October 2012

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St. Paul Academy & Summit School

1712 Randolph Ave. St. Paul, MN

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

October

Bookfest News

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Parent Association plans Stories through Song

Jim Walsh talks books and music Feature

GEt ORGANIZED

Around Town

Local Haunts

Are you scared yet?

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Students for Social Justice and Gay Straight Alliance host Vote No Speakers

Student Activities Committee wants your input for the Halloween Dance News 4

Upper School Council takes action to reduce student stress

Peer Helpers focus on student mind-body wellness

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Special Section

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Food & Nutrition

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St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

Pressed for space: Dance, Fencing teams to practice at St. Kate’s Nina Zietlow

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Photo Credit: Thomas Toghramadjian Sophomore Abdul Osman returns a volleyball shot in the newly opened gym during 6th period. “So far, our proudest accomplishment has been ensuring that the gym is open for students to use every day, senior Upper School Council President Hagop Toghramadjian said. By creating open gym time after lunch, USC hopes to reduce stress in the Upper School.

A new mission for Upper School Council Fighting stress by opening the gym and study spaces

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Last year since finals we’ve seen a lot of stress and so we’re brainstorming ideas to reduce stress during those times. senior Ellen Swenson Photo Credit: Aditi Kulkarni Senior Ben Oppenheimer works in the library classroom, which USC has helped to open as a quiet study space. “It’s nice to have another place to study,” Oppenheimer said.

Gita Raman

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Staff Writer

Need to let off some steam?

The Upper School Council is working on reducing stress in the Upper School. USC has scheduled the opinion board, has created open gym time after lunch and is working on a student tutors program. On Oct. 12, senior President Hagop Toghramadjian announced that the gym will be open for student use during 4th and 6th periods, as well as some Wednesday X-periods. “So far, our proudest accomplishment has been ensuring that the gym is open for students to use every day,” he said.

The gym project has been in progress since last spring, finally coming to fruition after faculty members agreed to supervise the gym during lunch periods. “We

worked really hard to solve a lot of liability issues,” senior Treasurer Ellen Swenson said.

Student tutors is another USC project underway. To meet the goal of reducing stress in the Upper School, USC formatted an optional program for students to help struggling students in the grades below them. “It’s really important [for] SPA which is oftentimes a very stressful environment to provide a system of support for students to learn how to deal with that stress,” Swenson said.

Together with student groups, USC worked out a schedule for them to put formal posts on the opinion board in week-long segments. Over the course of the year, each Thursday group will have the chance to present issues they have been discussing, around dates significant to them. For example, People for Environmental Protec-

tion will post during the week of Earth Day. The group posts will only take up a segment of the board. Other groups and individuals are still encouraged to post their own opinions during those times.

USC is also busy planning this year’s speaker day, with the theme “Bridging Barriers and Overcoming Obstacles.” This year, the event will span the entire school day, as students listen to speakers who have overcome significant adversity during their lives, or have helped others succeed in difficult circumstances.

Through collaboration with US Librarian Kate Brooks, USC has successfully converted the library classroom to a quiet study area.

The room is now available all day for students who want to focus on their work during free periods, except for times when student and faculty groups meet in the space.

“It’s nice to have another place to study,” senior Ben Oppenheimer said.

Stress reduction will not be limited to just tutoring programs and study sessions. Expect USC to find more creative ways of helping the Upper School relax. “Last year since finals we’ve seen a lot of stress and so we’re brainstorming ideas to reduce stress during those times. A lot of colleges have a day where they bring in puppies during finals week, for example. We won’t quite do that, but we really want to take peoples’ minds off of stressful things,” Swenson said. Maybe puppies won’t make an appearance during midterms, but rest assured, USC will find a way make exam season a little brighter.

There will be open gym everyday during the week from 11:3012:45 p.m. Clean athletic, nonmarking shoes are required. No exceptions. There will also be open gym Wednesdays during X-period except Oct 24, Nov 7, 14, 28, and Dec 12.

Staff Writer

As fall turns suddenly to winter St. Paul Academy and Summit School seems to be struck with a lack of space. The basketball, fencing, and dance teams are all competing for space in SPA’s new gym.

This year the administration is trying something new, moving many teams out of the SPA practice space and into the St. Kate Gymnasium.

“We have a very good relationship with St. Kate’s,” Assistant Athletic Director Mike Brown said. Not only is the facility close enough to walk to from school, but the hard floor is perfect for the fencing team and there is a proper studio for the dance team to practice.

As of now only the Fencing and Dance teams will use the space, but if all goes well some of the basketball teams will join them in January.

Freshman Milo Wittenberg has been on the Fencing team for a year, and is excited about the new practice situation. “I think that this is totally fair, because the venue is a really nice space and it’s really good for what we are going to be doing,“ he said.

Before this year, fencing practiced partially in Bigelow and sometimes in the small gym. Neither of these venues was ideal.

They had to start practicing at St. Kate when there started to be too many competitions between teams for gym time.

Dance team had a similar problem last year. Due to the lack of gym space, their entire schedule revolved around the basketball practices and games. Because of this the dance team’s schedule was crazy; the practices were at different times each day and on different days each week.

When basketball games went overtime, dance was stuck without a place to practice and sometimes resorted to using the hallways. It was too stressful for the members of the team to juggle the complicated schedule with excessive homework, and the team ended up breaking apart before the end of the season.

“St. Kate’s will be nice because we won’t have to plan our practices around other team’s schedules and well can have a better structured practice area,” Senior Claire Samuelson said. The team anticipates a simpler schedule and new coaches for this season.

Both the fencing and dance teams look forward to the new venue and new team members in this coming year. With the new practice arrangements, they can safely expect a less hectic season.

News St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

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Odyssey group will not travel in fall

However, hopes for a winter or spring experience remain Netta Kaplan

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Photos submitted by John Wensman Above: Senior Nick Zelle stands on a clifftop in the Utah canyonlands.

Left: Senior Peter Driscoll and junior Kaia Findlay confer during a hike.

Staff Writer

The fall Odyssey trip, a school tradition for 35 years, has been canceled for the 2012-2013 school year. Due to students’ busier schedules, not enough people signed up to merit the trip.

“Our students are stretched thinner and thinner, and being out of class for a week feels difficult for some students,” US English teacher and trip leader John Wensman said. “So, we have had less demand for the trips than ten years ago.”

However, there is a lot of interest in a winter Odyssey trip.

Winter trips used to be run almost every year, but not for the past four years. “I’ve got four or five students strongly interested, so I’m hoping we get a winter and a spring,” Wensman said. While the spring and fall Odyssey trips consist of backpacking in Southern Utah, the winter Odyssey entails skiing and snowshoeing in Northern Minnesota.

Junior Michael Wilkens, who

signed up for the fall Odyssey, speculated about the lack of interest: “[it is a] bad time with school to go on the trip,” he said, but Wilkens is still committed to go on the trip this year. “Winter Odyssey will be so much better.”

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Our students are stretched thinner and thinner, and being out of class for a week feels difficult for some students.

US English Teacher John Wensman

Odyssey trips consist of three parts: the expedition with instructors, the solo (two days and nights for which each student is alone), and the final expedition without instructors. Students learn to work together as a group, self-sufficien-

cy, leadership skills, and of course wilderness skills such as recognizing and assessing weather, travel conditions, and potential risks, and first aid.

The solo is considered to be the most memorable part of the trip. “I felt as if I was alone, but it wasn’t like I was completely alone in a big canyon. It was like we were all kind of doing a solo thing together,” said senior William Brower. The solo is a time to learn and think about contemplation, isolation, and self-sufficiency.

To gain experience, students go through a nine-week training course for instruction in the use, packing, and purchase of equipment and food, physical conditioning, first aid skills, group dynamics and personal goals. The group spends a preparatory “shakedown” overnight trip at Afton State Park before departing for the trip.

The spring Odyssey trip will take place Mar. 22-30, and sign-ups are open now for both the winter and spring trips. For more information, contact Wensman or US English teacher Haseena Hamzawala.

Book Fest celebrates stories through song Library and Summit Center to be transformed into spaces for books

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The SPA M/US Book Fest is committed to raising community awareness of reading, promoting reading, and educating about the processes related to writing.

Parent chair of Book Fest committee Peggy Hansen

Photo Credit: Boraan Abdulkarim The Summit Center will be transformed for Book Fest, Nov. 5-9. This space, which is often used for socializing and studying will be set up for book purchases and author signings, as well as a place to pick up snacks and discuss books.

Boraan Abdulkarim

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Staff Writer

As warm summer days at home turn into crisp fall weeks at school, the leaves cascading to the ground serve as a reminder of fall events from years past, when the streets were filled with the same earthy hues. Those who have been to the middle school remember going to English class, and, delightedly, being led to the Summit Center or Library Classroom to check out the

Book Fest. The St. Paul Academy and Summit School Book Fest is a great opportunity to pick up a few titles, or even buy a book or two.

“I usually find, like, five books that I want to read,” freshman Sabrina Brown said.

Students browsing the Book Fest every year are welcomed by an array of titles fitted to their interests. This event, however, does not organize itself. Preparation for this event begins up to two years in advance, with the choosing of a guest speaker, book brainstorms eight

months before the actual occasion, and consequently, the theme of each year’s Book Fest. This year’s theme is “Stories Through Song.”

“We’ve really done good work there, because we used to just invite a local writer you might not have heard of, and we used to have some issues in the past of some people not really being good fits for the student body,” US English teacher Randall Findlay, a representative on the Book Fest committee, said. More authors are then invited to sign books for the remainder of

the week.

The list of books is put together by the committee in collaboration with Common Good Books, and occasional student suggestions. “We put a ton of work into making really interesting book selections for people to look at and buy if they want to, and I always feel like that part of the Bookfest goes under-recognized, in terms of what you find, and how it is different from a regular bookstore,” Findlay said. “We really try to tailor it to what people might be interested in.”

The event is organized by parents and teachers, but relies on parent volunteers. “Book Fest is fortunate to have many devoted members,” parent chair of the Book Fest committee Peggy Hansen said.

The committee hopes for student feedback. “I am interested in

what it is that the students want from the Bookfest, because we do this thing every year, and we don’t really hear what the students have to say about it,” Findlay said.

Freshman Liza Bukingolts’ favorite part of past book festivals was “the snacks, and how they made it feel special, and fun.”

In contrast, freshman Miriam Tibbetts said that she enjoyed “seeing the posters that people make for the Book Fest.”

“The SPA M/US Book Fest is committed to raising community awareness of reading, promoting reading, and educating about the processes related to writing, with proceeds used to support speakers and writing workshops for SPA students,” Hansen said.

“The goal is to celebrate reading, and literacy, and literature in all of its forms for a week. It’s not to fundraise, it’s not to sell books, it’s not any of those things. It’s to celebrate books in life,” Findlay said.

The Book Fest isn’t just about the new books. Parent Anette Swanson runs the used book sale, and books may be donated to bins in the Davern entrance and the gym entrance from October 22nd to September second.

Book prices range from seven to 35 dollars, with the choice of cash or a simple charge to an SPA account. Free gift-wrapping is provided. The Book Fest will be ongoing during the week of Nov. 5-12, in the Summit Center and Library Classroom as it is every year.

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St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II. Student Activities Committee hopes its online presence will encourage more student feedback and participation for events like the Halloween dance. “We feel as though that in the past not enough effort has been put into listening to students in terms of what they like,” SAC co-president Max Lowenthal said.

Image from Facebook; Page design Student Activities Committee

High hopes for Halloween Dance Dhara Singh

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Staff Writer

The Halloween dance is only three weeks after Homecoming, and the Student Activities Committee has been working hard to plan the best dance they can in such a short time. In previous years the dances were over a month apart, so this year’s schedule is much more hectic.

To encourage students to attend both dances, SAC will keep things that have been successful in previous years, such as the haunted hallway and the costume contest.

They were also debating the time of the dance but decided to stick the original time of 8-11 PM, after polling students via Facebook.

The group is working to find

out what the students want, and plan to work to make suggestions happen: “We feel that in the past not enough effort has been put into listening to students in terms of what they like, so this year we will be putting extra special attention to increasing dance attendance to the highest it can possibly be,” SAC co-president Max Lowenthal said.

To achieve this, most big decisions are made with the help of all the students, not just SAC members. There were some complaints about the homecoming dance, so they are trying to correct those for the Halloween dance.

Many students were not happy with the music at the homecoming dance, so SAC has been working hard to find ways to get more student input and find music that the

majority of dance-goers will enjoy.

“I like different kinds of music, not the type that they played,” sophomore Nancy Moyers said.

SAC members have been posting on Facebook, in the senior lounge and around school asking for suggestions. Students have a wide range of musical interests, so it is hard to plan a dance filled with music that everyone enjoys, but they are trying nonetheless.

SAC is also working on adjusting the way the DJ changes the music after student complaints.

By asking students opinion and valuing it this year more than in previous years SAC hopes to make Halloween one of the best dances ever.

Al Qaeda suspect in Libya attacks

Map from Google Maps The violence in Libya has some questioning U.S. aid to foreign governments. US History teacher Molly Ward said that, “it should depend on the countries and their financial needs and how they have used past aid.”

Kieran McDonald

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Anti-American violence still spreads throughout the Arab world, while the United Nations and NATO investigate a possible Al Qaeda connection to the killing of the late American Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens.

This summer, in Los Angeles, California, a crude video portraying Muhammad, the holy prophet of Islam, as a womanizer, pedophile and senseless murderer was produced and released on the internet. In the early days of Sept. this video gained notoriety and anti-

American riots spread throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Protesters have been clashing with police, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails and torching cars.

In supposed retaliation to the video, on September 11, 2012 Islamist militants armed with antiaircraft weapons and rocketpropelled grenades assaulted the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, defended by only a small security detail, killing the Ambassador and three members of his staff while raising questions about the radicalization of countries swept up in the Arab Spring.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated a connection to the North African branch of the terrorist cell Al Qaeda, which was responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center eleven years ago, describing the assassination as a “hijacked” protest. Currently American counterterrorism units are investigating what has been described as a “likely” connection with Al Qaeda. “It is self evident that what happened in Libya was a terrorist attack,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said on Sept. 21.

President Obama has not yet acknowledged the possible terrorist nature of the attack, drawing accusations of a cover-up from some conservative pundits and politi-

cians. One such critic is former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich: “It is clear the Obama team decided to have the vice president lie about an event that killed four Americans, including an ambassador,” he tweeted during the Oct. 11 Vice Presidential debate.

Presently, officials question whether protesting countries receiving U.S. aid should be cut off.

Many of these countries are still recovering socially and economically. The U.S. has donated billions of dollars to spur these economies into motion.

In light of anti-American riots in Arab nations, some question whether the America should continue to give aid to countries where riots have taken place. US History teacher, Mollie Ward, believes that it “should depend on the countries and their financial needs and how they have used past aid.”

Freshman George Stiffman thinks “we should make clear that the money were sending out is not related to the video and that the video was not U.S. government sponsored,” he said.

Ward is skeptical about the Al Qaeda link. “The date may not be a coincidence, but Americans tend to call all Arab activity Al Qaeda,” she said.

NewsBrief Seniors travel back to kindergarten for pumpkin carving tradition A kindergartner will sit on newspaper, a small pumpkin cradled in his hand, surrounded by his peers, waiting for the “big kids” to arrive. On Wednesday, Oct. 24, seniors will have the opportunity to decorate pumpkins at the Lower School and serve as mentors for the kindergartners.

Interested seniors signed up outside the deanery and will carpool during X-period to decorate pumpkins. “Many kindergartners will already have an idea, a face, in mind,” Dean of Students Judy Cummins said.

K and 12 Pumpkin Carving is an annual tradition. “I do it for the children,” senior Sid Dicke said. “I want to leave a good impression on the younger generation of SPA students.”

Community Action drive makes 50 blankets for charity The Community Action student group recently organized a fleece blanket-making drive. 14 advisories each made a blanket, and a blanketmaking party culminated the drive on Oct. 14. “It was a fun way to show our gratitude towards people that are in need of blankets and comfort,” freshman Ora Hammel said. The blankets were made by cutting small inch-wide slits all around two layers of fleece and tying them together. A total of 50 blankets were tied. The blankets will be distributed to charities, including: Gillette Children’s Hospital, People Serving People, Salvation Army, and Avenues for Youth.

Drought impacts apple production and may limit profits, choices This year, thousands of Minnesotan farmers will go without profit.

The long -standing drought has stressed millions of trees to the point of not producing. Some trees have produced merely a dozen apples, while others have hibernated months early. This does not mean Minnesotans will not have apples; it just means that prices will jump by up to 75%. Favorite variants like the Honeycrisp and the Red Delicious will be imported from over ten thousand miles away from New Zealand. It is unclear how this will affect fruit offerings at lunch, but the Taher staff works hard to use supplies from locally grown vendors, when possible. “We plan the menu based on a specific budget. If apple prices go up, we won’t be seeing very many of them,” Chef Simon Barrow said.

Affirmative Action under fire: case reaches Supreme Court On Oct. 3, the Supreme Court began revisiting the concept of Affirmative Action, which is the idea that public institutions should make a conscious effort to select a diverse group from a pool of applicants.

Abigail Fisher, a white high school graduate, claims she was denied automatic acceptance to the University of Texas after an evaluation considering race. “A good start to stopping discrimination would be getting rid of the boxes on applications--male, female, race, whatever--those don’t tell the admissions people what type of student you are or how involved you are,” Fisher said. “All they do is put you into a box. Get rid of the box.”

University of Texas asserts that Fisher would not have been accepted, regardless of Affirmative Action. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy likely will cast the deciding vote, and seems to be leaning toward the abolition of the policy. In 2003, the University of Texas at Austin began including race as a factor in the admissions process to assist in preventing discrimination and increasing student diversity.

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Editor-in-Chief Aditi Kulkarni

Managing Editor Online Editor-in-Chief Ibad Jafri Chief Visual Editor Nick Scott News Editor Tommy Toghramadjian Op/Ed Editor Andy Monserud Sports Editor Hannah Johnson Cover Story Editor Lucy Li Feature Editor Noah Shavit-Lonstein A&E Editor Ellie Fuelling Around Town Editor Liz Rossman Food Editor August King Illustrator & Staff Writer Ava Gallagher Columnists Saif Ahmed Nick Cohen Adviser Kathryn Campbell

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the student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105 Memberships Minnesota High School Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2012 Awards JEM All-State Gold MHSPA Best of Show NSPA All American 4 Marks of Distinction

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

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Staff Editorial

Diversity of opinion undervalued

If you are a St. Paul Academy and Summit School student who follows politics - as many of us do religiously - you are likely to have strong opinions. In polarized times such as these, that’s only natural.

In fact, it’s necessary. It is essential that we care about our politics.

But the bulk of SPA students are politically sheltered. At school, we are surrounded by people who tend to agree with us. Very few come into contact with differing ideologies to the point that we need to learn the art of compromise. As a result, certain political ideologies have come to permeate every aspect of our lives, and students often tend to become emotional when discussing their views.

They laugh, roar, and weep. They can be reactive where they should be responsive. Instead, we should - we must - acknowledge the fact that it is not an inconvenience to listen to views directly opposite ours.

Most of all, we should recognize that our views are not the only ones that matter, regardless of whether or not the vast majority of our peers side with us. Consensus is not always correct. We must work not simply as individuals, but as a community, to create an environment in which people can speak their views openly without fear of being ostracized by those who may disagree. Whether it be through student groups, student government, or community participation, each of us is obligated

Illustration Credit: Ava Gallagher

It’s important to respect alternative views in both our words and our actions. to assist in the creation of an environment wealthy with discourse.

We are not obligated to limit that discourse to opinions that do not conflict with ours.

In hosting both liberal and conservative speakers prior to the election, the administration has presented its students with a chance to analyze and comprehend the views of those who disagree with them. Now is as good a time as

any to disagree without being disagreeable. In this polarized era we do not need to follow the lead of so many figures of the generation preceding us and label our opposition as ignorant, incompetent, or even evil. The school has taken its step. It is time we take ours.

Wherever we may stand, left or right, Democrat or Republican, we can’t forget that the other side exists, and that their views are as

legitimate as ours. Each and every one of us has some strong opinions, and each and every one is aware that there are individuals with opinions diametrically opposed to them. That doesn’t make those individuals evil, stupid or ignorant. It’s easy to demonize those who disagree with us. But that which is easy and that which is right are not always the same.

Opinion Skydiver faces fear to land a spot in history Austrian Felix Baumgartner is believed to have broken the sound barrier during the world’s highest-ever skydive. Baumgartner’s praise-garnering feat is a triumph for dreamers everywhere. He was initially unable to conduct the feat because of his fears, which he worked through with a psychologist. Winds postponed the leap three times. The video was even broadcast with a delay because of the very real chance of death during the leap. Still, he continued and managed to break the sound barrier. Baumgartner has shown us that, with a little help from science and our friends (and, in this case, from corporate sponsors), anything is possible.

This also comes at a time when the future of outer-space endeavors is endangered by funding cuts.

Baumgartner’s feat was accomplished with the aid of a sponsorship from Red Bull, which begs a bigger question: Should we be glad corporations are willing to take these great leaps, or concerned that nobody else was willing to make the dream come true?

Anchor stands Injured activist Wolf hunting up to bullying sparks outrage jumps the gun Wisconsin news anchor Jennifer Livingston planned to ignore the e-mail from occasional viewer Kenneth Krause criticizing her weight, but her husband and fellow news team members at Wisconsin station WKBT would not allow it.

When the station posted the e-mail to its Facebook page, it launched a national discussion of role models and body type. Livingston’s response was broadcast on the station as an editorial. Krause later apologized to Livingston on national television, saying that he “never meant to hurt” her.

This incident should teach observers two things. First, silence is never the answer. Silence on the part of observers is an act of complicity. The support of Livingston’s husband, colleagues, and supporters made all the difference.

Second, hurtful comments are never in the right. Though obesity is undeniably an issue, Krause’s email was insensitive and negative.

Criticizing someone because of their size does not build anyone’s physical or mental health, and it’s important to remember that role models and leaders can come in all shapes and sizes.

Taliban militants in Pakistan attacked and seriously injured Malala Yousafzai, a fourteen-year-old campaigner for female education.

After being shot twice in the neck and head by masked gunmen on Tuesday, October 9, Yousafzai was airlifted to a military hospital near the attack site.

Although Yousafzai is still alive, the public reacted strongly to the shooting. Protests sprung up in several large Pakistani cities and world leaders almost all unanimously agreed that the attacks were unjustified. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Yousafzai had been “very brave in standing up for the rights of girls” and that the Taliban had been “threatened by that kind of empowerment.”

Education is an important human right, and the fact that stateless militant groups like the Taliban feel as though they have the authority to suppress education is unfathomable. Instances like this, where innocents die for the furthering of political agendas, should cause people of all nations and beliefs to stop and think about the costs of ideology.

“Stop DNR torture.” The words appear on billboards cropping up across Minnesota. The torture? Wolf hunts. The Minnesota DNR decided this year to start wolf hunting once again after the species’ long stay on the endangered species list.

In 2001, Minnesota policy makers stated that once gray wolves were off of the endangered species list there would be a 5 year moratorium before wolf hunting could recommence. This year, officials said that the 5 year break was not necessary. The DNR is issuing 6,000 wolf licenses, for which more than 23,000 people have already applied. About 2,600 wolves currently live in Minnesota.

The DNR wants to kill a quota of 400 wolves. According to the Department of Natural Resources the wolf population in Minnesota is stable and thriving currently.

6,000 licenses to kill four hundred wolves is excessive, to say the least. While hunting wolves is undoubtedly necessary, due to the wolves’ predatory nature, the DNR should take care not to let 16 years of preservation go to waste.

6 Opinion/Editorial

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

Obama’s foreign policy deserves more scrutiny President’s apparent strong point not as perfect as it’s painted Thomas Toghramadjian

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News Editor

With a weak economy and a ballooning deficit at home, President Obama’s foreign policy seemed to be the sole bright spot in his otherwise bleak first term. Osama Bin Laden was finally killed by Navy SEALs in his Pakistan compound, American troops returned home from Iraq and the Arab Spring brought hope for democracy in the Middle East. Now, with less than a month before Election Day, this rosy picture has come crashing down around the president’s ears.

The deadly attacks on the United States embassies in Benghazi, Libya and Cairo, Egypt and on Fort Leatherneck in Afghanistan reveal the real fruits of Obama’s passiveaggressive stance in the Middle East. When mobs in Egypt hoist a jihadist banner in the place of the American embassy’s flag, chanting extremist slogans, it is hard for the

president to say his policies have improved America’s image in the Middle East. When radicals burn the U.S. embassy and kill the ambassador in Libya, Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu speaks seriously of war with Iran and Afghan soldiers turn on Americans, it is time for a referendum on the President’s foreign policy.

“Within 24 hours of the 9/11 anniversary attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, U.S. intelligence agencies had strong indications al Qaeda-affiliated operatives were behind the attack, and had even pinpointed the location of one of those attackers,” according to Newsweek national security reporter Eli Lake. Despite this, the initial narrative of the Obama administration linked the attacks closely to the six-month old, amateur, anti-Islamic film The Innocence of Muslims, rather than acknowledging the terrorist threat to Americans abroad.

Now, more than three weeks

later, Obama has refused to call the incident a terrorist attack, despite the fact that both White House press secretary Jay Carney and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledged that terrorists were almost certainly behind the assault.

While Obama expressed his disapproval for attempts to “hurt the religious feelings of Muslims,” and slammed opponent Mitt Romney for daring to link foreign policy to politics, he left unsaid the brutal truth; our enemies pulled off a deadly attack against us and inflamed the rest of the Muslim world.

On Sept. 13, Obama said that he no longer considers Egypt an ally, despite Egyptian President Mohammed Morsy’s condemnation of the riots in Egypt and attacks in Libya in the strongest of terms. Obama’s statement clearly goes against the 1989 classification of Egypt as a major non-NATO ally. This rash move could irreparably set back American efforts to

remain on good terms with Egypt in her time of transition. Such an extreme response to circumstances makes it clear that it Obama’s judgement in a crisis is by no means irreproachable.

Egypt may not be the last Mideastern ally that Obama’s policies alienate. On Sept. 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech to the United Nations, saying that if Iran reaches the second of three stages in nuclear enrichment, military action to stop further progress must occur. Netanyahu’s threat indicates a problem that runs deeper than Irani progress toward acquiring a nuclear weapon. The Israeli government clearly does not have confidence in America’s commitment to their nation’s defense.

That lack of faith may be unfounded; America has not wronged Israel in any way. But a preemptive Israeli attack on Iran becomes more likely with every day that goes by. Such an attack would be

foolhardy and have massive geopolitical consequences. But at a time when communication between the U.S. and Israel should be at an alltime high in order to prevent such an action, Obama blew off a meeting with Netanyahu, opting instead for an appearance on the David Letterman Show and a campaign fundraiser with Jay-Z and Beyonce.

This man needs to get his priorities straight.

Obama’s foreign policy has alienated America’s allies, and emboldened the nation’s enemies. The president does not seem to understand that America’s strength is not founded solely on military might or moral high ground. The U.S. is the world’s greatest superpower because of it has the trust of so many nations around the world.

Obama has a moral obligation to uphold that network of good will.

As his first term draws to a close, it is clear that he has failed greatly in that regard.

Infographic As elections draw near, the presidential election is at the forefront of many St. Paul Academy and Summit School students’ thoughts. While liberals hold a majority at SPA, this majority is often thought to be larger than it is. In a poll conducted in early October, 79% of students polled said that they supported Democratic President Barack Obama in the upcoming election over Republican challenger Mitt Romney, and given their choice of third-party candidates, only 52% supported Obama. While this is still a majority, it demonstrates the fact that SPA students have more diverse opinions than most realize.

Which of the major presidential candidates do you support?

Who would you support if third-party candidates had equal chances?

Don't Know/Undecided Gary Johnson, Libertarian

Undecided

Jill Stein, Green

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney, Republican

Barack Obama

Barack Obama, Democrat

What issues are most important to you?

Taxes 14

Economy 19

Environment 12

Gay Marriage 36 Gun Control 7

The economy was the most important issue for Romney supporters.

Abortion 12

Afghan War 7

Same-sex marriage was the most important issue for Obama supporters.

Healthcare 19

Illustration Credit: Noah Shavit-Lonstein

Opinion/Editorial

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

7

Affirmative action could use an update Politicians

Present system neglects socioeconomic diversity crash onto Internet Aditi Kulkarni r

“

Editor in Chief

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson uttered the famous words that formed the basis for affirmative action: “You do not take a person who, for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, ‘You are free to compete with all the others,’ and still justly believe that you have been completely fair.” Now, that philosophy is back in the halls of the Supreme Court, to be reevaluated for a modern context.

50 years ago, Johnson’s words made sense. African Americans, Hispanics, and other racial minorities almost always came from extreme poverty and were regularly subjected to blatant racial discrimination. In today’s context, affirmative action transcends class differences, often giving help to a minority from an affluent background despite it being better served elsewhere. The problem of racism is also greatly diminished in the present day. Is it still fair to base affirmative action programs

A black child of two educated professionals should not receive a leg up over a white student coming from generations of poverty. exclusively on race?

As the boundaries between races continue to fade, it is hard to determine what individual needs help. Blacks and Latinos receive a significant lift in their application equivalent to an increase in SAT scores of approximately 150-300 points, according to The New York Times. However, many other low income students receive little or no help at all. Many government employers also operate on a similar system, making it significantly easier for black or Hispanic applicants to get a job.

Rather than base affirmative action exclusively on race, colleges and universities should use socioeconomic background as a metric. A black child of two educated professionals should not receive a leg up over a white student coming from generations of poverty. It’s time that colleges and employers take a different approach to addressing need.

In the current Supreme Court case, the primary argument that supporters of affirmative action use is that diversity in a college or university has a profound impact

on all of its students. Diversity is important. It teaches acceptance, prepares students for their careers, expands knowledge, promotes new ways of thinking and builds multiple perspectives. But the original intention of affirmative action programs was not diversity, but equality. Is it fair that in achieving this diversity, blacks, Hispanics, and other minority groups are given preference at the expense of others? This kind of attitude toward affirmative action flies in the face of its original intent.

Diversity doesn’t only include racial difference. By using affirmative action to promote diversity of a single facet, colleges hurt themselves by not providing their students an opportunity to learn alongside students not only of different color, but different economic status and family background.

A socioeconomic-based affirmative action plan will still address the gap that many impoverished communities face. But by addressing more directly the problems confronting these minorities, such an overhaul would make the institutions it affects more egalitarian for everybody.

Super PACs waste their money, voters’ time Despite wads of cash, increased attack ads serve only to annoy potential supporters Ellie Fuelling

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A&E Editor

Unlimited, unrestrained, unfettered. These terms are usually equated with freedom and the American Dream. But when donations towards political candidates are unlimited, money is only wasted. This indulgence has gone too far.

In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that Political Action Committees (PACs) could donate unlimited amounts of money to the candidate of their choice, so long as they avoided direct contact with the candidate. This gave rise to the newest form of political guerrilla warfare: Super PACs. Money began covertly flowing into politics like never before.

With unlimited contributions comes apparently unlimited power, but when it comes down to it, no amount of campaigning can sway a nation towards a candidate if the raw materials aren’t there. There are better places for Super PACs to be spending those buckets of cash.

Regular PACs, which have limits on their contributions, appeared in 1944 when the Congress of Industrial Organizations wanted to raise money to reelect Franklin Delano Roosevelt. PACs, made up of corporations, unions, associations and individuals, can give up to $5,000 to a particular candidate per election cycle. Money contributed to a PAC is kept in a separate bank account from a company’s treasury. Unlike super PACs, PACs

are allowed to give money straight to candidates. Super PACs, on the other hand, shovel their unlimited funds towards advertising and communication, creating commercials that demonize opposing candidates.

For this campaign alone, President Barack Obama raised $432,197,459 and spent $83,729,126.

Romney raised $279,343,000 and spent $66,360,985. Super PACs made up a large part of the contributions with Obama’s Super PAC giving over $10,000,000 and Romney’s Super PAC giving over $7,000,000, according to NPR. This amount of money being spent towards electing candidates is ludicrous, especially with a stagnant economy and millions of Americans living on welfare. And with Super PACs now allowed to give unlimited amounts of money, the amount will only increase as each side tries to one up each other.

At the end of the day, only one man will be elected president.

Money can’t change the candidates.

It cannot change their values or their positions. So why are obscene amounts of money being shoveled into campaigning? There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight, either.

With the Supreme Court ruling taking away restrictions, money will continued to be wasted on campaigning when it could be used to solve the real world issues candidates are being elected to solve.

Candidates, too, would do well to remember this. While a little extra funding and publicity never

hurt, politicians should be wary of becoming too deeply involved with their donors. Big contributions may be legal, but they look an awful lot like bribery. Candidates like Mitt Romney have already been given a lot of grief over their corporate sponsors, and voters’ perceptions aren’t changed by whether or not their cash comes with conditions.

Super PACs have become something of a joke in the years since Citizens United. Stephen Colbert, renowned political satirist, created his own Super PAC to bring the committees into the mainstream media. Running satirical ads against himself, he comments on the extreme lengths Super PACs have gone to make their opponent look like crazed, megalomaniacal dictators. As silly as they may seem, though, Super PACs continue to put out ads at breakneck paces.

Even with all this money being given to candidates, whether they are presidential nominees or running for senate, contributions alone cannot decide an election.

Most voters have already made up their minds based on interviews, debates, and the issues. Money cannot create a leader. It cannot create decisiveness or character or strength. So what does it matter how much one candidate raises over the other, or how much a Super PAC spends on a scare tactic commercial? Money will never really decide an election. Corporations would be better off throwing money at something they can more reliably control. Politicians would

do well to stop money-grubbing and at least regain the illusion of integrity, if only as a campaign move. And it’s in the best interests of voters to tell all those involved that they’re not interested in the cash, but in the candidate.

The Rubicon Editorial Policy: The Rubicon editorials are representative of the opinions of the Staff Editorial Board, which is made up of all students in journalism/Editorial Leadership.

All other opinion pieces are the opinions of the authors themselves.

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

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

Liz Rossman

r

Around Town Editor

The Internet is an infinite frontier, constantly expanding to accommodate new ideas. Politics are no exception. In addition to sparking protests and revolts overseas, almost every major politician has adopted a personal web site and a variety of social media outlets as a means of communication with supporters and potential voters.

But does having a Twitter account, a Facebook profile, a Pinterest page or a Google+ profile really change the way voters engage with a candidate?

Beginning with the last presidential election, almost every politician and campaign has adopted at least one form of social media in order to get their public relations memos and statements out to the public without having to go through news outlets. Social media has even been used to help twist public perception of a political candidate to make them seem “hip” and more like the average American voter. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich even announced his presidential bid on Twitter last year. Unfortunately, these attempts to connect with voters are often feeble and misdirected.

If the most appealing thing about a candidate is his or her ability to be honest, they can communicate that honest about their policies and stances through means of social media all the better. But the mentality around social media needs to change. Social media often becomes inundated with useless information and propaganda and a constant stream of donation requests. Much more effective are online question-and-answer sessions, such as the ones so many politicians have done on sites like YouTube and Reddit in this election season. These are extremely effective in telling voters what a candidate is really all about, rather than simply proselytizing. Unfortunately, these are not used nearly as much as they should be.

One of the greatest perks of social media is that it allows users to dictate what content they want the world to see. Unfortunately, many politicians haven’t yet figured out how to use that freedom wisely. Social media shouldn’t be a system of political propaganda filled with attack ads and donation requests, but an archive of a candidate’s political experience. Photos from the campaign trail, videos of supporters, and facts about their policies are just a couple of things supporters and voters can benefit from by connecting with the candidates through social media. As long as information being sent across these channels is helpful, these accounts and profiles are on the right track.

8

Fo o d & N u t r i t i o n St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

& Lucy Li

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BACON

Cover Story Editor

It’s on shirts, it’s in ice cream, it’s in soap, it’s in toothpaste, and it’s often layered thickly on breakfast platters.

It’s bacon.

“One of [America’s cultural] staples is bacon,” freshman Christine Lam said. Lam doesn’t like eating pork, but she’s seen signs of a national obsession with these smoky strips of cured meat, from bacon cupcakes to Upper School History teacher Ben Danielson’s bacon belt.

Freshman Navodhya Samarakoon agrees with Lam. “You see it everywhere in fast food restaurants and people just eat it all the time,” Samarakoon said, who cites having seen bacon included in dishes on the Food Network television show, Cupcake Wars.

Although bacon is considered a savory food, restaurants increasingly integrate it with dishes on a whole another part of the taste spectrum. For example, the fast food chain Burger King’s released Bacon Sundaes as part of their summer menu, and diners can order a Maple Bacon Milk Shake at Denny’s. Bacon celebrations are also popular, such as the Baconfest Chicago held annually in April.

Junior Ellen Samuelson eats two bacon donuts every day. “It’s like a maple donut with just like one piece of bacon on top,” Samuelson said. “I have them ‘cause they’re right next to where I row” The national bacon obsession is also amplified by the Internet.

The Youtube channel EpicMealTime is famous for its excessive use of bacon, with over 2.7 million subscribers and hits such as the videos “Fast Food Lasagna” and “TurBaconEpic Thanksgiving.”

“They sure like bacon,” senior Tyler White said.

White, who was interviewed while wearing a cartoon bacon t-shirt, loves eating bacon, too.

“It’s delicious and greasy in every way possible,” White said. “It’s a quintessential American breakfast food.” White believes that bacon can mix well with treats such as ice cream and brownies only if the sugary flavors aren’t too sweet.

So why is bacon so appealing?

“

We can still be obsessed with it even if we eat less of it. junior Philip Swanson Part of the reason could be from how it’s cooked. Bacon is the cured meat of a pig’s stomach. It can be eaten in strips or as flat, round pieces, and can be made from turkey or beef instead of pork. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), bacon receives its smoky flavor from smoldering wood chips or liquid smoke extract.

“The liking for bacon likely stems from our inherent love of salt, fat and smoked flavor: all very high in bacon,” Gary Reineccius, Head of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, said. Reineccius specializes in flavor research.

“It gets added to a host of other foods for its flavor,” he added.

Junior Philip Swanson believes bacon’s appeal stems from its flexibility. “Well it’s a fairly common

food (in my house at least), it’s easy to cook, tastes great, and there are multiple levels of ‘doneness,’” he said. “So if someone doesn’t like super floppy bacon… they can enjoy bacon when it’s crispy.”

However, too much bacon can be harmful to one’s health.

“Detriments are that overconsuming would provide too many calories, saturated fat and sodium,” Dr. Marla Reicks, Professor and Nutritionist in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, said. The USDA classifies bacon as one of its “empty calories” foods, meaning, it supplies plenty of energy but few nutrients.

To avoid overindulging in too much bacon, a balanced diet is recommended. “I think most nutritionists would agree that bacon is tasty but because of the high fat and sodium content should be eaten in moderation,” Reicks said.

However, rather than overconsumption, a recent concern among bacon lovers is a possible shortage. According to the United Kingdom’s National Pig Association, a global drought has declined the number of pig herds in the European Union. The USDA has also begun authorizing emergency funding for the “Drought Disaster 2012” in the United States, as stated on their website.

Swanson is concerned about this issue, because he eats “bacon like every other day for breakfast,” he said.

Luckily, many news sources such as ABC News and Fox News have reported that the effects of this drought and the estimated rising prices for pork may have been exaggerated.

Yet even if bacon does become scarce, the craze might not die down any time soon. “We can still be obsessed with it even if we eat less [of it],” Swanson said.

Makin’ Bacon Bacon Ice Cream Cooked-up, crunchy bacon pieces, served over maple ice cream. Available locally at the State Fair’s Blue Moon Stand.

Bacon Cupcakes A maple cupcake covered in chocolate frosting and topped with bacon pieces. Found at the popular Cupcake store in Minneapolis and Bloomington.

Chocolate Covered Bacon Sold at novelty shops like Patina in bar form, some people just can’t get enough of this hedonistic treat.

Baconnaise This store bought baconmayonnaise fusion is a shocker. It’s healthy, unhealthy, tasty, disgusting, and (most surprisingly) vegetarian.

Bacon Gumballs Extracting the taste of bacon without the fat, bacon gumballs are perfect for the health-conscious bacon lover.

Found at local shops like the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis.

Photo retrieved from Flickr Creative Commons

We the people

VOTE

Seniors cast their first ballots in the 2012 election Andy Monserud

r

Op/Ed Editor

Sammy Karon is still on the fence about her presidential pick. Like several other seniors, Karon’s birthday falls before Tuesday, November 6, allowing her to vote in the upcoming elections.

“I think that Romney has a better plan for the economy,” Karon said, adding that “I don’t think Obama has done a very good job with the economy while he’s been in office.” She agrees with Obama on other issues, though, including gay marriage and abortion. “I think

Obama really has the nation’s best interests at heart when it comes to social stuff,” she said. “That’s why I’m torn.”

Karon does have strong positions on most issues, though, including the two amendments to the Minnesota constitution being proposed this year. On the marriage amendment, she argued that it has no place in the constitution. “No matter what your religion, your marriage license is the same,” she pointed out. “It’s just a legal thing that everyone should be entitled to have,” and is also not an issue that defines Minnesota as a state. “That has nothing to do with our constitution,” she said. “I think that’s really lame.”

On voter ID, she has a more personal argument. Karon volunteers at a nursing home, and has noticed the residents’ enthusiasm for democratic process. She says that many residents “might not know what day it is or what the weather’s like, because they don’t go outside, but they love watching TV and thinking that they have this power in their vote.” She notes that many elderly and infirm would have trouble getting new IDs for the purpose of voting were the amendment passed.

“It’s unnecessary, it’s expensive, it’s funds that we don’t have, and it’s going to limit a lot of people’s freedom, it’s going to take away a right that they’ve earned.”

Karon encourages young voters to do their research before voting and also to look beyond their personal spheres at the ballot box. “I hope that people put themselves in the shoes of the people who the amendments will be impacting,” she said. “Voter ID’s not going to impact teenagers at SPA… and we’re not getting married today, but think about who it’s going to impact before you make those decisions.”

(Continue reading about seniors voting on page 4 of Cover Story)

Elephant Illustration Credit: Aditi Kulkarni Donkey Illustration Credit: Lucy Li

The Rubicon Cover Special Edition

Election 2012

10

C ove r

October 2012. Special Edition

The Presidential Race The four debates leading up to the presidential election give voters a chance to see the candidates unscripted and live, in each other’s presence.

Unlike carefully designed advertisements, and choreographed conventions, debates provide viewers a better chance to see the real men behind the rhetoric and ridicule, teleprompters and TV ads.

This year, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama face an election dominated by the struggling economy. Romney is attempting to make the election a referendum on the president’s economic record, while Obama seeks to relate to voters in a way his wealthy opponent cannot.

Thomas Toghramadjian

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News Editor

Photo Retrieved from Flickr Creative Commons, Barack Obama Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Barack Obama face off on issues pertaining to taxes, healthcare, and jobs. After the debate, majority of viewers believed Romney won.

Photo Retrieved from Flickr Creative Commons, University of Denver Presidential candidates ex-Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama greet the audience as they step on stage at the University of Denver for the first presidential debate. Former PBS news anchor and journalist Jim Lehrer moderated the debate.

Biden and Ryan Romney and Obama tighten the race in the first presidential debate tie on content In a race that was slowly slip- loquial name “Obamacare,” saying ping away from him, Republican that it was actually largely modeled in the Vice Presicandidate Mitt Romney grabbed on Romney’s Massachusetts plan. it back with both hands in the Romney replied that his plan was dential debates first of three presidential debates.

Romney was energetic and organized in his responses to questions concerning the economy. President Obama held his own, not making any major mistakes, but he appeared increasingly frustrated and unengaged over the course of the night.

The debate, held on Oct. 3, was moderated by PBS’s Jim Lehrer, who came out of semi-retirement to oversee his 12th presidential debate. By many accounts, Lehrer was overrun by both candidates, who dictated the flow of the debate themselves, regularly exceeding their time limits. The debate was held on the topic of the economy and domestic issues, with rhetoric revolving around jobs, health care, education, and the role of government.

For the first time in this election, Romney truly embraced his record as governor of Massachusetts, including his statewide health-care plan, a weak point of his in the Republican primaries.

He pointed to a record of getting things done with a legislature composed of 87% Democrats, and to Massachusetts’ number one rating in education nationwide.

Obama defended his own Affordable Care Act, which both candidates referred to by its col-

designed for a state, but not on a federal level, pointing to statistics saying that 75% of business owners said Obamacare would make them less likely to hire.

Obama repeatedly attacked Romney’s tax plan , accusing his opponent of wanting five trillion dollars in tax cuts for the very wealthy, despite Romney’s vehement denial that he would implement such a plan. A clearly annoyed Romney replied, “As president you’re entitled to your own house, your own plane, but not your own facts.”

According to a CNN poll, 67 percent of viewers believed Romney won the debate, while only 25 percent thought Obama emerged victorious. According to a CBS poll, 61 percent of viewers thought Romney “cared about their needs and problems,” a huge leap from his 30 percent rating before the debate. Obama’s rating increased as well, albeit less drastically, from 53 percent to 69 percent.

Obama still leads in nine out of ten vital swing states, but Romney’s strong performance tightened a race that was already up for grabs.

Just as Obama seemed to be gaining traction among voters, a decisive Romney victory in the first of three presidential debates made the election very competitive once again.

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Congressman Paul Ryan tangled on foreign and domestic issues in the first and only vice presidential debate of the 2012 election. The debate took place at Centre College in Kentucky on Oct. 11 , and was moderated by Martha Raddatz of ABC. The candidates debated issues ranging from budget plans to the attack on the Libyan consulate that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens.

Biden was aggressive and spirited, grinning widely, sighing, and rolling his eyes as Ryan spoke. The vice president hit on topics which the president inexplicably ignored, such as the infamous video of Mitt Romney predicting that the 47% of the nation that does not pay income taxes would not vote for him.

Ryan responded by poking fun at the gaffe-prone Biden, saying “I think the vice president very well knows that sometimes the words don’t come out of your mouth the right way,” drawing laughs from the crowd.

In the face of Biden’s offensive, Ryan was slightly downtrodden, but kept his cool and held his own, diligently praising his running mate at every turn. He was especially intense on the topic of the death of American Ambassador Chris

Photo Retrieved from Flickr Creative Commons, Barack Obama Vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan debate at a horseshoe-shaped table with moderator Martha Raddatz. They discussed healthcare, taxes, and national security.

Stevens, asserting that the wave of riots throughout the Muslim world shows the real results of the Obama Administration’s foreign policy.

CNN surveys showed 48 percent of viewers believed Ryan was the winner, while 44 percent thought Biden emerged victorious, a difference within the poll’s margin of error. Subsequent media analysis indicates that the candidates fought to a draw on content, while Ryan won on style. Perhaps the real winner was Raddatz, who controlled the debate far more strongly than did Jim Lehrer, challenging the candidates to give more specifics and answer questions directly.

Overall, such a close vice presidential debate is unlikely to greatly influence the outcome of the election. Biden’s strong performance may have stopped the bleeding that resulted from Romney’s crushing

victory in the first debate, while Ryan’s professional demeanor may lend the Republican ticket more credibility.

Poll Percentages: Registered Voters:

Obama 46% Romney 50%

Likely Voters:

Romney 50% Obama 46% Data Retrieved from Gallup.com on October 17

The other two debates were held on Oct. 16 and Oct. 22.

Analyses of these can be found on rubiconline.com

Stor y

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

11

Students tweet, follow, and like politics Political campaigns add supporters using social media Liz Rossman

r

Around Town Editor

Close your eyes. Imagine you are a politically involved citizen of the United States, interested in the development and outcome of the upcoming presidential election.

You are on Facebook. You should really be doing your homework, but as you scroll down your news feed you notice how 75% of the posts relate to the presidential candidate you “liked” a month ago.

Some posts are even in a row, right below and next to the photos of your friends’ high-school graduation selfies.

Your phone vibrates and its a text. Not from a friend or even your mother, but rather from that same presidential candidate whose posts fill your news feed. The message informs you of a fundraising deadline and asks that you “text back” in order to donate money, because of course, their campaign is about to surpass a record number of grass-roots campaign donations.

Whether your eyes are closed or open, social media, through means of Facebook and Twitter, have become the newest political platform

reaching supporters and undecided voters.

In past presidential elections, political candidates have asked themselves the question: what better way to connect to the American public than through social media?

Like they do in television, politicians and political campaigns have sunk their advertising claws into the technology more than a million Americans access every day.

Since 2008, we’ve seen politics adapt a new relation with its voters and supporters through means of Twitter feeds, Facebook posts, and website memberships.

“As an Obama fellow, I have used both Facebook and Twitter to get other voters informed.” junior Alida Mitau said. “Tweeting about upcoming events or opportunities for volunteering as well as hash-tagging something like “#OFAMN” (Obama for America Minnesota) was stressed in the training that came with becoming a fellow as well as throughout the fellowship. In addition to tweeting these kinds of things, it is also effective to tweet pictures of volunteer events to make potential voters both intrigued and excited to join in.”

As media becomes more instant

Photo Credit: Lucy Li Senior Laura Dahl examines an Obama for America Minnesota Facebook event. “We use Facebook to create events when we’re having phone banks, specifically for SPA students and we invite students who we think we might be interested,” Dahl, an Obama fellow, said.

and rapid to release content, politicians have hopped across news outlets and newspaper editorials to connect with potential voters. Millions of Americans use Facebook to connect with others, so why not the political candidates such as President Barack Obama and Former Governor Mitt Romney?

Social media tools like Facebook and Twitter allow seemingly distant political candidates to become more “approachable” and

more like the “average” American who has a Facebook and Twitter account.

“I think social media has played a much more positive role on the democratic side because many fervent Obama supporters are young people anxious to spread their opinions and do so effectively with social media,” said Mitau. “Obama also relies more on grassroots work to sustain his campaign and supporters and the heads of many

of the grassroots teams will stress social media as a powerful part of the campaign, so many Obama supporters are tweeting and sharing information and pictures about why they love Obama, thus spreading the world and potentially putting positivity towards Obama on the radar of many undecided voters.”

To read about another campaign method, election art, go to rubiconline.com

Candidates race behind in third parties

Not just two presidential candidates will be on the ballot Noah Shavit-Lonstein

r

Feature Editor

Jill Stein

Green Party

Photo Retrieved from: www.jillstein.org

The Green Party, a leftist and environmentally-centered party, nominated Massachusetts physician Dr. Jill Stein for president.

Stein’s plan for the country, titled the Green New Deal, focuses on creating sustainable infrastructure and regulation, as well as instituting single-payer healthcare.

Funding for her plans would come from a 30% military budget reduction and increased top-earner taxation.

She is on the ballot in enough states to win the presidency, and qualifies for Federal Election Commission campaign funding.

“I think that’s interesting that she would cut military budget,” freshman Nina Zietlow said on Stein’s campaign. “We spend a ridiculous amount on the military.”

It’s a common misconception that only two people run for president each election year. In reality, more than twenty people are running for president on third-party or no-party tickets, from communist James Harris to anti-Islam pastor Terry Jones to New York performance artist The Naked Cowboy. A handful of third-party workers have garnered a significant percentage of the vote, like Ralph Nader in 2000 or Ross Perot in 1992. There’s likely no such candidate this year, but these five candidates have been getting considerable attention and bringing new perspectives to the table.

Gary Johnson Libertarian Party

Photo Retrieved from: Flickr Creative Commons, Gage Skidmore

Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, after failing in his bid for the Republican nomination, turned to the Libertarian Party for his run. His plans include the abolition of the corporate income tax and the Department of Education and a congressional audit of the Federal Reserve. He also supports legalized abortion, gay rights, noninterventionist foreign policy, and the repeal of the PATRIOT act.

He is on the ballot in enough states to win the presidency. He has the highest support of any third party candidate this year, at 5%. His supporters include former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura and junior Sam Forsgren. “Gary Johnson… sounds like he has a good enough moral and ethical perspective,” Forsgren said after observing Johnson’s platform.

Virgil Goode

Constitution Party

Photo: Public Domain, U.S Congress

Former Virginia Senator Virgil Goode was nominated for president by the Constitution Party.

The party is part of the “paleoconservative” movement, which emphasizes national kinship. Goode wants to fix economic problems by balancing the budget immediately and cracking down on illegal immigration. He firmly opposes abortion and gun control. However, he opposes free trade agreements.

He is not on the ballot in enough states to become president, but his high poll numbers in Virginia (9%) could spoil the state for Mitt Romney. Much of the rest of the country is confused about his popularity. “When it’s technically impossible for him to win the presidency, why would people waste their vote?” asked senior Nick Zelle.

Rocky Anderson Justice Party

Photo Retrieved from: Flickr Creative Commons, wickenden

Rocky Anderson, former mayor of Salt Lake City, left the Democratic Party last year, believing that it had abandoned its central issues and causes. His popularity allowed him to assemble a whole new party, the Justice Party.

A political rogue, Anderson has spoken out against what he believes are affronts to the constitution, such as the PATRIOT act, NDAA and Guantanamo Bay. He was considered the country’s greenest mayor, and as president, would provide world-class action on climate change. His platform also encompasses single-payer healthcare, marriage equality, the return of the Work Projects Administration, and the repeal of free trade agreements. “I think he’s got good morals,” freshman Miriam Tibbetts said of Anderson.

Roseanne Barr

Peace and Freedom Party

Photo Retrieved from: Flickr Creative Commons, monterey media

Comedienne and sitcom star Roseanne Barr made an attempt for the Green Party nomination this year. After losing, she turned to the Peace and Freedom Party, a hippie-based party known for controversial presidential nominees like Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver.

She staunchly supports legalizing marijuana and ending aid to Israel as well as cancelling all current student loan debt. Her economic plans are few, with the exception of a promise to increase top-earner taxes and execute noncompliant bankers.

Some students have responded either badly or laughingly to her campaign. “I don’t think she really knows what she’s doing,” said sophomore Olivia Fitch, amused.

12

October 2012. Special Edition

Seniors voting

Cameron Causey Presidential pick: Obama Voter ID Amendment: No Marriage Amendment: No

(Continued from Front Cover) Cameron Causey’s reasons for supporting Obama are varied. “I think he will be better for this country,” Causey said. “He has already gotten us out of a lot of stuff that President Bush got us into, and I also agree with a lot of his policies” on issues like gay marriage and abortion.

Causey supports neither amendment. “I don’t think there’s any need for [the voter ID amendment]... There’s been... 133 cases total in the last 50 years or something. I think it’s ridiculous.”

Chloe Hite is a great example of a democratic “base” voter.

She’s voting for Obama for a host of reasons, including his positions on health care, gay marriage, economic policy and funding for higher education. “I think Obama, overall, represents…the future,” she said, whereas Mitt Romney’s ideas are, in her mind, somewhat archaic. “[Romney’s] personal values, for me, just don’t really make sense. I think family values are fine, and I think that’s great. But… watching some of the Republican convention, some of the things he was saying…seemed like idealistic family values of the 1960’s,” and not as applicable in the modern world.

Farez Siddiqui Presidential pick: Obama Voter ID Amendment: Yes Marriage Amendment: No

C ove r S t o r y Causey is still unsure about his positions on more local races.

“I’ve mostly just been focusing on the Presidential race” and the constitutional amendments, he said.

“I’m not going to vote on [races] if I’m not educated on those issues, which currently I am not.”

Causey is adamant about the importance of voting. “I think it’s important for people to watch the debates and be knowledgeable on the elections that will affect their future,” he said.

Hite is also voting no on both constitutional amendments. “I know people who would be affected by the amendments if they went into effect,” she said. “I wouldn’t want that for myself, and I wouldn’t want it for them.”

While Hite is informed about politics, they don’t dominate her life. “I have an opinion, but I’m not super involved…I know enough that I’m comfortable.” Still, she puts a lot of emphasis on the democratic process. “This country is founded on the responsibility of the public to be involved,” Hite said. “To not vote is a waste. It’s wasting your freedom, and it’s saying that it doesn’t matter.”

Farez Siddiqui’s ballot is bound to amuse election judges. Instead of voting along the lines of any particular party, Siddiqui has his own rules to vote by. “Although Obama’s not the best candidate around, he has the most experience, so he could probably do the best job in these next coming four years,” Siddiqui said. “Unless Mitt Romney was a godly competitor,” he bets consistently on incumbents, which includes both Obama

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

Two parties battle for Minnesota legislative seats the hard-to-beat advantage of inFeature Editor cumbency.

The Democrats also have behind them the additional support With national races heating up, from a presidential election year Minnesota voters can’t forget the and the momentum from popular key races going on in their home governor Mark Dayton. state. Minnesota Republicans in But the most important factor, the 2010 elections won a majority says politically active US History in the state legislature for the first Department Chair Andrea Sachs, time, ever. Now, the democrats are is the current legislative gridlock. determined to take it back.

“There’s a really high level of disThe Republican Party has been satisfaction with state legislators unable to pursue of both parties, most of its legiswhich makes lative agenda bethings easier for cause of the veto challengers. A lot power of Demoof people have cratic governor this sense that Mark Dayton. A lot of people have those bums in St. Still, the party has Paul just aren’t made waves dur- this sense that those getting anything ing its two years bums in St. Paul just done.” in office. It has Sachs estiaren’t getting anyput two major mates that one, issues-- gay mar- thing done. but not both, of riage and voter the houses of ID-- to voters as the state legisUS History lature will go to possible constiDepartment Chair the Democrats. tutional amendments. DisagreeAndrea Sachs If that happens, ment between she says, the next the party and question will be, Dayton caused the two-week gov- “are the people who pass legislaernment shutdown in Summer of tion going to be able to come to2011, which resulted in a surprise gether? Is compromise going to be budget surplus. The party was also a dirty word?” rocked by the resignation of its In St. Paul, Republicans have house leader, Amy Koch, after an little chance of gaining seats from extramarital affair.

Democrats. But Independent canSo whose congress will this be? didate Scott Larson, running for It’s hard to tell, especially since senate in District 64, which conthe state was redistricted several tains St. Paul Academy, has a surmonths ago. An analysis of vot- prising amount of support. Larson, ing patterns by MinnPost suggests a firm anti-partisan who refuses to that the DFL has an advantage in accept any endorsements, holds a nine of the twelve most important real chance at blocking Dick Cosenate seats, as well as thirteen of hen’s re-election. Most of Larson’s sixteen key house seats. However, positions are ambiguous, but he most of those key seats are cur- opposes the two constitutional rently held by the GOP, who have amendments on the ballot this fall.

Noah Shavit-Lonstein

r

“

Chloe Hite Presidential pick: Obama Voter ID Amendment: No Marriage Amendment: No

and Senator Amy Klobuchar.

On the two amendments proposed to the Minnesota constitution, Siddiqui is an equivocator.

“Just to keep stability within the United States, I will probably vote no [on the marriage amendment] and then for the conservatives, I would probably vote for the voter ID,” he said. “It’s only fair that those who can prove that they are citizens of the United States can vote.”

Political presenters bring perspective to the vote Student groups hosted assemblies and speakers encouraged student engagement in political process Todd Rapp

Political Analyst

Attorney and Minnesota Public Radio political contributor Todd Rapp gave a presentation titled “What, Photo Credit: Lucy Li This Again? A Political analyst Todd Rapp gives an Look at Elec- overview of the upcoming elections toral Politics at assembly. “I’m going to talk a little in the Purple bit here about my perspective on what World” during shapes elections nationally,” Rapp said. assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

The purpose of the assembly was to educate St. Paul Academy and Summit School’s Upper School students on the upcoming 2012 November elections.

Students responded to the assembly positively.

“I felt it was very informative and gave a neutral stance on an issue very few people think of without bias,” junior Bilal Askari said.

Lauren Orthmann Vote No NO Gabe Kravitz Student groups Intercultural Club, GayStraight Alliance, and Students for Social JusPhoto Credit: Liz Rossman tice arranged Activists Lauren Orthmann and Gabe for Jewish Kravitz speak to students about the two C o m m u - amendments on the ballot in November. nity Action members Lauren Orthmann and Gabe Kravitz to speak to students during X Period on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Othmann works with Our Vote Our Future and MN United for All Families. The purpose of the activity was to train students on how to discuss the marriage and voter ID amendments.

They encouraged students to vote no on both amendments.

“Now I know more about how to bring up the conversation [about the amendments],” freshman Elena Youngdale said.

Tim Pawlenty

Republican

Photo Credit: Thomas Toghramadjian Former Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty talks about national issues in assembly. “I thought he was very respectful of his audience, sophomore Sonja Mischke said.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty spoke at a special assembly on Tuesday, Oct. 9.

He answered questions relating to healthcare, foreign policy, and political gridlock. Pawlenty had previously worked on Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign during the summer.

“I thought he was very respectful of his audience,” sophomore Sonja Mischke said. However, she would “like to see more of his actual opinions.”

Al Franken

Democrat

United States Senator Al Franken will be speaking at assembly on Tuesday October 30.

Franken was elected Senator in 2008, after a close race with ex-Senetor Norman Coleman.

While searching for the third assembly speaker, Upper School Principal Chris Hughes hoped to find someone who could be “a counterpoint to Tim Pawlenty and somewhere around the same stature,” Hughes said.

To read full stories on the political presenters, go to rubiconline.com

A ro u n d To w n

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXIX. Issue II.

13

Not your grandma’s

haunted house The Haunted Basement incoporates art and fear in their haunting, multi-sensoral experience

All Photos Used with Permission by The Soap Factory Located in the basement of the art gallery The Soap Factory in Minneapolis, The Haunted Basement is no ordinary haunted house. ““I do all the special effects for the gore, but even I won’t come down here alone,” said makeup artist Brett Dorrian in an interview with the Star Tribune.

“At every turn, visitors are faced with a grotesque perversion of the mundane, turning everyday actions into fresh terrors. With inspiration drawn from personal experiences and commonplace moments, The Haunted Basement is real life twisted on itself, pushing the boundaries of Art and Theatre. Each visitor is the protagonist in their own unique horror story, choosing between options and discovering how long they can last before their courage fails them”

-The Soap Factory online

Ellie Fuelling

r

A&E Editor

You smell the familiar scent of dry ice fog, see the flickering lights of a strobe light, and hear a far off scream and elaborate cackle. It’s hard to forget the unmistakable sensations of a haunted house.

With locations all over the state, haunted houses are impossible to avoid this time of year, and students are preparing their screams for this Halloween tradition. Of course, here are certain expectations for haunted houses. Dark hallways with spooky performers lining the walls. Maybe a ghost will jump out of a dark corner, maybe a witch will stir green goop in a cauldron. These haunted house stereotypes are broken by The Haunted Basement, the immersive

and terrifying experience lurking in the basement of The Soap Factory.

This year, The Soap Factory will make fears come to life with the sixth annual Haunted Basement. Attracting more than 10,000 people through dark, dingy and boweled hallways, The Haunted Basement combines art and fear in this elaborate performance with a series of grotesque encounters.

The Haunted Basement takes place in a century-old building currently gutted out by the project’s artistic director. According to Tom Lotus, one of the five directors in an interview with the Star Tribune, “We’re calling it back-tobasics. What generally makes the Basement scary is the fact that it’s just a creepy basement.” Located between the Soap Factory’s fine art gallery, the Haunted Basement is transformed into a creepy, spine-

chilling world.

Despite her past experiences with haunted houses, senior Melanie Luikart is one of the many excited to buy tickets for the scarest place in town. “I don’t know how I’m going to survive,” said Luikart. Luikart had a spooky experience with her friend at the State Fair haunted house last year.

“We were really scared because that [haunted house] can be really creepy, you’ve got to admit,” Luikart said. While passing by a row of ghoulish performers, one reached out a hand to grab them.

“We both freaked out because we were really on edge. My friend ran screaming through the rest of the hallway and out the door and I crawled all the way out.” This did not deter Luikart from enjoying haunted houses who said she likes them because of “the adrenaline,

Actors go through a series of workshops to learn how to walk, talk and scare vunerable visitors. “People feel safer in larger groups,” Loftus said. “We want people to feel isolated and alone,” said Haunted Basement director Tom Lotus in a Star Tribune interview.

that’s always fun. And seeing the scared faces on your friends.”

This haunting experience runs from October 5th to the 31st and before entering, every brave soul must sign a waiver stating, “I understand that there are risks and dangers inherent in participating in The Soap Factory Haunted Basement including, but not limited to, risk of personal injury or damage to clothing and possessions resulting from walking through a

basement area in semi-darkness, flashing lights, strobe lights, low frequency sound, electric shocks, strong smells, physical contact, dirt, disturbing and adult content.”

Check out other, less involved haunted houses around the Twin Cities including Deadview Cemetery, Scream Town, and Dreadwood Haunted Forest. Create your own haunted house memories this year, if you dare.

14 A r t s & E n t e r t a i n m e n t October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

The Art of showcasing in a school

The painting “Lighthouse” by former SPA student Andre Mohring hangs in the hallway between the Summit center and the art wing.

Hannah Johnson

r

Sports Editor/ Broadcast

Just like the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, St. Paul Academy and Summit School is filled with an abundance of artwork. The unique and diverse pieces are scattered everywhere around the campus from the dining hall to the library. Like many other students, junior Emma Chang noticed that the artwork seems to rarely change.

“I think I’ve seen the same ones since I came here in seventh grade,” Chang said.

Though it may seem that way, the artwork around the school is always shifting and changing.

Fine Arts Department Chair Marty Nash knows that displaying artwork around the school is a lengthy and rigorous process. Nash inherited this important job nearly 25 years ago. “I think of myself as the curator of this museum, this large museum,” Nash said. “I am very careful about what I choose to put up.” Nash explained that much of the decisions about which art to put up has to do with the size of pieces and what kind of artwork

Photo Credit: Ellie Fuelling The senior hallway is lined with student artwork. “I am very careful about what I choose to put up,” Fine Arts Department Chair Marty Nash said.

faculty are looking for.

The mediums of art around the school include paintings, drawings, photographs and pottery. Nash explained that the pieces are a mix of professional work and student work. Most of the professional work is obtained from workshops SPA has held in the past three decades, while others are from Nash’s personal art collection from students who became professional artists.

“I think there’s a real egalitarian aspect to the work because the student work is so good you don’t always know what is student work and what is professional work,” Nash said.

With many other budding artists in the art program, there are many pieces that have potential to be shown around the school. Student artwork is featured in the Art and Literature Magazine and the school’s website. Many SPA art students have also won the Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards, including class of 2012 alum Ella Coon, and received recognition in the other prestigious art competitions.

Junior Eduardo Flores had his pottery featured in last year’s Art and Literature Magazine. “It was

“

I think of myself as the curator of this museum.

Fine Arts Department Chair Marty Nash nice to have my work recognized by peers who also received the magazine,” Flores said. “It’d be nice to have it again in the magazine.”

Nash understands this desire and said that there are many opportunities for student artists.

Around the school are designated boards and areas for student artwork, including one in the Senior hallway. Nash keeps plenty of student work left in the art department, as she uses some as class example and saves others for galleries

Photo Credit: Hannah Johnson Junior Eduardo Flores creates pottery in his ceramics class. Flores’ artwork has been showcased in the Art and Literature Magazine. “It was nice to have my work recognized by peers who also received the magazine,” Flores said.

and to be displayed. Every year, SPA also hosts two major student art shows, a student art student show in December and the Senior Seminar show in May. Both private and public spaces can see a steady rotation of artwork, depending on the faculty member. “There’s a lot of rotation that goes on in private offices in a way that students don’t always see.”

Nash said. “Different people have different tastes, and they want different things, so they choose.” Artwork in public spaces such as the library change often when there is

a new librarian. The new College Counseling area is also the home to a new arrangement of artwork.

“The new College Counseling space has a couple of paintings in it that have been in other places,” Nash said, adding that she will add more art to the area.

Nash noted that the ISACS visitors who reviewed SPA last year praised the high quality of art. SPA students agree that the artworks brings an enjoyable atmosphere to the school.

Muse’s new album, The 2nd Law, lacks clear direction Album

Review Ibad Jafri

r

Used with permission from muse.mu Muse lead singer and guitarist Matthew Bellamy and drummer Dominic Howard perform songs from their album The 2nd Law in the music hall Olympia in Paris, France on Oct. 2.

Managing Editor Online Editor-in-Chief

For nearly 20 years, British rock band Muse has been pumping out tunes to satisfy—and occasionally befuddle—American audiences.

Their newest album, The 2nd Law, could prove to do a little of both.

This project, though not as ambitious or ground-breaking as Muse’s acclaimed 2001 album Origin of Symmetry, is above-average, mostly.

The 2nd Law begins with “Supremacy,” a moody, opera-inspired jam that evokes some of Muse’s better moments. “Wake to see your true emancipation is a fantasy,” la-

ments front man Matthew Bellamy in a track that is familiar territory for this band.

But “Supremacy” is far from this album’s standout track. That title would have to go to “Madness.” Here, Muse embraces more of Bellamy’s vocal capabilities and avoids overdoing the doom and gloom that seems to permeate a great deal of their work. A techno backing riff not only does a good job complementing Bellamy, but does a great deal to showcase how this band has developed in what has become a rapidly-changing music industry. By infusing their music with a modern dance beat, Muse has shown an ability to adapt to this scene.

The strong performances continue in “Panic Station.” This track features prominent funk rock influences, and was recorded with musicians who played on Stevie Wonder’s famed “Superstition.” It is highly refreshing to hear Bellamy

part with his whispering falsetto and instead roar, “You’ve arrived at panic station!” Indeed, Bellamy puts all his talents on display and does not disappoint.

However, aside from a few tracks, Muse’s attempts to boldly go where they have not gone before do not end particularly successfully. The album suffers from its inconsistency.

“Survival,” known as the theme song of the 2012 London Olympics, suffers from being a corny attempt at an aggressive rock anthem due to its cheap, commercialistic nature and campy lyrics.

The album closes with the large-scale, operatic “The 2nd Law: Unsustainable,” followed by “The 2nd Law: Isolated System.” Both ultimately embody both sound and fury, signifying nothing, in a fitting end to an ultimately insubstantial album. Perhaps Muse needs another Muse.

Ar ts & Enter tainment

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

15

Halloween costumes come from classic movie characters For anyone stuck on what Halloween costume to wear, check out these no-hassle movie character costumes Liz Rossman

r

Around Town

Batman. Dorothy. Spiderman.

What do all these things have in common, besides crazy enemies out to get them? They are probably the most conventional Halloween costumes anyone is bound to see on Oct. 31. Why be conventional when you can be original? Take a favorite movie character, create

a costume, and have one of the most original Halloween costumes that will have compliments flowing your way.

In the St. Paul Academy Lower and Middle Schools, an all-school assembly is held every year in order to acknowledge the crazy, fun and adorable costumes children are wearing. The best ones, usually homemade, possess a kind of spunk and originality that just can’t be found in a Party America store or sprawled across a Target catalog.

Although dressing up for Halloween is usually celebrated by younger children, having a quick and easy Halloween costume is necessary for any Halloween party. Take a look at this collection of Halloween costumes based on classic, notable, and original characters that may only take a little searching through closets and some makeup to throw together. And who knows? One of these Halloween costume ideas may even win a prize for best original costume.

Jim Stark Rebel Without a Cause Dying to wear a classic 50s rebel look, but can’t find the time or place for it at school? Don’t fret! James Dean’s notable get-up of washed-out jeans, a cuffed white T-shirt, slicked-back hair, and shined shoes from the 1955 movie Rebel Without a Cause may be the best costume you can make in the shortest amount of time. A classic look that has inspired most men’s designer collections such as Calvin Klein and DSquared, take Halloween as the opportunity to look handsome while also crediting and honoring one of the edgiest men in cinema history.

Margot Tenembaum The Royal Tenenbaums

Jim Stark

For fans of director Wes Anderson’s recent production Moonrise Kingdom, making a costume an homage to one of the greatest indie-cult films The Royal Tenembaums is a must-wear this Halloween. Packed with an all-star cast including Bruce Willis, Ben Stiller and Angelica Huston, just to name a few, this classic film is filled with awkward and notable characters that can be fit into a costume in a matter of minutes. Played by Gwyneth Paltrow, Margot Tenembaum is always featured in her classic blonde bob, deep eye-liner and tan fur coat.

Mia Wallace

Juno MacGuff Juno Earning Ellen Page a Best-Actress Oscar nomination, Juno is the perfect character for those who have always wanted to know what it would be like to walk around pregnant, without having to become pregnant. Thankfully, baby bump pads are cheap and if you don’t have time to run to your nearest costume outlet you can always substitute a pillow to achieve the same effect. Throw on some scrapped and torn jeans, a disheveled zip hoody and a striped shirt on the inside (preferably candy-orange striped) and you’ve got your Juno costume down. Throw in a hamburger phone for that extra-special effect.

Mia Wallace Pulp Fiction

Juno MacGuff

Uma Thurman has never looked so femme-fatale outside of her notable Kill Bill yellow jumpsuit. But her role as the anxious and drug-addicted wife Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction is perfect for fans of the prolific writer and director Quentin Tarantino. All you need for this chill and relaxed femme-fatale look is a black bob, black dress and black shoes with a little heel. Want to be a little risky? Practice your “do-the-twist” dance to fully complete your costume. Thurman’s tough Kill Bill demeanor might have to take a break this Halloween night to make room for her just-as-excellent character Mia Wallace.

Margot Tenembaum All illustrations Credit: Liz Rossman

How to rehearse A Midsummer Night’s Dream in three stages Stage 2 Blocking Play rehearsal for the fall production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is in full swing. Actors highlight scripts, memorize lines and block stage fights. For those who have never performed or been involved in SPA theater, the process that lasts for months can be broken down into three stages, the read-through, blocking, and run-throughs. That’s how the magic happens, how actors end up pouring their hearts out on stage and how the curtain rises on opening night.

Photo Credit: Nick Scott

Photo Credit: Ellie Fuelling Senior Sophia Myers-Kelley highlights her lines at a read-through of the fall play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream along with sophomore Halsey Moe, senior Andy Monserud, sophomore Evan Leduc and junior Emily Ross. Read-throughs involve reading the entire script and getting a feel for the flow and timing of the show. “Read throughs are important because it introduces you to the interactions you’ll be making with other actors,” Myers-Kelley said.

Stage

1

Read-through

Photo Credit: Nick Scott Senior Claire Flom-Staab writes down directions on where to walk while going through a scene. “Blocking helps to find the motivation for different lines and movements. I have a much better idea of what is happening and what I am trying to say by walking through the scenes,” FlomStaab said.

US English teacher and theater director Eric Severson feeds lines to actors during a run-through of the fall play. Run-throughs mean performing the whole play from beginning to end first with scripts and then without, until the final dress rehearsal. Then it’s showtime.

Junior Connor Allen, who plays Thisbe in the production, is happy to now be a part of the US fall play. “Being a part of the play, you use rehearsal to practice and get to know people better,” Allen said. “I’ve noticed that, similar to being a part of the basketball team, it’s also a good way of getting to know people that you might not interact with on a regular basis.”

Stage

3

Run-through

16 Fe a t u r e

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

Book Fest speaker knows how to rock Music journalist to speak on book about The Replacements Ava Gallagher

rIllustration/ Weekly Comic

Everyone has that band: that one band whose music hits them right in the heart, whose persona appeals so fiercely to them somehow, whose overall existence inspires and means the world to them. Their music becomes the soundtrack of life and replays freiquently in their mind. The connection is unbreakable, and the love is fervent and forever.

For this year’s Book Fest speaker Jim Walsh, this band is, handsdown, The Replacements. Among many other accomplishments, Walsh wrote a book on The Replacements entitled All Over but the Shouting covering the band’s history and legacy.

Originating in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979, The Replacements captivated punk-rock listeners with their raw image and “heart-on-the-sleeve” rock songs sung by a man Walsh refers to as “one of the greatest songwriters to ever let it bleed,” Paul Westerberg.

Even after their breakup in 1991,

their legacy lives on through loyal and loving fans like Walsh.

“They’re my all-time favorite band. I love a lot of music and bands, but The Replacements were built for me…to this day, they’re the best live rock and roll band I’ve ever seen.” Walsh said.

He admires the fact that “they were real, raw, insane, drunk, and insanely unpredictable,” but the root of his love is, of course, the band’s music: “More than anything though, I loved the songs. Still do.”

Walsh said.

His book covers the story of the band beginning to end, including the facts as well as some of the “mystery” and “unfinished business” that the biography’s title conveys.

The Replacements were among Walsh’s inspirations to become a musician himself. He is a guitarist, recording artist, songwriter, producer, performer and instigator of the Mad Ripple Hootenanny (Mad Ripple is his song writing alias and band name). He has made two CDs, Her Tattoos Could Sail Ships and Sink and/or Swim and is currently writing music for a new al-

bum entitled Coal Miner’s Grandson.

For his writing, Walsh won the Best Critic Award at the Minnesota Music Awards in 1991. As well as writing and publishing All Over but the Shouting, Walsh works as a freelance columnist and reporter for the Southwest Journal.

“I love writing for my neighborhood newspaper. I have a great editor, and I write about whatever comes to mind, and I get to tell lots of stories about my neighbors, friends, and strangers,” Walsh said.

He views the experience of writing as different from writing a journalistic story: “Writing a book is a more concentrated project,” Walsh said. “It is many narratives wrapped into one.” For Walsh, “both are equally enjoyable.”

Inspired specifically by St. Paul Academy and Summit School students’ endless and stressful drive for success, Walsh wrote a column for the Southwest Journal entitled “Namaste Now!” aimed at convincing young adults to find inner peace and to stop and smell the roses every now and again.

He also wrote a column on the new MTV series “Underem-

ployed” based loosely on an SPA graduate who is undergoing the hard economic times of the present. The series aims at getting the point across that money does not buy happiness and that to achieve happiness, one must find purpose within the self rather than count on money to solve all problems.

Along with the album Coal Miner’s Grandson, Walsh is currently working on a memoir about his life as a musician and music listener -- a book about the early days of the Minneapolis punk scene.

He is a husband and father of two, plays basketball in his free time, and is “honored to be speaking, reading, and playing a few tunes to the students of St. Paul Academy to kick off their Book Festival week.”

Jim Walsh, author, musician, and Book Fest speaker, plays guitar on his back porch.

Walsh, who wrote The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting (2009), idolizes the band.

“They were real, raw, insane, drunk, and unpredictable,” he said of the Minneapolis punk quartet.

No fault in John Green’s The Fault in our Stars

Cancer-centered young adult novel a work of great emotion

Lucy Li

r

Cover Story Editor

BOOK

Review John Green’s young adult novel, The Fault in Our Stars, is not a typical cancer story, because according to its main character, Hazel, “cancer books suck.” Published in January 2012 and on The New York Times Best Seller List seven weeks in a row, this book is Green’s fourth novel.

The Fault in Our Stars tells a tale of a love triangle concerning sixteen-year-old terminal cancer patient Hazel Lancaster, her bone cancer survivor boyfriend Augustus Waters, and the universe.

Hazel and Gus meet at a cancer support group, and after a movie and an exchange of books, quickly fall in love. Gus uses his “Wish,” granted by a Make-A-Wish-esque

charity, on a trip to Amsterdam with Hazel. There, they meet with the author of Hazel’s favorite book, Peter Van Houten, in order to find out how the story ends after the death of the book’s main character. However, the trip doesn’t turn out too well, and soon after, the countdown of their love story begins.

Overall, The Fault in Our Stars shines with brilliance, and it’d be no surprise if later editions have a heavy list of awards plastered all over their front and back covers.

Green presents Hazel and Gus as very insightful, funny, and intelligent teenagers, so when either one ends up in the ICU or some similar emergency, readers can’t help but think that the pair are completely undeserving of their suffering. Hazel’s teenage angst often peels back to reveal a kind heart, such as how she doesn’t want her dying self to be a “grenade” to the friends and family around her.

Even the secondary characters, Hazel’s parents and her blind friend Isaac, have quirks that lighten up the book’s star-crossed tragedy. Green doesn’t force the cliché

inspiration of cancer patient characters onto readers or drag Hazel and Gus’s relationship until it turns sappy, which enhances the book’s ability to enchant its readers.

Although they’re barely clinging onto life itself, Hazel and Gus often talk about bigger-than-life topics, such as the reciprocal needs of people and the universe to be noticed by each other. When Van Houten steps into the story, conversations meander all the way to philosophical paradoxes and multiple infinities. This profusion of questions, metaphors, and meanings of life may annoy or confuse certain readers, but Green successfully explains them through teens’ voices.

The book starts off with an unremarkable ordinary-lookinggirl-meets-hot-boy scenario and sometimes Hazel’s use of “and whatever” at the end of her sentences mars the ideas she narrates.

Still, the good outweighs the bad.

Readers won’t feel bummed by the end but instead enlightened and content.

Green has written three other novels on his own: Looking for

John Green: By the Numbers short stories published

1008

videos posted on YouTube, with his brother

Average views per video Used with permission from John Green New York Times bestselling author John Green wrote The Fault in Their Stars. It is his fifth novel, counting a co-authored work.

Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and Paper Towns. He also cowrote Will Grayson, Will Grayson.

He is an active YouTube vlogger and the founder of the Nerdfighters internet community. The Fault in Our Stars will be sold at the St. Paul Academy and Summit School Book Fest.

5

5 web-certified Nerdfighters worldwide

$1,408,000

250,000

novels published

82,704 raised for Kiva Microloans by Nerdfighers

Fe a t u r e 17 October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II.

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

Rapper Brother Ali dreams in color Minnepolis artist addresses politics and equality Timeline of Brother Ali 1977: Ali is born in Madison, Wisconsin.

1992: Ali’s family settles in Minneapolis.

2000: Ali signs with Rhymesayers and releases a demo album.

2003: Ali records his first album, Shadows on the Sun. 2007: Ali releases The Undisputed Truth. The controversial political lyrics cause Verizon to pull funding from his tour.

2008: Ali gets married.

2009: Ali releases Us to critical acclaim.

2012: Ali’s Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color is released.

Ibad Jafri

r

Managing Editor Online Editor-in-Chief

“How long has it been since I last saw you? A whole year? Man, why don’t you ever call me?” exclaims critically-acclaimed Twin Cities-based rapper Brother Ali. This gregariousness is familiar to anyone who knows Ali, in spite of the fact that his music has begun dealing with increasingly deep topics that have forced him to do a great deal of soul searching.

“After going to Makkah [to complete an Islamic pilgrimage], things really changed for me,” says the man formerly known as Jason Newman, who converted to Islam 20 years ago.

Ali has been successful locally the past few years. His previous two records have gained him an enthused fanbase and a permanent place at the local hip-hop table. His latest album, Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, has only added good news to his impressive resume. He’s been living quite publicly as an advocate for the tornado-devastated North Side of Minneapolis as well as the local islamic community.

Ali’s religious leanings have always influenced his artwork, but his newest album showcases a host of previously-unseen messages from the nationally-known artist.

Ali uses his new track “Fajr” as a

Used with permission from Rhymesayers Entertainment Brother Ali poses for the cover of Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color using an American flag as an Islamic prayer mat. Ali’s work is socially and politically conscious, but his latest album is especially so. A Tribe Called Quest rapper Ali Shaheed Muhammed told Ali, “Your message is so much bigger than just the words you’re using.”

podium from which to bash rampant inequality in the United States.

He also roars against homophobia and regrets his use of slurs on previous albums.

“A bunch of mothers came to me in Chicago and said, “Ali, we love your music; we play it to our kids all the time!’ And around then I started thinking, ‘Wow, there are some really bad words in there.’”

As a result, Ali’s latest album, features far less profanity than his past works. “There’s obviously a little bit [of profanity] in there because I need to tell it like it is, but there’s a lot less than before.”

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims around the world fast from sunup till sundown, also had some degree of influence. “It’s hard to rap in

Ramadan because you need to stay hydrated, but I definitely wrote some songs.”

The emotional clarity that these recent experiences have endowed Ali with have allowed him to arrive at a wealth of conclusions about his music.

Ali’s political influences are clear from the album’s lyrics. The title is a reference to President Reagan’s famous declaration, “It’s morning again in America.”

His lyrics take aim at American militarization and the war on terror as well as the stagnant economy and social movements like the Tea Party.

Ali was also influenced by his friends as he began to make his music more socially-conscious: “I was talking to [fellow rapper] Ali Shaheed Muhammad of [rap group] A Tribe Called Quest,” Ali recalled. “He told me, ‘Your message is so much bigger than the words you’re using.’ Now I’m just trying to best represent what I’m trying to say.”

Judging by both positive and negative enthusiastic responses to the messages prominently featured on this most recent album, it looks as though Ali has succeeded.

Ali’s Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color is available in record stores around the Twin Cities, including the shop of Rhymesayers’ parent company Fifth Element.

Peer Helpers work to improve student life Hannah Johnson

r Sports Editor/ Broadcast

Walk up to the fourth floor on Wednesday during X-Period and an eruption of giggles and silly anecdotes can be heard from the Wellness room. Here, Peer Helpers group is starting off their meeting by catching up with each other’s days. The Peer Helpers are more than just an elected Wednesday group; they help the student community address and resolve many issues that high schoolers experience.

The group will be adding a new batch of students this fall. Junior Peer Helper Yusra Murad said that the group of fourteen students, will add nine to ten new Peer Helpers who are well-fit for the position: “Everyone is incredibly caring, open, generous, kind, sympathetic, empathetic, [and] funny,” she said.

Peer Helpers has been around for a long time. However, transitioning between several Upper School counselors -- three in the past 5 years -- has made it hard for the group to retain stability. Under Ms. Short, however, the group has expanded its abilities.

A main goal of the Peer Helpers group is to provide a support system for students who need someone to talk to or get advice from. Senior Peer Helper Nick Zelle said that students can talk to a Peer Helper about “any stress or current or persisting issues that are in their grades or in their personal life.” He also said that meeting with a Peer Helper is very laid back and informal.

Peer Helpers advisor and Upper School Counselor Susanna Short explained that Peer Helpers is a way to reach out and relate to students in a way she can sometimes not do herself as an adult.

Short will match a Peer Helper she thinks can relate to the student needing guidance: “I’m a little bit of a matchmaker in that way.”

Short said.

Other students meet Peer Helpers by approaching them directly, either in their role on the student group or as friends. Issues they bring up are most frequently stress-related, followed by clashes with authority.

Short explained that the Peer Helpers can be very helpful to struggling peers and are there to help a student get through a hard time. “Peer Helpers definitely take the role seriously and if there is

someone in their grade they think is struggling or is having a hard time, they definitely bring that to my attention,” Short said.

Besides addressing issues going on in each grade, the Peer Helpers discuss other important topics that relate to the school community. Some of these topics have included sleep health and eating nutrition. This year, especially, the group has made it a priority to focus on eating disorders and their treatment. The Peer Helpers group also sponsors Random Act of Kindness Week, when activities like free ice cream floats help lower students’ stress during Finals.

Many students would also be surprised to know that the Peer Helpers work hard on many of the school’s programs and retreats.

“For retreats or for other programming, they are one group of go-to people that have a high level of trust that they are [going to] be supportive, they are going to know how to facilitate, and they are going to be inclusive,” Short said.

Though much of the Peer Helpers’ work goes on behind the scenes, they leave an impact on the community. There is always a friend waiting for any student who needs one.

Photos credit: Hannah Johnson Peer Helpers [right, clockwise from left) Alida Mitau, Clare McGlincey, Claire Samuelson, Jordan Hughes, Yusra Murad, and Dani Tiedemann sit together at one of their Wednesday meetings. The group provides support for students to discuss any issues they might have.

Please leave suggestions for the Peer Helpers in the “Comments” section of this story at The Rubicon Online - www.rubiconline.com

18 S p o r t s

St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue II

Photo submitted by David Matenaer Sophomores Evva Parsons, Katiana Taubenberger and Jackie Olson cheer on their SPARKS teammate Joelle Destache at a recent conference swim meet at Humboldt High School. “We’ve seen some really good swims from [tapering],” Assistant coach Anna Voltmer said.

SPARKS swim team begins annual taper

Team trains with high hopes for sections, possibly state

“

Swimmers CAN eat:

I think more people are going to make it to finals and possibly even state. senior captain Joelle Destache

Photo submitted by David Matenaer Senior captain Joelle Destache comes up for air during the breaststroke. “We have such a great team this year,” Destache said.

Aditi Kulkarni

r

Editor-in-Chief

After a strong start to the season, the girls swim team is rounding the corner and about to embark on the final leg of their season’s journey- the taper.

The taper consists of three parts: the first is to eat healthy, the second is to ban physical activity outside of swimming, and the third is to get mentally prepared for the meet. “We do [taper] so that we swim faster at sections because our muscles will have the time to recover and our bodies will be healthier after eating healthier,” senior captain Joelle Destache said.

“Tapering makes a huge difference in sections because in the regular season meets we are usu-

ally sore and tired from our hard workouts, but tapering allows us to rest up so we are in peak shape for sections,” freshman Cait Gibbons said.

“We decrease the workload,” assistant swim coach Anna Voltmer said. “We still practice everyday, the frequency that we do stuff is still the same, and the intensity is still the same, but we’re just practicing less yardage.” “[Taper] helps them not only from a physical standpoint when they feel more energized but also from a mental standpoint because they feel like they’re recovered and ready to go and it helps overall with their performances, Voltmer said. “We’ve seen some really good swims from it.”

This year, the Varsity taper will begin on Oct. 27 and end when

sections occur in mid-November.

“For the most part, taper is actually easier than the regular season, but it’s difficult because we have to be more careful about everything we do,” Gibbons said.

Tapering is not exclusive to swimming; it is a traditional practice in many long endurance sports just before a big race occurs.

Within swimming, the length of tapering depends on what type of swimmer one is. “I taper for about 2-2 1/2 weeks and I am a distance swimmer,” Gibbons said. “I taper for longer than a [sprinter swimmer], who would only taper for about 1-1 1/2 weeks.”

The team has high hopes for their postseason results. “We have such a great team this year,” Destache said. “We’re doing better than we ever have and I believe

sections is going to be great this year. I think more people are going to make it to finals and possibly even state.”

Conference swimming began on Oct. 15, culminating with Section Finals through Nov 9. State competition is held at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center Nov. 15-17.

Can’t get enough sports?

The Rubicon Online posts up to date game scores, special features, and team news.

Lean protein Fruits Vegetables Salads Nuts Milk Water Juice They can NOT eat:

Candy Ice Cream Simple carbs Proteins Potato chips Donuts Hamburgers Bacon Soda

Spor ts St. Paul Academy and Summit School

October 2012. Vol XXXX. Issue I.I

19

No time off for Girls Varsity Tennis Play in the off season brings experience and talent to successful team Ava Gallagher

r

Illustrator/ Staff Writer

The Girls Varsity Tennis team had quite a successful season with nine wins out of the sixteen games they played. After winning against teams such as DeLaSalle, St. Paul Central Senior High School, Cretin-Derham Hall, and Minnehaha Academy, coaches and players look back on the season proudly.

So what is it that makes these girls so ready to win? What is it that makes the SPA tennis team real competition? Girls Varsity players explained what goes into being truly prepared for a season full of wins, attributing much of their skill to off-season practicing and work.

In comparison to playing during the school season, the offseason can either be a more active or relaxed time. Junior Sonya Das jumps right into more playing time and practice. “In the off-season, I get to train on my own time and

fit much more practice and tournaments into my schedule, so naturally that would be very beneficial.”

Das said.

For junior tennis player Alida Mitau, the off-season is a temporary break from the structured schedules of the school season, “Directly after the tennis season I usually take a little break from tennis and will play pretty irregularly for maybe about a month or so.” Mitau said. However, after this more relaxed play, Mitau goes right back to rigorous and intense workouts. After the school season ends she plans on committing to a long term program. “This year I’m planning on hitting with Danny Wilson’s college prep group at Baseline tennis center twice a week. This is a group of pretty intensive players and it is supposed to prep players for college tennis,” Mitau said.

The group continues through the winter, spring and summer.

In addition to playing in Wilson’s

Submitted Photo: Sonya Das Junior Sonya Das returns a deep hit from an opponent in an intense match. “It’s been such a valuable experience to learn to be part of a team,” Das said.

group, Mitau plans to participate in a few USTA [United States Tennis Association] tournaments to “improve [her] match play.”

For both Das and Mitau, playing outside of school has great benefits that they attribute much of their success as tennis players to. “For me, outside of school is where I am able to improve my strokes, consistency, conditioning, and anything else that I want to work on through an extensive amount of time,” Mitau said. Das agreed, saying, “my training during the off-season is definitely the reason for a lot of my improvements.

I can work with my coach one on one to fix any technical errors in

my strokes or game.” Das plays many USTA tournaments and has a personal trainer for more help to make her an even better all around tennis player. “I also train with a lot of my tennis friends at the Lifetime Fitness in Fridley, where I can get more point-play practice and I train with my personal trainer.”

Das said.

Both girls regard the school season as being much more of a team effort than the off-season.

“It’s different during the season because practice and matches shift from an individual to a team effort.

It’s been such a valuable experience to learn to be part of a team,” Das said. Mitau thinks of playing

Rowing gaining popularity

Senior Reid Kett (third from left), began rowing with the Minneapolis Rowing Club because of how close he lived to the Mississippi River. “My love has developed much more since the start,” Kett said.

Many SPA students involved in the intense sport Saif Ahmed

r

Columnist/Blogger

You may have seen the United States rowing team triumph at the Olympic Games in London this summer, you may have sung the classic children’s song “Row Your Boat,” but have you experienced rowing firsthand?

During the fall season of sports comprised of popular sports such as soccer, tennis, and cross country, other non-traditional sports get left out of the spotlight. Unbeknownst to a vast majority of the school’s population, St. Paul Academy and Summit School boasts the presence of hard-working and diligent rowers.

Rowing is the art of racing in a body of water ranging from lakes to rivers and even as far as the ocean. The sport consists of 1 to 8 people with an oar for each of them. It is an extremely difficult sport that involves more than just arm muscles, which is far from the true essence of rowing.

Senior Reid Kett has been rowing for five years. Having been a member of the Minneapolis Rowing Club for this long, he developed a true appreciation for the art of rowing. “Rowing is a mixture of cardio, strength, and overall stamina,” Kett said. “I started rowing

because I live close to the river and it seemed interesting, mainly because it is a unique sport that not many people do. But my love has developed so much more since my start.”

“

The first year is tough but once you get into it all the hard work pays off. junior Ellen Samuelson But the sport of rowing is not only for males. Junior Ellen Samuelson started rowing because of a push from her dad to join the Minneapolis Rowing Club. “I started with Minneapolis Rowing Club and didn’t like it and thought I didn’t want to row,” Samuelson said. “But then my friend told me about their team Twin Cities Youth Rowing so I joined and have been on it for three years and love it.“ Kett explained that practice can

get really intense. “We start at 7:30 in the morning and go until 10:00,” Kett said. “It has gotten so difficult I threw up a couple times. Rowing is some hard work, at least for me it is.” Samuelson agreed that the work is pretty difficult. “My coaches compel me to continue rowing, they inspire me a lot, and I really like that all the work I put into it always pays off,” Samuelson said. “It’s challenging and I really like everyone on the team, they are some of my favorite people.”

Samuelson urges people who are considering joining to actually do it. “I’d recommend it to anyone considering joining,” Samuelson said. “The first year is tough but once you get into it all the hard work pays off.”

If you are considering joining and want more information, feel free to visit the websites of the two large rowing clubs, “Minneapolis Rowing Club” and “Twin Cities Youth Rowing.” Clubs meet yearround, rain or shine. In the winter when the water is frozen, more time is spent inside training and conditioning; most of the time in other seasons is spent in the water actually rowing. Be prepared to put in a lot of energy and hours into rowing.

during the school season as “more fun” than the off-season, saying that she enjoys getting to “work as a team, bond with the other team members and share memorable experiences.”

After this school season, it is clear that the tennis team came well-prepared to represent their school. Much of this success results from off-season organizations and tournaments, while the school season provides a close bond and sense of teamwork these players love.

Minneapolis Rowing Club http://www.mplsrowing. org/ Junior and Adult Programs Boathouse on Missisippi River in Minneapolis

Submitted Photo: Reid Kett

Junior Ellen Samuelson (second from right) made amazing friends from joining the Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club. “It’s challenging and I really like everyone on the team, they are some of my favorite people,” Samuelson said.

Twin Cities Youth Rowing http://tcyrc.org/ Offer year-round competitive program along with Learn to Row Clinics Train at Bryant Lake Park in Eden Prairie

Submitted Photo: Ellen Samuelson

#3Peat

Boys Varsity Soccer team headed back to state third year in a row

All Photos Credit: Aditi Kulkarni Senior captain Cameron Causey leads the team in a warm-up before their game against Minnehaha Academy. The Spartans won 2-1, and advanced to sections. On Tuesday, Oct. 16, they played the Academy of Holy Angels and won in penalty kicks, after being down 0-1. “I’m really proud of how our team didn’t give up even when we were losing,” senior Peter Wood said. “We are going to take that same mentality into the State Tournament.”

Bottom Left: Captain Ben Braman prepares himself during halftime. “It’s a surreal feeling being one of the top eight teams in the state,” he said. “I hope we can continue our success throughout the tournament.”

Middle Right: Captain Cameron Causey takes a header on goal in the team’s game against Minnehaha Academy. “It feels really good to be undefeated,” Causey said. “This year is our chance to win it all.”

Bottom Right: The starting 11 do their famed “Lemani Lemani” cheer before taking their places on the field.