April 2015 issue

April 2015. Volume 42. Issue 7.

T h e R u bi c o n the student newspaper of S t . P a u l A c a d e m y & S u m m i t S c h o o l - 1 7 1 2 R a n d o l p h Av e n u e - S t . P a u l , M N 5 5 1 0 5 w w w. r u b i c o n l i n e . c o m F a c e b o o k - Tw i t t e r - I n s t a g r a m - Yo u Tu b e - P i n t e re s t @ T h e R u b i c o n S PA

The A m Self: t h do, osaic is issu w o f w e is a you hat ha bou y .

Co ou be t you t YO ver l l o i U e v v Sto ry p e, a e, wh n . 8d w at y 9 o ho insp u ires

Sick Beat: music strikes a chord in everyday life.

InDepth p.1o

So-Styled: Students use fabrics, patterns as forms of self-expression.

Arts & Entertainment p. 13

COVER DESIGN: Boraan Abdulkarim

This issue is all about YOU. Our cover guy this month is freshman Connor Brattland.

Cover Story P. 8-9

No Battle of the Bands in April, postponed to next year

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This year's Battle of the Bands, scheduled for April 18, was postponed until next year. Although Upper School English teacher Randall Findlay and US French teacher Aimeric Lajuzan could not find a way to make the event affordable and accessible to the greatest number of willing bands, five bands were prepared to perform during this year’s Battle, with many more students wanting to join a band. Findlay’s plan is to bring a proposal for the Battle of the Bands event to the Student Activities Committee by the end of the year so that planning for next year’s battle can begin as early as possible. “We know that Battle of the Bands provides a unique outlet for SPA creativity and talent. We apologize for the late change in events,” Findlay said.

NEWS

@RubicOnline

THE RUBICON

April 2015

2015-16 student officers elected The campaigns were run, the speeches were given, and the student body voted on officers for Upper School Council, Student Activities Committee and Discipline Committee on Apr. 21. Results were post-

Clare Tipler News Editor

Upper School Council USC CO-PRESIDENTS: Juniors Cait Gibbons and Claire Walsh.

Gibbons and Walsh have served on USC for a combined four years. “The student body can expect lots of little changes around the school that will... make their day a little brighter or their life a little easier,” Gibbons said.

USC VICE PRESIDENT: Sophomore Moira McCarthy. McCarthy has served on USC for one year. “I think what I like most about USC is how much power we are given as students. I love that we are allowed to hear what the students want and represent them to the faculty,” she said.

USC TREASURER: Freshman Breandan Gibbons. Gibbons has served on USC for one year. “As treasurer, my goal will be to bring speakers in once a month in the Huss Center.”

USC SECRETARY: Junior Netta Kaplan.

Kaplan has served on USC for three years.

Kaplan hopes to provide detailed and organized notes of each USC meeting. “The policy changes that USC makes affect the whole community for years. It’s a lasting legacy,” Kaplan said.

ed on Apr. 22 and the petition process for grade level council representatives began. The next round of voting will happen at grade level class meetings on May 4.

Student Activities Committee Discipline SAC CO-PRESIDENTS: Juniors Committee Milo Wittenberg and Lexi Bottern. Bottern and Wittenberg have served on SAC for a combined three years. “I hope to bring organization and provide what the majority asks for (without ignoring the minority),” Bottern said.

SAC VICE PRESIDENT: Junior Karsten Runquist. Runquist has served on SAC for one year.

“I hope to bring more excitement to the idea of dances and activities as well as planning them.

I never want a dance to be just another dance, I want it to be crazy and memorable,” he said.

SAC TREASURER: Junior Kent Hanson. Hanson has served on SAC for three years. Hanson plans to serve as a responsible treasurer for SAC. “I like the creativity that each representative brings to each meeting. I hope to build excitement surrounding every SAC sponsored event,” he said.

SAC SECRETARY: Sophomore Mary Grant.

Grant has served on SAC for two years. “I love the fun loving attitude in SAC. It translates really well to our purpose. I hope to bring organization and focus to SAC. The student body should know that we hear their requests. And it is my personal goal for us to spread the work load out more evenly,” Grant said.

DC CHAIR: Junior Riley Wheaton. Wheaton has served on DC for two years, returning as Committee Chair. “This year and next year are actually an incredible opportunity for DC because we get to shape our own evolution, our own role, working with a new Dean. We get to maintain the Committee as a strong, compassionate voice and to shape ourselves to the needs of the students,” Wheaton said.

USC is advised by US Math teacher Jim McVeety and is comprised of officers and representatives at each grade level. SAC is advised by US Spanish teacher Pam Starkey and hosts Homecoming, dances, and funds student groups. DC has student and faculty representatives and works in collaboration with Dean of Students Max Delgado.

Four debaters to argue for top spot in Elite 8 Emily Thissen Sports Editor

The only “Sweet Sixteen” and “Elite 8” many high schoolers are thinking about in this spring is NCAA March Madness, but for some, these phrases mean something more.

Four St. Paul Academy and Summit School seniors have advanced to the Elite 8 level of International Public Policy Forum debate competition.

Seniors Shaan Bijwadia, Jordan Hughes, Afsar Sandozi, and Thomas Toghramadjian make up the four person powerhouse that has worked hard since November to make it to the finals, researching and writing essays on the resolution, Mass surveillance is not a justified method of governmental intelligence gathering.

“New York’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s a fun group of people.

It’ll be cool just to hang out there and to have some time away,” Hughes said.

In the first round of the com-

Fast Fact

2015 is the first year SPA Debate has made it to the Elite 8. petition, teams were allowed to choose their side in writing a paper in favor of or against the resolution. From there, the top 64 teams were determined by judges.

In the following round, teams were assigned sides, either affirmative or negative, and emailed essays back and forth with the team they were assigned, debating their side. “The affirmative sends their essay over, and the negative sends an essay back responding to their arguments. It’s like debating but through essays,” Sandozi said.

This process brought them to the Elite 8 where the group will participate in oral debates in New

York City, where all of the teams are present in person, rather than debating through email.

“It was a lot of work. I mean it was [us] against the top 64, 32, and 16 teams in the world. It’s an international competition and you can tell very easily that the quality of essays you’re getting, the quality of research being done is hard to match,” Hughes said.

Although at this point there are no teams from outside of the USA, prior to the quarterfinals there were teams from Canada, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic. “[I am most proud of] their ability to work together to produce written materials that are so coherent which have gotten them to this point. I mean the blending of their research, their writing, and the four of them working as a group has been exceptional,” US Debate coach Tom Fones said.

In preparation for the finals, the group has to write new negative and affirmative papers, as well as prepare blocks and rebuttals. “I

Submitted photo: Tom Fones

eight students from the debate team compete at state , four of whom wrote arguments for the rounds that have brought them to Elite 8 competition for International Public Policy Forum. The students pictured are seniors Thomas Toghramadjian, Shaan Bijwadia, Afsar Sandozi, and Jordan Hughes, junior George Stiffman, and sophomores Shefali Bijwadia, Sarah Wheaton, and Raffi Toghramadjian. The four seniors will compete in New York on May 2 . US Debate coach Tom Fones said, “[I am most proud of] their ability to work together to produce written materials that are so coherent which have gotten them to this point. I mean the blending of their research, their writing, and the four of them working as a group has been exceptional.”

don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but we just got an email about everyone’s essays... so none of our work is secretive anymore,” Sandozi said.

The four seniors and their coaches will head to New York City to compete for first place on May 2.

A different kind of summer school: 16 students will study biology and ecology in Costa Rica

Sixteen St. Paul Academy and Summit School students will travel together to Costa Rica in the name of science. “We’ve [Science teachers] been talking about an opportunity like this all year,” Upper School Biology teacher Ned Heckman said.

Seeds of Change solicited an offer to SPA for just the kind trip Heckman was envisioning. Seeds of Change is a Minnesota-based organization that sends students abroad to study marine biology and Forest Ecology. SPA students will work with University of Wisconsin professors on a few ecology-based

experiments in Costa Rica for 10 days starting Aug. 10. “At the rain forest research site we are going to have students design an experiment in the field,” Heckman said. The SPA scientists will work with leaf cutter ants for the first 8 days then with black turtles for the marine biology portion.

In preparation, students will attend a lecture series to get background for the projects they will be working on in Costa Rica. When the trip concludes, students will get a college recommendation from the UW scientists they work with.

April 2015

Drunk Goggles @TheRubiconSPA

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Wickstrum hired as new Athletic Director

Ducks nest in Courtyard again

Emily Thissen Sports Editor

Filling the shoes of Director of Athletics Peter Sawkins will be a tough task, but after an extensive search process, Dawn Wickstrum, former Director of Athletics at the Frances Parker School in Chicago, will take the position starting next year. “[She’s] our first woman Athletic Director. It is going to be exciting,” Asst. Director of Athletics Mike Brown said.

The Search Committee began by reviewing over 150 resumes, narrowing down to 11 candidates.

Those 11 were interviewed over the phone, which narrowed the choices to five who were invited to visit campus. The candidates met with Hughes, Sawkins, and groups of students, faculty, and parents. “Everyone was invited to give feedback...to the Search Committee, and after weighing all the input, the committee made the recommendation to [Head of School] Mr. Roberts to hire Ms. Wickstrum,” Hughes said.

Wickstrum will be coming with a wealth of experience ranging from playing high school and college sports to serving as an athletic director at other schools.

“The main thing was that she had previous experience with working at a small school which I think will make her transition here much easier than all of the other candidates,” sophomore interviewer Weston Lombard said.

“She really wants to be here, and she’s excited about the school and excited about being here,” Brown said.

Wickstrum’s specific experiences are very applicable to SPA. “She had a girls basketball team that had to cancel their season due to a lack in numbers so she knows what its like to have a struggling program like the football program at our school,” freshman interviewer Emma Truman said.

Wickstrum’s “presence, energy, and vision,” as Hughes put it, as well as her desire to hear what students had to say about the future of the athletic programs at SPA stood out to administrators.

Brown remarked that she had the future of SPA’s athletic department in mind: “I think one of the questions she asked students was “What would you like the program to be?” And I think she’s a very good listener. Things aren’t going to happen overnight, but she’s going to listen and learn and figure out which direction we should go.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Iya Abdulkarim

A mallard drake and hen rest among the Blue Scilla blooms in the perennial beds of Lily Courtyard. The pair come back to St. Paul Academy each year to lay their eggs, and the Maintenance staff does their best to transplant the nest to a safe space. “The ducks are adorable and people shouldn’t bother them,” sophomore Tabeer Naqvi said.

Patrick Commers Arts Critic Photo Illustration: Meghan Joyce

Junior Miriam Tibbetts poses for the National Day of Silence on Apr. 17 with a finger over her mouth. This action symbolizes the quiet that is used to make a bigger sound. The face paint shows support for the LGBTQ+ community. “It’s important to use Day of Silence to pay tribute to those who have been silenced, to help show people they aren’t alone in feeling silenced, and encourage change to help people regain their voices,” senior GSA Co-President Maggie Clark said.

Day of Silence: quiet makes noise Meghan Joyce Arts & Entertainment Editor

The National Day of Silence is about using silence to make noise.

On Apr. 17, students all around the country elected not to speak for the day in order to draw attention to the silencing effect bullying has on LGBTQ+ members of the community.

It may seem almost counterintuitive to try to raise awareness soundlessly, but it is only the first step.

“It demonstrates a feeling and draws attention, but if we left it there without discussion or ‘noise,’ it wouldn’t be as powerful. The silence should be used as a conversation starter,” Gender and Sexuality Acceptance Club Co-President Maggie Clark said.

GSA adviser Eric Severson agreed. “I love the idea that silence draws attention as opposed to noise. There’s a sort of poetic beauty to the idea of the day, that you remove the sound to draw attention to something rather than making a bigger sound,” he said.

In a 2011 study, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network concluded that 82% of LGBTQ youth had problems with bullying due to their sexual orientation in the past year.

About half reported feeling unsafe at school due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

It isn’t only bullying and harassment that puts LGBTQ+ youth at risk. According to the

I love the idea that silence draws attention as opposed to noise.

G S A Ad v i s o r E r i c S e ve r s o n

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, almost one in three people who identify as LGBTQ+ will attempt suicide in their lives, a much higher rate than average.

For this reason, GSA handed out purple ribbons and pins for World Suicide Prevention Day. GSA also made announcements in the Blue Sheet requesting participation in the National Day of Silence or in wearing purple in support and asked for a moment of school wide silence in the Friday assembly.

“It’s important to use Day of Silence to pay tribute to those who have been silenced, to help show people they aren’t alone in feeling silenced, and encourage change to help people regain their voices,” Clark said.

Sophomore Soph Lundberg, who participated in the Day of Silence, agreed. “It gives the movement some exposure, when people are silent, people notice... particularly if you’re a loud person,” she said.

St. Paul Academy and Summit School is home to GSA in addition to after school affinity groups such as Alphabet Soup and Her Space. Not every school has so many outlets for LGBTQ+ students to have open discussions, for their allies to find ways to help, or for those who identify as women to come together.

“Could we do more? Yes, in every aspect of the way,” Severson said. “But I do think this is a very safe space for the adults and the students in the community.

It permeates into the classroom, into the hallways, I think there are great resources here for people that need them and want to access them.”

The National Day of Silence has come and gone, but these issues remain.

There are things that anyone can do to continue the work towards acceptance at SPA and in the world, even the smallest of steps helps.

Students can mention issues that they notice on the Opinion Board, in class, in speeches, in conversations with friends.

“It’s hard to keep bullying and harassment at the front of your mind if you’re not facing them daily. But I want people to consider the role they play,” Clark said.

Lundberg said that it was difficult to stay silent. “I think that’s part of the experience, accidentally talking. You realize how hard it is to stay quiet,” she said.

The melting of snow and rising temperatures only means one, exciting thing: the ducks have returned to the Lily Courtyard.

It has become a yearly occurrence that the same two ducks enter into the courtyard and nest and lay their eggs among the tiny blue Scilla flowers and wood chips.

Ducks are known to nest every single year at the same location, so it would be strongly inferred that these are the same ducks that return each year.

Many students admire their beauty and watch them from the windows as they waddle through the courtyard.

“They [the ducks] are adorable and people shouldn’t bother them,” said sophomore Tabeer Naqvi, who recently saw the ducks in the courtyard.

There have been some issues with the ducks before. Maintenance workers regularly have to move the eggs of the ducks because some students have tampered with the eggs in the past, because they are traditionally laid right by the entrance to Davern Commons.

St. Paul Academy and Summit School welcomes the ducks, but it does put some on edge that students will either scare them or take the eggs. Either way, when students are brave enough to go out and experience the new found warmth, they can admire the school’s cute, chubby and feathered friends.

Additional reporting from Iya Abdulkarim

Like our photos? We have more.

Follow us on Instagram @therubiconspa.

Op i n ion s 4 S taff

April 2015

The Rubicon

2014-15 Editor-in-Chief Eva Perez-Greene

Chief Visual Editor Boraan Abdulkarim Managing Editor Netta Kaplan Online Editor-in-Chief Diane Huang Social Media Editor Gita Raman News Editor Clare Tipler Opinions Editor Amodhya Samarakoon Sports Editor Emily Thissen Cover Story Editor Javier Whitaker-Castañeda Feature Editor Nina Zietlow Student Life Editor Noor Qureishy Arts & Entertainment Editor Meghan Joyce In Depth Editor Mari Knudson Science & Technology Editor Paul Watkins Columns Editor Thomas Toghramadjian Arts Critic Patrick Commers Staff Writers Iya Abdulkarim Marlee Baron Peter Blanchfield Lauren Boettcher Raffa Buettner-Salido Dianne Caravela Lexi Hilton Sophie Jaro Lucas Johnson Shaymus O’Brien Adviser Kathryn Campbell

the rubicon St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105 Awards JEM All-State Gold (Print and Online) MHSPA Best in Show (Print and Online NSPA First Place w/marks of distinction CSPA Gold Medal CSPA Silver Crown Award MEMBERSHIPS National Scholastic Press Association Columbia Scholastic Press Association Minnesota High School Press Association

Voting for an increased female leadership must continue

After posting an online editorial urging voters to consider gender during officer elections this month, The Rubicon staff was thrilled to see a definite shift in the role gender played in recent elections. With class representative elections coming on May 4, the student body will have another opportunity to consider what balanced representation might look like.

Male and female students at St. Paul Academy must continue to pursue the balanced, productive gender equity they espouse, starting with upcoming class representative elections. Equal or near equal representation of the genders in SPA’s student committees will change said committees’ dynamics, interests, and competencies, thereby benefiting the entire community like never before.

Gender clearly shapes who we interact and connect with at SPA, a fact which makes gender-balance in our elected student committees all the more important. With the exception of a few sports, most athletes play with and against their own gender.

Just walk into any SPA classroom and one is likely to find students separated along the conventional male-female gen-

STAFF EDITORIAL

der line. Students have overlooked the potential for elected committees to serve not only as liaisons between themselves and the administration, but between males and females too.

Embracing this opportunity for partnership now can only strengthen male-female dynamics, enrich committee decision making, and increase the chances that issues specific to both men and women see the light of day.

We have the power to define the status quo and slowly, we are changing it.

EDITORIAL cARTOON: Meghan Joyce

each vote counts.

SPA students have, historically, failed to use their votes to encourage

girls in elected-leadership councils. This year’s officer elections are a step in the right direction. We have the power to define the status quo and slowly, we are changing it.

In order to achieve this gender diversity in elected student committees, students must start by considering the strengths of candidates’ records and visions before their style, sense of humor, and anything else that doesn’t directly impact their ability to do a job well.

All too often, students have pushed aside legitimate ideologies and opinions, voting instead on the basis of their personal relationship politics or whims.

This system has done more harm to the community than good.

Moving forward, we must be more thoughtful as we fill out our ballots, regardless of whether the intention is to vote for a guy or girl. So consider the current gender balance of each committee this year, at each grade level, before submitting a

ballot for class representatives.

Each vote counts.

The psychological impact which historic gender imbalance in our leaderships has had on our community is difficult to discern because it is subjective and impossible to quantify. A mostly male leadership is virtually all students have ever known with the exception of a few female presidents and male-female duos scattered throughout the years.

There is no longstanding, comparative standard of equality and certainly no comfortable venue to express how one feels about this reality which students have voluntarily perpetuated for years. We have bridged the gap between willful ignorance and awareness of gender inequity through our words.

Likewise, every thoughtful, individual vote has the pow-

er to bridge the gender imbalance in our leadership councils.

To the detriment of all, SPA students have, historically, failed to use their votes to encourage girls in elected-leadership councils the way they have done so for boys. This year’s officer elections are a step in the right direction.

As a student body, we must first embrace the fact that failure can be an invigorating impetus for deep change — the kind of change which fosters more harmonious, balanced relationships and realities for all parties involved.

We have the power to define the status quo and slowly, we are changing it. Students have begun to establish a precedent of union and balance that reflects SPA’s unmistakably strong social conscience. At this moment in time, all signs point to the fact that we are on the right track. Let’s keep it up.

Mini-Editorials Let’s take more time to Battle of the Bands must Take more than one day reflect on Senior Speeches return as an annual event to talk about silencing When a powerful Senior Speech concludes, students and teachers quickly spring from their seats to deliver a standing ovation. However, when the next class commences, the buzz surrounding that speech fades and, suddenly, the speech’s crucial message feels lost. Instead of patting themselves on the back for listening politely and then applauding vigorously, students should initiate conversations about speeches that were particularly emotional, difficult, or intense.

Some teachers are good at this, using a speech discussion as an opener if their class follows Friday speeches, but that’s inconsistent. One option to make these conversation more feasible would be moving speeches to earlier in the week or to offer a structured conversation during Friday Tutorial to debrief the speeches.

At the end of the day it is the responsibility of the SPA community to take what is said during speeches to heart, allow space for people to express their emotions, and spark deeper conversations.

Students looked forward to the Battle of the Bands and in previous years, students have marked their calendars for it. In the past three years, however, the event lives in limbo. This might be due, in part, to former St. Paul Academy and Summit School math teacher George Leiter’s departure in 2012. Leiter coordinated the event and even performed in bands with students multiple times.

The Battle returned in 2014, but will not this year. Organizers of the event, Upper School English teacher Randall Findlay and French teacher Aimeric Lajuzan said there was not enough funding in 2015 and planning started too late to make the event happen.

The Student Activities Committee plans numerous dances each year, but Battle of the Bands, which is run independently of SAC, offers a distinctly different social-vibe. If Battle of the Bands were to take place on the same day or even the same month each year, student enthusiasm would return. As it stands, it’s hard for students to rock out to the prospect.

Thousands of participants worldwide refrained from talking for a period of time to an entire day Apr. 17 to stand with members of the LGBTQ+ community who are often silenced by bullying and discrimination. Participation in Day of Silence was encouraged by the Gender and Sexuality Accaptance (GSA) in the Upper School but a small number of students participated.

The announcement before senior speeches was new this year and brought a heightened level of awareness and also all-school participation with the request for a minute of silence. It’s a great start and the momentum must continue.

Day of Silence 2015 may have come and gone, but it is a topic that should be in students’ minds always. There are people in our building who choose to be silent every day, and we must be their allies. Get informed. Like the GLSEN page on Facebook.

Continue the movement by posting Selfies for Silence at the Day of Silence.org website. Get involved by speaking up. The silence can end.

Editorial Policy The Rubicon editorials are representative of the opinions of the Staff Editorial Board, which is made up of all students in journalism/Editorial Leadership. All other opinion pieces are the opinions of the authors themselves.

Letters Policy

Longer opinions are welcomed as Letters to the Editor and may be published in the print or online edition.

Letters to the Editor should not exceed 400 words and may be edited for style. Cases of fraud and impersonation are prohibited and will be reported to the Dean of Students and the Discipline Committee. Letters can be mailed to us or sent to rubicon.spa@gmail.com.

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.

Op i n ion s 5

April 2015

THE RUBICON

Myers-Briggs test ignores complexities of personality Embracing the arbitrary designation could limit individual opportunities Nina Zietlow Feature Editor

ENTJ, the controller. This type is assertive, a natural leader, determined. These are all positive qualities, and like all Myers-Briggs results, the ENTJ feels unique, strong, and valued upon seeing the traits written across the computer monitor. But, like all other results, this is just a spotlight effect: people want to feel important, and this test enables them to do so.

While the Myers-Briggs test is the most popular psychometric test in the world, the ostensibly all-encompassing four letter results have as much scientific basis as one’s zodiac sign.

Yet this test, which reduces complex personalities into a simplified person who fits one of 16 convenient categories, is widely accepted. The Myers-Briggs test is used by companies when hiring new employees, by students when choosing a school, and by St. Paul Academy and Summit School in College Counseling and during Junior Retreat. It shouldn’t be.

The Myers-Briggs test was developed by mother-daughter duo Katherine Briggs and Isabel Myers, neither of whom held a degree in psychology or social science. To develop the test they studied the work of psychologist Carl Jung, but the test was created with no previous knowledge of personality and doesn’t accurate reflect Jung’s theories.

The Myers- Briggs test has no consistency in terms of results; According to an article in the Journal of Career Planning and Employment, titled “Measuring the MBTI...

And Coming Up Short,” if one retakes the test after a 5 week gap there is a 50% chance that they will get different result than their original one. At least a zodiac sign is not subject to change.

The Myers-Briggs test categorizes people based on four factors: whether they are introverted or extroverted (E or I), rely on sensing or intuition (S or N), rely on thought or feelings (T or F), and finally, are judging or perceiving (J or P).

The flaw with this process is that there is no inbetween.

J

S

I

P

The spectrum of human personality is far too complex to be filed into one of two categories and in reality most people fall somewhere along a continuum, especially in terms of introverted or extroverted personality.

As a result, it is entirely possible that someone who is both extroverted and introverted will be assigned an introverted personality and thus be recommended for a profession that is entirely different than that of their extrovert labeled counterpart.

This becomes a problem when this person might actually be better suited for a profession that is assigned to extroverted people but never chooses to explore that option because of their Myers- Briggs result.

Many of the issues with the Myers-Briggs test are addressed in its ethical guidelines for use, which emphasize the importance of proper distributions and test taking procedure.

These guidelines are essentially a set of rules for the test, including parameters like: the test should only be taken by someone who is willing to take it, results should not be shared unless the test taker wants to share them, and the test should not be used to divide people into groups.

F

E

N

T

These guidelines illustrate that the Myers-Briggs should not be used to divide people by personality, but the problems with it arise because this is what it is most commonly used for.

Most importantly, at school, the conversation that results from separating students into these rigid groups is highly misleading. The result gained from taking the test truly mean nothing about students’ personalities or how they interact with others.

The spectrum of human personality is far too complex to be filed into one of two categories.

There are more natural and genuine ways to spark conversation.

Logical fallacies aside, the Myers-Briggs test has no practical use. No one should base their life and choices on a personality test no matter how accurate it feels to them.

The only accurate way to learn one’s personality is to discover it through conversations and interactions, not an inaccurate and misleading test.

no yes “There is no such thing as a pure extrovert or a pure introvert.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator uses false and limited binaries to describe people, despite Carl Jung’s belief to the contrary.

Such a man would be in the lunatic asylum.”

- Carl Jung, the Swiss phsycotherapist

more than

50% of test-takers get a different type when taking the test twice within a five week interval.

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CPP, Inc., the company that produces the MBTI, makes more than

$20 million in revenue annually, with the MBTI as its leading product.

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Infographic credit: Netta Kaplan

Junior Charlie ward, like all juniors at SPA, will be required to take the Myers-Briggs test during Junior Retreat. Rather than grouping juniors by their Myers-Briggs personality results, it may be just as effective to sort everyone by their BuzzFeed quiz result for “Which Hogwarts House Do You Belong In.”

6 s t uden t l i fe The Rubicon

APRIL 2015

Of Samoas, Thin Mints, and Tagalongs

Students relive childhood experiences and engage in community service as Girl and Boy Scouts Mari Knudson In Depth Editor Gita Raman Social Media Editor

Which organizations teach young children both how to survive in the wilderness and how to manage money? How to work well with others and how to shine as a leader? Boy and Girl Scouts of America teaches all of these skills, and many more.

Some of the values both organizations intend to promote are respect, integrity, confidence, and strength.

Although most well known for their famous cookies, being a Girl Scout is about much more than that. Starting as young as kindergarten, Girl Scouts is an organization for fe-male youth that promotes character values and community service.

The Boy Scout organization stresses the importance of being trustworthy, helpful, courteous and brave. Both organizations offer many opportunities and skills for scout members.

The beginning

“I knew I always wanted to become a Boy Scout,” junior Tommy Monserud said. Monserud was influenced by his older brother, Andy Monserud (‘13).

He started out as a Cub Scout during elementary school and in middle school he became a Boy Scout.

Junior Dalante Peyton was first intrigued by the Boy Scout organization while on a camping trip with a friend. “It seemed really interesting and offered a lot of opportunities for me,” Peyton said.

Experience

Scouting can also be a way for young girls to make new friends. Troop members take part in many activities together, including exploring the outdoors and selling cookies. It can be a good opportunity for girls to meet new people outside of their school community.

“I’ve been in Girl Scouts since kindergarten. I started to make new friends, and also because some girls I was already friends with were doing it,” sophomore Kathryn Schmechel said.

As a Cub Scout, Monserud was able to explore different jobs and opportunities while also enjoying a sense of competition with events such as Pinewood Derby.

The Pinewood Derby is an event where Boy Scouts design racing vehicles and compete with other Boy Scout troops. Upon entering Middle School, Cub Scouts officially become Boy Scouts. The ages of Boy Scout members range from 10 and 18.

Ranks

The Boy Scout Program has many ranks of its members considering the range of ages. Listed in increasing order, the ranks in the Boy Scout program are: Emblems, Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. Currently Monserud and Peyton are working on acquiring their Eagle Scout badges.

Girl Scouts start out as Daisies (K-1), then move up the ranks to Brownies (2-3), Juniors (4-5), Cadettes (6-8), Seniors (9-10), and finally Ambassadors (11-12). Girls can join at any age from their kindergarten to senior year, and after graduating high school scouts can join the Girl Scout Alumnae Association, which allows girls to form a lifelong relationship with the Girl Scout program.

Girl Scouts actively participate in community service. This year, scouts have worked with Feeding the Need and the GoodStuff Donations, which recycles used clothing.

“My favorite part of Girl Scouts is selling cookies, and also being active in my community,” Schmechel said.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program encourages scouts to sell cookies to people in their community in order to teach girls valuable lessons such as money management and the people skills that come from selling a product.

The profits from sales help subsidize the Girl Scout program and keep the cost of the program affordable.

Leadership

Photo Illustration: Gita Raman

junior tommy monserud wears his Boy scout uniform, taking pride in the principles the program stands for. “I knew I always wanted to become a Boy Scout,” he said.

Boy Scouts have the opportunity to take leadership positions with their troops. Junior Dalante Peyton has served as Patrol Leader, Scribe, and is currently Troop Guide within his troop, Troop 45.

Monserud has similarly taken the leadership role of Patrol Leader, and in the next election Monserud hopes to become Senior Patrol Leader.

The role and responsibility of Patrol Leader is to set a good example for younger scouts, plan and lead patrol meetings, and to be fair to everyone. “The Patrol Leader’s job is to make sure that everyone follows the correct procedures and make sure that everything runs smoothly,” Peyton said.

photo illustration: Gita Raman

Junior Tommy Monserud started out as a Cub Scout in elementary school, but now has numerous badges and is almost an Eagle Scout. “It’s pretty fun. I have a really tight-knit group,” he said.

Submitted photo: Kathryn Schmechel

sophomore kathryn schmechel presentED with the rest of her Girl Scouts troop at the Lower School as an eight -year-old Brownie.“My favorite part of Girl Scouts is selling cookies, and also being active in my community,” Schmechel said.

Earning Badges

Badges are another essential part of both the Girl and Boy Scout experience. Boy Scouts earn badges/awards for contributing to the community, being prepared to help in emergency situations, and recognizing the environmental effects of humans.

“It’s pretty fun. I have a really tight-knit group,” Monserud said.

Monserud and his troop often go on camping where the boys cook their own food, survive in the wild, and of course, play with fire. On these trips it is important for Boy Scouts to follow the principles titled Leave No Trace, meaning that all resources used in a campsite should be used wisely.

Girls earn badges based on accomplishments in specific areas, such as outdoor awareness, technology, and global citizenship.

“The badge system varies, but basically there are certain tasks you can do and once you accomplish them, you earn a badge,” Schmechel said. “Earning badges is very rewarding.”

“We haven’t done badges in a while, which I miss,” sophomore Samantha Bluhm said. “My favorite badge is from one year ago when we did a nightwalk at camp, at one o’clock in the morning, with the stars and everything.

It was really pretty.”

In addition to earning badges, Girl Scouts work towards earning a series of three awards — bronze, silver, and gold- which focus on helping and solving issues in the community. Only high school age scouts can earn

the gold award, and it is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn.

Established in 1916, examples of past gold award projects include organizing pet adoption events, leading a team that preserves environmental resources, and establishing an elementary student music mentorship program.

Memories and Lessons

Those who participate in Girl Scouts agree that they have made lasting memories. Some fond memories for current Girl Scouts include the many ceremonies they have take part in.

“My favorite memory of Girl Scouts is when we were transitioning from Daisies to Brownies, and we had to cross over a bouquet of daisies. I still have a picture of me during the ceremony,” Bluhm said.

Schmechel agrees that the ceremonies that signify the transition from one level of scouting to the next are one of the most rewarding parts of Girl Scouts.

“My favorite memory of [being in] girl scouts is of when I was in elementary school, and we had to cross over this river they set up to symbolize our transition over to the next level,” Schmechel said.

The lessons scouts learn are also not easily forgotten. As Bluhm said, “[Girl Scouts] taught me a lot about community service and how there’s always something you can do to help someone, even when it doesn’t seem that way.”

Fe at ur e 7

April 2015

THE RUBICON

What’s your story?

Junior Maggie Vlietstra keeps multiple journals including an art journal “ I’m a pretty visual thinker, so it makes sense for me to think in pictures and art,” she said.

Students document personal ponderings & new ideas in journals

Boraan Abdulkarim Chief Visual Editor

A pen strokes a page, a camera shutter snaps, a keyboard clicks, clicks, clicks. Hours blend into days into months into years.

How do you keep record of your life?

Whether it’s in the form of blogging, composing song lyrics, writing in a journal, or scrapbooking, some students take the opportunity to record and commemorate moments and thoughts through various medias.

Junior Caroline Montague has kept a joint journal with her friends for over a year now.

“We’re close [to filling it]. It’s a pretty big journal,” Montague said.

Rotation occurs on a flexible schedule. “We’re all busy people and also forgetful people.

Sometimes it’s [closer to] three months, but ideally, two weeks,” Montague said.

The temporary owner contributes to it with absolutely whatever they like. “We’ll make a playlist at the end [of the entry, to be added to a master playlist], or put makeup samples,” Montague said.

Keeping such a journal provides an outlet for reflection on not only the events in one’s life, but those of others. “Every time [one of us] gets the journal, [we] read the entries that have been entered since the last time,” Montague said.

Freshman Sabrina Rucker has a blue spiral bound notebook covered in Spider Man duct tape that she carries everywhere with her. It’s what she would categorize as a journal, her second of the year, having filling up one after another over the course of four years.

“It’s just notes, ideas, thoughts, sketches. Anything that comes to mind, really,” she said.

“It’s a daily thing. I keep one for school and sketchbooks for the weekends,” Rucker said.

It started with a purchase and slowly evolved its way to what it is today. “I’ve always liked notebooks, but I saw [a certain] small one and it was portable and I picked it up and I had to have it. And once I had it I had to use it. And I used it for sketching and drawing and everything,” she said.

Her journal is not just a compilation of pictures and

ALL PHOTOS CREDIT: Boraan Abdulkarim

Juniors Meghan Joyce, Calla Saunders, and Caroline Montague share a journal with their friends that is passed around the group. “Every time [one of us] gets the journal, [we] read the entries that have been entered since the last time,” Montague said.

“Other times, I find things that I’d completely forgotten about.

One time I dreamt about a flag and I drew the picture of what I It feels really good, saw on the flag and I used it later in my sketches.” especially with the That said, the biggest loss art journal, to take Rucker would feel if this journal the things that are were destroyed would be that of swirling around in my ideas. “I would lose everything I was thinking about.” head, and are maybe Freshman J.J. Wertkin has kept a diary for two years, starting on overwhelming or the final day of summer break. “I exciting, and put usually make diary entries about [them] into a book. people I see and things that I pick up. Sometimes I go on listing the j u n i o r M a g g i e things [I observe. For example,] V l i e t s t r a ‘I see my friends sitting across the table,’” he said.

Wertkin makes entries to the journal almost every day. “I think it’s a good way to express what you’re feeling every day, just words: it’s a tangible form of her to get everything out. It kind of thoughts and what she’s learned feels good to [to ask yourself] over the years, so it’s an accurate ‘what have you done today, what did you experience?’ I guess it documentation of her life.

“I think that anyone who would kind of feels good just to explain care to look in it or just read- and how your day has gone and what you have to read between the you’ve learned,” he said.

One of Wertkin’s favorite lines- would learn a ton about me aspects of keeping a diary is the maybe that I didn’t even know,” ability to reflect. Sometimes, he she said. looks back on his previous entries “When I look back on it to keep his writing style in check usually, I kind of laugh. Because and ensure that his writing is some of the things I was thinking serving the purpose that drove about or writing about or drawing, him to start writing.

[are funny in retrospect]. One Junior Maggie Vlietstra has a time I wrote about seeing what varied journaling experience.

She I thought was a white dragon in actively keeps an art journal that my room. I think it was my dog,” she started this summer, in which Rucker said.

she scrapbooks and collages on the pages of an old book, in her case a Shel Silverstein book of poems which she has decorated with tiny hearts.

“To do it in a more visual way.

I feel like sometimes it’s hard to express what I want to in words, and I’m a pretty visual thinker, so it makes sense for me to think in pictures and art. It’s basically an outpouring of ideas and creative thoughts. It doesn’t really need to make sense or have any sort of direction. It’s really just supposed to be therapeutic, in a sense,” she said.

Vliestra added this about her journal process: “It’s putting feelings out there in a way that’s productive rather than just venting and ranting. I’m putting the energy into something that makes me happy and that’s pretty and that I’ll be excited to look b a c k on.”

Vlietstra also keeps a journal in which she writes about the books she has bought, read, and been gifted every month. She recently abandoned a “Line A Day” notebook that stores a one line entry for a given date on the same page year after year.

“I guess I like having things to look back on. Mostly, it’s just so I can get things out of my head and on paper and organize them.

It feels really good, especially with the art journal, to take the things that are swirling around in my head, and are maybe overwhelming or exciting, and put [them] into a book. I can completely think about the book while I’m working on it and then close it, and have it be separate from me but also very accessible.

I don’t have to keep it in my brain all the time,” Vlietstra said.

“There’s one page in particular where I had a really, really, bad day and it ended up being one of the coolest pages [in my journal],” she said.

The way she sees it, journaling has two benefits: lifting the burden of poignant thoughts and creating something to reflect on.

“I’ve just seen pictures of people with stacks of these books that are super fanned out because they’ve got all sorts of stuff stuck in them. I think ‘aah, in five years, if I had a big stack like that, I would be so happy,” she said.

Freshman Sabrina Rucker poses with her journal.

“It’ s a daily thing. I keep one for school and sketchbooks for the weekends,” she said.

8

C o v er S THE RUBICON

What’s your philosophy? How cultu Influenced by Literature Eva Perez-Greene Editor-in-Chief

Fresh Off the Boat, celebrity chef Eddie Huang’s comedic, heartrending memoir and more recently, ABC TV series, about growing up in Orlando with Taiwanese immigrant parents has inspired senior Em Prozinski’s conception of food as a medium for both cultural preservation and evolution. “[Fresh Off the Boat] was pretty monumental for me. It helped shape my thoughts, a) on being Asian American, and b) on how food is involved in social structure, economics, and power plays. It was interesting how [Huang] was experiencing race through food. Asian food is still watered down or, as when Huang was growing up, totally ignored,” she said.

Huang’s memoir presented Prozinski with one triumphant, albeit trying, example of a high-profile Asian American’s struggle between his self and country, city, reference group, family, race, and diet.

Though Prozinski is third generation Korean and Huang second generation Taiwanese, Prozinski still sympathized with Huang’s struggle to “be himself” in a cul-

ture that held fundamentally different values, practices, and diets from those of his parents.

Huang sees the foods he did and didn’t grow up eating as a constant, embodied symbol of his internal struggle. What happens when the limits of traditional Asian cuisine are blurred and chefs begin fusing disparate elements of culinary traditions together? Huang’s memoir gives no clear answers. But it did illuminate the nexus between food and identity which continues to inform Prozinski’s personal philosophy as well as her more literal daily food choices. “[Fresh Off the Boat] made me more mindful of how people are making food in ways that are respectful of their culture-- how people are defining food that’s not too elevated or distanced from their culture. And all of this is also very related to the local food movement and the push for food that’s more affordable and more sustainable,” Prozinski said.

Is one truly what one eats?

Huang’s memoir showed Prozinski just how deeply this question resonates for Asian Americans like them.

Altered by Movie Senior Sandhya Ramachandran grew up watching Star Trek, a film and TV franchise about intergalactic peacekeeping adventurers on distinctly altruistic missions.

“A lot of my personal philosophy has come from Star Trek.

Gosh, I’ve been watching if for so long. A lot of it really instilled a sense of optimism about humanity, above anything else. And there are also a bunch of smaller philosophies built into every episode,” Ramachandran said.

In a more strictly ethical sense, Star Trek’s famous “Prime Directive”, the guiding principle that Starfleet personnel must refrain from interfering with the internal development of alien civilizations, has shaped Ramachandran’s views on what it means to be a moral agent in the contemporary world. Ramachandran jibes with the postmodern notion that ethics and the line between good and bad are, at their core, culturally relative. Star Trek was an early precursor to this popular contemporary stance.

this ing to civ ide stru hav fix urg rea Dir ach

cou the and out the eve on are out wa tive

at t

Balance is important in Diane Huang Online Editor in Chief

Since 1984, Americans have been told to “Hold the Eggs and Butter.” Fat, more specifically cholesterol, had become public enemy No. 1. Cholesterol lowering cereals or soluble fibers flooded the pantries of American households, and any product sporting “Low fat” or “Lite” on its visage instantly appreciated in value to the average American consumer. On the other hand, egg sales, which were on a steady climb until 1984, began to drop.

Americans were quick to jump onto the next health scare. Too quick.

Soon enough, obesity rates in America soared, even as fat-conscious diets increased. Why? Added sugar (which is somewhat of a broad statement). As foods became less and less fatty, they became more and more sweet to appeal to our taste buds in lieu of fat. In the 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines, the Dietary Guidelines Committee backtracks

on three decades of anti-fat sentiments, and even the United Nations has pointed its finger at sugar.

As an increasing amount of paradigm shifting nutritional studies appear, it has become apparent that the common adage, “you are what you eat,” is no longer accurate. Even after decades of health research, uncertainty shrouds the answers to a healthy body and mind. For example, not until the 1980s did scientists discover that ulcers weren’t caused by stress. Similarly, many areas of mental health are still not fully understood.

With so much uncertainty floating around the world of health, many of us are left to wonder: What is healthy? The answer seems simple: “Eat healthy, live healthy, think healthy,” junior Alex Qin said.

Lofty ideas of health float around but few concrete methods of self-care seem to exist.

However, the wrong way to do things becomes clearer every

year. I Diet, bohyd and v fat and onto th the sci is sou quick many went seriou Schoo said.

Sho in ph to bod ‘health loss,’” She for th St. Pa Schoo stress worry of bod “[P body d does m to?” S

S tory April 2015

ural influences shape who you are

es

Shaped by Television

“Since they’re [the Starfleet] s more advanced, space travelg civilization, they’re not going interfere with any planets or vilizations that they find. That ea of “don’t interfere” really uck a chord with me because I ve the instinct to go and try to things. I understand where that ge comes from but I guess I’ve ally come to feel that the Prime rective is the way to go,” Ramhandran said.

Overall, Star Trek has enuraged Ramachandran to face e immensity of the physical d moral worlds head-on, witht necessarily trying to control em. “Once I realized how big erything was in space and then the quantum level, how big we e by comparison-once I figured t all the orders of magnitude-I as able to put things in perspece,” she said.

“Everything is important but the same time, it’s all relative.”

Movies and TV engage multiple senses, touching individuals on many levels. Sometimes it’s the lighting in a specific scene, a salient line, or even a score which conjure up the feelings one had about the world at a certain age and force one to acknowledge the passage of time’s impact on the self.

Senior Mattie Daub can trace aspects of her life philosophy back to the animated television series Scooby Doo. “Scooby Doo has totally shaped me. All the characters have personality traits you can look to. Shaggy is super chill and Scooby is super happy and positive and Fred is super goofy and funny and Daphne can be smart and physically strong,” Daub said.

Yet as with most affecting childhood shows, Daub’s appreciation for Scooby Doo’s characters has changed over the years “I look up to Velma a lot now.

When I was little I looked up to Daphne, but as I grew up, I wondered why. I realized that Daphne’s considered the pretty one, but that Velma’s way cooler. Velma’s smart and not someone you want to mess with. She’s brave. She’s not really scared of anything and she’s not going to let anyone put her down,” Daub said.

Daub’s philosophy of courage, humor, and self-respect has helped guide her through the ins and out of life. Scooby Doo has certainly helped her too.

SOPHOMORE TOMMY DICKE AND FRESHMAN KATEY BRATTLAND are each completely unique from anyone else because of thier personal influences and outlooks.

“I don’t really play video games so that I have time to do more useful things, like being outdoors,” Dicke said, reflecting on how his actions shape who he is.

n the pursuit of a healthier you

In recent years, the Atkins a diet that eliminated cardrates, which include fruits vegetables, and focused on d meat consumption, swept he weight loss scene. While ience behind the weight loss und, medical experts were to warn of the Atkins Diet’s faults. “A lot of people who to that diet ended up with us heart diseases,” Upper ol counselor Susanna Short

ort attributes a major fault hysical health perception dy image. “People equate h’ with ‘skinny’ or ‘weight ” she said. e also expresses concern he female demographic at aul Academy and Summit ol. “[There is] too much and too much pressure. I y very much about our idea dy image for women here.”

People should ask:] Can my do what I want it to do? Not: my body look like I want it Short said.

Junior Max Chen agrees with Short that dieting is rarely the answer. “Exercise is the best way [to] keep fit,” he said.

“There isn’t a health problem that isn’t a little bit improved by exercise,” Short said.

Another good way to stay physically healthy is “[to be] hydrated,” Sophomore Macy Blanchard said.

However, in many cases, students are aware of such things but choose not to follow through with them. Chen recognizes that he does not sleep enough and junior Christine Lam is conscious of her lack of exercise: “I feel bad...but, no,” she said.

Of course, while proper physical health and maintenance continues to be unclear in many aspects, “we tend to reduce health to the physical, I think that’s unfortunate [since] it always includes social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health,” Short said.

Lam values her social and emotional health over other areas.

“They affect me the most directly,” she said.

Blanchard emphasizes communication as a way to maintain social health. “It’s good to be able to talk to people,” she said, “I talk to people if I’m upset about something.”

Prioritization of different aspects of health is evident when students choose to talk to their friends in the middle of the night or work on their homework instead of sleep. Interestingly enough, emotional health is the most prioritized by students but was ranked the least healthy in the SPA community.

Health for every individual may never come down to a science, but what is clear, is that health is what you make of it: truly healthy people feel content with their lives, their bodies and their minds.

Results at RubicOnline Interested in what St. Paul Academy and Summit School students think about health? Want to know how students rank themselves and the school health-wise? Check out our infographic gallery at the www.RubicOnline.com

9

10 In Dep t h THE RUBICON

usic:

April 2015

Why certain songs strike a chord while others fall flat Gita Raman Social Media Editor

Most teens have probably been around a student who gets so into their music that they begin to drum along to the rhythm with objects at hand- frequently a pencil. However, it begs the question, “what song this the student listening to?”

Music is accessible through many platforms and has an incredible number of genres. With so many options available, students narrow their tastes as they choose some genres over others.

Music’s effect on the brain When listening to music, emotions and memories associated with the song come to mind for many St. Paul Academy and Summit School students. “[My music choice] depends on the mood I’m in,” sophomore Riley Bowman said. Bowman listens to country during the summer months and rap/hip-hop during the hockey season.

Listening to music affects a set of complex processing systems in the brain, such as the limbic system. The limbic system is primarily responsible for emotions, and it includes structures in the brain such as the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, and the amygdala. These structures are primarily used to create memories, which is why when listening to certain songs and genres of music the listener experiences a nostalgic feeling.

A theory about why people listen to music has been postulated in a study by psychologists Thomas Schäfer, Peter

Sedlmeier, Christine Städtler, and David Huron, in a paper titled “The Psychological Functions of Music Listening”. Many students listen to certain genres of music to get into a mood. “For hockey, it will [get] me all ready and energized to play and it will also calm me down and put me in a better mood,” Bowman said.

Many other students feel this same response. “I generally really get sad [when listening to Drake].

I don’t like to get into my [feelings],” junior Solomon Johnson said.

Junior Matti Solomon summarized rap artist Drake’s music as “able to take you away from reality and into your feelings, which can be dangerous and spooky but sometimes its just something that has to be done.” Solomon currently has a love/hate relationship with Drake’s music because of how sad it makes him. The saddest song by Drake, according to Solomon, is Marvin’s Room.

“The music I listen to really

What’s your favorite music genre?

emits my mood, like when I’m calm I won’t listen to loud music because it doesn’t feel right,” sophomore John Connelly said.

Music influences the choices and helps regulate emotions of many students.

25% of students enjoy music from muscials

Music Habits

Music is all around students.

In a poll conducted by The Rubicon 66% of students polled listen to music while doing homework and 50% of students polled listen to music while driving. ‘I listen to music in the car on the way to school everyday. I like to listen to music by myself, just me and my vibes,” senior Louie Bogolub said.

Senior Sandhya Ramachandran listens to music because she feels that it communicates in a way that words can’t compare to. “Music [...] allows us to share more of who we are with musical expression than we can express in words,” Ramachandran said. “As humans crave to understand each other, and that is why we all love listening to music, deep down.”

Music Services The type of music services available on the internet ranges from free services like IHeartRadio to more costly services like Beats Music.

Recently, rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur Jay-Z created a new streaming system called Tidal.

According to a poll conducted by The Ru-

53%

18%

enjoy

enjoy

Rock

Rap

music

music

43% enjoy Pop music

bicon, the most popular sources of music for students are YouTube and iTunes. Some students, however stray away from internet streaming services and listen to the radio, CDs and vinyls.

Sophomore John Connelly occasionally uses the radio program, The Current, to listen to new music. The Current is a subdivision of Minnesota Public Radio and broadcasts itself on 89.3 FM. One of the benefits of listening to The Current is that there are no ads, because it is a listener supported station. Connelly, however, listens to his music on Spotify more often because it is more accessible.

“I get [most of] my music from Spotify. I have a premium account so its pretty nice,” Connelly said.

Music Discovery With the rise of new and advanced streaming systems discovering music is easy.

Solomon recalled an experience when he first discovered Drake, “I was sad about a girl

25% enjoy Hip Hop music

one day and [Drake] appeared in my dreams that night so the next morning I decided to listen to his music and I ended up liking it.”

Connelly often just uses the discover option on his Spotify account to find music based on his tastes. Connelly likes “indie, pop, electronic and many other genres,” he said.

Musical Influences “He’s [Drake] influential by making me relate to what he is saying so well that I believe that the problems he is singing about are my own problems,” Solomon said.

“Gerard Way’s [of My Chemical Romance] music has always inspired me to be better, to create something beautiful, and to stay true to myself. He himself has done all of those things through his music, and when I listen to it I’m reminded of all of that,” Ramachandran said.

Music is the perfect escape for students and allows them to express their creativity and truly discover themselves.

Sophomore John Connelly listens to his music during his spare time. Many students use their mood as a guide for their music playlists. “The music I listen to really emits my mood, like when I’m calm I won’t listen to loud music

When do you listen to your music?

because it doesn’t feel right,” Connelly said.

Students were Polled about their music listening habits. A total of 33 students (10% of the student body) responded in grades 9-12.

Infographics: Gita Raman

S c i enc e & T e c h nolo g y 11

april 2015

THE RUBICON

Online activism enables new generation to take action Follow, share, and hastag awareness in one click #BlackLivesMatter #HoodsOff #BringBackOurGirls

Students have the power to express emotion instantly, spread ideas, and facilitate revolutions, with no more than the click of a mouse.

Noor Qureishy Student Life Editor

Since the surge in popularity of social media sites like Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram, social media has taken on a new role as a tool for activists all over the globe to spread awareness and organize movements in order to support the issues they’re passionate about.

“One of the biggest platforms we’re lucky to have is social media,” sophomore Hannah Stanley said. “People can argue that they don’t have the time or energy, [but] all you have to do is click share. [Social media is a] way to get your point across in a few words — everyone has it, everyone knows about it.”

Comparing social media sites to “virtual opinion boards,” Stanley posts about the issues she’s interested in, like women’s rights because she feels compelled to.

“It’s my moral obligation because I don’t do a lot besides that. It’s the least you can do,” she said.

However, there are long-term drawbacks to being a social media activist. “[Using social media] so you don’t do something else is probably a negative,” senior Jonah Mische said. “On the other hand, it gives people an opportunity to involve themselves and help out in an issue without using a lot of time [and] without a lot of risk.”

Senior Mansuda Arora agrees with Mische, comparing social media activism to diet soda. “Social media activism is kind of like diet soda,” she said. “It has fewer calories, [and] fewer consequences. It gets more people involved and that’s a positive aspect. It’s also a great tool for organizing… [with social media] I have a lot more sources of information and I can take action [faster]. It allows me to work with groups like Black Lives Matter Minneapolis that I would never have joined without social media.”

When engaging in social media activism. Mische usually finds himself liking other people’s pages on Facebook, that include information about issues he thinks need to be more public.

However, he

finds that “on social media nothing’s really aimed at resolving issues, because media is all about connections. It’s less effective than something in person almost all the time.”

Arora also finds herself using social media to spread awareness about issues like the recent rise of police brutality cases. “I’ve done posts on each publicized instance of police brutality. On MLK day I post a quote every hour from his more radical speeches,” she said.

Despite the potential drawbacks, Stanley finds that posting on certain social media sites can have an impact.“I do [post] some on Tumblr, but mostly on Facebook because I think that’s

“Social media activism is kind of like diet soda. It has fewer calories, [and] fewer consequences. senior Mansuda A ro r a

the place where you can make the most impact,” she said. “On Tumblr it’s contributing to the conversation instead of attempting to open or bring a conversation to the surface [which is what happens on Facebook].”

However, since Stanley’s Facebook friends are people she knows personally, rather than the more anonymous followers she has on Tumblr, it is much harder for her to post her personal opin-

until you’re forced to acknowledge it,” she said.

While the internet can give students essential information mainstream media doesn’t cover, or provide a comforting sense of anonymity, it has its own dangers.

“Being in the age of information is powerful. We no longer have to rely on mainstream media with its bias. For example, the Vines that came out of Ferguson showed far more shocking abuse than what was reported on any news station,” Arora said. “On the other hand... people hide their offensive opinions behind a screen and say whatever they want. Just look at the comments under a news article or blog or YouTube video about any current social justice issue. It’s disgusting.”

Mische warns students to be aware of where they stand in the issue before choosing to post. “[Everyone] should be involved in [social media] activism, raising awareness, and getting topics out there, but you should be aware of where you are before you jump in and get into an issue,” he said.

Rather than taking center stage in a discussion better led by other individuals, Mische advises students to be considerate of the positions of others, allowing people with a greater understanding of the topic to lead the discussion.

Currently, Mische believes that social media should serve as a useful, but not only, tool for student activists. “[Social media] keeps people who want to know about [current issues] very connected, it’s readily available, it helps with response time…[but] I think it falls short in spreading awareness to people who haven’t been exposed to that issue,” he said.

Despite her faith in social me-

All you have to do is click share. [Social media is a] way to get your point across in a few words — everyone has it, everyone knows about it. s o p h o m o re H a n n a h S t a n l e y

ions on Facebook. She still posts about once every two weeks, and believes in the power of social media. “Social media is something you can’t really ignore, so it infiltrates groups of people that aren’t discussing these things and it forces them to [discuss the issues]. Social media can keep on bothering you and bothering you

dia as a good tool for both organizing and spreading awareness, Arora advises students to protest in person. “[Social media is] as easy as reposting an article and ‘liking’ someone’s opinion,” she said. “It requires very little effort and there’s nothing wrong with that for people who wouldn’t otherwise be voicing any opinion, but the real changes still come from those people who go out [to] march, and speak, and organize, to change not only perceptions of social issues, but legislation as well.”

Advocates use these popular hashtags to rally around racial injustice

#

Bring Back Our Girls

After Michelle Obama tweeted #bringbackourgirls in an attempt to end Boko Haram’s kidnapping of nearly 300 Nigerian girls, it went viral.

#

I Can’t Breathe

#

Hoods Off

This hashtag is a collective repeat of Eric Garner’s last words upon being choked to death by an NYPD official. It eventually became one of the mantras of the mass police violence protests, along with #BlackLivesMatter.

#hoodsoff became popular after the hacker group Anonymous published names, phone numbers, and other information about KKK members.

#

Black Lives Matter

#blacklivesmatter gained traction after the murder of Trayvon Martin and was eventually made the American Dialect Society’s 2014 Word of the Year.

Karsten Runquist’s short wins annual film fest

Former SPA STUDENT Josh Westfield wakes up with a plan for retribution that in involves Pb and J in junior Karsten Runquist’s winning contest submission.

RETRIEVED FROM: Karsten Runquist’s YouTube channel

12

Eva Perez-Greene Editor-in-Chief

The 8th Annual Student Movie Festival showcased Upper School photography students’ stop motion films as well as contest submissions from juniors Maren Findlay (Critical Mass, Tandem), Karsten Runquist (Karl), and Calla Saunders (Writer’s

Block). Runquist’s Karl won first place from a panel of judges with professional and/or scholarly backgrounds in film. Funny and at times, a little dark, Karl features former St. Paul Academy and Summit School student Josh Westfield as a dejected employee with a strange coping mechanism, and freshman Breandan Gibbons as his highly allergic, testy boss.

A rt s & En t erta i n m en t THE RUBICON

April 2015

Why all of this buzz about BuzzFeed, anyway?

Ever wondered which Tim Burton character you are? Or which United States city to actually live in?

Are you more like Kim or Kanye? Or “LOL”ed while reading those 14 unforgettable moments of Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries?

Amodhya Samarakoon Opinions Editor

BuzzFeed tells us the things we want to hear. f re s h m a n J a c o b Ad a m s

PHOTO CREDIT: Boraan Abdulkarim

Freshman Ellie Findell got the result Hermione Granger in a character quiz she took on BuzzFeed. “If you want to learn more about the TV show you’re watching or movies or books, then you can get more into it by seeing if you’re like any of the characters...I like [knowing that] I’m Hermione from Harry Potter,” she said.

From taking unusual quizzes, to discovering how well you know movie quotes, to finally knowing how long you would last as a barista, BuzzFeed provides the answers to life’s most pondered questions while simultaneously causing one to experience a range of emotions.

Sophomore Soph Lundberg said that she spends about 30 minutes to an hour on BuzzFeed per day but, of course, that doesn’t occur every day and she has only recently discovered the existence of the BuzzFeed app. “I go on there to take quizzes, and read little articles that are kind of like life hack stuff,” Lundberg

said.

One particular article Lundberg read (in BuzzFeed’s infamous list-format which goes up to any number except those evenly divisible by 10) was titled “21 Problems All Sarcastic People Will Understand,” and as a self proclaimed sarcastic person she found it quite relatable. There was one line in particular which resonated with her: “Your sense of humor can be described as an ‘acquired taste.’”

For other BuzzFeed lovers who have more of a thing for books, movies and television shows, such as freshman Ellie Findell, main attractions are character

quizzes. “If you want to learn more about the TV show you’re watching or movies or books, then you can get more into it by seeing if you’re like any of the characters...I like [knowing that] I’m Hermione from Harry Potter,” Findell said (in her Potter-worthy British accent).

Her cycle of BuzzFeed surfing, similar to many others, starts out with a the maybe-just-a-couple-quizzes mentality “and then there’ll be recommendations for more quizzes, and then even more quizzes, and it ends up being half an hour...maybe longer,” Findell said.

A few note-worthy quizzes for some Potterheads would be “Which Harry Potter Spell Are You” and “Which Harry Potter Character Are You.” However, readers must be warned: taking one of these quizzes will inevitably lead to the discovery of another 20 Harry Potter quizzes, made to satisfy and shape one’s inner wizard while also encouraging procrastination.

Contradictory to many people’s initial idea as to the theme of BuzzFeed’s content, not all their articles are purely entertainment focused. “Some [things on BuzzFeed are] actually informative, but not like those really dense news articles...it definitely caters to a specific demographic,” Lundberg said. She states that she likes the way BuzzFeed presents an idea or issue: “Bloomberg or CNN are definitely adult based

and BuzzFeed is kind of like ‘okay here’s the deal...okay now go from an opinion on what you just [read or watched]’...it allows you to explore it further [on your own],” Lundberg said.

There are plenty of BuzzFeed posts which focus on important or controversial topics like feminism, but from alternative and quirky angles such as an article titled “This Artist Turned Iconic Feminist Movements Into Powerful Illustrations.” Also, Buzzfeed addresses these topics without imposing upon the reader an overwhelmingly strong opinion and page upon page of text.

Along with inspirational articles, there are plenty of others which evoke tears of happiness from even the most cold hearted of readers such as “The Way These Guys Look At Their Brides For The First Time On Their Wedding Day Is Magical.” Also, their articles also tend to have really long headlines it’s difficult to be mislead by the title when searching for something to read or a quiz to take.

Yet there is no doubt that BuzzFeed is very liberal in terms of the content they choose to display.

“Other news sites talk about the things we ‘have’ to hear while BuzzFeed tells us the things we want to hear… us being teens,” freshman and proud BuzzFeed article reader Jacob Adams said.

Whether trying to induce laughter or deep thought from their readers, writers definitely do not shy away from controversial and occasionally explicit posts or criticizing big social media websites such as Instagram.

So feel free to find out what kind of unicorn you are, discover the reasons why men should never do yoga, and be inspired to finally pierce your septum, and do so shamelessly.

Design used with permission from BuzzFeed

Q&A

with BuzzFeed Product Manager, alumnus Andrew “Spud” Paulus What are your favorite BuzzFeed articles and quizzes?

There are so many good ones: Which Harry Potter Character Are You? What Is Your Spirit Animal? How Would You Die in Game of Thrones? The weirdest result I got was a quiz that said my spirit animal was “A very cute kitty,” when I’m pretty sure mine would be a fox or a dire wolf or something awesome.

Why did you decide that you wanted to work for BuzzFeed?

I wanted to work someplace fun with incredibly smart people on a product people enjoy using and BuzzFeed seemed like a perfect fit. BuzzFeed is also incredibly good at understanding and innovating around how people want to consume content and that interests me too.

We hear so often about how awesome the Google office is, how swanky is the BuzzFeed office?

BuzzFeed has a pretty sweet setup. I haven’t seen everything yet, but they have an open office layout with some cool areas and nooks to work... a ping pong table, catered lunches a few times a week, and a kitchen with snack room filled with candy.

What are you looking forward to the most at your new job?

The people I met while interviewing are incredibly smart and nice so I’m looking forward to working with them. BuzzFeed is also growing really fast so I’m excited about working on products that are being used by millions of people every day.

What kind of unicorn are you?

The BuzzFeed quiz says I’m a rainbow unicorn, but again I really think I’m more of a fox or awesome dire wolf.

Nine wearable trends from the spring runways

Read more at RubicOnline

MODELS STRUT the runway in the latest new designs.

Fair use imageS: Marc Jacobs website, Stella Jean website, and Miu Miu website, respectively

Boraan Abdulkarim Chief Visual Editor

What is spring? Spring is the transition from white, blank landscapes to a warm, summery oasis.

Spring is when new colors and shapes are cultivated. In nature, this spring has begun to make an appearance but in the realm

of fashion, spring sprang a while ago. With it came trends, some of which made an appearance before, and some of which are exotic, seemingly carried by the wind from another land. Here are a few.

Read the rest at RubicOnline

A rt s & En t erta i n m en t

April 2015

13

THE RUBICON

Online shopping provides entertainment Meghan Joyce Arts & Entertainment Editor

Welcome to spring cleaning season. It’s out with the old and in with the new, whether that means trading in some battered shoes for track for the latest spikes, buying clothes that suit this warming weather, or some more reading material, there is a lot of shopping going on around now. And honestly, it’s a lot of work to go from store to store buying those things.

With a little help from the internet, no one needs to get out of bed to buy everything they could possibly want.

But do students at St. Paul Academy and Summit School take advantage of online shopping, or is it seen as being more trouble than it’s worth?

Freshman Izzy Denny prefers online shopping, though she said that she gets most of her clothes in person. “I love browsing stores online... the selection is bigger, and there are more sales, which is always good. Usually if I’m looking for something very specific,

I’ll shop online, but if I’m just looking for clothes in general, I like to go to MOA [Mall of America],” she said.

Freshman Jake Adams saw no drawbacks to online shopping. “I would choose online shopping... I prefer to do it in the comfort of my own home,” he said.

“It’s easier to find cuter clothes for cheaper online, but I always get swept away by the price, and the stuff never actually fits right when it comes,” junior Sabrina Brown said. “And then you have to deal with returning it and everything, it just becomes a whole big mess.”

If Brown hadn’t shopped online for prom dresses, though, she wouldn’t have found such gems as Nasty Gal’s Dyspnea Mutha Fluffa Feather Dress, a nearly invisible pink mesh dress accented with pink, blue, and purple feather puffs. The $583 item’s online description said that it is “overthe-top in all the right ways,” but Brown named it the weirdest thing she has ever seen for sale online.

The odd selection of items for sale online can certainly be entertaining.

“Once, I saw that Ellen [Degeneres] was selling a piece of Justin Bieber’s hair on her shows in order to raise money for a charity,” Denny said.

According to the Ellen Degeneres show’s website, Bieber’s locks — given to her as a birthday present — were sold for $40,668 on eBay, and the profits were all donated to abused animal rescuing charity Gentle Barn.

There are certainly a lot of factors to consider when deciding between opening up a favorite online-only shopping website (be it Amazon, ModCloth, or anything else of that nature) and perusing a favorite brick and mortar store.

If shopping for just the right fit, in person is best. If shopping for entertainment and convenience, online is the way to go. There are some things you just can’t get out of the real world shopping experience.

The weirdest thing I’ve ever seen for sale online was the Nasty Gal pom pom dress. j u n i o r S a b r i n a B ro w n

Fair use image: nastygal.com

A MODEL POSES IN online fashion retailer Nasty Gal’s Dyspnea Mutha Fluffa Feather Dress, which retails for $583, and is described on their website as “over-the-top in all the right ways.” Junior Sabrina Brown cited it as the weirdest thing she has ever seen for sale online.

Making fashion statements for self-expression, comfort Mari Knudson Sophomore Jack Sullivan styles a button down with cargo shorts, picked out by his mother.

“My mom pretty much picks out what I wear for the day, so getting dressed isn’t a big issue for me,” he said.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mari Knudson

In Depth Editor

For some getting dressed in the morning is a mindless routine, others take pride in carefully selecting each outfit they put on. Given that St. Paul Academy and Summit School’s dress code is relatively relaxed, those that pay close attention to what they wear have a lot of freedom to express themselves.

Because what one wears is visible to the world, fashion is an enjoyable creative outlet for many students. With countless styles, trends, colors, and fabrics to choose from, there is extensive diversity among the clothing of SPA students.

Comfort is a driving force in many SPA students fashion choices. Active wear is popular year round, because of its relaxed nature.

Birkenstock sandals are also a popular footwear choice for all genders because of their practicality.

“I would describe my style as casual, but really comfortable,” sophomore Justine Miller said.

Freshman Eva Garcia agrees that comfort is a priority in her wardrobe.

“I love wearing big sweaters because they’re really easy to just throw on and pretty comfortable,” Garcia said. “I always have a bunch of sweaters in the closet which I usually just throw on before school; my outfit for the day really depends on my mood.”

Some students have a certain style that they stay consistent with in their daily outfits. Developing one’s fashion identity can take time, but is a rewarding method of self expression for many.

Some students develop a signature look, or even a particular article of clothing that they are known for.

“I really like wearing my Converse sneakers,” Miller said.

“I’ve been wearing them since sixth grade, and I still love them.”

Sophomore Jack Sullivan may have a signature look, but he isn’t the designer. “My mom pretty much picks out what I wear for the day, so getting dressed isn’t a big issue for me,” he said.

“I don’t actually wear this a lot,” sophomore Hannah Stanley said of the peter pan collar she wore. “I just wear this becayse I like the detailing. It’s my mother’s, actually, but I do like them because they’re very retro.”

Many students have a favorite time of year based on the types of clothing that are weather appropriated for that season.

“I like wearing shorts because I feel comfortable in them and wearing them makes me feel like spring is finally here,” freshman Ashley Jallen said.

For those who do not have as strong of an inner fashion compass, guidance for how to dress can come from peers, fashion magazines, store catalogues, and social media site such as Pinterest.

“TV shows actually influence my sense of style, and what other people at school are wearing also rubs off on me,” Miller said.

Freshman Ashley Jallen matched a crocheted crop top with orange shorts with crochet detailing. “I like wearing shorts because I feel comfortable in them and wearing them makes me feel like spring is finally here,” she said.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mari Knudson

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Golf teams swing into hopeful seasons

dianne caravela Staff Writer

On April 12, Jordan Spieth won the Masters, despite being only 21, the second youngest winner in the history of the competition.

Much like Spieth, St. Paul Academy and Summit School’s Boys Varsity Golf team is very young this year, mostly freshman and sophomores, but their prospects are high. Despite losing five seniors, including two of the varsity team, the boys golf team is busy preparing for a challenging but hopefully very rewarding season.

Every day after school, the team boards a bus to Highland National Golf Course to practice, although once matches start, some players will practice at Somerset Country Club instead. With so many new players on the team, the bus rides provide a chance for older players to connect with the newer members of the team.

“It’s lots of fun,” sophomore Drew O’Hern, co-captain of the team said. “We interact with the younger, newer players and give them tips, but we emphasize fun.”

Once the team gets to the course, practice begins, and the hard work starts, although the fun doesn’t stop, according to freshman Dev McCabe. “Practice is one of the best parts,” he said.

“The atmosphere of it all gives you a lot of freedom, but at the same time there's always a coach nearby and if not you always can get advice from your teammates.”

Despite the many new members on the team, the players are optimistic about the season.

Last year, the team set a new low-score team record of 151, and they are confident that this season will bring more of the same.

Brattland said, “We’re going to set a new low combined score record.”

The team would like to see more players advance individually to the state competition, and possibly the team as a whole.

O’Hern, who went to state last year, hopes to win conference.

“With the great group of guys we have [State] seems very realistic this year,” McCabe said.

Still, the conference is full of tough competition. “Blake and Breck are our biggest competition,” O’Hern said. “It would be great to crush them.”

Although the team definitely has a competitive streak, that doesn’t get it the way of the enjoyment and fun the players get out of the sport. ”We’re getting pumped up and working hard to win,” O’Hern said. ”We play our hearts out and have fun.”

lexi hilton Staff Writer

PHOTO CREDIT: Emily Thissen

sophomore drew o’hern putts at practice on April 14. “Blake and Breck are our biggest competition,” O’Hern said.

Submitted photo: Cait Gibbons

sophomore maria perkkio practices with her irons at the Highland Driving Range on April 9. “Coach D has a great sense of humor and she has really improved my swing,”

Led by senior captains Annette Vargas and Delaney Carter, the girls golf teams drag their club filled bags and excitement for the season out to the golf course. Although some players were able to practice a few times over the winter in golf domes, most are playing for the first time in months.

“Unlike indoor sports,” junior Cait Gibbons said. “It’s hard to practice actual golf over the winter because of the snow and cold.”

With the early end to winter cold, the weather has been ideal for golfing.

“I’m just glad it’s sort of sunny and that the snow melted before the season started so we don’t have to golf in it,” junior Sabrina Brown said.

Varsity and JV co-head coach Jim Tisel returned from his sabbatical this year and leads the golf team once again. In addition, varsity co-head coach Amanda Dlugopolski joins the team for her first year coaching at SPA. “Coach D has a great sense of humor and she really improved my swing” sophomore Maria Perkkio said.

The girls golf team practices every day after school, usually at Highland Golf Course or some-

times at Somerset Country Club.

“During most practices we just do 9 holes, then some practice at the driving range,” Brown said.

“Our goals for this year are to reduce the amount of circle 10s we get so we can get the least amount of points possible and beat Minnehaha,” Carter said.

With a more experienced team than last year, the girls are also hoping to have some individuals make it to state this year.

The laid back atmosphere of practices allow for a lot of time for team bonding. “We only have a couple new people. We all get along really well though, and that makes practices so much fun,” Perkkio said.

Most matches are 9 holes, except for sections where competitors play a 18 hole course. In matches, players start in pairs and play alongside a pair from the opposing team. After the first shot, players take turns until all the balls make it to the hole.

“The etiquette is that the farthest person from the hole goes first,” Brown said.

Upcoming matches include v.

Breck at Somerset Country Club on Apr. 30 at 3:15 p.m. and an 18-hole match against conference competitors at Goodrich Golf Course at noon on May 5.

Perkkio said.

United Girls Lacrosse looks to net successful season marlee baron Staff Writer

PHOTO CREDIT: Mari Knudson

THe united girls’ lacrosse team plays in a game against The Breck School on April 14. The team lost 9-21. “We have lots of fast runners that can move the ball quickly,” senior Sarah

Sticks, goggles and mouth guards come out of winter storage as United Girls Lacrosse players gear up for the spring season. The team is co-op with Visitation, with the St. Paul Academy and Summit School part of the team led by junior Bridget Hoffman and senior Sarah Romans.

With a fairly young group of players this year “The team has lots of potential,” Hoffman said.

The team is hoping to improve from last year’s season. With a new head coach, Laura Bernard,

Romans said.

players are looking forward to bettering their record this year.

With rivals Blake, Washburn and Breck, a spectator can expect to see “a very fast game,” Hoffman said.

Girls lacrosse is played on a field much like a soccer field and is similar to a combination of soccer and hockey. It is a non-touch sport, where players of different positions must stay in their area of the field to play.

“We have lots of fast runners that can move the ball quickly,” Romans said.

The team’s pre-game rituals keep them bonded: “We like to

do each others’ hair, and put on lipstick. It’s really fun,” Hoffman said.

“We like to listen to music and paint our faces,” Romans said.

“We also like to say our goals for the game,” Hoffman added.

According to both captains, SPA and Visitation players mesh really well through different team bonding activities: “We like to have team sleepovers and dinners,” Romans said.

The team started out with a loss on April 14 but with varsity games on April 28, 30, May 2, 5, 8 everyone can come to watch a fast and exciting upcoming game.

New boys lacrosse program sets goals for inaugural season lauren boettcher Staff Writer

In a fast paced game like lacrosse, teams are constantly making changes to adapt to their opponents and different game situations. The boys lacrosse team at St. Paul Academy and Summit School has made more than a few changes in preparation for their upcoming season.

While many of SPA’s sports programs are easily settling back into their teams and getting ready to pick up where they left off, the Boys Lacrosse team is trying to bring a group of students from six schools together to create a

varsity level program. “Last year we had a club team that was made up of twelve different schools and then we wanted to go into high school league,” junior David Nicholson said.

As a club team, they did not compete against other schools with varsity programs, instead playing against communities like St. Louis Park, Becker, Duluth, and Wayzata. “It was a step in the right direction for the schools themselves, moving towards a solo program for all the schools involved,” Nicholson said.

“Theres also more competition and more room to figure out your schedule.”

When I was told about the team, I wanted to play right away. s o p h o m o re M a r k Ad e m i t e

Despite combining with Minnehaha, DeLaSalle, Concordia, St. Agnes, and St. Croix Lutheran, the team is still struggling to gain numbers. There is currently only one team, with no JV players to build a JV program.

This has afforded students who have not played the sport before the opportunity to try it. “I wanted to play lacrosse, and when I was told about the team I wanted to play right away,” sophomore Mark Ademite said.

The boys started their season with a loss against Providence Academy on April 15 but hope to rebound in their upcoming games on May 8 and May 11.

PHOTO CREDIT: Emily Thissen

junior david nicholson prepares for the face off at the April 17 game against Blake. “[Creating a team] was a step in the right direction for the schools,” Nicholson said.

Sp ort s15

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THE RUBICON

Boys tennis charges the net peter blanchfield Staff Writer

PHOTO CREDIT: Eva Perez-Greene

senior eliot tong slams a ball across the net at a match against The Blake School on April 22. “ Blake is a very tough opponent, but it is fun to play them,” Tong said. The tennis team has an upcoming match on May 5, at home against Minnehaha Academy at 4 pm.

The Spartan Boys Tennis team is ready to charge into a new season. They have trained their hardest every day to achieve success this year, and are looking forward to every serve this season. They are coached by Viet Pham and captained by seniors Shaan Bijwadia and Eliot Tong.

The team is itching to renew their intense rivalry with Blake, an opponent with skill comparable to St. Paul Academy. As Tong said, “Blake is a very tough opponent, but it is fun to play them.”

The team is also ready to bring success to the program, which has come to be a perennial contender.

Though tennis is primarily an individual sport, the SPA team has developed a sense of camaraderie. Tryouts are a prime example of this. At a time when players on many teams develop a lone wolf mentality, the team bonds because everyone wants everyone else to do their best so that they can be their very best.

Bijwadia said, “I think one of the best things about the team this year is that every player loves to play tennis, and wants to try their best and get better.”

This level of support forms them into a cohesive unit and gives them a unique advantage, not possible on teams that don't have the relationships that tennis creates for everyone who plays.

The program as a whole is undergoing a rebuild as they lost a lot of talented seniors and are looking for new players to step up, take the spots, and deliver to help them stay competitive.

Tong is hopeful that this year will be not only a successful one record-wise but also be a fun one to remember.

Upcoming matches include a game at home on May 5 against Minnehaha Academy, away at against Breck on May 7, and back home for their final two matches of the regular season on May 8 and 12. They finish up with Sections at SPA on May 21, and after that its on to state.

Spartan baseball players eager to compete and succeed strategic on the base paths, and make sure not to leave anyone on base.” He added: “Because we may not be getting as many hits as we used to, we may have to focus on stealing bases and scoring runs rather than getting big hits.”

Rafa Buettner-Salido Staff Writer

Spartan Baseball kicked off the season Apr. 8, with a duo of new captains, junior Michael O’Shea and senior Kevin Patterson, an abundance of new starters, and an altogether promising group of young players making impacts both on the field and coming off the bench.

The team is off to a bit of a rocky start with a record of 1-6.

Patterson said that the team’s main concerns are that they “... struggle to hit the ball and get on base” and admits that the lack of experience plays into the team’s tough start: “We have a lot of young players, and we are often playing teams that have more experienced varsity players.”

Senior Luke Bishop believes that their record is by no means a reflection of how well some people have been playing. Bishop said “Our young guys are really stepping up, making good plays and hitting the ball very well!”

Our young guys are really stepping up. submitted photo: Peter Sawkins

sophomore Emerson egly gets ready to bat at the Spartan Baseball teams game

s e n i o r Lu k e Bishop

against DeLaSalle. “The De game was a good one to start off with, and this early season test will help us later in sections,” Egly said.

Bishop pinpointed freshman relief pitcher Jesper Salverda and sophomore left fielder Tommy Dicke who he said have both “been hitting the ball really well.”

O’Shea has faith that the team can bounce back; in particular

O’Shea believes sophomores Emerson Egly and Weston Lombard will be more than capable to fill the void left by graduates Harrison Egly and Josh Johnson.

O’Shea said that “The key to the team success will be to be more

Although there is a lack of experience on this year’s team, Patterson commends the young players on the team who, he believes, “have been playing very well. Our outfield especially has

been playing really well so far.”

Salverda is appreciative of the team’s willingness to help him become a better player. “It’s a great experience, there are a lot of great leaders that work hard to help me develop my skills,” he said. “We are off to a rough start but this a great program that is really trying to help people become better players and work on their skills overall,” Salverda said.

Needless to say, Spartan Varsity baseball is filled with players who are eager to compete, who are ready for the opportunity to take on more responsibility at their respective positions.

Although the first few games haven’t yielded the results the team has been hoping for, it is safe to say that the team will not be prone to a negative outlook; rather, they are determined to show that although they are young team, they are capable of competing at a high level. Spartan Varsity Baseball plays at home May 6 against Mounds Park Academy and May 8 against Breck.

Energetic and dedicated softball team steps up to bat iya abdulkarim Staff Writer

“Energetic, enthusiastic, and intense,” is how sophomore Hana Martinez described this year’s Varsity Softball Team. The team is made up of players ranging from grades 7-11 and is coached

by Middle School Physical Education Teacher Bill Ross.

“We like to blend in good, well rounded athletes that want to learn the game and utilize their athleticism and specific abilities,” Ross said.

The team captains are juniors Vanessa Miller and Ella Hommeyer, both of whom have been playing since seventh grade.

The varsity team practices for two hours Monday through Friday. “We start by running, stretching, ab workouts, sprinting, and

then we throw. Then we pitch or [do] field work,” Freshman Sophia Rose said.

The practices cover all aspects of the game, with a focus on fitness at the beginning followed by team drills.

“The first parts [of practice] are really tiring,” freshman Olivia Williams-Ridge said, “but they are usually a lot of fun.” This year will be William-Ridge’s first on the Varsity team. Miller said that this year’s team has “strong raw talent.”

This year, seventh grader Kathleen Bishop has been pitching for the team. The girls plan to “make a good impression and get first in conference,” according to Rose.

While the team lost its first season game on April second against DeLaSalle 0-10, they are still working hard to improve.

PHOTO CREDIT: Iya Abdulkarim

junior captain vanessa miller swings at the ball at the April 13 game against Fridley. The Spartans lost 9-18. “[This year’s team has] strong raw talent,” Miller said.

They lost their next game on the eighth against Highland Park, 9-18, followed by a 3 point loss

to Fridley on April 13. “That last inning, it was tied and then they scored three runs,” sophomore

Sarah Murad, who has been on the Varsity team since eighth grade, said about the Fridley Game.

“We don’t like to cave in to weather, or the fact that we might be playing a good opponent,” Ross said.

Hommeyer said “We’ve gotten a feel for how our team works together so far.”

The team faces Minnehaha Academy on May 6, followed

by St. Croix Lutheran on May 7.

Both games are at home on the varsity softball field.

Martinez said “There is a lot of support from teammates, so it’s encouraging and exciting,” about an average game.

Murad said one should “Look forward to a really fun and energy filled game.”

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THE RUBICON

Sprinting to the finish line

Boys Track finds their stride with strong leadership from Destache, Lea

sophie jaro Staff Writer

Every afternoon Saint Paul Academy and Summit School’s Boys Varsity Track team drains their energy as they train muscles for explosive starts and first place finishes at weekly meets. The team’s training schedule includes long runs, ladders, cadence drills, and core work to build a broad base of strength.

This hardcore conditioning attracts only the very dedicated, resulting in a team that is exceptionally committed. This year’s roster includes a small number of seasoned Upper Schoolers as well as many younger athletes.

According to sophomore Kyle Ziemer, a second-year long distance runner, the Boys Varsity Track team would be “pretty sparse without the freshmen and middle schoolers.”

When asked what these young athletes bring to the team, Ziemer succinctly concluded that it was the addition of more team members, explaining that, “the more people you have, the higher chance you will get a very fast runner.”

Even this year, some middle schoolers are fast enough to represent SPA at the varsity level,” Ziemer added.

So far, the boys seems to be running in the right direction.

However, even the fastest young struggle with pre-race nerves, especially at the their high stakes meets.

Experience and discipline, however cure runners’ cold feet.

The team admits they do not undergo much mental preparation before meets, but that they gain momentum from each other’s support during and after their races: “Support from captains, team-

mates, and fans during and after the race is kinda cool,” Ziemer said.

Senior captains Mike Destache and Jackson Lea have a history of outstanding personal performances. At last year’s State meet, Destache finished an impressive 5th place in the 3200 meter and 9th place in the 1600 meter. Last year, Lea, the “Sprinting Spartan,” led the team with solid performances in team sprint relays and high jump.

Fans can expect to see more top finishes and breathtaking performances this year if they support the team at a meet.

The team is led by head coach Rob Donnelly, and assistants Dave Montgomery and Kaitlyn Frenchick.

Both the seasoned and inexperienced Spartan runners look forward to fan support at upcoming meets.

SUBMITTED PHOTO: Neeti Kulkarni

JUNIOR DALANTE PEYTON SPRINTS in a race on April 16. The match was at Mounds Park Academy versus Mounds Park Academy and Minnehaha Academy. “Support from captains, teammates, and fans during and after the race is kinda cool,” sophomore Kyle Ziemer said.

A desire to race to the top, led by Naas, motivates Girls Track team Shaymus o’brien Staff Writer

PHOTO CREDIT: Shaymus O’Brien

THE GIRLS’ TRACK TEAM warms up with Captain Mary Naas prior to practice on April 7. “I would say I lead by example. I am not the most verbal leader but I always do what’s needed and I try to be positive,” Naas said.

With warm temperatures finally returning it truly feels like spring has arrived, which is a relief to the members of the Girls Varsity Track and Field team, some of whom still recall workouts in the snow and meets canceled by subzero temperatures last year.

This year’s team is ambitious to say the least. The girls team has plans to be “One of the top two teams in state, as well as sending a few individuals and a relay team,” according to Girls track coach Kaitlyn Frenchick

For Frenchick, running is a family tradition: “Both my dad and my sister were runners, and he would always come to my meets, which encouraged my love for the sport.”

Frenchick is more than qualified to coach this year’s girls team, going All-State in triple jumping and having All-State honors three out of her four seasons at Paynesville Area High School in Minnesota. Additionally, Frenchick set five records, four of which still stand un-beat.

Her coaching style revolves around a mixture of tough love and encouragement, pushing the athletes when necessary and

knowing when they’ve given it their all. “A lot of the bigger schools with more depth like Providence, Breck, Minnehaha, and Blake could pose a threat to us with their larger numbers,” Frenchick said.

A record holder herself, and this year’s winner of the Athena Award, senior captain Mary Naas believes these schools will provide challenging competitors.

Naas came off a 4th place finish in the mile last season and looks to improve both her own times as well as the team’s. Naas hopes to set a personal and an SPA record by running the 1600 (1 mile) in 5 or fewer minutes.

For the team, Naas hopes maintain a more positive outlook on running, as it is something she believes they have lacked in the past few years.

Naas has her own way of encouraging her teammates: “I would say I lead by example. I am not the most verbal leader but I always do what’s needed and I try to be positive and put in my best effort,” Naas said.

The Girls and Boys track and field team have an upcoming meet on May 5 at St. Croix Lutheran, beginning at 3.00.

Trap shooting club focuses on shattering clays lucas johnson Staff Writer

On a brisk Saturday morning, the clear sound of a shotgun rings out and slices through the chilled air; spring has arrived for the St. Paul Academy and Summit School Trap Shooting club. Every Saturday morning. the team meets at the Minneapolis Gun Club.

The first two mornings are practice, but after that, each Saturday determines their rank in the MSHSL conference. Trap is unique in that, until the state meet, shooters never shoot at the same club as their competitors.

The sport’s rules are simple: five shooters line up in a semicircle around a central target launcher. From there, the team members take turns shooting at randomly launched targets. Each contestant has twenty opportunities to score by hitting a flying target.

With only fifteen members, the trap team is much smaller than

PHOTO CREDIT: Iya Abdulkarim

FRESHMAN MARLEE BARON practices her aim while shooting flying targets. The trap shooting team meets every Saturday morning at the Minneapolis Gun Club. “Even though it’s my first year doing trap shooting, I’ve had a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season,” Baron said.

other spring sports teams. Since the team lost multiple talented senior shooters this season, they are currently in a rebuilding stage, their arms wide open to walk-ons.

They hope their strong sense of

community will attract new members this season.

The social interaction typical of larger teams is not absent from the small trap shooting team.

When asked about how he con-

nects with new teammates freshmen Turab Naqvi said, “Talk with them; it’s a good outlet to converse, not necessarily about trap shooting, but just about school in general.”

Although the trap team may have a laid-back attitude during practices, the passion among teammates to make trap shooting a sport at SPA that students can letter in is strong. Junior team member Taylor Rients’s chief goal this season is “for trap shooting to become a varsity sport that people can letter in.”

For the members of trap, winning is important, but recognition as a varsity sport is equally if not more important.

Adding to this, current members of the team strive to educate more students on trap shooting as most don’t even understand the basics of gun safety or marksmanship.

Every year, the trap team gains new members from different

friend groups. This diversity of people involved allows members to meet and converse with those they normally wouldn’t spend time with at school. “I love practices. You get to shoot which is always fun, but you also get to hang out with people in your free time,” Rients said.

The trap team is a community which prides itself on the amount of fun they have at practice and the quality of social interactions at said practices. The team members still enjoy exchanging tips with one another on how to improve their technique and improve overall as a team.

Although competition looks very different than the average spring sports, a drive down to the Minneapolis Gun Club is worth the time. Watching a shooter raise the rifle, take a stance, shout “Pull!” and then following the arc of the bright orange clay until it shatters from a well-aimed shot is exciting.