Category Archives: News

Editorials/Student Voice, News

Gun violence

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In the United States there have been many cases of violence, specifically gun violence, including mass shootings. Statistics from articles on The Brady Campaign website state that in the United States, just in a year, an average of 108,000 people in America are shot in murders, assaults, suicides/suicide attempts, unintentional shootings, or by police intervention. According to the website Heeding God’s Call, the U.S. has more gun homicides annually, 10,000, than any other country.

The debate over gun control in the U.S. has been stirred up over the recent mass killings. What is gun control? Gun control is the government regulation of the manufacture, sale, and possession of fire arms.

Even with all the shootings in the U.S., many people are against gun control. According to Smartgunlaws.org people claim “that they need guns for protection or for their safety.”

Opponents of gun control laws argue that Americans have the right to bear arms. They say that gun control laws would prevent individuals from defending themselves and their property lawfully. They also support the rights of hunters, sport shooters, and recreational gunmen. One of the most common laws that these groups cite is the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This 27-word passage has the famous phrase “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” The argument that gun control opponents make is that the right to own and use weapons is an undeniable personal freedom guaranteed by the Constitution.

Proponents of gun control believe that stronger gun laws can prevent the needless loss of life. Even individuals who support gun rights acknowledge that certain people should not be permitted to own guns. Current gun control laws prevent criminals, mentally ill individuals, and children from owning guns.

Unfortunately, there have been instances where young people and deranged gunmen have obtained weapons and used them to commit mass murders. Also, others argue that there are too many criminals that can still purchase a gun legally and then go and commit crimes.

Even though thee controversy of gun control has become a big issue recently, there will always be a debate regarding the issue of having guns, until they make laws that most people will agree on. This is something that will be very difficult to do however, since everyone will always have an opinion on whether they believe people should or shouldn’t be able to have guns.

I think gun control should be more heavily enforced, as more guns fall into the hands of the wrong people. I feel as though there is no need to carry an armed weapon, and there is just too much violence with guns. I also feel as though people don’t really use guns for protection purposes, instead they simply have them so that they can feel more powerful, and this is not a good reason as to why people should have guns. These are some of the reasons why I think gun control laws should be enforced more.

Local, School Life

SPPS fights

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This past school year has seen an increase in fights in the St. Paul Public School district. Harding High School, Como Senior High, and Central all have had to call police over the recent fights that have been happening, according to Fox News. In the beginning of the school year, a loaded gun was brought to Harding in a backpack along with marijuana. According to Fox 9 news, there was no intent on using the gun.

After the Central High student (name not released) attacked staff member Mr. Ekbald during lunch, the mother of the student said that her child did not know the adult was a teacher. The 16 year old student caused a traumatic brain injury, tingling in his hands and back, and neck pain to the staff member. Mr. Ekbald was choked until he was left unconsciousness and later was admitted to a hospital.

School officials are saying the outbreak of violence in SPPS schools are a result of poverty and lack of parental guidance. In an interview with Fox 9 News, the principal of Central High, Mary Mackbee, spoke about the outbreak of violence, “Our kids are needier they come from families that are suffering, whether financially or for other reasons. There’s just a lot of chaos in this world.”

One of the problems may be discipline. The Pioneer Press reports that many students are disrespectful towards their teachers. That behavior may lead to more violent behavior.

This issue hits Highland Park Senior High hard, because we’re part of the SPPS schools, and we care about our students’ safety. Kennedy McTeague, a ninth grader at Highland, when asked about her safety in school replied, “I feel terrible about what happened at Central, but I don’t think that’ll happen at Highland. We hardly have any fights and we are given alternative ways to deal without violent breakouts.”

News

Medical marijuana

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Marijuana has created quite the controversy throughout the United States recently, with protests for and against the legalization of “weed”, the terrifying statistics of imprisoned people due to possession of the plant, and the ever growing recreational usage among young people. The use and possession of this narcotic is illegal in 48% of the United States, but it has been decriminalized in four states. The plant has also been legalized in many states for recreational, as well as medicinal, use. Minnesota is one of the states to recently legalize marijuana for medicinal use.

Minnesota’s strict policies are being re-visioned in hopes of being less
restrictive. During the last half of 2015, the medical marijuana bill went under slight revision. One provision requires the health department to consider adding severe pain as a qualifying condition by January 2016 instead of July 2016, which is when the law originally suggested. Though individuals with severe chronic pain can’t access the the medical marijuana immediately, they can access it six months earlier than before.

Rapid implementation of a medical marijuana program has been underway in Minnesota. In July of 2015, the program opened their first patient registry. Due to the revision, patients suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, ferreted syndrome, ALS, and more may have access to medical marijuana with an annual payment of $200.

There are now several locations for medical marijuana dispensaries supporting patients in pain. Dispensaries can be found throughout Minnesota including cities such as: Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, Duluth, Eagan, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Plymouth, Rochester, St. Cloud, St. Paul, and Woodbury.

Editorials/Student Voice, News

Are Muslims what the media says they are? No.

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Are Muslims what the media say they are?

Not all Muslims are terrorist.

There are people that claim to be Muslims but don’t act like one, like ISIS groups who kill anyone in their way.

There are Muslims that just want peace but are getting blamed for other people’s actions.

In Islam we are taught not kill a little spider. We are taught to let be it free. We are forbidden to shed blood.  A verse from the Qur’an says, “…take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.” Life is sacred in Islam.

Certain people just don’t understand that terrorist don’t just attack non- Muslim areas. How many attacks have happened, and are still happening, in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other Islamic regions?

Not all extremists are Muslims like the media makes them out to be. The media can be better about how they refer to terrorist groups because other Muslims don’t need to be blamed for what a group of people in their religion does. These groups claim to be Muslims but they give themselves specific names, so why not call them by what they want to be called, i.e. ISIS, Al Qaeda, etc?

A religion shouldn’t be blamed for what some people who practice it do. Innocent Muslims don’t want to feel targeted for something they have nothing to do with.

The Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has proposed that Muslims should be banned from entering the United States. Donald Trump has had many interviews and does not seem to be having any second thoughts about his proposal. Donald Trump might want this proposal to secure our country, but he is also punishing innocent people. He is taking away the opportunities and dreams of those that didn’t do anything wrong aside from believing in a specific religion.

So are Muslims what the media say they are?

No, because the negative actions of Muslims, through groups like ISIS, do not reflect the average Muslim.

News

E. Coli outbreak

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News is spreading about Chipotle’s new health situation. The popular food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill has recently been linked to reported cases of E. Coli (Escherichia Coli). E. Coli is a bacteria that generally lives in the lower intestines of humans and animals and is not harmful. However, some strains of E. Coli, in this case Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 A.K.A. “STEC 026”, can cause an intestinal infection. Symptoms of an intestinal infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. More severe cases have had reported symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, dehydration and sometimes kidney failure. Younger children, older adults, and pregnant women have increased risks of developing complications. E. Coli can be caused by improperly treated food or water, however properly treating food and water, along with good hygiene immensely decrease the risks of getting an intestinal infection.

So far there have been 52 reported cases of E Coli linked to Chipotle. These 52 reported cases are spread out over 9 states. 1 person reported having been infected by STEC 026 in Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. There have been 2 reported cases in Minnesota. California and Ohio both experienced 3 reported cases. In Oregon there have been 13 reported cases. Washington has had the most reported cases with 26. Out of the 52 reported cases there have been zero deaths, however, 20 of the reported cases had to be hospitalized.

47 (90%) of the overall 52 cases, reported to have eaten at Chipotle within a week before they fell ill. Chipotle is working with public health officials to understand the distribution of the food items served at the locations where individuals who contracted STEC 026 ate.

For more information, please go to: http://www.CDC.gov

Local, School Life

Questioning SROs’ role in SPPS

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In a recent Pioneer Press article, it was stated that chair of Saint Paul Public School Board, Mary Doran had proposed the idea to remove student resource officers from all Saint Paul Public Schools. This proposal created controversy, especially in light of the recent events around SPPS. Just within the past 4 months of the 2015-16 school year, SPPS has faced many dangerous incidents. This includes;

  • A loaded handgun found at Harding High School
  • An officer punched in the face breaking up a fight at Harding High School
  • An outbreak of fights with 10+ students involved at Como Park High School
  • A student at Central High School tasered for refusing to leave class
  • And the most recent event, a staff member hospitalized after trying to break up a fight at Central High School

With the occurrence of these events, many people believe that removing all student resource officers (SROs) would only make schools a more dangerous place to learn. The SRO budget is currently $854,000 to pay for nine resource officers within the district. This money is from the school district budget provided by education funding from the government. Although removing these officers would save money and help with budget cuts, many people believe that their presence within the schools is essential. The removal could elevate the situation and make our schools more dangerous without strong reinforcement present at all times.

One reason Ms. Doran supposedly questioned the presence of SROs in our schools is because earlier this year, an officer at Spring Valley High in South Carolina assaulted a student. Since then there has been much talk about the benefits and disadvantages SROs bring to schools around America.

After contacting Ms. Doran, she claims that the reporter simply misinterpreted her proposal, and that she just meant to start a conversation between students about their opinions of their school officers. She also claims that she does not wish to remove all SROs, and in fact she firmly believes their presence in schools is much needed in light of these recent events.

In the Pioneer Press article, the reporter said, “Evidently, you have some doubts as to whether SROs are a strictly positive presence in St. Paul schools“, but Mrs. Doran claims that nothing she said lead to that conclusion. She also claims these were false assumptions with no evidence. In summary, she believes that officers are important for the safety of students and teachers within the school, and they will not be removed.

Editorials/Student Voice, News

Banning of books

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A committee consisting of parents and staff members in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district voted to keep the book Just One Day on the shelves of school libraries. The book is centered around a young female character named Allyson and her plans to travel Europe following her graduation. She then meets a young man during her trip, which leads to “ a day of risk and romance, and 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life.”

The content of the book was brought into question after an 11-year-old girl checked the book out from the Rosemount Middle School library. The girl’s parents did not agree with the substance of the book, as it contains some areas with crude language and adult sexual content.

This decision raises questions about what kinds of books should be put into school libraries, and determining whether or not these books are “appropriate” for young people to read. Does there need to be some kind of rating system for literature like there is for movies? Or should we leave it up to the parents to determine what their children should be reading?

From my own experiences in high school, it was inevitable that I would run into a piece of literature that contained adult themes, especially in the IB program. So, shielding young readers from these types of  books can potentially hurt their preparation for further reading as well as limit their knowledge and understanding of the things that go on in the world around them. Who’s to say that these kids won’t be more compelled to get their hands on a book once it gets banned? Ultimately, parents should have confidence and trust in their children to determine what reading material is appropriate for them.

News

Shocking facts about racism in America today

If you ever wondered what you would do or what side you would be on during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s, just realize that you are living in a similar time right now. The Charleston shooting, which happened a few months ago, where a gunman killed nine people during a church service, was the deadliest hate crime committed against black people in the past 75 years. It seems like every week brings a new tragedy connected to race.

Social media has helped to spread awareness to racial injustice, with videos showing police assaulting black students in school, protestors being abused by militarized police, and many other shocking reports that make us think; is this really America today? The riots in the past couple years started in Ferguson, with the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18 year old; then in Baltimore with the death of Freddie Gray, who died of a spinal cord injury while in police custody; and now the riots are in our own backyards in Minneapolis with the death of Jamar Clark on November 14.

Clark was shot and killed, although it’s under investigation whether he was handcuffed when he was shot. A witness who saw the incident said that, “The young man was just laying there, he was not resisting arrest.” On the other hand, the Minneapolis police department claims that he tried to take hold of another policeman’s firearm.

Black Lives Matter protesters staged a demonstration on Interstate-94, and more than 50 people were arrested before highways opened. While it may not be clear what happened in this situation until the public gets to view the video footage of the incident, it is clear that these protesters are standing up against the oppression black people face every day, and that they are finally starting to receive the attention and awareness they deserve.

World

Syrian Refugee Crisis

Five years ago civil war erupted in Syria between government powers and the Syrian people who oppose president Bashar Al Assad. Rebel brigades were formed to fight to battle government forces, and today the fighting has only gotten worse, as other jihadist groups like the Islamic State have capitalized on the chaos to take over parts of Syria. So far, over 220,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and half of Syria’s population has been displaced.

More than four million people have fled Syria since the beginning of the conflict, most of them being women and children. This has been the largest refugee exodus in recent history. 7.6 million Syrians have been internally displaced, which brings the total number of people forced to flee their homes around 11 million. About 5 million of those people are children according to the United Nations.

A report released by the UN in March of 2015 detailed that 4 out of every 5 Syrians is now living in poverty. Numerous war crimes have also taken place by all of the parties involved in the conflict. The government and rebel forces are accused of civilian suffering which includes blocking off access to food, water and health services.

The Islamic State is also accused of terror in Syria. They are known for administering harsh punishment on those who don’t accept their rule, which includes attacks on civilians.

The brutality inflicted from the rise of these jihadist groups has caused other countries from around the world to get involved in an attempt to stop eliminate the crisis. In 2014 the United States led air strikes in an attempt to ultimately destroy the Islamic State.

Russia is Al Assad’s largest supporter, and has led continued support in supplying the Syrian government’s military efforts with weapons despite international criticism. In September 2015 Russia started to launch its own air strikes against the rebel forces.

Despite help from other foreign powers, the violence in Syria still continues, and other conflict is now arising in countries where refugees are fleeing to, as they face a lot of tension from the citizens of these countries, and it does not appear that there is going to be an end to this crisis anytime soon.

Local, School Life

Hmong New Year @ Highland

The jingling sound as they proudly walk around downtown St. Paul in their traditional clothes would bring nostalgia of the winter holiday season. However, the origins of the sound is not from sleigh bells, but from the clashing of the silver coins that mothers sew on the traditional Hmong clothes, with a black sweater over the crisp white collar shirts.

Every year in Minnesota, people of the Hmong community form a gathering at the RiverCentre, in Downtown Saint Paul, during a three day weekend, displaying their cultural heritage, selling food, whose smell would strike ourselves insane, playing simple games, and watching various performances. People standing in parallel rows would happily play a game of ball tossing with the person across, or casually walk around taking pictures after reuniting with old friends and family. Performances include both modern and traditional dances, and features several famous Hmong singers. Other programs would include both a man and women pageant, and dance group competitions. These are one of the few events during the year where we can experience the vibrant cultures of ethnic minorities.

The Highland Park Asian Culture Club (ACC) will also be hosting their own celebration to represent the Hmong population in our school. The performance will take place on November 25, 2015 in the auditorium during sixth period. “This year we are focusing on showing talents, because during the actual Hmong New Year celebrations, there’s always a compilation of multiple Hmong talents,” said Quincy Yangh. 

The program will feature a singing performance, instrumental dance, and two traditional dance routines. Folk music will be blasting from the speakers, as the dancer’s are hands actively gesturing to the beat of the music and hips will be constantly moving side to side rhythmically. All are unified in their traditional vibrant clothes. 

This year, they will also hold a fashion show of all the different traditional clothes of the Hmong culture. Be sure to beg your teachers to reserve a spot for this program because this will definitely be something phenomenal that you will not want to miss!

ACC was previously advised by Highland’s Chinese instructor, but this year the role has been transferred to AVID teacher, Ms.McGraw. Meetings are held once a week on Wednesdays after school from 2:15- 4:00. This year they are proud to announce that Quincy Yangh is the president of ACC. All are welcome to join, even if you are not of Asian descent, just as long you have some interest in learning more and experiencing the Asian culture.

To those who don’t know about the Asian Culture Club, no, Asian Culture Club does not just spend time during meetings eating ramen! Among some of the other activities organized by ACC includes the Chinese New Year celebration, Asian Night (performances held towards the end of the year), and fundraisers during Valentine’s Day and Homecoming. The majority of the time, spent during meetings, is reserved to prep for big events such as the upcoming Hmong New Year performance. Otherwise, time will be spent developing ideas to produce interactive activities to promote the significance of maintaining Asian Cultures. There are also special occasions where they will hold potlucks and game days to celebrate their successes and hard work. 

Interested or considering joining ACC? You are more than welcome to drop by after school on any Wednesday to be a participate in the fun!