The Spectrum Newspaper November 2021 by Spectrum Newspaper

the

SPECTRUM

“Your Voice in Print”

blakespectrum.org

Thursday | November 4 | 2021

Issue II

The Blake School

Free Time Offers Balance Students, faculty give insight on FLEX, Office Hours Sofia Perlman | Opinions Editor

he new school year has brought a fresh schedule. Included in this schedule is FLEX time and office hours, each occurring twice a week during the regular five-day schedule. The schedule committee, consisting of eight faculty and administrators across various academic departments, wanted to recognize the feedback from students, parents, and faculty from the past to create a schedule that would allow for more productivity. Issues such as student workload and stress were considered and addressed while organizing the new schedule. Joe Ruggiero, the head of the schedule committee, shares the thought process regarding FLEX time: “How do we have a new schedule that’s more manageable, and maybe some

[unless otherwise specified by a grade dean].” The goal is to allow for students to have more choice, depending on their needs that day. On Tutorial, Ruggiero explains that, “Tutorial technically was replaced by office hours, because the purpose of Tutorial was really to have a spot where students knew they could find teachers and they could get extra help.” This period of time was also moved to the beginning of the day so that students didn’t have to come to school early, if not needed. With Tutorial, students were required to be there, but for FLEX and office hours students can decide if they need to see a teacher, or sleep-in that day. Janet Williams, Upper School chemistry teacher, recognizes the thought behind the change, yet she states that “It can be easier for students to not use the time [FLEX], but when it is in the middle of the day they’re going to use it because they’re already here.”

Betsy Fries

When asked about who made the decision, Eckhardt adds, “Everybody. It was all the administors coming together figuring out how we can make it the best experience for seniors doing their speeches and also for everybody to feel comfortable, that was ultimately in everybody’s decision.”

Sophomores Separate During Assembly

A rotation of sophomores advisories watch assembly via live stream in the Carlson Commons each week. Pictured above is Ellie Schifman ‘24.

why the sophomores are chosen to take on this new tradition is because we’re just becoming a bigger school.” Administrators hope the change will allow teachers and family of the speakers the chance to listen in the JNA. For some sophomores, they have no preference on the seating schedule. Sam Hardy ‘24 states, “I like the [Carlson] Commons. I like the JNA. I think that if the teachers want to watch speeches than the Commons for sophomores are a good alternative.” For others, they have a strong opinion about the subject matter. JT Sugalski ‘24 expresses, “People hate [watching senior speeches in the Carlson Commons].” He brings to light the confusion by explaining “when I was there on Thursday there were like four empty rows [of chairs].” While the struggles of finding a solution to the growing student body are valid,

“A charcuterie board is a staple during the holidays. With an Array of different food items, like various cheeses and fruits, a charcuterie board is bound to be a crowd pleaser.” Page 12

“Janet Williams said she has ‘a good memory for stupid, irelevant, small details.” This skill came in handy when she competed on Season five of the trivia game show “Jeopordy” in 1989.” Page 15

Grade splits assembly time between JNA, Carlson Commons Betsy Fries | Creative Director ue to the growing grade sizes and the limited space available, administrators have decided one day a week, roughly half of the sophomore class gets to sit in the JNA to watch senior speeches, while the other half watches in the

D Betsy Fries

The library has long been the most popular are in the school to get work done. Pictured above students work in the morning.

more time where kids can sleep in... how do we make sure, in addition to class time, that we build in some opportunities for advisory and for clubs and committees to meet?” Regarding the new FLEX block, Ruggiero says that “FLEX periods were invented to allow us to flex between different needs. The default is that faculty are available to meet with students, and students can meet in clubs and committees. That is what people are to assume... for FLEX “Because Blake is a smaller sized school, news gets around fast when it comes to drama, rumors, and gossip. As a consequence, being in a relationship at Blake can be difficult.” Page 8-9

Regarding the amount of students Williams sees during FLEX time, she notes that “I would say that it [FLEX] has been under-utilized, I don’t think as many people [students] have used it as they should.” As for the student reactions to FLEX and office hours, Felix Riedel ‘24 says that “[FLEX] allows me to get any kind of work done I need... and to be a lot more independent and I can take the initiative on seeing a teacher at that time or just doing homework.”

Carlson Commons via live stream. The decision was made before senior speeches started and after the first assembly. The administration chose sophmores to sit in the Carlson Commons because freshman are brand new to the school, and juniors will have to make speeches next year. Sophomore grade dean CJ Eckhardt explains, “We’ve done this in the past where we’ve had to make adjustments based on our enrollment and on the space that’s available. So the reason

Betsy Fries

it’s understandable that there would be confusion and frustration among the sophomore class. From the technology issues to logistical problems, new space complications are bound to happen. Nonetheless, Eckhardt, “truly believe[s] that the sophomores have navigated some complexities in the time that they’ve been here in the Upper School” and “are doing a heck of a job rolling with the punches.” All things considered Suglaski suggests, “It would be better to be in the JNA. I know you can’t get everyone in there, and they don’t want [teachers] standing around, but it would be better to make the rotation a little less frequent.” On the same page, Eckhardt believes, “That would be extremely ideal [for everyone to be in the JNA]. I want my students, particularly the sophomores, to feel like they are getting the experience that everyone else is getting.”

STAFF

NEWS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 2

Traditions Return to Northrop Green Team Beartime Times Out In-person classes allow for more schoolwide gathering, celebrations Amelia Bush | Staff Writer s the new school year has begun fully in person for the first time in over a year, the old and beloved traditions are coming back. With the clapping of freshman into the JNA and having advisory retreats, there are many community traditions to be celebrated, especially because many were lost during the pandemic last year. Aletta Bartok 23’ commented, “I really like... where the SIAC’s are all at the front of the school cheering everyone in. I remember when I was a freshman and all of the SIAC’s were there and it just felt really supporting”. Many other traditions and cultural aspects of Blake are also loved and as Josh Smith ‘23 commented, “I like the decorations people put up during the holidays, it’s really fun.” Smith also added,

A The Blake School 511 Kenwood Pkwy Issue 2 November 4, 2021

Editors-In-Chief: Sage Marmet | Noor Naseer Managing Editors: Maggie Seidel | Will Rosenblum Creative Director: Betsy Fries

News Section Editor: Emily Rotenberg

Features Section Editor: Bernadette Whitely Multimedia Editor: Drew Shapiro News Editors: Allyson Jay | Rowan Wallin | Evan Vezmar

“I think Covid really just impacted the school community in general. Bartok also said, “We were all so separated that we didn’t get to do all of the traditions that we normally do and it was a year where we didn’t feel as connected”. Because the traditions that Blake celebrates were missing last year, the return of traditions have been even more impactful to the school community and have created an even more welcoming environment to be in. There are many other traditions like senior speeches, assembly, and Legacy Day, which are all loved and cherished throughout the community. Bartok also commented, “[The traditions] have been really fun... I actually feel like there’s been a community”.

Photo Editors: Karsten Farris | Oscar Walsh Online Editor: James Prince

Goes Dark CSB absorbs Green Team due to lack of participation Ben Lim | Opinions Editor reen Team was Blake’s eco-friendly club, where its goal was to find ways to make the school more energy efficient. Unfortunately, because many of the meetings last year took place over Zoom, Green Team found a decrease in attendance. It was a big enough impact that this year, Green Team was forced to discontinue and be absorbed into CSB, creating a new branch called Eco-CSB. This is the group that is responsible for the new trash cans that can be found around the campus. The recycling bins were a long time goal of Green Team, but they weren’t able to complete it until now. So while Green Team is gone, its mission continues in the form of Eco-CSB.

Concern over maintaining website leads to shutting down Ben Lim | Opinions Editor

Opinions Editors: Sofia Perlman | Ben Lim | Kate Rekas Business Manager: Maggie Seidel Adviser: Anna Reid

Betsy Fries

Zoë Nutsford ‘22, Kathryn Kaiser ‘22, Zoe Ueland ‘24, and Molly Seidel ‘24 lead Eco-CSB. Not pictured: Zoe Florida ‘22

www.blakespectrum.org

When the website was up, Beartime showed users their schedules and the length of classes in a visually pleasing manner.

s most upperclassmen know, there used to be a site called Beartime that students could use to see what classes they had that day and other useful information. Unfortunately, the site went down because the creator of Beartime graduated. There was talk about bringing Beartime back for students to use, but since then those plans have fallen through. Dennis Eum ‘22 was working on coding a new version, when he decided not to. He realized that it would not be worth it because the school might not continue to update and maintain the site after he left. Frederick Loew ‘22 comments, “I remember

Beartime and I loved it… I found Beartime extremely helpful, especially knowing what class I had and how long I had to be in it.” A key difference between Beartime and the new system on Veracross is that Beartime would show the entire week’s schedule along with a time during the current block to show when class was over. Veracross only shows the individual day and the classes a student is enrolled in. So if a student has a free block between classes, Veracross would not show that. Overall, Beartime will not be making a comeback due to a lack of attention and because students now have Veracross to look at their schedules.

STAFF WRITERS: Christopher Chen, Mackenzie Higgins, Mallika Malaviya, Zoey Ueland, Keaton Rannow, Nina Bush, Amelia Bush, Cleo Kilpatrick

Kunga Shidhe-Chokra ‘22 gives his senior speech in assembly, speaking about old age. Assembly returned to the JNA this fall after a year of Zoom meetings in advisory.

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Elena Gill

Mask Mandate Evokes Mixed Student Opinions, Controversy

STAFF ARTISTS: Melody Lee, Mallika Malaviya

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.

Betsy Fries

Albeit high vaccination rates, mask requirement remains for the time being James Prince | Online Editor ince the return of students to the Upper School in fall of 2020, the debate around masks has been prevalent. With vaccinations now widely and easily available to highschool students, the debate has become more complicated. In Spectrum’s survey of high schoolers in September, it was determined that 97.2% of all respondents had been fully vaccinated. Despite these extremely favorable vaccination num-

bers, Anne Stavney and the COVID-19 Response Team opted to maintain the mask requirement in school. In Stavney’s mass email communication, she highlighted the fact that it is important to keep this mask mandate because of constant in and out of community interactions with younger and more vulnerable demographic groups. Stavney outlined her reasoning for continuing the mandate in a Sep-

Are you vaccinated?

tember communication, “It is our top priority for students and teachers to continue with in-person teaching and learning.” This decision has been met with both harsh criticism and applause by the student body. Harrison Oxford ’23 is amongst a group of students who are advocating for not allowing masks in school. Putting his position on the matter plainly, Oxford said, “I think masks should not be forced upon our school.” Ox-

ford’s position is not uncommon, however. 45% of surveyed students disagree with the administration’s masking policy. Oxford draws parallels to other personal choice disputes raging across the country by chanting in regards to masks, “My body, my choice!!” T.C. Doran ’22 offers a different take to Oxford’s perspective. Doran said, “I think that the ideal solution would be to have unvaccinated stu-

If Blake discontinued the mask mandate, what would you do?

32% would not wear a mask

97.1% said yes

dents wear masks regardless, but vaccinated students would have the choice.” In strong favor of Stavney’s continuation of the mask mandate is Declan O’Connell ’23. O’Connell said, “I’m fine with it, honestly, because it’s just a simple protective measure”. O’Connell noted how “easy it is for someone to put a piece of cloth over their face.” O’Connell sees maskwearing as a public service.

22.8% would wear a mask

16.2% would wear a mask for the first few weeks

29% would bring a mask and assess how many people wear one

Vaccines Approved For Children Aged 5-11, No Change to Blake Policies Vaccine clinics to be held in November once authorized by CDC Yoni Zacks | Contributing Writer n Oct. 29, the FDA authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, meaning that once it gets approved by the CDC, millions of children will be able to get their vaccine. Associate Head of School, Anne Graybeal, was asked about the news and the impact it would have on students. She responded, “We will be [holding a vaccine clinic]… so the dates that we have tentatively scheduled are November 4 and November 30.” Regarding Blake’s mask mandates, she explained, “I think our first hurdle is to get through this clinic and get as many students vaccinated as possible, we are going to continue to look at school case rates, we’re going to look at county case counts, and we’re going to look at other organizations like the Minnesota Department of Health and keep assessing so we have no plans right now to roll back our mask requirement, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t always examining what our protocols are.”

STUDENT LIFE | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 3

Juniors React: JNA Seating Arrangements Lack of space results in less unity among grades Zach Weiner | Contributing Writer

UPCOMING EVENTS

n-person assembly is a newfound experience for the freshman and sophomore classes and an old tradition for the juniors and seniors. So far this year, there has been widespread dissatisfaction among Blake students around seating arrangements due to the inability of the JNA to accommodate the especially high enrollment this year. The sophomores alternate seating arrangements in the JNA—one half of the class sits in the JNA on Tuesday and the other half on Thursday. Oliver Mann ‘24,

11/4 - Diwali

Betsy Fries Members of Menge adivsory, one of the two junior advisories that were displaced into the sophomore seating are pictured above. Ruby Arlowe ‘23, Avery Schwappach ‘23, and Rowan Wallin ‘23 watch assembly from the sophomore section.

describes the situation in the Carlson Commons as “disconnected,” as most the sophomores’ attention is elsewhere. Juniors are also forced in an unfavorable position due to the seating change; many ad-

visories, including the Menge advisory, are forced to sit in the sophomore section. Lucky Lilygreen ‘23, a member of this advisory, when asked about the effects of her seating arrangement

explains that “I am a junior sitting in the sophomore section along with my advisory. This makes me feel disconnected to my grade, especially when the speaker turns and says something specifically to

the junior section.” Forum member Ben Hykes ‘23 stated that assembly could “possibly be a topic of discussion for Forum” if they knew how people felt about the issue.

11/9 Peace, Love and Unity Concert Equity Lab at 7pm at the Northrop campus 11/24 - Thanksgiving break starts

Spirited, Successful SIAC Halloween Costume Contest

Betsy Fries SIAC organized a halloween costume contest on October 29th, and one winner will be picked from each grade. The winner from the senior and junior class will recieve a gift card or a parking pass in the west lot, and the winning sophmore and freshmen will get a gift card or a skip-the-lunchline pass. Pictured on left: Habon Samatar ‘22 as Steve Harvey and Spencer Okoronkwo ‘22 as a surgeon. Pictured top right is Sidney Albright ’24 as a Jedi and Frank Nutsford ’24 as a maid. Pictured bottom right are Ben Lim ’22, Sebastian Pliego ’22, and Cole Herron ’22 as foundng fathers.

Students Comment on Accuracy of Homework Free Weekends Workload varies significantly from person to person Mackenzie Higgins Payton Smith | Staff Writer & Contributing Writer

omecoming weekend has been homework free in recent years; however, the accuracy of this

label varies from student to student. When asked if she had received any assignments over the weekend, Tia Gnanapragasam ‘25 stated that “I wasn’t specifically assigned homework to do over the weekend, although I did work on my biology paper.” She elaborates, “If I didn’t, I would’ve been kind of swamped this week.” Her fellow classmates

Sarah Hsia ‘25 and Lauren Lee ‘25 corroborated her statement concluding that they had similar situations. Hsia shares, “I didn’t work on [the biology paper] as much as I should have, and so now I feel like I have a lot more work to do.” Lee’s situation was slightly different; she shares, “I didn’t really work on my symbiosis paper over the weekend, and so my

teacher moved the due date to next week.” While the freshmen had what could be considered unassigned homework, Catherine Hardy ‘23 reveals that she “did in fact have no homework over homecoming weekend, which was very surprising actually.” When comparing this year to previous years, she states that “in my past experience, most no homework

weekends, besides spring break or long breaks, have actually had a little bit of homework.” The added free time students had over homecoming weekend, time usually spent on school work, was very well received. Nico Valiente ‘23 contributes, “I liked it a lot. I had more time to relax rather than being consumed by the stresses of the everyday academic

environment.” Hardy also enjoyed the extra free time, she adds, “I got to just relax and hang out with friends and do stuff that I wanted to do.” It seems that the faculty at Blake was able to deliver on their promise of a homework free weekend, which ultimately led to a crowd of very happy high schoolers at the homecoming weekend festivities.

ARTS & CULTURE | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 4

Check out more Arts & Culture articles at: www.blakespectrum.org

tenberg

Fall Play Preview, First In-Person Play Since 2019

Em ily Ro

Pinterest: Platform for Fall Inspiration, Ignites Creativity

2. Charlotte Opp

Hype Surrounding Disposable Cameras

Anushka Srivastava’ 23, Josh Smith ‘23, Truman Morshman ‘23, Declan O’Connell ‘23, Oskar Alexander ‘23, Anika Rodriguez ‘23, Tyler Smith ‘23, Ella Werner ‘24, Clara Alexander ‘24, Ava Carroll ‘24, Arathi Dhavileswarapu ‘24, Riley Carroll ‘24, Frankie Vorbrich ‘24, Maggie Nicol ‘24, Saleya Scott ‘25, Obi Nwokacha ‘25, Ezra Grommesh ‘24 and theater teacher, Taous Khazem gather for the first practice of the fall play. This year the fall play is entitled “Still Life With Iris.” It is focused on a young girl who lives in Nocturno, which is where they make things we see in our day-to-day lives, such as plants and insects. Eventually, one of the girls in the play gets kidnapped to go live with the rulers of Nocturno; the rest of the story is about the girl finding herself, and finding her way home. The show will be premiering on Nov. 19 at the Macmillan Performing Arts Center. Masks are required for all performers and audience members. Tickets cost $7.00.

Emily Ro

Jason Rotenberg

ten berg

Value of Podcasts, Has There Been a Spike in Popularity?

Martha Bennett Gallery Fosters Community, Collaboration Newest exhibit T intrigues students, focus cades

de-

. Alexa Hatcher | Contributing Writer

he Martha Bennett Gallery holds roughly one show per month and the exhibits display a wide range of art from paintings and drawings to photography, to sculptures and artifacts. Art teacher and advisor of the Gallery team, Bill Colburn, stated that

“A really important part of the Bennett Gallery is that it is student run. The choices are made by students.” Colburn adds, “I’ve always wanted the gallery to bring the school together in unique ways.” Working behind the scenes of these exhibits

Alexa Hatcher

is the Bennett Gallery Curatorial Team. The team works together to come up with the themes, gather submissions, and set up the shows to realize their vision. The team is made up of 15 student members from all grades. One of these mem-

bers is Toby Wieland ‘23. Wieland is the head of the gallery’s newest exhibit, “Twin Cities Transformed.” When asked about the inspiration behind the newest exhibit he replied that “I was thinking about the Twin Cities’ past and looking back at things

Karsten Farris

like old magazines.” He explained that he saw inspiration in the past and wanted to dive deeper into it. The show is centered around the 40s-80s and features primarily photographs, however, a few books and artifacts are also included.

Alexa Hatcher

Left: Students a part of the Martha Bennett Gallery Curatorial Team, Sarah Costa ‘23 and Mackenzie Higgins ‘24 as well as faculty advisor, Colburn, help put up the newest gallery exhibit. Middle: Additionally, T.C. Doran ‘22, Johnny Perry ‘22, and Ty Kickhaefer ‘22 explore and learn about the exhibit. Right: Shagun Sinha ‘23, also helps set up the newest gallery. There are a wide variety of photos, books, and artifacts to represent different decades in the Twin Cities.

‘Free Britney’ Movement Unpacked, Spears Finally Free

Bernadette Whitely | Features Section Editor

fter years of control and long testimonies sharing her traumatizing experience under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears, Britney Spears is finally free. A conservatorship is the appointment of a guardian or protector by a judge to manage the financial affairs and daily life of another person, usually due to old age. They are common in cases where the person is in a coma, suffering from dementia, or otherwise physically or mentally incapacitated. Britney Spears is well-abled and does not

fit any of these categories, therefore her conservatorship is unnecessary. Granted in Feb. 2008, Jamie Spears ordered the Los Angeles County Supreme Court to put Britney into an emergency conservatorship due to a mental health crisis at the age of 26. Fast forward to Nov. 2020, when she pleaded for the removal of her father as conservator. According to Billboard, Britney told her attorney that she is “afraid of her father,” stating that she will not perform again if her father is in charge of her career. The fight for her freedom continued until finally, Jamie Spears was suspended from the conservatorship at the end of Sept. 2021. Margaret Walker ‘22 is relieved that the conservatorship is over, yet, she thinks that it will officially

be resolved once “her family gives her some sort of reparations.” The Free Britney movement has taken social media by storm as fans have been advocates for her independence. Leanne Simmons, who started Free Britney Army, has been fighting for her freedom for years. According to their website, for over 13 years Britney has been “denied basic human rights under a legal tool reserved for incapacitated individuals. The conservatorship generates millions of dollars in revenue for her team, yet 39-year-old Britney has no access to her own money.” In a statement in June of 2021 against the conservatorship, Britney revealed her harrowing story before Los Angeles judge Brenda Penny, sharing, “I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized. I just want my life back.”

Britney explained that the conservatorship was abusive, violating, and controlling. Throughout the years, she has had little to no privacy and personal choice,

she was on constant surveillance while her every move was monitored and managed. Walker shares her thoughts, stating, “I do think that Britney does

deserve to be freed. It’s not okay to take away anyone’s autonomy, and I can’t imagine how hard it would be to have someone else control virtually all aspects of your life.”

Melody Lee

13 years later, Britney wants her life back, end of conservatorship

SCI-TECH & HEALTH | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 5

iPhone 13 Receives Positive Reactions, Thoughts on Apple’s Newest Tech Updated features impress Apple users who upgraded iPhones Noor Naseer | Co-Editor-in-Chief

pple unveiled the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 pro, and iPhone 13 pro max on Sept. 24. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini boast a super strong ceramic shield, a longer battery life, new wide and ultra wide camera settings, and the cinematic camera mode, which according to the Apple website, “automatically creates beautiful depth effects and focus transitions.” Ishan Khurana ‘22 says that his iPhone 13 “doesn’t

feel that different from [his old phone],” the iPhone 10. However, he has noticed the improved battery life and says, “I have [used cinematic mode], it’s kind of cool, it’s like professional film photography.” The iPhone 13 pro and iPhone 13 pro max have an even sharper camera, stronger zoom, and a special night mode. Shreya Mohan ‘22 preordered the iPhone 13 pro because her old phone’s “screen was coming off,” and she received it on Sept. 24. She has the brand new sierra blue color and shares that receiving her new phone “was [exciting] especially because my old phone was on the verge of falling apart.” About the new cam-

Maggie Seidel

As seen in the picture, the iPhone 13 features brand-new camera technology. Mohan notes, “I actually really like it; it zooms in really close, which is actually really fun to magnify things with.”

era’s zoom capabilities, Mohan shares, “I actually really like it; it zooms in really close, which is actually really fun to magnify things with.” Mohan has yet to experiment with cinematic mode, though. Like Khurana, she too has noticed the improved battery life, saying, “I have [noticed the longer battery life] because I can listen to music in the car and talk on the phone with someone for 40 minutes without my battery getting [to] thirty percent.” Nana Vang ‘24 made the switch to the iPhone 13 from her previous Samsung phone. Vang says that she made the switch to Apple because “I guess overall it makes my life easier with friends or socially,

and I don’t really use my phone for any other things, so just priorities for me, it made sense to get [an iPhone].” Despite this newfound ease, Vang shares that “I honestly don’t like Apple in general... There’s a lot of software things that I dislike very much.” She cites the lack of freedom in adjusting the home screen, the drop down menu taking three clicks, and the loss of fingerprint recognition as a few of these “software things.” She also shares that she lost various photos and important files during the actual transition process. Despite this, she echoes Mohan and Khurana’s sentiments regarding the longer battery life and high quality camera.

How to Stay Healthy as Weather Gets Colder, Flu Season Approaches Cold weather calls for various ways to maintain health Maggie Seidel | Managing Editor

ince the COVID-19 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, maintaining strong immunity and remaining healthy have been two paramount goals. As the winter chill begins, the flu season is inevitably upon us. Luckily, in addition to getting the flu vaccine, there are other ways to protect yourself from falling ill. Here

is your comprehensive guide to maintain your health this year, categorized by steps you can take at different times in the day. In the morning... I. Take your vitamins! Vitamin C is an essential addition to your morning routine during the winter months (and all year round, quite honestly!) According to Heathline.com, Vitamin C has been linked to “reduc[ing] the duration of colds.” II. Drink water! Staying hydrated ensures that you will not become dehydrated and supports kidney, digestive, heart functionality. III. Eat a breakfast with antioxidants and healthy

fats. Antioxidants boost your body’s protection against unhealthy pathogens, and healthy fats combat inflammation that can harm your immune system. Oatmeal with berries, nut butter, and chia seeds is a perfect breakfast option for an immunity boost. Midday… I. Exercise! Staying active encourages cells in your immune system to regenerate at a healthy rate and reduces stress. II. Reduce your stress, as much as possible. Stress can increase your cortisol levels which also increases your blood pressure and harms your blood flow. Breathing exercises, namely taking deep breaths through-

Melody Lee

out the day, have been linked to minimizing stress’s negative impact on your physical health. In the evening… I. Get your rest! Turn off your screens at least half an hour before you hope to fall asleep to protect the circadian rhythm of your sleep and maximize its effectiveness. II. Limit sugar intake. Studies have shown that sugar harms your immune system and can also cause inflammation. Try to enjoy desserts with natural sugars, such as fruits, in the evening. Many fruits also contain important vitamins, which is an added benefit to fruit based treats in the evening.

Dab Pens or Juuls: Usage Depends on Intent, Social Situation Effects and costs of two vapor devices determine teens’ preferences Sydney Dorvil | Contributing Writer

ab Pens or Juuls? In recent years, these two devices have exponentially risen in popularity, especially among teens. Dab pens contain vaporized marijuana, while vape pens release vaporized nicotine, similar to that of an e-cigarette. AAP News states, “In 2020, about 31 percent of 10th-graders and 35 percent of 12th-graders reported past-year nicotine vaping, nearly the same as the previous year but roughly double the rates in 2017, according to the

study.” But although these two devices are commonly used among teens, neither are legally accessible to any high school students. Both devices can only be used legally by individuals over the age of 21, according to the national “Tobacco 21” law as of Dec. 20, 2019. Six Blake students voiced their opinions and preferences regarding the two devices. According to these students, preference seems to depend on whether or not a user wants to get a high. One student claims that “Juuls are better because you can do it at any time during the day without having to worry about being high,” and another student voiced that “being high is better.” On the other hand, nicotine has little immediate effect, so if a user wants a quick, short lasting buzz, Juuls

are the preferred option. A comment from a student who does not partake, mentioned that “I think both are good options if you want to have a little fun, but it shouldn’t matter which one is in.” While students have varying opinions regarding whether or not dab pens are better than Juuls, there is another difference: price. The price of dab pens is much higher than that of

its Juul counterpart. An online store charges $7.99 for a puff bar (disposable vape), while a dab pen from a different online store can range anywhere from $30-100 just for the pen alone. Along with the pen, the actual substance, which contains liquified marijuana, needs to be bought separately, additionally costing anywhere from $30-70 per cartridge. With the prices

for dab pen usage being significantly higher than disposable Juuls, a student commented saying that “Dab pens are expensive, but they last, so it’s worth it.” The interviews reveal that several students who use both would prefer their dab pen if they had to choose one. One student claimed that “It depends on my mood. If I want to have fun with my friends,

then I will probably get high, but if it’s just for quick usage, I will usually use my Juul.” Whether it’s based on cost, accessibility, convenience, or the desire for a high, dab pens and Juuls are both frequently used by many adolescents, and although opinions may differ, both devices are seemingly used equally among teens.

Creative Commons

Pictured to the left is a Dab Pen and to the right is a Juul with two cartridges. As seen in the photo, Juul cartridges (to the right) can be easily mistaken for flash drives (to the left), looking similar to everyday objects.

SPORTS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 6

Athlete Spotlight: Shef West Track, Cross Country Runner West reflects on running journey, offers insight Noor Naseer | Co-Editor-in-Chief Reporting by: Alyssa Krig & Emma Connor

Cleo Kilpatrick

West trains all year round in order to stay in shape for both sports seasons. He works out roughly 15 hours a week. West explains, “My coach, Ms. Bowman, gives me a plan to do during the winter ... [and] also during the summer, and then I do strength training too.”

ix year Varsity Cross Country and Track runner, Shef West ‘22, has made five state appearances in both of these sports combined. As this year’s section 3AA champion, West is preparing to compete at the State Cross Country Meet on Nov. 6. He is currently ranked third by the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association. West reflects on his first season running with the Blake Cross Country team saying, “[Sections in seventh grade] was my first time running on the varsity team, and after I finished I really wanted to come back next year… that was the moment for me I realized that I love running.” He adds that he had run before this, with his mom and the “mile in middle school.” West further expresses his love for cross country sharing, “I just love

to compete, I also love being part of the team and I found that I enjoyed running, especially with other people; it’s just really fun.” In addition to cross country, West runs the 800, 1600, and 3200 during track and field in the spring. Head Cross Country coach, Maggie Bowman, speaks to West’s presence on the team say-

and so he should be confident going into races, and I think that’s helping his racing and also helping the racing of the younger athletes as well.” As he enters into the last cross country race of his high school career, West shares his message to younger athletes: “What I’d say for an incoming runner is to just enjoy it for now and try and have

“I just love to compete; I also love being part of the team” -Shef West ‘22 ing, “This season more than ever, he [exudes]... a humble confidence, which is really, really helpful for our team dynamic and for the younger runners to be able to look up to him. He’s not arrogant by any means, but he is poised and understands that he’s put in a lot of good work and has a lot of fitness

fun with the sport rather than trying to train super hard… just enjoy it the whole time.” West will be running on Nov. 6 at St. Olaf in Northfield. Looking past this race, West shares, “I’ll miss just being part of a highschool team… and I’ll definitely miss friends and teammates from other grades.”

Girls’ Volleyball Team Beats Breck, First Time in 10 Years Newly gained confidence, team improvement Evan Vezmar | News Editor

or the first time in ten years, the Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team beat Breck. While in past years, success has been few and far between, captains Mina Rossi ‘23, Evie Doran ‘23, and Lily Erlandson ‘23 are optimistic for this year’s season. Rossi explained why the team was able to beat Breck during their conference game on Sept. 28. She says, “We’ve only won three games [this season], but we’ve been playing better than I think the volleyball program has been playing for the past 10 years. There’s a lot of skill and potential.” Erlandson agrees and mentions, “This is probably the best season for BGV in a long time.” Even though the team hasn’t won many games this season, Erlandson said that she felt that a win against their bitter rivals was possible. She explains, “We were ready to bring our

all because we really wanted to win. We obviously want to win all our conference games but Breck is a team that was achievable.” The volleyball team didn’t change any particular plan to beat Breck but Erlandson describes the team’s mentality during the game. She says, “Once we got a couple [of] points and started to get on a run, we were all super excited so we brought a ton of energy and worked the hardest we’ve probably played all year.” Looking forward, both captains were excited for the sections tournament that started on Oct. 27. Rossi emphasized the importance of confidence, and mentions, “I think for us there was definitely a mental block because we lose all the time… I feel like we just did not think it was possible [to win], so now that we are getting really competitive and winning games, I’m excited to see if that will turn into more wins for the rest of the season.” Erlandson agreed and remarks, “I’m super excited. I’m hoping that we can win our first sections game.”

Oscar Walsh

The team feels a new sense of confidence and as Erlandson says, “[The win against Breck] brought a lot of positive energy on the team, knowing that that’s the first conference game we’ve won in 5 years and the first time we’ve beat Breck in over ten years ... it was really cool being able to be a part of that experience.”

SPORTS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 7

Collegiate Sports Recruitment Processes Athletes detail their experiences concerning their sports futures Cleo Kilpatrick | Staff Writer

ome athletes at Blake are at ease now because many have committed to colleges for their sports. Lucio Bollettieri ‘22, who is verbally committed to Colorado College in Colorado Springs for swimming, says, “It’s a huge weight off of my shoulders” and Max Hubler ‘22, who is committed for lacrosse at Holy Cross in Massachusetts, agrees. He says, “I’m excited to get into a new community and new

people.” Ellie Morrison ‘23, who has verbally committed to Dartmouth University in New Hampshire also agrees and says, “It’s a stress reliever.” Bella Suk ‘22 is committed to a Divison 3 school for tennis and says, “It’s definitely a big relief.” These athletes have invested a lot of time into their sports and now it is all paying off. Suk says, “I’ve been playing tennis my entire life” and Hubler also says, “Since I started lacrosse it was always my goal.” Sports are a big part of their lives and now they are going to bring it with them to the next chapter in their life. With committing there comes a process that can be long but worth it in the end. The process isn’t the

same for everyone. Suk explains her process as, “For division 3 you have to get in on your own.” Suk goes on to say, “I reached out to a few coaches at schools I was interested in both academically and athletically.” Suk speaks positively about her experience with meeting coaches and says, “It’s really fun to get to know a lot of coaches and get to meet a lot of college players.” The process varies depending on the athlete and what they’re interested in, Hubler explains his process as, “It changed half way through my lacrosse career. It used to be that they could talk to you whenever. Then, they added the Sept. 1st of your junior year rule.” The rule for Division 1 men’s

Submitted by: Max Hubler

Hubler plans to continue his lacrosse career at The College of the Holy Cross upon graduation from high school.

lacrosse recruiting, is that college coaches aren’t allowed to have any contact with athletes until Sept.1 of the athlete’s junior year. This rule changes depending on the sport and division. Hubler continues, “That day came and I had a bunch of calls lined up … None of [the schools] were schools that I liked or that I thought were fit for me. I decided to wait and see what other schools I could get interest from.” Hubler later says, “A lot of [athletes] commit by the end of September, but for me it took almost a full year.” The process can take longer than you think and Hubler would agree that the waiting game is also beneficial to find the right fit. Bollettieri describes another aspect of the process: the pre-read which he says, “You send the coach [and admissions] a raw form of your transcript which is basically everything that will be on your application minus an essay and a few other things [and they] either give you a thumbs up like you’re gonna get in on early decision, kinda in the middle like maybe but we can’t guarantee, or thumbs down it doesn’t seem like you’ll be a good fit.” The pre-read is a good way to indicate whether you have a chance at the school or not. Bollettieri adds that the process as being very straightforward. He says, “The process makes it pretty clear what your odds are.”

Submitted by: Bella Suk

Captain of BGT, Suk has led her team to the Class AA State Tournament and been an outstanding role model for her teammates.

These athletes don’t just focus on the sport itself. They focus on what the sport gave them through the years and what they will continue to get in the future. Morrison says, “I love the sport [hockey] but I also love the people in the sport.” Community is very important in these sports. Bollettieri agrees and says, “There’s a level of friendship and comradery that you get through having a sport that you stick with that’s hard to find other places.” In your sports you find people who have the same goals that you have and you build a connection with them. The athletes share what their advice is for future athletes thinking about going through this process in

the future. Suk says, “Let it play out, it’s really stressful at first and you’re kinda nervous but It will work out in the end.” Hubler says, “Don’t stress about it too much and enjoy the process because it’s actually fun to find the right fit and meet all these coaches.” This process is stressful so make sure it’s something you want to do. Bolleretti says, “If you decide to continue to play a sport in college it’s gotta be something that you wouldn’t be hesitating to make.” You will know if committing to a sport in college is the right choice. Morrison adds that another aspect of the process for future college athletes to ask themselves is, “If the sport wasn’t there would the school still be a good fit for you?”

Mystery Athlete of the Month Remy Abraham | Contributing Writer

Elena Gill & Rowan Wallin

his mystery athlete of the month began playing competitive tennis a little before 7th grade. Her main influence to get into this sport is her grandma and her mother who both used to play tennis in their younger years so she “was put in tennis classes as a young child and stuck with it.” Her absolute favorite part about tennis is the difficult competition. Another one of her favorite parts of tennis that she loves, which also happens to be the most

challenging part for her, is the strategic mental game. This athlete says that “having the correct mindset during matches can be extremely difficult,” but she “loves” the challenge. One pregame superstition that she and her doubles partner do before every game is to warm up in the exact same spot and have a specific order in which their serves are in. The best pre-game rituals she has are getting pumpkin cream cold brew from starbucks and blasting Taylor Swift in the car with her sister. This mystery athlete says that “the best pregame snacks are RX bars!”

Lilly Anderson ‘23 acknowledges that her teammate is “always positive” and “hypes her up which allows her to further her own momentum.” As for being a part of BGT, this mystery athlete says her best memory stems from her epic nose sunburn, in which she had to lather on sunscreen and many of her teammates got a good laugh from it. Her favorite part of being on the team is how comfortable everyone is with each other, and how supportive they all are when they cheer each other on during matches. She mentioned that this is extremely prevalent

when they face their rivals Breck and Edina. This mystery athlete’s favorite tennis player is Naomi Osaka, because “she is an advocate for mental health and tennis.” She enjoys how tennis players nowadays are strong activists and hard workers. To guess who you think the mystery athlete of the month is, email rmabraham23@blakeschool.org. The first person to guess the athlete may be recognized on Spectrum’s social media. Contact us about suggestions for who the next mystery athlete of the month should be.

Swim & Dive Strengthens Team Bond Providence, Blake combined team establishes interschool connections Kate Rekas | Opinions Editor

he Blake Girls’ Swim and Dive season is approaching a closing with sections and state just around the corner. Since the pandemic, it seems as though the team has only become closer to one another, and created an even

more supportive community. Shireen Dalton ‘25, who has been on the team since her 7th grade year, illustrates this team connection stating, “It’s almost like this sisterhood, people get close to people they may not have ever met outside of the team, especially since [the team is] combined with Providence [Academy], you are able to form connections from outside of Blake.” Dalton elaborates on the fun that the team has outside of the pool, in events usually organized by the team’s captains. Dalton says, “For

me, the captains’ practices were really fun. One day we had a movie night at one of the captain’s houses and [another day] we went to a lake in Eden Prairie.” Not only has the team grown even closer, but it has also grown competitively. Just recently, the team was points away from beating the Breck, a team that has long beaten the Blake girls by a substantial margin. The Blake girls also swam in the Minnetonka Invitational this season, a meet with teams in the division above Blake. Despite the division

difference, the team was still able to compete with these higher ranked teams. Grace Ersfeld-O’Brien ‘22 comments on the position of the team this season, explaining, “I think collectively our team is the strongest it’s been in all my time at least, on the team.” Seniors like ErsfeldO’Brien seem to be the backbone of the program, as they not only provide guidance and fun for younger swimmers, but also score for the team. Dalton remarks, “We’re losing four seniors and I think they

Oscar Walsh

The 2020-21 season brought change for the Girls’ Swim & Dive, including increased usage of their instagram, @blakegirlsswimming.

are all really going to be missed.” Ersfeld-O’Brien also expressed her hopefulness for the team to perform well at True Team sections, which were the weekend of Oct 16., and has a goal to make it to State in her

individual events. ErsfeldO’Brien reflects on her time on the team noting that, ”We are all invested in each others trajectory’s outside of the pool,” and that “Senior night this season was really special, it was really fun.”

Relationshi INDEPTH | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 8

How Blake’s small,

“I think it’s cool, it’s pretty wholesome, I don’t see a lot of aggressive make-outs in the hall, which is good. No complaints from my end... There’s definitely a difference in the smaller class size. But, otherwise, I don’t have many problems with it.” - Johnny Perry ‘22

Student Body Survey Reveals Dating Indifference Lacking experience, interest affects opinions on relationships within Upper School community, little preferences prevail Betsy Fries | Creative Director

Blake is a small community, with grades only having 120-135 students. With that comes a small pool of dating options and everyone ends up knowing each other, which can lead to hesitancy when it comes to dating. However, many students have no preference about dating because they haven’t had any dating experience. Below are statistics taken from a survey with 133 responses.

84%

Of students who have been here since Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten are fine with or don’t have a preference about dating other lifers.

81%

Of students who were new in their freshman or sophomore years said that they don’t have a preference about dating people at Blake.

71%

Of responding students are not currently in any relationship. Even though students do not have a dating preference, a vast majority of the respondents are not in relationships.

56%

Of the respondents have never dated anyone. Thus, the results are more nuanced because individuals may not have developed set dating or relationship preferences yet.

62%

Of the respondents who have broken up with someone from Blake reported that it was just a little awkward afterwards.

ip culture: IN-DEPTH | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 9

intimate atmosphere affects dating

“What’s hard... Is that everyone finds out about everything going on in your relationship... Gossip spreads so quickly... It can be kind of risky because then if you end poorly, you still have to see them around. It’s not like we go to a huge school where you can avoid people.” - Mina Rossi ‘23

Reporting by: Noor Naseer | Photography by: Betsy Fries

Inter-Blake Relationships Find Challenges, Successes Small community can strain, pressure relationships, however couples find ways to balance in-school, out-of-school relations Mallika Malaviya | Staff Artist

ecause Blake is a smaller sized school, news spreads around fast when it comes to drama, rumors, and gossip. As a consequence, being in a relationship at Blake can be difficult due to the amount of attention it gets from peers.

he heightened interest around other people’s lives may cause those in relationships to act differently in school causing them to spend less time together, or having to alter the way they interact with each other which can impact the relationship in a negative way.

Zoe Florida

espite all of this, being in a relationship at Blake is not all bad and can be successful. The most important thing is to find a good balance between sharing details and keeping things private. Keeping some things personal can lead to healthier relationships because it prevents misunderstandings. This does not mean that a relationship has to be completely secret, though. Ultimately, the most important thing is to not let other people influence a relationship that is not their own and to determine one’s own decisions.

OPINIONS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 10

‘The Great British Baking Show’ Provides Peaceful Cooking Competition Unlike typical cooking show, GBB is relaxed, lighthearted Ahan Devgun | Contributing Writer n general, when I think of the words “competitive cooking show,” I think of Gordon Ramsey brutally critiquing another chef’s dish, or a high stakes and fast pace competition with the blood-hungry cooks rushing to complete their dish and uphold the standards of the harsh judges. However, in contrast with the stressful environment of other cooking shows, “The Great British Baking Show” provides a relaxing and soothing atmosphere

making it one of the best cooking shows, if not the best, that’s on television. The format of the cooking show comes in three rounds per episode: the signature challenge where the bakers show off their recipes that they would make for their friends or family, the technical challenge where the contestants are given a recipe with limited instructions and are asked to make a dish, and the final challenge is the showstopper round where the contestants bake something that shows off their skills and impresses the judges. The relaxing demeanor of the show comes from its low-key atmosphere with an emphasis

on sportsmanship, allowing the show to prioritize the good character of contestants over the drama. One controversial

from the exciting part of watching a cooking competition. However, while many competitive shows rely on a cash prize to

their passion for baking, which comes through in the show. This part of the show makes it so much better, because you

element about “The Great British Baking Show” is that it doesn’t have a cash prize. Some might say this takes away

stir up drama and motivation for the contestants, the people on “The Great British Baking Show” are just there because of

can tell the love that the contestants have for what they do, and it is conveyed in a non-aggressive way. In addition

Julia Everett

to this, while the show has a lack of drama, it feels more unique and relaxing, celebrating human joy and talent rather than negative emotions like inter-cook drama. The talented and likeable contestants speak for themselves with their wit as they make spectacular baked dishes. However, the show is not without a lack of tension, keeping the show exciting and engaging, as it has a frenzy of emotions from cakes that just don’t bake right, or rolls that end up crumbling. So if you’re skimming through Netflix after a long and hard day, take a look at “The Great British Baking Show” for a relaxing experience.

New Movie ‘Separation’ Misses Mark on Horror, Dissappoints Viewers High hopes let down with unrealisc, poorly done horror movie Gabi Marmet | Contributing Writer

he new 2021 horror movie “Separation,” directed by William Brent Bell, is not scary enough, and a badlywritten movie. Although, it did have a very suspenseful plot-twist ending that was very sat-

isfactory and surprising. Separation received seven percent rotten tomatoes and an audience rating summary of 122 people acquired two out of five stars. Originally I thought the trailer looked very interesting and scary, but in total, it was much better than the movie itself. In short, “Separation” is about a young girl who is comforted by the ghost of her mother, who is also trying to haunt her father. “Separation” is al-

most two hours long and it is boring and uneventful in the beginning. The movie starts very slow, as it’s explaining all of the background information. I wish that the beginning of “Separation” had more action in it. Although I was watching the movie late at night, I found myself slightly falling asleep during the beginning and middle of the movie. The parts of the movie that were supposed to be scary weren’t frightening, and there were little to

no jump scares, which made it disengaging and slow. The key component of horror movies is horror and scare, but this movie had neither. During the movie, there is a creepy clown who chases the husband around his house. Although the idea of this is scary, the imagery for this seemed too fake and unrealistic. It was difficult to be scared by something looking so fake. Not only this, but the mother is a supposedly very scary looking

figure who only shows herself at night, but when I got a slower and closer look at her, she seemed to have the face of a doll. This decreased the horrifying aspects of the mother, and made her seem less of a demon and more of a protector for her daughter. “Separation” did have an intriguing plot, and I enjoyed the plot twist near the ending. But, it was a dissapointment, as I expected it to be more terrifying and have more jump

Gabi Marmet scares. I have watched much scarier, and more interesting, horror movies which I would recommend way more than this such as “Us,” “Ba Ba Dook,” “The Exorcist,” and “Sinister.”

CJB Raises Concerns Over Process Assembly Moderators Reap Benefits !"#$%&"'& ()%&*(+''

JB: Community Judiciary Board, a group of elected students who are in charge of recommending tried students’ punishments to the administration, in order to provide a student perspective within Blake’s disciplinary process. This year’s CJB representatives, Shreya Mohan ‘22, Annabelle Swigert ‘22, Ayaan Mallick ‘22, Zach Weiner ‘23, Ben Hykes ‘23, Julia Rasmussen ‘23, Eleanor Loew ‘24, Gourav Kumar ‘24, Chizoro Nwokocha ‘25, and Romare Onishi ‘25 make the recommendations with guidance from faculty advisors Janet Williams, David Zalk ‘66, and Paul Menge. However, to those who are not involved in CJB, its processes remain murky, creating a space for much confusion, questioning, and gossip––all of which do not foster a healthy culture. Right now, CJB is shrouded in mystery, and many do not understand its importance nor take voting very seriously, even though selecting representatives will best support students in trouble is

the goal. How are students expected to vote for their representatives if they don’t completely understand what CJB is? Because there’s a lack of clarity about CJB’s purpose and its processes, students don’t understand the weight of their vote. It would be beneficial to have a short walk-through of a CJB court proceeding and an explanation of CJB representatives’ duties while in their term before each election. That way, students will realize how important it is to take their vote seriously. Another point of confusion is what kind of cases get sent to CJB and to what extent students’ actions outside of school get brought into school. For instance, not every case of academic dishonesty is sent to CJB, so where is the line drawn? When is a case of academic dishonesty deemed “worthy” of a CJB trial? And for actions outside of school, when does the school become involved? The lack of clarity surrounding the cases that get sent to CJB contributes to the overall confusion about CJB and its processes. From our understanding of CJB, it only gives the administration a rec-

ommendation for students’ punishments, allowing for a perspective that is closer to the student and may provide more empathy for them. However, if it is only a recommendation, are their opinions really being taken into consideration? Obviously, it is hard to place the power in the hands of kids to make decisions about disciplinary actions; however, if it is only a recommendation, is their work having much of an impact on the disciplinary process? This raises the question: what is the goal of CJB? Is it trying to teach students about judicial processes in a real world setting? If CJB’s purpose is to support the community, then how can CJB’s processes be made more transparent in order to cultivate a healthier relationship within the Upper School community and allow for punishment to not be ostracizing. The cloak of secrecy surrounding punishment and CJB is unhealthy––there’s no value in keeping secrets as it spreads harmful rumors–– and we must rethink our community’s relationship with CJB and punishment in order to place a higher value on each individual’s well-being.

Malaviya shares her experience as assembly moderator Mallika Malaviya | Staff Artist

eing an assembly moderator is a very fulfilling experience that I highly recommend seniors to try. Although it is still early in the school year, I already feel as if this role has helped me grow and change as a person. It is obvious that getting up in front of the entire student body and faculty can be daunting, but the role forces you to conquer these anxieties. Each time I go up on stage it becomes easier and easier. Even in such a short amount of time as assembly modera-

Karsten Farris

Assembly moderators Mallika Malaviya ‘22, Habon Samatar ‘22, and Jack Tix ‘22, collaborate to lead each assembly.

tor, I feel very comfortable up there. I know that this role will prepare me well for my senior speech, as I will already know what it feels like to be up in front of all those people. In addition to gaining confidence through public speaking, being an assembly moderator allows for me to meet and talk to many new people that I

Melody Lee

don’t interact with on a daily basis. One of the important roles as a moderator is to ease the nerves of the seniors whose speeches are that day. This aspect has allowed me to talk to so many people, and get to know them a little bit better. The only struggle that I have experienced is that the moderators have to leave class early in order to prepare for the assembly. I am fearful that it may become challenging to miss a portion of the same class multiple times. However, not every speaker has to speak at every assembly, allowing for less classes to be missed. Overall, I am very happy that I chose to moderate this year, it has been such a great experience!

OPINIONS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 11

Hispanic Heritage Month; Time for Reflection, Recognition, Respect Cultural appreciation, awareness for commuity Joaquin Pliego | Contributing Writer

ispanic representation matters. Hispanics make up 17 percent of the US population, so hints of Hispanic culture and roots are embedded into modern American society. From what we eat, to what we listen to, to what we watch, to the languages we take in school, Hispanic culture is actively present in our everyday lives. These contributions of Hispanic culture in US society warrant recogni-

tion, representation and celebration, which has been culminated through the creation of Hispanic Heritage month. Hispanic Heritage month, which starts on Sep. 15 every year, was initially recognized as “Hispanic Week” in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson. Sep. 15 is significant because it marks the anniversary of the cry for dolores (early morning Sep. 16) which marked the start of the Mexican War for Independence. Mexico, Belize, and Chile, all celebrate their independence from Spain during this month. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanic

Kate Rekas

Students gather to purchase treats from the Latinos Unidos Bake Sale. The bake sale was held for Hispanic Heritage month, and the funds of the sale will be donated to charities that benefit the Latinx communities in and out of Minnesota.

Continued Schoolwide Masking: What Do Students Think?

‘To Say What The Law Is’

- Thomas Jefferson

In this column, columnist Kevin Bizily uses the proven methods of originalism and textualism to explore our judiciary and its decisions, addressing upcoming cases and issues while analyzing our Constitution in depth. for it is an exception give them force and will. Kevin Bizily | to the rule of democratHowever, if the ic self-government. Our judiciary were accountable Law Columnist Constitution reserves most to the people, would it he Supreme Court is powers to the people, but really have judicial powfundamentally undem- a select er? It seems clear in that few are kept from them. ocratic. The justices are event, the power would be Among these, the power unelected, serve for life, vested in the people--with to say what the law is and cannot be held acjudges as nothing more countable to the people, than their representatives to politics, or to the rest in the judicial process. of our government. Yet And in this case, the 51 despite––and perhaps bepercent could merely order cause of––these undemothe judges, through mancratic traits, the indepenner of election, to unjustdent judiciary is nothing ly strip the rights of the less than a cornerstone of 49 percent away. If this our Constitutional demohappens, our Constitution cratic republic; exerciswould have no meaning or ing its judicial powers to power; we would be nothguarantee our Constitution ing but a dead husk of a is upheld and adhered to. republic controlled by the Melody Lee Many scholars whims of the majority. have viewed our Constitu- and the power to deprive God save the intion as an enshrinement of another of life, liberty, or dependent judiciary, for in democracy, one which de- property are reserved to a its seeming deviance from rives all power from a ma- body above any man: a democracy, it creates a jority of the people. How- court of law. Our Constirepublic; a nation where ever, as Thomas Jefferson tution has numerous prothe 49 percent is protected wisely put it, “Democracy tections, most notably the and made equal with the is nothing more than mob Bill of Rights, that prorule, where 51 percent of tect us from the tyranny 51 percent. And in the end, it protects what we the people may take away of the majority. However, must hold most dear: the the rights of the other 49 we rely on a faithful and independence of the jupercent.” So how do we solve this problem and independent judiciary to diciary, the rule of Law, interpret and apply these our inalienable rights, and protect the 49 percent? The answer lies provisions by their origi- above all else, our Constiin our Constitution itself, nal textual meaning to tution.

that is often silenced. As a group that has continuously faced prejudice in America, representation is important so that Hispanic voices are heard, and stories are told. As a Hispanic in America, I have often felt as though my voice and the voice of my people has been silenced. Members of my family and I have faced racism in America and have experienced problems like immigration first hand. Hispanic Heritage month is a helpful way to recognize the community and the struggles of the growing population of Hispanics in America, but there is always more work to be done.

“I think lunch is tricky, because there’s no second lunchroom like there was last year to spread people apart, so I don’t love that. I’m also not sure what we’re going to do [for lunch] when it’s too cold to go outside, so I don’t love that either. But otherwise, I’m happy that they’re keeping the mask mandate.” - Emma Hausman ‘23

“I think that people should have the option of masks because there haven’t really been any COVID-19 cases at school. I think that we should be able, at least at the high school, to not have to wear them.” - Jack Von Gillern ‘25

“I think it’s necessary [the mask mandate] and I think that it will probably be necessary at least for the rest of the semester if not the rest of the year. I think it’s not always implemented properly enough, but for the most part, people keep their masks on.” - Anushka Srivastava ‘23

communities throughout the country celebrate the impact, history, and the rich and beautiful culture of Hispanics in America. Not only have Hispanics influenced American pop culture, but the community has also had an impact on human rights and politics throughout U.S. history. Civil Rights activists like Cesar Chavez have made a difference through speaking out, and in more recent times, politicians like Alexandria OcasioCortez have been representing, and fighting for more representation for the Hispanic community. They fight for Hispanic voices to be heard and represent a community

Reporting by Shireen Dalton | Contributing Writer

“I think that they’re [masks] probably not necessary, considering just how much the Upper School is vaccinated. I totally understand the Lower School still having masks because we need to protect the younger students at Blake, but I think with the vast majority of people being vaccinated at Blake... I don’t think it’s really necessary anymore.” - Keaton Rannow ‘22

Questioning BLM Donations Organization lacks transparency for fund allocations Jason Gelb | Contributing Writer

lack Lives Matter (BLM) has failed to uphold its duties as a nonprofit organization. Nonprofits are expected to be just that: nonprofits. Regardless of opinions surrounding the organization’s policies, everyone should agree that BLM has an obligation to use donations for the improvement of Black lives. Unfortunately, BLM has consistently failed to uphold this obligation. In 2020, the organization received over $60 million in donations, while citing expenses of $8.4 million. This leaves one question: where did the leftover $51.6 million go? Ultimately, this question

remains unanswered. Many organizations and subsidiary chapters continue to criticize the BLM for its failure to deliver promised fun ding totalling over $24.1 million, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Given the murky financial activity of the Co-Founder of BLM, former Executive Director of BLM’s Global Network Foundation, and selfdescribed Marxist, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, it seems more than plausible that some of these unaccounted funds have gone into the pockets of Cullors. Cullors created the #blacklivesmatter hashtag in 2013 and led the organization until her resignation in May 2021. Cullors resignation occurred after allegations surrounding financial mismanagement surfaced due to her purchase of four properties totalling $3.2 million, including one home worth $1.4 million. Cullors has repeatedly denied claims

Melody Lee

of embezzlement, but has failed to show any hard evidence suggesting otherwise. Even if this income did truly come from TV and publishing deals, no Co-founder and Director of a non-profit, especially one who describes themselves as a Marxist, should be purchasing millions of dollars in real estate. If you truly want to support black lives, donate to organizations that have proven financial accountability and responsibility such as the Innocence Project, the Twin Cities Recovery Project, Urban Ventures, or one of many other trusted organizations out there.

Elegant tablescapes enhance event Emily Rotenberg | News Section Editor

FOOD | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 12

A rtful Hosting

the soup spoon adjacent to the normal spoon. Silverware: Silverware is placed in the order that it is used. The fork is placed

to the left of the plate, the knife, cutting edge in, on the right and the spoon is to the right of the knife. Additionally, as the meal

becomes a more elegant affair, the amount of silverware utensils used will increase. For example, if there is a formal appetizer,

Main Plate: The main plate should be the first thing you set down. It is the centerpiece that indicates where to place the other components of the place setting. It should be placed in the center, directly in front of the dining chair. Appetizer Plate: Generally speaking, the appetizer plate is put directly on top of the main plate to save space. Once you conclude eating your appetizer, the plate is taken away so you are left with the main dinner plate. Soup: The soup bowl and spoon are only needed if soup is a part of the courses in the meal. If it is, place the soup bowl on top of the appetizer plate and

Charcuterie boards delight guests pre-meal Kate Rekas | Opinions Editor

charcuterie board is a staple during the holidays. Featuring an array of different food items, like various cheeses and fruits, this appetizer is bound to be a crowd pleaser at any holiday gathering. A traditional charcuterie board usually consists of dried meats, like salami or prosciutto, various hard and soft cheeses, such as gouda and brie, an assortment of crackers or breadsticks, and finally a dried or fresh fruit, most commonly, grapes. They are versatile

place an appetizer fork and a spoon on the outside, adjacent to the regular fork and spoon. Glasses: The placement

Emily Rotenberg & Maggie Seidel

and creative. There are no limits to creatively arranging your board. Options include a dessert board, a Mediterranean-esque board with various types of hummus, veggies, and crackers, or even a candy board for an elevated at home movie night. The possibilities are endless. Basically, it’s your very own edible art project. To begin your spread, plan your ingredients and theme. Start by perusing Pinterest for some inspiration on the theme and arrangement ideas for your board. I chose to take the classic route, and I made a shopping list with all the ingredients for a traditional charcuterie board. I then ventured to the grocery store to gather my items to assemble my board.

of glasses is fairly simple. They should be placed directly above the knife. When wine glasses, however, are added to the setting, they should be placed directly to the right of the water glass. Although, generally speaking, they can be placed based simply on personal preference. Dessert: After reading a few articles about tablescapes for dessert, I have come to the conclusion that not everyone chooses to display the dessert plates and utensils in the table setting. Some prefer to just wait until dessert is served to refrain from the table looking cluttered. Others prefer a much more traditional route where both the fork and spoon are placed above the main plate. Here the spoon handle faces the to right and the fork handle faces to the left.

I recommend having a focal point on your board. My board revolves around the decorative, delicious salami roses.

My Charcuterie Recipe:

1 package of salami 1 brick of Gouda 1 brick of cheddar 1 bundle of red grapes 1 cup candied pecans 1 mini baguette 5 tablespoons olive oil 1 ripe pear 8 toothpicks 6 crackers 1 package Parmesan crisps Kate Rekas

Offer your guests seasonal dessert to conclude the event, parting sweet treat to celebrate evening

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Max Yousha | Contribuing Writer

Ingredients

Crust: 2 cups graham crackers, crumbled fine; 2 tablespoons butter, melted Filling: 1 1/2 cups canned apple pie filling; 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 eggs Topping: 1/4 cup caramel topping; 1/2 cup canned apple pie filling

Homemade Iced Pumpkin Cookies

Recipe Directions

(inspired by I Am Baker) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit Crust: Crush graham crackers in a bag and melt butter in a microwave. Mix together crushed graham crackers and melted butter in a medium bowl. Jason Rotenberg Pour mixture into oiled springform pan and press it down. Filling: Carefully spoon apple pie filling onto (not through) the crust in the springform pan. Place room temperature cream cheese in a large bowl, and whip with a stand mixer until fluffy. Add sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs; beat until smooth (before it becomes a liquid consistency). Place pan in oven & bake for 52 minutes, until the cake is set. Topping: In a small saucepan over medium heat for 1 min, add apple pie filling and caramel topping. Spoon the mixture over the top of the cheesecake and spread evenly. Wait for half an hour and then refrigerate until ready to eat.

Karsten Farris

Visit @blakespectrum on Youtube.com to watch “Kooking with Karsten (and Drew)” to learn about the ingredients & baking directions for the recipe. It can be accessed by the following link as well: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=PToolSQI0sM

GAMES & ADS | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | November 4, 2021 | 13

Spot up to 7 differences!

Spot The Difference

Karsten & Oscars Photo Collage

Wuzzles Mallika Malaviya | Staff Artist

Hint 1: A type of cheese is a part of the name.

Hint 2: Rocky mountain state.

Karsten Farris

Oscar Walsh

Visit our website for game answers! Karsten Farris

Karsten Farris

Hint 3: Named after an Animal.

Hint 4: Cake Eaters.

PERSPECTIVES | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 14

Television Oversexualizes, Sensationalizes Teens Teen Dramas Misrepresent Hollywood Changes Sexual “Bridgerton” Oversexualizes High School Experience Experience Portrayal Young Female Characters Sage Marmet | Co-Editor-in-Chief

hat is the typical American teenager? We look toward Archie Andrews from “Riverdale,” Serena Van Der Woodsen from “Gossip Girl,” and Sarah Cameron from “Outer Banks.” Actors in their 20s parade around school campuses playing high schoolaged characters, rarely attending any classes and portraying over-dramatic, hypersexualized storylines. How exactly is this characterization an accurate representation of American teenage life? Well, it’s not, and the real, living teens face the consequences of this poor representation. Teens learn by example, and television falsely portrays what constitutes an “ideal” teenager. Female characters are constantly oversexualized and depicted in seemingly unhealthy relationships, normalizing this behavior for teens. On one hand, depicting sexual relationships in teenage characters teaches real-life teenagers that relationships and sexual interactions are normal and should be discussed. As teens grow up, it is crucial for them to learn how to have healthy conversations about sex and learn how to participate in safe sex. However, sexual characterizations on TV are constantly overexaggerated, dramatized, and quite unrealistic. For instance, Aria Montgomery, a protagonist in the show “Pretty Little Liars” dates her English teacher at age 16. While it’s an entertaining story, how exactly does it teach girls what constitutes a safe, acceptable relationship? It doesn’t, and television shows idealize sexuality and sexual interactions, forcing teens to misconstrue what is healthy relationship culture and set high, unachievable sexual standards. Camila Mendes starred as the 16-yearold high school sophomore Veronica Lodge in “Riverdale” when she was 22 years old. Chase Stokes played 17-yearold John B. Rutledge in “Outer Banks” when he was 28. These actors are setting high and com-

pletely unreal standards for teens, teaching them that the “ideal” teenager looks like an individual in their mid-20s. Teenage girls, in particular, are targeted by the media’s hypersexualization of their gender and age group. Tim Winter, the President of the Parents Television Council (PTC) stated that “the results from this report [“TV’s New Target: Teen Sexual Exploitation”] show [directors’] eagerness to not only objectify and fetishize young girls, but to sexualize them in such a way that real teens are led to believe their sole value comes from their sexuality.” TV shows falsely teach teenage girls that their intrinsic value is sexually-based: girls learn that their objectification is not only socially acceptable but it is “ideal.” While there are series like “Sex Education” that depict teen sexuality and sexual interactions in a much more realistic way, many more people watch the dramatic teenage “soap operas” because they are entertaining. Obviously, TV shows are created for entertainment, allowing individuals to escape from the real world. Television series are created to entertain an audience and retain the most viewers; however, TV broadcast companies must be more careful about what they broadcast and how they rate their shows. All too often, teens conflate what they see on TV to what happens in real life, a dangerous practice especially for today’s popular shows. Without a fully developed prefrontal cortex, teens have a much more malleable brain, impacting their ability to reason and separate what is seen on the screen from real life. We need to think critically about what we broadcast to the greater population and how it is negatively impacting teenage populations. Teens are known to mirror what they see, so how can our teenage population be expected to have safe sex, realistic expectations, and healthy relationships if television shows constantly show them otherwise?

Will Rosenblum | Managing Editor

hen I Love Lucy ran between 1951 and 1957, Lucy and her husband Ricky had to sleep in separate beds, as to avoid some sort of scandal. The show even feared a cancelation when Lucy had a second child, and the term pregnant was forbidden on TV. Compared to the state of television in the 21st century, the conservative attitude taken toward sex on TV may surprise the new generation that has only ever known a world where sex on TV is commonplace. Since I Love Lucy, sexualization on TV has steadily risen.

1951 By the 1960s, TV couples such as Darren and Samantha Stevens in Bewitched could share a bed, but not much more. Sexualization was still very limited across all media. A University of Buffalo study found that 11 percent of men and 44 percent of women were sexualized on Rolling Stones covers in the 60s, compared to 17 percent and 83 percent respectively by the 2000s. In the 1980s, prime time TV became more

1993 provocative with soap operas like Dallas and Falcon Crest, and dramas like Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue. By the 1990s, cable channels like HBO, Showtime, and MTV reduced expectations for limitations of sexualization on TV. Shows like LA Law, Dawson’s Creek, and Without a Trace repeatedly changed taboo throughout the 90s and 00s.

1998

From 1998 to 2005 the number of sex scences on TV doubled, reaching 75% of prime time shows by 2005. While changing TV norms can be mostly attributed to these changes over time, the shift in the tone of TV also heavily contributed. In the past, TV shows were seen as mass-appealing and crass, compared to the more artistic and boundary-pushing

2011

Benjamin Lim

movies. Over time TV has become more sexualized, and movies have become less, essentially switching roles in media. Movies now try to appeal to a larger family oriented audience and TV takes on movies’ former role as artistic and boundary-pushing. Recent TV dramas like Game of Thrones, Scandal, and The Affair continue the trend of explicit content on TV, continually changing what viewers see acceptable. Today, sexualization is not only accepted on TV, but expected.

Cleo Kilpatrick | Staff Writer

teamy, escapist, exhilarating and contentious are four of the many words that describe Netflix’s most watched show “Bridgerton.” This show is a period piece with a hint of modernism, known for its hyperbolic sex scenes. The modernism aspect of this show is represented through the romantic connections that are built between characters. The show’s over exaggeration is what attracted it’s many viewers. The controversy with “Bridergton’’ is that it over sexualizes women. For example in episode five the second eldest Bridgerton brother (Benedict) goes to an art studio and draws nude women for his own pleasure. The controversy here is that it is only women being painted and not men. Typically for figure drawing there are both men and women. Which for the Regency era was probably the “norm” but when watching this scene in 2021 it shows women as underpowered compared to men because the women are the only subjects being drawn and not the men. I believe this scene isn’t right for young women to watch because in 2021 we are trying to move past the stereotype of women and go towards a more equal society. You could also argue that it’s important to learn about how women were treated back then so then women know what’s right and what’s not right. Both arguments are valid and crucial for people to see and understand. Another controversial aspect of Bridgerton is how Simon Basset (The Duke of Hastings) takes advantage of Daphne’s innocence. He tells her he can’t have children but what he really means is he doesn’t want children. When the two have sex he uses the “pull out” method but Daphne has limited

sexual education and she believes his lie, letting him get away with it. This lie that Simon keeps up for a couple episodes is another example of how women are underpowered. In those episodes it shows that the man has more power then the woman in a marriage which isn’t right especially in today’s society Bridgerton is one

Netflix

In “Bridgerton” Daphne ends intimate moment with Simon.

of many shows that sexualizes women, like in “Game of Thrones’” there’s a constant mistreatment of women. Which is probably due to the fact of the time period in which this show is taking place just like “Bridgerton,” “Game of Thrones” seems to take a few steps back from the idea of progression. Majority of the women on the show are abused or forced into a marriage. In this sense the men take control and women are just there for support. The show is a bad example for what women in life today should be portrayed or treated. The sexualization of women in TV shows makes the show more desirable to watch. Next time you watch a show like “Bridgerton” or “Game of Thrones,” think about how those scenes are influencing society today and is it really a good idea to support a show with that kind of influence on society.

FEATURES | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 15

adventures of Janet williams

Submitted by: Janet Williams

Williams was a player on Season Five of “Jeopardy” on May 23, 1989. She was featured on episode number 1102.

Janet Williams shares expansive memories, broad life experiences Mackenzie Higgins | Staff Writer

anet Williams was not always interested in teaching chemistry. Williams, who grew up in southern Michigan, explains that chemistry was probably her least favorite subject in high school. She didn’t click with her chemistry teacher and instead, really enjoyed her social studies classes. It wasn’t until she got to college that she started to take interest in chemistry and science in general. In regards to this switch in interest, Williams said, “It’s good to know what you want to do, but you might also change your mind three times.” Her switch to the sci-

ences and math proved to be the right choice; Williams has been teaching some form of chemistry or algebra at various schools over the past 47 years. Williams’ first time coming to Minnesota was to interview for her job here at Blake. She has been teaching at Blake for 27 years and now calls Minnesota home. Over her time at Blake, Williams has taught many different classes in relation to math and chemistry but for the last several years, she has taught sophomore Chemistry. She said, “It’s my favorite spot. I have enjoyed that class, that section the most.” Williams enjoys working with sophomores because she believes it’s the year that students grow up. She explained, “Freshman year is about transitioning and getting to know the school, and then junior year we ask you

to be a really good student, and sophomore year is the year that you become that student.” The first time Williams traveled abroad, as well as her first time on a plane, was for college, when she studied in Strasbourg, France. The highlight of Williams’ career as a teacher has been the time she spent teaching abroad in Brussels, Belgium and Cairo, Egypt for four years each. She also spent a year teaching in Scotland and a year in China. What Williams enjoys most about teaching abroad is the type of people she has been able to meet and work with. She said, “I think growing up in a small town before the internet [was] pretty limited and isolated.” Through her time abroad, Williams was able to experience a multitude of different people, cultures, and lifestyles. Working in Egypt and China were the most impactful to her in this sense. She explains, “In Europe and Western Europe, so much is like [America] and Cairo is so profoundly different.” Williams continues, “At all the other places, I had been really surrounded by a community of people like me, and the year I was in China, I was really in a Chinese setting. I could go day after day

Submitted by: Janet Williams

Williams teaches her chemistry class in a 1978 yearbook. She shared that before beginning her teaching career, she wasn’t drawn to chemistry in high school. Over the years; however, her love for the subject has clearly grown.

Submitted by: Janet Williams

Janet Williams was in the yearbook at Northridge High School, located in Middlebury, Indiana. The 1977 photo above, showcases Williams instructing her science classes.

and not see another American. That was an interesting challenge.” During her exchange year in Scotland, Williams got to observe the school she taught at transition from being an all-boys school to co-ed. She adds, “What was so interesting was that it had been an all-boys school for a hundred and some years, and the year I came was the first year they had any female teachers. How the school dealt with becoming co-ed was such an interesting process to watch.” Williams considers her passion for travelling and teaching abroad as her biggest and most interesting hobby. She said, “Besides traveling, I probably have a pretty boring life.” When asked about her biggest takeaways or lessons learned from her time abroad, Williams had this to say, “This sounds so desperately trite, but the similarities are so much greater than the differences. Every group of people I’ve worked with are people I really liked and admired and enjoyed.” Williams’ love for teaching STEM from her students, her colleagues, and her love for school in general. Williams notes that she’s learned so much from her students, but specifically, she’s noted their resiliency. She said, “I was really proud of the

ways most kids handled a really crappy year [20202021].” She has consistently noticed the genuine kindness and care students have for each other, which she finds inspiring. Williams especially enjoys the structure that the school day provides. She said, “I like the routine of [school]. I think it’s an exciting atmosphere. There’s always something going on. It’s always interesting.” She adds, “The thought of retiring or vacation… I just don’t like not having a schedule. I want to have something to do.” For that reason, Williams hasn’t made any plans on retiring soon. Williams said she has “a good memory for stupid, irrelevant, small details.” This skill came in handy when she competed on Season Five of the trivia game show “Jeopardy” in 1989. She decided to try out because she “had watched [Jeopardy] for years and I’d sit at home and go ‘Oh! I know those questions!’” The process to get on the show was a little extensive. First, Williams had to fly out to California to take a test. In order to qualify, she had to answer 47 of the 50 questions correctly. After qualifying for the show, Williams had to fly back out to California to tape her episode. Williams explained that

there had previously been quiz show scandals in the 1950s so there were many measures put in place to prevent cheating. “They would pass answers to people, and so they put all sorts of rules that you can’t see anybody. As soon as you get on the show and you get there, they put you in a small room and you can’t talk to anyone attached to the show except the person who’s kind of your [chauffeur].” Alex Trebek, the wellknown and long-time host of “Jeopardy,” was relatively new when Williams played. Trebek began hosting the show in 1984, five years prior to when Williams was featured. Williams noted that the taping schedule was so busy that she didn’t get to interact with him. Williams explains, “You walk out onto the stage and that is the first time that you see Alex Trebek and he shakes your hand.” While Williams enjoyed her time on the show, she did not end up winning the season. She played against two other competitors, Rich Lerner from Maryland and Lisa Miller from Texas. In the end, Miller ended up winning with Williams placing third. However, Williams excelled in the second round, closely following her fellow “Jeopardy” stars.

H T

h e motivation that comes with a deep passion for swimming drove Henry Webb ‘25 this past summer when, on the last night of Senior State finals (Aug. 1 2021), he and three of his teammates destroyed the national age group record in the 400 meter long course freestyle relay at the John K. Freeman Aquatic Center located at the U of M. Previously set at 3:37.47 in 2019, the record set by Webb and his teammates now stands at 3:36.01. The 1.46 second drop is evidence of Webbs’s grit in and out of the pool. Webb has been swimming for 10 years after he started swimming during the summer in an effort to follow in his older brother’s footsteps. His tenacity for swimming isn’t about simple enjoyment; in fact, Webb explains that among swimmers, there is a shared hatred for the sport that manifests itself as a unique motivation that bonds teammates to work their hardest. He elaborates, “I really like that everyone just collectively hates the sport and we all acknowledge that the other people hate it and then push each other through it together.” In addition to swimming for Bearstangs (Blake and Breck’s co-op boys swim team), Webb practices on a co-ed all year club team called Aquajets. Founded to encourage swimmers to think and train like champions, Aquajets now owns a facility in Eden Prairie with three 25 yard pools. During the summer months, Aquajet swimmers also train long course at the Edina Community Pool before the sun rises. Webb’s teammate on both the Bearstangs and Aquajets, Josiah March ‘24, echoes Webb’s sentiments that “Swimming is hard and we all understand that and it’s kind of something we joke about. We’re kind of joking but we’re also serious too but yeah I definitely feel like that’s there.” March adds that “[Webb] works really hard. He’s always pushing me, [and] pushing other people in practice. I really appreciate him. I’m on his Bearstang and Aquajets team so I get to see it everyday.” Another one of Webb’s teammates on both the Bearstangs and

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | THE SPECTRUM NEWSPAPER | NOVEMBER 4, 2021 | 16

EN on Aquaj e t s , Cayden Liao ‘24 ,adds that Webb is both “hardworking and lovable by the coaches.” The road to breaking the National Age group record wasn’t easy; like everything else, it came with its challenges. Webb shares, “Probably our biggest challenge was COVID [be]cause they didn’t have relays at most meets. It took us like four tries, and those were our first four relays together pretty much, so getting our relay figured out was a lot of the challenge and then getting a good opportunity to try it.” March concurs, “They tried to get that record like 5 or 6 times, Webb would anchor and every single time, he was so consistent he went 52.6, 52.7s...we’re all kinda like wondering [what was going to happen] and then they just destroyed it. He had a great anchor leg, it was super fun to watch.” The pressure and anticipation all boiled down to that one summer night; behind the blocks Webb was feeling the heat. He reflects on the build-up to the swim noting that behind the blocks it was unclear if the team was on pace. Webb notes, “[I] just got in and did what I could.” When he looked up and saw his teammates celebrating, he knew they had achieved their goal. Senior State occurs twice a year each year, once in the summer and once in the winter. Summer state takes place at the Jean K Freeman Aquatic Center, the pool at the University of Minnesota. The meet spans for 4 days and attracts swimmers from all over Minnesota if they meet the criteria of being 13 and older as well as achieving qualifying times any time prior in the season. Webb will carry this accomplishment around with him for the rest of his life, including this upcoming boys high school swim season which takes place in the winter months. The differences between club and high school swimming are expansive. Webb adds, “High school is a much tighter team, and I’m much closer to every-

Submitted by: Henry Webb

B R Y WEB

one on the team. But, recently club has been a lot of fun too, club is just much... they’re much tougher on us at club and it’s just most of my year whereas high school is much more lighthearted and fun.” Liao echoes that while “both [Bearstangs and Aquajets] are fun to practice with,” he agrees, “ I do feel that the high school team...are more bonded with each other.” While many swimmers participate in high school and, for the extra training, go to an extra club practice or two, Webb won’t be joining in. He notes, “Well a lot of people go in the mornings before school and do club and high school I don’t think that I am going to be doing that just [be]cause I mean I’d have to register for club and that’s just a massive time commitment, maybe in future years.” MSHSL rules also dictate that a swimmer can not skip a high school practice to attend club but they can go to a club practice when there is no high school practice occurring. For Webb, being a freshman in high school as well as an intense competitive swimmer make for a challenging week filled with long nights. He notes, “I have skipped a lot of practices because I’m sick and it’s been so much easier. I mean keeping up with clubs and having projects and stuff...I also feel like teachers sometimes don’t acknowledge after school activities because they don’t really realize that I’m not really starting my work till like 6-7 o’clock and then I’m staying up late.” Overall though, Webb has enjoyed his school year so far he concludes, “It’s much looser than like middle school and I can have fun with the people around me a lot more.”

nd Uela Zoey

ter Wri f f Sta

Karsten Farris

Webb shares a glimpse into his thought process before breaking the record saying, “Well, behind the blocks it was really hard to figure out if we were on pace or not and we kind of have one person who always does it and he’s right before me and I didn’t know if we were on pace.”