Sleep & the Teen Brain
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Volume 4 • Issue 4 www.threesixtyjournalism.org December 2013–January 2014 $1 Minnesota Teens Report Stories & Issues That Matter SLEEP & THE TEEN BRAIN Teenagers continue to underestimate a full eight hours of sleep at their own peril, but is too much homework or technology to blame? n Page 12 STAYING GROUNDED Jeremy Messersmith keeps his music goals minimal. n Page 8 PERSONAL PRIDE Young voices help shape the same- sex marriage debate. n Page 16 Kimberly Martinez Volume 4 • Issue 4 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is ThreeSixty Journalism? ThreeSixty How did ThreeSixty Journalism start? The Writers in this issue Simone Cazares, St. Paul Conservatory for Journalism is a youth journalism program of the program began as the Urban Journalism Workshop Performing Artists • Ellie Colbert, Washburn HS • Mairead DeBruin, College of Arts and Sciences at the University of in 1971. UJW provided basic journalism training to Avalon School • Dillan DeGross, FAIR School Downtown • Tyanna St. Thomas. The non-profit program is committed Minnesota high school students, particularly low- Dickerson, University of St. Thomas • Dami Gilbert, Robbinsdale to helping Minnesota teens tell the stories that matter income and minority teens, at summer camps at the Cooper HS • Hannah Gordon, Washburn HS • Nichelle Heu, Harding in their lives and communities. University of Minnesota. In 2001, the program moved to HS • Madie Ley, Elk River HS • Kimberly Martinez, Harding HS • Shay the University of St. Thomas and became a year-round Radhakrishnan, Math and Science Academy • Elena Renken, St. Paul What is ThreeSixty’s mission? ThreeSixty’s program with a full-time staff. Central HS • Lana Rubinstein, River Falls HS • Amolak Singh, Nova mission is to bring diverse voices into journalism and Classical Academy • Brianna Skildum, Roosevelt HS • Danielle Wong, What’s the name ThreeSixty Journalism mean? related professions and to using intense, personal Eastview HS • Thomas Wrede, Cretin-Derham Hall • Gabie Yang, instruction in the craft and principles of journalism In 2006, the program’s name changed to ThreeSixty Forest Lake Area HS • Mina Yuan, Wayzata HS to strengthen the literacy, writing skills and college- Journalism to reflect the program’s growth and the Illustrators in this issue Isaura Lira Greene, Great River HS • readiness of Minnesota teens. range of backgrounds among the students we serve. Aamino Hirmoge, Harding HS • Kimberly Martinez, Harding HS • We are interested in telling stories from all parts of our Mina Yuan, Wayzata HS Whom do you serve? ThreeSixty Journalism community, using a variety of media tools, including directly serves more than 100 Minnesota high school words, photos, illustrations and video. Publisher: Lynda McDonnell students each year via after-school classes, weekend workshops, school partnerships, individual coaching How can I get involved? To submit ideas, Editor: Thomas Rozwadowski and summer journalism camps. About 60 percent of essays, photos or artwork, email them to info@ Design Consultant: Diana Boger the students served come from low-income homes threesixtyjournalism.org or contact Editor Thomas Community Outreach Editor: Katie Johnson and more than 70 percent come from communities Rozwadowski at [email protected]. Communications Marketing Coordinator: Briana Gruenewald of color. We serve thousands more via our writing To arrange classroom visits, contact Community contests, print publications and website—www. Outreach Editor Katie Johnson at katie.johnson@ Administrative Assistant: Tyanna Dickerson threesixtyjournalism.org. stthomas.edu or Executive Director Lynda McDonnell Editorial offices at [email protected]. Mail 5057, 2115 Summit Ave. St. Paul MN 55105 651-962-5282 [email protected] FOR MINNESOTA TEACHERS ✁ Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. ThreeSixty is grateful to the following individuals who donate their time If you would like to receive ThreeSixty free of charge four times a year, send the following information to and expertise to the success of the program: [email protected]. ThreeSixty Journalism Board of Advisors Brian Bellmont, Name Bellmont Partners Public Relations • Sue Campbell, MSP Publications • David Cazares, Minnesota Public Radio • Dennis McGrath, McGrath School Buckley Communications Counseling • Dr. Dina Gavrilos, University School phone and extension ( ) Number of copies (60 maximum) of St. Thomas • Dr. Kristie Bunton, University of St. Thomas • Mike Burbach, St. Paul Pioneer Press • Doug Hennes, University of St. Thomas Email • Duchesne Drew, Star Tribune • Lida Poletz, Weber Shandwick • Scott Libin, Internet Broadcasting • Sara Pelissero, WCCO-TV Address Ex officio member Dr. Terence Langan, Dean, College of Arts & City, State, Zip Sciences, University of St Thomas Major supporters include our advertisers, donors and the To get an individual subscription through the mail, send a $25 check for one year (four issues) to: following organizations • Marketing coordinator, ThreeSixty Journalism, 2115 Summit Ave., Mail 5057, St. Paul, MN 55105 Best Buy Children’s Foundation Bremer • • • • Please include your name, address and email address. Foundation Carl & Eloise Pohlad Family Fdn. Carlson Comcast Dow Jones Newspaper Fund • Gannett Foundation • Google • Hubbard Broadcasting • Mall of America • StarTribune • University of St. Thomas 2 threesixtyjournalism.org PERSONAL PRIDE PERSONAL CHOICE IT didn’T matter that some couldn’T even vote yet. Young voices helped shape this year’s historic political battle to pass same-sex marriage legislation in Minnesota by phone banking, door knocking, and perhaps most important of all, talking about their families. ThreeSixty reporter Elena Renken spoke with teens and same-sex parents about the impact of marriage equality on their past, present and future, and further examined the political and personal ramifications with the man who orchestrated the Minnesota ground game for same- sex advocates, Richard Carlbom. Yet as the celebrations continue, St. Thomas student Tyanna Dickerson reflects on her own beliefs—and how dedicating herself to religion may have changed her vote, but (hopefully) not her friendships. n Pages 16-19 Send comments to ThreeSixty Journalism CONTENTS DECEMBER/JANUARY Send your letters to ThreeSixty Life on the east side A Harding senior explores how her much-maligned neighborhood in east Journalism at 2115 Summit Ave., 20 St. Paul has shaped her background yet fuels a desire to get out. n 4 Mail 5057, St. Paul, MN. 55105, or comment online at www. Faith in a box At the moment she should have been forging an important bond with Catholicism, threesixtyjournalism.org a once-proud “Jesus Freak” began examining her faith in new ways. n 6 You can also join ThreeSixty @16 with Jeremy Messersmith With a new album arriving in February, the self-proclaimed Journalism’s Facebook fan “Pied Piper of wuss rock” chats about his struggles, successes as a musician. n 8 page or follow us on Twitter@ ThreeSixtyMN Fan-demonium Anything can happen with fanfiction. And that’s the way readers like it. But what would J.K. Rowling have to say about a pregnant Harry Potter? Hmmm … n 11 Connect with us online No rest for the bleary A mountain of AP homework, plus extra-curriculars, plus part-time jobs, plus house chores, plus … it’s no wonder teens are struggling to get eight hours of sleep. n 12 YourTurn contest winners What does marriage mean to you? Teen readers responded—some Thank you Finance 22 with wedding bells on; others, not so much. n 14 & Commerce College crisis? It should be one of the best times in your life. Yet the agony of applying to The print version of ThreeSixty college—and, of course, waiting to get in—can be difficult to navigate without help. n 20 Journalism magazine will be published four times during the Q&A with Trent Tucker Do we care about high school sports too much? The former NBA star n 2013-2014 school year. Finance talks about his role as the Minneapolis Public School District’s new athletic director. 22 & Commerce in Minneapolis Language barrier The “R-word” carries an overwhelmingly negative connotation in the has donated printing of the developmentally disabled community. Can a campaign help put a stop to it? n 27 publication. We are grateful for Fresh, fast and for students this generous gift. Hector Ruiz is living the American dream. His third Minneapolis restaurant, La Fresca, aims to extend that vision to local high school students. n 30 December 2013 / January 2014 3 Letter from the editor conversation led me (along with about their backyard, so why not finalized at this very moment. I’m Own your story. executive director Lynda McDonnell) offer the Pioneer Press an opportu- not sure that a resolution needs to be to Johnson High School after its nity to see what you, the everyday reached, only that it’s a positive step student council reached out to us east side teenager, believes to be for all parties—media and students Own your voice. about recent Pioneer Press coverage. true? alike—to facilitate conversation and They were upset by a perceived rash That’s your story. Own it. (gasp!) learn more about each other. of unfair youth labeling after that I’m happy to say that a meet- That’s journalism. IT’S A mantra here at same violent surge—in particular, ing between the Pioneer Press and And guess what? Anyone can ThreeSixty, the idea that whether Thomas Ray Widstrand’s near-fatal beating in Johnson student council is being own it. you’re a teen reader or (hopefully) Rozwadowski August. Editor teen writer, you should own the We met with several motivated Online curriculum power of your life experience— Johnson students who were ready what you see on a daily basis at to have their voices heard. In fact, Stories with this icon have curriculum online tied to home, school and in the commu- can just pick teen brains for unique on our walk to the student coun- online the Minnesota Common Core Standards. Visit www. nity. Without it, we don’t have a insight.