The Spectrum Newspaper January 2021 by Spectrum Newspaper

spectrum

the blakespectrum.org

“Your Voice in Print”

Wednesday | January 27 | 2021

The Blake School

Issue IV

Semester Away Experiences Continue, Despite COVID-19 Restrictions Despite COVID-19 restrictions, global programs continue to excite Emma Martinez Sutton & Sara Richardson | Editors Emeriti

hile most students transitioned to hybrid learning (HTLP) in the fall, Gunnar Johnson ‘23, Hank Bernhardt ‘22, Rabi Michael-Crushshon ‘22, and twins Sofia Hedlund ‘23 and Marcus Hedlund ‘23, transitioned to their semesters away.

Michael-Crushshon spent her first semester at the Alzar school in Idaho where she enjoyed a different and outdoor-based learning environment that allowed her to build leadership skills and explore new passions. Due to the pandemic, the first two weeks of classes occurred outdoors, masks were required in class, and, most significantly, the half-semester trip to Chile was canceled. She enjoyed Alzar because of the outdoor trips and focus on leadership both in the classroom and

on expeditions. She says, “We went on two twoweek expedition blocks where we were just out in the wilderness camping... and our expedition groups were eight to ten people, so you’re kind of relying on each other.” Sofia, Marcus, and Gunnar all attended Swiss Semester in Zermatt, Switzerland. Inspired to go from her older brother’s experience and photos online, Sofia was excited to have the opportunity to spend time both in school and outside trying new activities. Gunnar echoes this saying,

Submitted by: Sofia Hedlund

Sofia Hedlund ‘23 speaks to the impact that COVID-19 had on the semester: “Normally, there is a trip to Venice, and we couldn’t do that because Italy was getting shut down.”

“My brother had done it as well and thought it was amazing, so I was looking to have the same experience ... the trips around are a lot of fun, because you’re in school but you’re able to go out and have a super nice break ... being able to ski in November and then go to classes in the afternoon is super nice.” Sofia was able to experience new things that she wouldn’t have been able to anywhere else, stating, “I got to go paragliding and ride in a helicopter. It was also really crazy to be able to go out into the mountains every single day.” Bernhardt went to Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki in Wiscasset, Maine, an outdoor program that focuses on environmental education. He describes, “It was more like field-based, a lot less classroom orientated, more about learning with your hands. You’d learn it, then you would see it ... one

Submitted by: Rabi Michael-Crushshon

Rabi Michael-Crushshon ‘22 had the opportunity to lead her group during a hike. She had to use maps to guide the group and follow trails.

week we learned about the intertidal zone, then we went to the ocean to see what we had learned about.” Before attending the program, Bernhardt and his classmates were required to quarantine for two weeks

and have two negative COVID-19 tests. Once they arrived, they had to quarantine for another two weeks. Although they looked slightly different this year due to COVID-19, semesters away did not fail to impress.

In-person Dining Reopens, Employees Affected Reactions to HTLP 2.0 Restaurants open up with various safety practices in place Zoey Ueland | Staff Writer

that follows the guidelines outlined in the “Stay Safe MN” plan created by the Minnesota Department of Health. The recent switch to indoor dining allows restaurants and bars to operate at 50% capacity with extra restrictions such as 10 p.m.

curfews, a maximum of six people per table and two people per bar table, with continuous spacing six feet apart. Basketball player Kunga Shidhe-Chokra ‘22, who works at Wendy’s, expresses his concerns regarding safety and main-

innesota restaurants have opened back up for indoor dining. Governor Tim Walz enacted executive order 20-99 on Nov. 18 in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. During this time, restaurants were allowed to do takeout, use delivery service apps, and seat people outdoors, which in cold Minnesota winters was challenging. Additionally, delivery service apps such as Doordash take a large percentage of restaurant earnings. On Jan. 11, Walz’s executive order 20-01 called for the reopening of restaurants and bars. Under this order, restaurant and bar owners must create a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Zach Brener ‘22 and Kunga Shidhe-Chokra ‘22 both work at the Wendy’s near Southdale Mall on Hazelton Road.

A Conversation with Congressman Dean Phillips ‘87. He recounts the events at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and answers questions regarding the current state of the nation. Pages 8-9

Perspectives on the permanence of George Floyd Square. Students share their points of view on what should be done with the memorial at George Floyd Square. Page 13

Karsten Farris

taining a presence in winter sports: “It’s more of a risk of contracting COVID ... I really don’t want anything badly to happen with COVID like having to quarantine for 14 days, that’s two weeks of our three month [season] ... being safe is the number one priority.” However he also mentions, “I think [indoor dining] is kind of necessary for the business.” Rose Goldenberg ‘23 works at Snuffy’s, and she explains some of the benefits of indoor dining saying, “I’m excited that indoor dining is available mostly because of the tips ... I feel like it’s one of those okay decisions because if you’re not comfortable dining in you don’t have to.” She continues saying, “Snuffy’s is pretty good about spacing their tables six feet apart now, but all of the servers want more tables ... I guess each restaurant is probably pushing the lines as far as they can for financial reasons.”

French teacher Pachao Yajcherthao shares, “I think it is more stable ... you know exactly what to expect ... [and] the seventy-minute classes are nice because we get a lot done ... but I think that one of consequences [is] that we don’t see each other as much.”

Betsy Fries

Peter Johnson ‘22 expresses his thoughts saying, “I think I will [like the new schedule more] because ... sometimes we had one class a week ... but I think with this schedule classes will be a little bit closer together.”

Get to know math teacher Andy Cantrell. A look into Cantrell’s journey to Blake, the various twists and turns that led him here, and his passions outside of the classroom. Page 15

NEWS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 2

STAFF

New COVID Strain Identified in Britain, Results in Lockdown Dr. Canfield interprets recent COVID-19 developments Evan Vezmar | Staff Writer

The Blake School 511 Kenwood Pkwy Issue 4 January 27, 2021 Co-Editors-In-Chief: Sage Marmet | Noor Naseer Managing Editors: Maggie Seidel | Will Rosenblum Creative Director: Betsy Fries Online Editor: Will Rosenblum Multimedia Editor: Dylan Gainsley | Ben Lim Photo Editor: Betsy Fries Front Page Editor: Noor Naseer News Editor: Sofia Perlman Student Life Editor: Emily Rotenberg Arts & Culture Editor: Dylan Gainsley Science, Technology, and Health Editor: Noor Naseer Sports Editors: Will Rosenblum | James Prince InDepth Editor: Maggie Seidel Food Editor: Betsy Fries Games Editor: James Prince Opinions Editor: Bernadette Whitely Perspectives Editor: Will Rosenblum

ust as the vaccine was beginning to be administered to people all across the United States and things began to finally look up, 2020 threw one last piece of bad news at us. A new variant of COVID-19 that has been ravaging the world has been discovered in Britain and has appeared in patients in the United States. The United Kingdom has gone back into a lockdown, and it is uncertain whether or not the U.S. will follow. Biology teacher Michael Canfield explained the differences between the original strain and the new one by saying, “There are mutations happening all the time in viruses … and I think what would make something a

different strain would be that it would have a fundamentally different aspect … so it would be a feature that would allow us to say ‘that’s different.’ The genetics of viruses is pretty simple, there’s just not that many genes, and if they mutate, it would cause a problem with the virus that’s not going to work, but a few of them would change something more fundamental about the virus.” One of the big differences between both strains is their transmissibility. The CDC remarked that based on the data from the U.K., this new strain is about 50% more transmissible than the original strain, because of an increase in the number of virus particles that are spread through a cough or a sneeze. Because the new strain is more transmissible, there could be more patients getting the coronavirus, backlogging hospitals, and then leading to more deaths. On top of that, the chance of

achieving herd immunity decreases as people either being infected by the virus or getting vaccinated might not be immune to the new strain. Luckily, as the Washington Post says, “There is no evidence that the variant, which has recently been detected in more than 30 countries, carries a greater risk of severe disease or death.” The article goes on to say, “The newly authorized vaccines are likely to remain effective against any variants seen so far because they elicit a broad array of neutralizing antibodies and other immune system responses.” The Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna vaccines have easily modifiable messenger RNA strands that can be changed to account for any variation in the virus. When asked whether the coronavirus might end up being like the seasonal flu in several years, Canfield illustrated how COVID-19 might go through natural selection

Zoe Florida in order to survive in the human population for as long as possible. He says, “Let’s say I get the coronavirus and I get super sick … that’s good because I create a lot of coronavirus … so if not many people are immune, then the probability is high that those particles are going to get to another person. But the strategy’s different, ten years down the road, if a virus gets in me, I get really sick, and if the people around me are immune, that strain is not going to persist … the

virulence determines how easily it spreads.” All of the new information about how much damage this new strain could cause, might lead to postponements in the reopening of businesses and schools, which will continue to hurt students, parents, and business owners. However, even through these trying times, continuing to wear a mask and socially distancing is the best way to mitigate the possible consequences of a new variant of COVID-19.

Features Editor: Sage Marmet Student Spotlight: Sage Marmet Business Managers: Maggie Seidel | James Prince Adviser: Anna Reid

STAFF WRITERS: Shira Aronow, Anna Johns, Jenna Thrasher, Kendall Phillips, Amaka Nwokocha, Ben Lim, Emily Anderson, Nya Manneh, Kate Rekas, Shagun Sinha, Chad Woerner, Sophie Herron, Mackenzie Higgins, Christopher Chen, Molly Seidel, Mallika Malaviya, Zoey Ueland, Keaton Rannow, Nina Bush, Amelia Bush, Winnie Ulland, Evan Vezmar, Lucy Wolfe, Cleo Kilpatrick, Allyson Jay STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Elena Gill, Karsten Farris, Oscar Walsh STAFF ARTISTS: Melody Lee, Zoe Florida, Mallika Malaviya, Sophia Vezmar BECOME A STAFF MEMBER: Contribute to the paper three times consecutively to be promoted to a staff writer! JOIN SPECTRUM: Spectrum meets in room 351 and on Zoom during clubs & community time every Wednesday/Thursday. Please come if you are interested in writing, drawing, designing, or taking pictures for the newspaper. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Disagree with something that’s in the paper? Have an opinion you want to share? Like to draw editorial cartoons? Take a stand and speak out. E-mail letters or editorial cartoons to spectrum@blakeschool.org or deliver them anonymously in room 351. Please limit letters to 400 words. MISSION STATEMENT: The primary purpose of the Blake School Spectrum is to report news and to explain its meaning and significance to our readers and the community. We hope to inform, entertain and provide a school forum for the unrestricted exchange of ideas and opinions. STYLE STATEMENT: Spectrum uses Associated Press (AP) Styles as of the February 2020 issue.

Despite Being Entirely Online, DECA Continues, Flourishes DECA distances, altering competition experience Will Rosenblum | Managing Editor

espite moving online, DECA, the Distributive Education Clubs of America, has been able to function smoothly. DECA has yearly competitions that consist of two different sections: written events, consisting of 5-20 page papers, and role plays, which involves re-

ceiving a prompt the day of the competition and getting a limited amount of time to present solutions. The group meets every week to check in on plans for projects and mock role plays. Even though in many other schools DECA is an entire class, Blake has consistently found success in competitions in the past. Due to an abrupt departure of one of the advisors of the club, social studies teacher David Zalk ‘66 has been helping out this year. Elle McCarty ’21, presi-

dent of the club and three year DECA veteran, reminisces on the fun experiences she has had at previous events, saying, “[I] feel bad for new members because they cannot experience the over the top events.” This year, the competition consists of submitting a recording of your submission to judges to avoid the normally crowded nature. But there are also some positives to this way. DECA members can re-record their videos and have more time in each event.

“[I] feel bad for the new members because they cannot experience the overthe-top events” -Elle McCarty Cayden Liao ’24, who has tried DECA for the first time, says that “it’s really weird, especially looking at the reviews they say that going in-person is really fun, and that is

what I was expecting and preparing for.” This year, thirteen DECA members advanced from the districts level to the state level for at least one of their events.

Social Compact Required to Return In-Person Learning Students largely support signing requirement Betsy Fries | Creative Director

ith the New Year and ongoing pandemic, the social compact is a guideline created to ensure the safety and well being of the Blake community. It affirms Blake’s strong core value of respect and sets expectations for Upper School students and their families in and outside of school. Expectations like wearing masks, social distancing, monitoring health, following the safety plan by Governor Tim Walz, and protocols

Noor Naseer

for quarantining are all stated on the document. Additionally the consequences stated at the bottom are listed in rising order of severity. For students who are all remote, but are still in sports, they do in fact have to sign the social compact. Joe Ruggiero states, “What we’re asking people to do is really just to

abide by the guidelines that the state is issuing.” In an effort to balance setting and enforcing expectations, the social compact is a reminder that one’s actions can have a major impact on the greater community. As the social compact is for the health and security of the students, it aims to impact them

in a positive way. Many students acknowledge and understand the measures needed to be taken. Roy Chebaclo ‘22 states, “I think it makes a lot of sense because most of what the school is doing is very helpful and cautious of the community, making sure everyone’s best interests are in mind, and keeping everyone safe. At the same time I can see why someone might think it’s not right because they’re controlling what you do outside of school.” Additionally Nico Valiente ‘23 agrees and believes that “It should’ve been done from the beginning of the year and that would’ve been so helpful.” In the beginning of the year the Blake admin-

istration relied on members of the community to use common sense and good judgement, the social compact puts it in writing to ensure in-person learning and the best possible education for their students.

Betsy Fries

Upper School Director Joe Ruggiero comments on the recent social compact.

STUDENT LIFE | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 3

Tips to Remain Motivated Virtual Assembly Challenges Us to Get Creative Students offer advice for second semester success Amelia Bush | Staff Writer

taying motivated has proven to be a challenge this past year as online school became the new norm. With everyone working remotely, the line between school and home has blurred, leaving students with the struggle to maintain productivity. Ingrid Vorbrich ‘22 expresses, “I feel that I am the most productive when I am not at home, so being home all the time, and not being able to go places was really hard for me ... there wasn’t a change in environment that allowed me to distinguish schoolwork from being at home.” A helpful tip for trying to differentiate school work from being at home is to use two different locations, one for being productive and the other for lounging around. This dif-

ferentiation will mimic an environmental change and hopefully will improve productivity. Ishan Khurana ‘22 shares, “What worked well for me was just writing a list of all of my assignments and keeping a planner and stuff like that, just to make sure I keep on track.” This is beneficial because it allows you to see all of the work you have accomplished which brings additional motivation. Khurana also finds it helpful to, “cross stuff off when I finish it.” Another tip t o stay on task is to take timed breaks every 30 minutes and start with the assignments that are the most important, rather than doing what you want to do. Although Vorbrich says that “Breaks did not work for me,” it is important to recognize that w h a t works for one person may not work for everyone. Ultimately, staying motivated is more important than ever now that we have returned to hybrid learning for the second semester, so find what works for you.

Assembly moderators adapt to Zoom Shagun Sinha | Staff Writer

tudent Leadership activities have always been popular and important, but especially Assembly Moderating. This job is crucial because it engages the audience while presenting important information and events to the student body and faculty. However, this year because of COVID-19, the job has changed tremendously. Kalissa Fruetel ‘21 says, “adapting to being virtual was a bit awkward at first

but knowing that people are watching me even if I can’t see them made it easier.” Switching from in-person to virtual was a tremendous change because nobody knew how that would affect assembly. There are many challenges to being an assembly moderator, for example, Ryan Ressemann ‘21 explains, “Making conversation at the beginning of assembly can be challenging” and especially with this year, making small talk over Zoom can be awkward. Yet, with all of its challenges, assembly moderators have been able to adapt. Ressemann says, “Dr. Berkowitz has made it very easy to

Emily Anderson

Rachel Winkey ‘21, Ryan Ressemann ‘21, Solveig Bingham ‘21, and Ellie Goddard ‘21 are four of the assembly moderators for the 2020-2021 school year.

adapt and even though this year has been different than what I expected, it has still been something I have enjoyed a lot.” Assembly moderating has been a task that has shifted a great amount since

the start of online classes and even though “coming up with topics” can be difficult as Fruetel stated, our moderators have made it work and have brought their energy and enthusiasm to Zoom.

New Semester Results in New Color Groups Schedule changes increase student uncertainty Mallika Malaviya | Staff Writer

again.” The first day of school is stressful because it is difficult to get acclimated to a new environment with new people. Friendships were a concern for Savita Champlin

Champlin says. The initial division between colors, split many friend groups in half, requiring students to find new people in their color group. Although making new relationships seems intimi-

s we shift back to hybrid learning, approximately 75 students have had to make the switch to another color group. This change in groups initially seemed to be upsetting to many of those who had to make the transition. Getting adjusted to a new space is intimidating and difficult especially in the middle of the year. Leon Xue ‘22, who is making the transition from green group to blue said, “Initially I was really frustrated because to me it was like I have to go through a whole first day of school

Will Rosenblum

While most of the school day is spent in class, Savita Champlin ‘22 says, “I have grown apart from my friends in blue group”

‘22, who initially was told she had to switch groups, only to switch back to her original group. “I don’t want to have to go through the process of finding my place in a different group,”

dating, the combination of color groups over Zoom in the remote weeks will help students adjust to their new peers. Xue says, “We have seen the other groups so it is not like

they are total strangers.” Because students are able to interact with each other across color groups during this remote time, it will be easier for them to adjust to the in-person class setting because the space is not entirely new. In many cases, the switch is necessary in order to make the schedule work, but in Champlin’s case, she later discovered that there was no real reason for her switch and after some communication, she was able to switch back. When asked if there was anything that could have been done differently, Champlin responded, “I wish they would have given a reason for why they switched me.” Having clarity and communication in this difficult situation, would allow for students to better understand why they have to switch.

New Year’s Resolutions Inspire Optimism Despite the Pandemic Students gain positive outlooks surrounding new year Mackenzie Higgins | Staff Writer

ew Year’s resolutions look a little different in 2021 than they usually do. Around this time last year, people were committing themselves to goals as they would any other year, but within a few months, those expectations quickly crumbled. This year, many people will take a more realistic approach. With all of the uncertainty from the pandemic, it’s hard to have any sort of predictions for the upcoming year, however, students are still optimistic for what is to come.

Sidney Albright ‘24 looks forward to a time where masks and social distancing aren’t required. “I want to hang out with more people if it’s safe. After last year, I want to make up for the time we lost.” She also has a more positive outlook for the year in general. She comments, “I’m a lot more optimistic than I usually am. Maybe finally something good will happen.” Amanda Lee Molina ‘21 feels that after a year like 2020, her perspective on goals has changed, she states, “I don’t think I’m ever going to go into a year again thinking it’s going to be a better year than the last because it sets up unreal expectations.

I’m trying to lower my expectations so I don’t feel disappointed when they don’t happen.” Lee Molina is also optimistic for the new year to come, she adds, “I’m really hopeful that this summer people our age will

start to get vaccinated ... I hope that enough people come around to [the vaccine] just so we can sort of go back to normal.”

Additional New Year’s resolutions include journalling or spendBernadette Whitely, Shira ing time with friends Aronow, and Will Rosenblum like Shira Aronow ‘21, Maia Chavez ‘21, & Amanda Ward ‘21, as well as staying positive and productive like Natalie Sabes ‘21, Bruno Bazzett ‘21, Eliot Mitchell ‘21, and math teacher Lindsay McDowell

ARTS & CULTURE | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 4

Virtual Concerts Disappoint Fans Students Share Virtual Art Struggles

s a result of COVID-19, many artists have been forced to cancel their festivals, concerts, and world tours, resulting in a large increase of performances through social media, streaming services,

when the coronavirus started, but instead of letting her fans down, she held a livestream on her website. The only catch is, in order to attend, people had to pay 30 dollars per ticket. While the 30 dollars bought fans exclusive merchandise and other perks alongside seeing Eilish perform, to many individuals it still seems unnecessary to pay. Habon Samatar ‘22 shares, “I think that there is no need to pay [for virtual concerts] because you can just watch those videos

money back.” Unless the event is to help raise money for charity purposes Alex Weisman ‘22 agrees, “Since it’s not a concert in the traditional sense, I’m not going to pay anywhere near the traditional price.” Samatar feels that virtual concerts which support charitable causes sound a bit more realistic, yet they still lack the overall community and thrill of an in-person experience. With the current restrictions that are in place, artists have no other choice than

and other platforms. While online performances have always existed, in the past year the popularity has drastically increased in order to bring “live” shows to the fans in a time of uncertainty. Popular artist, Billie Eilish had to cancel her tour

online and you’re paying to be at home, and listen to an artist that you could just be listening to on spotify.” She goes on and says, “Artists aren’t really putting any money into their virtual concerts themselves so why would they need to get any

to use online platforms and streaming services. While this can be difficult to mimic the traditional concert experience, hopefully in the near future, our circumstances will change, allowing artists to start performing live, once again.

COVID-19 regulations ban large gatherings, artists create new ways for concerts Emily Rotenberg | Student Life Editor

Online school challenges art classes to adapt Ava Gilbert | Contributing Writer

any things have changed during online learning (RTLP) due to the pandemic. Nearly all classes have had to make a lot of changes to the activities they do in class, especially the arts. Classes such as ceramics, photography and drawing have had to undergo big changes in order to keep the classes functional. In ceramics, students are unable to be in school working on their artwork. Because of this they get to bring home clay to do their assignments. Students receive assignments on Canvas and would work on their artwork both on Zoom and for homework. During RTLP classes, students were able to show their work and get feedback from their peers.

Noor Naseer

During hybrid learning, students sit in ceramics class and prepare to enhance their sculpting abilities.

After receiving feedback, they could fix their work for later submission. When school operates as usual, students get to work with the poetry wheel. Due to the pandemic, however, hybrid learning (HTLP) students will not be able to use the poetry wheel when they return back into the building. In an interview about what a virtual art class looks like, Tyler Vandersall ‘24 says, “We would Zoom into Mr. Sago because he

Noor Naseer

Although students haven’t been able to use the wheels this year, they have still created amazing sculptures out of clay.

was remote, then listen to his instructions or guidelines, then go take photos around the school and courtyard regarding the theme.” In RTLP, photography students are sent home with a lens that they can put together on their phones to take pictures. For Zoom classes, students listen to what type of pictures they have to take and then they take the pictures in class or during homework. In an interview about how things have changed due to being remote with Donovan Schall ’24, a student in drawing, says, “In school was more learning the new concepts and at home seemed to actually use them for bigger pieces.” Despite adversity, arts classes are powering through the setbacks and have found alternative ways to keep class up and running.

Decoding Taylor Swift, True Meaning Behind Her New Albums Swift’s multiple new albums reveal secrets Maggie Seidel | Managing Editor

ot many 21st century artists can claim as many accomplishments as Taylor Swift, and her release of two complete albums--“folklore” and “evermore”--amidst a global pandemic is certainly no exception. Her two albums of 2020 brought soothing melodic notes to our slower paced yet increasingly stressful lives each day. Most recently, “ever-

more” was released Dec. 11, near her birthday on Dec. 13, as a surprise. Not only is it an album, but it also tells a story. Each word carries a particular meaning, and avid listeners have paid particular attention to each

arguably one of the most acclaimed authors of the 21st century. She is the record recipient of 32 AMAs, 10 Grammy Awards, and the first and youngest female to win album of the year more than once. Swift has championed

through music. The title “Gold Rush” already offers a connection to her relationship with Joe Alwyn, whom she often hiddenly refers to through the thread of “Gold” in song. Also in the second

Not only is it an album, but it also tells a tale and story syllable to uncover details of Swift’s life and her story. In doing so, she extends the identity of a songwriter beyond the confines of a musician and into lyrical and poetic territory. Swift is

women’s rights and also set the precedent for female songwriters to be acknowledged in Hollywood. Swift is not only an artist but also a symbol of a new era of female communication

verse, Swift writes, “My mind turns your life into folklore” which suggests that Alwyn is, indeed, her muse. In “Toleratre It,” many listeners suspect that the

story about a woman who unsuccessfully seeks the love and attention of her husband is inspired by Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ relationship recently broadcast on the fourth season of “The Crown.” While there is no way to be certain, the parallels are apparent in Swift’s remarks about the song, “I was thinking, ‘Wow, her husband just tolerates her. She’s doing all these things and she’s trying to hard and she’s trying to impress him, and he’s just tolerating her the whole time.’” “Happiness” incorporates themes of “longing and regret” according to The Insider. “The Great

Gatsby,” too, incorporates the same themes which led fans to wonder if Swift’s song was inspired by this era and work of fiction. Most notably from “folklore,” Swift announced the name of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ third child, “Betty”--her fourteenth track on the album. “Majorie,” in honor of Swift’s grandmother, displays the connection and love between a grandmother and her granddaughter. Swift writes about her respect for Majorie and pain she experienced once Majorie passed. This song provides an intimate piece of Swift’s family scrapbook and appears like a eulogy.

COVID-19 Rules, Museums Adapt, Provide Safe Space to View Art Limited attendence spurs change Sofia Perlman | News Editor

“

I think we’re realizing how important art is to our daily lives,” says Brian Sago. COVID-19 has greatly affected the arts, especially museums. Many museums have had to close down for prolonged periods of time in order to be safe during the pandemic. Museums across

the country have had to adapt and change the way they function to continue to share the arts with the community, An exhibit at The Walker, Faye Driscoll: Come On In, took place online so viewers could experience the arts from their home. The exhibit included video and audio of the installation. This exhibit was initially planned to be presented Feb. 17 to Jun. 14, 2020. However, since The Walker closed in Mar. due to COVID-19, it had to be canceled. Many were still able to enjoy this exhibit in a safe way after it was changed to

become an online experience. Another exhibit by Josh Fox, The Truth Has Changed, explores the world we live in today. It follows the history of the U.S. through Sept. 11 2001, the spreading of misinformation and propaganda, to Trump and the 2020 elections. The New York Times called it “One of the most adventurous impresarios of the New York avant-garde.” This special edition, pre-recorded performance is available, Jan. 29 through Feb. 1. The Online Nature allows the performance to reach many more people been online.

Betsy Fries

The Walker Art Center, right next to the Northrop Campus, was built in 1879 and contains numerous art exhibits both inside the museum and outside in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

SCI-TECH | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 5

Information Support Services Department Aids in Learning Mode Shifts Responsibilities change as new learning modes occur Emma Martinez Sutton | Editor Emerita

lthough students don’t often think about the work that goes into the technology in their classes, the Information Support Services (ISS) department does an incredible amount of behind the scenes work, especially during the sudden transitions to remote and hybrid learning. David Boxer is the Director of Information Support Services which encompasses multiple teams.

Boxer says the “Information Support Services department looks after all technology-related processes across all three campuses ... In Information Support Services we have what I refer to as three swim lanes.” The first is support services, which focuses on providing support to students and faculty with their technology and ensuring easy access to technology. The second lane is network and infrastructure. Boxer explains that this includes, “how your computer connects to the wifi, gets onto the internet, [and] how you’re able to sign into Google and Canvas and so forth.” The third and fi-

Justin Karels, a member of the Support Services team, says that “I haven’t noticed any consistency as far as the same question is being asked, more so something that I’ve observed that isn’t happening is checking self service for any updates, like Zoom [and] Google Chrome.”

nal lane is information management. Boxer says, “That’s everything from how you access the Ve-

racross student portal to when you first become a student at Blake and the information that gets

populated, as well as then sharing information to a wide variety of services such as information that goes into Naviance or Destiny or Hapara. So all the things that make, hopefully, your experience as a student easier in terms of being able to access instructional tools and resources.” Regarding the shift to Remote Teaching and Learning (RTLP), Boxer says, “We knew going into this school year... that we were never going to be able to recreate the same kind of experience that happens in the classroom. That was just a given.” From there, the entire department had to work together with other

department heads to set up video-conferencing networks, teach online orientations for teachers to prepare online learning, and determine the exact needs of each campus. Boxer elaborates on the changes this year saying, “I think what we attempted to do, with a lot of planning and support in a very short window of time, was to build out a program that probably in years past would have taken at least a year to plan and pilot and get feedback and iterate.” However, the “commitment, the flexibility, and the dedication that folks who’ve been tireless” in the process created a successful system.

Innovative Exercises, Ideas to Add into Your At-Home Workout Routine What goes into a successful workout? Nina Bush | Staff Writer

rdio CaDuring

Remote Teaching and Learning (RTLP) in the spring, I used to wake up early and run two-three miles every morning, but I have found that challenging to maintain this year. Now, I like to rotate between three different treadmill workouts. The first is to do 25 minutes of running at a pace that is challenging, but maintainable (starting lower and working your way up is important to prevent injury). I also like to do faster running for ten minutes, then walk for five, run for ten, and walk for ten to cool down. On days when I am feeling less motivated, I have found that simply walking for any period of time helps keep me from sitting all day, especially if I Facetime someone while I walk. Additionally, walking at a slow pace with an incline is also a great workout.

er Bod w Lo Workout One: y This workout consists of five one minute wall sits, five 45 second glute bridge holds, and five 30 second leg lift holds per leg. To do a leg lift hold, sit against a wall with your legs flat out in front of you. Then, keeping your back against the wall and one leg on the ground, lift the other up and hold about six inches above the ground. Then switch legs. Workout two: This workout consists of 20 reps of single leg squats per leg, 30 bridges, 15 single leg bridges per leg, 1 minute of ski jumpers, 25 squat jumps. End with two one minute square holds.

Co“There Three Thousand”: This workout consists of 3,000 total reps of five core exercises over two days: crunches, toe touches, in and outs, Russian twists, and leg raises. My recommendation for executing this is to do 300 reps of one exercise and then do 300 of another to eventually do 1,500 reps. Then, repeat this the next day. If you can’t do one of the movements, you can also substitute in or add in leg workouts. The other way you can do this is to do the one through 24 method. This means that you do one rep of each of the five workouts and then do two and then do three and so on until you get to 24 reps. You could also do the reverse and start with 24 reps and work your way down to just one rep.

Meteor Showers: What to Know Novel PS5 Causes Chaotic Craze With correct viewing processes, meteor showers wow Christopher Chen | Staff Writer

eteor showers give you a chance to not only appreciate the mechanics behind such an amazing force of nature, but you will also be able to appreciate the physical beauty presented forth from such a phenomenon. However, understanding the true nature of meteor showers is not a simple task. The most important aspect to fundamentally know is that meteor showers are a result of Earth’s planetary motion passing through the trail of a comet. The trail of a comet consists of dust, ice, gas, and other particles. When Earth happens to coincide with the trail of a comet, we can observe the debris passing through Earth’s atmosphere, therefore ob-

serving a meteor shower. Like stars, the individual comets in showers can appear very bright and will soar across the night sky. To fully appreciate a meteor shower, one must know how and where to see them. The first step is to find a location in which the sky is least i l - luminated by artificial

light. For instance, avoiding city lights and finding a location along the outskirts of the suburbs of Minnesota would be a great starting point. You can also opt in visiting EarthSky’s website which describes the best locations for you to view the showers and at which specific time in the night is optimal. EarthSky specializes in general astronomical sightings and

provides the latest information or logistics regarding these events In 2021 specifically, the most spectacular showers to view are the August Perseids shower and the November South Taurids, which occur around Aug. 24 and Nov. 12, respectively. Physics teacher Karen Phillips reminisces on her experience with meteor showers: “We were viewing the July showers and I noticed that they were astoundingly bright and reflec-

tive across the lake.” Knowing where and when to find these meteor showers will allow you to enjoy them in a similar manner.

New gaming system creates mad rush to purchase Will Rosenblum | Managing Editor

reasons as to why so many people want one. Scalpers, those who buy a PS5 with the intent to sell it at a higher price, have run rampant through the entire process. Online marketplace website StockX has reportedly

why [he] wanted to buy one.” For those like Grace who are looking to purchase a PS5, these unannounced drops may be their best chance. In early December, Grace started following an array of accounts

sold 80,000 on their website since the PS5’s launch. For others, simply the high demand and hype surrounding owning a PS5 is reason enough. Robert Grace ‘21 initially wanted to buy a PS5 to resell, but ultimately decided that he “didn’t want to be that guy.” Now, Grace “[doesn’t] really know

with notifications on in order to get notified when these unannounced drops take place. Even with these notifications, Grace encountered significant trouble, admitting that “I didn’t think it was going to be this challenging.” Reflecting on the experience, Grace says that it was “100% worth it... been gamin’ ever since.”

ince its release on Nov. 12, the PS5 has been one of the most highly sought after pieces of technology in the world. Despite selling four million units thus far, it’s still extremely difficult to acquire one, with unannounced drops typically selling out in minutes. Retailers like Walmart and Target offer these unannounced drops in order to lower the traffic on their websites. The shift to online shopping over the past year due to the pandemic has even further exacerbated the difficulties of buying a PS5, as more people are trying to get the console through these exclusively online drops. Although the PS5 is technically advanced, there are various other

SPORTS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 6

Nordic Mantains Chemistry

January Mystery Athlete skills as “passing or assisting” and believes she could continue to work on “rebounding.” This mystery athlete may not give herself enough credit, as Moe believes she is a “triple threat:” good at shooting, driving, and passing. Her favorite part of basketball is the team. She describes her favorite memory as “Two years ago, on teacher night, t h e teache r s w e r e very involved in the game and were super excited and were cheering all over the place. Specifically, Mr. Batiste. It was crazy; they were yelling all over.” To guess who you think the mystery athlete of the month is, email serichardso21@ blakeschool.org. The first person to guess the athlete may be recognized on Spectrum’s social media. Feel free to leave suggestions on who you think the next mystery athlete should be.

Sara Richardson | Editor Emerita

Jing Jing Munson

The Nordic team practices at Theodore Wirth Park in Golden Valley. All athletes are required to wear masks during practice. Pictured above from left to right: Lucas Schattenman ‘21, Anders Ekstrom ‘26, Alyssa Krig ‘25, Ella Johnson ‘21, and Oscar Alexander ‘23.

COVID-19 complications present difficulties Dylan Gainsley | Arts and Culture Editor

espite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on nearly all team sports, the Nordic Ski team has not let it slow them down. The team started off by practicing over Zoom, which is how most sports teams kicked off their season. Because of this, they had to miss out on typical Nordic activities such as dryland training and team bonding exercises. Even with these setbacks, how-

ever, the team has powered through and is now meeting in person with masks. For nearly all 20 members of the team, half being in Middle School, the chemistry between these players is just beginning to form. Without being able to practice together earlier in the year, there is a lot of catching up to do for this team. Nordic member Ella Johnson ‘21 states, “I think with COVID-19, and because we are such a new team, it’s not going to be a very competitive season. But currently we are doing a lot of technique practice and I think it is already going much better than anticipated.”

With all the roadblocks in the way of this team, it is going to be very difficult to achieve the goals that they set for themselves. With abnormal weather, constant wearing of masks, and a late start to the season these skiers have had to react and adapt to the constant changes without letting morale go down. Surprisingly, that’s exactly what this team has done. Overall, the Nordic team has shown extreme endurance and persistence to get to the point they are at, and hope to continue to do so as the season proggresses!

er favorite pregame snack is avocado toast, she wears Paul George White Nikes, and her favorite team is UConn Women’s Basketball. This mystery athlete is “encouraging, leads by example, and really pushes everyone to play their best,” as Cate Moe ‘21 describes, but she is just as impressive on the court. Starting when she was five, she has been on Orono youth basketball, MN Heat, and of course, the Blake Girls’ Basketball Team. Now, she’s point guard, captain, continually wins best defensive player, and is generally all-conference. Hanna Jessop ‘22 states, “ S h e’ s really helped o u r team because her and Cate Moe are kind of our core people that help the team, both offensively and defensively.” The mystery athlete describes her best

Mask Mandate Offers New Oppourtinities, ChalStudents react to mask-wearing requirment

built into it, but Uhler affirms that “We’ve been pretty strict about social

distancing. Even when proves to be more diffiwe’re practicing, we try cult for other more cardio to distance.” based sports, like hockey. Wearing masks

Noor Naseer | Co-Editor-in-Chief

ccording to the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), it is “requir[ed] that all persons in youth and adult sports wear a mask/face covering at all times, including practices, games or competitions.” There are exceptions for certain sports, as well as athletes who provide a “medical exemption” from a licensed medical professional, but for all other athletes, wearing a mask is becoming the new normal. This mask mandate looks different for all sports. Fencers already wear full face masks, and Oscar Uhler ‘22, shares, “We wear masks under our masks...fencing isn’t the most cardio intensive thing, but [wearing a mask] does make it more difficult.” Fencing also has a level of social distancing already

Oscar Walsh

Skiers may already be used to wearing a mask while competing, as for many these Ski Masks can serve as Covid masks. Pictured above is AJ Kahn ‘23.

William M a t z k e ‘22 shares “It’s pretty hard…[and] it’s definitely something to get used to, and even then most of the guys still aren’t used to it.” To combat the added challenge, Matzke shares that there are masks designed specifically for hockey: “There’s a lot of different kinds of masks, like there’s masks that connect to the face mask of the helmet, which are kind of easier, so they’re not directly against the face and [they’re] out a little bit more.” Despite practices being outside, Nordic skiers are still expected to wear masks. Lucas Schattenmann ‘21 explains Nordic’s unique situation saying, “It’s kind of weird because normally during the season, we wear buffs anyway, and so we’ll be covering our nose and mouth while we ski. But...having a mask on is definitely a lot worse overall, I mean it can

lenges get wet easily and usually they’re made of worse materials or less breathable materials [than buffs].” Basketball player Talia Pesky ‘22 looks to the positives of wearing masks saying, “People are definitely getting more used to [wearing masks], and I feel like it’s getting us in better shape.” She also speaks to the added interference of players not wearing their masks during games: “During the middle of the game, a girl [from the opposing team] had hers under her chin and the ref had to tell her to pull it up.” Member of the boys’ basketball team, Grayson Okoronkwo ‘24 sheds light on the other safety precautions the team is taking saying, “When we go for a team huddle, we have to social distance. We can’t interact with the JV players because if they get COVID-19, we will still be able to play and vice versa, and at the games, the chairs are set six feet apart.”

SPORTS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 7

New Coach, New Precautions Don’t Change Girls’ Hockey’s Goal New coach takes the reins as Girls’ Hockey readies to make a another playoff push Winnie Ulland | Staff Writer

fter worries that a season might not be possible the Blake’s Girls’ Hockey team looks forward to a full season as they get to know the new head coach for their program. Originally from upstate New York, Coach Whitney Colbert joined the Blake Girls’ Hockey coaching staff in May 2020. Coach Colbert has an extensive background which includes USA Hockey (the governing body for hockey in the United States) and as an assistant coach for the Chinese National Olympic Women’s team. Also new to the Blake coaching staff is Assistant Coach Kelsey Cline, who has played with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Minnesota Whitecaps. In her short tenure so far as the Blake Girls’ Hockey, Colbert has gained the respect of her team who look forward to the season with her. “Coach Whit is a really good coach; her tactics are really logi-

cal and impressive, and she always makes sure we understand what she means,” says Josephine Arlowe, ‘25 playing for her first season. Her sentiments are echoed by the team as they look forward to a season under new leadership. Nick Rathmann, Blake’s Athletic Director adds “Coach Whit is off to a great start. She works hard and cares. I have been impressed with her and her whole staff as they navigate year one at Blake during the pandemic. We are asking a lot of our coaches and athletes, and the entire Blake Girls’ Hockey program is doing a fantastic job.” The team played their first game, against Breck, on Jan. 16 and although they lost, they had a strong comeback on Jan. 18, when they beat Chisago Lakes 5-2. Suzy Higuchi ‘23 who scored on Jan. 16 game against Breck, and got an assist on Jan. 18 against Chisago Lakes, states, “The season is off to a really great start and I think the whole team is really starting to come together after the first couple of games.” As the team moves forward, they look forward to their next game on Jan. 30, against Visitation.

Winnie Ulland

Players from the Breck and Blake Girls’ Hockey teams stand for the National Anthem before their first rivalry match up of the 2020-2021 season. Despite putting up a good fight in their home opener, the Bears eventually fell to the Mustangs 5-3.

“Coach Whit is a really good coach; her tactics are really logical and impressive, and she always makes sure we understand what she means.” - Josephine Arlowe ‘25

After many weeks of anticipation and patiently waiting, Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball teams are back in action on the court. Coming into the season with a ranking of seventh in Class AA, Boys’ Basketball capitalized on their momentum from last year’s successful season that ended in the Section Finals. Led by a group of returning seniors, they went on to convincingly win their first two games against Cristo Rey and Breck. The Girls’ team, also led by a handful of returning juniors and seniors, started the season on a positive note with a demanding win over Christo Rey (75-60) and a close loss to Breck. Although only limited fans are able to show their support in person, both teams’ games can be livestreamed for free on NFHS Network. Bear Highlights

Snow Conditions Have Not Deterred Winter Sport Athletes Snowfall, unpredictable weather largely impacts outdoor sports Catherine Barry | Editor Emerita

o far this winter, we have gotten a significant amount of snow. However, the snowfalls have been as sporadic as the first snowfall of the school year was in Oct., and the temperature wasn’t cold enough then for the snow to stay on the ground. In late Dec. and early Jan., we got a significant

Oscar Walsh

The Alpine Ski Team stands and cheers each other on during practice on Jan. 22. The Alpine Ski Team has appreciated the larger January snowfall.

amount of snow, which ended up being the perfect time for it, as winter sports seasons began at that time as well. One of the captains of the alpine ski team Payton Crosby ‘21 says that “the snow conditions have been very unpredictable which has been hard for practice especially when it’s really warm because the snow is very heavy and loose, which can be dangerous. However, it has been good to train in different adverse conditions to get more experience skiing in different conditions.” Horseback rider

Grace Griffin ‘21 says, “I live two minutes away from my barn so usually the snow doesn’t usually affect my riding lessons. On occasion it will be cold, but because we ride indoors, we are lucky in that we aren’t that affected by adverse weather like the rain or snow.” However for Alpine and Nordic ski teams which are outdoors, the snow can really dictate how they can practice, but Crosby sees the weather as a blessing in disguise as she appreciates being able to practice racing under any and all circumstances.

INDEPTH | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 8

Congressman Dean Phillips Recounts Capitol Attack on Jan. 6 When democracy calls, leaders respond Sage Marmet | Co-Editor-in-Chief

“

[U.S. Capitol Security] promised us that ‘it is the US Capitol, it is secure and safe, and it is the hardest building in the world to get into,’” says Minnesota’s Third Congressional District Representative Dean Phillips ‘87 regarding his experience at the United States Capitol building on Jan. 6. Phillips says, “At [one p.m.] we started our proceedings for the Electoral College certification, so I walked over to the House Chamber. I was there as we started with Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. A little after we started, my daughters [Daniela Phillips ‘16 and Pia Phillips ‘18] and some of my family started sending me tweets and videos of the unrest that was starting to happen outside. So one of my colleagues from New Jersey [Representative] Tom Malinowski and I walked out of the House floor (we were in the gallery which is on the second level). Through the windows we could see what was happening below at the Capitol. There were very, very weak perimeters; there were just bicycle racks acting as a fence. Very few police officers are trying to keep back what was basically a mob. We went to a police officer in the building and said, ‘look, this is getting a little bit concerning.’” How-

ever, the situation continued to escalate further as the certification continued in the House Chamber. He continues, “Just a few minutes later a Capitol police officer got on the microphone and said that we had to immediately take cover under our seats and put on our gas masks, that insurgents had broken into the capitol and they were in the Rotunda coming towards us. [The officers] slammed the doors, locked them, and put furniture up against them. We sat there for a couple minutes not knowing what to do. I encouraged all of my colleagues that I was sitting with to join me in going to the other side of the chamber--the Republican side--because I felt that if these people were coming to cause harm, it would be to Democrats.” At this point, the Capitol’s security had been breached, posing a serious threat to the Representatives present at the Electoral Vote certification. Phillips shared how he realized the extent to which his white privilege was laid bare. He says, “I thought that I was aware of my privilege, but as we were making our way to the other side I realized that we could change the sides of the House floor we were standing on, but a lot of my colleagues couldn’t change their skin color. That made them a lot more vulnerable than the rest of us. And, another of my friends, a military veteran yelled for everyone to take off their pins (to identify who they are). He shared the other day that

he recognized that for those of us who were white, taking off the pin would have been smart, but for our colleagues of color taking the pin off might have been dangerous, because maybe the police officers wouldn’t recognize that they were members of Congress.” This stark moment made the extent to which racism and racial profiling exist in all circumstances exceedingly apparent. He adds, “As we left we heard the glass breaking and the gunshots; everything started to happen right as we got out of the chamber. We went to a secure room for about seven hours … Democrats and Republicans together for seven hours after that event. From that room a number of my colleagues have contracted COVID-19 because some of the Republicans refused to wear masks, but I had some really good conversations with my Republican colleagues about our responsibilities, what brought us to this point, and how we can try to repair and recover.” Phillips reveals the power that lies within conversation, and how it is so crucial in unifying and being able to find a middle ground, despite increasing political polarization. Undeterred by the events occurring earlier in the day, Phillips reports that “we went back after seven hours back to the chamber to fulfill our Constitutional duty to certify the Election. I think it was by 3:42 a.m. that we did, and we weren’t going to let anything stand in the way.”

Val rac Tru

Keat

21st serv mos racy prid ocra of neve

A Conversation with A Congressman Read full interview, quotes on blakespectrum.org Interview by Sage Marmet | Co-Editor-in-Chief & Maggie Seidel | Managing Editor

I. What advice do you have for young people who may consider running for elected office one day, but are becoming more disillusioned with the public rancor and criticism of their young people don’t personal affairs? gaged participate in our civil af-

“

My first message is one of invitation. There’s no question this has been the hardest job of my life. The most difficult challenges I’ve ever faced in my life are certainly right now. It has also been the most rewarding, and gratifying, and inspiring, and exciting, and meaningful experience of my life ... The truth is life is filled with twists and turns and ups and downs, but keep trying because you never know where it might lead. And, most of all, the reminder of what happened this week is if thoughtful, principled, en-

fairs, if you don’t run for office at some point in your life, we’re entrusting our democratic republic to others. And then I would argue, it doesn’t give you the right to complain if you’re not willing to participate. Whether it’s running for office, whether it’s working on campaigns, whether it’s advocacy on an issue important to you, be a participant...This is a wake up call, and your generation is going to be in a position to complete the repair...we need [in this country].”

Twitter: RepDeanPhillips

II. As a Congressman from Minnesota where the George Floyd tragedy took place, what are some of the most important actions we need to take as a nation?

“

We have to first start by opening our hearts and minds, and then we have to ensure that justice is brought, is comprehensive, and that it’s not just limited to people of a certain skin color or socioeconomic status. That’s something we all have to play a role in; we can pass laws in Washington or in St. Paul, but it is up to every American to turn that tide of injustice ... I argue that we have systems in place that make it harder for certain people in our country to achieve success. Your skin color, sometimes your religion, certainly, your socioeconomic status, where you’re born and your ZIP code.

All of those, this is not just a race-related issue--equity includes other people too who come from other disadvantaged circumstances. I think a thoughtful, enlightened country should do a little bit better, with more intention to give everybody a chance. So that’s how we address all of these issues, and it’s important you reflect on what I just said: we do have racial injustice, we also have economic injustice and that knows no skin color…we will not have security without justice and accountability. It is that simple. That’s the most important message: there will be no safety without justice or accountability, for anybody.”

III. Do you think that the bipartisan nature of the vote during Trump’s Impeachment this week is an isolated event or does it point toward an increase in representatives of both parties crossing is the daughter of former party lines? Vice President Dick Cheney,

“

In the short term, I think that ... you might actually see a conviction in the Senate. Whatever [Senator] Mitch McConnell [Jr.] decides to do will be very indicative of which way it will go. If Mitch McConnell [Jr.] says publicly, after hearing the evidence, that he plans to...vote to convict, you’ll see a lot of his Republican senators following him. If he says he won’t, [you’ll see] just the opposite. What happened in the House is actually very analogous, [Representative] Liz Cheney, who

a Republican, the number three leader in the House Republican Conference, and she announced that she was supporting the impeachment. And, as a result, that gave cover...to a lot of people who otherwise wouldn’t have the courage or wouldn’t have the fortitude to go against their party. So when a leader [goes against their party], it is really powerful ... But, the Impeachment Managers have to build their case. This is due process. This is a trial, and we’ll see what happens...”

trad twil by lead

Fo ide gov des

Jack Edit

stan is s one ciple Whe the look oppo port to e tion Jame they Com

INDEPTH | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 9

Echoes of Capitol Attacks Reverberate World leaders discuss America’s position of influence Jacob Sahar | Contributing Writer

an. 6, 2021 will become a historic date for United States history. On this date, over 2000 people stormed the capitol with intentions of overturning President Trump’s 2020 presidential loss. These rioters breached the Capitol, destroyed government property, and their actions led to the death of five people. Many Americans across the United States voiced their opinions on these riots. Mike Krzyzewski, Basketball coach at Duke University, has never veered away from offering his perspective on world events, independent from his career as coach. The insurrection at the Capitol was no exception as Coach K. shared it attacked America at its very core in the Winston-Salem Journal. He said, “The symbol for our democracy is that Capitol,” and he thinks the rioters actively disrespected this symbol. He also believes that every political figure who was in support of this insurrection should be rebuked. The fundamental principles of this nation include the president being elected by the people; therefore, any form of support for a rebellion against the choice of the people is against the very fabric of our country. It would be naive to believe that this event only affected the U.S.; it impacted the entire world. The U.S. was created with the intention of being a model nation with a strong democracy, which the entire world could look up to. Furthermore, many countries--such as France, Venezuela, Switzerland and many more--have modeled their governments and their way of handling domestic affairs based off of the United States. This means that when our country fails as a democracy, demonstrated by this riot, it is expected that the world will criticize our handling of these affairs because all eyes are looking towards the United States. One of the many critics on the events that transpired was Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who described the riots as “disgusting scenes.’’ Johnson’s opinion was backed by a plethora of other politicians, some even described the riots as “a direct attack on democracy.” Many world leaders agree that an attack against the Capitol because the rioter’s candidate did not win was an act against democracy. What happened on Jan. 6 was not a Democrat or Republican issue; rather, it was an American one. It is vital that people do not take this opportunity to further attack and divide one another; rather, people should take this time to reflect on the issues which are currently plaguing this country--such as racial injustice and COVID19--and work together to help resolve them and maintain our democracy.

Sage Marmet & Maggie Seidel

rump’s Presidency, Leadership Prioritizes Personal Success Above Nation’s Ideals

lues of democcy crumble during ump’s four years

ton Rannow | Staff Writer

or most of the 20th century and into the t century, America has ved as the world’s forest promoter of democy, and we as Americans ded ourselves on a dematic tradition the likes which the world had er seen. While that democratic dition has not yet hit its light, the actions taken President Trump in the d up to and ultimately

culminating on Jan. 6 have seriously tarnished it. In hindsight, the hallmarks of President Trump’s disregard for democracy and the democratic process were there from the very onset of his presidency. Shortly after winning the 2016 presidential election, Trump claimed he won the popular vote if “you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.” Even in an election he won, Trump claimed that somehow the world was rigged against him and his presidency. From this point forward, it should have been evident that democracy was in no way a priority for

Trump, rather his own personal ego. Throughout his presidency, Trump continuously disregarded democratic practices and norms, which manifested in his first impeachment. In Dec. 2019, Trump was impeached for a conversation with the Ukrainian Prime Minister in which he “allegedly” asked for incriminating information about his soon-to-be opponent Joe Biden. Regardless of what actually occurred or what Trump was truly insinuating, asking a foreign country to “do us a favor” specifically pertaining to a political rival’s son demonstrates a blatant

disregard for established norms on election integrity. Whether you supported impeachment or not, even the existence of this situation in the first place proves that Trump valued personal success above democracy as a whole. Trump’s refusal to concede was the smoke before the fire, an action not taken by a president in modern history, and his continuous claims that the election was rigged despite multiple state courts (some of which were Republican) finding no evidence of voter fraud ignited the flames. Trump was recently impeached for seeking to

incite a riot against the Capitol, and once again, whether you truly believe he directly incited it, his statements on the election created violence. Elections are at the core of our democracy and the votes within them should fundamentally determine the outcome of an election. It seems like an obvious statement, but evidently not to some Americans. When a sitting president asks the Georgia Secretary of State to “find 11,780 votes’’ this is no longer simply acting in opposition to democracy or challenging democratic norms; it is blatantly attacking democracy itself.

The long term impact of Trump’s actions in America have yet to be seen. Politics going into Biden’s presidency are more uncertain than they’ve ever been. With both parties making potentially significant transitions, American democracy continues to hang in the balance. The next steps after Trump will determine the American political landscape in the present and future. As Trump’s presidency concludes, it is now in the hands of the people to restore our nation and democracy in America.

ursuit of Democracy Remains in America Today, Exemplified in 2020 Election

oundational eals of vernment endure, spite hardships

k Prince | tor Emeritus

ot only is freedom fundamental to undernding why democracy so important, but it is of the founding prines of the United States. en the Pilgrims sailed to New World, they were king for better economic ortunities and, more imtantly, they were trying escape religious persecuunder the reign of King es. Upon their arrival, y signed the Mayflower mpact, outlining the ba-

Zoe Florida

sic laws of their colony. The importance of the Mayflower Compact is that law made by the people is the rule of law (self-governance). The compact set the precedent in the New World that society is governed by the people

and their collective conscience. As colonization of the New World expanded, British troops tried to suppress them like they had back in England. As a result, colonists fought back

and started the American Revolutionary War, which led to the creation of a new nation, the United States of America. Shortly after the start of the war, the Declaration of Independence from Britain was created. This

document is vital to American democracy because it encompasses similar ideologies from the Mayflower Compact. In the document, it says that governments derive their powers from the “consent of the governed.” This means that the government needs approval from the people in exchange for the ability to function (also known as the social contract). Another founding document, the Constitution, includes similar language to highlight how many parts of the government can only function with input from the people. The Founding Fathers’ mission to create a society based on freedom and societal participation is evident today. From our most recent presidential election

to the appointment of state and federal judges, everyday citizens have the power to influence how the government operates. It is clear how important this founding principle is today because our elections and society depend upon it.

Read “Future Government Administration, Congress Offer Glimmers of Hope” by Lucy Wolfe & Full Congressman Dean Phillips Interview on blakespectrum.org

FOOD FEATURES | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 10

TRAVELING THROUGH FOOD: LATIN AMERICAN CUISINE Cuisine Displays Rich History Change Up Usual, Cook Casado

½ Onion

½ Medium onion

Lime wedge Salt and pepper to taste

Sa ge Ma rme

s, and g r e e n s. t ai n lan dp

r ie tf

tu r in

Sweet Plaintaints are chunks of fried sweet plantains with citrus crema and cotija cheese. They are vegetarian and gluten free.

Instructions: 1. Cook the rice however desired 2. Boil the beans in a pot until heated

Instructions: 1. Heat up a pan of oil 2. Pull apart the chicken and put it into the pan 3. Add the diced bell pepper and onion and saute until warm 4. Add in 5-8

fe a

consistency was unsettling and mushy, and the sauce/ cheese on the side did not compliment the plantains well because the plantains were sweet but the sauce was savory. The most delicious aspect of this meal was the yuca fries. Although the meal only came with four yuca fries, they were large and different from any fry I have tasted. They had a fluffy and simultaneously dense consistency and had a lot of flavor to them. Paired with the complimentary sauces, aioli verde and chimichurri, these fries could beat most fries in the market in my book. My experience with Hola Arepa was very positive and I would definitely recommend anyone to try out this unique restaurant. Hola Arepa is located at 3501 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis For more information visit their website holaarepa.com

Instructions: 1. Boil the plantains for 2-3 minutes 2. Put in a pan of sizzling oil and add a small spoonful of honey on top 3. Cook until lightly browned 4. Remove from heat and drizzle agave nectar on top 5. Add the rice, chicken, and plantains onto a plate and garnish with oregano, cilantro, and lime wedge.

½ Red bell pepper

sad

Molly Seidel ‘24 ordered the Chorizo Sausage Arepa served with a side of yuca fries, chimichurri sauce (vegan) and aioli verde (tangy house mayo) sauce.

Honey or agave nectar

Chipotle Sauce

Lime wedge

and, w h i l e c o m posed of similar ingredients, perfectly illustrates the diversity of Latin American cuisine.

Cooking oil (I used avocado)

Salt and pepper to taste

Molly Seidel

1 can of black beans

Cooking oil (I used avocado oil)

ordered lunch from Hola Arepa and had a great experience. According to their Instagram, Hola Arepa is a “Latin Street Food’’ restaurant located on Nicollet Avenue. My experience ordering from Hola Arepa was nothing but positive. The website is user-friendly, the staff was kind, and the contact-less pickup felt very COVID-19 safe. They serve an array of Latin foods but specialize in arepas. They offer a variety

1 cup of jasmine rice

Ingredients for the plantains: 2 ripe plantains, quartered and halved

a lly usu ish i o n a l C o st a R i c a n d

a rotisserie chicken which made the recipe not take as long)

t r a d it

Molly Seidel | Staff Writer

of arepas, such as slow roasted pork and chimichurri chicken. I ordered a chorizo and egg arepa with plantains on the side. An arepa is a sandwich-type dish but instead of regular bread, there is a flattened, pancake looking bread with a delicious and unique consistency. The arepa I ordered was spicy, filling, flavorful, and unique. I had never tasted anything like it. It included egg, cheese, chorizo, cabbage, and much more. The first bite was an explosion of different flavors and it didn’t stop from there. It came with two sauces, aioli verde and chimichurri, which added a mixture of flavors to the arepa. I was not as much of a fan of the plantains. The

Ingredients for the gallo pinto:

½ Red bell pepper

Say Warm Hello to Hola Arepa Restaurant feels safe, inviting, offers new options

for the I1 ngredients chicken: whole chicken (I used

o is a

erations a c r o s s different countries. Mexicans, Guatemalans, and Puerto Ricans all make tamales; Colombians and Venezuelans make arepas; and Hondurans and Salvadorians make pupusas. Nevertheless, each country’s version is uniquely delicious. Mexican tamales, for example, are made from corn masa and stuffed with anything from chicken to rajas to mole. Some tamales are even sweet and made from chocolate or

Sage Marmet | Co-Editor-in-Chief

3. Add the cooked rice and beans into a pan of heated oil 4. Mix in the onion and bell peppers 5. Stir everything in the pan and add in lime juice 6. Remove from heat when the vegetables are fully cooked

in s i m ilar it-

spoonfuls of the chipotle sauce and mix until the chicken and vegetables are generously covered 5. Add lime juice and mix in 6. Remove from heat when the vegetables are fully cooked

Enjoy a lime infused, spicy, traditional dish

or thousands of years, indigenous communities across Latin America perfected their agricultural practices to yield corn, beans, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, and a number of other tubers and grains. Some farming techniques pioneered by such communities are still used today: rural areas of Mexico grow crops in Aztec chinampas, or floating gardens, and terrace farming, which was used by the Wari people, is widespread throughout the world. In fact, the Inca people, who adopted the practice a thousand years after the Wari, discovered that maize tasted differently on each step of a terrace. Although hundreds of years separate in-

pineapples. Puerto Rican tamales (or pasteles), on the other hand, are made from green plantain masa and stuffed with meat and beans. Latin American culinary traditions are too rich, vast, and beautifully varied to be experienced by burritos from Chipotle or Mission flour tortillas. Try Guatemalan chuchitos, or Mexican atole, or Peruvian choclo! Each dish is made from c o r n

Clara Lee Molina | Staff Writer

digenous cultures from modern Latin American people, we use similar practices and eat the foods of our ancestors with pride. Given the similarities of staple Latin American ingredients, certain dishes e xist

Staple ingredients make innumerable dishes

a t,

G a ll o

p in t o (ri c e w it h b e a n s,

ab e gt

les

it r

Inside Scoop: New Arepa Bar Opens First Venezuelan restaurant opens in Twin Cities Ellie Goddard | Contributing Writer

repa Bar, a new restaurant located in Midtown Global Market at 920 E Lake Street, Stall 150 Minneapolis, Minnesota serves authentic Venezuelan cuisine from scratch. It’s open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ellie Goddard ‘21 interviewed the owner and chef Soleil Ramirez.

Q: What is the origin of your restaurant and dishes? A: 100% Venezuelan from Caracas

Q: What methods and Q: Are your food trapromotionshave you ditional Latin food? done to maintain the What are Arepas? restaurant sales durA: Everything is traditioning COVID-19? al. Arepas is a bread and A: Ramirez opened only 3 weeks ago and everyone said she was crazy. She uses social media and her previous work in the industry to promote her restaurant.

are white corn pockets cooked in a griddle, then put in the oven and then fillings put inside.

Q: Is your chef a traditional Latin chef?

Q: If there is one thing A: Yes, the owner is the chef. you would want to share about your restaurant to prospective customers what would Call (612)-353-4885 it be? Direct (786)-832-2069 A: All the dishes are 100% from scratch, and she imports other ingredients from different states to make sure it’s authentic.

For more information visist their website arepabarmpls.com

GAMES & ADS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 11

Wuzzles Puzzles Mallika Malaviya | Staff Writer & Sophia Vezmar | Staff Artist

JANUARY WORD SEARCH

Maggie Seidel | Managing Editor

ANSWERS Backr rub days work Red in the face All in a

Fireside Movies Gloves Inside Igloo Socks Fleece Cozy Tea Wool Snow Cashmere

Sweater Blizzard Blanket Skiing Frozen Skating Cold Sledding Cocoa Frost Deer Skis

OPINIONS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 12

Modern Masculinity, Breaking Gender Norms Crediting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks for pioneering a new wave of fashion Meara Sullivan | Staff Writer

n Vogue Magazine’s December 2020 issue, Harry Styles, an acclaimed singer-songwriter, dawned the cover in a Gucci designed ball gown. With the release of this image came two narratives. One, wrongfully stressed that men in dresses “undermines masculinity” and, the other, praised Styles for his ‘revolutionary’ clothing choices. While Styles’ cover image is an important step in eliminating gender-conforming fashion, he is hardly the first to attempt this challenge. Alok Vaid-Menon, an author, performer, and speaker, took to Instagram and eloquently expressed the larger problem at the center of the Vogue cover, explaining, “Am I happy to see Harry be celebrated for openly flouting gendered fashion norms? Yes. Do trans femmes of color receive praise for doing the same thing every day? No.” Gucci designer

Alessandro Michelle has applauded Styles, repeatedly describing his dressing as revolutionary. But Styles is not revolutionary. Many marginalized groups have been mocked and even killed for self-expression through clothing, and Vogue has failed to award due credit. From A$AP Rocky to Jaden Smith, numerous Black celebrities have similarly stretched the bounds of fashion. However, they have not gained the same level of media attention as Styles. Billy Porter is a prime example of this discrepancy. Porter, an actor, and a singer, wore a tuxedo dress to the

Acade m y Aw a r d s in Jan. of 2020 and has been a consistent advocate for gendernonconforming fashion throughout his career. Yet, he received little media attention, unlike Styles. Styles is the first

solo male to appear on the cover of Vogue, an i m p o r t a n t milestone. H o w ever, in an article for Insider, Rachel Askinasi writes

that in choosing Styles for the cover of the magazine, “[Vogue] strayed from its status quo in the most

status quo way possible.” Askinasi exclaimed in her writing that she would have preferred to see Billy Porter, a true pioneer of the movement, on the cover. With that being said, we shouldn’t dismiss Styles’ courageous fashion choices and Vogue’s willingness to portray it on such a large scale. We must ask that Black celebrities like Billy Porter, receive equal media recognition and remember the struggle of those before Styles in addressing gendered fashion norms. The same Instagram user as prior, Vaid-Menon, explained, “We can both acknowledge this unprecedented m o ment

while also remembering that it could only happen because of the resistance of trans femmes of color.”

Activities Offer COVID-19 Safety Alternatives to classic fun while staying safe Kate Rekas | Staff Writer

ince COVID-19 made a debut last spring, everything has since looked different, and seasonal activities are no exception. While in the spring, summer, and fall, it was easy to safely gather outdoors, the inevitable ‘Minnesnowta’ winter presents a new challenge. Staying home over winter break got dismal and boring, and I was itching to get out of the house. Though the snow and colder temperatures may seem like an annoyance, I realized over break that the winter weather gives us the opportunity to try many more outdoor activities, we normally wouldn’t be able to all year round. So if remote or hybrid learning is getting old, take advantage of the winter weather while it lasts, and try some COVID safe, winter activities! For most, the barrier to see friends during a pandemic in the wintertime is

the cold weather. Not wanting to gather indoors for safety reasons, we are left with the great snowy outdoors. My first recommendation for outdoor winter fun would be sledding, an easily accessible activity with minimal equipment needed. Sledding in a neighborhood park or possibly in your yard is a perfect and easy way to have some fun in the snow. Last year, with not much else to do, a friend and I wanted to sled but didn’t have sleds, so we took cardboard boxes and cut them flat, and hit the hill. Luckily, the snow was firm enough and we stayed in the park for hours. I went with the same friend over break with real sleds, and we had just as much fun, trying to stand and “surf” down the hill. If sledding isn’t exactly your speed, and you are looking to do something just as simple, schedule a walk with a friend, you could walk around a lake, bring your dogs to a dog park, or walk to pick up coffee. For some activities that need equipment, try skating outside. If you don’t have

skates, you could find an outdoor rink that rents them. Not only is it a fun activity to do with friends, but even by yourself, to brush up on skills. I met up with a friend on the Lake of the Isles when the ice had frozen but the snow hadn’t come, the ice was perfectly glassy, and we could skate all over the lake. Find a day that’s not too cold and hop on the ice! Maybe you don’t have skates in your basement, but skis instead; check out Hyland or Buck Hill, both are great for getting back into skiing and are not too far away. These locations should have rental equipment available as well. Over the break, a friend and I went skiing at Buck Hill, we had a blast; talking on the chairlift and skiing down together. Finally, a winter staple we can’t forget is hot cocoa. Try looking up recipes for homemade hot cocoa bombs or you can bake a different winter treat. You could also drop off some treats at a friend’s house to spread some cheer, or enjoy them yourself!

!"#$%&"'& ()%&*(+''

hroughout his presidency, former President Donald Trump’s tweets have made headlines for their brazen and controversial claims. That all came to a halt on Jan. 8 when Twitter permanently suspended his account “due to the risk of further incitement of violence.” Immediately, the question surrounding freedom of speech was raised. However, since Twitter is a private company with their own terms and conditions, the suspension is not a violation of Trump’s first amendment rights. No president has used social media, specifically Twitter, to the same extent as Trump. The 280 character limit allowed him to make brash statements without providing evidence to support his claims. Additionally, due to the presence of algorithms

Success of Marvel Cinematic Universe continues Ben Lim | Multimedia Editor

or the past 13 years, American cinema has been dominated by Marvel movies. If you google the highest-grossing films of all time, five of the top fifteen are Marvel movies. So this begs the question, why are they so popular? In 1996 Marvel filed for bankruptcy and sold their most popular characters including, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and The X-Men. Now, Marvel has been left with their B and C list characters. Iron Man, Captain America, and most of the MCU characters were not popular. So with that context, it’s incredible that Marvel Studios was able to build such a profitable franchise off of them. But this still doesn’t explain why Marvel is so popular. In my opinion, I would say that the main contributing factors to the company’s success would be: a president, Kevin Fiege, who knows the comics that the heroes come from , patience, and Disney buy-

ing Marvel studios. Fiege is credited as the mastermind behind the MCU and making the MCU flow so well. Additionally, he employs people who know the comics and understand the source material. This means that while watching the movies, the audience gets a character that is accurate to the comics. This is important because it pleases the fans that do know the comics and fans that don’t. We have seen what happens when a studio misrepresents a character in any franchise and it isn’t pretty. The next key to Marvel’s success is patience. As it has been revealed, the MCU is set up into phases, and each movie falls into one phase. The first two phases are for developing the universe and establishing characters. Phase one started in 2008, and phase three didn’t start until 2016. That is eight years worth of building an amazing, adventure and fantasy-filled world. That has to take a lot of patience.

See more at: www.blakespectrum.org

Media complicates freedom of speech rights used on social media platforms, political polarization has increased because users are more likely to see content that aligns with their points of view, inadvertently locking themselves in an echo chamber. Through this, Trump has amassed a loyal following, that formerly consisted of well over 80 million followers on Twitter alone. Regardless of one’s political views, it is evident that Trump’s tweets in and of themselves were a spectacle throughout his time in office. Additionally, some say that Twitter should have shut down Trump’s account much earlier, and they are partly to blame for the insurrection at the Capitol. Considering our publication, it is of utmost importance to fulfill our mission to do no harm. It is crucial that we recognize that everything published reflects our leadership.

Our responsibility as a news source is to shut down any content that could harm the student body, faculty, staff, or Blake as an institution. We encourage readers to both use social media as a jumping-off point and actively search for perspectives that differ from their own. Before reposting something to your Instagram story, Google it, and make sure that it isn’t spreading misinformation. Read up on both sides of a polarized issue before taking a stance on it. Move past the 280 characters. Finally, keep in mind the power of words. Many have drawn a connection between the events at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and Trump’s rhetoric. We hope that seeing the detrimental effects that words can have, pushes you to be more conscious of what you post, like, comment, and share--both on-screen and off.

Go to www.blakespectrum.org

To Read: 2020 Brings Reflections, Learning Opportunities, 2021 Yields Hope & Snow Days Remain Important, Offering Needed Breaks, Relaxation

OPINIONS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 13

Senior’s Opinion: Downfalls, Advantages, Hybrid, Online Learning The pros and cons of distance and remote learning Jenna Thrasher | Staff Writer

onsidering how chaotic this year has been, it was nice to roll out of bed at 8:40 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, instead of getting up at the crack of dawn to drive downtown. When school was ‘shut down’ and we switched to remote learning and teaching (RTLP), in early November, as a senior, I was saddened by the prospect of never being able to go back to the building again. Despite this, starting Jan. 19, Blake decided to offer hybrid teaching and learning (HTLP)

again, and like many, I am thrilled. Along with this excitement comes a fair amount of fear. The pandemic has not gotten any better since all of us were last in the building, and I am even more worried due to the series of new and more contagious strains. Like anything in life, there are pros and cons. While starting the semester online was a great way to ease back into school, many people are ready to be back in person. Except for Fridays and those doing completely RTLP, there will be no more days spent staring into the computer, trying our best to concentrate as our families work around us. We will also get to experience the joys

Zoe Florida

of being in the Upper School again, such as the spur of the moment conversations with teachers and classmates that can make our days. This was the part that I missed the

most as I feel it has enriched my experience as a Blake student. On the other hand, RTLP has one thing over HTLP that is difficult to top: peace of

mind. With the exception for the last few weeks before we switched to RTLP, it has been shown that schools are not COVID-19 hotbeds

because of the protective safety measures. Despite this, it’s scary being back with a large number of people again. RTLP also provides a sense of unity between everyone. Instead of having a class of in-person students and a few remote learners who have to uncomfortably stare from the boundaries of Zoom, everyone gets the same opportunity to be fully engaged. No matter what, both RTLP and HTLP have areas where they surpass and fall short. However, with Blake working hard to alter each method to best fit the student’s and teachers’ needs, many are excited to give HTLP another try and hopefully have it be the last switch before the end of the year.

Preserving, Moving George Floyd Square, Differing Thoughts Arise

Reporting by: Ryker Kemberling

Cole Herron ‘22 says, “I do think it is important to leave [George Floyd Square] where it is because it’s an important part of history.” Maia Schifman ‘22 echoes this saying, “I think that [George Floyd Square] is a good place for a memorial, a physical symbol of the movement and a good place for people to go visit. I think it should stay, I think it will be significant for a while.” Gabe Mendoza ‘22, on the other hand, proposes a compromise saying, “I’ve never been to George Floyd Square, I think it shouldn’t be completely removed, but replaced somewhere else. I understand the symbolism of it being where he died. I think it should be moved to a park somewhere else.”

Karsten Farris

George Floyd Square, located at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Ave in Minneapolis, was created following another instance of police brutality. On May 25 2020, Floyd was killed by a police officer. Following this tragic event, the square has been decorated with hundreds of paintings and sculptures and remains a place to memorialize Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. George Floyd Square has existed since the day after Floyd’s death, but questions about its permanence are rising.

Upper School Safety Social Compact Lacks Clarity, Incites Confusion COVID-19 social compact needs clear guidelines Chad Woerner | Staff Writer

n Jan. 4, Head of School Dr. Anne Staveny released the “COVID-19 Health & Safety Social Compact 2020-21.” According to the terms, those in agreement with the contract had to sign it no later than Jan. 14, 2021. However, much of the contract’s language is too broad and includes restrictions that won’t help stop the virus’s further spread. There are various sources of concern in the wording of the contract, one being the requirement to “wear a face mask and maintain appropriate so-

cial distancing at all times when interacting with others who are not part of our immediate household.” Under such circumstances, one would have a violation if they decided to go to the dentist, if an emergency medical situation prevented them from wearing a mask, or if they had a medical exemption. The contract fails to make any clear exceptions for these reasonable scenarios. Other family members are also subject to the regulations. This does not make a lot of sense for families with multiple households that are not physically interacting with each other – for example, college students. Their decisions related to health precautions would not directly impact the Blake community, so they shouldn’t be subject to the

school’s regulation. Whether teachers and other employees at Blake are bound to the terms of the contract is unclear. Because they are so often interacting with members of the Blake community on a day-to-day basis, there should be clarity on whether they, too, have any obligation to be following reasonable health precautions. There is also an absence of any timeline. As vaccinations enter later stages, will there be any relaxation of the guidelines, particularly the more stringent ones? Students and parents should know how long they are bound to the restrictions. For example, Operation Warp Speed was founded on May 15, 2020 and it was created in order to accelerate the develop-

ment and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. It is one of the largest mass vaccination efforts in U.S. history and their goal has been to allow vaccinated citizens to resume “normal” activities once they have built up immunity. According to CDC and state data, before the compact even goes into effect, there will already have been at least 120,000 shots given in Minnesota and 22 million nationwide. Why would one wear a mask with a person, not in their immediate household who has been vaccinated, especially after their second shot? Enforcement will also likely be difficult, but there is no easy solution for that. There is no foolproof way for the school to monitor all of its students’

personal lives. But there is at least a clear path to punishment for those who

To see coverage of and read students’ thoughts on the 2021 Inauguration, go to: www.blakespectrum.org

partake in an egregious activity when there is enough evidence.

COLUMBUS DAY PERSPECTIVES | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 14

Remembering An Important Figure or Glorifying a Criminal? Maggie Seidel | Managing Editor

he commemoration of Christopher Columbus for his role in the colonization of the New World would indicate that there is both unanimous support for and solely a positive impact by Columbus’s actions. However, this is not the case today in the United States or worldwide. Christopher Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October in the United States and remains highly controversial. In 2019, Governer Walz proclaimed the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’

Day in Minnesota. Columbus’s exploration of the New World simultaneously propelled colonization and contributed to the decimation of the Indigenous population as

not exist harmoniously with the mounting criticism for Columbus’s role in the slave trade, violent conversion of the Indigenous people to Christianity, and failure to ac-

Chad Woerner | Staff Writer

s much as social justice has played an important role in 2020, the recent callings to eliminate Columbus Day entirely are irrational. There should be a celebration of both the roles the Italian explorer and Indigenous peoples played in the birth of the modern West. But celebrating Columbus as a whole is obviously a problem: none of his journeys even went to what is now the current United States, and he endorsed the killing and abuse of so many Indigenous people. His life was by no means perfect, but that is not reason to forget him altogether. It should be remembered that Americans shouldn’t celebrate Columbus for his moral failures, just as they shouldn’t celebrate George Washington for being a slaveholder. The holiday has perhaps even less meaning to the United States now than it did at its inception. President Franklin Roosevelt’s main intention by deeming it a federal holiday in 1937 was to celebrate the journeys and adversities that Italian immigrants faced in the earlier parts of the 1900s. Getting rid of it would do a disservice to Roosevelt’s original intent. Since then, though, it has

emblematic of the greater controversy surrounding the commemoration of Columbus. Governor Walz acknowledged the sentiments of the citizens for whom the statutes are an

The impact of a Christopher Columbus Memorial or holiday is indisputably more complex than an expression of respect and remembrance. a result of disease and violence. The positive connotations of a dedicated holiday for an individual do

knowledge the Indigenous peoples’ human rights. Locally, the Christopher Columbus Memorial in Saint Paul has prompt-

Remembering An Important Figure Eliminating Columbus Day disregards intentions

ed questions as to whether it should be rebuilt and remain, after being torn down on June 10, 2020 by a group that includes people identifying as part of the American Indian

become much more about Columbus’ behavior during his time in the New World. His arrivals marked a pivotal moment in history that changed the way Europeans interacted with the rest of the world. While those interactions weren’t always ideal in our eyes, they were the beginning of a period of time that saw immense development in human quality of life. Some, like Venezuelan dictator Huge Chàvez, have even gone as far to rename Columbus Day to “Day of the Indigenous Resistance,” which is hardly helpful. The holiday should not be polarizing – it should recognize the virtues that both Columbus and the Indigenous brought to the rise of the West. A name that would fit those conditions should include Columbus and the Indigenous in the same phrase. The most advanced civilization in human history deserves to have it.

Movement. The range in Minnesotan politician perspectives as to the next steps for restoration of the statue is

agonizing reminder of injustice. However, others have expressed a contrasting opinion in which the statue should be reinstated.

The impact of a Christopher Columbus Memorial or holiday is indisputably more complex than an expression of respect and remembrance for a commendable historical figure. In moving forward, it is critical that all acknowledge Columbus’s legacy of pain, namely for the Indigenous population. Columbus did not simply explore a new land; he catalyzed colonization in the New World that directly worsened the treatment of Indigenous peoples. This realization must inform all future decisions as to how Columbus be regarded in both history and publicly.

Glorifying a Criminal Celebrating Columbus ignores the atrocoties he caused Bernadette Whitely | Opinions Editor

t a young a g e , when learning about Columbus Day and Thanksgiving, many of us are taught to imagine a scene where Indigenous peoples and the English alike shared food and stories in expectation of friendship. However, in the case of both holidays, European settlers and Indigenous tribes did not share the peaceful meal that we are told to picture. In fact, these stories could not be more flawed and inaccurate. Skylar Wang ‘22 describes her educational experience when learning about Columbus Day saying, “I remember we celebrated it as a way of inputting Creative Commons Christopher Columbus Statues are extremely common, with over 160 Across the United States. Above is one of three Statues at the Ohio Capital building and was taken down in July.

civilization upon the Indigenous people which is obviously a really perverted narrative of what actually happened. The way that the education system teaches it right is not the accurate narrative that should be told.” The true story of Christopher Columbus and his arrival in the New World involved violence, slavery, genocide, forced conversion of the Indigenous peoples to Christianity, and the introduction a host of new diseases. Therefore, Columbus Day, similar to Thanksgiving, emphasizes Western imperialism and colonization. The land, that many claim that Columbus “discovered” was not empty when he arrived in 1492. Rather, Indigenous peoples and Tribes had already been inhabiting the land. According to Business Insider, before Columbus arrived in the Americas, more than 60 million Indigenous peoples lived there. European settlers not only introduced diseases that killed large numbers of Indigenous peoples, but also ushered in genocide, the transatlantic trade of enslaved people, warfare, and colonization. As a result, the American Indian Movement (AIM) has called on the federal govern-

ment to stop Columbus Day’s celebration. AIM states, “Columbus was the beginning of ethnic cleansing, characterized by murder, torture, raping, pillaging, robbery, slavery, kidnapping, and forced removals of Indian people from their homelands.” Wang agrees as she explains the issue with celebrating Columbus: “Columbus is not the right figurehead to represent what ideals Columbus Day supposedly celebrates. The ideals he did perpetuate where directly against the themes of unity we supposedly support because he supported genocide, he spread mass disease, and he was very cruel towards the people whose land he stepped foot on.” In some areas within the U.S, people have stopped celebrating Columbus Day, and instead, people recognize the contributions that Indigenous peoples have made to the country. Unfortunately, this shift in celebration is not standard as Columbus Day remains mainstream in most U.S. cities and states. Rather than continuing to dedicate a day that celebrates a man who has caused immense pain and suffering, we should honor Indigenous peoples, raise their voices, and celebrate their immense contributions to the U.S.

FEATURES | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 15

Dr. Cantrell Chronicles Unusual Journey to Teaching From an early interest in mathematics to astronomy research, living in Japan, to teaching math at Blake, Dr. Cantrell presents his unique road to teaching mathematics at the Upper School Noor Naseer | Co-Editor-in-Chief

ndy Cantrell’s path to teaching math at the Blake Upper School was nothing short of extraordinary. Initially, Cantrell planned to study mathematics at Yale University; however, he had a change of heart and ended up receiving his PhD in Astronomy.

Mathematics: Cantrell made the decision to switch in the middle of one of three exams necessary to advance to the research portion of the PhD program in the math department: “In the middle of the third exam, which is eight hours long, I knew that I simply had to leave. The Math Department made me unhappy, and I wanted nothing to do with it. So I told them that I wasn’t feeling well, and I left the exam. And I went up and talked with the professors that I had been working with in Astronomy and said ‘Hey, can I change departments?’ and they made it happen. So before that exam was even over, I went back down to the Math Department and I dropped off my keys and said, that’s it, I’m done.” He adds, “I didn’t like the Math Department, and I did like the astronomers, and they were nice to me.”

Astronomy:

Betsy Fries

Cantrell shares how he enjoys spending his time: “Cooking, biking, cooking, more cooking, especially Japanese food. Japanese food in Japan is actually very different from Japanese food in the U.S., and so we get lots of stuff sent from Japan. You can’t get fresh fish sent from Japan, but you can get lots of dried ingredients and stuff.”

Despite his true passion being the study of mathematics, Cantrell looks back on his time working in the Astronomy Department as “some of the happiest and most exciting of his life.” While at graduate school, he worked closely with astronomers working to understand how to calculate the mass of black holes that orbit stars. When he arrived, different groups were already measuring the same black holes, and coming up with wildly dif-

ferent answers. Cantrell’s role in this process was pivotal as he “found the source of their error.” This error was that “the star loses mass to the black hole and the mass falling into the black hole emits light, how much light this disc emits changes quite a bit over time, and basically … if this disc is very bright, then, it looks like the star is changing in brightness less than it actually is because a lot of the light is coming from [the disc] and this doesn’t change in brightness. So you might think ‘Oh it’s undergoing a 15% change in brightness throughout the orbit, but actually it’s undergoing a 30% change in brightness because a whole lot of the light is coming from the disc and you’re not accounting for that right.”

and delighted that you like their food.” In his free time, Cantrell cooks a lot of Japanese food and even orders dried ingredients from Japan. In addition to the culture of Japan, Cantrell enjoys the freedom that is available to him in Japan: “I don’t really speak much Japanese at all. My wife is totally my translator for everything. And yet, I can kind of function better in Japan than I can in the U.S. because the transportation is so good. As somebody who doesn’t have a driver’s license, I can get anywhere in Tokyo. Living in Tokyo, you can go anywhere on a train and walking. That was kind of magical for me, just really having the freedom to go anywhere in this huge, incredible city.”

Japan:

Teaching:

After graduate school in 2011, Cantrell and his wife were living in Yokohama, Japan when the Tohoku Earthquake hit. He explains, “We came back to the U.S. for six weeks because the U.S. government was recommending that people get out of Japan if they could because of the nuclear situation ... so I decided to apply for jobs then. And that totally didn’t pan out.” However, as soon as he and his wife moved back to Japan, Blake reached out to Cantrell and offered him a teaching position. Cantrell describes his reaction saying, “My first response was ‘you people are crazy there’s no way I’m getting on a plane going back to the U.S. after finally making it back here to this place that I love.’ But they seemed really interested and everywhere else that I’d talked to didn’t seem very interested … so I am here entirely because Blake offered me this job.” Cantrell speaks to his appreciation for Japan: “I love Japan. I love everything about Japan … I love the gardens. I love the restaurants … [and] people in Japan are just really humble, even people who are really, really, extraordinarily good at what they do … People aren’t pretentious in the same way they are here.” He gives the example of one of his favorite restaurants, which only serves Soba noodles and a few sides. The chefs at this restaurant “Get buckwheat from different parts of Japan … grind it themselves, and … make the noodles on the spot.” Despite their extraordinary talent and work ethic, “They’re just so happy

When shifting from academia to teaching, Cantrell was met with various judgments: “Honestly, going into [high school] teaching from academia the thing everybody says is ‘oh you’re going to be so bored. You really want to teach Calculus? That’s so easy, you’re going to be so bored. You’re too smart for that.’” Despite these sentiments, Cantrell expresses his love for teaching saying, “I think this is totally not boring because every single year I meet all these different people and they’re all amazing and they’re all different. I never teach the same student twice, and that’s what makes it fun.” He adds that his love for teaching was greater than his desire to research, which is often the primary focus of professors. Cantrell arrived at Blake soon after the Math Department had begun their switch to a more problem-based learning environment. The teachers had gone through workshops and training sessions to make this shift, but problem-based learning seemed to come naturally to Cantrell: “I don’t even know any other way to teach math. Basically for me, math isn’t about facts, it’s about understanding. It’s not about skills and topics; it’s about concepts. And I don’t know how to get people to engage with concepts without having them do problems.” Cantrell connects this to his own childhood and how he learned best saying, “That’s kind of how I learned math as a student … I didn’t pay attention in lectures ever. I would just look at what the next theorems were going to be

and think ‘oh, can I try to prove that myself? ... I’m going to try to figure this out for myself and figure out what the next thing is going to be’ and then by the time the class got there, I was like ‘oh yeah, they’re doing that now, cool.’” The importance Cantrell places on in class work and problem solving lends itself to the fact that his classes, preCOVID-19, tend to come with little to none nightly homework, and very few assessments. His reasoning for this is that “If [nightly homework is] at a level where I feel like it’s really going to push students’ thinking, then it’s probably not something that I want them doing without me there because otherwise people are going to get really frustrated and unhappy, and I want to be there to intervene if that starts happening … I feel as though I don’t need very many tests because every single day I see what everybody’s doing in class.” Cantrell adds that HTLP and RTLP have affected this due to “The distancing, not being able to look over people’s shoulders … I really don’t have that same sense that I used to have of what every single person is doing and how they’re thinking.”

Throughout the Journey: A few years ago, Cantrell gave a speech about his epilepsy. He recalls what he spoke about saying, “In high school, I was definitely having seizures, and you can’t get a driver’s license if you’re epileptic. The specific laws vary from state to state like how long you have to go without having a driver’s license, but I couldn’t at that point. And then little by little, everywhere I lived, I’ve just found ways to make it work. At this point, I could go learn to drive, but it would be a very large investment of time and there’s nothing that says that I won’t start having seizures again at some point. Basically, I can’t ever afford to have a life that revolves around having a car. If getting to my work required having a car, then having a seizure would mean quitting my job, and I can’t afford to take that risk. I just have to set my life up so it works without having a car.” For Andy Cantrell and his family, this looked like buying a house that was along a bus line that leads to Blake.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 27, 2021 | 16

STUDENTS GO VIRAL

Betsy Fries

or Naseer

t’s no surprise that TikTok has been consuming the lives of students, while simultaneously devouring their attention span. For every user the experience on the app is different. For three Blake seniors their experiences vary. None of these students are actually “TikTok famous.” They don’t consider themselves famous and by TikTok’s standards they are not, but when asked they don’t know what to consider themselves.

y Fr

e Fri

Bets

ing part was when he She states, “I’m happy got two of his videos and I plan on making deleted for no reason. more embroidering He sent an appeal to videos, it was very TikTok officials about fun for me.” one of them and it While the algot put back on his gorithm and content page, but by the time are still in question, she that happened the views expresses, “It’s one of and like had stopped. those things where you The other one violated don’t know if it’s going TikTok’s policies. Even to do well and so the though his views are only thing you can do is dropping, he still thinks try your hardest.” Howit’s fun. He states, “Even ever, she holds some if people strong beliefs on the don’t watch types of creators who go my vid- viral. eos, I still She expresses, “The like making thing about being a them.” straight white boy on The this app is that guys who most recent TikToker to are hot and do the bare go viral, Clara Lee Mo- minimum get all of the lina ‘21 posted her very attention.” While she’s first TikTok where she not wrong, there are embroidered jeans. over a bilOnly having lion ushad the app ers on for a couthe ple of days, s h e decided to download it in light of app the New there Year. She h a s states, “I did got to be that project over more to it. winter break beClara Lee Molina ‘21 She’s cause I’m not a @clara_leemolina received very artistic person and so I just wanted comments asking her if to find my own artistic she sells anything, but due to the logistics and art form.” She had already her wanting to do othplanned on er things she’s not gomaking a time ing to sell any embroilapse and film- dered clothing. With all ing her process, that being said TikTok so why not just post it is not like many other to TikTok? The app was social media platforms, a way for her to show- “There’s something for case her creative outlet. everyone.” tsy

there is a d i f which ference also rebetween ceived a “TikTok lot of attenfamous” and tion. Howev“going viral.” Tyler May ‘21 Being famous @tdizzletiktok er, her most viral post entails a crewas an outfits video, ator who constantly produces content that re- which received 600 ceives major views and thousand views and likes. While going viral 290 thousand likes.

With sponse) a w i t h p e a k a todof 11.8 dler. He thousand states, “One followers, the day in beLorna Kruesel ‘21 startling mass tween classes following and @enlightenmint69 I made the attention was duet with the baby and it quite overwhelming for got three million views,” Kruesel to handle. She but he wouldn’t “Qualify dealt with the typical efit as being famous.” He fects of going viral that believes that TikTok is one would expect to rea place where anyone ceive on a social mecan post whatdia platform, but ever they want comments and and he doesn’t questions about stick to a parher body got to ticular category be too much. when it comes She states, to content. He “A small handful also states that of comments did “The algorithm not sit right with me at is so weird. I joined all and I compared mythe creator fund because self way too much with free money, but now my people. I think that the views are steadily dropworst part is that I don’t ping. I’m actually losing even know this person followers everyday beand they’re making me cause [TikTok] doesn’t feel awful.” Everytime put my videos on the she would open the app For You page anymore.” she would be bombarded The creator fund with notifications and is where users can get comments leading to paid based on many facexcessive screen time. tors, the biggest one beShe states, “TikTok coning views. May doesn’t sumed way too much of know if wants to contime and it got in the tinue staying on it to way of doing homework.” receive his check and She soon deleted the leave or stay on it and app for mental health hope that he gets more reasons, and is happy views. with her decision. The most frustratOn the contrary, Ty-

Betsy Fries

Additiona l l y,

ler May ‘21 tries to post once a day. His most viral video is a funny, relatable conversation, duetting (a video re-

Fries

In addition to fashion content, she posted music compilations, beauty, and random nature montage s .

Betsy

Betsy Fries | Creative Director

is a more of a one-hit wonder video blow-up. Lorna Kruesel ‘21 downloaded the app during Nov. 2019 and posted mainly private videos. In fear of unwanted attention from classmates, she stayed private until Mar. 2020. In Jun. 2020, Kruesel worked at Starbucks and her coworker at the time had over two million followers, which is considered to be TikTok famous. They made a video together on her coworker’s account which led to Kruesel gaining over 800 followers. It was not until late Sept., when Kruesel posted an outfits video showcasing a different outfit for each day of the week, when she gained many more views and likes. After that she posted random videos, but posted another outfits video,

ies

Three seniors develop new niches through popular social media platform

Betsy Fries