Keeping Schools Safe Gun Control Grabs the Headlines, but a Lot More Is Needed to Protect Teens
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www.threesixtyjournalism.org Volume 4 • Issue 2 May–June 2013 Minnesota Teens Report Stories and Issues That Matter KeepIng schools safe GUN CONTROL GRABS THE HEADLINES, BUT A LOT MORE IS NEEDED TO PROTECT TEENS. Pages 8–11 Difference maker Sondra Samuels’ tough past guides her future Pages 20–21 Old meets new Target Field’s eye-popping history lesson Pages 24–25 Illustration by Mary Wu Volume 4 • Issue 2 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is ThreeSixty Journalism? ThreeSixty Minnesota high school students, particularly low- Writers in this issue Thomas Aldrich, FAIR Minneapolis • Tatum Journalism is a youth journalism program of the income and minority teens, at summer camps at the Anderson, Lionsgate Academy • Anika Bowie, Hamline University • Simone College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. University of Minnesota. In 2001, the program moved Cazares, Woodbury HS • Ellie Colbert, Washburn HS • Mairead DeBruin, Thomas. The non-profit program is committed to to the University of St. Thomas and became a year- Avalon School • Jessica Enwesi, Southwest HS • Dami Gilbert, Robbinsdale helping Minnesota teens tell the stories that matter in round program with a full-time staff. Cooper HS • Hannah Gordon, Washburn HS • Elizabeth Hogshire, FAIR their lives and communities. What does the name ThreeSixty mean? In 2006, Minneapolis • Ibad Jafri, St. Paul Academy and Summit School • Megan What is ThreeSixty Journalism’s mission? the program’s name changed to ThreeSixty Journalism Johnson, FAIR Minneapolis • Selin Kurtoglu, Mounds View High School • ThreeSixty’s mission is to bring diverse voices into to reflect the program’s growth and the range of Simeon Lancaster, Concordia University PSEO • Isaura Lira Greene, Great River journalism and related professions and to using backgrounds among the students we serve. We are School • Frederick McConnell, St. Paul Conservatory of Performing Arts • intense, personal instruction in the craft and principles interested in telling stories from all parts of our Maya Shelton-Davies, River Falls HS • Amolak Singh, Nova Classical Academy of journalism to strengthen the literacy, writing skills community, using a variety of media tools, including • Darwesh Singh, Nova Classical Academy • Brianna Skildum, Roosevelt HS • and college-readiness of Minnesota teens. words, photos, illustrations and video. Gino Terrell, Hamline University • Victoria Turcios, Washburn HS Whom do you serve? ThreeSixty Journalism How can I get involved? ThreeSixty Journalism is Photographers and illustrators in this issue Isaura Lira Greene, directly serves more than 100 Minnesota high still accepting applications for our Intro to Journalism Great River School • Elise Swenson, Thomas Edison HS • Mary Wu, school students each year via after-school classes, Camp (July 8-August 1). For applications and details, Thomas Edison HS weekend workshops, school partnerships, individual go to our website: www.threesixtyjournalism.org/ coaching and summer journalism camps. About half summercamps2013. Publisher: Lynda McDonnell the students served come from low-income homes To submit ideas, essays, photos or artwork, Editor: Thomas Rozwadowski and more than 60 percent come from communities email them to [email protected] or Design Consultant: Diana Boger of color. We serve thousands more via our writing contact Editor Thomas Rozwadowski at thomas. contests, print publications and website—www. [email protected]. Community Outreach Editor: Katie Johnson threesixtyjournalism.org. To arrange classroom visits, contact Community AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer coordinator: Briana Gruenewald How did ThreeSixty Journalism start? The Outreach Editor Katie Johnson at katie.johnson@ Administrative Assistant: Tyanna Dickerson program began as the Urban Journalism Workshop stthomas.edu or Executive Director Lynda in 1971. UJW provided basic journalism training to McDonnell at [email protected]. Editorial offices: Mail 5057, 2115 Summit Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105 Connect with us online 651-962-5282 ✁ [email protected] Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. ThreeSixty is grateful to the following individuals who donate their time For Minnesota teachers If you would like to receive ThreeSixty free of charge four times a year, send the following and expertise to the success of the program: information to [email protected]. ThreeSixty Journalism Board of Advisors Brian Bellmont, Bellmont Name Partners Public Relations • Sue Campbell, MSP Publications • Dennis McGrath, School McGrath Buckley Communications Counseling • Dr. Dina Gavrilos, University School phone and extension ( ) Number of copies (30 minimum) of St. Thomas • Dr. Kristie Bunton, University of St. Thomas • Mike Burbach, St. Paul Pioneer Press • Doug Hennes, University of St. Thomas • Duchesne Email Drew, Star Tribune • Lida Poletz, Weber Shandwick • Scott Libin, Internet Address Broadcasting • Sara Boyd-Pelissero, WCCO-TV City, State, Zip Ex officio memberDr. Terence Langan, interim dean, College of Arts & Sciences, University of St Thomas To get an individual subscription through the mail, send a $25 check for one year (four issues) to: Marketing coordinator, ThreeSixty Journalism, 2115 Summit Ave., Mail 5057, St. Paul, MN 55105 Major supporters include Carl & Eloise Pohlad Family Fdn. • Bremer Please include your name, address and email address. Foundation • Best Buy Children’s Foundation • University of St. Thomas • John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Donor Advised Fund • Minnesota Literacy Council • Gannett Foundation • Dow Jones Newspaper Fund • Youthprise 2 threesixtyjournalism.org COVER STORY “could it happen to me?” Sandy Hook. Like Columbine before it, the name will forever be attached to school violence. Yet beyond the gun control rhetoric that has steered much of the subsequent political debate, school officials know what really goes into protecting students on a daily basis. Are schools safe? Absolutely, they say. Can they prevent a major tragedy with 100 percent certainty? Absolutely not. From Code Red lockdown protocols and peer outreach initiatives to one Minnesota community’s bold initiative to move a police chief into the principal’s office, ThreeSixty writers explore the complicated layers required to keep Twin Cities schools safe. I Pages 8–15 send comments to Threesixty Journalism CONTENTS MAY/JUNE Send your letters to ThreeSixty Journalism at 16 (anti) social media I 5 Beneath the surface I 22 2115 Summit Ave., Mail 5057, Think Facebook and Twitter is all fun and Teens might think domestic violence is an St. Paul, MN. 55105, or games? The Steubenville rape case puts teens adult-only problem, but signs of abuse aren’t comment online at under the social media microscope. always so obvious. www.threesixtyjournalism.org You can also join ThreeSixty long road to campus I 6 from collector to curator I 24 Journalism’s Facebook Waking up at 5 a.m. and taking three buses to No one knows more about Minnesota Twins fan page or follow us on attend class is just part of what makes college history than Clyde Doepner. And he has the Twitter@ThreeSixtyMN life rewarding for Gino Terrell. Target Field title to prove it. Thank you finance & commerce not your grandfather’s library I 16 United in their goal I 25 The print version of ThreeSixty Take a peek inside the Minneapolis Central The newly branded Minnesota United soccer will be published four times Library’s flashy new Teen Tech Center. team is ready to kick up the Twin Cities sports during the 2013–2014 school 25 scene a notch. year. Finance & Commerce YourTurn winners I 18 in Minneapolis has donated Our essay contest winners offer a window Balancing work and school I 31 printing of the publication. into their unique Minnesota neighborhoods. For Simeon Lancaster, a job scooping at We are grateful for this Izzy’s Ice Cream provided plenty of @16 with sondra samuels 20 generous gift. I sweet rewards. find more at our website: The head of Northside Achievement Zone www.threesixty reflects on her journey from underestimated journalism.org teen to powerhouse social activist. May/June 2013 3 This issue’s cause and effect artists and WASHBURN STUDENTS geT photographers TheIr say, BUT NOT WITHOUT Isaura lira THE NEED FOR REFLECTION greene is a junior at Great River oming home from spring break, I never Submitted Thanks to social media, Washburn High School students assembled High School thought that Washburn High School quickly to support beleaguered athletic director Dan Pratt. in St. Paul. Cwould make headlines in the StarTribune She speaks and be on the news. Or that I would participate Spanish, in a sit-in at school and skip my 5th hour to see Based on what we heard and other school activities. dabbles in French and loves to so many students sitting peacefully in front of our details that news outlets later Though it may have been a read, draw and listen to music in main office so that their voices could be heard. By Victoria reported, Mr. Pratt was threat- surprise to outside observers, her spare time. Isaura has also writ- I’m the sort of person who likes to stand up for Turcios ened with discipline because of a students weren’t completely ten reviews and personal essays what is right. I believe that others should always Washburn High new scoreboard he attempted to shocked by what happened for ThreeSixty. speak up and try to change a situation for the School secure for our football field. Also next. Following a school board better. attached were “personal matters,” meeting about the matter, the Elise Protesting two months before graduating from Washburn was some- but that information was never StarTribune published an article swenson thing I never expected, though. Nor did I anticipate it would become disclosed. about Principal Carol Markham- is a junior such a controversy in our community and throughout social media. The students only knew one Cousins’ job reassignment from at Thomas thing: That Mr. Pratt’s job was Washburn. Edison High It all happened quickly. Dur- spread quickly on Twitter—not in jeopardy. No one seemed to This was never the goal of our School in ing spring break in late March, only to students, but alum and know the full story, and that peaceful protests.