A call from the Minnesota Historical Society led Iron Range students to get a hands-on history lesson. They asked if we would connect with them and create an insert in our newspaper, Generation W, to talk about and recreate the history of the Iron Range. They led us to explore and do research on mining, people, environment, and journalism of the Iron Range. Our staff split up into 3 groups and worked on mining, people, and environment. The start of our project began with a Teen Summit, where the Minnesota Historical Society group talked about all of these topics and had presenters to talk about their life as an iron ranger. As a group we discussed the words that popped into our heads when we thought of an iron ranger, like fishing, hunting, fourwheeling, and mining. We set up a tour with the Chisolm Museum of Mining and the Mesabi College campus and they gave us an overview of the printing press and how newspapers are printed with all the works. Along with these 2 tours some of us toured both United Taconite’s Forbes Plant and Eveleth’s open pit and Acelor Mittal’s Pit and Plant Operation where they went in depth and helped us to understand modern day mining. We also took a trip to the Minnesota Historical Society and began to dig deeper into our topics. We took notes, pictures, and got a better feel for this whole project. They took us downstairs and showed us some of the archives that most people don’t get to see. While we were still in the cities we met with 3 journalists/reporters. They all had different stories and ways of publishing their work. We learned that back then they had to do

A small group of students from around the Range gathered together to further their knowledge of the Iron Range’s history and also talk about their lives on the range at the Teen Summit. Much of the focus was put on comparing different issues and trends among the people then and now, seeing if they still exist, and if they will in the future. As we spent the day watching a historical video, listening to different speakers, and forming small groups to discuss their own thoughts and ideas about the range and its future, we walked away from the experience with a better understanding of the interesting area they happen to call home.

The video we watched explained many issues that mining brought to the Iron Range and its workers. One major effect that comes with providing a key component to the world’s steel production and still exists today is suffering the major boom-and-bust cycles. Although the cycles are less extreme today, it shows the great importance in our mining industry. When mines were first getting started, one of the biggest concerns was keeping the workforce from unionizing and striking. Corporate spying and blacklisting are methods of the past to try and prevent strikes and unions, but that acts themselves have not totally been abandoned. Another issue that was discussed is the trends in Range politics. One of the speakers, Steve Potts, explained that before the secret ballot when miners voted at work, mining owners would make sure their workers’ votes were Republican, or they would be fired. The secret ballot led to the Iron Range being known as majorly

Jon Stewart of the Daily Show joked that the media treats Texas congressman Ron Paul like he is the “13th floor in a hotel”. While funny, it seems like it is true. Ever since Ron Paul joined the race, he was and has been neglected by the media; instead they focused on others like Sarah Palin and Donald Trump, who didn’t even run. Why is this? Some people believe that he has no chance. Others think that, if he was elected, he would hurt corporations. Either way, there is no doubt that he has been given a cold shoulder in the race for the republican nomination.

Back in August before the Iowa caucus, Ron Paul lost to Michele Bachmann by a mere 154 votes in the Ames Straw Poll, one of the most helpful polls in seeing what candidates are the best. Instead of acknowledging this near win, the media focused on Bachmann’s win and Pawlenty’s third place. The media ignored Ron Paul’s performance and complimented Bachmann, Romney, and Perry. Many of the networks said that they are the top tier of candidates but in reality Romney got less than 3 times the amount of votes than Pawlenty, who dropped out the next day. Yet still, no one talked or even mentioned Paul’s second place. In many of the debates leading up to the Iowa caucus, Paul got the most applause from the audience among the candidates, but the moderators looked less than pleased. Ron Paul received some attention after Jon Stewart had a story about his campaign and the little media coverage he is getting on the Daily Show. Stewart said that Ron Paul is “an ideologically consistent,

There are many genres of music that express different meanings. Music can express feelings, views, problems we face, solutions, and many other things. It can get you through the tough times. It can also make certain moments beautiful. Music helps us all say the words we cannot find.

In past history, music has had to suffer consequences. An example is when music was banned from being a luxury. No one was able to sing a note, dance, and even tap their toe when they started feeling jazzy. For me, let us just say that I would be suffering consequences greatly. There is not a moment in time when there is not a song running through my head or I am humming to a little ditty. To this day, in areas like Afghanistan, Russia, some places in the United States, and many other places, some genres of music are still banned.

From the front line to the technical devices here at home, from the subway, below the ground, to the planes, high in the sky, music is everywhere. Everyone has a song in their soul and within our lives we try to write it. Our songs explain who we are as people, who we wish to be, and or what we have become. Ronald Reagan once said, "Life is one grand, sweet song, so start

Every year, IRYA hosts a conference in which groups from all over the range present workshops on issues they feel are important. This year there were over five hundred students attending the Make A Difference Conference at Fortune Bay Resort. The Conference has been held for over a decade for teens around the Iron Range to come learn about important issues, hear inspirational speakers, and become better speakers themselves. Each student went to three different workshops put on by their peers, to learn about these different issues and how they can create a change in the world.

To start off the conference, champion log roller JR Salzman spoke about his time in the Iraqi war and over coming life’s challenges. Later in the day, a woman named Reshma Pattni spoke about the injustice in the world and how you can expand and change the world. Both speeches were very moving, and added to the quality of the conference.

The workshops were held by groups from Northwoods, who led “Rachel’s Challenge”, “’X’ the text” by Northeast Range, “Respect” by Eveleth-Gilbert, “Bullying” by Mt. Iron-Buhl, “Pregnancy and STD Free” by Chisholm, “Juice It Up” by South Ridge, “It’s All About Attitude” by Virginia, “Dating” by Ely, and finally “Not For Sale” by Mesabi East. The groups prepared for their presentations for weeks and for hours the night before.

While some prepared for their workshops, others set up the