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WAYZATA HIGH SCHOOL
trojan tribune VOLUME 32, ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Photo by Meredith Johnson
A DIFFERENT KIND OF SCHOOL SPIRIT: Hard Hats lead a cheer among other fans at the first home game vs. Anoka September 13. The group was told by Principal Mike Trewick that they would no longer be allowed to wear their traditional overalls early in the school year. From left: Alec Hemenway (12), Jordan Porteous (12), Cooper Ambrose (12), Dane Roti (12), Blake Hamlin (12), Colin Sohn (12), and Tommy McCollins (12) .
Hard hats go strapless A three-decade tradition has S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R @mjohnson_snn ended: Hard Hats have been banned from wearing overalls to school or any school related events. Beginning last year, the overalls could be worn anywhere but at away games, but one incident after another culminated in a complete ban, said Trewick. The first year Trewick became principal, he was advised to get rid of the Hard Hats, he said. “I thought: ‘No, I have see what these boys are all about and where they are at because I don’t feel that’s the right thing to do until I know what is going on,’” Trewick said. “I heard about their initiations which I don’t approve of,” said Trewick. If such conduct was discovered in any other club, the organization would be abolished, he said. Various Hard Hats declined to comment on any initiations. “Last year we had some issues,” said Trewick. Minnetonka denied the Wayzata Hard Hats entrance to their events if they had overalls on, said Trewick. Shortly after, Hopkins did the same. “I said I would take care of them,” said Trewick. As a result, the The Hard Hats were allowed to get into games at Hopkins and Eden Prairie. The student handbook states that disruptive behavior through and around the school can result in out-of-school suspensions. Within two weeks of school starting, several Hard Hats had served suspensions for wearing the banned overalls, said Alec Hemenway (12). It may not have been this senior class, but in previous years the school has had to deal with bullying and harassment by some Hard Hats, said Trewick “I think some kids have been intimidated. They will say to you that everyone can wear them [overalls]. The reality is, we know that’s not true,” Trewick said. “The student will be put on the spot by two or three of them and that to me is bullying and harassment. I know it is true because I’ve had to dealt with it 2 or 3 times over the course of the last few years.” Hemenway said, “If [other students] want By MATT JOHNSON
NUMBER ONE?
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MINNEAPOLIS MUSICIANS (4)
MORTAL? PAG E 7
to go out and they want to buy overalls, that is fine. They can wear them but I don’t think anyone will. Not because we’re going to harass them, but who would want to wear overalls and a jersey anyway?” The senior ladies have a tradition of their own that includes all female ladies. It isn’t exclusive but is open to any senior girl that wishes to participate in game day apparel. Two Hard Hats said that in the past there have been problems but they do not believe that past groups should determine how the school treats them. “I think this is a new group and they have not necessarily given us a chance,” said another Hard Hat. “All the people in the Hard Hats know it is not what it used to be.” Whether they have been given a fair chance or not, the Hard Hats complied with the school and attended the Wayzata football home opener on September 12th in pants other than overalls. At one point the group chanted “We Want Straps!” in the direction of Trewick. “We don’t agree that they shouldn’t let us wear overalls but it has come to the point that a couple kids have gotten suspended a couple of times already,” said Hemenway. “We really have no other choice but to find something else to wear. Not much else will change.” The Supreme Court ruled in Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) that apparel is considered speech, and that apparel could not be restricted in schools unless it disrupts the educational mission of the school. According to nbcphiladelphia.com, a Pennsylvania school recently banned Ugg boots in school after students were caught hiding cell phones in the shoes and texting during class. In “Tinker,” students were voicing their opinions on political action. The Hard Hats overalls do not support a social conflict but instead “school spirit and the Wayzata football team,” said another Hard Hat member. The Pupil Fair Dismissal Act of 2012 states that ‘willful violation of any reasonable school board regulation, such regulation must be clear and definite to provide notice to students that they must conform their conduct to its requirements.’
Staff member deployed to Afghanistan By DAVANTE WASHINGTON NEWS EDITOR
Wayzata High School Security Officer and Motor Transport Operator Amanda Carlson will deploy to Afghanistan in the next few weeks. Carlson and the rest of the 114th Transportation Company will deploy to Bagram on the 16th of October. There are around 160 members in the company said Carlson. “I’ll be there for nine months, twelve including the training,” said Carlson. “I’ve been assigned convoy security at the air field. This is my first deployment but I’m excited, not nervous,” said Carlson. “My family is nervous but they’re also excited for me.” “I ended basic training at Fort Jackson, North Carolina in January of ’09. I’ll sign up for another six years and might go to officer school,” said Carlson. Carlson has been in the building for three years. “I’ve coached adaptive soccer and softball,” she said. “I love it, the kids are great.” “I will miss everyone here at the school,” “and I appreciate all of the support I’ve gotten from everyone here,” said Carlson.
Amanda Carlson, Motor Transport Operator, is leaving Wayzata for new grounds: Afghanistan.
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
NEWS 2
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Eco Group enters its second successful year Student led Eco Group has begun its second @AnniePolis year with a focus on volunteering and activism for the environment. Its founders Kate Giguere(12) and Maggie Anderson(12) said they were riding the bus home when they thought “ W hy don’t we start a club that focuses on the environment?” The group’s super visor is Mrs. Jasper. “She’s super into the environment so she was willing to help,” said Giguere. According to Giguere, Activity Director Jamie Sher wood didn’t have high hopes of Eco Group ever becoming something tangible. “ They have not seen any Eco Clubs sustain for more than a year. That ’s why we’re so motivated to get underclassmen to keep the club going. We hope that our future classes have as much passion as we do,” said Giguere. Treasurer Elizabeth Hannigan By ANDREA POLIS
S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R
LOCAL
From page 4
heard our song being played in an internet café in Nicaragua, so apparently we’re big
there.” “Never stop, play as much as possible,” said Kerry in advice to young musicians. She says you have to get comfortable with your own voice and what suits toy, but also sets you apart. The Bad Bad Hats are working on recording more music, along with additional music videos to go with the first one, which they recorded last May. “It was pretty cool filming it- literally, since we were in an ice rink,” said Kerry. “We invited people to come skate around with us, and it was just fun with friends, goofing around.” The Bad Bad Hats are in the midst of recording a full length album, and you can listen to their EP- It Hurts on Bandcamp.
(12) said the group tries to do activities twice a week that benefit the en-
doing the mural that hangs on third F loor C wing. The old mural was “not ver y developed in message” or “visually interesting” said Co-presidents Anderson and Giguere. Eco Group’s goal with the mural is “to create an image that will inspire students to reduce their carbon footprints,” said Anderson.
homecoming WEEK
Monday, September 30th Pajama Day
Tuesday, October 1st Preppy Day
Wednesday, October 2nd Green Day
Kate Giguere (12) and the Eco Group help clean up litter and other waste.
Thursday, October 3rd
vironment. Some of these events include picking up trash, raking leaves to raise money, and hanging posters. ”Last year, we raised awareness for the wolves in Minnesota who were recently taken off the endangered species list and were about to hunted again,” said Hannigan. Anderson said that one of their more recent projects includes re-
Elizabeth Hannigan (12) and other members of the eco club post flyers rasing civil awareness about wolf hunting in Minnesota.
determine how much they get paid. Your choice From page 4 does matter. Los Santos is a graphically beautiful representation of Los Angeles. From the towering palm trees and rolling hills to the traffic that crowds the freeways, it’s all there in crisp imaging. Outside of the sprawling city the land is populated with life; deer, coyote, cougars, cows, and even wild boars roam the wilderness to the north. Land isn’t your only stomping ground; players can dive into the surprisingly highly populated ocean. The seas have been something that Rockstar has ignored in the past, but no longer. I was amazed at the level of detail in the ocean. It really is just as busy as the surface. I only explored the depths for around 10 minutes before I stumbled upon a Great White Shark who wanted to make me lunch.
Driving is a huge part of the Grand Theft Auto franchise; Grand Theft Auto 4 received a lot of complaints regarding the driving mechanics. Rockstar listened. Cars handle much better, they drive lower to the ground and the experience is generally more realistic. Shooting has also improved in GTA5. Moving and aiming is no longer clunky and cumbersome movements are fluid and comparable to many third-person shooters. There is a lot more to the gameplay experience besides driving and shooting, though. Players can go play a round of golf, hone their skills in tennis, catch up on the newest TV shows, or keep your body and mind in touch with some yoga. The amount and detail of these activities is staggering. The tennis and golf mini games are better than some full games I’ve played. Money is an important part of the game
GTA5
l
Throwback Thursday
Friday, October 4th Trojan Spirit Day
and don’t forget the dance on Saturday! but making money is even more important. One can make money in a plethora of ways, the most interesting of which is playing the stock market. Players can buy and sell stock for various businesses in the GTA world. You can directly affect the stock market. For example, investing in Taco Bomb, a made up version of Taco Bell, then sabotaging trucks from Clucking Bell (their competitor) will boost your stock prices making you more money. The amount of things to do overshadows any game I’ve seen before. Rockstar Games has created some great games in the past, but Grand Theft Auto 5 outshines them all. This is by far one of the most ambitious and entertaining games I’ve seen in years. Not since Grand Theft Auto 4, five years ago, have I seen a game that has so much to offer, from the political hilarity, to the sheer amount of things to do: Grand Theft Auto 5 has it all.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
ENTERTAINMENT 3
SEPTEMBER NEW RELEASES The fall features movies that thrill, movies that fail, and movies that deserve their box office rank. ANDREW STERN l STAFF WRITER
RIDDICK:
A while back, Vin Diesel agreed to make a cameo in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) in exchange for the rights to the “Riddick” franchise. Riddick is financed independently and Diesel even leveraged his house in order to fund it. On it’s opening weekend it earned 19 million domestically on its 38 million dollar production budget. I find the production story behind Riddick to be absolutely inspiring. I only wish I enjoyed the movie as much as I enjoyed hearing about the passion that went into it. The effort definitely shows, and I think the lack of studio involvement makes it a more entertaining film. I love that they went for an uncompromising ‘R’ rating, and I love that the storyline doesn’t
INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2
took in 41 million dollars on a 5 million dollar production budget this Friday the 13th weekend. Horror Filmmaker James Wan continues directorial duties and is credited alongside screenwriter and actor Leigh Whannell for the story. Patrick Wilson stars as the father of the haunted Lambert family. I should say, while I loved Saw (2004) and was okay with The Conjuring (2013), I actively disliked Insidious (2010). I hated Insidious: Chapter 2 even more however. While the original didn’t provide any scary moments, I was still able to laugh along and have a certain amount of fun with the demons. With the lackluster demons in this movie however, it feels like the filmmakers didn’t even try. And while loud music and poorly executed jump scares are nothing new to this series, they’re more aggravating than horrifying. This film’s cardinal offense
is that it’s just not scary. It’s boring. If one good thing could be said about the script, it’s that it attempts to explain some of the occurrences in the original film. There are moments that make you say ‘Oh. So that’s why that happened.’ However, these moments are ruined by the plot-holes they bring along. Now, I know I shouldn’t be chastising a horror film for not having a smart script, but these moments really take you out of the film. That’s not to say there was much to invest you in the first place though. The characters lack motivation and most of the story is just kind apathetically presented to you. James Wan isn’t a terrible filmmaker. Leigh Whannell isn’t a terrible writer. There are a few scenes that you can tell were inspired, and you can actually feel some emotion from. However, for the most part, this film feels like a cash grab for everyone involved. It’s not scary. It’s not fun. It’s just an exhaustively boring waste of time. 2/10.
THE FAMILY:
Executively produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by Luc Besson, this mafia comedy stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tommy Lee Jones. On a production budget of approximately 30 million dollars, The Family made about 14 million at the box office on its opening weekend. There was so much talent behind this project, it’s a shame it turned out the way it did. Robert De Niro plays the same mobster character he’s played plenty of times before, and completely phones it in. I know that with exception to Silver Linings Playbook (2012), De Niro hasn’t had a ton of great roles recently, but it’s still such a shame to see him wasted like this. Tommy Lee Jones essentially plays grumpy cat, a role that is all too familiar to him as well. Michelle Pfeiffer at least goes for an accent, though it’s weird and inconsistent. None of the
PRISONERS:
Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve directs this crime thriller about the kidnapping of two 6-year old girls. Executive produced by Mark Wahlberg, this film features an A-list cast of Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, and Paul Dano. With a production budget of 46 million dollars, Prisoners opened at #1 at the box office at 21.4 million. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a relatively solid performance as Detective Loki, however, he is overshadowed by Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Keller Dover, a survivalist father who is faced with the moral dilemma of how far he should go to protect his family. In my opinion this is one of Jackman’s best performances. Paul Dano is also fantastic with his quiet portrayal of a mentally handicapped man accused of
follow the traditional Hollywood formula, but I didn’t have nearly as much fun as I was hoping I would. This isn’t a case where I didn’t like it and don’t understand why others do, though. The “Riddick” franchise is definitely a cult franchise, and I can totally understand somebody having a ton of fun watching this. It’s just not for me. The film never hit me on an emotional level. I was never bored while watching this movie, but I was never invested in it. If you’re in the right mindset or love these survivalist action-thrillers, I would definitely recommend it. From a traditional standpoint however, it’s nothing special. For me, it was neither bad nor good. It just existed. 5/10.
kidnapping the children. While none of the other performances stand out, all of the big-name actors are given a lot to do and are all very good. If nothing else, the performances in this movie are worth the price of admission. The movie itself is also very well made. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. I had a couple problems with the editing and transitions between scenes, but these problems are minor and pretty subjective. The movie seems to move with a slow deliberateness that builds up the tension until it reaches a peak, resulting in remarkably intense moments several times throughout the film. Prisoners has a 2 and a half hour run time, and while you’re never bored or waiting for it to end, its length and the amount of drama certainly takes its toll. While the script is very strong and the story is very
performances are particularly bad, but none of them are even remotely memorable. The weakest part of this film however, is its script. It follows a family of mobsters, but splits them up into uninteresting subplots. You go throughout the movie expecting the subplots to come together in some sort of aggravating albeit clever way, but they never do. They serve no purpose to the plot other than filler-time. There are a few fun moments, but for the most part the film just incoherently wanders around. This film had so much potential, which makes it all the more disappointing that it’s as weak as it is. There’s not much to outright hate about it, but it’s just not a lot of fun. I wouldn’t spend money on it, but if you saw this movie on TV and watched it while you did homework, it might not be the worst thing ever. 3/10.
powerful, it could certainly be tightened up. Without spoiling too much, there is specific emphasis placed on certain elements near the middle of the film that end up having very little to do with the rest of the story. And while I loved the bitter sweetness and uncertainty in the final shot of the film, I wasn’t as big of a fan of the rest of the ending. The villain lacked the necessary motivation to make the movie seem
complete. On the whole, this is a great film. The performances are wonderful. The film is incredibly tense. And while it’s a bit long, it’s never a chore to watch. While it’s not a perfect film, it’s one I would definitely recommend. 8/10.
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
ENTERTAINMENT 4
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Red as far as the eye can see
BAD BAD HATS
By HANNAH VOGEL Macalaster By KATIE TALERICO College isn’t EDITOR IN CHIEF @k_talerico just known for their rigorous academicsthey’ve also produced a plethora of great musicians, including indie pop band The Bad Bad Hats. The group’s first time playing together was at Macalaster’s own Battle of the Bands. “Playing it just clicked,” said lead vocalist and guitarist Kerry Alexander. “I’d met Chris, our drummer, halfway through sophomore year and discovered we had a common interest in music,” said Kerry. “Noah transferred into Macalaster
“When we first put out music, The Current found us.” You can hear the Bad Bad Hats on their Local Show Sundays at seven. “I just like as many people as possible to hear our music and enjoy it, and we’ve already got so many people coming up to it. We see every like on Facebook, play on Bandcamp, and tag on Tumblr. It’s nice to see people quoting lyrics on Tumblr,” said Kerry. Kerry’s inspiration for songs comes from the love and loss experiences in her own life, but also others’. “There’s only so much happening in my own life,” she said. “The songs I wrote on the EP were writ-
Submitted Photo
senior year. We knew he had a bass, and we wanted him in.” For Kerry, Bad Bad Hats is the first band she’s played in. “My mom made me take violin lessons, but I didn’t like practicing,” she said. “I took guitar lessons in eighth grade but stopped after a month and just started playing songs by myself in my room, where I had a rudimentary recording system.” Meaning: her PC. “My first show I ever played was as a senior in high school, kind of as a last hurrah,” said Kerry. She performed at a few open mic shows after that. With Bad Bad Hats, she’s played at Vita. mn’s contest for local bands. They ended up placing as one of three finalists. “There are nerves right before getting on stage,” said Kerry. “But you settle in.” “Minneapolis is a good music scene, it’s very close knit,” said Kerry. Getting your name out, she said, can be as simple as playing shows and meeting other bands. “It’s getting your name on people’s minds.”
ten on my study abroad trip to Paris. I forced myself to write upbeat songs. They didn’t have to have sunshine-y lyrics, just something I could rock out to.” “Being in Paris inspired me in less obvious ways. I would wake up and play guitar with a window open for an hour,” she said. “After a long day of speaking a foreign language, music was a vice.” Working with a band is different than just performing solo, though. “By myself I could just fudge it, but you’ve got to get into the groove of playing with other people, finding the rhythm,” said Kerry. “We have fun anytime the band is together,” said Kerry. “All our practices are flanked by food. We eat tacos at least once a week, maybe more. We have band breakfasts together on the weekends.” “It’s been amazing playing shows together and having people respond so positively,” said Kerry. “One person posted on our Facebook LOCAL wall and said that they Cont’d page 2
GTA 5: Defining a Generation E v ery ten NEWS EDITOR years or so, a new technology comes along that defines the current generation. Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto 5 does exactly this. The open world role-playing game mixes political satire and electrifying actionpacked events. The game puts you in the shoes of three characters this time around, as opposed to previous generations’ limitation to a single character. There’s Michael De Santa, the retired bank robber who came from a poor background and through a life of crime was able to set his family up for life. Franklin Clinton is a product of the streets: he’s young, talented, and desperately wants to get out of the hood of Los Santos, the fictional Los Angeles of the Grand Theft Auto world. Then there’s Trevor Phillips, the psychotic ex-air force pilot who surrounds himself with guns, chaos, methamphetamine, and By DAVANTE WASHINGTON
the desert sands of Blaine County. The strange collaboration of hardened gang bangers and genius crack-heads makes for some interesting situations in the plotline. As far as plot is concerned, GTA 5 comes out on top. Throughout the game there are multiple story arcs that range from favors to the Federal Investigation Bureau to elaborate and well-coordinated heists. Each character has their own set of missions that help better define the three protagonists. These missions changed how I felt about each character. The heists are the focal point of Rockstar’s masterpiece. As the player, you decide how these heists unfold; you’re given two options for most of them. You could choose to go in, guns blazing, or you could choose an alternative method like knock out gas in order to incapacitate the guards and patrons to slip out before anyone knows what is going on. It’s entirely up to you. You also choose a crew to help with the heists. Their skills GTA5 Cont’d page 2
MUSIC COLUMNIST
@hannah_mv
Sunday September 8th marked the 60th tour date on Taylor Swift’s RED Tour, her third world tour. The 23 year-old pop star has managed to sell out nearly every show on her tour without failing to entertain. From her over the top sets to her sassy stage presence, Taylor Swift is an icon for teen girls across the globe. Opening her show, Casey James and his rock star band took the stage. For functioning as a pre-opening act, James drew a decent sized crowd. Many die-hard Swifties took this as an opportunity to storm the merch tables. Walking around the venue before Ed Sheeran was a nightmare, every fan girl wanted something to prove her dedication. Anticipation loomed as Ed Sheeran prepared to take his place. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the stage as the lights went out and the spot light appeared. At the first glimpse of those luscious orange locks, the crowd went wild. Ed had arrived. Accompanying him was only his iconic acoustic guitar and a looper machine. Despite the minimalist act (his only stage decoration was a banner of his album cover), I have never been more impressed by a musical number. Sheeran held the audience’s attention like it was his job (it’s a joke, because it is his job). After his first song he stopped to explain how he was performing; how he loops his sounds and makes a full song out of just his voice and his guitar. By the end of his set, many fans were in tears. Sheeran put on an absolutely jaw dropping performance and I recommend one of his shows to anyone who appreciates music... or gingers. The audience had been stoked for Ed Sheeran, but when the red sets were placed and the filler music died out every person in the Xcel Center was on their feet screaming. Swifties thrashed their signs and glow sticks in the air; and every father who had been dragged along was praying for a way out. The moment had come. Anticipation was through the roof. Vocal chords were being damaged. Little pre teen hearts were heart-attacking. And then… Taylor Swift emerged—in red. The show opened with State Of Grace, a
lesser-known song, but it was unnoticable. Everyone was roaring Taylor’s lyrics back to her. If you didn’t know the words, you faked it. Each song came with a new surprise, a new outfit, set, inspirational message, or smirk at the crowd. Taylor knew how to sell it, and she sang like it was the first date on tour, not the sixtieth. Each set change stirred the crowd; each a death defying stunt or ridiculously red costume. Halfway through the show, Swift made her way through the crowd to a stage in the back to play “Everything Has Changed,” with Sheeran. As the show continued, the dramatics became only more dramatic. Her dancers rocked out in red, her violinist soloed with her bedazzled red violin, and her outfits became more crimson as the big finale neared. By her final number, the room was buzzing with excitement. Everyone knew what was coming. The beginning chords to We Are Never Getting Back Together started and the audience exploded, as did Taylor. She popped out in a fill on circus ringleader costume with rhinestoned red microphone, boots, cane, and jacket. Confetti cannons erupted in red and white, blanketing the crowd. Swift flew over the audience in an extending stage lift. The ending to a concert had never been so awaited and enjoyed. Every person there was on his or her feet screaming and dancing a long as Taylor ended the night with a bang. Taylor Swift never fails to put on an outstanding show. Whether you like the dramatics or not, Taylor Swift will always leave you with a smile on your face and catchy lyrics caught in your head.
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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
OPINION 5
Opinion Exchange America: Truly the Greatest Country? In America we sing the praises of our country and our national values. Our national music labels America as the “home of the free and the brave” and By JARED KAUFMAN a “sweet land GUEST WRITER of liberty,” and details our perseverance and success in battle. Calling our nation the “home of the free and the brave” implies that if America is that home, no other countries can be, which therefore frames the US as superior to other nations. And in a speech last week, President Obama extolled America and its citizens as “exceptional.” National pride is not bad, but when we start exerting authority based on comparisons of ourselves, we are no longer acting for humanitarian purposes, but rather to maintain our position on the world scale. Because this is happening right now, we need to reevaluate and shift our current
mindset to begin to see the dilemmas it has caused over the years. Russia is not afraid to voice opposition to America. In a New York Times OpEd earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of any people viewing themselves as “exceptional.” One highranking Russian minister snarkily pointed to the recent shooting at the Washington Navy Yard as an example of inferiority. He may be right. Civilians still murder people with weapons obtained through legal means. Congress is gridlocked because of partisan differences. America continually circumvents international law and inserts itself into worldwide conflict. A conflict resolution expert would say a vital prerequisite to fixing a problem is acknowledging the existence of it. We have a problem in America: nobody realizes that there is a problem. We must recognize our inability address our problems. Average Americans are blindly accepting America as the “best country on Earth.” To think about everything our country does aims to advance the causes of freedom, justice, and liberty we claim for ourselves. This simply is not true. Plenty of
examples throughout all 237 years of our history portray Americans “fighting for freedom” or “fighting for democracy” when really those clashes boil down to feelings of superiority. By now, when we have fully reshaped our cultural identity to convince ourselves we are better than the “enemy” or above the “other,” it becomes not only easier to justify war, but easier to hide the true, selfish rationale for going to war behind the patriotic bandwagon. It’s important to understand that we are not infallible and to become a critical thinker about what our country does. Not everything is perfect here; many societal issues hang over our heads, unresolved. Consider the consequences of believing America to be “the greatest nation in the world.” This mentality places us above other countries, causing us to take action for the wrong reasons and obfuscating the moral and right ones, preempts international cooperation, and blocks us from being cognizant of pressing issues at home and abroad. The first step to solving them. Is America truly the greatest country? I do not believe so.
Hillary: America’s Love Story. America is falling in love with Hillary all over again. Hillary Clinton has reinvented herself—a political Madonna. Her involvement with the September 11, 2012 Benghazi By KATE CARROLL Embassy attacks OPINION EDITOR could have been a @katecarroll4 career ender, but she magnificently came out of harsh House hearings holding her head high. The question on everyone’s mind now is: will there be a Presidential 2016 bid—yes/ no maybe so? While we (somewhat patiently) wait for a response from the honorable HRC(Hillary Rodham Clinton),
it’s worth asking why she is in the running. Her loss in the ‘08 primaries, less than ideal age of 69, Bill, two years as Secretary of State, and The Clinton Foundation’s questionable financial record; she should be ready for a long retirement. However, Hillary has a secret weapon— The Youth. Similar to the Obama ‘08 campaign, she appeals to the 18-24 age group which traditionally has the lowest voter turnout. “Ready For Hillary” an independent SuperPAC with 1,000,000 Facebook fans has received national attention and donations. Her marathon schedule of national speaking events provide an opportunity to stay in the press and connect with voters. Strategic issue positioning give us a strong hint that she may not be done in the world of politics. Hillary’s sphere of influence from her two years as Secretary of State
allows her to speak authoritatively about foreign policy. Before she has made her decision on a 2016 campaign strong supporters have already spoken out: Scarlett Johansson, George W. Bush’s Daughter, and more. Former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi said “With all due respect to our president—I think he’s magnificent and wonderful and a blessing to us—but [Hillary Clinton would be] certainly more prepared than President Obama, certainly more prepared than President [George W.] Bush, certainly more prepared than President [Bill] Clinton” during a CNN interview. With a little less than 1,000 days before the next presidential election, Hillary Clinton has some careful decisions to make. America is “Ready for Hillary,” but is Hillary ready for America?
Peter Schmit: Rigor and Passion Peter Schmit should be reinstated as head of the Modern Problems course, regardless of that course’s high fail rates. However, I must admit that I passed with flyBy NICK AHAMED ing colors. So, GUEST WRITER why should I be WHS 2011 heeded? Because, Stanford 2015 thinking more conceptually, the fail rates should not be the focus of discussion in the first place. Instead, let us focus on two things: rigor and passion— both key to creating the academic experience that Wayzata School District seeks to promote. Wayzata boasts a 93% post-secondary enrollment and an average SAT score of just under 1950. Maintaining those outstanding statistics requires infusing rigor into its curricula. One of many similar studies, University of Pittsburgh researcher Amy Crosson finds that more rigorous
instruction and materials are highly associated with stronger and more complex arguments used in class discussion. It was exactly that sort of rigor that Mr. Schmit brought. He challenged students to think more critically about the problems that our nation and our world face. He didn’t accept excuses or cop-outs, but rather asked for hard-work and excellence. Yet, rigor without a deep dedication to learning can overwhelm some students. Crossan finds this too, highlighting the role of classroom climate and teacher respect. Predictably, better atmospheres lead to higher student achievement. Similarly, two professors in Australia find that teacher passion is highly linked with engagement and commitment – both of which we should value. Having experienced Mr. Schmit’s passion for civics and for MoPro first hand, I can say that it is in that classroom where he belongs, not for his own sake, but for the sake of Wayzata’s students. At Wayzata, I had many great teachers, but none inspired me to excel quite like Peter Schmit. He went out of his way to make sure that I was learning, though I
had learned most of MoPro’s content elsewhere. At first, I thought I was a special case, but I now know I was just typical. Indeed, it was Peter Schmit who selflessly and anonymously financed daycare for a student’s child so that she could attend afterschool writing workshops. As an alumnus of his classroom, I can confidently say that his teaching is a model of excellence; Wayzata needs more teachers like him, not fewer. Our school has produced great students —students who continue onto amazing careers (e.g. United States Senator Amy Klobuchar). In my graduating class alone, we sent four students to Stanford University. One of us is a stellar percussionist with Stanford Symphony Orchestra. Another works in a lab researching motor control theory in the brain. And a third leads the largest political organization on campus. I do not share this to boast, but rather to demonstrate what Wayzata High School can continue to produce. It is because of dedicated and knowledgeable teachers like Peter Schmit that it does.
TROJAN TRIBUNE EDITORIAL STAFF Editor in Chief Katie Talerico News Editor Davante Washington Feature Editor Meredith Johnson Sports Editor Emily Berg Opinion Editor Kate Carroll Photo Editor Sadie Bell Advertising Manager Taylor Cranfield Advisor David Motes
MISSION STATEMENT MISSION STATEMENT
To address issues that Wayzata High School is facing; to investigate with courage, persistence and passion; to report the news with accuracy and without bias; to encourage thought, investigate events which incite praise and those which incite criticism; and to make connections between people in this community.
EDITORIAL POLICY
Editorial policies and content decisions are made by the student editorial board. The opinions expressed in the editorials, columns, and opinion pieces are those of the Trojan Tribune staff and are not necessarily the opinions of the advisor, administration, students, faculty, or District 284. The Trojan Tribune follows the guidelines of the Associated Press Stylebook and is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association.
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THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
FEATURE 6
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
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Student Council helps students in need Wa y z a t a Student @k_talerico Council members have taken on a new global perspective. This year, they are raising money for children in need by selling Yuda Bands. The bands will be on sale this week and Homecoming week during lunch for $7 each. All proceeds will go towards funding a year of education for three students in developing countries. All Yuda bands are handmade by children in Guatemala out of recycled material. “It goes with this year’s idea of giving back to the Earth,” said Junior Vice President Tiffany Haas. The idea for the bands began when Student Council attended a state leadership convention last spring, said Student Council Advisor Sue Iverson. “SaukRapids-Rice High School led a workshop where they told us about the bands and how their school had sold them,” Iverson said. Iverson said that the foundation was trustworthy since 100% of their profits go back to the children in Guatemala. Members of student council chose three students’ education to sponsor. One comes from a family of fifteen and aspires to be a doctor, another lives on the border of the jungle in Honduras and wants to become a plastic surgeon, and the third is starting her first year of high school and wants to be an administrative assistant. “We picked high school students because we felt like By KATIE TALERICO EDITOR IN CHIEF
HOMECOMING ROYALTY: Jonny Roberts, Jack Iverson, Bridget Sperry, Abiye Agbeh, Joe Dooly, McKenna Lorenz, Max Anderson, Ellie Anderson, Isaiah Cammon, Jake Strom, Ali Stottler, Carly Noble, Veronica Angell, James Smith, Annie Polis, Annika Halverson, Tanner Bedard, Danielle Whiteside son. This is the first time Student Council has worked on a global project. “It’s important to encouraging making statewide and local impact with the school, but if we have the opportunity to act globally, we should take it,” said Iverson. “People have been complaining about the seven dollar price,” said Haas. “It’s like giving up two days of Caribou, you can do it.” “We should feel obligated to help. We live in a bubble where we get free education, and we s h o u l d
lend Wa y z a t a s t u dents would be able to relate better to them,” Haas said. “We support many local charities through Survivor, which helps Fund-a-Need, but we wanted to do more,” said Iver-
a hand to those in other countries to show our appreciation,” said Haas. “Ayudar in Spanish means ‘to help,’” said Haas. “Without the a, it’s Yuda. You can help, you can make a difference.”
See Who We’re Sponsoring Judy Adhimbo Omuse
“My name is Judy. I am 17 years old and currently a student at Taru secondary school. I need help with school fees because we are fifteen children in our family with four in secondary school at the same time. My father is deceased and mum is a small scale business woman.” I would like to be a doctor.”
Geni Roberto Velasquez
“I am 15 years old and live in El Naranjo on the outskirts of the Jungle. My favorite class is English. I like to practice on the guitar when I get a chance to, and play soccer with my friends. I want to be a plastic surgeon when I grow up and help others. I live with extended family and often work part time.”
Diana Maryuri Villafranca
“I am 16 years old and live outside of La Ceiba, Honduras heading up the jungle road. My favorite class is natural science, and I love nature. I like to play soccer with my friends and go swimming in the river. I want to be an administrative assistant when I grow up. I believe it is important to support others.”
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
SPORTS 7
New year, new team The girls soccer @HanaKassem team h a s been working their way to success with a brand new team this season. “There are 15 new faces, which makes it difficult to have success right away, but I think that we are making really good progress,” said senior captain Sophie Leininger. With a recent loss to Edina the team has been working it’s way back to the top. “We tell each other to do your job and help. That is something we didn’t do in the Edina game which hurt us,” said senior captain Hannah Sturtz. “It was our first conference game of the season, and for over 3/4 the team, the first varsity conference game of their careers,” said Leininger. “We definitely learned some things, and we bounced back right away with a win against Hopkins and a tie against Eden Prairie.” The team continues to build their By HANA KASSEM JUNIOR STAFF WRITER
chemistry as they try and reach their big goals for the season. “Obviously our goal is to make it to state again, but we also want to play our best and leave it all out on the field each and every game. We have a reputation to live up to and our main goal is to work our hardest every game,” Sturtz (12) said. “We have to give a lot of credit to our coaches as well. We can all learn a lot from them as we continue to face off against tougher and tougher opponents,” said Leininger (12). The girls recently won a game against Blake and continue to work hard. “Recently, we have shown that we can hold our own in our conference, and it is exciting to see everybody stepping up,” Leininger (12) said. “There’s definitely a new face to Wayzata girls soccer and we just have to find out how to leave our mark. I want to see us hit our stride. We aren’t there yet, but we aren’t giving up without a fight,” said Leininger (12).
Immortal no more?
T h e Wa y z a t a S E N I O R S TA F F W R I T E R v a r s i t y @Mjohnson_snn football team has not gotten off to the fiery start that everyone anticipated. An overtime win over Rosemount High School followed by a loss to Lakeville High School shaped a dent in Wayzata’s confidence. “We had a rough week of practice and we weren›t mentally prepared. We did not anticipate to face a such a solid Lakeville team,” said Captain Tanner Bedard. Whether it was overconfidence or lack or preparation, Wayzata was embarrassed in a 24 to 14 loss. Senior quarterbacks Andrew Reding and Nick Olmanson were not living up to expectations. With no other route to go, Head Coach Brad Anderson put the football in the hands of sophomore quarterback Jake Marsh. Anoka High School never knew what hit them when they went into the locker room down 56 to 0 at halftime. “Jake is a great kid with a will to win. He works very hard and I am proud of him,” said Bedard. It will take consistency to prove to everyone that Marsh is the real deal but he could be the sophomore prodigy that Mitch Underhill was when he took Wayzata to the state championship in 2010. Conference play begins with an away game at Hopkins followed by a By matt johnson
homecoming visit from Edina High School. Hopkins has a record of 1-3 and were previously shut out by Minnetonka 35 to 0. After playing Edina, Wayzata will go on the road to Eden Prairie and will then finish their regular season schedule at home against Minnetonka. “We need to take one game at a time and focus on the present,” said Bedard. A tough stretch of games patiently waits ahead for this Trojan team and will be the deciding factor of how the season will turn out. Wayzata has not raised the trophy banner since the 2010 season but they are determined that this could be the year. Two seasons ago Wayzata fell short to Eden Prairie in the state championship game and would then fall in the semi-final game the following year. They have always been in the mix to take home the title. “I think we are a younger team than last year but we have a group of guys who are willing to work very hard and love playing for each other. “Ultimately we want to be in the state title game but getting back to that semi final game would be pretty special,” Bedard said. The Trojan’s talent was evident in their previous game but it is still in question if it can be done on a consistent basis. Wayzata will need to overcome adversity and their level of play week by week will prove to define how far Wayzata varsity football can go.
Senior captain Katie Yeager steals the ball in a game against Eden Prairie.
Tanner Bedard (12) celebrates after a touchdown against Anoka (left). Joey Kolpin (12) has the ball and is on the way to score a Trojan touchdown (right). Photos by Meredith Johnson.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
THE TROJAN TRIBUNE
The will to win
By SADIE BELL S TA F F W R I T E R
@MsSadieBell
• Wayzata Volleyball works on rebuilding with younger team
Photo by Beth Berg
MARSHALL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT : The young Wayzata varsity volleyball teams loses to Roosevelt High School from North Dakota in a tough match in three games.
Trojans sink the Skippers
By Johnny Knox and Christy Williams J1 WRITERS
Recently, the girls swim and dive team took on two of their toughest competitors; Minnetonka and Hopkins. When competing against Hopkins, the swimmers were nervously waiting on the diving blocks for the sound of the gun to dive into the water. When swimming against Hopkins some races were close, but Wayzata was the team with the most wins at the end of the night. The girls dive team looked strong on the diving boards. At the end of the night, Wayzata dominated Hopkins and Minnetonka with a score of 60 to 18. When the meet was over, Wayzata was the ultimate winner over Hopkins 105-70 and Minnetonka with a close score of 99.586.5. Senior captain Mikaela Kendall said, “Taking the win over Minnetonka was one of the best moments ever. I started crying at the end.” Senior Lexi Hughes said, “It’s been two
years since we last beat Minnetonka. We were supposed to get creamed this year, but we ended up taking the win. I was speechless.” “Taking a win away from Minnetonka is a big deal. We compete against a lot of good teams, but this Photo by Johnny Knox win is a huge achievement,” said Head Coach Elizabeth Hansen. Winning this meet didn’t come without hard work; the girls spent a lot of time outside the pool. “We do a lot of circuit training and as we get further into the season we do a lot of station work. It’s a lot of high circuit work. All of the training we do in practice helps us get ready for our meets,” said Coach Leah Foreman-Keiser. Besides all the practice in and out the pool, the girls need a little pick me up to get their adrenaline going right before a race. “Before and during our races I sing ‘Fighter’ by Christina Aguilera in my head,” Kendall said. Senior Lexi Hughes said to get ready for a race she shakes, jumps around and stretches. “I like to listen to till ‘I collapse’ by Eminem before every race,” said Hughes. The girls’ next meet is on Saturday, September 28 at Maple Grove.
The girls volleyball team has a lot of new faces this year. With only 3 returning players, one could say this is a rebuilding year for the team. “There is a lot of change and unfamiliarity this season, but it’s also exciting,” said Captain Mariah Halvorsen (12). Captain Marissa Groechel (12) said, “We have a lot of new players, and we are still trying to figure out how to play with one another.” There are a total of sixteen players, including eleven seniors, three juniors, and two freshmen, Groechel says. Head Coach Scott Jackson said, “This team is a bit younger than last year. However, they can achieve just as much, if not more.” “Last year we were really strong from the start. This year we have had to work on rebuilding the team. My hope is that we will be just as successful as last year,” said Groechel. “We are putting forth our best effort and we are coming together pretty well as a team,” said Halvorsen. “We have a team that is offensively strong and that is capable of scoring readily against any team in the state. We are striving to cut down on our unforced errors and let our passion for volleyball and care for one another shine through our play” said Jackson. “We have a lot of talented players and we all have the will to will,” said
SPORTS 8
Groechel. According to Groechel, because the team no longer has Lauren Houg, the team’s best defensive player from previous years, their defense is not as good as it has been in the past, but it’s still better than others’.” “Since Houg has graduated, It’s different because in the past I never had to worry about the back row behind me, but now it’s a constant battle of what is going on,” Halvorsen said. “Our competition is really tough this year. Within the Lake Conference, Eden Prairie, Hopkins and Minnetonka are all really good this year. Outside of our conference, Blaine, Chaska, and Lakeville North will be really tough to beat. We could potentially play any of them at state,” Groechel said. “From a wins and losses standpoint, the season has been a bit of a struggle thus far. However, we have been very competitive within all of our matches,” Jackson said. “I am really looking forward to the rest of the season. I think we are improving quickly and will continue to do so,” said Jackson. “Our goal as a team is to get to the second round of sections to beat teams we have lost to and hopefully move on to state,” Halvorsen said. “We haven’t made it to state since 2010, but the tournament is always in our sights. If we can maximize our improvement in the next four to six weeks, a trip to the Xcel Center for the state tournament is a possibility,” Jackson says.
Running with high expectations
Photo by Wayzata.xc.org
MAYO INVITE 2013: Wayzata Boys Cross Country takes home first at the Rochester Mayo Invite.
The boys cross country team @KateCarroll4 is ready to pick up where they left off. One of their main challenges this season is to overcome the loss of the majority of varsity runners who graduated in 2013. The team is stacked with: Connor Olson (11), Ian Eklin (11), Jared Carpenter (10), Jack Prazich (11), Andrew Quirk (11), Nick Shaleen (10), Aaron Breyer (12), and Josh Nielson (12). These runners are only a fraction of the dedicated runners with immense talent in the program. Wayzata is currently sitting on the top of the class 2A rankings after the Marshfield Invitational on August 31st. They are currently the favorite to win State and place highly at Nike Heartland Regionals. A large regional meet known as the “Griak” will take place this weekend at the University of Minnesota. “It should be a good gauge of the competition for Nike Heartland,” said senior Connor Eastman. They will be competing with teams from Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin and others By KATE CARROLL OPINION EDITOR
from the Midwest. Varsity runner Andrew Quirk said “Our goal is to hopefully win state, win regionals, and go to nationals. We’re ranked 5th in nation right now.” Speaking on the atmosphere of the team, “We’re all really hardworking, a big group of guys acting as a team to get the little things done which lead to success,” senior Balashankar Karthikeyan said. Junior Thomas Lerdell agrees, “All of the grades get along really well.” Nationally ranked junior Connor Olson said, “As a team we would like to get back on the top of the podium at state, and win our 7th state title as a team, but we’re also hungry as ever to make it back to Nike Cross Nationals. My favorite part about being on this team would have to be the bond we have as teammates. There’s something special about doing great things as a team which makes it all so much sweeter. Right now our team is striving towards making memories; and at this point we have a great opportunity to do so. “Our team atmosphere is very welcoming and fun. We welcome everyone who wants to work hard and run,” junior Jacob Brua said.