the
Spectrum
S P I R I T takes the lead
The Blake School v 511 Kenwood Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55403 v Issue I v September 28, 2011 v blakespectrum.org v your voice in print
student life........pg 2-3 Students and faculty that traveled to Sierra Leone share their story
news......................pg 4
Class of 2012 expresses school spirit
R E V A M P I N G the
MIDDLE SCHOOL opinions.............pg 5-7 an analysis of the social
pressures of saying
“YES” to an invitation to a
dance
in-depth.............pg 8-9
an in-depth look at
SCHOOL LUNCH a&e.................pg 10-11
FALL
N O I H S FA
sci/tech...........pg 12-13
Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO features...............pg 14 Get to know Blake’s new foreign exchange students:
Roger, Ly, Harald & Nicky sports.............pg 15-16
Girls Tennis defeated Breck Now ranked #1 the state for class A
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My hair burns with a fiery passion for spirit.” - Spencer Lund ‘12 photo credit: Bailey Dunning
Senior boys, (from left) Duncan Conway, Orion Olsen, Al Barnhart, Spencer Lund, Mac Findlay and Adam Postiglione sport Morphsuits and cheer on the football team as they battled Providence at Aamoth Stadium last Friday Laine Higgins Page Editor
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he Class of 2012 has overcome their self-confidence issues and blossomed into a spirited and rowdy class that has succeeded, thus far, in reviving Blake spirit. Although Al Barnhart ’12 claimed “We thought we’d be horrible seniors,” the senior class has breathed life into the formerly dull assemblies and under-attended games. The addition of vibrant green, royal blue and zebra printed Morphsuits to the Blake cheer section’s repertoire adds a factor of enthusiasm and intimi-
dation to sporting events. These unprecedented full-body outfits are a first at Blake, and characterize one of the legacies left behind by the senior class. Assemblies are brightened by the resounding call of “seniors, seniors.” Although this cheer is often repetitive at best, it exemplifies the sense of grade unity and pride held by the class of 2012. Also, the homecoming bonfire this year was completely reformatted. In the past, the bonfire was where it was somewhat of a joke to publicly humiliate underclassmen and harass them about their dates. In fact, year’s past, it was a common oc-
currence to degrade freshman boys by coating them in baby oil and making the crowd cheer for individuals. In efforts to avoid this structure, the “Bonfire 2.0” consisted of rap battles, a choreographed ‘Mantastic’ dance performed by a group of senior boys, skits, singing competitions, live music and more. The senior class had also set an impressive academic record. The Class of 2012 has the highest percentage of National Merit Semifinalists per grade ever recorded in Blake history with eleven seniors receiving this honor. For the record, the Breck School of Mediocrity only
had two National Merit Semifinalists. This standard of excellence should be admired by all upper school students, regardless of their graduation year. “We’re trying to be not quite as exclusive when it comes to spirit. Even though the seniors are the ones who are supposed to lead it, we want everyone in the school to be involved,” remarks Meghan Bauer ’12. She continues, “Spirit isn’t that hard to do, it just takes commitment and enthusiasm.” Whether they realize it or not, the Class of 2012 has set a high bar for the following grades to reach. They have transformed their grade into leaders in academics, spirit and charisma.
Student Life
New
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The Spectrum Newspaper September 28, 2011
Teacher Profiles*
Isabel Redleaf
Sanjana Srivastava
Contributing Writer
Staff Writer
*For more teacher profiles, check online at blakespectrum.org Nicole Link What I Wish I Had Contributing Writer Known: Freshman Year
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reshman year: retrospectively, there are some things I wish I would’ve known walking through the doors of Northrop two years ago. I knew daunting tasks lay ahead of me; a new building, new people, new teachers - but luckily for the current ninth graders, some veterans have some words of advice: “You should branch out and meet new people in your grade,” said Cali Chaney ‘12. New to Blake last year, Chaney has benefitted from being open to making new friendships. “Participate in school activities you actually like,” offered Kate Longley ‘13. Allison Eastham ‘14 warns, “People say that freshman year is
a joke, but that’s so not true. If you don’t prioritize, you won’t do well.” A student outside of school adds, “I wish I hadn’t cared as much about what other people thought… and looked for people that fit well with my personality.” A common theme emerges. Freshman year is a substantial change and prioritizing your work is important, but, as these students note, you need to make the most of what can seem like an intimidating experience. Sign up for a sport you want to try, say hi to the new kids, and mainly, be yourself. You’ll meet some amazing people and have an awesome year!
Former Blake student, Michelle Atwood, describes the differences between Blake and her current school in Paris Jonah Sandy Page-Editor
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ast winter, Mi- chelle Atwood ‘14 had just finished mid-year finals before she packed up her bags and boarded her flight to Europe. Her dad had been offered a job at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. Soon after, they finalized plans to move and Michelle and her parents found themselves in the famous City of Lights. The move from Hopkins, Minnesota to Paris, France, over 4,000 miles away, was no easy transition. “The first few weeks were hard,” recalls Atwood. “I was jetlagged and really missed Minnesota.” It took her a while to get past the culture shock and adjust to a foreign country. “It still didn’t feel real. It took a while for me to get used to the thought
that I would be living here [in Paris]. Nearly nothing was similar to Minnesota.” Atwood also had to make the switch from living in a relatively quiet suburban neighborhood to an apartment in the heart of Paris. “Living in a city is very different. There is much more noise, and it’s odd living in an apartment,” explains Atwood. Additionally, the Atwoods have grown acustom to other means of transportation “Public transport is so much easier,” she remarks. “And drivers in Paris are frightening.” On the average weekday, Michelle gets up at 7:00am to catch the bus, “just down the road at ‘Place Victor Hugo.’” After about an hour-long ride she arrives in a little town just outside the city called Croissy-Sur Seine where she begins school at 9:00am at the British School of Paris. Michelle describes the British School of Paris, or BSP, as “the opposite of
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ndy Cantrell can often be spotted in the math wing where he teaches Calculus and AP Calculus AB. Before coming to teach at Blake, he wrote a calculus textbook. Cantrell also recently spent a lot of time in Japan, where his wife was on a research trip. He spoke very highly of Japan and it’s people. In addition to his experience with calculus, he taught Astronomy at Yale for five years. Blake is the first high school Cantrell has taught at and when asked what he was most excited about he says, “I am very excited to get to know the students here and share my enthusiasm for both math and ceramics.” As implied, Cantrell is an avid ceramicist. His work has been exhibited and published.
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hen asked of Claire Harley’s background, she began with her education at Minnetonka High School and University of Wisconsin-Madison. After getting her Master’s in secondary English education, she moved back to Minnesota and began teaching at Blake. Harley’s family is well-versed in performance arts. “My father owns a recording studio in Minneapolis, and my mom is a singer-songwriter. I coach the dance team at Eagan highschool.” “My first impressions were that the students were very polite and welcoming” claims Harley. “And I think now I’ve been most impressed by the depth of analysis in my students . . . Everyone’s really supportive, and I’m impressed (and intimidated) by their resumes.”
Blake in many ways.” The majority of students come from all around the world, and Atwood has made friends from Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Egypt and South Africa, to name a few. All classes are taught in English. “The work isn’t as hard [at the British School] as at Blake,” she mentions.
photo credit: Jonah Sandy
Michelle enjoys a bit of tourism as she settles into her new home in Paris, France.
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at Wagner may seem familiar to many people at the upper school. He taught a semester of English here two years ago, and taught Latin in the middle school and upper school for a number of years. He is now teaching World Literature, having recently earned a second MA in English. In addition, Wagner was also running a baseball/softball training facility and acting as “Mr. Mom to his kids.” Wagner says he is most looking forward to “just being back in these halls. I love the intellectual energy at Blake and learn so much from colleagues and students alike”. When asked what is one fun fact that we should know about him, he responded with “I own a pair of lederhosen. No, I won’t wear them to school. The chafing would be unbelievable”.
Although Atwood continues to pursue sports at her new school, “they barely have any sports for girls,” she says. “There is girls’ soccer once a week, and it’s not taken anywhere near as seriously as the guys soccer. There’s an attitude that girls can’t play sports.” Moving to a new city can be daunting, let alone one halfway around the world. But living in the great city of Paris has some upsides. “I love steak-frites,” says Atwood of the steak and French fry combo. “The steak here is amazing. I also like pain au chocolat,” a kind of chocolate croissant. “The bread is incredible.” Her favorite spots in Paris are “probably around the Louvre Museum,” home to nearly 35,000 works of art, “and the Place de la Madeleine,” a Roman Catholic church that was once a temple ennobling Napoleon’s army. Despite the initial challenges presented by setting into a new country, Michelle is greatly enjoying her life in Paris. Although she is sorely missed by her classmates, she will likely be returning to Blake in about two years. However, we will hopefully be seeing her around in the nearer future – she is visiting Minnesota this October!
The Spectrum Newspaper
Student Life
September 28, 2011
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sStudents i eandrfaculty r atell theirl stories e oof na two-week e stay in Western Africa through photos awa.
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The group captures one last moment before they depart the villages.
Travelers share their experience in Cuernavaca Margaret Graham & Raine Robichaud Staff Writers
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n the past summer, Blake students—along with two faculty chaperones (JJ Kahle and Jennifer Duronio) went on the Blake trip to Cuernavaca, Mexico, an hour south of Mexico City On weekdays, the group went to a local school, “La Escuela Universal” where they worked on their Spanish in small group settings with compassionate and talented Mexican teachers. Free days and afternoons after school were spent relaxing at the school or by exploring the city, including the main square, or “zócalo.” On weekends, the students went on excursions
photo credit: Raine Robichaud
Travelers stop to rest while they observe the sights of Cuernavaca.
to different states in Mexico including Oaxaca, Veracruz, Mexico City, museums, scenic
areas, and archeological sites. Sarah Legried ’14 “really liked how you could leave
your house and go into the middle of the city alone.” She also noted that the less glamorous moments of the trip were sometimes the most memorable: “Well, my favorite parts were usually the little things that we did. Such as, walking to school in the morning with my Mexican Mamá or drinking a Manzanita Sol.” Margaret Graham ’14 commented on how fun it was to “discuss the Mexican politics in comparison to the U.S.” Students learned a lot about cultural and political differences around the world from Cuernavaca.
Another aspect about what made the experience unique was the constant exposure to the Spanish language— in the pandería (bakery), at the dinner table, on the TV, in nearby conversations, the immersion experience made a lasting impact on all the travelers. “The most satisfying thing on the trip was toward the end… when I had the ability to sit down for twenty minutes with my host mom and easily have a conversation with her,” says Simrun Uppal ’14. “I felt at ease talking to her and was proud to be able to get over that awkward language barrier.” Cuernavaca was an excellent cultural exchange and an unforgettable summer!
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The Spectrum Newspaper
News
September 28, 2011
Ceremony commemorates 9/11 attacks Hannah Rice Staff Writer
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arly in the morning of September 11 about fifty members of the Blake community gathered in the Gordy Aamoth Jr Memorial Stadium to remember those who lost their lives exactly ten years ago in the 9/11 attacks. Gordon “Gordy” Aamoth ’88 worked for Sandler O’Neil and Partners investment banking firm on the 104th floor of the South Tower. He was only 32 years old when he died in the attacks.
Current and past Blake faculty as well as students from all three campuses joined Aamoth’s friends and family to commemorate not only Gordy’s life but also the other 3,000 Americans who died that day. Emily Kahn ’13 participated by reading an anonymous poem called “When All That’s Left of Me is Love…Give Me Away.” Kahn explains, “The ceremony was very open and focused mainly on 9/11 as a whole. Gordy’s death really impacted the Blake community.”
The stadium and Spirit Rock— 10 tons of limestone split by a beam from the South Tower—remain on the Hopkins campus as a symbol of our memories and experiences with 9/11. “The ceremony gave me some closure,” Kahn says. “It’s not that you can really move on from this event, but at least be able to try to understand it. Participating made me feel very connected to Blake and our community.” The ceremony included poetry and music from Blake students and faculty, and remarks from Head of School John Gulla and Aamoth’s family.
Middle School Makeover
Renovation project valued at ten million
Courtesy of Hopkins Patch Newspaper
Orchestra teacher Kate Kowalkoski preforms behind Spirit Rock.
Stand Up Speak Out Justice League kicks off the year with a campaign on bullying; Event on October 11 Dharani Persaud Contributing Writer
Renderings of the Hopkins Campus with some of the proposed additions. Diagram courtesy of Ken Nivala
Charles Vojta Contributing Writer
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he Blake School has gone through many ambitious renovations throughout its years, and these renovations that have shaped our campuses into enjoyable and invigorating settings. Recently, a committe proposed a major Hopkins campus renovation. It would change the layout of the campus and provide us with the proper setting to continue academic success. A multi-level parking
ramp would be added to counter the lack of parking currently available, as well as a renovation to entryway to the drop-off zone. Additions would be added to both the Middle and Lower Schools, and the Art and Science Departments would both see renovations as well. Along the lines of athletics, the Blake will add an indoor gymnasium and field house, while adding two extra turf fields along with the existing fields and adding more tennis courts on the upper level. Not included in the current plans, but still being con-
sidered, is the purchase of extra land surrounding the school to add even more fields and possibly a Lifetime Fitness style indoor club. However, such an ambitious plans requires massive amounts of funding, almost in excess of $10 million, and Blake is still in need of $8 million to begin construction. Due to a specific order in which the renovations must be completed, even with proper funding it would still take up to 20 years to complete all of the proposed renovations.
nity center and worship space. This request has brought mixed feelings from the Plymouth community. So, on August 23th, Fawaz Mohiuddin ’13 testified before the Plymouth City Council on behalf of the NWICC. After testimony from Mohiuddin and 30 other citizens, the city council approved
construction of a mosque at 3300 Plymouth Blvd., directly across from Plymouth City Hall. The site currently houses a post office. The USPS and the Northwest Islamic Community Center reached a tentative purchase agreement earlier this year, but the City Council needed to give final approval before a religious institution began operat-
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ustice League is a group of students started last year that is dedicated to social justice of all kinds, they deal with racism, homophobia, sexism, ageism, ableism or any other oppression created in our community and surrounding areas. This year it’s stronger than ever. This summer we participated in a day-long leadership training along with SIACs, Forum, Student Judiciary Board, Community Service Board, and Cornerstone. We all worked together in the morning, and in the afternoon we separated into our own groups to work on goalsetting and to get ready for the beginning of the school year. Justice Leaguers learned about the “six steps to nonviolent social change” as well as an 8-step change model. Now, we are working on a safe schools for all
initiative, hoping to reach out to schools in the Minneapolis, Rochester, and Duluth areas. This idea is called Stand Up, Speak Out. Its target is bullying in all schools in Minnesota. Bullying of any kind is a common occurrence in both middle school and high school and our aim is to spread awareness and reduce its negative effect on the lives of teenagers. Our hard work will culminate in a surprise event on
graphic by: Chloe Billadeau ‘11
October 11th. Students will be able to sign a pledge, as well as hear anonymous stories of bullying. Right now we are still in the planning stages, but more details will come!
Sophomore fights for mosque construction in Plymouth Karl Lovaas Page Editor
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hile most of us were out enjoying the end of summer, a controvesy struck Plymouth. The Northwest Islamic Community Center (NWICC) made an offer to purchase a post office in downtown Plymouth to be used as a religious commu-
ing within city limits. Most of the space is not being used at this post office, yet they will continue limited operation at the site with a retail window and P.O. boxes. Worshippers now must drive to Fridley or Hamel for Islamic services. Besides offering prayer services, the mosque and com-
munity center will operate youth tutoring services, family events, and charity drives. The Northwest Islamic Community Center organization was established in 2009 to “provide Islamic education and services to the Northwest suburbs of the Twin Cities.”
The Spectrum Newspaper
Opinions
September 28, 2011
STAFF EDITORIAL: The merit of failure Sometimes scolding can be better than supporting photo courtesy of The Atlantic
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n a recent Atlantic Magazine article by Lori Gottlieb entitled, “How to Land Your Kid in Therapy,” the author asserts that the practice of rewarding effort as equal to achievement has created a culture of never-ending praise in America’s high schools and universities. Teachers stamp essays with positive generalizations such as “Great Job!” in place of candid feedback. Students are commended for completing homework as though the task is optional rather than an academic necessity. At Blake, there is grade deflation in comparison to most American high schools. Comments on papers help us to become better writers instead of praising
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adequate work as superlative. Teachers know us as curious and imperfect individuals rather than flawless, one-dimensional students. However, Blake parents often ask their children to achieve both academic excellence and happiness without a single failure. This is an impossible ideal. Blake parents expose their children to failure by placing them in an academically rigorous school, but like the soccer parents, Blake parents too often minimize failure when it does occur. When a student scores poorly on a quiz, parents question the teacher’s style of instruction rather than the student’s effort. When a student complains that he or she does not have friends, parents immediately march into the dean’s office for an explanation. When a student does not make varsity, parents demand to talk to the coach. A parental safety net temporarily solves minor problems but leaves a student unprepared to handle his or her own problems in college. Students can help parents to understand that achievement without failure is impossible. Being responsible and transparent about academics is a good first step. When you receive a bad grade, do not immediately blame the teacher.
Find out why you did not score well and prepare accordingly next time. Telling your parents how you will improve builds their confidence that you can manage your own problems. Remind parents that your best effort does not always correlate to high achievement. Letting parents know that failure and disappointment are a part of life forces them to be more cognizant of unreasonably high expectations. Doing YOUR best is different than doing THE best, and the two will not always align. Finally, students need to recognize their parents’ intentions. Parents may live vicariously through their children. If so, they could see success and happiness in their kids lives, and feel more successful and happy in their own lives. This can be unhealthy for the child because the parent(s) may try to dictate what their kid does in order to correct failures in their own past. Parents and students can find a middle ground between achievement and happiness through honest dialogue. If parents recognize that failure is a normal part of the learning process and students are transparent about how to improve, then nobody will need an artificial and patronizing safety net.
D A N G E R of STEREOTYPES
Unhealthy learning when expectations determine outcomes Beatrice Lim Contributing Writer
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hen you walk into math class, your first thought most likely isn’t that you’re a girl or that girls are supposedly bad at math. You’re probably not thinking, “Oh no, I’m black, and I have to prove that I’m smart.” At least not consciously. That’s the problem with stereotype threat; it’s an unconscious fear of living down to or not living up to stereotypes and not something we’re always aware of. Stereotype threat hinders a person’s performance abilities, which at a school like Blake, is practically a death sentence. So, beware, to all ye Blake students; stereotype threat doesn’t affect just a few minority groups—everybody is subject to one stereotype or another. Marie Michael oversaw the stereotype threat training session for teachers. She said, “[Stereotype threat is] not limited to race or gender, but it has to do with whether there’s a stereotype out there… [In a situation of stereotype threat,] your body has a response. It’s not just mental. Your mind is spinning and your working memory doesn’t work as well,” she explained. White students, for example, have been shown to do poorer when compared to Asian counterparts, yet performed better than African Americans of equal intellect. That’s another interesting point; stereotype threat doesn’t affect kids who don’t care for education. “This doesn’t affect someone who’s not
that what they’re dealing with isn’t a matter already high achieving… it’s those students, of race. or those people, who actually fear being seen Everyone suffers in freshman year. [as apart of] the stereotype about the larger In fact, they’re still suffering. As a school, group,” Michael said. we’ve taken steps in the right direction, With hallways filled with pictures of though this movement must continue forwhite male heads of school, students of color ward. Blake is getting better at creating dican feel very out of place. They tend to feel verse classrooms full of a more equal ratio of isolated, which may result in one less voice in boys to girls, and one or two students of color. a discussion. We have several clubs representing different As an Asian-American student, I cultures. These could be expanded and added know how intimidating stereotypes can be. to, in order to continue to make The Blake Everyone expects Asians to be extremely School a safe place to learn and thrive. smart and to get only straight A’s. It puts a lot of pressure on me to perform better than others, and I frequently feel that I haven’t lived up to the stereotype. There’s hope, though! The most important thing to remember is that just because the stereotype is there, doesn’t mean it’s right. It’s our job to steer classes and our subconscious away from these molds and realize that we’re more than just a stereotype. For example, after you read this article, try to come up with three important values that could define who you are. You may be surprised to find how little you fit a stereotype. Another suggestion is to photo courtesy of: American-Born Chinese reach out to freshmen, especially A except from American-Born Chinese (ABC), minorities, and let them know notorious from Sophomore English class
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JOBS BILL: or
BOOM
BUST?
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Connor Slocum Contributing Writer
resident Obama announced a new jobs bill recently that funds $447 billion to help ‘create’ jobs. But could this bill be dubbed as a second stimulus? With an unemployment rate at 9.1%, and jobless claims during a week in mid September rising to more than 420,000, jobs are now more crucially needed than ever. Republicans over the past week have tried to avoid the bill by all means, but to no avail. The new jobs created out of this bill are primarily construction jobs, putting people back in their old boots and jackets. The new American Jobs Act bill wants building, building, and more building. But these jobs are not permanent, and once the project is completed, the workers will leave the job site, and once again be unemployed. This was the case with jobs created by the stimulus bill. The stimulus bill only ‘stimulated’ businesses for a limited time, then conditions returned to the same or worse than before due to layoffs and cutbacks. With the need of actual full time jobs in high demand, these construction and short-term blue-collar jobs are not what our country needs. As senator Rand Paul, R-KY, said, “Paying for another stimulus on the backs of job creators in the form of tax hikes is illogical.” President Obama says that the bill is entirely paid for, using tax hikes on corporate jets and other items that wealthy people take, as well as oil and gas loopholes. But how could recent tax cuts, and this new bill balance each other out? The result is the taxes growing higher on Americans. Truth is, we need new jobs. With our unemployment rate extremely high, and the poverty rate now at 1 in 6 people, demand is extreme. We need jobs that pay, and those that are actually full time. And we cannot afford to continue spending, with our debt ceiling temporarily solved, and our new limit only a few trillion dollars more. This jobs bill could possibly cause a new debate for the debt ceiling in the November 2012 election. The new jobs bill may be too much for us. With the amount of spending being thrown into top gear, another $447 billion dollar spending spree will add more to our debt and give us an uncertain future.
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The Spectrum Newspaper
Opinions
HOMECOMING? September 28, 2011
A. Yes B. No C. “Somebody” already asked me? D. All of the above
E. None of the above
When “Yes” is Insincere; it Should be “No”
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Anna Leslie Staff Writer
omecoming is not marriage. But, whenever that big dance rolls around, the kids in our hallways go into some sort of panic mode. Who should I ask? Who is going to ask me? Should I say yes or no? Yes and no? Kind-of? When we get right down to it, it’s obvious that the pressure mounted on teens surrounding these dances is absolutely insane. As a group, students are putting way too much emphasis on the boring and obsolete topic of dating. A dance is just three hours long and just because you go with a “date” doesn’t mean you actually have to “date.” When I first thought about the issue, my first instinct was to follow the unwritten Blake creed that someone should always say yes. I mean, it’s just for three hours, and maybe ten pictures. But, as I thought about it more and more, I came to understand that saying yes just because you should is a meaningless and ultimately insincere gesture. It gives the person who invited false hope, and the person who accepted the invite is actually lying. In my opinion, if you don’t want
to go with someone, say no. But say no in a polite and respectful way. No long-winded excuses; just no. I don’t think that the person who invited you cares whether or not your grandma’s birthday is that night, or if you’re waiting for that special person to ask you, they’re only looking for one word. Yes or no. One of the biggest recipes for disaster is the big public “ask.” When you get half your grade to help you ask someone, it makes it rather hard for that person to say no. I am the first to admit that I think asking somebody publicly can be totally adorable. I think its fun to get people involved. But when the public “ask” is used as a form of coercion; it loses all its adorableness and fun and becomes sort of creepy. Obviously, the answer the person gives when asked publicly may not be the answer they actually mean. Why would anyone want to attend a dance with someone who doesn’t even care for him/her? Even though Homecoming is not marriage, everyone should be honest and nobody should feel pressured into going with someone they don’t want to go with; even if it is only three hours and not “until death do us part.”
Homecoming: Former
student speaks out Gucky Christenson ‘11
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e have to recognize that this is high school. And like guys of any age, guys in high school sometimes do crazy, irrational stunts around girls. Some stunts may be degrading to the young ladies, but they are normally not meant to be supercilious. A guy asks a girl to Homecoming. Asking it publicly is Blake’s code of conduct and it greatly diminishes the chance of rejection. It also creates a lot for excitement for Homecoming. The whole purpose of this grand gesture loses its value as soon as a girl is permitted to take back her answer afterwards. I understand the social pressure the girls may feel
during this situation. Hopefully, in the future girls will have the courage to say no right at the outset. But just because you regret your initial answer doesn’t mean you can go around the code of conduct and change a yes into a no. That just destroys a guy and might avoid one bad Homecoming, but, it doesn’t teach a lesson to stand up for oneself even in the face of a crowd and say, “NO!” Certainly girls have the ability and right to stand up for themselves. But, a girl shouldn’t hurt a guy by publicly promising to go to the dance with him and retracting that promise later. Just think: What if a guy did the same thing when asked to Sadies?
SURVEY R E S U L T S
Should the Blake School consider moving away from the “dating format”?
Do you feel there is social pressure to say yes?
Have you ever wanted to say no and felt you couldn’t/shouldn’t?
Why do you think there is social pressure to say yes? “That’s just how the Blake School works. If you don’t say yes the other person will feel bad and then everyone finds out, it’s a small community.”
Do you think a male or female being asked to a dance the right to say no?
“because it is the thing to do and it seems like everyone does it and if you don’t, its still ok but you seem cooler if you have a date.”
“There is an unwritten rule to say yes. I don’t think it’s an awful thing because usually it makes everyone less scared to ask someone, which I think is healthy. However it’s not unheard of to say no, so i think it’s a healthy balance.“
Results and statistics are a product of a survey taken by 163 Blake Students, from all grades.
The Spectrum Newspaper
>>>>>
Opinions
September 28, 2011
7
Far From Neutral
A Rebuttal to the Parents Action League
Clare Flanagan Staff Writer
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ine teenage suicides in one year. Imagine the seismic impact that such events would have here at Blake, or at any other school. The deaths occurred mere miles away in the Anoka-Hennepin school district, the largest in the state of Minnesota. The students were judged for their behavior and their clothing, especially if it defied gender norms or suggested that the students might identify as lesbian or gay. As it turns out, the area in which the district lies is represented by politicians with prominent anti-gay agendas, such as current presidential candidate Michele Bachmann. Not surprisingly, three of the suicide victims were gay. Yet here comes the real shocker: throughout all this, no
adult or authority figure stood up to protect these kids. Not because they didn’t want to, but because they couldn’t. The Anoka-Hennepin school district has a neutrality policy in place that prohibits teachers and other staff from discussing sexual orientation in the classroom. It’s unfathomable, but this includes intervening when a student is being mistreated for being or seeming gay. Not without reason, according to Laurie Thompson, the chairwoman of a citizens’ group called the Parents Action League. “[The policy] keeps our school focused on the unbiased teaching of academics and prevents anyone from using children as pawns for social change,” she noted in a recent petition in support of the rule. After all, “homosexual behavior exposes participants to many life-threatening health risks,” and “the classroom
environment needs to be solely focused on academics.” Seriously, Mrs. Thompson? The “unbiased teaching of academics” seems like a noble goal. But it’s baffling that this woman can value lack of bias so highly and still spout a homophobic message under the guise of protecting the children of the school district. Well, who would want their child to be used as
“
it.” As if it’s not okay. Indeed, the neutrality policy is far from neutral, far from maintaining the balance its innocuous title suggests. Instead, it perpetuates a poisonous and hate-filled status quo, one that has made the Anoka-Hennepin school district one of the most dangerous places in America to be different, to be gay. It prevents hate and inequity from being challenged, and because of this,
It perpetuates a poisonous and hate-filled status quo, one that has made the AnokaHennepin school district one of the most dangerous places in America to be different, to be gay.”
a pawn? And who would want them to be exposed to examples of unhealthy “behavior?” Note that she uses the word “behavior,” as if being homosexual is a choice. As if gay kids could “help
allows homophobia to flourish. It values pandering to a political agenda over the safety and wellness of innocent children. The neutrality policy doesn’t protect kids and improve their learn-
ing experience, as Thompson claims. Rather, it fosters a toxic environment in which students who don’t appear “normal” lead miserable lives. So miserable, in fact, that they would choose to kill themselves. It is unthinkable. It simply must change. Certainly, the real way to protect the kids of AnokaHennepin is not to maintain this “gag rule”, to put a stopper on issues that the school board doesn’t like. The real way is to intervene, to educate, to act. To challenge the bully calling a classmate “fag”. To teach children to be kind, to accept each other for what they are. All of these initiatives require that the district’s stringent neutrality rules be broken. And so what? If adults and children could both speak up – because they wanted to, because they were allowed to – some of those nine kids might still be alive.
I N D E R S P E C T I V E :
Above All Else, Freedom: A quest for self-preservation in light of national tragedy Inder Majumdar Staff Writer This article is the product of opinion. Any comments and questions can be emailed to the author, and could be subject to discussion in subsequent articles published under this column. Should you wish that the author not discuss your question or comment, please notify him appropriately in your email. Please note that this article was written with the intent to spark discussion, not support one specific opinion on an issue.
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elcome to the Land of Immigrants. Where, those who wish to escape racial prejudice can seek solace in Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Where, the religion of any man, woman, or child is not a
factor in deciding as to whether or not they can partake in any of the given roles of an American citizen. Not anymore. And yet, as one who finds thrill in the pursuit of justice, who finds that it is in fact moral, and not religion, that should in part constitute the way by which we view others, and who seeks to understand that which I have not experienced, I am obliged to ask: Why did this all change? Let’s be a bit honest with ourselves. On that Tuesday, what went through your head? Prejudice? Disgust? Vengeance? Or, were you too young? I don’t even remember what I was doing that day, so I couldn’t blame you. A 6 year old shouldn’t feel that sort of emotion. And, in all truth, I was one of the lucky few that didn’t. Between September 11th and September 17th, 645 assaults, shootings, harassment cases, death threats, vandalism, and arson cases were all
documented. A Sikh was killed in Arizona because of his beard and turban. Apparently, according the murderer, he looked like a “towelhead,” and it was his obligation to kill him because Mr. Roque (the perpetrator) “[stood] for America all the way!” For the next 8 years, anyone dark enough to match the leather on their passports was given a oneway ticket through a gauntlet of humiliation and bureaucratic idiosyncrasy. The saddest part is that it wasn’t only one party that was affected. It wasn’t so much a simple a case of racial prejudice as it was pure hatred. As a backlash to cultural prejudice, a young boy was stabbed 15 times by a group of Pakistani Muslims. Perhaps what frustrates me the most is what this means for our generation. If anything, the economic and political events of our time will have shaped us. With the onset of augmented racial profiling came the first black president of
The United States. With the collapse of Bear Sterns and Lehman Brothers came the advent of the BRIC countries. However, with all of this, there comes a lack of identity. Then again, I shouldn’t be telling you anything new. Everyone’s scared on both sides of the fence. As a schoolmate once told me, “The white people will always be scared of us. In fact, we’ll never stop being scared of them. That’s why we lose [our culture]; we act like them, talk like them, eat like them, and even believe that we are them.” Our identities became the instruments by which a vast majority of “ABCD’s” (American Born Confused Diesis) would utilize to comply with survival of the fittest. At school, I complain about homework, gossip about the oddities of anyone over the age of 21, talk about girls, and fantasize about music. Outside, a book will never touch the ground. Don’t date before you’re 18. A teacher’s word is the scripture of gold and revelation.
Music won’t pay the bills. Your identity becomes a mere product of your surroundings. You tread the gauntlet carefully. You become a diplomat. It comes to a point where you stop missing ‘home’, not because you’re far away, but because the doors to your own house are locked, the keys changed, the shape unfamiliar, the texture rough. Your passport doesn’t reflect who you truly are, but neither does your experience. I was lucky to only be called “Oreo” with affection. It was a cold, wintery day. Reagan International Airport smelled of icy diplomacy. No one knew each other. Al Jazeera, Fortune, and The Economist bounded the numb satchel. His uncertainties were evident. “You speak good English. Are you an American?” I could only afford a frigid smile. “I’m not sure: Am I?”
8 The Spectrum Newspaper September 28, 2011
ALL ABOUT
Lunch at Blake
Colorful meals: a good reason to stay at school for lunch
Senior shares his reasons to love lunch at Café Blake James Thornton Contributing Writer
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unch is a central part of the collective weekday experience here at the Blake school. Over the summer, I worked at Lunds grocery and then traveled to France, the culinary capital of the world. The reason I mention this is not solely to impress the gourmets here at Northrup but to talk about the Blake school lunch program. As we gather over a warm meal together, we can a step back from the chaos that can mark our beloved Northrup. The numerous daily meal options, truly healthful qualities and delicious taste of the food make our program exceptional, especially when compared to the horrific descriptions of the widely feared public school lunch. This is not to mention the incredible staff here at Blake, who not only make our meals everyday but also go out of their way to be extraordinarily friendly and helpful. At the core of lunch is first and foremost the food. However accomplished a staff might be, whatever the nutrition of a meal, it is all for naught if the elements of a fine meal are overlooked. These include aesthetic presentation, balance within the dish, proper cooking of the ingredients, purposeful texture and of course overall taste. The challenge of fine cooking becomes apparent when one considers the gravity each individual item on this long list can have on a meals success or failure. This is the unique difficulty of preparing food, especially considering our chefs do it day after day, changing the menu
constantly to keep it exciting. Evidence is central to convincing any audience here at Blake, so prepare for a veritable highlight reel of our chef’s cooking prowess, as I take you into the best of Blake lunch. Chicken Cordon Bleu Tartine. Deceptively simple, this dense, open faced sandwich will have you leaping out of your seat for seconds as soon as you taste it. A foundation of bread houses a layer of boneless chicken topped with Swiss cheese. It simply doesn’t need anything else. The Jamaican Style Corned Beef, authenticated with real sweet fried plantains and a side of saffron rice, is a newcomer to this list. The balance made between the delicate yet flavorful saffron rice, thickly cut salty corned beef and soft sweet plantains creates a memorable meal that is not often seen here in the United States; certainly not in any other school lunch program. The Tamale bake is a new take on a classic Mexican dish, with a smoky spice that warms you as its hearty texture quickly satisfies the most ravenous of appetites. It is covered casserole-style with a thick layer of corn bread, which blankets the underlying taco-style beef that gives the meal its flavor. It is serious comfort food, a perfect game day meal. So Upperclassmen, do we really need to eat out every day with such delicious (and prepaid) meals? And Underclassmen, should you really eat the same boring pizza every day? I urge you all, take some initiative and taste what the chefs at Café Blake have to offer. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Freshmen aren’t the only new addition to the lunchroom Paul Babel joins Blake staff as new head chef Rachel Hertzberg Contributing Writer
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his year, the upper school gained a new executive chef, Paul Babel, whom I met with in his office by the cafeteria. “My opinion of the Blake lunches is [that] you guys get a lot more choices than other schools, and that adds to the color and nutrition,” he says. Babel spent six years at the Blake middle school, and he’s excited to be able to serve food that younger students won’t eat. He says upper schoolers are willing to try a variety of foods, and this allows him “to add some more color” to meals. Babel has worked at Taher Food Services (the company that provides Blake’s food) for eleven years. Before that, he was a chef at the Eden Prairie City Center. Blake lunches are “a lot more nutrition oriented” than at other schools, Babel says. “They are a rarity because of all the choic-
es.” For instance, his daughter, who goes to school in Hopkins, sometimes comes home hungry because her school lunches don’t have anything she will eat. Asian is Babel’s favorite style of food, and in the upcoming year, students may see evidence of his love for fresh flavors. “I like Vietnamese style. Fresh mint, fresh lettuce, star anise.” Many students have already noticed how Babel enjoys mixing unexpected foods, for a fun effect. Examples include a dish with both plantains and beef, and a lunch that included Chinese peppers and broccoli knishes. Babel reflected on how he became a chef. “When I graduated high school I knew already I wanted to be a chef, so I became acquainted with the food service industry at seventeen, eighteen years old. I expected I’d have to work really hard,” says Babel. “It’s really hard work, [but] really fun.”
photo credit: Lucia Sandberg Above: Paul Babel grills many delicious steaks for lunch in the Otis Courtyard.
In Depth
9
How healthy are Blake lunches?
Whole wheat, natural ingredients offer nutritious options to students Cathryn Grothe Contributing Writer
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rom three cheese tortellini to hot dogs, stuffed peppers to French toast, it is no secret that Café Blake lunches are full of different, delicious options. But the real question is: are these options healthy? When I walk into the lunchroom I see multiple stations with different varieties of food. There is a salad bar, a sandwich station, two different hot entrees and a dessert
bar. With all of this food there has to be something healthy here, right? Café Blake does a good job of keeping meals healthy and appetizing by providing many different options so that students are bound to find something they can eat. Although some of the lunches served at Blake seem like they could be high in calories and pretty unhealthy, the reality is that Café Blake strives to create delicious meals using the most natural and healthy ingredients.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and pepperoni pizza may not sound like the healthiest meal, but at Café Blake, students can choose wheat bread instead of white and pizza crust is made out of whole wheat dough which is much more healthy than anything Pizza Hut is serving. Some students may feel like we are getting the short end of the school lunch stick when they hear that public schools serve their students McDonalds, Jimmy Johns, and Chipotle for lunch. However,
the reality is that the food at Café Blake tastes just as good as those chain restaurant meals with about half of the calories. It is up to students to make lunches as healthy, or as unhealthy, as they want them to be. When asked about lunches at Blake, Upper School Director Anne Graybeal stated, “Blake lunches are as healthy as you make them. I myself had two slices of cheeseburger pizza today whereas I could have had tortellini and a salad. But, all in
all, Café Blake has more, and healthier, lunches than anywhere I have ever taught.” It is clear that we all divulge ourselves now and then with the tasty meals Café Blake serves (even if they aren’t the healthiest option), but with such a large variety of food available, it isn’t hard to find something healthy, and tasty, to eat.
From complex pyramid to comprehensible plate Classic food pyramid receives a makeover Lucia Sandberg Page Editor
T source: USDA
Fresh vegetables like asparagus, green beans, and beets are all available at Café Blake. Protein-rich salmon is a healthy and delicious option for students.
his June, the classic food pyramid, displayed in cafeterias and on cereal boxes alike, received a makeover administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The new “pyramid” is actually modeled after a plate and has been divided into sections to represent what portion of each meal should be made up of the different food groups (i.e., protein, fruits, grains, vegetables, and dairy). The old shape of the pyramid was difficult for many to understand. It wasn’t visually clear how food
Right: juniors Ned Hartfiel ‘13 and Christopher Chute ‘13 prepare a tasty salad together at the Café Blake salad bar.
groups should be portioned for each meal. The USDA encourages smaller portions in general and recommends balancing calories by “enjoy[ing] your food, but eat[ing] less.” The USDA also urges Americans to forego a sugary, carbonated drink and opt for water instead. Grains should be whole grains, and milk should be fatfree or low-fat. The goal of the new food plate (pictured to the left) is to encourage Americans to eat much healthier, smaller portions by providing a clearer visual model. With obesity rates in the United States skyrocketing, (over 1/3 of Americans are overweight) the new plate is certainly a worthwhile effort.
10 FLASHBACK TO THE A&E
While Footloose may seem like just another dance flick, the movie prompts discussion on topics such as the nature of remakes, teen rebellion, even dance culture at Blake Molly Apple Staff Writer
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ith all this recent talk of remaking films such as Footloose, everyone’s wondering if Hollywood’s just plain running out of ideas. Remakes are a tricky thing. If done in the right way they can come off as a clever i m a g i n a t ive spin-off of the original, but veer too far from or even to close to the original story and there’s a potential disaster. When asked about remakes she remembers of the 80s, Stacy Helmbrecht-Wilson said, “remaking some movies can be cool, but when movies are so good remaking them can ruin it.” She also said, “The second movie has to be as good or better than the first and if you can’t pull that off then you shouldn’t remake it.” When asked why 80s movies are so popular to remake, Patrick Barry says, “The eighties were so good that everyone wants to keep reliving them.” Anne Graybeal says,
“On a commercial standpoint, musical remakes caption the zeitgeist around programs like Glee, High School Musical or Scrubs.” She explains, “People are finding ways to speak to whatever contemporary need it is that’s making us gravitate towards musicals by making remakes of great old films.” Footloose, coming out October 14th starring Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough, is about a city kid who tries to adapt to life in a very conservative Midwestern town. The town has outlawed public dancing and rock & roll, but once Wormald’s character Ren MacCormack arrives, he leads the teenagers into a rebellion against the town. Will this musical remake have even the slightest chance up against the original? We’ll have to wait and see. With a history of musical remakes, there is also a history of films about adolescent struggles between freedom, rules that adults have made, and
“ ”
80s
The Spectrum Newspaper September 28, 2011
It makes the parents and teachers look like the bad guys
TREND ALERT!
1984
2011
Next month’s Footloose is not the only 80s film receiving remake treatment - in addition to last year’s The Karate Kid and Clash of the Titans, the coming years will bring us new versions of classics like Red Dawn, War Games, Poltergeist, Beverly Hills Cop, Ghostbusters and photos courtesy of beyondhollywood.com even Dirty Dancing and wildaboutmovies.com
what society says is or isn’t okay. Graybeal reflects on the community decision of banning grinding when she says, “Every adult who has seen Footloose [1984] agrees with the teens that they should express themselves, but if we use Footloose as a parallel for what’s
happening at Blake, it makes the parents and teachers look like the bad guys when they’re really making their decisions in the best interest of the students.” If, at the end of the day, movie remakes give a reminder of the social values we rely on, or
a topic to discuss with our teachers and parents who loved the original, then the more remakes the better. Before seeing the remake, watch the original and we’ll see if it’s enough of a foottapper compared to the first.
Fall Into Fashion
Some autumnal fashion tips from a Blake fashionista Kit Kaminski Contributing Writer
F Polka Dots
Skinny Belt Color Blocking photos courtesy of style.com’s Trend Report
all is the best season for fashion—from wearing shorts through September or fabulous jackets through October and November, it is the perfect time to flaunt your style! This fall, don’t be afraid to strut your stuff in leopard apparel or a maxi skirt. Dress up simple outfits with great accessories like chandelier earrings and skinny belts. Also, bright color blocking, if you chose a perfect palate, can help you hold on to your summer glow. As the warmer temperatures start to fade, pair bell bottom jeans or wide leg pants with short boots. This increases your height and adds length to your legs without
the need for tall stilettos. Make sure the length of your flared pants fits correctly, so the large silhouette isn’t distracting. As well as pairing short boots with wide leg pants, try them with retro pleats on skirts and sharp collars on shirts. Pleats and collars are never wrong for fall; they provide a clean, polished look that is so easy to mix with a great leather or bomber jacket. Pencil skirts are another garment coming back into style this season—wear them with sheer tights and boots to make the trend more casual. Try adding psychedelic furs to simple outfits as the winter rolls around. Also, be noticed with standout gloves—they are stylish, memorable, and perfect for chilly temperatures. Make sure to pair all
the trends with another garment in a great fall color. Orange is the essential hue! Fit orange into your fall wardrobe, as it is radiant and a traditional autumn tone. Another amazing tone for fall is plum; add it in to your look with a cozy sweater or handbag. Some other good shades for fall are deep teal, coffee, cedar and honeysuckle. Step out of your box and try these trends! For the brave fashionista, the biggest trend of the season is polka dots. Mix them in by wearing a polka dot trapeze blouse that you can easily pair with jeans, as it is a loud print. Missoni for Target is now available and are a great ways to get your prints into your daily style. Don’t be afraid of color and pattern this fall—embrace the fun!
The Spectrum Newspaper
A&E
September 28, 2011
Does X-Factor have the “it” factor?
HOROSCOPES
Students weigh in on their favorite reality TV singing competitions and how Simon Cowell’s new show, The X-Factor, will match up Adelaide Winton Contributing Writer
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ith so many shows on television claiming they find America’s true vocal talent, it’s hard to decide what to watch. American Idol, The X Factor, and The Voice all have one thing in common; they are seeking to find the most talented singers in the country. While these shows have similar ideas, it’s the differences that matter. The X Factor is a new show that premiered on Fox last week. Simon Cowell, a former Idol judge known for his harsh criticism, is both a producer and a judge on this show. The X Factor is not only looking for solo artists, but also musical groups, and there is no age limit. Along with Cowell, the other judges include Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid, and Nicole Scherzinger, each of whom is assigned a different group to mentor. The winner of The X Factor will receive a $5 million record deal with Cowell’s record label, Syco Music (Sony Music). The Voice aired its first season this year on NBC, and will return for it’s second season on April 26, 2012. This show works
in three stages, the first being the blind audition, in which contestants sing to the judges, who can’t see them, forcing them to judge singers only on their sound. The judges include Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Christina Aguilera. The winners are mentored for the battle stage and singers are eliminated until 4 contestants are left and the audience votes on who will be the winner, which last season was Javier Colon. “American idol has been overplayed and The Voice has a new concept,” says Callahan Vertin ’15. “I like that the judges can’t judge the contestants based on their appearance.” American Idol has been running for ten seasons straight and will start up again on January 22, 2012 on Fox. In this show, singers perform each week in front of a panel of judges which currently consists of Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy Jackson, with Ryan Seacrest hosting the show. Viewers vote and one singer is eliminated each
week until only one singer is left: the winner, which last season was Scotty McCreery. American Idol is one of the highest-rated television shows in history, but its popularity may be dwindling. According to Babs Laco ’13, “American Idol used to be really good, but it has gotten worse over the years and it should have ended years ago. To be honest, I didn’t know it was still on TV.” All three show will all be airing new seasons this year, and it will be interesting to watch and see the results of each of these shows. Each show gives singers the opportunity to be the next musical breakout star. Watch them and see who will be in the TV buzz this year.
brown sugar 1/3 cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt 1 cup Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips or semisweet chocolate chunks* (6 oz.)
until well incorporated. The dough will be slightly runny. If dough is still warm, refrigerate for a few minutes so chocolate chips do not melt. If it is at room temperature, stir in chocolate chips. 3. Drop dough in 1-tablespoon portions, 2 inches apart, onto cool 12 by 15 inch baking sheets lined with parchment paper. 4. Bake in a 300° oven for about 10-12 minutes, then rotate pans for another 4-6 minutes. Cookies should be a pale golden color, but not shiny. They may appear slightly underdone, but the texture will be softer and chewier. 5. Let cookies stand on baking sheets for 1-2 minutes, then transfer onto wire cooling racks using a wide spatula. Store cookies in airtight container once cooled for up to two days.
Staff Writer These cookies are super thin and super chewy. The dough stores well in the refrigerator for a few days, and as an added bonus, there are no eggs, so the dough can safely be eaten raw. This recipe makes enough dough for 2-3 dozen cookies. Total Time: 40 minutes Hands-on Time: 20 minutes.
What you’ll need: At least two 12 by 15 inch baking sheets Parchment paper Electric mixer Wire cooling racks
Ingredients 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature 1/2 cup firmly packed light
*These chocolate chips have a flatter shape, and therefore bake better than regular chocolate chips. Preparation 1. With an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until well blended, 1-2 minutes. Beat in 3 tablespoons water and the vanilla until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. 2. In another bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat gradually into butter mixture
CAPRICORN
CANCER
December 23 -- January 20
June 22 -- July 22
Try to loosen up a bit and have more fun, Capricorn! You tend to be very professional, which is good, but there are so many exciting things going on in the fall—you should try to enjoy them!
Just like fellow Cancer Khloe Kardashian, you will find yourself to be very outgoing this month. In social situations you may find yourself to be the center of attention, so use that outgoingness and get down with your friends!
AQUARIUS
January 21 -- February 19
You tend to be very shy and quiet in public but loud and eccentric with friends. Try to bring that energy out in the open more as you will be able to feel positive, new energy during the full moon(s) in the middle of October because, like Aquarius Shakira, your hips don’t lie. February 20 -- March 20
Pisces tend to be very understanding, so talk to a friend who needs you next month. One lucky Pisces will also find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow… you know who you are.
ARIES
March 21 -- April 20
“Better than Sweet Martha’s!” Anna Ehrlich
Sully “Missus Wanda” Whitely Staff Writer
PISCES
The judges of this year’s X-Factor
photo courtesy of charlesblog.allalla.com
Photo courtesy of Anna Ehrlich
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This month you will feel like singing as some other Aries include Celine Dion, Fergie and Mariah Carey. Perhaps try making a YouTube channel to show off that talent—you could become the next CathyMay15, WAYHO!
TAURUS
LEO
July 23 -- August 21
Your ruling planet is the sun, so make sure you soak up the last of it in the next couple weeks. Even though your symbol is the mighty lion, you may be feeling more like a cougar this fall like fellow Leo Madonna, so maybe step back and take a look into yourself. Me-owww.
VIRGO
August 22 -- September 23 Try to come out of your shell a little bit, Virgo. If you push yourself, you might have a very fun time! Fellow Virgo Charlie Sheen revealed his true self and look at how far it got him! Winning.
LIBRA
September 24 -- October 23
Your zodiac sign is the scales, which means you are very balanced and levelheaded. Your element is air, so get outside and get some fresh air so you can maintain your balance.
SCORPIO
April 21 -- May 21
October 24 -- November 23
One of the charismatic marks of Taurus is to be solidly built, with big bones and a tendency to gain weight. Fret not: lay off the Twinkies and use these traits to hit the gym and excel in your sport and you will be very pleased with the results.
Your opposite sign Taurus is feeling quite chatty this month so make sure to keep your secrets to yourself. And, like fellow Scorpio Matthew McConaughey, others may find you to be very annoying this month so check yourself before you wreck yourself.
GEMINI
May 22 -- June 21
Like your Gemini symbol, the twins, you will be able to accomplish many things this fall—it will be like there are two of you! Although, I hate to interrupt the good vibes, I’m gonna let you finish but, like fellow Gemini Kanye West, you might find that your personal filter is out of order.
SAGITTARIUS
November 24 -- December 22
As Sagittarius’s tend to be outgoing and extroverted, use these positive traits to talk to others who may be shy. Be sure to pay attention in class this fall too, because there are many new things to learn and you tend to not love details.
12
The Spectrum Newspaper
Science/Technology
Steve Jobs retires from CEO at Apple Chief excecutive officer Tim Cook now heads the massive corporation Noah Abramovitz Staff Writer
Student Life: Emily Moore News: Patrick Dunphy Opinions: Karl Lovaas In-Depth: Lucia Sandberg A&E: Jonah Sandy Sci/Tech: Jake Barczak Nolan Lindquist Features: Eve Liu Sports: Laine Higgins
Business Managers: Alex Feldman Charles Vojta
Jake Barczak Page Editor
By the average European : 43 Average number of trees that a single porcupine kills in one year : 100 Gallons of water that are consumed daily by a 500-meagwatt coal energy plant : 3,000,000 Gallons used for cooling the plant : 300,000,000 photo courtesy of: flickr.com
see awe-inspiring products such as the iPad or the iPhone, nor that Apple Incorporated will run into the ground (though their stock did right after Jobs retired). Jobs heartily endorsed the appointment of long time number-two-man Tim Cook as the CEO. Cook has already had much experience at the top, having filled in for Jobs during his numerous medical leaves of absence. Everyone seems to recognize the fact that Cook has been given a seemingly impossible role to fill. Arguably, he needs to be able to replace one of the brightest business visionaries the world seen. In this day, with competing software such as Windows 7 for computers and the
Android technology for smartphones, Apple has reached a crossroads. For the past five years it has been dominating the technology market, pioneering the most intricate and advanced computer hardware and software. Apple has always put their faith in Steve Jobs, trusting him to lead the company to the top, and right now the worry is understandable. But, according to Steve Jobs they have nothing to fear. In a letter from Jobs to the Apple Board of Directors and the he said, “I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.”
Spectrum Staff
Editors In-Chief: Bailey Dunning & Bennett Winton Page Editors:
The Blake Index Kilograms of resources daily used by the average American : 88
I
n a world where corporate greed runs amok, and cynicism is ever present, only a small fraction of corporations have been operating in the correct way. One of these corporations that has from the beginning set an example as a leading innovator in portable electronics is Apple Incorporated. While the departure of Steve Jobs certainly is an unfortunate event, it only marks the end of one phase in the history of the company. Steve Jobs had always said that he would step down if he could “no longer meet his duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO.” It appears that his case of pancreatic cancer has finally gotten the best of him. He was first diagnosed with the disease in 2004 and after a recent string of medical operations, including a liver transplant; he has decided that he can no longer be a beneficial contributor to the company. While many fans of Apple’s products may disagree, it is comforting to know that he has will still have a high position within the company: Jobs has now been named the chairman of Apple’s Board of Directors, and will still play a major role in supervising the direction of the company. Jobs’ retirement does not mean that we will cease to
September 28, 2011
Staff Writers: Sanjana Srivastava Anna Ehrlich Margaret Graham Sully Whitely Raine Robichaud Noah Abramovitz Hannah Rice Haley Holsather Anna Leslie Iman Pakzad Clare Flanagan Claire Carpenter Molly Apple Lauren Rondestvedt
Photographer:
Nicky Christensen
Graphic Designer: Kevin Hayes
Adviser:
Anna Reid
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.
Acres of tropical forest that are destroyed every minute:
60 Amount, in tons, of paper used by Americans annually:
50,000,000 Percentage of the world’s population for which the U.S. accounts : 5 Percentage of the world’s oil that the U.S. consumes:
25 Of the world’s copper : 15 Minimum number of pieces of junk mail that are delivered in the U.S. every four years :
400,000,000,000 Approximate number of stars in the universe :
400,000,000,000 Approximate number of weeks it takes to manufacture, fill, sell, recycle and remanufacture an aluminum beverage can : 6 Percentage of U.S. waste for which products account :
75
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. Email letters or editorial cartoons to spectrum@blakeschool.org or deliver them anonymously in room 351. Please limit letters to 400 words.
Join Spectrum:
Spectrum meets every Tuesday in room 351 during both lunches. Come if you are interested in writing, drawing, designing or taking pictures for our newspaper.
Gallons of water used to refine each gallon of gasoline in the U.S. : 4.7 Gallons of gasoline consumed in the United States each day : 386,000,000
The Spectrum Newspaper
Science/Technology
September 28, 2011
Spring Lake Park back on the map
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Local park on the rebound Haley Holsather Staff Writer
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ver the course of the summer, Spring Lake, Blake’s largely unknown and ignored neighbor, underwent a project to reduce pollution and renew natural beauty. “[My environmental sciences class has been]
Pollutants are consumed by microbes on this artificial island, improving water quality.
going out onto the lake [for several years], especially in winter, and taking samples…” said Dan Trockman, who teaches environmental sciences at the
upper school, “…and [the lake] exhibits some strange behavior.” Spring Lake is nestled between Kenwood Parkway and Interstate 394 and is not easily visible to passersby, due to the dense thickets of invasive buckthorn plants surrounding it. The lake was designated as a wildlife refuge in 1983, and since then, its condition has deteriorated. “From the neighborhood we get what are called nutrient pollutants, so nitrates and phosphates from fertilizer . . . So over the years, the lake has just spiraled to lower and lowCourtesy Of: er water quality,” Floating Island International. says Trockman. Plans to clean up the troubled lake have existed for more than a decade, as it is a tributary of the Mississippi. Today, an emerging technology has been
employed to aid in the cleanup. Floating treatment wetlands, made by Montana’s Floating Island International were
installed in the lake to naturally purify the water by mimicking the processes of a natural wetland in a concentrated, man-
Blake drawing students in Spring Lake Park
an integral role in many wetland renewal projects across
the country and the world. Over time, naturally occurring microbes will come into contact with the porous island structure and adhere to it, creating a “dynamic biofilm layer” de-
Photo Credit: Bill Colburn
made package. Made of recycled plastic bottles, marine foam, and aquatic plantings, the floating islands are environmentally friendly and have played
GPS devices empower armchair magellans Iman Pakzad
the hobby was still young, participants repeated the mantra: Staff Writer “if you hide it, they will come” to ave you ever wanted to go encourage novices to hide their on a treasure hunt? With own caches. Now caches have the right equipment, you can. been hidden in almost every For hobbyists, geocaching can nook and cranny imaginable. be an adventurous outdoor trea Some caches are very sure hunt. All a novice needs well hidden, and reto get started is quire out of the box a GPS enabled thinking to discover. device (e.g. an One cache requires iPhone), which typing a code into a can be used to public telephone to locate the cooropen a panel to the dinates where cache-compartment. a “cache” is hidIn Palm Springs, den. The game California, a gigantic is simple: find wooden post covered the cache, sign a with shoes is a cache. logbook, and reIn Austin, Texas, hobplace whatever byists have hidden a you take with Photo Credit: Iman Pakzad Iman’s first geocaching hint. cache along “a spooky something of path”. Some practitioequal or greater of their own and posting their ners have tried a variation they value. “Caches” can be all sorts locations on the Internet. Soon, call “reverse geocaching”. Fans of objects, from a 35 mm film the pastime became known as take a box to a location where canister to a large bucket. Some “geocaching”, to avoid the possi- it will open and take the prize are simple plastic containers bly negative connotations of the inside. There are even some while others are camouflaged. word “stash”. Today, geocaching caches nearby the Northrop Geocaching began on is a worldwide game. There are Campus. Students are advised May 3, 2000 as the “Great Amer- even caches in Antarctica. While
H
ican GPS Stash Hunt”, when Dave Ulmer placed a black bucket in Beaver Creek, Oregon (near Portland) and posted the coordinates on the web. After just 3 days, two people had discovered it. Not long after, more and more people began hiding containers
One student’s depiction of a trail near the lake.
signed to consume nutrients in the water and rid it of pollutants. “Bacteria will grow on the [floating island] mesh and they will actually [convert] nitrates in the water into nitrogen in the air,”
Geocaching: the hobby of the future?
said Trockman. “And as water moves through [the floating islands], the [lake’s water] quality should improve as it heads out to the Mississippi river. So we are almost using that lake [as a water treatment facility]”. “If…we do the water
quality test [every year], we can see if the water...of [Spring Lake] gets better over time.”
Photo Credit: Roderick Parks, courtesy of flickr. com.
Right: A “standard” geocache.
to search the Sculpture Garden. On this page are two photographic hints to help students find a cache near the school, called the SFEN Cache. Searching for a local geocache can be a great way to get some exercise, plan a hiking trip, examine beautiful scenery, or enjoy the out-
doors with friends and family. I encourage you to take out your GPS device and start exploring!
Above: Iman’s second geocaching hint
Photo Credit: Iman Pakzad
14
The Spectrum Newspaper
Features
September 28, 2011
Exchange students at Blake Something extraordinary happens when people from different cultures join the ordinary life of America. High school is a crucial time in everyone’s life, and becoming an exchange student is a very unique experience. This year, as Blake welcomes four international exchange students, each from a different country, let’s sit down with Spectrum and get to know them!
Ly Trinh ‘13
Interviewed by Hannah Rice
What were your first impressions of the United States? Did it live up to your expectations?
My first impression would be that the US is a colorful and lively country. So far my ideas about the US have been quite true, probably because I had heard a good deal about it before. I also noticed that while people tend to be casual, they also dress up for occasions.
What is your favorite new American food? Favorite food back home? Have you had to try any strange American dishes?
Wow, it’s hard to choose. If I had to pick one, I guess it would be peanut butter sandwich! I know it doesn’t sound good to everyone but I really enjoy it. My favorite back home is ‘pho ga’, a popular Vietnamese dish; it’s sort of white noodle soup with chicken. The weirdest thing I’ve had to eat in the US is probably the deep fried pie, which I had at the Minnesota State Fair.
What is it like living with a host family?
My host family is wonderful! I have never stayed abroad before so there are so many things I need to catch up with, and my host family has helped me a lot with it. They have introduced the American way of life to me but at the same time also made sure I feel comfortable and have a good time. It’s only been three weeks but I feel like we’re already very close.
What sort of music do you listen to?
I like pop, alternative rock, electronic and sometimes hip hop. My all-time favorite is Westlife, an Irish boyband.
Any hobbies?
I love walking, drawing and singing.
Harald Eiken ‘13
Roger Ntawukulityayo ‘12
Nicky Christenson ‘14
Interviewed by Ly Trinh
Interviewed by Ly Trinh
Interviewed by Karl Lovaas
lived there my whole life. I’m actually also half Norwegian and I spend many of my vacations in our house there. During my free time I enjoy participating in several sports (mostly Nordic and alpine skiing but I also play soccer) and I’m very interested in politics. In Sweden, I attend a small school similar to Blake.
My hometown is in Belgium, it’s a Flemish city. It’s a university city, like Boston in the states, it has many students. It is the first student city in Belgium and I have spent 12 years there. I love music, I listen to it all the time. My favourite is hip hop. I have a band in Belgium with some friends, and we make rap songs.
there my entire life. My mother is from Austria and my dad is from California. Many in the Blake community probably remember my older brothers Lucas (’08) and Gucky (’11).
Tell me about your host family
I’m going to give a senior speech!
the Blake community?
What are you looking to get out of this year abroad?
Tell me about yourself.
Tell me about yourself: your homeTell me the basics. I was born in Stockholm, Sweden and I’ve I am from Munich, Germany. I have lived town, your hobbies, etc.
Did you play any school sports?
There aren’t any school sports. It sort of surprises me how much time kids spend Why did you decide to come to the after school playing sports. Two hours a What kind of sports do you like? US? So far what has been similar to I like group sports like soccer, basket- day after school would be very uncommon in Germany and Austria. and different from your country? ball and baseball. I really enjoy fitness and working out; its one of my favourite There are several reasons to why I chose things to do. Have you experienced any sigto spend a year in the United States. Two of nificant differences between your the more obvious reasons are that I want to improve my English and to meet new school in Munich and Blake? So far what has been similar to friends. But another main reason is that I and different from your country? Yes; the whole system is totally differwas very tired of my Swedish school. I’ve The biggest difference is probably the ent. In Germany I had 12 subjects and been at the same school in Sweden for 6 relationships between the teachers and here in the US I only have 6, but they are years so I know everybody. Minnesota is students. It is really good, and the teach- way more intense. Also, the grading sysin many ways similar to Sweden. The big- ers are fantastic. Blake also uses more tem is totally different, you get way more gest difference is that all teenagers drive opportunities to improve your grade technology. a car here. here, whereas in Germany your grades What is your host family experience? are based off of exams and large papers. How is Blake? Have you had any My host mom is about 50 and my host dad The teacher/student relationship is also problems? is about 55. I feel very good in the family, different. In Germany, teachers usually I absolutely love Blake, and I realized that I can do what I want and I feel like I am refuse to take emails from students or parents. Here, the relationship feels much the very first day at school. People are already at home. more personal. so friendly and the biggest problem was finding my class on the first day. What do you wish to contribute to I’m staying with the Lindahls. They are very similar to my Swedish family and we’re getting along with each other very well.
What do you wish to contribute to the Blake community?
I hope to contribute to the school teams in the sports I’m participating in. I also think that I can give another perspective to several topics in my social studies class since I’m a foreign citizen.
I want to improve my English and have it be my most fluent language. I also would Is the weather similar? like to get to know more people around Very similar to Belgium the world and get new connections. BeWhat are your plans for homecoming? sides that, another goal is to improve acaI heard that you have to be smart so I will demically and take that back to Germany. wear some nice clothes like everybody How are the girls at Blake? and my goal is to have fun with my friends. The girls at Blake are really nice. They are A junior asked me, Cariana Chambers very friendly and smart! No gender barri13’, so I am definitely going with her. ers between boys and girls; they get along much better. photo credit: Karl Lovaas
The Spectrum Newspaper September 28, 2011
STATE CHAMPS:
Sports
15
Last spring, girls’ lacrosse, boys tennis and track and field brought home state titles
Photo credit: parent submitted
Grant Krieger ‘13 won the 2011 Class A Pole Vault Championship, clearing the bar on his first attempt at 15 feet.
Girls lacrosse defeated rival Eden Prairie 11-9 for the second year in a row to cap an undefeated season. They are the first team to win back-to-back state titles for girls lacrosse in MSHSL history.
Doubles partners Ford Traff ‘11 and Kai Skallerud ‘13 defeated a pair from St. Paul Academy 6-3, 6-1 to claim the 2011 Class A State Individuals Doubles Tennis Title. This is Traff’s third consecutive doubles title. He partnered for the championship with Tips Jackley ‘09 in 2009 and Jack Bryant ‘10 in 2010.
Girls’ tennis victory against Breck Raising the Bar A closer look at the benefits of energy bars earns #1 ranking in state Zahara Kathawalla Contributing Writer
A
lthough it is common for athletes to munch on energy bars before practices and games alike, some energy bars are more harmful than helpful. Whether you are a pro athlete following in Serena Williams footsteps, or you just want a protein boost before climbing up
the three flights of steps to get to English class, it is important to know which sports bar best suits your needs. Sports bars can have a negative and positive affect on athletes’ health depending on how they are used. Steve Hertzler, PhD at Ohio University, conducted a study to see if athletes are getting the energy their expecting. The study showed that some sports bars can have
photo credit: parent submitted
Captains Jen Burdick ‘12 and Abby Schell ‘12 high five between sets during the team’s victory at the Pine City Tournament.
Claire Carpenter Staff Writer
T
he Blake girls varsity tennis team is looking stronger than ever this fall with a record of 5-1 and a Class A record of 5-0. Because this year’s team has unusual depth, many of the players are able to play well at singles as well as in a variety of doubles combinations. The ever-changing lineup has forged tight bonds on the team this fall. Kate Fraley ’13 says, “My favorite team tradition is eating at Big Bowl after our first all-day tournament in Pine City. It’s fun to go out to eat and it is our first chance to bond as a team off the court.”
Although the squad lost 3-4 in a very close match to Breck last year in the 4A Section final, Blake beat Breck 6-1 this year on September 15. This win marks an important milestone for the bears tennis squad. According to cocaptain Abby Schell ’12, “Breck is our biggest rival because our match is always a toss up. Our ‘young’ team is now older and more experienced and this is our year to make it to state.” The next home match is Friday, September 30th, against De La Salle. They have a strong and experienced squad, so it should be a great match to watch, so come out and support the Blake tennis team.
photo credit: Zahara Kathawalla
#2 Clif Bar
#1
Luna Bar
candy-bar like effects. These bars cause a spike in blood sugar followed by a rapid decline. Therefore, to prevent this “candy bar” reaction, it is important to choose a bar with lots of carbohydrates. Hertzler’s research proved that consuming a small amount of an energy bar over an extended period improves race performance, be it to the tennis ball or up to Mrs. Reid’s English class on time.
My favorite flavor of Luna bars is Cookies n’ Cream. I recommend this bar for daily activities. It is the perfect bar to eat on the run or on the trail, but I would not eat it before a big game because of low amounts of protein (8g) and carbohydrates (23g). Contrary to the popular belief, Luna bars are not enriched with estrogen, and are safe for males to eat.
My favorite flavor of Cliff bar is Chocolate Brownie. Cliff bars are 70% all natural and a good source of protein (9g), vitamins and minerals, which are important nutrients for sports and other strenuous activities. The 45 grams of carbohydrates serve as a great pre-practice snack to provide energy, or a nutritious post-practice snack that helps build muscle.
#3
photo credit: Zahara Kathawalla
photo credit: Laine Higgins
Power Bar
Power bars contain lots of protein and is chock-full of carbohydrates. My favorite flavors are Vanilla Yogurt and Chocolate Peanutbutter. This bar helps build lean tissue muscle, and has the highest-quality protein blend. However, this bar should be eaten in moderation because it is easy to crash after downing its 23 grams of protein.
The Spectrum Newspaper September 28, 2011
Hitting the ground running:
16
Sports Cross Country teams look forward to stellar seasons
Right: The girls cross country team looks determined as they take off for their first race of the season. Left: the boys team takes their first strides of a grueling race.
Margaret Graham Staff Writer
T
his year’s Cross Country team is full of promising athletes and is looking forward to an awesome season. Aliya Feroe ’13, a team captain, said,” The girls’ and guys’ cross country teams are not going to stop running until both teams come home on November 5 with a state title.”
But the athletes know it’s not going to be an easy goal to reach. Jordan Chancellor ’15 explained, “Both teams are very talented this year, but it’s a long road to state. In order to achieve our goals we have to keep working hard and giving it our all every race.” That’s just what they’ve been doing. So far, the team’s hard work has paid off. The varsity
girls won their first two races and were runners up in their third race. The varsity boys won their first race and were runners up in the next two races. Their success comes from the hard work they put in during practices every day. Not only is the team full of great athletes, but they’re also fantastic teammates. The team is unique in that it is a mixture
of boys, girls, upper and middle school students. As Chris Hall ’14 said, “The team has great spirit and supports each other.” The long runs give the team an opportunity to bond. They run on several bike paths around the middle school campus. Many runners would have to agree that their favorite run is the “Regan Run,” although the distance they run varies daily.
photo credit: Keith Clark
The Cross Country team is one big family. As Coach Gary Lee said, “It is this work ethic and camaraderie that has resulted in both teams being ranked in the top three in state. It helps that they run fast as well.” The Cross Country state meet is November 5 at St. Olaf College. Everyone should come out to support the team because they’ll pull off a great race!
Fall Sports Update: take a peek at Blake’s fall sports teams Boys Soccer
Football
Current Record: 4-4-1
Biggest Rival: “Other than Breck, SPA is a big rival and this year marks the 100th anniversary of [Blake’s sports] rivalry,” remarks Tim Dooley ‘13. Team Motto: “give ‘em hell.”
Up & Coming Underclassman: C h a r l i e Hartwell ’14 is a solid keeper who comes through in the clutch for us a lot,” according to Dooley. photo credit: parent submitted
photo credit: Nicky Christenson
Left: Quarterback Conner Kline ‘12 breaks a tackle. Above: the sun set paints a striking backdrop during the bears homecoming face off against Providence Academy.
Current Record: 1-3
Best Sound: “The ball hitting the back of the net. It’s pretty satisfactory,” says Dooley.
Tim Dooley ‘13 winds upNext Home Game: for a corner kick. Family at 5:00 PM.
Favorite Pre-Game Meal: “My favorite pregame meal would have to be spaghetti,” remarks Tom Blease ’14.
September 30 vs. Holy
Girls Swim & Dive
Volleyball
Best Part of Football: “Filling up the water bottles,” says Blease. Next Home Game: October 6 vs. St. Paul Academy at 7:00 PM.
Current Record: 0-10
photo credit: parent submitted
Riele Short ‘15 steals a breath during her victory in the 100 butterfly.
Signature Team Cheer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Dominate!
Favorite Team Tradition: “We walk into meets singing I Want it That Way by the Backstreet Boys,” says Anna Leslie ‘14 Best Quote: “Pain is weakness leaving the body,” -Kris Rosenberg
Favorite Memory: “When we won sections in 2008, we beat Breck by .01, which was amazing. It showed that if we worked hard and stuck together as a team we could win,” recalls Leslie. Current Record: 5th at Hutchinson Invitational, 10th at Minneapolis South Invitational. Next Home Meet: October 6 vs. Visitation at 5:30 PM.
Mid-Season Report: According to Nefertitti Johnson ’15, the team “is improving, and I think our playing as a team is a lot better than last year.” Biggest Rival: “De La Salle, because they have a very dynamic skill level. We have it in us to win, but we have to have the mentality that we can win,” says Johnson. Favorite Team Tradition: Team dinners once a month.
Next Home Game: October 4 vs. Brooklyn Center at 6:00 PM.
Thanks to Kristyn Siegert, Lauren Rondestvedt, Karl Lovaas and Peyton Crosby for writing (clockwise from left)
Girls Soccer Current Record: 10-1
Favorite Team Tradition: Besides a long-standing tradition of winning, the girls varsity team’s favorite traditions are making mix tapes, choreographing dances at the team sleep overs, attending the St. Cloud tournament and showing their spirit on freshmen dress up day. Up & Coming Underclassmen: Korlekuor Akiti ’15 and Maddy Moe ‘15 Season Goals: The girls’ team’s main objective is to win their conference. Beyond winning their conference, the girls want to practice and play with 100% effort, and be there for each other. Next Home Game: October 1 vs. Sartell St. Stephen at 2:00 PM.
photo credit: Bailey Dunning
Korlekuor Akiti ‘14 jumps for a header.