates white supremacy Supporters must address inequalities in treatment of black people

expression in which students make all decisions of

Infographic Elise Riley Source The Guardian

hough it may sound like an innocent call to action, All Lives Matter perpetuates racism and white supremacy by attempting to rename and dismantle the Black Lives Matter movement.

White people created the phrase All Lives Matter as a corrective response to the Black Lives Matter movement after George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin Feb. 26, 2012.

Those preaching All Lives Matter fail to acknowledge their white privilege, and in fact, reinforce white supremacy.

White people can afford to take away the race component of Black Lives Matter because they have the privilege to do so. This colorblind attitude perpetuates racism by failing to acknowledge systemic inequalities. Racism needs to be addressed before it

can be dismantled.

All Lives Matter assumes black people can be racist and can eliminate the meaning of non-black lives. However, people of color face oppression through institutionalized racism, preventing them from being racist toward white people.

Racism involves both power and prejudice. White people can’t experience racism because people of color don’t have the institutional power to be racist. Therefore, the statement Black Lives Matter does not have the power behind it to take away the value of a white person’s life.

Black Lives Matter doesn’t suggest nobody else’s lives matter.

Instead, it suggests the black community faces problems that the government fails to address.

No one disputes the importance of white lives, but when police continue to shoot and kill unarmed black people without justice, it becomes obvious they don’t value black lives as highly.

According to The Guardian,

police officers killed more than six black people for every million black residents in the United States in 2015. Black Lives Matter tries to establish the fact that black lives are equally as important as white lives.

These represent just a few examples of media demonizing black victims while making excuses for white suspects.

All Lives Matter is not a real movement. It simply attempts to dismantle the efforts of a powerful black rights movement. No one organizes All Lives Matter rallies.

No one pours into the streets fighting for the All Lives Matter movement.

Those who truly care about all lives can show support for the lives that society does not value and join the Black Lives Matter movement.

Students need to keep themselves informed about police brutality and support Black Lives Matter by attending fundraisers, meetings and protests organized for the movement.

or harmful. The Echo does not necessarily endorse the products or services offered in these

To medical marijuana: Going to the doctor will be fun now.

advertisements.

NSPA All-American and Hall of Fame member; NSPA 2011, Print Pacemaker Finalist, 2013, 2014, 2015. National Print Pacemaker Award Recipient; 2014 Online Pacemaker Finalist, JEM All-State; CSPA Gold Medalist; 2012, 2014 CSPA Silver Crown, 2013 CSPA Gold Crown, 2015 CSPA Hybrid Gold Crown.

To strength and conditioning: School puts enough weight on my back as it is.

To winter one acts: At least they’ll be short.

Art Alyssa LeMay

H.G.,P.S., R.G

“

Medical marijuana shouldn’t be legalized. There’s a chance people can get addicted to it.

OPINIONS

Manegbe Eben, junior

Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

11

POINT COUNTERPOINT

Supreme Court tackles polarizing affirmative action The Supreme Court recently announced its decision to hear Fisher v. University of Texas, in which Abigail Fisher claims the University of Texas denied her application because she’s white. The decision will affect the use of affirmative action.

Affirmative action outdated policy, creates stereotypes

Anti-discrimnation laws benefit economy, promote equality Injustice toward minorities still highly influential in society Allison Cramer allisoncramer@slpecho.com

A

ffirmative action remains direly necessary in the United States to correct the imbalance of opportunity faced by people of color and to allow economicallybeneficial upward mobility.

The case currently facing the Supreme Court — that of Abigail Fisher and her denial from the University of Texas — threatens to tear down this vital institution before it has finished doing its job.

To say that affirmative action is no longer necessary is to say people of color are no longer at a disadvantage in our society, an assertion that could not be more false. In fact, the median wealth of white households in the United States is still 20 times that of black households, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.

One of the tenets of the American dream is upward mobility, defined as the rising from a lower social class to a higher one. However, people of color cannot access

the American dream because of systematic discrimination.

While black people represent 14 percent of the population, they make up less than 1 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs. Years of racism influence these numbers, and repealing affirmative action would only stagnate upward mobility and make the upper class even more overwhelmingly white.

“Color-blindness” does not work. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, black people are half as likely to get a job offer as white people presenting identical qualifications, and black people with clean records do no better in searching for low-wage work than white people with felony convictions.

Though quota systems disappeared years ago, removing race from college admissions would force schools to ignore a key factor in the lives of their students and an obstacle to their success.

The argument that affirmative action constitutes reverse racism is frankly ridiculous. Affirmative action is but a slight counterbalance to centuries of oppression and discrimination — nowadays often unconscious discrimination — faced by people of color.

Policies hurt achievement more than they help Max Blackburn maxblackburn@slpecho.com

T

Infographic Cedar Thomas Source The New York Times & Pew Research Center

he United States undoubtedly has work to do to achieve a system of equal opportunities, but the answer does not lie in affirmative action.

In the current Supreme Court case Fisher v. University of Texas, discussion on affirmative action focuses on acceptance into universities across the country.

The universities solve their lack of diversity by admitting students based on race, completely ignoring the value of merit.

Minority students may get accepted in place of a more qualified white student. The issue with motivation and success of students cannot be linked to race. Any student who lacks a decent work ethic and success rate will not fit well in a competitive university.

In the Supreme Court case Grutter v. University of Michigan Law School in 2003, Barbara Grutter was denied admittance even though she held an ac-

Legalization of medical marijuana for pain overdue Misunderstanding, lack of research hold medicine back Will Huyck willhuyck@slpecho.com

N

ow that Minnesota will expand its medical marijuana legislation to allow patients suffering from chronic pain access to the drug, the rest of the country must do the same.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, marijuana belongs to the Schedule I category, which inhibits research on the drug. However, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and the

PARK TRAIL

American Academy of Pediatrics both recently suggested marijuana needs more research in order to be better understood. This creates a contradictory situation in which medical marijuana cannot advance.

According to Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, roughly 94 percent of the 2000 studies on medical marijuana in recent years focused solely on the negative aspects of the drug.

Out of the research that does investigate the benefits of medical marijuana, many of the results demonstrate marijuana’s status as an effective form of medicine.

Emma Dietz emmadietz@slpecho.com

In several studies, marijuana successfully treated symptoms of not only chronic pain but also cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS. Marijuana certainly holds some negative properties. The NIDA associates marijuana with potential reduction of thinking and memory abilities, respiratory problems, depression and anxiety.

NIDA also identifies marijuana as potentially addictive.

However, the medical community uses drugs with far worse side effects and much higher potential for addiction to treat patients’ symptoms.

Studies show the painkiller morphine has more addictive

potential than marijuana, tobacco, alcohol and cocaine. In addition, morphine’s potential side effects include severe vomiting, problems with muscle control and abdominal pain, according to Mayo Clinic.

Some doctors continue to use drugs like morphine because they believe its benefits outweigh its risks. The medical community should apply the same mentality to medical marijuana.

For decades, critics have reinforced an unecessary stigma while the government inhibits research on a proven-effective drug. All of this occurs at the cost of chronic pain suffering.

ceptable GPA and adequate test scores. She filed a suit that the decision process used by the university was in violation of the 14th Amendment.

The conflict created an idea of reverse racism, where universities reject qualified white students simply because they do not belong to an underrepresented minority.

If a university accepts a group of students because of their race, it creates a stereotype that everyone in that racial group must be unable to succeed without special allowances.

Universities in California do not allow affirmative action, but instead open more opportunities and financial aid to those classified with a lower economic standing. These classes tend to be minority and lack of financial aid causes hesitation when applying to universities.

The United States still has widespread problems with discrimination, but affirmative action cannot be the solution.

This outdated idea creates more problems than it solves. Much better solutions are out there, such as increasing financial aid. These solutions just need to be put into place by universities.

Prescription overdose deaths 22,767 deaths from prescription drug overdoses in 2013

16,235

deaths from opioid painkillers

6,973

deaths from benzodiazepines

0

deaths from medical marijuana Infographic Mira Swartz Source CDC

“

12 ENTERTAINMENT

Echo Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Art expresses concern: Minnesotabased artist Tina Blondell’s oil painting “Affliction the Down Side of Up” explores her misgivings about the medication of natural sadness.

Photo Celene Koller

‘Humanly Possible’

exhibit showcases empathy Instinct Art Gallery attempts to elicit emotional response

a

Allison Cramer allisoncramer@slpecho.com

t the Instinct Art Gallery in Minneapolis, “Humanly Possible: The Empathy Show” explores the concept of empathy in a polarizing time with empathy on the decline.

Gallery director John Schuerman said the exhibit attempts to get people to experience empathy.

“It’s an exhibition that is meant to help people get in touch with their empathic response,” Schuerman said.

Senior Tess McQuillan said she thinks the idea of exploring a feeling in an art exhibit sounds interesting.

“I’ve never heard of an exhibit like that — it’s very unique,” McQuillan said. “I think it seems like a fascinating, fresh take on art.”

Artist Tina Blondell said her connection with the gallery director led her to the exhibition.

“I’ve known John, the director of the gallery, for a number of years and he thought that my work would fit really well because I work so much with human emotions and empathy,” Blondell said.

Schuerman said he decided on the theme of the exhibition after reading studies showing a drop in empathy.

“Part of the impetus for this exhibition was that I had read some studies that showed that empathy was on the

METRO AT A GLANCE

Mimi Fhima mimifhima@slpecho.com Photos used with permission and fair use from Weisman Art Museum (Lynn Silverman and Klompching Gallery), Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, St. Paul Winter Carnival and ridealong.com.

Empathy is being able to feel what another person feels, because they have been through it.

Nick Kasic, junior

decline in some populations around the world, such as college students and U.S. healthcare workers,” Schuerman said.

Sophomore Abdul Koroma said he thinks the decline in empathy might be because of a greater use of technology among young people.

“People might not be willing to connect on a personal level with others because of (technology),” Koroma said.

McQuillan said the studies showing a decline in empathy don’t surprise her.

“I think this art exhibit is onto something in trying to inspire empathy.

It’s definitely a skill that our generation needs to work on as a whole,” McQuillan said.

Schuerman said current events around the world make the exhibition relevant right now.

“This is a very timely topic because so many of the events going on in the world, whether it’s gun violence or terrorism or the polarization of American politics, all of these things at least suggest that we need to exercise our empathic capacity more,” Schuerman said.

“And I think that’s one of the points of the show — that empathy is something we choose to engage.”

Schuerman said though people usually define empathy as person-to-person, the artists in the show have expanded the concept to include empathy with the natural world.

Blondell said she started working on her current art series about a year ago.

“My latest body of work is titled ‘Displacement, Adaptation and Belonging’ and it’s about people who find themselves outside of their comfort zone,” Blondell said.

Schuerman said the nine mostly local artists in the show use a wide range of artistic forms in order to inspire empathy.

“There are sculpture installations, videos, a performance piece, paintings, drawings, photography, so it’s totally a wide range of media,” Schuerman said.

Schuerman said many of the artists used their own experiences to create their art.

“One of the artists is from Iran and she picked up several fragments from after a riot, these objects that were hurled in anger, and she grew these really beautiful crystals on them,” Schuerman said.

Blondell said she often makes artwork exploring how people experience happiness and sadness in U.S. culture.

“One of my large paintings in the exhibition is about how I think that most people in our society and in this country About the exhibit want to always be When: Noon-5 p.m. happy, and I think Tuesday through Saturday that’s unrealistic,” Open until Jan. 16 Blondell said. “I really believe that you Cost: Free Source thewarm.org should be allowed and able to feel sadness — it’s a normal part of being a human being.”

McQuillan said the concept of inspiring empathy through art makes her curious to see the exhibition.

“In art there’s the ability to put what you feel into a tangible form. It’s interesting to see what the artist makes, but also how you interpret it,” McQuillan said.

“Humanly Possible: The Empathy Show” runs until Jan. 16 at the Instinct Art Gallery in downtown Minneapolis.

Jan. 13-Jul. 10

Jan. 15

Jan. 16

Jan. 28-Feb. 7

The Weisman Art Museum showcases “Still ... Life,” an exhibit with photographs and live cuttings of plants that survived the Holocaust and World War II. Admission to the Weisman is free.

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube return in their sequel movie “Ride Along 2.” Hart and Ice Cube portray brother-in-law policemen looking to track down a Miami drug lord.

Directed by Tim Story.

The annual Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival brings kites and kite fliers together. Activities include ice fishing, snowshoeing and wagon rides. The event is free and open from noon-4 p.m.

Located in Rice Park, the St. Paul Winter Carnival features an ice palace, music in the park, ice carvings and parades. The events range in price and are open to the public during the day.