PROTESTS
Have recent protests been productive, or have they become performative? OPINIONS
@therubiconspa @TheRubiconSPA TheRubicon.SPA The Rubicon
WINTER CARNIVAL
4
Tucked at the edge of Kellogg Park, the carnival had activities for everybody. A&E
12
the
CROSSFIT
Despite injuries, junior Celeste Parke-Reimer finds joy in CrossFit training. SPORTS
14
the student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105 Volume 46. Issue 5. February 5, 2019.
www.rubiconline.com
New voices in government raise engagement in younger population
Photos taken from officials’ Facebook pages. REPRESENT. From left to right: Governor Jared Polis (Colo.), Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Deb Haaland (N.M.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Governor Kristi Noem (S.D.), Senator Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), Reps. Sharice Davids (Kan.), Veronica Escobar (Tex.), Veronica Escobar (Tex.), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.).
REP RES ENT LIZZIE KRISTAL EVELYN LILLEMOE THE RUBICON EDITORS
ISSUE INDEX
1-2 ... News 10 ... Sci-Tech
3 ... Editorial 11 ... Health
The congresspeople that are elected into our government are required to represent a diverse collection of the people and identities that exist within America. Having a selection of people in government who come from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures is important to many students of Saint Paul Academy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, civilians are made up of about 34% minorities, while the Senior Executive Service, composed of the government’s top managerial and supervisory positions, is only made up of 17% minorities. This large gap between government representation and civilian minorities can result in the representatives of America not truly representing what America is. Senior Ethan Dincer said, “I think [diversity in government] gives the people who are marginalized or oppressed in America a voice, even if it’s one or two people… it gives them confidence that they know someone is holding their hand and that they’re behind them.” Many hope a more diverse Congress will result in positive change being made, especially for marginalized groups. “I think [diversity] brings new perspectives and voices instead of the same people fighting for the same issues. I think different perspectives can bring some nuance to opinions,” junior Ryan Strobel said. Following these past midterm elections, new faces emerged in Congress that brought many firsts to be in Congress: first Native American women, first Muslim women, first openly gay man elected governor, and more. “It’s showing the whole picture of America. If we are going to be this ‘land of the free’ then we should be having everyone that can speak on our behalves,” said sophomore Aman Rahman. Specifically, in Minnesota, Ilhan Omar, a 37 year old Somali woman, was elected as a representative. “She just brings a really new perspective because our United States government has been so long run by white, rich, powerful, men, and the fact that she’s a woman of color who’s a bit on the younger side, she brings an entirely new perspective into our government,” said junior Ananya Narayan. It’s not just Minnesota that has achieved new lengths of diversity. Another popular representative in New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, was elected into Congress. At age 29, she’s the youngest woman elected into the House of Representatives. Senior Jenny Sogin said, “I like the woman who’s Puerto Rican, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez… she’s really relatable because she’s young. She’s bringing forward a lot of great issues and she’s not sugar coating them.” This frankness that many of the younger new representatives have is refreshing to many. “They’re super blunt but then they are also respectful when they do that. I feel like
4-5 ... Opinions 12-13 ... A&E
that’s super powerful because they are getting things done and they are trying to make a change while also not being rude,” said Rahman. Having a larger portion of the government who’s so young means that there’s a larger social media connection. Already questioned for a video of her dancing in college, Ocasio-Cortez has faced some of the issues that come with having a social media presence. A celebrity-like status on social media is a modern, new quality to have in a congressperson.
“
I think [diversity in government] gives the people who are marginalized or oppressed in America a voice, even if it’s one or two people... it gives them confidence that they know someone is holding their hand and that they’re behind them. - ETHAN DINCER
“I think [a social media presence for congress people] is good because then people are able to connect with the younger population who may not be able to vote yet, but they’re still on Instagram and they can see what’s happening and they can become more involved in politics so that they can be more informed for the upcoming election,” said Dincer. Social media can be used in dramatically different ways and can have either positive or negative effects depending on how it is used. The way representatives use social media can have a big impact. “I think it definitely depends on how you use it,” Saavedra-Weis said. “If you are using it to advocate for issues that are important or using it to connect with the younger generation, I think that’s a good way to use it. But I also think there are sometimes where it can be used ineffectively where it’s used instead of communicating vocally.” Nonetheless, social media can be used to make connections between representatives and the people they represent that were not possible for a large portion of history. “I think social media presence is important because it humanizes people.” Strobel said. Through all this change in Congress, Saavedra-Weis hopes these new representatives will be able to make a difference. “I hope that it inspires people to see that Congress doesn’t have to be all white people and men. Hopefully, if people who are there [in Congress] do a good job then people will be like ‘oh, things actually get fixed.’”
6-7 ... Feature 14-15 ... Sports
8-9 ... One Acts 16 ... Photo Story
2
NEWS THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
Assembly reflected on significance of MLK ELOISE DUNCAN THE RUBICON EDITOR
St. Paul Academy and Summit School students reflected on what Martin Luther King Jr. Day means to them in their advisories on Jan. 9, and in an assembly on Jan. 24, three days after the national holiday. MLK day is the only federal holiday that is a national day of service. Students get to stay home from school, causing many people to call it a day off. However, there are many other ways to spend it besides sleeping in and watching Netflix all day. Martin Luther King Jr. was a significant spokesperson in the Civil Rights Movement, protesting racial discrimination through nonviolent activism. He was assassinated in 1968, but his legacy lives on through today. Advisory discussions, centered on how his work is relevant today and impacts the lives of students and their communities, occurred, but did that change how students were going to spend their day off from school? Sophomore Mina Mandic and her advisory reflected on the difference in how MLK day was talked about in elementary school, versus how it is now talked about in high school. “My advisory discussed the relevance of MLK day and noticed how MLK day was more celebrated when we were in ele-
mentary school and heard about it more. Now we do not hear about it as much, but people still honor MLK and spend that day doing either service or learning more about him,” she said. The advisory of senior Ben Atmore talked about how they need to turn their privilege into action. “Being in an advisory that is predominantly white, we all agreed that the power that he gave us was the realization that we, as white people, should use our inherent privilege to better the world for those who don’t have that privilege,” he said. Many service opportunities take place on MLK day every year, such as working with helping the hungry, and helping to restore/build houses for the needy. Atmore planned on volunteering at the place that he blacksmiths at, where they were donating the stuff they made, such as cooking-ware, to charities in northern Minnesota. Sophomore Julia Scott did not volunteer, but she reflected upon the day with her family. “I talked a lot with my parents about the significance of MLK day. I think MLK day is a really good reminder of the progress that has been made and all of the progress that still needs to be made regarding race in the US and the world in general,” she said. During the assembly on Thursday, Jan. 24, students rep-
Heard at MLK presentation “Everyone has biases based on race, class, ethnicity, and other aspects of identity. It is vital that we all take MLK’s example and examine our own internalized prejudices.”
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Eloise Duncan ASSEMBLY. Senior Ben Atmore speaks at the MLK assembly. resenting different clubs got up en on the special holiday is a lack on stage and told the audience of urgency from the school for things that other students had students to serve, according to reflected upon during the adviso- Atmore. ry discussions. Afterwards, there “I think our school doesn’t do were mics open to the audience enough to actually promote serfor anyone who wanted to share vice. We had an assembly with their thoughts and stories. Ruth Huss, where she talked Although many people had about her service. I remember in things to say, most did not ac- my freshmen year, we all got on tively go out and serve on MLK busses and did a day of service. day. Due to the fact that students Last year, the ‘service day’ that do not have to go to school on we had was very uneventful and MLK day, many take it as time didn’t really encourage to get out for themselves. and give back to the community. “A lot of people see MLK day It had us think about the comas a day off because they don’t munity instead of doing anylike school and use the day as a thing legitimate. I think that this time to rest and take a break from community could organize actuschool,” Mandic said. al service opportunities. I know Along with the day being a that some clubs have gone out possible time for rest, another and done service field trips, but reason for little action being tak- they’re not prioritized,” he said.
Libraries eliminate late fees
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Lucy Sandeen FEE-FREE. Highland Park Branch Library will be among the other St. Paul Public Libraries to eliminate late fees.
JASPER GREEN THE RUBICON EDITOR St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced in August that eliminating library fees would be a top priority on his 2019 budget proposal, thinking that library fees do unnecessary harm to low-income households. “I believe that getting rid of fees helps to foster a culture of equity within the St. Paul Public Library system. The people who benefit most from the library system, people who might not necessarily have the money to spend at bookstores, are the ones be-
ing most hurt by the late return fees,” senior Adelia Bergner said. 51,000 patrons with blocked accounts due to accumulated fees are now able to return to the books, without the apprehension of getting caught up in fines. The St. Paul library system issued a notice that any fines for overdue materials would be forgiven, but that replacement fees for items that are never returned will still be in effect. Books or other items that have been checked out for more than 35 days are considered lost and will come with a bill, but if the items are returned, the bill will go away.
“I think that as long as there’s still the fee for losing the book entirely that I’m on board with it. I do see the point of view where they could be discouraged from checking out the book at all... I think that even if books are checked out for longer since there won’t be late fees that that’s outweighed by the extra incentive lower income people gain to get that education,” sophomore Toby Polley said. The lost revenue of taking way around $200,000 may pose a problem, however by taking away fines, this would also get rid of the cost of maintaining the system of emails. “I think that it helps take away that staff ’s responsibility of sending emails and keeping track of late fees so there work maybe could be allocated elsewhere,” Polley said. Furthermore, with the increase of online borrowing, the system of fines that libraries use is not thought to be sustainable for the future.“Even if they get rid of the fees... people do more online reading now so maybe it’s good that libraries... adapt to the changing culture,” Bergner said. The St. Paul Public Library System believes that when the community has access to its materials it will be healthier and stronger.
“Although the seperations in the world may not be solely racial, MLk’s words reach to all barriers no matter the cause. He reminds us that we are one people, ‘More connects us than separates us.’ Black Panther.” “I think his work applies to me because it’s my job as a white person to be conscious of how what MLK was fighting at the time continues to exist in our society today so I can dismantle the ways I personally contribute to the white surpremacy that continues to dominate our culture.”
Minnesota Women’s March results in low 2019 turnout
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Julia Baron PROTEST. Twin Cities residents walk in the Women’s March.
JULIA BARON THE RUBICON EDITOR Two years following the largest one-day protest in American history, and two years into Trump’s presidency, feminists around the country gathered again to march, rally, and protest. Only this time there weren’t pink pussy hats covering the steps of every state capital, and posters and signs weren’t filling every corner of the streets. Amid the accusations against leaders of the Washington D.C Women’s March of not including all women in the protest, this women’s march
did not gain the same momentum as the first one, and many people decided to stay home. Even though the Minnesota Women’s March disassociated themselves with the leaders accused of antisemitism, the march still did not reach near the size it did in 2017. The Star Tribune reported that the 2019 women’s march reached around 4,000 people at its peak, compared to the 90,000 people that attended the 2017 Minnesota Women’s March.
Read the full story at
RUBICON online
EDITORIAL THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
[LETTER TO THE EDITOR]
[LETTER TO THE EDITOR]
Unreliable media exerts influence on politics
Social Media has taken a hold on what we believe in and listen to. Whether we chose to accept it or not, it is a fact, and it says a lot about us. We say that the journalists, the people who have gone to school for and whose career is explaining the truth to society, aren’t trustworthy. In reality, we are only saying this because it is what President Trump has told us via social media. What is the reason for trusting the words that the President types on Twitter more than the articles that professional journalists have carefully constructed and editors have carefully dissected? For the President to tweet what he wants to say, all he has to do is press a little button with the word “Tweet.” A private individual who is running a blog, creating articles and posting them on social media must go through a similar process. For a journalist to publish an article in a responsible publication, the article goes through editors and fact-checkers before it can be printed on a page or published on a website. I understand not reading articles from specific news sources but make that decision yourself and do the research yourself. Google the journalist, find their portfolio, look up the awards that the publication has, see how much credibility they have with larger companies and organizations. Don’t decide not to read a newspaper because one person once tweeted that something didn’t seem right to them in an article. Social Media impacts us a lot because it has filled our time and anything that we look at continuously will change our thinking. It has changed everything from which journalist we believe in, to how we meet people, and what jokes we share with our friends. Social Media also impacts how loud our voice is. Our voices are as loud as they have ever been, so don’t belittle your voice by believing the people whose voices are already some of the loudest in the world.
From Elizabeth Trevathan
3
Fight fake news by utilizing diverse sources
THERE’S A MIGRANT CARAVAN TRYING TO GET INTO THE U.S. I HEAR THEY ALL HAVE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES TOO.
REALLY? WHAT’S YOUR SOURCE FOR THAT?
OH, I JUST SAW IT ON TWITTER
EDITORIAL CARTOON:Jasper Green MISINFORMATION. The internet has made the spreading of fake news and misinformation easy.
Verifying news sources vital to combatting misinformation THE RUBICON STAFF EDITORIAL
Although the term “fake news” became a fad during the 2016 election, the spread of false information due to a misplacement of trust in unreliable news sources is far from new. While students learn how to find trustworthy sources for formal assignments, it is important that classes take this one step further and add curriculum to teach students how to apply these skills when reading the news. In a democracy, each individual has an obligation to their fellow citizens to be adequately informed, since each individual plays a role in making choices that affect everyone. Since education is the only solution to the problem of misinformation, it becomes each school’s responsibility to teach students how to conduct research. Misinformation can also harm a community socially. News shapes our values and worldviews. False stories can spark intense emotions that are entirely unnecessary when the story simply isn’t true. They can also warp students’ perceptions of each other, especially politically, and can give students the idea that they know others’ opinions
“
IN AN AGE WHERE ANYONE CAN POST TO THE INTERNET IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO BE VIGILANT IN CHECKING THE RELIABILITY OF SOURCES.
”
on hot button topics without actually talking to them. This discourages conversation between potentially opposing viewpoints - the opposite of SPA’s goal. There is often a mental gap between conducting research and casually reading the news. Students know how to find quality sources when it is for their annual history papers but forget these practices when it comes to their daily news intake. This must be corrected and it would only require a small but ongoing curriculum practice to do so. Since research and finding sources is already taught in a number of core subjects - namely, history and science - it would only be necessary to build upon that education, not add something entire-
ly new to any class. In 9th grade, history teachers already teach about how to find trustworthy sources through databases and google scholar. It would be simple to also add how those same strategies can be applied to news read on the internet. In an age where anyone can post to the internet it is more important than ever to be vigilant in checking the reliability of sources. A common perception of “fake news” is that it is produced by bots. However, according to a study from MIT published in Science journal, Twitter users play a much larger role in the spread of false news than bots do. The irony of misinformation being spread about who is at the most fault for the spread of misinformation only emphasizes the importance of being able to discern between trustworthy sources and unreliable ones. The ability to distinguish between reliable sources and misinformation can be applied to an infinite number of situations whether it be choosing a college or even deciding which candidate to vote for. If the curriculum shifts to reinforce how widely applicable this skill is, students will make this checking of facts a regular practice in their daily news consumption.
It is reasonable to be wary of the news, especially in the height of this era, polluted with biased media, rampant with “fake news.” This does not, however, exempt individuals from the responsibility as news readers to find reliable sources applying empirical evidence to potentially controversial topics. It’s admirable of so young a generation to follow news from varying sources, something few adults can do. So often, individuals allow themselves to become trapped within the confines of the echo chamber that is social media, condemning those articles that diverge from their political affiliations. In doing so, those news consumers contribute to their confirmation bias, further entrenching themselves in their opinions. Too often do people disregard news stories solely on the basis of their own beliefs and whether those concepts are supported/challenged in the articles and organizations. This notion was tested in the Knight-Gallup experiment of 2017, exploring the significance of “brand prejudice” as the two foundations analyzed the participants’ fluctuating bias towards certain articles, depending on whether or not the source was revealed. Thirty-five percent of those who had the source shown to them proved to have a bias. Within that group, those who had strong political affiliations were revealed to have a bias forty-three percent of the time. It is incumbent on not only the young generations but also the older to diversify their news sources to ensure they receive multiple perspectives on a controversy. Despite what is often imposed on the youth, we have a voice. It is our responsibility as young people of influence to use that platform to encourage others to challenge their preconceptions and confirmation biases. And, subsequently, establish and expand our platform so that we may influence and benefit future generations.
From Harper Lux
THE RUBICON St. Paul Academy and Summit School • 1712 Randolph Ave St. Paul, MN 55105 • rubicon.spa@gmail.com • www.RubicOnline.com • @TheRubiconSPA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR STORY EDITOR NEWS EDITORS OPINIONS EDITORS FEATURE EDITORS IN DEPTH EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS SPORTS EDITORS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR HEALTH EDITOR PHOTO STORY EDITOR
Jack Benson Quinn Christensen Chloe Morse Andrew Johnson Maren Ostrem, Lucy Sandeen Lizzie Kristal, Kat St. MartinNorburg Lucy Benson, Meagan Massie Jasper Green Eloise Duncan, Evelyn Lillemoe Julia Baron, Tommy Stolpestad Sharee Roman Jenny Ries Claire Hallaway
DIRECTOR OF RUBICONLINE CREATIVE DESIGN MANAGER PRODUCTION MANAGER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER NEWS EDITORS OPINIONS EDITORS COLUMNIST FEATURE EDITORS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS ARTS CRITIC SPORTS EDITORS RUBICON T V PRODUCER INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING TEAM
Mimi Geller Noah Raaum Isabel Gisser Annie Bottern Martha Sanchez, Kelby Wittenberg Will Rinkoff, Isabel Saavedra-Weis Kieran Singh Sam Hanson, Melissa Nie Koji Gutzmann, Lynn Reynolds Michael Forsgren Emma Sampson, Bobby Verhey Ellie Nowakowski Tristan Hitchens-Brookins (Lead), Rylan Hefner, Liv Larsen, Tana Ososki
STAFF WRITERS
Salah Abdulkarim, Mason Brooks, Lara Cayci, Clara Garner, Adrienne Gaylord, Lucia Granja, Tessah Green, Charlie Johnson, Zekiah Juliusson, Charlie Keillor, Harper Lux, Anna Perleberg, Mukeil Rizvi, Annika Rock, Katya Sjaastad, Elizabeth Trevathan ADVISER
Kathryn Campbell
PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANT
Kate Glassman
4
OPINIONS THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
Protests not enough to enact real progress Performative advocacy diminishes the impact of change making SHAREE ROMAN THE RUBICON EDITOR For centuries, on both sides of the political spectrum, in moments of civic discontent, anyone can take to the streets, demanding change through protest. The First Amendment enshrines such efforts, protecting “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
IS A “ THIS POWERFUL
MOMENT, SEEING HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTS BOND AND PROTEST TOGETHER.
”
In the past year, there have been a number protests from March for Science to Women’s March. Still, what has protest done lately? Smartphones and social media are supposed to have made organizing easier, and activists today speak more about numbers and outreach than about lasting results. Is protest a productive use of our politi-
cal attention? Or is it just social theatre we perform to make ourselves feel virtuous, useful, and in the right? The power of marches and protests are more habit than solution. Protest is too fleeting. It ignores the structural nature of problems in a modern world. Protests and marches reduce the complexity of the situation down to a statement on a poster board. This impulse promotes a general inability to think systematically about change. The topics that are being protested are rarely simple. Gender is not simple. Gun protests are not simple. None of these ideas should be compressed into a 10 word statement written on a poster board. In the years when students have organized walkouts at Saint Paul Academy, the people who attend the protests either really care about the situation or are using the situation to take the day off. In March 7, 2018 dozens of high school students marched out of school in promoting better school safety and protesting gun violence. Last year, junior Sydney Therien held a sign that said “Protect PEOPLE, NOT guns!!!” She marched for the whole route and made her voice heard among others.
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Julia Baron WOMENS MARCH. Marchers hold signs and gather in front of the Minnesota State Capital to listen to speakers at the third annual Womens March. This is a powerful moment, seeing highschool students bond and protest together. But it is not enough. Protests are just the beginning. The tip of the iceberg of every problem. Protests focus on a particular issue within a bigger problem. Change is going to take a lot more than words on posters and shouts from rallyers. Change is going to take listening from the community. Afterall, the community does not have the
power to change laws, but it has the power to change minds. Not all the people attend walkouts to protest. Some simply attended out to be with friends. Protesting is all about socializing and sharing ideas. But when people are attending for a protests for no reason other than to have a day off, it is unacceptable. The core of protesting comes with the idea of care and a desire fordesiring a change. While
there will always be people who care at protest, walkouts, and marches, the number of students who decide to have a day off is growing. Protests are meant for people who want change and who care, not for the people who don’t. Protests are not bad though. Protests are social events that allow people to voice and share their opinion and hopefully be listened to.
Life skills classes would help prepare students for life after high school ANDREW JOHNSON THE RUBICON EDITOR Students gather around Harkness tables, engaging over core academic classes. Over the course of four years, they settle into a comfortable, yet effective, routine: dial into academic classes in school, spend nights completing assigned work, repeat. They perfect this routine, and upon graduation, they are advanced critical thinkers. However, come time for the independence that college brings, they struggle to put textbook knowledge to use when dealing with the practical challenges of living away from home. This reality plagues some St. Paul Academy students like sophomore Adam Holod. “I am horrible at cooking besides simple dishes like mac and cheese. I have no idea how to budget, and I don’t know where to start when doing taxes,” Holod said. For others, such as junior Will Zhao, life skills have been ingrained into a routine. “I am skilled at cooking, budgeting, and cleaning. Since I do not have family here and live with other people, I have been able to develop such skills. I am not quite as mature as an adult, but close,” Zhao said. However, other students like Holod can be left feeling unpre-
pared. Unfortunately, Integral and Core Calculus doesn’t help prepare a meal, Gender and Literature studies aren’t relevant when doing laundry, and Chemistry is not useful non-useful when attempting to complete taxes. As high schoolers, students are subjected to an intensely rigorous curriculum that fosters academic pressure that, at times, can consume their lives both in and out of the classroom. While this pressure can be positive, as it teaches students the value of a strong work ethic and time management skills, it can also take away from a focus they should be developing to learn how to perform daily functions.There is a solution that both can take academic pressure off students in the classroom while also preparing them for the outside world: instilling a Life Skills class into school curriculum. The benefits of offering such as class are clear. As reported by Education Dive, students who develop life skills as high schoolers have greater odds of obtaining “better attainment outcomes” when leaving school and in the job world, but “only” if the teaching of these skills is through a classroom environment. The objective of a high school experience is to learn, and this doesn’t just mean arithmetic and literature; it should include an emphasis on
character building which is fostered through such skill-building courses. SPA claims to “shape the minds and hearts” of their students, but isn’t learning these non-textbook skills a part of that shaping? According to Holod, it should be.
“
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO BUDGET, AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START WHEN DOING TAXES. - Adam Holod
”
“[Learning about life skills] is really important, especially if you live in an apartment or on your own,” Holod said. Zhao concurs. “Going to college means one is away from his family. I believe students will not be willing to do chores for each other, which means you have to get your own cooking, budgeting, cleaning, taxing going. Also, if you can do those things well, I believe you will have a better relationship with your roomates,” Zhao said. Furthermore, employers of all levels are looking for more than just textbook knowledge from
employees; they value practical skills as well. According to The Huffington Post, companies place a strong value on communication skills, money management, and budget balancing. School is supposed to prepare students, ultimately, for professional careers. SPA administration should take the advice of employers and devote class time to furthering life lessons. If SPA implated a course that put specific emphasis on developing each of these skills, students could not only put the course on a resume, but would be well-equipped for when they actually enter the job scene, whether that be during high school, in college, or professionally. The instillation of a life skills course would not only relieve students of pressure from their rigorous academic schedule, but would also prepare them for life after high school in the job scene as well. In reality, even something as reasonable as offering an elective course to upperclassmen that centered around the teaching of practical skills would more than suffice for the students who feel a need to diverge from their academic routine. To create such a class, talk to friends, teachers, and faculty; further the conversation and amplify the hole that is currently in the SPA curriculum that a life skills class could fill.
Importance of life skills
53%
of teachers say that life skills are more important than academic qualifications
1 5
in students say school helps to develop life skills
26% of 20-34 year olds still live with their parents
94%
of employers say life skills are as or more important than academic qualifications
13%
of schools don’t know where to find the information to develop students’ life skills
INFOGRAPHIC BY:Lizzie Kristal PRIORITIES. According to a study conducted by the Sutton Trust, teachers, parents, employers and students all agreed that life skills are as important or more important than academic skills.
OPINIONS THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
5
New library fee policy ensures greater accessibility LUCY SANDEEN THE RUBICON EDITOR
The (Current) Events
JACK BENSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The way people make decisions, interact with others, and plan out their lives is being shaped by the internet everyday. One of the most significant changes the internet brings is the ability for millions of people to interact and reflect on big issues. Often, this manifests itself as discussions on Twitter, posts on Reddit, and yes, memes spread throughout. Some news outlets have categorized memes as a malevolent force especially when it comes to politics. One Guardian article described memes as “anarchic folk propaganda.” However, memes are just another medium to spread opinions. Just as words can be propaganda, so can memes. So while memes can be used to enforce a political ideology, they are no worse than ads, speeches, or even tweets. Many internet users see memes less as a political tool and more as a way to exchange laughs or amusement about the world. Most are still amused everytime they see the word “meme” in a news story. However, memes are simply a new form of communication. Memes have the effect not just of connecting two people through mutual amusement, they can draw attention to the absurd. In the same vein as satire, memes expose ridiculous and paradoxical aspects of society. When something strange, or even just plain stupid occurs in politics, thousands of memes will follow. Examples include: Trump’s fast food banquet, British Parliament’s overwhelming shutdown of Theresa May’s brexit plan, and many more.
Read the full story at
RUBICON online
Fees from 51,000 library cards have been eliminated
92% of libraries in America still have library fees
% 3.2
Memes contain amusing fake news
An overhaul of Saint Paul Public Libary’s late fines makes access to reading materials easier and more fiscally responsible. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter first proposed an overhaul of the Saint Paul Public Library’s fee system in Aug. 2018, wiping the slate clean for 51,000 library card holders whose access to books were blocked because of overdue book fees and making those same fees more forgiving. On Jan. 1 2019, his proposal was implemented as a part of the city’s 2019 budget. The new system eliminates late fees altogether but still holds library users accountable for returning their books: users will be billed for lost items that have been overdue for 35 days. After an item has been returned, the fee will be wiped from the user’s account. This new late fee system will increase access to free education across St. Paul’s demographics and make the library a more inclusive establishment. Minnesota has long faced drastic disparities in education. According to the Minnesota Department of Ed-
ucation in 2017, in grades three through tenth, twice as many white students as black students met state standards for math and reading. In the past 15 years, the number of schools where minority students make up 90 percent or more of enrollment has doubled. By eradicating late fees and forgiving previously accumulated fines, Saint Paul Public Libraries will become more accessible for readers of different economic statuses and help underserved students access school and supplementary materials for free. According to the library’s website, the policy is fiscally responsible, because fines have historically not been a major form of revenue for the library and money collected has been steadily declining for the past ten years. Late fines have not been an effective deterrent for late books, and the new policy is beneficial for the St. Paul community. SPPL’s new fine policy demonstrates Mayor Melvin Carter’s and the city’s renewed commitment to equal access to education and reading, no matter a person’s economic status.
$2
. m 5 illio
n
ees of f been e hav ven gi for
of the Saint Paul Library funds have been increased INFOGRAPHIC BY: Lizzie Kristal
BOOKS. The new library fee policy announced by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter makes it possible for those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to take advantage of the library’s resources and opportunities.
The library is now fine free. We no longer charge fines on late items. This ensures that all people have access to library books and materials, which is our primary purpose as a public library. -St. Paul Public Library website
Current community outreach efforts need major improvements CLAIRE HALLAWAY THE RUBICON EDITOR SPA is privileged in many ways. We are primarily white, upper class and have access to great education and plentiful opportunities. We have flexibility within our schedules and are able to organize community service events or to create new clubs or activities if wanted. With a strong network, we also have a lot of influence available at the tips of our fingers. It is true that there are many ways that we do try to take action and use our privilege to help others. For sophomores, there are required service hours and community service is also a large component in senior projects. We have a very active community service club that plans various projects with different non-profits. The club has a large budget for funding service field trips open to any student and has helped to plan service day in past years. It is clear that the school
“
FOR A COMMUNITY THAT IS SO PRIVILEGED, WE AS A SCHOOL SHOULD TAKE MORE ACTION TOWARDS GIVING BACK TO OTHERS FINANCIALLY.
isn’t lacking in opportunity to get involved with helping others. However, there is a lot of room where we as a school spend time talking about what we want to do. We have various assemblies or time devoted to talking about what we would do. For how much time is spent just talking about what we want to do, it wouldn’t be extremely hard to take some of that time and use it towards actual action. This could be ad-
dressed in many different ways. Having required service hours starting in sophomore year gives students a wide window for opportunity. However, after the service hours are completed, students aren’t exactly expected to continue with their time volunteering. Students could go all of junior year without even completing a single hour of volunteer time if they wanted. Community service should be more built into SPA’s curriculum so students can find something they are truly passionate about and continue with it. This could easily be met with a more required service hours in junior year. Giving back can be shown in many ways. Community service and volunteer hours are a huge part in working towards helping others, however money also plays a large role in the way we give back to others. There are many organizations that thrive off of volunteering, but money can help the organization grow in many new ways.
For a community that is so privileged, we as a school should take more action towards giving back to others financially. This could be met with action initiated from the school to create a partnership with another non-profit that could use the money even more. We do a lot with fundraising and investing it back into ourselves through construction and new additions, but we could also be fundraising to extend the ladder to give back to others as well. SPA should try to encourage students to reach out and use their privilege in many various other ways as well in the form of activism. Marches or rallies are both two ways in which students can voice our opinions for those who can’t as easily. There should be a greater emphasis on spending time focusing on being allies for those who are struggling. It is equally important for students to learn the importance of learning and practicing speaking up for what they believe in.
“Additional reporting by” followed by the name of the reporter.
style. All pieces must be submitted and will be published with a full name.
published online, will be corrected following the online corrections policy.
EDITORIALS articulate the collective
UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS
MEMBERSHIPS
”
POLICIES, MEMBERSHIPS AND AWARDS OUR MISSION We strive to capture the spirit of the community through its stories while inspiring deeper conversations. Above all, we stand for integrity in our pursuit to inform and engage our readers.
PUBLICATION INFO The Rubicon
is published eight times a year. We distribute 750 copies of each issue to the Upper School which are available for free.
ADVERTISING The Rubicon does not accept advertisements.
ANONYMOUS SOURCES Although
it is always preferable to use names when reporting, there are times when it is necessary to protect those we report on. In the case of a student, the use of grade level as a name designation (i.e. Sophomore Student) will be the preferred method of anonymity.
BY LINES credit the individual who
conducted interviews, drafted, revised and fact-checked an assigned story. Shared bylines are given to joint effort assignments, with reporters listed alphabetically by last name. Stories that include supplemental materials include a credit at the bottom that states
opinion of The Rubicon staff, while mini-editorials, opinions pieces, arts reviews, and columns belong to the author.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Opinions are welcomed as Letters to the Editor or Submitted Opinions and may be published in the print or edition. Letters to the Editor should not exceed 400 words and Submitted Opinions should not exceed 650 words. Both may be edited for length and
During the post-critique process, staff members identify inaccuracies and report feedback from readers. The staff publishes corrections when an error is discovered during critique or reported to a staff member. Corrections should be directed to the Editor in Chief or appropriate section editor. IN PRINT: Corrections are printed at the bottom of News p. 2. Corrections will be printed in the month following the error and, if the story is also
Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association MN High School Press Association Quill and Scroll Honor Society
PUBLICATION AWARDS
NSPA All-American, Pacemaker (Online) and Finalist (Print) CSPA Gold Medalist (Hybrid), Silver Crown Award (Hybrid), SNO Distinguished Site JEM All State Gold
6
FEATURE THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
Benefaction International:
Wilson builds company with goal of giving back
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Naomi Wilson DESIGN. Junior Naomi Wilson spent up a lot of her free time working on building her company. “During the time when I was designing the t-shirts...I’d say [I spent] maybe like two hours per day.” Wilson said.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Naomi Wilson ME TO WE. Wilson and other travelers carry clay jugs on a trip to India with non-profit ME to WE. St. Paul Academy and Summit School students find a variety of ways
JENNY RIES to occupy their time outside of school, whether with sports, performTHE RUBICON EDITOR ing arts, volunteer work, or myriad other activities. One such student,
junior Naomi Wilson, has chosen to devote some of her spare time to starting her own company, Benefaction International. Consisting of a website, plus Twitter and Instagram accounts, this company sells t-shirts designed by Wilson and donates 50 percent of the proceeds to two different non-profits, the Rape Abuse Incest National Network(RAINN) and Pardada Pardadi. A transformative experience inspired Wilson to start Benefaction International. “The idea of starting this company [came to me] between my freshman and sophoI...HAD THIS IDEA more year, when I went to a trip to India with Me to We [a non-profit],” Wilson said. OF USING MY “While I was on the trip I sort of had this idea of using my privilege and capitalism… to kind of better the community around me, and then also the international community.” PRIVILEGE AND Wilson named her company Benefaction International with intention. CAPITALISM... “The first part of the name is ‘benefaction,’ which is… like a gift, and the idea with my company was to sell a product and then have a portion, right now it’s 50 percent, of TO BETTER THE the proceeds be donated to another non-profit. So, like, a gift to the customer, and the COMMUNITY non-profit would also be getting a gift,” she said. As for ‘international,’ “That came from the idea of supporting organizations across AROUND ME, the globe and then also, since it’s online, just having that site and that platform and store AND ALSO THE available globally,” Wilson said. The Benefaction International website has been up for about 3 months, since around INTERNATIONAL October, and two different t-shirt designs are available for purchase, both designed by COMMUNITY. Wilson. One of these t-shirt designs is likely familiar to many SPA students: the black ‘I Believe Survivors’ t-shirt that can be often be spotted in the hallways. Wilson noted that she sold this shirt at SPA through HerSpace. - Naomi Wilson The other design features a 9-dot puzzle with that reads ‘Think Outside The Box.’ “I have those two [shirts] available on my website, then I also have a couple of blog posts regarding minimalism and self care and also goals and goal setting, that sort of stuff,” she said. Despite the fact that Wilson has found a market at SPA, her company is beginning to gain exposure in the outside world, as well. “I am getting quite a bit of traffic from social media, because I have an Instagram page [and] a Twitter page, where I usually post updates on my blog posts, and I’m getting a lot of traffic from that,” she said. “And then, also actually from different countries as well. Last time I checked I had got… clicks from Germany and Israel and Canada.” Benefaction International’s success has not come without hard work on Wilson’s part. “During the time when I was designing the t-shirts and trying to get all that figured out, I’d say [I spent] maybe like two hours per day. It was a lot of work over the weekend.” But things have calmed down since then.“Right now, it’s probably been, maybe around 30 minutes per day, just with me writing the blog post and then also checking in on social media just to see if anyone mentioned my company, or stuff like that,” Wilson said. As far as goals, Wilson said, “Long term, I’m really hoping to be able to truly kind of work directly with the non-profits that I’m donating to. Right now, I’m… not considered that successful, but hopefully once I become more famous and influential, then maybe I’ll be able to get to those organizations and make more specific deals, like having the money go towards a certain project when it goes to them.” Finally, Wilson wants SPA students to know that she is open to hearing their opinions. “If they have any questions or concerns… I’m always encouraging people to kind of reach out to me. Like, if they have any suggestions on how [the company] can improve, whether if it’s like, maybe the tee shirts or… they think the pricing should be different, then maybe just talking to me directly. I encourage criticism with that.”
“
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Naomi Wilson IMPACT. Wilson sits down in the country where she first had the idea for Benefaction International. “The idea of starting this company [came to me] between my freshman and sophomore year, when I went to a trip to India with Me to We [a non-profit],” Wilson said.
”
benefactioninternational.com TIPS AND T-SHIRTS. In addition to selling her t-shirts on the Benefaction International site, Wilson also writes blog posts with advice and helpful tips.
FEATURE THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
7
THE RUBICON PHOTOS: Evelyn Lillemoe ACCESSORIZED WITH CONFIDENCE. Senior Elea Besse and Sophomore Mimi Longe’s accessories serve as both fashion statements and confidence boosters.
For Besse and Longe accessories = attitude EVELYN LILLEMOE THE RUBICON EDITOR For senior Elea Besse, her style fluctuates with her life. “I usually dress how I feel. So one day if I am dressed more put together I will probably have my school stuff put together, just feel more confident about my day. If I am dressed in sweats it’s probably because emotions are running a little high, and stress is higher,” Elea Besse said. How one dresses can be a reflection of what is within. It make sense then, why style is so important to many people. Style has a big effect on first impressions, as it is the first thing people see of another person. Style manifests itself in many different ways. In one’s clothes, one’s makeup, one’s hair, one’s jewelry, or one’s shoes.
It is a way to tell others who one is without saying or doing anything. Often high school is a time where students discover and play with their style. Freshman year was when Senior Elea Besse started thinking about her style. “I actually had a uniform in middle school, because I was new freshman year at SPA. So I really started thinking about how what I wear... Represents my personality, after I finished 8th grade,” “I was free to wear what I wanted.” Sophomore Mimi Longe, on the other hand, has been thinking style for much longer. “[I started thinking about style] when I was very little. Probably like 5 years old. I’ve always really liked fashion,” Longe said. Both Longe and Besse use small details to show their style. One part of Besse’s style is jew-
elry. She has a pair of thin silver octagon shaped hoop earrings that she finds break away from more basic jewelry.
“
[STYLE] MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD AND IT MAKES YOU PROUD OF YOURSELF, -Mimi Longe
”
“I got them at where I work, Encore Consignment… I like these because they’re not the classic hoops… since they’re octagons I thought it was a little twist on the original hoop earrings,” Besse said. Long finds her expression in another form: glasses. “People keep asking if they’re fake,” Longe said, “They aren’t.
They’re prescription.” Many have negative connotations with glasses, as those who wear them are often stereotyped as nerdy or unattractive. But Longe has found a way to make glasses something that increases her confidence. “[Style] makes you feel good and it makes you proud of yourself, I feel like at least, and also it is a way to express yourself physically.” Longe said. Though some think style puts emphasis on the outside rather than the inside, style can be a tool for many people to . “I put a lot of effort into my style, even though I know that’s not supposed to be that important, ‘physical appearance isn’t important, blah blah blah,’” Longe said, “But I’m really into fashion. It is the way you can ex-
press yourself… to other people that you don’t know.” Besse uses style to open herself up and become more self assured. “I think it makes me more confident in who I am. If I’m putting that part of myself, my personality, on the outside it’s easier to have people know me for who I am [without interaction] instead of getting to know me through interaction. That’s another layer of how you get to know somebody,” Style means a lot to Longe and Besse, and they are not alone. Style has many positive effects like increased confidence, self expression, and individuality. Though style may be overlooked on a day to day basis, its affects go deeper than most realize at first glance.
Traditions and tortillas bind Garcia’s extended family ELOISE DUNCAN THE RUBICON EDITOR CHLOE MORSE THE RUBICON EDITOR The role of elders in society is different in every country and every time period. However, the commonality between all elders is the extensive breadth of experiences that they have. Elders have been scientifically shown to have more wisdom than young people. However, this wisdom is not associated with how smart somebody is or how high their IQ is, but instead by social decision making, emotional stability, prosocial behaviors, decisiveness, uncertainty, and insight, according to geriatric neuropsychiatrist Dilip Jeste. Each of these are developed through experiences, and so elders, who have had more time to gain more experience, inherently have more wisdom than youth. Relationships between elders and young people often allow those who are younger to learn lessons from those with more experience. For sophomore Karla Garcia, her relationship with her grandparents have allowed her to learn new things. “My grandma has taught me how to make tortillas…[and] to
appreciate the small things in life and take nothing for granted,” sophomore Karla Garcia said. Garcia made tortillas for the first time with her grandma when visiting her in Mexico a few years ago for Christmas, and discovered how it helped her relax.
“
...I HAVE A CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY. WE LOVE TO SPEND ...TIME TOGETHER. - Karla Garcia
”
“[My grandma, aunts and dad] called my cousins and me to help them [make tortillas]. We then proceeded to make tortillas and tamales for the next 3 hours. During this time we talked and [they] told stories...about their childhood and their theories about the Llorona,” Garcia said. The Llorona, a story about a mother whose ghost searches for her two children that drowned in a river, is a well-known folklore story in Hispanic culture. Garcia doesn’t make tortillas often, but she always enjoys the experience.
“[Making tortillas] is a destressor, and really helps me calm myself and distract me from other things I have going on like homework and studying. I enjoy spending time with my family while making them, which I do not get to do as much when I am busy with school,” Garcia said. “It can be an all-day project and it is really rewarding to eat something you made by hand.” When visiting her family in Mexico, Garcia is able to continue traditions, such as making tortillas. But even when not in Mexico, Garcia continues to connect with her family through those traditions. “I would say that I have a close-knit family. We love to spend a lot of time together. I only get to see my grandparents, uncles, and cousins from Mexico every 2 years. However every time I see them we keep our traditions going,” Garcia said. “I have come back to the United States and made tortillas with my other cousins.” Garcia’s grandparents, by showing her how to appreciate the small things in life, have encouraged her to apply that lesson to her own life. “It has definitely been a hard lesson to implement in my life.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Karla Garcia TOGETHERNESS. Karla Garcia and her relatives make tortillas and share stories. I have learned this lesson by better person. I have learned to realizing that I am very fortu- never take anything for granted.” nate, realizing that I have many Garcia said. opportunities that others don’t Though she is not an elhave the luxury to have,” Garcia der, through her connection with said. “The ideology of appreciat- her grandparents, Garcia has ing all the small things life has been able to learn lessons that to offer that I have learned from are typically taught by time. my grandparents helps me be a
8
ONE A THE RUBICON -
Shows dazzle audience
SAM HANSON RUBICONLINE EDITOR
Elena (Alan) (played by Nina Sme fellow test taker, Lois, (played by
Gertrude Stein (played by Chloe Morse) reads over what the group of women were discussing.
Chamber Music DIRECTED BY: ERIC SEVERSON
Man in white (played by Peter Michel) inspects the forlorn face of Constanze Mozart (played by Grace Krasny)
Joan of Arc (played by Isobel Alm) holds her cross dear as she reacts to comments made by her fellow inmates. “Chamber Music,” directed by US theater director Eric Severson, opens to a roundtable of notable female figures in history — including Constanze Mozart (sophomore Grace Krasny), Osa Johnson (junior Sydney Therien), and Gertrude Stein (senior Chloe Morse). Though it becomes evident that the meeting is held in an insane asylum, the women are committed to their parts — Joan of Arc (Isobel Alm) carries a full-size cross, while Amelia Earhart (junior Ananya Narayan) believes her plane crashed just outside the window. However, the meeting, moderated by Susan B. Anthony (senior Isabel Saavedra-Weis) soon loses order: they believe, delusionally, that the men’s ward is planning to attack them — and thus must attack them first. Queen Isabella I of Spain (played by Annika Findlay) takes off her veil for the first time.
This is a Test Senior Adelia Bergner and 9th grader Annika Brelsford lean on each other in one of a series of different imitations. “English Made Simple,” directed by Gemma Yoo and Abby Lanz, played on the idea of the awkward encounter at a party, with a loudspeaker (Ellie Murphy) narrating what the conversation was really about. Jackie, played by sophomore Annika Brelsford, meets Jill, played by senior Adelia Bergner, who enact the familiar rituals of conversation: the hellos, displays of affection, the sharing of arbitrary information. But, the conversation takes an esoteric turn: the couple contemplates “the infinite smorgasbord that lies before us,” while sitting on the edge of the stage. It turns out, a three-minute conversation can determine a relation- Bergner waits for instruction from ship for the rest of eternity. the loudspeaker (played by Ellie Murphy).
Bergner and Brelsford share an awkward conversation as the loudspeaker (played by Ellie Murphy) takes notes.
English Made Simple
DIRECTED BY: NITYA THAKKAR
Members of the class, Alice Dun Ryan Strobel, hold up signs depic
The teacher (played by Ellie Dawson-Moore) takes a phone call despite her class being in the middle of a test.
DIRECTED BY: GEMMA YOO and ABBY LANZ
Brelsford tries to act cool while conversing with a another party-goer.
One, Two, and Three (played by A Menard, and Spencer Burris-Bro Smetana.
9
ACTS FEBRUARY 2019
etana) yells in a panic at her y Griffin Moore).
ncan, Naci Konar-Steenberg, and cting answers to the test. “This is a Test,” directed by Nitya Thakkar, reenacted the worst-case scenario of a test, in nightmarish detail. Allie, played by Nina Smetana, stayed up all night studying for a test, only to discover her peers are vastly more prepared. Her day took a turn for the worse when the teacher, played by Ellie Dawson-Moore, reminded the class that the 60-minute test would determine your “future,” and acceptance into college. The unfairness of the class is put onto comedic hyperbole when a carefree hockey-playing student, named Evan (junior Peter Findell), walks in late and tells the teacher the answers he “would have” put: he gets 100 percent. Allie, preoccupied on acceptance into the fictional “Magestica” University, reaches a stressed exacerbation when she discovers the “opinion essay” section of the test is written in Chinese. Unfortunately, the teacher informed, the only class Allie missed was the day where they learned Chinese.
Adrienne Gaylord, Caroline own) distract Elena (Alan) Nina
Ramon (played by Jayden Jones) scoops up Mrs. Trotsky (played by Savita Avasthi-Yopp). “Variations on the Death of Trotsky,” directed by Joey Bluhm and Zoe Hermer-Cisek, featured Sophomore Michael Moran playing Trotsky, who discovered of his death through an encyclopedia entry read by Mrs.Trotsky, played by junior Savita Avasthi-Yopp. Although Trotsky has a mountain-climbers ax stuck in his head — he is unaware, and instead worries about protecting himself from ice picks. When Trotsky asks his gardener, Ramon (played by Jayden Jones), about the ax, Ramon informs he “smashed, not buried” the ax into his head. In the final variation of Trotsky’s death, Mrs. Trotsky (played by Savita he reminisces about his life Avasthi-Yopp) describes Trotsky’s in a philosophical tone: he death to her husband, Trotsky. is in his “last room” of life.
Denise (played by Katie Schlinger) glares at her family.
Frank (Graciela Whitaker-Castaneda), Jimmy (Ben Atmore), Denise (Katie Schlinger), Joyce (Adeline DeHarpporte), and Aunt Cathy (Evelyn Lillemoe) discuss Jimmy’s coming out.
Variations on the Death of Trotsky DIRECTED BY: JOEY BLUHM and ZOE HERMER-CISEK
Jimmy (Ben Atmore) and his minion Collin (Per Johnson) hold hands.
Trotsky (played by Michael Moran) stares straight into the gaping jaws of death (in a skull).
“Jimmy the Antichrist,” directed by Nora Povejsil and Rachael Johnson, opens to a classic Thanksgiving meal, but the plot soon twists when Jimmy, the first-year college student played by senior Ben Atmore, returns home to his family. Jimmy’s appearance is unremarkable, although his parents note his earrings with a disapproving tone. He is joined by a friend named Colin (played by Per Johnson), who energetically greets and hugs each member of Jimmy’s family. At the dinner table, Aunt Kathy (played by Evelyn Lillemoe) asks Jimmy if he is seeing anyone — and Jimmy acts as if he has an embarrassing secret: he is … the Antichrist. The signs were all there: the “666” birthmark on Jimmy’s chest, the sudden thunderstorms when he is angry, and his “allergy” to walking over hallowed ground. As family tensions rise, Aunt Kathy moves to leave the room, but collapses, not breathing. However, Jimmy works his demonic magic, and brings Aunt Kathy back to life —- yet she, unfortunately, turns into a devil when trying to eat, spewing food all over the stage in an absurd, fantastical conclusion.
Jimmy the Antichrist DIRECTED BY: NORA POVEJSIL and RACHAEL JOHNSON
Ramon (played by Jayden Jones) tells Trotsky about his wife’s unfaithfulness.
Aunt Kathy (Evelyn Lillemoe) throws food around the room under the influence of some magic. PHOTOS REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION: JOHN SEVERSON
10
SCI-TECH THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
Racing into the future:
Self driving [PRO]
LIZZIE KRISTAL THE RUBICON EDITOR
CRUISE CONTROL Cruise control allows drivers to maintain the same speed without having to keep their right foot on the pedal. It is one of the many technologies developed for cars that have made driving more enjoyable. Cruise control is also helpful for those who spend a lot of time in the car traveling or commuting. It is a simple feature that helps make driving less physically and mentally tiring.
CRUISE CONTROL ADJUSTMENTS These other buttons help aid the cruise control setting. The upper button increases the speed of the car and the lower button decreases the speed of the car.
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING Lane departure warning alerts you that your car is about to veer out of lane and warns you to get back into lane. There are several versions of the technology available now, including ones that react and steer away from the lane edge and even proactively keep the car centered.
SOURCE: Subaru Car Manual THE RUBICON PHOTO: Lizzie Kristal INFOGRAPHIC DESIGN: Sharee Roman
A car with a camera posted on the top signals, slows down, and flawlessly pulls up to the curb to pick up the next rider. Inside, there’s no one in the driver’s seat, and the wheel is turning by itself. These cars are the future. Self-driving cars are already being driven in a few states, and with rapidly growing companies like Google and Tesla, the cars will soon be a reality.
“
THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE OF SELF-DRIVING CARS IS A HUGE REDUCTION IN ACCIDENTS.
”
The biggest advantage of self-driving cars is a huge reduction in accidents. A study conducted by NHTSA shows that 94% of accidents are caused by human error, and with a computer controlling the wheel, those accidents will be eliminated. Distracted and drunk driving also contributes to fatal accidents. These factors won’t be an issue anymore because the car will always be working at its best performance, no matter the time of night. If accidents are decreased, then that will also be economically beneficial. The Environmental Protection Agency estimated a human life to be worth about $9.1 million. A report by America’s Workforce and the Self-Driving Future showed that if self-driving cars are fully adopted into society, $800 billion will be saved annually from accident recovery, fuel efficiency, and better access to transportation. The environment could benefit from self-driving cars too. If there were a large portion of self-driving cars, vehicle platooning would occur. This is when many cars have the ability to drive within close proximity at high speeds without accidents. Platooning would remove traffic, commute time, and fuel efficiency. Thus, there would be less time for fuel emissions. In this way, self-driving cars would decrease greenhouse gases in the environment. Many more benefits would come from fully-autonomous vehicles. People who had disabilities that limited their driving abilities could have easier access to transportation, along with the elderly. Police officers would spend less time distributing tickets and more time attending more pressing issues. People in general could spend commuting time doing work, reading, and more. The good things that come out of self-driving cars would make a huge shift for society.
HEALTH THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
cars
[CON]
LUCY BENSON THE RUBICON EDITOR While the idea of relinquishing control and leaning back to relax during a car ride is appealing, the reality of self driving cars is that they are not yet ready for the market. Eager companies and consumers are racing to that finish line despite hazards that come with the cars. In only March of 2018, a pedestrian was killed by a self driving car in Arizona. The car was even manned by an emergency backup driver. Uber, the company behind this car, then suspended self driving car testing.
“
THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND SELF-DRIVING CARS IS NOT YET DEVELOPED ENOUGH TO HIT THE ROAD.
”
The technology behind self driving cars is not yet developed enough for the cars to hit the road. The complexity of the maps guiding the car take longer to create than regular maps as they need to capture much more detail. One problem many manufacturers have run into is the reaction time of humans in self driving cars. In certain situations the cars relinquish control to its passenger. When this happens, distracted passengers must jump into action and take control of the car. A challenge showing up is that the passenger is distracted and does not act quickly to resume control of the car. The assumption of self driving cars is that they are fully autonomous, but in actuality the cars still need to be driven in tricky situations. It was only as early as 2017 that researchers began to study driver reaction times. Testing out different ways to alert passengers to put there hands back on the wheel. Auto executive Bob Lutz said, “Human drivers are distracted. They go to sleep. They drink. They text...Autonomous vehicles do none of that,” in defense of self driving vehicles. But now researchers look to what happens when passengers drink, text, and drive, or are otherwise impeded from reacting to the wheel. Driverless cars may relieve some of drivers burdens they can’t eliminate them entirely. At this point passengers would still have to be alert and engaged. This was difficulty with regular driving, but continues to be a risk factor in driverless cars. The technology is clearly not ready to take on the distracted driver.
Weighted blankets reduce stress, improve sleep Do you use a weighted blanket?
Z Z
of students do not use a weighted blanket
80%
14.3%
5.7%
“
of students regularly use a weighted blanket
Z
of students sometimes use a weighted blanket
I HAVE BEEN SLEEPING BETTER AND FEELING MORE WELL-RESTED WHEN I USE MY WEIGHTED BLANKET. - Abby Lanz
SHAREE ROMAN THE RUBICON EDITOR Toddlers have long used blankets or stuffed animals to help them feel secure. Recent trends show, however, that the uses of blankets stretch far beyond security or the early years of life. A weighted blanket, “Helps me sleep and not fidget,” at night 9th grader Grant Mortenson said. Sophomore Katie Schlinger said, “They are good for reducing stress and anxiety when trying to stay calm and fall to sleep.” Schlinger described hers as “very heavy and ideal for people who need a deep pressure blanket.” According to SensaCalm, a weighted blanket producer, weighted blankets take the soothing, calming comforts of a regular blanket and combine it with a therapy tool originally pioneered by autism researcher, Temple Grandin, a sort of “squeeze machine.” It works by applying gentle but firm pressure throughout the body. Recently, weighted blankets have gained popularity among people desiring better quality sleep. 9th grader Milo Zelle is one student who uses a blanket to help improve sleep; he said they are “extremely warm and fluffy.” Some hospital units use weighted blankets to calm and
11
promote restful sleep. In a similar way to swaddling an infant, the weight and pressure provides comfort and relief. What weights the blanket? Plastic poly pellets are sewn into compartments throughout the blanket to keep the weight properly distributed. 9th grader Nan Besse said the Cotton Magic Weighted Blanket she has “...is very warm and keeps all the heat in.” The weight of the blanket acts as deep touch therapy and acts on deep pressure touch receptors located all over your body. When these receptors are stimulated, the body relaxes and feels more grounded and safe, and clinical studies suggest that when deep pressure points are triggered they actually cause the brain to increase serotonin production. Senior Abby Lanz received a weighted blanket as a gift from her mother over winter break because of her anxiety. “I have been sleeping better and feeling more well-rested when I use my weighted blanket,” Lanz said. “My favorite part is the fact that it feels like a hug.” Similar to a hug, a weighted blanket stimulates the release of oxytocin — the happiness chemical in the brain. Studies have shown that hugging can produce oxytocin, which boosts an individual’s sense of well-being. In fact, the benefits of hugging and cuddling are so well-known that they’ve been incorporated into various forms of therapy. Depending on the quality and brand, blanket prices range from $70-250 dollars.
”
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Sharee Roman
What are weighted blankets used for?
1. Get better sleep and elevate mood. Weighted blankets help release serotonin, the chemical that regulates sleep and boosts mood. 2. Reduce stress and sooth anxiety. About 40 million people in the U.S. have some form of anxiety, and a weighted blanket can act like a firm but gentle hug. 3. Relieve body aches and pain. Weighted blankets can work in similar ways to compression clothing, reducing tingling, swelling, or achy symptoms. SOURCE: SensaCalm blog
12
ARTS & ENTERTAINENT THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
Polar vortex chills Winter Carnival For those who braved cold, Minnesota nice warmed ice Stuff of Legend th story of the Winter Carnival
Eos, the god of Starlight, and the goddess of the Rosy Fingered moon were wed and had five sons: Boreas, Titan, Euros, Zephyrus and Notos. As the eldest, Boreas was granted the title of “King of the Winds.”
THE RUBICON PHOTOS: Claire Hallaway SHAVED ICE. Sculptors prepared works during the opening weekend of Winter Carnival for judging. The sculptures were on display through Feb. 3 at Kellogg Mall Park in Saint Paul.
[First Person Review] CLAIRE HALLAWAY THE RUBICON EDITOR The bright and upbeat tone of live music can be heard drifting through downtown St. Paul before you even see the twinkling lights and various food stands that adorn the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Tucked at the very edge of Kellogg Park, the carnival boasted many different activities for anyone to enjoy.
“ WARM UP. Attendees of the Winter Carnival huddle around a fire to keep warm in the subzero weather.
ROCK OUT. Ben Johnson and the Road Beers, a country rock band, perform as a part of the Winter Carnival Music Series.
Events Calendar
some traditional events that are too good to miss
Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt
Follow daily clues to find a medallion hidden in Ramsey County for a chance to win $10,000 prize award.
PEOPLE WERE SPREADING KINDNESS AND POSITIVE VIBES ALL AROUND.
”
Upon entering, the many people hard at work creating ice sculptures caught my eye immediately. Each worker was bundled up, carefully using various tools to carve the ice into different shapes, figures or figurines. Even with just 20 minutes of watching, I was are able to see how the sculptures progressed in little ways. Walking just past the ice sculptures, I was taken to the various food stations that stood in front of a great view of the river. I went at the perfect time, just before sunset, so I was able to sip on warm drinks while watching
Royal Coronation
Watch King Boreas, Aurora, Queen of the Snows, and the rest of the incoming Royal Family in this over one hundred year old tradition.
a spectacular view. I tried the hot chocolate, the cotton candy, and the corn dogs all while sitting front of a blazing fire while the live music played around me. All the food was spectacular. The only thing I’d be able to complain about would be the cold. It was just a little above zero degrees when I went, but sure enough, there are were accommodations to make sure no one got too cold. If the fire didn’t seem warm enough, there was a warming hut mounted just in front of the live music stage. It gave the option to sit inside sipping various hot drinks while still watching the performances in the warmth of the hut. There was plenty to do and plenty to eat. The problem with being out in the cold was covered and there was a great view to top it all off. However an aspect that I found even more appealing was the people watching. Everyone was gathered together, sitting by the fire or dancing to live music. People were just spreading kindness and positive vibes all around. Everyone would squish in to make room for someone around the fire and people would just sit there singing. It was clear that everyone was enjoying the event and their time spent getting outdoors.
Saintly City Cat Show
Hundreds of cats from all across the U.S. and Canada will compete for the titles Winter Carnival Pet King and Queen.
As the “King of the Winds,” Boreas assigned each of his brothers a permanent grant of great force and power: Titan was assigned the blustery North Wind, Euros the irresponsible East Wind, Zephyrus the bountiful West Wind and Notos the balmy but unstable South Wind. Boreas, while on his extensive travels, came upon a winter paradise known as Minnesota. “I will make Saint Paul the capitol of all my domains,” he decided. It will henceforth be emblazoned to the world as the winter playground of the Realm of Boreas.” Meanwhile, Vulcanus Rex, the god of Fire, and the implacable enemy of Boreas, crackled in defiant disdain. “By the great sword of Mars I will temper the blusterings of Boreas with the heat and roar of my forces.” He was tireless in his bitter resistance to all the festivities of Boreas. Undaunted, Boreas proclaimed a celebration. “There will be a Carnival in old Saint Paul!” Boreas selected a Prime Minister to coordinate preparations within the realm. And so, for ten glorious days, there was Carnival and joyous celebration in Saint Paul — feasting, dancing, fun and frolic reigned over by Boreas and the Queen of Snows, the fairest maiden of the realm, along with the four Winds, who were each accompanied by a lovely Princess from the realm of Boreas. excerpt from the Winter Carnival website
ARTS & ENTERTAINENT THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
13
Fashion provides a platform for expressing political opinions
THE RUBICON PHOTO: JULIA BARON SHOWING SUPPORT. Alm wears a shirt with the words “I believe survivors.”
JULIA BARON THE RUBICON EDITOR
Political and opinionated statements in fashion have become a recent trend that has engaged many students at SPA. This nationwide trend recently gained attention and became popular with the pantsuit nation, where supporters of Hillary Clinton wore pantsuits to express their support of her candidacy for president in 2016. In the same presidential election, supporters of Donald Trump wore red hats with the slogan “Make America Great Again” to express their support of his candidacy.
This trend has made its way to SPA with students wearing shirts, button, sweatshirts, and pins to express their opinions and beliefs. “I think [political statements in fashion] are a good way to use your freedom of speech, and express your political views and demonstrate to the world what you believe,” Junior Anjali Tadavarthy said. Junior Martha Slaven agreed. “I have a My Body My Choice button on my backpack.” The SPA student club HerSpace sold black t-shirts with “I believe survivors” screen printed on them. Many students and faculty members purchased these shirts, and wear them to school. Sophomore Isobel Alm purchased a shirt from HerSpace, and wore it proudly, pairing it with a high neck black and white striped shirt. “Fashion is a good way to share beliefs because it’s a way for people to show their values and personalities without actually interacting with people,” Alm commented.
Sophomore Lyle Menard doesn’t participate in opinionated statements in clothing but does have some stickers on his laptop expressing his beliefs. “Not so much through fashion, but I have some stickers. I have a gender equality sticker on my laptop, though I’m not sure that is a political statement. I don’t think that should be a political thing. I also have a Women’s March sticker” said Menard. Although Menard doesn’t choose to express his opinions through fashion, he supports others who do. “I think it’s cool, you should be able to wear whatever you want, within reason. If you believe in something and you want other people to know, then there’s no problem with it,” Menard commented. Although many students agree that expressing beliefs though fashion is a positive thing, there is some discussion about when it might go too far. Slaven believes that the day after the 2016 presidential election, students may have been taking it too far, by wearing shirts specifically bashing candidates with
slogans like “Hillary for Prison” written on them. “The day after the election was definitely an issue. That may
“
IT’S A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO SHOW THEIR VALUES... WITHOUT ACTUALLY INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE.
”
- Isobel Alm
have been taking it too far just because tensions were running really high,” she said. Although Slaven may have not agreed with what some students wore, she still believes that it was their right to wear it. “It felt like the sole purpose of why they were wearing them was to attract attention, but I wouldn’t say ‘no you can’t do that.” Although Tadavarthy also didn’t agree with these students, she acknowledged that they
should still be allowed to express their beliefs. “Personally I think it was their right to wear whatever to support whoever their candidate was, I think it goes too far when it is put out there to directly hurt a person or a group of people, or when it has inappropriate language or inappropriate connotations,” Tadavarthy said. Menard also agrees that students have the right to express their beliefs though clothing, but thinks that some things can become offensive or harmful. “Targeting people or using slurs [is taking it too far]. I think there’s a difference between expressing an opinion, and forcing it on someone” Although Slaven, Tadavarthy, and Menard all have witnessed instances when sharing beliefs has gone too far, and become offensive, they still acknowledge and understand student’s right to wear whatever expresses their beliefs, and think that fashion is a positive way to express beliefs and values.
ARTIST PROFILE
Endorf adds personal touch to classic superheroes JENNY RIES THE RUBICON EDITOR
Many current high schoolers watched Spiderman cartoons when they were little, but how many can say that they were inspired by them? For 9th grader Max Endorf, who has been drawing since he was 2 years old, drawing superheroes has become a hobby, and possibly a future career. “I want to be a comic book artist, I want to work for Marvel or something along those lines, and draw comic books. I just think it’s cool because there’s so much you can do when you have a nice superhero… you can add more stuff to your drawing if you have something that’s not really normal or standard,” Endorf said. He was originally introduced to drawing by his parents.“My parents were just like ‘you should color because it’s good for young children to color and learn by doing that,’ and I liked it so much that I just went from there,” he said. Even as a young child, Endorf drew inspiration from the world around him. He said, “I definitely was not good when I was a toddler, but I started pretty early on because I liked it. I think because I watched the old Spiderman cartoons and it gave me inspiration.” Now a 9th grader, Endorf continues to be inspired by such characters. “I’m a big Marvel fan. I like to draw those, and
D.C. and stuff. I like to draw the comic book characters,” he said, “If I chose to draw something it would be superheros.” Within this, Endorf is currently working to perfect his technique, “I’m working on [drawing] Batman… I’m going right now for more detail and working on my shading and intricate details… to see how de-
I THINK “ SOONER OR
LATER IT’S GOING TO START BECOMING A PRIORITY IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE TO… TRY TO DRAW EVERY DAY.
”
- Max Endorf tailed I can go.” In fact, SPA’s art program was a key factor in his decision to come to SPA. “In 6th grade why I came to SPA is because they had such a good art program… I think it’s a really good opportunity,” he said. In addition, Endorf is currently in the drawing elective at SPA, and has done drawing
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Jenny Ries
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: MAX ENDORF JOKING AROUND. Endorf sketches his version of the classic supervillain.
SKETCH. “I want to be a comic book artist, I want to work for Marvel or something along those lines, and draw comic books.” Endorf said.
and other art classes outside of school since elementary school. As an older art student, he also has some new goals for his artwork. “Now that I’m much older than middle school or elementary school… I’m at this more mature stage. I think I would start more meaningful pieces that pertain to me… just because I think that’s a cool way to express yourself,” he said. Endorf has already started some such projects, such as a print of his father that he made earlier this school year in the Printmaking elective at SPA. He said, “[The print] was kind of a birthday present for him [his dad] … I know kids… they’ll draw their parents just for fun
and draw themselves with their parents. I didn’t really do that all that much, so I thought it would be nice… I’d never really handmade anything for his birthday before so I decided ‘hey, why not, this’ll be cool. It’s fun for me, cool for him.’” As for the not-too-distant future, he said, “I really want to go to an art college, however I do kind of want to go to… one of the bigger schools so I have more like the college experience of the social life… I think I would go to a school that has a great art program, but also has other stuff and [that] is not just primarily focused on [art]. We’ll see.” Endorf is also conscious of the how the social dynamics at an
art school could affect his experience there. “The thing about art school is everyone would also be into art, so I would make friends doing that, but it is nice to have people outside of your comfort zone,” he said. In terms of the role art plays in his life right now, Endorf said, “Right now, I think art is like a hobby… a hobby and an interest… it’s only freshman year, so I don’t really have to worry about college, but I think sooner or later, it’s going to start becoming a priority in my everyday life to… try to draw every day so I can build up a portfolio to show what I’ve got,” Endorf said.
14
SPORTS THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
Captains prioritize team spirit during winter season JACK BENSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF “Join girls basketball for a good time.” Shouted in halls and displayed proudly on their instagram bio, this phrase is more than an empty slogan. The winter season can be hard on many sports teams due to bitter cold, gray skies devoid of sunlight, and a monotonous third quarter that sometimes seems to drag on for months. However, despite the challenges a Minnesota winter brings, the sports teams of St. Paul Academy and Summit School manage to keep and upbeat attitude. “In the winter months, practices and games can get long and tiring, but keeping the girls upbeat with jokes and fun go-arounds always helps us stay positive,” senior girls varsity basketball captain Annie Kristal said. Even in the event of a loss, the girls basketball team has found ways to keep themselves motivated, and, pardon the expression, to keep their heads in the game. “The biggest thing to keeping the team positive is not taking anything too seriously.” Kristal said. “Yes, losses are hard but not taking them too seriously helps keep the girls focused on the next game rather than on the past.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Aman Rahman HYPE WARMUP. Senior captain Annie Kristal runs onto the court during introductions. “In the winter months, practices and games can get long and tiring, but keeping the girls upbeat with jokes and fun go-arounds always helps us stay positive,” Kristal said. Senior boys varsity basketball captain Ryan told a similar story. “I try to focus on the positive aspects of our game because I know that our coach is capable enough to show us how we can improve.” In addition to not dwelling on a loss, other winter sports teams have developed ways to stay
motivated in the face of defeat. Moore knows that the feeling that comes after a loss can provide great motivation. “After a tough loss I know our team cares a lot about getting better so I know that we will respond by working harder,” Moore said. Captains also realize that in winter months, their team would
benefit from enjoyable activities to take everyone’s mind off the cold. “Our main traditions are a team breakfast at the Randolph griddle and a team sleepover,” Moore said. Girls basketball’s traditions similarly revolve around team bonding and fun. “Before every game, we do a dance/
cheer where we go around and everyone does a dance move and sings,” Kristal said. “Another tradition that we have is doing team bonding the Friday before tryouts start. This year, we made a big collage using words and pictures that inspire us but that also make us laugh.”
Injuries won’t keep Parke-Reimer from CrossFit training
“
INJURY IS JUST A PART OF EVERY SPORT.
”
- Celeste Parke-Reimer
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Lucy Sandeen FORM ON POINT. Celeste Parke-Reimer does hang clean during at the Power House.
LUCY SANDEEN THE RUBICON EDITOR Junior Celeste Parke-Reimer first broke her pinky finger in seventh grade. She had been playing soccer since elementary school, but when her injury temporarily took her out of the sport, she was forced to reevaluate the role that soccer had in her life and realized that it no longer brought her much joy.
After a couple years without a sport in her life, she and her mom decided to give CrossFit at the Power House gym in Highland Park a try. Parke-Reimer began by taking teen classes and quickly fell in love with CrossFit. Soon, she started a personalized training program, worked out for three hours every day, and participated in a CrossFit competition. After the competition, however,
Parke-Reimer learned that she had a stress fracture in her spine and was forced to stop CrossFit completely. “It was a really high peak, and then a really low low,” Parke-Reimer said. “I just had a lot of back pain and went through the competition, but it got to the point where sitting hurt, walking hurt, and I couldn’t do anything.” Parke-Reimer transferred
to SPA from Central at the beginning of her sophomore year. CrossFit had previously provided to her a strong, closeknit community, but her back injury took that away for her 10 months of recovery, which made the transition to the new school more difficult. “Going from [CrossFit] being such a big part of my life to being totally cut off from it was really hard, and especially being at a new school, the gym was always a place that I’ve had and it was hard to not have that anymore,” she said. After Parke-Reimer recovered from her back injury, she decided to try SPA basketball junior year as a way to meet new people but developed stress fractures in her shins after only a week of playing which ended her season. She also recently developed a muscle injury in her back. Since then, she’s been trying to get back into CrossFit, but her previous competitive workout regimen was too intense and time-consuming, especially considering
her multiple injuries. “I’ve had to readjust my priorities, especially because it’s junior year, which is a lot of [academic] work,” Parke-Reimer said. She’s started participating in the teen classes again at CrossFit, but because of her “fair share” of injuries, she said she’s not as adventurous as she used to be. “My New Year’s resolution is not to get injured this year,” Parke-Reimer said. Parke-Reimer has felt that CrossFit fits her fitness needs better than organized sports because of its convenience and flexibility. Because her workout schedule is up to her, she enjoys it more. “Because [CrossFit] isn’t mandatory, I enjoy it more, because I actually choose to go,” Parke-Reimer said. CrossFit also focuses on injury prevention, which Parke-Reimer appreciates. “Injury is just a part of every sport. In soccer and basketball, if you have any pain, you just need to forget about it and play through it. If you want to exercise with people and have a good time and get stronger, CrossFit is a great option,” she said.
SPORTS THE RUBICON - FEBUARY 2019
15
Athletics program lacks female head coaches ELOISE DUNCAN RUBICON EDITOR Every student at St. Paul Academy is given the opportunity to participate in athletics, no matter their gender. However,it has not always been that way. Until around half a century ago, females were not given nearly as many opportunities to participate in sports as their male counterparts were given. More girls in athletics leads to more girls being able to coach, but, instead of the number of female coaches increasing across the globe, it has steadily decreased. Logically, more girls playing sports would lead to more girls coaching sports. However, that is not the case. According to the NCAA, in 1972 over 90 percent of the coaches for women’s college teams were female. Today, less than half of the coaches for those women’s teams are female, and close to zero of the coaches for men’s teams are female. Across Minnesota, a study conducted in 2015 by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association found that 27 percent of high school head coaches were female, and 28 percent of their assistant coaches were female. At St. Paul Academy, all of the head varsity sport coaches for the male teams are male. All of the head varsity sport coaches for the female
teams are male, except for one. That exception is the head coach for the softball team. SPA does have female coaches, but, besides the softball head coach, they hold positions underneath the head coach, such as junior varsity coach, or assistant coach. Sophomore Rashmi Raveendran plays soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and runs track in the spring, and has noticed this discrepancy. “For basketball, one of the coaches that a lot of the girls connect with is the one girl coach that we have. She is the assistant junior varsity coach,” she said.
FEMALE “[MORE COACHES]
COULD MAKE THE SPORT EXPERIENCE BETTER FOR A LOT OF ATHLETES.
”
- Rashmi Raveendran
Junior Kathleen Bishop, who plays volleyball in the fall, hockey in the winter, and softball in the spring, also notices this, but partially credits their connection with the job of the assistant
coaches. “One of the bigger jobs of the assistant coaches is to connect with the players while the head coach runs the practices, so part of females connecting more with the assistant coaches could also be due to the difference in general relationships with assistant coaches,” she said. Raveendran also is aware of the differences that a female coach versus a male coach have on female athletes. “I think that especially for girl sports, it would be nice to have another female that is in a head coach position, especially for things that are personal that females could need to talk to someone about. [More female coaches] could make the sport experience better for a lot of athletes,” she said. Since Bishop plays on the softball team, the only team to have a female head coach, and the volleyball and girls hockey team, which both have a male head coaches, she can see the different effects different coaches have on female teams. “I think that having a female coach for female teams could be an advantage because they are able to connect and have a sense of trust faster, you definitely have to still earn and work for it, but I do feel like in some ways
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Eloise Duncan COACH. Head girls varsity basketball coach Nick Novak instructs players through a drill. you have to get to know male es would be beneficial to female coaches better before you are athletes because it would show able to have the same connec- them a strong leader that looks tion,” she said. like them. Both athletes agree that hav“Having strong female role ing more female coaches would models is super important, bebe beneficial. Raveendran re- cause when I do see more females flected on how having a female coaching and in leadership roles, coach would affect the relation- I definitely think it would be posship and openness between fe- sible for me to be in one of those male players and their coach. roles as well. Especially when “I think that especially for you’re younger, there are a lot of girl sports, it would be nice to girls, and boys, who try sports have another female that is in a but decide that it isn’t for them, head coach position, especially partially because they don’t see for things that are personal that anyone like them in the leaderfemales could need to talk to ship roles. I do think that [havsomeone about,” she said. ing more female coaches] could Bishop, however, thought be something that would be helpthat having more female coach- ful to younger girls,” she said.
Few Spartan members on winter co-op teams MAREN OSTREM THE RUBICON EDITOR
PHOTO: LIFETOUCH PHOTO The United JV hockey team has four SPA athletes on the team.
PHOTO: David Matenaer The Trojans boys swim team has about ten SPA athletes.
“Clap your hands, stomp your feet, let’s all do the Spartan beat,” students scream at the top their lungs in the bleachers of the Upper School campus gym at St. Paul Academy. This cheer, while a true classic, will not be heard at a Trojans swim meet or a United hockey game. Why? Because these teams are co-ops, or teams made up of multiple schools. While there are some SPA athletes on these teams, there is a definite lack of Spartan representation on co-ops. Out of about 21 players on United girls hockey team, only five of them are Spartans, and only about a third of the Trojan boys swim team is made up of SPA students. The reasoning behind these small numbers is unclear to some students. Sophomore Allison Audette, who plays on the Junior Varsity United team, said, “I don’t know for sure why [there are so few players]. It could be... Maybe there just aren’t that many girls at SPA who are interested in playing hockey.” Junior Noah Rice and swimmer on the Trojans said, “I think that a lot of kids don’t really know we have a swim team. I think it’s one of those sports where you just find out about if
“
YOU DON’T FEEL AS MUCH PRIDE FOR YOUR SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT EXACTLY REPRESENTING YOUR SCHOOL.
”
- Allison Audette you’re already in the sport.” The experience of playing on a co-op team can sometimes lead to a lack of team spirit. “When you think about a sports team you’re usually representing a school, and so it makes competition different... You don’t feel as much pride for your school, because you’re not exactly representing your school.” Audette said. However, Audette explained that team meals before practices and team sleepovers help build the team spirit between schools. Co-op teams offer athletes a glimpse into different perspectives and different diversity than athletes are exposed to when playing for SPA. “From competing on [the
Trojans] I’ve gotten to compete in the St. Paul city conference. At this school, I think it’s IMAAC that we compete in, and it’s a whole bunch of other private schools around. The St. Paul city conference is so much more diverse, and you get a different view than you would if you played here at SPA for the IMAAC,” Rice said. “Your everyday life is a lot different [than each other’s], and things happen at SPA that are very specific to SPA… The two schools are very different.” Audette said. “I think it’s cool in a unique way, you feel more connected [to other teams].” For some athletes, co-op teams also provide slight separation between school and sports. “I have school friends who are on the team but then I have a whole separate group at a different school. And I think us interacting with the Highland kids just benefits all and everyone on that team,” said Rice. This mingling of different school cultures helps to break down barriers that form between students attending different schools. It can be hard for students to become friends or bond with people from other schools, and co-op teams provide the perfect opportunities to change that.
16
PHOTO STORY THE RUBICON - FEBRUARY 2019
TEAM SUPPORT. Both teams practice all together to promote further team cohesion.
PRACTICE PREP. 9th grader Charlie Johnson gets ready for practice in the boys locker room, an important part in team bonding, “Having a special space like this to ourselves really helps us play better as a team on court,” Alex Hermann said.
10 Questions
Read the answers from Will Christakos at
In the locker room, on the court GROUP HUDDLE. The teammates all gather in a circle to hear the head coach’s tips.
RUBICON online
For practice and games, boys rely on a space of their own TOMMY STOPLESTAD THE RUBICON EDITOR On most nights during the winter, the members of the boys basketball team are some of the last people to leave Saint Paul Academy and Summit School. This night was no different. The team was focused, practicing to go against conference rival, Breck, the following evening. The practice reflected how much the team wanted to beat Breck. After staying a few minutes after practice to get in a few more reps, the team headed to the locker room. The mood of the team almost immediately shifted from focused to relaxed. For the boys basketball team, the locker room is a place to loosen up and build bonds as a team. It is a place for them to get to know each other off the court and become a more cohesive unit. Junior Griffin Thissen, shares his thoughts on time spent in the locker room, “It’s just a good bonding time whether it is preparing for a game and getting hyped, talking strategy, or just getting to know what’s going on in everyone’s lives”. It is clear that the locker room is a versatile space that is at the heart of the basketball team ex-
perience. Junior Alex Hermann describes what makes the locker room so important for him, “It’s just a great space where you can talk to teammates and get to know people. Having a special space like this to ourselves really helps us play better as a team on the court”.
“
HAVING A SPECIAL SPACE LIKE THIS TO OURSELVES REALLY HELPS US PLAY BETTER AS A TEAM ON COURT.
”
- Alex Hermann For the Spartans boys basketball team, the work that is put in on the court is only one aspect of how they can be successful. The bonds made in the locker room add to the experience on the court and make it a genuinely enjoyable experience. “The times we spend hanging out in the locker room are memories that will stay with us after we are done playing for SPA,” Thissen said.
THE RUBICON PHOTOS: Tommy Stoplestad
LISTEN CLOSELY. After running a drill, the teammates huddle up to hear their feedback.
TAKE THE SHOT. Junior Griffin Thissen aims for the hoop in practice.
LOCKER ROOM SHENANIGANS. Members of the boys varsity team goof off in the locker room before practice.