Category Archives: News

Events, Getting To Know/History

‘Girlhood (it’s complicated)’

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By: Kumari Wijetunge

Official poster of Girlhood (it’s complicated)

‘Girlhood (it’s complicated)’ is an exhibit that you can see at the Minnesota History Center that will be up from September 7, 2024 to June 1, 2025. This is an extremely well put together and powerful representation of the impacts made by women throughout history with themes like education, fashion, work, and politics. The exhibit explores how girls over the years have navigated growing up in a society that underestimates our voices and abilities.

The exhibit counters traditional narratives of girlhood by highlighting the struggles and complexity of girls’ lives. It emphasizes that being a girl is much more than society paints it to be but instead involves navigating multiple roles and identities. Through a collection of over 100 historical artifacts, personal diaries, and interactive displays, ‘Girlhood (its complicated)’ shows how girls have contributed to society in significant ways, often breaking down barriers that were set before us.

One of the main themes of the exhibit is girls’ access to education and how it has evolved over centuries, with many girls fighting for the right of education. The exhibit shows the historical struggle and the events that led to girls and women securing educational opportunities.

The work of girls and young women is also shown in the exhibit and how they balanced family responsibilities like chores with personal ambitions and activism. Artifacts like clothing, diaries, and toys highlight the way girls have navigated their roles in the household and beyond.

‘Girlhood (its complicated)’ also features an exclusive section dedicated to girls and women in sports, specifically basketball. This part of the exhibit showcases the growth of women’s sports and the stories of female athletes who empowered others. Through photographs, personal stories, and trophies, visitors can learn about the history of women’s sports and the ongoing fight for equality.

Throughout the exhibit visitors reflect on their own experiences and perceptions of girlhood. Overall, ‘Girlhood (it’s complicated)’ is a powerful reminder of how important it is to recognize the different experiences of girlhood throughout history and the present. By interacting with artifacts and stories, visitors can leave with a greater appreciation for the resilience and strength of girlhood.

Editorials/Student Voice, News, Tech/Games

The ban of TikTok

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By: Samson Belihu

Hello, and today I will be talking about the ban of TikTok that’s GOING to happen in the U.S.

You may ask why the U.S. government wants to ban TikTok. Well, let me tell you.

The main concern that the U.S. recognizes is that TikTok collects a lot of data on users, including location, browsing history, and even device details and since it’s owned by a Chinese company, critics worry that this data could be shared with the Chinese government. The government could then use that information for spying or to influence American politics. Though TikTok denies sharing data with China, U.S. lawmakers point to China’s laws that could force companies to cooperate with the government. Many of the lawmakers are politicians, particularly from the Republican Party.

Another worry is that TikTok could spread fake news or propaganda, affecting elections or creating social unrest. Though TikTok has taken steps to try and stop the spread of misinformation, many U.S. lawmakers still see it as a national security threat.

The push for banning TikTok mainly comes from conservative politicians like Senators Josh Hawley, Marco Rubio, and others, who argue the app is a threat to national security. They worry that TikTok could be used for spying or spreading fake news for the Chinese government.

TikTok has been told to either sell to an American company, create a new U.S. controlled TikTok, or make sure they store all data safely and away from China. If they don’t do one of those things, they could face a ban in the U.S. The owner tried to file an appeal to the Supreme Court, but failed due to the concern of the information that could potentially be sent back and forth.

In my opinion I find myself stuck between both of their sides.

If TikTok is a way to sell people’s info to the Chinese government I find that troublesome, but I also think TikTok has become a way for people to express themselves and find support, and if it’s banned all of it will be taken away. People’s lives have been changed for the better due TikTok

News, World

France searches for a new president

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By: Barrika Suresh

Photo by Atypeek Dgn on Pexels.com

The French president, Emmanuel Macron is coming near the end of his second term, as he was re-elected in 2022 and will remain president until 2027. French presidents only serve two terms, as there is a limit. There is mounting pressure on Macron to name a new prime minister and diffuse the ongoing political crisis. Apple News reported that “The president called for ‘a meeting of different political forces’ to discuss forming a new government after the collapse of the last minority administration” according to the Greens after meeting Macron.

Some backstory to this is that no single party gained an absolute majority in the Assembly following the 2022 elections. Despite gaining the most seats, Macron’s Ensemble! Coalition was unable to win a majority.

Significant gains were made in the elections by the right-wing group National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, and the left-wing alliance Nupes, which consists of the Socialist group, Communist Party, France Insoumise, and the Green Party of France. In other words, Macron was now in charge of a minority administration, putting his government in a scenario known as a “cohabition” in French politics, where the president and prime minister are from different parties.

Macron’s failure to obtain a majority resulted in ongoing deadlock and made it impossible to pass important laws. This meant that in order to pass legislation, Macron and his prime minister, Michel Barnier, had to approach the opposition one at a time for support. This is extremely difficult in the current political climate.

Political unrest has resulted from Macron’s legislation majority’s collapse, with demonstrations and discontent mounting over the government’s failure to enact important reforms, particularly on matters like labor laws and pensions.

As a result, Macron’s political standing deteriorated, and the opposition-controlled National Assembly made it extremely hard for him to carry out any of his plans. Parliamentary speaker Yael Braun-Pivet urged the president’s centrist campe to join forces with the Republicans, independent MPs and the Socialists to have a majority, so there is no longer a possibility of censure, (which is a formal vote of disapproval against a government official).

Local, Music/Concerts

Local bands: Rock Melon

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By: Persephone Pond

Rock Melon is a local band based in Highland Park, Saint Paul. This surf-pop-indie band consists of six talented students from around the Highland Park area. This article will go over a few need-to-know facts about the band before listening to their music.

Before going over the music the band has released as of late, it’s important to know the talent behind music. Here’s a quick introduction to the band.

Zack Nelson (he/him) is a senior at HPSH and the founder of the band. He plays both the guitar and bass. Elzie Bieganek (she/her) is one of the two talented vocalists of Rock Melon, currently attending SPA as a junior. Erin Moore (she/her) is a junior at HPSH, and the second vocalist of Rock Melon. Ryan Mitchell (he/him) and Izzy Montgomery (she/her) both play guitar, and Syan Blackwood (they/them) plays the drums for the band.

Now, the music itself this small band produces showcases a wide range of talent in terms of instrumentals, vocals, and production. All music is recorded by the band, and released on all streaming platforms.

Their latest releases include three singles from their upcoming album. The three tracks are “First Love’s Name”, “Eucalyptus”, and “The Architect”. All of these songs were written by the band members, and feature riveting vocals and soothing instrumentals.

The band plays live music around the Saint Paul/Minneapolis area, so keep an eye out for their next gig. Small venues around the metro area often support other small local bands as well. Attending live concerts is an easy, low commitment way to support these young artists.

To support this growing band, give them a follow on Instagram @rockmelonband. Stream their music on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube music, and more!

Science/Nature

Space shuttle equipment

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By: Yohan Lee

What is the space shuttle? The space shuttle was the first reusable spacecraft and since it could be flown again it helped reduce the cost of each launch. It could take off in a vertical take off and could land like a plane.

The space shuttle was built by NASA and during earlier space missions such as the Apollo program, NASA had to build 15 different Saturn V rockets. But for the space shuttle, NASA only had to build 5.

The first space shuttle launch was on April 12, 1981 and the final landing was on July 21, 2011. The space shuttle fleet flew over 135 missions. Some of the space shuttles are in museums in California, New York, Florida, and Washington D.C.

In early 2011 you could see the space shuttle on top of a 747 before it was retired.

Here are some of the technical specifics of the space shuttle.

COMPONENTS

Orbiter:

In the cabin it contained living quarters, workstations, and controls for up to seven astronauts. The space shuttle had a payload bay for carrying satellites, scientific equipment, and components for the International Space Station. The payload could be found on top of the space shuttle. There were three powerful engines used during liftoff, fueled by the external tank.

Thermal Protection System:

The Thermal Protection System was made of heat resistant tiles and blankets that protected the orbiter from the heat during reentry.

Canadarm:

A Canadarm is a long robot arm and it was used for manipulating payloads, assembling structures in orbit, and capturing satellites.

External Tank:

The External Tank was the huge orange fuel tank located at the bottom of the space shuttle. It was made out of an aluminum-lithium alloy to minimize weight. It was used to fuel the space shuttle during its launch into space, then it would detach from the space shuttle and burn up in the atmosphere.

Solid Rocket Boosters:

The Solid Rocket Boosters are the long white rockets that were attached to the fuel tanks. They were used for an additional set of thrust for takeoff before they detached. They were made out of aluminum and ammonium perchlorate. They were also fitted with a parachute for an ocean landing so NASA could reuse that rocket.

Orbital Maneuvering Systems:

The Orbital Maneuvering Systems was a small engine that allowed the space shuttle to make small adjustments in space. 2 of them could be found at the back of the space shuttle.

Image created with Blender
Science/Nature

NASA’s Artemis program

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By: Karl Salkowski

(Image credit: freerangestock)

NASA is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA was created on October 1st, 1958 after president Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act. NASA is a government agency of the United States, and it is responsible for U.S. space exploration, space technology, Earth and space science, and aeronautics research.

In total, 24 astronauts have made the journey from earth to the moon. Half of those astronauts only orbited the moon while the other half landed on it. Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were the first two people to walk on the moon. It’s been over 50 years since anyone has walked on the moon, but why is that?

The main reason is money. Building these rockets was incredibly expensive and NASA relied heavily on funding from the government. Once the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 was a success and the U.S. had won the space race, NASA faced major funding cuts. Originally, there were 20 Apollo missions, but due to a lack of funds the last 3 were canceled.

Since then NASA has focused on other projects. One notable example being the International Space Station. However, one of NASA’s new projects aims to land humans back on the moon.

NASA’s Artemis program consists of 4 main parts: an uncrewed flight test around the moon, a crewed flight test around the moon, sending humans to explore the region near the lunar south pole, and finally establishing a scientific base on the moon. These missions will aptly be named Artemis I, II, III, and IV respectively. With these missions, NASA’s goal is both to “explore the moon for scientific discovery and to inspire a new generation of explorers” according to Nasa.gov.

Artemis I launched 2 years ago and was a huge success for NASA and its partners. However, the crewed mission (Artemis II) which was slated to launch in late 2025 has now been delayed to April 2026. Artemis III also suffered delays and is currently being projected to launch no-earlier than mid 2027.

If you want to learn more about the Artemis missions, please go to:

World

Gisele Pelicot’s trial in Avignon

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By: Baarika Suresh

*Warning: This article contains information and details about rape.

Photo by Laura Paredis on Pexels.com

Monday, the 25th of November, was the international day for the elimination of violence against women, and in recognition of that I have chosen to tell the story of Gisèle Pelicot who was an ordinary woman in Avignon, France. She is 71 years old and had been married to her husband for nearly 50 years.

During the court trial, Gisèle Pelicot’s husband, Dominique Pelicot (72), admitted to mixing drugs into her food and drink which caused her to become unconscious so that he and other men he had recruited online could rape her. It was anticipated that the prosecutors would need three days to compile evidence and specify the judgments and penalties they wanted due to the large number of defendants and alleged rapes.

Prosecutors sought penalties of 10 years or more for co-defendants also on trial for rape, or attempted rape, in the first cases they addressed on Monday, and they asked for 20 years in jail (which is the harshest punishment for aggravated rape) for Dominique Pelicot.

It is expected that the court will deliver its verdicts by December 20th, 2024.

The victim waived her right to anonymity, a demonstration of courage. The prosecutor, Jean-François Mayet, commended her bravery and her will to shift the blame from victims to their rapists.

This case is revolutionary as it is making a great impact when it comes to feminism and victims of sexual violence. Chantal Crémont, a supporter who traveled from western France said that, “When she (Giséle Pelicot) says that shame changes sides, it’s really that. She’s standing as the victim and she’s turning the tables. It’s very important.”

On Saturday, November 23rd, large groups of men and women marched in Paris while holding purple signs that supported women’s reproductive rights and condemned gender-based violence. Organizers of the protest called for more government funding to combat sexist behavior and sexual assault as well as to advance gender equality.

Editorials/Student Voice, Events

Christmas is America’s most popular holiday

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By: Isabel Strack

Image created: Freepik AI

There is a survey on YouGov.com that shows that more than ⅓ of America stated that Christmas is their favorite holiday.

Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ who people believe in as the son of God. The name “Christmas” comes from the mass of Christ which is a mass service. Mass service is where Christians can remember that Jesus had died for us then came back alive. Christmas was a holiday in the mid-1800s. It was seen as a day of peace and rest.

Many people also enjoy celebrating Christmas because that is when you can see your loved ones that you may not have seen in a while. Some people will celebrate with just their immediate family and others will celebrate with their extended family. It is very common for people to have family reunions over the holidays. It’s a perfect time to spend with family, as you can decorate your Christmas tree with ornaments or make some Christmas baked goods. It is a celebration of love. The Christmas season provides great opportunities to strengthen bonds with friends and family.

You could also get gifts for yourself and other people. If you love giving gifts to other people this is a perfect opportunity to do that. It’s also a perfect time to do secret Santa with your friends, family cousins, etc. Secret Santa is like another word for a gift exchange, but Secret Santa can be a little bit different. In Secret Santa you don’t know who’s giving you your gift or what you are getting. You only know who you’re getting a gift for. You can pick names out of a hat or find an app that can pick the names for you.

Christmas falls on a different day every year so sometimes it’s hard to plan a time to get together with your family, but if you are able to plan it right it is always worth it. Christmas is a perfect time to pause and spend quality time with loved ones.

Local, Science/Nature

Minnesotan winter activities and climate change

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By: Gabriella Bell

Minnesota is most commonly recognized for its drastic weather changes, harsh summers and winters alike. It’s also known for its diverse range of winter activities such as hockey, skiing, ice fishing, and more. Although in order to partake in these recreational hobbies, the most important factor is for there to be cold enough weather, and most importantly snowfall. In Minnesota this would normally never be much of a problem, however as of recent years, data is demonstrating that climate change is having a severe impact on not only these winter sports, but also local wildlife as well as our environment.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, worldwide climate change is also leading to a warmer Minnesota. Their stats represent an increase in the daily minimum temperature of 7.3f in the northern regions of Minnesota, 6f in the central regions, and 4.9f in the southern regions (per data from 1895-2021).

Another major impact that climate change has is in our ice cover, with an observed 10-15 days less as of these past few years. With these changes, it is ultimately impacting Minnesota fish as well, considering they are losing necessary days of ice cover, which protect them from the harsh winters. With the lack of ice, it is also contributing to the inability to begin and prolong ice fishing, ice skating and other ice-related activities that many people participate in during our Minnesota winters. Along with this unpredictable ice cover, it’s affecting the amount of flooding that the state receives, as the ice forms and then melts soon after. It then continues to follow this repeating cycle throughout the winter months until late spring.

Another factor is the inconsistent snowfalls that have been recently scattered across the winters. One of Minnesota’s most notable aspects is their snow! Not only does this affect the ability to play certain winter sports such as skiing or snowmobiling, but it also impacts the enjoyment of participating in them as well.

Per stats from the EPA, carbon dioxide levels across the world have risen over 40% since the late 1700’s, which is what’s contributing to the immense amount of climate changes worldwide, as well as in Minnesota. Not only is this a serious issue which is affecting our environment, but Minnesota’s winters are progressively growing to be much shorter, warmer and unpredictable than ever before.

As a unified community I believe that we can make changes in our lives, even small ones, in order to begin to help the restoration and conservation of our Minnesota winters, as well as the environmental health of our world.

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Events, Local

Turkey Trot

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By: Kara Fini

For many families the Turkey Trot is an annual Thanksgiving tradition. Usually held on Thanksgiving morning, people of all ages and running ability participate in local fun runs held all over the United States. The races differ in lengths, but the most common length today is a 5k.

The Turkey Trot originated in Buffalo, NY back in 1896. Only 6 people ran, all men, and they ran five miles in downtown Buffalo. Only 4 of them finished after one dropped out in the first two miles and the other couldn’t keep down Thanksgiving breakfast. They continued to hold this race as it gained more and more popularity over the next couple years. They thought it was a way to burn off calories before eating a bunch for Thanksgiving.

Every year since then, the Turkey Trot in Buffalo has been held. It reached cities like New Orleans in 1907, and Cincinnati in 1909. Even with the quick growth of the race, it wasn’t until 1972 that a woman raced the Buffalo Turkey Trot.

Now the Turkey Trot is a family fun run in many local neighborhoods and towns. From toddlers and babies in strollers to grandmas and grandpas, there are nearly 1 million people in the United States who run this fun run every year.

If you want to participate in the future, Highland Park hosts their own Turkey Trot that is 5k long. It costs around $35 for adults and $15 for kids under 17 to participate. The route starts and ends on the north side of Highland Catholic School. It goes south on Cleveland road and then turns to the west where you will run on River Road. Then you follow Highland Parkway back up to the start. Afterwards you are able to stop at Tiffany’s, a local restaurant, and have a free breakfast for participating.

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