November 2017 Issue by SPA Publications

the

RUBICON the student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Avenue - Saint Paul, MN 55105 Volume 45. Issue 3. November 21, 2017

Knowledge and facts about birth control Back Cover

BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH SA IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL MO CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH U T IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH

Birth Control

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The medical uses of birth control at SPA In Depth 8-9

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

RUBICON

ABOUT THE COVER

the student news of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Avenue - Saint Paul, MN 55105 Volume 45. Issue 3. November 21, 2017

Knowledge and facts about birth control Back Cover

BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH SA IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL MO CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH TU IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH IUD ABSTINANCE BIRTH CONTROL SHOT POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME ENDOMETRIOSIS AMENORRHEA MENSTRUAL CRAMPS PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME PRIMARY OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY HEAVY MENSTRUAL PERIODS BIRTH CONTROL PILL CERVICAL CAP BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT CONDOM FEMALE CONDOM VAGINAL RING BIRTH

Birth Control

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DESIGN CREDIT: Jonah Harrison

the

The medical uses of birth control at SPA In Depth 8-9

Birth control. How is it used? (In-Depth 8-9) What does it do? (Back Cover 16) Which forms are effective? (RubicOnline) How is it discussed? (Opinions 5)

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

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Liepins’ pollinator advocacy earns national buzz

Liepins (third from left) is presented with the 2017 Pollinator Advocate award on Oct. 17.

Ninth grader Nikolas Liepins was the youngest person ever to receive the ‘Pollinator Advocate’ award, which he received for establishing non-profit Bee Kind MN. The national award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the pollinator world. Read the full story at SUBMITTED PHOTO: Nikolas Liepins

THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

Pops concert centers around Musical hits

Election results in historic wins for Twin Cities

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter III was elected St. Paul’s first African American mayor with 50.86 percent of first choice votes, beating his closest opponent Pat Harris who received 24.8 percent of first choice votes.

RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Kelby Wittenberg APPLAUSE. The Pops concert is put on by the SPA band, choir and orchestra in the Huss Center every year.

JACK BENSON

The Rubicon Editor

The Pops Concert is a yearly occurrence at St. Paul Academy and Summit School. THE RUBICON PHOTO: Kelby Wittenberg The SPA orchestra, band and RETHINKING. Keynote speaker Mike Bazzett engages the crowd with his interpretation of poetry. choir will be performing. Each group has their own set list based around popular music, hence the name Pops Concert. The concert will be emceed by seniors Ned Laird-Raylor and Rahul Dev. Orchestra Director Almut word creativity. He covered “Read...what they want CHLOE MORSE Engelhardt outlined the set The Rubicon Editor some of his back story, but to read, not what they’re list for orchestra: “Game of mostly focused on how to supposed to. In life, pay Book Fest, which ran from Thrones, Bruno Mars Medley, engage with and write poetry. attention to words, and use Nov. 13-17, is an annual From reading two poems and them.” Winter Wonderland, as well as school-hosted celebration of The book sale in Davern an arrangement of the Beatles literature and writing with Lobby had books donated tune Yesterday, For Good a variety of activities and from people in SPA that were “Once most (from the Musical Wicked), events. Throughout the week sold for 25 cents each. It’s a and a medley of tunes from there was a used books sale writers start trust based exchange, as no the movie La La Land (played in Davern Lobby, each book writing seriously, one handles transactions and by the Honors Sinfonia).” going for 25 cents, as well as hold themselves Engelhardt said. I think they want shoppers faculty/parent book clubs. On accountable to pay for their Band Director Bill Mayson Nov. 13, keynote speaker Mike an audience. I books. The collection had a listed the songs the jazz bands Bazzett spoke at a school-wide variety of genres, from Young like to engage an will be playing: “Humanism, assembly during X-Period. Adult, to Fiction, Self-help Don’t you worry bout a thing, On Nov. 15 and 16 during audience.” books, and How-to. songs from Beauty and the X-Period, students from The Poetry Out Loud — KEYNOTE SPEAKER Beast, a mix from Earth Wind Poetry Out Loud competed competition was to determine MIKE BAZZETT and Fire, Runaway Baby, Take for a spot in the state who would represent SPA at competition. All students, on Me, Feelin Good.” the state competition. There faculty, and parents were Choir will be performing: talking about their meaning to are seven members of the welcome to attend. On Nov. him, and having the audience club, but only two can go to “You Make my Dreams 16, SAC hosted a marathon write a poem from pre-given state. There were two rounds Come True”, “Royals”, “Dear book read from 8:15-3:30 of words, Bazzett both showed of competition over a two day Theodosia”, “Na Na Na” by “Because of Winn-Dixie” and the meaning that comes from period. On the 15, advisories Pentatonix, “Jolene”, “I Wanna “Marley and Me”. poetry, and how anyone attended the competition and Dance with Somebody” and Mike Bazzett is a widely can be a poet. Part of what made for a large audience. “You will be found” from the recognized poet and author. inspired Bazzett to publish his Junior and Poetry Out musical “Dear Evan Hansen”. Some of his more well known poetic work was the desire for Loud member Lily Nestor The finale will be “You work includes the chapbook an audience. wasn’t too worried about the Can’t Stop the Beat” from the “You Must Remember This,” “Once most writers start competition. musical “Hairspray”, which winner of the 2014 Lindquist writing seriously, I think they “[I’m feeling] pretty all three groups will perform & Vennum prize for poetry, want an audience. I like to good. I’ve had my poems and “Our Lands are Not So together. engage an audience,” Bazzett memorized for a bit, and I The Pops Concert will be Different”. His speech on Nov. said. really like them,” Nestor said. on Dec. 1- 2 pm in the Huss 13 to the entire upper school For high schoolers center from 7-9pm, admission frequently made the students interested in becoming a laugh, drawing on wit and is free. writer, Bazzett says to read.

Book Fest promotes literature appreciation

Minneapolis City Council Andrea Jenkins was elected to the Minneapolis City Council as the first openly transgender black woman elected to public office. Phillipe Cunningham was elected the second transgender person elected to city council, unseating Barb Johnson who held the seat for 11 years.

Departments collaborate to host White Rose Society art exhibit

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Jack Benson RESISTANCE. Alexander Schmorell (above) was a discharged German soldier who wrote leaflets alerting people to the murder of Jews.

Think students can’t change the world? The White Rose Society exhibit, showcased in the Driscoll hallway, proves they can if they get involved. The exhibit is on loan from the Germanic American Institute after the German and history departments worked together to get it here. The White Rose Society was a student organization in Nazi Germany that worked to protest the cruelties and oppression of the Nazi regime. The group was non-violent and utilized graffiti and leaflets to distribute their message. “It just seemed like a good message in this day and age when people are wondering how to become involved in the world around us,” History Chair Mollie Ward said.

Service Fair encourages students to expand horizons by volunteering

After a successful trial run last year, Community Action and Service brought back the school-wide Service Fair on Nov. 9. Organizations ranged from those focuisng on the environment to helping children. “We hope that students will find an organization or some type or community service that interests them, and take action. Last year

we noticed a lot of people making great connections with organizations; however, many students did not follow up. Hopefully students in all grades this year will not only find an organization, but commit to volunteering with them,” CAS member Annie Kristal said. Read the interactive story at

TELL ME MORE. Robin Bartlett signed up on an interest list for the Audubon society at the Nov. 9 Service Fair.

@therubiconspa on INSTAGRAM:Sharee Roman

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THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

Poetry Out Loud competitors recite for a spot at state CLAIRE HALLAWAY The Rubicon Editor

Junior Mimi Geller

Junior Zoe Hermer-Cisek

Junior Chloe Morse

Junior Lily Nestor

Junior Elise Parsons

Senior Mira Zelle

“I language want to dress my fancies in...” recites senior Noa Carlson, the defending state contender for Poetry Out Loud, at the school contest on Nov. 15. Seven Upper School students presented one poem each in the Driscoll Family Commons to an audience packed with advisories during X-Period. US English teacher Philip de Sa e Silva welcomed everyone to the competition and introduced each performer before their recitation. de Sa e Silva and fellow English teacher Claire Wahmanholm coach the club. Although not everyone may need a coach, they are still present as advocates for each student and a source for positivity and feedback. “Mr. de Sa e Silva and I work closely with the students at every stage of the process: when they’re choosing which poems to recite, when they’re unpacking the meaning of a poem, when they’re figuring

THE RUBICON PHOTOS: Claire Hallaway SPOKEN WORDS. Senior Noa Carlson opened the Poetry Out Loud school contest on Nov. 15 in Driscoll Commons.

“It’s

our job to

provide a space

for the kids to mess around with poetry”

— CO-ADVISOR CLAIRE

WAHMANHOLM

out how best to perform it,” Wahmanholm said. “It’s our job to provide a space and audience for the kids to mess around with poetry. It’s one of my favorite things I do on campus.”

Students were judged on the quality of their delivery and performance. After each student recited their poem, the judges recorded their critiques and scored each performance. The first student to recite was Senior Noa Carlson. The poem was “An Apology For Her Poetry” by Duchess of Newcastle Margaret Cavendish, before she went on to deliver the piece. Following Carlson were juniors Mimi Geller with “One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop, Zoe Hermer-Cisek with “Tarantulas on the

Lifebuoy” by Thomas Lux, and Chloe Morse with “What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. The competitors continued alphabetically, with juniors Lily Nestor delivering “The Bookshelf of the God of Infinite Space” by Jeffrey Skinner and Elise Parsons with “Testimonial” by Rita Dove. Senior Mira Zelle was the last to perform with “Ode to the Midwest” by Kevin Young. Students practiced after school in preparation for the event. Each student practiced different components of the overall performance such as their speed, level of emotion, accurate memorization and enunciation. After two rounds, senior Mira Zelle and junior Elise Parsons will compete at the state Poetry Out Loud contest, held Jan. 7 at Open Book in Minneapolis. Hear the audio story at

Spartan Debate invitational preps varsity debaters for national qualifiers MARLEE BARON The Rubicon Editor

Varsity debaters prepare for national qualifiers at the SPA Debate Invitational on Dec. 2. “A debate invitational is a fancy way of saying a tournament. You and a partner will typically debate against five pairs from other schools, and the teams with the best records either advance to elimination rounds or win right away,” senior Ben Konstan said. This invitational is a little different from typical invitationals in that it “is a varsity only debate tournament,” Director of Debate Tom Fones said. “Schools throughout the state are invited, but the varsity debaters that come are probably preparing for the

national qualifiers because it [our invitational] happens the week before.” It’s common for debaters to use the tournament to

“It’s

not a big

tournament but it tends to draw the best debaters.”

— DEBATE HEAD

COACH TOM FONES scout out the competition. To protect against losing their strongest arguments, Konstan said, “[my partner]Adnan and I will be preparing fake cases so no one has easy, prepared responses to our arguments come national qualifiers.” Hosting a debate

invitational is no small task. Fones said “[The goal is to] efficiently run a good competition among the top varsity debaters from central and northern Minnesota. It’s not a big tournament but it tends to draw the best debaters from schools like Eastview, Eastridge and more.” As with all debate tournaments, debaters spend a lot of time preparing but this tournament requires lots of logistical work as well. “There’s a computer program that allows people to register and so you have to set that up with all the rules. If you run that program properly, it will schedule the tournament for you. You then have to get the rooms set aside so people can debate in certain rooms. You need to

have food available. It’s mostly logistics that you have to organize,” Fones said. The debate invitational is different for coach hosts, but not much different for students. “As a host school, we don’t compete differently, but it will be SPA volunteers running the food service, giving directions to debaters headed to rooms, and tabulating results,” Konstan said. Students can attend the invitational, as spectators or volunteers. “There should be debates going on, which are open if people want to watch, from about 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. If people want to volunteer to help run the tournament, they should contact Mr. Fones,” Konstan said.

SPA INVITATIONAL When: Dec. 2 Where: SPA

Registration 7:45-8:15 a.m. Round 1 8:30 a.m. Round 2 9:30 a.m. Round 3 10:30 a.m. Round 4 12:30 p.m. Round 5 1:30 p.m. Awards 3:15 p.m.

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.

EDITORIAL 4- Dave Pinto is a Minnesota State representative, not a U.S. legislator SPORTS 14 - Volleyball photo was taken by Liv Larsen and soccer photo was taken by Ethan Dincer

E ditorial

THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

Mentor program needs attention Focus on building peer connections, not answering questions

EDITORIAL

The Rubicon Staff

The purpose of the mentorship program is to ease the middle to upper school transition, to foster cross-grade relationships, and to provide 9th graders with someone to answer their questions. Currently, these goals are not evident with the way the program is being run, and mentors are not aware of them. The program, established in 2013, provides every 9th grade student with one, or in some cases two, junior or senior mentors. Upperclassmen can sign up to be paired with a 9th grade student at the end of the school year, and are assigned at the beginning of the next year based on the responses of the older and the younger students to a pairing survey completed the year before. This survey should also be available to any students who are new to the SPA community in 9th grade. These new students could be assigned to mentors who themselves were new students in 9th grade and can give advice they wish they had gotten. As with the sophomore, junior, and senior classes, a 9th grade class leadership council should be established to collaborate with USC and address on the needs of the 9th grade class. It is a part of the SPA tradition to anticipate becoming a mentor in your junior or senior year. However, the program currently prioritizes seniors who are often busy with early college applications. Rather than assigning mentors who

Editorial Cartoon: Melissa Nie

THE MENTOR IS IN. Upperclassmen mentors should be accessible and work to establish meaningful relationships with their ninth grade mentees.

will be in the midst of the application process, juniors should be granted priority as mentors, not only because they would have more time to offer, but because they would be on campus for another year and the relationship would be more valuable and longlasting. The first few meetings of the year should allow for the mentor(s) and mentee to get to know each other naturally. These meetings could take the form of activities, such as movie night or ice skating during which the mentor(s) and mentee get to know each other as friends, and then as students. This can be achieved by

Mentors

should

consider meeting during free time as well as outside of school to create an organic relationship.

scheduling more meetings and providing mentors with reminders to check-in with their mentees. Checking in doesn’t always have to be physical meetings—mentors and mentees can exchange emails or phone numbers to make for more frequent conversations. Mentors should

also consider meeting during free time at as well as outside of school to create an organic relationship. In the meantime, current mentors and mentees should reach out to each other to try to meet outside of any required meetings before the end of the second quarter. Sophomores who enjoyed their mentee experience and want some support or advice should reach out to any of their older classmates or teammates as the second quarter winds down, and consider becoming mentors themselves only if they believe that they will be able to make the time to meet with a mentee.

MINI EDITORIALS

Low Opinion Board posting limits debate The Opinion Board provides an essential opportunity for students to have critical discourse with one another. While heated discussions may quickly turn into arguments, the Opinion Board provides a space to slow down the conversation and build it over time. The Opinion Board should regularly be plastered with topics; last year the board was a continuous conversation about politics. The year before it tackled a number of issues. It’s time for a resurgence. For older students, model how to write a thoughtful response when you disagree with a post. For younger students, do not be afraid to post an opinion and open a community discussion. For USC, maybe it is time for a formal reintroduction, reminding people that the Opinion Board exists and the benefits it offers.

After Service Fair, it’s time to take action Community Action and Service invited a diverse sampling of service organizations to meet with students on Nov. 9. They informed students about issues and ways to take action to truly evoke change. Now it’s time to volunteer. Information provides perspective, but only action produces change. Contact a Service Fair organization today. Plan to volunteer next week. Take the first steps to accomplish something real in the Twin Cities.

Read

the full opinion

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 • NOVEMBER 2017

Wellness program facilitates sexual health

FALSE INFORMATION What is an abstinence-only curriculum?

Teaches that sexual expression outside of marriage will have harmful social, psychological, and physical consequences Omits controversial topics such as abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation Uses fear tactics to promote abstinence and to limit sexual expression Discusses condoms only in terms of failure rates; often exaggerates condom failure rates Provides no information on forms of contraception other than failure rates of condoms Includes inaccurate medical information and exaggerated statistics regarding STDs, including HIV; suggests that STDs are an inevitable result of premarital sexual behavior Promotes specific religious values Teaches that carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the baby for adoption is the only morally correct option for pregnant teens

Information from Advocates for Youth

JENNY SOGIN

The Rubicon Editor

Students at St. Paul Academy have the privilege to receive a great education in not only academics, but in sexual health as well. The sophomore wellness class educates students on a variety of health-related issues ranging from mental health to sex education, and more importantly, birth control. However, many students are not as lucky. Many schools in more conservative, religious, or rural areas only educate kids about abstinence. According to the US government website, abstinence-only sex ed programs received 1.75 billion dollars in federal funding in 2006. These programs are aimed at making students feel “dirty” for having multiple sexual partners in their lives before marriage. For example, one method of teaching students this concept is by having them get in a circle, spit in a cup, and then asking them if they want to drink that cup. Additionally, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, over 80% of abstinenceonly programs have spread false information about the effectiveness of contraceptives. They have also taught gender stereotypes and religious beliefs as fact. These religious beliefs are anti-abortion and anti-birth control (besides abstinence) for girls. This creates a culture of shaming young women for using any other birth control method besides abstinence even though there are many nonsexual related reasons to take it. In reality, many women and young women use birth control for a variety of reasons. These other uses can range from regulating periods, to helping with cramps, to

100% 96%

Percent of students who know about:

46%

Condoms

Birth Cervical Control Cap Pill

38%

Birth Control Sponge

INFOGRAPHIC: Jenny Sogin SEXUAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE. In a survey sent out to the school community with 100 respondents, 100% of respondents were educated about condoms, 96% were educated about the birth control pill, 46% were educated about the cervical cap, and 38% were educated about the birth control sponge.

Many

schools in more conservative,

religious, or rural areas only educate children about abstinence.

clearing up acne. Yet despite so many women using the birth control pill for nonsex related reasons, many sexual education classes omit discussing alternate uses of birth control. While SPA does a great job of educating students on the various forms and uses of birth control, there are many schools who don’t. As students in a place of privilege when it comes to birth control education, there is an obligation to speak out and not remain silent in fighting for equal access to education across the nation. Planned Parenthood is sometimes the

only source of correct and non-stigmatized information on birth control. Advocate and donate to keep this organization running. Protest decisions made by, primarily, men in the government who want to abolish Planned Parenthood, restrict women’s access to health care, and whose religious values get in the way of providing factually correct sexual health classes to teenagers. Write a letter, walk in a march, and get more informed because women have the right to have access to birth control methods, which starts with accurate, non-stigmatized education.

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.

UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS

Writing for pleasure improves writing and life JOSH HARRISION Guest Writer

Fast Fact

Students who write visit campus health centers less often. Harvard Health

Writing for pleasure is a much better way to spend your time and will make you more comfortable when you’re forced to write something. It helps you deal with problems in your life; if you have emotions bottled up, writing about them can only make you feel better. And When you use your time to write for pleasure, you not only have a way to vent your emotions, you also improve the quality of your writing. Emotions are a big part of our lives. Writing can help you feel more happy and accomplished. Writing is one of the most enjoyable, productive ways to use your time and will make you a happier person. The more you enjoy writing, the more productive your writing becomes. Whether you like it or not, writing will always be a large part of your life as a student and as a productive human being. Writing for pleasure also makes other people recognize you as a better writer than if you only write because you are forced to. And it makes people realize that you care about your work. Designate a block of time every week, or even a small chunk every day, just to write what you’re thinking about with no distractions or things on your mind.

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.

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,

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.

At time, stories will be updated as new information surfaces, and verified inaccuracies will e corrected.

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

O pinions

THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

COLUMN NO RIGHT ANSWER

Whose drumbeat should you march to? ISABEL SAAVEDRA-WEISS The Rubicon Editor

Ever noticed how for every motivational or inspirational quote, there’s another one that contradicts it? And both of them seem right? Example A: “Treat people how you would want to be treated.” Yep, makes sense. And then there’s times when you “shouldn’t give time and energy to people who aren’t worth it.” Example B: “Be yourself.” Seems legit. And overused. I honestly think a lot of people like to say that they live by this rule. I am one of them. But when I really think about it, maybe I’m not as true to myself as much as I think I am. Sure, I usually make decisions initially on what I think. But sometimes people critique those decisions. My initial decisions change, and usually for the better. I think being yourself is great. The ability to make decisions based on your own needs and wants is what a lot of humans strive for. But it’s also important to take a step back and let some people influence us.

It ’ s

important

to take a step

back and let some people influence us.

Which opens another jar of unknowns. Which people? A lot of people have opinions about you, but only some of them have your best interest in mind. And I guess it all comes back to your decision again. You should be yourself, and trust yourself to trust the right people’s advice. For me, I learned that by trial and error, and a lot of trust. My family will give me their opinion, whether I wanted it or not, because they want me to be the best I can be. An internet troll? Not so much. So be yourself and know that your identity is shaped by those around you. For the most part, you have control over those who shape you.

National Coming Out Day showed how compassionate SPA can be. Let’s continue that kindness.

LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY AARON DATTA Senior

I couldn’t help but smile as I looked through the post-it notes that people had added to the prompts the GSA had put up for National Coming Out Day. They were all kind, at times a bit snarky, filled with hearts and smiley faces. The day itself had been filled with positivity. People were eating food, writing notes and asking questions. Everyone was particularly interested in reading the anonymous coming out stories from their classmates, eager to be able to understand and better connect with SPA’s LGBTQ+ community. Coming out can be a scary process. Even though I knew that my parents and friends all cared deeply for me, there was a small voice in the back of my mind telling me that I should be cautious. That people may not accept me. This first quarter has again and again reminded me that there was nothing for me to be afraid of. The world can be daunting for LGBTQ+ people. I want to work to make sure that SPA is not. It has become evident that this is not just my personal goal, but one of SPA as a whole. We are taking great strides forward to making SPA a place where all LGBTQ+ students may strive to be successful in every aspect of their lives without having to worry about their

SPA

has these

thoughts of

inclusivity and compassion floating around in its mind, but

now we need to make them into a reality.

identity being used to hold them back. “Just be like, ‘Whatever we’re still pals dude”.” “Don’t change the way you act around them now that you know their sexuality.” “Let other people come out on their own.” “Everyone has a story and they are interesting because we are human. Listen!” These post-it notes truly bring out the basis of how we can support LGBTQ+ students and everyone in our community. Someone’s sexuality or gender doesn’t change who they are, they are still the friends and classmates that you’ve always known. You don’t need to treat them differently or act differently yourself; show them compassion and support. Let each person come to know themselves. It takes time for each of us to understand ourselves and that can take longer for some people than others. It’s a personal process and if your friend shares an important part of themselves with you, you aren’t the one who should tell the world, let

your friend understand their own place in the world and decide when they want to share that with others. SPA has these thoughts of inclusivity and compassion floating around in its mind, but now we need to make them into a reality. So now I have a challenge for all of you. Match your actions with your words. Push yourself to learn more about issues you don’t understand, so that you can better connect with your classmates. We can do this by listening to others, asking questions and leaning into that feeling of discomfort surrounding tough conversations. Normalize talking about the LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+ issues. When we create a community where being LGBTQ+ is no longer seen as outside the norm, then all students will be able to feel normal and included. This means reading books by LGBTQ+ people, talking about LGBTQ+ issues while remembering that people in our community are affected by them, and allowing LGBTQ+ students to be people, not just LGBTQ+ people . Be kind to each other. This seems like such a simple idea, but it can be the hardest to follow. Trust that we hold no malicious intent towards each other. If we can achieve these three goals then we take three steps closer to a community that we may all be proud of and participate in, one where we may all be supported.

History courses need to include nuanced gender discussion CHLOE MORSE The Rubicon Editor

Gender and its surrounding discussions are a central part of SPA. The GSA club promotes gender awareness, seniors write speeches about gender experiences, and students have a general awareness about gender in the classroom. In the Humanities departments, especially in the English department, gender plays a critical role in the curriculum of the class.

However, the history department leaves much to be desired for gender in the curriculum. There is one history elective that focuses on women in history, but the problem lies in the gender narrative of required classes. For every section of the textbooks in World History I and II and US History, there’s typically only a paragraph to briefly explain women’s experiences during a historical event. Their experience isn’t integrated with the overall

explanation. The classroom discussions follow this model, only talking about women as a sidenote or when there’s time in class. Even if the history department continues to use the same textbook, the classes should have a more developed focus on women and all genders throughout history. All students should have the opportunity to learn the history of women and genders.

COLUMN THE CURRENT (EVENTS)

Evaluating Trump’s swamp JACK BENSON

The Rubicon Editor

Donald Trump’s presidency oozes strange and unexpected occurrences. Love em or hate em, you have to admit there hasn’t been a president like him. Trump hasn’t drained the swamp, but the swamp sure has gotten more bizarre. I wasn’t that interested in lumping my opinion on Trump into the gooey mass of articles that already dissect his life. But I just can’t get the crazy bog monster (in the nicest way possible) out of my head. From the relatively “harmless” incidents like claiming John McCain wasn’t a war hero because he got captured to the more worrisome incidents like allegedly disclosing highly classified information to the Russian Foreign Minister, Trump’s presidency has been a tidal wave of odd information.

Trump

hasn’t

drained the

swamp, but the

swamp sure has gotten more bizarre.

The howls and squeaks that come from deep in the swamp have not gone unnoticed by concerned neighbors. 23 countries of the European Union, for example, have made a deal to integrate their armies. The European Union has been discussing the possibility of a common defense for 70 years. It was only when the swamp started spewing bog water toward the likes of North Korea and Russia did they finally agree to coalesce their defenses. In October, a Canadian man after being rescued from the Taliban, couldn’t believe that Trump became the president. It’s common to feel the same way. While our president is off exploring the depths of the swamp, the people of the United States will continue to watch with cautious interest. Angela Merkel, in a response to Russian meddling and Trump’s America, said, “We Europeans must really take our destiny into our own hands.” Citizens of the United States may want to do the same.

S cience /T echnology 7 THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

How to reduce air pollution:

1. Try to bike or walk places when possible. Students can use public transportation or carpool to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 2. Transporting food from other parts of the world is a significant source of air pollution. When given the option, choose local produce. Buying food closer to where it is grown reduces gas emissions from transportation. 3. Replace any energyinefficient appliances. If the appliance was made before 2000, check how efficient it is by looking at the Energy Rating Label. When buying new appliances, also check the Energy Rating Label; more stars equals more efficient. 4. Regularly check your car’s tire pressure. Having the right tire pressure reduces gas use. If a tire is down 0.5 bars, it will increase the gas use by five percent.

Air pollution provides a potential option for power ANNABELLE BOND Staff Writer

Air pollution is a severe problem in many places around the world and can cause many health issues, including lung cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Every year, more than three million people die from outdoor exposure. The World Health Organization has set a goal of 10PM2.5 on average annually. PM2.5 measures particle pollution from tiny particles (2.5 micrometers or less). But, according to WHO, 92 percent of the world’s population continues to live in areas that exceed the recommended level. According to WHO, most of the United States was under the WHO’s limit in 2016, but places like Chicago,

Washington D.C, Los Angeles and Minneapolis still went over the limit. This is nothing compared to areas of the world that exceeded 70 PM2.5 in parts of India, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and China. One of the main sources of air pollution in these areas are manufacturing industries, another is population and energy needs. According to an article on Popular Science, air quality in Beijing is worse during the winter due to the increase of burning coal for energy to heat houses. In order to lessen the harmful effects of air pollution, scientists in Belgium are working on finding a way to actually convert air pollution into power. The small device takes

harmful particles from the air and uses them in solarpowered electrolysis, where an electric current turns water into oxygen and hydrogen. Currently, the scientists are working to make there devise more efficient, along with scaling it up for the use of cities with poor air quality. In Belgium, scientists have created a devise that is able to convert captured polluted air into hydrogen gas, which can be utilized as a type of power. As of now, the device is a functioning prototype that only produces a small amount of hydrogen gas, but in the future, this technology could be used as a strong and clean source of power akin to solar or wind.

IOS screen recording threatens privacy CLAIRE HALLAWAY The Rubicon Editor

One of the newest features in IOS 11 allows Apple users to record their own screen. Similar to a screenshot (where an image is captured of the display screen itself), a continuous video of the screen can be saved.This makes it far easier for anyone to save what others share on social media without the owner of the content knowing. Some may think that this new feature makes it possible to record a snapchat video without the user knowing, but this is false. Snapchat will still notify the sender of the content that the user screenshotted their content. It is with text messages, instagram direct messages, and social media posts that the user doesn’t get notified that their content is saved. Users should think more carefully about what they are posting and realize that anything they post could be become public.

Self-driving semi trucks roll into reality and controversy ANDREW JOHNSON The Rubicon Editor

The concept of self driving cars spurs different reactions from individual drivers. Some rejoice at the opportunity to implement a system where human error is removed from roads nationwide, while others are disappointed or are frightened by the potential of sharing the road with driverless technology. Either way, people who follow the trends of technology know that the future of cars is driverless. According to American Truck Business Services,

Google plans to introduce their self-driving technology by 2020. And, possibly even sooner, Daimler’s Freightliner Inspiration Truck is beginning to introduce their own self-driving semis to the marketplace. In the United States, semitrucks constitute roughly five percent of the total automobile population, while consuming 20 percent of total fuel. By regulating the use of self-driving technology so that it is used only for semitrucks, it can reduce gas bills for drivers by almost seven percent.

Fast Fact There are 1.7 million truck drivers across the United States Source: MIT Technology Review

Trucks travel an average of 101,000 miles per year, this switch could result in thousands of dollars of savings. Daimler’s Freightliner Inspiration Truck has recently

been permitted to drive on the highways of Nevada. While the beginning of self-driving semis is becoming real, it may not be universally supported. Assuming the self-driving technology for just semi trucks is legalized across all states, thousands of truck drivers would be left without jobs. This could also open the floodgates for professional vehicle operators like taxi or uber drivers to lose their jobs as well. Furthermore, the self driving semi-trucks could look completely different. According to The Verge, self-driving trucks may lack

Projected annual semi-truck operating costs $45,700

$45,700

$31,700

$13,700

=cost of drivers =other costs $90,400

$83,000

pedals, a windshield, or even a steering wheel. Companies are aiming to completely remove human influence from trucks, and eventually, cars as well. But what for? The purpose of switching to self driving technology is to lessen crashes but there have already been many reported crashes caused by malfunctioning self driving technology and they haven’t even hit stores. Is making this change really worth taking the jobs of thousands of hardworking Americans? Until the liability risk from the creators of the trucks is nullified, the answer is no.

INFOGRAPHIC: Iya Abdulkarim Source: Strategy& Analysis

In De

THE RUBICON • KAT ST. MARTIN-NORBURG The Rubicon Editor

the Trump adminis tration and birth control JACK BENSON

The Rubicon Editor

In the course of the Trump administration’s attack on Barack Obama’s health care policies, birth control has entered their crosshairs. On Oct. 6 the Trump administration announced a roll back on an Obama-era policy requiring employers to provide birth control coverage at no cost to their employees. This policy rollback is no small change either. According to the New York Times from an Obama administration report, “More than 55 million women have access to birth control without co-payments because of the contraceptive coverage mandate.” The Department of Justice released a memorandum that employers can have exemption to non-discrimination laws when it interferes with their religious freedom. In addition to that, the Department of Health and Human Services rolled back the mandate that birth control is a required part of employer provided health insurance. The new rules took effect immediately after their announcement in early October. Even at its introduction the birth control policy was controversial. This rollback has been spurred on by Hobby Lobby, the religious organization The Little Sisters of the Poor, and other religious companies and organizations. Trump is now attempting to fulfill his campaign promises to those organizations. The main claim is that the birth control mandate violates their religious and moral beliefs which are protected under the first amendment in the constitution. This rollback does not come without resistance. The constitutional argument is not one sided. For example, the attorney generals of California and Massachusetts have filed lawsuits against the rollback. Their arguments relating to the part of first amendment, “make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” They are not alone, as women’s organizations, such as the National Partnership for Women and Families, and doctors, such as Anne Davis, a consulting medical director for Physicians for Reproductive Health. They argue that not only is the role back discriminatory toward women, it could, as Davis said, leave women “vulnerable to the whims of their employers.”

Before Oct. 6 employers that provided medical insuran required to cover birth control. The Trump administrat policy and now, under the Trump policy, employers can control based on a religious or moral objections. Birth medical conditions. Two students. Two birth control pr medical reasons.

The moral argument agains Senior Kelly Fiedler started taking birth control during her junior year. “I started taking birth control because my cramps were so bad that I would literally throw up from them, I went on it mostly for my cramps but also to regulate my period,” Fiedler said. She doesn’t think that students at SPA judge those who use birth control.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/ trump-administration-could-narrow-affordable-care-actscontraception-mandate/2017/10/05/16139400-a9f0-11e792d1-58c702d2d975_story.html?utm_term=.77cb697dabe1

“Separ work

religious

import

Kelly

or weapons in a but birth contro harm anyone,” F Fiedler also b that in regards t healthcare “sep work and religi important.”

birth con

fighting assumptions agai

The time for birth control stigm THE RUBICON PHOTO: Jonah Harrison

“I

don’t

that som

else’s op

should im

what you

your bo

Sources: https://www.npr.org/sections/healthshots/2017/10/06/555970210/trump-ends-requirement-thatemployer-health-plans-pay-for-birth-control https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/06/trump-rollsback-obamacares-contraception-rule-243537

“I’m pretty open about it, I think most girls are pretty open about it. I know most of my friends are on it, so we’re pretty open about it and we don’t really care. I don’t talk about it as much with guys, but I don’t feel like there’s a lot of negative connotations, but I know that there’s some,” Fiedler said. Fiedler believes that the Trump policy rollback is unhelpful. “I don’t think that birth control does any harm. I think it’s different if it’s like ‘I’m morally against guns

Sylvie Schi DIFFERENT REASONS. Senior Sylvie Schifsky believes it’s important to educate students about the medical reasons for taking birth control.

Senior Sylvie Schifsky decided to start taking birth control in her junior year. “I started taking birth

control about a year ago because I have depression, and my doctor noticed that I tend to have higher highs

and lower lows period so she su I take [birth con it’s helped a lot Schifsky said. Schifsky feels

epth

the

NOVEMBER 2017

nce to their employees were tion rolled back the Obama era n choose to not cover birth control is used to treat many rescriptions. Two different

9 when do doctor s pre scribe QUINN CHRISTENSEN The Rubicon Editor

st medical use is unfounded

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Jonah Harrison

rating and

BCP?

From POI to amenorrhea, there are many medical , not sexually related reasons that a doctor may prescribe the birth control pill to a patient. Ultimately, a doctor will prescribe the birth control pill if it is decided that it is the best way to get the patient the hormones that they need.

belief is

tant.”

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is caused by an

imbalance of hormones. It leads to irregular menstrual periods, acne, and an increase in hair growth. BCP can help treat PCOS by decreasing specific hormone levels, which helps regulates periods, hair growth, and acne.

y Fiedler

a building, ol doesn’t Fiedler said. believes to parating ious belief is

Endometriosis is a disease that can cause extremely painful cramps during the menstrual cycle. BCP can help treat endometriosis by stopping or regulating menstrual periods. NO HARM DONE. Senior Kelly Fiedler explainshow the debate about accessible birth control differs from other moral arguments and why she disagrees with the Trump policy rollback.

ntrol pill

i n s t me d i c a l p r e s e c r i p t i o n s

matization has passed think

meone

pinion

mpact

u do to

ody.”

ifsky

around my uggested that ntrol], and in that way,”

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it’s important to know that birth control is not just used for preventing pregnancy. “Being someone who doesn’t take birth control to prevent pregnancy I feel like it’s important that I share that not everybody takes it for the same reason, and it has a lot of different benefits other than preventing pregnancy,” Schifsky said. However, despite wanting to educate others, she doesn’t always feel comfortable sharing that she uses birth control. “I think it’s really heavily stigmatized and sometimes I feel comfortable adding myself to the conversation

and sometimes I don’t. I think in general there’s a really big stigma about taking birth control and being promiscuous. I’m not; I would rather not get pregnant in high school,” Schifsky said. Schifsky does not believe that the Trump policy is appropriate. “I find [the policy] super amoral personally, and I don’t think that someone else’s opinion should impact what you do to your body, especially a healthcare provider, especially based on a religious context,” Schifsky said.

Amenorrhea is the lack of periods. It can be

caused by low weight, extreme exercise, or stress. BCP can help treat amenorrhea by supplying the body with estrogen, which is the hormone that regulates the menstrual cycle.

Menstrual cramps can sometimes be severe enough that over-the-counter medications such as Advil or Midol are insufficient to treat them. In those cases, BCP can help regulate these cramps as they lighten menstrual periods. Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, can cause mood swings, soreness of breasts, weight gain, bloating, acne, and other symptoms. As BCP regulates and lightens menstrual periods, it helps to lessen these symptoms. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, or POI, is a condition where someone’s ovaries don’t produce sufficient estrogen. BCP can help treat POI by replacing this estrogen, regulating menstrual periods and strengthening bones. Heavy menstrual periods can be lightened by BCP. Acne can be painful and is often treatable with BCP, as the hormones in BCP can keep acne from forming as well as regulating menstrual periods. Source: https://youngwomenshealth.org/2011/10/18/ medical-uses-of-the-birth-control-pill/

HOSPA on Instagram

Student rappers express their truth on SoundCloud

F eature 10

GRIFFIN THISSEN Staff Writer

As rap music is becoming increasingly popular, more and more teenagers are finding out about it. As the genre expands, many high school students are trying to make their own rap songs. An attractive aspect of creating rap music is the ease and

simplicity of it: all one needs is their computer and some lyrics. Despite the basic process, the quality of the rap music made by many high school students is impressive. Read the full story at

THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

Experiencing Gender

From a non-binary perspective: Datta feels the responsibility to educate others

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Lucy Sandeen

HARD WORK. Amity teacher Maria Ramajo works hard in her new office space. “I want to know more about the United States, and I want to know different states,” Ramajo said.

Amity teacher Ramajo explores American education LUCY SANDEEN The Rubicon Editor

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Jenny Sogin PARTNER PRESENTATIONS. Seniors Aaron Datta and Sylvie Schifsky work together on an upcoming English presentation about using feminist and queer theory to analyze text. “I can try to teach others about the gender-queer experience, but it also means that I have to understand that all of my actions reflect a bunch of other people now,” Datta said.

MELISSA NIE

The Rubicon Editor

Being someone who identifies outside of the gender binary provides a different perspective on the inner workings of society. Senior Aaron Datta identifies as bi gender, a designation where some individuals express two distinct “female” and “male” personas, feminine and masculine respectively; others find that they identify as two genders simultaneously. Datta believes that gender isn’t as straightforward as it is commonly perceived. “Gender is a social construct. We make it so that we can categorize people because humans love to categorize things,” Datta said. Sports teams are also a product of the gender binary. Historically, sports teams have always been divided by gender, with little room to accommodate those who identify outside of the gender binary.Recently, co-ed sports

“It

puts a lot of

pressure on people to constantly speak out from

our perspective.” — SENIOR AARON DATTA

teams have become more common, but there is still a long way to go in terms of gender inclusivity. Datta recalls being scared at the prospect of figuring out how they can participate in sports at St. Paul Academy without compromising their gender identity. “When I was questioning and trying to figure out my own gender identity, I didn’t know what to do when it came to sports,” Datta said. “Right now, we have a lot of really brave people who are going out and trying to be able to play the sport as the gender that they identify as, but it’s an uphill battle for

all those people. I was pretty intimidated to try and take that on.” Datta is also affected by the fact that there are so few non-binary students at SPA. Subsequently, the duty of educating people about gender falls on their shoulders. “It puts a lot of pressure on people [who identify as nonbinary] to constantly speak out from our perspective,” Datta said. “People see us as being the gender-queer people, which creates a narrative of what genderqueer people are like. So now I am representing a very large group of people because I am one of the few gender-queer people that people at SPA interact with a lot as a person.” This responsibility carries a heavy sense of importance. “I can try to teach others about the gender-queer experience, but it also means that I have to understand that all of my actions reflect a bunch of other people now,” Datta said.

This article is the first in a three-part series about how students’ learning experience is impacted by their gender. Part two will appear in the December issue.

The challenge of learning a new language stretches your mind in new ways and changes the way you think. Imagine learning to teach something so innate—then factor in a new country, a new school, and a new culture of learning. Maria Ramajo is doing just that. Originally from Valladolid, a city two hours north of Madrid, Spain, Ramajo arrived at St. Paul Academy in the early fall through Amity Scholars, a program for students who wish to become teachers. The program places college students in internships and teaching positions throughout the country. Ramajo and SPA were randomly matched, but Ramajo decided to stay at SPA for the full year. Ramajo has previously been to Minnesota for a summer exchange program and has already been introduced to the culture, but she hadn’t been exposed to the culture of education in the United States. “The biggest surprise was probably the respect of the students to the teachers. That doesn’t exist in Spain at all. First of all, we don’t say Mr. and Mrs.; they call us by our first name. So that’s a big difference. I don’t feel comfortable yet with being called Señora—that’s weird,” Ramajo said. Learning a language in the United States is structured differently than learning a language in Spain. “[Learning in Spain]is more memoristic. When I learned English in school, it’s

just, ‘This is the verb and you have to memorize it.’ All the Spanish teachers [here] speak very good Spanish and speak Spanish in class,” Ramajo said. Ramajo has only been at SPA for a few months, but she’s been impressed with the education style.

“The

biggest

surprise was

probably the respect of the students to the teachers.”

— AMITY TEACHER MARIA RAMAJO

“I love this type of education that’s more focused on the goals that each student has than just regular information that doesn’t match with our personal expectations,” Ramajo said. Ramajo has found a challenge in learning to teach Spanish, a skill that has been second nature to her for her entire life. “I’m not a Spanish teacher, I’m a history teacher. I know how to speak Spanish and I know how to conjugate, but I don’t know how to explain it,” Ramajo said. During the rest of her stay in the United States, Ramajo hopes to see more of the country and looks forward to traveling. “I want to know more about the United States, and I want to know different states. I have [only] been in New York, Wisconsin, and Minnesota before,” Ramajo said.

Part time security officers outnumber full timers MIMI GELLER

RubicOnline Editor

When entering the school, it is almost impossible not to the see the friendly faces of the St. Paul Academy and Summit School security officers occupying their desks. With their continual permanence within SPA halls, what is not always apparent is the transparency of their numbers.

The custodians of SPA keep the school functional LUCY BENSON Staff Writer

Everyday students walk the halls, talking, laughing, and filling the school with dirt. Shoes drag in mud, hands spread germs, and crumbs are dropped. Yet every morning, students are greeted by clean facilities, thanks to the custodians of St. Paul Academy and Summit School.

Read both stories at:

F eature 11

THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

Lunch staff makes great food and atmosphere 1

THE RUBICON PHOTOS: Evelyn Lillemoe CHOP CHOP CHOP. Clockwise starting from left 1. Emelio Candia slices strawberries for fruit salad 2. Back row: Juan Garcia, Dawn Vraa, Simon Barrow, Tom Schiller, Bailey Hayden Front row: Kim Mai, Tanya Anderson, Emilio Candia 3. Tamika Daneil and Dawn Vraa prepare to hand food to the lunch line; “My favorite thing [about my job] would be talking with the kids and the teachers…knowing that I made someone’s day,” Bailey Hayden said.

EVELYN LILLEMOE Staff Writer

The lunch staff are people who SPA students see five days a week. Lunchtime is students’ time to eat, recharge, catch up with friends and prepare for the rest of their day. However while students are relaxing, the lunch staff is hard at work. They are crucial to the functionality of students every day. But how much do SPA students actually know about the lunch staff? “I know that they make food and they serve the food for us, but that’s about it, I don’t know what they do otherwise,” said freshman Ian Matenaer. Bailey Hayden works on the lunch staff as a food service aid. Hayden contributes in many different areas in the lunchroom. She helps prep for lunch, stocks the food during lunchtime, and helps students with dietary restrictions and allergies. “My favorite thing [about my job] would be talking with the kids and the teachers… knowing that I made someone’s day,” Hayden said.

“I would like if it was a longer day, because I really like it here.” Tamika Daniel is a lunch attendant at SPA. You will often see her serving food during lunch time.

“The

first thing

i noticed

[at

spa]

was how nice and

[the students were]. it’s nice to see.” respectful

— EXECUTIVE CHEF TOM SCHILLER

“[My least favorite part of my job is] not being here on the weekends with you guys.” Tom Schiller is one of the executive chefs of the lunch staff at SPA. One of the things Schiller does in the kitchen is cook the food. He has been cooking for about 35 years. “I started in high school working in a little bar, and then I went to school for chef training, and I got a two year degree in chef training. Then I worked in a restaurant for

22 years and I was executive chef there for 17 [years]. I just kind of moved around, learning from other chefs in the business.” Schiller had previously worked at another school in St. Paul. He found a very different atmosphere at SPA. “The first thing I noticed was how nice and respectful [the students were]. It’s nice to see,” Schiller said. “I prepare most of the food, I help with the menus, making sure everything is stocked, help around the dishroom if needed, kind of helping all around the kitchen,” said Schiller Simon Barrow is an executive chef along with Schiller. He is also the food service director at SPA. Barrow is in charge of everything food service related including ordering the food, planning the menus, and meeting with students, faculty, and parents. “I like the creativity [of my job]. I can be pretty creative because I don’t have a lot of restrictions like they do in public schools.” Sophomore Ananya

Narayan speaks to the lunch staff often, given her many food allergies. “They work really hard, and I am grateful that our school has such a wonderful lunch staff,” Narayan said. “They’re all such wonderful people.” Respect is a key value in the SPA community. Many people on the lunch staff said that the majority of SPA students are respectful to them and the rest of the lunch staff. “90 percent,” said Daniel, in regard to the amount of students that are respectful to the lunch staff. Dawn Vraa is a prep cook and server at SPA. “Sometimes there’s more of a general feeling that we’re there to wait on kids,” said Vraa, “It’s very few, but sometimes there’s a little bit of an attitude thing.” Tanya Anderson, a member of the lunch staff said, students could “Clean up their dishes and bring them to the dish area.” Barrow also wanted more open communication about the food. “Tell me your likes and

Fast Fact The lunch staff, and all of SPA’s food, comes from the catering business Taher Inc.

dislikes, if you don’t like something you’re not going to hurt my feelings. I try to do something for everybody, make sure there’s always something that you’ll eat, especially with so many dietary restrictions.” The SPA lunch staff works hard to provide students with a delicious meal everyday. They do a lot more than is apparent to students eating lunch. “Just listen to what they have to say. If they say ‘please don’t take more than one’, don’t take more than one,” Matenaer said. “Be respectful.”

The Naughty Greek offers authentic, comforting eats

ELLIE FINDELL

RubicOnline Editor

My favorite dish was the baked feta with drizzled honey. It was served in a simple dish but still hot with the phylo dough around it cracking when I stuck my fork into it and the honey dripping off the sides and a $6.50 price

tag. Some of the price tags may be a dollar of two more then the nearby Shish or Zait and Zaatar but the portions are bigger and the food could much easier be mistaken for tapas plates in Santorini. The Naughty greek is a small establishment with a big heart and cravings worthy greek food. If the Snelling

location isn’t the convenient, a TNG 2.0 is opening on Raymond and University soon. The Naughty Greek is definitely a Saint Paul food tour can’t miss especially as the days get colder and our cravings of comfort food increase. Read the full story at RUBICONLINE PHOTO: ELLIE FINDELL

A rts & E ntertainment

THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

Secret in the Wings tells unconventional tales

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Claire Hallaway COMPLEXITY IN COMPOSITION. A unique part of the US fall play is the way that it is more of an ensemble piece. “Every role is important and it’s really fun to have it not just be the seniors who are running the whole show,” Shrestha said.

MELISSA NIE

The Rubicon Editor

Every classic fairy tale begins with the magic words “Once upon a time.” The fairy tales we know and love are filled with stories about radiant princesses, dragons, and knights in shining armor. However, The Secret in the Wings by Mary Zimmerman takes a darker spin on these fairy tales. Set in modern times, The Secret in the Wings blends fantasies and reality to create a world like no other. “It’s about this kid whose parents go out for dinner and they have their neighbour babysit,” senior Maya Shrestha said. “The kid is positive that the babysitter is an ogre. The babysitter tells her these seven fairy tales and they’re all very dark, twisted versions.” An example of a more sinister story would be “Silent for Seven Years,” an Italian folktale. Shrestha plays one of the three blind princesses married to three princes who have gone out to war. “The princesses give birth, but they’re starving, so they eat their children. [The fairy tales] are all very extravagant

and strange in a great way,” Shrestha said. In addition to being much darker than regular fairy tales, the fairy tales in the play are told unconventionally. “It’s kind of like a dream sequence, so it’s less of a really straightforward narrative,” senior Drew Fawcett said. Fawcett plays the ogre. After the ogre begins reading fairy tales, the transition from reality to fiction is abrupt. “Suddenly, we’re reading storybooks and showing a vast amount of different characters and storylines right after one another,” Fawcett said. “They’re all linked by that original little girl and that ogre. The plot continues on, the story builds and eventually there’s a big catharsis in the

“It’s

kind of like

a dream sequence, so it’s less of a straighforward narrative.”

— SENIOR DREW FAWCETT

“It’s

like a work

of art and it’s something to

appreciate, not exactly learn

from. It’s more of the experience.”

— SENIOR DORIENNE HOVEN

end, but it’s like a dreamscape that is tied together by a single story.” Another unique aspect of the play is the music. One of senior Dorienne Hoven’s roles involves being a soloist. “It’s funny because it’s a play, but every single thing I’m involved in has singing, which has been fun because I’m singing these bizarre songs,” Hoven said. Audience members may have been confused by the convoluted nature of the play, but Hoven thinks it should be taken subjectively. “I don’t think there’s really a message [to the play]. I think it’s like a work of art and it’s something to appreciate, not exactly learn from,” she said.

“It’s more of the experience,” Hoven added. The complexity of the play means there are no lead roles. This allows for more interactions between grade levels. “It’s very much an ensemble piece, so every role is important and it’s really fun to have it not just be the seniors who are running the whole show,” Shrestha said. “It’s fun to work with all the people in other grades as well.” In addition to connecting more with underclassmen, being a senior in the play gives Fawcett a new perspective. “What I found interesting this year was that a lot of the freshmen will look up to seniors. I’ve always seen that but I’ve never been a senior, so it’s been cool to see these people who I don’t really know approach me and talk to me. It’s just a very open community,” Fawcett said. Packed with creepy vibes, a gripping plot and plenty of humor, audience members should leave with much to discuss from this unique version of storytelling. The Secret in the Wings was performed in the Huss Center on Nov. 17-18 at 7 p.m.

Cast Isobel Alm Ethan Asis Rafael Barocas Dianne Caravela Drew Fawcett Nathan Forsberg Jonah Harrison Rylan Hefner Dorienne Hoven Rachael Johnson Gavin Kimmel Grace Krasny Evelyn Lillemoe Peter Michel Max Moen Chloe Morse Ananya Narayan Maren Ostrem Elise Parsons Lillian Pettigrew Noah Raaum Lilly Ramalingam Sylvie Schifsky Katie Schlinger Maya Shrestha Anja Trierweiler Henry Vlietstra Tina Wilkens Gemma Yoo Mira Zelle

Thoughtfully crafterd, “Reputation” restores faith in Taylor Swift’s talent

FLANNERY ENNIKINGNORTON The Rubicon Editor

Fair use image from Big Machine Records

With a combination of tempos, moods, and instrumentals, Taylor Swift certainly took a new direction with her latest album “Reputation,” released on Nov. 10. This pop album perhaps marks the full

evolution of Swift as an artist from her early, innocent country days in her 2006 self-titled “Taylor Swift.” Since that debut, her music, song content, and public image have progressively gotten edgier, culminating in this sixth release. Overall, “Reputation” is a thoughtfully crafted and engaging album through which Swift asserts

independence and officially cuts ties with her previous public character as the “good country girl” and shows that no one can define her reputation except her. The album sets a new standard for Swift, and showcases her new identity as she sheds her past reputation. Read the full story on

A rts & E ntertainment 13 THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

Streble showcases snapshots of strangers’ stories

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Claire Hallaway UNIQUE UNIQUES. Photographer Scott Streble captured the faces of individuals who submitted what was unique about themselves, “I combined the words describing what they said was unique about them with the photographs,” Streble said.

KAT ST. MARTINNORBURG The Rubicon Editor

Photographer Scott Streble is a familiar face to many at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, he can often be found in classrooms and hallways, documenting students and their daily lives. Starting Oct. 27, his photography will be expanded through a series displayed in the Drake Gallery. There are three different projects: “Uniques”, “Portraits of a Lifetime”, and a series of photographs Streble took in a foundry. Streble’s career as a photographer started at a young age.

“I took photos in high school, and I was a yearbook photographer, and then I studied it in college as well. I wanted to make photography my career when still in highschool, but I didn’t know if I could do it, or if I was good enough to make it,” Streble said. Soon after graduating college and being an assistant to photographers, he decided to make it his career. “My first job out of college was as an assistant photographer in Wisconsin and then I moved to Los Angeles as freelance photographer assistant for about 4 years,” Streble said. Initially he wanted to be a fashion photographer, but after being an assistant, he

realized that wasn’t for him. “That’s what’s nice about assisting, you can shoot for all kinds of photographers, and shoot all kinds of photography,” Streble said. Now Streble works mainly for nonprofits, and has established himself as a documentary style photographer. “I ended up volunteering a lot, and about 30% of my work now is pro bono,” Streble said Streble finds that one of his favorite parts about being a photographer is connecting with the people that he photographs. “I like people as much as I like the photography,” Streble said. The current exhibit in the Drake Gallery is a mix of

Streble’s older work, and pieces that have been shot more recently. “It’s three bodies of work, the first is called the Uniques. I wanted to show unique people, so I sent an ad out looking for unique people, and had them submit a few words saying why they thought that they were unique. I then had them come into the studio for a portrait. I combined the words describing what they said was unique about them with the photographs,” Streble said.

“I

like people as

much as

like the

photography.”

— PHOTOGRAPHER SCOTT STREBLE

The second part of the exhibit features senior citizens. “I call it Portraits of a Lifetime, and it’s all seniors. I thought that I could preemptively go to senior homes and do free portraits of people, because often times that would be the only photograph taken of them in that age. I shot free portraits, a 5x7 print and a digital file that the senior home can send to their families. At the time there would be a big line

of people, and I’d just kind of hurry them through, and then I thought ‘I’m missing some gold here, there’s so much wisdom here.’ So I’d ask them some questions and videotape them and combine those words with the photos,” Streble said. The last part of the exhibit is some of Streble’s most recent work. “The last one is photos taken at a foundry. My neighbor works at a foundry, and I was interested in shooting at it. I wandered around and just shot whatever I wanted; there’s all these guys and they’re pouring pounds of steel,” Streble said. Even though Streble has experience shooting in all different kinds of situations and locations, he says that SPA is one of his favorite schools to shoot. “They let me shoot whatever I want here, I just walk into classrooms, and students are used to me so they just ignore me and go about their business. I work at a lot of schools, and often the students look really bored, so there’s not really anything to take a picture of. But, at SPA the teachers really engage the students, and when I’m shooting it’s so easy because the students are so engaged in what they’re learning,” Streble said.

ARTIST PROFILE: Shaker-Check finds expression through shapes JACK BENSON The Rubicon Editor

Whether forming clay on a whizzing wheel or sculpting, St. Paul Academy and Summit School junior Iris Shaker-Check manages to turn dirt into beautiful art. Shaker-Check started making art when she was little, but has worked on it ever since. “When I was about nine, my mom enrolled me in a summer camp and I really liked it SUBMITTED PHOTO: Iris Shaker-Check and I continued taking summer camps until I got to SPA,” THE PROCESS. Junior Iris Shaker-Check kneels at the kiln, part Shaker-Check said. of the process of creating a finished pot, “I really like that it’s The ceramics process is one like a special dirt that you can make into anything,” Shakerthing Shaker-Check enjoys Check said.

about her art. It impresses her how her art comes into existence. “I really like that it’s like a special dirt that you can make into anything,” Shaker-Check said. Since Shaker-Check has been doing ceramics since she was very young, she has found an intimate relationship with her work. “Like most art it’s a way of expressing myself, but it’s not always through images, its through shapes and what parts of the pot you decide to emphasize,” Shaker-Check said. When Shaker-Check started making pot she was very

young and had trouble creating simple pots, much less visually attractive art. “When you first start throwing on the wheel, it’s really difficult to get the technique down so at first it was just seeing if I could make a cup,” Shaker-Check said. However, after the many years she’s put into her art, through ceramics classes and camps alike, she has greatly improved her technique and can create more freely. “Now I think it’s more taking the skills I have learned and turning it into something visually interesting or challenging,” Shaker-Check said.

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THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

SUBMITTED PHOTO (and pictured): Annie Kristal WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. After warm ups, Girls Varsity Basketball uses tradition to feel unified. “When we are on the court right before the game starts, we get in a huddle and we chant,” sophomore Audrey Egly said.

Chants keep GBB energized SUBMITTED PHOTO: Marlee Baron CAPTAINS OF COLD. The Alpine Skiing team poses for a group picture during the 2016-17 season: “It’s pretty much just hanging out with your friends for four hours after school. Who wouldn’t have fun with that?” sophomore Fremont Forsberg said.

From bus to slopes, the Alpine ski team has fun LUCY SANDEEN The Rubicon Editor

It’s skiing season, and the alpine team is gearing up for long, cold nights on the slopes. Practices are long and grueling—the athletes are typically at practice from 3-8 p.m., but the tight-knit team takes advantage of the down time on the bus and in between runs by helping each other with homework and cracking jokes. “It’s pretty much just hanging out with your friends for four hours after school. Who wouldn’t have fun with that?” sophomore Fremont Forsberg said. Sophomore Sam Steinhacker recalls one of his favorite memories from last season: “There was a practice where it had snowed and they

“The

amount of

commitment it

requires brings in people who truly

love the sport, so people are happy to be there.”

— SOPHOMORE SAM STEINHACKER

hadn’t gotten the groomers out, so it wasn’t safe for us to set a course, so we just goofed around on the small hills doing one-ski races and stuff, and going up the magic carpets just for fun. “The times where we can’t practice so we just mess around and enjoy ourselves are some of the best memories,” he said.

Races aren’t the only enjoyable aspect of the season, according to Steinhacker. “The bus rides where you’re talking and hanging out, and the time before a race or before a practice is all really fun. The amount of commitment it requires brings in people who truly have a love for the sport, so people are happy to be there.” Even though it’s difficult to keep up with homework because of the long time commitment, junior captain Sammy Ries hopes that the team will stay positive and eliminate stress. Skiing itself can help with that, she said. “I like leaving school and knowing that I’m going to go ski and forget about homework and everything,” Ries said.

JONAH HARRISON The Rubicon Editor

For the Girls Varsity Basketball team, happiness and bonding are central to what makes the team unique, and the captains have already begun their planning ways to keep the team positive and bonded. Captain Erin McNamer cares about getting to know new players. “The captains really try to listen to everyone and make sure each member of the team has a voice,” she said. “We plan a lot of get togethers outside of school, so it isn’t just like we hang out during practice and games,” sophomore Audrey Egly said.

Brotherhood mentality builds bonds for Boys BB LUCY SANDEEN

SUBMITTED PHOTO: Annika Findlay DANCE LINE. With student leaders, the teammates hope that the closeness developed last year will get stronger: “I really want it to be an open environment,” captain Ellie Hoppe said.

The Rubicon Editor

Spartan Boys Basketball prepares for a long season full of long practices. “It’s one of the longest seasons of any sport at SPA. It’s a long and tough and grueling season, but if you get past that and realize you’re playing basketball and everyone enjoys it, that’s a good way to get through it,” captain Gus Grunau said. Some of the best times on the team happen outside of scheduled practice. “We get together on the weekends a lot and mess around. That makes it more fun,” junior Ryan Moore said. Grunau agrees. “I love everyone on the team. Just spending so much time with my best friends is

“When we are on the court right before the game starts, we get in a huddle and we chant the basketball chant from High School Musical,” she said. In addition to this, the team does the gigolo dance before the game. One of Egly’s favorite traditions is the chant that the team says right before going on the court for a game. “So the chant started with just ‘state, state, state,’ because that’s always our goal, but then someone brought gushers to a game and we added that, and now, every year we add a new word or saying to the chant and it’s really funny,” Egly said.

Student leadership helps the dance team stay in step QUINN CHRISTENSEN The Rubicon Editor

SUBMITTED PHOTO: Andrew Johnson SHOUT OUT. To get through a long season, the boys basketball team bonds on and off the court. “Just spending so much time with my best friends is what makes the season so much fun,” captain Gus Grunau said.

what makes the season so much fun,” Grunau said. While the team is close, as captain, Grunau hopes that this season will involve more communication

“I think we’re a pretty quiet team right now, and I want us to encourage each other more on the court this season,” Grunau said.

As competition season draws near, the dance team is busy stretching, learning their new routines, and bonding. For manager Annika Findlay, the new season means a new position on the team. After two years of performing, she is managing the team for the upcoming season. “[Being the manager is] kind of like just helping out our coach. At the meets I’m going to help her do people’s hair and makeup and

I helped her kind of make a final decision on which song they’re going to do for jazz and I’ve done a little bit of work with Ellie and coach on choreographing,” Findlay said. Her teammate and captain Ellie Hoppe strives to continue to encourage this welcoming atmosphere during her time as a captain. “I really want it to be an open environment where anyone can talk to anyone and people can feel comfortable asking for help and they feel comfortable sharing things,” Hoppe said.

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THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

Fencing hopes to create new team traditions LUCY SANDEEN The Rubicon Editor

@therubiconspa on Instagram: Ellie Findell CONCENTRATION. The fencing team grows from past seasons culturally, adapting to each new coach as they come in.

With frequent coaching shifts over the past few years, the fencing team lacks a strong team culture of traditions. But this winter they’re excited to have the opportunity to build on some of the humor and habits from last year. “We’re not super heavy on traditions, especially because in the past few years we’ve shifted coaches a bunch, but we’ve had the same coaches

for two years now, so there’s the chance for new traditions to be made,” junior Zoe Hermer-Cisek said. Regardless, the team is tight-knit, and the small size creates a strong sense of solidarity, according to Hermer-Cisek. Junior Zeke Lam agrees. “Just being at a tournament is fun. Competing isn’t always fun—sometimes it’s just hard. But if you’re hanging out with people that you like, it makes the experience exponentially better,” Lam said.

Fencers train for epe, foil, or saber competitions, all of which come with their own footwork and style. Both Hermer-Cisek and Lam agree that the fencing team is a unique mix of students from different groups across the school. “The stereotype is that it is [just] people who like fantasy books, but there are people of all walks of life who fence; all sorts of demographics. It’s not just one group of people,” Lam said.

Nordic ski team drives to be “Swift” on the course JONAH HARRISON The Rubicon Editor

As winter approaches, the Nordic Ski team prepares for an intense season. Although practices can get long during the four months, the team has plenty of ways to keep people energized and keep the positivity up. “We ski with the middle schoolers a lot before warm ups, so we’ll all partner up with middle schoolers,” captain Val Hart said. The team uses some practice time to bond with middle school skiers, while also providing them more information about the upper school team. To improve spirits before meets, the team likes to listen to music.

“We listen to anything Taylor Swift. We are all big Swift fans,” Hart said. According to sophomore Sam Hanson, the team also spends time together getting ready for races. “We usually have team dinners before our races, and we also have team meetings where we talk about the races,” Hanson said. A lot of the time, bonding takes place before or after races when they play games as a group. “We like to play ski soccer,” Hart said, “where we just basically play soccer in our ski boots and it’s very amusing.”

PHOTO: Ibid Archives SOCCER OR SKI? In between races, the Nordic Ski team is known to play games as a group: “We like to play ski soccer,” captain Val Hart said, where we just basically play soccer in our ski boots and it’s very amusing.”

Locker room time keeps hockey girls United JONAH HARRISON The Rubicon Editor

@therubiconspa on Twitter: Peter Blanchfield ROAD TO STATE. United Girls Hockey played Tartan on Nov. 15 in their second game of their season. They won 4-3.

Whether on or off the ice, United Girls Hockey has many rituals that keep spirits high during games or practices. “We always get to practice early and hang out in the locker rooms,” returning junior Kenzie KasprowiczGiese said.

“We listen to music, do homework together, and we also have a tv in our locker room so we sometimes watch shows or music videos,” she said. Although the team has fun in their locker room, most of their rituals occur in the moments getting on or off the ice at games. “When we come off after warm ups when they

are resurfacing the ice, we have a designated person go around and write an acronym on everyone’s wrists like ‘RTS’ for ‘Road To State,’ so we have that to think about during the game,” Kasprowicz Giese said. Plus, “We always have a song playing,” Kasprowicz Giese said.

Spartan Hockey builds strength through practice QUINN CHRISTENSEN The Rubicon Editor

Spartan Boys Hockey practices in the Drake Arena every day after school in preparation for a busy season. “We have 25 games a year. During January it becomes two or three games a week but it starts out slower, like one day a week,” sophomore Will Rathmanner said.

The boys season started Nov. 18. Practice is about building endurance as the season grows more intense: “Our practices change throughout the week because our practices will be lighter if we have a game the next day. It all depends on what the schedule for the week is like,” sophomore Jake Hosszu said.

“Usually Friday practices are really hard,” sophomore Thomas Bagnoli added. But with hard work comes some fun and games, and the team offsets their difficult practices with a healthy dose of team bonding. “Before our weekend games we usually have a team dinner at someone’s house,” Hosszu said.

RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Breandan Gibbons PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. With 25 games a year, practice helps the team build their skill. “Usually Friday practices are really hard,” sophomore Thomas Bagnoli said.

B ack C over 16

THE RUBICON • NOVEMBER 2017

FORMS OF BIRTH CONTROL

What do SPA Students know about

Birth Control?

CERVICAL CAP: - Prevents pregnancy by covering cervix, restricting sperm from fertilizing the egg - Most efficient when used with spermicide - 71% - 86% effective Cervical Cap: - Prevents pregnancy by depending on whether covering cervix, restricting sperm from fertilizing the egg spermicide is used with it or not

HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE BIRTH CONTROL PATCH?

- Most efficient when used with spermicide - 71% - 86% effective depending on whether spermicide is used with it or not

BIRTH CONTROL IMPLANT: - Is a small rod that is inserted into the arm - Prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones - 99% effective for four years

Birth Control Implant: - Is a small rod that is inserted into the arm - Prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones - 99% effective for four years

59%

FEMALE CONDOM: - Prevents pregnancy by covering the inside of the vagina, creating a barrier for sperm - Also prevents STDs - 70% effective

VAGINAL RING: - Prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm from reaching the egg and by releasing hormones that stop ovulation - 91% effective

BIRTH CONTROL SPONGE: - Prevents pregnancy by blocking entrance to the uterus - Also contains spermicide - Between 76-88% effective Birth Control Sponge: - Prevents pregnancy by blocking entrance to the IUD: uterus - It also contains spermicide - Prevents - Is between 76-88% effective

pregnancy by changing the way sperm move so they don’t fertilize the egg - Lasts for years depending on what type you get - 99% effective

IUD: - Prevents pregnancy by changing the way sperm move so they don’t fertilize the egg - Lasts for years depending on what type you get - 99% effective

ABSTINENCE: - Choosing to not have sex - 100% effective

BIRTH CONTROL SHOT - Prevents pregnancy by injecting hormones that stop ovulation - One shot lasts 3-4 months - 94% effective

We ll

Condom: - Prevents pregnancy by covering penis during sex, collecting semen. - Also prevents STDs - 85% effective

Abstinence

Dianne Caravela

covering penis during sex, collecting semen. - Also prevents STDs - 85% effective

11%

ss/

Female Condom: - Prevents pregnancy by covering the inside of the vagina, creating a barrier for sperm CONDOM: - Also prevents STDs - Prevents pregnancy by - 70% effective

He alt hC las Do s Me n’t dic Kn al ow Pr ofe ssi Fa on mi al ly Me mb er s Fr ien ds

13%

“Birth control has many useful and necessary purposes beyond sexual intercourse but it is also important to provide it to people who need it because they are having sex.”

HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE BIRTH CONTROL PILL? Medical Professional

16%

Family Members Friends Wellness/Health Class

Zoe Hermer-Cisek

22% 23% 38%

IT IS COMMON FOR TEENS TO USE BIRTH CONTROL FOR NON SEXUAL MEDICAL USE:

43%

Strongly Agree

40%

“We need to cover birth control under insurance because, for many people, it is not a choice if they use it or not.” Gabriella Thompson

10% 5%

Agree Disagree

BIRTH CONTROL PATCH - Prevents pregnancy by releasing hormones that stop ovulation - One patch lasts one week - 91% effective

“Condoms should be used in conjunction with another method, and not just by themselves.”

Strongly Disagree

“Birth control should be available for everyone who needs it, even if someone is not sexually active, because it can help with a lot of things other than pregnancy.” Hannah Lorenz-Meyer