October 2024 Issue

JUNIOR JUDGES

CEREBRAL CONNECTION

Rubicon student newspaper of

THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2024

Partnership returns as exchange program restarts

SAM GALARNEAULT THE RUBICON

Flying overseas to Minnesota, German exchange students leaned into new experiences from Sept. 30-Oct. 11.

German teacher Rachel Ruddick explained the exchange program’s three goals: “Cross-cultural learning and competence looking through the world through different eyes and finding ways we are similar, forming friends and connections interculturally, and language learning.”

The exchange allows students to travel to each school and experience a new culture firsthand.

Pandemic protocols put the program on hold five years ago; before that, they trip happened every two years between 19962019. Outreach from Heisenberg-Gymnasium three years ago was the catalyst for planning to begin again.

Seventeen German students stayed in the Twin Cities for ten days with host families. Most hosts were upper school German students.

Ruddick was an essential puzzle piece in assisting the revitalization of the exchange. With some help from Spanish teacher Rolando Castellanos, who restarted the Spanish exchange last fall, Ruddick built a detailed itinerary of field trips, peer teaching, and social events.

For German teachers Matthias Grieben and Carolin Hautman, it was important that their students see as much as possible -- from the education and political systems to neighborhoods and racial disparities.

“All the students do have the possibility to leave their comfort zone and gain a deeper understanding about privilege and challenges that come

with living in a different place,” Hautman said. “The idea is for them to learn how to become a member of a different community.”

The exchange was competitive; the 17 German participants were chosen from a pool of 34 applicants.

“Gender, allergies and

good matches with SPA and Frau Ruddick were in mind when selecting students,” Grieben said.

Students from Germany experienced several cultural difference, including popular food.

“We went to a diner and I have never had food like that before,” exchange student Lara

said. “I had a typical meal and a milkshake with the cherry on top and I took two sips and I couldn’t anymore. It’s so sweet and so much. It’s like ice cream. I was like ‘how can you drink that?’”

After school, a number of German students could be found cheering for Spartan sports.

Exchange student Eric said, “Our sports are not attached to our school. [In Germany] sports are more like clubs, which means not many people come to watch our games ... which has both its ups and downs,” he said.

The group left Minnesota and rode the Empire Builder to Chicago for four days before returning home. They visited museums, the “Bean” and a public school where a former Heisenberg-Gymnasium teacher works.

US exchange participants will leave for Germany June 9.

Guest speaker Yanagita brings neurodiversity awareness to campus

CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR

On Oct. 10, Clinical Director Bryan Yanagita of The Bridge Autism Clinic spoke at a Neurodiversity Group meeting during x-period.

Upon welcoming all students, Yanagita shared his insights on supporting neurodiverse individuals, especially those with autism, along with what that means for his work at The Bridge.

Co-leader of Neurodiversity Group Oliver Chan met Yanagita while

working as a student intern at The Bridge this past summer.

“I invited [Yanagita] to speak at our Neurodiversity Group ... knowing his real-world expertise would provide an invaluable perspective,” Chan said.

Chan hoped that Yanagita would address misconceptions about neurodiversity and provide real-world examples, to foster inclusion and empathy, while encouraging everyone to see neurodivergence as an asset at school.

Before Yanagita explained the practices, analyses, and purpose of the clinic, he began by acknowledging that neurodivergence is a field professionals are still learning about as they go.

The Bridge gears support toward individuals with autism, primarily children ages 2-11, who benefit from the clinic’s specialized services. Often, these children did not find the support they needed in other educational settings.

The clinic carries out its goal of helping clients

CORRECTIONS POLICY

gain skills that will enrich their lives through a therapy modality called Applied Behavior Analysis. ABA is a one-on-one individualized approach where a behavioral therapist assesses skills and collaborates with caregivers to chart the best path forward for each client. Children have different goals in terms of what they’re working on.

Another common method is called Barrier Behavior Reduction, which the clinic may choose to employ when clients demonstrate behaviors that are safety concerns or serve as a barrier to success. Whatever goals behavioral therapists and clients work towards, The Bridge intentionally creates positive relationships.

“There is a wonderful emphasis in our field on dignity and respect … There’s a lot of interaction with one-on-one therapy and we really want to help our children feel like they have a say, they have a voice,” Yanagita said.

The clinic practices these values by exclusively teaching through positive reinforcements, meaning that clients re-

ceive rewards as motivation for making progress toward behavioral goals.

THE IDEAS

AND

TEACHINGS THAT [YANAGITA PRESENTED] FASCINATED ME. “

“If I have a learner that is a non-speaking individual, and they’re using a picture communication system, but they might be using physical aggression to get what they want, we would then instead show them ‘If you want this, we can use our pictures,’ and [if they move to that behavior] then we’ll give it to them right away,” Yanagita said.

In addition to educating attendees on the clinic’s practices, he explained that there are a variety of professions involving neurodivergence for students who may be interested in the field. But regardless of whether or not students are

interested in this type of work, Yanagita stressed that they can support the neurodivergent community by advocating and staying aware.

Sophomore Ella Barlow enjoyed learning about professionals’ techniques and activities when working with autistic children.

“The ideas and teachings [Yanagita presented] fascinated me,” Barlow said.

Chan noticed this appreciation for Yanagita’s work and was impressed by the students’ curiosity.

“The questions asked by SPA students were not only insightful but also thought-provoking,” Chan said.

Chan sees several ways the school could step forward to support neurodivergent individuals, including creating sensory-friendly spaces for students who need a break from over-stimulation, and expanding neurodiversity education programs to give students a platform to voice their needs.

Corrections are printed at the bottom of News p. 2. Corrections will be published in the month following the error and, if the story is also published online, will update following the online corrections policy. OPINIONS 5 - Superior was incorrectly; IN DEPTH 8-9 - a.m. and p.m. are incorrectly capitalized; FEATURE 10 - Faculty roles should be capitalized; SPORTS 12-13 - No apostrophe or capitalization in team names, p.m. should be lowercase; MIXED MEDIA 16 - said “You picked more A’s than B’s” for both options, but the bottom option should say “You picked more “B’s than A’s”

GEORGIA ROSS

ELEVATING EDUCATION. Clinial Director Brian Yanagita talks about his work at The Bridge Autism Clinic. Neurodiversity Group hosted Yanagita as a guest speaker Oct. 10.

AIRPORT ARRIVAL. German exchange students stand with the host families upon landing in Minnesota Sept. 30. The students stayed until Oct. 11.

PHOTO: Kathryn Campbell

PHOTO: Georgia Ross

sophomore Ella Barlow

Scan this QR code to read Q&A profiles on each of the German students.

What economy do the candidates promise?

CARYS HSIUNG CONTRIBUTOR

Amidst the swarm of issues for voters this election season, the economy has prevailed as the most important subject in the eyes of over 81% of voters. Candidates throw around terms like “opportunity economy” and “manufacturing renaissance,” but what do they mean for voters?

HARRIS’S

PLAN

After accepting the Democratic nomination for president Aug. 5, Vice President Kamala Harris proposed “an opportunity economy where everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed” in her speech. This pitch encompasses her proposed economic policies, including slashing the prices of necessities such as groceries and prescription drugs and imposing numerous tax credits. In particular, Harris is pushing for the Child Tax Credit that will provide $6,000 worth of tax cuts for families with newborns less than a year old and another tax credit that will allocate $50,000 for small businesses with the hope of having 25 million new small business applications within the first two years of her presidency.

TRUMPS’ PLAN

While Harris aims to support communities in need, former President Donald Trump has prioritized augmenting American jobs. During his speech at his Sept. 24 rally in Savannah, Georgia, Trump stressed the need to accelerate the manufacturing industry, propagating the idea of the U.S. undergoing a “manufacturing renaissance” if he were to get elected. His policies include high tariffs on non-American manufacturing companies, with some as high as 200%, corporate tax rates below 15%, abolishing the tax on tips, and deregulation of the manufacturing sector, which empirically means cutting down on excess federal control of the sector, eliminating outdated and inconsistent rules, and getting rid of negative impacts of regulation such as job losses and delays. He also claims to uplift the middle class by increasing middle-class wages and stimulating the economy through increased investments from tax cuts for businesses and the upper class.

THE RESPONSE

The backlash against both candidates’ plans has remained steady: in response to Harris’ plan, Trump proclaimed, “She doesn’t have a plan. She copied Biden’s plan, and it’s like four sentences, like ‘Run Spot Run.’ Four sentences that it’s just, ‘Oh, we’ll try to lower taxes’” during the presidential debate Sept. 10. Furthermore, Trump has made numerous comments about Harris’s “communist-leaning” economic policies, claiming, “[she] is reportedly proposing communist price control. She wants price controls, and if they worked, I’d go along with it, but they don’t work.

They actually have the exact opposite impact and effect” during a press conference in his golf club located in Bedminster, New Jersey.

While Trump has made various snippy comments against Harris’s plan, Harris’s criticisms focus on Trump’s method of reaching his overarching goal: preserving American jobs and workers. In particular, she strikes back against the United-States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal passed by Trump to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), asserting that the USMCA does not protect American workers enough. She also declared Trump as “one of the biggest losers of American manufacturing in our history,” referencing the supposed reduction of manufacturing jobs during the Trump administration. At the same time, she targeted other claims against Trump’s use of tariffs as a national sales tax and his policy about executing tax cuts for the wealthy as a way to compensate for the middle class.

THE STRATEGY

Though the candidates intend their economic plans to be a vote-securing strategy, they might only sometimes work in their favor. “[residents of] the industrial Midwest, places that have been left behind by manufacturing didn’t like the free trade NAFTA policies of Clinton in the 1990s. Rolling those back by putting up tariffs is a strategy that I think [Trump’s] hopeful will work the way that it worked in 2016,” History teacher Jon Peterson said. On the other hand, for first-time runner Harris, “she’s kind of in a trickier position, because on the one hand, she’s the incumbent, and on the other hand, she’s running as kind of an outsider.”

Voters often regard the economy as Harris’s Achilles’ heel. “With the [no tax on tips policy in Nevada], Harris immediately adopted Trump’s position after he said it. So you do see tactics like that where Harris, for example, just switches or not switches but adds something to her economic plan to try to level the playing field,” junior Roman Farley said.

Both plans may seem appealing to certain voters, but there are somber downsides; according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Harris’s plan would increase the national debt by up to $8 trillion through 2035, whereas Trump’s plan would increase the debt by up to $15 trillion. Furthermore, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that Trump’s policies on reducing taxes for the wealthy and increasing tariffs would result in increased taxes for every person except those who fall under the top five percent in terms of income, detracting from any benefits that may arise if Trump were to get elected. Opportunity economy. Manufacturing renaissance. Whether the candidates’ plans will have their desired effects remains ambiguous, but after Nov. 5, the nation’s economic future will clear up.

SEEING INDIGENEITY. Although Indigenous People’s Day fell on Oct. 14 Intercultural Club hosted their IPD assembly with speakers Jennifer White and Juleana Enright on Oct. 22 and facilitated an advisory debrief on Oct. 23 to lead into Native American Heritage Month in November.

Senior Deling Chen, described why IC is takes the holiday seriously: “SPA has been around for a century and we don’t want it to seem like we’re just tokenizing the Indigenous experience; [we] actually engage with, support and appreciate native culture,” she said.

• “Manufacturing renaissance”

• Massive tariffs on nearly all imported goods

• Sub-15% corporate tax rates

• No tax on tips

• Increased taxes for everyone except the top 5% wealthiest

• Increased middle-class wages via stimulated economy from business and upper-class tax cuts

INCREASE IN NATIONAL DEBT: $15 trillion

• “Opportunity economy”

• Decreased prices on necessities including groceries and prescription drugs

• Child Tax Credit that provides $6000 of tax cuts for families with children less than a year old

• Tax credit for small businesses of up to $50,000 per business

• No tax on tips

INCREASE IN NATIONAL DEBT: $8 trillion

INFORMATION: Wall Street Journal and Forbes

ECONOMIC EDGE. With the economy being a key issue ahead of the election, candidates have leaned into signature phrases, like Harris’s “opportunity economy,” and focused on taxes to win over votes.

PHOTO Reprinted with Permission: Nikolas Liepins (taken 2019) NSPA Campaign Photo Exchange

TRUMP

HARRIS

PHOTO Reprinted with Permission: Eli Raikhel (taken 2024) NSPA Campaign Photo Exchange

PHOTO: Alyda Overgaard

GOOD QUESTION

How do you balance school and life?

WORK HARD, ACHEIVE GOALS. Ninth-grader Kate Tuttle finds a balance between her social, personal, and academic life, juggling soccer, school, voice lessons, and viola through finding methods that incorporate each aspect.

ANNIE ZHANG EDITOR IN CHIEF

Balancing school, friends, and activities can feel like an endless race, with no clear finish line in sight. A day in the life of a typical student in the US may look something like this: They wake up, attend classes for seven hours, socialize with friends, attend a sports practice, go home, take care of themselves, chug an energy drink to stay awake at their desk in order to prepare for their math test and sleep for maybe five hours. They wake up the next morning and do it all over again. Drawing the line between personal, social and school life for teens can be a constant challenge, especially when friendships, extracurriculars and academic excellence are at stake. Whether a student is racing to meet a deadline, spending time with friends, or even taking a moment to breathe, the issue of finding the perfect in between still stands.

“

WHEN I GET STRESSED, I KIND OF JUST SHUT DOWN. I DON’T REALLY DO ANYTHING.

sophomore Soren Zuehlke

In an article published by the American Psychological Association, a survey conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. found that among the 1,018 teens and adults polled, 31% reported that their stress levels increased in recent years while only 16% reported that their stress levels were on the decline. However, the physical impacts of stress can lead to headaches, fatigue and chest pain. Mentally, the impacts can include changes in eating habits, feelings of depression and unfocused thinking.

“When I get stressed, I kind of shut down. I don’t really do anything,” sophomore Soren Zuehlke said. “I’ll just sit inside and watch TV.”

On top of it all, high school is infamous for increasing students’ workloads as they advance. According to Kj Dell’Antonia, writer for the New York Times, 4,317 students from high performing schools in the upper middle class communities in California reported that their nightly homework load to be about 3.1 hours. For US students, this doesn’t stray too far from the norm of the daily block schedule; 45 minutes multiplied by three or four classes a day equates to 2.25 to 3 hours of extra work every day.

In addition to an extensive number of assignments, students partake in a multitude of extracurriculars including sports, with 77% of the US student body participating in at least sport. This then leads to a further increase in workload that is often overlooked. In order to stay on top of it all, many students utilize a variety of different strategies to plan for the future or maintain their wellbeing without feeling overwhelmed.

“Try to keep a schedule of things so you don’t procrastinate on things too much and it doesn’t build up, especially with the way we have homework assigned on a two day schedule,” senior Talia Cairns said. “When you have a lot of work and sports stuff going on, just try to figure out your priorities and organize it so you can handle things well.”

For ninth-grader Kate Tuttle, she integrates parts of her social life into her daily homework routine, enjoying the best of both worlds. Studying together with friends allows her to work efficiently with a support system to lean on while maintaining her social life.

“Since my friends are very quiet people who like to get their work done, I find it really helpful for me to be around them while doing work at quiet study,” she said.

Although the task of enforcing boundaries between school, social and personal life may seem daunting, with the right set of strategies, finding balance in multiple aspects of life might not be as challenging as it seems. It’s all about experimentation and finding the best combination of study habits, organization tools, and time management.

STUDY STRATEGIES

POMODORO METHOD

Also known as the “tomato method,” work for 25 minutes and then take a five minute break. Once four pomodoros have been completed, take a longer break.

CALENDAR APPS

- SPA THINKSWhat strategies do you use to manage your workload?

DON’T GET TOO WRAPPED UP IN ONE THING, WHETHER IT’S ACADEMICS OR SOCIAL LIFE.

“

I MAKE A TO-DO LIST AND I’LL DO ONE ASSIGNMENT, AND GET A BREAK, THEN DO ANOTHER ONE.

“

MY STRATEGY IS NOT WAKING UP TOO EARLY [...] BEING RIGHT ON TIME GIVES ME THOSE EXTRA MINUTES FOR SLEEP.

ninth-grader Clara Lovelace

“

I JUST TRY AND GET EVERYTHING DONE AS SOON AS I CAN. I TRY TO [...] STAY ON TOP OF EVERYTHING.

Whether it be the Calendar app on an iPhone or Google Calendar, planning ahead can provide visibility for upcoming events while allowing blocking parts of their schedule for much needed downtime.

Scan here to read more about Finch on RubicOnline.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Annie Zhang

senior Ben Macedo

ninth-grader Eli Kardasis-Sturtz

sophomore Isla Collins

OUR MISSION

We strive to capture the spirit of the community through its stories while inspiring deeper conversations. Above all, we stand for integrity in our pursuit to inform and engage our readers.

THE RUBICON

St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave • St. Paul, MN 55105 rubicon.spa@gmail.com www.rubiconline.com @TheRubiconSPA

24-25 STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR NEWS EDITOR

GOOD QUESTION EDITOR

OPINIONS EDITOR IN DEPTH EDITOR

FEATURE EDITORS

SPORTS EDITOR

A&E EDITOR

MIXED MEDIA EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

CARTOON EDITOR THE RUBICON

Annie Zhang

Juan Miguel Adams

Georgia Ross

Johanna Pierach

Wynter Feiner

Sonia Kharbanda

Amanda Hsu

Grace Medrano

Lina Abid

Sam Galarneault

Peter Ostrem

Annika Kim

Ivy Evans

Alba Markowitz Mulet

RUBICONLINE

DIRECTOR OF RUBICONLINE

PRODUCTION MANAGER

MLP BEATS MANAGER NEWS EDITORS

OPINIONS EDITOR FEATURE EDITORS

A&E EDITORS

SPORTS EDITORS

PHOTOJOURNALIST

CREATIVE DESIGN MANAGER

RUBICON TV

PHOTO EDITOR

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Aarushi Bahadur

Greyson Sale

Thomas Chen

Allan Wang

Peter Lipinsky

Audrey Jansen

Lani Ngonethong

Lucy Thomas

Nabeeha Qadri

Andrew Lipinsky

Yassin Mokbel

Tamari Christopher

Elizabeth Tuttle

Audrey Peltier

Zimo Xie

Nora McKoy

Murphy Miltner

Mariam Malik

CONTRIBUTORS

Carys Hsiung, Huxley Westemeier, January Cook, Caden Burns, Ellie Camp

STAFF WRITERS

Winston Arvidson, Sunde Auberjonois, Tallulah Dogwill, Jack Gao, Jack Gordon, Luca Kempcke, Ariella Kim, Chloe Kovarik, Harper Larsen, Shrey Nemani, Ike Obi-Walker, Alyda Overgaard, Juliet Pickens, Aiden Ruediger, Sylvia Westra

ADVISER Kathryn Campbell, CJE

MEMBERSHIPS

Columbia Scholastic Press Association

National Scholastic Press Association

MN High School Press Association Quill and Scroll Honor Society

CURRENT PUBLICATION AWARDS

2024 NSPA All-American

2023 Pacemaker Finalist (print), 2024 Winner (online)

2024 CSPA Hybrid Gold Crown Award Winner

2024 SNO Distinguished Site

2023 JEM All State Gold

Misunderstood,

stigmatized:

more neurodivergence awareness needed

EDITORIAL THE RUBICON STAFF

Sometimes, it can happen in the blink of an eye. A quick joke, offhand remark, or casually thrown slur has the power to cut into someone’s sense of self. When the punchline is someone’s brain function, the jokes, name-calling, and shaming stop meaningful progress in its tracks.

This can be a reality for neurodivergent learners, as misinformation around the topic normalizes accidental (and intentional) harm. Unaware of the magnitude of their words, students are left uneducated. Those with malicious intent are left unchecked.

Like any deeply personal aspect of identity, neurodivergence does not fit comfortably into a box. The definition is fundamentally othering in nature–it means “not normal.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, 15-20% of people experience some form of neurodivergence, including: learning disabilities, attention deficit and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette’s Syndrome.

Those who experience neurodivergence may possess unique strengths, such as adept memorization skills and hyper-focus abilities, but navigate challenges in learning environments due to the way their brain processes information.

NEURODIVERGENT (adj & n) 2002-

Differing in mental or neurological functioning from what is considered typical or normal. Oxford English Dictionary

A lack of education adds to the problem. Students struggle to conceptualize that neurodivergence falls largely on a spectrum, and those actively inflicting harm weaponize this lack of awareness to avoid accountability. There is not one look to neurodivergence, leading to harmful misconceptions at school, only further exacerbated by social media.

Open discussion of mental health issues on social media may resonate with teens during a crucial phase of identity development and self-discovery, according to Jennifer Katzenstein, director of psychology, neuropsychology, and social work and co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. When neurodivergent communities share their experiences online, it is acceptable for audiences to feel empathy and pursue further research. However, teens may get ahead of themselves based on this initial feeling of visibility, leading to what may be an incorrect self-diagnosis based on limited information.

Competitive academic environments like SPA magnify misinformation as peers dismiss neurodivergence as a means to obtain an unfair advantage. When every second counts on a test or project, accommodations like extended time may appear to disproportionately ease the experience of a neurodivergent classmate and create feelings of entitlement and envy. Instead, stop to consider why others utilize them in the first place. Any other response undermines the necessity of these support systems, stigmatizing their use for those who rely on them.

Support exists for neurodivergent students, often behind the scenes through the Center for Learning and Teaching. The staff works to provide the privacy and sensitivity these situations deserve. However, while a more inward-facing approach may be necessary, the school must implement more outward-facing education to foster inclusion. This could include assemblies, advisory discussions, guest speakers, or units during required Wellness classes.

Anywhere identity is discussed, neurodivergence must fit into the conversation. Imagine what forward-facing, factual, and informative education around neurodivergence, could create, especially as it appears in the learning environment.

It is vital that students do their part by leaning into discussions surrounding neurological differences armed with knowledge and compassion. This includes calling out misinformation, derogatory names, and slurs, as well as combating false narratives about supports in place for neurodivergence in academic performance.

Be inclusive and supportive of peers with neurodivergence. Recognizing that everyone is on their own learning path is a great first step.

EDITORIAL CARTOON: Annika Kim

2 SIDES, 1 ISSUE

Are politics a dealbreaker in friendships?

GRACE MEDRANO THE RUBICON

Imagine sitting with a friend in a coffee shop, and the off-hand mention of a political stance instantly causes discomfort and disagreement. The knowledge that you and your friend have completely different takes on an important issue is a valid reason to rethink a relationship.

According to 2014 data from Pew Research Center, there has been an increase in each party’s distrust of the other. Between 2004 and 2014, the share of Democrats who viewed the Republican party as a threat to the nation’s well-being increased by 9%, compared with a 22% jump in Republicans who saw the Democratic party as a threat.

There are core beliefs wrapped up in each party’s politics: abortion, religion, civil rights, education, patriotism, immigration and more. And sometimes, these are things a person is not willing to compromise on.

In a poll sent out to SPA students, 67% of students responded that 95 to 100% of their friends within school share their political beliefs, and 47% of students said 95 to 100% of their friends outside of school share their political beliefs. These numbers are telling. People naturally gravitate towards others who share their beliefs and ideologies. The poll highlighted that many students find themselves struggling when relationships include differing views on identity and moral issues.

Pew Research Center reported in 2023 that 79% of Americans have negative views of politics and respondents most commonly associate it with the word ‘divisive.’ 65% of Americans described feeling ‘exhausted,’ and 55% reported feeling ‘angry’ when thinking about politics.

Furthermore, according to the American Psychological Association, friendships are beneficial in lowering stress levels, blood pressure, and generally make life feel less daunting.

It is true that politics can be highly personal. While views on issues like reproductive rights, education and immigration are often intertwined with personal morals, opposing political parties themselves may not have fundamentally opposed morals.

The assumption that an individual with an opposing political view has inferior or dramatically different morals is generally incorrect. There is significant agreement on the critical issues between both parties; most of the disagreement regards who should get to make changes, or what specific policies should be enacted.

Examining polarization in the U.S., a 2023 review by Rachel Kleinfeld of the Carnegie Endowment for National Peace found that American voters are less polarized than they believe. Kleinfeld explains that ideological polarization refers to the actual rift between the beliefs of opposing political parties, and affective polarization describes Americans’ personal dislike for people of an opposing political party. In most cases, affective polarization is much more prevalent than ideological. Most people hold misconceptions about the opposing party’s beliefs and are not aware of the significant agreement on policy between parties. Kleinfeld reported a 30% perception gap between what the most politically engaged Americans think the opposing party believes in and what they actually said they believe.

PARTY PARITY. In a survey sent to 405 students grades 9-12 with 40% responding, students reflected on how their political beliefs align with that of their friends in and out of school. 67% of respondents said that 95-100% of their friends in school share their political beliefs.

Comparing these two concepts provides the answer to whether one can truly have a meaningful friendship with someone with differing beliefs, and the answer is no. If the purpose of a friendship is to make life feel less daunting, having to deal with the exhausting world of political discourse can’t be helpful. If friends are supposed to have beneficial impacts on blood pressure and heart rate, experiencing anger whenever politics come up probably doesn’t help.

The poll sent out to the student body, which asked how students handle having differing political beliefs from their friends, resulted in a resounding ‘just don’t talk about it.’ But in a time when politics are so prevalent in everyday life, that is impossible. A person should not have to deal with arguing with a friend over their political beliefs.

Politics, at the end of the day, are a make or break factor in a friendship. If two people cannot see eye to eye on important issues, their relationship cannot flourish properly. The drawbacks will outweigh the benefits. A person’s morals and beliefs should not be compromised in the name of a friendship.

PUBLICATIONS POLICIES

PUBLICATION INFO The Rubicon is published eight times a year. We distribute 450 copies of each issue on the Randolph Campus which are available for free.

ADVERTISING The Rubicon does not accept advertisements.

ANONYMOUS SOURCES Although it is always preferable to use names when reporting, there are times when it is necessary to protect those we report on. Use of grade level or first name only are the most commonly used methods of anonymity.

BY LINES credit the individual who conducted interviews, drafted, revised and fact-checked an assigned story. Shared bylines are given to joint effort

assignments. Stories that include supplemental materials include a credit at the bottom that states “Additional reporting by” followed by the name of the reporter.

EDITORIALS articulate the collective opinion of the staff, while minieditorials, opinions pieces, arts reviews, and columns belong to the author.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Opinions are welcomed as Letters to the Editor or Submitted Opinions and may be published in print or online. Letters should not exceed 400 words and opinions should not exceed 650 words. Both may be edited for length and style. All pieces are published with a full name.

On the surface, politics have become very black and white, but the truth is that the majority of people can identify their own beliefs somewhere in the gray. Many right and left leaning news sources enforce a negative narrative about the opposing party, which can become internalized if it is not accompanied by other perspectives. When people can respectfully discuss their political views, and even disagree, the gray zone becomes more visible to each person.

Associating with a political party should not elicit an immediate judge of character. In a study by Stefano Balietti, Lise Getoor, Daniel G. Goldstein, and Duncan J. Watts, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2021, the authors concluded that people who connected first by nonpolitical similarities offered more open-mindedness to the other’s opposing viewpoints. Participants found that they were able to relate to each other, even if they were associated with different political parties. They were more open to conversation with someone who they had connected with.

It’s increasingly important for these discussions to happen and to be surrounded by people with different opinions, not only in the face of intensifying polarization but for personal benefit. The goal is not to convert someone else to share an opinion, but to expand personal understanding. Disagreement can be good if it is respectful and acknowledging of all perspectives.

Embrace discomfort in these conversations, try to understand a different perspective, and perhaps find that people who identify with opposing political parties have less to argue about than they think.

UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS

During the post-critique process, staff members identify inaccuracies and discuss reader feedback. The staff publishes corrections when an error is discovered during critique or reported to a staff member. Corrections should be directed to the Editor in Chief or appropriate section editor.

IN PRINT: Corrections are printed at the bottom of News p. 2. Corrections will be printed in the month following the error and, if the story is also published online, will be corrected following the online corrections policy.

PHOTO CREDITS Photos are labeled with the photographer name, whether on staff or freelance. Images sourced outside the staff are credited with

guidance from the National Press Photographers Association guides.

NAME AND PRONOUN USE

The Rubicon uses the name and pronouns shared by individual sources during interview. Each interview and survey begins with a request to say and spell the person’s name and to share the pronouns they would like to see published in the story, and the reporter is transparent about where the story will be published. If a mistake is made, a correction will be posted per the corrections policy.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The Rubicon news and Ibid yearbook avoid conflicts of interest while also honoring the fact that our reporters are involved in the school and local community

beyond their work on staff. Staff members avoid writing about students, teachers, student clubs, affinity groups, and organizations that they are closely involved with. The reporter is always responsible for disclosing conflicts of interest, but if a conflict of interest comes to light after publication, it does not warrant removal of the story. If it is in the best interest of a source to be interviewed by a close friend in the case of a sensitive topic, the interviewer will not write the story— they will solely conduct the interview. Unavoidable conflicts of interest are specifically mentioned at the top of a story. Photographing or videography of news events is never a conflict of interest.

LINA ABID THE RUBICON

ILLUSTRATIONS: Ella Barlow NO

REPRODUCTIVE

Annika Kim INFORMATION: plannedparenthood.org IN PERSON. TELEHEALTH. The Planned Parenthood clinic on Vandalia Ave. in Saint Paul offers a number of low to no cost services. PP is the largest provider of sex education in the nation, according to their website.

Trust in the Supreme Court has hit an alltime low, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. Read two students’ guest opinions on their lack of faith in the Supreme Court to rule impartially.

GABRIELLE CAMP CONTRIBUTOR

The Supreme Court of the United States is supposed to interpret the Constitution and laws and make sure the rule of law is enforced. However, recent rulings by SCOTUS have caused many Americans, myself included, to lose confidence in the court to rule impartially. We’ve seen evidence of this lack of impartiality in recent court rulings, how justices are chosen, and the role of outside influences.

One well-known re-

Election threatens teen access to reproductive healthcare

ANNIKA KIM THE RUBICON

Of the issues in the spotlight in the upcoming general election, access to reproductive healthcare could drastically change the future, depending on gender, under a new administration.

As discussions about reproductive rights take center stage in debates and on the campaign trail, it becomes increasingly necessary for teens to understand how their rights could change.

While election results can affect reproductive healthcare as a whole, teens, specifically, are more at risk when accessibility to services is restricted due to their age.

Reproductive healthcare for teens includes access to clinics, comprehensive sexual education programs, and the right to receive care without parental consent.

The Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022 reignited the pro-life movement across the nation, threatening access to reproductive healthcare services by limiting funding to providers, such as Planned Parenthood.

In addition to birth control and abortion, Planned Parenthood offers other amenities, such as cancer screening and gender affirming care that would be impacted if the organization was defunded.

With more than 50 bills across 28 states threatening to limit adolescent access to sex education and 13 states having instituted abortion bans, the impact of losing these rights can be fatal.

Fighting for accessibility to services is critical.

In Minnesota, people under 18 do not need to notify their parents when seeking

reproductive care, including birth control and abortion. While the state does require schools teach sex education, there are many limiting factors, and programs are not required to be comprehensive.

Equating reproductive health with abortion limits awareness and impacts action; these services encompasses a wider demographic and range of subjects than simply whether to terminate a pregnancy.

It is more important than ever that the election season comes with informed communication and advocacy for better reproductive healthcare.

Discussions should encompass the full demographic of people affected, as well as the rights and service at risk for everything it covers.

BY THE NUMBERS

of high school students reported that they had never had sexual intercourse. 38%

teens ages 15-24 account for nearly half of the 20 million new cases of STDs each year. 50%

There is no age restriction for buying condoms.

INFORMATION: HHS.gov

Mistrust of SCOTUS reflects national trend

CADEN BURNS CONTRIBUTOR

At its core, the judicial branch should work. There is no fundamental issue with what the founding fathers laid out to be the structure of the Supreme Court and its subsidiaries. The members of the court are chosen by the president, who is selected by the general population. Thus, the Supreme Court justices represent the will of the people. Instead, the issue lies in what the founding fathers failed to include in their initial groundwork: accountability.

The Supreme Court has no term limits or code of ethics, and all nine sitting justices have pushed back against potential independent ethics oversight. This lack

cent ruling that showed that the Supreme Court was not impartial was the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which also overturned 50 years of precedence and federal protection around women’s reproductive health and the right to abortion care in the case Dobbs v. Jackson. This ruling allowed states to pick and choose what to keep and ban around women’s reproductive health options, and in the case of many politically conservative majority states, they chose to ban them.

of accountability allows for a visibly partisan judicial agenda, and my perspective as a liberal has left me particularly conscious of some of the court’s more influential decisions in recent years. Judicial precedent has had little influence over many of these decisions, with the majority’s reasoning often betraying extreme political bias.

A notable part of the Supreme Court’s story these last few years, and one that may be to blame for the partisan state of the modern court, is the presence of special interests. Every single justice has taken privately-subsidized trips around the nation and the world. The funds for these trips have often come from those with pertinent in-

We’ve seen Clarence Thomas take over $4 million in ... vacations, private jet travel, and an RV.

Though this decision made many ultra-conservatives happy, it upset a large portion of the American public who believe abortion rights should be legal.

terest in Supreme Court proceedings.

Even retired liberal justice Stephen Breyer [reportedly] accepted 225 total subsidized trips from 2004-2016.

Beyond gifts and subsidized trips, special interests have found other ways to “donate” to Supreme Court justices. In 2017, shortly after he was appointed to the Court, conservative justice Neil Gorsuch successfully sold his Colorado home to a wealthy CEO of a major law firm, Greenberg Traurig, with whom Gorsuch has sided on multiple court cases since. The CEO paid between $250,000 and $500,000, and Gorsuch has sided with his firm on eight of its 12 cases before the Court.

Another area where there is a lack of impartiality is in the process of appointing judges to the Supreme Court. Between 2017-2020, three conservative justices were appointed to the SCOTUS under former President Donald Trump and the majority Republican Senate. This now leaves the Supreme Court unbalanced, with three liberal justices and six conservatives. Historically, the president would choose who they wanted to be appointed to the Supreme Court

All nine sitting justices have pushed back against potential independent ethics oversight.

Despite the numerous examples of bribery, Supreme Court justices consistently demonstrate a lack of awareness of the issue. Justices across the ideological spectrum have consistently fought against legislative oversight. Additionally, when writing about McDonnell vs United States (2016), a case where Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell was convicted of bribery in a di-

and then the Senate either approved or denied the choice. This meant that there had to be some compromise on candidates. But, one of those three conservative picks that Trump inherited was the result of the Republican-controlled Senate ignoring former President Barack Obama’s choice, delaying the process until Trump was president. When it comes to outside influence, in the news recently we’ve seen Justice Clarence Thomas taking over $4 million of gifts including vacations,

rect quid pro quo where he gained over $175,000 in return for his support of his benefactor’s special interest, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that McDonnell’s support of the special interest failed to qualify as an “official act” and thus did not warrant bribery charges. This case has made prosecution of government officials on bribery charges unilaterally more challenging, clearing the way for the Supreme Court to continue on its path of corruption. The sheer scale, clarity, and pervasiveness of the bribery prevalent among Supreme Court Justices cost the judiciary all the trust it deserves.

private jet travel, and an RV from a billionaire Republican supporter Harlan Crow who had lots of cases that he’s interested in come before the Supreme Court. In the past, Justices have removed themselves from cases where they might have a financial or personal interest/involvement. Recently, many of the Justices have been reluctant to do this. Based on these observations, I do not trust that the current SCOTUS is able or willing to rule impartially on cases.

PHOTO:

AWAY FROM

Immigration woven into family histories

JUAN MIGUEL ADAMS MANAGING EDITOR

From former President Trump’s accusations of Haitian immigrants eating the pets of other residents of Ohio and Vice President Kamala Harris’ plans to close private immigration detention centers and limit deportations, the election season has stirred passionate debates surrounding immigration policy.

Immigration stories within the community offer insight. From navigating language barriers and discrimination while preserving culture, these lived experiences highlight the challenges and aspirations that lead to students’ perspectives on the topic.

The current state of immigration in U.S. politics is sharply divided. Immigration dominated every night of the 2024 National Republican Convention and was a major point of contention at the First Presidential debate on June 27, 2024.

The Republican party, influenced by former President Trump’s policies, often prioritizes border security and strict enforcement measures for national security. According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, if elected, Trump has proposed the largest domestic deportation operation in American history, intending to deport approximately 11 million migrants deemed ineligible for citizenship by the United States in a multi-year military program and other re strictive acts on immigration including end soil birthright citizenship unless at least one parent is a US citizen.

According to the White House Website, Vice President Harris plans to lead the im plementation of the Root Causes Strategy, addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, focusing on issues like poverty, violence and corruption. Harris has supported work- ing with non-governmental associations to provide resources and assistance to im- migrants and advocates for strengthen- ing the asylum process.

CROSSING

The current immi- gration policy under the Biden administra- tion supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, particularly those who came to the U.S. as children (DREAMers and DACA) and those with Temporary Protected Status. Under the Biden administration, the De - partment of Homeland Security implemented Keeping Families Together, a process aimed at allowing non-citizen spous -

HOME

es and non-citizen step-children of U.S. citizens to request parole in place under existing statutory authority.

Sophomore Aldegundo Brenneman is a Mexican and Brazilian-American. Originally from Mexico, his grandfather joined the U.S. Peace Corps, leading him to Brazil, where he met Brenneman’s grandmother.

“My grandpa initially moved to Chicago for work and joined his cousin who was already here,” Brenneman said.

His grandfather faced challenges such as learning English and integrating with native speakers. Eventually, he moved to Wisconsin to reunite with the rest of his family.

PEOPLE FEAR WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW, [AND] BECAUSE OF THAT, PEOPLE HAVE ANTAGONIZED IMMIGRATION “

senior Serene Kalugdan

Following her husband, Brenneman’s grandmother joined him in Madison, Wisconsin. “It was a pretty sad experience for my grandma, leaving her family,” Brenneman said. Financial constraints prevented her from returning to Brazil, severing ties with her family. “One of her grandmothers didn’t really want her to move, and she was really close with her before she left,” he said.

His grandfather’s journey included many manual labor jobs before securing a position at a foundry casting metal. “Immigrant workers are more likely to start a business and do manual labor than people who are living here already … immigration drives the economy too,” Brenneman said, “so they are definitely benefiting the country in many ways.”

Senior Serene Kalugdan is half Hmong and Filipino. Her Hmong mother was young in the 1970s post-Vietnam era when the U.S. recruited Hmong people to combat the Laotian government and the spread of communism. It was unsuccessful and displaced many Hmong. In response to the Hmong’s’ betrayal, the Laotian government began to implement laws of executing Hmong people. Kalugdan’s maternal grandfather was one of the many Hmong men recruited, fleeing to Thailand to escape. “[My grandfather] was very smart, so he could speak English and he filled out all the refugee papers and got sponsored from the

camps in Thailand to come to the United States,” Kalugdan said.

Kalugdan’s father, who is Filipino, moved to the U.S. during Ferdinand Marcos’s rule due to political unrest. “Because of Marcos, my grandparents thought they should move because of the instability,” Kalugdan said.

Her grandparents were prominent in their society; her grandfather was a shaman and healer. “They were always upset that they had to come here because they were in their 50s, they had all this prominence in their society but when you come here none of that matters,” Kalugdan said.

Her mom faced discrimination when coming to the U.S.

“My mom told me she remembers people chasing her … and having to sacrifice meals for her siblings,” Kalugdan said. Her father faced similar discrimination upon arrival in the U.S., also struggling with education since he did not speak English.

“I think right now people fear what they don’t know, [and] because of that people have antagonized immigration because they don’t really know what is going on,” Kalugdan said. “I know Trump has used immigration in a negative format with crime to scare the Republican party.”

Reflecting on current media outlets, “I feel like our country makes it into a problem when we’re talking about [immigration]. It can be really useful for a country. It drives the economy, but people are playing into the downsides,” Brenneman said.

Brenneman’s and Kalugdan’s immigration stories show the personal challenges and aspirations shared by many within immigration communities. The portrayal in media outlets can often express Democratic or Republican parties’ policies to implement in a light that dehumanizes immigration. As the election season unfolds, such narratives serve as a reminder of the human experiences behind political issues.

DISTANT DISCUSSIONS.

NEW ROOTS. Sophomore Aldegundo Brenneman visits the Como Park Conservatory with his family and grandparents. After living in Wisconsin, his grandparents set down roots in Minnesota.

SUBMITTED PHOTO: Aldegundo Brenneman

SUBMITTED PHOTO: Aldegundo Brenneman

Junior William Hanna shares his thoughts about the importance of foreign politics, particularly in the upcoming election.

PHOTO: Georgia Ross

SUBMITTED PHOTO: Serene Kalugdan

BORDERS. Sophomore Aldegundo Brenneman’s grandparents first met in Brazil. When they relocated to Madison, Wisconsin, they faced many language and cultural challenges. “It was a pretty sad experience for my grandma, leaving her family,” Brenneman said.

FAMILY FIRST. Reuniting during the holiday season, senior Serene Kalugdan’s extended family gather around a Christmas tree for a photo.

U.S. foreign policy included steady expansion of foreign trade

Open Door policy towards China ensured equal access to the Chinese market for all countries

U.S. adopted an isolationist foreign policy, avoiding involvement in European and Asian conflicts

HOME

Marshall Plan was enacted. This supported reconstruction in European countries in an attempt to combat Communism

U.S. sends funding to Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack

Department of foreign affairs created by first congress

Major foreign policy events throughout the years

INFOGRAPHIC: Peter Ostrem INFORMATION: Department of State

The Roosevelt Corollary was established, indicating U.S. willingness to use its strength to end conflicts in Latin America

Aid sent to Japan to assist after great Kantó earthquake

U.S. declared War on Terror, invading Afghanistan and Iraq, emphasizing nation-building and neutralization of foreign terrorist threats

U.S. led NATO intervention in Libya

Trump took a restrained approach to foreign policy, isolating the U.S. and increasing tensions with other countries

Global stakes: foreign policy is critical issue this election

ANNIKA KIM THE RUBICON

While many of the heavily debated topics in the election have been domestic issues, equal emphasis has been placed on the country’s foreign interactions. From the two wars that the U.S. has had a heavy involvement in to international relations, voters are paying special attention to candidate stances.

ISRAEL-PALESTINE

Tensions in the Middle East continue to stay relevant for voters and politicians alike as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. The U.S. has sent roughly $22.76 billion in military aid funds to Israel.

“Neither candidate is particularly vocal about changes to Middle East policy, which leaves the main difference to framing,” junior William Hanna said.

Harris has called for a two-state solution to the conflict, leaving both sides with territory, and has advocated for aid in Gaza, but also supports Israel’s right to defend itself. Meanwhile, Trump has expressed that he is not interested in a separate Palestinian state.

For voters, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has continued to worsen throughout the war, has been a large factor of discussion.

Junior Lucille Brooks feels that

those able to vote should consider the conditions of these civilians. Since Oct. 7, at least 42,600 people in Gaza have been killed, which includes nearly 16,765 children, according to the Al Jazeera live data tracking casualties.

“So many people are dying, and we haven’t really had an accurate count in a while, but estimations are getting way up high, and it’s just really horrifying that both of our presidential candidates are condoning it,” Brooks said.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Compared to other foreign policy issues, the looming threat of the environment’s decline involves international cooperation to resolve a worldwide problem. As a foreign policy issue, the climate crisis has the potential to affect geopolitical relations between countries as debate arises over solutions, and potential border conflicts due to the physical effects of climate.

“[Climate change] transcends borders, ethnicity, and gender… while impacting everything from natural disasters to migration patterns and economic stability,” junior Evan Morris said. “I think that we should all keep this in the forefront of our minds this election season because we are the generation that will face the consequences.”

The presidential candidates differ on the issue. Harris supports Biden’s climate policies and sees the crisis as a threat, while Trump doubts that human involvement is responsible for climate change, and has talked about expanding fossil fuel production.

UKRAINE WAR

The U.S. has been a firm supporter of Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in 2022, providing billions in aid for military support. While both candidates agree that it is in the U.S.’s best interest to end the war, they differ on how. Harris has advocated for and, as VP, represented the U.S. in aiding Ukraine

until the war ends; Trump has said that he has no intentions of continuing to fund Ukraine if elected.

Hanna believes that Ukraine is an important foreign policy issue to consider in the upcoming election, especially toward democracy as a whole.

“If we cut our funding to Ukraine, which is what many Americans seem to want, Ukraine would likely be conquered in fairly short order,” they said. “It sets a dangerous precedent, especially for places like Taiwan.”

Taiwan, a now democratic country, was previously under authoritarian rule by the Republic of China.

As involved as the U.S. is in international relations, it is no surprise that voters have been vocal about knowing candidates’ stances and plans for tackling foreign pol icy.

“People care about inter national issues out of ... re spect for the lives and situa tions of people around the world,” Hanna said. “I find it so crucial to stay tuned in to what’s going on in other parts of the world.”

WORLD ON WATCH.

Lucille Brooks gives input and opinions about foreign issues’ role in the election.

PHOTO: Georgia Ross

The U.S. joined several allies to intervene in Russia (WWI)

2021-2024 MINNEAPOLIS CRIME STATISTICS

Is Minneapolis as dangerous as it is portrayed?

SONIA KHARBANDA

THE RUBICON

When ninth-grader Izzy Middlebrook thinks of her neighborhood in north Minneapolis, the word “community” comes to mind. However, when she tells people where she lives, she’s often met with assumptions about crime and violence. It surprises her that her classmates, especially those who live in a neighboring city, would buy into these stereotypes.

“One time I had a question, ‘why do you go here then?’ which was kind of wild,” she said.

While these stereotypes are nothing new, with the upcoming presidential election and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s addition to the Democratic ticket, negative comments about violence in Minneapolis

have taken center stage again.

During the Sept. 10 presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump accused Harris of supporting the release of criminals who “burned down” Minneapolis during the social unrest following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. In response, many Minneapolis residents posted photos online showing the city intact. Similarly, on Aug. 6, when Harris announced Walz as her running mate, Ohio Senator and Trump’s vice presidential pick JD Vance said Walz “allowed rioters to burn down the streets of Minneapolis.”

Sophomore Adi Narayan, who lives near Uptown in the Kenwood

neighborhood, has heard the stereotypes about crime in Minneapolis, as well as the statements from the Trump-Vance campaign. He appreciates that his neighborhood is full of greenery and places to walk and stressed the importance of not overgeneralizing the entire city: “It’s not all just shootings and rough neighborhoods and stuff like that. It’s a mix of places, and it’s not just one thing.”

During the unrest in 2020, Middlebrook remembers the discomfort of seeing military vehicles on her street. However, she believes that politicians exaggerate the extent of the violence perpetuated in the riots, describing the recent comments as “obviously biased, because [they are] coming from politicians

who are looking to find flaws and trying to boost their platform,” she said. In the days after Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, protesters began marching in the streets of Minneapolis and beyond. Walz mobilized the National Guard to Minneapolis on May 28, 2020– three days after Floyd’s killing, as riots had broken out and some businesses had been set on fire. A 2021 daily session report from the Minnesota House of Representatives noted that more than 1,500 businesses across Minneapolis and St. Paul were damaged during riots in May and June 2020, especially those along Lake Street and University Avenue.

Junior Sophie Nguyen recalls that her family

SPA THINKS

was concerned about the riots in 2020, but politicians have misrepresented what people were afraid of. “It wasn’t fear based off of the protesting. It was more about how we heard that people were coming in from other states or other parts of Minnesota just for the purpose of looting and rioting, and they weren’t there to actually support Geroge Floyd and like that cause in any way,” she said.

Nguyen lives in south Minneapolis, in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood– an area she thinks most people associate with danger and crime.

She doesn’t disagree that there are some dangerous parts, but she believes that an area’s reputation doesn’t encompass all of its blocks and residents.

“I can’t take walks out-

What is your perception of safety in Minneapolis as a non-resident?

I HAVE [HEARD THAT IT’S DANGEROUS], BUT I DON’T KNOW IF I AGREE WITH IT OR NOT, I’M NOT THERE ENOUGH.

I THINK THERE ARE BETTER PARTS AND WORSE PARTS. I’M SCARED OF ALL CITIES, THOUGH. “

side past my block, just because it’s dangerous. So I would say that it’s not like a dangerous neighborhood, but there are certain aspects of it that can make it dangerous, like certain corners or things like that,” Nguyen said.

Middlebrook wants her classmates and people who don’t live in Minneapolis to see it as any other community. “People act like [Minneapolis is] like this complete culture shock, totally different, like visiting a foreign country, but it’s really not,” she said.

Most of all, Middlebrook takes pride in the way that people in her neighborhood take care of each other: “There’s still a sense of being neighborly. There’s a strong sense of community.”

I’VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY IT’S DANGEROUS, BUT I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING BAD. “ ninth-grader Sophia Obi

INFOGRAPHIC: Grace Medrano INFORMATION: Minneapolis DataSource

OVER THE YEARS. Minneapolis crime statistics show that there was no significant change overall from 2021 to 2024. While there was a significant decrease in shots fired calls from 2021 to 2024, vandalism increased almost as dramatically in the two years. Weapon law violations steadily decreased by a small amount, and sex offenses remained relatively similar.

sophomore Florence Barrera

junior Hugh Adams

Gun use does not equate to dissent to policy changes

AMANDA HSU THE RUBICON

Equipment is arguably the most important part of trap shooting and hunting, with athletes using recoil vests, hats and belts for ease of comfort; however, the most important item by far is the shotgun itself.

Sophomore William O’Brien first picked one up at eight years old, with his dad and brother teaching him how to handle firearms in the wilderness or at the Metro Gun Club.

“[I like hunting because] it’s pretty rewarding, and I’m also better than my brother so that’s a big factor … it’s sort of a family thing,” O’Brien said.

Joining in on the family activity, junior Franny Wagner also picked up trap shooting by joining the O’Briens on trips to the gun club.

Feeling inspired, she later joined the SPA team. “William O’Brien … and my brother were doing it, and I really just wanted to try it,” Wagner said.

In contrast, junior Louis Fratzke was compelled to join the team after taking an American Legion firearms safety class and learning the basics.

“[Trap shooting is] a precision sport … it’s unlike a lot of other sports;

it sort of has a uniqueness,” Fratzke said.

O’Brien is used to seeing firearms in his everyday life from his frequent trips to the range, however, he has also noticed their increased presence in the news due to rising gun violence incidents.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 385 U.S. mass shootings in 2024 alone, with around 50 taking place in schools.

SAY IN A WALMART ... YOU JUST WALK IN, AND THERE’S THE GUN AISLE. “

Firearm policies were also raised into the spotlight after the two attempted assassinations of former President Donald Trump July 13 and Sept. 15. In light of these events and the upcoming election, many voters are discussing the candidates’ stances on gun safety.

“I think that [gun safety] has been too politicized. [There needs to be] more bipartisan support for enforcing more gun laws, because I think

right now, it’s just become an us versus them issue,” Wagner said.

Explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution, the Second Amendment gives citizens the right to “keep and bear arms,” effectively ingraining gun culture into the fabric of America. Fratzke has come across this normalization in his daily life. “Like say in a Walmart … you just walk in… and there’s the gun aisle,” Fratzke said.

The Federal Firearms Act of 1938 is the first instance of legislative restrictions on gun sales, requiring owners to obtain gun licenses. In 1964, restrictions became tighter with the Gun Control Act, prohibiting ineligible individuals from purchasing a gun based on age, criminal background or incompetence. Since then, many debates, particularly surrounding background checks, have been tossed around without substantial change.

“More background checks or more mental stability checks should be necessary,” O’Brien said.

Fratzke agrees that more regulations are needed and proposes that consistent check-ins with gun owners could be a solution. “Almost like a driver’s license, where … it’s not a one-time thing, you sort of have to keep … renewing it,” he said.

TRAPSHOOTING TRAINING. The 2023-2024 Trapshooting team trains during their spring season. Students gather to begin practice, each wearing the proper protective gear for gun usage. “Trapshooting is a precision sport. It’s unlike a lot of other sports, it sort of has a uniqueness,” Fratzke said.

Gun access is not a problem for the trap shooting team, with either family members or SPA’s trap coach providing many of the shotguns. However, even if students don’t directly deal with the purchase of these firearms, they still want to see a change in the requirements to acquire guns.

“I don’t think that people should be able to buy military-grade weapons … but I do think that people should be able to buy firearms, like shotguns that aren’t meant for killing people,” Wagner said.

With nationwide outcry for new legislation regarding firearms, hunters and athletes whose sports

involve firearms are starting to feel stigmatized and condemned. Fratzke and Wagner believe public sentiment should focus on tackling the actual issue instead of shifting blame onto gun owners.

“I’m pro-hunting … not pro-gun,” Wagner said.

Student election judges share experiences working with voters

ELECTORAL ACTION. One responsibility of election judges includes assisting voters with the ballot system. “I feel like the job taught me about the way that voting works and how the ballots work,” Frost said.

Getting involved in the 2024 election is not limited to students over the age of 18. It’s easy to feel lost or hopeless as a student under 18 during the election season, but voting is not the only way to contribute to the electoral process.

Junior Helen Frost became an election judge in the Aug. 13th primary election. “There were like five jobs that I could do: greeting people, registering them to vote, counting ballots, explaining ballots, telling people how to put their ballots into the machine and then handing out ‘I voted’ stickers,’” she said.

After hearing about the job through her friends, Frost’s interest in the job was piqued, leading her to

apply. Frost worked the entire day of the primary, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“I feel like [the job] taught me about the way that voting works and how the ballots work. I feel like it kind of taught me how to be more social, how to explain things to people better and how to interact with people in a way that they, like, understand,” Frost said.

THE JOB TAUGHT ME TO BE MORE SOCIAL AND HOW TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO PEOPLE BETTER.

junior Helen Frost

Senior Development Officer at SPA and head election judge for the city of Minneapolis Alyse Simondet emphasizes the attributes of the job: “Students can learn about the democratic process from the inside out and develop a sense of civic engagement. You also build skills to communicate with people effectively, helping voters understand the process and answer their questions. Additionally, working alongside other election judges requires strong teamwork, as you need to work together to ensure the polling place runs smoothly,” she said.

Simondet emphasizes the importance of getting involved and voting. “One of the key aspects of being an election judge is doing everything we can within the law to help people vote,” she said. “This point is

emphasized during our training. From creating an impartial, accessible voting environment to checking in registered voters or assisting people in registering the day of, all the work we do is to assist people in participating in our democratic process.”

Senior Nicholas McCarthy, who will be an election judge for the upcoming election Nov. 5, emphasizes what students can learn from getting involved in jobs like being an election judge: “[You can learn] how voting works, who you want to be elected, how the elections work ... like the apolitical parts of the system.”

The message from both Simondet and Frost is to get involved; even those with limited prior political knowledge can contribute meaningfully. “I feel like I don’t really know that much about politics, I’m not super involved. I feel like I didn’t really know who was on the ballot exactly, but it gave me more insight into that. I don’t think you have to know a ton,” Frost said. Engaging in the electoral process as a student under 18 presents an opportunity to participate in the election outside of voting. By getting involved, young people enhance their awareness and play a crucial role in the democratic process, even before they can cast a ballot.

Scan this QR code to vote in the RubicOnline’s mock election.

WYNTER FEINER THE RUBICON

junior Louis Fratzke

PHOTO: Yassin Mokbel

FAIR USE: Ann Arudnel County

PRE SPORTS

GEORGIA ROSS CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR

For many, sports are an enjoyable thing. After a long school day of working and concentration, sports can let off steam. Organized sports are a time to focus efforts on something physical, to socialize with the team, and disengage from the academic homework assignments and tests.

Players and coaches repeatedly describe the sports performances in feelings of “excitement” or “anticipation.”

“[Games] are what practice is for … you get to go in and get to actually play the games,” senior soccer player Theo Su said.

But in addition to the positive enthusiasm, many players also learn to dread the pregame anxiety that never fails to sneak up on them.

For ninth-grader soccer player Lucy Lowman, she often thinks about making mistakes, underperforming, or letting her coaches down.

“When people compliment me on how I play, I actually get more anxious … I feel like this sets higher expectations that I have to meet,” she said.

Similarly, Su notices anxiety around making mistakes on defense, and the possibility of allowing the opposing team to score.

“I’ve had that happen a few times … so [the situation is] not entirely out of the picture,” he said.

Cross Country Coach Ben Bollinger-Danielson sees the anxiety stemming from three main things: the physical labor players expect they will endure, the results of the performance, and the question of what unexpected things may happen.

“These are all the things … in the abstract that can kind of make us feel pretty nervous,” he said.

While some may judge the feeling of anxiousness as a bad thing, Bollinger-Danielson sees benefit in the processing of these seemingly negative emotions. While it’s bad to overthink too much about future problems that are out of the players control, he sees value in overcoming feelings of anxiousness.

“I think it’s great for kids to experience some of these things in a low stakes environment, I think it’s good and that it elevates performance,” he said.

Lowman finds that for herself, the best way to mitigate anxiety is by developing a routine. She tries listening to pregame playlists and visualizing the events of the game in her head.

“I’ve found imagining certain situations and how I would get out of them before they happen to lessen my nerves,” she said.

In addition to a routine warmup, Su finds he’s able to manage feelings of anxiousness by acknowledging its impact.

“I think it’s the consistent knowledge that this feeling is going to be there, and that you can live with it and play with it,” he said.

Game anxiety is inevitable

Some athletes’ nerves don’t cease when the whistle blows or the ball is set in motion. In the heat of competition, anxiety is a typical response to the feeling of one’s skills being tested.

Junior soccer player Clare Ryan-Bradley recounts the anxiety of returning to U.S. Bank Stadium last season after a second-place state finish the previous year. During play, Ryan-Bradley felt the pressure to help her teammates clinch the title that had previously evaded them.

“You don’t want to be the one to mess it up for your team, and everybody has to do their part… nobody wants to let each other down,” she said.

During the first game, Ryan-Bradley focused on the potential for gain, not loss, when her team struggled.

“We went down to zero, and it was kind of like … ‘okay, we’re losing. It can’t get worse … we can just play now,’ ” Ryan-Bradley said.

The semifinal was also “really stressful,” especially the second half, which the team entered at a disadvantage. After her teammate Sawyer Danielson brought the score up to a 3-3 tie in the final minutes, Ryan-Bradley felt desperate to hold on in hopes of a potential lead. During these moments, she describes her gameplay as more active than in situations with lower stakes.

Though these games forced Ryan-Bradley to navigate mental challenges mid-play, the issue is more physical for sophomore track athlete Tallulah Dogwill.

“[The] most stressful moments of my track career so far have been when I experienced breathing problems,” Dogwill said. “... I had to really focus on being calm in a race setting to not worsen my oxygen intake. It was helpful to have such a supportive team, though,” she said.

In the heat of competition, athletes may turn to those experiencing the moment alongside them. When she sees her teammates struggling, Ryan-Bradley feels compelled to reach out as she did during a penalty kick for the state quarterfinal game last season. At that moment, performance anxiety was evident in her teammates, one of whom was crying.

“In theory it’s easy, but there’s so much mental stuff. And the pressure of [wanting to] play at U.S. Bank Stadium… it’s coming down to this,” she said.

“I like to say things like ‘take a deep breath, you got this,’” Dogwill said, acknowledging the toll pressure can take on a team.

For basketball sophomore player Miles Vogenthaler, it helps to rely upon the tried-and-true methods of coaches.

“Last year for basketball … Coach Keto was really helpful with managing our stress and anxiety going into big games by showing us a meditation technique where you focus on your breathing for two minutes, imagine yourself succeeding for one minute, and repeating a mantra you made for yourself,” Vogenthaler said.

While jitters can accompany pre-competition rituals, when the spotlight shines brightest, many athletes’ desire to perform well does not cease to exist.

LINA ABID THE RUBICON

The game is over, but the nerves stick around. Whether a win or a loss, personal performance can greatly affect an athlete’s ability to relax after a game. A failed serve in volleyball, a missed pass in soccer, a slower time in swimming or cross country, these things can easily become the sole focus of an athlete, even in the context of a great game or meet.

Ninth-grader Louise Mahoney has been a part of the girls’ varsity volleyball team since seventh grade. “If I know I could have played better, after, I’m kind of, like, disappointed,” she said. “I think about it a lot, like, what I could have done and the mistakes I made, never really focusing on the good things I did.”

According to Mahoney, the success of the girls’ varsity volleyball team took them to nationals, but the Spartans did not walk away with the championship title.

“I lost the game for my team because I served it into the net,” Mahoney said. “[It] was really hard for me, especially because at such a big tournament with such high stakes games, it was hard to make that ending mistake. That’s, like, totally controllable too.”

Even with support from coaches, teammates and family, the internal struggle that occurs when an athlete believes they could or should have performed differently often persists. “There was this one game. It was a home game, and I didn’t do very well. I let in probably, like, over three goals, and I was really worried, because I thought that the coaches would stop starting me in games,” sophomore goal keeper Naomi Glozman said. “Basically nothing ended up changing, and the world kept spinning.”

Post game anxiety can look different for every athlete. Glozman’s comes from a literal fear of losing rank: being demoted from starter goalie, but it may show up in other ways. Different experiences require different forms of coping.

“I like to sleep. I think when I wake up in the morning, usually I feel like my head is cleared,” Glozman said.

“More recently, I’ve been trying to focus on, like, the good things about the game with me and everyone on the team, and that’s really helped a lot,” Mahoney said.

Whether an athlete chooses to deal with post game anxiety simply by laying down and getting some sleep, or by making an effort to change their outlook, it is not a hopeless cause.

JOHANNA PIERACH THE RUBICON

RITUAL REPEAT. Before sophomore William Drake runs in a meet, he warms up the same way before each practice. Many other runners use a common pregame ritual to clear their head before a meet.

SUPPORTIVE PEERS. During a volleyball match, ninth-grader Louise Mahoney and senior Madelyn Moser cheer on teammate senior Lucy Thomas after her assist that helped win the point.

MAINTAINED MINDSET. Boys’ soccer team celebrate after a game winning goal. Teammate support can play a crucial role in positively or negatively affecting one’s mindset.

PHOTO: Audrey Peltier

PHOTO: Ellie Camp

PHOTO: Georgia Ross

Spartan Athletics Hub to cheer on the the fall sports.

Injuries are not a dead end, but a speed bump

WYNTER FEINER THE RUBICON

The toll of sports injuries extends beyond physical pain. Sports injuries can cause significant physical setbacks for athletes that may lead to a domino effect causing psychological impacts. Dealing with sports injuries can require athletes to navigate a path from injury to recovery, trying to ensure they come back stronger.

The recovery process can be time-consuming. Junior Dia Chaney, sustained a rotator cuff shoulder injury while playing at a lacrosse tournament. Chaney’s doctor advised her to take three weeks off from playing, which she found challenging, “It was a lot of PT, like three times a day, and then once a week, I went for PT. I couldn’t, like, move my arm at all, so that kind of sucked,” Chaney said.

To optimize recovery, Chaney fostered a leisurely recovery; she recommends sustaining healthy habits; eating healthy, drinking a lot of water, and allowing adequate time for recovery. “I think I definitely rushed it, which then extended the full recovery time. I think just, kind of do what you’re told,” she said.

While rehabilitation is time-consuming, sports injuries can take more than just time. Sophomore Eliana Moser suffered an injury during the 2024 basketball season when she was elbowed in the back, causing a partial dislocation of her rib from the spine. The injury sidelined her for the rest of the basketball season and the entire softball season.

“I was out the rest of basketball season, and I thought I could play for the softball season, but I went to a couple of captain’s practices, and then I had to quit softball; I couldn’t play sports for eight months,” Moser said.

The time away from playing can take a heavy toll on an athlete’s mental health, the importance of taking care of more than just physical health during time away can be important “It was hard to be out of my sports, but just talking about it with friends and fam ily made it easier, now that i’m getting back on the court I feel like I’m getting over my mental block,” Moser said.

According to Nebraska Medicine, common psycho logical responses to athletic injuries can include feelings of depression, anxiety, and a lack of motivation. Nebraska Medicine advises students to

STAYING POSI-

TIVE. Senior Dylan Bump was the boys soccer goalie but broke his wrist mid season. He kept a positive and healthy mindset through his injury even thoug it was hard. Despite his injury, Bump coutinues to support his team during practice and games with a positive attitude.

combat this by leaning into the process of recovery and setting unrelated goals as a source of motivation. While dealing with the height of her injury, Moser occupied herself in various ways:

“I just focused on school in the time that freed up not having to go to practice; it helped to take my dog on a lot of walks,” Moser said.

In addition to focusing on mental health, athletes also emphasize the positive impact community support can have. After breaking his wrist, senior Dylan Bump felt support was important:

“I stayed alongside the team even though I could not play and relied on them for support. Don’t quit doing what injured you, especially if it’s a sport. Talk to people around you about it.” Bump said.

BY THE SPORT

MOST COMMON INJURY FOR EACH SPORT:

FOOTBALL

During a study of nine high school sports from 2005-2006, 40.5% of estimated national concussions from sports are due to football. Concussions are more common during games than they are in practice for all sports besides girls’ volleyball and softball according to the National Library of Medicine.

SWIM

senior Dylan Bump “

DON’T QUIT DOING WHAT INJURED YOU, ESPECIALLY IF IT’S A SPORT. TALK TO PEOPLE AROUND YOU ABOUT IT.

Surprisingly, sports injuries can also have silver linings. Dealing with injuries can be mentally and physically challenging, but they can also open up new opportunities and appreciation.

Bump was able to make a new opportunity from his wrist injury:

“I realized my senior soccer season as a goalie was over only around halfway through the season. I switched positions to a striker so I could return in time to get playing time during the postseason,” Bump said.

Chaney also highlights some positive aspects of her injury, describing a feeling of appreciation that the injury sparked.

“I think I kind of liked the sport more afterward, after not being able to play for so long, it ended up being like four or five weeks that I couldn’t play. I think I just refound my joy for the sport,” Chaney said.

Sports injuries can turn an athlete’s life upside down and leave them with many mental and physical challenges to tackle. Recovering from an injury is not a linear process; it takes time. By prioritizing both physical healing and mental well-being, athletes can learn and grow from the challenges, sports injuries present, using them as opportunities for personal development and a deeper connection to athletic pursuits.

Swimmer’s shoulder is the most common injury for athletes who compete in competitive swimming. The cause for swimmer’s shoulder is most likely strain and stress on one’s shoulder. The common injury can vary on recovery depending on the intensity of the injury. Stretching is key to prevent this injury before swimming according to Ortho Illinois Sports Medicine.

SOCCER

The top injuries for high school athletes playing soccer are ligament sprains (~30%), concussions (~18%), and muscle strains (16%), which was established in a 2017 study by Dr. Kevin Plancher and Plancher Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. The need of surgery for a ligament tear are eight times higher for female athletes.

CROSS COUNTRY

The most common injuries from cross country athletes are sprain, strain, tendinopathy, and general pain. These injuries can vary, but many can take up to a month to be fully rovered to run normally again. Therapeutic exercises are the most common form of recovery according to the National Library of Medicine.

TENNIS

Ligament sprains and muscle strains mostly in ankles, knees, and wrists are the most common types of injury for both high school boys and girls tennis players. Surgery is uncommon for tennis athletes when recovering from an injury according to the National Library of Medicine.

WORKING PAST THE HARD PARTS.

Ninth-grader Addy Davies sprained her wrist midway through her tennis season. “I thought it would just go away so I kept playing and didn’t start wrapping and icing it until I couldn’t play because of how bad it hurt,” she said. After taking some time to recover, Davies continued to grow as a tennis teammate by supporting her friend play when she couldn’t and focused on her recovery to get back on the courts.

Scan this QR code to learn more about the boys’ soccer journey to state.

CHAMPIONS AGAIN. Boys’ soccer team won the 3A section champion title for the third year in a row. The team is off to state again for the boys soccer Class Single A Minnesota State title.

PHOTO: Audrey Peltier

PHOTO: Sam Galarneault

PHOTO: Georgia Ross

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE:

The theater is pitch black. Bang. Bang. Bang. An ominous chanting fills the room as red light illuminates the stage, revealing star and creator Patrick Page hovering over a large book as though he is a sorcerer casting a spell. The energy is tense, no one breathes. It feels evil.

Suddenly, he laughs. The lights come up. And the show begins as Page introduces the audience to what exactly he is going to be showing them in his original show, “All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain,” directed by the artistic director of the Shakespeare Theater Company, DC, Simon Goodwin.

Page himself is an incredibly acclaimed actor. Since his first ever theater role as an ensemble member in the Broadway show The Kentucky Cycle in 1993, Page established himself in the theater world as an incredibly talented actor and performer. He developed a bit of a type-cast over this career: the villain. From Scar in The Lion King to Claude Frollo in Hunchback of Notre Dame to Hades in Hadestown and even to the Green Goblin in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Page portrayed chilling characters that ranged from broken to pure evil.

This led him to decide to explore the concept of “villainy” in his new original show, in which he takes the viewer through a fascinating exploration of Shakespearean villains, from the beginning to the end of Shakespearen tragedy. The one-man show is simple.

The set is simply a black canopy, a desk, and a stool. A few props are utilized, to emphasize certain points or highlight characteristics of a villain, but the entire hour and thirty minutes consists simply of Page, the audience, and Shakespeare.

THERE WAS NOT A MOMENT THE AUDIENCE FELT TIRED OR UNENGAGED.

Page, upon his first character break, quickly acknowledges how utterly confusing Shakespeare can be, joking that it scares him, too. The older, flowery version of English can be hard to understand and daunting. But Page, at the very beginning of the show, promises to walk the audience through each moment, and engage in this journey as a team. And he lives up to his claim. Page constantly jokes about the language used, calls out problematic moments, and teases the audience in a way that feels almost like your favorite English teacher.

Page’s performance itself is phenomenal. There are lighting cues to help the audience understand when it’s Page vs when it’s a character, but they’re dressing versus necessary, because Page so perfectly embodies each character. From the physicality he brought to

A

exploration of villiany

characters like King Richard (King Richard) and Lago (Othello), to the incredible emotion of characters like Shylock (The Merchant of Venice) and Macbeth (Macbeth), no two villains blend together. Each character is stark and its own, despite all being played by one person in less than two hours. But possibly the one thing that took this show from good to great was Page himself: not as a character, but as him. He masterfully integrated modern day humor and references (including a few small pokes at modern day politics) into what almost felt like a more fun version of an English thesis (How Shakespeare Invented the Villain).

There was not a moment the audience felt tired or unengaged. There was always either awed silence or amused laughter as Page regaled us with tales and tangents that all always led back to his main point.

Page ends the show the way he began it. Bathed in red light, banging his staff on the ground. But where the first scene was from Macbeth, as Lady attempts to summon evil spirits, the last scene is from the Tempest; as Prospero dispels evil and gives up his power. It is a powerful full circle moment.

But the main takeaway from this incredible production was the thesis, stated in the title itself. Page ends his own part of the play, before switching into one last character, by quoting Shakespeare. He states that, in his lifetime of playing villainy, he’s come to the same conclusion Shakespeare did.

Hell is empty. And all the devils are here.

All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain runs at the Guthrie until Nov. 17.

GRACE MEDRANO THE RUBICON

ONSTAGE VILLIAN. The creator and star actor of All The Devils are Here, Patrick Page, takes the stage in his exploration of Shakespeares protrayal of the villian. Page monologues in a scene of Hamlet where Claudius griefs that he murders his brother and whether he can be forgiven or not. All the Devils Are Here runs at the Guthrie until Nov. 17.

PRESS RELEASE PHOTO: The Guthrie Theater, Julieta Cervantes

senior Grace Medrano

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

[OFF-SCREEN WITH OSTREM]

Halloween sets the horror standard

PETER OSTREM THE RUBICON

Halloween (1978) is one of the most influential horror films of all time. Sure, it didn’t technically start the slasher genre; Peeping Tom (1960) gets that credit, and it didn’t create the modern horror genre either; that one goes to Psycho (1960), but it did bring horror movies into the contemporary mainstream. Halloween was made on a budget not much bigger than a rich kid’s allowance but ended up making $70 million, the equivalent of $321 million today. The film’s budget was minuscule even compared to other horror movies at the time. Its $325,000 is slightly over half of Friday the 13th’s $550,000, and under a third of A Nightmare on Elm Street’s $1.1 million.

The film tells a painfully simple but effective story—one of a masked, seemingly immortal madman terrorizing babysitters on Halloween night. The madman himself is one of the most infamous villains in cinema history, Michael Myers. Myers was given various backstories later on in the franchise, but for the purpose of this film, we don’t know where he came from, what he is, his motives, anything. It’s absolutely bone-chilling.

Halloween was directed by legendary horror director John Carpenter. It was a breakthrough in his career. He had previously released Dark Star and Assault on Precinct 13, but both were unsuccessful. Halloween was

plays Michael Myers’s primary victim, high school babysitter Laurie Strode, and delivers a wonderful performance marked with her famous blood-curdling scream that sets the standard for acting in horror films.

Curtis credits her parents’ fame as a significant reason for her getting the role. Her mother, Janet Leigh, famously played Marion Crane in Psycho, and her father, Tony Curtis, also had a notable career. In a 2019 interview with The New Yorker, she remarked that “I’m never going to pretend that I just got [the role] on my own like I’m just a little girl from nowhere getting it. Clearly, I had a leg up.” Curtis would go on to have an incredible career, starring in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), Knives Out (2019), The Fog (1980) and True Lies (1994).

Donald Pleasence plays Dr. Sam Loomis. A psychiatrist who was obsessed with Michael and his habits since Michael’s childhood. Pleasence also excels in his role, although he was already an established actor at the time.

The film is one of the most technically impressive of all time. Not because it’s jaw-dropping, but because it does so much with so little. Cinematographer Dean Cundey offers cinematography as simple as the plot, but relentlessly effective in keeping tension and emphasizing the scares. Moreover, the music is one of the most famous soundtracks in cinema history. The opening song is iconic and used expertly throughout the film to raise tension when Myers is on screen. The

ters to create a fall look. The small budget also limited the cast. For instance, all of the extras are just people walking around their neighborhood.

Halloween is considered by many to be a perfect horror movie. Simple, but effective; scary, but nuanced. It launched two legendary acting careers and started one of the most well-known horror franchises. Starting as a small indie film on a tiny budget, and growing to a smash hit cultural sensation, Halloween is one of the

adding entertainment and humor to news articles and news magazines all over the world. The first of these cartoons began appearing in the mid-to-early-18th century; for instance, a man named George Townshend’s cartoons poked fun at his commander, or James Gillray’s satirical depictions of King George III, which earned Gillray the title of “the father of political cartooning”. Even earlier, William Hogarth used the cartoons to advocate against the corruption of the British government at the time.

ences through silly, hyperbolic imagery. The cartoons are based on caricatures, a style of art which exaggerates images to create absurdity - some of the earliest of which have been found in the sketches of Leonardo da Vinci. But history teacher Andrea Moerer finds that they can be harmful when used in wrong ways. “I’ve seen plenty of what I consider borderline racist or even racist political cartoons often about [international] issues,” she said. “For some reason, political cartoonists in the U.S. think they can draw derogatory

characterizations of people from other countries, and we don’t notice.”

Since the 18th century and especially throughout past decades, political cartoons have become increasingly prevalent-- but Moerer believes they’re on the road to disappearance. “I worry about cartoons because they were more easily consumed … in print media,” she said. Today, only 11% of adults in the United States read local newspapers, and even less read national ones. “I think today, … yes, people can look at a picture of a cartoon, but [it’s] … not the same,” Moerer said.

Students expressed similar views. “I think they’re still relevant,” sophomore Miles Messier said, “but they all look the same.” He thinks the have been done over and over in the same way. “There needs to be a new style,” said sophomore Stella Hunter.

While editorial cartoons may not be as big of a trend as they once were, they are still an effective way to learn about current events that, for many people, might be more entertaining than a typical news story. And who knows? When they’re in the editorial section, they may spark a fascination that could bring the cartoons back into play for good.

FAIR USE IMAGE: Compass International Pictures

HORRIFYING CLIMAX. The climax of Halloween features Michael Myers (Nick Castle) and Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) engaged in a cat-and-mouse chase.

MIXED MEDIA

THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2024

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE:

How does an age-old system hold up in a modern election?

second article of the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College is the system of how the U.S. elects its president. Unequal representation, historical racism, and discrimination have long been striking flaws in this process, but to understand the complexities of this system, one must first know how it works.

Under the Electoral College, each state is delegated a certain number of electors depending on its population. Districts, like Washington D.C., get three, and territories, like Puerto Rico, do not qualify for electoral representation. In total, there are 538 electors, and a presidential candidate needs a majority of 270 to win.

Elector candidates are chosen from a slate of nominees provided by each political party. The public in each state will then be allowed to vote for their electors during the general election on the ballot.

Once an elector has been selected, they will cast their vote with the presidential candidate

won their state’s popular vote. Also called the Winner-Take-All system, if a candidate wins the majority in a state, they win all of the state’s electoral votes. The WinnerTake-All system holds for all 50 states, with the exception of Nebraska and Maine, which distribute their electoral votes based on the percentages of votes for the two candidates, meaning their electoral votes can be split between two candidates.

“I honestly think that [splitting state electoral votes] might actually be better … people’s votes count more because you’re not just putting them in a large pool and saying [their] vote is overshadowed by everyone else’s,” junior Shefali Meagher said.

If an elector votes for a candidate they did not pledge to vote for, meaning not their state’s majority or not the split ratio in Nebraska and Maine, otherwise known as “faithless electors,” they could face fines or disqualification and substitution de-

pending on their state’s laws. If no candidate wins a majority of the electoral votes, then the decision goes to the House of Representatives, which has only happened twice in 1800 and 1824.

IT’S HARD TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION ... AMENDMENT 27 WAS LAST RATIFIED IN 1992 OVER 30 YEARS AGO. “

junior Desmond Rubenstein

The primary complaint with the Electoral College is that voters don’t actually vote for the president; they only determine how their state’s electors are voting.

Junior Desmond Rubenstein points out an example: “Minnesota, in reality, might be more 60:40

(percentage split), but we often vote completely blue in the Electoral College.”

Leaving the electoral decision to a select few often conflicts with the voices and opinions of the wider population. For example, there have been a few instances where a candidate has won the Electoral College but not the popular vote, namely in the 2016 presidential election.

Historically, the Founding Fathers designed this election system to take the decision-making power away from the “common people,” or, in their eyes, civilians who were not educated enough to decide who would hold the presidential office.

Later on, this system was used to exclude many minorities, especially people of color, who were not given the right to vote until much later. These minorities still counted towards the state population, determining the number of electors, but without the right to vote, they individually could not impact the election outcome.

Students share views on the presidential election system

With the upcoming election, the Electoral College could play a large role in determining who will serve as the next president. Understanding this process will be crucial to following election results.

Junior Zahra Wiedmann has covered the Electoral College in their Government and Citizenship class and described the process as “a system in which votes are counted based on region as well as population density.” They explained that it was originally implemented to give “minority rights over majority rights,” in this case, elevating the votes of rural communities. In the modern era, however, Wiedmann doesn’t see the system as very effective.

Like Wiedmann, senior Veronica Dixon does not approve of the Electoral College because she believes the minimum of three electoral votes gives states with smaller populations a larger sway. “I do believe that elections and voting are supposed to be a way for the general [public’s voices] … to be expressed,” she said. “And I do think the Electoral College sort of defeats the purpose of that, because … you do see people winning that did not win popular vote. And I do believe that the person who won popular vote should win.”

Wiedmann believes that the Electoral College’s associations with other foundational features of the U.S., such as the Constitution, has contributed to its use in the present day. Similarly, Dixon thinks that the lack of strong opposition to the Electoral College has prevented its replacement. “I think part of the reason that it still exists is just because there isn’t a big enough push and a big enough public concern maybe about removing it,” Dixon said.

At the same time, as Dixon prepares to vote Nov. 5, she explained that changing the Electoral College is not her first priority right now. “I don’t have a ton of faith in the current, general way that our system is built, in reconstructing based on the way that people would like it to be,” she said. “Because I feel like, if we’re going to be changing something, honestly, the Electoral College is like, maybe not at the top of my list.”

Scan this QR code to hear more in a video on what Wiedmann and Dixon know and how they feel about the Electoral College.

tional Archives found that over 700 proposals to eliminate the Electoral College have been submitted since its inception. Unfortunately, even with all the discourse around the electoral system, no substantial change can happen without passing an amendment because the system is outlined in the Constitution.

“It’s hard to make changes to the Constitution… the most recent amendment, amendment 27 was last ratified in 1992 over 30 years ago, it’s very difficult to get such a large portion of the Congress and the President and the judiciary to make large changes to the Constitution,” Rubenstein said.

Rubenstein proposes using the popular vote in place of the current procedure. “[The electoral process] would need to be probably still be based around population … not be based on a Winner-Takes-All system, if it would be truly democratic. Currently, the popular

vote is probably the closest you can get,” he said.

Despite all of the controversy around the Electoral College, some students see the benefits of sticking with the system.

“The only time it seems bad is when you don’t win the popular vote but win the Electoral College, just because [that means] most people in the country don’t even like you. But I just think it’s a good idea because the country is supposed to be united in a way where everyone can compromise to follow certain things,” Meagher said.

As this year’s election cycle concludes, the legacy of past controversial voting decisions looms large. Senior Veronica Dixon plans to vote this year Nov. 5. “Voting is important to me … I’m excited to participate in the system but I’m not excited about the system I am participating in,” Dixon said.

SONIA KHARBANDA THE RUBICON

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE. Junior Zahra Wiedmann and senior Veronica Dixon share their thoughts on the Electoral College. Both view the system as less effective than it could be. “I think part of the reason that it still exists is just because there isn’t a big enough push and a big enough public concern maybe about removing it,” Dixon said.

PHOTO: Sonia Kharbanda

majority of the state wins all of that state’s electoral votes. States that could be won by either candidate are known as swing states.