The Eyrie May Issue • 2016

THE EYRIE vol. 55 || no. 5

MAY ISSUE

RETIRING TEACHERS

HEALTHY SHAKES

Say goodbye to the five Learn how to make DIY teachers who, combined, protein shakes for your have put in 160 years summer workouts pg. 10

pg. 14

Eden Prairie High School

TRAVELING ABROAD

SADDLE SEAT

One student’s opinion on why visiting another country is essential

Senior Maddie Mulligan’s talent with competitive horse shows

pg. 26

pg. 30

MILLENNIALS Our generation’s label, explained | pg. 20

CONTENTS Staff

Editors-in-chief Elizabeth Kenyon Max Chao

Ice Cream pg. 7

Managing Editor Andrew Donohue Business Manager Anthony Rosa Website Editors Andrew Donohue Claire Hassler Website Assistant Editors Anya Otterson Zenab Kashif 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

Traveling Abroad pg. 26

Feature Assistant Editor Anya Otterson

Girls Golf pg. 13

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 AP syle.

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. 5

MAY ISSUE

RETIRING TEACHERS

HEALTHY SHAKES

Say goodbye to the five Learn how to make DIY teachers who, combined, protein shakes for your have put in 160 years summer workouts pg. 10

pg. 14

Eden Prairie High School

TRAVELING ABROAD

SADDLE SEAT

One student’s opinion on why visiting another country is essential

Senior Maddie Mulligan’s talent with competitive horse shows

pg. 26

pg. 30

MILLENNIALS Our generation’s label, explained | pg. 20

Cover Illustration by Anya Otterson Cover Design by Elizabeth Kenyon

Super Mileage pg. 36

Maddie Mulligan pg. 30

Take Back the Night pg. 12

Letter from the Editors Well, here it is. The LAST issue of the 201516 school year (besides the senior issue, of course, but that means nothing to 3/4 of the school’s population). We’re going out with a bang, a cover story for the millennia! And the Millennials (pun intended). What ever will all you sad, sad saps do this summer without the Eyrie? Cry a little, probably. Us, too. Its been real, guys.

We out!

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 3

A&E

SUMMER CONCERT MAY

Friday, May 20 Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Venue: Surly Brewery Time: 5:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $35.00 Details: 18+

Saturday, May 21 Savages Venue: Fine Line Time: 8:00 p.m.

Ticket Price: $22.00 Details: 18+

Thursday, June 2 Florence And The Machine with Grimes Venue: Xcel Energy Center Time: 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $61+

Sunday, May 22 Chelsea Wolfe Venue: Triple Rock Social Club Time: 8:00 p.m.

Ticket Price: $18.00 Details: 18+

Saturday, May 28 Zac Brown Band Venue: Target Field Time: 7:00 p.m.

Price: $50

Wednesday, May 25 The 1975 with Wolf Alice Venue: Roy Wilkins Auditorium Time: 8:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $32.50+

Tuesday, June 14 The Lumineers Venue: Myth Time: 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $100+

Saturday, June 18 Birdy Venue: Varsity Theater Time: 8:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $25+

Saturday, May 28 Zac Brown Band Venue: Target Field Time: 7:00 p.m.

Price: $50

Sunday, May 29 Soundset Venue: Minnesota State Fairgrounds Time: 11:00 a.m.

Price: $78

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Tuesday, June 7 The Cure Venue: Xcel Energy Center Time: 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $22.50+

Wednesday, June 8 Macklemore with Ryan Lewis Venue: U.S Bank Theater at Target Center Time: 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices:$59+

Friday, June 10 Cage the Elephant Venue: Target Center Time: 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $49+

Monday, May 23 BeyoncĂŠ Venue: TCF Bank Stadium Time: 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Price: $55

Wednesday, May 25 The Kills Venue: First Avenue Time: 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Price: $25 Details: 18+

JUNE

Sunday, June 19 Justin Bieber Venue: Target Center Time: 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Price: $50

CALENDAR JULY

BY MAX CHAO AND YASMIN CHAVEZ ALL PHOTOS FROM FLICKR

AUGUST

Sunday, July 24 Drake & Future Location: Xcel Energy Center Time: 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $127+

Tuesday, August 2 Shawn Mendes Venue: Roy Wilkins Auditorium Time: 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $37+

Tuesday, August 9 Journey Venue: Xcel Energy Center Time: 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $52

Friday, Aug. 19 Luke Bryan Venue: US Bank Stadium Time: 5:00 p.m.

Ticket Price: $37

Saturday, Aug. 20 Metallica Venue: US Bank Stadium Time: 6:00 p.m.

Ticket Price: $60 Friday, July 29 Twenty One Pilots Venue: Xcel Energy Center Time: 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $51+

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 5

the reviews Intriguing biopic of Who’s side are you on?

Russia’s president FLICKR PHOTO

BY ANDREW DONOHUE

BY SARAH MICHAEL

“The Man Without a Face,” a book about Russian President Vladimir Putin, was difficult to put down, yet at the same time, was difficult to read a lot in one sitting. Although the content was very intriguing, it entailed an abundance of information—arguably enough to where it interfered with understanding the content.

An interesting aspect that the book entailed is the story of Vladimir Putin prior to his rise of fame. The book enlightens the reader that Putin was just a regular, wealthy guy before he entered into politics. The book exemplifies that regardless of Putin’s prior life of upscale mediocrity, there is no question that he is an extremely intelligent and strategic man.

He knew how to play his cards right in order to get where he strived to be.

In Russia, you are either a die hard Putin fan, or you are not. The Author, Masha Gessen, is not a fan of Putin. In the book, Gessen evoked an opinion that Putin fooled the Russian people into thinking that he would be a progressive leader who would do good for all and miserably failed at keeping his word. Some of the author’s statements were questionable and objective because she conveyed a sort of connotation that made it seem as though all of Russia disliked Putin—which is clearly not the case. In fact, many Russians adore President Putin and believe that he has done wonderful things for Russia.

Overall, despite some dry content and biased opinion, the book is definitely worth a read. Vladimir Putin and Russia are both interesting topics and ones that an individual should enlighten themselves on. “The Man Without a Face” offers great historical information and laid down the logistics of Russia in the post Yeltsin era.

As the next installment of one of the most successful movie franchises of all time, “Captain America: Civil War” had a lot to live up to.

Happily, it more than met the expected standard.

Walking into the theater, I was a little apprehensive. The plot line of this movie sounded a little too similar to the one from “Batman vs.

Superman,” which I had disliked. After just the first 10 minutes of the movie, however, I knew there was nothing to worry about. The opening action scene was riveting and set the stage for the main conflict.

The governments of the world have become concerned with the amount of power the Avengers have and moved to put them under supervision. The group splits over this issue with Captain America/Steve Rogers leading the non-supervision crowd and Iron Man helming those who are for it.

Captain America hunts down his old friend, Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier, as Bucky is being accused of murder. A new superhero, Black Panther, joins the hunt for Bucky, but for vengeance. Black Panther is one of two new additions to the cast, the other being Spider Man. This culminates in an epic chase scene as the government attempts to bring in Captain America and Bucky.

The action shifts to Steve and Bucky attempting to figure out who is trying to pit the Avengers against each other and coming to the realization that they have to act. They assemble their team, consisting of Ant-Man, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and Falcon, and attempt to track down who they believe is the true villain.

The movie continues with an epic battle between the two sides. This may be the best superhero battle I’ve ever seen. Nothing but non-stop action, physics defying moves and endless wisecracking for a glorious 30 minutes.

For anyone looking for a flick to catch, just know that “Captain America: Civil War” has something for everyone, the romantic, the action buff, the Spider Man obsessive and of course the Hawkeye fanboys.

A sharper sound

FLICKR PHOTO

BY CALDER SELL This April, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros released their fourth album, “Person A.” For those who are unfamiliar with the group, they may know them best through their song “Home” from the album “Up From Below”.

The group uses various techniques to produce the same head-bobbing motion from their

6 | A&E

listeners as hip-hop songs, while creating an entirely different experience.

Their creative, thought-provoking lyrics are carried through the air by the lead singer Alexander Ebert. Ebert has a unique voice that can reach raspy heights and dip to soothing depths.

They are often labeled as a hippie group and maybe rightly so. They focus on expressing different feelings of love and spirituality that align with some of the stereotypes attached to the hippie movement. They relate the complicated nature of love into everyday objects. For example, in the song “That’s What’s Up”, they sing, “I’ll be the sun, you be the shining. You be the clock, I’ll be the timing.”

However, their songs are very versatile and can connect with everyone. Every song has a distinct sound. They have an originality in their metaphorical tunes that I am comfortable comparing to the Beatles. Yet, the Magnetic Zeros still do not get that large of a following.

This album is unique because the group parted ways with their other lead singer, Jade Castrinos. Castrinos played a major role in a lot of the group’s most popular songs. She was the familiar half of the duo singing in “Home.”

This album was highly anticipated by fans to

see which direction the band would go without their lovely Jade.

It supposedly consists of cleaner, more focused songs compared to their previous albums. I do not necessarily believe this is the best thing for this group. The characteristic that I appreciated was the abstract nature of both their beats and lyrics. The lyrics are just as clever and intriguing as their earlier stuff, but the beats do seem more repetitive and thought out. Before, the songs seemed to represent the idea that a band can pick up various instruments out of nowhere and create a spontaneous sound. This album lost a little bit of that for me.

The most popular song on this album is “No Love Like Yours.” The song features a catchy chorus that quickly rises to a climactic belt from Ebert. Ebert continues to sing about how everything about the idea of love is complex but also how he knows it when he feels it. He sings, “Don’t know the dictionaire, don’t know what clothes to wear. I’m just in love with you.”

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are touring right now. For more information, look to page 4. The concert is 18 and over which made me quite peeved, but I am still thankful that I could listen to their amazing music.

ICE CREAM STORY BY ANTHONY ROSA PHOTOS BY MUKUND VENKATESWARAN

As summer approaches, locals flock to the ice cream shops. Here are three of the best around

Sebastion Joe’s Izzy’s Ice Cream Edina Creamery Located on West Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, this gem has by far the best ice cream in the state. All of their ice cream is homemade with all-natural ingredients. Their top selling flavors are raspberry-chocolate chip and Oreo. I highly recommend the Brr Bar, a huge glump of Oreo ice cream dipped in swiss chocolate.

Arguably the most successful ice cream shop in the Twin Cities, Izzy’s offers over 30 flavors that change daily. However, they are known for their fantastic renditions of classic flavors. Their vanilla ice cream is made with bourbon vanilla extract and is one of their most popular products. My personal favorite was their chocolate chip cookie dough. They also distribute their ice cream at Kowalski’s if you don’t want to make the trek to St. Paul.

Placed in Minneapolis and located near Southdale Mall, Gourmet Magazine ranked this homemade ice cream the best in the country. Its operated by an EPHS student’s family and gives off a very nostalgic, down-to-earth feeling. The ice cream is very creamy and over 50 flavors are offered. You should try their sorbet.

1007 W Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405

1100 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415

5055 France Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 7

Whoa, Rory. New style, much?

PHOTOS BY NETFLIX

Town meetings? Heck yeah.

I spy Luke and Lorelai.

Can you say, “Friday Night Dinners?”

Rory back at Chilton!

What does it all mean?!?

Everything you need to know about the “Gilmore Girls” revival

BY ELIZABETH KENYON If you’re a die-hard fan like I am, you already know that the beloved rom-com-dram of the early 2000’s is returning in the form of four 90-minute episodes to air on Netflix later this year. A specific date has yet to be released, but in the meantime, we have plenty of delightful facts revealed by numerous entertainment websites to tie us over until the world gets to revisit the wonderful town of Stars Hollow.

1. First, and most importantly, all three of Rory’s boyfriends are returning.

Get ready to fall back in love with Dean, the small town sweetheart, Bad-Boy-Turned-Good Jess and the rich entrepreneur Logan. The question is: Will they all still be pining for Rory?

2. Rory’s not the only one with the returning exes.

Remember Jason? He and Lorelei were pretty cute while it lasted. Obviously Luke + Loreli 4ever, but Jason’s coming back—for who knows what reason?

8 | A&E

3. The final four words.

The creator of the show, Amy-Sherman Palladino, always knew what the last four words of “Gilmore Girls” would be, but because she left the show after season six, fans never got the chance to discover just what those four little words are. The revival will amend that.

Allow me to speculate here when I say the speaker must be one of the Gilmore Girls, right?

4. Favorite characters are coming back.

The show just wouldn’t be the same without the likes of Lane, Paris (and Doyle), Kirk, crazy Mrs. Kim, Michel, Babette, Taylor and Miss Patty. Luckily, we won’t have to miss any of them!

5. Melissa McCarthy is IN. Panic ran rampant when it seemed at first as if Sookie would be left out of the revival, but fear not, the quirky chef is back. I blame miscommunication. We want you, Sookie!

6. There will be quite a few new characters.

I’ll admit, I’m a little skeptical about this one, but life is full of changes and it has been nine

years, so new townspeople was bound to be a thing. Among the new characters will be a man named Paul, who’s been described as “a good boyfriend.” But for whom?

7. Edward Hermann will be dearly missed.

RIP Richard. The Gilmore Girls won’t be the same without their patriarch.

8. Luke’s daughter still exists.

Amy-Sherman Palladino isn’t ignoring the seventh season, despite having not worked on it at all. Fans had mixed reactions to the fact that Luke’s surprise daughter is coming back, but hey, you can’t just brush that under the rug, amiright?

9. Finn Finn Finn.

The irresponsible Australian, and friend of Logan’s, is coming back. I don’t know what this will mean, but who isn’t overjoyed by this news? Finn was hilarious! Collin too, of course.

10. All four episodes of the miniseries will be titled after a season.

Rumor has it that the revival will be called “Gilmore Girls: Seasons.” A year of Gilmore?

Yes, please. Get ready, everyone.

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May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 9

NEWS

Veteran teachers say go

BY ANYA OTTERSON Seniors aren’t the only ones making preparations for the future, counting their remaining days at EPHS and reflecting on their time there. This year, five teachers with a combined 160 years of proficiency are retiring, and they took a few minutes to share their thoughts on their experiences.

Teachers have to declare their retirements by the end of the school year, but they usually decide by early spring so that their decisions can be accounted for when making schedules for the next school year.

As many students know, Steve Cwodzinski of the social studies department is one of the five, retiring after 31 years of teaching U.S. government.

Cwodzinski easily sums it up what it meant to teach at the school in one word, “Everything.

This place is amazing. You guys are amazing.”

He added that students today are generally better, more open-minded people than those

of 25 years ago.

Cwodzinski intends to stay involved in the Eden Prairie community by running for political office. His future plans are to simply do “what every American government teacher dreams some day to do.”

Julia Foote shares similar sentiments.

Growing up playing school, she decided to combine her passion for teaching with her appreciation of friends with disabilities to become a special education teacher. Foote is proud to say that she has been a teacher in the Eden Prairie school district for 13 years.

“I love the students. They inspire me every day and challenge me,” said Foote. “Their friendship means the world to me.” She is also appreciative of her colleagues and the supportive community they are a part of. Foote added that she’s “not done with EP.” She plans on being a substitute teacher next year, which allows her to take a different role in the school while still working with kids.

As he shuffles through a stack of papers on

his desk in search of something for a student, math teacher Keith Erickson said, “This is like a teacher’s job. Just constantly.” After 31 years at EPHS, Erickson is impressed with the students and staff here. He loves that some students say “thank you” as they leave class. “People have to really understand how lucky we are to be here,” he said.

Erickson has decided to tutor in math and teach math ACT prep courses. While he doesn’t have any specific future plans and wants to seize the opportunity to do what he wants, this allows him to stay involved with EPHS. Nancy Gallman in the FACS department is also happy with her 16 years of teaching.

After working as a country home economist and running a custom home decorating business, she found that she liked working with students and showing them how to work with their hands. A career as a FACS teacher was a natural fit.

PHOTOS BY ANYA OTTERSON

Keith Erickson has been a math teacher at EPHS for 31 years

10 | NEWS

Top: Nancy Gallman has been a FACS teacher at EPHS for 16 Years Bottom: Julia Foote has been a Special Ed. Teacher at EPHS for 13 years

oodbye “I enjoy the students. That’s what I’ll miss the most,” said Gallman. She added that the teachers at EPHS are very dedicated, hardworking and caring, and she is proud to have worked here. Gallman and her husband will be moving to Florida to enjoy the warm weather and make good use of their pilot’s licenses but will likely be back in the summers.

Melanie Ebert has been teaching art at EPHS for 35 years. She has “always taken teaching very seriously,” taking her love of art and instilling persistence in her students.

In addition to teaching, Ebert has been very involved in both the school and her students’ lives, heading up a variety of clubs including speech and art club as well as keeping in touch with her students after graduation.

“I can’t imagine not coming here anymore,” says Ebert. As of right now, she is pursuing treatment for a back injury and doesn’t know how involved she’ll be able to be in EPHS, but says there is “still so much [she] intend[s] to do.”

Melanie Ebert has been an art teacher at EPHS for 35 years

Students help Cwod’s campaign

BY TALA ALFOQAHA While Donald Trump may be this year’s most infamous political outsider competing for an elected office, EPHS’s very own Steven Cwodzinski, government teacher of 31 years, has joined the ranks and taken his calls for political efficacy outside of the classroom and straight into the race for district 48’s hotly contested seat in the state senate. Cwodzinski has not completely abandoned his roots as an educator, however, as joining him in his campaign are multitudes of his former students who have decided to volunteer.

The core group of student volunteers who help lead and coordinate other volunteers is comprised of around five to sven students, while the “Cwod Squad,” the group that encompasses all volunteers, consists of about 60 members. The structure of student volunteers has a loose, two-tiered hierarchy, with members of the core group coordinating and mobilizing the entire group.

Student volunteers have used their unique perspective and experience to help bridge generational gaps, namely by utilizing technology to build up Cwodzinski’s social media presence. “One of my jobs is running the Twitter and Facebook account,” said senior Jenna Horner, “I also help with communications between Cwod and other people working on the campaign.” Other responsibilities for student volunteers have included door knocking, phone calling and donning bright red “Cwod Squad” T-Shirts when the occasion presents itself.

Cwodzinski explained that he formally approached only five to six former students about the campaign. While all the students he explicitly asked to join his campaign had previously expressed a strong interest in politics, several of them also worked with the DFL. “When we had our first meeting, 40 showed up,” said Cwodzinski. “I’m so honored that so many of my past students have wanted to join and that so many are becoming involved in something that they’re passionate about.”

Junior Nasir Nourkadi said, “Other than the

few that he asked, he didn’t encourage any students to help volunteer. All of them did it willingly.”

Another significant way that former students contributed to Cwodzinski’s campaign was through becoming a delegate for the district convention. “Out of all the things I did, my biggest job was to become a delegate,” said Horner. “Organizing all the delegates was crucial to his campaign, literally every vote ended up counting.” Cwodzinski ended up winning the DFL’s nomination on the first ballot with 60% of the votes, the exact required amount to declare a definite winner.

After hours of strategizing and tedious campaigning, all who partook in the campaign to assure the nomination emerged with something of value. “I expected everyone to follow an orthodox set of rules, but it was pretty entertaining to watch how informal politics are at the local and state level,” said Nourkadi.

“I’ve always been terrified of public speaking, but I spoke in front of the convention endorsing Cwod and it went really well. It was a good personal experience for me,” said Horner.

Securing the DFL endorsement constituted the campaign’s latest victory and was the culmination of weeks of campaigning prior to the convention. “It’s amazing. Some kids were knocking doors on a weeknight at 7PM when they could’ve been studying or at home watching TV,” said Cwod.

While the endorsement was a definite victory for the, in reality, the campaign has just begun. Next stop for the Cwod Squad on the long road to the state senate is the state convention taking place on June 4.

Steve Cwodzinski has been a social studies teacher at EPHS for 31 years

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 11

NEWS

Get rallied up

BY ANDREW DONOHUE Young people are traditionally seen as disengaged from politics; they view it as a corrupt, pointless waste of time. Students at EPHS, however, reject this narrative and are active in the political sphere. Many students are developing their political perspectives through attending political and issue-related rallies in droves.

Senior Ryan Keenan went to a Hillary Clinton rally last year to hear the candidate speak. “It was a really cool experience, I was able to stand about 10 feet away from Secretary Clinton,” said Keenan. He was inspired to go to the rally by a desire to hear Clinton articulate her ideas for the country.

He was struck by the enthusiasm of the crowd and how passionate all of the speakers were. “I would definitely say that everyone should go to a rally to see what politics can really be like,” said Keenan.

Junior Parker Hewitt attended a Ted Cruz rally before the Minnesota caucuses. “People were really fed up with the Republican Party and with the direction the country is headed

in general”, said Hewitt, “It seemed like people bonded together over this.” He also encouraged more people to come since it is a great way to learn more about the candidates.

Hewitt was impressed by “how much one person can move so many others together towards a common cause.”

Students are not only engaged in the presidential race, many are interested in specific issues as well. The Women’s Rights Club recently attended Take Back the Night, an international rally to support victims of sexual assault. “It was really emotional, really empowering,” said Lincoln, “everyone is there to support each other. It’s a really cool atmosphere.”

PHOTO BY CLAIRE HASSLER

Take Back the Night features an open mic so victims can tell their story and a march through downtown Minneapolis. Erin Murphy, a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, also spoke about a bill she is trying to pass to address rape culture. “This was very informative and I learned a lot about how police handle assaults,” said Lincoln.

A group of Women’s Rights Club members attended Take Back the Night this year and Lincoln said that they want to go back next year as well. “I would highly encourage everybody to come to Take Back the Night. It is open to all genders and is a fun atmosphere to be a part of.’ Lincoln explained.

You Should Probably Know Elizabethkingia

T

BY ELIZABETH KENYON

here’s been an outbreak of a rare bloodstream infection called Elizabethkingia in the Midwest, and, wait for it… it’s deadly. (WATCH OUT!) Ten cases were discovered recently in Illinois, including six deaths. However, it is unknown whether or not the bacterial infection was a contributing factor in those six deaths or if the victims also had unrelated health conditions. So, there’s hope.

Forget Illinois, though. Wisconsin is the state that has the largest outbreak in the nation, with 63 reported cases since November of last year. Of those, a whopping 19 were fatal. The infection is growing so rapidly in Wisconsin that Governor Scott Walker created nine new positions with the Wisconsin Department of

12 | NEWS

CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO

Health Services to locate the source of the Elizabethkingia bacteria.

Seems like Elizabethkingia is narrowing in on MN, doesn’t it?

Symptoms include cough, high fever, shortness of breath, chills and sometimes even joint pain. It mostly affects people over 65 years of age and those who already have compromised immune systems. And, the bacteria is only found in soil, rivers and reservoirs… so pretty much the entire Midwest.

The weird thing is, this outbreak is different in that not all of the patients have been in such settings. Which begs to question… WTH?!

(That’s, what the heck. This is a high school publication, after all).

As of yet, none of Walker’s nine positions have been filled, but the Department of Health Services is working to pinpoint the source of the bacteria.

Time will tell if they succeed. And hopefully they do, before MN is next.

(Ominous music playing in the background.

Scene fades.).

this summer

GRAPHIC BY RACHEL JOHNSON

Lids up

BY MICKEY VENKATESWARAN

Laptops have recently become a key component of the EPHS experience. Soon, laptops will become an even more instrumental tool to students as they will be able to keep them over the summer.“Learning doesn’t have to be limited to during the class, we want to give students the opportunity to explore,” said Principal Conn McCartan.

The program will be opt-in, meaning that students have the option to, but will not be required to, take the laptop home over the summer.

Each participating family will be given a new agreement and will have to take full responsibility over the computer for the summer.

This means that the family will be in charge of paying the full fees for any damages to the computer, and will need to take the computer to a tech area in case of damage or difficulty with use. Tech areas will be open at Oak Point, CMS and EPHS throughout the summer.

There is currently no anticipation of a school-wide software refresh, so the students won’t be required to turn in the laptops in the fall, as opposed to previous years where the school would update the software

during the late summer. The same filtering software that is currently being used for security will be the same one incorporated in the summer program.

Among the student body, there are varying opinions on this issue.“It’s just another opportunity for students to lose, damage, or break their laptops,” said junior Hannah White.

On the other hand, junior Stefan Wenc believes that the laptops “will allow incoming seniors to better prepare for the college application process.”

Although the i-Learn program is relatively new to the district, it has expanded greatly in the past few years, and this year marks an important transition in the program.

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 13

SPORTS

Putting up to the challenge

BY ANTHONY ROSA The girls golf team is midway through its season and the section tournament is coming up on June 1. Junior Elizabeth Minnie explained how the season was going and how the matches actually operate.

“You and a girl from another team pair up and go out to play your rounds. Then, at the end, you add up all your players scores and compare them,” Minnie said. Matches commonly take up to three hours. The girls aren’t given golf carts either and walk the

whole course.

According to Minnie, this season has been a tough one and their competition has been strong. Their main competitor is expected to be Edina, who won the tournament last year.

Minnie said she enjoys the sport because “when you hit the ball, and it goes far, you just feel good.” The team appears to be strictly business oriented, as they don’t have a team activity. “Our coach would say a game of puttputt is fun, but we don’t think so,” said Minnie.

The team would love any spectators to come out and show their support for the team.

Junior Sydney Henrichs sends the ball flying with a strong swing.

Nutritious shakes for all throughout the day!

Banana, blueberry and strawberry smoothie

Taylor Stoddart lines up to hit the ball.

PHOTOS BY ANYA OTTERSON

Healthy shakes STORY AND PHOTOS BY ABBEY MERTZ If you need a healthy snack to look forward to after a long, hard workout, this is perfect for you. Shakes and smoothies are a great alternative to candy or other junk food, and they are great for your body. Below are two easy recipes that you can whip up right after a workout to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie Ingredients: 1 cup chocolate almond milk

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons powdered peanut butter

1 cup plain yogurt

1 large frozen banana

5 strawberries

1 cup ice

1 cup blueberries

Chocolate syrup for decoration (optional)

1.5 cups milk 1 large banana

Directions:

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients together

Blend all ingredients together for about 1 minute. Enjoy!

2. Drizzle chocolate syrup in a cup and afterwards pour the smoothie into the cup. Enjoy!

14 | SPORTS

Boys golf has driving ambitions

BY MUKUND VENKATESWARAN The boys golf season hit off their season in mid April with two matches against Hopkins, losing the first and winning the latter. The team is led by senior captains Stefan Nelson and Matt Molenaar.

Team practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Bearpath and Wednesdays at Olympic Hills when they don’t have a tournament or match. Practices usually consist of playing rounds of golf, as it helps them prepare for the matches they have scheduled ahead.

“The team is a lot younger and more diverse this year than it was last year,” said Nelson. Six seniors graduated last year, so the

team has to recover from the loss. Nelson was quite optimistic about the season and future of the team, seeing the talent of the new players on the team as an advantage, even though they may not be as experienced as the older players. “Matt Armstrong, one of the freshman on the team is young to the game and has a lot of potential,” said Nelson.

After participating in matches and tournaments during the regular season, the team is scheduled to participate in sections in early June and state two weeks later. Nelson is confident of the team’s performance for the rest of the season. “Like I said, the team is very talented. Ryan Jacobus, for example, is a really consistent player and has been competing well this season.”

Senior Matt Molenaar putting the ball.

PHOTO BY DUSTIN WOLF

Game, set, match

The boys tennis team has the season in its court

BY SARA MICHEAL

The boy’s tennis team has had a great season, despite the loss of a few players said Senior and Captain Joel Benson, “We’ve actually won a lot of matches so far,” said Benson.

Their biggest victories have included matches against Orono and Edina, which are both great teams, “Recently, our biggest win was against Edina, with a score of 4-3, we won despite missing players and the loss of an injured Anthony Rosa,” said Benson.

The boys will be facing off at sections on May 11, with hopes of making it to state. “Carter Mason and Anthony Rosa have a great shot at going to state,” said Benson. Regardless of how well the boys do, Benson said that they are a close team who have a lot of fun together, “If we keep practicing hard and working together, I have no doubt that we will perform very well at sections and have a great shot at making it to state,” said Benson.

Senior Steven Harris returning the ball.

Senior Anthony Rosa serving the ball at the start of the match.

PHOTOS BY DUSTIN WOLF

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 15

Sophomore

BY ARUN PARGAL Playing sports on a team with people is one of the best ways to make friends because of the strong bond that forms between a group of teammates. This bond is formed through years of practices, games, out of town tournaments, hardship, and success. A group of EPHS sophomores knows more than most, just how strong that bond can be.

It all started at the Burnsville Blast, an indoor soccer complex where a group of 10 and 11 year old boys, most not knowing the others, joined up to make a team. The results were not pretty at the beginning. The boys struggled with their lack of familiarity with one another and lost most of their games.

Fast forward seven years and this group of boys are playing both club and high school soccer at EPHS. Their club team went “from C3 (the lowest club soccer level), to being one of the highest ranked teams in the midwest

Soccer Success

region and winning the state cup in 2014, ” said sophomore Alberto Hernandez, a forward on the team.

However, the road to success did not come easily for the team known as Barcelona. All of their parents have made amazing sacrifices: “They get off work early, give up their weekends and weeknights, drive carloads of boys to practice and games, and have spent a lot of money on us” said Hernandez.

Soccer has been a transformative experience for these athletes. Sophomore Sean Kurtenbach, another forward on the team, “Playing together for so long has made us more of a family than a team”, said Hernandez, “Soccer has taught us to be responsible, hard-working, and ambitious.”

This progress is due in large part to the coaches, Jose and Marco Hernandez, who have been father figures to the boys as they have progressed into young adults. “They are family to us, we can go to them for help with

Joey Kolleh battles for control.

anything, not just soccer.” said Kurtenbach.

The decision to open enroll at EPHS was not easy for the boys. They are scattered across the Twin Cities area, living in Belle Plaine, Shakopee and Minneapolis. Kurtenbach had been in Eden Prairie Schools from a young age and told them about the “outstanding academics and soccer coaching” that were on offer. Despite the distance, they decided that it would be best to come to EPHS. The sky’s the limit for these players because of their maturity. “We have encountered racism from other teams, coaches, and parents”, said Giovanni Flores, a midfielder on the team.

“The team is made up of approximately 90% Hispanic, 5% African American and 5% White.” said Flores. However, their pursuit of success and hard work have allowed them to ignore the comments and focus on the game.

The future of Eden Prairie Soccer is bright with the talent, maturity, and drive of these boys, and it will be exciting to watch.

Marco Hernandez attempts to steal the ball.

PHOTOS BY DUSTIN WOLF

Hold your breath

BY KAYLA ALBERS

The girls synchronized swim team is far into its season and busy as ever with competitions and learning new routines. In case you didn’t know, Minnesota is one of three states, including Ohio and California, that has synchronized swimming as a high school sport.

The sport consists of elaborate moves done in the water to music. It requires of strength, flexibility, endurance and holding your breath for extended periods of time, as some moves are done underwater. There are dance elements involved in the different routines, along with some gymnastic elements.

The team is led by senior captain Abby Rechkin and junior captain Ibolya Konkoly. They typically practice every day after school at the Oak Point Elementary School pool. “I really want everyone to have a good

16 | SPORTS

time while working hard this season. I hope a lot of the newer swimmers fall in love with it,” said Rechkin. The synchro team is hoping to expand the number of athletes on the team in the future and everyone is welcome to try it out.

“Everyone is super nice and inclusive, and it isn’t one of those sports where you have to beat out this person or that person,” said Sophomore Olivia Swanson, “It makes routines so much more fun to do.”

The girls synchro team has its first day of section figures on May 17.

Following that, they have section routines on May 21 and then state on May 26 and 27. In addition, they have a show at Oak Point Elementary on May 18 at 6 p.m.

“Synchro has taught me a lot about teamwork and collaboration and it has definitely made me more of a team player,” said Rechkin.

Right on track Boys Track and Field

BY CALDER SELL The track and field team is ready for another exciting season. The athletes are eager to make their mark on the team’s long and impressive tradition.

The sense of tradition is what sophomore Davis Jaeger, who pole vaults, thinks makes the team special. “Eden Prairie Track is unique in the quality of coaches and the legacy of success. Last year alone we had five State champions,” said Jaeger.

Another intriguing aspect of this team is the unity. Senior captain Kevin Jeter, who runs distance, likes the team “because we are a big family. Many programs separate into the male and female teams, and we train together which brings us all closer.”

Track brings a sense of togetherness while also being centered on

the individual. Initially, all of the members on the team had a different, personal reason why they joined track.

For example, junior Kirk McNeil, who runs sprints and hurdles, said he “joined track to stay and shape and get a six-pack for summer.”

Meanwhile, Jaeger saw joining track “as an opportunity to workout in the spring and get faster.”

The goals for the members have individual interest as well as having a focus on group success. “Our goals this year are to make it to True Team State and personally for me to run in a 4x400 relay team at state,” said McNeil.

How will they do this? Simply by putting in the work and continuing their routines. “Before a meet I usually spend the whole day asking myself: Why I do a sport that is physically and mentally painful with little reward? Then I remember I do track cause I like to win,” said Kirk.

Girls Track and Field

Freshman Gretchen Burros hustles over the hurdle.

PHOTO BY SAWYER HILT

BY CALDER SELL The track and field team is ready to capitalize on the great potential that rides on this year’s team. Led by senior captains Haley Anderson, Lauren Stitch, Alex Bump and Mackenzie Jones, the team looks to be in good shape.

One of the things that make this team unique is the team camaraderie. “We have a wide variety of athletes with unique talents that can be utilized in a multitude of areas. Also, the sense of community and support, especially in a coed sport is better than any other sport at EPHS. Our team is massive, yet we all get around very well. Everyone cheers for each other,” said Jones, who runs the 400.

The freshmen members, like Abby Smith, who pole vaults, picked up the spirit of the team even prior to signing up. Smith said, “I joined track because I have always heard great things about the community of girls who join track. I think it’s super cool how all grades are mixed together. It

has offered opportunities for me to get to know upperclassmen and just new people in general.”

Many members had reasons for joining track that were efforts to enrich themselves. Jones said, “I started running in elementary school and I always wanted to do it because I enjoyed the thrill running brought me, the feeling of flying just gives me so much energy.”

Even though the season started recently, the team has high hopes for the future. Jones said, “The team is looking pretty good. Both the boys and the girls are excelling very well in the workouts. We are striving to do better and beat Wayzata and Minnetonka.”

Smith has already met a lot of her personal goals and can feel an excitement for the season to progress. “I think we’ve had one stellar season so far and I think we have even greater things ahead in store for us,” said Smith. “Everyone works so hard at practice and it’s really starting to show in our meets. So many personal records have been broken. It’s really awesome to see how everything is pulling together.”

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 17

The Playbook

BY ANDREW DONOHUE As the college decision process draws to a close, one of the hardest parts of choosing a school is the athletics factor. Is it really possible to learn to love a new school? One that may even be a rival of your old favorite?

Some people find it impossible to separate the athletic program from the actual school. I was one of those people about some schools. I refused to even consider applying to Madison because of my antipathy towards the Badgers.

For all of you going to Madison, I respect your decision, but refuse to accept the Badgers as a legitimate team.

However, I ended up picking a school that many people dislike because of their athletic program. Duke basketball is probably the most hated college athletic program in the country bar none. It is really an all or nothing proposition, one either loves or hates the Blue Devils.

I have received lots of comments about my college choice, mostly about athletics. There has been grudging comments from family members about how they will have to cheer for Duke now. The animosity towards Duke is very real and very widespread.

This animosity is one of the main things that is pushing me to embrace Duke athletics. I feel privileged to be involved with one of the great

athletic programs in the country. Being able to witness the passion of the Cameron Crazies firsthand is not something I take for granted.

The enthusiasm that Duke students show when cheering for their school is infectious.

It has taken some adjusting for me to learn to love a new school. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to leave my old flame, the University of Minnesota, for a new one.

Despite that, after some deep self-reflecting and excessive binge watching of Tyus Jones highlights, I came to an inner peace. It was possible to love a new school, while still retaining some affection for the tried and true.

All in all, through the hypnotic powers of Mike Krzyzewski, Grayson Allen and Justise Winslow, I was converted to the Blue Devil side. Come join us, it’s us against the world (and we are going to be really good next year).

Cradling their dreams

The girls lacrosse team shoots for the state championship...again!

BY GRETA FRYE This year the girls lacrosse team is off to a great start since ending with a state championship last year. The girls have gone undefeated in their season so far and are looking pretty great for the rest of the season.

The captains for this year’s girls lacrosse team are seniors Payton Borg, Lindsay Weliver, Kelly Wolfe and Sara Woodring. Along with new captains, this year the team has new and young players that are transitioning from the speed of middle school lacrosse to high school lacrosse. Senior captain Lindsay Weliver says, “Our team is off to very successful and productive start. We have continued to improve since our first practice, and it has been fun adjusting to the new dynamic of our team with more underclassmen and new players.”

This year their biggest competitors are Blake, Prior Lake and Loyola.

Woodring shared that her favorite thing about lacrosse is “Being able to hang out with my best friends everyday for two and a half months.”

With girls who are such good friends on and off the field, we can expect nothing but the best from the team this year.

Boys baseball knocks

BY EMILEE JACOBSON

The varsity boys baseball team started off slow, but is picking up speed as the season progresses. Senior captains Charlie Sheehan, Jeff Athey, Mark Ehresman, and Ryan Swanson have the highest hopes for the season ahead of them.

“We are going to have a good season.

It just took us a couple of games to loosen up; our guys are already stepping up and it shows great promise of what’s to come,” said Ehresman.

The team’s record is currently 2-3, and they’re very optimistic for future games this season. The team lacked experience at the beginning, but after new varsity players got

18 | SPORTS

Junior Sammie Morton faces off to win the ball.

PHOTO BY GRETA FRYE

it out of the park

their feet wet, everyone felt more comfortable on, and off the field. The team’s largest rivalries consist of Lakeville North, Minnetonka and Wayzata. “We have a special group of guys this year. It’s a privilege and honor to take on the field with them every day,” said Swanson.

Differentiating from past years, the team has a very talented pitching rotation. They also have a deep lineup and bullpen full of young relievers that has proven to be able to get hits all the way through the order.

“We have a bunch of talented guys this year who are going to make a run for the state title,” said senior Wesley Young. Overall, the boys are stepping up to the plate, and hope their efforts Junior Connor Kehl focuses intently on the ball. pay off leading them to the state title.

PHOTO BY GRETA FRYE

Stepping up to the plate

The girls softball team starts the season off on a good note

BY KRISTINA BRIANT

The varsity softball team is showing a lot of promise for this season. Captains Lauren Oberle and Natalie Maurice lead the team as they are tied in first place for the Lake Conference Championship.

With one of the most successful trips to Florida this year over spring break, Coach Dan Rubischko said, “The kids really get along with each other, which makes it easier as a coach to work with players that truly get along well with one another.”

The close relationships on the team help the players’ chemistry when they are out playing on the field, he said.

The varsity softball team has one of the

The team prepares for the next inning by discussing in a huddle.

toughest schedules in the state. Most of their non-conference games are played against ranked teams. Rubischko said they do that on purpose to go out there and play the best competition available. “I know our record may not be as great, but I also know that we are well prepared because we playing some of the best teams around in Minnesota,” said Rubischko.

Senior starting pitcher Johanna Welter said the team is unique because it is a mix of many different ages. Players range from freshmen to seniors on the team.

Welter said she is “looking forward to finishing my senior season with a winning record and playing with some of the best people I know.”

Sophomore Sydney Shields situates herself for the next play.

PHOTOS BY DUSTIN WOLF

Shooting for the championship

BY ABBEY MERTZ The boys lacrosse team kicked off its season on April 21. Junior Captains Jackson Zaugg and Nicky Leivermann, and senior captains Ben Price and JD Spielman are leading the team for the 2016 season.

Zaugg described the young team as determined. Since the boys finished their season at the quarterfinals last year, all team members are “hungry to win the state championship this year,” he said.

Before every game, the team has a tradition of listening to the song “Mr. Jones” by Mike Jones before games and also holding pasta dinners at several of the players’ houses. “We usually have little traditions that are unique to each year,” said Zaugg.

The team’s biggest rival every year is Wayzata, who they played their first game against on April 21. “Wayzata is always our biggest game because it’s a conference

Junior captain Jackson Zaugg sprints away with the ball.

game, and we’re usually the number one and number two teams in the conference,” said Zaugg.

Zaugg said his team is unique compared to other lacrosse teams because they are a young team.

“We have a lot of first-year starters and young talent this year”, said Zaugg. He also added that many other teams have a lot of older athletes that are experienced and have played on varsity for years.

Former professional lacrosse player and coach Ryan Ward, who has been coaching the team for 10 years, has “really taught me and some of the older guys leadership qualities. He really praises that a lot. Also, being role models for the younger guys,” said Zaugg.

Zaugg’s advice to incoming players is to “really take it all in and listen to the older guys a lot. They have been on varsity for a few years and have a lot of experience.

Learn as much as you can from them and the coaches.”

PHOTO BY DUSTIN WOLF

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 19

Millennials

Cover

20 | Cover

E

very generation is labeled with a name that supposedly encompasses the overall feeling the people born in the generation gives off. Our generation has been stamped with the “Millennial Generation.” The start of the 2000s marked a dramatic shift in many of the aspects of living and thought processes in people compared to those belonging to the previous generation known as “Generation X.” As this generation is nearing its end, we decided to take a closer look into what our generation’s mark on society really is. Unfortunately, the writers of this story cringed at the thought that an entire group of can be contained to a handful of generalized buzzwords. However, as we the writers are Millennials ourselves, we quickly realized that that cringing may just be another example of why we were labeled as Millennials.

When we dove into the stats, one common theme arose: We want to be individuals and create our own lives. We want to create our own sense of family, we want to learn through non-traditional methods, we want to be politically active in our own way, and we are more globally aware than ever before.

Though we all feel that we are unique, we all have the similarity of growing up during the same time period. This truth alone has caused some interesting trends to develop. We are the Millennials and this is our mark.

STORIES >>

PHOTO BY ANYA OTTERSON

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 21

Family

BY EMILEE JACOBSON The Millennial Generation differs from all before, especially with how they view family. Compared to Generation Y, Millennials have proven to hold a stronger value on their family. Whether a child is making his or her own decisions, or needing help, a parent is often who is most sought after.

A Millennial’s parent stands less as an authoritative figure, and more as an influential friend. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 61 percent of Millennials believe their parents to be the most influential figure in their lives compared to 19 percent political leaders and 11 percent media. Junior Amanda Polanski is not surprised by these statistics and said that her parents are extremely involved with her life.

“They stress being independent. They’re more of an influential figure on me, and less of an authoritative. They have certain expectations for me, but they also respect that I have my own expectations for myself, “ Polanski said.

A market research by The Family Room LLC found that 54 percent of parents today describe their children as one of their best friends.

Whether it’s time spent together, or apart, relationships between the average parent and child are becoming closer. “My parents are like that cool mom from mean girls,” said senior Alec Tauer.

High school kids today don’t just have their parents in the loop, but they also bond in nontraditional ways. Instead of forced dinners and church outings, many kids CHOOSE to spend time with their parents. “We gossip about people, make fun of people and watch reality T.V. together,” said junior Alanna Jason.

Activities between the child and parent seem to be changing into more and more friendly ways. “I enjoy being with my mom because we can talk about people without them knowing, unlike a friend who will tell everyone,” said Jason.

Although there are perks to being closely bonded to parents, there are disadvantages as well. Instead of parents making their child’s decisions, they often choose a method called “helicopter parenting,” to watch closely on every aspect of a child’s life. Instead of telling their child exactly what to do, they watch so closely that their child chooses to not make decisions that would be potentially frowned upon. “I send her my location everywhere I go. She even tracks my phone when I’m coming home from school,” said junior Gracie Ovask.

Kids not only feel overwhelmed when parents do this, but they also wish they could escape. “She makes me want to become independent faster. I wish she trusted me more to make my own decisions, sometimes it becomes overbearing,” said Ovask.

Little do parents know that their close bonded relationships and “helicopter parenting” methods may actually be impairing their kids in the long run. Ovask’s mom Catherine said, “I’m only worried because I love my kid. I just want her to be safe.”

The World’s Bank reported that the unemployment rate for millennial’s will rise from 15 to 29 percent. As the unemployment rate rises, millennial’s mental and physical health will potentially drop. As this happens, many kids will be moving back into their parents living dependently on them for the rest of their lives.

Overall, the Millennial Generation is one of it’s own kind. As time evolves, kids do too. Families are becoming much closer and bonding in different ways than ever before. Things such as social media, different styles of parenting and higher priorities have contributed very positively to Millennial’s relationships around the world. Our generation is connecting more than ever, and relationships are becoming closer because of it.

22 | Cover

academics

BY KRISTINA BRIANT The Millennial Generation is proving to be the most advanced generation yet. High school graduation rates are now 72 percent, the highest level in over two decades. Of those graduates, 68 percent enroll in college and approximately 58 percent of those are attending a four-year institution. According to The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, “Millennials are sizing up to be the most educated generation in history.”

With the growing new sources of technology, students have an immense supply of resources they can use for their academic success. Millennials have forced learning institutions to communicate and educate in new ways.

For example, flipped classrooms are a newer method of teaching.

At home, students take notes and learn the material through videos.

At school, the students will work on the assigned homework and have an opportunity to receive one on one help with the teacher.

In addition, teachers have added more interactive study tools for students to absorb and maintain the taught material. Sites such as Kahoot and Socrative are popular among students.

While the fundamental philosophy of school is the same, academics are a lot more stressful than they used to be. It is more of a competition to get the best grades, take numerous AP classes, and be involved in school and the community, while maintain a perfect GPA to get into the best colleges. “The culture has made us think school is the center of the universe, everything you do will influence your future,” said freshman Hannah McDonnel.

Students are more involved with their academic lives than generations twenty years ago. “Portal watchers,” is a name we have been called for our constant knowledge about the daily updates teachers make for our grades.

Millennials also seek more clarity in their learning environment.

We want a clear, structured academic path. For example, we ask specifically what knowledge is required for an exam and prefer frequent feedback. Social Studies teacher Kelsey Snyder said, “I think it’s good kids are actively engaged in asking questions about things that are going on.”

Life

BY KRISTINA BRIANT The Millennial Generation is also known for their long term planning. Students are 16 years old and they already know what they want to do with their lives. Millennials, “have a global view that is unique and has never been on the same level as another generation before,” said Snyder.

We are motivated to change the world. American Journalist Thomas Friedman said the world is flat. Everything is accessible and is never too far out of reach.

There is also a new phase called the, “Emerging Adulthood,” unique to Millennials, where many are using their twenties as an exploration. Gap years for example are a common choice for Millennials to have the opportunity to see the world and be independent.

In addition, Millennials view “success” differently. Success for Millennials is not about having a job, house, or family like it was for the Baby Boomer Generation. For Millennials, it is the idea to make a difference and make things for the better.

Snyder said, “Unlike any other generation, Millennials are not going to get a paycheck or go for a job based on how much money they’ll make. They weigh more heavily on ‘Does this make me happy?’ ‘Does this make me fulfilled?’”

politics

BY CALDER SELL When it comes to conventional politics, Millennials have statistically “dropped the ball.” Voting rates are lower within this generation rather than older ones.

On top of a decrease in voting, a CIRCLE study shows that Millennials have participated fewer in city meetings, contacted officials less and joined unions at a lower rate.

One reason for a lack of substantial evidence for political activeness is because a lot of Millennials are just beginning to be able to do things like vote. Senior Catelin Barstad is optimistic and said, “Now that we are 18, we get more of a voice.”

This generation sees it is not worth the time to use these traditional methods of politics. Harvard researchers found that 43 percent of those who chose not to vote said it made no difference who got elected because the political system was broken, while 31 percent said their

reason was because the candidates did not align with their views.

So do Millennials simply expect things to change without doing anything about it? Not necessarily. Many Millennials are still very interested in the issues of the day. They have simply found a new way to share their beliefs.

Social media is the Millennials preferred outlet of collaborating ideas. According to Pew Research Center, 44 percent of Millennials on social media use it to promote political news and 42 percent use sites to express their thoughts on certain issues and 36 percent use it to ask others to do something for a cause.

Millennials often side with Democrats, even though they are also more likely to not want to be affiliated with either set side. They are more likely to stand for issues that support minority groups. When Generation X-ers were the same age as Millennials are now, they leaned to the conservative side of politics.

Pew Research found that 40 percent of Millennials say that government should be allowed to limit offensive speech towards minorities. Pew also found that Millennials do not support aggressive national security measures as much as older generations.

By the numbers, the Millennial Generation Statistics gathered from various sources

GRAPHIC BY DUSTIN WOLF

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 23

OPINION

Staff Editorial: Recap of the year

BY EYRIE STAFF

Well, Eagles, this is the last issue of the Eyrie Magazine for the school year.

As the year comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the good and bad, the highs and lows, etc. Here are a few key events from the year and how the Eyrie Staff feels about them.

CORE sign-up: It was hard to remember to sign up, and when a certain class filled up it was stressful to figure out where to go.

This feature didn’t make CORE any more organized than it was before and wasn’t necessary.

A foreign exchange student dropping the F-bomb at a pep fest: There’s nothing like a misunderstanding to provide some entertainment.

The Winnebago: This RV united students at tailgates and has become a symbol of our school.

Syd’s Super Bowl: Students rallied to raise money for the Sydney Galleger FEPS scholarship - a great tribute to one of EPHS’s very best.

Boys swimming winning state: The boys set new state records.

What a great demonstration of athleticism.

The diversity fair actually happened: This event has been cancelled for the last few years but was finally a success. It is important to celebrate our diversity and acknowledge the different cultures that make up our student body.

All gender bathrooms on every floor: A seemingly small fix that makes a big difference for everyone at EPHS. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in this building, and this is a step in the right direction.

Quizbowl winning state: Our team took it all this year, once again.

This is quizbowl’s third state title.

Not going to state for football: We were bound to lose eventually, but RT5 would have been so great.

“Curtains” blows minds: EPHS drama department performed its first murder-mystery-comedy-musical

Ukulele club: When students gather and share their talents together, the outcome is something great. The club took EPHS by storm as music filled the halls on Friday mornings.

No Homecoming formal next year: This year saw the last of a long-standing tradition at EPHS. There will not be a Homecoming formal, but hopefully students find other ways to rally school spirit.

Varsity winterguard making finals at WGI: This is the first time the team has made it to finals and it’s the best they have ever done.

Girls hockey winning state: Victory was sweet and well deserved.

Our team left it all out there, and it was a great way to end the winter sports season.

Students can keep laptops over the summer: This is great news because now students will be able to keep up with their studies over the summer and watch lots of Netflix (sorry, seniors, this does not apply to you).

Facebook unblocked - It is about time.

FLICKR GRAPHICS

Letter to the Editor

To the editor: People are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts. People cannot make statements stating that the majority of undocumented citizens from Mexico are criminals, drug lords and rapists without proof to back up this bold claim. So we wish to provide you with information on why this statement is false. While data on crimes committed by immigrants may be incomplete, many studies show that there is no evidence supporting your statement that immigrants regardless of nationality or legal status commit more crimes than nativeborn citizens. A report from the Immigration Policy showed that between the years of 1990 and 2013, the unauthorized immigrants population has more than tripled from 3.5 million to 11.2 million, while still being less than 4 percent of the United States population. Despite this increase in unauthorized immigrants, “FBI data indicates that the violent crime rate declined 48 percent—which included falling rates of aggravated assault, robbery, rape, and murder. Likewise, the property crime rate fell 41 percent, including declines in rates of: motor vehicle theft, larceny/ robbery, and burglary” all the while Mexicans make up around half of the entire population of undocumented citizens, according to Pew Research Center (49 percent).

24 | OPINION

The Congressional Research Service found that non-citizens make up a smaller percent of prison inmates compared to their relative population in the U.S. They represented 5 percent of the total incarcerated population, according to a prison population report from the Bureau of Judicial Statistics in 2015. While immigrants account for 13.3 percent of the total population in the United States, the percentage of foreign-born men in the United States who are incarcerated (1.6 percent) is less than the percentage of U.S.-born men who are imprisoned (3.3 percent). This course also holds true when comparing less educated Mexican, Salvadoran and Guatemalan men compared to like Native-born men.

The data shown above is contradictory to the statements and the opinions that are portrayed as facts in Sara Michael’s endorsement of presidential candidate Donald Trump in the last issue of the Eyrie. It is blasphemous to make broad generalizations that condemn an entire country’s people. People have a right to their opinions, but no matter how strong a person’s convictions are, that does not make those convictions facts and to treat them as such is abhorrent. We implore people to hear Trump’s statements critically rather than simply buying into his fallacies.

Sincerely, Hanad Ali & Jack Thomas

On Wednesdays we wear pink The pink tax enforces gender discrimination and pricing

H

BY RACHEL JOHNSON

alf the world is female, so of course products are stereotypically targeted towards women expected to buy flowery scented shampoo, pretty pink razors and fruity lotions. An aisle over from this relatively girly section is a small shelf of cheaper products with one key difference: they are targeted towards men. All-in-one shampoo for under three dollars. Blue and black razors that are half the price of female products.

Although the phrase ”sexist pricing policies” seems oddly specific, Pink Tax has become a major feminist platform in the movement against gender discrimination.

The Pink Tax is a campaign, that started in France and questions why the same items are more expensive when intended for women than versions for men. Pink is now apparently

a luxury color. Pain relievers are among items that women are charged higher prices. At Walgreens, Excedrin Complete Menstrual was around 50 cents more than Excedrin Extra Strength even though both products have the same pills. Deodorant for women is about 30 cents more than a traditional men’s deodorant.

Either flowery scents cost more than those manly aromas, or manufactures are full of excuses.

This “pink” rule is not just applicable to toiletries; toys are aimed at specific genders.

Bikes at Walmart have a $10 difference between the specified girl and boy bike.

The Pink Tax refers specifically to taxes on feminine products. In 2015, 40 states taxed pads and tampon as luxury items. A period is not a choice, but apparently avoiding stains on clothing is a luxury. It is rather odd to think that having a period is considered a luxury by so many states’ legislators. It seems like women are being taxed for being female. Luckily, Minnesota is one of the few states that does not tax sanitary products for women.

Since legislators and companies fail to acknowledge the Pink Tax and how having a period is not a luxurious event, the cheapest way to combat this gender discrimination is to buy generic or head on over to the men’s aisle. Reject the implied discrimination of gendered pricing; there is no reason women should pay more for the same products.

Rosa

RANTS

Students left speechless

BY ANTHONY ROSA Our most important constitutional right, freedom of speech, is under egregious assault on college campuses.

According to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), 49.3% of colleges and universities seriously infringe on students’ free speech rights. Another 44.1% partially infringe on free speech rights and 1.9% of colleges (mostly private institutions) explicitly do not guarantee freedom of expression on campus. Only 5% of colleges give students complete and total freedom of speech.

This is dangerous and ridiculous. Freedom of speech is the fundamental right from which all others follow. Open dialogue breeds intellectual conversation and advances society forward in a democratic fashion. But hurt feelings are prevailing over this timeless principle.

A Pew Research study in 2015 found that 40% of millennials approved of the government banning speech deemed offensive to minorities. The Association of Colleges and Universities also found that only 16.7% of faculty and 35% of students believe it is “safe” to voice unpopular opinions on campus. I know this has become a rare opinion, but let me express it loud and clear: A college is a place for learning and learning only. I don’t care if your feelings get hurt, that is not an argument. That’s what a child says to shut someone up.

Does it suck when someone calls something gay or shouts the N-word? Of course it does. But the proper way to address that situation is to logically explain why it is wrong to say those things and win that debate through free speech. You don’t just ban them from speaking and hide behind your feelings.

Giving anyone the power to determine what speech should be banned is itself a harrowing thought.

In addition to colleges pathetically cowering to those wishing to silence others, they are also breaking the law. The University of Cincinnati was sued in 2012 over its restrictions on free speech, specifically over its safe zones. Safe zones are areas in which students are not allowed to assemble peaceably or use speech deemed offensive to students. If students wanted to say something offensive or collectively gather, they had to go to a free speech zone, which comprised 0.1% of the campus. So what were these students’ highly offensive remarks? Disagreeing with labor unions.

Time will prove these restrictions to be a much darker stain on our society than any offensive speech could ever be.

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 25

Why traveling abroad is essential

STORY AND PHOTOS BY GRETA FRYE

the memories will stay with you for the rest of your life. Traveling abroad will teach you things that you can’t learn in school. If I got the chance, I would have stayed longer in France.

I love to learn the stories each person has and the different ways they go about their lives.

For instance, my “French family” or “famille d’acceuil” have traveled all over the place and my “French sister” has even been a student in a foreign country just like me. It seems that European students are more cultured. Perhaps this is because they live so close to other countries and it is easier to travel. Plus, when there is a

As a person gets older they realize that happiness - true happiness is not about money and objects, it’s about the things that can’t be wrapped up in a pretty bow. One of my dreams was to watch the Eiffel Tower glitter at night like a sparkler and luckily my dream came true. I got the chance to travel with some of my fellow classmates and three teachers to France for 10 days. While I was I got to experience the culture of France up close by getting to live with a host family for a week. This trip opened my eyes to new experiences and taught me that even people from different countries can be just like me. It is amazing how you can connect with people from far away places. This trip made me realize that a person should travel abroad or study in a different country for one part of their life because being in a situation where you are out of your bubble will make you grow as a person. You go to a place one person and come back a whole new, enlightened person.

First of all, traveling abroad is a once-ina-lifetime chance to widen your horizons and

train that will take travelers to other countries, it is a lot easier to use than having to book a plane ticket and sit in a small, stale-aired cabin for who knows how many hours.

My French sister is a role model to me. She was the sweetest, most kind person I met on my trip. I got along with her so well that to this day I miss her and hope to see her again. She took me around the city of Rennes, which is located in the region of Brittany, and told me the history of the old buildings that date back to as early as the 13th century. I tried food I have never even heard of before and enjoyed

the Saturday market that was packed with what seemed like the whole of France was there.

Another reason to travel abroad is, well, why not? If you want to learn more about the world you should go out and see it for yourself instead of watching it on TV or reading about it in the news. I get that maybe it is frightening to go to another country where you will be out of your element and vulnerable. At first, I was afraid to travel to a new country because this was my first time out of the U.S. But I told myself that it was time to dive head first and try to speak as much of the language as possible and to immerse myself in their culture for the short time that I would be there. And ultimately, I was happier--happier than I had ever been to walk the streets of a foreign place. I enjoyed the mystery of what would be around the next corner and who I would meet.

In the end, I had the feeling of triumph in speaking another language and taking a risk.

I want every person to have that feeling and I want every person to take at least one risk in their lives because you never know where it will lead you. So go on and book that ticket. I promise you won’t regret it.

Hillary’s easy choice

BY ANDREW DONOHUE Despite the best efforts of Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton is going to be the Democratic nominee for president. Soon, attention will turn to who she will choose to join her on the ticket. Already, some names have been tossed out, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, HUD Secretary Julian Castro. Some pundits have even mentioned the possibility of Bernie Sanders to unite the party or even a blast from the past with Bill Clinton (Bill will not be picked for obvious reasons) All of these candidates have their various strengths and weaknesses and many of them would be excellent choices for vice president.

However, I believe that an unconventional choice would be the best one for Clinton. Al Franken should be the next vice president of the United States.

Franken complements Hillary perfectly in a number of ways. He is popular among young voters for his positions on net neutrality and LGBTQ rights. Hillary needs this popularity as she has been losing the youth vote by large margins to Bernie Sanders.

26 | OPINION

Franken would also bring a dynamic, comedic edge to the campaign trail. Donald Trump is the likely GOP nominee, and Franken would be more than willing to attack Trump on a variety of different issues. Franken’s past on SNL would help provide material to puncture the egotistic bubble that surrounds Trump and is crucial to his support.

Picking Franken for the ticket would allow Clinton to float above the fray instead of being drawn into a street fight of insults with Trump. Franken can more than hold his own in this type of battle as evidenced by his book, Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot.

Selecting someone from Minnesota would also go a long way towards securing the Rust Belt for the Democrats. Trump has a great deal of support from this region, which has been economically devastated by a decline a manufacturing, and could even put a few states that have voted blue for several cycles in play. Franken could neuter this by appealing directly to Rust Belt values, something he can do more effectively than Trump.

Overall, Franken possesses an attractive list of qualifications for this position, qualifications that Secretary Clinton should take very seriously.

He would provide a boost to the ticket that could carry it all the way to victory in November, a victory the country desperately needs.

point/counterpoint

Quitters are winners

Quit quitting

“You can’t give up now—you just started!” yells the parent decked out in fan gear.

“Cowards never start, the weak never finish, winners never quit,” reads the motivational poster in the teacher’s classroom.

We live in a society fascinated with the effects of quitting throughout our lives, starting with the child who decides he doesn’t want to be a Boy Scout anymore all the way to the adult who walks into work one day and says, “I’m done.”

For the most part, the consensus has been that quitting is bad; it shows signs of weakness and indecisiveness. I, however, beg to differ. I say that quitting can be a really good thing, one with positive payoffs throughout life.

It’s easy to drown in an overload of activities, especially while in the process of building up college applications and resumés. Consequently, trying to do one activity takes away from time that could be spent working on and getting better at another. Quitting one activity gives you a chance to hone another and build up your skill. So, rather than being sort of okay at a bunch of things, you have the opportunity to become really good at a few things.

As I’m sure so many of us—me included—have found, dropping an activity alleviates a lot of stress. Without having to figure out how to balance that extra thing, we have more energy to put into other things, and we sleep better at night. Often, all you need to prevent burning out is to free up your schedule a little bit. Quite a few issues can be avoided by quitting even just one activity.

Finally, in the words of Bow from the sitcom Black-ish, “If you had never quit all those things, you never would have found the one thing that you’re really good at.” Sometimes you just have to work your way through a whole bunch of activities, hobbies, and fields before you find what really clicks for you. In the end, it doesn’t actually even matter what 14 things you participated in in middle school. What matters is what stuck with you; everything else is peripheral.

In my inspirational classroom, I would much rather have a giant poster with a line from Seth Godin’s self-help manual The Dip: “Winners quit all the time. They just quit the right stuff at the right time.”

Encouraging children to quit activities at a young age leads them to become adults who aren’t able to cope with difficult situations later in life.

Telling a child that it is acceptable to quit when something becomes difficult prevents them from experiencing the rewarding experience of overcoming an obstacle. Quitting for the sake of quitting shows a lack of resolve, which is an important life skill.

Quitting should only be considered once a person has experienced all an activity had to offer and put in significant effort.

One bad experience shouldn’t be all it takes to quit because no activity will be perfect and success is much sweeter if one is able to overcome difficult situations to achieve it.

The saying “when you get knocked down, come back up stronger” couldn’t be more relevant to this situation. Disappointment is an unavoidable part of life that everyone is bound to encounter.

N O HNS EL JO What defines people is what they do RACH Y B HIC after disappointment. If Michael Jordan had GRAP quit basketball after being cut from his high school team and if Thomas Edison had quit his pursuit of education after being told he was “too stupid to learn anything,” the world would be without one of the biggest cultural icons of the 80s-90s and light bulbs.

Even if you don’t grow up to invent anything or become a basketball legend, not quitting activities as a child still pays off in adulthood. For instance, if you interview for a job and get rejected, your instinct shouldn’t be to quit looking for a job because you’re “not good at it.”

Perseverance is an important quality in any profession. Working hard to overcome obstacles is often what separates a good worker from a great one.

While it may seem unrelated to quitting an activity as a teenager, the working habits that come in handy as an adult are developed as a teenager.

BY ANYA OTTERSON

BY ARUN PARGAL

A movement for fewer students

BY KAYLA ALBERS

Freshman year I walked into the first class of my high school career and I was jammed at a table with three other people because the classroom wasn’t big enough to fit more tables. I remember being extremely uncomfortable every time I had to get out of my seat or grab something out of my backpack.

Throughout high school I have found the large class sizes to be quite overwhelming and distracting. Not to mention how overwhelming it must be for the teacher to have to control 35 high schoolers in one room.

A lot of people would benefit from smaller class sizes for a couple different reasons. One of these reasons is that students tend to feel more comfortable around smaller groups of people and are more likely to participate in class. It is easier to be heard this way because there are fewer people who need to share their opinions. Also, this helps students to get to know each other better.

Another reason small class sizes would be beneficial is that it allows the teachers to have a more one-on-one experience with their students.

With a smaller class size, teachers can spend more time getting to know their students and better help them with their strengths and improve weaknesses.

Eden Prairie has passed a district wide referendum stating that class sizes in the lower level elementary classes (kindergarten through second grade) are to be lowered by two students per class in all elementary schools. It is said that the smaller class sizes are to help students reach a higher proficiency in reading by the time they reach third grade.

If this can be applied to lower elementary school classes, why not apply it to middle schoolers and high schoolers as well? If having a fewer number of students per class can help younger students, it seems plausible that it would help older students in their studies as well. It is apparent that the district has put a lot of attention on the lower grade levels in providing a better learning experience, but what about the high schoolers who have been in this district for years?

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 27

Defending self-defense

BY YASMIN CHAVEZ

All high school students at one point of their high school career are taught how to protect themselves during sex, but why aren’t we teaching them how to protect themselves in dangerous situations like being sexually assaulted? According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), an American is sexually assaulted every 107 seconds, and every year there are about 293,000 victims of sexual assault. However, 68% of sexual assaults are never reported.

These statistics are alarming and the odds of being sexually assaulted are higher than they should be. This is why schools, which are filled with thousands of potential victims, should present students with the opportunity

I

to take a self-defense class for gym.

Students should be taught and learn the basic techniques of self-defense, especially as these students will eventually head to college and live on their own. All gym classes should at least provide a lesson or unit on self-defense because in a dangerous situation the majority of people would not know how to respond or fight back to their attacker.

By learning the basics of self-defense, a person is less likely to undergo serious harm from the attacker or themselves. This is a skill that can potentially save someone’s life and students can apply to the real world unlike knowing the rules of badminton. Out of the thousands of things that high school students learn throughout their four years, self-defense should be one of them.

summer homework

BY CLAIRE HASSLER

Many kids have it, most kids dread it. That’s right, I’m talking about summer homework.

Believe it or not, summer homework isn’t a bad thing, in fact, it’s kind of awesome.

First of all, summer homework exposes kids to quality literature. Some of the best books I have ever read have been assigned reading over the summer. Exposure to classics at a young age is essential in order for kids to learn what types of literature they enjoy or do not enjoy.

Last summer I spent a lot of my time doing homework. This task was both annoying and incredible. For example, after spending weeks working my way through A Tale of Two Cities, I finished it at one in the morning, and was too shocked and awestruck to sleep. That

experience was priceless and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Reading those advanced books, understanding them and actually enjoying them was an incredibly satisfying experience, and it wouldn’t have happened without summer homework.

Additionally, as great as the block schedule is most of the time, English classes are often a victim of it. Being cut half a year short often requires teachers to cut back on the number of books they assign. Summer reading is a great way for the same amount of material to be in the curriculum with the block schedule.

If students put their feelings aside, and as long as homework is age appropriate and a reasonable amount, it is hard to deny that summer homework is valuable and should be continued.

Who defines beauty?

BY EMILEE JACOBSON We’re all familiar with the societal image of what’s seen as “perfect” today. But what we don’t see is what was seen as “perfect” before the media changed our entire concept of beauty. Today, the media has us under the impression that in order to be perfect, you must be unhealthily beautiful. All teenagers see are Victoria’s Secret Angels plastered throughout magazines and T.V. commercials. The standard consists of the same old thing: an unattainable airbrushed face, bulging ribs, and perfectly toned arms. What we still fail to see is that the standard is so overrated, not to mention fake.

Lately, the media has been trying to redefine the standard of beauty. We now see campaigns by Dove and Aerie using plus-sized models, showing viewers across the world that beautiful isn’t defined by a size. Instead of letting these campaigns promote a positive message, they’re spun controversially into something else. People think the advertisements display an “unhealthy” style of living and put a positive spin on obesity.

But, truthfully, all it’s really doing is redefining another standard. All the media tends to do is try to convert viewers’ conception one way or another. The truth is that society’s beauty standards are not static, nor beneficial. Obesity isn’t healthy, neither is being too skinny. There are hundreds of risks to both of them, so why do we promote them at all?

Why do we call “plus sized” models “plus sized”? Why do we put such a standard on having a size 0 body, when a size 6 would be just fine? Beauty isn’t defined by a size. Beautiful is being you and feeling healthy within your own skin. Life is about more than what you look like.

Create your own version of beautiful; that’s all the media does anyway.

Texting and driving is literally so dumb

BY ELIZABETH KENYON They slow down for a green light. They drive slower than the speed limit, yet they still manage to swerve. Drunk drivers, you may ask?

No, these drivers fall under a special category of their own: they text and drive.

Yeah, yeah, we’ve all heard the horror stories. Weeks of depressing videos in driver’s education ingrained in us the fact (FACT) that texting and driving is dangerous. And it is.

Obviously.

28 | OPINION

But it’s also annoying. Not only is it extremely irritating to be stuck behind one of these swerving nincompoops, but the blatant disregard for not only their own life, but the lives of everyone around them is infuriatingly selfish.

We get it, you have friends to talk to, blah, blah, blah. But guess what? That won’t matter if you’re dead. That’s right, I said it. And I’ll say it again. You’re not above the law, and you’re certainly not immortal. You are, however, irksome. Fix it.

PHOTO BY ZENAB KASHIF

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 29

PROFILE

30| PROFILE

Exciting Rides A

Senior competes with a team of four-legged partners

PHOTOS AND STORY BY ANYA OTTERSON

s Punch, a wide-eyed chestnut horse, gallops around her, bucking and leaping, senior Maddie Mulligan smiles and calls out, “He’s feisty today!” Mulligan is in the process of doing groundwork with one of the many horses she works with on a regular basis, and this is just another day. Mulligan trains and competes in saddle seat, a discipline of English-style horseback riding, and it is a huge part of her life Mulligan’s passion for horses started when she was around 6 years old. Her mom had ponies growing up, but Mulligan’s family wasn’t super horsey. After going to the State Fair horse show, she was intrigued.

She followed a horse from the Coliseum back to the horse barn and has been hooked ever since.

“I usually get to the barn at about 4 p.m. after school and stay until 8 or 9 p.m.,” said Mulligan. “Usually my sister helps me get horses ready, and we just pick and work them all for 20 to 30 minutes each.

We have a system.”

Exciting Rides continued on pg. 32 >> May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 31

<<EXCITING RIDES from pg.30

What goes into training? Most days, training consists of groundwork that is either lunging, having the horse go in a circle around the rider, long lining, moving with the horse on the ground or pulling carts. The exercises without a rider on the horse’s back helps to stretch its back and build up muscles without getting sore.

Mulligan usually only rides twice a week, which ties together what she and the horses have worked on the ground.

Mulligan’s four horses at the main barn— she has two rescues at another barn— are all American Saddlebreds. They’re known for their high-stepping gaits and high neck and tail carriage.

This breed of horse does very well in saddle seat.

“With saddle seat, we try to get the same natural highsteps and high neck carriage and high tail carriage that these horses have at liberty, but under saddle with a rider,” explained Michelle Mulligan, Mulligan’s mom, as she helps get the third horse of the day ready to work. “It’s really all about excitement.”

It’s a detailed-oriented sport with competitive shows.

Show season runs from May through November, concluding with the World Championship show in Kentucky, which Mulligan hopes to attend next fall. Overall, she goes to 10 to 12 shows over the course of the summer.

The beginning of show season is an exciting time for every competitive horseback rider, as it’s when all of the hard work put in over the winter finally starts to come together. For Mulligan, who loves the competition and pressure of saddle seat shows, it is something to look forward to.

“One of the best parts is watching your progress. It’s cool seeing your hard work pay off,” said Mulligan.

She added that aside from the tedium of winter, patience is one of the hardest parts of riding. “It takes more with a thousand pound animal when you’re communicating with your hand and legs,” she says.

Looking into the future, Mulligan wants to make her passion into her career as a horse trainer. She’s already training horses for people, and she plans to keep building up her training. Her parents have been wonderfully supportive of her, and the family will be moving to a new barn of their own to make all of this easier.

“It’s really a sport all about excitement,” said Michelle Mulligan. Watching Flash, a big chestnut Saddlebred, run around the arena shaking his head and kicking up dirt as he releases some energy before really being set to work, it’s clear that Mulligan is part of an exciting sport indeed.

If you want to learn more about saddle seat riding or try it, contact the Mulligans’ farm at mulligan.manor@gmail.com or 952380-7070.

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32 | PROFILE

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

952-903-9484

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 33

FEATURE

To stay in state or go out state; that is the question

BY ZENAB KASHIF As the year is coming to an end and decision day has passed, seniors have come to a conclusion on where they plan to study next year. As part of the decision process, seniors took into account many different attributes of different schools. One decision seniors had to make was to stay in state or go out of state; there are multiple benefits and drawbacks of staying in state versus venturing out of state.

Ideally, many envision themselves going out of state, while others dream of going to their state schools. Discussion with friends, parents, and mentors were a daily routine for the students who have to make this decision. Last year around 55 percent of the students chose to stay instate for financial and family purposes, according to Ms.Kreusch at the CRC.

Senior Dara Awosika decided to venture outside the Midwest and will head to Baylor University down south to further her education. “I wanted a new experience; staying home would feel like I never grew up,” she said. According to Awosika, the opportunities students have as an out of state student can out number the opportunities found by staying in state.

Many students crave independence and believe the only way to achieve this is going outside their comfort zone. “Students have ventured into 154 schools in 38 states,” said to Ms.Kreusch. “It is important to meet new people and face new challenges,” said Awosika. According to her, it is difficult to grow up effectively knowing your parents are always a phone call away.

Having the distance between forces students to learn how to function on their own. “Studying is also easier,” said Awosika, ”Having only students who you do not know around boosts productivity and quality of work.”

Senior Brooke Dinkel will be going to the University of Minnesota next fall along with a large number of students who have also chosen to stay in state this school year. She said, “Basically my whole life is here.

At first, I was actually planning on going to ASU for the longest time. I really wanted to go somewhere warm and experience a new place, but it is expensive. The U is close to home, not as expensive, and I have my family and friends close or even at the U.” The decision to stay in state versus going out state can be a very difficult one. When deciding between these two, students take into account many different aspects. These are the reasons senior Dara Awosika and Brooke Dinkel are attending the schools that they chose.

EPHS College Package Filling in the gaps: an alternative to the college life after high school

BY CLAIRE HASSLER “What are your plans after high school?” It’s a question every EPHS senior has been asked. Many students reply “college” or “work,” but seniors Claire Yang and Josh Fronek have a different answer.

Next year, instead of heading to college, Claire Yang will be moving to South Korea for nine months to learn Korean. Yang applied for a NSLI-Y scholarship, which is a program offering scholarships for youth to study language abroad, and when she was accepted her decision to take a gap year was an easy one. “I texted my mom when I received the acceptance and all she texted back was ‘calm down,’” Yang said of her reaction to the acceptance.

Yang will be living with various host families throughout her year abroad as part of the immersion experience. Yang is not concerned about taking a year off of school because she has put a lot of thought into her decision and will still be learning outside of the classroom.

Fronek is also taking the path less traveled next year. He will be attending a Bible school in Germany. Fronek said he has always wanted to travel, especially to Germany. “This opportunity popped up that I could go live overseas for seven months, and it was just way too cool of an opportunity to pass up,” Fronek said. He will have class Monday through Friday in the mornings, with afternoons and weekends free.

34| Feature

Fronek is looking forward to exploring Germany and the rest of Europe in his time off next year.

Students may take gap years for a variety of reasons. “I really suggest [taking a gap year] for people who have doubts because it’s helped me know more of who I am and who I want to be and what I want to do,” said EP grad Amie Stager, who took a gap year this school year. Stager said she did not feel ready to go to college right after graduating high school. She needed more time to think and make a plan.

Now, after a year off of school, Stager has decided to attend Normandale next year and eventually transfer to the U of M. “I thought that taking a gap year I would have changed my plan, but GRAPHICS BY RACHEL JOHNSON it’s pretty much cemented my plan that I still want to stay close to here and just ease into it,” Stager said of her final college decision.

Stager has thoroughly enjoyed her time off. She worked at a coffee shop, explored the Twin Cities, expanded her social life, and has kept learning through it all. Though she struggled with loneliness at first, ultimately she said her gap year was worth it and that time flew by.

“If you decide to take a gap year, really try to fill it with new things that you’ve always wanted to do,” Stager said. “Just have fun and go where your heart wants you to.”

Forgotten college necessities

4. Band-Aids/ First-aid kit: Someone is going to get hurt eventually.

BY YASMIN CHAVEZ

Packing under any situation is a stressful task and packing for college is perhaps the most overwhelming task facing seniors this summer. However, don’t stress out because most colleges will provide a list of things to bring. Here’s a list of useful items compiled by current college students that are often not mentioned on those college list.

6. Power Strip: So many plugs, so little outlets.

2. Rain boots/ umbrellas: Just

because it’s raining doesn’t mean that classes are canceled.

These two items might be useful in this given situation.

That way you won’t show up to class drenched and uncomfortable.

3. Snacks: There will be nights when you’ll be forced to pull all-nighters. It’s college after all. Bring some snacks during these times of crisis to fuel you with energy to finish that 15 page essay due the next day.

5. Business Attire: Leave some room in your suitcase full of sweatpants, T-shirts, and jeans for some business attire. You might need to dress formal for a class like business and any other event.

1. Rolls of quarters: Your mom isn’t

coming with you when you go to college. It’s time that you take care of yourself and the pile of laundry hidden in your dorm room. A roll of quarters might be handy to clean up that pile and at the same time provide you a refreshing drink at the vending machine.

GRAPHICS BY RACHEL JOHNSON

Living it up The “how to” on living in a small, square box with a complete stranger

BY ABBEY MERTZ Many college bound seniors, including me, are anxious to meet their roommate. College is a huge transition in students’ lives. Included in this transition is learning to live in a tiny room with a stranger. If you’re worried, stressed, or even excited about living with a roommate, here are some tips gathered from various websites to get the most out of your college experience.

1.

Starting off, don’t judge your roommate based off of their pictures on a social media site. When you meet him or her, genuinely try to get to know them and be interested in who they are. If their profile looks sketchy, this doesn’t mean they’re a weird or a bad person.

Give them a chance to prove your judgments wrong.

2.

You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate. In fact, it’s often better if you aren’t. The only expectations you should have for your roommate are to have respect for you

and the dorm you both live in. Just remember, if you don’t get along with your roommate, you aren’t obligated to live with them during the next school year.

3.

Set boundaries or negotiate them at the start of your college career. If you don’t set basic rules for your living space, tensions can get high and problems will occur. For example, if you aren’t comfortable with your roommate doing something in the dorm room, it is best to let him/her know. Even better, tell them before you start living together so you both know what to expect.

4.

Make other friends besides your roommate. Even if you’re the freshmen who is reserved and plays it safe, don’t be that kid who is only friends with his/her roommate. You don’t want to always rely on your roommate for every social outing. Put yourself out there and experience new things, and along the way you will make great friendships that will last a lifetime.

Old man and the finale

BY CALDER SELL AND ARUN PARAGAL

Hi Daddy, This is my 36th week at camp Minnewakeekee. Sorry I didn’t respond to your letters sooner; life has been bonkers. We’ve been singing songs by the campfire every night and, don’t tell camp leader Steve, but I’ve been staying up past lights out. It is such a rush. I just sit there under the covers with my eyes wide open straight towards the ceiling. And he hasn’t caught me yet!

I’ve even made a friend. And guess what? He is not even part of camp! I just found him crawling up from the water down at the creek and asked if he wanted to join our camp. He says his name is Old Man McGregor and golly is he a hoot to be with.

We do everything together at camp. I taught him how to fish. He taught me how to attach Lima beans on strings to attract Sasquatch. We’ve seen him six times, but every time we reach for a camera, Sasquatch says, “toodle-doo,” snaps his fingers and disappears.

I also taught him how to make a campfire, but I don’t think that was the best choice because when he first saw it he started some sort of ritualistic dancing around the fire while whispering to what seemed to be imaginary people....Classic Greg!

I show him how to identify animals tracks. The shows me how to chant spells.

We stand around a large pit that Old Man McGregor dug with his own hands and teeth yelling words I had never heard before. He says that the spells are from his uncle’s book and that they connect us the “other world”. We’ve seen things.

How’s Lisa and the kids? Well, hope to hear from you soon! As ‘Squatchsays, toodle-doo

Love, Beet Sweatpants Jr. III

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 35

PHOTO BY ANYA OTTERSON

Supermileage team goes the distance

E

BY MAX CHAO

very day, ceaseless hammering, sawing and drilling can be heard coming from room 20-. Inside, roughly a dozen students can be found at any given time toiling over the carbon fiber bodies of small, specialized cars. These students are members of the supermileage team, who are given one task: build a car that can go as far as possible on only one tank of gas.

Every year since 1989, the supermileage team has represented the high school at the annual High School Supermileage Challenge at the Brainerd International Speedway, consistently placing within the top three teams.

It has also been a place where students are given the opportunity to hone and apply their engineering and teamwork skills. “Teamwork is the most important thing,” said advisor Leigh Hartert, “Building is really easy when you’re by yourself.”

Success does not come easily, a lesson well known by members of the team. Before any work can be done in the workshop, students spend an entire quarter just learning about the machinery they will need to use. After that, two months are spent solely on the design of

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the cars. Once the building starts, the team only has one month before the Supermileage Challenge to assemble the entire car.

To meet this deadline, students are required to spend two hours per week outside of class working on the car with the many of them spending over twice that amount. “You really have to have your priorities straight when you go into the class,” said senior Jacob Miller, “It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s a team project so it has really brought our team together and has made into us a pretty good group of friends.”

On May 9, the team will return to Brainerd to try to beat the school mileage record of 999 miles per gallon. However, things didn’t go exactly as planned. The team had multiple problems with their engine once they reached the raceway, and had to put in long hours trying to get their cars to pass inspection. “We did learn a lot. In the two days we were up there, I probably learned more about our car than I did in a month in the shop,” said Miller.

While records and glory are important, the lessons learned through the building experience are what count in the long run.

“The philosophy is that there is no ‘I’ in team, but teams are made up of ‘I’s,” said Hartert.

Ferch returns to EPHS

BY MUKUND VENKATESWARAN After being out of school with cancer, physical science teacher Anne Ferch returned to teaching in April.

In October, Ferch was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I had a suspicion, but once I knew what I was dealing with, I calmed down,” said Ferch. At home, Ferch has a husband and 5-year-old twins. “They saw that I was calm, so they stayed calm as well,” she said.

Ferch went through chemotherapy and surgery to get rid of the cancer. Although painstaking and tiring, she cited mental strength as a huge component of getting through the sickness. “You’ve got to have a positive attitude if you’re gonna get through it,” said Ferch. After going through the treatment for five months, Ferch returned to school.

“It was tricky adjusting because I had new students. Usually it’s the kids that are intimidated because they have no idea what is going on at the start of the semester, but

this time it was me because I just walked in during the middle of the semester,” said Ferch.

Although a little rough at first, she enjoys being in the school environment. “It’s great being back at school, especially when I fell back into the loop,” said Ferch. While in absence, she had a long term substitute teaching her classes.

“It is really cool having her as a teacher. She didn’t turn it into a pity story or anything, she just acted like everything was normal. It really shows off her bravery and positive attitude,” said Freshman Natalie Harrison.

Raw foods not a fully cooked idea

BY RACHEL JOHNSON Nuts, vegetables, and oh so many bananas with a complete utter lack of eating ice cream. The raw food diet is a trend that encourages natural, healthy eating.

The raw food diet is comprised of only two harsh rules: no cooked food and no processed food. The foods that remain consist of fruits, vegetables, oils, nuts and grain. Sounds like a blast, right? The raw food diet is a trending new way to eat healthy featured on BuzzFeed. I had heard several student discussing their struggle with “going raw” for over a day. To put this raw food diet to the test, I embarked on a week of healthy eating.

Overall, the raw food diet was interesting to take part in because I realized how much everything I usually eat is processed with tons of extra sugar. Eating healthy should be seen as a process, diving into such an extreme healthy style was definitely not for me.

I would recommend this diet if you are able to ease into just eating raw meals with some form of protein too. After this experience, I will be incorporating more fruit and vegetables into my meals, but warm, comfort food is just to beautiful to give up completely

PHOTO BY ANYA OTTERSON

“She didn’t turn it into a pity story or anything, she just acted like everything was normal”

Day 1 I want to bail at the second meal and never eat another banana again. Eating healthy is expensive and finding raw peanut butter and nuts is difficult.

Day 3

Good news- Peanut butter banana smoothies are great; bad news - caffeine withdrawal is horrifying.

Kale smoothies taste like how swamp water looks. Raw brownies made with dates, almonds, and cocoa powder are amazing.

I almost licked the salt off a french fry but I refrained.

Day 5

Day 2

Day 4

I am sick of making smoothies and prepping food. I miss coffee. On the bright side, there are leftover brownies. If you enjoy constantly eating and never feeling satisfied, this diet is perfect for you!

I am actually feeling rather energetic and enjoying making my meals ahead of time. Don’t get me wrong, the only way I can get through today is knowing that tomorrow I get to eat a huge Chipotle burrito.

May 2016 -- theeyrie.org | 37

photo essay

38 | FEATURE

Celebrating

Diversity

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