The Eyrie March Issue • 2016

THE EYRIE vol. 55 || no. 4

MARCH ISSUE

CECILY WANG This spotlight artist uses technology to create amazing digital art pg. 4

DARE 2 BE REAL

Eden Prairie High School

FITNESS IN NATURE

EXPLORING MN

New club builds an Enjoy the outdoors while On a budget? No outlet for students to getting a workout in; find problem. Here’s how to speak openly about race popular bike trails explore your home state pg. 10

pg. 26

INTO

THE

BOWELS

OF EPHS pg. 20

pg. 37

CONTENTS Staff

Editors-in-chief Elizabeth Kenyon Max Chao Managing Editor Andrew Donohue Business Manager Anthony Rosa Website Editors Andrew Donohue Claire Hassler Website Assistant Editors Anya Otterson Zenab Kashif

Designing Pathways pg. 12

Photography and Graphics Staff Anya Otterson Sawyer Hilt Tala Alfoqaha Dustin Wolf Zenab Kashif Greta Frye Rachel Johnson Arts & Entertainment Editor Elizabeth Kenyon Arts and Entertainment Assistant Editor Tala Alfoqaha Cover Story Editor Kristina Briant Feature Editor Yasmine Chavez Feature Assistant Editor Anya Otterson

Teachers with Two Jobs pg. 36

News Editor Max Chao News Assistant Editor Sawyer Hilt Opinion Editor Claire Hassler Opinion Assistant Editor Emilee Jacobson Profile Editor Murphy Hullet-Nelson Sports Editor Abbey Mertz Sports Assistant Editor Kayla Albers Columnists Calder Sell Arun Pargal Anthony Rosa Staff Writers Mukund Venkateswaran Sara Michael Advisor Jodie Flolid

2 | CONTENTS

Policies

Mission Statement The Eyrie strives to be an accurate, informative and entertaining publication for the students and faculty of EPHS. Letters The Eyrie encourages all students and faculty to share their views with the school. All letters must be signed; however, names may be withheld in certain situations.

Once received, the Eyrie reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.

Editorials Staff Editorials are staff-written and approved by a two-thirds majority of the staff. All other opinion pieces reflect the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication, student body, faculty or administration.

Multi-media To follow the Eyrie on Twitter, use the Twitter handle the_eyrie.

To find us on facebook, search for the Eyrie. For daily content and school updates, visit theeyrie.org Printer The Eyrie is printed by the Eden Prairie Schools Printing Services, 17185 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, MN, 55346

THE EYRIE vol. 55 || no. 4

MARCH ISSUE

CECILY WANG This spotlight artist uses technology to create amazing digital art pg. 4

DARE 2 BE REAL

Eden Prairie High School

FITNESS IN NATURE

EXPLORING MN

New club builds an Enjoy the outdoors while On a budget? No outlet for students to getting a workout in; find problem. Here’s how to speak openly about race popular bike trails explore your home state pg. 10

pg. 26

pg. 37

INTO

THE

BOWELS

OF EPHS pg. 20

Cover Illustration by Sawyer Hilt Cover Design by Elizabeth Kenyon

Leivermann Reaches His Goal pg. 18

Experiencing Life Abroad pg. 31

Spotlight Artist: Cecily Wang pg. 8

Letter from the Editors Spring Break is finally here. We know that you’re excited to be in the sun and out of school for two weeks, we are as well. Before you leave on your trip to Cancun, take a minute to learn about some new clubs, read some of our staff’s opinions on the presidential race and take a look at the unseen side of the school that you spend five days a week in. Thank you for picking up one of our issues, we hope that you enjoy.

Sincerely,

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 3

A&E

spotlight artist

’s ng Wa ake! y l eci to m s fC e o hour n , o r 10 e p sca k ove nd o s la s, to i h T tion a cre

4 | A&E

Discovering the modern world through digital art I

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STORY AND PHOTO BY ANYA OTTERSON Pulling out her laptop and tablet at Caribou Coffee, senior Cecily Wang starts a sketch. She uses a stylus to draw on the tablet, watching as her marks and lines appear on the computer screen. Wang is primarily a digital artist, creating mythical-looking landscapes and portraits without the traditional pencil and paper. The result? Art that looks as though it’s from a dream.

“I started drawing way before kindergarten,” said Wang. When she was younger and lived in Texas, she would go to a woman’s house before Chinese class as a sort of after school activity, and she spent her time there drawing.

After winning an art contest in first grade, Wang started formal art classes and now takes classes at the Meilin Art Studio in traditional paper sketching and watercolor.

“We would sit and draw. The teacher didn’t draw for us,” explained Wang. The teacher gave students pointers and advice and let them draw on their own.

Wang got into digital art through the

internet. “I thought it looked cool, and it’s easier to fix if you mess up,” she said. “I watched some videos on what you should and shouldn’t do and went from there.”

It was a smooth transition from paper to digital. Instead of erasing misplaced marks, she can simply press Control-Z to undo them. Additionally, the screen of the tablet doesn’t show the picture. While drawing on the tablet, Wang has to look at the computer screen to see what she’s drawing. “You have to hover the mouse,” Wang said, explaining what differences took a little getting used to.

“There’s quirks at first, then it gets easier.”

Where does Wang find inspiration? Mostly from her imagination. “I like mixing pink and blue and orange, because I love sunsets,” she said. She also finds ideas in the artists of romanticism, since they give such a strong storytelling component. While drawing, she usually listens to music to help her focus and relax.

Wang’s favorite things to draw are landscapes, and she mostly just draws for fun. However, she does get commissioned

sometimes. Art requests for her include portraits, character drawings and even an inquiry about art for a game.

It’s easy to see why people gravitate toward her art. Senior Emily Corpuz, a friend of Wang’s, said, “Cecily’s artwork is magnetizing.

Her art style effortlessly creates stories in which viewers hungrily desire to immerse themselves.”

Senior Julie Juia, another friend of Wang’s, added, “The vivid imagery pulls you in until it seems as if you are in the scene itself.”

Of her future plans for her art, Wang said, “I’d like to be a freelance artist. I’ll just see where it goes.”

By the time she packs up her gear, the sketch Wang started in Caribou Coffee a mere half hour earlier is taking shape. Already, details, outlines and ideas are coming together to form the foundation of an intricate portrait of a girl standing in front of a window. With her combined talent and love of art, Wang is able to create something truly wonderful.

Catch Cecily Wang in the Literary Magazine--coming out NEXT MONTH!

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 5

the reviews

Finding a newage nostalgia

FLICKR PHOTO

BY ANYA OTTERSON From sold-out tours to Saturday Night Live, the U.K.-based band The 1975 has swept through nations like a storm. With alternative sounds and lyrics epitomizing what it means to be young and figuring out life, the band’s first full-length album, “The 1975,” made a mark and gained popularity. Having established a distinct sound with that album, The 1975 is now uprooting it with their second full-length album, “ I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It.”

Unlike their previous fast-paced album, this new one is slowed down with an overall nostalgic mood, something that fits a night spent under the stars contemplating life rather than a night out with friends. While some songs, like “The Sound,” still retain distinctly The 1975 vocals with a peppy, upbeat indie vibe, others like “Please Be Naked” don’t have any lyrics at all, and are instead full of soft melodies and piano progressions. Despite the title, “Please Be Naked” is more of a lullaby than a getting-it-on song. It contains the same peaceful tone as much of the rest of the album.

Going into this album, I thought that the lyrics would be more relationship and sexual encounter-based due to the title. They, however, really aren’t. The lyrics are quite thoughtful; it’s apparent that a lot of work went into this album. “Nana,” for instance is a brutally honest ballad about the death of one of lead singer Matt Healy’s grandmother. The lyrics “I don’t like it, now you’re dead / It’s not the same when I scratch my own head” prove that music doesn’t need to be overly deep and complex to pull at your heartstrings.

The final song on the album is “She Lays Down.” The simple guitar and Healy’s distant voice provide a smooth, sad end to the album that marks a new phase for The 1975. At the end of the song, Healy says “That was it,” and so The 1975’s second album comes to a satisfying end.

A stroll down 10 Cloverfield Lane

BY RACHEL JOHNSON

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FLICKR PHOTO

10 Cloverfield Lane, labeled a psychological thriller, explores a hostage situation with an apocalyptic twist. The film begins with Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) crashing her vehicle in the middle of Louisiana.

She wakes up in a underground bunker with two other men, a survivalist named Howard (John Goodman) and Emmett (John Galger, Jr.). Howard convinces Michelle that chemical warfare has contaminated the outside world with unbreathable air. Michelle decides she must discover the truth for herself.

The production company, Bad Robot, gave Dan Trachtenberg his directorial debut with this movie. 10 Cloverfield Lane is a tension filled narrative of interactions between the characters and the overarching mystery of what happened outside the bunker. The confined setting of the survival bunker heightened the suspense to the extreme. Jump scares were limited but can result in the spilling of coffee or other beverages one might be tightly holding.

The mystery of the characters’ backgrounds constantly has the audience questioning their motives in the bunker and the outcome is never expected.

The movie has ties to Cloverfield, a disaster film set in New York focusing on a group that tries to run from the invasion. The documentary filming style captures how the group was escaping the city. In contrast, 10 Cloverfield Lane followed an intelligent female lead that was easy to root for whenever she faced a stressful situation. While the movie is still one of survival, the humans are the major stressor, not extraterrestrials. The filming of the movie is not shaky shots of the action like that of Cloverfield.

This spinoff movie excellently presents a horrifying situation paired with captivating characters. Being trapped in a confined space with two strangers makes an incredible thriller movie where the audience can place themselves in their shoes. The twist at the end drawing the movie together leaves the viewers satisfied if not still on the edge of their seat.

Do you want to be a #GIRLBOSS?

BY GRETA FRYE

Nasty Gal company is rebellious with a side of 70’s bohemian.

Want to be a girl boss? If yes, then Amoruso wants every woman to feel Sophia Amoruso’s book, “#GIRLBOSS,” powerful and that they can take over the is the one for you. The author’s rise to world. “Clothing is ultimately the suit of success is a real rags to riches story armor in which we battle the world,” said where a rebellious Sophia Amoruso in her book teenager would “#GIRLBOSS”.

Clothing is grow up to own a Amoruso teaches the reader multi-million dollar about the power of being ultimately the suit clothing company. different and how a person can of armor in which make amazing things from their Amoruso’s love for vintage clothing own creative abilities. Don’t be we battle the would morph into a ashamed of your past because world life changing career it can create pathways for you in where she would the future. This book has three become a “girl main ideas: Be yourself, be smart boss.” It all began with your money and kick-butt. when she started selling clothing items This book has great advice for how to kickFLICKR PHOTO on ebay. Soon after she created her start a business. I’d recommend this book to company called Nasty Gal. The spirit of the any girl who wants to be a #GIRLBOSS.

“

”

Impressive new Thai restaurant where Umbria Pizza once was STORY AND PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH KENYON

7922 Mitchell Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-934-3030

Bye-bye Umbria, hello Lotus Leaf. The quality pizza joint was replaced last year with a new Thai restaurant, right in the corner of the little strip mall off of Mitchell Road.

Lotus Leaf’s exterior is unassuming, as modern and simplistic as its interior counterparts. The restaurant certainly aims for a sleek look, yet still manages to exude a relaxed vibe.

As for the food, the Tom Yum soup appetizer was exactly what a spicy, sour, brothy, Asian soup should be, although the vegetables in it were boring—literally garden-variety vegetables so fresh one rather random grape tomato tasted like it had just been plucked off a tomato plant and tossed right in. While there’s certainly never anything wrong with fresh vegetables, they didn’t quite mesh with the broth. Regardless, the overall taste was worth the $5 price.

The Pad-Thai was better than anything you’d get at the likes of Big Bowl. It tasted great, it was easy to eat and no one ingredient was particularly overpowering. Perhaps there could be more Pad-Thai for the $15 it cost (with shrimp), but I’m not really complaining.

If shrimp isn’t your thing, the default Pad-Thai comes with chicken and costs $13.

Of course, Lotus Leaf doesn’t just have

Pad-Thai; the menu also includes several fried rice dishes, curries and Asian entrees served with rice.

The most expensive items on the menu are only $15, making Lotus Leaf a great place for relatively inexpensive food, without sacrificing quality. The food wasn’t disappointing, and the atmosphere was relaxing. The service was good—slightly uninvolved, but the lack of customers at the hour I went made it okay.

Lotus Leaf was altogether worth the visit, better than most Asian restaurants in Eden Prairie as a whole.

The verdict: Check it out!

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 7

The Little Prince(ss) in us all PHOTO BY ZENAB KASHIF

BY TALA ALFOQAHA Behind their simple and lighthearted storylines, children’s books are often abound with profound messages and universal themes that pertain to all ages. One book in particular, “The Little Prince,” by Antoine De SaintExupéry, embodies this duality and sends a clear message that most teenagers and adults would do well to hear.

“The Little Prince” centers around an eponymous “little prince” who was once the sole inhabitant of an asteroid before leaving to explore other planets. On each planet he encounters an adult with some sort of oddity that leave the little prince befuddled. Upon reaching earth, the little prince meets the narrator of the story in the Sahara Desert, an adult pilot left stranded after his plane crash-landed. From that point on, the unlikely pair becomes close friends and, in a rare appreciation of the unconventional wisdom vested within children, the adult emerges all the wiser.

Underneath all the far-fetched elements that one would expect to find in a children’s book exists a meditation on what it means to be a child and how adulthood can often cause people to lose sight of the larger picture in life.

Throughout the book, the little prince exhibits an insatiable curiosity and an unshakeable refusal to abandon any question

8 | A&E

“It’s the time you wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”

he has. On the other hand, the adults of the novel appear to be obsessed with numbers and quantity. Every adult character is caught up in their own world--both figuratively and literally--and as a result impresses a sense of loneliness and discontentment that can be traced back to their inability to explore new ideas or question their current situation. For example, one adult in “The Little Prince” convinces himself that he is a king and spends his time counting the number of stars in the universe that he believes belong to him.

Another devotes his entire life to turning a street lamp on and off because he believes that is his duty as a lamp lighter.

The little prince continually emphasizes the importance of the unseen, challenging the adult in the novel to break the barriers imposed by a literal interpretation of life and encourages the reader to view the world through a lens of imagination and creativity. As the little prince tells his newly acquired friend, “It’s the time you wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”

Through little bits of wisdom imparted to the reader along with a storyline and visuals that the little kid in everyone can appreciate, “The Little Prince” serves as a wakeup call for anyone who has grown up and lost sight of the idealism and creativity that flourishes during childhood.

Battle of the bands!

Support your fellow teens by attending this year’s Battle of the Bands MoveFwd, formally known as Teens Alone, is a nonprofit organization that is geared towards making sure students feel safe in their families by offering counseling services and assure that all teenagers have a safe home and get the education they deserve. MoveFwd provides free counseling, housing programs and a drop in center. Their office is located in Hopkins, and, for more urgent help, they have phone help line.

MoveFwd sponsors multiple events yearlong to promote the safety of all teenagers. In particular, the 22nd of April, there is Battle of the Bands event. The MoveFwd advisory board is sponsoring this event.

Bands from Hopkins, Eden Prairie, Main Street School of Performing Arts, Saint Louis Park and Wayzata will be featured in this event. Battle of the Bands will take place at the Depot Coffee House in Hopkins. Tickets at the door are $7.

Doors open at 6:30 pm and all proceeds go to Teens Alone, which provides free counseling and case management to teens and young adults who live and/or attend school in the Eden Prairie, Hopkins, St. Louis Park or Wayzata school districts.

FLICKR PHOTO

BY ZENAB KASHIF

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March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 9

NEWS

TRUTH & DARE

New club tackles race issues within the community

BY CALDER SELL

empower and develop the skills to not only be able to communicate but to engage others in the work of anti-racism and leadership.”

Jordan said, “We have six teachers who have been involved in training or worked with kids and have been in lots of conversations about race and have a high comfort level to talk about race to lead the group.”

Sophomore De’ja Mathews, a student leader, hopes that the newest club at EPHS, Dare 2 Be Real, builds an environment where it is ok to talk about race. “The biggest thing is acknowledging discomfort in the classroom and being open to listen to other people’s perspectives because that lack of knowledge creates hatred and creates discomfort,” Matthews said. “So if we’re talking to each Sophomores Ethan Jones other and having those better perspectives and Raniyah Taylor and wanting to understand each other, we’ll speak about the club be better as a school.”

Social Studies teacher Brian Sibley, who is one of the club’s advisors, first heard of Dare 2 Be Real on a trip this past summer.

“Last summer, I went on a Civil Rights research tour with schools like Hopkins and Edina.

I took four kids from Eden Prairie,” Sibley said. “I’m listening to these kids from other schools and they’re talking about these experiences as being African Americans in these predominantly white schools and I kept hearing about this Dare 2 Be Real group.”

Sibley said.

PHOTO BY DUSTIN WOLF Seeing the effect this trip had on the students of color, Sibley returned with the goal of implementing this Dare 2 Be Real group into Members have already met with staff to EPHS. With the help of several other teachers, address some of the issues that revolve around the group soon became a reality. Dare 2 Be race. Students have gone to several teacher Real is looking to challenge all students in a conferences and shared personal experiences new way. in effort to bridge communication gaps Group members hope to break down between staff and students. barriers of silence and ignorance to build Students in the group were chosen by the an outlet where students can speak openly advisers and include a mix of races. “Teachers about race. “If you see or hear something that all got together and looked at identifying is against a race or culture, call them out on students that would be great to help start this it because no one should have to go through work to get it started,” Jordan said. “Your race that,” sophomore Raniyah Taylor said. or culture makes no difference. We do want Sarah Jordan, another advisor who played diversity and multiple perspectives so we’re a major role in the implementation of Dare looking at the issues that are happening in 2 Be Real, describes the group as “a student our school around race. We can sit and have leadership group that helps to nurture, conversations around that.”

10 | NEWS

As this group is very new, the faculty and students have many goals for the future of this group. Sibley hopes this group will create a space for students of color to share their experiences so they do not feel marginalized.

“One of the big problems of being a student of color in a school like Eden Prairie, Hopkins or Edina is that you don’t necessarily have representation in the staff,” he said. “At our school, there are two, maybe three, teachers of color in the classroom. So the kids don’t even get to see someone that looks like them in the classroom. So they have to find some other venue to have their voice heard and feel like they’re part of the school.”

Sibley also wants this to be a bridge between the students and teachers because “as educators, we know what happens in our classroom and we hear ‘stuff’ but we don’t know what you all go through 9th grade to 12th grade.” For example, teachers do not know how students find out about classes and how they are treated in those classes.

Sophomore Ethan Jones, another student leader, said, “If we had the whole school recognizing that these issues are prevalent in our community and speaking out against them, that’d be the number one goal.”

Though not directly involved in Dare 2 Be Real, Principal Conn McCartan is a strong supporter. He knows that race issue topics need to be addressed and this group offers an environment that is safe and productive.

McCartan wishes for a society where students’ positions in school are “not predictable from birth based on how much melanin they have.”

Want to be part of the race discussion?

Dare 2 Be Real participants say the first step is to start talking about it. Though the conversation can be tough to start, it only progresses if there is an understanding on all sides.

PREVIEW:

Diversity Fair returns to EPHS

BY ANTHONY ROSA After being cancelled due to low participation for the past three years, on Wednesday April 27, the Diversity Fair is coming back to EPHS. The fair is an event in which various clubs, classes, or groups hold booths to present various aspects of their cultures. The Diversity Club is the organization that puts the event on.

The fair will be comprised of student only presentations. All students are welcome to come and participate. Tom Halloran, the club’s advisor, believes the event is a good learning opportunity for students saying, “It is a chance to see, celebrate, and learn about who we are as a school community.”

The fair will be held in the big gym during first and second periods on April 27 and will be followed by student panel discussions during third and fourth periods. The panel will be leading a conversation with World Language classes.

Najma Osman is one of the students running a booth for the fair.

She is working with four of her friends to put on a booth about Somali culture. “It’s a great opportunity for people to get to teach others about their culture” Osman said. Her booth will be dressed in traditional Somali clothing, will have popular Somali music, and will have cultural items on display.

Altogether, around 20-25 groups are expected to participate in the fair.

You Should Probably Know Zika Virus

BY ELIZABETH KENYON Move over Ebola, there’s a new bad boy in town, and it goes by the name of “Zika.” The disease has been spreading in other countries for the most part, but there have recently been several cases in different states from people who have recently traveled abroad. So there’s that.

The Zika Virus Disease is caused by a mosquito bite, particularly an infected Aedes species, and the most common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.

But what really has the world worried is what happens when pregnant women catch the virus. It can be passed on to fetuses, and Brazil has had a significant outbreak of Zika

Leaders Zeinab Hussein and Tala Alfoqaha speak to participants

PHOTO BY ZENAB KASHIF

WHAT TO KNOW WHEN: April 27 ADVISOR: Tom Halloran LEADERS: Tala Alfoqaha, Zeinab Hussein, Zenab Kashif, Amal Halane CONTACT: thalloran@edenpr.org

since May 2015. As a result, there has been an increased number of babies born with microcephaly, the birth defect in which a baby’s head is smaller than it should be. You probably know what it looks like—photos of babies with the defect have been circulating the Internet for months, accompanied by headlines that throw gasoline on the Panic Flames.

Health authorities in Brazil have been investigating the association between the Zika Virus and Microcephaly, trying to determine for sure if a link exists. If it does, it could mean bad things for America when summer hits. Sure, everyone hates on mosquitos now, but just wait until it starts doing much more than leaving ridiculously annoying bumps.

To add to the rather impressive list of things the Zika Virus can do (as opposed to what it cannot), it can also be sexually transmitted. The virus remains in the blood for about a week, but it is unknown how long it can stay in semen—something scientists are currently studying as well. Last month, the first case of sexually transmitted Zika Virus was confirmed in Texas after the patient had sex with someone who had recently returned from Venezuela with the infection. Protect yo’self, people. It’s getting ugly out there.

What does this all mean for Minnesota?

Well, only two countries in the Western Hemisphere do not have the infectious Aedes species of mosquitos, and America is not one of them. U.S. expert health officials are preparing for Zika’s inevitable arrival, warning pregnant women not to travel to places where the virus is spreading. But what happens when the virus comes to them?

TBD.

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL JOHNSON

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 11

NEWS

Club takes global look at health issues

BY MUKUND VENKATESWARAN GRAPHIC FROM EDEN PRAIRIE SCHOOLS

Designing Pathways starts new chapter in education

BY MAX CHAO As the times change, education changes with it. Over the years, the Eden Prairie school district has gradually shifted what its education system looks like: increasing the presence of technology, expanding the Spanish immersion program, adding the Mosaic program, and redrawing district borders are all relatively recent changes to education in Eden Prairie.

The next step in Eden Prairie’s educational evolution is Designing Pathways, that will give the community a voice in district educational decisions. “There hasn’t been a wide scale look at academic programming in well over twelve and maybe over fifteen years as a district and as a system,” said Assistant Superintendent Josh Swanson. “I think it’s good timing to be able to step back and reflect and take a look at what that looks like and what we want it to look like as a community” Designing Pathways is a process in which community comes first. “What we’re really trying to do is put together a process that’s authentic, transparent, has a heavy amount of community engagement,” said Director of Communications Jaclyn Swords. Feedback is taken in by an Academic Design team who then make proposals to the community based on that feedback. The team is comprised of people who have different backgrounds in education, including parents and EPHS faculty such as Principal Conn McCartan and business teacher Mark Anderson. “I’m ecstatic being part of this committee and being part of the future for Eden Prairie, and helping bring the community together. It’s a phenomenal honor to be a part of it,” said Anderson.

Anderson also has children in the district in addition to being a teacher, giving him a unique perspective on the issues given. “I really

12 | NEWS

Assistant Superintendent Swanson advises the Academic Design Team

PHOTO BY ANYA OTTERSON

come at this from two different viewpoints and it’s really beneficial for me to be able to see this process with two different hats.

The process is divided into Phases 1 and 2.

The former deals with academic programming in schools, while Phase 2 focuses on schools’ facilities. The district is currently in Phase one, and is testing out the program for its effectiveness before moving on to Phase 2. “We want our academic programming to drive what our facilities look like, not have our facilities drive what our academic programming looks like,” said Swanson.

Among the topics discussed in during Phase 2 will be the disparities in enrollment in elementary schools.

It is early into Phase 1, and the Academic Design team is now looking over the data from surveys, which were given to parents and district staff, to decide on what proposals to make to the community in May. “This process is really looking at what is the vision for that and supporting what we already have in place for the strategic plan. It’s looking at in the big picture,” said Swords.

Every other Wednesday, a group of students meet after school to discuss global health issues and ways to solve them. This group, called Partners in Health, is a grassroots organization comprised of many smaller chapters all around the country with a single mission: To help solve global health issues such as tuberculosis in Peru. EPHS houses its own PIH chapter.

A fundraiser the club is planning is selling water bottles during the diversity fair. The proceeds will go toward the general PIH fund which is currently being used toward tuberculosis and zika virus outbreaks.

“Partners in Health is involved with many first response situations. For the Zika outbreak, PiH set a goal of raising $100,000 to fund the initial response and in week raised that much,” said club leader Satish Uppaluri.

The Eden Prairie PIH chapter seeks to spread awareness about the cause through various fundraisers and by speaking to members of Congress. One of the fundraisers that the EPHS chapter has conducted is “10 days to 0” where members of the group created webpages in which people could donate. PIH tables will be set up at events like the Blues Rock Concert, which the club raised 80 dollars at earlier this school year.

“Right now we are focusing more on advocacy and letting people know what’s happening,” said Uppaluri “but we do fundraiser and raise money because every dollar goes to more work that is being done across the globe.”

Students will be able to get involved with the club by volunteering at the fundraising tables and by advocating for the club to spread awareness. Future goals for the club include raising $1000 through fundraisers, expanding the club, and increasing the number of events and fundraisers run.

The PIH club, led by junior Uppaluri, junior Stefan Wenc, and senior Zenaib Hussein, is open to anyone looking to join. “Partners in Health is currently a relatively small club, so we’re always looking for interested new members to join,” said Wenc.

Students can send an email to satish. uppaluri99@gmail.com if they are interested in joining, donating, or volunteering.

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 13

SPORTS

Drop it like it’s hot

BY CLAIRE HASSLER Even though badminton is one of EPHS’s more uncommon sports, it still requires commitment and agility from its players. Practice is every day after school for one and a half to two hours. The team works on hitting clears and other types of shots, and then ends practice with a game or a match.

The team is led by seniors Brianna Lupo and Piper Lincol and junior Amanda Polanski. According to Lupo, as captains, it is their job to make sure the courts get set up before each practice, organize apparel, and, of course, help the team bond.

Lupo has been on the team since her sophomore year. “There are no refs, so you and the person you’re playing with are in charge of calling everything in and out,” Lupo said. This is something unique about the sport. Lupo also said that the coaches have the players watch videos of

the Olympics to help them get pumped and learn new strategies.

The team is split into varsity, junior varsity, and exhibition teams, and within the three groups there are both singles and doubles. Singles and doubles have different lines and boxes for serving. “Basically don’t hit the ceiling and whoever wins the point gets the serve,” Lupo said, describing the basic rules to badminton. A match is out of three games and is played to 21 points. Players must win by two points but cannot go past 30 points.

The girls are just kicking off a three-month season. Each week there are two to three games. Towards the end of the season in late May, EPHS hosts a three-day state competition. The team is predicting solid performances from the girls. “I think our season is going to go really well because we have a ton of new talent and people are working really hard in the gym,” Lincoln said.

Lauren Krahl and Avery Schu practice together.

Lauren Krahl serves the birdie.

PHOTOS BY SAWYER HILT

The badminton team practices in the large gym.

14 | SPORTS

Special Olympics athletes heat it up at the state meet The Western Wings Special Olympics league is headed to state to compete in the Special Olympics aquatic league. The state meet was a 2-day excursion that hosted competitive events held to only those who qualified.

One of EPHS’s own, Jacob Ferris, was a competitor in the event.

Ferris has been participating in Western Wings for a while and has performed exceptionally well while doing so. He, along with the other Western Wings competitors all performed well at preliminaries and advanced to state.

Senior Olivia Morris has been involved with the Western Wings Special Olympics organization for five years. Morris enjoys coaching swim practices and helping participants improve their performance. “I love swim practices and helping people out as a coach,” said Morris. She said that helping out with the Special Olympics puts the biggest smile on her face. “It’s just something that I love doing, those kids are my life,” said Morris.

Many students showed up to the state meet to support the Eden Prairie competitors. “The competitors love having people cheer them on at the sidelines”, said Morris. Morris, along with other EPHS students were there supporting the competitors and cheering them on all weekend.

Overall, Western Wings did an exceptional job at state. All of the

competitors and coaches were very happy with the outcome of the event. They had been working hard and preparing for the event for a long time. “Everyone was beaming from ear to ear with excitement”, said Morris. “It puts a smile on my face seeing them so happy”, she said.

If anyone you know anyone who would be interested in donating to the Western Wings organization or would like to become a member, visit their website at www.westerwings11.com.

Left: Freshman Liza Hassler finishes her swim with confidence.

PHOTO BY CLAIRE HASSLER

BY SARA MICHAEL

Below: Senior Claire Hassler assists freshman Liza Hassler in the 15 meter assisted swim

PHOTO BY SAWYER HILT

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 15

Master your muscles Exercises for your at home fitness needs.

Place your right leg behind your left into a squat position. Then with your right leg and step out into a shoulder width length.

Then place yout left leg behind your right into a squat position.

When you get the motions down proceed to speed up.

First start in the squat position. Use one leg to lift/kick out to the side and the other to balance.

After kicking out then bring it down to a squat position.

Proceed to do 10 reps on each leg for 3 times

Spread your legs forward to back in a wide stance.

Holding onto a wall proceed into a lunge position.

Do 10 reps on each leg 3 times.

PHOTOS BY GRETA FRYE

16 | SPORTS

Find fitness in nature

BY ARUN PARGAL

If climbing isn’t your cup of tea, parks offer many trails and areas to experience nature. Enoing is a popular activity for some EPHS students.

We all know that staying active is important. However, it can be An eno is basically a portable hammock that you can hang between two difficult to maintain the self-discipline and motivation to stay active trees. While enoing itself isn’t exercise, finding a good place to set one without the structure of a team or organized group. up is.

With the weather getting nicer, many possibilities for staying active Senior Aaron Tsuchiya said, “With the nice weather rolling in, the are opening up. Enjoying enos are starting to roll out. It is easy the outdoors while getting and fun to stay active by walking exercise is the perfect way to along the river, around a lake, or stay active. up a hill in search of the perfect Seniors Ben Johnson and place to set up an eno and relax.”

Charlie Bradley enjoy rock Wandering around outside on a climbing, slack lining and beautiful day is a simple way to playing pick-up sports with enjoy nature and stay active. friends. The key for Johnson Playing pick-up sports with is “finding other people who friends is one of the easiest and enjoy the sports and activities most fun ways to stay active. You that I do.” can play games like soccer, ultimate The boys keep their frisbee, and football are simple climbing skills honed by enough that all you really need is an going to Vertical Endeavors in open field in a park to play.

Senior Aaron Tsuchiya enoing in the trees.

Minneapolis during the winter.

Senior Alex LaVone says, “It’s With the weather getting always fun to just go somewhere SUBMITTED PHOTO warmer, however, they are like Miller Park or Flying Cloud excited about applying them in nature. “Climbing outside is definitely and hang out outside with friends. A lot of us are at different skill levels better, it feels more natural,” said Bradley. in various sports as well, but when we go out there nothing else really Johnson adds, “It’s more interesting because you have to plan matters except having fun.” out your route before you begin climbing instead of the route being As LaVone said, fun is the most important part, but if you’re getting planned out for you”. exercise too, it is that much more valuable.

Happy trails to snow

As the snow begins to melt, biking trails begin to resurface.

BY CALDER SELL Bike enthusiasts are excited to pump up their flat tires and start pedaling again, especially in Minnesota. Minnesota has several thousands of bike paths around the state and provides incredible scenery around the paths. Our state has been ranked as the second most biker-friendly state in the country.

One bike trail, the LRT Regional trail, is a favorite around Eden Prairie due its close proximity. The LRT runs for 12.25 miles stretching from Hopkins to Chanhassen. Senior Riley Tauer likes to use the LRT because it runs past several fun places to hang like Miller Park, Bluff Creek and, of course, Riley Lake.

Another bike trail that provides more scenery for a nice ride is the Minnesota River Bottoms. The path stretches for 7.1 miles starting at Lyndale Avenue and goes to Bloomington Ferry Road.

For those who are interested in a more challenging ride, MurphyHanrehan Park provides many trails that have a more diverse terrain compared to some of the paved trails closer to home. Located in Savage, Murphy-Hanrehan contains 10 miles of bike loops that satisfy any mountain biker’s dreams.

Senior Ben Rubin enjoys the sights of Murphy-Hanrehan trails because it is simply beautiful to look around while biking. The entire park is untouched besides the bike paths so there is always a chance to encounter wildlife.

So dust off your helmet, strap up and hop on for a ride at one of the many amazing bike trails that may be hiding in your backyard.

The regional biking trail by Dell Road in Eden Prairie.

PHOTOS BY ANYA OTTERSON

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 17

Leivermann reaches his goal

Left: Nicky Leivermann skates the puck up the ice during the section finals.

Below: Leivermann wins the Fargo invitational tournament in 5th grade on the Peewee team.

PHOTO BY DUSTIN WOLF

BY EMILEE JACOBSON

J

unior Nicky Leivermann has loved the sport of hockey since he was 2 years old; being on the ice provides him with a feeling he can’t seem to get anywhere else. “When I joined the Eden Prairie Peewee team is when I really realized it wasn’t a hobby anymore. It turned into more of a lifestyle,” Leivermann said.

From that moment on, he pursued his dream to the extremes. He earned a spot on the EPHS varsity hockey team his sophomore year. He recently made it to the state championship along with his team. “We knew the game was going to be tough no matter what [...] at the end of the day it’s extremely hard to think about, but not everything is gonna happen like you hope it will. I wouldn’t trade anything for this season and the guys I was with,” said Leivermann regarding the second place title.

Leivermann believes that hockey is special to him for multiple reasons; first being the time he is able to spend with his fellow teammates. “You get to bond with your guys everyday and spend time with them,” said Leivermann. Many of his strongest relationships originated from the sport itself. He’s moved from team to team with his same friends for almost all of his life.

“It’s been so much fun for Nicky’s dad and I to watch him play hockey over the years. We’ve witnessed friendships being made, and this

18 | SPORTS

wonderful group of boys grow on and off the ice,” said Sally Leivermann, Leivermann’s mom.

During Leivermann’s sophomore year, he was recruited into a Junior Hockey League draft; the league provides youth players (usually before their college years) with a stronger chance of playing college hockey.

It wasn’t until this year that he actually considered juniors as an option. Many college recruiters advise players, such as Leivermann, to get a head start with their hockey careers by getting hands-on experience. He ultimately made the decision to spend two months of his senior year getting the experience he, and the colleges he would like to attend, desire. Next year, he plans to join the Bloomington Thunder team in Illinois.

Leivermann took a lot of time planning how he will balance his schedule with his academics and personal life throughout the next year. Instead of being in Illinois for two months and taking online classes, he will stay in school at Eden Prairie and go to Illinois as SUBMITTED PHOTO often as he can on the weekends.

“I hope [the league] gives me a better chance of being recruited for college hockey and makes me a better player,” Leivermann said. Leviermann’s determination, persistence, academic abilities and athletics are making him one of the most sought out players in the state, and the country.

The Playbook Why March is the best month of the year

BY ANDREW DONOHUE It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

March Madness. Brackets all across America have been ruined. The NCAA Tournament is in full swing and I couldn’t be happier. Since the tournament has already started and I am writing this before the madness begins, I won’t bore you with my predictions about what will unfold. I can assure you that they won’t be right. Although, I’ve got a feeling this may be my year to finally dominate the bracket pool.

Instead, I’ll offer a few reasons why March is the best month of the year and college basketball is the reason why.

1. College basketball is the best sport.

This is an indisputable fact. Sports are fun and enjoyable because of the passion that the players show. Nowhere is this more evident than college basketball. These players deeply and truly care about the game (except for LSU. Looking at you, Ben Simmons).

Every March, players often break down into tears, both of joy and sadness, as they realize that the game and therefore their season and possibly career are drawing to an end. This is incredibly sad to watch, but also riveting and draws the viewer in every time.

2. The NCAA Tournament is the pinnacle of sports playoffs. There is no better way to decide a champion than a giant tournament spanning multiple weeks to ensure that the drama stays at maximum level. The first weekend of the tournament when multiple games are occurring simultaneously is simply

perfect. Upsets coupled with close finishes and constant action make for perfect weekend viewing. I will be spending the first weekend of the NCAA tournament glued to my couch.

3. Cinderella stories. Do I even need to explain the sheer joy of watching George Mason or Butler or Florida Gulf Coast make an unexpected deep run in the tournament?

Watching these players fulfill their lifelong dreams is its own reward. Seeing old powers like Duke and Georgetown being brought down is also an added bonus. Some teams get drunk on their own hype and have to be cut down to size whether it be in the first round or Final Four (yeah, Kentucky, I’m calling you out.)

4. One Shining Moment. This is indisputably the best tradition of the NCAA tournament. I won’t even hear any objections. The montage accompanying this song playing right after the championship game wraps up the tournament in style and provides a fitting end to the best 4 weeks of the year.

The ultimate frisbee experience

Senior captain Logan Lasley warms up during practice.

PHOTO BY DUSTIN WOLF

BY ARUN PARAGAL People often confuse ultimate frisbee with frisbee golf or frolf.

Although the two sports seem like they would be similar, they differ in almost every aspect except being played with frisbee discs. Ultimate discs, explains boys co-captain Ben Rubin, “are heavier and don’t fly as far as frisbee golf discs.”

Ultimate, as the name suggests, is a much more exciting and actionpacked sport than Frolf. There are seven players on the field at once.

The game is a bit like football with end zones on each end, players try to advance the disc into the opponent’s end zone by throwing it to teammates. The players are divided into four cutters, and three handlers.

“The main job of a cutter is to get open to receive the disc, which is thrown by the handlers. They also tend to make their runs vertically while

Senior captain Natalie Cooper goes in for the catch.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

the handlers work more horizontally,” said co-captain Logan Lasley.

In order to prepare for their first game, which is scheduled for April 7 but will be moved back because of spring break, the boys and girls teams need to make sure they are prepared. Conditioning is an important part of Ultimate because the of the fast-paced nature of the game. “After conditioning, we usually do sprinting and throwing drills, and then finish with a scrimmage with the girls team,” said Lasley.

Members of both the boys and girls team feel that it is important to carry on the legacy left by last year’s seniors. Riley Tauer, a captain of the girls team, said, “Last year was a great experience and we’re hoping to have another good year again.”

So if you’re looking for an entertaining, fast-paced sport to watch this spring, check out the boys and girls ultimate teams.

March 2015 -- theeyrie.org | 19

Cover

Into the BOWELS of EPHS

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SAWYER HILT For many of us, the high school only exists from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, for the maintenance workers the high school operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Maintenance workers have one of the hardest jobs in the school. They work almost around the clock to keep the school heated, cooled, and ensure the electricity is working. This summer, the maintenance staff is working to re-key all of the doors around the school. Snow removal is also a continued problem for maintenance workers. More than $12,000 was spent this year on snow removal, and this year was even considered a light year.

There are around 25 of these maintenance workers who operate in spaces that students do not normally have access to. I had the opportunity to tour these spaces with a couple of other Eyrie staff members.

BOWELS continued on pg. 21 >>

20 | Cover

Maintenance Operations Coordinator James Leuer, took us around the school. The first place we saw is known as “the cave”, which is the closest thing to a basement in the high school. “The cave” is the room under the library that the closed-off stairs lead to. Leuer said, “There’s a theory that we have a basement.

We don’t have a basement.” The cave features a technology graveyard of both working and non-working computers, as well as other maintenance equipment.

Insulation from 1979, when the school was first built, is said to be more effective than newer insulation. Here the insulation is slowly deteriorating and the pipes leaking.

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 21

Leuer then took us to the boiler room. Aptly named, the boiler features five different boilers, one of which is used to heat the building and another high-pressure boiler that is used only for cooking.

Above the boiler room is access to the air vents, some of which have insulation from 1979. Up a metal-grated staircase is another level to the boiler room.

This part of the building has access to controls for the building’s heating as well as some piping with ancient insulation.

The next stop on our tour of the building was the roof, where Leuer said the custodians sometimes watch the Fourth of July fireworks.

The roof is coated in tar, then rock. Access points to the three transformers are on the roof.

22 | Cover

Handcrafted personal pizzas

16518 W. 78th Street (corner of Hwy. 5 & County Rd. 4) Eden Prairie, MN 55346 March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 23

OPINION

Staff Editorial: Diversity Fair The Diversity Fair is an important aspect of student life at EPHS, and it is high time we give it the attention it deserves. Our diversity is so important, and it is something that makes us unique as a school. While there has been progress with integration at EPHS over the years, there is always room for improvement.

We should take advantage of being surrounded by so many different cultures we can learn from. People from different places offer different perspectives. This creates a diverse environment with a worldly outlook, and is an ideal place for young people to learn.

The Diversity Fair has been cancelled the past two years due to lack of student interest, and this is concerning. The fair offers opportunities to educate the student body on the customs and traditions from specific cultures seen at our school. Students set up

booths and share the things they love most about their culture with their peers. This education will lead to increased toleration and a better, more cohesive community. It is important to be aware that all people come from different backgrounds; they don’t all have the same story. This is something that can be learned by attending the Diversity Fair.

Going to the fair and learning to appreciate differences is critical in our current society. The world is incredibly diverse and is becoming even more so. Eventually the minority population will become the majority, so students need to learn to interact with peers of different races and backgrounds in a diverse environment. Learning about diversity allows us to acknowledge our differences and bridge the gaps between us so that we can become one unified school, community and nation.

Letter to the editors

Citizens of the community respond to Eyrie staff opinion pieces To the editor: There are a lot of misleading facts floating around the Internet. When taken out of context, such evidence can heavily skew an issue. That said, my argument is supported by facts gathered from Internet databases — but it might be more reasonable than the outright denial of a socially significant phenomenon.

First of all, Anthony Rosa is right. The 77% statistic most people know off the top of their heads is not representative of the true wage gap. Instead, let’s focus on a different number: 93%. According to the Pew Research center, that’s how much women entering the full-time workforce today earn compared to what their male counterparts earn when all external factors, including seniority and overtime hours, are taken into consideration. It is logical for Rosa to debunk that 77% statistic. Not quite as logical, however, is his insistence that genderbased wage discrimination does not exist at all.

Both genders may start at around the same salary, but males have a significant gender advantage as their careers progress. According to the Department of Labor and the Wall Street Journal, not only are women earning a lower median wage, but their incomes are increasing at half the rate of mens’. One reason is that men tend to occupy, and stay comfortably in, higher positions within the company; the phrase “glass ceiling” comes to mind. Much

24 | OPINION

of the difference in pay between genders is not due to du jour wage difference but rather an unconscious bias towards men. According to Dr. Sebastian Bailey, author and president of Mind Gym, “male leaders are likely to be making the hiring decisions, and men have a greater preference for hiring men”. Similarly, men are promoted for being aggressive, ambitious, and firm, while women are docked on their evaluations for exhibiting the same traits.

Even in fields typically perceived as dominated by women, men tend to earn more. Take nursing, for example. Studies done by UCSF and the American Medical Association confirm the fact that in a field that is 90% female, an entry-level registered nurse with a nursing degree under his belt will earn an average of $66,000 rather than $60,ooo if he is, well, a he.

Rosa has a prominent voice in our community, and it is concerning that he is using his platform to break down ideas rather than build up solutions. Perhaps if he had conducted scientific research regarding the wage gap rather than picking and choosing articles that tear at the ongoing struggle for equity, he would have stumbled across these facts as well. Instead of completely disregarding the lingering sex discrimination in America as Rosa, I hope that people make an attempt to understand the complexity and nuances of this issue.

Sincerely, Claire Song

50 shades of grades based on ability

BY TALA ALFOQAHA It’s an organizational system that most students have accepted wholeheartedly and unquestioningly: being sorted into grades based on age. Every year since preschool, individuals are placed into a grade due to something as arbitrary as an assumption made by higher-ups that children belonging to a certain age group would be able to handle a certain grade-level. In reality, however, this generalization marginalizes the needs of a significant portion of each grade level: those who struggle and those who excel. To counter this problem, a number of school districts have adopted a system that groups students into levels based on ability rather than age, an educational model called “standards-based learning.”

Standards-based learning contends that students should be offered more flexibility than monolithic grades based on age, and instead sorts students into levels according to achievement, allowing a broad range of ages to be placed in a single level. While the pervasiveness of the problems created by grades according to age lessens in EPHS and most other high schools due to the ability to double-up and test out of certain classes, remnants of it linger in the English and Social Studies departments where students are required to sign up for core classes based on age. Efforts to implement standardsbased education are usually concentrated in primary and intermediate schools--rightfully so, as these schools are typically the strictest enforcers of age-based education. By lumping children together based on dates of birth rather than ability, schools administer a blanket system of non-personalized learning that hinders the development of students who require faster-paced learning and ignores those who need to move slower.

While standards-based learning seems like it would produce confusion among both the educators and the students, a school in Colorado that embraced this method of education reported that students were no longer bored or frustrated with assigned work, which resulted in increased productivity and 76% less discipline problems. According to CNN, a small school district in Alaska was able to raise the percentage of students that attended college or the military from 0% to 90%.

While the system most elementary schools have in place is adequate, it doesn’t allow students to reach their full potential. Standardsbased learning would enable students to dictate the pace of their learning and caters to the needs of every child. Every parent is aware that children learn and develop at different paces--it’s time our school systems reflect this knowledge.

Rosa

RANTS

Women’s Rights

BY ANTHONY ROSA

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL JOHNSON

Show a little decency

A

BY YASMIN CHAVEZ

s a society of consumers, people often go shopping or to a restaurant for fun or to enjoy themselves. So it can really dampen someone’s mood when an employee from a restaurant messes up your order or when a store might not have an item you are looking for.

These sorts of inconveniences can be an annoyance for anyone; however, it doesn’t give anyone an excuse to be rude or to yell at an employee. Some people might find this hard to believe, but these workers are human and like any other human on this planet they make mistakes.

If they do make a mistake, there is better way to address the issue than making a big scene, throwing a tantrum and being a complete jerk about the whole situation. It’s not going to help solve the problem and you are also making a complete fool of yourself. Honestly, did your mother raise you right?

People also need to flip out over the price of items and it is not worth complaining or yelling to an employee over this issue because they have no control over the price and it is something you should be complaining about to the corporation, not the worker.

It is not worth having a heart attack or aneurysm over being charged extra sour cream. Honestly, the amount of times people complain to me over the price of a taco is astonishing to me, especially since I’m not sure what they want me to do about it.

People need to learn to have some decency and be respectful. These employees don’t even get paid enough or even have enough staff to deal with disrespectful and patronizing customers. So the next time an employee makes a mistake, politely address the situation. It’s not that hard and from experience your politeness will greatly be appreciated by the employee.

In celebration of International Women’s Rights Day, we should discuss and consider new policy to better the lives and condition of women in the United States. Namely, prostitution should be legalized throughout the U.S. Currently only 38% of Americans support the legalization of prostitution, citing it as a moral wrong. That is completely understandable and a reasonable position to hold. However, it is no argument to keep prostitution illegal.

Because even though prostitution is illegal, it is still a widespread practice. Atlanta’s prostitution industry alone is worth $331 million according to a U.S. Department of Justice study.

Another argument made is that keeping prostitution illegal allows the police department to protect disadvantaged women.

This theoretically makes sense except the same study revealed that police are perhaps the largest buyer in the industry. One anonymous pimp reported, “The same people locking me up are the same people breaking the law.”

The simple fact is that the police department is ill equipped to stop prostitution.

A recent study conducted by The Urban Institute found that prostitution is largely a family business, meaning there is really no way to reach future prostitutes and stop them. So, now that we have established the ineffectiveness of the illegality of prostitution and the failure of the police to prevent its practice, how would legalization help?

For one, by legalizing prostitution, the practice could be regulated by the government and the women (or men) would be protected. Pimps would no longer exist and women would receive all the benefits of being a legal employee of a business. They would also begin to receive all of their pay. Hopefully, the trafficking of women would be reduced, as there would be no incentive to buy the service of an exploited prostitute when there is a consenting one available.

Legalization would also make the practice much safer from a health perspective.

Prostitutes could be tested for sexual infections and diseases, they would have access to birth control, regulations about the use of condoms would be imposed, and abusive customers would easily be identified and prosecuted.

Finally, legalizing prostitution would benefit the economy. Right now billions of dollars are going untaxed. By imposing a modest tax on the service, the government could invest that money in infrastructure, education, and renewable resources.

So let’s protect a woman’s right to choose her profession, protect her health, and use the profits to better everyone.

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 25

A Dangerous Game

point/counterpoint

Presidential Campaign Cruz-ing through the race

Why the GOP needs to fill the Supreme Court

T

BY ANDREW DONOHUE

he Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. It serves as an impartial judge of law and is a vital part in maintaining the balance of powers. The critical function of the Supreme Court means that it requires a full bench of justices to adequately perform its constitutional duty. Without nine justices, deadlocks are almost inevitable and precedents cannot be set, which jeopardizes the standard of American law.

With the death of Antonin Scalia, one of the most influential justices in the last 50 years no matter what your politics are, there is now an opening on the Supreme Court. In order for a justice to be put on the Supreme Court, they must be confirmed first by the Senate.

The Senate happens to be controlled by Republicans, who immediately after Scalia’s death swore that they would not hear any nominee put forth by President Obama.

This is a dereliction of their duty as Senators. Immediately refusing any nominee put forth no matter how qualified is not only silly, it could also prove to be harmful to the party. GOP leaders say that they want the people to be able to decide who picks the next justice, but the people have already spoken.

President Obama has been elected to the office of president twice by the people of the United States and as such is merely fulfilling the duties of his office by nominating a justice.

The GOP needs to seriously consider the consequences of their actions. They are setting a precedent that benefits them now, but may come back to haunt them if there is a Republican president with a Democratic Senate. Also, considering who is leading the polls for both parties, do the Republicans really want a President Trump or Clinton to be nominating justices? Merrick Garland is a moderate justice who can be trusted to uphold the laws and be faithful to the Constitution, can you say that about someone Trump would nominate?

Some soul searching is required if the GOP cannot find it within themselves to confirm a moderate justice with an impeccable resume. If they cannot do this then I believe they should not be trusted to govern the country. Showing blatant disregard for both the laws and the customs of our country proves that they will prioritize their own political gain over the best interest of the country.

26 | OPINION

BY ABBEY MERTZ

FLICKR PHOTO

Brilliant and strong willed, Senator Ted Cruz has spent a lifetime fighting to defend the Constitution. He has a strong legal background, and since he was a teenager, he has been arguing for a correct interpretation of the Constitution. Also, for limited, conservative government that protects citizens, appropriately demonstrates compassion, and makes America a leader in the world.

Unlike most GOP candidates, Cruz has consistently stuck to a conservative viewpoint.

He is loyal to the party and stands for what he believes in unlike some of the current presidential candidates who have switched parties multiple times.

Since Cruz has strong positions on immigration and border security, this would enable him to tackle one of the country’s

biggest challenges. “I think it is a mistake to forgive those who break law, to allow them to become U.S. citizens, and that’s why I’ve led the fight against granting citizenship to those here illegally,” Cruz said about his “Secure the Border” policy.

The son of a Cuban-born evangelist and an American mother who was the first in her family to graduate college, Cruz can identify with the average American unlike many other presidential candidates. He will win the support of whites and the Hispanic community as he won 40 percent of the Hispanic vote in the 2012 Texas senate contest. He undoubtedly appeals to all races and groups of people.

It is obvious we have a stagnant economy, lagging job creation, and the lowest labor-force participation since the Carter Administration. In fact, the Obama economy has burdened each American household with the equivalent of $57,000 of federal debt.

The current level of spending is not only irresponsible, but immoral and unjust to future generations. Cruz plans to eliminate the $18 trillion of debt with his five reforms, “Five for Freedom,” which will save $500 billion over 10 years and will also balance the budget.

As president, Cruz will strongly lead our country, follow through with what he says, defend the constitution and stick to a conservative viewpoint. Cruz is loyal to American citizens and genuinely cares about America’s well being. This is what we need for our country.

Kasich is not basic

BY PARKER HEWITT

The reason I have chosen to put my trust in a man like John Kasich is not because he simply is the most even-keeled and calm candidate on the stage, but he is the man with the most experience, 18 years with national security specifically. He would maintain a strong presence at the global level keeping our best interests in mind. Considering he’s spent years on the House Budget Committee,

FLICKR PHOTO

he has the know-how to bring down the $19 trillion in debt we have. Compare him to Ted Cruz and one can see he maintains a center-right position socially, something I stand more left on. Cruz is much too far right on those issues; having a candidate with a more tolerant stance is preferred and enjoyed by me and many other silent libertarians and conservatives. Besides the fact he is conservative economically, something very important he brings to the table is that he is trustworthy. While I could go after Clinton and her administration all day, it’s also apparent Cruz lacks whole-hearted trust. Whether it is the birthplace fiasco or comments that require you to question the validity of such statements, it is clear we can put our faith in the words of Kasich. Kasich is a man with a good demeanor and moral fiber. A man like Trump is not fit to be our president for a variety of reasons, but with Kasich one can see he presents himself in a way that shows a strong sense of right and wrong.

Feel the Bern

BY MUKUND VENKATESWARAN

Can’t stump Trump

FLICKR PHOTO

By SARA MICHAEL

We need Donald Trump as president of the United States. He has what it takes to get the job done. Trump’s utmost goal is the safety and protection of the American people. Many people say that Trump is selfish and arrogant, but is he? Trump will put America first. He will protect us from extremist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda. He will exert excessive force and aggression upon our worst enemies. It’s time to show that America will conquer all.

It’s about time we get this illegal immigration problem figured out.

The number of illegal immigrants in the United States may be as high as twenty million. This amount has nearly doubled since 2005.

Trump is absolutely correct that Mexico is ejecting its worst citizens into the United States. The majority of these people are not upstanding citizens. Many are criminals, drug lords and rapists. We need to round them up and call for a mass deportation and build a great big wall to keep them out.

Look at this problem from an economic stance. The burden of these people is costing the United States billions of dollars—billions of dollars we simply do not have. Granting amnesty to illegal immigrants living in the United States will only diminish the process of coming here legally.

Do yourself and your future grandkids a favor and vote for Trump.

It’s time that we put ourselves first and start worrying about our own country’s future, because without Trump we are headed straight into the shambles. Make America great again.

Hill yeah

Bernie Sanders is the best candidate for the president of the United States. He understands what actions need to be taken in order to make America better for everyone, not solely for the people at the top of the economic scale.

Sanders seeks to improve education in America by providing monetary aid to students attending and planning to attend college. “It is insane to my mind, hundreds of thousands of young people today, bright qualified people, cannot go to college because they cannot afford — their families cannot afford to send them,” said Sanders when asked about education in a Democratic debate. Reducing the debt rates will allow more students to attend college and will leave many Americans in a more financially stable position after completing college.

The environment should be among the most important issues in America; Bernie Sanders correctly advocates for it. By instituting a carbon tax and investing in clean energy, Sanders hopes to eventually make the U.S. energy system 100% clean.

In 2015, there were nearly 13,000 gun deaths in America, reflecting poor safety within our nation. To battle this, Sanders wants to better enforce the background checking system. This will make sure that guns will only be in the hands of those responsible to hold them. In many cases, gun deaths are a result of poor mental health. Sanders wishes to institute reforms which will raise the standard of mental health nationwide, which will in turn help decrease the number of gun deaths in America. Although these policies may not completely solve gun violence, Sanders sees that any steps that will lessen it should be taken.

Overall, Sanders’ policy calls for higher education and for a safer, cleaner America.

FLICKR PHOTO

BY MURPHY HULLETT-NELSON

FLICKR PHOTO

I’ve seen a few elections in my lifetime, but I’ve never seen an election like this before. At first I was leaning towards Sen. Bernie Sanders. However, as my political views made another shift I decided that Hillary Clinton was the candidate that best fit my views as a moderate independent. My main idea that I want for a better America is stricter gun control. Sanders in the past has not supported more gun control. He, of course, has changed that opinion now that he’s in the eye of the Democratic voters. That’s all political mumbo jumbo. I’ll tell you what I like about Clinton; she is a master negotiator as shown in her years as Secretary of State. I believe she can work across the aisles to bring both parties together. My dad compared this political journey in finding my candidate as me liking waffles more than pancakes. I grew up thinking pancakes were the best, they were plain, simple, and got the job done. However, waffles have more opportunities for greatness. They can hold more syrup and butter and bridge breakfast and other meals together. That’s how I feel about Hillary Clinton.

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 27

Too much security?

BY MUKUND VENKATESWARAN

As students of EPHS, we have the privilege of having MacBook Airs as a part of our everyday educational experience. These are great tools to further our education beyond the basic classroom tools, but the school puts many restrictions on how we are allowed to use them.

Release of these limitations would allow us to better use the computers in our academic lives.

Firstly, the update protocol that students have to go through is unnecessary. On apps that are pre-approved by the school, such as Google Chrome and Adobe Flash Player, an admin username and password must be provided to update. Why? It’s just another hoop to jump through to get to the finished product. Literally every time the chrome browser is opened it asks for Adobe to be updated, but the security system on the computer doesn’t allow the program to be updated.

Being able to install programs from only Self Service is extremely frustrating. The idea that every student will be able to find necessary programs from a small, handpicked selection of programs is ridiculous.

There have been countless situations in which I have needed a specific program in order to complete a project more efficiently, but I haven’t been able to install it because of the restrictions on our computers.

Allowing students to explore the various programs that can be found on the web, such as programming platforms and updates for flash player, will greatly increase the quality of work and allow students to tailor their computer experience to themselves.

I understand the safety concerns that this may bring, with viruses and inappropriate content that may come with downloads; however, all modern browsers can scan for viruses in internet downloads and the school would still be able to monitor the content on each computer.

Safety concerns aren’t an insurmountable problem with current technology.

Unnecessary baggage on the environment

BY CLAIRE HASSLER Don’t you hate when the only thing you notice on your scenic drive through Minneapolis is plastic bags blowing through the streets? Did you know that the average grocery shopper uses about 500 plastic bags every year? Luckily for us (and Mother Earth), all of this is about to change. A proposal to ban Minneapolis grocery stores from distributing plastic bags is on its way to City Hall. The proposal will not only ban grocery stores from distributing plastic bags, it will also charge customers for paper bags. This will encourage consumers to use reusable bags, which are much more beneficial for the environment. If the bill can pass in the 13-member Health, Environment and Community Engagement committee, and it is predicted it will, the ban will be enacted in April of 2017.

Some people are concerned that the government is overstepping, and that consumers should have a right to choose the type of bags they use.

However, pollution has gone too far, and people have not taken any action.

This leaves the government with no choice. Extreme actions like this are absolutely necessary to conserve our planet.

28 | OPINION

Does my political correctness offend you?

BY RACHEL JOHNSON While political correctness has been labeled as a time-waster and not worth the effort, an accurate definition is quite simple: Don’t be a horrible person. The whole point is to respect others and their decisions.

By telling that “hilariously” racist joke, you never know whom you are going to hurt.

By saying someone’s pronouns wrong on purpose, you send a clear message that you do not respect them.

Political correctness does not change the essences of your opinion. It merely changes the way you should express it.

Walking down the hallway, slurs and rather ignorant comments run rampant. So next time you hear a slur or something rather uneducated, simply correct the offender gently or you might risk the person being defensive. Although there can be drawbacks to extreme political correctness, it is better to be safe than sorry.

In general, just think before you speak. Please.

Where them boys at?

BY ABBEY MERTZ The lack of attendance at girls’ sporting events is completely absurd and has existed for many years. You can make the argument that boys are faster or stronger and therefore better to watch, but this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give our support to female athletes in our school.

A great example of this is the girls hockey state championship last month. This game was one of the most well played and enjoyable high school games I have ever attended. The difference of fans is shocking when comparing it to the boys’ state tournament last month. There were 20,000 people in attendance at the boys’ game. There clearly was a definite lack of student fans on the Eden Prairie side at the girls’ game.

This season, the average attendance at girls home basketball games was 199 spectators, according to EPHS Activities Coordinator Ricardo Jones. In comparison, the average attendance at boys home basketball games this season was 595 spectators. These two teams play the same game on the same court. The only difference is gender.

Girls’ sports teams at EPHS have been just as successful as boys teams by winning state championships and placing in competitions more than ever the past few years. Even though female teams at EPHS have been wildly successful in the past, it seems like people still think girls should be attending boys games only, rather than expecting boys to attend girls’ games. I’m not sure why the lack of support exists, but if you ask me, female athletes work just as hard as male athletes.

This difference could also exist because of how much people value girls’ sports compared to boys’ sports. It’s not just the difference in the level of play. This level of value has always existed, especially because female participation in sports is a fairly new concept to our society.

Next time you consider not supporting female athletes just because they’re girls, do me a favor and reevaluate yourself. Lets all try harder to attend girls’ sporting events, because they deserve more recognition and support.

Free to pee

Using the right bathroom is apparently a crime

BY RACHEL JOHNSON

human function. A student should not have to feel anxiety regarding judgment from others on bathroom choice.

Everyone has to use a bathroom at some point in the day. Some At the Eden Prairie High School, three unisex bathrooms are offered students do not feel comfortable walking into either bathroom with a to students. Although there is a unisex bathroom on every floor, one specific gender displayed above the door. People should not have to of the bathrooms is located in the nurse’s office. Three more unisex make a political statement when they need to bathrooms are being added to the relieve themselves. There is a simple solution: school to make them more accessible Unisex bathrooms. but unless they are centralized they Unfortunately, some people- like our will not serve their intended purpose. neighbors to the west- are dealing with a Honestly, it cannot be that difficult The last thing a person is bathroom bill. South Dakota legislature to remove a sign with a gender and worrying about when they go to passed a bill that requires students from replace it with a unisex one. The two the bathroom is who is on the other using a bathroom or locker room for a sex other unisex bathrooms are located that they were not assigned at birth. Luckily, in the science department while side of the stall door Governor Dennis Daugaard vetoed the bill the other is near Student Center but still is allowing individual schools to East. An appropriate amount of decide for themselves. attention needs to be given to unisex Proponents of the legislation assume bathroom so the student body knows that if students are allowed to use whichever their location in the school. bathroom that privacy and safety issues will occur. This is an empty South Dakota is only the first of eleven states pending the bathroom argument presuming guilt without evidence. This is a form of sexual bill to pass this piece of legislation. Although Minnesota does not have discrimination by limiting bathroom options for specific students. this on its political docket, prejudice still exists even in Eden Prairie.

It goes unrealized that using a public bathroom has again become a Giving students the option to use unisex facilities is a positive step in privilege. It is the right of every transgender student not to experience granting equality. anxiety when entering gender-based bathroom. The uncomfortable As liberal a state as Minnesota claims to be, Republican Glenn issue is that some people believe that no matter what gender someone Gruehagen has proposed legislation that would require transgender identifies with, their sex assigned at birth should be what bathroom people to use the restroom and dressing rooms that match their they use. The last thing a person is worrying about when they go to the biologically assigned sex. This discrimination in the form of this proposal bathroom is who is on the other side of the stall door. You do not feel is appalling. Luckily, Governor Dayton plans to veto any discriminatory sexy, desirable or attractive at the time. You are taking care of a basic action against transgender peoples right to use the bathroom.

“

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Learning about cultures from the comfort of home

BY KAYLA ALBERS Different cultures, a new way of thinking and being opened up to other ways of life are things that can be experienced when watching a foreign film. They introduce us to ideas we may not have thought of before, and provide a view of what life is like from a different perspective.

Foreign films are very enlightening and eye opening. Not only do we see more diversity in our genre of films, but we also learn a lot by watching them. It is hard to imagine all of the different cultures that exist outside of the U.S., and obviously we can’t go travel to experience them all. An excellent way to gain a better understanding of the cultures of other countries, without needing to travel there, could be by watching foreign films from these places.

It seems to me that foreign films are sort of an overlooked genre that isn’t terribly popular amongst our age group. Though, I think the age we are at is a great time to start watching foreign films because we will have a better understanding of the issues that occur in them. Sometimes we might not know a lot about a certain issue, but by watching a film we can learn more about the experiences or struggles that others have to go through in their lives.

I had never really seen any foreign films before I saw the movie “Under The Same Moon” in Spanish IV. “Under The Same Moon” is a story about a young boy who attempts to cross the U.S. and Mexico

border to find his mom in the United States, where she has been working to make more money to better raise her son. It is a very dramatic and touching film. I don’t want to give anything away, so watch it. I highly recommend it.

By watching “Under The Same Moon”, my eyes were opened to the idea that maybe not everyone has it as great as we do in the United States. After I saw the movie I discovered how much I really enjoy films from other cultures, especially films that show how people overcome obstacles that have been presented to them.

Something that gets overlooked by viewers is the fact that there are different genres of foreign films. It would be easy to find your favorite genre of movie in the perspective of another country. I think it would be very interesting to contrast how we view different genres of films to how other countries view them. Off of the top of my head a few genres that I have noticed are popular in foreign films are drama, comedy and horror films.

I suggest that anyone interested in other cultures should try watching some different foreign films. See if you like them because you never know how much you could learn from a movie.

Maybe someday you will get to travel to other countries and have a first hand experience with other cultures, but if you aren’t able to have that experience, foreign films are a viable option.

FLICKR PHOTO

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 29

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Dr. Jesse Veil & Dr. Justin Wild Call to schedule a free consultation today!

952-903-9484

30| PROFILE

PROFILE

Experiencing Life Abroad

PHOTO BY ZENAB KASHIF

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Studying in America

W

BY ZENAB KASHIF

hen Lise Sivertsen first got to the United States, she was “surprised by all the rules, and how different people look as teengers.� Sivertsen is currently a senior studying in EPHS from Norway. Coming from a fairly small town called Trondheim overlooking the Norwegian Sea, she sees many differences between the culture here and her home town.

She decided to study abroad to increase her understanding of the world around her.

Specifically, she was intrigued by the diverse culture found in the States.

Living in Bosnia

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BY KAYLA ALBERS

itting in a river valley, surrounded by mountains lies the city of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. This is the location where senior Lili Zubar spent her junior year of high school. As a part of the KL-YES Abroad program, Zubar studied in Bosnia to increase understanding between the U.S. and countries with significant Muslim populations. As to be expected of any country in comparison to the United States, the Bosnian way of life was very different from what Zubar was used to.

EXPERIENCING LIFE ABROAD continued on pg. 32>>

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 31

Lise Sivertsen

Norway

<<EXPERENCING LIFE ABROAD from pg. 31

“I decided to study abroad because I have always loved traveling and it [has] been something I have wanted to do since I was little. I felt ready for a change,” said Sivertsen. Of the many different organizations that offer study abroad programs, Sivertsen decided to come through the STS Foundation. This organization is a sponsored high school exchange program where students can apply to study abroad and families can apply to host students. According to their website, students are carefully screened and selected in order to successfully gain approval to study abroad.

Typically, the process to apply to study abroad is a long one.

Sivertsen said, “I had to take a lot of tests and fill out a huge application.” However, the final outcome was worth it. She was matched with a family with similar personalities and interests as her.

She loves to see the differences between living as a teengar in America and comparing it to her life back home. She said that the environment in America is much faster paced than it is in Trondheim.

Sivertsen currently lives with the host family and has a host sister who is also a senior. “My host family is practically my own”, said Sivertsen. She enjoys going

32 | PROFILE

out with her American family, but misses her relatives in Norway. She adores living a more American life with her host family and teaching them a little Norwegian while doing so. “I have a mom, dad, younger brother and sister back home”, said Sivertsen. She hopes to unite her American family and family in Trondheim soon.

When it comes to the schooling system, America usually is different than most foreign countries. Particularly, with European students studying here, they see an immense difference between school here and school at their hometown. Sivertsen said, “High school in Norway is more similar to college in the US. We have more freedom and are responsible for our own learning and attendance.” She mentioned how students do not get a lot of assigned work and, instead of small unit tests, students take large exams.

Studying abroad is a wonderful way to gain experience at how life is abroad. According to Lise Sivertsen, she is having a great time so far as a senior at Eden Prairie High School. “I felt ready for this change in my life. It’s been super fun.” Sivertsen is hoping to travel more as she continues her path in her education. She will be going back home next year and starting university in Norway.

Lily Zubar

Bosnia

<<EXPERENCING LIFE ABROAD from pg. 31

From Aug. 14, 2014 to June 20,2015, Zubar lived with a host family and went to school at Druga Gimnazja. The same types of classes were offered, but the layout of the classes was very different from here. Zubar said, “The classes were mostly self study and it was kind of hard to get used to because they take the same 14 classes every year.” In other words, they would learn parts of each subject over all of their years of high school, whereas we learn one whole subject in a year.

Zubar said that she was in a class where the teacher talked a lot about the Civil War and his experiences in the war. She said, “It was more of a Bosnian politics class and it was really interesting.” This was one of Zubar’s favorite classes she took at the school in Sarajevo.

Not only was the schooling different to get used to, but the way of life in Sarajevo was something new to Zubar. The culture is a lot more laid back and the people of Bosnia spend more quality time doing things, rather than getting a lot of things done. “It was both good and bad because you could spend more time talking with friends, but buses don’t come on time because the bus driver could be spending time talking with a friend,” Zubar said.

In the United States we are used to driving everywhere in cars, but Zubar only rode in a car two times the whole time she was in Sarajevo.

Zubar said, “I walked probably three hours every day, you could walk across the whole city in an hour and a half.” At least in the fall and spring Bosnia had beautiful weather to enjoy on the long walks to school for Zubar. Zubar said, “Since the town is in a river valley in the winter everything would get stuck inside the mountains, but when it isn’t winter everything is really pretty. Even in the winter when you go into the mountains the air is really nice.” There are a lot of things to see in Sarajevo and it is a really beautiful town.

The host family that Zubar stayed with had two sisters the ages of nine and 13 who she lived with while she was there. In Bosnia, going out to eat is very rare. For all three meals of the day, Zubar’s host mom would cook. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, and they would eat lunch around 3 in the afternoon and can be compared to what our dinner is here.

Zubar said the food was a mix of Russian and Turkish, “It was very heavy and usually contained a lot of meat and potatoes.”

Zubar’s favorite food from Bosnia was a bean soup that her grandma would make every Saturday during the winter. What a treat to look forward to every week.

Studying abroad you can expect to have a lot of great experiences and memories to take home with you. Zubar said, “My favorite experience was we took a train to a suburb of Sarajevo where my english teacher lived. We hiked up a mountain and had a little picnic up there. We brought a little grill to grill our meat when we were there.”

Zubar had a really good experience in Bosnia and it made her junior year of high school a special one. “I feel like once you go you always want to keep going to new places. Its definitely worth it.” Zubar is hoping to do Doctors Without Borders in the future to continue traveling and pursue a career in nursing.

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 33

FEATURE

2016 Prom fashion trends

BY ABBEY MERTZ AND SARA MICHAEL Prom is often portrayed as the highlight of high school. It’s an event that puts the year to a close, and it’s a way to enjoy an awesome night with the people you care most about. Along with prom comes fashion.

Girls spend months looking for the perfect dress to wear on this special night, and guys strive for the best suit and tie out there. Even though popular styles change each year, don’t worry, we have you covered.

Below are some styling ideas for the most anticipated night coming up in May. This year’s’ prom theme is masquerade ball. It will be held at the DoubleTree hotel in Bloomington on May 7th. Each ticket costs $70.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and dinner will start at 7:00 p.m. which will be followed by a dance. Tickets are on sale for all juniors and seniors April 20-22, with the last day to buy tickets being April 22.

Lydia Sheilds and Stephan McMahon illustrates the latest fashion trends for prom dresses and suit during this year’s prom fashion show.

PHOTO BY ANYA OTTERSON

The model in this picture chose a classic black tuxedo and a whitebuttoned up collared shirt to match his dates dress FLICKR PHOTOS

If you’re looking for a fun, colorful, and vibrant look, this would be perfect for you. Floral dresses like this one are a popular option for prom, especially since spring is right around the corner. The loose bow and open back is unique and would make anyone stand out.

34| Feature

This dress is ideal for someone who is looking for a sophisticated and classic look. A keyhole is the perfect addition to those looking for a unique style.

Humor Column

Old man and the interviewee

BY CALDER SELL AND ARUN PARAGAL

The mermaid silhouette is back in style for prom 2016. This look is best for showing off curves. The subtle color and the white lace on this dress make it simple and classy.

This model chose a dark blue suit with a purple tie and brown shoes to give a sophisticated and mature look.

A classic sweetheart neckline and a beaded waist is a popular style. A loose updo with this dress is ideal.

Young Justin Time sat in a cozy lobby chair as he awaited his interview for the position he has dreamed about since a boy. Just then, in walked an elderly looking fellow with a glimmer in his eye. Justin thought he had an intriguing way about him as he came closer and closer.

Finally, the old man was face to face with Justin.

Justin realized that the glimmer he had seen earlier was a 34-carat diamond nose ring. The old man asked Justin if anyone was sitting in the chair next to him. Still startled by the nose ring, Justin stuttered, “Y-Yeah, there was a man sitting here but he is using the rest-.” Before he finished, the old man plopped down in the chair.

After several minutes, Justin could not handle the state of awkwardness and broke the silence: “It is gorgeous outside, how are you liking the weather?” The old man replied, “It is a bit windy. I almost got blown off of the cloud I was riding on to get here.”

Justin scoffed, thinking this was a joke, but the old man gave him a weird sneer after the scoff. Justin tried again: “So are you applying too?” The old man had no clue what Justin was referring to, so naturally he responded, “Yes, of course.”

Justin was pleased that the small talk finally worked.

He felt a sense of comfort developing between him and the old man. Justin said, “I’m so nervous for my interview. Look, I’m shaking,” as he showed the old man his trembling fingers.

Without hesitation, the old man said, “First, don’t ask questions in the interview. Employers would rather have you get the job, not know the proper way to do something, and learn the “hard” way. Otherwise, you are just wasting his or her time in the interview.”

“Next, it is impolite to show up to an interview empty handed. Food is always a crowd pleaser. One time I was interviewing to become a bowling pinsetter. I would have gotten the job if I wouldn’t have dropped the bananas I was carrying. They all split.”

“A perfect way to get on the good side of the big cheese is to show off your knowledge of big cheeses.

You know, Cheddar, Asiago, Danablu, Neufchatel, the big ones. Try to identify what variety of cheese the employer is. Go ahead and take a sniff, maybe even a lick.”

After this series of tips, Justin felt way better about the interview. As the door to the office swiveled open, he straightened his tie, fixed his hair and took a deep breath.

The boss was a woman probably in her mid 40’s.

Justin gave her a smile and walked towards her as she called his name to interview.

As he walked towards her, the woman looked at the old man. The old man looked back at her and said casually, “Hey Mom.” He then sprinted full speed to the nearest vent, opened it and crawled in. Justin was so thrown off; he did not get the job.

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 35

English teacher Linda Wallenberg has been coaching kids at TAGS gymnastics for over 20 years.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Outside brick walls

An insight into the lives of teachers with two jobs

S

BY KAYLA ALBERS

tudents see their teachers almost every day during the school year, and it is understood how much time they spend teaching, helping with extra work, looking over homework and correcting tests. But what exactly do teachers do outside of school?

More importantly, what do teachers do during the summer when they don’t have to teach for three months? Some teachers shared what other jobs they might have outside of school, on the weekends or during the summer when they need something extra to pass the time.

English teacher Sandra Johnson baked her own cupcakes and sold them last summer on Saturday mornings at the Hopkins farmers market. It was her first summer not teaching summer classes and she had finished her graduate school program. “It was easy to spend Monday through Friday baking and trying new recipes,” said Johnson.

Johnson said that she started baking when she went to college and had to start cooking for herself. She eventually discovered that she really enjoyed it. “Ever since then I always thought if I wasn’t a teacher it would be fun to own a bakery.” Johnson spent the week baking different varieties of cupcakes to sell at the market on Saturday mornings. She shared that the most popular flavors she sold were her maple bacon cupcakes and her Oreo cupcakes.

Special Ed teacher Katelyn Schmidt works a different job outside of teaching during the summer. Schmidt used to be a personal trainer and would train clients on the weekends. Since Schmidt recently moved here from Green Bay, Wisconsin she now works as a server and a beverage cart driver at Valleywood Golf Course during the summer. “I think I would

probably be bored during the summer with all of that extra time,” said Schmidt.

Schmidt works one day a week during the school year and three to five days a week during the summer, “I like working with people, so I get to meet a lot of new people and see a lot of new faces.” Schmidt said that she likes working at the golf course and will continue to work there this summer.

English teacher Linda Wallenberg has a few other passions that she is able to pursue outside of school. Wallenberg was the high school gymnastics coach for seventeen years, leading the team to multiple state championships and winning coach of the year twice. After having her two kids she stopped coaching for the high school and switched to coach at TAGS Gymnastics in Eden Prairie where she has been coaching for over 20 years. “Gymnastics is a passion of mine and it is fascinating to see how through gymnastics kids can learn life skills,” said Wallenberg.

“I get a tremendous amount of blessings working with these 2, 3 and 4 year olds who are learning how to self advocate.” In addition to coaching at TAGS, Wallenberg teaches Swedish at a language camp in Bemidji during the summer. “I am actually the first certified Swedish teacher in Minnesota,” said Wallenberg.

It is interesting to see what teachers are able to do outside of school and how they are able to hold onto other passions they may have. Having summers off from school and not having to work on the weekend means that there is more time to do the other things that they love.

Creatively created cupcakes by English teacher Sandra Johnson

36 | Feature

Exploring Minnesota on a budget

BY YASMIN CHAVEZ

After a long Minnesotan winter, people are eager to venture outside and enjoy the warm weather. For students, spring break provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and to do something fun. If you lack a large amount of money, don’t worry because here are some tips on how to take a road trip and explore Minnesota on a budget.

1. In order to get anywhere, you need to first find some method of transportation. A car would be the ideal choice, and with gas prices nowadays it should not make a big impact on your budget. Also, going with a group of friends could help with the cost of gas as

everyone can pitch in to help pay for the gas.

2. At some point during your trip, you’re going to need a place to stay and rest. A simple Google search will help you find a cheap hotel room or an even better alternative is sleeping outdoors. Bring some camping equipment with you on the road trip and camp outside for a change.

3. Avoid buying snacks from the gas station or eating at fast food restaurants. Instead, buy a cooler and pack your own snacks, drinks, and lunches to eat on the road. This will help you save money from buying overpriced food and is also a healthier option. It provides a perfect opportunity for you and your friends to have a picnic at a park.

4. Lastly, explore Minnesota. There are plenty of places to visit and sightsee that have cheap admission or are completely free to enter. Some of these places include Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth, the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Canal Park in Duluth, Nyberg Park in Vining, or even the Minnesota Institute of Art. Whether you decide to travel or stay at home this spring break, try to go outside, explore new places, and discover something new this spring.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ANYA OTTERSON

Trustworthy money-making endeavours for teenagers How teenagers can easily make cash online

BY ELIZABETH KENYON It’s a common dilemma: You want to get a job that maybe releases you (at least a little bit) from your dependency on your parents, but your time is restricted by homework, sports or all of the above.

Fear not! Retail and food service are not the only options out there.

Teenagers have been turning to the Internet for fast cash. Here’s a list of five websites that want to pay you (yes, you!) for your time and effort. Keep in mind that many online money-making opportunities don’t pay very much unless it’s an hourly job.

1. Slice the Pie: This is for all you music lovers out there. All you have to do is listen to a clip of a song and rate it. Pay varies, and you won’t make more than a couple cents per song, but if you’re going to listen to music all day anyway you may as well get a little something something while you do it. Slicethepie.com 2. Proofreading: There are plenty of sites for people that are good with grammar. Companies will pay you to proofread for them, and many hire teens. Amazon is one of those companies.

3. U-Haul: This one is more of a “real,” hourly job than the others.

Earn $7.50 to $8.50 an hour (with the possibility of getting bonuses that bump it up to $14/$15) as a customer service representative.

You have to be 16 and there are some computer requirements from this one, but who wouldn’t want to earn minimum wage (or more) at home?

4. Be a tutor: Get paid to teach people. If you’re not uncomfortable with video chat, one site, Skimtalk, pays $15 an hour to tutor people all over the world on English. Teens under 18 apparently need parental supervision but for that hourly wage, it’s worth checking out.

Skimtalk.com

5. Surveys: Can’t have a list of fast cash for teens without putting this one in. Companies want feedback and opinions from teenagers and are willing to pay. Payment varies with every site, but there are plenty out there. A quick Google or Pinterest search will give you plenty of options.

Note: There are more than five websites that pay out there. The previous options came from several compiled lists on sites that were found on Pinterest.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DUSTIN WOLF

March 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 37

photo essay

Experiencing EPHS through students’ lives

PHOTOS BY ANYA OTTERSON

38 | FEATURE

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