November 2018 Issue by SPA Publications

FALL PLAY

CORRUPTION

Take a look behind the scenes as the cast of Every(man) begins tech week.

How corruption is affecting American politics today, and what you can do to minimize its impact.

A&E p. 12

@therubiconspa @TheRubiconSPA TheRubicon.SPA The Rubicon

PROCESSED FOOD See how consuming an excessive amount of processed food affects your body.

IN-DEPTH p. 8-9

the

HEALTH p. 10

the student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105 Volume 45. Issue 8. November 20, 2018.

www.rubiconline.com

Mending after the Tree of Life:

Jewish students respond to synagogue shooting

EVELYN LILLEMOE THE RUBICON EDITOR

was so “Itclose to us.

Close to us in our hearts... - Hannah Davis-Jacobs

”

“Even though it is

a national issue, it was an anti-Semitic attack.

- Isaac Fink

”

could “This have been

my synagogue. - Ethan Less

”

felt fear, “ Isorrow, anger. ” - Libby Cohen

They [want] a “sense of com-

munity at the synagogue while at the same time keeping it safe and secure. - Levi Mellin

”

ISSUE INDEX

1-2 ... News 10 ... Sci-Tech

fingers felt numb and I felt like I couldn’t move, I felt like someone was sitting on my chest.” “This could have been my synagogue,” senior Ethan Less said. Though this news was horrifying to Cohen, it did not surprise her. “It’s something that shouldn’t happen, but sadly enough you can see anti-Semitism in so many ways, so many places. It obviously wasn’t expected but it’s also something that I know needs to be fixed. Constantly needs to be fixed,” Cohen said. “There’s never just a stop to it.” Even though Pittsburgh is hundreds of miles away, this attack felt close to home for many Jewish people. “Most [Jewish] people don’t directly know the victims of the attack, but they’re still our community; they’re still our brothers and sisters so we lost a part of our family that day,” Davis Jacobs said. After the shooting the hashtag #showupforshabbat encouraged Jewish people to go to synagogue on the Saturday after the shooting in order to show the world that the Jewish community is strong and will not be silenced by terrorists. Davis Jacobs wore her Magen David necklace every day in the week following the shooting

Shots fired. Shots fired at people peacefully practicing their faith. Members of the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh worshipped in service Oct. 27 when a gunman entered the sanctuary and opened fire. Eleven people were killed and six more were injured, including two police officers. During the shooting, the gunman reportedly made anti-Semitic statements, and after the attack he told a member of the SWAT team that he wanted all Jews to die. CNN reported that this shooting was the deadliest attack on Jews in the United States. This event left SPA students reeling, but for the Jewish community at SPA, this shooting was more personal. Junior Libby Cohen felt a mix of emotions during the aftermath of the shooting. “I felt a lot of different things; I felt fear, sorrow, anger. Just a lot of different feelings,” Cohen said. Sophomore Hannah Davis Jacobs didn’t know how to react. “I felt frozen…” Davis Jacobs said. “I got a notification and it said 11 dead in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and I just felt my heart drop. My

3 ... Editorial 11 ... Health

4-5 ... Opinions 12-13 ... A&E

6-7 ... Feature 14-15 ... Sports

as a sign of her pride in being Jewish. The Saturday after the shooting she attended her synagogue, Darchei Noam, and arrived to see many more people than she sees on a usual Saturday. “There was a giant turnout at every synagogue around the country,” she said. “People were having talks, people were having vigils and ceremonies, and people were mourning the losses in this community that they had never met, just because it was so close to us. Close to us in our hearts in that you don’t need to know [the victims] to feel their pain.”

“

YOU DON’T NEED TO KNOW [THE VICTIMS] TO FEEL THEIR PAIN.

”

- Hannah Davis-Jacobs

Cohen goes to Bethel synagogue every Saturday. Her synagogue had many more attendees at the Nov. 3 service as well. “There were 200 more people at my synagogue [that] weekend than there were other [weeks]. And there were also Tree of Life cont. on p. 2

8-9 ... In-Depth 16 ... Photo Story

NEWS THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

Tree of Life cont. from p.1 non-Jewish people there who were coming together with our community,” Cohen said. She immediately noticed the differences at her synagogue the week after the shooting. “I saw a police car at the entrance on high alert, which is what I expected to happen,” Cohen said, “and I know that’s what all synagogues and temples were doing to deal with it that next weekend. But it was just something that I wasn’t really prepared to see… So it was something that’s just kind of startling.” Not only did she observe increased security from the police department, she noticed subtle differences in the way people interacted with her. “When I walked in the door they said ‘Shabbat Shalom’ to me, which is a regular greeting that I usually hear on Saturday mornings for the holiest day of the week, Shabbat. And that’s usually what the greeters say but it was something in the way they looked at me and made sure I said it back to them as kind of a security measure. Like, if you know what this means then come in. And everyone’s welcome obviously but it was a security measure that

Initiatives at

I really did notice, just the way people talked to each other… I was struck by that,” Cohen said. Synagogues generally have their doors wide open to welcome anyone to come in and be a part of the community. But with attacks like the Pittsburg shooting, security measures have increased at Synagogues in the Twin Cities according to MPR News. Sophomore Levi Mellin attends Mount Zion Temple. He has seen the process of increasing security speed up after the attack. “My mom is on the safety committee and they have been slowly progressing in a way to make the synagogue more safe while keeping it welcoming at the same time… since the shooting they’ve been ramping it up. They’ve been trying to bring a sense of community at the synagogue while at the same time keeping it safe and secure,” Mellin said. Senior Isaac Fink attends Mount Zion every Saturday. He believes that the balance between a welcoming community and security is hard to find. “One of our biggest values is having a really open community. Anyone can come to synagogue on the Saturday services; the doors are wide open. Recently

it’s been tending towards more security. Now there is police that guard [the synagogue]. And even though I want to have safety, I don’t like it that way,” Fink said, “I like having a really open community. A lot of people do.” Davis Jacobs said the security feels like the right choice. “I believe that the armed guards do help, because it is a sense of intimidation for people who would want to otherwise cause terror, and to the community it’s almost like a security blanket because we know that they’re here to protect us,” she said. Despite the reports of anti-Semitic rhetoric from the shooter during and after the shooting, some claim this shooting was a political issue; not an anti-Semitic one. “A lot of people didn’t see the shooting as an anti-Semitic action which seems very problematic. A lot of people saw it as a political move,” Fink said. “Even though it is a national issue, it was an anti-Semitic attack.” The Anti Defamation League reported a 57% rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. in 2017. Anti-Semitism is present in every Jewish person’s life differently. Some Jews don’t

feel that anti-Semitism affects them in their day to day life, but for many anti-Semitism is always present in their lives someway and somehow. Davis Jacobs recalls experiencing anti-Semitism as a child before she could even understand what it meant. She often gets angry or judgmental looks when she wears her Mogen David and has been called Jewish slurs on the internet. “It’s really something that happens on the daily basis. Maybe not for every Jewish person, but from my experience it has happened a lot in my life…,” she said. “A lot of non-Jews don’t realize that this happens and they kind of brush it off because they don’t think it happens often, but it’s really a commonly occurring thing that most if not all Jews can at least somewhat relate to.” For Jews, simply living their faith is a stand against anti-Semitism and the people who want to tear Jews down. “As a Jew, the best I can do at this moment is to embrace, [to] celebrate my Judaism,” Less said. Moving forward, Davis Jacobs wants people to be aware of anti-Semitism and hopes more people call out an-

ti-Semitism they see or hear. “If you hear someone say something along the lines of an anti-Semetic comment or a joke… you definitely need to say ‘this is not okay,’ because this causes pain. This is harmful. These words mean so much more to people than someone may think,” Davis Jacobs said. Cohen believes that education can be a way to work towards eradicating anti-Semitism. “There needs to be a lot of teaching done,” she said, “In history classes and at schools… I think there just needs to be a bigger and better teaching of the Holocaust, of anti-Semitism, of hate crimes, so we really learn from this.” On a smaller scale, Davis Jacobs believes that non-Jewish students can support their Jewish peers and just be there for them during this unbearably hard time. “You just have to make sure the Jewish people in your community are feeling safe and feeling welcome,” she said, “because there are a lot of people that don’t want us to feel welcome.” Read an interview with Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman at

RUBICON online

Volunteers fight invasive species EMMA SAMPSON RUBICONLINE EDITOR

• FMR gives volunteers the oppurtunity to participate in 60 public cleanups, hauls, pulls or plantings throughout the metro-area annually. • Stenciling “Keep ‘em Clean, Drains to River (Lake or Creek)!” on streets around the Twin Cities • Programs for educatorsabout the river. From their website, “This program begins with a brief discussion of the water cycle and how water moves through earth systems. It continues on to cover watersheds and how human impact both the land and our waters.”

While service hours have notoriously seldom been a part of the sophomore curriculum, clubs encourage their members, no matter their grade, to volunteer throughout the year. As part of a grade-wide service initiative that began last year, the student club People for Environmental Protection (PEP) founded a service opportunity to aid the Friends

“

WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT BUCKTHORN WHICH WAS REALLY COOL AND I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE LOOKING INTO THE EXPERIENCE. - Milo Waltenbaugh

”

of the Mississippi River organization in the removal of invasive species. To pull the invasive species, volunteers used tools which removed the Buckthorn from their roots. Due to the plants’ green pigment in contrast to the fallen leaves, the plants were easy to spot. Students traveled to Crosby Farm Park on Nov. 6 and pulled invasive species with the inten-

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Mary Lincoln BUCKTHORN. Sophmores Fiona Rucker and Will Shrestha display their buckthorn. tion of protecting biodiversity it,” Christakos said. the spring agenda, PEP intends in the area surrounding the park. While PEP has made strides to add a pollinator garden near Sponsored by PEP, invasive spe- one invasive species pull at a time, the tennis courts. Advisor Mary cies pulling started from tutorial the student group seeks to do Lincoln explained that “the idea through the end of the day add- even more this upcoming spring. for the pollinator garden’s came ing up to two service hours for For anyone looking to participate from sophomore Nikolas Liepins sophomores and satisfaction for in the spring, Sophomore Milo who has established a non-profall members involved. As one of Waultenbaugh explained that it’s it to implement more pollinator the 17 sophomores who partici- really easy and fun. gardens”. pated, Jane Christakos explained “We learned a lot about buckTo raise funds for the garden that while it was nice to get some thorn which was really cool and PEP will be hosting a bake sale in of her service hours, it was more I would recommend it to anyone December and buy native plants fun then she had anticipated. looking into the experience,” said for the garden. “It was a fun break from the Waltenbaugh. Additional reporting: school day even though we were In addition to adding anothAndrew Johnson all covered in mud by the end of er invasive species control to

OPINIONS THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

Students need to be more respectful and appreciative of teachers

EDITORIAL CARTOON: LUCY BENSON

THE RUBICON STAFF EDITORIAL

sk nearly any student to pinpoint something positive in their day, and they will mention a teacher: someone who helped them understand work, gave them feedback on a project, and listened to a student on a challenging day. When asking students what is makes the Saint Paul Academy community unique to SPA, the majority of students talked about teachers and their willingness to be present: willingness to connect, to help, and to listen. It is one of the best things about the SPA community, but it has a negative side. Students cross the student - teacher boundary and take teacher’s generosity for granted and often return their teacher’s kindness with disrespect. While there might be many individual factors that play into the disrespect of teachers, an overarching reason could be that some students challenge authority as a way of seeking power. As hard as it is for teenagers to admit, they are not adults — they still live under their guardians roof — and they do not have full control over their lives. Sometimes students seek to acquire power in disrespectful ways. Learning how to accept teachers as authority figures deserving of our attention in class and to be honored for what they give us always is part of growing up. A variety of teachers felt that ability to receive respect from the student body was influenced by two main factors: gender and number of years teaching at SPA. When speaking to male faculty members, all noted the disparity of respect between those who were male versus those who were female and those who have taught longer at SPA versus those who have not. One male teacher noted when he first came to SPA, he had already teaching for many years and knew how to deal with out-of-control classes, but never had problems with disrespect inside the class. Outside the class, he heard students talking about

DISRESPECT. Students often will disrespect their teachers while simultaneously asking for their help. how he could not teach and how he was a bad teacher, but these students never asked questions in class or approached him outside of class. The problem of disrespect is not unique to particular groups of teachers, but is simply worse or better depending on the group of teachers.

“

IT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABE THAT NEW TEACHERS ARE FORCED TO DEAL WITH SUCH DISREGARD FOR THEIR ATTEMPT TO FIT INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

”

It is simply unacceptable that new teachers are forced to deal with such disregard for their attempt to fit into our community. Some students may subconscious-

ly believe that new teachers need to be challenged in order to gain respect from the student body. One teacher recalled having to pull out multiple students on five different occasions for blatant disrespect during Harkness discussions, but that as she continued her job, there was less pushback. One student recollects that when she was a sophomore, her teacher, just hired, was showing the class a variety of documents regarding the upcoming English paper and one student proceeded to argue with the teacher about something he never wrote. Furthermore, students say one thing to the teacher, but then proceed to tear them down when talking to their friends. Students call teachers stupid, ill-informed, and unfair. Then, they’ll go back to that same teacher to ask for extra help or for recommendations. To make the matters worse, SPA has an idea that the community is open and accepting. All new students are to be accepted regardless of race, gender, or sexuality. Why can’t this be true for teachers? If the SPA community holds this ideal high, then teachers should not have to fight to gain the respect of students. Most teachers know that not all stu-

dents like them and that not all students will like their teaching style, but their feelings of dislike does not excuse the rude behavior towards teachers. Young, female identifying teachers struggle a lot with receiving respect both in and out of the class. On multiple occasions, female teachers have reported feeling pushed out of conversations. One teacher recalled that when she was sick, students talked over her even more than usual. She believes that many female faculty members feel like they need to keep a calm and collected persona all the time; if they assert their authority in the classroom, students criticize them as being hormonal. It is completely unfair and immoral to treat our teachers so rudely. Teachers treat students as humans. They understand when students could not complete their homework. They understand when the stress becomes too much. Why do they understand? How do they know? Teachers have been in the exact spot we are in now. They understand exactly what students are going through because they have gone through similar things themselves. Teachers are just as

human as students. Teachers have stressors in life that students may not know about. Why do students struggle to treat their teachers with the respect that any human being deserves? When our teachers decided to become teachers, maybe they knew there were going to be cons to the job, but there does not have to be. The majority of students are respectful and have a close relationship with the teacher, but there is still a minority out there: a small percentage of students who do not recognize all the teachers do for them. To those who have said disrespectful things, now’s the time to change for the better. Become more aware of what you are saying to and about teachers. Think about what it must feel like to have names thrown at you for doing nothing more than their job. Maybe you do have a relationship with a teacher or maybe you do not. The relationship does not have change, but students need find a balance between honoring the authority teachers bring to the school and disrespecting their positions. The bottom line is students need to show their teachers more respect.

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 STORY EDITOR NEWS EDITORS OPINIONS EDITORS FEATURE EDITORS IN DEPTH EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS SPORTS EDITORS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR HEALTH EDITOR PHOTO STORY EDITOR

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Kate Glassman

OPINIONS THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

The commercialization of our genome

DNA test results don’t determine identity No Right Answer Is all activism good activism? ISA SAAVEDRA-WEIS RUBICONLINE EDITOR So, how do you define an activist? Because just saying that someone is “vegan” or “feminist” or “woke” doesn’t really entail how one qualifies for those labels. Okay, so the term activist is so… broad. I feel like as soon as you announce that you stand for something, like “I’m against harming animals so I’m vegan!” people come at you claiming that your actions are wrong and that you aren’t “vegan enough”. Like, sure you don’t eat meat or animals products, but you non-vegan shampoo! Shame! I’m NOT vegan, just to clarify, but I feel like those who are, even those who are just choosing to eat a vegan diet, is taking a really big step. It takes a lot of planning, priviledge, and will power to be able to be a vegan, so kudos to those trying. On the flipside of things, I find myself being someone who also revokes people of their “woke” status. Remember when Kendall did that pepsi commercial, and everyone was enraged. Yeah, yikes. Twitter attacked her, and people bashed, and here’s the thing. I agree that the commercial was super insensitive to the political, racial climate around protesting: those are some issues no amount of pepsi can fix. But, like, what did we expect from someone like Kendall Jenner? We scare people away when they try to join activism but do it incorrectly. If you decided to identify as a feminist, but I yelled at you for laughing at a sexist joke, you might not be too keen on the label anymore. You might even go the opposite direction, and talk trash about feminism, which nobody wants. But if I said, “Hey, I know that you are a feminist and I’m grateful for that. But, I think it’s important not to laugh at sexist jokes, because it just encourages them, and upholds the cycle of sexist behavior.” You might rethink, and agree with me. I’m going to be honest. When I started learning about activism, my first attempts at being “woke” were a little weak, and probably a little insensitive. I wasn’t doing “enough”. I’m still not doing enough, though. Until the issues are gone, we are never doing enough. But don’t scare away the people that are trying to do the right thing. Correct them, guide them, criticize them constructively. But don’t demonize them. We need them.

LUCY SANDEEN THE RUBICON EDITOR Identity has become a commercialized industry. With companies such as 23andMe and AncestryDNA providing convenient testing kits for about 100 dollars, thousands of people have rushed to send their own saliva to these companies’ labs in search of answers about their ancestry, ethnicity, genetic predispositions, race, and identity. Race and identity, however, are not genetic. Some ethnic groups can be identified through unique genetic expression. While ethnicity and race can overlap, however, they are not synonymous: ethnicity is a person’s cultural ancestry, while race is a social construct around people’s physical appearance and ancestry that has very real consequences of oppression. Furthermore, identity, including both race and ethnicity, is first and foremost grounded in culture, not genetics. A person’s identity consists of cultural practices, family history, sexual and gender identity, and language, to name a few. DNA results do not inherently change identity. DNA tests should be taken as a way to explore possible ancestry or learn more information about genetic predispositions, not to change how one identifies or to gain a racial “advantage” in college admissions or job applications. DNA testing does not change who a person is or give one access to identities or cultures that they have not been raised in. If one does not experience all of the multifaceted ad-

vantages and disadvantages that a race, culture, or identity carry with them, a DNA test does not give them permission to claim that identity. Many consumers have used DNA tests to learn more about their ancestry. However, studies have found that testing, and consumers’ reactions to their results, actually play along racial divisions. A UBC study found that 59% of participants did not alter their views on their identity and instead embraced identities that they saw positively or thought that others would be most likely to accept. One white participant, for example, continued to identify as Native American even after a DNA test result revealed that she had no Native American ancestry. The exception was among the white respondents, who were more likely to use their DNA results to change their identity. “They were really excited to try on this identity that made them anything other than just white,” sociologist and lead author of the study Wendy Roth said in an interview with The

Guardian. “It doesn’t have any consequences for them. They can try it on, mention it when it’s to their advantage and ignore it otherwise. So it doesn’t have the same consequences as race does for non-white people,” she said. Senator Elizabeth Warren, for example, defended claiming Native American ethnicity on her college applications through a DNA test that confirmed that Warren has Native American pedigree “6-10 generations ago,” according to a document she released on Oct. 15 from geneticist Dr. Carlos D. Bustamante. These DNA results have confirmed and justified Warren’s claims to Native American ancestry to some of the public. By claiming Native American ancestry on her college application, Warren potentially benefited from her “minority status.” The Senator has not, however, embraced Native American culture or identity throughout her life and has not experienced the discrimination that many Native Americans face. Some white consumers try to claim minority identity on the

census or on college and job applications. One website called DNA Testing Adviser claims, “DNA testing can provide enlightening answers for us and our children. And in some cases that information can be used for financial gain. Proving minority status can be helpful in racebased college admissions and job applications… Others are seeking to prove their American Indian ancestry in order to share in the growing wealth of tribe casinos.” By “proving” minority status through DNA testing as DNA Testing Adviser recommends, white consumers benefit from a status that they do not actually experience for purely personal and financial gains.

WHITE “MANY SUPREMACISTS

HAVE USED DNA TESTING TO REINFORCE AND TOUT THEIR DEA OF RACIAL SUPERIORITY.

”

On the other end of the spectrum, many white supremacists have used DNA testing to reinforce and tout their idea of racial superiority. Richard Spencer, a vocal white nationalist and supremacist, for example, tweeted that he was 99.4% European. When white supremacists are disappointed with their results they try to dispute the results or question the accuracy of the tests. Genetics and commercial DNA testing are still evolving and improving and are by no means perfectly accurate. The pool from which DNA testing companies draw their genetics comparisons often have much more information about White Anglo-Saxon genes than, say, Aboriginal genes. Consumers should take DNA tests to learn more about their ancestry or genetic predispositions, not to search for a new identity, and results should be taken with a grain of salt. Above all, users should keep in mind that race is not genetic, and DNA test results should not enable them to claim an identity they do not fully experience.

Transgender rights in Minnesota

THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

Transgender Rights in Minnesota

1993

2014

MN becomes first state to pass transgender protection law.

OPINIONS

2017

The (Current) Events

MN Dept. of Education Commissioner issues statement urging school boards and districts to adhere to Obama administration guidelines directing schools to treat a student’s gender identity as the student’s sex

Minneapolis City Council approves resolution that stated bsuniesses need to make single stall bathrooms gender neutral

Fighting change does not work JACK BENSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

2001

2018

2016

MN Supreme Court decided that employers could require employees to use certain bathrooms based on physical sex.

SPPS approves policy that protects transgender students, including giving transgender students access to the restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity

Trump administration withdraws law that protected student rights to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity

It is predicted that the State Building Code will be updated to require that businesses with single person bathrooms must be gender neutral

Infographic Design: Maren Ostrem PROGRESS. In the past few years, major steps have been taken by Minnesota education departements and businesses to protect the rights of transgender people. All information taken from OutFront MN and MPR News.

New bathrooms progress towards gender inclusion MAREN OSTREM THE RUBICON EDITOR Saint Paul Academy and Summit School students have many impressive opportunities with the recent additions to the school which include, 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines, and more. The Schilling Center contains plenty of amazing equipment and spaces that students can use academically or at their leisure. The public gathering spaces are the perfect place to study and socialize. The classrooms are pleasant to be in, with plenty of space, whiteboards, and natural light. Teachers have offices that are easy to find for study help. However, the one thing that many students don’t realize is special about the Schilling Center, is the single stall bathrooms. The Gender Diversity Guidelines, which were released in January 2018, state that, “Students may use the bathrooms that best meet their affirmed gender identity. In an effort to ensure the privacy of all students, the school offers single-person bathrooms and will strive to design multiuse restrooms with individual

privacy in mind. Any students may use the single-person bathrooms.” Before the addition of the Schilling Center, there were approximately three or four single stall bathrooms on the entire campus. One of these bathrooms is in the Huss Center, at the end of the long hallway from Redleaf Commons to Driscoll Commons. While this bathroom was included in the Huss Center addition in an effort to provide privacy for students who desire it, particularly non cisgender students, it was incredibly impractical for students because of the walk all the way to the far corner of Huss. Not only that, but the restroom was often locked from the inside, as there was an incident involving inappropriate behavior. The Schilling single stall bathrooms were designed specifically to fix these problems. The new bathrooms are located in a central area of Schilling, between study areas and classrooms. This resolves the issue of having to go out of one’s way to find a bathroom The risk of inappropriate behavior is decreased because there are so many stu-

dents and teachers near the bathrooms, it is much more unlikely that any inappropriate behavior will be attempted. “I think [the bathrooms are] important especially for non binary students and faculty to have because then they don’t have to feel glued to one gender and be forced to choose which one to use. They should be able to go to the bathroom without having to

“

I THINK THE BATHROOMS ARE IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR NON BINARY STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO HAVE.

”

-Grace Krasny

gender themselves,” said Sophomore Grace Krasny. In addition to this, there are enough of the single stall bathrooms so there are very rarely lines. The fact that the single stall bathrooms are the only op-

tion in Schilling also limits any shame or embarrassment felt by students who prefer the privacy over the public bathrooms. For students who are non cisgender, but not public about their identity, this lowers the chance of any accidental outing. “I think they’re nice. If you don’t identify, or your sex doesn’t fit with your gender, and you don’t don’t want to go in a certain bathroom, you can just use one of those,” said Senior Joe Kase. When the Gender Diversity Guidelines came out last year, many were interested to see what aspects of student life would be changing in the following year. Some may even have been worried about what inconveniences that would arise for the student body in during everyday life. The addition of the single stall bathrooms in Schilling was so subtle yet effective, that students may not have even noticed, but for those who had previously been uncomfortable in school bathrooms, the change made SPA a more welcoming and comfortable community to be a part of.

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Another shooting, another day in America. The direction our country is going in does not give room for a lot of hope. However, there are ups and downs in the history of any nation. The difficulty is finding that perspective. It’s hard to put current events in the context of history when you have only been alive for a brief time. But even over the course of two presidencies, the country has undergone intense change. When I spoke to Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman after the Pittsburgh shooting, we talked about the rising climate of fear. She told me that Trump was just a symptom of a deeper fear. “Some people want to turn the clock back. We know that that does not work,” Zimmerman said. “We know that it might work for one little aspect or for a few years or perhaps for a presidency, but it doesn’t really work for the long run. You have to go for the change, and know how to bring everyone along.” Looking at campaign slogans highlights that, although each slogan can be seen like a meaningless platitude. The direction Barack Obama valued was reflected first in 2008 with “Hope” and, especially, “change”. After four years, the slogan acknowledged a new change was happening and that our country needed to push “Forward”. Trump’s slogan, on the other hand, reflects a fear of change. “Make America Great Again” A more diverse, progressive country was something to be feared and avoided. Trump’s slogan represent the idea that the economic and social change our country skyrocketed through is terrifying. He wants to turn the clock back. It will not work. History proves that those on the side of change triumph in the end.

will be published with a full name.

UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS

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FEATURE THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

Hla experiences Buddhist culture JACK BENSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF When someone says they are living like a monk, they usually don’t mean it literally. However, for senior Justin Hla, living like a monk was a very real experience. Hla spent the summer of 2016 in Myanmar learning directly from Buddhist monks. Hla’s family value their Burmese heritage, and becoming a monk was one part of carrying on those values. “The majority of my decision was dictated by my parents’ pressure to continue the age-old tradition of becoming a monk, which both my mother and father went through when they were young.” Hla said.

“

[IT] WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO INTRODUCE...MY CLOSE FRIENDS TO THE CULTURE WHERE I COME FROM.

”

- Justin Hla

Besides living in a different country, living as a Buddhist monk changed even his daily eating routine. “We had to fast from noon to 6 a.m. the next morning.” Hla said. Becoming a monk is an intense commitment that can not

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Justin Hla COMMITMENT. Justin Hla and his brother have their heads shaved by Buddhist monks, “I had to get my head shaved to show I was part of the monk community,” Hla said.

be done on a whim. “I had to learn the Pali language and understand the phonetics a week before the ceremony,” Hla said. “I had to get my head shaved to show I was part of the monk community.” Despite of the difficulties, people in Myanmar accepted the Hlas and helped them on their journey. “We also went through a day long ceremony at a pagoda where family and friends congratulated me on becoming a monk and completing the rites to become an adult.” Hla said. Before he committed to

spending time as a fully-fledged monk, Hla had taken previous trips to Myanmar. It was important for him to connect to his roots. “The trip previous to the ceremony had my family traveling around Myanmar to see all the pagodas and temples, including [visiting] the thousand Buddha cave and scaling mountains to see a pagoda,” Hla said. “These trips always meant something to me.” Besides his time as a monk, Hla saw people living in worse conditions in Myanmar, and has taken what he experienced and

principles of Buddhism back to the Twin Cities with him. “I have seen how some people are living terribly with not enough money to support themselves,” Hla said. “Through Buddhism, I see the need for generosity.” In addition to thinking about generosity, Hla and his family utilize these lessons to shape the way they live their lives. “My mother also supports Buddhism by giving donations whenever she can to pagodas,” Hla said. “My father actively embraces Buddhism whenever he is in Myanmar by going to pagodas

and praying there.” Hla’s parents have shown him the benefits of Buddhism, while avoiding making decisions for him. “My parents have tried teaching me Buddhism and small concepts, but they never forced it upon me,” Hla said. Another way Hla benefited from his trip to Myanmar was to being able to share the country with his friends. “This would be a great idea to introduce some of my close friends to the culture where I came from.”

Klus reflects on the changing rhythm of ever growing choirs

“

[I WANT THE] OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO FOSTER GROWTH. - Anne Klus

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Evelyn Lillemoe KEY CHANGE. Klus plays the piano and directs a Summit Singers rehearsal.

EVELYN LILLEMOE THE RUBICON EDITOR In her 30 years as director of the choir, US music teacher Anne Klus has seen the choir expand and grow. “When I started there were

7 singers in Academy Chorale and there were about 15 singers in Summit Singers,” Klus said. However, the size of the choirs wasn’t the only growth. The choices of music that the choirs sing have grown as well. “A big factor is the amount

of really good music that’s out there that wasn’t available before,” Klus explained, “Even how people are writing, and how they are composing, and what they are writing about has continued to develop.” Klus puts a lot of thought

”

into the music she chooses for her students. Before choosing a song, she considers many different elements of a choral piece, such as genre, composition, and messages in the lyrics. There is a great responsibility she must fulfill when choosing songs for the choirs. “One of the biggest differences between instrumental music and choral music is that we have text, we have words. And I adore orchestra music and band music, but you have another responsibility when you are singing words because they send a message,” Klus said. In recent years, she has chosen a more diverse selection of music.

“There’s a lot more different style to choose from in choral music. Everything has exploded, so there [are] many more options. I think it’s more fun and I think we need to do new things,” Klus said. But she also knows the importance of classics and uses them to teach students about music. “There are some really classic gems that as a music educator I want to make sure that the students experience. As a music educator, that’s your first job; to educate. And I need to educate musically as to what’s out there. We can’t just do POPS music all year long,” Klus said. Klus wants the choir to continue to grow and move forward. She always wants students to have the option to do choir. “[I want the] opportunity to continue to foster growth and [for students to] have the choice of being able to be in choir … I want to make sure they still have that opportunity to sing if they want to,” Klus said.

FEATURE THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

Intercultural Club celebrates heritage and understanding

THE RUBICON PHOTO: JULIA BARON GO-AROUND. IC members share around the Harkness table.

JULIA BARON THE RUBICON EDITOR The members of Intercultural Club (IC) gather around a Harkness table and share food, thoughts and ideas with the group of around 15 students.

This club meets every Thursday during X-period to learn and connect with their peers. The Intercultural Club at SPA is an important space for students to share their own culture, and learn about others. When IC meets each week, students can

give presentations to the rest of the club about their own cultural identity or a country or culture that is meaningful to them. Sophomore Mia Schubert, a member of Intercultural Club explained how the cultural presentations work each week. “People will volunteer to give presentations on a country they’ve lived in, their own culture, or a country that their parents live in,” Schubert said. These presentations are not just for the people giving them, but they are also for the other members of the club, to learn about a culture or country that they may not be very familiar with. “I think it’s important to learn about other people’s experiences and cultures,” she said. Schubert also thinks even

“

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES. - Arie Walker

”

though there aren’t too many misinterpretations about other cultures in IC, these presentations can allow for people to be more informed on other people’s cultures. “We want to make sure everyone can experience different cultures. [The presentations] are an expressive and open

thing that allows people to come together and learn something new,” Arie Walker, co-president of IC said. A presentation that stood out for Walker was one on Armenian culture. Walker enjoyed this presentation because it was so fluid and because it was about a topic that she didn’t know much about. Both Walker and Schubert believe that these presentations are an integral part of their club, and an important vehicle by which to eliminate misunderstanding or misconceptions about certain cultures.

Brunell prioritizes Villanova with Early Decision the summer was the time when I decided to go the ED route,” Brunell said. While not for everyone, ED allows students to demonstrate a commitment to a specific university, which can raise their chances of admission depending on the institution. ED also allows for students to hear if they’ve been admitted roughly three months earlier than if they had applied through the Regular Decision admission path. “It shows the school that you are really interested and that they are your number one choice, so there is a higher acceptance rate, so that’s a positive. Also, if you get in, you know earlier than regular decision so your nerves are relaxed,” Brunell explained.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: JANIE BRUNELL VISIT. Senior Janie Brunell smiles on a trip to Villanova.

ANDREW JOHNSON THE RUBICON EDITOR Hunched over a desk, the room illuminated by the glow of a computer screen, poring over essay drafts describes how senior Janie Brunell spent a large chunk of the fall of her senior year. “You have to apply earlier, so that means that you have to get your application in a lot earlier and put more time into it,” Brunell said. The reason behind Brunell’s work: Early Decision (ED) application. Early Decision is a binding process where, when admitted, applicants to a specific college must withdraw all other applications from other colleges

and are required to attend that institution after signing the Early Decision Agreement form. When it comes to applying to a college through the Early Decision route, a work ethic such as Brunell’s is essential for completing the rigorous requirements that come with completing supplemental essays, the Common Application, and maintaining communication with advisors and family within a three-month application period. Brunell settled on Villanova University as her ED school; Villanova is a private, catholic university in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. “I have always been visiting Villanova, and I really liked it, but I didn’t know what other colleges had to offer. So, I think in

IN “I...FELL LOVE WITH

THE SCHOOL AND THERE’S NO OTHER PLACE I WANT TO GO.

”

- Janie Brunell

More and more students are opting for the ED route: at the University of Pennsylvania, ED applications are up roughly 9.5% from 2016 to 2017, according to Inside Higher ID. Students only apply ED to a college if they have researched colleges extensively, are familiar with the financial requirements, and are positive that the school matches their academic, social, and geographical interests. Brunell meets all of

this criteria. “I decided to apply early decision to Villanova University because I immediately fell in love with the school and there’s no other place I want to go. So, I thought that Early Decision would be the best option,” Brunell explained. However, she also acknowledged some of the downsides. “One negative is that you are bound to agreement to attend that school, so if you want to go to another school later in the process, then you can’t back out,” Brunell said. Brunell took her time before deciding to follow the ED path. “I decided to apply Early Decision after visiting a bunch of schools and still comparing every school on my list to Villanova,” Brunell said. For Brunell, extracurricular opportunity was the biggest part in her decision. “I think the most important factor was how much you could do in the city and how much there was to do off campus, and how involved the college was in the city,” she added. Brunell’s plans for college directly coincided with choosing ED and were a part of her decision to follow the route. “My plans for college include studying some sort of business, and so Villanova has a really good business school. So that’s a positive, but it’s really hard to get into, so that can be negative as well.” Brunell has advice to future applicants considering ED: trust your gut feeling. “Go with what you think, and don’t second guess it, because it’s all going to work out.”

RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Kelby Wittenberg

Rients signs to play D1 volleyball with the University of Iowa KELBY WITTENBERG RUBICONLINE On Nov. 14, at 10:30 am, senior Blythe Rients officially signed her contract to play D1 volleyball for the University of Iowa surrounded by family, friends, and members of the SPA community. “Hello all, I’m so happy you’re able to make it here today to witness this incredible step forward in this young woman’s life,” said US athletics director Dawn Wickstrom. “This is no doubt a testament to how hard Blythe has worked over the last couple of years, and I’m sad to see her go, but I know she’ll excel at Iowa,” SPA volleyball coach Jim Abbott said. University of Iowa swag was adorned around the room to signify Blythe’s commitment, and the cake was served after the signing to celebrate the moment.

Read more about the Robot Revoultion on

RUBICON online

Prosthetics, specifically bionic prosthetics, is a field with a constantly changing landscape. Breakthroughs are made constantly, and it’s almost hard to keep pace with everything. For instance, one of the biggest problems prosthetics faced was in the form of fine motor control. It’s common for prosthetic hands to have trouble measuring the amount of necessary force for a task. For example, a simple task as peeling a banana is suddenly so much more difficult because of the lack of control over the use of force in motor control. Although fine motor control has been refined over the years, never was this more clear than in a development largely overlooked that happened in early June of 2018. Check out the video release of a prosthetic arm that allowed a musician to once again play the piano using each finger independently. To many, this sounds natural, however this was a huge breakthrough for scientists and engineers who have struggled immensely with separating one finger’s control from another. One of the most refined hands to this point still could not allow the pinky and ring finger to move separately, and the precision required to play the piano was still in progress. The hand designed was considered a marvel for its ability to grow with its user, however the precision involved was largely overlooked. Playing the piano is quite difficult for people who have two flesh hands that they have lived their whole lives with, let alone with robotic hands recently acquired and lacking all the functions of a human hand. To refine a prosthetic to the point that a musician can have their profession back, can play again at any time, is yet another amazing advancement in the field of bionic prosthetics. No more fine motor control problems for that hand!

HEALTH THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

Heavily processed foods pose health risks but fewer than we think LIZZIE KRISTAL THE RUBICON EDITOR After devouring an addicting and salty bag of chips, it may be a surprise to see that its ingredient list is what seems to be an infinite number of unrecognizable names. Processed foods encompass everything from harmless and minimally processed foods to highly processed foods that pose a range of health risks. However, heavily processed foods, as cravable as they can be, harm our health in many ways. Heavily processed foods werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t invented until the 1930s, and it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until the 1950s that they became popular, reflecting the result of the newly invented supermarket: the new idea that every desired food could be acquired in one stop. The rate at which processed foods are consumed has been climbing since then. According to the American Heart Association, processed foods contribute to 50% of calories consumed in America. In addition, a study performed by the University of Chapel-Hill shows that 60% of the food purchased in America is highly processed. Especially because of the simplicities technology has brought to altering food according to desire (pesticides, GMOs, etc.) processed foods are readily accessible to most Americans, and can be difficult to resist. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Processed food is very easy to eat, because it is all around us. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fine to eat it in small amounts, but unhealthy when eaten in excess,â&#x20AC;? sophomore Julia Scott said. There are a variety of levels of classification for processed foods. According to Dr. Carlos Monteiro, a professor and researcher at the University of Sao Paulo, at the first level, the food is minimally processed. Essentially, the food has not been modified from its natural state, or has undergone small alterations such as freezing, packaging, or cleaning. If anything, minimally processed food helps make food safer to eat. The next level is foods that are altered with ingredients commonly found in a kitchen. This includes alterations such as adding salt and oil to peas. Lastly, there are highly processed foods such as chips, chicken nuggets, and frozen meals. This is the most dangerous level, with highly processed foods posing myriad health risks of depleting the body of needed nutrients and increasing chances of other diseases. Often, processed foods are made of a long list of foreign ingredients. According to gastroenterologist Dr. Kenneth Brown, these ingredients sometimes even include non-food components, such as bleaching agents

or synthetic vitamins. They lack nutrients, which results in unstable digestion after consumption. For instance, sugar rushes occur because the fibers in food that slow down the release of sugar into the bloodstream have been removed from highly processed foods, resulting in frequent blood sugar spikes. Author and professional dietitian Tom Malterre said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eating refined, processed foods over time can deplete the body of essential nutrients needed for it to function properly.â&#x20AC;? Not only does processed food affect overall health, but it can also cause specific health issues. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been linked to obesity, heart disease, type two diabetes, anxiety, depression, a rise in allergies, and more. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most people in developed countries, especially in the US, would be healthier if they made more conscious choices about what they eat,â&#x20AC;? Julia Scott said.

THE RUBICON PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: JENNY RIES OREO EYES. Junior Lori Li holds Oreos over her eyes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Processed food is] more accessible to everyone. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just more convenient,â&#x20AC;? Li said.

Â?Â Â?Â Â Â&#x20AC;Â?Â?Â Â Â

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

MOST PEOPLE EAT [PROCESSED FOOD] BECAUSE THE HEALTHIER FOODS, ORGANIC FOODS, ARE USUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE, SO [PEOPLE] LOOK TO THE CHEAPER SIDE. - Lori Li

â&#x20AC;?

Some students at St. Paul Academy and Summit School eat processed food because it tastes good. However, another factor is that processed foods are often cheaper than organic and more wholesome foods. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most people eat it because the healthier foods, organic foods, are usually more expensive, so they look to the cheaper side,â&#x20AC;? junior Lori Li said. Not only that, but when schoolwork and stress are piling up, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often hard to take the time to find nutritious foods. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more accessible to everyone. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just more convenient,â&#x20AC;? said Li. Highly processed food, while sometimes addicting, has many health costs, some of which are still being researched. A great way to decrease processed food intake is to cook at home. This way, all ingredients and processes of cooking are known. However, while highly processed foods can be dangerous in the long term, they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t extremely harmful when they are consumed in moderation.

From the Good for You Blog:

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Â&#x201A;Â? Â&#x201E; /Â /Â&#x2026; Â?Â? Â? Â&#x192;Â? Â?/ Â&#x192; Â? Â? Â?/ Â?Â?Â?Â? Â Â?

Tired of Halloween candy? Give pumpkin a try. JENNY RIES THE RUBICON EDITOR

Processed foods often have non-food constituents like bleaching agents, solvent, synthetic vitamins, or alkalizing agents. Correct Answer: True

Processed food consumption is climbing. Correct Answer: True

All processed food is bad for your health. Correct Answer: False

Most of the food in America is not highly processed. Correct Answer: False THE RUBICON INFOGRAPHIC: CHLOE MORSE

Think of Halloween. For many in the United States, eating oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body weight in candy comes to mind. But what many people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize is that another potential snack is getting thrown away. Think of the pumpkins that you carved this year. What did you do with the innards? Chances are, the answer is: threw them out. According to the article â&#x20AC;&#x153;8 Impressive Health Benefits Of Pumpkinâ&#x20AC;? in the Huffington Post, pumpkin contains potassium, which benefits muscle function, vision-improving vitamin A, and carotenoids, which promote healthy skin. Also, according to an article in The Daily Meal, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why You Should Be Eating a Handful of Pumpkin Seeds Everyday,â&#x20AC;? pumpkin seeds contain fatty acids that benefit your heart. The article added that pumpkin seeds have tryptophan or â&#x20AC;&#x153;the sleep hormoneâ&#x20AC;? in them, meaning that you may sleep better than usual if you eat them within a couple of hours of going to sleep. So if you get tired of candy this Halloween, give pumpkin or pumpkin seeds a try. Are there topics you would like to see covered on the health blog? Contact Jenny Ries at rubicon.spa@gmail.com

[PHOTO GALLERY]

Barlow showcases authenticity in “Loving”

ADDIE MORISETTE STAFF WRITER Leslie Barlow, a Twin Cities-based artist whose colorful and realistic portraits showcase authentic connections, will be featured in Drake Gallery from Oct. 26 to Dec. 7. Pieces from her

recent project the Loving Series will be incorporated into Upper School art classes while being on display for the community to admire. Read the full story at

RUBICON online

ARTS & ENTERTAINENT

THE RUBICON PHOTOS: ADDIE MORISETTE

THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

Every(man) illuminates the good and bad in humanity

JENNY RIES THE RUBICON EDITOR I’m all about that bass, ’bout that bass, no treble, sing the students in the first few rows of the Huss Center theater. No, they are not at a Meghan Trainor concert, but are rather warming up for the first grueling night of tech week rehearsals for the fall play, Every(man). Upper School Theater Program Director Eric Severson stands in front of them, calling out notes, having opened the rehearsal by reminding them that this week is when they will put all of the pieces of the show together. Backstage in the make up room, seniors Elise Parsons and Max Moen run lines. Whenever Parsons can’t remember a line, Moen prompts her with the kind of hints that mean nothing to an outsider, but that seem to jog her memory. Beyond being castmates, Parsons and Moen are role-mates, sharing the title role of Every(man). So who is Every(man), and what is Every(man) about? To answer one is to answer the other. “[Every(man)] starts with God talking and God is frustrated with how Humanity is treating itself, treating each other, and treating the Earth... And so in that moment, … she calls on death to say, bring me an example… find an every(man) to come and give a reckoning before me. And so Every(man), at their birthday party, ends up dying, and Death comes to let them know they have to make a reckoning… before God. So Everyman goes on a journey to see if they can find anybody to join them and make their case before God to prove why they’re a good person and why they should be saved,” Severson said. “[T]he larger narrative in the story is

asking us to sort of think about who we are, what we do, how we act in our world, how we treat ourselves, how we treat other human beings and how we treat the environment we live in.” Despite its age-old message, Every(man) is a fairly new play. “[I]n 2015, Rufus Norris, who is the Artistic Director of the National Theater in London, commissioned Carol Ann Duffy, who’s a poet laureate in the U.K., to do a new and modern adaptation of this 15th century morality play. So Every(man) in its original form was often used as a form of church propaganda in its early days, and is studied by theater historians… Professors and people that study the classics and medieval literature will have read it. So all of the characters are allegorical, so they are meant… to represent a larger thing. So Everyman is meant to represent all of humanity. And then the other characters are Fellowship, Knowledge, Good Deeds, Goods, Beauty, Strength, Touch, Taste… this modern adaptation is much more secular, so it’s not quite as devoutly religious as the original was,” said Severson. On what she aims to convey as (half of) Every(man), Parsons said, “I’m just trying to be really honest about the character. I’m trying to keep it as human as I can… for me, it’s less about making the message important and more about the emotional part of it… I want to give the audience access to the humanity in the story, because I think that’s where it gets really special and really challenging... the thing about the character is it is a very relatable character, even though he’s deeply flawed… you don’t want to see yourself in the character, but you do start to. And that’s the intention, is that we can all see bits of

THE “ THAT’S INTENTION,

THAT WE CAN ALL SEE BITS OF OURSELVES IN THE CHARACTERS. - Elise Parsons

THE RUBICON PHOTO: HENRY BURKHARDT BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER. “I am always most excited when I see all of the elements come together... each part tells its own story,” theater director Eric Severson said.

”

ourselves in the character.” As far as challenges that have arisen during the rehearsal process of Every(man), senior Ethan Asis, who plays Knowledge said, “I think one of the hardest things for [the cast] has been, for the leads especially, just memorizing lines, because everything’s rhyming, and also sometimes it’s a little awkward because it is written by an English poet laureate, so a lot of the language, it sounds kind of awkward in an American accent… the hardest part has probably been figuring out the language and what exactly it’s saying. Because the poet laureate is sometimes… not the most straightforward person, on purpose, though, it’s really cool.” Going into tech week, Asis said, “I’m really excited to just run the show over and over again, because we have done pretty significant arcs, but it’s going to… be really cool to see the whole show take shape. That’s one of the most exciting parts of it just because it’s cool to see all of the pieces connect after tons of rehearsals of just kind of doing one scene or another scene in no specific order, just depending on who is called when. It’s really cool to see everything come together and see what it is we’ve actually created and what it is Seves has helped us to create.”

THE RUBICON PHOTO: HENRY BURKHARDT STAGE PRESENCE. “[Every(man)] is meant to represent all of humanity,” Elise Parsons said.

THE RUBICON PHOTO: EVELYN LILLEMOE TSUNAMI. “We’re trying to figure out how to create environmental chaos, but controlled on a stage,” Severson said.

THE RUBICON PHOTO: EVELYN LILLEMOE REHEARSAL MAKES PERFECT. Elise Parsons and Max Moen, both portraying the character Every(man), practice scenes during rehearsal.

Moen tests knowledge at weekly Trivia Nights in the Twin Cities

MEAGAN MASSIE THE RUBICON EDITOR

FAIR USE IMAGE FROM PIZZA LUCE WEBSITE

The line “Houston, we’ve had a problem” was famously uttered aboard what troubled spaceflight? The sweat beads on his forehead and his breath quickens as the buzzer counts down the seconds until the final answer. He’s sur-

rounded by his close friends, all scrambling to find the correct answer against the other teams in the restaurant. This is exactly what senior Max Moen does not go through while participating in trivia nights because contrary to what some people think, they are a unique, stress free experience. Trivia nights

are one night a week dedicated to testing a person’s intellectual stamina on a variety of topics, while maintaining a care free attitude that many people enjoy after a long day. Read the full story at

RUBICON online

ARTS & ENTERTAINENT From seniors to the streets,

THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

Kristal’s photos stun QUINN CHRISTENSEN their pictures afterwards because CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR usually before, they’re like ‘this

Six years is a long time. It’s the same number of years that you spent at your elementary school. It’s about as long as it would take to get to Mercury. And it’s as long as senior Annie Kristal has been perfecting her photography. “I started when I was younger... a lot younger. I bought my camera after my bat mitzvah because I had money to go buy it and I actually took classes where I bought my camera,” Kristal said. Her fascination with the medium grew from there. “I just started taking pictures whenever I had the opportunity, if I was traveling, or taking pictures of my family,” she said. Kristal’s interest in travel photography has led to some of her favorite projects. “When I went to Cuba with the school and with Señor Castellanos, I did street photography there and that’s still my favorite project just because it was so cool to be there and experience a new culture and capture that culture,” Kristal said. Although street photography is her preferred subject, Kristal has also found ways to use photography as a means of empowering people. “Recently I’ve been doing senior pictures. My favorite thing about that is showing people

isn’t going to look good, I’m not a natural poser’ or whatever, and then they see them afterward and they’re really happy with them and they’re always surprised. That’s really sweet and makes me feel good that I’m able to do that for someone else and make them feel good about themselves,” Kristal said. She has also used her medium to confront issues in the way that photography - and especially editing - are often used in magazines and advertising. “I was frustrated by this because the media portrays to viewers unrealistic body and facial standards, which can cause body confidence issues. I saw my friends and even myself looking at these incredibly skinny women with clear faces and wanting to look just like them, when in reality they don’t even look like that in real life. I wanted to show my peers that we can look that way the same way celebrities do - with photoshop, which isn’t reality,” Kristal said. She did this by creating diptychs showcasing both the real people she was photographing and how they could be altered using photoshop. “I took portraits of people using the Huss white walls and split up their face into two sections, one of them - most of them didn’t have any makeup on, so makeup-free, and then the other

section I would edit the shape of their face to what was standard or whatever people assume, like how you see in magazines and stuff, because I learned how to do that. So I did a lot of adding makeup, making people’s eyes bigger, having sharp cheekbones, and all that stuff, and then I did a few with body image so taking pictures of people’s full bodies and then editing them to how magazines do it,” Kristal said. Although she learned how to alter people’s faces and bodies early on in her photography career, she hopes that this practice becomes less common. “I don’t like having that skill but I do have it,” she said. As opposed to the heavy photoshopping often seen in magazines, Kristal’s favorite subjects are usually candid. “I really like [being] able to capture everyday life without it being posed or like a shoot and kind of showing that natural side to life,” she said. Kristal will be showcasing some new pieces in the winter show in Drake Gallery, opening on Jan. 8, 2019.

SAY CHEESE Senior Annie Kristal snaps a picture perfect shot.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY ANNIE KRISTAL

PORTFOLIO. Check out Annie’s website to see more of her photos. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY ANNIE KRISTAL

Sunken history revealed in new art exhibit JASPER GREEN THE RUBICON EDITOR

THE RUBICON PHOTO: JASPER GREEN SCULPTURE. The new exhibit shows ancient artifacts of many forms, including sculpture.

Ancient statues are more exciting when they are hoisted up from the bottom of the Mediterranean sea. A new exhibit at the MIA called Sunken Cities that will be up from Nov. 4, 2018 - April 14, 2019 displays a mixture of both Greek and Egyptian artifacts which had not seen the light of day for more than 1,200 years. These artifacts were retrieved from off the coast of Egypt at the bottom of Abukir Bay, where the sunken cities of Canopus and Thonis-Heracleion lie in ruin. The retrieval process was extensive, plucking artifacts from their ancient homes in front of temples. At the beginning of the exhibit, there is an illustration that brings life to these forgotten cities, showing their ancient egyptian architecture and depicting their way of life.

A guided audio tour, by headphone, goes over the historical importance of a number of statues. The tour begins with the stele of Thonis-Heracleion, which is the first clue that helped anthropologists to unify Thonis and Heracleion. These were previously thought to be separate cities, however, by studying the hieroglyphs found, it was learned that these were in fact the Egyptian and Greek names for the same city. Screens flow throughout the exhibit depicting the recovery of underwater statues, rising from their aquatic home; walking through the exhibit feels like one is unlocking the secrets of the past. Originally, anthropologists only had wall paintings to try to describe the mysterious customs and ceremonies of these people. One in particular was an annual ceremony to celebrate Osiris, the Egyptian god of the underworld.

From wall paintings elsewhere, anthropologists were able to understand that the resurrection of Osiris was important to the people and that they reenacted the event. However, not much was known about the exact rituals that took place. The discovery of these sunken artifacts was crucial to learn more about this ceremony. With this new source of information at their disposal, anthropologists were able to learn that the Osiris ceremony is a 22 day ceremony involving the reenactment of Osiris’ resurrection as well as rituals performed in boats along the canals of the city, all with the purpose to show respect and to honor the god of the underworld. WWMost, but not all, of the artifacts were found underwater. (Located on plaques are wave markings that specify whether something was found underwater or not.) One notable piece

that was discovered near Alexandria is the Apis Bull and this is the first time it has left its home in Egypt. It stands tall and proud in the center of the room. The Apis Bull is a manifestation of the Egyptian god Ptah. Along with the statues, there are many intricate pieces of ancient jewelry. In one room, these smaller pieces are set up in a spiral display behind glass that beautifully reflects the light of a wall spanning ancient boat photograph. This show makes one feel small but appreciative of the artwork and the history of civilizations who wanted to make a mark on the world. Anyone who enjoys sculpture or history should seriously consider checking this exhibit out.

SPORTS THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

ATHLETE PROFILES

Winter sports:

CLAIRE HALLAWAY THE RUBICON EDITOR

Ryan Moore, basketball STATS Varsity captain SPA basketball returns honorable mention All-conference last year Led the Spartans in 3pt fg percentage Averaged 13 points per game last year Averaged 8 rebounds per game last year

As a member of the boys varsity basketball team for three years now, the feeling of dribbling a basketball up and down the court has become second nature for senior Ryan Moore. He is the captain of the team and is excited to see what the new season holds. “Our goals for the past few years haven’t changed much. Definitely to just get better and to be playing really good basketball by the end of the season. I think [our goals] will probably uphold, because we’re already starting to play pretty well, so I’m looking forward to seeing how far we’ll be able to go,” Moore said.

ELOISE DUNCAN THE RUBICON EDITOR

Nina Ciresi, basketball STATS: Varsity captain 2 years on varsity team Starting Guard

Senior girls basketball captain Nina Ciresi started playing basketball in 6th grade. “[When I started] it wasn’t that big of a role in my life, it was just kind of something that I did. But, in high school especially, it has turned into something that I love [...] and forward to doing,” she said. Ciresi is a co-captain this year, which requires her to step up as a leader and play a bigger role on the team than she has in her past years. “In practice I have to be setting a good example for my teammates and being a leader on and off the court, someone that the girls look up to. That means always coming to practice ready and playing my hardest,” Ciresi said. She is planning on using her final year to unite the team, “making everyone happy and being a good program overall,” she said.

SHAREE ROMAN THE RUBICON EDITOR

Ellie Hoppe, dance team STATS: Varsity captain Dancing for more than 12 years On team for 5 years

Junior Ellie Hoppe has been on the co-op dance team since it was created five years ago. Now as the new captain of the team, she has exciting goals to accomplish. This year she plans to have two teams instead of one, which will allow the girls with different levels of ability to compete at a more suitable level for their individual ability. “With the two teams, the girls that aren’t as advanced won’t be expected to compete at such a high level and the girls that are able to perform at the higher level will be able to do so,” Hoppe said. Hoppe’s biggest goal is to “get an announced placement at a meet and beat all of their previous scores.” In order to reach the team’s goal, the length of practices are longer and more frequent which will also allow the team to bond more.

Iris Shaker-Check, fencing STATS Sabre varsity captain 4 years on team

Jake Hosszu, hockey STATS: Varsity assistant captain 4 years on team 3 goals and 5 assists in 2017-18 season 20 career points

Kenzie Giese, hockey STATS: 4 years on team 23 games played 410 minutes played Team high .914 save percent

SPORTS

the “I” in team CLAIRE HALLAWAY THE RUBICON EDITOR

Although fencing is much more complex than just lunging and stabbing players with swords, as many spectators may think, this is what inspired senior Iris Shaker-Check to join the team in 8th grade. Shaker-Check has competed in the sabre section ever since she joined the team and is now the sabre captain. Being a captain on the fencing team means running warm ups, chaperoning rides and making sure to encourage each of the team members. “I do sabre, which obviously in my very biased opinion is the best. We all kind of w a bit that our [section] is the best, but of course we’re all still one team. I’m the sabre captain out of the three sections: sabre, foil and épée. Each one has its own captain,” Check said. One of Check’s favorite elements about the sport involves the fact that it combines the experiences of two very different types of a sport: individual and team focused.

Bailey Donovan, Alpine Ski

STATS: 6 years on team 4 time Rocky Central Junior Championship qualifier Selected to Team Central (2018) and Team Central All-stars(2019) Attended US Junior National Alpine Championships 2 time all-conference 3 time state qualifier 3 time all-state selection

Senior Bailey Donovan has been on the Alpine ski team since seventh grade. This year she wants to win the state meet as an individual skier, and she also hopes that the girls' team can make it to state. The girls team hasn’t made it to state in a long time, so Donavan hopes this year will be their year. “Last year we were really close, so this year I hope we actually make it [to state].” Donovan aslo belives that the team has a good culture, without putting too much pressure on any of the skiiers “We’re a really fun and inclusive team.” Donovan said. “We just come out and have fun.”

LUCY SANDEEN THE RUBICON EDITOR

Peter Moore, Nordic Ski STATS: Varsity captain 7 years on team 4th in state in 2017 Gone to state for the last 4 years

Senior Peter Moore is one of four captains of the Nordic ski team. As a captain, he helps organize the team and writes workouts for captains’ practices. He’s been on the team since sixth grade and has made it to the state meet for the past four years, and finished in fourth place in 2017. This year he hopes to win the meet. He also hopes to make it to Senior Nationals and qualify for European racing trips, as well as to win a race at Junior Nationals. One of his biggest goals for the team is to recruit more skiers so that the team continues to be strong after all of the seniors graduate. “I want a lot of people to join this year because we’re graduating a big class of seniors. Also, I want our team to improve on some of the finishes we had at Conference last year,” Moore said. Moore’s seven years of experience on the team, as well as his record of excellence, will help him as a team leader.

EVELYN LILLEMOE THE RUBICON EDITOR Senior Kenzie Giese is a goalie on the Varsity Girls Hockey Team at SPA. Giese used to live in Roseau Minnesota, where hockey is an essential part of the community. “Almost everybody there plays it, there are three [ice] rinks in the town and the town is 2 thousand people, so there are more [ice] rinks than grocery stores,” Giese said. “I kind of learned how to skate when I learned how to walk.” Giese is an important part of the girls hockey team for many reasons. “I think I have a good attitude, I’m pretty coachable, I’m really loud and aggressive out there, which helps my teammates out I guess because as a goalie I can see the whole ice so I can communicate really well about what’s going on,” Giese said. “Being a senior gives me a lot of confidence in myself and in my teammates.”

LUCY SANDEEN THE RUBICON EDITOR

ELOISE DUNCAN THE RUBICON EDITOR Junior hockey player Jake Hosszu started skating around age three, and joined a hockey team when he was four. Since then, hockey has not only been important to him for athletic purposes, but for social purposes as well. “A reason [hockey] plays such an important role in my life is all of the friends and bonds I’ve been able to make through playing the game,” Hosszu said. This year his goal is to help the team both in games and in practice in order to make it to state; “my role on the team is very similar to all of the other guys, which consists of working hard to help make the guys around you better, as well as just playing hard and doing my specific jobs on the ice,” he said.

THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

SHAREE ROMAN THE RUBICON EDITOR

Ian Matenaer, swim and dive STATS 3 years on team Swims the 50 free

Sophomore Ian Matenaer has been on the swim team for three years. Over the years, Matenaer has made some of his closest friends, despite the age difference when he joined. “I am most excited to see everyone from Highland and have some good laughs,” said Matenaer. This year he is hoping to accomplish a goal he has been working at for the past three years. “I hope to letter in my 50 Free this year,” he said. Matenaer believes Winter Break will be a good time for him to work on his main goal for this year.

[OVERTIME] The best teamates aren’t always the best athletes ANDREW JOHNSON STAFF TRAINER Sometimes, the most important players on a team may not play at all. At first glance, the success of a winning sports team is often attributed to the star players on a team, whether they be lower or upperclassmen. Every sport, from basketball to alpine skiing, has players that don’t get to play as much as others. That, which I am going to prove to you, does not mean they don’t have value to the team dynamic. In fact, they are irreplaceable. At St. Paul Academy and Summit School, sports are offered to every student. While some students play sports their whole lives and star on the high school sporting stage to attract attention from collegiate programs, other students sign up to simply be a part of the team. What they lack in talent, they bring in energy and heart to a team that helps form the essential bonds between players to sustain success. Unfortunately, not all benchwarmers recognize this. According to Kate Leavell, a motivational speaker and coach, high school athletes are far more susceptible than collegiate athletes to allow a lack of playing time to dictate their attitude and effort in their respective sports, leading to discord among the team, and in extreme cases, those athletes quitting and leaving their team behind. This can’t be the case moving forward. A team dynamic is achieved to its fullest only when the team recognizes and establishes a common goal that they strive to reach. Supporting players in reaching that goal are just as important as prominent players; the emotional support and availability to enter a sporting contest in relief is irreplaceable to a team’s success throughout an entire season. As athletes, we need to do a better job making sure every player on a team knows their worth. Tell them how much they matter to the team during a practice, after a game, or even just in the hallway; maintaining communication and forging strong relationships is key to preserving a winning culture.

PHOTO STORY THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2018

Lam turns interest in fish into unique hobby

JASPER GREEN THE RUBICON EDITOR Plan. Build. Nurture. Senior Zeke Lam, an award winning aquascaper, has enjoyed the world of underwater life ever since he was young. “I have a memory of a cup of water on a beach with little things swimming around in it, and I think it made sense for me to eventually get into the aquarium hobby. You start with a tank from Petco and some kit and you have some fish but they die on you. Some people stop there and others do more research and keep going. I kept going and joined the Minnesota Aquarium Society in 2011, which is where I got invested in plants more than fish,” Lam said. The Minnesota Aquarium Society is one of the largest and oldest aquarium clubs in the United States, formed in 1931. Lam is now the 2018 leader for

the Horticulturists program. His aquascaping portfolio took second place at a Minnesota Aquarium Society competition.

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“Fishkeeping] is a lot more fun when you have plants. -Zeke Lam

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The ability to provide reliable care for one’s plants and fish is an essential part of the aquarium hobby. Providing the right water and light requirements are essential for the tank life to prosper. For a seasoned aquascaper, a tank is at one’s pleasure to design and manipulate to almost any aesthetic that is desired. “I’ll turn on the light before school and there will be half an inch to an inch of visible growth from the day. The other

thing about plants is that they respond really quickly to environmental factors… Plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as other micro-nutrients. For some plants, if you limit nitrogen it triggers them to produce more red or orange pigments and in many cases for aquascaping that can be desirable. Playing with chemistry is fun,” Lam said. “[Fishkeeping] is a lot more fun when you have plants. Naturally, a lot of the fish come from tropical climates where there are a lot of plants in the water and when you have them in a bare tank you’re not seeing the behaviors that they might display in the wild.” It’s important to do research and see what they need in terms of care. Do they need carbon dioxide and a lot of light or are they good to grow wherever?

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Zeke Lam

THE RUBICON PHOTOS: Jasper Green GROWTH. Lam relies on progress for his final product, “If you buy something and you aren’t able to grow it the way you want it to, you won’t be able to achieve your end goal,” Lam said.

BRIGHT COLORS. Lam fills the tank with natural plants, “Most of what I try to do with aquascaping is nature style, which is not defined very concretely. You’re evoking elements of nature through your aquarium and want to shoot for a flow, where the different elements work together in nature,” Lam said.

CAREFULLY PLANNED. Every component of aquascaping is very intentional, “I’ll pre-plan the aquascape outside of the tank, move it into the tank and make sure I have everything adjusted the right way, and then I fill it with water. I let the debris settle and then I start to think about where I want plants and what kind of story I want to tell,” Lam said.

INTERESTING TEXTURES. Using rock with a lot of detail emphasizes its presence. “If a rock has a lot of detail and character, it’s easier to make it seem larger. If you look at a mountain, it looks like it has all of these cracks and fissures on it. If you zoom in, it would probably be more boring, so when the piece has high detail it can look bigger and more important than it actually is, even like a mountain,” Lam said.