April 2023 Issue

Upper School Council hosts Speaker Day to expand perspectives on gender

GEORGIA ROSS THE RUBICON

On Apr. 24, the SPA community came together for a day of listening and growth confront gender equity and experience, a topic the US Council (USC) and Student Intercultural Life Council (SILC) has deemed prevalent in the student body. Every

dents engage with it,” said advisory of USC, Dr. Jon Peterson.

To begin the process, USC members find topics they find important to the community. After running a vote to see what the majority of the council is in favor of, they begin their search for speakers. In this step, many speakers are found through personal con-

After a national search, Minnie Lee will lead the upper school as the principal.

College Counselor

Karna Ivory was part of the search committee. She described Lee as “very real and authentic.”

Junior Melina Kannakutty served on the student panel: “She was a teacher before she became admin, so she’s really invested in student connection,” she said.

other year, alternating between Speaker Day and Service Day, USC and SILC brainstorm potential topics select one that seems influential on the SPA community. The prime objective of Speaker Day is “to bring a lot of very diverse voices from within and without the community to talk about the issue of gender (or whatever the topic is) and to have stu-

nections, alumni who have some experience with gender equality, and a few “cold emails [... to] professors who may be on the topic,” said Dr. Peterson. Some speakers will have a certain expertise on gender equality, and some will merely speak to their experience on how gender has impacted them in the work force. The council creates an elaborate sched-

challenging obstacle of planning speaker day is accommodating them, making sure they have the proper technology and are prepared for the day.

USC Co-president Maryeva Gonzalez said that the topic of gender equality and experience is applicable to highschoolers in general.

“High school is kind of a time where you’re figuring out how your

identity shapes your life experience, whether good or bad,” Gonzalez said. Gender equality and expirience is “evergreen,” said Peterson, “Every year in senior speeches, there are female identifying students that talk about their experience at SPA and life in general and the challenges and difficulties that the patriarchy puts in their way.”

KEYNOTE. The Upper School Council meets to prepare for speaker day, making sure each speaker receives the accomodations they need. The keynote speaker for the 2023 school year was Dr. Rose Brewer, a social activist, scholar, as well as an author that focuses on Black feminism, gender, and social change. ule that works for all the speakers, and come up activities that support the topic for smaller group times aswell. The day is intertwined with various breakout groups where advisories will attend different speakers, including the keynote, and reflective spaces where advisories will unpack the material. Since not all the speakers are able to visit on campus, some will attend on Zoom. The most

continued on pg. 2

Fisher teaches media literacy to middle schoolers

MCKINLEY GARNER

THE RUBICON

In a world where media literacy is becoming ever important, many ask the question, “How can we work to facilitate a better understanding of how media works?”

Senior Maddy Fisher set out to do her part with a four-week workshop with middle school students focused on fact and opinion.

Fisher’s goal is “for them to start developing consciousness and awareness about biases you can encounter in the media and about the misinfor-

mation you can encounter.”

The last two sessions in April focused on writing. Students learned that while news pieces often follow an inverted pyramid structure with most relevant facts at the top and least important information at the bottom, opinion pieces can sit in a triangle, with the least controversial information introduced at the start with growing persuasion that push a reader to see value in less popular perspectives by the end.

The middle schoolers will submit final opinion

pieces to Fisher, and the finished pieces will be considered for the May issue of The Rubicon.

Each student chose their topic, from silly to serious.

Eighth grader Juliette Smith said she “got to learn about how to write an opinion article, and why strawberries are the healthiest fruit.”

Seventh grader Jack Gao mentioned how he got to learn about “positive and negative opinions” in addition to how to write an opinion article.

continued on pg. 2

HARD AT WORK. The last two middle school sessions were focused on writing; in this photo Fisher helps students outline their first opinions articles. “Writing is just as important as media literacy and education because it gives students a chance to see from the perspective of a journalist, which can help them identify bias in the future,” Fisher said.

In the email announcement Head of School Luis Ottley described wrote that Lee impressed “with her strong academic and professional background as well as her thoughtfulness, her dedication to her students, and her empathy.”

Lee will take over the role from interim principal Ken Jaffe in July.

This week is the countdown on campus for seniors as they wrap up coursework and plan for a four weeks of senior project. Students will spend time in a primary internship and spend approximately 12 hours completing community service. Those involved in the musical or sports or have outside of school commitments may have included these additional activities. The process changes to the graduation requirement included a shift away from a senior project committee to a whole-faculty and class approach. The seniors will return to campus for a 4-hour senior project presentation format similar to their proposal process on June 5.

RUBICON PHOTO: McKinley Garner

RUBICON PHOTO: Georgia Ross

HIGH SCHOOL IS KIND OF A TIME WHERE YOU’RE FIGURING OUT HOW YOUR IDENTITY SHAPES YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES.

Maryeva Gonzalez

Lee selected as next upper school principal

Class of 23 begin projects May 1

Politics in pharmacies: Walgreens refuses to sell mifepristone in 20 states

3 out of the 5 of which, can be prevented.

“I think it doesn’t make sense that a pharmacy even is political at all and shouldn’t be able to deny selling birth control because of that,” sophomore Sam Peterson said.

ONGOING DEBATE. Currently, Walgreens in Minnesota will continue to sell mifepristone and other abortion pills. However, many other states will be affected by the company’s birth control policy.

ANNIE ZHANG THE RUBICON

There are various forms of contraceptives including condoms and birth control. With the overturn of Roe vs Wade, abortion has been made illegal in many states, and now, the restrictions on birth control, as well as the refusal of selling mifepristone, is piling onto the list of restricted healthcare rights for women. In 21 red leading states, various Republican attorney generals have threatened legal action against Walgreens for attempting to sell mifepristone, even if the state still mandates abortion.

“Because women’s reproductive rights have been and continue to

SPEAKER DAY

continued from pg. 1

This years key note speaker is Dr. Rose Brewer, a social activist, scholar, co-author of The Color of Wealth and author with work focusing on Black feminism, gender, and social change. After graduating from SPA, she attended the University of Indiana to get an MA and PhD degrees in so -

be threatened, someone having access to birth control at an easier location is so important- and Walgreens refusing is an example of how many states view women’s reproductive rights.” junior Anisa Deo said. For many women, not having access to abortion pills would mean a number of risks. For instance,

ciology.

Perspective. Attitude. Reflection. Those are three objectives SPA students and faculty want a change in during this Speaker Day. Junior Melina Kannankutty wants to hear “what constitutes as a joke [...] I think that’s a very big misconception, right?” Gonzalez hopes that the community understands “people whose experiences with gen-

1 out of 6 women in the US have been raped, or have been the victim of an attempted rape. Without abortion pills, not only does the woman face being forced to give birth to a child (that they themselves may not be ready for),

“To me it’s concerning. It’s scary for the future, if even in states where

der are different from [their] own.” Dr. Peterson hopes that “people in the community will take it seriously, decide to tune in, and [...] use their privilege for good.” A day without that usual framework of school, but stories, discussion, and wisdom from speakers that have experience.

CORRECTIONS POLICY

abortion pills are legal that Walgreens won’t sell them. How will people who need them get access to them? It makes me wonder if they will go away completely and the consequences of that are scary,” said freshman Clare Ryan-Bradley. “It makes me mad that Walgreens won’t sell abortion pills in states where it’s legal because it feels like Walgreens looks down on women.”

Without access to mifepristone, risks in every area for women are greatly increased. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 700 women in the US die every year due to pregnancy-related issues,

MS JOURNALISM

continued from pg. 1

In the last session on Apr. 14, ther students could be overheard discussing hot topics like “Why you should be a Packers fan,” or “Why the gossip in the middle school bathrooms during X period needs to stop.”

Fisher started media literacy outreach last

In February of 2023, a number of Republican state attorneys wrote a letter to Walgreens, putting legal pressure on the corporation to stop refilling abortion pill prescriptions. These states included Missouri, Alabama and Arkansas, all of which have near-total bans of abortion, as well as Alaska and South Carolina, which have not banned abortion. In the letter, it main argument consists of that it is illegal or unlawful in many states to mail out abortion pills, as stated in 18 U.S.C. § 1461. Additionally, the letter also argues that by mailing out abortion pills, it is more likely for a woman to be coerced into having an abortion, since there is no supervision involved when it comes to taking abortion pills at home.

As a result, in early March, Walgreens announced that the company will not be dispensing abortion pills in the 21 states included in the letter. However, some states such as California have taken action against the decision, canceling multi-million dollar contracts with Walgreens as a response to the company’s decision.

spring, when she organized a four-week mini for fifth graders at the lower school. That workshop was inspired by her Social Venture Project she developd during a semester away at the School for Global Ethics and Leadership in Washington, D.C.

There’s just not safe options if they are not being sold in places that are accessible to everyone.

Liza Thomas

Women should have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies.

Eli Peres

This news is a scary reality because it continues the cycle of restricting women’s reproductive rights.

Remy Frank

Interested in more journalism mentoring opportunities with the Rubicon? Register for Journalism Blitz, for students entering 5-8, Jul. 31-Aug. 4

TO ME IT’S CONCERNING. IT’S SCARY FOR THE FUTURE, IF EVEN IN STATES WHERE ABORTION PILLS ARE LEGAL THAT WALGREENS WON’T SELL THEM

Clare Ryan-Bradley

RUBICON PHOTO: Annie Zhang

Restrict Act threatens access to TikTok over security concern

CATHERINE HOOLEY MANAGING EDITOR

The RESTRICT Act, or the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act, was proposed to the Senate on Mar. 7. If passed, this bill would grant the Department of Commerce the ability to identify, disrupt and prohibit information and communications technology which threaten national security or the safety of U.S. citizens.

The bill aims to counteract the growing number of untrusted foreign vendors who have a large share in the software market and ICT by increasing the national security of technology involving foreign adversaries. The act defines China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and a regime of Venezuela as such. Although never mentioning TikTok, this

bill has been recognized as a means to try to ban the use of the app in the U.S.

In January 2022, URL Genius found that YouTube and TikTok collected the most data out of 10 social apps. While YouTube made contact with 10 first-party networks and four third-party networks, TikTok made 13 third-party contacts and just one first-party contact. This report illustrated the amount that user data is transferred.

Although there are security concerns with the app, many people see the benefits that the app brings as more important than the negatives. “I find myself laughing really hard at TikTok videos and being able to bond with my friends over the app, so I would be pretty upset if it was banned,” senior Cayenne Ramirez said.

“I’m not really concerned

about the app stealing my information.”

For users, the app brings entertainment, a creative outlet, connection with friends, and a way to branch out to different communities. Even with all the support the app receives from its adolescent audience, some are not impressed. Sophomore Milan Mishra

TIKTOK

BY THE NUMBERS

Data from Statista.com

Million users in the United States on TikTok

Times the number of downloads TikTok recives over any other entertainment app in 2023

32%

More time spent on TikTok than any other entertainment app in the United States

recently deleted TikTok, not because of security concerns but because of the time he spent on his phone.

“I felt that using the app filled up significant time in my breaks throughout the day and thought I could be using that time in a better way,” he said.

Aside from the contro -

versy of banning TikTok, the bill has been facing opposition for being too vague and having the possibility to ban and criminalize the use of other technology, such as VPNs. “I don’t think that the app should be banned as I don’t think the risks being talked about with TikTok are completely unique to the app, but

everybody should probably think about how they personally use it,” Mishra said.

Although the act has yet to be decided upon, it only has the support of 18 senators as of right now, which is not enough to pass.

Baker recognized with Seagate Excellence in Science Mentoring Award

“Without her, none of us would be able to make it this far in science competitions.”

US Science teacher Karissa Baker was recently honored with the Seagate Excellence in Science Mentoring Award as part of the 86th annual Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair. The Minnesota Academy of Science hosted the fair on Mar. 24. Baker received the award at the Mar. 26 ceremony, where SPA student-scientists additionally collected numerous accolades. “I think the primary indicator of how well she does, with respect to her peers, is the success of SPA students at these competitions,” junior Rishi Bhargava said.

This award, named after its sponsor, Seagate Technology, honors a standout STEM educator who finds creative ways to grow students’ interest in scientific research and study. There are two categories: one for an educator in their first 10 years of teaching, and one for 10-plus years, which Baker qualifies for. Baker teaches Physics 9 and Advanced Science Research (ASR), the latter providing ample opportunity for guiding student scientists through their journey of investigation and discovery.

“Ms. Baker is a really good mentor because she’s super experienced and knows everything. So she’s the perfect person to ask questions,” junior Humza Murad said.

“I think her experience with ASR and the science fair, in general,

has been a huge asset,” junior William Richardson said. “I mean, for any question that I or another student have had, we’ve been able to go to Ms. Baker and she’s been able to either reach out to someone from science fair to answer it, or she’s

just known the answer already, which has been great. She’s also amazing at helping us plan scientific trials and scientific experiments.”

Students, parents, and school staff nominate teachers for this award. US Science teacher and

Director of Computer Science and Engineering Kate Lockwood took the initiative to nominate Baker. “She rallied colleagues, teachers, students and even some parents to write letters,” Baker said. According to an article published by

the Minnesota Academy of Science, one individual nominating Baker said that she “has been instrumental in nurturing our students through their science research experiences. [Baker] has built the curriculum of all of her classes around students discovering the information for themselves.”

However, until she got the news, Baker was yet to learn that she was even in the running. “I did not know that I was up for the award,” she said, describing her reaction as both “surprised” and “honored.” Award recipients receive a trophy, Seagate hard drive and two cash prizes of $1,000 each: one for personal use and one for their school’s respective science program, which Baker has revealed will probably be used next year at the start of new projects.

JOHANNA PIERACH THE RUBICON

MEDIA SECURITY. A Pew Research Center study conducted in March of 2023 showed that twice as many Americans support a ban than oppose it.

RUBICON PHOTO: Catherine Hooley

LAB RAT. Junior McKinley Garner examines a fungus. Garner has worked with Baker through the Advanced Science Reseach class. “When I first discovered that my fungus was pathogenic, I was mildly concerned,” he said. “Ms. Baker gave me the resources required to protect myself from infection in the lab.”

RUBICON PHOTO: Hazel Waltenbaugh

RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Ivy Raya RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Rita Li

OUR MISSION

We strive to capture the spirit of the community through its stories while inspiring deeper conversations.

Above all, we stand for integrity in our pursuit to inform and engage our readers.

THE RUBICON

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

1712 Randolph Ave • St. Paul, MN 55105

rubicon.spa@gmail.com

www.rubiconline.com

@TheRubiconSPA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITOR

CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR

NEWS EDITOR

OPINIONS EDITOR

GOOD QUESTION EDITOR IN DEPTH EDITOR

FEATURE EDITORS

SPORTS EDITORS

A&E EDITORS

ILLUSTRATOR

DIRECTOR OF ONLINE

PRODUCTION MANAGER

CREATIVE DESIGN WEBMASTER

NEWS EDITORS

OPINIONS EDITORS

FEATURE EDITORS

A&E EDITORS

SPORTS EDITOR PODCAST EDITOR

PHOTOJOURNALIST

Maddy Fisher

Catherine Hooley

Orion Kim

Hazel Waltenbaugh

Claire Kim

Johanna Pierach

Annie Bai

Annie Zhang

Eliza Farley

Clara Ann Bagnoli

Georgia Ross

McKinley Garner

Grace Medrano

Annika Kim

Tommy Verhey

Ali Browne

Ivy Raya

Eliana Mann

Davan Rosen

Alexandra Cardwell

Mariam Malik

Rita Li

Siri Pattison

Clara McKoy

Zadie Martin

Nelson Wodarz

Alison Mitchell

Marius Morse

STAFF WRITERS

Juan Miguel Adams, Thomas Chen, Thomas Ferguson, Carys Hsiung, Amanda Hsu, Taryn Karasti, Sonia Kharbanda, Thomas Kovarik, Andrew Lipinsky, Frances Matthews, Nora McKoy, Shefali Meagher, Lani Ngonethong, Greyson Sale, Nora Seifert, Zimo Xie

ADVISER

Kathryn Campbell, CJE

PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANT

Colton Werner

MEMBERSHIPS

Columbia Scholastic Press Association

National Scholastic Press Association

MN High School Press Association

Quill and Scroll Honor Society

PUBLICATION AWARDS

2022 NSPA All-American, 2021 Pacemaker

2022 CSPA Crown Award Winner

2023 SNO Distinguished Site

2022 JEM All State Gold

FACE TO FACE. Although it can be easier to tell uninvolved people about a hurtful situation, discussing the issue directly with the person involved will help resolve the issue in a more timely manner. Communication is a crucial part of both maintaing relationships and educating others about their actions, even if they’re aren’t a close friend.

of the staff agree 92%

Embracing confrontation leads to positive change and growth

EDITORIAL THE RUBICON STAFF

The idea of confrontation can often accompany an uncomfortable image: a tense, frustrated conversation in which emotions tend to overpower reason. But there’s a way to approach it differently. Hearing a sensitive joke or remark, whether in a group setting, one-on-one conversation, or Harkness discussion, can be an incredibly jarring experience. And though Gen Z, the generation that coined the term cancel culture, has no problem calling people out online, facing someone in real life can be more challenging. But confrontation is essential in finding forgiveness and closure if someone says something harmful. And when being confronted by someone, remember to take a breath and listen to what they have to say, take time with the process and recognize when accountability needs to be taken. These tough conversations must be conducted properly so all involved feel heard. Regardless of how the conversation plays out, it is essential to keep difficult discussions directly between the parties involved. Spreading gossip or stirring up drama about the situation, even if it comes from a genuine place of hurt, is counterproductive to any change that may come from it. Suppose someone’s words are repeated to others before they have had a chance to explain themselves. In that case, they may feel less compelled to participate in a private conversation, which could, in turn, lead to growing feelings of misunderstanding and consequently, resentment.

The first step in confronting someone is pinpointing their harmful words and then planning how to address them. Make sure to only speak to whoever is directly involved.

“Confronting a friend who hurt you will not be easy,” Dr. Nereida Gonzalez-Berrios, a board-certified psychiatrist in Texas, said. “The confrontation needs to be planned, so any overwhelming feelings don’t make the process difficult to restore.” Preparing talking points in advance will keep the conversation from veering onto a more emotional path, which can cause one to say unnecessarily hurtful words. Falling apart may convey a sense of irrationality, and approaching the situation from a more mature perspective will more effectively communicate the impact of their words to the other person.

During the conversation, stick to the facts, and avoid drawing unwarranted conclusions or assumptions about the other person’s intentions.

“Work on describing exactly what happened, and describing your reactions to it, as these are the only things that you can truly describe accurately,” Dr. Angel Montfort, a licensed psychologist at the Center for Maternal Mental Health, said. Work out any changes you would like to implement moving forward.

However, confrontation sometimes must occur immediately, even if the other person isn’t a close friend. And sometimes, the emotion will still be raw. In that situation, call out their words and work on unpacking their intention. Emphasize why those words are harmful and go against critical values. Identify allies who can help explain the harm behind those words.

Treat confrontation as an opportunity for growth and communication instead of venting. When done correctly, the results can be incredibly productive for relationships.

EDITORIAL CARTOON: Annika Kim

... CONFRONTATION IS ESSENTIAL IN FINDING FORGIVENESS AND CLOSURE IF SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING HARMFUL.

Culture-based language learning opens doors

MINI-EDS

MCKINLEY GARNER THE RUBICON

What is the purpose of learning another language? Is it fluency? Cultural understanding? Global worldview? College admissions?

For millennia, people have learned language by immersing themselves in the culture and people in the area. Immersion forced them to develop experience in these languages and cultures as if they didn’t, they would not thrive. As the world has become ever interconnected, people have used apps like Duolingo or YouTube to broaden their language horizons, leading some to believe it’s easier to learn a language from the comfort of their home; there is no need for them to learn a language for survival purposes, or maybe even in a educational setting. But the truth is that language learning that focuses on culture leads to an expanded worldview and builds greater understanding.

Interactions with people and institutions

SOCIAL HISTORICAL

Attitudes and events on a larger scale

CULTURAL

SOURCE: Infogram

Traditions, values, and ideologies

CULTURAL CONTEXT. While the mechanics of a language are the foundation of learning it, understanding the cultural background is also crucial to utilizing it fully.

McKinley Garner

In the current day in age, the process by which someone learns a language goes something like this: learn the 100 most common verbs, learn all other words slowly, and learn the conjugation of these verbs from most to least common all at the same time. This process is slow, but eventually people will understand the language — to some extent.

However, there is one major disadvantage here: the people that learn the language this way won’t understand the culture of the people who hold the language as their native tongue.

While on the surface level this may not seem very important, language culture enhances the learning experience and overall fluency in said language. According to a 2006 Department of Education study, understanding the culture of a language helps to increase fluency. In addition, the article mentioned that understanding a language makes it easier to learn certain characters and where they come from, and also how certain words in said language came to be.

This is just one example of the goals of culture-based language learning: teaching students not only how

to speak a language, but how to understand it and its people. For years SPA has offered advanced level courses in the four languages available to students. These classes don’t even consider grammar learning and only focus on a cultural aspect of said language, as students are assumed to have fluency to some extent from previous levels. Even in lower levels of language classes, SPA students learn small parts about the culture of the language while developing proficiency. The progression of learning a language at SPA also encourages students to take it for their full high school career, although it can be challenging to pursue multiple languages due to scheduling and lack of demand for lower level classes.

Students at SPA should appreciate the opportunity that they have to learn language in a culture-focused setting and challenge themselves to seek out cultural experiences. From philosophy to revolution, students can go beyond language proficiency and develop their understanding of other contexts. This allows them to stand out compared to other students who are learning languages, giving them an advantage in their non-native language’s world. For students looking to learn languages not offered at SPA, there are plenty of resources online like Duolingo and YouTube, which offer flash card and fluency exercises.

Let Speaker Day be the beginnning and not the end of gender discussions

Speaker Day is a welcome return to a long-standing tradition where students have the opportunity to diversify their perspectives; this year, the goal is to learn about gender.

Although the way one perceives gender is often already internalized, the vast diversity of gender identities makes it important to actively discuss them. As the Council of Europe writes, the outside interpretation of someone’s gender directly affects the way one interacts with them.

Hearing different perspectives from speakers with experience regarding gender equality is the first step to addressing issues of gender inequality. However, take other opportunities as well to have discussions about gender identity and experiences. Actively confronting gender-based issues is necessary to foster respect for different identities.

Read more about Speaker Day on pg. 1.

Take direct action in civic engagement to make a change

The Capitol is only 10-15 minutes away from SPA; take advantage of geographic privilege to get involved locally.

Organized protest and engaging with the government has a large-scale impact. For example, while SPA has taken action internally to provide menstrual products, the bill introduced in January to bring menstrual products in public schools was influenced by student protests at the Capitol.

Additionally, although Minnesota is fortunate enough to not be hit hard by birth control restrictions, take action to support organizations that are more heavily impacted. When volunteering, consider lending a hand to organizations like Planned Parenthood that have a larger reach.

Read more about Walgreens’ birth control policy on pg. 2 and pg. 6.

Campus censorship: how should colleges approach free speech policy?

Whether seeing an old friend, or making a joke about not seeing someone very often, most people use the expression “Long time no see.” However, some believe that the expression originates from pidgin English, and that it makes a mockery out of those who are not fluent English speakers. For example, Stanford University proposes no longer using the expression, and instead saying “I haven’t seen you in a while.” In a valiant effort to honor and respect non-native English speakers, Stanford is attempting to rewrite its students’ vocabularies and create “good” and “bad” words.

Students across the country are being told by their schools that there is correct and incorrect language. There is absolutely merit to fighting against hate speech, and attempt-

ing to form consequences for words that do cause damage and are intended to harm. However, what universities are proposing is a violation of the First Amendment.

However, this doesn’t mean colleges are trying to completely limit free speech. As Cornell’s policy statement says, “Responsible enjoyment and exercise of these rights includes respect for the rights of all. Infringement upon the rights of others, including the rights to

speak and to be heard, or interference with the peaceful and lawful use and enjoyment of University premises, facilities, and programs, violate this principle.” They aren’t trying to tell students what can and cannot be said, but are simply providing guidelines as to how to treat it as a right and not a privilege. And after Stanford came under fire for prohibiting teachers from using social media, they have backtracked and are easing up on their rules.

Protecting the wellbeing of students is a valiant mission. Ensuring that hate speech does not run rampant on a school’s campus or social media is a good thing. But it’s not feasible or reasonable to try and change an entire population’s vocabulary. Students should be allowed to voice their opinions, both in and out of class. That’s their First

Amendment right.

But universities still have a mission to protect their students, and have an obligation to step in when things go too far. When slurs or threatening language come into play, that’s the correct

time for universities to take action, and possibly implement discipline.

More importantly, education can help students make decisions about their speech. Explain why some words are offensive, and why it’s better not

to use them. But punishing students for things they don’t understand is counter-productive. Step in when needed, but allow for the community to grow and change as people, not because of the rules.

INFOGRAPHIC: Claire Kim

ILLUSTRATION: Claire Kim

FIRST FREEDOM. Censorship at universities can range from lists of “banned words” created by the institution to student protests against controversial speakers. However, it is still up to the institutions themselves to intervene to protect their students.

... IT BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE AND BEGINNINGS OF SAID LANGUAGES.

BUT UNIVERSITIES STILL HAVE ... AN OBLIGATION TO STEP IN WHEN THINGS GO TOO FAR.

Grace Medrano

Birth control restrictions hold back reproductive rights

PHILOSOPHICALLY SPEAKING

CATHERINE HOOLEY PICKS APART IDEAS, PROFOUND AND INANE

The benefits of thinking about death

CATHERINE HOOLEY MANAGING EDITOR

Death: few people enjoy talking about it, but everyone knows their fate and that the only separation between life and death is time. Although death is often looked at in a negative light, the awareness that life will end can actually make it more meaningful.

PHARMACY POLICY. While Minnesota remains less affected by restrictions on birth control and abortions, boycotting and reaching out to state attorneys general and companies like Walgreens can still have an impact on these limitations.

HAZEL WALTENBAUGH

THE RUBICON BIRTH CONTROL BY THE NUMBERS

Reproductive rights have always been a part of political debates in the United States, a constant back and forth of whether or not women should have control over their own bodies.

On February 1st, 2023, 20 Republican state attorneys general wrote a letter to Walgreens threatening legal action if they continued to sell mifepristone, a progesterone blocker pill that can terminate a pregnancy under 10 weeks, both in stores and through mail in a number of states. Shortly after, Walgreens chose to discontinue the sale of mifepristone in the 20 states that were represented by each of the attorneys. The list includes the 11 states where abortion is fully illegal, as well as nine other states that have heavy restrictions. So far, birth control remains legal in all states, even though many states carry restrictions.

However, reproductive rights should not be a political issue, rather a form of healthcare that should be available to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our society. Walgreens’ response to the Republican state attorneys reflects a larger value of the United States—that profit comes before well-being—specifically for the rights of women. It is irrational that these decisions are continuing to be determined by a male majority, where only three of the 20 attorney signatures were female.

76%

of females ages 18-64 have used more than one contraceptive method in their life

77%

of reproductive age females favor making birth control pills available over the counter without a prescription

SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation

Many of the states represented by these attorneys general were states where abortion has recently become illegal; however, eight of them have no such laws. While part of the role of a state’s attorney general includes defending the Constitution for the entirety of the United States, as well as arguing cases from state trial and the U.S. Supreme Court, nothing in their job description includes threatening a company over a political debate. The sale of mifepristone is currently legal under federal law, and especially considering the eight states that have no restrictions on abortion rights, it seems like a misuse of their power and authority.

The state of Minnesota has barely been affected by abortion restrictions and the Walgreens case, but it will be important to monitor as students travel to new states for college.

PUBLICATIONS POLICIES

PUBLICATION INFO The Rubicon is published eight times a year. We distribute 750 copies of each issue to the Upper School which are available for free.

ADVERTISING The Rubicon does not accept advertisements.

ANONYMOUS SOURCES Although it is always preferable to use names when reporting, there are times when it is necessary to protect those we report

on. In the case of a student, the use of grade level as a name designation will be the preferred method of anonymity.

BY LINES credit the individual who conducted interviews, drafted, revised and fact-checked an assigned story. Shared bylines are given to joint effort assignments. Stories that include supplemental materials include a credit at the bottom that states “Additional reporting by” followed by the name of the reporter.

With full access in Minnesota, students should be mindful of where their rights are being taken away, and how that might affect them moving forward.

While some may have already made the decision to no longer be a customer of Walgreens, the question of effectiveness comes into play. Boycotting is typically aimed at financial pressure, although it isn’t always the most efficient way to threaten a company’s revenue.

According to an article from the Northwestern Institute for Policy Research, the majority of boycotters typically aren’t the target company’s main consumers. Walgreens is one of the leading drugstore chains in the United States, with almost twothirds of Americans as customers, both retail and prescription based. In this particular case, the correlation between political values and consumer habits might not affect Walgreens customers, as the demographics of their customers seem too widespread.

Regardless of whether or not personal boycotting would affect Walgreens financially, boycotting is extremely effective in terms of publicity and damaging a company’s reputation. Other strategies might include writing letters to the company or the attorneys general, and continuing to have conversations about the reproductive rights situation.

EDITORIALS articulate the collective opinion of The Rubicon staff, while mini-editorials, opinions pieces, arts reviews, and columns belong to the author.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Opinions are welcomed as Letters to the Editor or Submitted Opinions and may be published in the print or edition. Letters to the Editor should not exceed 400 words and Submitted Opinions should not exceed 650 words.

Death is the unknown. No matter how much research is done, or how much technology advances, death will remain an unknown constant at the front of most people’s minds. Some believe that there is Heaven and Hell, some believe in reincarnation, and some believe there is simply nothing. While perspectives on death may vary from person to person based on their beliefs it is undeniable that time in this life is fleeting.

Every second that passes is a second closer to the end of life. That is a terrifying concept, but sometimes fear is the motivation someone needs to live. Studies have found that thinking about death can push people to strengthen relationships, improve their physical health, be more compassionate with others, and reevaluate their personal goals and values.

For example, the phrase YOLO (you only live once) was popularized in 2012 and is often associated with reckless behavior. Although this phrase can have a negative connotation, the actual idea of remembering that your lifetime is limited encourages longer term goals of optimizing one’s life, because they only get to do it once.

Thinking about death can also make life more precious. When people realize that they won’t be alive forever, appreciation for mundane things can become a more frequent occurrence and in turn, improve the quality of life. According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, gratitude can improve sleep, anxiety, mood, and can even decrease the risk of health issues.

Death gives humans perspective. Although coming to terms with the fact that one will die is difficult, it can give a person new meaning. The odds that a person will be born is 1 in 400 trillion. Every human to exist is extraordinary just because they beat the odds of never being born. Perspective, gratitude, motivation, and death is what keeps humans living.

Both may be edited for length and style. All pieces must be submitted and will be published with a full name.

UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS

During the post-critique process, staff members identify inaccuracies and report feedback from readers. The staff publishes corrections when an error is discovered during critique or reported to a staff member. Corrections should be directed to the Editor in Chief or appropriate section editor.

IN PRINT: Corrections are printed at the bottom of News p. 2. Corrections will be printed in the month following the error and, if the story is also published online, will be corrected following the online corrections policy.

PHOTO CREDITS Photos taken by staff members are labeled with their respective staff. Images sourced from outside of the publications staff are credited information pertaining to their origination.

RUBICON PHOTO: Annie Zhang

What does your handwriting say about you?

READING BETWEEN THE LINES. Graphology, the study of handwriting, can be used as the basis for inferences about one’s character. Serene Kalugdan’s neat handwriting habit began in childhood, with even earlier origins in her family’s past. Kalugdan said, “My dad was from the Phillippines, and they had to have very good handwriting.”

ORION KIM CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR

Pressing pen to paper, handwriting is more than a series of meaningless letters. Whether math homework or an English assignment, penmanship is a part of everyday life.

According to graphologist Kathi McKnight, it may also indicate a person’s personality. “Just from analyzing your handwriting, experts can find over 5,000 personality traits,” she said. Many slight distinctions make everyone’s handwriting unique; each difference can tell a different story.

According to McKnight, large letters indicate that the writer enjoys being in the presence of people and often feels insignificant. On the other hand, smaller letters signify introversion and high focus.

Regarding the angle of letters, right-slanted writers tend to emphasize social values, while non-slanted writers think more logically. Left-slanted writers tend to value and prioritize their well-being.

The pressure a writer exerts with writing utensils on paper can also indicate personality traits.

People who add more force tend to express more intense emotions, whereas people with lighter handwriting don’t overwork themselves emotionally.

Junior Amin Umer prioritizes efficiency over neatness and sees his handwriting as something other than visually appealing. “My handwriting is basically illegible,” he said. “I write really quickly, so I don’t have time to make it look good.”

Although this process is subconscious, Umer thinks his writing could indicate his personality.

CURSIVE AROUND THE WORLD

Looped cursive, a form of cursive that requires all letters to be connected - sometimes through loops - was a common form of cursive taught in mid-20th century Britain.

“I think [my handwriting] says that I’m a creative person. I like to

said.

Sophomore Serene Kalugdan attributes her clean handwriting to her artwork and her father’s background. “I feel like I’m pretty creative in general, and I like to do art,” Kalugdan said. “My dad was from the Philippines, and they had to have very good handwriting.”

verted to cursive and has stuck with it ever since.

think outside the box, and writing super neat is more straightforward,” he

For millennials living in Western Australia, their cursive may slant slightly towards the right.

Unlike Kalugdan and Umer, junior Anja Seifert doesn’t write in print. Seifert went to a Catholic school for a portion of elementary school, where she was required to write in cursive. Although she switched to print in 5th grade, she eventually re-

“When I would write in print, I didn’t like that the w’s were pointed, so I started rounding them,” Seifert said. Eventually, she started rounding all her letters until she was left with cursive. “I value having what I’m doing look organized, and I think cursive looks very uniform.”

By reading in between the lines (or rather, analyzing them), one may be able to learn more about who they are as a person through their handwriting.

Making sense of the signature:

1. Logical thinker

2. Methodical, makes decisions carefully

3. Aware of boundaries

Making sense of the signature:

1. People-oriented

2. Well-grounded

3. Pragmatic INFORMATION: BBC INFORMATION:

Spencerian script was the default business writing style in the United States before the widespread adoption of the typewriter.

In most of continental Europe, writers print words vertically on the page.

I VALUE HAVING WHAT I’M DOING LOOK ORGANIZED, AND I THINK CURSIVE LOOKS VERY UNIFORM.

Anja Seifert

ILLUSTRATION: Johanna Pierach

Test your knowledge about disorders/disordered eating

What are eating disorders? What misconceptions exist?

Even though most teens have an idea of what eating disorders are, it may be easier to find misinformation than facts. The stereotypical portrayal of a person with ED—most often, a white, wealthy, thin teenage girl—isn’t indicative of how broad and nuanced the identities of those who struggle can be.

National Eating Disorders Association defines the collected of diagnoses as “serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses.” There are a number of different types of disorders defined by mindsets, behaviors and treatment paths.

Although the difference between disordered eating and an eating disorder might sound minor, it's distinct.

Disordered eating is includes abnormal eating patterns—eating to deal with emotions, for example, or excluding a food group from a diet—but those behaviors do not necessarily mean that that person has a diagnosable eating disorder.

One common misconception is that there are only two eating disorders: anorexia, where people heavily restrict their energy intake, and bulimia, where people binge food and then resort to “inappropriate compensatory measures” which, in most pop culture representations, means vomiting. In reality, there are many others which often slip under the radar. Binge

Emily Barbee

eating disorder is actually the most common eating disorder in the U.S., yet the DSM-5, an edition of the manual that mental health professionals use to help diagnose patients, didn't give it its own entry until 2013.

US Counselor Emily Barbee noted how infrequently people talk about overeating when discussing eating disorders.

Anorexia is sometimes seen as a quieter or more attractive-looking disease than bulimia or binge eating because people who suffer from it may get thinner, and their methods aren’t overly uncomfortable for most people to visualize—they often resort to not eating and overexercising, which can be seen as just more extreme versions of behaviors that people might do anyway.

However, when people with bulimia purge food, or people with binge eating disorder feel like they’re out of control of their eating, people can be less understanding of their symptoms.

“Anorexia can be

seen in this very glorified way… but then other eating disorders, like binging… and bulimia, that’s ‘less appealing’ to talk about,” Barbee said. “I think there can be a lot more shame that’s associated with having bulimia than with having anorexia. The shame perpetuates the eating disorder because the… disorder is some attempt to control uncomfortable, negative feelings.”

Stereotypes cause harm to people who suffer from EDs that don’t fit that mold. A 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that onethird of all people with an eating disorder are male. The weight of a person with an eating disorder has been found to be irrelevant to the psychological distress the disease causes. People may develop or suffer from eating disorders at any age, not just adolescence, and a person’s race has no bearing on whether or not they may develop an eating disorder, according to CDC research.

Ultimately, combating misinformation with facts helps kill the shame that EDs thrive on.

People with these disorders aren’t making bad lifestyle choices or somehow weaker than others; they are living with diseases that have a vested interest in keeping their sufferers quiet. Support and understanding are some of the most valuable things that friends and family can provide.

ELIZA FARLEY THE RUBICON

Road to recovery requires support Stages of Recovery

Recovery from an eating disorder can take many forms. Each person’s process and support network is individualized.

For some students, the SPA counseling office is involved in the recovery process. According to US School Counselor Heidi Lohman, students typically work with outside providers, whether that’s a therapist, a pediatrician, or a treatment program such as Melrose Center or The Emily Program. However, the SPA counselors also try to support the student by contacting treatment providers and using that information to inform how the school can assist in the recovery process.

For students who approach recovery through a clinic-based treatment, that process can bring them to a facility like Melrose Center, a HealthPartners specialty center dedicated to offering care to those struggling with

disordered eating. Carmen Hansen works as the Manager of Community Outreach and Provider Services at Melrose Center. Although Hansen holds an RN and

ing, with their weight, with their thoughts,” she said. “And then to hear about their recovery, how thrilled they are, how optimistic. It’s just remarkable. That's why I do

which involve group therapy and a shared meal.

Partial hospitalization is the next level of care and involves an all-day program that takes place five days a week. The regular residential program is similar, though that level involves 24/7 care.

MOVING FORWARD

“The care process is not only physical, but it is also emotional,” Hansen said. “Typically, it's not about the food. It's about what's going on underneath.”

PRECONTEMPLATION

Friends and family gently educate the individual about the severety of their disorder

has provided nursing care, she primarily works with the outreach department. “The more I've gotten into it, the more I am passionate about helping people get the life back that the eating disorder took away,” Hansen said. Hansen also works on a podcast called “Melrose Heals,” where hearing living recovery stories helps to remind her of her passion for her work.

“It’s very powerful to hear the stories of these patients who were in dark, dark places with their eat-

DIAGNOSIS DISTRIBUTION

Out of all diagnosed eating disorders, these percentages show the frequency of each type.

what I do.”

TREATMENT AT MELROSE CENTER

Recovery is difficult to define, and it looks different for everyone.

“When we talk about recovery, we talk about regaining the things that the eating disorder has taken away,” Hansen said.

At Melrose Center, recovery begins with an initial assessment, in which the physical characteristics and the emotional behaviors of the patient are assessed. A diagnosis is given and the recommended level of care is discussed with the patient.

“It's very individualized,” Hansen said. “We find out what is the lowest level of care that will sufficiently help you recover.”

The majority of the patients at Melrose Center require the lowest level: outpatient care. These patients meet with a therapist and a dietitian, as well as a medical provider and a psychiatrist as needed.

For students who are in outpatient treatment and regularly attending school, support is provided during the learning day.

“Depending on what the eating disorder looks like, each student might have a different plan,” Lohman said. “We offer them access to keeping food on hand. If eating in public is something that they struggle with, we offer spaces for students to eat privately. It looks very different for every student.”

The next level of care is intensive outpatient care. While relatively similar to outpatient care, patients in this program also participate in evening meetings at Melrose,

The highest level of care offered at Melrose Center is called intensive residential care. “A patient is placed in intensive residential care when their bodies are more medically compromised, and need to have close attention to restore weight and to be safe,” Hansen said. “Sometimes patients are very weak. They could pass out or lose their balance or have a heart condition because of what the eating disorder has done to their body.”

FAMILY-BASED THERAPY

For younger patients, care can also include family-based therapy.

Director of Publications Kathryn Campbell supported her child through an anorexia diagnosis in 2014. The family worked with the Emily Program.

“Family-based therapy included one evening a month where at least a parent or supportive adult was expected to be present. There was a group session for the adults that included education. We learned about the bio-psycho-socio nature of eating disorders, what helps and impedes recovery, etc. There were times with our teens when we might do art, yoga, or meditation. In parent therapy sessions, we talked about the toll an eating disorder takes on caregivers and were offered tools to help us support our teens and take care of ourselves. The evening included a shared meal with all the families and students (and lots of conversation cards and discussion games), and often a speaker who shared their recovery story would end the night. There were occasional sibling nights, too; eating disorders impact the entire family and for family members to have a glimpse into recovery can help build empathy with siblings and give them some idea of the work their brother or sister is doing when they aren’t home.”

Lohman believes the school could add some components to Wellness and community engagement to protect students against eating disorders.

“I think that there's a lack of education around nutrition and how it impacts your life,” she said.

“I also think that there could be a better parent information component because adults at home don't often realize how their own thinking and their own relationship with food can impact how their kids view their relationship with food.”

According to Hansen, there are a number of things one can do to protect against disordered eating.

“Stop talking about people's bodies, about weight and shape, about how you feel in your shirt or your pants, about how someone else looks,” she said. “Throw away your scales. Eat in moderation. Enjoy your food. Don't skip meals; don't diet. Enjoy what your body can do for you. Get involved in activities that help your body feel good and feel whole and feel alive.”

Hansen acknowledged that recovery is often a difficult road to travel.

“Treatment is hard work,” Hansen said. “But recovery is definitely possible.”

To start the recovery process, Lohman emphasized the importance of seeking support. “Recovery is not something that you can do in secret,’ she said. “I'm not saying you need to shout it from the rooftops, but there needs to be a team of trusted people, because it is an all-consuming battle to recover from an eating

CONTEMPLATION

The individual is willing to admit they have a problem and need to seek help.

PREPARATION

This individual is ready to make a change but is unsure of how to do it. A plan of action is developed by the treatment team

ACTION

At this point, the individual is ready to implement their strategy and confront their eating disorder.

MAINTENANCE/ RELAPSE

The maintenance stage takes place after the individual has sustained the Action stage for six months. They develop new behaviors and coping skills. This is also when potential relapses occur so it is important to maintain positive communications.

[...] THERE NEEDS TO BE A TEAM OF TRUSTED PEOPLE, BECAUSE IT IS AN ALL-CONSUMING BATTLE [...]. YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A NETWORK.

Heidi Lohman

Writing brings people together

ANNIE BAI THE RUBICON

There are over 7000 languages spoken throughout 193 countries. Each language is diverse with unique pronunciations, grammar, characters, and meanings, but there are a few things that all languages share in common.

According to Cindy Blanco on the Duolingo Blog, “All languages have dialects and accents. All languages have grammar. All languages have ways of talking about the past, present, and future. All languages can communicate all ideas and feelings. All languages have slang. All languages are equally complex.”

In some cases, certain words or phrases have no direct translations; these are referred to as “untranslatable” words.

Sophomore Deling Chen speaks Chinese with her overseas relatives and likes the language’s untranslatable words.

tions of being grateful, holding to one’s morals, and being reflective,” Chen said.

FAVORITE WORD REPRESENTS BEING CONTENT WITH ONE’S LIFE AT A GIVEN MOMENT.

Deling Chen

MY

“My favorite word is The closest translation would be ‘happy’ or ‘content,’ but this phrase goes deeper than happy; it represents being content with one’s life at a given moment. It has connota-

LANGUAGE FACTS

1. All languages have dialects and accents

Junior Oliver Zhu also speaks Chinese fluently. “I think ancient poems are hard to translate, since their charm comes from the few syllables [or] characters per line that manage to evoke images of the richness of nature and the intricacies of human emotion,” he said. “It’s hard, then, to replicate them in English, since conciseness sacrifices depth and vice versa.”

Unlike English, Chinese doesn’t have a phonetic or syllabic writing system and instead uses a logographic one. “The writing [in Chinese] is difficult, since there’s no alphabet involved, and every word has a distinct character,” Zhu said.

Each language also

has unique pronunciations, which is why people develop recognizable accents when learning a new language. Duolingo Blog states that “no two languages share exactly the same sounds or ways of pronouncing them, so there will be new sound

4. All languages are learned by babies at roughly the same rate

2. All languages change over time

3. All languages have grammar

5. All languages are equally complex

rules and patterns many have never had to pronounce before.”

Each language is complex in its own nature with the ability to convey our thoughts and ideas. Languages are a part of history, culture, and tradition of a community and

7. All languages have ways of being polite and rude

8. All languages can communicate all ideas and feelings

6. All languages have ways of talking about the past, present, and future

9. All languages have slang

INFORMATION: Duolingo Blog

Julia Taylor finds lifelong friendship through pen pal program

ORION KIM

CHIEF

VISUAL EDITOR

In an age of rapid electronic communication, letter writing is a lost art. A few swift thumb movements and a click of the send button can send the same message as the old-fashioned process: writing on a piece of paper, sealing it in an envelope, driving to the post office, and waiting days or even weeks for a response.

While instant communication is necessary in certain situations, there’s more to social interactions than efficiency. Letter writing, for example, shows the recipient that the writer cares about them, since writing a letter takes time and consideration. One fun (and potentially life-changing) way to practice writing

letters out is to communicate with a pen pal.

Sophomore Julia Taylor met her pen pal through a school activity back in elementary school when she and her classmates got to request pen pals from a school in Mexico.

“We got to choose our request just based on names and pictures, and I remember we had [similar] names, Julian and Julia,” she said. “I immediately knew I wanted to be his pen pal.”

Their relationship started off small. They each wrote a short letter every six months up to fifth grade, when they were given an opportunity to finally meet in person. “He stayed with [my family] for two weeks, and it was just an amazing experience. I felt like I met a really great new

best friend. We had a lot in common and it was so sad having him leave,” Taylor said.

she said.

Her relationship changed when Taylor got a random text during the pandemic. “He reached out to me through Instagram, and we… got reconnected,” she said.

Now that Taylor and her pen pal are busy with school work and extracurriculars, they rarely keep in touch via letters anymore. Instead, Taylor values electronic communication.

Unfortunately, Taylor lost touch with him for a period of time following his stay in the U.S. Without phones and a way to easily connect, it was difficult to communicate.

“It’s kind of hard to [send letters] across borders,”

Although Taylor reached her pen pal through social media, her most memorable interactions were either in person or through letter exchanges. “I feel like [pen pals] are a more genuine way to connect with people rather than just texting online,” she said.

Taylor hopes that more students will try writing letters to a pen

pal. “I think it would be cool to bring back pen pals through the school,” she said. “When he stayed

with [my family], I remember we just laughed a lot and had a lot of fun.”

CAREFUL CALLIGRAPHY. Deling Chen practices writing various Chinese characters in her notebook while making sure the stroke order of each character is correct.

I FELT LIKE I HAD MET A REALLY GREAT BEST FRIEND. WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON AND IT WAS SO SAD SEEING HIM LEAVE.

Julia Taylor

FRIENDSHIP FOREVER. After writing with her pen pal for a while, Taylor was able to meet up with him.

SUBMITTED PHOTO: Julia Taylor

SUBMITTED PHOTO: Deling Chen

Atari Ernst finds freedom in competitive dance

To freshman Atari Ernst, a constant theme in his life is “moving and grooving,” he said. As soon as he could walk, he learned to dance, too. Attending local dance competitions, called “jams,” on the weekends, traveling around the country to participate in some, and even teaching younger dancers has become a lifestyle. Minus the verbal banter and provocation in Y2K hip-hop movies, dance jams mimic that style of presentation in many ways. One competitor strides up to the stage, dances or “does some rounds,” according to Ernst, and after retreating watches their opponent respond. Sometimes it’s individual competitions, but if you’re lucky, you might witness a team battle. The judge

observes and decides the winners, moving challengers either up or down the jam bracket.

The jams not only provide an environment for the dancers to physically express themselves, but simultaneously give the engaged audience a place to enjoy and connect with the music and show. The competitions are “energetic” and leave room for everyone to be “involved,” Ernst said. The upbeat energy of the jams is partially because of the music, which, in Ernst’s words, has “a lot of beats” and is “funky.” Much of the music the dancers compete to

has been influenced by the Bronx’s DJ scene, where hip-hop originated in the 1970s.

Between school and dance, both demanding time, Ernst can feel the business and chaos at times. If he’s not at school, he’s either practicing, competing, or teaching younger students. “It just goes by super fast,” he said. But the payoff can’t be ignored. After years of commitments and dedication, performing at the local Xcel Center and Timberwolves basketball games, the team is packing their bags to perform in Taiwan and the White House in Wash-

ington D.C. this summer. The team agreed to dance at various national and international events. Supposedly getting high fives from Timberwolves stars and enjoying a summer vacation at the White House are some of the benefits of being on a competitive dance team.

Ernst enjoys the flexibility and limitlessness the sport offers: he likes “how free you get to be and that you can just express yourself. There’s like no rules to it [...] you can do whatever you want,” he said. To sum up his fifteen years of dance in one word, Ernst would say they’ve been “exciting.”

Madeline Kim waxes poetic about Shakespeare

GRACE MEDRANO THE RUBICON community theater near her home has put on comedies she and her family enjoy viewing, and she was able to see a performance of her favorite show, Macbeth, at the James J. Hill House.

Sophomore Madeline Kim has a love and passion for Shakespearean works. She has collections of his plays in her home, and can easily recite pieces of dialogue from memory—and this passion started back when she was a child.

-Shakespeare,

Kim’s love of Shakespeare began when she was 10 years old, when her mother took her to see a production of Romeo and Juliet at the Guthrie Theater. Kim said, “It was really amazing, and I went home and read all about it. It stuck with me.”

Romeo and Juliet isn’t the only production Kim has had the pleasure of seeing, though. A local

She said that she prefers Shakespeare’s tragedies to his comedies, at least when reading them as books. “His tragedies are more of a comment on life. I feel like a tragedy you could read like a book, and a comedy is much more engaging if you go and watch a performance,” Kim said.

Her love for the playwright has only grown over time. She animatedly described the plot of her favorite play, Macbeth, saying that she “likes the way it plays with morality” and explaining the

interesting nuances of the characters. Kim went on to explain that her dream role would be to play Macbeth himself in a production of the play.

Kim attributes her participation in theater to seeing the performances of Shakespearean actors and wondering what she could do with the material as both a director and actor. She said “I started doing theater because of Shakespeare. And I hope that as I continue doing theater, I could direct one of his plays.”

But even off of the stage, Shakespeare influences Kim’s artistic style. She explained that her English class did a “flash-fiction” exercise, in which students were challenged to write a short story in under 10 min-

utes. Kim said she wrote her’s based on a famous scene from Macbeth. “[Shakespeare is] my favorite author,” she said.

Kim’s love of Shakespeare kickstarted her career in the theater, and it’s that same love that keeps her engaged in the performing arts. She looks forward to seeing how her passion will continue to evolve.

read more of everyone’s stories at the:

online

GEORGIA ROSS THE RUBICON

SUBMITTED

PHOTO: Atari Ernst

BUST A MOVE. Ernst performs a dance routine at a Timberwolves game with his competitive dance team during halftime. Ernst’s years of dance experience have afforded him plenty of opportunities, including going to the White House to perform this summer.

MURDEROUS MACBETH . Madeline Kim shows off her favorite Shakespearan play. She hopes to be able to direct one of his plays some day.

Grace Medrano

“False know.”

“Fair is

Macbeth

EVERYONE HAS A STORY

THERE’S NO RULES TO [HIP-HOP]... YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

Atari Ernst

SHORTS TIME

SPRING SPORTS AND CLUBS BEGIN SEASON PLAY

Lacrosse dynamic? It’s all about leadership

Despite losing a lot of experienced seniors, Spartan Lacrosse has gained many new and enthusiastic players.

Captain Julia Colbert comes into the season with positivity: “My hope is just a super fun season, that a lot of the new players come back,” she said.

The three captains, Ivy Raya, Julia Colbert, and Charlotte Goings handle

their leadership roles well. The trio can be found talking to all of the players at practices, no matter their grade level or their relationship with them outside of lacrosse.

Swing player Franny Wagner joined the team this year, and said the captains “...made sure I was included and were very nice even though I was very bad at lacrosse.”

Wagner plays for both varsity and JV.

Freshman Dia Chaney

joined the team last year as a middle schooler: “It helped that everyone was really nice, but it was a little scary at first,” she said.

Listening in on practice, the focus starts with people: “Go around and say a fun fact about us,” Colbert said.

The coaches also encourage the players to interact with each other often and cheer on their teammates. While the team is dominantly SPA students, it is a co-op with

St. Agnes. “There’s only three St. Agnes girls this year, but they’re all really nice.” Chaney said.

Despite not going to school with the other players, they’re able to connect with them and the coaches and have fun at their practices and matches

The next game is Apr. 25 vs Waconia at 5 p.m. at home.

Ultimate fights for club visibility in athletics

Ultimate Frisbee is one of three club sports in spring, alongside sailing and trap shooting. The group is led by captains Theo Bonin and Henry Hilton. Due to both its uniqueness as a sport and its varying levels of success and popularity, Spartan Ultimate has a complicated history.

The club has been subject to changing coaches, team format, and—to the dismay of many team members—practice time and location, as they often resort to off-campus practices on short notice.

“It’s a mess,” parent and club adviser Karissa Baker said.

Spartan Ultimate began as an entirely male team; a girl’s ultimate team was created due to a high female interest in the sport. However, with

fewer numbers and a gender imbalance, the team transitioned to coed last year and has remained that way this season.

Members feel like they are treated unfairly by the athletics department, considering their popularity and success.

They believe they deserve to be an official sport, to have convenient practice space, equal resources, and for the captains to be pictured on the Team Leaders wall.

The common consensus about these complications is overwhelmingly frustrated, especially for cutter David Kopilenko: “Tell them to make us an official sport,” he said.

Despite the setbacks the team is still one of the most successful spring sports, placing 9th overall in the state last year.

read more clubs coverage at the: RUBICON online

Tennis team preps with state win in mind

LANI NGONETHONG STAFF WRITER

In the too-early-forspring 80-degree heat, Spartan Tennis faced off in a friendly scrimmage against the Wayzata Trojans.

Passionate cheers followed by pumping fists from both sides of the court raised the heat.

But this lighthearted

training is to prepare for something more serious: State Champs.

After winning the State Class A championships last season, expectations are naturally higher for the team compared to previous years.

Captain Leo Benson feels the pressure: “Winning that state title, it kind of puts a target on your back,” he said.

The team is taking

on the challenge of state again this year.

“We’re making our schedule pretty hard [to train for state]. We’re filling it with a bunch of AA teams.” Captain Maik Nguyen said.

Wayzata is one of their new challenges added this season.

Teams like Wayzata in the schedule helps the boys prepare for state mentally and physically.

“Adding these AA schools can help us in moments where we’re under pressure,” Mahmood said.

The pre-season scrimmage marks the start of their season and a journey they hope will end with another state championship.

Their next match is Apr. 25 vs Minnehaha Academy at 4:30 p.m at home.

Softball goals remain constant in new co-op

New team, same dream.

That’s the mindset of the new softball co-op.

After joining a new coop last year, the team had a rocky start. But going into their second season as a co-op things are going much smoother.

Out of the 23 players

on the team, 16 are from SPA, six are from TCA, and one player is from Great River.

Infielder Poppy Ploen agrees that starting a new co-op delayed the teams community: “It took a second for us to warm up to each other because we’d all been playing on teams separately,” she said.

But the co-op has it’s

advantages, “We are significantly stronger than we have been in some of our past years,” Ploen said.

Tamari Christopher is only in eighth grade but has been playing varsity since the beginning of middle school.

She is excited for a fresh start, “...learning new things and meeting a bunch of people,” Chr-

ristopher said.

Despite the issues with late snow and wet fields, the softball team has gotten solid practice time and won their first two games Apr. 10 and 14.

Their next game is Apr. 25 at 4:30 p.m. vs. Minnehaha Academy at home.

NORA SEIFERT STAFF WRITER

GREYSON SALE STAFF WRITER

NORA MCKOY STAFF WRITER

TEAM SPIRIT. Ivy Raya and Kavita Deo (LACROSSE), Dylan Tan Stephenson and Gabriel Bangoura (ULTIMATE), Leo Benson and David Schumacher (TENNIS), Tamari Christopher and Greta Magnuson.

Track and Field teammates motivated to never give up

Spartan Track and Field boasts 50 new members and five captains this year.

The captains, Bridget Keel, Carys Hardy, Becca Richman, Calvin He, and Ray Guo, all share a common interest in running but joined for different reasons.

He transfers his cross country skills to the track: “A lot of people from cross country were

also doing track and field so I was like, ‘Oh okay, why not? It seems fun’,” he said.

Guo, on the other hand, appreciates the athletic aspect. “[I joined track] because it works on your speed and physicality.”

Practice starts with members warming up together, stretching their muscles to avoid injuries.

After warming up, the team splits up into their designated event groups to prepare for meets.

Popular events include sprinting, long-distance, hurdles, and long jump while other events include the high jump, triple jump, and shot put. Athletes learn different techniques for each event and practice in all conditions, rain or shine.

Although it is always a full team, there’s a glowing sense of community.

“We run together, we do all the exercises, and we’re just like together as a group,” He said. “It’s a great feeling to just, be at

your best and have other people competing with you in a friendly manner.”

Head Coach Willie Taylor also emphasizes team community and having fun. He does this by incorporating games such as red light green light into practices to create a more open and fun environment that also includes skills from track and field.

Taylor reminds the team they need to work together: “This is your

track team, not mine,” he said.

Taylor is accompanied by Robb Donnelly, Stacy Tepp, and Eric Salverda.

Teammates encour age and motivate others to continue the sport. “There were moments where I wanted to quit but time and again, someone would grab me and be like, You’re gonna be fine. Just deal with it.” Richman said. “Track is for everyone and it’s about your attitude when it comes down to it.”

Golf team grows, with hopes for more to grab a club

The sun beats down on a group of girls dressed in navy polo shirts all carrying their clubs over their shoulders. Faces full of determination, they prepare to start another day of practice.

Captain Nikola Barkwell is used to having a small team, but this year they encountered a sudden increase in participation.

Still, “Our team is quite close,” she said.

A usual day includes a trip to Highland Golf Course or Element In-

door Golf for practice.

Eloise Leatham’s favorite part?

“We do something new every day; it’s really exciting,” Leatham said.

Team members provide rides to as many team members as possible due to recent buss shortages, but they don’t

let the situation ruin their mood. “We have a lot of fun listening to music and getting to know each other,” Barkwell said.

Team members want to avoid equipment costs being the reason someone can’t join the team, so teammates with extra clubs offer them to newer

Baseball captains bring childhood joy to team

SHEFALI MEAGHER STAFF WRITER

The new spring sun was shining bright on the green field as the Spartan baseball team gathered for their after-school practice.

Captains John Christakos, Griffin Schwab-Mahoney, and Tommy Verhey have gathered their skill and leadership from

their many years of experience. The captains all started with T-ball when they were younger and then moved to baseball. Many of their friends and family members were also into the sport.

“My older brother played, [...] I always wanted to be like him,” Verhey said.

At the heart of the team is their coach, Rob

Thompson, who is a mentor and a source of inspiration to his players.

“[He’s] very into baseball, which makes it a lot of fun, because he knows what he’s talking about which is nice,” Verhey said.

The team has a mix of seasoned players and new talent, but despite the age and skill gap, the team is still an extremely

close group. The majority of the team this year is made up of freshmen, but ninth grader James Welsh said: “Everyone is getting the same opportunities.”

Still, there’s always one constant in the sport: failure.

“Baseball is a sport in which the players are going to fail a lot […] baseball taught me at an ear-

members to borrow. “A lot of people don’t have clubs, [...] they are also expensive, so providing for that would be some thing we can improve,” Leatham said.

25 at 4 p.m. against Blake.

ly age, how to overcome [failure],” Christakos said. son is about more than just the score. It’s about the bonds they form, the lessons they learn, and the challenges they con quer.

The next varsity game is Apr. 29 at 10 a.m. against Saint Thomas Academy at their field.

Inclusivity on the green is the ultimate play for golf

Boys golf welcomes players with open arms and fosters a supportive community.

Colton Werner appreciates the diversity of skill.

High school can be a challenging time for many students, but for those who are passionate about sports, joining a team can make a world of difference.

The athletes on the team come from diverse backgrounds and skill levels but are united in their commitment to improving their game.

Assistant Coach

“It’s been great to see people who have never golfed before start from the bottom and build their skill,” Werner said.

Peltier feels the team’s commitment to inclusivity and welcoming new players has contributed

to this growth. “We treat the entire group of boys golfers as one program regardless of skill level. Everyone has equal opportunities to practice and get better from our great coaches,” he said.

Ollie Bisanz’s favorite part of Golf is the community: “The team, the

Blackhawks lacrosse co-op connects off the field

Ten players on the field and only a helmet and gloves protect them from the hard piece of rubber soaring off a netted stick. While the sport of lacrosse has greatly

changed from its origins in North American indigenous communities as “stick ball,” the foundation of the game remains: community.

Blackhawks Lacrosse is a co-op with St. Agnes, Nova Classical Academy, and South Saint Paul. But

despite being from differing schools, the players are far from separated.

Josh Holloway has been on the team since freshman year but sees the Blackhawks as more than a team: “I love our team, we’re very connected as a family, and our

coaches are also great,” Holloway said.

Captain Joey Stolpestad is excited for the new season to come.

“I have a good relationship with my teammates [...] it should be fun,” Stolpestad said.

lis South High School.

CARYS HSIUNG STAFF WRITER

AMANDA HSU STAFF WRITER

JUAN MIGUEL ADAMS STAFF WRITER

ANDREW LIPINSKY STAFF WRITER

PERFECT FORM. Maren Overgaard (TRACK), Nikola Barkwell (GOLF), Cutler Crook (BASEBALL), George Peltier (GOLF), Joey Stolpestad (LACROSSE).

All photos taken by the story writer except boys golf, which is a SUBMITTED PHOTO: Ethan Peltier

Floral Creativities

A WALK THROUGH ON CREATING A PAPER BOUQUET

ANNIE ZHANG THE RUBICON

Giving flowers can express love, compassion, and displays a sense of thoughtfulness. However, flowers generally don’t last long and can only keep for 2 weeks at most. This DIY is not only simple, but also makes use of recycled newspapers and other materials that are laying around.

To get started, you will need 1-2 newspapers, skewers or wooden dowels, hot glue and a bit of tape, scissors, and an optional strand of ribbon. This DIY will include 2 different types of flowers of varying difficulty levels: 2 versions of a rose, and lavender.

A TRUE ROSE

The second variation of a rose is more challenging than the first. To set this flower up, cut 6 squares out of the newspaper. Repeat with the 5 other pieces of paper until there are a total of 6 squares.

Next, fold corner to corner twice; the end goal should be a triangle. Proceed by outlining a teardrop shape on 2 of the triangles and a clover shape on the remaining 4 and cut. Be sure to cut the tips off to ensure that the skewer will be able to go through them later on. Unfold the triangles and 4 identical shapes on each piece of paper will be revealed. Those are the petals. If a natural split between petals did not form between each petal, cut them by cutting towards the center. Then, take a skewer and curl the petals inwards until every single petal is curly.

Finally, take the teardrop petals and roll them to form a circle and layer each side on top of the previous. Once the first teardrop petal is used, run a skewer through and thread the second teardrop

THE SPIRAL ROSE

Beginning with the most simple flower out of the bunch, the spiral rose. Cut out a square in the newspaper depending on how big you’d

below it. Continue rolling and layering all the petals until it appears like the center of a flower. Then, take two of the clover shaped petals and glue them on top of each other, with the skewer running through them guaranteeing that they will be aligned. Take the final clover shaped petal, flip it upside down, and begin securing it onto the center of the flower to create a seamless look once the entire flower is assembled. Once everything is glued together and dried, dab a small amount of hot glue on the center of the flower and press it down on the base of the petals from before. Press the skewer through the flower to act as a stem.

To create the bouquet, arrange the flowers in any way and wrap with any remaining newspaper. The result is a bouquet of flowers that will last forever, making the love of the giver eternal.

FAUXBLOOM SCULPTURE GARDEN

Tait brings artistic talent outside

CLARA ANN BAGNOLI THE RUBICON

Take me out to the ball game, and look at Wyatt Tait’s art.

like your flower to be. Then, shape the square into a circle by rounding the corners. Note that the circle does not have to be perfect and that this flower is quite forgiving. Then, cut the circle into a spiral, gradually cutting inward until reaching the middle; leave the middle to be the base of

the flower. After cutting the spiral, roll up your spiral, working outside to inside, and then secure the roll on the base with a dot of hot glue. Lastly, take a skewer and poke it through the center of the flower, as well as the base, and secure it with a bit of hot glue.

THE LAVENDER

The second flower in the bouquet is the lavender. To begin, cut a long, rectangular piece of newspaper and fold it in half both ways. If it is not symmetrical, trim the outsides until it aligns. Then, cut slits on the folded side, making sure that the cuts never fully go through. Once finished with the cuts, unfold the paper and fold the other way. Secure the paper down with minimal tape, as tape ensures that the paper will remain relatively flexible in preparation for the next step. Next, begin wrapping the strand down a skewer at an angle, sealing it with hot glue as the strand is wrapped further down. Finally, secure the end of the paper with hot glue.

Watch a step by step guide on how to make each of the flowers using this QR code.

The FauxBloom Sculpture Garden is an ongoing event part of the Saint’s art program, which is committed to displaying local artists in their community spaces. The installation occurs at the Saint’s stadium in Downtown St. Paul and is coordinated by the Saint’s art curator Rachel Wacker.

FauxBloom23 is the fourth year of the event, which is a call to local artists to design and create a sculpture with one constraint: the base is already constructed.

Local sculptor Patrick Price created the base, which is comprised of four intersecting pieces of plywood, “[the shape] definitely changed the way I thought about how I wanted to do my design,” Tait said.

Tait has worked with multiple mediums of artwork, but the contest allowed him to work beyond familiarity, “I haven’t done much sculpture, mostly 2D [art],” Tait said.

First, Tait sourced reference images from the internet to include in his design, using these designs he created a stencil and brought it to life using the laser cutter in the design lab. The stencils were then layered onto the four individual boards and spray painted corresponding colors, creating a cohesive multi-colored work when finally pieced together.

The design includes a background pattern of multi-

ple people walking, and stenciled on top of them in the foreground are silhouettes of a single person.

Tait layered primary colors onto the background pattern then layering secondary colors to the silhouette in the foreground. The use of color in the sculpture reflects the learning he does in the Advanced Art seminar with Ms. LG, “we are learning about how to use complimentary colors as well as harmony colors,” Art Teacher Ms. LG said.

To visit Tait’s work and the other installations, visit CHS stadium’s entrance between April 4th and May 7th.

CREATIVE MINDS. The middle sculpture, made by Wyatt Tait, is about spring and community. The other sculptures are made by local sculpture artists.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: McKinley Garner

EIC Maddy Fish(er) reviews (The Magic) Fish

MADDY FISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Book Club’s next book, “The Magic Fish” by Trung Le Nguyen, is a stunning coming-of-age graphic novel centered around a Vietnamese family living in America. The story is told in three interconnected narratives: past, present, and fairy tale, denoted by different colors.

In the present, thirteen-year-old Tiến Phong connects with his mother through fairy tales, which he reads to her in an effort to help her practice her English. Tien, though close with his parents, struggles to find a way to come out to them while also navigating a crush on his best friend. Simultaneously, Tiến’s mother, Hi n, embarks

on a separate yet connected journey, reckoning with the realities of her immigration to America as she tries to save the money required to visit her ailing mother in Vietnam.

The imagery in “The Magic Fish” is stunning. Nguyen’s skill as an artist is undeniable; his bold line-work and visually dense illustrations bring the story to life. The use of a singular color to differentiate between time periods and realties is also notable; its simplicity negates the confusion of juggling different narrative arcs and allows readers to focus on the stories and the parallels between them.

Nguyen’s storytelling ability is likewise brilliant. His framing of the narrative with fairy tales manages to be refreshing despite the often op -

pressive prevalence of such stories. Perhaps most unique is the sheer simplicity of the writing. Though stylistically uncomplicated and easy to read, “The Magic Fish” is still a narrative of powerful complexity; Nguyen cleverly allows space for readers to draw their own conclusions, lending the novel a very tangible and genuine feeling, even with its elements of fantasy.

“The Magic Fish” is an excellent and heartfelt meditation on family, identity, language, and connection. This novel is well worth the read.

Book Club will hold their final discussion the week of May 1.

RATING: 5/5

Switzer and Karmaliani find family through theater

Young newspaper sellers on the streets of New York City unite against powerful publishers to protest unfair conditions and fight for what’s right. From Apr. 14 - May 14, the Stages Theatre Company will be performing Disney’s Newsies JR. The play is a 70-minute version of the 2012 Broadway musical and is inspired by the real-life Newsies Strike of 1899.

Sophomore Cerena Karmaliani plays Weisel, also known as “Weasel”, who is an evil character that is conflicted about their role throughout the story. Since her first solo role in second grade, she has been in various school shows, and is performing with Stages Theatre company for the second time. For initial auditions, she learned a dance and prepared a two-minute song. During the call back, she was presented with a script and had to perform multiple songs, scenes, and dances on the spot.

The 27 cast members range from ages 10 to 18. “At the beginning of anything it can be a bit awkward, but as you, near the show, the peo -

ple in the cast become your family. It is honestly a really great opportunity to build that sense of community with such a diverse group of people.” Karmaliani said. As part of their pre-show routine, the cast gathers in the makeup room singing songs from the show and eating snacks. “So far my favorite experience has to have been this past Saturday when we had to evacuate the building due to a false alarm gas leak. We all stood outside and sang to people passing by and it was just an overall memorable experience” she said.

Junior Savannah Switzer plays Pulitzer’s bookkeeper Bunsen, as well as Ethel, who is part of the Bowery Brigade, and is even featured as a scab in part of the show. Newsies will be her eighth show with the Stages Theatre Company but she has participated in shows even since she was eleven. “Ever since I can I remember I love to perform. This started out putting on shows for my parents with my sisters. My parents started to sign me up for acting camps and after doing Stages Next Stage theatre camp I auditioned for a show the next year and got in. And I have

been at it ever since.” Switzer said. Her favorite thing about the cast is the family-like dynamic they have. As a team, everyone looks out for each other and makes sure that no one is left behind. “I remember on a specific time when we had so many people out that I had to go on stage to do a scene with two puppets that I was never originally in. The support that everyone in the cast gave each other and how we persevered is why this is one of my favorite memories” she said.

For the first few weeks, rehearsals lasted around two hours everyday but the cast was only called when needed. As they near the opening of the show, the full cast is called every day for two hours, three hours, and eventually three and half hours during tech week which takes place one week before the first show. The Saturday before opening, the entire cast is called for an eight-hour tech rehearsal. On the Thursday of tech week, they host a preview of the show for friends and family and officially open on Friday.

Go see Newsies between April 14th and may 14th at Hopkins cen-

Como Park flower conservatory: cute and calm

Tulips, hydrangea, and pansies: the Como Park Conservatory’s Spring Flower Show provides an opportunity to see spring in

full bloom. Located in the Sunken Garden, which is one of the many gardens in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, the exhibit displays topiaries along with thousands of other spring flowers. The Conservatory was designed and built in 1915, and serves as a shelter for the park’s plants as well, as a yearround show house.

Although the exhibit

itself is quite small visitors have access to a huge variety of plants to observe. As each year and season sets a certain color scheme for the plants, this year’s Spring Flower Show features chartreuse green, purple, pink, and yellow flowers. The glass ceiling allows for beautiful lighting on sunny days, so bringing a camera along to try out photography would not be a bad idea. Overall, the peace

FLUORESCENT FLOWERS.

Continue reading about Claire’s flowers at::

RUBICON online

ANNIE

FAIR USE: ‎Random House Graphic

A MAGICAL READ. The Magic Fish uses color to differentiate between time and reality.

ILLUSTRATION: Annika Kim

FOLDED FLOWERS. Follow these steps to create your own magical bouquet.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS: Savannah Switzer

POWERFUL CAST. The Newsies cast of 27 ranges from ages of 10 to 18, all of which are spectacular actors.

SHOW-STOPPING STAGE. The show Newsies, based off Disney show Newsies, brings together children and adults.

tory is has a vast variety of flowers. One of many exhibits that Como Park has to offer.

CLAIRE KIM THE RUBICON

RIGHT ON TRACK. Weber has always been a part of SPA athletics. During his time on staff, Weber would handle jobs like lining the fields with chalk. He also enjoys attending the games.

JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES. Weber poses with the other bus drivers on their way to Camp Widjiwagan. During his time at SPA, Weber has taken on a multitude of different roles.

IBID ARCHIVES: 1996

Warren Weber retires after 40 years

of them that still talk to me and recognize me.”

Maintenance Technician Warren Weber began working parttime at SPA in the fall of 1983. “It’s like a home to me,” Weber said.

Before coming to SPA, Weber worked as a molder and core maker at American Hoist and Derrick, a crane manufacturing plant where he started as a laborer and eventually moved into higher positions. At the time, Weber’s sister and brother-in-law were both working at SPA, his sister in the kitchen and his brother-in-law leading the maintenance department. He took advantage of the connections and landed a position on the maintenance staff. His job initially involved snow removal and cleaning out the closets at the LS.

Over the years, Weber has noticed the changes as students transition from the Goodrich to the Randolph campus: “It’s funny how when you go down to the Lower School and the kids say hi to you all the time, but when they go into the Upper School they kind of go off on their own,” Weber explained, cracking a smile. “But there’s some

Externally the buildings have changed significantly since Weber started working at SPA; the main auditorium, which used to be in the MS building, is now located in the Huss Center, and the middle school was deconstructed and rebuilt, just to name a couple of the ways the campus has shifted. But less has changed internally. The people have remained “really nice to [him] and friendly. That has not changed at all,” Weber said.

Aside from maintenance, Weber made his way into the student sports scene as well, often dragging chalk to line the soccer, baseball, softball, and other fields. For a while, some student athletes were eager to assist Weber in his pregame tasks. They began to work together: “You know, I’d tell them to go around and do stuff, and they’d do it,” he said. Weber would often stick around after work to enjoy the sports games after seeing the kids work hard in practice. Sometimes, his father would accompany him.

Sometime during the ‘90s, “There was one game up north, [...] we had a football game up there,” Weber said. It was a cold day and the snow and rain pelted down on the football field, the players hassled to push through. With a shy laugh Weber admitted, “[he’d] sat in the bus.”

Through setting up, adjusting, and tearing down the arrangements and stands of theater and other jazz, choir, and orchestra concerts, Weber has also worked in cooperation with the music department and really enjoys watching the concerts.

In his early years, a memorable

Warren Weber

friendship with choir director Olive Jean Bailey developed. Working alongside him, Bailey noticed the struggle Weber had with reading. Wanting to help, Bailey took it upon herself to speak with the headmaster, who granted Weber access to the evening reading classes that used to be available at SPA.

Weber thinks watching the students grow is the best part of his job. Referring to the music program, he said, “I watch you guys practice. By the day of the concert, it’s just like everything has changed.”

Weber hopes to stay connected to the SPA community in his retirement.

NEWSWORTHY. Weber attended reading and writing classes while at SPA. This article, from the November issue of the 1989 Rubicon, tells his story.

GEORGIA ROSS THE RUBICON

[THE PEOPLE AT SPA] ARE REALLY NICE AND FRIENDLY TO ME. THAT HASN’T CHANGED AT ALL.”

SNOWED UNDER. These images were featured in the 1996 yearbook, which was dedicated to Weber and his fellow maintenance staff due to their work in a year of record snowfall.

SUBMITTED

PHOTO: Warren Weber

SUBMITTED

PHOTO: Warren Weber