January/February 2016 Issue by SPA Publications

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February 3, 2016

THE RUBICON

the student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave — St. Paul, MN 55105 Volume 43. Issue 5. www.RubicOnline.com • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • Pinterest • YouTube • @TheRubiconSPA

g n i k a T

...of your finances (Feature 10)

...of the stage (Arts & Entertainment 12)

...of driver’s education ( ubicOnline.com )

ISSUE INDEX 1 - Cover 2-3 - News

What kind of leader are you? (Cover Story 8-9)

4-5 - Opinions

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

COVER DESIGN Meghan Joyce

ABOUT THE COVER February 3, 2016

THE RUBICON

g Takine

Cha

...of your finances (Feature 10)

...of the stage (Arts & Entertainment 12)

...of driver’s education ( ubicOnline.com )

ISSUE INDEX

What kind of leader are you? (Cover Story 8-9)

1 - Cover 2-3 - News 4-5 - Opinions 6 - InDepth

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

How do you take charge of your life? Is it by saving up for the latest tech or driving yourself to school? This month’s issue focuses on various ways students show their independence and leadership style. Check out Cover Story (8-9) to find out what type of leader you are.

Administration encourages students to abstain from Nerf Wars

NEWS

After addressing the juniors and seniors during class meetings on Jan. 26, Upper School Principal Chris Hughes and Dean of Students Max Delgado sent a letter to families regarding participation in Nerf Wars. Although the school has never endorsed the game, the school’s position on Nerf Wars came early after a Nerf War related car crash this winter. The crash resulted in the death of two Lakeville North High School students. Hughes and Delgado wrote that “No game is worth risking the safety of our students and children: this game, which specifically involves the use of cars and inexperienced drivers, is one tradition we hope to eliminate: we appreciate your support.”

THE RUBICON • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Administration adds days off for Eid, Yom Kippur

Wacky Winter Week dress up days return

BORAAN ABDULKARIM Editor-in-Chief

PHOTO CREDIT: Emily Thissen SAC planned a week of themed days leading up to the Winter Dance Feb. 6.

KAIA LARSEN Staff Writer

Remake that flannel into a costume and wear white after Labor Day, because this week, leading up to the Valentine’s Dance, is Wacky Winter Week. Student Activities Committee decided to bring back the old tradition after a few years hiatus. Starting on Monday and going through Friday, the themes include onesie day, ugly sweater day, white out day, preppy day, and flannel day. “My favorite day is preppy day because my volleyball team and I did it and it was a lot of fun,” freshman Blythe Rients said. SAC hopes the days will hype people up for the dance with a little change-up during the bleak winter weeks. It is also meant to improve the sense of community because everyone can participate in the dress up days.

Wacky Winter Week Dress Up Days

Monday 2/1: Onesie Day Wear a pajama-like onesie on the first day of the school week. Tuesday, 2/2: Ugly Sweater Day Fashion statement and fun with a common winter wardrobe staple. Wednesday, 2/3: White-Out Day Impersonate snow with your crisp and cool whites. Thursday, 2/4: Preppy Day It’s a day to pop that Polo and glam up that plaid skirt. Friday, 2/5: Lumberjack Day Jeans, flannel and boots. (Beards optional)

Submitted by: Chloe Wilkens SENIORS DHARA SINGH, EMILEE SKADRON, CHLOE WILKENS, RACHEL HOTVEDT, LEXI HILTON, AND CLAIRE RISTAU pose for a picture before the 2015 Valentine’s Dance. “[The dance] is going to be a good time,” Wilkens said.

Red, white, and silver love Dance returns to Germanic American Institute KRISTA SCHLINGER Staff Writer

There has been buzz around the school about the upcoming Valentine’s day dance. Freshmen are anxious and wondering what their first experience will be like while higher grades are wondering what it will be like compared to previous years. Organized by the Student Activities Committee, it will be held at the Germanic-American Institute “Haus”: the same venue as last year’s dance. Normally, the event has a new location every year, but SAC decided not to change it again this year. “Really, it is just wherever the president [of SAC] thinks the dance should be,” senior and

co-president of SAC Alexis Bottern says. “Last year we researched a bunch of different places, and Maddie Flom-Staab brought up this one. It fit all of the guidelines, it was cheap, close enough to the school, and we could rent it out,” Bottern said. “We got a lot of positive feedback last year so we just thought it would be more convenient to keep this one instead of finding a new one.” The dance will take place on Feb. 6 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., with the final entry time at 9:00. Tickets are $25 and are required to get into the dance; they will be on sale in front of the cafeteria the first week of Febru-

ary. Students should arrive with semi-formal attire. “It is a semi-formal dance. Homecoming is casual, prom is formal, and this is just somewhere in between,” Bottern describes. “You don’t need a date or anything. It is really just a fun time for socializing outside of school. Go with a date, by yourself, with a group or whatever.” Bottern said, “It is a great space to mingle and it’s really fun to see everyone dressed up.” There will be snacks like cookies and chips, and the pizza will come at 9:30. “I’m excited for the dance to have fun with my friends,” sophomore Eli Striker said.

Duo wins PLAY racket tournament A.M. ROBERTS Staff Writer

Seniors Sena Hanson and Catherine Johnson won three of four badminton games, and one pickleball game, taking the prize for the inagural PLAY raquet sports tournament on Jan.21-22, which was a bag of candy. Students gathered in the gym on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 to participate in a racquet sports tournament hosted by the student group, PLAY. The tournament offered badminton, pingpong, and pickle ball. “It was a lot of fun and a great way to get involved with the school,” Hanson said. The student group PLAY organizes fun games throughout the year with the goal of getting students active, even if it’s just for

PHOTO CREDIT: A.M. Roberts JUNIORS MASON KINKEAD, JONNY ADDICKS-O’TOOLE, AND DREW O’HERN warm up before the tournament with a pingpong game. a few minutes between classes. Their goal is to get people who don’t necessarily play sports to participate. PLAY has more events like this one planned for the rest of

the school year as well. In a few weeks, they will team up with the student group SADD to put on a drunk goggles obstacle course. The tentative date is Feb. 18.

St. Paul Academy and Summit School administration recently announced that classes will not be held on both Eid al Adha and Yom Kippur in the upcoming school year. The dates in question, Sept. 12 and Oct. 12 respectively, have already been marked in the SPA 2016-2017 calendar accordingly. To make up for the time off from classes, the first day of school will be Aug. 29 instead of Aug.30 and classes will be in session on Oct. 20. The latter of these two had traditionally been a four day weekend. “I know there are a lot of seniors, often, that use that [long] weekend to go visit schools. The trade-off is, instead of one four day weekend, at least potentially, students have two three day weekends in the fall.We tried a lot of different combinations. One of the things we looked at [was] adding a day at the end of the semester; that didn’t feel like a particularly valuable day to add in,” Upper School Principal Chris Hughes said. This incorporation, while significant to any student or faculty member, especially impacts two populations: students who observe these holidays and teachers who accommodate excused absences and plan classes accordingly. “[Traditionally,] when you end up with combinations, whether it’s Eid, Rosh Hashannah or Yom Kippur in close conjunction with each other, teachers end up in a place where they can’t give any assessments for two weeks and then it all stacks up after that. This year, we really reached a point where that’s probably asking too much of the teachers and of the students to try to negotiate all of that. And it’s important…to honor our community and recognize those days,” Hughes said. “I think it was an important step. Although we’ve tried to take care of the members of our community in different ways, to do this in a way that’s more visible hopefully feels good tot he students who are most directly impacted by this. The overwhelming response from the parents, whether they’re directly impacted or not by the holidays, has been positive.”

CORRECTIONS POLICY

DECEMBER CORRECTIONS

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

FEATURE - Calla Saunders is a senior; her grade level was incorrectly reported as sophomore in the photo caption.

Acapella group ‘Spartan Beats’ performs

SPARTAN BEATS singers brought music to the Summit Center on Jan. 21. “We need to focus to reach our goals,” senior Nissa Rolf said. @TheRubiconSPA

‘Spartan Beats’ acapella group meets every Thursday during X-Period to eat, chat, and most importantly, sing. They have sung classic acapella songs such as Hallelujah and use just the instruments of their voices to create magic. But instead of just singing in the choir room, the group aims to broaden their audience. They performed on Jan. 21 during X-Period in the Summit Center. Watch the video and read the full story at

ubicOnline.com

NEWS 3

CLARE TIPLER Sports Editor

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 • THE RUBICON

Obama’s speech outlines plans for gun control ing on trying to keep guns out of those people’s hands should be our first priority,” Lombard said. For example, the guns used in the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting three years ago were taken from the shooter's mother, while the perpetrators of the recent San Bernardino shooting borrowed the guns from a friend, completely legally.

DIANNE CARAVELA Feature Editor

President Obama gave an emotional speech on Jan. 5, calling for a national commitment to cut down on gun violence and announcing his plan of executive actions in an attempt to combat the epidemic of shootings that have occurred recently. His plan focuses on expanding mental health services and background checks; in particular, requiring checks for gun sales regardless of where the firearm is bought. This would mean that existing loopholes allowing those who sell small numbers of guns to avoid keeping records would be closed. He also detailed plans for a newer, larger, 24/7 department to oversee background checks. Finally, he called for a national sense of urgency regarding gun violence. Americans share the exasperation Obama expressed at the persistent problem of gun violence in the United States, including sophomore Tess Hick. “If there’s ever a shooting in Australia, which is super rare, the newspapers are full of editorials questioning what the country is coming to, while in Minneapolis there are shootings all the time and no one thinks twice about it,” Hick said. Although most everyone agrees that shootings are a problem in the United States, the solution to the problem is complex.

Fair use image from: The White House Instagram ON JAN. 5, Obama announced a plan to increase regulation surrounding the purchasing of firearms. “Gun regulation is a tough question because you have to look at both sides of the spectrum: whether you should regulate guns because of a few crazy people who go one mass shooting sprees, or whether you should keep guns for the security of all people,” sophomore Brian Orza said. “Gun regulation is a tough question because you have to look at both sides of the spectrum: whether you should regulate guns because of a few crazy people who go on mass shooting sprees, or whether you should keep guns for the security of all people,” sophomore Brian Orza said. “After Connecticut passed a law requiring background checks and gun safety courses, gun deaths decreased by 40 percent ,” Obama said in his speech. “The loophole of private gun shows not having to do background checks or legally document the purchase of a gun definitely needs to be eliminated because a lot of weapons obtained that way have been used

in criminal cases,” junior Lauren Hansen said. “People should be allowed to buy guns, but they need to pass all the background checks and tests and go through all the documentation to make sure the process is regulated and completely legal,” Hansen added. Although junior Weston Lombard agrees that background checks are a good idea, he questions whether they are the most effective way to prevent mass shootings. “Most of the people who are doing bad things with guns are getting them illegally anyways. They’re usually not the ones going through the background check process, so I think work-

“PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BUY GUNS, BUT THEY NEED TO PASS ALL THE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND TESTS AND GO THROUGH ALL THE DOCUMENTATION TO MAKE SURE THE PROCESS IS REGULATED AND COMPLETELY LEGAL,” — JUNIOR LAUREN HANSEN It is clear that the gun control debate is far from over, and will only gain momentum in the coming months. “With elections coming up, gun control is a big issue, and one the politicians want to address,” Orza said.

Read more on gun control on Opinions 5

Specific Executive Actions by the Federal Government CLARIFY that all firearms venders must be licensed and conduct background checks. REQUIRE background checks for the acquisition of more dangerous firearms through legal entities. EXPAND the National Instant Criminal Background System. INCREASE funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. ENCOURAGE gun owners to report stolen or missing guns to law enforcement. PROVIDE more mental health care and include information about Social Security beneficiaries who are prohibited from possessing a firearm. CONDUCT or sponsor research in gun safety technology Information pulled from www.whitehouse.gov

Speech club interest sparks potential team DIANNE CARAVELA Feature Editor

With a very successful season of debate not yet over, Director of Debate Tom Fones and Assistant Debate Coach Heather Fairbanks are far from winding things down. Instead, they announced the formation of the school’s newest team: speech team. According to Fairbanks, the idea of a St. Paul Academy and Summit School speech team is not a new one, but it was never a reality until junior Peter Schavee decided to take the idea to the next level. “What it took was a student – Peter Schavee – going to the administration with a proposal and saying “this is something I would like to do and here’s the way I think we can make it work.”” Fairbanks, who was a very successful member of speech team in

PHOTO CREDIT: Dianne Caravela STUDENTS gathered on Tuesday to attend an informational meeting on SPA’s new speech team, help by Director of Debate Tom Fones and Assistant Director Heather Fairbanks. Speaking is one of the most important skills that you can have to apply to anything later on in life: jobs, college, just basic interactions with other people,” Fairbanks said.

high school and who has judged and coached speech around the metro area for the last 15 years said that “[Schavee] got the support of myself and Mr. Fones, and they approved it.” Schavee says he got the idea from hearing other students dicuss their experience with speech teams. “When we go to debate tournaments, people always talk about doing speech, so I decided to start a speech team,” Schavee said. I had to make a plan, figure out costs and requirements, and then present the idea to the Dean.” The team is starting a bit late in the season, but that hasn’t discouraged them. “I don’t think we have any sort of performance or number goals, I think it’s about joining the community,” Fairbanks said. “Our goal is just participation, to establish a small team and let peo-

ple figure out the activity and see what they like about it, and then from there I’m sure we’ll grow through word of mouth.”

“WHEN WE GO TO DEBATE TOURNAMENTS, PEOPLE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT DOING SPEECH, SO I DECIDED TO START A SPEECH TEAM” — JUNIOR PETER SCHAVEE Schavee, on the other hand, hopes the team will eventually take off the way other academic teams at SPA have. “We want to win a lot. We want to make SPA the same power in speech that it is in debate,” Shavee said.

Editorial

THE RUBICON • January/February 2016

Fill the stands and cheer (louder): build school spirit It’s as simple as every student choosing to attend one sporting event they haven’t attended before. The Rubicon Staff Editorial

Adrenaline runs through his body as he cuts through the water, limbs straining to reach just a little bit farther, swim a little faster. The athlete taps the boards, a personal best posted on the timer, and turns toward the stands to a smattering of applause. Lack of attendance at sports that are overlooked or blatantly ignored by the majority of the student body, including dance, cross-country, skiing, and swimming (to name a few) support at sporting events — be it from their friends, classmates, and teachers — indirectly sends the message that the student body doesn’t see the sport these athletes invest hours in every week as worth the time. But attending sporting events and cheering for athletes is a win-win, no matter the final score. A recent poll sent out by The Rubicon on student attendance at sporting events revealed that only 20% of students have regularly attended games. With 92% of the student body participating in at least one sport, that’s a lot of competition with no audience. It builds a limited view of what it means to attend SPA. It’s easy to see each other as one thing — smart, funny, artsy — in a community this small. But the group identity of the Dance Team or the singular focus of the fencers is often completely different from the group dynamic around the Harkness table or a student in the science lab. The new perspective gained from seeing a classmate on a track or court benefits both the athlete and her classmates; the athlete is seen in a new way and the classmate gets to form stronger connections with the athlete and

EDITORIAL CARTOON: Boraan Abdulkarim ARE YOU ATTENDING A GAME TONIGHT? Now’s the time to fill the stands with student support. her sport or sports by sharing the experience. Additionally, annual events like retreats and Service Day dedicate time to building a sense of community and strengthening bonds through organized activities. Although these prescribed events help classmates grow closer, sports provide action-packed, instant ways to bond with a crowd of freshman through senior fans over a game point or a bad call. So why don’t students fill the stands? Since SPA offers free admission to nearly all games, today is a perfect opportunity to plan social time with friends at a winter sport event. Instead of heading to a restaurant or to the movies for the hundredth time, bring hot chocolate and some warm winter clothes to the next ski meet. Don a t-shirt in February and warm up at a boys swim and dive meet. Cheer with friends and support the athletes at the same time. Having a fan section -- or being a fan -- can be especially important for seniors who want to make the most of their last months at SPA or underclassmen who want to know the school better. Building a community where team members from every sport feel like they have the might of the SPA student body behind them is as simple as every student

Most Attended Fall/Winter Sports:

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Boys Basketball

Girls S

Girls Hocke y

occer

Least Attended Fall/Winter Sports: #10

#11

Alpine Skiing

Boys and Girls Swim and Dive

#11

Nordic Skiing

#11

Dance

#10 Cross Country

INFOGRAPHIC: Diane Huang, Gitanjali Raman, Meghan Joyce ACCORDING TO A POLL of 100 students with 30% responding, more students attend Football than any other sport. Swimming, Nordic Skiing and Dance tied for last with no attendees. Although 92% of the student population reports being involved with a sport, only an estimated 20% attend sporting events for sports they don’t play. choosing to attend one sporting event they haven’t attended before. It’s a solid start. Then next time, when the swimmer reaches the end of the

pool, gasping for air, he should be greeted by the applause of friends and classmates, the stands overflowing with familiar blue and gold.

MINI EDITORIALS

Administration takes a safe, caring stand against Nerf Wars Actions like trespassing in people’s backyards, driving cars at high speeds, and drawing fake weapons are not sanctioned by the school and never have been. But as off-site Nerf War plans are made and potential teams are formed, the Jan. 26 letter to families from US Principal Chris Hughes and Dean of Students Max Delgado asking families to actively discourage Nerf Wars shows how important student safety is, even off of school grounds. After two Lakeville South High School students were killed in fall 2015 in a car accident related to Nerf Wars, it seems especially fitting to not participate in the tournament. Put the Nerf Guns away.

Wacky Winter Week alienates rather than unifies While dress-up days are an excellent way to show school spirit leading up to Saturday’s dance, the over-the-top themes of Wacky Winter Week leave students alienated and conflicted between showing school spirit with crazy costumes and maintaining their dignity in front of peers and teachers. For students who wish to participate in winter dress-up days, finding the wardrobe for some of these obscure yet explicit dressup themes may prove difficult. Not only is onesie day undignified, uncomfortable, and impractical, but also, tacky sweater and preppy day provide students the opportunity to mock the way other people regularly dress. In the future, dress-up day themes should be chosen more thoughtfully to maintain a considerate and comfortable academic environment. In the meantime, remember that dressing up is optional.

THE RUBICON • St. Paul Academy and Summit School • 1712 Randolph Ave St. Paul, MN 55105 • rubicon.spa@gmail.com www.RubicOnline.com • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • YouTube • @TheRubiconSPA We strive to capture the spirit of the community through its stories while inspiring deeper conversations. Above all, we stand for integrity in our pursuit to inform and engage our readers. Editor-in-Chief Chief Visual Editor Managing Editor Online Editor-in-Chief Online Managing Editor News Editors Opinions Editor Feature Editors Cover Story Editor Health and Wellness Editor InDepth Editor Arts & Entertainment Editors Sports Editors Online Sports Editor Columnist Videographer ADVISER

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

STAFF WRITERS Jack Benson, Ellie Findell, Michael Forsgren, Jasper Green, Claire Hallaway, Ethan Less, Ellie Nowakowski, Isa SaavedraWeis, Krista Schlinger, Garrett Small, Andrew Johnson, Kaia Larsen, A.M. Roberts, Jennifer Sogin, Kelby Wittenberg CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jake Adams, Peter Blanchfield, Jonah Harrison EDITORIALS Editorials articulate the collective opinion of The Rubicon staff, while mini-editorials, opinion pieces, and columns belong to the author of those works.

PUBLICATION AWARDS JEM All-State Gold (Print and Online), MHSPA Best of Show, (Print and Online), NSPA All American (Print) and First Class (Online), CSPA Gold Medal w/ All Columbian Honors, CSPA Silver Crown Award, Best of SNO Medalist, Pacemaker Finalist PUBLICATION INFO The Rubicon is published eight times a school year. We distribute 750 copies of each issue, which are available for free. MEMBERSHIPS Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Minnesota High School Press Association, Quill and Scroll Society

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

Opinions 5

January/February 2016 • THE RUBICON

Playing cards are packed with strategy and repartee Iya Abdulkarim Feature Editor

ILLUSTRATION: Iya Abdulkarim ALLOWING PLAYING CARDS provides the school with a hand of aces for the many benefits they provide students, including strategy, camaraderie, and relaxation away from the computer screen.

Whether Assembly ended early or Tutorial seems to be dragging on late, students roam the halls aimlessly during free time listening to music, refreshing notifications on their phones, or going to the library in search of something to keep them busy. While free time could be spent studying (which is what students do all day) or talking with friends (occasionally revisiting previously discussed topics) or playing video games (considerably isolating and repetitive), there exists a pleasant and action-packed option which has been overlooked by a great deal of students—playing cards. A deck of cards is capable of entertaining numerous people in myriad ways. It could be used to play a spirited round of Speed, a speculative hand of Go Fish, an endless deathmatch of War, a wily contest of cribbage, or a devious game of B.S., only a few out of the thousands of possible games. Types of card games vary in length, allowing the players

to select a game appropriate for their time frame. Various magic tricks can be performed, or card houses built.

Entertainment is not only found by hunching over a laptop; it could be found in a relaxed game of cards, where players can lean back, strategize with their opponents, and enjoy themselves. Other types of cards, including Uno and Magic: The Gathering are allowed, so why not playing cards and the many options they provide? The cards themselves are small and lightweight, making them portable and convenient. Students are permitted to play card games in the cafeteria, the

Huss Center, the Summit Center, the Davern reception area, (anywhere which isn’t the Library or a hallway, really) as long as it is not disruptive and does not involve gambling. Given these guidelines, SPA students should consider playing any of these games in their free time. If they don’t find the game suitable or enjoyable, another can be played. The common misconception is that cards are not permitted in the school, and some students even believe them to be unlawful. The 2015-2016 Upper School Handbook says otherwise, in an unfortunately misleading way. Page nine states the following: “Gambling on school grounds is prohibited, as is card playing in the halls or in the library.” This wording implies a connection between the two activities. The assumed correlation between gambling and cards has lead to a current cultural condemnation of most card games, which is a great loss to the strategizing and de-stressing community. Dean of Students Max Delgado explained the regulations

in the handbook, saying, “The primary intent here is about gambling and making sure that students aren’t engaging in activities that could lead to that.” This handbook emphasizes the prohibition of any gambling, but card playing is permitted as long as it takes place where it will not “interrupt the regular flow of classes or cause people to not be able to concentrate,” according to Delgado. Provided these simple requirements, a game of cards is perfectly acceptable. Card games provide an inclusive and social alternative to video games, which themselves could present a risk of online gambling. As true as it may seem, entertainment is not only found by hunching over a laptop; it could be found in a relaxed game of cards, where players can lean back, strategize, truly interact with their opponents and enjoy themselves. If students can abide by the few restrictions, then they may play cards as much as they wish and benefit from the activity.

Obama’s simple gun law grasps control of an unwieldy debate Lucas Johnson Sports Editor

President Barack Obama’s newly-implemented executive action on addressing gun violence is simple and straightforward for one main reason: gun violence only receives strong focus from the public, reporters, and politicians when a tragic event has already happened. A policy this simple can help to prevent future incidents from occurring. The executive action’s simplicity is its greatest asset, because it’s challenging for anyone to argue against a mandate that makes so much immediate sense. Even if the argument is that guns are a basic right of the people, it is hard to argue that there should not be checks. This new legislation does nothing to take away guns from law-abiding citizens. Does it make it harder for those with criminal backgrounds to purchase firearms? Yes. Does it state that local law enforcement must become more stringent with existing gun laws and that the federal government must give agencies more resources to do so? Absolutely. And does it aim to reshape the technology associated guns so that a fingerprint scan may become a legitimate way to unlock the capability to fire an arm? Assuredly.

Read more Opinions on ubicOnline.com @TheRubiconSPA

None of these articles hint at the confiscation of legally-owned weapons, and the media’s focus on that unlikely possibility as a means to criticize the mandate is taking focus away from far more serious domestic issues associated with guns. While politicians and media spin-doctors have grappled over the means to deal with gun laws, innocent people have died. According to an Oct. 1 report in The Washington Post, between 1982 and 2012, 547 people were killed in the 61 mass shootings that have occurred in more than 30 states.

While politicians and media spindoctors have grappled over the means to deal with gun laws, innocent people have died. In 80% of these mass shootings, the weapons used were obtained legally. This showcases the tendency for weapons obtained legally to end up in the hands of those who wish to use them maliciously. This is not to say that those who purchase weapons legally have an underlying propensity to use guns wrongly, but clearly a restructuring process is

“Complete curriculum should include driver’s education” by Arts and Entertainment editor Marlee Baron

necessary in order to make gun violence less common. Some find that the executive action undermines more critical issues surrounding gun violence in our country, such as threats of terrorism and issues of adequate resources for mental health treatment. As there is no doubt that these issues are prominent and serious, Obama’s executive action is not an attempt to sweep such issues under a metaphorical rug. What the executive action offers is a first step to a safer and far less violent country. In the United Kingdom, for instance, fully automatic weapons (along with most semi-automatic rifles and pistols) are completely prohibited without explicit permission from the central government. The only weapons allowed without restrictions are hunting rifles and semi-automatic shotguns. These harsh restrictions do make obtaining such powerful weapons nearly impossible, but the results in terms of annual homicides are staggering, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the UK had a rate of 0.05 intentional homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2011. That’s incredibly low compared to the U.S.’s 4.7 in 2011. Although the suggestion is not that restricting gun laws heavily is the only course of action to prevent deaths involving guns, but making the sale of guns more ex-

ILLUSTRATION: Lucas Johnson THE EXECUTIVE ACTION implemented by President Obama soaks up some of the blood that has been shed by gun-related violence in America while politicians have debated the perfect policy to keep the country safe. clusive to those without criminal history who can lawfully obtain them is the right course of action. There is still an unimaginable amount for the U.S. government to address in terms of national security and mental health research funding, there is no doubting that, but any step in the direction of making the United States a safer

“Sexual Abuse in the Catholic church should not be given special treatment” by columnist Riley Wheaton

country is a right one. Not one more innocent life should be taken as a result of a gun. This executive action is a brave step in the direction of minimizing intentional violence in this country, simple as that.

InDepth

THE RUBICON • january/February 2016

MOST SPA STUDENTS reported reading ten or more books in 2015. Poll data was compiled based on responses from 32% of the 125 student polled.

Despite technological advancements, books coexist with e-books Javier Whitaker-Castañeda Managing Editor

Books of all sizes line tall shelves that block the walls of the room from sight. They cover every available surface; beds, desks, floors, even seeping out into the hallways if the room has met its capacity. The inhabitant of this room knows the business hours of the nearest library by heart and has also memorized the fastest route there. This reader might have a mix of hardcover and paperback books, a favorite bookmark, or a reading light for night indulgence. For dedicated readers from just one or two decades ago this is a very recognizable story, but the modern reality for book readers has substantially changed. As technology advances, it is unclear whether books will continue to have a place in the modern digital era. Opponents of this theory often cite health and preference as reasons to use printed books.

FAST FACT

38% of poll respondents reported reading over ten books in a year. “People are pretty attached to print books. I’m pretty attached to print books,” senior Tessa Rauch said. Her argument in support of the printed page stands in line with many people’s positive views on books. Many readers enjoy the physical presence and visual appeal of a book over an electronic reading source.

“It’s kind of nice to have a book to hold in your hands. You can see how far you’ve gone and look at the cover. It’s more fun than having a bunch of data on a little device; then they all look the same,” Rauch said.

FAST FACT

43% of poll respondents check out books from libraries once a year. One sure fact is that paper books and their potential electronic competition are not identical, despite their shared purpose. Upper School English Teacher Matt Hoven holds a book in one hand and a Kindle in the other and stares pensively at both objects: “I’m looking at the two … and they are radically different,” Hoven said. Nearly every aspect of the two reading modes are separate. Their surfaces have different textures. The sounds that e-books make when a page is turned are different than flipping through a paper book. The way a reader’s eyes interact with the page compared to the screen is different. Even smell and (probably) taste are notably unique to each respective mode. “The notion of the book is being redefined,” Hoven said, “I think that the human brain is evolving as well.” Hoven is not alone in predicting impacts on e-book readers’ brains. According to a Scientific American article published in April 2013, brains interact in a much different way reading

paper than reading on a screen. When one reads a physical book the brain records the location of every event in a map in a similar way to how it would remember physical spaces, like room layouts or specific routes to get from one place to another. “If you read a physical book you have more visual landmarks to go off of,” Rauch said. “So, if there’s a stain in the corner of the page you’ll associate that stain with the content of the page.” Creating a mental map of information is difficult for the brain when the text does not exist in a physical form on paper. “There’s no spatial awareness on phones,” Hoven said. One Medical Daily article states that reading on screens instead of on a page creates negative impacts on the brains of e-book users. The article suggests that e-book readers retain less information from their reading, and that e-books affect sleep and stress patterns.

FAST FACT

81% of poll respondents believe that books are not obsolete. It is easy to assume that the book and the e-book industry are fighting each other for business, but paper books and e-books are actually so different that they are not really competing. “Part of the reason why you get all of these conflicts is because we tend to set up what I

think of as a false dichotomy. It’s sort of this good bad kind of thing; e-books are going to destroy the world or print books can save the world,” Upper School Librarian Kate Brooks said. “Obviously I think [books and e-books] do compete to some extent just for what medium people are using more often but as far as sales go, I think they’re both being sold by the same sorts of companies … so in that sense it doesn’t really matter what people are reading, it’s all just different ways of reading a book,” Rauch said. In reality, both reading platforms have their own benefits and drawbacks which allow them to coexist. E-books should not be abolished for their few negative impacts because of their valuable qualities of fast and compact information. Similarly, book will not become obsolete as technology progresses because of their positive effects on the human mind and curious appeal. The modern reality is not that books are being replaced by electronic reading. Books of all sizes still cover the bookshelves, their spines offering a peek at the cover page. Some of the books have been cleared off of the floor and bed, and they no longer trickle into the hallway. On the nightstand sits a Nook, but right next to it sits a printed book. While on screen or on the pages of a well-loved novel, the modern reader explores the many universes their books have to offer.

Both e-books and print books show signs of growth and decline 43% of Americans own an ebook reader or tablet. This number is rising. In total SPA’s Randolph Campus library has about 20,000 printed books. The total circulation for SPA’s Randolph Campus library between January of 2015 and December of 2015 was 5,754. 20% of adults who owned an e-reading tablet owned Barnes & Noble’s “Nook.” That number is dropping as Kindles grow in popularity. E-books sales and the number of people who read e-books regularly is declining. Both print and e-book readership dropped since 2014 by 9% and 15% respectively. Sources: Pew Research poll (2013), Statista, New York Times: “The Plot Twist: E-books Sales Slip and Print is Far From Dead”, and Pew Research Poll (2015), respectively.

See the rest of the infographics about readers at

ubicOnline.com THE PAPER BOOK sits with its pages open, digital code flying out of the pages. “The notion of the book is being redefined,” Upper School English teacher Matt Hoven ILLUSTRATION: Javier WhitakerCastañeda

ILLUSTRATION: Gitanjali Raman

68% OF RESPONDENTS believe that books aren’t obsolete because books are easier to annotate. Data aggregated by Gitanjali Raman

POWER

Health & Wellness 7 January/february 2016 • THE RUBICON

POSES

Improve testing confidence with high power poses, optimism, meditation

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Diane Huang JUNIOR HANNAH STANLEY tries a sitting power pose. “I suppose [I would power pose] if I consciously remember,” she said.

Diane Huang

Online Editor-in-Chief They aimlessly wander the hall, chests tight and stomachs filled with butterflies as they mentally prepare to face their upcoming exam. Clutching their notebooks for dear life, high schoolers often enter their classrooms feeling as if they lack the ability to succeed in such a high intensity environment. Whether it’s the increased amount of schoolwork, plethora of standardized tests, or the rampant sleep deprivation in teenagers, American students have become increasingly plagued by stress and anxiety. Ironically, pressure to do well in school has ultimately harmed academic performance: Studies have shown that test-anxiety can negatively affect test scores and overall academic performance. By the same token, students that were more optimistic about

their academic growth throughout the year were less likely to have a decline in overall performance. Junior Sarah Murad makes sure that she is relaxed before taking a test. “A good mindset is knowing somewhere in your mind you do know everything, and it’s just a matter of relaxing and having the idea that you know what you’re doing,” she said. “A bad attitude would be thinking that you’re going to fail...even if you have studied.” Nonetheless, telling someone to ‘just relax’, may not be effective, more immediate and physical remedies exist as well. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce stress, improve focus, boost working memory, and even reduce physical pain. St. Paul Academy and Summit School students have probably practiced meditation in the classroom on more than one occasion, whether it was in Wellness or in the middle of an English class. Upper School English teacher Haseena Hamzawala has practiced meditation her whole life due to her grandmother’s Buddhist background. Hamzawala brought meditation to her classroom and has increased the number of classes with meditation due to the overall positive student response. This past summer, she took a six-week course on meditation in teaching from the University of Minnesota. “I decided I’m going to do this everyday because it actually improves test scores and it calms people down,” Hamzawala said. She observed noticeable changes in behavior in her students following a couple minutes of meditation. “[With] my tenth graders es-

“If you did this power pose for even two minutes before you do an assessment, [you] do statistically better.” — Upper School history teacher, Mollie Ward pecially this year I can see even in their body language that they’re less anxious after we meditate,” she said, “Before discussions I do pop quizzes on their reading...I do see anxiety levels go down.” While meditation has been around for centuries, in the past decade, a newer method to decrease stress and also increase confidence is far more within reach. Literally. Amy Cuddy, a professor and researcher at Harvard Business School, recently found a way to physically boost confidence at a biochemical level. She noticed that people and animals in higher positions of power innately displayed open stances (with arms often extended), whereas those in lower positions of power were more closed in (arms tucked in and slouching). Her observation led her to wonder if body language can influence mindset like mindset influences body language. Cuddy implemented the idea “fake it till you make it” and had subjects pose like those in dominant and subordinate positions. The results brought Cuddy to a surprising conclusion: “Fake it till you make it” was no longer the new mantra, but rather, “fake it till you become it”. It turns out that Cuddy’s power poses actually influence the testosterone and cortisol levels (dominance and stress, respectively) in those who practice them. Furthermore, Cuddy found that if interviewees took time to do power poses before an interview, they came off as more confident and engaging. “They need their bodies, privacy and two minutes, and it can significantly change the outcomes

of their life,” Cuddy said in a TED talk. The idea of power poses has also taken root in some St. Paul Academy and Summit School classrooms. Upper School U.S. History teacher Mollie Ward has encourages her students to do power poses before exams. “If you did this power pose for even...two minutes before you do an assessment, [you] do statistically better. It seemed like a really easy thing to try, so I tried it in my classes,” Ward said. “All the teachers read a book over the summer called Whistling Vivaldi that was all about psychology studies that have to do with race but were, like [power poses], little things that you can do that really help people overcome their own negative tape that they play.” However, power poses are a fairly new idea - far less established than meditation, which is centuries old. Its nascency gives rise to some skepticism. “If I knew they worked [I would use power poses], but I don’t know they work,” sophomore Ben Mellin said. Finally, in the hubbub that is rushing between classes and cramming in homework assignments due next class, many students might find it difficult to take time out of their own packed routine to stop and meditate or power pose. “I suppose [I would] if I consciously remember...” junior Hannah Stanley said. Though mindfulness meditation may take much longer in order to feel its full effects, power posing only needs two minutes to make a difference. So stretch those arms and spread out - a little confidence can’t hurt.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Diane Huang SOPHOMORE BEN MELLIN does the “superwoman” power pose: “If I knew they worked [I would use power poses], but I dont know they work,” he said.

ubicOnline.com

JOHNNY ADDICKS O’TOOLE does a power pose for Online Editor in Chief Diane Huang’s video on power poses. Visit www.rubiconline.com to watch.

Cover

THE RUBICON • JANUA

“A true leader is...”

School and community roles help develop attitudes of leadership “BEING A LEADER, YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS. YOU EITHER DO SOMETHING OR YOU DON’T.” — SENIOR GEORGE STIFFMAN

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Mari Knudson SENIOR GEORGE STIFFMAN, JUNIOR KATHRYN SCHMECHEL, AND SOPHOMORE NUMI KATZ pose for a photo, each holding up a portrait of a great leader whose traits they emulate in their style of leadership. Portraits include, from right to left, President Obama, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. “Being a leader, you just need to make decisions. You either do something or you don’t,” Stiffman said.

STEPHANIE LI

Arts & Entertainment Editor The continually shifting world of technology, culture, and society requires people and their leaders to be open to change. As the world alters its focus, so must its leaders. High school is a time when students entering the adult world begin to test and develop leadership skills. At St. Paul Academy and Summit School, many opportunities are provided to strengthen leadership skills—ranging from communicating with different people to making smart and beneficial decisions for the community. Student groups and academic teams are just a few of the many leadership roles students take on in and outside of SPA. Junior Kathryn Schmechel has been a member of Youth in Government for two years now. Schmechel was a committee chair this year for National Issues Forum which approaches national issues by writing proposals and outlines for what actions should be taken. She helped the presiding officer coordinate and run two different committees to pass on proposals as well as debating in the general assembly. “I got to have the best of both worlds where I had a leadership position but I also got to take on the action of other delegates as well,” Schmechel said. Stepping up to a higher position as a leader comes with challenges and most likely a few stumbles. As someone who was both part of the participant and authoritative body, Schmechel had to direct her peers while relating and approaching topics the same way they were doing.

“IT’S SOMETIMES HARD TO FIND THAT BALANCE BETWEEN HAVING A GOOD TIME [AND] HAVING CONTROL OVER THE SITUATION.” — JUNIOR KATHRYN SCHMECHEL “It’s sometimes hard to find that balance between having a good time and having fun and making sure that you don’t seem like you’re too much of a stickler with the rules but at the same time having control over the situation and the group of people,” Schmechel said. But, with leadership positions comes rewarding moments and valuable lessons that are applicable in facing future decisions. “[Youth in Government] helped me understand how to be a leader in a community where everybody is very involved and active and it taught me a lot about what I want to do when I’m older,” Schmechel said. Student groups at SPA also offer leadership roles that give students a chance to connect with their peers on a different level by challenging them to lead discussions and direct behavior. Junior Lutalo Jones is the co-president of Common Ground this year. Jones helped plan the MLK assembly on Jan. 11 with playwright Aamera Siddiqui and aims to invite more student acting to the stage. Jones’s respect for the previous Common Ground presidents as an underclassman inspired him to be the next co-president.

“The rewards [of being president] would be common respect from everybody else and just being able to lead someone for once,” Jones said. Although it’s been hard for Jones to get people to go to Common Ground, he intends to maintain his role as a visionary leader and work with his co-president to improve students’ experiences. Underclassmen who want to jump into the world of leadership right away benefit by obtaining essential leading skills and getting a taste of being a class representative, treasurer, or president, early. Sophomore Numi Katz is a sophomore representative on USC. She’s on the Speaker Subcommittee Task Force which plans speaker days. This year, Katz put up the event board near the cafeteria. Now, students are updated on news and events happening in the community while they’re waiting in line for lunch or just walking by. “I’ve noticed over the past few years is that there’s a lot of things you have to do to get a simple thing done,” Katz said. Stepping up to a leadership role required Katz to survey what students’ opinions regarding certain areas in the school were, coming up with a solution, and taking action. Through this process of sending numerous emails and communicating with the school as a whole about changes, Katz felt the most valuable thing she learned about leading was taking into consideration the student body’s opinion. “I lean towards being a more democratic leader because I think it’s really important to hear other people’s voices, especially when

they’re really different from yours,” Katz said. Although Katz holds a position of authority, she views her own opinions of equal importance as her peers because being a leader is impossible without contribution from the body. “I’m as much a part of the student body as I am a leader,” Katz said. Senior George Stiffman, the co-president of Student Political Union, leads the student group as a pacesetting leader. Striving for efficiency and directness, he’s able to facilitate discussions and revise SPU’s image. “Part of me really disagrees with being a democratic leader directly because I think it’s really slow and it’s hard to make changes,” Stiffman said. “Keeping in mind the best interests of everyone else, obviously that’s the most important, but once you make a decision and you see that it’s not the perfect choice, you know you can always edit as you go.” Stiffman believes confidence is the key to running an active, efficient discussion. He uses his background knowledge in politics to his advantage. Being able to help younger students motivated Stiffman to aspire to be an effective, inclusive leader.

“Being a leader, you just need to make decisions. You either do something or you don’t,” Stiffman said. He believes that although leaders will make mistakes, a solution is always available. Because of the conflicts in past years involving social media, Stiffman hopes he can rebuild SPU’s image with his determination and lead the group in a positive, welcoming setting with his knowledge. Considering these four leadership experiences, anyone can become a leader with enough practice and fearlessness. Although the responsibilities that come with being a student leader may seem a lot to take on, how people act under pressure reveal what kind of leader they are.

You value the sharing of knowledge and rely on everyone’s input to make decisions.

You are a ... DEMOCRATIC leader

You foc lar see wo the wh

Yo ins fo tim the an ab

You are a...

VISIONAR leader

FLOWCHART DESIGN: Amodhya Samarakoon THIS FLOWCHART allows readers to determine which of the five major types of leaders they are. Options include pacesetting, commanding, coaching, visionary, and democratic. “[Leadership] not about adopting one style and sticking to it stubbornly .. it’s about being exposed to as many styles and approaches that you’re willing to try,” leadership expert Michelle Hoover said.

Story

ARY/FEBRUARY 2016

How do you take charge?

START HERE

Pick the statement that you identify with the most and follow it to find out your main leadership style.

You value praise and support when leading a group over strict deadlines.

u tend to cus on the rger picture, eing the orkings of e group as a hole.

ou love to spire your ollowers, often mes letting em take risks nd explore their bilities.

You lead with high standards and a strict attitude, placing great value on timeliness.

You use critisism rather than encouragement.

You focus on individuals in the group you lead, and work to improve each member.

You are a...

You are a... COACHING leader

COMMANDING leader

RHINOS are known for their dominative and assertive qualities, although one does not have to posses these traits to be a good leader.

You set hard deadlines and place great value on timeliness.

You are a... PACE SETTING leader

Experts weigh in on a variety of leadership styles, intersectionality AMODHYA SAMARAKOON Health and Wellness Editor

Although the media (and perhaps the classroom) present only one or two leading styles, according to an article titled “Leadership Styles” published in The Wall Street Journal, are visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, and commanding. An individual uses a combination of multiple leadership styles but naturally falls into one specific category based on other personality traits. Michelle Hoover, Director of Corporate Training Solutions at General Assembly, states that there’s no best form of leading: “Leadership styles are not fixed; they should be fluid,” she said. Hoover, who works with large companies to improve their

workers’ leadership abilities, emphasizes the importance of modifying one’s leadership style to fit the situation. Hoover advises people with so much experience that students’ may feel their skills pale in comparison with even the basic abilities of chief executives and managers, but the process of becoming a great leader applies to those of all ages and experiences. “Refining one’s approach to leadership is a lifelong process. It’s not about adopting one style and sticking to it stubbornly .. it’s about being exposed to as many styles and approaches that you’re willing to try,” Hoover said. Leading is also something to learn and practice as trends change and people find new ideas. David Kansas, the Executive Vice President of Minnesota Public Radio (‘85), states that

“REFINING ONE’S APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP IS A LIFELONG PROCESS.” — MICHELLE HOOVER he still continues to develop his skills as a leader: “I learn from experience, by reading books, watching movies, and by seeking counsel from other people in leadership,” Kansas said. By participating in student groups including SAC, theater, and football in high school primed him with valuable leadership skills. Over time, he’s developed a favorite approach to leadership. “I prefer a ‘servant-leader’ approach. Placing the success, achievement and satisfaction of those who work for me front-and-

center is important .. giving folks the freedom to dream and try for great things is crucial to an organization’s success,” he said. Leadership opportunities for high schoolers range from joining elected and selected groups like Peer Helpers, an affinity group like Common Ground or a weekly club like Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). By participating in these activities, students gain experience managing and directing students in a team environment and begin to understand their leadership style. However, it’s important to understand that practicing leadership doesn’t mean one’s abilities won’t improve or change. “I would say to any high school student: who you are today is not necessarily who you are going to be 5, 10, 15, 20 years

from now. People are always growing … figuring out who they are,” Hoover said. Students must take advantage of numerous opportunities to lead and their own malleable personalities; Hoover recommends to “Put yourself in new situations and learn from them. Experiment with different kinds of leadership behaviors—ones that are more geared toward extroversion and others that are [introverted]— and see what kinds of leadership behaviors suit you. You might be surprised.”

Read the full story at

ubicOnline.com

Feature 10

THE RUBICON • JANUARY/febuary 2016

and FitBits track steps and more Bluhm Tipler work Emily Thissen News Editor

A watch on steroids, the FitBit is a wrist accessory that tracks data ranging from heart rate to number of steps, depending on the model. Other features can include alarms, caller ID, activity and sleep monitoring, workouts, and even a GPS.

“it seemed like it could be really useful in my workouts to track my heart rate and other things like that.” — Junior maria perkkio During the holiday season, FitBits and other fitness tracking devices like it were a common gift, whether intended to be a nice accessory, a workout companion, or incentive behind a new year’s resolution. Fitbits are easy to use as they are always right on the

wrist of the wearer and can be paired with mobile apps instantaneously. These additions contribute many more functions to the device’s already multifaceted interface, which is one of the main reasons for their appeal.

towards Silver Award

FAST FACT

there are close to ten million fitbit users in the world. For many, Fitbits are a helpful snapshot of one’s daily fitness trends. For freshman Annie Bottern, the data her FitBit showed her was surprising. “I wore it at camp and I thought I was being lazy but my Fitbit showed me that I was actually being pretty active, Bottern said. A distinct feature of the Fitbit is the step counter. Fitbit users generally have the goal of 10,000 steps in a day, which is almost equivalent to 5 miles. The moment the goal is reached, the wrist piece buzzes and flashes, indicating the accomplishment. “I mostly just use it to see my [number of] steps,” freshman

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Iya Abdulkarim FITBITS WILL display the time and date, number of steps taken, calories burned, miles traveled, flights of stairs climbed and have an alarm setting. “I mostly just use it to see my [number of ] steps,” freshman Hamza Khawaja said. Hamza Khawaja said. Junior Maria Perkkio, who participates in CrossFit workouts on a daily basis, originally got her Fitbit to aid her during her workouts. “It seemed like it could be really useful in my workouts to track my heart rate and other things like that,” Perkkio said. But for Perkkio, like many Fitbit users, the effect did not last very long. “I don’t use it as much as I thought I would. I always

have it on, but it’s more for little things like telling time,” Perkkio said. In fact, one 2013 survey by Endeavor Partners found that one third of FitBit users no longer used their device after just six months. Some Fit Bits are lost, others break, some find them uncomfortable or inadequately stylish. Nevertheless, FitBits and other wearable fitness devices have found widespread appeal, and are now a 7 billion dollar industry.

Students save with bank accounts know it’s there, so having a bank account reminds me that I can buy things with my own money,” freshman Koji Gutzmann said. Freshman Parsa Farbakhsh has a more unique reason for starting a bank account; Farbakhsh started his own business. “I opened my bank account this summer. I started my own company and I sell stuff on Ebay, so I use it to buy things for my company,” he said.

“i’m earning money and buying my own stuff, so i feel more independent.” — freshman parsa farbakhsh PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Clare Tipler BANK ACCOUNTS and other ways of managing money give students more responsibility while allowing them freedom with their spending. “It helps me think about saving money more than having it in a piggy bank would, [and] I like being able to take it out whenever I want,” sophomore Maya Shrestha said.

Clare Tipler Sports Editor

Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can buy independence. Because many teens strive for independence from parents, bank accounts are a great way to start the long-term process of both saving money and gaining independence. Later in life, students will need to be economically independent from their parents, so many St. Paul Academy and Summit School students open bank accounts early.

“I opened it in spring of last year because my dad wanted me to. It has given me somewhat more independence from my parents because it was their idea, but it’s my own money,” sophomore Sylvie Schifsky said. Sophomore Maya Shrestha also went along with her father’s idea to open a bank account for her. “I opened it when I was eight, and I only had $50 in there to start. It helps me think about saving money more than having it in a piggy bank would, [and] I like being able to take it out whenever I want.”

Other students use checking accounts to keep money for a debit card. “It’s given me more freedom because I saved all my money from when I was younger so now I just pay for stuff from my debit card instead of cash, which is nice but I know that it’s still my money,” junior Moira McCarthy said. “It’s also nice not to have change,” she said. The obvious use of a bank account is simply to store money in order for students to buy things on their own. “I opened my bank account a few years ago to keep my money. I buy things because I

In addition to necessity, having his own money in the bank makes Farbakhsh feel more mature. “My parents supported my decision, but I’m earning money and buying my own stuff, so I feel more independent,” Farbakhsh said. Managing money overall helps students prepare for later in life and creates smart money management habits. “Money rules the world nowadays,” junior Austin Leiby said. Thus, by learning to manage money, students have the world in their hands.

Submitted by: Clare Tipler JUNIORS CLARE TIPLER AND SAMMIE BLUHM sell girl scout cookies on Grand Ave. “I have been a girl scout since I was five years old. To me, being one means being able to help people and do good and give back to your community,” Bluhm said.

Emily Thissen News Editor

Eleven years after starting their journey as Girl Scout’s, juniors Sammie Bluhm and Clare Tipler are on their way to earning their Silver Award, the highest award that cadet girl scouts can earn. This particular award is focused on community service, asking potential award winners to determine an issue in the community they are especially interested in. “I have been a girl scout since I was five years old. To me, being one means being able to help people and do good and give back to your community,” Bluhm said. The process to obtain the award is outlined in 8 steps. This includes going on a cadet journey, identifying issues you care about, building your girl scout silver award team, exploring your journey, picking your take action project, developing your project, making a plan and putting into motion, and finally reflect, share your story, and celebrate. Bluhm and Tipler have chosen to focus on human trafficking in the Twin Cities. Their main project is making posters and putting them up around the school, to raise awareness. “I want to make this issue aware to people who might not know much about it, giving back to the community,” Bluhm said. One of the parameters of the project is to determine what group of people the project hopes to positively effect. “[This is aimed towards] women and children because they are large targets [of human trafficking] here in the Twin Cities,” Bluhm said.

Read more FEATURE on ubicOnline.com

Feature 11

January/Febuary 2016 • THE RUBICON

Jackson fosters furry friends

RUBI REVIEW

Neko Atsume Cat fostering is an opportunity to do good in an adorable way app proves Boraan Abdulkarim simple but aMEWsing Editor-in-Chief

Senior Jane Jackson closes the front door of her house behind her after a long day at school. She drops her backpack on the ground and is greeted by a clumsy collection of raised tails; tufts of fur with bobbing heads; a symphony of high-pitched meows. For almost a year now, Jackson has been a member of the Animal Human Society’s fostering program for kittens. Her house often accommodates a fluctuating number of kittens depending on how many have found new homes. In the interim between being

claimed by the Humane Society and being adopted, these cats spend weeks in the care of Jackson and her mother. “The animal humane society has a program where you can sign up as a volunteer and it’ll notify you when they have incoming animals [...] we like cats a lot. We started out last spring with a litter of four kittens and their mom,” Jackson said. Such a commitment entails cleaning up after messes and uncommon olfactory experiences, but the ultimate challenge for Jackson is resisting the urge to adopt all the t e m porary feline house guests.

“Recently I totally failed at being a foster because I adopted one of [them]. That’s the hardest part; not wanting to adopt all of these cute animals,” Jackson said. Typically, Jackson’s incoming fosters have fallen into two categories; single kittens or litters of four.

“We always rename [the cats.] Gansey was named elvis and i couldn’t swing with that.” — Senior Jane Jackson

“There’s no in-between,” Jackson said. “A litter of four is fun because you get to see them play with each other. With single kittens, it’s cuter because they’re lonely. The first [single] kitten we had would just play and interact with my room. It’s a much more personal relationship. They’ll sleep on you, and you get to know them better.” Jackson also has the opportunity to creatively rename kittens as she sees fit. “We always rename them. Gansey was named Elvis and I couldn’t swing with that,” Jackson said, referencing the foster kitten she has adopted. “One time we went on a presidential theme. I deferred to my mom and told her she could name them. They’re pretty arbitrary, though, [based on] what kind of mood we’re in. We usually base them off a theme, like Greek gods theme or something like that. There was one that I named Mochi (I was holding that

name for a really long time—I have a name bank for pets—) who had this weird fur that was black at the roots but silver at the top. It was all really short and dense, so I called him carpet for a really long time before we actually decided on Mochi.” Although Jackson’s fosters are not human, her experiences with the kittens has exposed her to moments of empathy that transcends the inability to speak with the cats. “One time one of our kittens from a litter got string stuck around its leg and it was screaming. It was an awful scream, the kind of scream that makes you run towards them. [I felt] this understanding of danger, even though it’s just a kitten, you want to make the screaming stop because you know it’s hurting,” Jackson said. She parallels the phenomenon with watching kids grow up. Jackson is known among her peers for brightening up followers’ Instagram feeds with photos and videos of her foster kittens.

“When I come home i’m not just going to take a nap, I’m going to take a nap with a furry little kitten.” — Senior Jane Jackson “You kind of feel it in you heart, the throbbing cuteness. I think that travels across technology, so it’s worth sharing,” Jackson said. “They’re really not too hard to take care of. It’s great. I think of, at school, when I’m tired, that when I come home I’m not just going to take a nap, I’m going to take a nap with a furry little kitten.,” she said. “And I’m going to be warm not because of my blankets but because of a kitten.”

SENIOR JANE JACKSON holds one of her fostered kittens. “Recently I totally failed at being a foster because I adopted one of [them]. That’s the hardest part; not wanting to adopt all of these cute animals,” Jackson said. PHOTO CREDIT: Meghan Joyce

Read more FEATURE on ubicOnline.com @TheRubiconSPA

See exclusive images and a video interview with Jane Jackson and her cats online

Fair use image from: iTunes NEKO ATSUME is filled with cute animated kittens and toys. The goal is to get as many cats as possible to come to the yard and leave rewards, such as fish and small momentos.

jonah harrison

Contributing Writer Watching kittens dressed up as train conductors and play with toys...what could be better? The Japanese app called Neko Atsume, “Kitty Collector” in English, has taken the internet by storm. Filled with cute animated kittens and toys, this game makes you wish you were a crazy cat lady. The mechanics of the game are simple. One begins the game with a small amount of silver fish and less gold fish (the more expensive items) to buy toys or lounging items for cats who come and visit you. The only downside is that one needs to exit the app to wait before cats will come, and then open the app and see a yard filled with adorable cats. After each cat leaves, it leaves behind a reward. It can be silver or gold fish, but silver is more common. Each cat has a unique personality, such as the vigilant Conductor Whisker, capricious Peaches, the nihilistic Billy the Kitten. Occasionally, these cats will leave small gifts such as pieces of string for the player. There is not much to this game; rare cats are available that only come when specific items or food are placed in the yard, making it more fun to find new cats. This app definitely becomes addicting after just a day. One starts to feel attached to little furry friends and their daily visits. The less you visit, the more fun it is to see the new cats.

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Arts & Entertainment 12 THE RUBICON • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

Behind the Scenes:

Seniors step off stage to direct their own One Act plays LAUREN BOETTCHER

News Editor After acting as different characters under the spotlight for four years, seniors get the opportunity to experience what it’s like to direct the show. It’s a tradition that drama students uphold with enthusiasm. This year, seven seniors took on director roles of four different One Acts, which were cast in December. Since then, seniors have coordinated rehearsal times to maximize the use of the stage, planned for sets, costumes, lights and sound, and built camaraderie with their actors all while making

decisions about how they will perform the show. “The biggest challenge for me has been figuring out blocking [the plan for how actors move on stage],” senior Ingrid Topp-Johnson said. “It’s especially hard because there are no scenes in this play, so everyone is on stage at once, which can make it a little chaotic.” The One Acts were performed in the Huss Center for Performing Arts on Jan. 29 at 7:00 p.m. The directors took some time from their busy schedules before opening night to talk about the shows.

PHOTO CREDIT: Diane Huang SENIOR DIRECTORS JACK ROMANS (left) AND MAGGIE VLIETSTRA (right, standing) bond with cast members during a rehearsal in the Driscoll Family Commons. Leading up to the performance, Romans said, “Mostly, it’s just the anticipation of seeing it all come together, because up to this point everything has just been a lot of planning and making sure everything is set in place.”

Vlietstra talks directorial vision for “The Glory of the World” Maggie Vlietstra and Jack Romans “The Glory of the World” by Charles Mee Q: What is your play about? A: It’s about a group of people with very diverse religious and philosophical beliefs having a birthday party for the late philos-

opher and monk Thomas Merton. Q: So is it a comedy or drama? A: Overall, it’s a very funny play, but it has very serious moments as well. Q: Why did you choose it? A: “The Glory of the World” was perfect, because the script has barely any instruction on how to

put the show together. We had to come up with our own concept and circumstances for the show. Q: What are some directing challenges you’ve faced? A: Things have been going really smoothly, but the hardest part for me has been translating my vision

for the show into a set of directions that my cast can follow. It’s easy to have a plan and a picture in your head of how you want the final product to be. It’s hard to break it down into steps so that someone else sees the same thing you see.

Wheaton says fast friendships build community that’s a “Sure Thing” Riley Wheaton and Miriam Tibbetts “Sure Thing” by David Ives Q: What is your play about? A: It’s about two people who happen to meet in a restaurant and strike up a conversation … when something happens that would pull them apart forever, a bell dings and they get a redo. It’s a show about the could-havebeens and the never-weres.

Q: Why did you choose it? A: My co-director and I read it last year as part of our creative writing class and one of our assignments was to create a staging for it. It stuck with me and I secretly wanted to do it. When I asked Miriam to co-direct and she mentioned “Sure Thing” before I had a chance to, I was over the moon.

Q: What’s been the most rewarding part? A: The thought crossed my mind, these people didn’t know each other well when we started and very quickly they were behaving like they’ve been friends all their lives. That building of community and, really, family is the most rewarding part for me.

Show from radio play honors childhood for Findlay Q: What are you directing? A: It’s a stage adaptation of a 1951 radio show.

Maren Findlay “Fibber McGee and Molly: Molly’s Checkup” by Don Quinn and Phil Leslie

Q: What has been the most difficult part about directing? A: Cast members are to directors as students are to teachers, and like students, cast members mirror whatever energy level they see in their director. That’s the hardest part: giving even more energy than I demand from them, and appearing to have a plan so they’ll follow along faithfully.

Q: What is your play about? A: It’s about a couple, Fibber McGee and Molly, and Fibber is bragging about his amazing physique and muscle tone and decides Molly needs to have a checkup. So, they go to the

doctor and of course, Fibber ends up in the ER. Q: Why did you choose this? A: My older sister and I have lots of the radio shows on cassette tapes and we used to listen to them almost every day. This was one of our favorite episodes and since each episode is half an hour long, I realized it would

be perfect. It’s like a childhood happy thing that I’ve wanted to do so I made it into a stage production. Q: Why did you decide to direct this year? A: It’s a super cool opportunity that I knew I would want to take advantage of even from when I was a freshman. It’s really spe-

“Eggs”-cellent, original script entices Burr and co-director Cas Burr and Ingrid Topp-Johnson “The Future is in the Eggs” by Eugene Ionesco Q: Why did you choose to direct this play? A: Ingrid and I really wanted to do a funny play. We didn’t really want to do a serious one. And we kind of liked it. It was really hard to find, but it was really good.

Q: What has been one of the challenges of directing? A: Getting kids to memorize their lines is by far the hardest thing. It’s really easy to get them into position [on stage] once they know their lines, but it’s hard to do anything if nobody knows their lines. Q: What has been the most rewarding part of directing?

A: Getting to see it all come together. What’s been really cool about the play we chose, [is that] there isn’t anything online of people doing it before so it was kind of up for our own interpretation and kind of collaborating with Ingrid of what our vision is and what we want it to be and it’s turning out to be really cool.

cial to actually create something on stage that’s your own. Q: What have been some of the challenges of directing? A: I’m directing by myself so I have no one to bounce ideas off of. It’s a lot of me thinking out loud and changing my mind and not knowing exactly what to do.

Need an encore of One Acts?

PHOTO CREDIT: Clare Tipler OUR ROTTEN TOWN by Dutton Foster was performed with the students plays in MSHSL One-Act competition on Jan. 30. Read more at

ubicOnline.com

Arts & Entertainment 13 january/feberuary 2016 • THE RUBICON

The Guerilla Girls advocate gender equality through art Mari Knudson

Cover Story Editor Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum? This question, first posed in 1989 by the art feminist group — the Guerilla Girls — encapsulates both their upfront, tonguein-cheek method of campaigning and highlights the severe lack of female representation in the art community. Based on a survey the Guerrillas conducted at the Modern Art section at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, only 5% of artists represented were female but 85% of nude figures were female. Although this statistic may seem surprising, even more startling is how little progress has been made in the years since: in 2012, less than 4% of artists in the Modern Art section were female, but 76% of nude figures were females. Clearly, the art community still has a long way to go in terms of gender representation.

“there were some aspects of their presentation that seemed a bit racist and reminiscent of privileged white feminism.” — Senior nina zietlow “I was definitely aware that the art world is dominated by male artists but I was surprised to what extent this is still true in 2016,” senior Nina Zietlow said. Zietlow was one of four members of the Senior Honors Art Seminar class that attended a presentation by the Guerrilla Girls at St. Catherine’s University on Oct. 5. A major aspect of the issue of sexism and racism in the art

world is the lack of awareness in the general community about it; however, that is going to change in the Twin Cities. From Jan.Mar. 2016, the Twin Cities will host the Guerilla Girls’ largest collaboration with any community, dubbed the Twin Cities Takeover. Across the metro, the Guerrilla Girls will host various lectures, discussions, and galleries at a variety of museums including the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and the Walker Art Center. Zietlow agrees with the Guerrilla Girls’ message of the importance of representation and believes St. Paul Academy and Summit School students should as well. “[Representation matters] because art is often a tool of self expression and social change so if we are only [to] recognize art from one demographic of people [white men], especially if that demographic is a group of oppressors, art is not longer as relevant,” Zietlow said. While education about the issue is the first step to raising awareness, it is certainly not the final one. Zietlow believes that there are many ways SPA can help be the solution to the problem of sexism and racism in the art world. “[SPA should] invite more female artists to show work in the Drake Gallery, read more books by female authors in English and history classes, in general talk about women’s issues more,” Zietlow said. Senior Ingrid Topp-Johnson also attended the Guerrilla Girls presentation and, as a member of the Walker Art Center Teen Art Council, has had the opportunity to attend several workshops held by the group. While she supports the group’s mission, her interac-

PHOTO CREDIT: Mari Knudson THE GUERILLA GIRLS gallery at the Walker Art Center advocates female voice and raises awareness through lectures and discussions. “[Representation matters] because art is often a tool of self expression and social change so if we are only [to] recognize art from one demographic of people [white men], especially if that demographic is a group of oppressors, art is not longer as relevant,” Zietlow said. tions with the actual group members left something more to be desired. “While I think that the mission of the Guerilla Girls — greater representation of women, people of color, and queer artists in museums, as well as accountability in how museums are financed — is very important and continues to be very important, I was somewhat disappointed with the Guerilla Girls themselves,” Topp-Johnson said. Much of Topp-Johnson’s critique of the Guerrilla Girls stems from the fact that they generally overlooked issues of racism and transphobia in the art world in favor of sexism. “Their presentation at St. Kate’s was subtly transphobic: multiple references to museums needing an ‘estrogen bomb’, ‘estrogen pills’, ‘gender reassignment surgery’, etc.,” Topp-Johnson said. “Furthermore, they are

reticent to recognize their privilege as white women in the art world, using their anonymity to escape criticism.” Topp-Johnson believes that the group should adapt to modern feminist standards, stretching to encompass issues of intersectionality rather than simply white feminist issues. “[The Guerilla Girls] demonstrated that they were not genuinely interested in listening to the youth voice, but rather wanted to enforce the old guard of non-intersectional activism,” Topp-Johnson said. However, it seems as though the rising generation of artists are ready to pick up the Guerrilla Girls’ agenda where they have left off. “Members of the Teen Arts Councils in attendance have pushed back against them and called them out for the hypocrisy, and they have been tentatively re-

ceptive,” Topp-Johnson said. Topp-Johnson still believes SPA students should participate in the Guerrilla Girls Takeover in order to learn about what has been done to combat unequal representation and what still needs to be accomplished. “This is not to say that the importance of their legacy should be disregarded, on the contrary, I think it should inspire people to fill the role of dynamic whistleblower in the art world that they left behind,” she said.

Related Exhibitions Hypervisible (Invisible) Jan. 14 - Feb. 14 Hopkins Center for the Arts Happy and Angry: An Exhibition of Student Posters Inspired by the Guerrilla Girls Jan. 18 - Mar. 12 St. Catherine University

RUBI REVIEWS

The Intro displays B’s unique voice, expressive melody, and cliche lyrics jonah harrison

Contributing Writer

The up and coming Canadian singer/songwriter Ruth B released her first Extended Player titled The Intro in late Nov. of 2015. The short four-song collection shows off B’s voice using only a piano as an accompaniment. This creates a simplistic style in which

listeners are able to more easily concentrate on her unique voice. The former vine sensation wrote her debut single Lost Boys and self released it, which received immense praise from recording labels, prompting her to write three more songs for the EP. Although most of the melodies are very common, she makes up for it with her interesting lyrical timing. A highlight of this EP is

her song Golden. This song is kind of like an “underdog anthem”, saying that she is herself and wouldn’t want to be anyone else. Her voice has a beautiful sound but some of her lyrics are cliche and common. Her album, The Intro, is available on Itunes and Spotify.

Fair use image from: IMDb SHADOWHUNTERS, directed by Ed Decter, takes author Cassandra Clare’s series The Mortal Instruments and creates a thrilling world packed with demons, warlocks, and combat.

ellie findell

Fair use image from: iTunes Canadian singer and songwriter Ruth B has a unique voice and personalizes her music by playing the piano as the only accompaniment. But, some of her lyrics are very cliche.

3.5/5

Shadowhunters proves average, lacking in excitement and originality

3/5

Staff Writer

Based on Cassandra Clare’s young adult novel series, The Mortal Instruments, Shadowhunters is just another one of the new fantastical TV shows full of demons and warlocks that pack in as much action and bloodshed as it can, in hopes of drawing viewers in. Although the dramatic deaths

that spray blood everywhere may be momentarily enticing, the script and performances from the actors can’t keep the excitement going. Clary Fray (Katherine McNamara) lives a seemingly average life in Brooklyn with a hip mom and the cute type of nerdy best friend, but when she bumps into a mysterious blond stranger on the day of her 18th birthday, everything changes. All of a sud-

den we’re seeing images of a nuclear disaster combined with bodies sans clothes and it seems like they’re just trying to bloat this TV show with as much seemingly thrilling things as they possibly can. Although this high-intensity action may not be able to sustain itself in the long term, the silent brothers and Clary’s surprising secret do make me want to at least see the next episode.

Boys Swim Team finds season success

The Highland Park-St. Paul Academy and Summit School co-op boys swim team continued their unprecedented three year run through the St. Paul City Conference on Jan 21 after their 99-77 win of St. Paul Johnson. The win marked the Trojans 18th in their last 19 dual meets including last year’s landmark win against St. Paul Central. “Our strength is our core, specifically our seniors, and our sophomores who have done a really good job getting lots of points for us,” junior Matt Suzuki said.

THE TROJAN SWIM AND DIVE TEAM celebrates their win against Hopkins 109-88. “Our strength is our core,” junior Matt Suzuki said.

Sports

Photo Credit: Kathryn Campbell

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THE RUBICON • January/February 2016

The story behind the jersey number

Family traditions, bad luck, and chance are all factors that play a role in selecting a jersey number for St.Paul Academy and Summit School athletes. Read below for some of their stories.

Breandan Gibbons Online Sports Editor

Sophomore Hannah Scott Basketball #11 “When I was a JV player, at the end of the JV game [the coaches asked me] if I wanted to play varsity and they just gave me a varsity jersey (#11) and I have just stuck with it.”

“My big brother played hockey and that was his number, I looked up to him when I was younger, so I chose that number... he didn’t play college hockey but he was a big player on the high school team in Alaska and I really looked up to him.”

Junior A.M. Roberts Hockey #23 FAST FACT

The most rare jersey number in the National Hockey league is #0. Only one Player, Neil Sheehy in 1988, has ever donned #0 in the NHL.

Senior Ryan Peacock Basketball #5 “I was #2 when I was a freshman and a sophomore but when we got new jerseys my junior year every returning player that was in the rotation got their number back except for me, because either God was spiting me or Brownie [Athletic Director Mike Brown] just forgot, so I had to change to #5. I wish I was #2 still.”

Junior Emerson Egly Basketball #23 “[Former] coach McKenzie was really stingy about giving out the number 23, (worn by NBA legends Lebron James and Michael Jordan) but my first year on the team, there were no more numbers left, so he begrudgingly gave it to me and I still have it.”

hockey reference.com

Ski teams glide into action as snow finally hits the ground Ellie Nowakowski Staff Editor

Spartan Nordic and Alpine ski teams have gotten off to a late start in the season. The lack of snow and warm temperatures made skiing difficult until later in the season. Many meets and practices have been cancelled due to the lack of snow. Teams have had to practice extra to compensate for all the time that was lost since the season began in late Oct. The Spartan Alpine team practices at Buck Hill in Burnsville, MN. Though Buck Hill makes their own snow, the warm temperatures made it melt very quickly. “There were some days where we practiced and you could see patches of dirt in the snow,” freshmen Ben Putaski said. This is Putaski’s first season skiing. The Alpine team lost practice time when the warm temperatures caused the snow to melt. “I had one practice before the (first) race, and for a lot of the

people that are new they didn’t really get much practice, but I think we’re starting to catch up now,” Alpine skier Web Lehmann said. The Alpine team still has goals in mind “As a team we’re hoping to keep the team moving, keep the upward progression, get some of younger guys to keep coming back next year and keep developing their skills, and hopefully do better in sectionals,” Lehmann said. When there wasn’t enough snow, the Nordic teams had dry land practices rather than going skiing. They would go for runs, or go to the workout room and exercise. “We lost some valuable training time, and even though we weren’t able to ski we got in some really valuable moments on runs, and we became really fit and built up our endurance,” junior Neeti Kulkarni said. Several Nordic meets were cancelled and since the luxury of man-made snow was not an option, the team had to await the

“Though we weren’t able to ski, we’ve become really fit.” — Junior neeti kulkarni first snowfall to practice. “Practicing for races was very hard because we didn’t get snow until very late in the season, there were some meets that were cancelled,” freshman Dylan Rosso said. The Nordic and Alpine ski teams have not let the weather slow them down. The teams continue to work hard and improve. With goals in mind, the teams are hoping to have a successful rest of the season. Some individuals are hoping to win meets, make it to state or sectionals, or just improve their technique. While, others hope that everyone on the team can improve and have a good time. “I’ve improved a lot, I know that other people have improved I think it’s going well,” Putaski said.

Submitted by: Lexi Hilton SENIOR LEXI HILTON AND SOPHOMORE DINA MORADIAN practice on roller skis awaiting the much needed snow, ““We lost some valuable training time, and even though we weren’t able to ski we got in some really valuable moments on runs, and we became really fit and built up our endurance,” Junior Neeti Kulkarni said. Regardless of the weather complications, teammates support one another making the season a lot more relaxed and fun. They find other ways to find ways to bond with their fellow teammates.

“Everyone’s supports each other and helps each other out, our goal for the season is to make conference again, and to make it to state,” Nordic skier Tessah Green said.

starters out and the season’s leading scorer with two fouls in Spartan Boys Bas- underTwoa minute. This sounds like the beginning of an excuse of how a team lost a game. However, not for the St. Paul Academy and Summit ketball takes down School boys basketball team against Mounds Park Academy. On Friday the Spartans beat MPA 63-39. not playing really well right now to be honest,” senior DaMounds Park Acad- lante“We’re Peyton said after a game in which the bench played almost half game, “I mean there’s only room for improvement, but we really emy, looks to ofgottathepick it up.” Read more Sports at ubicOnline.com improve

The Boy’s Basketball team is currently 7-3-0, but looks to improve in the coming games. “There’s only room for improvement,” senior Dalante Peyton said. PHOTO CREDIT: Clare Tipler

Sports 15

January/February 2016 • THE RUBICON

Oto plays high-level ultimate on top ranked team

veloping and continuing to grow. Minnesota has had one of the highest growth of any state in the country for youth ultimate Frisbee players.

Claire Hallaway Staff Writer

Gitanjali Raman

Online Managing Editor Sports don’t have to end in high school, especially for St. Paul Academy and Summit School teachers: several teachers are also coaches or involved in student athletics. Upper School History teacher and JV Boys Hockey and Ultimate Frisbee coach Ryan Oto describes his experience of playing hockey and Frisbee when he was in high school and college. “A lot of the things that have made me who I am and the parts of me that I’m really happy with and proud of have really come from being a part of sports teams,” Oto said. Oto started playing hockey in the third grade and has continued to play ever since, playing for the Northfield High School team in Minnesota. Hockey is a pretty consistent tradition in MN and is definitely a popular winter sport. “It was a ton of fun to play with friends. There’s nothing like playing hockey. It’s fast, exciting and I love it for that, ” Oto said. Oto started to play hockey as a way to have fun with friends playing a game he loved, but wasn’t necessarily as serious about becoming a top hockey player. “The culture and community

“Playing is something that keeps me really grounded.” — US History Teacher Ryan Oto

Submitted by: Ryan Oto UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER RYAN OTO plays ultimate frisbee is his free time as both a competitive outlet and a personal growth exercise. Oto currently plays with Bird, an ultimate Frisbee club. “I’ve also learned a lot about myself and the games that I really enjoy doing,” Oto said. around hockey is really strong and it’s really exciting to be a part of something that people really want to be a part of- it’s fun to do that,” Oto said. However, Oto’s love for ultimate Frisbee carried on past high school and into college. Oto started playing ultimate Frisbee as a junior at Northfield High School and then continued to play at Carleton College and still plays and competes in national tournaments. He has played Frisbee for 11

years that travels to tournaments during the summer. “Frisbee is a game that’s fun to learn, it’s constantly changing, not many people play it so it’s fun to see it develop and there’s a lot of room to go out and build a team.” Oto said about his Frisbee experience. Oto has been playing with Bird for the past four years. Bird is an ultimate Frisbee club based in Minneapolis. “We’ve been ranked in the top 20 in the nation for the last three

Atheletes refuse to fall on the ice and in the snow

However, Hills wishes all the time she spends at the skating rink could count for something at school. “The downside (of figure skating) is that you can’t letter in it,” Hills said, who has lettered in both cross-country and track and field here at SPA. But my favorite part is mastering new skills.” Senior Lukas Kelsey-Friedemann’s passion for snowboarding is more of a hobby, but it’s a hobby he devotes plenty of his time to. He practices his techniques for about three hours. Kelsey-Friedemann never found his place in a SPA sponsored sport, so he took his talents elsewhere. “I don’t think I’ve ever been really big on team sports. I’ve tried football. I’ve played a bunch of sports at SPA, but I didn’t really like them,” he said. On the slopes, Kelsey-Friedemann likes the lack of structure of his sport. “In a lot of other sports, you can get caught up in the method of how you are supposed to do things. In snowboarding you can do it any way you want. You can really go about it on your own.” Kelsey-Friedemann also finds his time snowboarding

Isabel Saavedra-Weis Staff Writer

Students at St. Paul Academy and Summit School have a relatively large range of winter sports to choose from, and most students can find a team that they like being a part of. But there are some people that have to look beyond the brick walls of SPA to find a sport that they are passionate about. One such student is sophomore Emma Hills, who started gliding on the ice to become a figure skater at age eight. “My parents actually tried (to get me to skate)... when I was two, but I just sat on the ice and cried,” Hills said. Once she learned to love the ice, she started to move up in levels and compete with other figure skaters. Hills now skates for Burnsville Minnesota Valley Figure Skating Club and is in level intermediate, which is the fifth of eight levels. To pass a level, a skater must take a test in front of judges, who determine whether

the skater passes or needs to try again. It becomes harder to pass tests as the levels get higher, but Hills is halfway to level eight. Like most sports, she goes to practice. She’s at the rink four times a week and is there about two hours each time. She spends her time practicing footwork, transitions, jumps and spins.

“Snowboarding can be a really good outlet.” — Senior Lukas kelseyfriedemann “When you land a new jump or get a consistent landing on a jump, it’s really exciting,” Hills said. Hills enjoys the social aspect of doing a sport outside of school. “I get to meet people. I have my rink friends. I meet people in competitions … It’s a different network of people,” Hills said.

years, and it’s just been a lot of fun to build that.” Oto said. Oto has traveled to different parts of the country with Bird. Oto has been very successful and won a national championship in college. “Last summer, we went to Ohio for a tournament over the Fourth of July. We also went out to Colorado and I’ve been to Las Vegas, D.C. and South Carolina for tournaments.” Oto said. Unlike hockey, the community and culture of Frisbee is still de-

It’s not as traditional of a sport and compared to hockey, the players aren’t always as competitive, but it’s the competition that drives success. “I’ve also learned a lot about myself and the games that I really enjoy doing. It’s really easy in the middle of a hockey or Frisbee season to get really burned out and frustrated and see only the short-term or forget that you’re doing something that you enjoy for a reason. Coaching and playing is just something that keeps me really grounded,” Oto said. Needless to say the lessons to be learned from coaching and playing athletics are valuable ones applicable to many aspects of life that help to inform an overall character.

Submitted by: Emma Hills SOPHOMORE EMMA HILLS holds a sign made by friends after one of her figure skating shows. Hills has been skating since she was two. “When you land a new jump ... it’s really exciting,” Hills said. as a good way to relieve any school-related stress. “It’s really easy to get wrapped up in SPA, so snowboarding can be really good outlet,” Kelsey-Friedemann said. But being a snowboarder in Minnesota has it’s downsides too. “In Minnesota, we don’t get good snow ... we don’t have mountains at all, the snow gets icy, and it gets super cold.” Being a snowboarder at SPA also can be a little lonely. Kelsey-Friedemann found it hard to find a snowbording community.

Hills and Kelsey-Friedemann have plenty in common. Both have very small, if any, communities of their sport here at SPA. Both work hard in the cold weather, both practice flying through the air and both hate falling. “Falling hurts. Ice is very hard… I’ve gotten a lot of bruises,” says Hills. Kelsey-Friedemann agrees, “It’s not fun falling and hitting yourself on a ramp when it’s 0 degrees.”

Back Cover 16

THE RUBICON • January/FEBRUARY 2016

and Spaetzle: students recount associations with various soup specialties.

Most geographic regions have some variation on a broth-and-chicken SOPHIE JARO soup, but some cultures like to spice Opinions Editor it up. Many students in Minnesota seem Blood-red borsht splatters the ground and to like adding rice to the traditional stock. Jusplit-pea sloshes dangerously against the side of nior Shelby Teitel said “the best soup at school is its bowl. It is a pity to waste a precious ounce of the chicken wild rice, hands down!” Often, student family recipes reflect the incorpoperfectly balanced bisque and eloquent erwtensoep or ration of unique national elements to tried-and-true ingood-humored gumbo, yet the greatest culinary debate rages on with the metallic clank of soup spoon against soup ternational classics. Hick provides an example of such a spoon. All of those who enjoy this great dish often fight over fusion in her own household. “My mom taught me how to make spaetzle, which we put in its culinary condition, a persistent question that some say comhomemade chicken noodle soup,” she said. mands consideration: can a bowl of soup serve as a full meal? Vegetables of different colors and consistencies form the Regardless of its status as main course or side, the dish’s soupfoundation of many other international soups. Borsht is a hot or reme importance to the cooking and consuming communities is uncold beetroot soup originating from eastern Euquestionable. Without even holding its own shape, rope. Bisque is a smooth, creamy, highly seasoup has attained the role of holding up a culinary soned soup of French origin, classically based on kingdom complete with distinct debates, recipes, a strained broth of crustaceans. Consommé, also preparation, and puns. French, is a type of clear soup made from richly “More than once upon a time, I burnt my flavored stock. Split pea, named erwtensoep in the tongue eating soup,” senior Elena Youngdale said. “I Netherlands where it is typically served with saucontinued to eat it anyway.” sage, is a thick stew of green peas. Pozole is a MexiMost soup consumers find soup irresistibly delican stew made with hominy, a dried and cured corn. cious, but it is difficult to pinpoint the exact qualities Just North of pozole’s origins, gumbo was created of soup that make it so enticing. Alas, soup is a cher— Senior elena as a seafood stew unique to the Southern United ished dish because of its diversity; two soups that go States. Across the ocean, which unfortunately is by the same name may taste very different. According youngdale filled with saltwater, not soup, hot and sour soup to a poll conducted by The Rubicon of 20% of the holds a place as a classic Asian culinary tradition, student body, the highest-ranked soup, chicken noodle, gained top rank from only one in five responders. Rather than utilizing spicy and sour broth as the vessel for a variety meats, noochoosing from a list of possibly preferably soups, most students dles and vegetables. Sometimes, student soup recipes reflect an undoctored ode to listed their unique favorites, ranging from consummé to pozole to their family heritage. For example, Junior Cole Staples attributes alphabet soup. Although the actual consistency of soup ranges from thin his Swedish heritage to his familiarity with the country’s tradibroth to thick potage, the dish consistently serves as the vessel tional soups. “I was raised on a particular stew created by my Grandof substantial memories for students at SPA. “My dad and I love the Calvin and Hobbes comic where mother which contained various meats and smaller boned Calvin says that his mom told him that all his dad ate fish such as horse [mackerel] and canned anchovies,” he in college was canned soup and waffles. His dad re- said. Soup is a universal dish that brings us all togethsponds by asking him to get out the can opener,” er in its own liquidy, creamy, meaty, spicy, or Sophomore Tess Hick said. “We always refervegetable-y, way. Because of it’s innate varience it when we’re making soup.” ations in function and composition, soup In addition to holding a place in soup bowls and comic strips, the dish has can never be boxed—or canned— secured a spot on the menu of into an absolute definition as nearly every country’s either snack, side or c u i s i n e . meal.

“more than once upon a time, i burnt my tongue eating soup. i continued to eat it anyway.”

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Rea stor d the o nlin for i y e on s nform favo tudent ation mor rites a soup e. nd