December 2010

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Welcome

Staff the rubicon

Editor in Chief Nadja Milena

Managing Editor Maddie Butler

Chief Visual Editor Joanna Mendelsohn

News Editor

Noah Shavit-Lonstein

Feature Co-Editors Rebecca Xu Henry Moyers

Sci/Tech Editor

December 2010

Letter from the Editor

School’s out for...at least a few weeks!

Well folks, we’re almost there. Winter Break is just around the corner, smiling and beckoning. Exams are around a slightly closer corner, looming dangerously like a killer waiting to strike. Students are entering that phase where someone says “exams” and the whole room shushes them and everyone covers their ears. It’s sort of infantile, really. Anyways, all things are as usual.

Although it’s likely a lot of us will be busy over Winter Break, everyone here at The Rubicon staff wants to encourage you to pick up a book that’s not for school (See Op/Ed 14). To get you thinking, we’ve picked our current favorite books and written a lightning quick review for you. This page features the top picks of our Chief Editors. For the rest of the rec’s, see our Back Page.

So cozy up for some hot-chocolate-and-reading time. These are great books; they’ll make you laugh, make you cry, make your spine tingle, and they might even make you think.

Allison Wang

Centerspread Editor Iman Jafri

Sports Editor Alex Smith

Op/Ed Editor Rachel Kinney

A&E Editor Kaia Wahmanholm

Satire Editor August King

Columnist

Taylor Billeadeau

Staff Writers

Saif Ahmed Ellie Fuelling Aditi Kulkarni Lucy Li Andy Monserud Calvin Rose Liz Rossman Nick Scott Zach Zanaska

Editorial Cartoon Claire O’Brien

Adviser

Kathryn Campbell

Writing for Publications

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Randall Findlay, CJE

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the student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Avenue St. Paul, Mn 55105 Memberships Minnesota High School Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Awards JEM All-State Gold, 2004-2008 JEM All-State Silver, 2009-10 MHSPA Best in Show, 2004-2008, 2010 NSPA First Class with 3 marks of Distinction, 2010 CSPA Gold Medal 2010

Nadja, Editor-in-Chief Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov

Maddie, Managing Editor On the Road

by Jack Kerouac

Lolita is the story of Humber Humbert, a pedophile, and his complex and intense love for a twelve-year-old girl.

The writing is beyond beautiful, the characters are engaging and their relationships are complex, and often disturbing. It is arguably one of the most controversial books of all time, and if you ask me, it should be required reading for every high school student.

That being said, it’s a book that many adults won’t want you to read.

One day I was walking through a CVS, carrying a copy of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road at my side. In the ten or so minutes that I was in the store, at least three people stopped me and told me how much they loved the book. In this famous Beat novel, Kerouac captures the allure of the open road and the freedom of a new American lifestyle like no else had at the time or ever would in the years to come. There is a reason all those people stopped me: this book is simply fantastic.

Joanna, Chief Visual Editor Earth, the Book

by Jon Stewart Jon Stewart has done it again. This satirical criticism of our culture is absolutley hilairious. Stewart wrties the book as a textbook meant for aliens after the extinction of the human race. After you read Lolita and On the Road pick up this book to wind down and just enjoy yourself. If you’re looking for some light reading that will poke fun at religion, politics, sexuality, and fast food, (with lots of pictures), this is the book for you!

In this issue News.................................................................................................................3 Feature..............................................................................................................4 Sci &Tech.........................................................................................................5 Sports.............................................................................................................6-7 Centerspread..................................................................................................8-9 A&E ..........................................................................................................10-11 Satire..............................................................................................................12 Games.............................................................................................................13 Op/Ed........................................................................................................14-15 RubiMail

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We want to hear them.

Email us at rubicon.spa@gmail.com

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News

December 2010

Community worried by local abduction attempts Faculty on alert; police ask students to be aware, walk in groups October 27 Thomas Avenue & Virginia St. White SUV Handgun Threat

Monday, December 13 9:00-10:30 Science Exams 1:00-2:30 Language Exams

October 24 7th Street & Maria Avenue Silver Sedan

October 29 E. Baker St. & Oakdale Avenue Vehicle Unknown

October 30 East 3rd Street & N Forest Street White Van

November 8th Randolph Ave & Fairview Ave Three Attempts

Image Credit: Noah Shavit-Lonstein

again at class meetings on Nov. 15, with faculty encouraging students to be serious about their safety. “The goal was not to frighten, but have people be aware of their surroundings,” Dean of Students Judy Cummins said.

SPA’s alarm towards these matters can be seen among the students. With winter sports beginning, students are spending more time on campus. However, with the recent attempted abductions, students are taking more caution with their leisure trips to Caribou, Brew-

berry’s and Walgreens.

“I was going to walk to Caribou one time after my hockey practice, and I didn’t want to go even though it’s a block away,” sophomore Emily Nasseff said. “I was scared and thought ‘what if someone comes?’”

However, although some students are nervous and are being more careful than usual, not all student activity is impacted by the news.

“I knew that there were bad things out there in the world and I’ve just kind of accepted it. I grew up in

Minneapolis in a somewhat sketchy neighborhood… I wander around there and I’m fine with [suspicious activity] so it doesn’t affect me as much,” junior Max Brown said.

According to The Star Tribune, although all of these situations occurred within proximity and days of each other, St. Paul police have discovered no correlations between the incidents and are investigating the happenings separately. Despite one incident of threatening with a gun, none of the abduction

attempts were successful.

To ensure maximum safety, SPA has taken up extra safety precautions.

More security are patrolling the outskirts of the school, and everyone is making a full effort to keep the doors locked. “I think we’re being vigilant without overreacting,” Cummins said.

Police suggest that St. Paul citizens should pay attention to their surroundings, walk in groups, not approach strangers, and when in doubt, dial 911.

Students give to families in need, nearby and far away

Advisories contribute to charities like Adopt-a-Family and Heifer International

The holiday tradition of advisories participating in Adopt-aFamily continues this December at St. Paul Academy and Summit School. Along with this long-standing tradition, some advisories branch off this season to donate to other organizations.

Adopt-a-Family is a proRachel Kinney Op/Ed Editor

gram run by the Salvation Army, a Christian human service organization. Each participating advisory is assigned a family, who will send the advisory a wish list of items that they want or need such like toys, grocery store gift cards, and winter necessities. Each student is encouraged to contribute around $20.

Then, advisories will go either together or separately to purchase items for the family. All advisories that participate will hold a present-wrapping party in the cafeteria before delivering the gifts to the Salvation Army.

But this year, some advisories have decided to shake it up. Three years ago, Up-

per School English teacher Haseena Hamzawala’s advisory donated to Heifer International, a program providing animals to families in need, and plan to do so again this year. Hannah Ross, a member of Hamzawala’s advisory, has donated to Heifer International in the past with her church. She says that their advisory plans to

buy an animal, often a goat, to be donated to a family in an impoverished area of the world.

They will each donate $15 to go toward Heifer International, as well as a more local organization still to be decided upon. “There’s a lot of need everywhere because of our recession,” Hamzawala said.

Marine Biology students take field trip to Underwater World tional tour.

Underwater Adventures is an aquarium attraction at the Mall of America in Bloomington. It is most famous for having two sea turtles and the world’s largest jellyfish collection Senior A.J. Frisell said that he particularly liked the jellyfish exhibit, in which various species of jellyfish are housed in tube-like, dimly lit tanks in a dark room.

On the field trip, the class toured the kitchen and veterinary labs, where they saw food made for the animals, watched scuba divers feed

sharks and met with various staff members of the aquarium. They also took the conventional tour of the aquarium itself.

“It’s a challenge to study marine life in a landlocked environment like Minnesota,” Nelson said. The field trip is “another view of marine life that we can’t get in the lab or on video.”

Junior Adam Lurie said he enjoyed the main exhibit, in which visitors stand on a moving sidewalk and travel through an enormous underwater tunnel. Lurie said: “It was really cool to see [the

“

[It’s] another view of marine life that we can’t get in the lab or on video.

Science teacher Larry Nelson

animals] from a different perspective.”

Frisell said his only complaint about the field trip was that the aquarium “was kind of busy.”

Both Frisell and Lurie said that they would recommend that the class take the field trip again next year.

Nelson said that this is likely, because the trip has always

“

It’s difficult to see the ocean in Minnesota. The Twin Cities are over 2000 miles either direction to any ocean. However, we do have our own ways of seeing ocean life from the land of ten thousand lakes, including extensive public aquariums.

Students in US Science teacher Larry Nelson’s Marine Biology class took a field trip to Underwater Adventures on Nov. 18.

The class took a behind-thescenes tour of the facility before taking the convenAndy Monserud Staff Writer

Wednesday, December 15 9:00-10:30 English Exams 1:00-2:30 Writing for Publications, Make-up Exams

U.S., China try to avoid Korean war

The locations of a few of the recent attempts to abduct girls around St. Paul. Police believe that these attempts are unrelated, as the men were reported to be of differing ages and appearances and driving different vehicles. Dean Cummins said members of the school community are being “vigilant without overreacting.”

Several incidents of strange men attempting to lure young girls into vehicles over the course of two weeks have influenced the St. Paul community, both residents and students alike.

Prior to the St. Paul Academy Upper School Pops Concert on Nov. 13, information regarding suspicious activities near The University of St. Catherine was delivered to students and parents.

This issue surfaced once

Tuesday, December 14 9:00-10:30 Math Exams 1:00-2:30 History Exams

Thursday, December 16 9:00-2:30 Make-Up Exams

November 4th Syndicate St. White Van

Rebecca Xu Feature Co-Editor

Newsbrief

US Exam Schedule

October 27 Arundel St. & Charles Avenue Vehicle Unknown

November 4th Syndicate St. Vehicle Unknown

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been successful in the past.

Nelson has taken his Marine Biology students to Underwater Adventures for approximately 10 years.

The Underwater Adventures trip is the second Marine Biology field trip this year; Students went to the Minnesota Zoo earlier this fall.

The international outrage about North Korea’s recent attack on a South Korean island has spread to the United States and China. South Korea’s president recently held a press conference about North Korea’s attack on South Korean soil. He announced that any additional attack on South Korea will result in military action. According to the Yonhap news agency, North Korea has assembled missiles on launch pads at “frontline areas.”

The nation has also warned it will retaliate if its’ territory is violated. China’s government requested peace talks between the two nations.

The U.S. began military drills with South Korea’s military last week, should the provocations evolve into war.

Multiple governments and analysts fear a full-on war, considering that North Korea’s recent attack violated the treatise that ended the Korean War. South Korea’s military officials suspect that another attack will come from North Korea.

Art students display work in show Student work from first semester and trimester is currently on display in the Student Show, Dec. 2 through 17 in the Harry M. Drake Gallery. Each student between grades 6-12 taking an art class has the opportunity to select one of their works to be featured. The show demonstrates the large variety of mediums studied, including sculpture, ceramics, print making, drawing, painting, and photography.

M/US Fine Arts Department Chair Marty Nash notes that many of the students involved have not yet had the chance to display their work publicly.

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Feature

December 2010

“Even good people can make bad decisions”

Mary Westra shares experience with her son’s murder, how she was able to cope with loss “I am not a spokesperson,” began the woman at the podium. “I’m not a preacher. I’m not a counselor.

I’m a mother… inspired by a fine son.”

On Nov. 22, author and mother Mary Westra spoke to St. Paul Academy and Summit School students about the death of her son, SPA alumnus Peter Westra (‘95), and the new book she wrote on the experience, entitled After the Murder of My Son. Her visit was sponsored by the student group Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

“We wanted to show students that one destructive decision can impact not only yourself, but everyone around you,” said junior and SADD copresident Bari Applebaum.

Westra said that she hopes to leave the students with a better idea of who Peter was and why he Maddie Butler Managing Editor

Photo Credit: Joanna Mendelsohn

At the US assembly on Nov. 22. Mary Rondeau Westra reads excerpts of her memoir After the Murder of my Son, about the murder of Peter Westra. “It was a tragedy that began with alcohol, continued with anger, and concluded with death,” Westra said.

is remembered, but also with “a full head, a heavy heart, and some things to ponder about how they choose to live their life.”

In her book, Westra writes about the entire ordeal, from how her family was before the death, to “the moment you never want to have your parents experience,” to how she coped after the tragedy.

“She’s just brutally honest,” said Upper School Math Teacher Mickey Scott, who coached Peter, and has become a close personal friend to the family since his death.

“I remember saying to her before the book was published, ‘Oh Mary, this is going to be a hard book to read,’ and she looked at me right in the eye and said, ‘But Mickey, you didn’t have to live it.’”

Peter was a young man with his whole life before him. He graduated from Middlebury College and already had his dream job at 24 years old. Then, the night that changed everything: after having too much

to drink, Peter was kicked to death by a bouncer outside a nightclub in Atlantic City, NJ, where he was attending a friend’s bachelor party.

“It was a tragedy that began with alcohol, continued with anger, and concluded with death,” Westra said.

Westra’s writing process began as a natural part of her grieving.

Initially writing down bits of memories on scraps of paper “was a compulsion,” said Westra. “I knew the memories would get fuzzy.”

Westra later went back to these scraps, refining them into a memoir. She said that writing classes have helped her gain the confidence to share her story, in hopes that “my message could be helpful to others,” she said. “Publishing is like getting my voice back.”

Peter is honored in the SPA community through the annual Peter Westra Memorial Sprints. This year’s event took place on Dec. 3 at Trollhaugen.

Clara Stahlmann Roeder’s animal house... well, table Sophomore spends summer, weekend time sharing her love of animals at the Como Park Zoo On a sweltering hot August day last summer, sophomore Clara Stahlmann Roeder stood behind a cart covered with diagrams of frogs and an aquarium. She held a large bullfrog the size of a fist in her hands. She was being pelted with questions: “Is this as big as he will get?” “Does he need to stay wet?” “Why does he have warts?”

She handled every question with ease. After all, she has been trained for this.

Over the summer and now on weekends, Roeder volunteers at the Como Park Zoo as an animal interpreter, someone who informs people visiting the zoo about the animals there. She teaches zoo-goers about things such as an animal’s lifespan and natural habitats, and can answer any questions people might have about an animal. With other volunteers her age, she sets up carts with different reptiles and amphibians.

“I really like getting to inform the public about all of the different animals and getting to teach them Ellie Fuelling Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy: Clara Stahlmann Roeder

A regular volunteer at the Como Park Zoo, Clara Stahlmannn Roeder helps to educate visitors about animals. She speaks to them about factors such as the lifespan and natural habitats of animals in the zoo. In addition, she sets up carts with various reptiles and amphibians. “I really like getting to inform the public about all of the different animals and getting to teach them about what I know,” Roeder said.

about what I know,” she said.

Next year because of her work at the zoo, she will be able to apply for a full-time job there. Although

Roeder does not currently have a salary, she spends much of her time working for the zoo and feels like one of the staff. “I like to think

that I get paid in college scholarships,” Roeder said with a laugh when asked about pay.

Roeder works in shifts on the

weekends when she is needed but doesn’t find it difficult to balance homework and work. She gets assignments done during school, or when she has other free time, and is still able to enjoy her time outside of school without too much pressure from her job at the zoo.

Roeder works with other volunteers ages 13 to 17, all who have passed intensive training and a difficult interview process. Roeder says she’s proud to work at a nonprofit zoo that’s doing so well. “It’s a small zoo, and it’s free, but people still care enough about it to donate money,” she said.

Working at the zoo may not be a normal way to spend your weekends, but Roeder says she wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. She enjoys getting to spend her time with other people who love what she does and doesn’t even mind holding animals she was originally afraid to hold.

Each time she works at the zoo, Roeder grows more confident and excited about the animals she loves.

Goodbye, good luck: community says farewell to Barker Andrew Barker roams the halls, ever vigilant for the next rule-breaker to cross his path. His opponent may be an unruly middle school student, or perhaps a disruptive high school student; either way Barker will bring down the rule-book hammer. But on Dec. 18, St. Paul Academy and Summit School will be without this senior security guard.

Barker has been a security guard at SPA since May 2007. He accepted the position after looking for a summer job he could carry into the school year while he was attending St. Thomas University. Barker has enjoyed “working with kids at the different ages, and learning to get Kaia Wahmanholm A&E Editor

to know a lot of them over the last three and a half years.”

Barker will be leaving for an internship in Boston, Massachusetts. The internship will fulfill his required 360 hour practicum to graduate this spring from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Sports Mangement.

Barker applied for 15 internships, all on the east coast, finally deciding to intern with the Boston Blazers, an indoor lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League.

The internship will include working in sales and marketing, and also on game day operations.

“I will be assisting in the sales department, selling tickets for games

and groups, on the marketing side I will be helping with grassroots (community outreach programs): going out to schools, talking to kids, setting up interactive events, such as giving a kid a lacrosse stick and letting him take a shot on goal,” Barker said. On game days he will assist with different promotions, and use his experience working at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome as a security guard to help with crowd control as well.

However, Barker is sad to leave SPA. “I will miss the kids when I leave SPA.” He even admits there may be a single tear that trickles down his cheek when he drives off campus for the last time on his way to start this big, new adventure.

Photo Credit: Joanna Mendelsohn

Andrew Barker will leave his security job to intern with the Boston Blazers.

“I will miss the kids when I leave SPA,” Barker said.

Science & Technology

December 2010

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Science & Tech Shopping Guide Fragrances: a look on the inside chemistry of perfumery The moment you open the container, a pleasant aroma escapes into the air.

These fragrances are a common item among St. Paul Academy and Summit School students such as freshman Asialy Bracey-Gardella and Alex Boutrous-Lander. “I like to buy fruity, sweet perfumes,” Bracey-Gardella said. “I like flowery perfumes,” Boutrous-Lander said.

According to a survey conducted in 2007 by the New York Times, 85% of women wear perfume. With so many people wearing perfume, these fragrances become the perfect holiday gift. However, not everyone knows where all that smelly fluid comes from, how they are made, and the chemistry involved in fragrances.

So how are perfumes made? It all starts with the collection of ingredients.

Many natural plant ingredients, such as flowers, spices, wood, fruit, leaves, and grass, make up perfumes, according to Perfumer Michael Edward’s book Fragrances of the World. Animal products, such as musk from deer and castor from beavers, are used in perfumes to make the odor last longer, while alcohol or water may be used to dilute it. Sometimes, perfumers create synthetic chemicals to imitate scents of existing plants and to invent scents not found in nature.

“Synthesis of fragrance molecules is a way to obtain adequate quantities without the need to deplete natural sources through over harvesting,” Macalaster College Chemistry Professor Ronald Brisbois said.

Ingredients used in fragrances often have special chemical compositions and structures, such as the benzene ring, according to Upper School Chemistry teacher Beth Seibel-Hunt. Anything that has such structures is called an aromatic and produces pleasant smells.

“Chemists consider aromatic

compounds as members of a functional group family,” Brisbois said. “A functional group is a collection of atoms bonded in a specific pattern that can be present as a structural component in a larger molecule.” These groups make up the components of the overall molecule.

Ester, ketone, and aldehyde are functional groups that give off fruity, musky,

Kinect for Xbox 360, formally known as Project Natal, is a controller free gaming experience that uses built-in webcam technology to track the motions of the player. Surpassing launch sales of both the Wii and the iPad, the Kinect is a popular video gaming console for the casual and the avid video gamer.

The Kinect was announced June 1, 2009 at the E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) under Project Natal. When tested at E3 2009, Natal was able to track up to four players simultaneously. At E3 2010, it was announced that Natal would be called Kinect, a mixture of kinetic and connect, summarizing the main goal of the console.

The sensor is a horizontal bar with a camera positioned in the middle, designed in a way to be positioned either above or below the

television. On either side of the camera are depth sensors that contain an infrared laser projector and CMOS (Complementary MetalOxide-Semiconductor) sensors, allowing the Kinect to see 3-D under any amount of light.

The sensing range of the depth sensor is adjustable, with the Kinect software capable of automatically calibrating the sensor based on game-play and the player’s physical environment, including furniture or other people walking around that are not playing the game.

Built into the Kinect is a motorized tilt, which moves automatically for optimal gaming quality. Because the Kinect sensor’s motorized tilt mechanism requires more power than can be supplied by the Xbox 360’s USB ports, the Kinect sensor features a connector combining USB communication with additional power. Redesigned “Xbox

Lucy Li Staff Writer

sweet, or earthy odors. Thiol and amine functional groups are more foul and stinky, but are still present in some fragrances, such as jasmine essence, according to Brisbois.

After the collection of ingredients, oils are extracted. Perfumers have many several ways to extract them. If oils have low vapor pressures (don’t evaporate easily), they can simply be squeezed out.

However, most oils in perfume will evaporate. Instead, steam distillation is used “to isolate fragrance molecules,” Brisbois said.

A third, modern way called super-critical carbon dioxide ex-

Illustration Credit: Allison Wang

Clockwise from top left: The four main families of the fragrance wheel are floral, oriental, woody, and fresh. Paul Smith Rose is a pictured in the floral family. Oriental fragrances, known for their vanilla flavor and many spices, include Exclamation by Cody as shown. Woody fragrances, like Dsquared2 He Wood, contains ingredients from different types of wood. Molecule 02 by Escentric Molecules belongs in the fresh family, which contains refreshing or even citrus-like notes. Center: The benzene displayed is the basic structural molecule for aromatics.

traction is also used. The carbon dioxide is held under so much pressure that it can dissolve fragrance molecules out of plants.

Perfumers may use grease and fats to soak up flower fragrance as well. “If you have a fragrance that dissolves in oil, then you can use oil to extract it,” Seibel-Hunt said.

Once the perfume oils are extracted, blending begins. Oils are blended in a secret formula created by the “Nose,” a perfume master.

However, being a “Nose” isn’t easy. Creating a formula may take years and hundreds of different ingredients.

After the oils are blended, perfumers mix in alcohol and leave the perfume to age. Aging can last from 3 or 4 months to 3 or 4 years, and afterwards, the “Nose” tests the perfume again to make sure the scent is just right.

The scents of perfume, also known as notes, are made to be let out at different times. The top notes, or head notes, are the ones immediately smelled and provide the first impression. The middle notes are the main scents and last the longest. Lastly, base notes bring depth just before all scents fade away. These notes are created depending on how well a fragrance evaporates.

Perfumers classify perfumes by a method called the “The Fragrance Wheel,” first introduced by Michael Edwards in 1983. In the center of the wheel is Fougère, which shares and combines ingredients of the other groups. Those other groups, floral, oriental, woody, and fresh, are on the outer portion of the wheel.

Although perfumery may take years to master, it does not always require a “Nose” or a professional.

The Garden of Eden, on Grand Avenue, sells fragrances and other body care products. Customers can choose from more than 50 fragrances and customize their own perfume, perfect as gifts for the holiday season.

Xbox Kinect features 3-D sensors and controller-free technology Saif Ahmed Staff Writer

360 S” models include a special AUX port for accommodating the connector, while older models require a special power supply cable (included with the sensor) which splits the connection into separate USB and power connections.

Insider Gaming News Representative James Evans said that the device felt revolutionary the first time used, but noted that games were sometimes unable to recognize gestures or had slow responses. “Even though at first, the Kinect seems amazing, after more than one play you start to realize it is not all that it has been hyped up to be,” Evans said.

On the other hand, Best Buy Representative Kevin Williams said that the Kinect was the most amazing device he’d ever used. “The fact that the Kinect is able to pick up readings of peoples movements without [attached] sensors or con-

Photo Courtesy: Sarah Thames

Junior Sarah Thames plays Kinect Adventures, a video game that came with her Xbox Kinect. “You don’t have to use any controllers,” Thames said. “It’s fun because the games involve your entire body, which is new.”

trollers is beyond amazing,” Williams said.

Despite Kinect’s occasional slow response time, it still features ground-breaking 3-D sensor technology that allows it to capture

body movements. Sample Kinects can be tried out at the Microsoft store in the Mall of America. The Kinect package includes a video game and can be purchased for $150 at Best Buy.

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Sports

December 2010

Winter Sports Preview 2010-2011: Hats

Boys Basketball: Rebuilding Year? “We’re going to be better than people think” What happens to a team that has lost 11 senior players and is heading into the season with only four returning players?

This is the situation that the Varsity Boy’s Basketball team is facing.

Of the11 players which graduated last year four were starters. That leaves sophomore Spencer Egly as the only returning starter.

Three of the five returning players are captains. Seniors Andrew Bullard and Sam Dicke will captain the team with junior CJ Whitaker.

The final player rounding out the returning five is sophomore Josh Aditi Kulkarni Staff Writer

Gray.

The team will be young, but, according to Egly, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing: “I think the advantage is that they are eager to learn so [the team] will be good for the years to come, not just this year,” he said.

Gray agreed, saying, “losing 11 players will be tough but with young talent we can start preparing for success in the future. It is not going to be a rebuilding year.

We’re looking to be really competitive this year.”

The team will be changing their style of playing somewhat.

Losing key scorers like Evan McMillan, Santano Rosario and David McVeety will affect their offense but Egly said, “The core values of our team playing tough defense will not change.”

This year, Bullard and Dicke will be the vocal leader’s for a team filled with young players. However, so far it sounds like they are doing a good job.

“They’re leading everyone really well and setting the tone early that we really want to do well,” Gray said.

“We’re going to be better than people think,” Egly said.

Photo Credit: Alex Smith

Sophomore Josh Gray , guarded by senior captain Sam Dickie during practice, said despite the young talent on the team, “It is not going to be a rebuilding year. We’re looking to be really competitive this year.”

Nordic Skiing

Fencing: Swords up With brand new head coach Zachary Moss coming in to sharpen up the fencing program, players have seen a drastic change in the following areas: commitment level and the way practice is held. However, for senior Philip Dougherty, he believes all this change is good.

“Last year we would just run outside and play games the entire time. This year instead of just playing around and goofing off, [the new coaching staff] is really helping transform this team from the sloppiness that was prevalent in past years, and helping the team become a newer and better team,” Dougherty said.

While practices are becoming more intense, the necessary amount of commitment level each player has to give is on the rise.

“The coaches are stressing the point that we become a more athletic club,” senior captain Hannah Lutz said.

In order to accomplish just that senior captain Emma JohnsonRivard said that team is putting in more time in the weight room and is doing a lot more conditioning than they have in the past.

Freshman Danielle Socha said Johnson-Rivard is a really good captain because she is patient and helpful.

With a new intensified focus on commitment and practice Dougherty believes that this season the team is going to bring a brand new attitude to the table opponents have never seen before.

“We are done being laid back and playing defensive, we are going to be a striking offensive team that is really engaged,” Dougherty said.

Alex Smith Sports Editor

Photo Credit: Alex Smith

Freshman Danielle Socha said senior Emma Johnson-Rivard is a really good captain because she is patient and helpful.

Photo Courtesy: Holly Hart Photo Credit: Alex Smith

Junior Bari Applebaum is one of the captains alongside fellow junior Jenna O’Brien. The two are the leaders of a young girls basketball team which has a brand new head coach and not a single senior on the roster. With a brand new coach, the team has implemented a man to man defense.

Girls Basketball: Senior less team and a new coach There isn’t a single senior girl on the roster. Now, all eyes turn to juniors Jenna O’Brien and Bari Applebaum for leadership. They are an incredibly young team.

The team also has a brand new head coach, Anna Voltmer.

O’Brien believes Voltmer has had a positive impact on a program which, as shown by this year’s senior class, has struggled in the past to gain participants.

“It is more fundamental basketball; practices are more intense Alex Smith Sports Editor

and you can tell [Voltmer] is trying to build a good program at SPA,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said one of the team goals, besides improving upon their second to last place finish in the western region of the Tri-Metro Conference last year, is creating better team chemistry. “[Voltmer] likes to do team activities and sit us down for a team talk before practice to make sure everyone is getting along,” O’Brien said.

Of course, the focus is still mainly on the court. For the Var-

sity Girls Basketball team the part of their game that is changing most due to Voltmer’s coaching is their defensive strategy.

“We are not playing a zone this year; instead we are playing man,” O’Brien said before jokingly adding, “We will be running up and down the court.”

However this change in defensive philosophy makes sense when considering the team’s greatest strength.

“We are fast and quick and all like to be [on the court] working hard,” O’Brien said.

Dance Team: New coach extending the kick For senior Leida Voulgaropoulos this is her second year in a row of being a dance team captain. And as a two time captain, she has extended the squad’s kick routine. Voulgaropoulos said while the kick routine isn’t one they perform at competitions, it is the routine they perform for the student body at basketball games.

“We lost a lot of seniors last year that had been on the team since 9th grade, so that was difficult, but luckily we have a lot of freshmen this year- which is always great,” Voulgaropoulos said.

Filling in for the head coach was last year’s Assistant Coach Voulgaropoulos said the team’s goals are to work hard and perform well at sections.

Alex Smith Sports Editor

Photo Credit: Rebecca Xu

Senior captain Leida Voulgaropoulos said the team has extended their kick routine even though it is not perform at competitions. However the new kick routine will be performed for the student body at basketball games.

Even with loosing leaders like Claire Palmer and Caroline Daniels to graduation, senior captain Samantha Pilicer believes the team, will still compete.

In the middle of the winter, most teams head into the weight room for their work out. But not the Nordic Ski Team of St. Paul Academy and Summit School. They train in all weather.

The Spartan Nordic Ski, comprised of a girls and boys team, has typically done very well with individuals excelling.

For example, Last year, recent graduate Annie Hart placed second in the state meet last year.

But training for Nordic can occur by playing other sports in the fall.

“The majority of the Nordic team is a crossover from cross country, it definitely helps,” said senior Jacqueline Lis. The captains for the team this year for the girls team is senior Samantha Pilicer. Meanwhile the captains for the boys team are Cameron Matticks and Carter Peterson.

Both the girls and the boys’ teams have high expectations this year.

“I think the boys’ team has really grown since last year, so I think we’ll be strong in conference,” Matticks said.

Pilicer said the same for the girls. “I think that it is going to be a really great season. A lot of girls have been working really hard in the weight room.”

When it is not snowing outside, the team is conditioning and working in the weight room.

“If you’re in shape and know how to ski, it’s not that hard to get back on skis,” said Lis. Aditi Kulkarni Staff Writer

Sports

December 2010

7

and scarves optional; cheering encouraged Boys Hockey : Surging youth movement guided by senior leadership “We have deeper relationships than just being ‘teammates’,” said senior captain Max Hommeyer, “We’re a family, we take care of each other and have each other’s backs.”

Last year, the Varsity Boy’s Hockey team experienced an abrupt change in leadership as their previous coach resigned due to problems with the school and referees. Joe Dzedizic was named his replacement.

This will be Dzedizic’s first year coaching the Spartans for an entire season.

“The new coaching is really great. I really like all the coaches we have. Our head coach, Joey Dzeidzic is trying to set up a new atmosphere at SPA for hockey and I think he’s doing a really great job. He’s centering it around commitment and I think that’s a really great way to center the hockey program at St. Paul Academy,” senior captain James Adams said.

“We’re more of a family now.

We’re more connected. Working out every day during the summer has kind of strengthened us and created good bonds,” Max Hommeyer said.

Aditi Kulkarni Staff Writer

Photo Credit: Alex Smith

After going down by a single goal, the Spartans fought their way back against Waconia in the Semi-Finals of the Spartan Cup and wound up winning 4-1. One of the goals scored in the game was by freshman Drew Blackmun (#7) who afterwards celebrated with his senior captains James Adams (#12) and Max Hommeyer (#15).

The Spartan hockey program is going through a surging youth moment with eight freshmen participating, including two varsity players in Drew Blackmun and Jacob Westfield - both of whom have made an impact already this season by scoring goals.

Karl Hommeyer, younger brother of Max Hommeyer, said the youth movement brings new energy, new talent, more line combinations, and more players to the programs, which are all positives.

Karl said that in the past the team has been short on numbers, but with a surge of young talent he believes the team will be alright this year. “[The youth movement] is a great thing. I don’t consider them as my teammates or friends; I consider them to be my sons,” Max Hommeyer said.

The expectations are high this year, especially after winning the Spartan Cup in November and starting the season off on a four game winning streak. With seven talented freshmen and senior leadership currently in place, not only does the future of the program and season looks bright.

Girls Hockey: United Spartans Senior Hockey Captain Delaney Middlebrook wants this year, her final year of skating in Drake Arena, to be her and her team’s best.

“This year, our goal is to make it to state. I know we say that every year, but hopefully this year is the year,” Middlebrook said.

The team, called United, is a co-op between Saint Paul Academy and Summit School’s Varsity Girls Hockey team, and Visitation’s Varsity team. Fortunately, everyone who was on the team last year is returning except for a Visitation student who graduated spring of last year. Unfortunately, she was a top scorer for the team.

Despite this loss, the team is optimistic and ready for new leadership positions. Three Spartans are expected to pick up the scoring slack this year: junior Kristen Knutzen, sophomore Nina Perkkio and freshman Alev Baysoy.

Alex Smith Sports Editor

“They are all forwards, so they need to step up and score which so far all three have done,” Middlebrook said, “they have all gotten a lot better.”

Besides taking shifts on the offensive end of the rink, back on defense is another fellow Spartan.

Sophomore Cory Russell will be behind the net playing goalie for her third year in arrow. With all that experience she has acquired she has developed into a more vocal leader. “[Cory] is communicating with the defense a lot more which has been really helpful,” Middlebrook said.

But Middlebrook is clear: the team has got to step it up, particularly since they opened their season with a three game losing streak.

“We need to win the games we are supposed to win, and with the games that are going to be difficult we need to stay in them,” Middlebrook said.

Photo Credit: Joanna Mendlesohn

Steven Wendeborn works on his Butterfly stroke during Boys Varsity Swim practice. “I definitely think we have the potential to win conference again. And that’s what we’re hoping for and if people put in the work that’s required, they’ll do well,” Wendeborn said.

Boys Swimming: Trojans lacking Spartan cheers At the state tournament last year, junior captain Matt Nelson said there were very few people to support them.

“There were only a handful,” he said. “Nothing significant.”

“If the swimmers knew there was going to be a good crowd there, it would pump them up.

They would be excited to swim for fans,” Co-Athletic Director Mike Brown said.

“It would be nice to have supporters there and I think it would Aditi Kulkarni Staff Writer

make the team happier, but I don’t think it would affect our performance,” said Nelson.

Senior captain Steven Wendeborn said “I definitely think we have the potential to win conference again. And that’s what we’re hoping for and if people put in the work that’s required, they’ll do well.”

Nelson agreed, and said they will be lifting three times a week.

“Some kids go in the weight room, and there’s club swimming and they’ll swim through the sum-

mer and fall,” Nelson said.

“We have mostly older swimmers right now, we’re trying to get younger people involved,” Wendeborn said.

The small number of people on the team doesn’t hurt them, said Wendeborn, “a good thing about swimming is that even though you compete in teams, it’s pretty individual.”

The season should be a success with all the hard work they are putting in, and the team hopes to beat their longtime rival Central Park.

Alpine Skiing: being competitive like a boss Despite the fact that last year’s Alpine Ski team had then junior Ross Baker, nicknamed “Boss Raker” every time he clamps on a pair of skis, the Alpine Ski team did anything but destroy the competition like a boss.

Now a senior, Baker explains that last season didn’t go as planned because “the thing that Alex Smith Sports Editor

Photo Credit: Alex Smith

Freshman Alev Baysoy hustles after the puck. Baysoy is “stepping up and scoring goals,” senior captain Delaney Middlebrook said.

is hard about Alpine is that it is an individual sport turned into a team sport. You race alone but get points as a team; because of that we came in like 13th or 14th place [last year].”

However with sophomore Andre Mohring and junior Hannah Ibele representing the girls alpine ski team, both squads hope to achieve the goal of being competitive at sections.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kinney

Julia Hansen, grade 8, ready to exit the chair lift for her downhill run during a recent Alpine Ski practice.

centerspread

Celebrate good times

Members of the SPA community share traditions, celebrations, and experiences, be they ethnic, religious, or ethical

For US Chinese teacher Aaron Bohr, fall marks the beginning of raking leaves, cleaning the gutters and, of course, preparations for the holiday of Thanksgiving and the coming of Christmas. For Bohr, however, this is not all. Coming from a unique heritage of JamaicanChinese, Bohr’s family celebrates the special festival of Gahsan.

Although not a regular participator of the event, Bohr knows much about its traditions. Gahsan is a celebration much like Mexico’s Day of the Dead, in which past ancestors are remembered. It means “to marry the mountain.” The celebration gets this name because most of the tombs are located in the mountains and one has to go into the mountains to see the graves. It typically happens around early November. It happens twice a year, once in the spring, and then again in the fall. “Because many Chinese converted to Catholicism, it is tied to the feast of all souls day.” Bohr participated in this celebration last year. “What we would do is we would clean the graves, then make offerings, burn paper money and sometimes even offer food and incense.” Bohr also said that prayers are recited at the graves. “When the community does it as a whole, a priest comes out and blesses the graves.”

Like in most traditions, food plays a role in the ceremony of Gahsan. Food is not just offered to ancestors; it is eaten by the people celebrating. Typical foods include roast pork dishes. “Typically, you would offer the food. Then, sometimes you would eat it there or take it home to eat it.”

Bohr said that the tradition has changed much since its origins. “It’s not as common to offer the food anymore.” Although it is an old tradition, it is still practiced in Jamaica. “In Jamaica, all of the Chinese community organizes the two events (fall and spring). The Chinese community comes out and does it together.

Everybody would gather at the cemetery and go to the various grave sites.”

Gahsan is a tradition unique to Jamaica and unique to the Chinese. Although it differs from traditions like Christmas, it shares similar aspects as well.

During most winter holiday traditions, it is not typical to walk among graves; however, the purpose in each is clear: to give thanks for ancestors who helped to shape the modern world.

Henry Moyers Feature Co-Editor

Rockin’ Around the Tofurkey With the holidays upon us, one of the first things everyone thinks of as a big part of holidays is meals. For Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners as well as other holiday meals, meat is the center of the meal. Turkey is the staple of Thanksgiving dinner, and ham is common for Christmas, as well as traditional Swedish meatballs for the many Minnesotans with Swedish heritage. It may seem that vegetarians miss out on a big tradition of the holidays. However, there are many options for those who choose not to eat meat.

Sophia Myers-Kelley, sophomore at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, just ate around the turkey for Thanksgiving last year. This year, because Myers-Kelley is a pescatarian, a vegetarian who eats fish, she ate shrimp along with side dishes. There are many vegetarian Thanksgiving foods such as mashed potatoes, some stuffing, cranberry sauce, and vegetables.

Another option for those who enjoy the traditional feel of a roast turkey shared at Thanksgiving is Tofurky.

A vegan product, Tofurky looks and tastes like turkey but is made of soybeans and wheat. Although Tofurky is made fun of and thought of to be not a great alternative to turkey, many people enjoy it and use Tofurky as the main dish on Thanksgiving. Vegetarian Kjersten Conway (pictured), SPA senior, loves having Tofurky for Thanksgiving. “I was never a fan of dry, bland roast turkey anyway,” Conway said.

Tofurky could be served alone or alongside a real turkey to accommodate vegetarian or vegan guests. Tofurky is often cheaper than a real turkey, and is lower in calories and fat. It is still close to turkey in other areas— the texture and flavor is similar, and Tofurky was even designed to cut at 45 degree angles like real turkey. It is the most realistic choice for vegetarians or meat-eaters looking to try something different while wanting to preserve a traditional Thanksgiving.

For Thanksgiving, Conway prepared a Tofurky along with different takes on traditional foods such as wild rice stuffing and mashed baby red potatoes with pine nuts and pesto. “I escape the annual repetition of dishes of that the rest of my family has to face,” Conway said.

As for making Christmas veggiefriendly, Tofurky remains a popular choice.

O t h e r ideas include pasta or risotto with seasonal vegetables such as squash or pumpkin. And while making the main dish vegetarian is simple and a nice thing to do for vegetarian guests, it is also a fine idea to just make sure there are plenty of vegetarian sidedishes for the guests who prefer not to eat meat.

Rachel Kinney Op/Ed Editor

Photo Credit: Iman Jafri

For St. Paul Academy and Summit Ellie Fuelling School senior Salwa Drake, the holiday Staff Writer season really started in November. Stuffing, cranberry sauce and apple pies will fill her tables, but before that, Drake observed a different holiday -- one that is important to the Islamic faith.

Drake celebrated Eid, an Islamic holiday that occurs after Hajj which is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Eid is a time to celebrate and give thanks for the roof over your head and for food to eat.

“There are two different Eids in a year,” Drake said.

“One is after Ramadan, the month that we fast in.” The second Eid is Eid al-Ahda which means the festival of sacrifice, celebrated in November this year. Every year the date changes because Islam follows a lunar calendar.

The first thing Muslims traditionally do for Eid is go to a community place, like a mosque or convention center, and pray. “Then people usually go out to eat breakfast with their family,” Drake said. “It’s a day where you’re not supposed to work.” Drake’s family takes the day to relax and have fun. Their traditions include going bowling and eating at their favorite restaurant, The Cracker Barrel.

This year, Eid al-Adha fell on Nov. 16, a week before St. Paul Academy’s Thanksgiving Break. The fact that she still had school didn’t stop Drake from celebrating though; she took the day off. During the break, her family observed Thanksgiving. “We usually have friends and family come over,” she said. “We have stuffing and all the other things that people traditionally have. It [Thanksgiving] is giving thanks to God that you still have life.”

Drake believes that Eid is a time to get away from SPA’s busy schedule and reconnect with friends she doesn’t usually have time to see.

She takes time to acknowledge her faith, and she also gets the opportunity to give thanks for her country a week later. For Drake, Eid is a season of food, family, and appreciation.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Gahsan

Photo Credit: Iman Jafri

In the modern world, as fewer people Noah Shavit-Lonstein live in cultural or religious neighborNews Editor hoods, interreligious marriages grow increasingly common. This often confuses religious organizations, who may try to prevent the marriages or convince the family to commit to one religion. Some families will take an alternate route and balance their religious traditions in their family life, whatever challenges may come.

Serena Hodges, a St. Paul Academy sophomore, comes from a family like this. Her mother, Upper School History teacher Sushmita Hodges, practices Hinduism, while her father is a Lutheran Christian. These two religions are constructed differently.

Hodges considers her beliefs a mixture of those two religions. Combining two religions is complicated, she said, but not impossible. “In the Ten Commandments, it says that you shouldn’t love any other God but one,” she said. “It does [bother me], but it’s something that I kind of choose to ignore.”

Hodges’ family often combines traditions from both belief systems. As a baby, she was baptized as well as given a rice ceremony. She visits church, and though the Twin Cities’ small Hindu community makes it hard for her family to celebrate Hindu festivals, they do so on occasion.

Hodges also practices meditation, which she does not consider religious, but does value. Her great-grandfather was a large advocate for meditation, a tradition which she says is helpful. “Meditation is getting deeper into your consciousness,” she said. “When you recite your mantra over and over… you get more rest in a shorter amount of time than sleeping.” Meditation has had a profound effect on Hodges’ life. “Within three days of practicing it, I was more focused in classes, and in doing my homework.”

Hodges believes that families can combine religions, despite the hardships it may bring. “I told some of my Lutheran friends that I was Hindu, and that that’s kind of a big part of me. They didn’t seem very accepting of it.” But, she says, this should not deter families from raising children with two religions. “I think that’s the best way to go about it.”

‘Tis the (Eid) Season

Photo Credit: Iman Jafri

We wish you a merry marriage of religions

Photo Credit: Rebecca Xu

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Arts & Entertainment

December 2010

Winter Break Activities

For every day a new adventure

If you’re the type of person whose definition of winter break is hibernating in the dark caverns of your room rewatching every episode of your favorite television shows and occasionally slinking down to the kitchen for food, then this calender of fun things you can do will, hopefully, expand your daily schedule to something a little less sedentary. For you movie lovers, some of the biggest book-based movie remakes of the decade have release dates set for this month! If you want to get out of the movie theater check out both indoor and outdoor activities suggested for every day of the long winter break!

Ski or snowboard at Afton Alps located in Afton, Minnesota. It features five chalets, 48 runs, 18 chairlifts, and three terrain parks. Food and entertainment are available in all chalets and season passes cost $440.

Snowboard or ski atTroll Haugen in Dresser Wisconsin. It features two chalets, 22 runs, four chairlifts, six tow ropes, two full terrain parks, and a cross country ski trail. Snow tubing is also available as a new feature this year. Full season passes are $400, snow tubing season passes cost $60, and cross country season passes cost $85.

Go ice-skating at the large outdoor ice rink in Rice Park, located in downtown St. Paul.

During the winter it is open to everyone and is almost always free to use except for a few times each week when it is reserved for parties, hockey or broomball games.

Stay home and watch It’s A Wonderful Life! This classic drama is about George Bailey living in the typical American small town of Bedford Falls. It’s Christmas Eve, 1946 and George, eventually comes to contemplate suicide. During George’s hardship, an angel appears named Clarence Oddbody. It is up to Clarence to help George realize his importance and to show him what Bedford Falls would be like had he never been born.

Ski or snowboard at Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area.

This hill is fairly close to the twin cities, is great for beginners and has boards and skis available for rental at a low price. Hyland is very simple and has just a few hills with a tow rope.

Attend the “Noon Year’s Eve” celebration at the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul! Spend quality time with family and celebrate the 2011 New Year with a “Noon Year’s Eve Celebration.” Starting at noon on Friday, Dec. 31, it offers free entertainment with activities like hat and horn making, and a countdown to noon with a beach ball drop.

Go outdoor ice-skating at the Groveland Elementary School rink! During winter break it is open to the general public and isbig enough to support over 100 people at a time. There is a locker room to change in and store belongings as well as accessible bathrooms located next to the rink.

Activity Suggestions Compiled By Staff Writers Calvin Rose, Leslie Rossman, and Nicholas Scott

Try broomball! It is a sport similar to hockey but played in tennis shoes with broom sticks and a rubber ball. A lot of ice rinks have scheduled broomball times for anyone to come and play the sport.

Happy Kwanzaa!

Relax at the Special Holiday Yoga Classes at CorePower Yoga! What better way to stay in shape over the cookies, pie, and fruitcake then to take free beginner (C1) yoga classes at CorePower Yoga?

CorePower Yoga, located at a variety of locations in Saint Paul, and Minneapolis, offers a free week’s worth of unlimited yoga classes.

See The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader! After returning to Narnia and joining Prince Caspian for a voyage on the royal ship known as The Dawn Treader, Lucy, Edmund, and their cousin Eustace approach the edge of the world, and their amazing journey at sea races toward an exciting conclusion. The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader hits theaters Dec. 10, 2010.

Go ice-skating at a neighborhood park!

There are small rinks in hundreds of neighborhoods all over Minnesota.While they may not have the facilities or ice quality of the larger rinks, they are a nice place to go and skate with small groups of people.

See Tron: Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world. Sam Flynn, the son of Kevin Flynn, looks to investigate his father’s disappearance and is pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been for 25 years.

Along with Kevin’s loyal friend, father and son begin a dangerous escape across cyber space.

Ski or snowboard at Buck Hill! It is a great option for just starting out. This hill is fairly close to the twin cities and has boards and skis available for rental at a low price. Buck Hill has several runs varying in difficulty as well as a terrain park, half pipe, and chair lifts.

Snowboard or ski at Wild Mountain in Taylor Falls, Minnesota. It features a large chalet, 20 runs, four chairlifts, and a large terrain park with a full size half pipe. A full restaurant is available in the two story chalet with tables for everyone. Season passes cost $400.

See Gulliver’s Travels!

In a modern adaptation to the classic tale, Jack Black plays Lemuel Gulliver, a clerk at a New York newspaper. After he accidentally stumbles into the assignment of writing about the mysterious Bermuda Triangle, he is thrown into a strange land of Lilliput.

Gulliver’s ego is larger than life, as he places himself at the center of its most historic events.

Gulliver’s Travels is released on Dec. 22, 2010.

See The Tempest! Director Julie Taymor brings a new take on Shakespeare’s The Tempest to the silver screen. Starring Helen Mirren as the lead character Prospera the story quickly moves from one of revenge to a story about forgiveness. The Tempest promises to be a combination of supernatural action and intense drama.

Have a great break and happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Arts & Entertainment

December 2010 What holiday best suits you?

Answer these ten questions to see which winter holiday fits the way you celebrate.

Rebecca Xu Feature Co-Editor

1. How is your house decorated during the winter holidays?

A. With candles, toys, and chocolate.

B. I draw a big circle in the center of my house to symbolize reclusion.

C. My house looks like fireworks.

It has every color imaginable.

D. With a table full of food.

2. What do you eat during your winter holiday?

A. No pork, but many other foods.

B. This is not the time to feast.

C. A lot of sugar cookies.

D. Meat, vegetables, sweets. Basically everything.

3. How many gifts do you buy?

A. About eight per person.

B. None.

C. A lot.

D. A few small gifts.

4. When do you open these presents?

A. Over eight days.

B. I don’t give or receive presents.

C. The morning of my holiday.

D. On the last day of my holiday.

5. What do you do during your holiday?

A. Exchange gifts for eight days, and celebrate with my family.

B. Meditate.

C. Open gifts, and be with family.

D. Feast, exchange presents, and reminisce on my history and culture.

6. What are you celebrating?

A. The rededication of the Holy Temple.

B. The enlightenment of Buddha.

C. The birth of Jesus.

D. My roots and culture.

7. How many people celebrate your holiday?

A. A large group of people, though not as many as some other holidays.

B. Barely anyone knows about my holiday.

C. Almost everyone if you’re in America.

D. My entire race should celebrate my holiday.

8. What spiritual being do you worship?

A. God. B. Siddhartha Gautauma, a.k.a Buddha.

C. Jesus Christ D. I worship many Gods.

9. What is the literal meaning of your holiday?

A. Dedication or consecration.

B. Enlightenment.

C. Christ’s Mass.

D. First Fruits.

10. When do you celebrate your holiday?

A. It starts on the 25th day of Kislev.

B. 8th day of the 12th month.

C. December 25th.

D. December 26 to January 1.

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Ke$ha’s Cannibal... is what it is Did you know that before her singing career kicked off, Kesha Sebert had the intentions of attending the prestigious Columbia University to study psychology? Considering her new EP Cannibal, one can only imagine how drastically different her lyrics would be if she knew the affects drugs and alcohol have on the human brain.

Ke$ha became popular in the fall of 2009 with her single Tik Tok, in which she sing/raps about her desire for “the party” never to end. The attention of the world focused in on her because of her humorous, controversial lyrics, which portray her life as a party that doesn’t start until she walks in.

Ke$ha, who’s dollar sign in her performing name was a selfdeprecating joke regarding her lack of money before her success, released her new extended play (EP) Cannibal on Nov. 19, 2010. The album as a whole definitely has the same themes as her first album, Animal: partying, sex, alcohol, and odd lyrics that are meant to scare off boys. The title track of course needed to set a tone for the record, and does it ever. It starts out with her “rawr”ing just a little too loudly into the microphone, and goes on to dark lyrics about being an animal and eating boys, whatever that means. Though the themes from her first album definitely did not August King Satire Editor

disappear. It should be noted on the same day, Animal/Cannibal (Deluxe Version) was released, a reissue of her first album attached with her new EP, and with good reason too: Ke$ha did not go in a new direction with this record. It’s the same, slutty Ke$ha that drew in listeners in the first place, but with a riskier and darker edge to the lyrics.

Five out of seven of the songs’ choruses sound exactly like her first single Tik Tok, each one keeping a steady monotone set of a few syllables, followed by a vocal flare of “oh-woh-wah-oh”, which is also repeated a number of times. The title track imitates Tik Tok in that sense in literally every way. The verses are nothing too creative either, mostly consisting of her talkrapping for about 4 lines and then moving on to said chorus.

What this EP lacks in new sounds and actual singing, it makes up for in its intriguingly ridiculous lyrics. After listening to Cannibal, Sleazy, and Blow (the best three tracks on the EP), I found myself wanting to know the lyrics so I could laugh about them later. Referencing one of America’s most infamous, convicted serial killers, Ke$ha talk-raps about her lust for boys and how “If you’re too sweet then you’ll be a goner/ Yeah, I’ll pull a Jeffrey Daumer”.

Many female artists have a song recorded similar to Ke$ha’s The

Photo Courtesy: The Official Ke$ha Site

Perhaps singer/songwriter Ke$ha isn’t given enough credit for her intelligence. She was, after all, accepted to Columbia University, but it is hard to give credit to an artist with lyrics such as “If you’re too sweet then you’ll be a goner/Yeah, I’ll pull a Jeffrey Daumer.” Ke$ha’s EP Cannibal was released on Nov. 19, 2010 .

Harold Song, the first song the general public has heard from her expressing, well, you know, actual emotions, like those of melancholy and longing. Some of her sterotypical forbidden love song lyrics include: “I see your face in strangers on the street/I still say your name when I’m talking in sleep.” But then of course the EP goes back to her “all class” lyrics on her song Grow a Pear: “And no, I don’t want to see your mangina/ When you

grow a pair, you can call me back”.

It’s important to ask, “What is a girl who could have gone to a university with a 10% acceptance rate doing singing about being a sexdriven partier?” Maybe she wanted the money; maybe she wanted the fame. There is no definite way of knowing. All in all, perhaps Ke$ha “is who she is”, and perhaps she’s not.

Well, do ya, punk? Max Brown Junior Max Brown shares his favorite techno tunes

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Robot Rock - Daft Punk - It has a really good rhythm and beat to it, and I simply enjoy listening to it.

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Around The World - Daft Punk - Very repetitive (the lyrics are “around the world” repeated a couple hundred times), but still has a good beat to it.

Wildcat - Ratatat - a very good song in general, really gets me going. plus it has samples of a tiger roar. everybody loves tiger roars, and could use more tiger roars too.

Drugs - Ratatat - Also gets me going, but is also very pop-electronic with a lot of high pitched synthesizer. the song explains the name.

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Slow Down - Reel Big Fish Yeah, its RBF (ska-punk) it’s kinda Jimmy Buffett-y, but is also good calming down music.

Mostly A’s – Hanukkah.

Your holiday is Hanukkah! Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Also known as the Festival of Lights, people who celebrate this holiday kindles a light on the Menorah each day of the festival.

While Hanukkah does not have a set date on the Gregorian calendar, it always lasts for eight days. Each day represents an opportunity to receive more gifts.

Mostly B’s – Bodhi Day. Your holiday is Bodhi Day! Bodhi Day celebrates the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautauma, or Buddha.

This enlightenment includes three elements: the cycle of rebirth, the law of Karma, and the Four Noble Truths. This is a day of meditation, isolation, and simplicity. The most common decorations for Bodhi Day are a Bodhi Tree and circle symbolizing seclusion. Buddhism follows the lunar calendar, but Bodhi Day usually occurs in December.

Short Circuit - Daft Punk - Yeah, I like Daft Punk, in case you couldn’t tell.

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Swisha - Ratatat - I also like Ratatat. I heard this song as one of the space fillers on NPR. Birds of Fire - Mahavishnu Orchestra - a really complex song, in 13/8 time. Not an orchestra like the MN orchestra, but more rock instruments.

Unreachable - John Frusciante - a good indie-ish song, he was the former guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

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I Wonder - Mahavishnu Orchestra - A song I can actually play, is in 7/8 time, but is still complex and can be split up many different ways - it’s also kinda relaxing.

Photo Credit: Noah Shavit-Lonstein

Mostly C’s – Christmas.

Your holiday is Christmas! Christmas is one of the most commonly celebrated holidays during the winter season. Honoring the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is meant for a day of prayer. However, Christmas is also a time of family gathering, gift exchanges, and colorful decorations. Some of the most common decorations during Christmas include: an ornamented Christmas tree, colorful stockings, and multicolored lights.

Mostly D’s – Kwanzaa.

Your holiday is Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an American holiday that celebrates the Pan-African culture. Meaning the “first fruits,” Kwanzaa commemorates harvest and tradition.

This holiday lasts for seven days, each day having a specific meaning and purpose. These days are divided into Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani.

In English, this translates to: unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

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Satire Har, Har.

December 2010

the rubicONION

St. Paul Academy and Summit School’s FINEST fictional news source

He sees you when you’re sleeping...

Renowned priest from Georgian megachurch argues the values of Christmas Christmas has become so commercialized that it no longer has any meaning. I reject that as a statement made by ye of little faith and even littler imagination!

I ask you, my friends, are Santa Claus and God so different? Look at classic images depicting them.

They both have long white beards, and they can both look alternately very jolly and stirringly frightening. (After all, they are smiting the naughty and rewarding the nice.)

They both see you when you’re sleeping, they know when you’re awake, when you’ve been bad or good. Do what they would both do by employing the little guys (elves/people) to do your bidding. Be like Santa: jolly wife and lots of kids (well, elves that do all your housework), living in a nice little four bedroom, two bath, with a 3 car garage big enough for the sleigh.

The similarities do not end here. Like Santa, God employs the smaller people to do his heavenly bidding (elves), they both live in obscurity, in a place no one can really reach, and easily have a garage big enough for a sleigh.

Reindeers, similar to the animals that Noah took on his Ark, are loyal and strapped together two by two, whether they like it or not.

Granted, there is no flood, but depending on the part of our great country you live in, there is a lot of frozen water, and perhaps that will do. God challenges us in many difLevi T. Kuss His Reverend Holy Minister Priest Arch Bishop of Georgia

Not Warm.

H- 23 L- 21

Sophomore yells “Fire!” during exams, gets out of taking her Biology final.

Student surprised at the cold MN weather in the dead of winter.

ferent ways; why shouldn’t changing up the traditional weather be one of them?

Like the bread at the Last Supper, the cookies we leave out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve represent the body of Jesus Christ.

Santa Claus/God cannot help but come hustling down the chimney when he smells the delicious chocolate chip symbols of his son’s sacrifice for humanity!

To all those unbelievers who complain about how food centered this sacred day has become: for shame! Eating too much at the big holiday dinner honors the memory of 30-something Jesus’ Last Supper. Like Jesus and his disciples, all believers, and non-

believers will dine for one last time with family and friends and Uncle Robert who, (obviously having had too much of the Pinot Noir/Blood of Christ) lets slip that you’re adopted. Yes, there won’t be food or family time like this until – well – at least until New Year’s Eve, but that’s a lot more about drinking than about food and not since – well – Thanksgiving, I guess.

Candy canes are simply miniature shepherd staffs. Christmas, lest you forget, is all about learning. With these little canes, children can practice herding each other like sheep, as well as reenacting many treasured Bible stories about sheep herders such as Jacob tricking his father into believing that he was the older, bearded son by wearing a sheep skin on his face.

Speaking of excessive gifts, consider yourselves all wise men, who

would still be bringing gifts to baby Jesus today, had he not sacrificed himself to redeem our sins several thousand years ago. And so, this gift giving is an act of gratitude, for were it not for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his patience in returning to earth as the Messiah, we wouldn’t be able to give and get all of these presents for ourselves.

After all, it would be illogical to bring someone presents who is dead and obviously can’t use them.

Open your eyes to the miracle and joy all around us which manifests itself in Holiday sales (what’s this!?

A Christmas sweater for $19.99?! A set of manger animals, just $39.99?

A Chastity Belt for only $59.99?!

Unbelievable. Virgin Mary is still watching over us.)

So this Holiday season, give thanks, think of Jesus, and remember: Santa-God is always watching.

Novembeard’s clean-cut, razor sharp results Students and faculty alike come together to celebrate facial hair

November: a time of first snows, family, and… excessive facial hair? That’s right, facial hair. Movember, Novembeard, No-Shave November – call it what you may, but there is no denying that mustaches, beards and everything in between reigned supreme throughout the month of November. The competition consists of contestants (usually male) shaving the eve of November and not doing so again until the month is over.

In honor of such a festivity, a recent Minnesota Wild hockey game celebrated the ritual by Maddie Butler Managing Editor

handing out fake mustaches to everyone in the crowd and breaking the world record for the largest gathering of real mustaches under one roof, with a total of 1,131 mustached men in the stands. Why did men (and maybe some ambitious women) across the globe abandon their razors and embrace their manliness in its most natural form for thirty days? The event is all in an effort to promote men’s health, specifically to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

Check out these St. Paul Academy Mo’ Bros participating in the festivities.

Thank you to everyone who participated, even if you didn’t know you were doing so.

Find this celebration amusing? Check out the (un)official website @ Novembeard.com

Due to his ability to grow a beard precisely 25 minutes after shaving, Nat Bear should be allowed to compete for first place: Stachtastrophy. At SPA, Bear is our winner; last names don’t lie.

Recieving this year’s Novembeard SPA Faculty Prize, US Science teacher Dan Ertl has been growing his Novembeard since about 1977.

While not quite qualifying for the (un)official competition, freshman Alex Boutwrous-Lander is deserving of the “best effort” award.

Games

December 2010

Wintertime games

13

December is here and that means exams are drawing ever nearer. Take a second to relax with these fun games.

START

he a t t veal e! c e e nn to r imag o C ts ry do nte wi

Navigate your way from start to finish in this maze

Search the December issue of The Rubicon for the answers to this crossword puzzle. Clues are given below.

ACROSS 4 6

8 9 10 11 12

This issue’s student playlist Advisory bonding and helping others Artist who released a new album 45 minutes can’t handle this A highly controversial book Sport with a new head coach A Jamaican-Chinese holiday

DOWN 1 Scary events at St. Kate’s 2 Student who works at the zoo 3 Something we should do over

winter break 5 Cross-country skiing in the

summer 7 The newest Xbox

Find the names of winter holidays (listed below) hidden in the puzzle above. Can you uncover them all?

Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa

Newyear Bodhiday Boxingday

Advent Twelfthnight Yalda Yule

Connect-the-Dots courtesy printactivities.com, maze courtesy abcteach.com, crossword and word find made at armoredpenguin.com

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Opinion/Editorial

December 2010

Staff Editorial

Looking for an escape this holiday break?

Choose a comfy spot, your favorite snack, and a book that isn’t assigned It is no secret that St. Paul Academy and Summit School has a wealth of reading material. From literary classics in English to textbooks in Science, from foreign novels in language classes to readings for History, books surround SPA students, almost to the point of burying them.

With so much obligatory reading to keep track of, many SPA students shy away from the thought of reading a book outside of school.

Not only is time an issue, but many students see a book and automatically think of schoolwork, something they don’t want taking up their leisure time. Whatever the case may be, The Rubicon wants to encourage the students of SPA to pick up a book and read it, or to at least consider it, particularly with the 19 day winter break coming up.

True, it’s not as if SPA is the only place where reading for fun is dwindling. It’s a nationwide trend. According to a 2007 study performed by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), America’s teen and young adult population reads less often than any other age group. The NEA also said that the average 17to-24 year-old spends about two hours a day watching TV, but only about seven minutes reading.

The benefits of reading include better test scores and greater skill in writing. Vocabulary and reading com-

prehension are proven to both be directly proportional to the amount that a person reads, especially when they are younger. Reading different books and noting different voices bring different perspectives to the minds of readers and strengthen their ability to think of a variety of angles in all situations.

Books on nearly every subject imaginable exist in the world. Even if you do not like the concept of reading, chances are you will be able to find something that strikes a chord with you. This may even start a lifetime love of reading.

SPA students have a fantastic library right at their fingertips. Middle and Upper School librarian Nick Bancks and library assistant Emily Prebich make every effort to help a student find what they’re looking for, be it a biography for a history assignment, or something to read for fun. Yes, the library serves as social place as much as it does a study center, but why not utilize it as a library once in a while and ask for Bancks and Prebich’s advice on a book for you? The two make a considerable amount of effort to, according to Bancks, “get an enhanced interest in leisure reading.”

One way they do this is through the colorful book displays placed all around the library that change about every two weeks. Another way

Cartoon Credit: Claire O’Brien

is through the suggestion binder on Bancks’ desk in the upper library. The library also has a Twitter, a Facebook page, and blog updated

by Prebich on books recommended for teens. With all of this work towards encouraging reading for fun going on, especially for teens, chances are you’ll find something you like in our library, or at your local library or book store.

The Rubicon understands that plenty of SPA students do read in their spare time, and truly enjoy it, and we would like to commend those students, as we do all students who make time for their interests. We also un-

derstand that there are many students who say that they simply do not like reading, for whatever reason (e.g. the attention span necessary, how “boring” it is, or personal prejudice towards anything literary). While we recognize that students have their own reasons for not wanting to spend their free time reading, winter break is getting closer with each passing second, and if you have some down time, why not consider reading something. Who is it going to hurt? You could find something you really enjoy.

Give a book a chance.

The Rubicon 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.

The Rubicon Letters Policy: The Rubicon welcomes letters to the editor. They can be mailed to us or e-mailed to rubicon.spa@gmail.com.

Letters should be limited to 150-200 words and must be signed. Letters may be edited and published by discretion of The Rubicon staff.

Mini Editorials

Knight Errant editorial censored; finds larger audience on MPR

Hey, Jude... take a sad song and download it from iTunes

The Rubicon would like to acknowledge The Knight Errant, The student newspaper for Benilde St. Margaret’s, a Catholic school in St. Louis Park, for their thoughtfully written editorial criticizing a DVD put together by Archbishop Nienstedt and sent out to parishioners and school families. The DVD, in keeping with the Catholic teaching, condemns gay unions. The editorial acknowledges that the Church has the right to teach the official stance of the church, but that they felt “the DVD many of our families received is inappropriate due to the civil nature of the issue [of gay marriage], and the content is nothing more than simple, emotional propaganda.” The school administration removed the editorial from the publication’s web page after it received numerous comments. Minnesota Public Radio picked up the editorial, which can be read on the MPR website along with a story about the controversy.

The famous music purchasing site, iTunes, recently acquired the rights to The Beatles songs. For those of you who haven’t discovered the famous British Invasion foursome of John, Paul, George, and Ringo you can now download their iconic music from the 1960s for about $1.29 per song, and $9.99 per album. We at The Rubicon have mixed feelings about this iTunes acquisition. Yes, it provides quick access to some of the greatest of the great music, but most Beatles fans already own every album and song that they will listen to -- which is probably every song The Beatles made. And although many of us use iTunes to build our personal playlists, do they really need to offer The Beatles too? Is Apple not controlling enough of the music market already? Are the stockholders not making enough money on iPhones, Macs, and iPads? We feel that offering The Beatles on iTunes is a little too greedy.

November Results

Turkey Coloring Contest

WINNER

Name: Dani Andrusko Grade: 11 The winner will receive a Caribou Coffee gift card courtesy of The Rubicon staff.

Congratulations Dani! Take a look at the other amazing entries in the album on The Rubicon’s Facebook page.

Opinion/Editorial

December 2010

What is the reality with homework?

Contradiction between assigned and actual time spent Limitations. Rules.

Regulations.

These words exist even in a society founded on the basis of freedom, liberty, and justice. Why is this so? Because limitations allow freedom, rules bring liberty, and regulations give justice.

Limitations. Rules. Regulations.

These words penetrate the core of our society, providing us with the opportunity to flourish, and the chance to suffer. They are also the spine of St. Paul Academy and Summit School.

As citizens of a society that ensures freedom to every individual, we can always count on rules and limitations of certain actions to protect our freedom. There’s a rule to every principle, and a restriction to every behavior. Nations assign rules to restrict human behavior, and schools issue rules to restrict homework hours.

At a college preparatory school like SPA, homework is no joke: the content is challenging, and demands depth of thought and significant time spent. With the addition of sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities, students continue to complain about being overworked.

Senior Hannah Samuelson is a member of the Varsity Girls Tennis team, copresident of Academic World Quest, and a student taking two science classes, and it doesn’t end there. Samuelson’s also a senior, meaning she has to complete all of her college applications.

Applying to six colleges, Samuelson must find time to write her college essays, get teacher recomRebecca Xu Feature Co-Editor

mendations, and schedule meetings with her college counselor all before a dreaded deadline. During tennis season, this task seemed almost impossible. “When I had tennis I didn’t really work on college stuff. I didn’t have enough time to get my homework done, let alone getting college stuff done during sports season,” Samuelson said.

And here is a contradiction.

How is a student supposed to complete all of his or her assigned homework and college applications simultaneously?

The mental burden carried by piles of homework doesn’t only affect seniors, as freshman Hanad Musse shares similar feelings of stress.

Musse takes roughly three hours a night to complete his daily homework. Finishing an entire subject in 45 minutes is not always possible for Musse, especially when he studies for tests.

The facts are here: 45 minutes is not enough time, and SPA students feel overworked. The reason is set.

Rules are broken and limits have expanded.

But who’s to blame for this problem? The answer: both students and the school.

While students have reason to complain about the density and time consuming quality of the homework, SPA has justification for its behaviors too.

The Upper School Student Handbook is a collaborate work of the Principal, Dean of Students, Academic Dean, the Upper School Academic Committee, faculty, and students. It’s SPA’s expectations

and rules. Students are required to complete 45 minutes worth of homework per subject each night to mirror their work done in class.

When this doesn’t happen, students have two options: accept their fate or complain.

On average, Dean of Students Judy Cummins receives one homework complaint per week. After hearing the problem, Cummins sits down and has a conversation with the student. This conversation involves a series of questions: Is this a one time assignment or is it recurring? How are you preparing your work? How many nights were given to complete the assignment? How are you using your free periods? The conversation may end here, or it can resume with teachers.

“To try to get the real picture of what’s going on, you can have a conversation that was more about ‘let’s look at how you’re studying, let’s look at my assignments’ rather than saying ‘it’s more than 45 minutes, I’m stopping,” Cummins said.

Homework is for our benefit.

It’s a symbol of knowledge, work ethics, and dedication as a student.

Teachers assign homework so that we can eventually master a concept and apply it to build our future.

While some students can’t handle more homework, others choose to take the big leap forward. “I also know there are students who say, ‘I’d like to put in extra time and I’d like it [homework] to be extra thorough. That may be more than 45 minutes. They may not need to do that, but they choose to,” Cum-

mins said.

“I think [homework is] beneficial for us because I think it’s really preparing us for later stages in life.

As they give us more homework, we can begin to become more organized and efficient with our homework so that in college we’ll be prepared for loads and loads of homework,” Musse said.

Samuelson also agrees with this notion. Public school teachers don’t give their students as much guidance and preparation as the faculty at SPA do.

“Guidance is helpful because I have the college counselors telling me ‘okay this week you’re going to get your recommendations. This week you’re going to send your scores.’ There’s a lot of things that go into it,” Samuelson said. She adds, “I don’t think it’s the school’s fault, it’s my own fault; it’s my own bed time and it’s my own limits.”

Limitations have departed.

Rules have been broken. Regulations have been expelled. What’s left now? Hopelessness? Not yet.

We, the members of the SPA community, are standing right in front of the door to change. Option one: change to the SPA handbook and homework load. Faculty can either revise the numbers of hours spent on doing homework per night in the handbook or force teachers to assign fewer increments of homework. Option two: change student lifestyles and their viewpoint on homework. It is generally a student’s decision to attend SPA, and it is a student’s decision to work hard for this opportunity.

What SPA thinks about the homework rule Is the 45-minute rule realistic? Should the handbook policy be changed to reflect real time spent on homework, or should teachers should try harder to only assign 45-minutes of homework?

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From the US Student Handbook The Upper School Student Handbook provides the school’s norms on homework policy:

__________

“Upper School students have eight homework assignments during a twoweek period in each class.

Each department has a “D” (department) day for which no homework is assigned.” __________ “Generally, students should plan to spend an average of 45 minutes per subject for homework. Teachers generally give one or two-week assignment sheets so that students may plan their time effectively.” __________ “Our intent is that students should not receive homework assignments over major vacation holidays (e.g. winter break, spring break).” __________ “It is the school’s intent that students should not have more than two tests or projects due on any given day. Students who discover that they have more than two major commitments on the same day should speak directly with the teachers involved.” __________

“I think that 45 minutes is a good [amount of] time [for homework completion].”

“It’s unrealistic. No teacher follows it. If you can’t complete homework and stop at 45 minutes, it hurts your grade.”

“It’s misleading when they tell you it’s only 45 minutes of homework.”

“The handbook should be rewritten to say that students should go the extra mile at all costs.”

- Ellen Samuelson, freshman

- Bobby Whitaker, senior

- Yusra Murad, freshman

- Daniel Porter, junior

“Students are responsible for making up missed work. Students may or may not be granted additional time to make up missed work, depending on the classification of the absence.” __________ “Our intent is that students away from school due to SPA grade-level retreats should not have homework to complete during the retreat.”

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ubicon

St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave. St. Paul, MN

St. Paul, MN Permit No. 3400

The Rubicon’s Book Club

Check out these book suggestions from your Rubicon editors

Rebecca, Feature Editor Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

To me, a great book is determined by the element of surprise. If the reader predicts the plot correctly, than the reader feels nothing: not the thrill of suspense, desire to know more, or the joy of surprise. This is why I recommend everyone to redeem the joy of reading in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. At first glance, Jane Eyre may seem like the typical story of a poor, young girl seeking independence in Victorian England. However, after traveling with Jane through her rough childhood, years of studying at Lowood School, and unstoppable adulation towards Mr. Rochester at Thornfield Hall, you find that Jane is no different than any modern teenager.

Taylor, Columnist The Catcher in the Rye

by J.D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye’s sarcastic and witty narrator Holden Caulfield bring a thoughtful, somewhat whiny, tone to the story. Holden’s go-with-the-flow attitude about life and his search for his own identity are shown through encounters with a prostitute, a former teacher, his ex girlfriend, and his younger sister. The Catcher in the Rye is a classic, although it was banned from some schools in the past. Holden’s casual, relatable language keeps you reading until the end and lets you into Holden’s thoughts and opinions about the world.

August, Satire Editor

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

This book incorporates the typical high school aspects of sex, drugs, alcohol, sexual orientation, and awkwardness into the main character of the book. Sounds familiar, right? Of course it will never live up the life and times of Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye, but I’m glad the main character doesn’t whine about his problems and drop the f-bomb on every page. And hey, at least this book isn’t responsible for the murder of legendary musician John Lennon. Thanks J.D. Salinger.

Iman, Centerspread Editor

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

With lots of humor, adventure, romance, and more, this book is simply brilliant. Even for those who are not the type to swoon over fictional characters (though, I dare you to not fall in love or at least strongly like main character Wesley), this book entertains from start to finish.

Allison, Sci&Tech Editor

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

by Kate DiCamillo

Normally, I despise rabbits: they eat my vegetation and leave special “surprises” all over my yard. However, Kate DiCamillo has created a little china rabbit that touches the sentimentalist in each reader. DiCamillo’s beautiful story captures themes of love, friendship, and life through Edward’s truly remarkable journey. Featuring illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline, who depicts each scene with masterful artistry, this is the perfect winter read.

Alex, Sports Editor

Goodbye, Columbus by Philip Roth

What do you get when you mix two of the greatest pieces of American Literature, The Catcher and the Rye and The Great Gatsby? You get another unbelievable piece of literature in the name of Goodbye Columbus. Written by Philip Roth the narrative puts you into the shoes of Neil and how he goes about his relationship with his summer fling, the exuberant Brenda.

Kaia, A&E Editor

Charles Kuralt’s America

by Charles Kuralt

Follow former CBS reporter Charles Kuralt as he hits the road and takes you through his favorite places in America at his favorite times of the year. When did Kuralt stop in Charleston, SC, for example? In March of course, to witness the azaleas.

Kuralt’s fantastic writing lets you feel like you are witnessing the scenery alongside him.

Noah, News Editor

Watchmen

by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

The graphic novel Watchmen by Alan Moore and David Gibbons puts a group of superheroes in the real world and watches their incredible influence. In the eighties, a new law forces them to leave their posts as heroes. Throughout the book, we hear of former heroes dying, of the effects they have on their friends, of how they came to be heroes, and of their work in the Cold War. It sounds like the movie The Incredibles, but it’s far more political and gruesome.

Watchmen is a careful analysis of cause and effect, but it’s also full of classic comic book hero battles.

Henry, Feature Editor The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Before Harry Potter there was The Hobbit. Promoted as one of the best fantasy stories ever written, JRR Tolkien’s famous work helped to influence stories such as The Chronicles of Narnia and uses elements from early English works like Beowulf. The Hobbit, setting the stage for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, tells the story of Bilbo Baggins’ search for treasure and adventure away from his quiet everyday life back at his home.

This book is a relatively fast read and is not very complicated. Tolkien does a great job at introducing characters while simultaneously continuing the story line and never seems to get boring.

Rachel, Op/Ed Editor

Looking for Alaska by John Green

John Green is an incredible author who seems to know exactly how teenagers think. His first book, Looking for Alaska, is about a boy named Miles who switches to a boarding school for his junior year of high school. There he meets Alaska, a self-assured, reckless girl he falls in love with. Green’s writing style forces readers to flip page after page late into the night and makes his readers hold onto every insightful thought he weaves into the story. Looking for Alaska unfolds into a heartbreaking mystery that readers will pick up again and again.

Cover images courtesy BarnesandNoble.com