December 2015 issue by SPA Publications

December 15, 2015

THE RUBICON

the student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave — St. Paul, MN 55105 Volume 43. Issue 4. www.RubicOnline.com • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • Pinterest • YouTube • @TheRubiconSPA

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW “WE NEED TO HEAR PEOPLE’S OPINIONS, GOOD OR BAD, SO WE CAN REACH A GREATER UNDERSTANDING.” — SOPHOMORE NOAH SOLOMON

ISSUE INDEX 1 - Cover 2-3 - News 4-5 - Opinions

6 - InDepth 7 - Health & Wellness 8-9 - Cover Story 10-11 - Feature 12-13 - Arts & Entertainment 14-15 - Sports 16 - Back Cover

COVER DESIGN Meghan Joyce COVER PHOTO Jonah Harrison

ABOUT THE COVER December 15, 2015

THE RUBICON

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW “WE NEED TO HEAR PEOPLE’S OPINIONS, GOOD OR BAD, SO WE CAN REACH A GREATER UNDERSTANDING.” — SOPHOMORE NOAH SOLOMON

ISSUE INDEX 1 - Cover 2-3 - News 4-5 - Opinions

6 - InDepth 7 - Health & Wellness 8-9 - Cover Story 10-11 - Feature 12-13 - Arts & Entertainment 14-15 - Sports 16 - Back Cover

News

In a recent Pew study, 40% of millenials believed the government should further restrict First Amendment free speech rights. Does the SPA community agree?

Presenters share semester results of Advanced Science Research projects

ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH presenters included seniors Peter Baker, Anna Biggs, Claire Ristau, Maya Smith, and sophomore Emilia Topp-Johnson. The group shared their findings on Dec. 9 after a semester of study on their selected project.

CLAIRE HALLAWAY Staff Writer

PHOTO CREDIT: Amodyha Samarakoon

THE RUBICON • DECEMBER 2015

“Minnesota is a much better state for being reflective of the world.”

Governor Mark Dayton discusses Syrian Refugees “IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR... POLITICAL LEADERS TO USE WHAT MORAL AUTHORITY WE HAVE TO STAND AGAINST [PREJUDICE]...” — MN GOVERNOR MARK DAYTON

PHOTO CREDIT: Noor Qureishy GOVERNOR MARK DAYTON discusses the effects of Syrian refugees in Minnesota. “To single out one group of people from one country who are fleeing terrorism themselves is just I think an extreme overreaction,” Dayton said.

NOOR QUREISHY InDepth Editor

A flood of faces, a symphony of voices, weary but desperate to flee the insanity of their former lives, to run from the terrorism that has overrun their country. CNN reports that the United States has responded to the refugee crisis by allowing the admittance of 1,500 refugees (out of over four million that have fled Syria) since the civil war started in 2011, and has now committed to bringing in 10,000 more in 2016. Although 31 governors have publicly announced their stance against the admittance of any more refugees into their respective states, Minnesota governor Mark Dayton will welcome refugees here. “To single out one group of people from one country who are fleeing terrorism themselves is just I think an extreme overreaction,” Governor Mark Dayton said. “To say that we’re going to prevent people from coming here, families and others who’ve been vetted carefully to me is really ill-advised. It’s not going to make Minnesota safer.” Dayton believes that every necessary precaution should be taken when resettling refugees, and that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is doing just that with their vetting procedures. The security process for refugees has been known to be ex-

tremely selective and rigorous; refugees are subjected to the highest possible level of security checks of any traveler in the U.S. They are also reviewed by the National Counterterrorism Center, the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense according to Dayton. Dayton believes that the statements made by governors in an attempt to keep refugees out of their states are at best, showmanship. “As a practical matter, unless you stop every car that’s driving across the interstate, you’re not going to be preventing people from moving from one place to another. It’s really just a lot of showmanship and pandering to the worst fears of people,” he said. A refugee’s journey, once they’ve been granted refugee status in the U.S. becomes a little easier. “The way that refugees usually come to MN is actually through existing family connections: we’ve only had nine Syrian refugees settle in MN since 1974 — there was a family of seven that came in the last year — but people may have come in a secondary migration,” Lauren Gilchrist, Senior Policy Advisor to the Governor said. The federal government has not notified Dayton of any cuurent plans to admit Syrian refugees to Minnesota. Non-profit refugee resettle-

ment organizations often provide most of the support for incoming refugees: “The state has contracts with non-profit organizations that are sort of the first touchpoint. We also have a state agency: that’s the point for state government to help work with those organizations,” Gilchrist said. The non-profit system focuses on the first 90 days of a refugee’s time in Minnesota; this includes housing, health screenings, connections with the education system, and any other basic needs they may have. All refugees have access to state services non-refugees would have access to. Minnesota has not been chosen as a focal point for Syrian refugee resettlement by the federal government or by Syrian refugees, but this is not for lack of support by local government officials or most of the public, in Dayton’s opinion. “There’s a nucleus, literally [of refugees] and then it just grows on itself. I would personally welcome Syrian refugees [if they] chose MN as a focal point…I don’t think it’s Minnesota’s attitude toward refugees that’s preventing them from coming here; it just happened that way,” Dayton said. However, Dayton agrees that Islamophobia has played a part in the opinions of some Minnesotans who believe that the Syrian refugees should be kept out. “I’m told there were a bunch of people that weren’t happy with

my statements which disappoints me…[an opinion poll] would be skewed because of the fear element,” Dayton said. At the time of this interview, the attackers in the Dec. 2 San Bernardino shooting had not been identified as Pakistani-American Muslims, and Dayton acknowledged that their racial, religious, and national identity may play a part in his and the public’s opinion concerning Syrian refugees, along with the public’s perception of the Paris attack. “If you ask the question [of whether Syrian refugees should come to the U.S.] within the context of people believing that [the Paris attack was] somehow fermented by Syrian refugees, which I think is part of the misunderstanding…that really will skew [the public opinion towards refugees], If the California shooting, God forbid turns out - God forbid it happened - but depending on who it is, that will skew public opinion over here,” he said. Dayton added that “If people make a connection that Syrian refugees are going to increase the risk of their children at a shopping center to terrorist acts, that’s going to skew their view.” The Governor hasn’t changed his public statement supporting the admission of refugees to Minnesota as of press time. Dayton is a strong believer in refusing to let bigoted, prejudiced perspectives against people of other cultures or religions play a part in his decision to welcome the Syrian refugees. “It’s really important for leaders, like myself, political leaders, to use what moral authority we have to stand against [prejudice] and stand with the vast majority of Minnesotans,” he said. “Minnesota is a much better state for being reflective of the world,” he said.

Read more at

ubicOnline.com

Spring language trips cancelled due to political instability ETHAN LESS Staff Writer

Twenty-eight French and German students at St. Paul Academy and Summit School will have to make new arrangements for this year’s Spring Break. Due to instability in both countries relating to the Syrian Refugee Crisis and France recently declaring a state of emergency after the numerous attacks by ISIS, teachers have opted to cancel the 2016 backpacking trips to France and Germany. “It is with a heavy heart that I’m writing to let you know that, after long conversations and consultations with school administration, Frau Crowder and I have decided to cancel the 2016 spring break trips,” Upper School French Teacher Sophie Kerman wrote in an email to French and German student’s parents. Instead of waiting until March to make a decision, Kerman and Crowder wanted to give students a chance to make new plans for Spring Break. Kerman expressed that “The trip is meant to be fun... I don’t want terrorism to stop us from having this really good experience, however France declared a national state of emergency after the attacks… it just seems like asking for trouble,” she said. Both Kerman and Crowder agreed that their were two parts to the cancellation. The first was the refugee crisis in Germany. The second were the attacks in France. This is where they drew the line. “Then the Paris attacks happened. With that new situation… we have a second layer. The combination of the two issues made us ask ourselves if the trip would be the same as we wanted it to be… We felt that we would have to much more cautious and controlled about what we did. This was not the trip that we wanted.” This is not the first trip cancellation. In fact, it is not the first cancellation in the past 15 years. In 2003, the spring trips were cancelled due to the US invasion in Iraq leading into the beginnings of the Iraq War. It’s not anticipated that this year’s cancellation will impact the more formal exchange trips for 2017.

CORRECTIONS POLICY

NOVEMBER CORRECTIONS

During the post-critique process, staff members will identify innacuracies and report on feedback from readers. Corrections will be printed in the next edition of the newspaper in the News section.

COVER - Volume 42, Issue 3 (not 2). NEWS 2 - A.M. Roberts was misquoted; she was not asked a question about support for France, but about the timing of the attacks. Her quote was not printed. SPORTS 15 - there is no “d” in Karsten Runquist’s last name.

Midterm and Final Exams finish out Semester 1 before Winter Break

Monday Science Exams: 9-10:30 a.m. English Exams: 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesday Math Exams: 9-10:30 a.m. Language Exams: 1-2:30 pm.

Advisories wrap gifts for Adopt-a-Family

ADVISORIES gathered in the lunchroom on Dec. 9 to wrap gifts for Adopt-A-Family. The program is a way to give gifts to underprivileged families during the holidays. Read more at

ubicOnline.com

Wednesday History Exams: 9-10:30 a.m. Make-up Exams: 1-2:30 p.m.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jack Benson

News 3

December 2015 • THE RUBICON PROTESTERS, OFFICIALS, JOURNALISTS, AND PARTICIPANTS use social media to get facts and opinions out to broaden the conversation after the violence Nov. 15. ““There has been a lot of stuff about it [Jamar Clark’s death] in my community because I live in North Minneapolis,” sophomore Amina Smaller said.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Iya Abdulkarim On campus, the students also engaging in discussions about race and justice related to the event, including a Monday assembly followed by an X-Period workshop.

Jamar Clark’s death sparks Black Lives Matter protests Iya Abdulkarim Feature Editor

NOTE: This story includes detailed language about the alleged brutality being protested. Following the death of unarmed 24 year-old African-American man Jamar Clark by gunshot to the head by Minneapolis Police on Nov 15. a total of fifty Black Lives Matter demonstrators have been arrested, and five were shot at peaceful protests. Protesters gathered at the Fourth Police Precinct in Minneapolis the day of Clark’s death until Dec. 3, when police cleared the area. Since then, demonstrators have shifted their presence to the City Hall. According to the Minneapolis chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), after interfering with Emergency Medical Technicians trying to care for his girlfriend, he was handcuffed and shoved to the ground before being shot in the head “execution style,” around 1:00 a.m. Clark was declared brain dead and removed from life support on Nov. 16. After an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the case will be presented to a grand jury, who will determine whether or not the policeman involved in the shooting will be indicted. “There has been a lot of stuff about [Clark’s death] in my community because I live in North Minneapolis,” sophomore Amina Smaller said. “In all the community newspapers, community news stations, it has all been brought up—but there hasn’t been as much media

coverage as I wished,” Smaller said. Smaller also said that the topic was only mentioned to her twice prior to during the reflection assembly on Nov. 24 she said, “but I still felt that it wasn’t enough because I think each thing that happened should have its own situation of talking about it.” Freshman Charlie Gannon said that “It is good to have awareness of these kind of events and to speak your mind about it.”

““The only thing you can do is show your support because at times like this, no one wants to get into a debate about racism.” — Sophomore amina smaller In a segment on Kare 11 News, Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorney Eric Nelson said that “The government may not try as hard to get an indictment as they would against someone who is not a police officer,” leading many protesters stand against the decision to bring the case to a grand jury. Following Clark’s death, 42 demonstrators who caused westbound I-94 to close were arrested for being pedestrians on a freeway as well as unlawful assembly according to Kare 11 News. Black Lives Matter demonstrators occupied the Fourth Police Precinct of Minneapolis until Dec. 3 when the area in front of the station was cleared by police; the protesters moved to City Hall.

Demonstrators started hashtags to raise awareness about the shooting including #Justice4Jamar. On Nov. 23, as the rallies continued, at least two of four white supremacists who were present in the crowd and opened fire. Five protesters were shot, and luckily none of the injuries were life-threatening. Minnesota Public Radio reported that the four men were brought to court on Dec. 1, and Black Lives Matter protesters led a rally at the Minneapolis City Hall. Clark’s funeral took place on Nov. 25, with hundreds of attendees. Protesters celebrated together on Thanksgiving. “The only thing you can do is show your support because at times like this, no one wants to get into a debate about racism,” Smaller said. On Dec. 3, the Minneapolis Police asked protesters to clear the perimeter as reported by StarTribune. Eight protesters who refused to leave were arrested. Demonstrators have adjusted and focused on the Minneapolis City hall, leading rallies and day long protests, and joined by clergy members. St. Paul Academy and Summit School’s Diversity Dean Karen Dye believes that Clark’s shooting, among other events, should be brought up in structured discussions. “People are obviously here to learn and get the best education possible, but part of that education is being involved in the community, and being aware of what is going on in the community,” Dye said.

Stakeholders use social media to engage with legal, racial questions “It may be cold, but our hearts are burning for justice. #Justice4Jamar” @NAACP-Nov. 19

We stand with those who want the truth to be revealed. @Berniesanders- Nov. 20 Our thoughts are with those in Minneapolis. #4thPrecinctShutDown #Justice4Jamar. @ColorOfChange-Nov. 24

Funeral procession for #JamarClark comes thru honking in support and chanting #Justice4Jamar and #BlackLivesMatter. @BlackLivesMpls-Nov. 25 I’m not saying ‘go home’; keep protesting. I’m saying take it to a grand jury where #justice4jamar hangs in balance. @keithellison-Nov. 30

Meet us at the #4thprecinctshutdown today to demand #Justice4Jamar and show @MayorHodges & the city of @mpls that we are not playing. @-NAACPMpls - Nov. 30

New Speaker Series focuses on real world bearing of academic study Lucas Johnson Sports Editor

Upper School Council introduced a Speaker Series this year to bridge the thematic connections made through the biannual Speaker Day, which happens every two years. “We hope to give students an idea of what their lives could be like outside of SPA through education on social issues, career paths, and other topics that extend beyond the classroom,” USC Co-President Cait Gibbons said. Each Speaker Day has a theme that generally united the speakers, with the March 2015 Speaker Day focused on “Immigration and Cultural Diversity.” The devotion to unity and consistency has not been overlooked with the Speaker Series. “The theme of our speaker series is ‘Empowering Individuals to Better the Greater Community’ so it’s a very broad theme that will hopefully allow for a broad spectrum of speakers,” Gibbons said. The series will encompass a number of concepts that go unnoticed amongst high school students. USC anticipates that the speakers will be able to relate what students are doing in class today to a profession that uses said skills consistently: “I think a lot of students have trouble seeing what good having a solid understanding of geometry does, or how writing an analytical paper about a book will help in the long term, so hopefully some of these speakers will be able to show students how they will be able to use what they’re learning now in the future and in the real world,” Gibbons said. Aside from the practical lessons to be learned, the speakers also provide a point of view that can be valuable in terms of perspective as students transition into the real world, “I think it’s really important and valuable to be able to hear from people outside our community and people who live, think, learn, and act differently than we do,” Gibbons said. In terms of second semester, USC hopes that parents of current students and past alumni will join in the series. USC hopes to create a longstanding tradition for the years where Speaker Day is not included. “I do hope that the council will continue to bring in speakers even in the Speaker Day off year,” Gibbons said.

Editorial

THE RUBICON • DECEMBER 2015

Global isolation not the cure for terror Still, rationale for language trip cancellations is sound

MINI EDITORIALS

Sacrifices of study space utility show overemphasis on appearance Few designated study areas exist within the school: the library classroom, specific areas within the library, and the O’Brien Family Study Alcove in the Huss Center. Unfortunately, only two of these three spaces have tables, neither of which have the word “study” applied to them. For all of its good intention, the O’Brien Family Study Alcove sports only a hard red box, presumably meant to be a bench, and a display screen. The only real study space within the Huss Center, tucked away near the Driscoll Family Commons,

has domestic grade bar stools and tables which have needed replacements already. Simply put, the Huss Center is not conducive to academic use by students, which, for a school, should not be the case. What it does seem to do is keep up appearances to appeal toward donors, especially in light of the donor names adorning the Huss Center walls. Aesthetic is clearly important, but is it more important than utility? Rather than prioritize visual appeal, furnishers should first evaluate both student ergonomics and longevity in a school setting.

Safe havens for expressing emotions regarding current events add value to school Editorial Cartoon: Diane Huang THE LANGUAGE TRIPS have been canceled, but that shouldn’t keep students from staying internationally connected and breaking free of the dangerous assumptions that chain us to fear.

EDITORIAL

The Rubicon Staff Spring Break plans changed for two dozen language students with the announcement from the Language Department and Administration that trips to Austria/ Germany and France would not take place as planned. The decision to cancel the trips, in light of safety issues, is completely reasonable and understandable, as is the disappointment felt by both teachers and students who had been looking forward to the trips. In France, heightened security after the ISIS attacks would make getting a large group of students through the airport and the usual sightseeing attractions difficult, if not impossible. France recently extended their state of emergency for another three months, meaning extra police and armed guards in public spaces, as well as extra restrictions in train stations and airports. In Germany, an influx of Syrian refugees and resulting debates and protests creates a similar security obstacle. After the attack on France, ISIS has made subsequent threats towards Germany,

Italy, and Belgium, which “add another level of serious concern” according to US German teacher Jutta Crowder, in her letter to families after the decision.

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, IS THE TIME TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO DEFEND AGAINST FEAR, NOT TO TEAR THEM APART. Canceling the trips is understandable, but regressing cultural respect and global awareness is not. Already, increased fear has caused widespread destruction as global unity degenerates and people are torn apart by disagreements about related political issues. It is natural to experience fear, but when this fear becomes targeted at Muslim individuals in particular, it becomes a problem. Now, more than ever, is the time to bring people together to defend against fear, not to tear them apart. When an attack by ISIS or any other extremist group leads

to hate and prejudice against the entirety of a religious, cultural, or intellectual community, it creates feelings of fear, resentment, and anger across all communities. These feelings only further the tensions between people, making it easier for terrorists to recruit more people, beginning the vicious cycle again. Now is the time to come together as a country and an education community, mourning those who have been lost together, and not blaming an entire religion for the actions of a few people who claim to adhere to it. ISIS is not a culture or a religion. It is a terrorist group. Students will have the opportunity to travel to France and Germany next year, and language teachers are already encouraging students to plan for these trips. In the interim, we must be careful not to allow the school’s decision to cancel the trips to shape personal viewpoints and decisions. It is essential to pay attention to news, continue to build global connection in classes and lives, and support those who are hurting in these crises.

Progress was made when SPA announced it would be hosting a space strictly devoid of intellectual or argumentative remarks so that students could collectively process the dark events presently dominating world headlines. Within the school, conversations surrounding current events have been purely academic. For some students, these conversations carry with them pain or frustration, so it was commendable for the SPA community to step out, ac-

knowledge this, and provide an outlet for emotions to be aired without bias or argument, but fact and feeling. This allows burdens to be released and awareness to be dispersed. Such events need to happen more often and receive more attention. What it carries with it, best described as understanding and compassion, is intrinsic to what makes the SPA community so valuable. Often, that is easy to forget amid debates and graded harkness discussions.

Single-use bathrooms must be respected in order to remain single-use After celebrating the faculty-only single-use bathrooms being opened to students in September, it’s a frustrating reality to see their use limited by irresponsible and destructive choices being made in the new spaces. The Huss Center single-use bathroom was locked after students started bringing friends into the bathroom with them. Now, the same

concern exists for the fourth floor bathroom. The second floor single stall bathroom was marked “Out of Order” for several days this month after the space was damaged. Care of these spaces and following the rule of one-person use is the responsible choice to insure that the single bathrooms will remain open for those who need them.

Are you struggling to stay awake? Read the eye-opening, SNO award-winning article by columnist Riley Wheaton about why school communities should condemn not condone sleep deprivation at Rubiconline.com or follow him on Twitter @rileyobservato1.

THE RUBICON • St. Paul Academy and Summit School • 1712 Randolph Ave St. Paul, MN 55105 • rubicon.spa@gmail.com www.RubicOnline.com • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • YouTube • @TheRubiconSPA We strive to capture the spirit of the community through its stories while inspiring deeper conversations. Above all, we stand for integrity in our pursuit to inform and engage our readers. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITORS OPINIONS EDITOR FEATURE EDITORS COVER STORY EDITOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDITOR INDEPTH EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS SPORTS EDITORS ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR COLUMNIST VIDEOGRAPHER ADVISER

Boraan Abdulkarim Meghan Joyce Javier Whitaker-Castañeda Diane Huang Gitanjali Raman Lauren Boettcher, Emily Thissen Sophie Jaro Dianne Caravela, Iya Abdulkarim Mari Knudson Amodhya Samarakoon Noor Qureishy Marlee Baron, Stephanie Li Lucas Johnson, Clare Tipler Breandan Gibbons Riley Wheaton Rafa Buettner-Salido Kathryn Campbell, 2015 MN Journalism Educator of the Year

STAFF WRITERS Jake Adams, Jack Benson, Peter Blanchfield, Ellie Findell, Michael Forsgren, Stephanie Frisch, Mimi Geller, Jasper Green, Claire Hallaway, Jonah Harrison, Ethan Less, Ellie Nowakowski, Isa Saavedra-Weis, Krista Schlinger, Garrett Small 2014-2015 PUBLICATION AWARDS JEM All-State Gold (Print and Online), MHSPA Best of Show, (Print and Online), NSPA All American (Print) and First Class (Online), CSPA Gold Medal w/ All Columbian Honors, CSPA Silver Crown Award, Best of SNO Medalist, Pacemaker Finalist

MEMBERSHIPS Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Minnesota High School Press Association, Quill and Scroll Society PUBLICATION INFO The Rubicon is published eight times a school year, We distribute 750 copies of each issue, which are available for free. EDITORIALS Editorials articulate the collective opinion of The Rubicon staff, while mini-editorials, opinion pieces, and columns belong to the author of those works.

BY LINES Authors of full story content are credited in by lines. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Opinions are welcomed as Letters to the Editor or Submitted Opinions and may be published in the print or online edition. Letters to the Editor should not exceed 400 words and Submitted Opinions should not exceed 650 words and may be edited for style. All pieces must be submitted with a full name. POLICIES Detailed policies are published in the “About” tab at RubicOnline: www.rubiconline.com

Opinions 5

DECEMBER 2015 • THE RUBICON

Good grades must be valued more than bad grades are despaired

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Card

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Sophie Jaro ON THE LARGER SCALE OF LIFE, ALL COMPLETED SCHOOLWORK should be evaluated as a success by students. Despairing over mistakes is a failure to understand the meaning of education.

MARI KNUDSON

Cover Story Editor Heartbeats quicken, fingers cross, and feet tap nervously as teachers slowly progress around the room, calling off names and presenting papers to students. Hands quickly flip the papers over; eyes search for the grade; minds process the penned numbers momentarily then immediately proceed to either silently celebrate or despair. More often than not, it is despair for small mistakes, rather than appreciation for pretty good grades.

Everyone knows the stress that accompanies the return of an important paper, test, or project; each instance seems to singlehandedly alter the fate of one’s entire high school career and beyond. To some extent, this stress is beneficial as it drives students to reach their full potential. However, in many cases the stress leads to skewed patterns of thought which can seriously harm students’ mental health. It may seem natural to assume that students focused on academic achievement will celebrate their successes with as much energy as they condemn their failures. In-

stead, many seem unaffected by their successes but severely distressed by the disappointment of slight failure. This line of thinking could be explained by the fact that if students expect themselves to succeed, instead of merely being hopeful, then a good test grade hardly seems worth celebrating. Consequently, any grade that falls below their definition of good is deemed unacceptable. Paying attention to bad grades has some merit; it allows students to learn from their mistakes and refrain from repeating them. However, it is important to view graded tests and projects as op-

portunities for learning, not perfection. Focusing only on what went wrong, as opposed to a maintaining a more balanced outlook, paints a distorted picture of one’s academic career. Suddenly the self-proclaimed failures stand out much more than the accomplishments, leaving students with the false impression that they are constantly falling below their expectations.

IF STUDENTS EXPECT THEMSELVES TO SUCCEED, INSTEAD OF MERELY BEING HOPEFUL, THEN A GOOD TEST GRADE HARDLY SEEMS WORTH CELEBRATING. It is equally important to take the time and congratulate oneself for the tests and papers that are successful. One can learn just as much by studying what went right as one can learn studying what went wrong. However, the value of self-congratulation is much deeper than purely academic. Today’s high school students are experiencing higher rates of stress over academics than ever. According to a study published by Frontiers in Psychology fo-

cusing on elite East Coast private schools, 49% of students reported that they felt “a great deal of stress” on a daily basis. While much of this stress stems from uncontrollable outside factors such as standardized testing and the pressure to be accepted into an elite college, a considerable amount results from students’ own skewed expectations about themselves and underevaluation of their own achievements. This stress can have tangible impacts on students’ mental and physical health, including fatigue, sleep problems, and higher rates of depression and anxiety, according to the Mayo Clinic. While it may seem like a trivial and useless pursuit, taking the time to congratulate oneself over good grades can shift students’ focus from their shortcomings to their successes, resulting in a much more positive outlook on their academic career. The difference between working hard to ward off failure and working hard to continue one’s progress is huge, and can help reduce students’ stress levels. After finals wrap up, the semester comes to a close, and students are released to a few weeks of no school, they should use that extra time to reflect on what they achieved over the semester and refrain from obsessing over their mistakes. Simply finishing the semester is an accomplishment itself.

Muses of mundane world breathe life into inspired work Turning to sources of inspiration is not a sign of intellectual or creative weakness; on the contrary, the ability to manifest these abstract and varied muses into one’s work is a mark of genius— quite literally, in accordance with the idea of neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ever-adapting ability to form connections between two ideas.

“INSPIRED WRITERS ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE, AND SPEND LESS TIME PAUSING AND MORE TIME WRITING.” — THE HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Boraan Abdulkarim THIS COLLAGE of magazine cutouts shows inspiration can be found from fashion to flowers to music to architecture. These muses can be tapped to spruce up artistic and academic work. Embracing inspiration is essential to stepping up work and mindset.

BORAAN ABDULKARIM Editor-in-Chief

Whether for a science experiment, an art project, a literature review or an idea of personal style or philosophy, ideas for what one creates neither have to be drawn entirely from the chasms of one’s mind nor built entirely on outside sources. Any student picked

at random can attest to being inundated with the idea of a false dichotomy between the original and the cited work. However, this shallow view of what one creates dismisses the vast and beautiful gray area of the inspired work. The complex nuances that come from outside of one’s own imagination are what breathe life into work, and what make the fin-

ished product stand out. The sources of inspiration are infinite, eclectic, and generous; a dessert can be inspired by a flower. A photograph can be inspired by a poem. An outfit can be inspired by a word. Hell, a college essay can be inspired by a television show deliciously lacking in any trace of plot. The more seemingly incongruous, the better.

Exercising this nexus between the inspiration and the inspired work helps nourish our brains and make us, in a way, smarter, by creating aforementioned neuropathways. This happens in the gray matter of the brain, which houses the creation of connections. Viewing oneself as inspired also makes one more independently creative over time, according to The Harvard Business Review, which claims that “being in a state of inspiration also predicts the creativity of writing samples across scientific writing, poetry, and fiction....Inspired writers are

more efficient and productive, and spend less time pausing and more time writing.” Of course, inspiration alone can only guide ideas that are already there or provide an invisible outline for something that needs to be realized. For that reason, inspiration is not unethical. Inspiration is not always tangible; it may be as elusive as thoughts or emotions. One can be inspired by hate or love; by despair or euphoria. As it happens, inspiration occurs in three stages— the spontaneous evocation of inspiration, transcendence, or the visualization of possibilities or connections, and approach motivation, or the process of actualizing what was visualized during transcendence. This process is not deliberate and has no time limitations— it could take seconds or weeks, but it happens nonetheless. Every lab report writer, student artist, literature reviewer, or independent personality should look for inspiration in the most mundane aspects of life. Perhaps it will become a subconscious process. Not only will it spice up a paper or painting, but it will make one smarter, more creative, increase one’s well-being, and stimulate progress towards goals.

InDepth

THE RUBICON • December 2015

stephanie frisch Staff Writer

Groggy, tired, overwhelmed, and stressed students are very commonly found walking the halls, especially around exams. As students prep and take exams, they commonly reach a point of brain fatigue. When someone becomes brain fatigued they are exhausted to the point where they are unable to focus any longer. Sophomore Dorienne Hoven feels most brain fatigued when she has not gotten a lot of sleep, when work is piling up, when deadlines are abundant, or when she has a very full and busy day. Hoven’s relaxation techniques change depending on whether she is in or out of school. “I like to sit and listen to music and close my eyes because it helps me relax [in school],” Hoven said. Out of school, Hoven likes to watch Netflix, stop and read for a bit, or eat something. “[I also] like to talk with my sister because she is a good distraction; she is six with endless amounts of energy,” Hoven said. Junior Cole Thompson feels most brain fatigued towards the end of the day, especially when he has not gotten enough sleep the night before, or when he’s

exhausted himself mentally. “[If I] have done some really intense mental activity that day, like after a debate tournament I will be really tired mentally,” Thompson said.

“There is no true way to beat brain fatigue...the best way to sustain focus and energy is taking care of the body.” — Sarah Davies, Director for the center FOR learning and teaching “There is no true way to beat brain fatigue,” Sarah Davies, the Director for the Center of Learning and Teaching said, “The best way to sustain focus and energy is taking care of the body. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritiously, and being aware of physical and mental health.” Teenagers between the ages of 14-17 need eight to ten hours of sleep each night; however, most teens do not get enough sleep. One study found only 15% of teenagers slept the recommended number of hours according to the National Sleep Foundation. “[When students reach brain fatigue] I see the inability to absorb any more information and remember what they already knew,” Davies said. When students feel brain fatigued it is important to take effective breaks that encourage “refreshing and recharging while

Brain Fatigue leaves What doesn’t students drowning in work when sheer exhaustion you’re brain staying in the zone because it helps efficiency,” she added. Senior Alena Porter feels tired every day but most brain fatigued when she has big events. “I especially felt [brain fatigued] after my senior speech. I had Physics and Statistics after and I was just done,” Porter said. A senior speech followed by two rigorous classes may feel like a unique situation, but even on regular days, Porter admits to brain fatigue from time to time. When this happens, “I wander the halls, and I stop to talk and go with people as I see people I know,” Porter said. “If I have 20 minutes [at home] I’ll watch an episode of Friends on Netflix, but that also has the tendency to turn into a couple hours, so I’ll stop what I’m doing and find someone in the house to talk to, or play with or walk my dog,” he said. Freshman Joe Kase feels brain fatigued after completing a bunch of homework or after taking multiple tests in one day. Kase likes to listen to music when taking breaks in-school and when taking breaks outside of school “I definitely like to sleep, watch T.V., movies, or play video games,” Kase said. Quality brain breaks include more than just rubbing the eyes or taking a quick arm stretch. Davies said that “Getting exercise is one of the best breaks because it gets the blood moving through the body and, most importantly, the brain.”

FAST FACT

only 15% of teenagers sleep the recconmended number of hours. Oxygen is essential for brain function, and exercise is a dependable way to boost blood flow and oxygen, to the brain according to Eric Jensen, who has a PhD in Human Development. Jensen also found that 68% of high school students do not participate in a daily physical education program, or sports program; and although many teachers know about the positive correlation between movement and learning, most ignore the studies after students exceed first or second grade.

“educators should purposely integrate movement into everyday learning.” — Eric Jensen, ph.d IN HUMAN DEVELOPEMENT “Educators should purposely integrate movement into everyday learning,” Jensen said, providing examples as simple as changing seats or reviewing by tossing a ball. Sophomore Erik Quillopa feels most brain fatigued towards the end of the week or when he has not slept enough the night before. “[When taking breaks in school] I like to get a drink of water, stretch a little, and sometimes think to myself.” Quillopa has the same break routine in school as he does out of school, though at home he adds walks to his list for some exercise. When getting back into studying after taking a break “I like to sit at my desk and pop up Veracross while looking over my notes. Sometimes I will put on some calm music,” he said. Thompson likes to do homework that does not require much thinking for him, such as a reading assignment, or he likes to get a drink and go on a walk when he’s taking a break at school. “Usually when I get brain fatigued it is when I get home after school, and I think part of that has to do with just being tired after a full school day,” he said. When taking a break outside of school Thompson likes to play music, play a simple video game, or sometimes he will make a snack or go on a walk. Something that distances him from school and homework. Thompson likes to “wipe his slate blank,” or take everything off his desk that he doesn’t need and have a snack set up while he is working. US Counselor Susanna Short said that “Paying attention to sleep, diet, and exercise,” are the best ways to stay alert “because when we do, all of us are in better shape to handle what is in front of us and to handle it joyfully since we are not worn down.”

BRAIN FATIGUE causes lost focus and energy. “[If I] have done some really intense mental activity that day, like after a debate tournament I will be really tired ILLUSTRATION CREDIT: Noor Qureishy

fatigued?

stephanie frisch Staff Writer

Breaks “Dangerous breaks to take can be watching Netflix and playing video games because sometimes when engaging in these activities students can be taken so far away they lose track of precious time,” Davies said. “By then, students have taken more than a break and don’t always feel refreshed afterwards.”

Multi-tasking Multitasking is unhelpful because of its ability to distract and reduce the efficiency of student’s work. “Multitasking is largely a myth, you are not fully engaging with any task. Like if you were Facebook-ing while doing your homework, you are not fully engaged socially or academically,” Short said. In the end, you most likely will be exhausted, feel like you haven’t had much of a break, and not have completed many of the task at hand. If you want to be social take a break and talk with a friend, but if you are going to work on homework find a productive workplace and focus your energy on that.

Dangers of Distraction An article from NPR states that every time the task at hand is switched, the brain switches gears. Daniel Weissman, a neuroscientist featured in the NPR article, stated that “‘If I’m out on a street corner and I’m looking for one friend who’s wearing a red scarf, I might be able to pick out that friend...but if I’m looking for a friend who’s wearing a red scarf on one street corner, and in the middle of the street I’m looking for another friend who’s wearing a blue scarf — and on the other side of the street I’m looking for a friend wearing a green scarf — at some point, I can only divide my attention so much, and I begin to have trouble.’ So the brain starts switching. Scan for red. Switch. Scan for blue. Sitch. Scan for green. Switch,” and so on.

The Rubicon conducted a poll, grades 9-12 with 50% of students responding. See the results at

ubicOnline.com

Health & Wellness 7 December 2015 • THE RUBICON

Power Napping, a useful tool to regain energy quickly EEP L S 2 GE A T S

Shops and businesses close so people can go home, eat lunch and then take a quick nap before returning to work.

STAGE 1 SLE

ITALY

E3A

EP SLE

The riposo, similar to the siesta in Spain. starts around noon and ends around 3 pm.

Napping practices around the world

STAG

While the United States doesn’t practice a national napping tradition such as the riposo or siesta, many companies encourage napping for their employees. Amodhya Samarakoon Health and Wellness Editor

USA

Google provides its employees with napping pods, one of many adjustments to their working environment meant to increase productivity. Nike offers employees napping and meditation rooms in some locations.

The siesta is a Spanish cultural tradition rooted in old Islamic practices.

SPAIN

Around midday, shops close for two hours and people go home, eat lunch, and then nap. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION CREDITS: Amodhya Samarakoon

I’ve heard so many people, countless times, express desire to become small children again just to take naps. Napping, however, is not only reserved for these tiny humans. These quick little naps are central to the daily routines of many people around the world: Spain, Italy, Mexico, Greece, the Philippines, among others. Many companies, too, such as Nike and Google have shown their support for the napping lifestyle. And, it is a practice everyone needs to take advantage of. I feel so exhausted after school some days, either physically or mentally, that I need to just lay my head down and get a few minutes of shut-eye. Now, you may be thinking, a few minutes? That’s definitely not going to do anything. When I say a few, I mean at least 20 minutes.

The Sleep Cycle Let me break it down - there are five stages of sleep (sometimes stages 3 and 4 are grouped together). And every night, we go through this five-step cycle multiple times, skipping step one after the first time, about every 90 to 120 minutes, according to “How To Power Nap For AllDay Energy,” by Christopher Ketcham for The Huffington Post. Stages 3 and 4 of the sleep cycle are deep sleep and the last is REM sleep wherein brain activity similar to that of a conscious person occurs, causing dreams. The key with naps is to wake up before entering deep sleep. This is because stage 2 is

Before taking frequent and long naps every day, try to manage your energy level in other ways such as exercise, Nutrition, time management, and the amount of sleep you get at night. where light sleep occurs and neurons involved in muscle memory are strengthened, meaning that after this phase of sleep one can perform tasks more accurately and with increased energy without entering deep sleep.

How Long To Nap

(without napping for too long) Stages 1 and 2 usually lasts close to 30 minutes, but Ketchman states that a 20 minute napper can still reap the benefits of a power nap. Sleeping through a whole cycle and waking up just before deep sleep is also an option, but that can range from 110 to 140 minutes. That’s a huge window and, when napping, your timing must be relatively accurate. Before taking frequent and long naps every day, it is good to considering managing your energy level in other ways such as exercise, vitamin levels, time management, and sleeping at night. Multiple studies and many sources show that napping can leave you feeling rejuvenated, more alert, and help prevent you from crashing until it’s actually time to go to sleep. However, waking up at the wrong time - such as during sleep stages 3 or 4 - will make you feel even worse than before. That means grogginess, moodiness, and the general feeling that your head and limbs have turned into bricks. So make sure to set an

alarm and aim to wake up in the middle of stage 2, just in case your timing is off. Of course, sometimes we don’t have time to plan out our nap and set an alarm. Sometimes we’re so tired that we essentially pass out. But, if your exhaustion has reached that level, then you definitely need more than a 20 minute nap anyways. Also, make sure that your naps don’t disrupt your normal sleeping schedule: humans are designed to sleep for a part of the day and remain active for the other part (instead of alternating between active and resting). Before taking frequent and long naps every day, try to manage your energy level in other ways such as exercise, nutrition, time management, and the amount of sleep you get at night. Hopefully this information will help you keep your energy up and stress levels down. Happy sleep cycling! For more information, visit the National Sleep Foundation website. This article was written for Health and Wellness Editor Amodhya Samarakoon’s health blog Good For You at tisgoodforyou.wordpress.com To read blog posts about athletes and stress, odd home remedies, or sleep, visit the website.

Cover

THE RUBICON • D

ENSIVE 37% believe the government should censor offensive speech 63% believe the government should not censor offensive speech

In a poll conducted this month by The Rubicon, with 20% of the student body participating, views on First Amendment rights mirrored those of a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center on generational perceptions of how much control the government should have on individual free speech rights.

Congress shall

Freedom of Speech has been protected for a lo tion was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791. But with grow increasing online audiences for personal opinio

Is flag burning protected under Freedom of Speech?

48.3% know they have the right to burn the American flag.

What kind of offensive speech should be censored? None

JUNIOR COLE THOMPSON erases various forms of offensive speech to illustrate the 37% of poll commonly reported types of offensive speech needing to be censored were racial, socioecono speech which should be censored are “Those that originate from the government or are made

How should First Amendm Racial

The fine line between what can and shoul AMODHYA SAMARAKOON Health and Wellness Editor

Gender-based

Sexuality-based

Religious

Socioeconomic

Other

ILLUSTRATION CREDIT: Meghan Joyce

Many Americans take pride in the numerous liberties they possess in comparison to other nations, especially free speech. However, recent problems on university campuses regarding people’s right to free speech and sharing thoughts which may contradict the popular opinion have illuminated a national discussion about censorship. While some are in support of censorship in order to limit harsh, offensive speech, many others believe that it directly contradicts the right of free speech given to Americans in the First Amendment. “Censorship goes against the values of freedom and acceptance for which many of today’s censors claim to advocate … I don’t think [the actions of Black Lives Matter] was justified, nor were [those of] the Yale students,” junior Ivan Gunther said.

An study conducted by the Pew Research Center, later reported on by Jacob Poushter in an article titled “40% of Millennials OK with limiting offensive speech to minorities,” showed that, while overall only 28% of people polled were in favor of limiting free speech, 40% of those were Millennials (people between the ages of 18 - 34). The Rubicon sent out a similar survey, with approximately 20% of the student body polled, about the freedoms students believe they possess as well as their opinion on censorship. The results showed that 37% believed the government should censor offensive speech, almost mirroring the results of the Pew Research poll. The poll also showed that many students are not aware of the First Amendment rights they have or don’t support them. For example, the right which almost every respondent selected as one they posses was the right to verbally share their opinions. The

“CENSORS AGAINST T OF FREED ACCEPTANCE MANY OF CENSORS ADVO

— JUNIOR IVA

runner up, at 93% challenge speech t Consequently, the dents polled stated believe in censorsh A large number ly 50% polled, d know they posses the American flag. Overall, the P showed that Amer ison to other natio less likely to supp any kind by the go

Story

DECEMBER 2015

make no law...

ong time, since the Bill of Rights to the Constituwing awareness of systematic oppression and ons, what does free speech mean today? ILLUSTRATION: Wordle.net “CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; of abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” -- First Amendment, United States Constitutition

What kind of speech does the First Amendment actually protect? JAVIER WHITAKER-CASTAÑEDA Managing Editor

Q: Which types of speech are not protected by the First Amendment? A: Obscenity, fighting words, defamation, child pornography, perjury, blackmail, true threats, solicitations to commit crimes, incitement to imminent lawless action, plagiarism. Q: Is speech on the internet entitled to as much protection as speech in more traditional media? PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Amodhya Samarakoon

led SPA students who expressed desire to increase censorship of offensive speech. The most omic, religious, and gender or sexuality based. Thompson stated that the forms of offensive e with the intent to incite crime, hate-based or otherwise.”

ment rights be practiced?

ld be said blurs perceptions of free speech

SHIP GOES HE VALUES DOM AND E FOR WHICH F TODAY’S CLAIM TO OCATE.”

AN GUNTHER

%, was the right to they disagree with. e majority of stud that they do not hip. r of students, neardid not believe or s the right to burn . Pew Research poll ricans, in comparons, as a whole are port censorship of overnment.

“The government gives its people freedom of speech and how they chose to use this right is justified in their own beliefs and shouldn’t be censored,” sophomore Robin Bartlett said. Perhaps, rather than silencing voices which don’t support popular opinion, leaving space for disagreement will help to stimulate thought and foster understanding. “We need to hear people’s opinions, good or bad,” sophomore Noah Solomon said. Yet, in a society where multiple different groups of people have faced oppression and hate over long periods of time, it’s definitely possible to go too far. “We have a responsibility to censor ourselves,” senior Maggie Vlietstra said. Out of the 37% of students who expressed support of censorship, about 70% believe racially offensive statements should be censored, followed closely by gender and sexuality-based statements.

Many of the students who responded to the poll, regardless of whether they supported censorship or not, emphasized that repercussions were necessary in cases where offensive language led to or encouraged violence and harm. “The government should not have the right to censor speech, but they should be able to punish people for perpetrating harassment,” junior Bailey Troth said. Similarly, junior Cole Thompon stated that the forms of offensive statements which should be censored are “Those that originate from the government or are made with the intent to incite crime, hate-based or otherwise.” Although censorship does go against rights granted to Americans, the poll reflects an overall consensus that perhapse saying whatever one wants regardless of its affect on others goes against the spirit of the First Amendment.

A: Yes, speech on the internet receives the highest level of first amendment protection. Q: As long as they don’t discriminate against certain speakers or messages, what’s wrong with campus free-speech zones? A: Advocates for the First Amendment say an entire campus should be a free speech zone. Q: Can people who oppose a speaker’s message use their ‘freedom of speech’ to drown out the offending words? A: This is called the “heckler’s veto.” This type of speech inhibits freedom of speech. In a school environment students cannot silence a teaching professor’s voice because that negates the purpose of the academic institution. Q: Why do supporters favor a constitutional amendment prohibiting flag-burning? A: Many supporters believe that the flag is a symbol that deserves respect. Supporters of such an amendment believe that burning a flag shows no meaningful speech, just provocative speech, and therefore deserves no first amendment protection. Q: Why do opponents reject a constitutional amendment prohibiting flag-burning? A: Opponents to such an amendment say the government should not limit any free speech. Change would be limited if the government limits things in favor of the majority voice. (Information pulled from First Amendment Center Online AP)

Feature 10

THE RUBICON • DECEMBER 2015

Tibbetts finds her rhythm in bucket drumming group SOPHIE JARO

Opinions Editor Senior Alice Tibbetts hasn’t missed a beat, snaring the hip opportunity to apply a percussionist’s passion, rhythm, and overflowing energy to tapping on plastic buckets. As a member of one of Minnesota’s rare and nameless bucket drumming groups, Tibbetts exhibits her talent for keeping rhythm by tapping, thumping, and pounding on “whatever plastic buckets we can get from Home Depot.” The door to Tibbett’s bucket drumming career was opened by her habit of tapping her foot on the floor. “When I sing or play viola, I’m always really twitchy anyway. I just sorta tap out a beat with my foot; it helps me keep a more consistent rhythm,” she explained. Bucket drumming turns everyday, industry-standard, five-gallon plastic buckets into vessels for exceptional, globally-connected, multi-part rhythms. When the buckets are inverted, the bottom becomes the drumhead ready for reverberations and the outer edge becomes the rim ready for a rim shot. Tibbetts said, “I like having one green one and one orange one, or both blue.” However informal the main musical apparatus, “We do use actual drumsticks, and occasionally someone will accompany on cowbell,” Tibbetts assured.

Like the instruments bucket drummers beat, the music they play is unusual and universal.

“WE SEE GUYS BIKE BY AND GIVE US A THUMBS UP... WE ALWAYS HAVE A COUPLE EXTRA BUCKETS FOR THEM TO PLAY.” — SENIOR ALICE TIBBETTS “We don’t play pop or rock, but really weird world music that has a lot of complicated sounding rhythms. A bunch of people play different simple rhythms that twine together and sound cool.” For Tibbetts, the best part of bucket drumming is watching her listeners. “We see guys bike by and give us a thumbs up. Sometimes people are like ‘Oh, can I join too?’ We always have a couple extra buckets for them to play,” Tibbetts said. Tibbetts reminisced,“There was this one guy, in his seventies, who used to be in a rock band. He just came over to our group and started wailing on the buckets. It was the best thing I ever saw.” Seeing is learning, according to Tibbetts. “It really helps if I watch other people. I am a visual learner, so I can’t listen to drumming and know ‘that’s what you do with

this hand and that’s what you do with that hand.’ That doesn’t work for me. I just watch other drummers and see what they do, then I pick it up,” Tibbetts said. Tibbetts found the bucket drumming group through her guitarist father’s friendship with percussionist Marc Anderson, who is titled the “Zen Master of Ambient Percussion” by Drum! Magazine. “It started with Marc saying let’s just a get some other kids in here and just wing it and see what happens,” Tibbetts said, describing how the group got started. “He teaches one of us one rhythm, another one a rhythm, then he tells us to play them at the same time,” she added. In addition to inspiration from her father and Anderson, Tibbetts was welcomed into the world of music by other drumming icons. Stephen Morris, member of English post-punk rock band Joy Division, tops the list of Tibbett’s favorite drummers. “He is really good at keeping the beat and a consistent rhythm. That is something I need to learn how to do so I can drum consistently for a long song.” Tibbetts’ other favorite percussionists hail from England as well. She likes Keith Moon from The Who and Ringo from The Beatles “because he is a total goof-ball, but also a really good drummer.” The unpretentious bucket drumming band can be found anywhere from Saints games to the St. Paul Farmers Market. The

uninhibited nature of the bucket drumming performances adds to their charm, and the value of rare opportunity of seeing them perform. “It is pretty spontaneous. Shows happen whenever Marc says ‘Hey guys, get ready for a show next week’,” Tibbetts said, “Not that I’m saying there is a show next week.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Sophie Jaro SENIOR ALICE TIBBETTS taps out a rhythm on an overturned plastic bucket. “We don’t play pop or rock, but really weird world music that has a lot of complicated sounding rhythms. A bunch of people play different simple rhythms that twine together and sound cool,” Tibbetts said.

Read more ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT on

polo shirts, most people were pretty disappointed. For me, it was because the Pops t-shirts that we had before were student designed and they had a theme that had to do with the finale song. When we got the polos, they actually weren’t that bad and I think it looked really nice onstage,” Shrestha said. The next Upper School concert in the Huss Center will be the Spring Concert on Apr. 30.

ubicOnline.com

Winter Art Show displays work from all first semester students taking fine arts JONAH HARRISON Staff Writer

As the first semester comes to a close, students who have been working hard on their art projects get ready for their work to be shown in the Winter Art Show,. The show features work from Middle School students in the first trimester and Upper School students from the first semester. The art show opened Dec. 3 with an invitation to the student body to come see the collection of art after school. With over sixty students, Marty Nash, Department Chair of Fine Arts, has put many hours of effort into putting artwork up in the show along with the other faculty. Nash spoke about the importance of having a specific design for the gallery. “Hanging a show is just like making art because you are creating an installation and it’s extremely important where each piece goes.” Nash said.

Read more A&E on ubicOnline.com @TheRubiconSPA

Nash also explained the challenge of having to choose only one piece from each student, because students have multiple products by the end of the semester. “I choose the work so that it’s not just a very strong work, but it holds together and gives variety and depth to the exhibition.” Nash said. The art ranges from pottery made by seventh graders to full scale paintings made by seniors. Senior Ingrid Topp-Johnson decided for her last year to study a new medium. “It’s nice to get a sort of completion, with this being my last year here. It’s cool for me because I’ve switched up what medium I do every year, and this year I have a piece of photography in the show although I consider myself primarily a textile artist,” Topp-Johnson said. “So it’s interesting to see one vision of my art in the gallery but also with the background knowl-

See more images of student artwork featured in the Winter Art Show.

edge of everything that isn’t.” Topp-Johnson said. Topp-Johnson has spent a lot of time in the Fine Arts Department, also involved in the theater program at SPA.

Originally published on Dec. 7, 2015

“I CHOOSE THE WORK SO THAT IT’S NOT JUST VERY STRONG WORK, BUT IT HOLDS TOGETHER AND GIVES VARIETY AND DEPTH TO THE EXHIBITION.” — DEPARTMENT CHAIR OF FINE ARTS MARTY NASH On the day of the opening the gallery was crowded with Middle and Upper school students lined up after school to see their art and the art of their friends hanging in the gallery. “We have a goal of completing works that we would be proud to

PHOTO CREDIT: Jonah Harrison SENIOR JANE JACKSON’S large painting is featured in the Winter Art Show. “I choose the work so that it’s not just very strong work, but so it comes together and gives variety and depth to the exhibition,” Fine Arts Department Chair Marty Nash said. have in an exhibition and also be a part of all of the other student’s process. Just by having work up, since there is a piece from every

student, they know they are part of the whole process of making art at SPA,” Nash said.

+ MORE

Arts & Entertainment 13 december 2015 • THE RUBICON

Binge watching promotes relaxation and procrastination OCK L R E H

DeVeL OPMe NT

Seinfeld The ing est W

ONe

TRee HiLL

LOGO ILLUSTRATION: Clare Tipler PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Lauren Boettcher

FRESHMAN KENZIE GEISE likes to binge watch shows like Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. “If you watch shows with drama in them like Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill, ... you can learn things that you can use in everyday life like social skills and how to build relationships with people,” Geise said.

Lauren Boettcher News Editor

Binge watching. It may start with a recommendation from a friend about a TV show they loved, or with selecting a new show from the “recommended for you” section on a streaming site like Netflix or Hulu. The show seems interesting enough, and there’s nothing else to do, so one

episode turns into two, maybe two into three, and suddenly the whole season has been watched in a single day. According to an article by the Huffington Post titled “Half Of All Adult Americans Now Admit To Binge-Watching TV,” more than 55% of the adult population reported this habit, the number were even higher for those under 35, and more than half of mil-

RUBI REVIEWS

lennials reported binge watching shows daily or weekly. For some students, like junior Moira McCarthy, shows that are appealing to binge on are those that require less mental and emotional involvement. “Shows of more value that I enjoy such as West Wing or Seinfeld or Arrested Development have never appealed to me to binge on. I prefer to watch those

with my dad because it’s more fun to laugh with him, but less addicting shows are the ones I binge on by myself,” McCarthy said. Binge watching can also be beneficial in more ways than just relaxation. “There can be other benefits depending on what you watch. If you watch documentary shows about history or events that happened, you can become educated on something. But if you watch shows with drama in them like Gossip Girl or One Tree Hill, you don’t really learn anything academic but you can learn things that you can use in everyday life like social skills and how to build relationships with people,” freshman Kenzie Geise said. Shows that are binge watched are hard to place in a certain genre, while certain titles might come to mind from personal experience, there are no rules about what can be watched or requirements for how many episodes need to be watched to consider something a binge. “Some shows can be binged, some make more sense not to, but it’s all about how you want to experience it and what kind of time you have,” junior Andrew Michel said.

How often do you binge watch?

I don't binge watch

5.6%

Rarely

16.7% Once a month

22.2% 11.1%

Only on weekends

5.6% Once a week

38.9% Daily

Daily 16.7% Once a week 11.1% Only on weekends 38.9% Once a month 5.6% Rarely 22.2% I don’t binge watch 5.6%

How many shows do you binge watch?

I don't binge wa

11.1%

More than 5

22.2% 11.1% Four

11.1%

Two

44.4%

One

only one 22.2% two 44.4% four 11.1% more than five 11.1% I don’t binge watch any shows 11.1%

POLL CREDIT: Lauren Boettcher INFOGRAPHIC CREDIT: Stephanie Li

Gucci Spring 2016 Ready to Wear show departs from tradition Boraan Abdulkarim Editor-in-Chief

As a brand and on the runway, Gucci has traditionally maintained a subdued, sophisticated type of iconic reputation. With the entry of new creative director Alesandro Michele, however, the Spring 2016 Ready to Wear collection has retained the sophisticated aesthetic but entered into a

whole new phase in the evolution of the label. The 67 ensembles draw some parallels across the board, but the only binding element between all of them is a sense of illusion— it’s all ephemeral. Namely, two-dimensional cartoonish designs characterized by bold black outlines are set off by flowy, transparent fabrics that bring them to life.

Prints are used extensively, and a bright color palette complemented by use of some neutrals reminds one of the runways of Miu Miu. Motifs of transparency, the aforementioned cartoon illusion, and colors dominate. Add embroidery, symmetric embellishment, and tasteful texture mixing; the effect reads as Frida Kahlo-meets-pop art for an

aesthetically pleasing product. The collection is heterogeneous and without seeing it for oneself, it’s hard to imagine that it would be cohesive. But by playing with dimensionality and maximalism, Gucci seems to have painted a beautiful picture of contradictions; a science fiction rudimentariness; a romantic modernism; an elegant chaos.

Fair use image from: Gucci Official Website GUCCI’S show features transparency and illusion.

5/5

Jessica Jones captivates viewers with mysterious, dark characters Dianne Caravela Feature Editor

There’s a lot of things to love about Netflix’s recent original Jessica Jones, directed by Melissa Rosenberg. Unlike many superhero movies, the characters highlight the essence of the show. Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is the perfect anti-hero. Far from the typical untouchable heroes of

past Marvel’s endeavors, she is struggling, bitter, and her character is deep. The supporting characters add to the show with both their flaws and humanity. David Tennant is captivating as a twisted villain, and the realities of his effects on his victims make him all the more terrifying. The show is darker than most that Marvel has done before, so the viewer should be prepared for mature themes;

although the show doesn’t revel in violence, nudity, or strong language, its content is about equivalent to an R rated film. It may be triggering to viewers who have experienced sexual violence. Jessica Jones is gritty, slow burning but often edge-of-your-seat captivating, and the perfect show to stay up late watching this winter break.

Fair use image from: IMDb JESSICA JONES is a thrilling TV show featuring a main character very different than normal Marvel super heroes. It is a mature but captivating show that is perfect to binge over break.

4/5

Coldplay’s Everglow disappoints, does not optimize possibilities Boraan Abdulkarim Editor-in-Chief

Lead singer Chris Martin’s voice is accompanied by a drumset, a piano, and subtle vocals from ex- wife and vocalist Gwen Stefani. He sings a ballad reminiscent of a pained lullaby in Coldplay’s Everglow, from their latest album, A Head Full of Dreams. The song is structured around

the word that gave it its title, and while such a notion is commendable, Coldplay could have done more to strike a chord (ha!) with the listener. The word itself is a slang term Martin stumbled upon and was inspired by. It refers to the coexistence of a sadness in reflecting upon an admirable experience. Even the album art reflects this idea more than the song, its

lyrics, or its acoustics. The ideological foundation for the song is not fully exploited; the lyrics are sweet but half-baked, and not even in a mysterious, abstract way. Lines like “I live for this feeling, it’s everglow,” and “this particular diamond was extra special” are steeped in a beige, cliché blandness. The song is desperately missing a sense of poetry or at least some substantive adjectives

After getting through the song once, it’s something the listener can get used to. It might be good for someone who’s deliberately trying to wallow in a bad mood, but it really doesn’t stimulate positive or negative emotion., both of which the word everglow is supposed to elicit. But then again maybe ballads just aren’t everyone’s thing.

Fair use image from: iTunes COLDPLAY’S latest song has halfbaked lyrics that take some getting used to.

2/5

Alpine Skiing Spartan Sports Coed IMAC meet at Buck Hill Roundup Jan. 6 at 4:30 pm Upcoming competitions, records, and rankings

Coed Nordic Skiing At Como Park Golf Course Jan. 5 at 3:45 pm

Sports

Boys Basketball

Away vs. Highland Park HS Dec. 18 at 7 pm Record: 5-1; 7th in State

Girls Basketball Away vs. FAIR School Dec. 17 at 7 pm Record: 0-2

Boys Hockey

Away vs. Rochester J-M Dec. 19 at 3 pm Record: 4-1; 5th in State

Girls Hockey Away vs. Holy Angels Dec. 19 at 2 pm Record: 10-0; 3rd in State

Dance Team

Away at Edina HS Dec. 19 at a time TBD

Boys Swim and Dive At Humboldt vs. Harding Dec. 18 at 4:30 pm

THE RUBICON • DECEMBER 2015

Hockey organist Russel Ebnet motivates with music SPA Hockey Trivia: Do you know your stuff?

MEGHAN JOYCE

Chief Visual Editor Hockey games are loud affairs; symphonies of hockey sticks hitting ice, pucks hitting plexiglass, skates screeching to a stop, shouting spectators, the booming voice of the commentator, and the whistles of the referees — each sound clamoring for the ear’s attention. Perhaps the most distinct sound, though, is the musical talent of organist Russell Ebnet. At every St. Paul Academy and Summit School home game for the United Girls Varsity Hockey team, Ebnet is responsible for keeping the crowd excited and engaged using his Minnesota Wild sticker covered keyboard and vast library of CDs. “I’ve been doing the music here at SPA for 11 years,” Ebnet said. “I’ve done other schools, Blaine High School, Coon Rapids [High School]. I’ve done junior hockey teams, like the Kodiaks, the Owls, and I did junior tournaments as well… I’ve been doing this for about 28 years.” “He’s always really happy when we’re walking in, he’s always smiling. He just gives off this really good energy. Whenever we’re doing warm ups, we’ll be going right next to where he does the sound stuff, and he’s always smiling and laughing,” junior A.M. Roberts said. Ebnet remembers “listening to Sue Nelson [currently the organist of the Minnesota Twins] when she used to do the North Star [Minnesota’s former hockey team, where Nelson first played the organ starting in 1981] games,” he said. “She’s what got me started, she always intrigued me with the cheers she had done… She’s always told me, ‘you’re very talented, don’t stop,’ and encouraged me to keep going.”

1. In what year was Drake Arena founded? 2. What is the St. Paul United team’s longest winning streak to start a season? 3. Drake Arena is the home rink of what other non-SPA team?

PHOTO CREDIT: Meghan Joyce HOCKEY ORGANIST RUSSEL EBNET sits at his organ, playing catchy tunes for the St. Paul United and St. Paul Academy hockey teams. Ebnet comes prepared with a variety of CDs to play in addition to his keyboard, all in hopes of pumping the teams and the spectators up. “I get the crowd going. It’s like cheerleading, it’s just a good upbeat,” Ebnet said. Ebnet is an important part of the St. Paul United Hockey Team’s culture as well. “He just gives off this really good energy,” junior A.M. Roberts said. Sometimes, it was hard to keep going. In 2008, Ebnet was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Dealing with the disease has not been easy for him, he lost a toe as a result of it (though he jokes that with or without ten toes, he is ready to strap on his skates and get on the ice at the occasional practice). Around the same time as his diagnosis, his father, a role model whose lessons about having strong character continue to shape Ebnet’s life, passed away. He decided to retire, ending his yearslong career at Rainbow Foods. But he kept playing the organ for United.

“I LIKE IT WHEN HE PLAYS ‘ICE ICE BABY,’ THAT’S A GOOD ONE.” — JUNIOR A.M. ROBERTS “I get the crowd going. It’s like cheerleading, it’s just a good upbeat… I do CDs or organ music, I have my iPod here, but I forgot the plug in, so I’m kind of reserving auxiliary power,” Ebnet said. “And when the puck drops, I quit the music.”

“I like it when he plays ‘Ice Ice Baby,’ that’s a good one,” Roberts said. “I started [playing hockey] when I was four years old, but I just started with United this year… we didn’t [have an organist at her old school], so I really like the music between shifts.” “I just have fun coming down here… and they like what I do here. It’s like being at the Xcel Energy Center, it brings a lot to the game,” Ebnet said. “They gave me a jacket.... I’m part of the team.”

4. True or False: The SPA Spartans were the first boys high school hockey team in Minnesota. 5. How many times has the St. Paul United team played in the state tournament?

Answers: 1. Drake Arena was founded in 1967. 2. United’s longest winning streak to start a season is their current streak. As of Dec. 9, the team is 10-0. 3. St. Catherine’s University Women’s Hockey team also practices and plays home games at Drake Arena. 4. True. SPA’s team was the first. 5. St. Paul United’s first and only state tournament appearance was in 2014 when they took 4th place.

Freshman cyclist Peter Moore speeds past adult competitors Submitted by: Peter Moore FRESHMAN PETER MOORE barrels around a velodrome track.

JACK BENSON Staff Writer

Cyclists line up on the track. They are all adults except Saint Paul Academy and Summit School freshman Peter Moore. The cyclists’ bikes don’t have brakes, so they struggle mounting their bikes on the side of the steep track. The velodrome, the track they race on, is made of an extra durable African wood, and is banked so the riders can maintain speed around turns. The cyclists start a preliminary lap around the track. After the warm-up lap, the cyclists race off from the sound of a gun. Moore has no trouble keeping up with the adults around him. Read the full story at

ubicOnline.com

Sports15

DECEMBER 2015 • THE RUBICON

Game day dress up motivates athletes to play well

Boys Varsity Hockey finds top-10 success BREANDAN GIBBONS Online Sports Editor

EMILY THISSEN News Editor

Game Days during the school week can be hard with schoolwork and other important tasks at hand. Many teams take initiative to fight this extra stress and make the school day leading up to a game more enjoyable by dressing up and bonding as a team. Some teams dress nicely, some wear their jerseys, and others wear funny outfits representing the mascot of the team they are facing. For the boys varsity hockey team, fancy dress up days are the tradition, meaning dress pants and ties. “I like dressing up on game day because it shows professionalism,” junior hockey player Matt Dahlseide said. Boys Basketball follows the same trend as boys hockey, dressing up for most games. The vibe of dress up days is a positive one for the team. “[Dressing up] gets

Sports Editors will be live-tweeting sports games over Winter Break. Check out @ TheRubiconSPA on twitter to get score updates and photos.

Photo Credit: Emily Thissen JUNIOR EMERSON EGLY AND SOPHOMORE EMILY CARTER both dress up for their basketball games. “Dressing up makes me feel good,” Egly said. me excited for the game,” sophomore basketball player Ryan Kuntz said. “Dressing up makes me feel good which in turn helps me play well,” junior basketball player Emerson Egly said. This mental preparation is common. For freshman hockey player Kenzie Giese, dressing up is a key part of her pre-game routine. “Dressing up is part of me mentally preparing for a game,” Giese said. Other teams, such a girls golf, aim for their dress up days to be fun, dressing with different themes each day they have a match.

“Dress up days are cool because everyone knows we are a team and they know we have a match that day,” senior golf captain Cait Gibbons said. Sophomore basketball player Emily Carter agrees. “With everyone dressing up together it really amps up the team dynamic,” she said. This sense of team is exactly what dress up days aim to do. Having something to unify a team and remind them that they are preparing for a game can be important to their performance at the end of the day. “Look good, feel good, play good,” Dahlseide said.

Spartan boys hockey played three games in a week against top ten teams in Class A. They came out of one of the toughest and most important stretches of the season 2-1, beating both Luverne and East Grand Forks. Both match-ups are possible previews of state tournament games in March, but there’s one team that could possibly derail SPA’s hopes of even getting to the Xcel Energy Center. If section 4A foe Mahtomedi beats SPA in the section tournament as they did last year and as they did this past Tuesday night, there will be no need to worry about Luverne or East Grand Forks, because the season will be over before those match-ups. On Dec. 5 SPA’s boys hockey team looked like a completely

Read the full

SPORTS

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different team compared to Dec. 1’s game against Mahtomedi. The score reflected that difference as SPA beat East Grand Forks 7-3, the two-time defending Class A champs while losing to Mahtomedi 3-2. The difference against East Grand Forks was crisper breakout play from the defensemen up to the forwards, and because of that SPA was able to get the puck wider and take advantage of their speed and EGF’s tired legs. East Grand Forks came into Saturday afternoon’s game after losing to the Breck School Mustangs 9-1 fewer than 18 hours before puck drop at Drake Arena. They had tired legs and don’t have very good team speed. This allowed SPA to take advantage of their great team speed to break into the offensive with ease throughout the afternoon.

See exclusive online stories, images, and videos while keeping up with Spartan athletics. @TheRubiconSPA

Student managers dedicate time to help busy sports teams stay focused MARLEE BARON

Arts & Entertainment Editor Sports events may look effortless, but thoughtful preparations and planning go into each one, and student managers have a big role in helping a team succeed. Student managers have many responsibilities, a few being video-taping games, filling water bottles, and organizing activities. Because of the intensity and time commitment of this role, many sports teams don’t have student managers, but some have taken on this role. Junior Mary Grant is the manager for the Girls Varsity Basketball team.

“I’m taking on a bigger role than most managers because of how small and young the team is, I have to be at every game and film them and bring pre-wrap” Grant said. “One of my biggest roles is to help Lea [Moore, the Varsity Basketball captain], normally captains are in charge of team meals but since she’s the only captain, I’m helping her with that,” Grant said. Junior Justine Miller is also a manager for a sports team. She manages the Girls Varsity Hockey team. “My role as a manager for the girls hockey team is to first off help out with anything the coaches or players need,” Miller said.

THE MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT BEING A MANAGER IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HELP. — JUNIOR JUSTINE MILLER The team this year is much smaller and younger than it has been in the past, so Grant’s role is different then those of managers in the past.

“I do things such as fill water bottles, help organize materials, or get supplies such as stick tape or scissors. At away games, the managers carry gear on the

PHOTO CREDIT: Clare Tipler JUNIOR MARY GRANT carries her bag of supplies as the manager of the girls basketball team. In her bag she has pre-wrap and extra jerseys. “I have both varsity and JV home and away jerseys,” Grant said, “and an extra sports bra,” she added. bus like coolers, the speaker, and hockey sticks. At home games, the managers take statistics, film the game, and at both home and away games, keep track of the action in front of our own net using a GoPro,” Miller said. Managers have a smaller time commitment than athletes do and thus students that do other activities are able to be managers.”I was on the team last year but this year I wanted to be in the one-acts so I decided to be the manager so

I can be a part of the team even though I can’t be on it” Grant said. Managers also have the chance to be a part of a sports team that they could never be on because they don’t play the sport. “My favorite part of being a manager is definitely getting a chance to spend time with and make friends with the hockey team and learn more about hockey itself. I’ve never played hockey, so getting a chance to spend

more time within the hockey culture has been a great experience,” Miller said. Being a manager is a lot of fun for students but it is also a lot of hard work and all managers take their roles very seriously. “The most challenging thing about being a manager is trying to make sure you can do everything you can to help both the coaches and the players with everything they need and trying to mess anything up,” Miller said. Being on the sidelines can be tough for managers when the team loses though, “[One of the biggest things about being a managers is] when the team losses and I can’t help them,” Grant said. Managers help teams so much and having a student manager is a great way for more students to get involved in athletics. “I think it helps the team to have managers. A team can function without managers, [but] it’s definitely helpful,” Miller said. “It helps the players and coaches to have people to help out and let them be more focused on the game. Also we give great moral support!” Miller said.

Back Cover 16 THE RUBICON • DECEMBER 2015

Whose rights deserve to be protected?

Campus protests advocate for equality while violating speech rights JAVIER WHITAKER-CASTAÑEDA Managing Editor

A climate of political change is now ever-present throughout the United States. Movements such as Black Lives Matter are pushing towards the elimination of systematic oppression and violence, and nowhere is this more noticeable than on the nation’s college campuses. These movements understand that to get their message across they need to be loud and they need to make themselves heard. The groups are effective in spreading their message but the question being brought up on college campuses across the country is Should some First Amendment rights be sacrificed to make way for specific free speech? Because student groups are clearly and repeatedly voicing their opinions, they are the perfect example of how the First Amendment can and should be used. No law can abridge the freedom of speech of their movements to make campuses feel welcoming for all. But along with movements, questions have been raised about these movements’ effects on the limitation of free speech for other groups, particularly ones with opposing ideas.

THE BEST WAY FORWARD WHEN SOMETHING IS OFFENSIVE OR DOESN’T FIT PERFECTLY WITH OUR BELIEFS IS TO BE A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE. On the University of Missouri campus, a student activist group called Concerned Student 1950 released a list of demands to the school this fall. The group was successful in their effort to make University System President Tim Wolfe step down after they claimed he was not doing enough to prevent racial animosity on campus. The activist group has a lot of support on campus, including about 30 football players who refused to play until Wolfe’s resignation, so it’s no surprise that Concerned Student 1950 protests are receiving press attention. In one protest on public campus property, journalists, students, and professionals alike were pushed away from the scene by University students as they tried to record a Concerned Student 1950 protest. According to The Washington Post, Assistant Professor of Mass Media Melissa Click encouraged protesting students to push reporters away from the event, interfering with their reporting. Students formed a wall around parts of the protests so that press could not get in to take pictures. According to The New York Times, some jour-

nalists tried to explain their right as press to an unreceptive crowd. Many view this as a violation of the freedom of press and are criticizing Concerned Student 1950 for it.

“SOMETHING SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE I THINK THAT DISCOMFORT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE LEARNING HAPPENS” — ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING ANDREA SACHS Another example of a blurred line surrounding First Amendment rights is when Yale University lecturer Erika Christakis sent an email to the students in her residence hall but backlash against her comments led her to resign. Some Yale University professors sent out a campus wide email discouraging offensive or culturally appropriating Halloween costumes. Erika Christakis, Associate Master of Yale undergraduate residence Silliman College, responded to the email. She used her background as a child development specialist to question the practicality of discouraging children from “pretend play” and asked what was wrong with “a blonde-haired child’s wanting to be Mulan for a day...Whose business is it to control the forms of costumes of young people? It’s not mine, I know that,” Christakis said. Backlash against Christakis’ comments included an open letter that criticized her email and was signed by hundreds of Yale University students. Christakis stepped down amidst the criticism despite the support she also received. Fellow Yale University professors wrote in support of Christakis and her husband Nicholas Christakis, Master of Silliman College, who also stood in support of her statements but he subsequently heard demands to issue an apology for his support of his spouse. According to Vox, even President Obama chimed in on the issue. “Anybody who comes to speak to you and you disagree with, you should have an argument with ‘em. But you shouldn’t silence them by saying, ‘You can’t come because I’m too sensitive to hear what you have to say.’ That’s not the way we learn.” As Obama stated, one problem with some large movements is that they sometimes silence the group on the other side of the protest. With reporters being denied the right to take pictures in a public space and Yale lecturers resigning after voicing an opin-

ion, it is evident that some people are being silenced and potentially denied First Amendment rights on college campuses. Another incident that brought into question the ethics of combating offensive speech continues to unfold at Wesleyan University. Student Bryan Stascavage wrote an op-ed article in the Wesleyan Argus entitled “Why Black Lives Matter isn’t what you think.” In the piece Stascavage suggested that until Black Lives Matter combats its own extremists, it cannot be an effective movement. “It boils down to this for me: If vilification and denigration of the police force continues to be a significant portion of Black Lives Matter’s message, then I will not support the movement, I cannot support the movement. And many Americans feel the same,” Stascavage wrote. Stascavage is a self-admitted conservative, having served in the Iraq War prior to attending college. However, according to Catherine Rampell of The Washington Post, “It was not more radical than the conservative commentary you might see on mainstream op-ed pages.” Yet the op-ed was still provocative enough to some Wesleyan students that within 24 hours, copies of The Argus were being pulled from stands and destroyed according to The Washington Post. This issue was pushed even further as the Black Lives Matter movement on the Wesleyan campus called for The Argus’ budget to be slashed. According to The Huffington Post the Wesleyan Student Assembly Senate voted 27 to 0 (with some members abstaining) to cut the paper’s budget. The budget was reportedly cut to less than half of its original funding; from $30,000 to $13,000. The cuts were cited as a way to aid the environment but many consider this a thinly veiled attack on the paper. With all of these events occurring more frequently across college campuses, are these things SPA students should consider when looking for the perfect college? “One of the reasons we hate talking about colleges that are a perfect fit is because everything shouldn’t fit perfectly. Something should be a little bit uncomfortable because I think that discomfort is where a lot of the learning happens,” Assistant Director of College Counseling Andrea Sachs said. These events on college campuses highlight some problematic issues when freedom of speech and of the press are neglected to make way for quieting offensive speech. Obama and Sachs agree: the best way forward when something is offensive or doesn’t fit perfectly with opinions is to be a bit uncomfortable and to learn from the experience.

College campuses divided over equity and competing ideas of free speech MARI KNUDSON

Cover Story Editor

Major course offerings, campus safety, and location play a large part in a college search, but what about freedom of speech? College students struggled to find a balance this fall to shape campuses that honor student diversity and First Amendment rights. Several made the news recently.

Yale University The Yale University community erupted over lecturer Erika Christakis’ email in which she refused to condemn students for wearing racially insensitive Halloween costumes, invoking those students’ First Amendment rights. Outraged, students argued that it was more important to create a safe space than protect free speech rights. Christakis resigned from teaching at Yale on Dec. 7, commenting in The New York Times that “I have great respect and affection for my students, but I worry that the current climate at Yale is not, in my view, conducive to the civil dialogue and open inquiry required to solve our urgent societal problems.”

Fair use image from: Flickr Creative Commons by Ali Eminov

Wesleyan

IMAGE CAPTURE: Wesleyan Argus Homepage The Argus, the Wesleyan student newspaper, came under fire when a reporter wrote an opinion piece criticizing the tactics of the Black Lives Matter student group. Within 24 hours of publication, students were stealing and reportedly destroying newspapers around campus. Ultimately, the newspaper’s funding was cut in half and that money reallocated to other student programs. Wesleyan alumni posted a letter Dec. 8 stating that “a newspaper has no obligation to reflect the values or opinions of any particular reader or stakeholder. The Argus’s job is to accurately report events and issues on campus. It can and should, however, publish opinion pieces that reflect the various perspectives of individuals and groups on campus. If students or other members of the Wesleyan community disagree with those opinions, the appropriate response is to submit an op-ed, not to cut The Argus’s funding.”

Northern Arizona University

Twitter post @Queers_N_Allies #nautakeover

A collaboration of multiple student groups -- Queers and Allies, Queer Activist Collective, Black Student Union, and PRISM students -- issued a letter Nov. 24 that contains a list of demands to the school’s administration with the expectation of response by Jan. 19. In the letter, the groups claim that the administration has silenced “student voice” and, as a result, “the university has directly damaged the physical and mental health of the students who it claims to support.”