the
RUBICON the student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Avenue - Saint Paul, MN 55105 Volume 45. Issue 2. October 23, 2017
St Paul Mayoral Race, News 2 Challenge yourself to change the world, Opinions 6 Ford Plant, In Depth 8-9 Exclusive with Ilhan Omar, Back Cover
got politics? Get informed.
IN THIS ISSUE: 2-3 NEWS • 4-6 EDITORIAL/OPINIONS • 7 SCI/TECH • 8-9 IN DEPTH • 10-11 FEATURE • 12-13 A&E•14-15 SPORTS • 16 BACK COVER
2
N ews
DESIGN CREDIT: Jonah Harrison
With the upcoming St. Paul Mayoral race (News 2), and highly contested Ford Plant Plan (Opinions 5 and In Depth 8,9), local politics dominate student conversations.
the
RUBICON the student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Avenue - Saint Paul, MN 55105 Volume 45. Issue 2. October 23, 2017
St Paul Mayoral Race, News 2 Challenge yourself to change the world, Opinions 6 Ford Plant, In Depth 8-9 Exclusive with Ilhan Omar, Back Cover
got politics? Get informed.
GSA hosts series of activities for National Coming Out Day
October 11th was National Coming Out day, and GSA had posters where students could write their own experiences. “Coming out can be a difficult process for a lot of people and we want everyone to know that the community can be supportive,” junior Zoe Hermer-Cisek said. Read more at
IN THIS ISSUE: 2-3 NEWS • 4-6 EDITORIAL/OPINIONS • 7 SCI/TECH • 8-9 IN DEPTH • 10-11 FEATURE • 12-13 A&E•14-15 SPORTS • 16 BACK COVER
RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Mimi Geller
THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
SUBMITTED PHOTO: Melvin Carter, Pat Harris , Dai Thao, Tim Holden Tom Goldstein and Elizabeth Dickinson taken from website LOOKING AHEAD. (Left to right) St. Paul Mayoral candidates Melvin Carter, Pat Harris, Dai Thao, Tom Goldstein, Elizabeth Dickinson and Tim Holden are the six candidates running for mayor this year. They all share the common goals of investing in the future of St. Paul through parks, schools and public transportation.
Mayoral race will decide the future vision of St. Paul JACK BENSON
The Rubicon Editor
Some seniors will cast their first vote in the Saint Paul mayoral race Nov. 7. The results of this election will impact education, construction, parks, and transportation to name a few issues that impact all. When St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced his plans to run for Governor of Minnesota, the opportunity for a new Mayor was opened. Six candidates have since taken on this opportunity. All of them liberally leaning, St. Paul Academy and Summit School students may be interested in their goals to reinvest in St. Paul’s parks, transit, libraries and schools. But, each candidate has a unique vision for the future of St. Paul.
Pat Harris is a Saint Paul native, Senior Vice President at BMO Harris Bank and has been a City Councilmember for 12 years. He has a focus on improving safety through the police, improving public education and creating jobs. He emphasises that the improvement of parks and libraries will directly raise the quality of life for students. Harris’ endorsements include the St. Paul Firefighters Local 21, the St. Paul Police Federation, and Teamsters Local 120. Melvin Carter III is a graduate of Central High School, a former City Councilmember for five years and Executive Director of the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet. He prioritizes reforming the police to help build safer communities. A primary
focus of his is education. According to his website, “Melvin believes education is the single most important factor in determining the future of our city.” Carter’s endorsements include Governor Mark Dayton, Saint Paul Federation of Teachers, Stonewall DFL, and State Auditor Erin Murphy. Elizabeth Dickinson is Green Party candidate. She has lived in St. Paul for 30 years and has been an activist and lobbyist environmental causes and strong communities. Her focus is on a $15 an hour minimum wage and making the government more transparent. Her goal of diverting money from “city investments in ‘bright, shiny objects’ like stadiums and high-visibility building projects” to more
neighborhood based projects. Dickinson has been endorsed by Women Winning and Clean Water Action Minnesota. Dai Thao is a City Councilmember and has participated in many community leadership opportunities. He supports big changes to St. Paul’s government according to his website, one of which is to “tackle the racial disparities gap that is crippling our economy”. His issues range from pushing for a $15 an hour minimum wage, to more SPA student-centric issues like investing in St. Paul parks, and improving transportation. Thao’s endorsements include Our Revolution Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota, and the Minnesota Nurses Association. Tom Goldstein is an entrepreneur, and St. Paul School Board Member. His campaign centers around the idea of making St. Paul able to compete in the 21st century. For him this means creating jobs, urging businesses to locate to St. Paul and to update the liveable wage. SPA students may take interest in his plan to create green spaces for communities and anti-littering campaign. He also wants a community owned broadband network to ensure every child in St. Paul has access to the internet. Tim Holden is the independent candidate. He is a real estate investor whose main goal as he puts it is to “fix St. Paul”. This means stopping the subsidization of “everything”. He is running a self-funded campaign. He is worried about the closing of many businesses in St. Paul and wants to revitalize family businesses.
Voting Information Election Day is Nov. 7th St. Paul uses ranked choice voting. Read more about it: https://www. ramseycounty.us/ residents/electionsvoting/voters/ ranked-voting Find your polling location: http://pollfinder.sos. state.mn.us/ Minnesota has same day registration, but you must be at least 18 to vote Register to vote: http://www.sos.state. mn.us/electionsvoting/register-tovote
No Republicans?
0 St. Paul mayoral candidates running as Republicans in 2017
2002 the last time St. Paul had a Republican mayor
11 out of St.Paul’s 53 mayors have been Republican
Source: St. Paul Public Library Archives
CORRECTIONS POLICY
LAST MONTH’S CORRECTIONS
During the post-critique process, staff members will identify innacuracies and report on feedback from readers. Corrections will be printed in the next edition of the newspaper in the News section.
NEWS 3 - The infirmary planned in the US renovation will have one bed and an attached bathroom. FEATURE 11 - Claire Hazzard is the Randolph Campus Librarian.
Assembly speakers bring conversation about the importance of consent RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Kelby Wittenberg
CONSENT. Spartans Against Destructive Decisions(SADD) hosted a school wide assembly to discuss consent with expert Malik Mitchell (pictured) and Tipheret Pena from the Aurora Center for Advocacy and Education.
KELBY WITTENBERG RubicOnline Editor
To wrap students’ heads around the topic of consent, Mitchell starts off with an analogy. “How many of you like to go to Valley Fair?” he asks the audience. A majority of students and faculty raise their hands. He continues.
“Say I’m with my friends and they want to go on a rollercoaster. I have the option to say, ‘Sure that sounds fun!’ or ‘No, I don’t really want to’. Consent is like that.” Read the full story at
N ews 3
THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
Hughes to leave after 10 years as Upper School principal
He accepted the position of Head of School at Garrison Forrest School in Maryland ELLIE FINDELL
RubicOnline Production Manager
Upper School Principal Chris Hughes announced on Oct. 11 that this will be his last year at St. Paul Academy and Summit School. Hughes has been principal for 10 years and has helped facilitate numerous changes throughout the school including the construction for Huss Center for the Performing Arts, the schedule switch to staggered rotating block, and the current Shilling Center construction and US remodel. Students and teachers reflect on the vision that Hughes brought to SPA as well as the care and compassion that he brings to his job every day. “He helped me personally transition from college to high school teaching and gave me the opportunity to see students in a lot of co-curricular activities to get a better
sense of who they are and what life at SPA is like. The students were, without a doubt, always his first priority,” US history teacher Aaron Shulow said. Whether to a ninthgrader, senior or faculty member, Hughes was known for talking to students that he saw in the hallway and smiling even early on a Monday morning which can be rare for a high school principal.
“The students were, without a doubt, are always his first priority.”
— US HISTORY TEACHER AARON SHULOW
“He took time to get to know us all personally, and he cared about his job so much and that was evident in the way he pushed you even if he didn’t know you. One time I was trying
to switch my classes to take both Writing Sem and Classics in Society and he told them that he knew I could do it but it is extremely difficult with a lot of writing. Little things like that showed he cared about us,” senior Isabel Brandtjen said. Hughes took the lead on implementing the US schedule change from an eight period day. “I was most impressed by how he changed the schedule in a non disruptive way that was best for the students and will miss his vision for the right direction and where we are going next,” US Technology coordinator Chris White said. Longstanding faculty have commended how Hughes followed through on the school’s vision and always had time to talk to anyone that stopped in. “His door was always open and it was extremely easy to talk to him: I walk
RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Ellie Findell
LEAVING A LEGACY. US Principal Chris Hughes will be missed. “He took time to get to know us... and he cared about his job so much,” senior Isabel Brandtjen said.
in, we talk. He is extremely organized and understands just about everything about the school,” Math Department Chair Bill Boulger said. Hughes always had time to talk to students and teachers about problems that they were facing even if they were small schedule changes. “The main interaction that I always have with Mr. Hughes is that whenever schedules come out I
Super Bowl construction creates conflict for commutes ANDREW JOHNSON The Rubicon Editor
In preparation for hosting the 2018 Super Bowl, the Twin Cities prepares to live up to the hype surrounding the game. But, the Super Bowl is more than just a game; it’s an experience. The site of the main event? The new Vikings Stadium in downtown Minneapolis, but festivities are also planned for the Nicollet Mall, Mall of America and Minneapolis Convention Center. “Although the plans are exciting, they can also be distracting,” sophomore Griffin Thissen said. “I going to the Vikings game [the fall], it was really
Fast Fact Super Bowl LII will bring an estimated $407 million in spending and 6,000 full time jobs. Rockport Analytics (2015)
hard to get around. It took about an hour to get out of the parking ramp, just based on the fact that a lot of the streets that I would usually take are closed,” Thissen said. The construction may be irritating, but seeing the bigger picture is important to Thissen.
“Its pretty annoying, but it excites me because it is planning for one of the biggest events in the U.S., which is going to be held in Minnesota, and that doesn’t usually happen. There are going to be a lot of new people that we usually wouldn’t have here, so it’s just going to be fun when that time comes,” Thissen said. Still, the construction hinders Thissen’s commute. “I’m from Minneapolis, and construction just makes it a lot longer to get wherever i’m going,” Thissen said. Junior Janie Brunell said the construction slows her down: “The traffic is really bad around
the construction of the Super Bowl, and it is really annoying that there are a lot of backups,” she said. “[It] mostly affects when I hang out with my friends in the city.” However the “...Super Bowl excites me more than it annoys me because of the game that will eventually come in February; it is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for most people, so it’s really exciting,” she said. Super Bowl LII happens Feb. 4 at U.S Bank Stadium.
immediately email him to change my schedule and I was always impressed with how quickly he would respond and how much he cared,” senior Adnan Askari said. Hughes will be returning to the east coast, where he started his academic career. This time, he’ll be serving as the Head of School of Garrison Forest School. Hughes will leave SPA at the end of the school year.
Super Bowl LII
150,000
additional people expected in the Twin Cities representing
30+
countries speaking
33
languages
Activities in ILLUSTRATION: Iya Abdulkarim SOURCE: SuperBowl LII Regional Planning
Bloomington, Minneapolis/St. Paul
4
E ditorial
THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
Gun laws have to change
In the aftermath of tragedy, grief shouldn’t prevent action EDITORIAL
KNOW THE FACTS: There are no federal laws that limit the number of guns or the type of guns one can buy. Minnesota’s restrictions are clearer than most, but a buyer is able to purchase any type of weapon when it is sold at a gun show. There are no restrictions on whether guns can be brought across state lines.
The Rubicon Staff
It’s almost impossible to look at the news and not see updates on a horrible tragedy that occurred while we were going about our everyday lives. Over the past two decades, we have witnessed the rise of internet and smartphone use, allowing access to this devastation right at our fingertips. Constantly. Tragedy struck in Las Vegas this month when a gunman opened fire on a concert killing at least 58 people and injuring 489. While there has been much discussion about whether this event should be called the deadliest mass shooting in recent U.S. history, an even larger debate has been sparked amongst media outlets, government figures, and the
general public: gun control. The shooter in Las Vegas was found dead in his hotel room with 23 weapons. Later, when his house was searched, 19 more were found, bringing his arsenal up to 42 weapons. At what point does the right to own guns for protection cross a line? When mass shootings occur, fear sweeps the nation. Schools and public spaces buff up security while we mourn for those lost in such horrifying events. Our safest places become possible targets in our minds. However, conversations fade as the country moves on. No action is taken to prevent this cycle of violence, loss, and grief. That must stop. According to the New York Times, mass shootings happen on average more than once per day per
As
bodies from
mass shootings
pile up, so does the evidence that we need to fix our current gun laws.
year. A mass shooting is defined by an attack that leaves four or more people dead. That means over four people are killed a day by mass shooters; this doesn’t include gun accidents or shootings that kill less than four people. As bodies from mass shootings pile up, so does the evidence that we need to fix our current gun laws. After tragedies like Las Vegas, it’s easy to form an opinion surrounding gun control because of how they tug at the heart.
What do MN legislators think about
Senator Al Franken - “We have to get rid of assault weapons,” Franken said after the attack in Las Vegas. - Co-sponsored the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act - Voted to ban magazines of over 10 bullets
Representative Betty McCollum - Voted no on a bill that would stop liability lawsuits from being brought against gun manufacturers - Co-sponsored the Fire Sale Loophole Closing act - Co-sponsored the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act
Grief and sympathy are necessary but not enough. Be emotionally reactive, but also intelligently proactive. Find out more about state and federal gun laws. Then, write a letter to your state and federal legislators to keep conversations about this issue prioritized in their work. Advocate to unify gun control laws across the country and shut down loopholes like those at gun shows. Although the Second Amendment rights are important, when will our legislation align with current gun technology? Wouldn’t it be nice to turn on the news and not hear about the next mass shooting tragedy because we’ve advocated for laws that prevented it?
GUN CONTROL?
Representative Dave Pinto - Reintroduced bills that would require background checks made for any gun purchases by private sellers - The bills also allowed guns to be temporarily confiscated if there was reason to fear that someone was dangerous
Senator Amy Klobuchar
- Supports hunting because it is an “important part of our culture in Minnesota.” - Did vote to extend the ban on assault weapons - Advocates for background checks
INFOGRAPHIC: Quinn Christensen
THE RUBICON
St. Paul Academy and Summit School • 1712 Randolph Ave St. Paul, MN 55105 • rubicon.spa@gmail.com • www.RubicOnline.com • @TheRubiconSPA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR COPY EDITOR NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR FEATURE EDITORS IN DEPTH EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ILLUSTRATIONS/INFOGRAPHICS
Iya Abdulkarim Jonah Harrison Marlee Baron Jack Benson Kat St. Martin Norberg Lucy Sandeen Jenny Sogin, Chloe Morse Quinn Christensen Claire Hallaway Andrew Johnson Jasper Green Melissa Nie
DIRECTOR OF RUBICONLINE CREATIVE DESIGN MANAGER PRODUCTION MANAGER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER NEWS EDITORS OPINIONS EDITOR FEATURE EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITORS CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR PHOTOGRAPHER VIDEOGRAPHER ILLUSTRATIONS/INFOGRAPHICS COLUMNIST
Mimi Geller Web Lehman Ellie Findell Michael Forsgren Nitya Thakkar, Isabel Gisser Peter Blanchfield Flannery Enneking-Norton Emma Sampson Annie Bottern, Jake Adams
STAFF WRITERS
Kelby Wittenberg Sharee Roman Noah Raaum Ellie Nowakowski Isabel Saavedra-Weis
PODCAST Mira Zelle
Helen Bartlett, Lucy Benson Annabelle Bond, Liv Larsen, Evelyn Lillemoe, Meagan Massie, Tana Ososki, Elaina Parsons, Lilly Ramalingam, Jennifer Ries, Martha Sanchez, Will Schavee, Griffin Thissen, Bobby Verhey
ADVISER
Kathryn Campbell
O pinions 5
THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
Combat misinformation about Ford Plan KAT ST. MARTINNORBURG The Rubicon Editor
Drive down the streets of Highland park, and there’s one thing that can’t go unnoticed: the Ford Plan signs. Whether for or against the plan, those signs are a representative of the highly contested Ford Plant Plan. While some residents of St. Paul fear the Plan for the projected density and traffic increase, students should embrace the Plan as an opportunity for St. Paul to have a modern and environmentally sustainable space. As of Sept. 27, the Ford Plan proposal was passed 5-2 by the St. Paul City Council. The primary movement advocating against the Plan is the Neighbors for a Livable Saint Paul. They claim on their website that: “The City’s current Ford Site development plan was drafted based on inaccurate and incomplete community input and information. We are asking to have the City take a step back and draft a plan that takes the wants, needs, and concerns of the St. Paul community into account.” The Neighbors for a Livable St. Paul have been putting up signs throughout Highland Park, immediately recognizable by their red background and STOP in white letters. The current plan for the Ford Site, according to the plan released by City Council member Chris Tolbert on September 9th, is that the site will be turned into mixeduse apartment buildings, office buildings, and some
Rank theTRUE? Truth:STUDENTS SPA answers questions on the Ford WHAT’S RANK WHAT THEY BELIEVE ABOUT WHAT THEY’VE HEARD Plan 48%
45%
47%
47%
39% 34%
31%
5% The Ford Plan will have the population density of Manhattan.
28%
27%
23% 22% 10%
34%
19%
14% 8%
6% 10% of the Ford Plan housing will be for low, low income renters.
The Ford Plan will have negative environmental impacts on Highland Village.
6%
5% The Ford Plan includes 20% green space.
The Ford Plan will congest the 46th street bridge.
INFOGRAPHIC: Lucy Sandeen Data based on aggregated results from a poll sent out to 212 students in grades 9-12 with a 30% response rate.
parks. There are expected to be about 2500-4000 new residents,10-20 percent of which will be low income housing. According to the St. Paul Planning and Development website, “the vision for the site is a connected, livable, mixed-use neighborhood that looks to the future with clean technologies and high quality design for energy, buildings and infrastructure. This site will be woven into the existing community, and support walking, biking and transit, and provide services, jobs and activities that every generation can enjoy.” The main opposition to the Plan is because some of the Neighbors would like to see that space turned into parks or single family homes. On the Neighbors’ Facebook page, conversations about parks and density dominate the page. Part of the reason why they are so vocal about it is because many of their fears are founded on rumors, and exaggeration of the facts. For instance, on their website, it claims that only
9 percent of the space is just parks. While it is true that the City can legally only use have 9 percent of the space for parks, the developer plans to include 21 percent green space.
Students
should
embrace the plan as an opportunity for
St. Paul
to have
a modern and environmentally
sustainable space.
From data collected from a poll, The interest in what will happen with the Ford Plan development spans beyond Highland Park: 80 percent of SPA students, regardless of where they live, had heard about the Ford Plan in some way shape or form. But, that doesn’t mean that they know enough to form a firm opinion on it. 61 percent of respondents said they did not know whether they were for or against the Plan. Only, 37 percent
reported said that they were for it, and 2% said that they were against it in a poll sent out at the end of September. Interestingly, the respondents of the poll overwhelmingly marked “Not True” for the claim that the Ford Plant will have the population density of Manhattan, one of the main arguments used by those against the plan. But, one thing that was clear was that “Don’t Know” was overwhelmingly the response to all of the survey questions about the Plan. While to some local issues about development and zoning may not be considered an important issue, the fact that it has to do with a major transformation to St. Paul, a city that all of SPA students spend a lot of time in, inherently makes it an important issue. Students should educate themselves about the Plan by visiting the City of St. Paul’s Ford Site website in order to broaden their understanding of pressing local issues.
SPA THINKS FOR THE FORD PLAN:
“I feel it will make a good use of the space.” — Eugene Tunney “I think that Highland park is a very rich neighborhood and we should take any chance we get to help redistribute the money and give lower middle class and working class families a boost to help their kids climb the economic class ladder and reduces the wealth gap that will eventually tear the country apart.” — Tobi Polley “There seems to be a whole lot of fear mongering going on, with not that much concern for the compromises being made by the legislators.” — Joey Bluhm
DON’T KNOW: “I would love to know more.” — Emma Davies “I’d rather it weren’t, but housing space is necessary, and I’m sure we’ll realize economic benefits.” — Ben Konstan “I really don’t know enough about it to make a conclusion...but I like green space, and lower income housing. I also hope there will be a lot of public transportation and biking/walking spaces.” — Evelyn Lillemoe
AGAINST THE FORD PLAN: I haven’t heard all the details of the plan but I think there are more negative attributes in the current plan based on what I have heard about it. — Duncan Fleming “I don’t like the density of living and I would love it to be greener and have more of a layout like the existing neighborhood if it must be turned into housing rather than green space.” — Stephanie Frisch
POLICIES, MEMBERSHIPS AND AWARDS PUBLICATION INFO The Rubicon
is published eight times a year. We distribute 750 copies of each issue to the Upper School which are available for free.
ADVERTISING The Rubicon does not accept advertisements.
PUBLICATION INFO The Rubicon
is published eight times a year. We distribute 750 copies of each issue to the Upper School which are available for free.
ADVERTISING The Rubicon does not accept advertisements.
EDITORIALS articulate the
collective opinion of The Rubicon staff, while mini-editorials, opinions pieces, arts reviews, and columns belong to the author of works published in the Opinions section.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Opinions are welcomed as Letters to the Editor or Submitted Opinions and may be published in the print or online edition. Letters to the Editor should not exceed 400 words and Submitted Opinions should not exceed 650 words and may be edited for style. All pieces
must be submitted with a full name.
BY LINES credit the individual who conducted interviews, drafted, revised and fact-checked an assigned story. Double bylines are given to joint effort assignments, with reporters listed alphabetically by last name. Stories that include supplemental materials include a credit at the bottom that states “Additional reporting provided by” followed by the name of the reporter.
ANONYMOUS SOURCES
Although it is always preferable to use names when reporting, there are times when it is necessary to protect those we report on. In the case of a student, the use of grade level as a name designation will be the preferred method of anonymity.
POLICIES detailed The Rubicon policies are published at RubicOnline.
MEMBERSHIPS Columbia
Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press
Association, MN High School Press Association, Quill and Scroll Society
PUBLICATION AWARDS
NSPA All-American, Pacemaker (Online) and Finalist (Print) CSPA Gold Medalist (Hybrid), Silver Crown Award (Hybrid), SNO Distinguished Site JEM All State Gold
EDITORIALS articulate the
collective opinion of The Rubicon staff, while mini-editorials, opinions pieces, arts reviews, and columns belong to the author of works published in Opinions.
6
O pinions
Get involved: shape the city’s future
THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
COLUMN NO RIGHT ANSWER
How much of people’s perceptions of us can we control?
ISABEL SAAVEDRA-WEIS The Rubicon Editor
If the answer was none, then why do we buy certain clothes, cut our hair a certain way, talk a certain way, put so much pressure of first impressions? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t judge somebody on how they looked. In fact, that’s exactly how I judge them. We all do, whether we mean to or not. And that’s natural, and probably necessary. If I didn’t judge someone I just met who was holding multiple weapons, I could be in serious danger. If the answer is all of it, then why do people think they hate each other, and then fall in love? Why do we think we knew a person, and then realize we don’t at all? I also judge people at the most unnecessary of times. I see someone, how they act, how they talk, how they dress, how they look, and my mind has already made its decision about what kind of person I think they are. And based on that, I choose to learn more about the person, or avoid them. It pains me to think about how many people I decided not to truly understand, and instead dismissed as “weird” or “odd” or a “bad person”. How does one silence those rapid fire judgments? I have yet to find the total off button, and I’m starting to doubt there is even one. But some of the times I challenge my initial judgments about a person, I have been proven so completely and utterly wrong. I often wonder what people are thinking about me, what they interpret from how I dress myself, what I own, how I talk, and what I post on Instagram. I try not to obsess over it, though. Because I’m sure I could prove a lot of those people wrong.
COLUMN THE CURRENT (EVENTS)
Challenge yourself to change the world JACK BENSON
The Rubicon Editor
Wake up and smell the political action. At The Rubicon lately, we have been urging students to take an active role in their community, through advocating for policy change, taking a bigger part in local elections, or encouraging more dialogue in classrooms. Are these the usual actions of a student newspaper? There has always been apathy from teenagers ILLUSTRATION: Victoria Campbell toward politics and current YOUR FUTURE. Follow mayoral campaigns, vote if you can, and take part in your city’s future. events. Sometimes it’s good to remind people that they one is from the green party issues will affect one’s daily can change the world. As JACK BENSON The Rubicon Editor cheesy as that sounds, less and one is independent. life more drastically. For Unlike a national election, example, the issues revolve people who care and take It’s easy to get wrapped action is a scary prospect. the ballots for the St. Paul around education for up in the theatre of national There is the classic quote mayoral race are ranked. children, improvements to politics, letting local from John F. Kennedy neighborhoods, and even elections slide by. However, during his inaugural traffic conditions. these local elections are just Candidates’ address that still rings true Before the presidential as important as the national today: “Ask not what your election, students and priorities for St. ones in terms of their effect country can do for you — classrooms spoke strongly on urban decisions made Paul can send ask what you can do for for their candidates and about life close to home. your country.” He said this ripples through actually got involved in Yet, there is a very because he believed the political discourse. Bring the community important local election power to create change was that same anticipation and coming up Nov. 7: the and set a tone involvement to the Mayoral in the hands of the people, St. Paul Mayoral race. not the government. In election. Candidates’ for other Unfortunately, local order for the change to priorities for St. Paul can elections are not often communities in happen, we can’t be passive. send ripples through the known about or given Minnesota. I need to fight that feeling community and set a tone enough attention by the everyday to convince myself for other communities in people they will affect. to get out of the house This serves as even more Minnesota. The results When a national election and go to school. It takes incentive to learn about can send ripples through happens, everyone knows a bit more to get people to all of the candidates whole communities. about it. News about these advocate political change. because each one your Seniors: if you are able to elections get spread widely, We talk about taking choices affects the election’s vote, learn everything you as newspapers and cable more action because it is outcome. When looking can about the mayoral stations alike offer in depth at the website for any one candidates and cast a ballot. important. It’s important coverage. It is within the that we start our activism of the mayoral candidates, Underclassmen: consider realm of possibility that now, never allowing it’s obvious that their volunteering at a polling the average person would ourselves to fall into apathy. concerns are different than place or getting connected not only be able to name The poet Ralph Waldo those of a candidate from to a campaign this month. the candidates, but also Emerson wrote, “God will a national election. Rather It provides insight into the explain how they feel about than focusing on foreign vision and values of St. Paul not have his work made them. With local elections, manifest by cowards.” policy, mayoral candidates residents and those who it often seems that only the Achievements will not come are concerned with the hope to lead them. Learn more politically inclined from those who succumb lives of their city’s people. who the candidates are, have knowledge about to their carelessness. Active This doesn’t make their learn what they stand for, the candidates and their participation in politics, in concerns any less important volunteer on campaigns. stances. activism, in a community, than the concerns of a It’s time to take part in In St. Paul there are six and in volunteering is not national election. On the the city’s future. candidates running for always easy. It takes courage contrary, many of the mayor: four are democrats, to take action.
S cience /T echnology 7 THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
Ryan Strobel finds tempo with tech music Ryan Strobel finds the SoundCloud audience for his personality.
Tech music history
Techo music first emerged as a recognizable art form in Detroit in the 1980’s. Techno ties together various genres of music, such as funk, electro, and electro jazz. Users of techno music and music journalists are normally particular regarding the name of the genre, which can be called “techno,” “tekkno,” or simply “tech.” The most important rhythmic element of the genre is the use of “common time,” which determines the overall speed of the beats and the pace of the track. Techno music gained popularity through various music subcultures across the world.
ANDREW JOHNSON The Rubicon Editor
Why did you make a SoundCloud account? I mostly made the SoundCloud to be able to show the music I was making to friends without having to hand them the computer and watch them react to it. That was always awkward, so I figured a SoundCloud would be a lot more convenient. Plus, I figured any comments I got would be either criticism or praise, and you can never have enough of either. When did you start listening to tech music?
How often do you make new beats/songs, and what are some of your favorites?
I make new music on pretty much a daily basis, but I rarely ever complete any of my projects. I’m sort of self-taught, so most of what I do is very experimental and stored away on a hard drive at home. If I think something’s really got potential to be good, I’ll keep working on it to try and make it a full-fledged song. A lot of my favorite things I’ve done are on that hard drive and might never see the light of day, but as for what’s on my SoundCloud, I really like Quadrinometry, the second half of Stellated, and Battle! Psychic Psycho!”
I’ve always really liked tech music because I grew up playing the kinds of games with music like it, so there’s a What does the process of making a track look like? lot of nostalgia for me there. Since then, all kinds of new media with that style of music has cropped up, with things The actual process I use to make music is definitely like Homestuck, Undertale, and Steven Universe being the not consistent. I can’t actually say there’s much of a most popular examples. I think the general source material step-by-step process at all. I spend most of my time is the main factor in piquing my interest in the genre. making music just doing weird little experiments that aren’t intended to be full songs, either. In fact, most of How would you define tech music? the tracks on my SoundCloud are amalgams of little The stuff I do tends to sound a lot like the retro games I’m experiments I’ve done stitched into one song, but I’ve inspired by, but I think tech music is really anything that’s gotten better at making things more coherent lately. primarily synthesized or made mostly with computers. That’s a really broad definition, and it really applies to most of the music that’s put out today, but then again, tech What does tech music mean to you? music is a really broad genre. There’s a lot of diversity I’ve always really liked tech music because I grew up in that area, so it’s hard to really think of a way to playing the kinds of games with music like it, so there’s encapsulate all of it. a lot of nostalgia for me there. Since then, all kinds of new media with that style of music has cropped up, with What makes Tech music things like Homestuck, Undertale, and Steven Universe interesting to you? being the most popular examples. I think the general I think I like tech music for two main source material is the main factor in piquing my interest reasons. The first is the obvious in the genre. connections to old retro games. Some of the old Nintendo soundtracks are still awesome to listen to, and trying What is your favorite part of tech music? to reproduce that kind of thing was There’s so much to love about tech music. There’s the probably the main reason I started versatility of it. You can really listen to tech music in just making music in the first place. about any situation, since it’s such a broad genre there are Once I started making it, I started to almost unlimited different things to listen to for different really appreciate the process behind situations. I really think that’s the best part about it, there’s it. I’ve diversified a little since I something for just about anything you’re doing. The general started, but aside from the occasional sound is really nice too, and it’s great for when you just piano piece, I always end up going want to relax. back to writing tech music, just because the actual process of making it is a lot Listen to Strobel’s more streamlined and work on SoundCloud: fun to do. @Ultimate_Chimera
Neighbors for a Livable St. Paul is one of the Ford Plan’s biggest critics. They cite traffic congestion, loss of green space, and radical density as reasons for their opposition to the plan. They have created a petition which has acquired over 2,000 signatures and they claim that the majority of Highland Park residents are against the Ford Plan. Their goals for changes in the Ford Plan include more transit options, a larger variety of cost for housing, more traffic management, and more green space in the development. Another of Neighbors for a Livable St. Paul’s biggest concerns is property values. They expect that the impact of their other concerns - traffic congestion, loss of greenspace, etc. - will decrease the value of homes in the area. They also expect the Ford Plan to increase taxes. Visit https://www. livablefordvillage.com/ for more information.
1.6%
of SPA students are against the Ford Plan
Future Ford Plant
THE RUBICON • O
THE
8
In De
OF THE CHLOE MORSE The Rubicon Editor
September 27, 2017. The crux of 11 years of debate, research, and community participation culminated in City Council’s decision to approve the plan for the Ford Plant land for mixed use development. In a poll sent out to the 9-12 student body of St. Paul Academy and Summit School, an estimated 38.1% of students supported the plan, 1.6% of students didn’t support it, while 60.3% didn’t know whether or not they supported it.
In favor of the plan
Merritt Clapp-Smith from City Council, SPA alum ‘87 and parent of senior Lark Smith, has been a key proponent for the plan from the beginning. “Right away, the project was very interesting… it’s very rare to have an empty site in the middle of a city that you can build from scratch,” Clapp-Smith said. The plan includes sustainable environmental action, such as stormwater runoff that will lead onto an on site stream rather than the Mississippi River, sustainable energy resources, and more walking/biking paths.
A two-sided issue
The conflict began in 2008 when the Ford Plant in Highland St. Paul closed, leaving behind a 135 acre plot of land. The City
As plans move forward, animosity persists Council wanted to organize residential development on the land that would suit a variety of demographics and businesses, which quickly ran into conflicts with the neighbors.
“It’s
very rare
to have an empty site that you can build from scratch.”
— PRINCIPAL CITY PLANNER MERRIT CLAPP-SMITH Neighbors around the site opposed the plan on the basis that the Plan has too little green space, would have significantly increased traffic, and a much higher density in the area.
Population density
The animosity between the two sides of the debate has also been has been fueled by misinformation. People without a complete understanding of the Plan heard and acted upon false information, like making a petition against the Plan after hearing about the incorrectly high density. However, education rather than rumors increased support. “Generally, when people learned about the plan they were fairly comfortable. Not happy with everything, but they understood the balance of interests,” ClappSmith said. One such rumor is that the site will have the population density of Manhattan—which is not true. Junior Kieran Singh recognized this, saying “For something to be as dense as Manhattan, the entire neighborhood would have to be as dense as Manhattan.”
In a poll sent out to the 9-12 student body, 4.7% of students agreed with the rumor, while 46% reported that they didn’t know if it was true or not. For Singh, the high density forms his support of the plan. “At some point there is going to be a housing crisis in the Twin Cities, and the only way to reduce the price [of houses] in order to meet demand is to increase the supply by a lot,” he said. Senior Stephanie Frisch thinks the proposed high density will disrupt the Highland area. “I am worried they’re going to try to build too many high density living buildings. I’m for the plan being the density of the current resident’s homes within Highland so it fits in the community, but also allows it to grow,” she said.
9
epth
OCTOBER 2017
FINAL DECISION: City Council voted to approve the Ford site in a 5-2 vote on September 28, 2017. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION: Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune
Sustainability
Sustainability is the other key factor, especially for Frisch, who has a lifelong love of the environment. “I personally want more green space,” Frisch said. “It would be helpful since it’s by the river, so it would be good for plants and species, but it would also be beautiful. Environmental science has opened my viewpoint to look at stuff more environmentally and sustainably than [cosmetically]. If they’re going to build a lot of buildings I would want them to be very sustainable and have some sort of LEED standing.” LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy design) is a globally recognized
certification program for the sustainability of buildings. Singh agrees with Frisch on the need for sustainability, but thinks that it should be achieved by different means. “If people want to not have any multifamily buildings in their neighborhood, then they should move to the suburbs… larger apartment buildings are known to have a lot smaller environmental footprint per person, and so usually energy consumption per person in the cities is lower than in the suburbs,” he said.
development professionals,” Clapp-Smith said. Clapp-Smith understands the importance of community participation, and the fact that it extends to high schoolers. “As young people, know that their voice is really important,” she said. When environmental cleanup of the site is finished, sometime in 2018, Ford will put the site on
sale for a master developer. This developer will work closely with Ford and the City Council to establish details to the plan and make adjustments they will want to make. While the discussion may be closed on the city level, in 2018 it will re-open to include the developer, giving all parties a chance to advocate for idea of the plan.
Based on aggregated data from a poll sent out to 212 students in grades 9-12 with 30% responding.
Conversations in the community
The St. Paul community stepped up to advocate on both sides of the issue. One response was Neighbors for a Livable Saint Paul opposing the Plan. “[Planning what to do with the site] was a big conversation with the community and
59.4%
of SPA students don’t know if they support the plan
Sustain Ward 3 is a group made up of St. Paul residents that address a number of issues regarding sustainability - both environmental and fiscal - in the St. Paul area. In addition to the Ford Plan, Sustain Ward 3 also supports projects such as the Riverview Corridor transit expansion and the Snelling South upzoning plan. While the Ford Plan is not the only issue that they are working on, it has been one of the group’s focuses for the past several years. The group has been advocating for the Ford Plan since 2007. They believe that the Ford site will increase community sustainability by providing open gathering spaces and encouraging an inclusive community. The solar roofs will be a step toward environmental sustainability for the neighborhood, and they expect an improvement in stormwater management as well. Visit http:// sustainward3.com/ tag/ford-site/ for more information.
F eature 10
Delve into the Darkness THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
ValleySCARE disappoints thrill-seekers with long lines
MARLEE BARON The Rubicon Editor
Let me start out by saying this: I am horrible with scary things. Of course, I jumped at the chance to scare myself half to death at ValleySCARE. Tickets were $35, which seemed pretty reasonable because most of the daytime rides are open during ValleySCARE, as well as six mazes, which are basically haunted houses, and three scare zones, which are areas of the park in which monsters try to scare you. I went with a friend and we got into the park before 6:30 p.m., which is when Valleyfair becomes ValleySCARE. We got some food and sat at a table where we saw a big log cabin that looked pretty creepy. We were minding our own business when suddenly hordes of creepy and terrifying monsters ran past us. We later found out that at the beginning of the night, the monsters awaken from that log cabin and run to their positions for the night. THE RUBICON PHOTOS: Marlee Baron
ONE: The Château The first maze we went to was called “The Château.” To get there we had to walk through a scare zone called “Carnevil: Ringmaster’s Revenge.” It’s located where the normal carnival games are located in Valleyfair and it was a little bit of a letdown. A fair number of the carnival games were still operating, taking away from the evil vibe. There were only two monsters stationed in this area and it’s very big so most people don’t actually get to see them. It was a bit of a hike to get to “The Château,” but
since it was still pretty early we arrived to find no line and were greeted at the door by a very creepy monster and escorted inside. The inside looked
like a fancy house that had been abandoned and was now inhabited by scary, bloody ghosts. All the monsters were dressed up in a Victorian style with bloody and gross makeup. They were out in the
TWO: Mad Mouse After the haunted house we decided to take a little break from the scary stuff and go on some rides, several of which proved to be almost as scary as the haunted houses. We went on “Mad Mouse” first and the ride itself was very fun; the 30 minute wait to ride a 30 second ride was not. We went to “Wild Thing” next and waited about 20 minutes. The wait times were so long
because all the rides were only sending one cart at a time, even though they have the capability to send several. The park was less crowded than it sometimes is in the summer but the wait times for rides were longer. We had several people tell us when getting off a ride that the line was so long that the ride was not worth it. ValleySCARE is really good at scaring people, whether with scary
DRIP, DRIP, DRIP. The normally cheerful entrance fountain takes on an ominous hue at night.
open, which made them a little less scary because generally you could see them before they jumped out at you. However, it was still terrifying when they did because they could follow you around. My friend said my name at one point, and after that a really scary guy followed me around for a while saying my name (I had a nightmare about that guy that night). The maze was pretty long, which would be good for someone that enjoys being scared out of their mind, but I was very ready for it to be done.
monsters or with absurd wait times. The lines were so ridiculously slow we considered buying “fast passes”, which allow you to skip the line, only to find out they cost an additional $50 on top of your admission. If you are planning to go to ValleySCARE for the rides, go earlier in the day when the park is less crowded.
THREE: Renegade
Finally, we went to “Renegade” at the very end of the park, where we thought we might find the shortest line. On the way there we passed though another scare zone. This one was even duller than the last. Not a single monster jumped out at us the whole way. We saw one very far away from us, so not at all scary. When we finally got to “Renegade” we waited in line for over an hour before finally getting on the ride. The ride itself was super fun; the first climb to the top looked like you were riding the roller coaster straight into the clouds because of how the lights shone through the wooden coaster. After the first climb there were no lights so we couldn’t see where we were going.
I have a pretty high tolerance for roller coasters because I’ve ridden so many, but not being able to see where it was going to whip me next was a feeling like no other—it was amazing. However, even though the ride was very fun and unique, it was not worth the wait. By the time we finished “Renegade” we didn’t have enough time to go to any more attractions, because as we passed them we saw that every single one had a ridiculously long line that would take upwards of an hour to get though. Overall ValleySCARE lived up to my expectations of being so scary. I’ll have nightmares for the next year or so, but it fell short on being fun mostly because of the long lines making it hard to do everything we wanted to.
BOO! Wandering monsters give an impromptu performance.
F eature 11
THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
Lifers revisit their pumpkin carving experiences MELISSA NIE
The Rubicon Editor
PHOTOS: SPA Archives FLASHBACK. Seniors in 2006 carve pumpkins with current senior Jessica Citron.
2017
2006
Emma Truman
J.J. Wertkin
CONCENTRATION. Senior Jessica Citron puts on the lid of her pumpkin
For senior lifers, autumn brings a trip down memory lane to Goodrich Avenue with the longstanding tradition of carving pumpkins with the kindergarteners. Senior lifer J.J. Wertkin recalls the pumpkin carving as a fun experience that gave him a chance to imagine his future. “I remember being excited and nervous to see the seniors,” Wertkin said. “I also loved carving pumpkins because I got to talk with the older kids. I kept thinking, ‘Could that be me in a few years?’” Senior Emma Truman shares a similar experience. “I remember admiring the older kids and how cool they were,” Truman said. “I think my favorite part was looking up to the Upper Schoolers and thinking, ‘One day I could be like them.’ It was really fun to make a design on the pumpkin as well.” Now that the seniors are returning to the Lower School to repeat the tradition, Truman and Wertkin are just as excited as they were 12 years ago. “I’m looking forward to [seeing] how the Lower School has shifted and getting the kindergarteners
READY, SET, DESIGN. Senior Duke Nguyen designs a pumpkin with 2006 senior.
excited about Halloween,” Truman said. While there is plenty of enthusiasm for the pumpkin carving, sentimentality is prevalent as well.
Fast Facts 81 seniors carved pumpkins with the kindergardeners on Oct. 23. 86% of the lifers attended the event.
“I am looking forward to seeing and hanging out with the kindergarteners because they might have the same feelings that I had,” Wertkin said. “I think going back to the Lower School will be strange because I was a lot smaller back in the day. Now I’m a lot bigger and can’t wait to see what it feels like.” Truman sums up her nostalgia in an affectionate sentence: “It makes me super happy that [my time at St. Paul Academy] is coming full circle.”
SMILE! Seniors Julia Wang and Naya Tadavarthy take a break from carving pumpkins to pose for the camera.
Ice Cream sold in ribbons
LUCY SANDEEN The Rubicon Editor
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Lucy Sandeen
Ribbons of ice cream wind around a metal spatula in a mesmerizing and nearly hypnotic pattern. It’s an intricate, labor-intensive process--and Instagram’s newest obsession. Originally sold by street
A rts & E ntertainment 12
vendors in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines, rolled ice cream has taken over social media as the newest foodie craze throughout America. Sota Hot and Cold, a restaurant on University Avenue in Saint Paul, is one of the select few opportu-
nities to find Thai rolled ice cream in the Twin Cities. As the days grow colder, hold on to a little of your summer with a twist on your typical frozen treat. Read more on
THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
Carve out the creativity this October Classic Jack-O-Lantern WHAT YOU NEED:
Pumpkin (any size), pumpkin saw, something to scoop the inside of the pumpkin with, and a sharpie
CHLOE MORSE The Rubicon Editor
First, trace a face onto your pumpkin with a sharpie, and then a circle around your stem. You can make whatever design you want for the face, just be sure that you don’t make anything too complicated otherwise it’ll be hard to cut out. Using the pumpkin saw (or a serrated knife), cut out the stem first. Before
cutting out the face, scoop out the pumpkin pulp through the hole (I save the seeds and roast them for a yummy snack). Then, use the pumpkin saw to cut along all the lines and make the face (The classic look, which I did, has triangle eyes and a wide mouth with a couple teeth). One trick I do is to use the eye cutouts as ears, using toothpicks to stick them wherever you
want on the pumpkin. Now, you’re done! Stick a candle inside your jack-o’-lantern and turn off the lights for a really cool effect. It may take a little practice, but making this jack-o’lantern was incredibly easy and fast. I love the traditional Halloween look to it, and the creative options are limitless.
Mummy Pumpkin The first thing you want to do is put a dab of hot glue at the top of the pumpkin near the base of the stem. Then take your medical gauze, stick it to the hot glue until it dries, and start wrapping the gauze around the pumpkin. Once you cover the entire pumpkin, glue the end down with another dab of hot glue. Because you want the pumpkin to
look like a mummy, gently tug the gauze into ropes so that it doesn’t lie flat, making your “mummy” look a little more ragged. Cut out an eye-sized circle of the white felt and a smaller circle of the black felt. Glue them together, and then onto your pumpkin. Repeat as many times as you want, making as many eyes for your pumpkin mummy
Marbled Pumpkin WHAT YOU NEED:
A small sized pumpkin (able to fit in a container), nail polish, a kebab stick and a water-proof sized container
as you want. Making this pumpkin was so fun, and was the easiest pumpkin to make out of all three. There’s no mess involved, and it’s a wonderful mix of cute and seasonal. If you’re looking for a quick pumpkin to decorate with little kids or at a party, this one does the trick.
Fill your container threefourths full of water, and add a drop of nail polish, letting it sit on top and not mixing it in. Then, add more drops of nail polishes, preferably different colors, to the center of the original drop. You can add as much nail polish as you want, and as many different colors as you want. When you’re finished, take your kebab stick and lightly skim across the nail polish, covering the surface of the water in nail polish. Be careful not to completely mix the polish together, just move the different colors for a marbled effect. When you’re finished, dip your pumpkin into the container up to the stem. When you
WHAT YOU NEED:
A pumpkin of any size, medical gauze, a hot glue gun and some black and white felt.
take it out, your nail polish will give a marbled look to the pumpkin. Repeat this process until your pumpkin is covered with designs, or until you are happy with it. Let your pumpkin dry on a piece of newspaper, and then decorate with it. Out of all the pumpkin decorating techniques, this one was the most exhausting in time and effort, and didn’t result in a decoration as cool as the other two designs. Covering the pumpkin in nail polish required excessive amounts of polish, so don’t use anything you might want to use again. The nail polish dried in a thin layer on the surface of the water almost immediately, preventing me from marbling
the colors, or it fell through the water to the bottom of the dish, where the polish couldn’t get on the pumpkin. In the process of dipping the pumpkin, my hands also got covered in nail polish and were practically impossible to clean after it dried. Furthermore, most conventional nail polishes contain ingredients that are actually household hazardous waste, rendering the water with polish in it dangerous to dispose of down the drain. Not only is the design exhausting to make, the result isn’t pretty and it’s damaging to the environment. I would not recommend making this design.
Iris: Art + Lit hosts fall open mic
QUINN CHRISTENSEN The Rubicon Editor
RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Isabel Gisser
“Zoonotic feline virus… mutated,” read club adviser Kathryn Campbell. The small group of girls gathered in the Summit Center shifted in their seats and settled in, prepared to lis-
ten. The open mic on Oct. 13 was built around the theme “Superstitions.” Closing the open cic, coclub leader Anna Snider shared a meaningful piece of her own, presenting it by memory: “I am learning the art of opening my mouth, teaching myself how to
write with messy words. I don’t care if they’re sand, if they’ve sat under my tongue for far too many years.” Listen to the readings below on SoundCloud: Read more on
A rts & E ntertainment 13 THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
Fenty Beauty ARTIST PROFILE: The view through Granja’s lens QUINN CHRISTENSEN The Rubicon Editor by Rihanna
From packaging to foundation, Rihanna attracts wide range of buyers MARLEE BARON Managing Editor
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna has received a lot of press due to it’s 40 shades of foundation and the incredibly innovative magnetic packaging, and it seems that everyone is able to find a shade that fits them. Although the foundation is the most famous, it’s not the only offering. From foundation to contour kits to brushes and other makeup tools, Fenty Beauty has a very wide range of options. The Match Stick Trio, which comes with a highlight stick, a contour stick and a concealer stick, is gorgeous. It blends seamlessly into any look and is easy to use because of the stick format. Stick contours and highlighters are a wonderful way for beginners to learn how to contour. The sticker price for the match stick trio set is priced at $54, which seems high, but includes three full products that will last a long time so it’s actually fairly cheap for high quality makeup. Read the enti re review at
Ever since 9th grader Lucia Granja was a little girl, she’s seen the world through a camera lens. “My dad used to be really into photography,” Granja said. “For a while he had a dark room set up in our basement bathroom… and I sometimes would take pictures on his camera.” Since those early days, Granja has continued studying photography in school, and is currently taking Beginning Photography. She can see herself pursuing photography as a career as well. “I definitely want to do something art related, so maybe like advertising because then I’d get to design and do photos,” Granja said. One of Granja’s favorite things about photography is the perspective that it gives her and the way that it allows her to see the world. “Sometimes [you look at] color but since I do film it’s not as much color and it’s more like contrast. It’s hard to explain but you have to look at it differently,” Granja said. Granja particularly enjoys shooting street scenes. “I really like street photos of random people I don’t know, which… it’s kind of controversial because some people hate having photos taken of them without knowing but it can be really cool,” Granja said. The organic look of these models lend themselves particularly well to Granja’s style. “[There’s this] naturalness, and it’s really candid, and if you don’t know you’re having a picture taken of you or someone’s watching you you act really natural and you can get some really cool
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Quinn Christensen FREEZING MOMENTS. Ninth grader Lucia Granja captures the beauty of candid moments, “Sometimes it’s really the spur of the moment and I see something and I’m like, that’s pretty cool, so I take a picture of it. I don’t do a lot of photos where I set it up,” Granja said.
“you
look at
things differently and you look at the shape of them not necessariliy
what they are.
— 9TH GRADER
”
LUCIA GRANJA
things,” Granja said. Granja recently took a photo in this style on a visit to the State Fair with her friends. “There was this lady wearing an outfit that was just all pink, like her whole outfit except for a water bottle she was carrying and she was on a pretty dark background so I just took a picture of her with my phone.” The spontaneity of this shot is also very typical for Granja. “Sometimes it’s really the spur of the moment and I see something and I’m like, that’s pretty cool, so I take a picture of it. I don’t do a lot
of photos where I set it up,” Granja said. To Granja, a sense of wonderment is just as important as naturalness for a great photo. “I like to have some level of intrigue, like something that you’re confused about how it happened. The first photo that comes to mind - I forgot what the photographer’s name is - is this series of pictures taken at ground level of these dogs and they’re up in the air and they’re jumping but you don’t really know how they got to be above,” Granja said. Being behind the camera, searching for the source of that intrigue, can shape one’s perspective. “It kind of gives you a different mindset to do photography because you look at things differently and you look at the shape of them not necessarily what they are,” Granja said.
FOCUS ON CONTRAST. Ninth grader Lucia Granja enjoys shooting in film for the different perspective it provides, “It’s not as much color and it’s more like contrast. It’s hard to explain but you have to look at it differently,” Granja said.
SPONTANEOUS SHOTS. Granja shot the unique image at the State Fair, “If you don’t know you’re having a picture taken of you or someon’es watching you act really natural and you can get some really cool things,” Granja said.
ALL SUBMITTED PHOTOS: LUCIA GRANJA
Fall Sports Recap S ports 14
Boys Soccer
Season Record: 8-7-2 Key Win: October 7th, 2-0 vs. Academy of Holy Angels
Girls Soccer Season Record: 14-2-0 Key Win: September 23rd, 1-0 vs. Woodbury High School
Volleyball
Season Record: 15-6-0 Key Win: October 5th, 25-10 25-16, 25-19 vs. Minnehaha Academy
Girls Tennis Season Record: 10-8-0 Key Win: October 3rd, 4-3 vs. Providence Academy
Wolfpack Football:
Season Record: 6-1-0 Key Win: October 6th, 21-20 vs. St. Paul Central
THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
Season Standouts
Spartans invest individual talent for big returns on the team VOLLEYBALL: Blythe Rients KAT ST. MARTINNORBURG The Rubicon Editor
The Girls Varsity Volleyball team is looking to have its first shot at being conference champions this year. Hopefully if we win the rest of our games we’ll be the conference champions”,
junior Blythe Rients said. Rients is a veteran player with 303 kills this season. “I started playing volleyball in 5th grade for SPA, and then in 6-7th grade I played for a traveling team. I made varsity in 8th grade, and the team was mostly seniors, I was the only eighth grader.” Rients knows that her actions have an effect on the whole team. “I definitely think that a lot of pressure gets put on me sometimes in games, so if I’m not having the greatest game usually there’s some impact on the rest of the team.
Whenever I’m not playing my best I try to stay positive and making sure that I’m giving out good vibes to other people so that they can have their best game,” Rients explained. Rients has committed to play Division 1 volleyball. “I’m verbally committed to play volleyball at the University of Iowa. It’s all verbal now, but November of my senior year is when I can make it official. I committed the summer between 9th and 10th grade so it’s pretty exciting.”
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Kat St. Martin-Norburg TOGETHER. Junior Blythe Rients rallies team together during a home match. “I definitely think that a lot of pressure gets put on me sometimes in games, so if I’m not having the greatest game usually there’s some impact on the rest of the team,” Rients said.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: Sam Hanson KAT ST. MARTINNORBURG The Rubicon Editor
IBID PHOTO: Dianne Caravela BREATHE. Sophomore Sam Hanson runs in a match. “There were a lot more girls that run cross country than boys,” Hanson said.
GIRLS SOCCER: Olivia Lagos KAT ST. MARTINNORBURG The Rubicon Editor
Freshman forward Olivia
Lagos is a born-and-bred soccer player. “I’ve basically been playing soccer my whole life, because my family’s a soccer family.” Lagos said. This is her second year on the varsity team. “I think the season’s going pretty well, we’re 13 and 2, and last year we did really well too.” Lagos said. Lagos definitely not only wants to win sections, but
Sam Hanson may only be a sophomore, but he’s no stranger to running cross country for SPA. “I started
she also “want[s] to make it all the way to state.” The team’s chemistry shows itself in tradition. Lagos and some of her teammateremember each game. “Every game, Muriel [Lang], Tessah [Green] and I take a piece of grass from each field.” Lagos explained. Going into sections, Lagos is feeling the pressure. “I put [pressure] on myself to score goals,” Lagos said.
running cross country in sixth grade, and that was the same year that I started running with SPA.” Hanson spent a year on the middle school team. “I ran for the middle school team in sixth grade but I made varsity in seventh. I was pretty much alone.” He attributes the fact that more girls at SPA run cross country than boys to the reason why he made the team at a young age. “There were a lot more girls
that run cross country than boys.” Even though this season is not their best, the team uses it as a chance to get better. “For the team, we’re making some really good improvements this year, and have more team unity, we’re running together more in races.” His goal is to “not to be afraid to push myself and try to stay with the other runners. I hope to make state my senior year,” Hanson said.
IBID PHOTO: Dianne Caravela FOCUS. Sophomore Olivia Lagos controls the ball in a home match against Northfield. “I’ve basically been playing soccer my whole life, because my family’s a soccer family,” Lagos said.
Close knit girls XC team aims to win through laughing and bonding
RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Mimi Geller
READY. Seniors Val Hart, Greta Sirek, Dianne Caravela, and Emma Hills wait at the starting line of a race. “I believe we really have a chance to make it to state as a team this year,” Hills said.
JENNY SOGIN
The Rubicon Editor
From bonding during team sleepovers to improving their race times for a shot at state, the Girls Cross Country team has accomplished the best of both worlds. Not only are they a supportive and close-knit team, but
they are also athletically improved since last season. “The girls team is stronger this year, and we’re trying to get to state,” sophomore runner Paige Indritz said. “I believe we really have a chance to make it to state as a team this year if everyone puts in the work,” Hills said.
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THE RUBICON • OCTOBER 2017
SUBMITTED PHOTO: Alessandra Costalonga SADDLED UP. Sophomore horse racer Alessandra Costalonga rides around on her horse. “I’ve always loved horses since I was little,” Costalonga said.
10 questions with sophomore equestrian Alessandra Costalonga CLAIRE HALLAWAY The Rubicon Editor
What made you want to start racing and when did you start? “I guess my mom who loves horses. I’ve always loved horses since I was little. I don’t think I would’ve been into it if my mom didn’t really like horses, because she had one... I started when I was 5 or 6, but that was when I just went to the barn with my mom. When I really started was probably like a year and a half ago I want to say, maybe two years ago was when I actually started doing it.”
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Where and how much do you practice? “Valiant stables, like once a week usually, with class and then I sometimes ride on my own.”
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Describe your shows. When was your most successful one? “You present your horse and there are different classes, so sometimes the horse has to look good or you have to look good. They’re judged on the way the step. [My shows are at] the U of M and the state fair grounds. And the state fair grounds was probably my most successful show. It was successful because we practiced, and practice makes perfect.” What is the hardest aspect of being an equestrian? “You kind of have to “man-handle” some of the horses. Some of the horses are kind of arrogant. You have to have a connection with them for them to actually do what you want them to do.”
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What skills do you think are the hardest to master? “Cantering, depending on the horse can be hard. [Cantering is] when you ride the horse, they step a certain way so that when you sit, you don’t post, which means continually sitting up and sitting down. So it takes a lot of leg muscle for sure. It does depend on the horse, if the horse is being difficult, then it’s difficult.”
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What is the most rewarding part of being an equestrian and why? “Just getting to be around horses. Just being with horses that you like to ride. My favorite horse’s name is “terrific.” He’s a world champion, but he’s old now so he’s retired. I think that’s what makes it really fun.”
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What type of horse racing do you do?
“Saddle bred, like saddle-seat. And the horse I ride is an Arabian.” Have you ever been injured from this sport? “Twice, I fell off once because my horse started cantering and it was when I first started and I didn’t know how to canter and I was posting and I fell off. And the second time, my foot wasn’t in the stirrup and I had to turn my horse, but when I turned him, I fell off because I leaned a little and you’re not supposed to. So I fell off and I hit my leg and I had a bruise on my leg.”
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What was the best moment from your whole career? “I went trail riding with a couple of my friends because they have a couple of horses, they’re insane and I was riding one of the bigger horses and he started cantering and I was holding on for my dear life because it was when I first started riding, but it was really fun.”
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What have you learned and taken away from riding? “You have to remember a lot of stuff, like the tac and everything and you also have to know what horse you’re riding, they’re not all the same. It takes a lot of memory and skill and you have to feel the horse.”
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For the people: Omar builds connection
THE RUBICON PHOTO: Iya Abdulkarim
BEHIND THE SCENES: "I think that for me one of the biggest surprises...was just realizing that ninety percent of the work that we do nobody ever gets to see," Omar said, "and nobody ever gets to know, and the little bits and pieces that they get to see are things that have taken months and hundreds of meetings and one on one conversation to be able to have it be presentable to the outside world."
The Rubicon exclusive interview with Minnesota legislator Ilhan Omar JONAH HARRISON Chief Visual Editor
Ilhan Omar made history in the fall of 2016 when she was elected, making her the first ever Somali-American legislator in the U.S. Although she has gained an international following, working in government is only one facet Omar's life. "I’m a mother, and I consider myself a community organizer and I’m also a legislator, and my role as a legislator is three things: one is to create laws that have a direct impact on our lives; the second is appropriate funding for important things like education, and building roads; and my third is to convene: to have conversations, and to be a representation of people’s voices,” Omar said. Omar’s campaign was small and her team worked hard trying to convince people to pay attention to their message. Now, having a global following has helped with her outreach.
Starting Out Omar felt completely prepared to take on her role as a legislator, but there were still some things that surprised her.
“I think that for me one of the biggest surprises of arriving here was just realizing that ninety percent of the work that we do nobody ever gets to see, and nobody ever gets to know, and the little bits and pieces that they get to see are things that have taken months and hundreds of meetings and one on one conversations to be able to have it be presentable to the outside world. So what might seem like it’s being done with ease, a month ago, felt like a mountain to push,” she said. Nothing can replace the joy Omar feels in office. “[My favorite part of the job] is the conversations with people. That’s the one thing that sustains me. The deal making and negotiations can strip away your humanity often times, and for me I find solace in knowing that I am connected to the people,” she said.
Finding Balance One of the most difficult parts of Omar's job is balancing many roles. “I think finding the balance of being a mother, a legislator, and a public official is a challenge. There is no separation often
“My
biggest
accomplishment is creating access to places of power for people.”
— MN LEGISLATOR ILHAN OMAR
times. Everything sort of gets muddied together and there aren’t really clear boundaries,” she said. Her challenge is to make sure that there are clear boundaries when she is in her different roles. “When I am with my kids and at home I will not take [work] phone calls; these things don’t matter at the moment when my job is being a mother. The same thing goes for when I am a legislator, that is my job. I am here to work: I am here to legislate and I will show up,” she said.
Identity Omar’s identity plays a huge role in her job. Being an elected official who is a woman of color, she has struggled with people doubting her along the way.
“I joke often times that I’m a minority in the minority, and I am a minority in every sense of the word: I’m a minority as a black woman, I’m a minority as an immigrant, I’m a minority as a woman, and I’m a minority as someone who isn’t from a Christian faith,” she said. Omar was born in Somalia, and as the civil war in 1991 began, her family fled to a refugee camp in Kenya. From there, they moved to the U.S. “I think often times people don’t expect much from me here. So when I show up for something, it’s easy to have those conversations because people are often surprised that I have ideas and I know how things work. So, before they are able to mount a defense against whatever it is I’m pushing, it’s done because they underestimate what I am capable of doing,” she said. Even so, there are still challenges that Omar faces on a regular basis. “For me the challenge is to remember that all of these people are in the business of diminishing our power, our light, and getting us to the point where we are afraid of our
own voices so we whisper,” she said.
The Future While in office, Omar hopes to accomplish specifically one thing: “Whether my time as a legislator ends next year or it continues for a few more years, what I think would be my biggest accomplishment is creating access to places of power for people," she said. "For people to see that there isn’t particular permission that you need to be able to do something or to activate for yourself, and that, as legislators, we are privileged enough to represent you because you let us."
SELFIE: The Rubicon CVE Jonah Harrison with Ilhan Omar
Want to learn more about Ilhan? Visit her website: ilhanomar.com