November 2021 Issue by SPA Publications

the

RUBICON

Friday, Nov. 19, 2021

the student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave St. Paul, MN 55105 Volume 49, Issue 3

rubiconline.com

@therubiconspa

Enbridge attempts to silence Line 3 protesters ORION KIM

THE RUBICON

After reports in mid-October that pipeline owners paid police to target Line 3 protesters, students are fighting back. Freshman Annie Zhang said, “Enbridge trying to silence protesters is an infraction of the first amendment that grants everyone freedom of speech which includes the right to protest.” Enbridge is the company responsible for replacing the pipeline that runs 1,031 miles from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada to Superior, Wisconsin. According to their website, the initiative created 8,600 jobs over a two-year period. Still, the construction of the pipeline has received civil backlash since the beginning of its reconstruction in 2016. The reason for this is that the pipeline runs through Indigenous land, violating the rights of the people who occupy it. According to stopline3, an organization attempting to raise awareness and stop its construction:“The pipeline spans across the Leech Lake and Fond du Lac reservations and the l855, 1854, and l842 treaty areas.”

RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Zekiah Juliusson

NEW FENCE: Construction on a fence around the SPA Upper School began Oct. 25 to protect the fields from damage and secure the campus.

NEW FENCE INSTALLED TO PROTECT FACILITIES ZEKIAH JULIUSSON RUBICONLINE

CREATIVE COMMONS PHOTO: Fibonacci Blue

PROTECT OUR EARTH. The line 3 pipeline runs across Indigenous land, crossing many bodies of water and critical wetland areas. Protesters are worried about oil spills and the threat it poses to keeping the environment and major bodies of water clean.

Not only does the pipeline cross Indigenous land, but also crosses a number of bodies of fresh water. According to MN350.org, “Line 3 will cross critical wetlands and 200+ additional bodies of water, including the Mississippi River, twice.” The risk of oil spills and other contaminants is of concern to water protectors. Enbridge has a history of oil spills. According to the Oil and Water

Don’t Mix organization, On Jul. 25, 2010, one of Enbridge’s Line 6B pipeline ruptured. It took 17 hours for Enbridge to detect the breach in the pipeline and start repairs. Many people think the risk of an oil spill is not worth the jobs Enbridge creates. One of these is sophomore Declan Monahan. “I think that there is no reason for Line 3 to pass through indigenous land, and the environmental risk is not

worth it for the marginal impact it is going to have on energy,” he said. For these reasons, the reconstruction of Line 3 has sparked many protests. Some of these protests intensified, and in some cases, protesters broke equipment. In an attempt to stop these protests, Enbridge paid $2.9 million to the police for them to regulate and arrest protesters. According to the Pipeline Legal

Action Network, “Police have arrested more than 900 demonstrators opposing Line 3 and its impact on climate and Indigenous rights.” Junior Yash Kshirsagar said, “[Silencing protesters] doesn’t create a good image for Enbridge. By silencing them, it seems to cause more of a stir than Enbridge anticipated. By doing this they devalue the basic rights that protesters have.”

Student tour guides highlight community and facilities

RUBICON PHOTO: Salah Abdulkarim

WELCOME TO MY HOUSE. Student tour guides, faculty, and guest families gather in The Huss Center Nov. 14 for the fall open house.

SALAH ABDULKARIM EDITOR IN CHIEF

With plenty of open houses around this time of year, admissions relies on the help of students

to show prospective families around campus. The student tour guide aspect of admissions has been a long-standing tradition: “Students have led

CHANGE THE WORLD Sophomore Class Leadership Council offers service recommendations as their peers complete service hours. Read more in News.

tours at the lower school since the 1970s...Originally, the philosophy behind the tour guide program was to share the school’s confidence in our public speaking program and to show that we value the student perspective,” Senior Associate Director of Admissions Julie McGlincey said. Student tour guides take pride in showing visiting families around the school and sharing their perspectives. Senior Greta Magnuson said, “I have gone to SPA for my whole life so I feel like I have a very good understanding of

the school...I like showing people around the Schilling Center...I try to take families around the Huss Center, and my favorite part would be showing people elective classes. There’s typically more visually interesting things to show prospective parents rather than just learning content from a board or video.” With many bases to cover across, academics, athletics, and facilities, this process is more challenging than it may seem. “This is my first year [touring] in high school,” junior Jack O’Brien said. The biggest challenge

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The Rubicon staff scoured the halls, asking, “What brings you joy?” You answered. Read more in Feature.

IN THIS ISSUE:

can be structuring the time to the family, he said. “It can often be pretty difficult because the people you’re guiding around the school when the family doesn’t tell you a lot about their interests.” Touring is not an easy task, especially with the many tours and open houses that take place, student tour guides play a large role. “We offer three Admission Open Houses on each campus through the admission season. They are in October, November and January. Tour

Construction on a new fence around the Randolph Campus athletic fields is underway with the purpose of protecting the fields. The project began on Oct. 25 and will conclude next week following issues surrounding damages caused by dogs and other traffic in the neighborhood. Head of School Bryn Roberts said, “The construction of the fence came after a long conversation that was really about the cost for the school community of having the fields open to everyone any time of the day or night.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, the community started using the fields as a dog park where one could often find 30-40 dogs at a time. The fields were often left destroyed given the number of dogs and their owners on the fields, many of whom would not clean up after their pets, making some of the fields unusable. Mary Saul lives near the school and used to bring her dog to the upper fields at night. She said, “At the beginning of the pandemic, it was a safe place to go and allow your dog to exercise and socialize while the owners could social distance as well as get some desperately needed socialization. It continues to be that even today. We have FENCE CONT. ON P. 3

TOURS CONT. ON P. 2

WHY I PLAY High school participation is at an all-time high nationally. Learn why Spartans chose their teams. Read more in Sports.

1-3 - News • 4-6 - Opinion • 7 - Good Question

• 8-9 - In Depth • 10 - 11 Feature• 12-13 - A&E • 14-15 - Sports • 16 - Music

NEWS THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

Reuben Stately raps about his roots

NEWS IN BRIEF

Nov. 2 election yields few changes

ELLE CHEN

CO-DIRECTOR OF RUBICONLINE

Originally scheduled for X-Period on Nov. 8, Intercultural Club rescheduled the upper school Indigenous Peoples’ Day assembly to Nov. 9 due to unforeseen circumstances. The purpose of the assembly was to celebrate and embrace Indigenous people and their traditions. Native artist Reuben Kitto Stately was invited to speak and sing his story. Currently, Stately is studying at Augsburg University and also serves as the President of the Augsburg Indigenous Student Association. Outside of college, Stately is also actively working as an artist, composer and rapper under the name Kitto. Additionally, Stately is part of Learning From Place, a Dakota language revitalization non-profit called Dakhóta Iápi Okhódakichiye and teaches Dakota Language at Minneapolis Public Schools. Unlike most conventional assemblies, Stately

chose to tell his story and experience by rapping. In his first rap, Stately mentioned many of the personal hardships and grief that he has faced over the years. In one of the lines, Stately mentions a deadly incident that ended up with his cousins murdering his own brother. He then continues to talk about the disconnect between his peers and himself at school when he shared this grief. Stately said, “One of my friends said, ‘You know what? You just bring everyone down when you talk so just like stop talking about it.’” Further in the song, Stately also mentions his parents separating, being wrongly handcuffed three times at just the ages of 11, 13 and 16. In his second piece titled “Dear My Son,” Stately raps to his future children about the flawed education system, social stigmas, incarceration and bad policing. He tells his future children to always follow their hearts

PHOTO: Kathryn Campbell

MY STORY, MY SONG. Reuben Kitto Stately talks to the 9-12 assembly about his experience as a native person growing up in the Twin Cities. “I speak only for myself,” he told the students.

to achieve their dreams. Sophomore Rowan Hofmann said, “I thought it was very good and honestly better than I excepted seeing as this was the first time around. I thought the hands-off approach was good because we actually got to hear a somewhat unfiltered message of the truth through someone who was passionate about the issue and I guess spreading the word on his experiences and how he reflects on how the current systems treat Indigenous people. Vocally he reminded me of Mac Miller as well.”

Warmer fall for ninth year in a row EVE SAMPSELL-JONES CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR

Autumn has been getting warmer, and this year fall tied for the warmest in the Metro area. Julia Colbert said. “The leaves didn’t really change [colors] until a lot later than usual, so that was part of the drought.” “There’s been fires in the Boundary Waters over the summer, and it’s just been continuing for a while now,” Sila Liljedahl added. “There are droughts and the overall weather keeps getting warmer. Climate patterns are changing.” The summery weather followed a heat wave that began in June, with parts of the state reaching the highest level of drought, D4 or exceptional drought. The official heat wave lasted for

RUBICON PHOTO: Hazel Waltenbaugh

FIRST SNOWFALL. The first snowfall of the season for St.Paul didn’t happen until Nov. 13 almost a month later than last year.

an unexpected amount of time, from June 3-11, with temperatures consistently reaching above 90 degrees and sometimes getting up to 104 degrees. This warmth in the fall was likely contributed to by climate change and the effects of La Nina, an event which cools the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and creates mild temperatures across the American Midwest.

Colbert said, “I think even just talking about [climate] in school and raising awareness about climate change would be helpful, especially for younger kids.” Regardless of cause, the mean fall temperature for Minnesota in 2021 was 64.7 degrees, up from an average 57.5 degrees. Even those average temperatures are historical highs since 2012.

CORRECTIONS POLICY Corrections are printed at the bottom of News p. 2. Corrections will be published in the month following the error and, if the story is also published online, will update following the online corrections policy.

Junior Maya Coates Cush said, “The Indigenous Peoples’ Day assembly with Kitto I felt really spoke about his experiences as an Indigenous man in modern life through musical art.” Senior Kat Bragg said, “I loved how the speaker was able to incorporate spreading awareness about Indigenous culture into artistry through his music. It made the presentation fun to listen to and was informative at the same time.” In the future, Stately hopes to see more acknowledgment for the Indigenous people than

just land acknowledgments. He said, “It’s going to have to go further than land acknowledgment but I think it’s a step in the right direction. In the future, it’s up to you guys to make the change (students).” Stately also shared his belief that the best function as a white ally is to spread accurate information and to just not get in the way. He said, “Just don’t stand in the way, then we will all be at peace.” Following the assembly, advisories reflected on Stately’s presentation with IC questions.

TOURS CONT. FROM P. 1

guides typically tour 58 families a week. With the number of tours that we offer yearly, it would be difficult to share the school if our admission team was the only ones available to tour. We couldn’t do this amazing

work helping families ...without the support of our student tour guides,” McGlincey said. Most tour guides are selected based on free periods and connections to prospective families.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: NOV. 18.

Freshman walk the line in graph matching competition

STEP BY STEP. Freshman finalists enter the Huss Stage to find their most challenging walk yet: a summit. Read the story at RubicOnline. Good Question 11 - the information on “How to invest in stocks” was compiled from tips published at Nerd Wallet.

The nation watched Minnesota on a number of key issues on the General Election ballot. Minneapolis rejected police reform (44% in favor / 56% against) and the re-elected Jacob Frey. Sophomore McKinley Garner, a Minneapolis Resident, said that “Last summer during the protests, there was a lot of mishandling and mistreatment of people who were just peacefully protesting. He [mayor Frey] didn’t handle anything well.” Garner was shocked like many of his neighbors when Frey was reelected. “I think it’s definitely not a step forward for Minneapolis,” Garner said. Melvin Carter, incumbent mayor for Saint Paul, went into reelection with high approval ratings and easily won his seat. Both cities passed rent control measures, a response to the housing shortage and rapidly increasing rents.

Vaccination access expands and cases rise The Center for Disease Control officially approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be produced for and distributed to children ages 5-11 on Nov. 2. “The expansion of vaccination statuses for younger kids will be really good for everyone in and out of schools,” junior Ben Chen said. SPA partnered with Corner Drug to offer an ages 5-11 Covid Vaccine Clinic Nov. 13, with second shots scheduled Dec. 4 on the Randolph Campus. All 270 available spots were filled. Governor Walz has said that all Minnesotans who received their first two shots will be eligible for boosters by the end of the week. The announcement comes as cases in Minnesota top 9,000 and the state sits at the top of the national list for highest rate of transmission.

NEWS THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

SoCLC offers list of local volunteering sign-ups CLAIRE KIM

THE RUBICON

As the holidays approach, more opportunities for volunteering and giving back to the community are opening. Student-led organizations and Twin Cities service events increase around Thanksgiving and Christmas as the season allows more time off from school and an increased need as weather turns cold. Sophomores are required to have six hours of service by the end of winter break, and a total of twelve hours by the end of spring break. Melina Kannankutty, along with the other leaders of the Sophomore Class Leadership Council (SoCLC), hope to provide opportunities for students to get their service hours completed in groups. SoCLC works to organize the community into completing volunteer work and other activities, and focus on having student-led trips instead of being organized all by adults. So far, SoCLC has set up a weekly service opportunity each Wednesday at Frogtown Farms at 946 Minnehaha Ave. W, St. Paul, where students can help with weeding and harvesting. There is no need to sign in, just be ready to show up and work. One of the events coming up is on Nov. 20 from 12-3 pm at The Sanneh Foundation in St. Paul. Students can pick up trash in the fields, help with food packing and distribution, and help

Neighbors report missing community connection, but Roberts said that will still be available (dog-free)

with maintenance and projects in the building. The Sanneh Foundation focuses on youth advancement groups for promoting education, health, and community in the Twin Cities. Sam Gilats is in charge of people signing up (24saman-

“

I’M HOPING STUDENTS WILL WANT TO GET INVOLVED BY THEMSELVES. sophomore Melina Kannankutty

thalg@students.spa.edu). “I’m hoping students will want to get involved by themselves, but I’m also hoping that a group would make it seem more of a fun activity rather than a chore. Doing something with your friends is always more fun than doing it by yourself,” Kannankutty said. On Nov. 21, which is World Day of Remembrance for Victims of Traffic Fatalities, students also have the opportunity to set up luminarias, make a display of the names of victims, and potentially speak. If interested, email Susanna Short (sshort@ spa.edu). While SoCLC is planning service events for sophomores specifically, Community Action and Service is a club dedicated to volunteering opportunities open to all

grades. One of the plans is a bedding drive after Thanksgiving break for My Very Own Bed, an organization working to provide beds to children in need. CAS is also signing up club members to pack food for Meals on Wheels, which works to deliver meals to seniors at risk of health, financial, and food insecurity. Finally, the club is planning multiple bake sales for the second semester. “In terms of getting students involved, we offer service opportunities for everyone who is involved in the club. For students not involved in the club, we have a school-wide annual service day in the spring and we offer donation drives as well as bake sales throughout the year for students to donate supplies or money for good causes,” CAS leader Kat Bragg said. CAS plans their service opportunities by reaching out to organizations they want to work with and assigning tasks to SPA club members such as submitting student newsletter and assembly announcements and gathering donation boxes. “Sometimes specific people in the club or Dr. Moerer or other SPA community members will have connections with certain organizations with service opportunities we can be a part of,” Bragg said. As the school’s Guide to Service describes, both organizations and students benefit from being involved in service.

FENCE CONT. FROM P. 1

all become part of a large extended family. Who knew the pandemic was going to last this long? [Using the fields has been a]... saving grace to many and we are forever grateful.” Saul described St. Paul as a “dog park desert” and admits that while the owners did their best to clean up it gets harder as the days get shorter. The dog excrement posed issues for fall sports teams: “Having dogs on the upper field made (soccer) practice this year difficult because we would sometimes be limited to using smaller sections of the field because people didn’t pick up after their dogs,” senior Isabel Lutgen said.

Roberts said there was also damage done by people at night: “We had partying... damage to the field -- some that had even been done by vehicles.” It was clear to the administration that the fields weren’t being used for their intended purpose and were left to find a solution. The community expressed concern that they would lose access to the fields, but Roberts assures that this won’t happen. “We will have access for neighbors and kids who want to play on the fields outside of school hours. I expect to see kids playing on it in the summer and hope to see people tobogganing in the winter, and people running around

IMAGES: Second Hand Harvest and Valentina Cam from Salvation Army

GET INVOLVED. There are many service opportunities throughout the Twin Cities to get involved with outside of the SPA community. The interactive above includes opportunities from Walk to End Hunger, Twin Cities Salvation Army, Frogtown Park and Farm, Open Arms of Minnesota, Meals on Wheels, and Second Harvest Heartland. Scan the QR code for more information. INTERACTIVE INFOGRAPHIC: Zadie Martin, RUBICONLINE

“Service is important for many reasons, like being a part of your community,” Kannankutty said. “Helping your community can help integrate yourself into it, and it’s just a good thing to do and to be a good human being.” Being involved with service can create connections to the broader community and is a

“

THE FENCE IS... THOROUGHLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT’S AT OTHER SCHOOLS. Head of School Bryn Roberts

the track,” Roberts said. Freshman Carson Grandberg, who on the block around school, said, “I enjoy using the fields outside of school. Me and my friends enjoy playing soccer there for fun.” While the fields will be opened for community use, the school will

way to bring people together through donating time or resources. For Thanksgiving, many organizations outside of SPA have holiday volunteering opportunities available to members of the community. For example, the Walk to End Hunger is a fundraising event that lasts for the entire month of “No Hunger November.” Partici-

pants can walk on a route in the Mall of America and help raise funds for hunger relief organizations. The Twin Cities Salvation Army also has a variety of seasonal opportunities during November and December, including delivering food baskets, selecting and bagging Christmas gifts, and distributing coats to children.

enforce the no dog policy. Roberts went on to explain that “The fence is something that is thoroughly consistent with what’s at other schools.” The school is following suit as other independent schools such as Mounds Park Academy, Minnehaha Academy and The Blake School who have their varsity athletic fields and courts fenced off from the community. While it seems like residents understand the reasons for the new fence, they wish there could have been more conversation: “I wish SPA had been more willing to speak to some of us before... shutting our community out of their

property with the new fencing. I know that several people have reached out to various members of SPA’s administration. I view it as a missed opportunity on the part of SPA. I understand the school’s issues but I think that there could have been another solution that could have been more mutually satisfactory,” Saul said. The fence secures the baseball and soccer fields, the track and the playground. There will continue to be doors that provide access points but that may also be locked during certain hours.

EDITORIAL THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

OUR MISSION We strive to capture the spirit of the community through its stories while inspiring deeper conversations. Above all, we stand for integrity in our pursuit to inform and engage our readers.

THE RUBICON St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave • St. Paul, MN 55105 rubicon.spa@gmail.com www.rubiconline.com @TheRubiconSPA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR

Salah Abdulkarim Eve Sampsell-Jones

NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR GOOD QUESTION EDITOR IN DEPTH EDITOR FEATURE EDITOR A&E EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR MUSIC EDITOR FOOD EDITOR

Hazel Waltenbaugh Maddy Fisher Annie Bai Hobbs Lillygreen Milkii Tigro Catherine Hooley Orion Kim Claire Kim Clara Garner

CO- DIRECTORS OF ONLINE VISUAL AND INTERACTIVES BEATS MANAGER

Elle Chen Elizabeth Trevathan Henry Burkhardt Tommy Verhey

NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR FEATURE EDITOR A&E EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR

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RUBICON TV

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STAFF WRITERS

Jacob Colton, Eliza Farley, Harper Glass, Melina Kannankutty, Annika Kim, Grace Medrano, Alison Mitchell, Siri Pattison, Johanna Pierach, Lucy Thomas, Helen Townley ADVISER

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EDITORIAL CARTOON: Annika Kim

OUT-OF-CLASS ACTIVITIES. All teachers and students enjoy participating in various activities, getting to know teachers’ interests can help students develop a meaningful relationship with their teachers.

the staff 100% ofagree

Get to know teachers as people EDITORIAL

Students should use tutorial to not only get ahead in academics but also form good relationships with their teachers. Although it seems obvious that students should use tutorial time to check in with teachers, many students and teachers agree that this period is often used to complete homework instead. Tutorials are an excellent time to check in with them, even if the material is relatively easy. Using this time wisely can strengthen communication skills and help students excel in academics. According to an article published by the European Scientific Journal, “Good and effective communication can help a well-trained teacher to develop a good relationship with students.” It is important to form these bonds because it generates trust between students and teachers, thus allowing the student to learn more efficiently. Another study by the American Psychological Association, showed that when students have good relationships with their STUDENTS SHOULD teacher, “[they are] likely to trust [their] teacher more, show more engagement in learning, behave better in class and achieve highTAKE TIME TO FORM er levels academically.” These levels of academics can be achieved throughout all aspects of school life. CONNECTIONS WITH A Review of Educational Research analysis found throughout 46 THEIR TEACHERS. stories that “strong teacher-student relationships were associated in both the short- and long-term with improvements on practically every measure schools care about: higher student academic engagement, attendance, grades, fewer disruptive behaviors and suspensions, and lower school dropout rates.” Clearly, meeting with teachers weekly to form relationships can greatly improve academic performance. Students are more likely to be engaged and therefore receive better grades. However, students shouldn’t only go see teachers when they need something. They should use the time to share activities they do outside of class. Teachers are interested in knowing what interests their students have and who they are as people. Stronger student-teachers relationships can not only help with academic growth but also students’ long-term social development. According to the Waterford organization, “A teacher’s impact on their students can last long after the end of the school year. After a student has a meaningful connection with their teacher, they’re more likely to form similar relationships in the future.” In fact, relationships in general and not just with teachers can help students with their social skills. According to the Headspace organization, “Connecting more deeply to just one person can also help people get closer to other people in their life.” One of the hallmarks of an SPA education is the emphasis on building lifelong connections within its community. Students should take the time to form these connections with their teachers.

THE RUBICON STAFF

OPINIONS THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

2 SIDES, 1 ISSUE: how to spend time away on breaks UNSCHEDULED TIME SUPPORTS HEALTH ANNIE BAI

THE RUBICON

Over the upcoming Thanksgiving and Winter breaks, students should take time for themselves to relax and clear their minds. Longer breaks from school are especially important, according to Lifeworks, “In a 2017 study that was part of the “Solitude Project,” researchers discovered that those who actively choose to be alone experience stress relief and felt more relaxed when they were alone. However, while we may not always enjoy it, alone time can improve your mood and mental health, both for introverts and extroverts. ” Especially in high school, students are constantly under a lot of stress and when given the opportunity to take a break, they should relax by themselves. According to Verywell Mind, “alone

time also plays a pivotal role in mental health. Being around other people comes with rewards, but it also creates stress.” Time with family and friends can be a major part of the holiday, but taking advantage of unscheduled time alone should be too. By giving yourself alone time, you are essentially allowing your body and mind to recover from previous stress. Students will be able to return to school with more focus and even more motivation. Parents especially are a major source of external stress, in a study by Frontiers in Psychology, “structured time could slow the development of self-directed control, since adults in such scenarios can provide external cues and reminders about what should happen, and when.” This further emphasizes the importance of unstructured alone time over the

holidays, the pressures of family gatherings and events create unnecessary stress over a break meant for relaxation. Being in an undisturbed environment pushes one to explore personal passions without the influence of others. Forbes states that “being surrounded by people kills productivity. People perform better when they have a little privacy.” Alone time not only increases productivity, but ILLUSTRATION: Salah Abdulkarim also boosts creativity that is not used when around REST UP. Sleep and time alone can help students recover from the stress induced by the demands on time when school and activities fill each day. peers, similarly to artists who spend time undisturbed in nature to come stressful for everyone. It care can be like getting resurface. “Everyone has up with ideas. “Being is best to get some peace more sleep, eating health- a limit to how much time alone with your thoughts and quiet after major ier, so anything that im- they can spend with famgives your brain a chance tests as most students proves one’s mood which ily, and it’s important to to wander, which can stay up losing sleep to differs for each person. know your boundaries. help you become more prepare for such tests. Other human interac- You can’t say yes to every The constant stress from tions like with friends family request and expect creative.” Longer breaks should school decreases effi- and family can bring to survive the season,” be taken advantage of as ciency while learning or happiness but according Merson [said].” in high school, students doing homework and to THINK, certain tradiget their hard earned makes one’s overall per- tions and environments Winter break right after formance during the day around family can cause finals which is extremely worse. Methods of self traumatic memories to

USE TIME TO SOCIALIZE AND RECONNECT MILKII TIGRO THE RUBICON

During school, students rarely have time to spend any time with their family and friends which is why long breaks are a perfect time to add social events to the calendar. While it is important for students to take time to themselves to relax after feeling overwhelmed during school, students shouldn’t isolate themselves the entire time or connect virtually without limits. Studies from Carnegie Mellon University prove that spending time with family and friends helps reduce stress instead of using negative or unhealthy coping mechanisms. This can also lead to forming a stronger bond between loved ones. According to

Piedmont, “One study found that people who view their friends and families as supportive reported a greater sense of meaning in life and felt like they had a stronger sense of purpose.” Spending time with family and friends can also increase meaningful memories and can bring happiness, which is important for students’ mental health. Spending time with friends and families is one of the best ways to create memorable experiences and can help form meaningful relationships. Forming meaningful relationships can benefit social skills which are essential for school and overall for the future. Nathan Hudson, who is an assistant professor of psychology at Southern Methodist Uni-

versity found that emotion is often associated with the people around you. Although there are some family members and even friends who show toxic behavior and can bring one sadness, it is important that people try to fill their surroundings with people who genuinely bring them happiness. Spending time with family and friends can also be beneficial, not only during long breaks but also during the weekends because it gives one something to look forward to after a long week of school, homework, sports, jobs, etc. Making plans with family members and friends can make great use for the weekend rather than spending countless hours on social media. However, it can be difficult to make

ILLUSTRATION: Salah Abdulkarim

MOVIE NIGHT. Breaks provide more free time to spend time with friends and family. Doing a fun activity can help students de-compress and have a good time.

plans with friends and families during the weekend because of homework, jobs, sports, etc. but one can also spend time with family and friends during the week like for example, having dinner time with family and

getting into the practice of studying with friends which has both academic and mental health benefits. Spending time with family by having dinner multiple times a week is a great opportunity to catch up on life and can

create new memories. Some good ways to spend time with family and friends are to have dinner together, play sports that are enjoyable for everyone, and watch movies together.

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

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Opinions are welcomed as Letters to the Editor or Submitted Opinions and may be published in the print or

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During the post-critique process, staff members identify inaccuracies and report feedback from readers. The staff publishes corrections when an error is discovered during critique or reported

to a staff member. Corrections should be directed to the Editor in Chief or appropriate section editor. IN PRINT: Corrections are printed at the bottom of News p. 2. Corrections will be printed in the month following the error and, if the story is also published online, will be corrected following the online corrections policy.

OPINIONS THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

Thin blue line flag enters gray area

ILLUSTRATION: Elle Chen STARS AND STRIPE(S). The thin blue line flag was created to honor the homicide of two officers, but has since been used in hateful contexts. RITA LI

RUBICONLINE

The U.S. flag is drained of color with the exception of a thin blue line. It was burned along with the Third Precinct when George Floyd was murdered in 2020. It is marched through the streets by white supremacists. But it is also worn on baseball caps by firefighters and first responders, stuck to vehicle windows to show support for those who put themselves in harm’s way. Can a symbol be used by people to send both racist messages and loving support? Is it possible to establish a balance of any kind or even stay neutral in this situation? The thin blue line flag was originally created in 2014 to honor the homi-

cides of two NYPD officers on duty in Brooklyn. But later in 2017, it was brandished by white supremacists at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Following the blue line flag, other thin line flags have also been inspired and raised: green for military, orange for emergency medical service, red for nurses, gold for dispatchers. These designs, or thin line flags with multiple colors increased popularity and acted as a symbol of support to show solidarity with Frontline workers. Both at the height of the pandemic, and today. While the flag originally represented as a symbol to champion and honor the public servants, is it possible for people to support the po-

lice without promoting the hate behind the racist concept? The answer is no, it is almost impossible to balance both. Although the flag initially stood for the division between chaos and order, it has now become a representation of the division between denial of racism and the establishment of equality for all. The thin blue line flag has become a division among people. To understand why, people can begin by examining the swastika. Initially, the swastika was a symbol of well-being in religions including Hinduism and Buddhism and a symbol of “good fortune; however, Adolph Hitler turned it into something frightening in 1920. Once the symbol had been used to exclude and systemically

annihilate Jews, it can no longer stand for anything else. Appropriation, in every form, attempts to diminish the power or show disrespect for the original. This was true of the swastika and it is true for the thin blue line flag. But what does that mean for police and firefighters, nurses and dispatchers, who look to the thin line flags and see themselves as part of a larger whole of helpers? And what about those who fly the flag as a counterargument to Black Lives Matter? What does it mean for anyone who may choose to fly, post, or wear a thin line flag? As of right now, the First Amendment doesn’t classify the thin blue line or any other thin line flag that might be used for hate speech as an exception to free speech. While speech is free, not all come without consequence. People who utilize or represent the flag in any form may encounter people who don’t support their choice, regardless of their intent. But, in this case, much like swastikas, a negative message of judgment, hate, and superiority is embedded in the symbol’s impact. Although the thin blue line flag isn’t banned entirely, the thin blue line flag may still be better left unflown as people think about how their flag can impact their community and lives.

How political views shape personal opinions HOBBS LILLYGREEN THE RUBICON

Morals help shape peoples’ perspectives of good and bad affecting everything in their daily lives from the first thought they have to the every interaction they will encounter. One’s own morals influence all aspects of their life, thus political beliefs are a direct reflection of them. A political belief is a view that someone has in relation to how the government deals with certain issues like transgender rights or climate crises. Political beliefs influence both other people’s lives but also directly affect the lives of the people supporting or not supporting different issues. Because political beliefs directly impacts voter’s own life, people’s beliefs are deeply im-

portant and reflect how someone wants their life to unfold. Political beliefs don’t always fit into one side of politics, they can fit into many different places, still, they do reflect people’s idea about how the country should look. The political party someone belongs to doesn’t automatically equate to their own personal beliefs. Beliefs can mostly fit into one party but some could fit into others, however, the mix of them is what reflects morals, not the party one belongs to. In a sense, morals are core values people hold, and for the most part they don’t change often. Morals are often formed by the experiences someone has in life, and affect how they’d want to change the world for the better. Experiences shape

ILLUSTRATION: Salah Abdulkarim BUILT ON BELIEF. Political views don’t always fit into one political party; still they reflect people’s idea about how a country should look. the policies one supports or does not, influencing political beliefs. Morals connect to political views because core values influence how one sees governmental issues and debates. The experiences that shape morals such as negative experiences with government or identities one has contribute to the

many different values one can have. Political views correlate to morals because morals shape identity and therefore opinions on issues.

Read more about where values come from - GQ p. 7

PHILOSOPHICALLY

SPEAKING CATHERINE HOOLEY PICKS APART IDEAS, PROFOUND AND INANE

The fallacy of finding yourself CATHERINE HOOLEY THE RUBICON

Finding yourself is a topic that self-help journals love to preach and almost everyone attempts to achieve in their lifetime, but in actuality, it isn’t attainable. The word “find” implies that something is lost and even though sometimes people can feel lost in a sense, a person cannot lose oneself. A person can act uncharacteristic, or have a change in values or morals, but they will always be themselves. A person is a constant whilst all other factors fluctuate and influence the person. So, when people say “I need to find myself,” it could basically translate to “I want to bring back an old version of myself,” which is much easier said than done. Humans can do a lot of things, but not time travel. Although people can reintroduce themselves to their old morals, they will not be the same person. Meaning that as time passes, even if we have not changed, the things around us do and in turn, we are shaped and must react appropriately to different circumstances. If we aren’t finding ourselves, what are we doing? George Bernard Shaw was a political figure and playwright who claimed: “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself,” in his 1887 book An Unsocial Socialist. Although brought up in the 1800s, this idea still influences a lot of people’s stance on the subject. The idea is that there isn’t a certain person that we’re supposed to become, but that as we go through life, everything we learn contributes and sculpts us into the person we will become or want to be. To me, this is much closer to the truth, but still not quite it. It is much more plausible that all the things we undergo as humans come together to create a person with certain values and points of view, but this saying also somewhat implies that there is a mold into which we will be created. Even when we think “this is me, I’ve created myself,” time will not stop passing. So, creating oneself is accurate but there isn’t a specified end to it. Just like fashion trends or beauty standards, we continue to change as the world outside of us does. There isn’t a final version of ourselves waiting for us at the finish line, we don’t stop evolving when we’re happy with who we are. For better or for worse, time continues to pick us apart and rearrange us into temporary versions of ourselves. Finding yourself doesn’t exist because there isn’t a little voice inside of us begging to be found, that voice is the morals you have been exposed to. That voice is the person you want to become, or maybe the person you are forced to be. There is no mold to follow or discover and there is no end to evolving as a person. We change with time whether we like it or not.

GOOD QUESTION THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

WHAT WE CARE ABOUT:

Where do values come from? WHO HAS INFLUENCED YOUR VALUES?

“MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I PROBABLY GET IT FROM MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WHO ALSO VERY MUCH VALUE FAMILY.

sophomore Amalia Laguna

CATHERINE HOOLEY THE RUBICON

In a world divided by personal beliefs, small differences in people’s everyday lives make big differences when it comes to a person’s wide array FRIENDS of values. Values influence every decision a person makes and shape the unique ways in which people live their lives. INDEPENDENCE A value is different from a belief. A belief is accepting something as true or real and can have a strong impact on a person’s values. A value is a principle or judgment of what is important in life. Values are ingrained in people from birth. Geographical identity and cultural practices have a large impact, as well as a person’s family. Children learn things faster than adults and childhood is a time in someone’s life where they are taking in so much information without a lot of perspective of the world. Since children don’t know much about the world yet, it is easy for surroundings to rub off on them; therefore a child’s parents and close community has the most powerful impact on their initial values. As people grow, they are better at determining what their true values are and can decide whether they value the same things as what they’ve learned. “Some [values] I have adapted from my parents and others I have learned from different experiences in my life, like mistakes I’ve made. Also the people I’m surrounded with have a lot of influence on the way I think,” sophomore Naomi Kempcke said. Day to day experiences help shape and determine what a person really values. Being around new people, doing new things, traveling to different places, and countless other experiences, all bring in a new perspective that can change a belief system dramatically. Education makes a huge difference in the development of values. Going to school means being surrounded by new people, new cultures, gaining perspective of the world and more. “I have developed a lot because of school. I’ve met so many people and learned about so many things bigger than myself that it would have been hard not to change,” said junior Maya Ketema. A study by the World Economic Forum showed that in the United States, 56.94% of people reported that they derived their personal values from family and education. As communication across the globe is becoming increasingly less difficult, pop culture and the spread of different cultures through media has increased the amount of international perspectives people encounter. “I value being a kind person, sharing when it is possible and always thinking about how my actions are affecting others. I think I got these main values from movies and TV shows and definitely my parents, too,” senior Judah Thomas said. The study by the World Economic Forum also showed 3.4% derived their main personal values from popular culture. Shared values that are relatively common include compassion, loyalty and honesty. Although these aren’t unanimous, they connect people from all different backgrounds. On the other hand, people also have values that others don’t share, or maybe just don’t value to the same extent, which is why humans are so unique. Values will most likely change the older someone ages, but the majority of where they form is from early life and personal experiences.

FAMILY

KINDNESS

“MY PARENTS ALWAYS TAUGHT ME TO BE KIND TO EVERYONE AND I’VE ALWAYS BEEN IN A VERY INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY THAT’S BEEN KIND WHETHER IT’S A GROUP OF FRIENDS OR TEACHERS.

junior Nelly Wodarz

RESPECT “HONESTY AND INDEPENDENCE. SO GROWING UP WITH ONLY SISTERS AND A MOM WHO FOUNDED HER OWN COMPANY, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WOMEN CAN BE INDEPENDENT.

sophomore Anja Seifert

“TO BE RESPECTFUL AND TO NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS BASED ON THINGS I ALREADY KNOW. I GET THEM FROM LAST LIFE EXPERIENCES, SOMETIMES I GET HURT BY PEOPLE ACCIDENTALLY ASSUMING THINGS ABOUT ME.

freshman Natalie Waibel

FRIENDS HONESTY

IN DE

THE RUBICON - N

The

Gaitas Sur applies trilingual ability for connections at home, school ALEXANDRA RUBICONLINE In the US, roughly 22% of kids are bilingual; however, relatively few of those kids can speak Greek. Junior Clea Gaïtas Sur not only speaks Greek proficiently, but she is also learning French at St. Paul Academy and Summit School. Because French is Latin based and Greek is not the two languages Gaïtas Sur can speak are quite different. Accordingly, Gaïtas Sur’s knowledge of Greek is not the most helpful when it comes to learning French. Despite the two language’s differences, Gaïtas Sur said, “I think knowing a little Greek and having a bilingual mom gives me a good ear for language,” which helps when it comes to learning any new language, specifically French. Among many other benefits, being able to speak multiple languages can increase both cultural

awareness and strengthen connections between family and place. “Speaking Greek helps me connect with my mom’s family and culture,” said Gaïtas Sur. Eliminating the barrier that language can create makes her interactions and bonds unique. “I would like to learn more [Greek],” said Gaïtas Sur, “so that I can have more engaging conversations with my Greek family.” Learning more Greek must be done outside of school, as it is not a class offered at SPA.

to know the meanings,” said Gaïtas Sur. Greek word parts appear in several classes, ranging from English classes to science classes like Biology. When doing homework, “my mom points out words that originated from Greek that I didn’t even know about,” said Gaïtas Sur. While her ability to speak Greek is quite helpful in the classroom, Gaïtas Sur doesn’t use Greek that often. Gaïtas Sur sometimes speaks some Greek with her family: “I’ll occasionally throw a little around with my mom’s parents” said Gaïtas Sur. It is not easy to find people to speak adjective Greek with, as there are 1. There are only about only about 365,000 peo365,000 people who can ple who can speak Greek speak Greek in the US. in the US. Gaïtas Sur’s “junior Clea Gaitas Sur” ability to speak Greek impacts her life daily: it aids Although Gaïtas Sur in the learning of other can’t take Greek at SPA, languages and connects her knowledge helps with her to her family and culmany of her classes. “A lot ture. of words originate from Greek, so it is easy for me

mul·ti·lin·gual adjective 1. speaking or using several different languages. “multilingual translators/communities/societies”

BY THE NUMBERS

OUR NATIVE TONGUE

50%

Greek /grek/

OF PEOPLE GLOBALLY WHO ARE BILINGUAL

76%/16% OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S. WHO

OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S. WHO

LEARN THEIR NON-ENGLISH

LANGUAGE AT HOME

LANGUAGE AT SCHOOL

22% OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S.

WHO ARE BILINGUAL READ MORE STORIES ABOUT LANGUAGE & CULTURE AT RUBICONLINE

Language is culture cul·ture noun 1. the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. “20th century popular culture” 2. the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group. “Caribbean culture”

HAZEL WALTENBAUGH THE RUBICON Growing up, children learn the language that they are initially surrounded in, which acts as a tool to understanding both the people and the culture it is tied to. Culture and language go hand and hand as they both have impacts on what defines and shapes understandings and beliefs. Language was invented as a tool to allow us to better understand each other. It allows us to communicate our feelings, beliefs, emotions, to find connections within one another, to see how we relate and how we differ. Culture is also an expression, one that uses language to make con-

nections and build relationships between a group of people. To understand one’s culture, it is essential to understand their language and the way in which that culture might think and perceive things. “Language could be a

that language could create misunderstandings among people,” Spanish teacher Rolando Castellanos said. Different cultures often represent different values and express them through their language in various ways. Even

“If you don’t understand the culture, not knowing that language could create misunderstandings.” Rolando Castellanos

cultural barrier in more than one way because of the lack of understanding and how to communicate effectively. If you don’t understand the culture, not knowing

though we express things differently based on the culture or the language we are familiar with, can language really determine how we perceive the world?

Again, the settings we grow up in (therefore the cultures and languages we are surrounded by) will inevitably influence how we view the world. It is very difficult to express a feeling without being aware of what it is or without having a word to define it. Among the many benefits that come from being multilingual, speaking multiple languages allows individuals to connect and understand different cultures and communities. It can be difficult to directly translate concepts between languages. Understanding more languages can mean understanding a more diverse range of people, cultures, and places throughout the world.

EPTH

NOVEMBER 2021

e language of us

words we use have the ability to bridge divides

Bilingual narratives ‘Untranslatable’

A list of words that cannot be translated into English

Szimpatikus (Hungarian) after meeting someone for the first time and you sense that they are a good person. You would call them Szimpatikus. (Similar to charismatic)

Akihi (Hawaiian) You have gone “Akihi” after getting directions from a stranger and then forgetting as soon as they walk away

Razliubit (Russian) To fall out of love, to lose feelings, you no longer feel the same about that person

Mamihlapinatapai (Yaghan) When two people are wishing or thinking the exact same thing without knowing or having communicated

Nunchi (Korean) Being able to sense or see how others are feeling

Resfeber (Swedish) A feeling of anticipation & anxiety before a journey or a trip

CLAIRE KIM THE RUBICON Language is a key component to navigating our daily lives, whether it’s through communicating with family or friends, a class taken at school, or simply reading. While most people speak one language--the one they’ve grown up with--many choose to become fluent in a second language through immersion, or become fluent in a language outside home. According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the percentage of Americans aged 18 and older, who are proficient in another language, increased from 8.1% in 2000 to 21% by 2014. This increase in bilingualism is aided by several factors, including the increased arrival of immigrants passing on their languages and growing amounts of language learning opportunities (such as immersion curriculum) for children.

him communicate with friends and neighbors in the Chinese community surrounding him. “I think it [being bilingual] opens more opportunities for me in my life, being able to communicate with more people and in a way, speaking the same language as someone else in a place where it isn’t the most common language is a good way to connect,” Bai said. A second language can be acquired and taught in several ways including learning the language at school or through programs outside. Learning language because of family background and heritage, or because of the region are two common examples that create bilingualism. For example, Quebec is the francophone province in Canada, meaning the main language spoken is French. However, the majority of Canadians still speak English, coming to a total of 75.4%. For freshman Alba

“Speaking the same language as someone else, in a place where it isn’t the most common language, is a good way to connect.” junior Andrew Bai

Forelsket (Norwegian) The indescribable happiness or euphoria you feel when falling in love

Junior Andrew Bai is fluent in both English and Chinese, which he mainly uses with his family and relatives. Bai’s bilingualism also helps

SPEAKING

LANGUAGE

Markowitz-Mulet, Spanish is an acquired language by both family background and location. Markowitz-Mulet, who speaks English and Span-

ish, uses language as a way to connect with family. “It allows me to converse and keep up with

identities,” Lajuzan said. Lajuzan’s bilingualism also shaped his career and life today. “I took a summer job at Concordia

“Spanish is very important to me because I grew up speaking it.” freshman Alba Markowitz-Mulet

my mom’s family who live in Spain, and is a part of myself that I get to share with my friends and the community around me,” she said. Spanish is also a significant part of her culture and life experiences. “Being bilingual allows me to access entirely different cultures, media, and ways of life as well as the ability to talk to different groups of people,” Markowitz-Mulet said, “Spanish is very important to me because I grew up speaking it and it’s always been something I have been proud of.” Bilingual or multilingual people often have different experiences juggling two or more languages. Upper School French teacher, Aimeric Lajuzan, speaks both French and English and studied Spanish for years. His native language, French, is a way for him to connect with his culture and identity, “I don’t do much ‘French stuff’ aside from some music and movies/shows, so the language is a way to stay connected to one of my

56% 20% 17%

Language Villages when I was in college, mostly as a way to travel to the US. It ended up changing my life because I discovered how much I loved teaching a language, and because I ended up working there 10 summers and meeting my wife in the process!” He said. His favorite part of speaking multiple languages is seeing how his children, who speak French, English, and Swedish, adapt by switching between languages and identities. Being bilingual is a unique trait that impacts the lives of many, mainly by creating connections to other people and cultures. Although it may come with the difficulties of learning to codeswitch or feeling alienated, speaking multiple languages is intertwined with countless positive day-to-day experiences. In an increasingly connected world, bilingualism defines and shapes the identities of many people as it opens opportunities to engage with surrounding communities.

OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S. WHO

OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S.

SPEAK SPANISH AT HOME

WHO SPEAK INDO-EUROPEAN

WHO SPEAK ASIAN & PACIFIC

WHO SPEAK OTHER NATIVE

LANGUAGES AT HOME

ISLAND LANGUAGES AT HOME

LANGUAGESAT HOME

DATA FROM: American Academy of Arts & Sciences

THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

CLARA ANN BAGNOLI

FEATURE

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

FORD REEDY

THESE ARE THE JOYPEOPLE, JOY JOY JOY JOY PLACES, JOYMOMENTS JOY JOY JOY JOY THAT BRING US JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

Connor Overgaard [brings me joy]. He’s a kind person.

MAX COOPER

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

lunch and they were really good.

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

We had egg rolls for

Music. It’s a real mood changer and it just makes life more interesting.

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

CLEA GAITAS SUR

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

playlists.

COMPILED BY

THE RUBICON STAFF

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

CERENA KARMALIANI

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

playing piano and I like making

JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY

I really like

My mom [makes me happy]. She’s pretty much my support system.

FEATURE THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

SONIA ROSS

WILL AUSTIN

I like running and knitting and listening to music.

My brand new septum

piercing.

I like my shoes

ALEX ARMADA

EZRA STRAUB

George makes me happy. He makes my day better

because they make

whenever I see him.

me run faster.

COLIN WILL

ELIZA FARLEY

I absolutely love stretching out on a couch in the sunshine on a summer day.

I have a really long free period,

I like when I don’t have any

which makes me

homework to do, and I have

happy.

a certain amount of hours where I can just chill and make brownies or something.

JOHNNY CHRISTAKOS

AYLA RIVERS Spending time with

I’d say all of my friends and family that just do their best to make my day brighter. You know? It really warms my heart knowing I have

people.

them by my side and I’d say, that’s what makes me happy.

ANDY ALLEN ARDEN LILLEMOE at school. They’re fun to be around.

I think just my friends

Outside of school I find it fun to play competitive video games when I have the time.

ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

QUIZ: What’s your love language?

I FEEL LOVED WHEN: a) people enjoy being around me b) someone hugs me c) I receive gifts d) people go out of their way to help me e) people compliment me WHEN IT IS MY BIRTHDAY I APPRECIATE THIS THE MOST: a) spending time with friends at a celebration b) cuddling and hugs from everyone c) a special gift just for me d) someone offering to do my chores for a week e) a heartfelt card MY IDEAL DAY IS: a) being with friends and family 24/7 b) getting a massage c) going to the mall d) having a surprise day being planned out for me e) having a long conversation with someone I care about I SHOW LOVE/APPRECIATION BY: a) being near people b) giving someone a high five c) buying someone something they’ve always wanted d) doing something nice for them e) complimenting someone WHEN HAVING A BAD DAY, THIS WOULD CHEER ME UP THE MOST: a) being surrounded by loved ones b) a big bear hug c) buying something on my wishlist d) someone making me dinner e) venting to someone I trust RESULTS: whichever letter you chose the most is your corresponding love language: a) quality time b) physical touch c) gifts d) acts of service e) words of affirmation CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE

ANNIE BAI

THE RUBICON

INFOGRAPHIC: Annie Bai

OH, YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE. But we’re so glad you did. In a survey of the 9-12 student body with 12% responding, giving and receiving gifts topped the best part of winter celebrations, followed by unstructured time with family.

How to decenter holidays from gifts ANNIE BAI

THE RUBICON

When people think of celebrations and holidays, what is the first thing that comes to their minds? Gifts. But is that really the true purpose of celebrating these special days? Gifts have been becoming increasingly important during holidays causing celebrators to forget about the true meaning of these celebrations; to spend time with your loved ones. Whether it’s a friend, neighbor, or family, holidays are times when you can relax and be around the people you love. Consider the five love languages; words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. Gifts are only one of the five ways to express and receive love. Major holidays or celebrations like birthdays often come with the excitement of receiving gifts. The same goes for Christmas which is even worse, as it is a religious holiday with deep meaning aside from exchanging gifts. This can often make people overlook the time they spend together and how meaningful it is. If simple Words of Affirmation or actions can be enough to make someone’s day, the same can be applied to holidays. “I like genuine gifts that say, ‘hey, this made me think of you,’ rather than someone scrambling to find something,” said senior Harper Enneking-Norton. That small phrase can completely change the gift receiver’s mood by showing their gift is genuine. They would be happier knowing that the gift they received reflected their own personality. Children often think that the presents they receive equal the amount of love their parents have for them. The less they get the less they are loved. But a parent’s love is shown through all the five love languages yet it can go unnoticed. In a poll answered by 42 SPA students, spending time with loved ones was 14.4% of the students favorite part of holidays. “I just think it’s more about spending as much time with

family and friends and then exchanging gifts is like a side part of that,” said freshman Natalie Waibel. Gifts were by far the students favorite part of celebrations voted by 24%. Celebrations shouldn’t be thought of solely for the purpose of receiving gifts but it seems that is becoming the case. “It distracts from the other things about the holidays, but I know Christmas definitely wouldn’t be as fun without them,” said sophomore Lukas Hembre. The majority of the student responses said that gifts were an important part of celebrations, that they show love therefore should be the main focus of celebrations. “When you don’t see someone very often, gifts are important to show that you think about them and can always hold a place when you are apart so they keep you in mind. When you give a gift to someone you see often it shows you care on another level,” said junior Cayenne Ramirez. This brings up a good point about the good part of gifts but, “As a religious person, it’s a bit annoying when people think that’s what Christmas is about. It’s about being with the ones you love and celebrating the future. So it’s nice to give gifts as displays of gratitude/appreciation, but I don’t like that it’s what people think Christmas is about,” said freshman Grace Medrano. Whether it’s family movie nights on the couch or cuddling under a blanket, physical touch is always a straightforward way to express love. “I would much rather have more time with family, watching holiday movies, even though I enjoy receiving gifts,” said junior Hannah Brass. Regardless of love language, taking time to express caring to those in your life in their language is always a good plan.

GET YOUR TICKET New in theaters & holiday releases to see now

FAIR USE: Trailer Screencaptures

GHOSTBUSTERS AFTERLIFE. New faces, familiar spirits (and humor).

KING RICHARD. A father’s love frames the backstory of the Williams sisters.

VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE. It’s hard to look away from this antihero.

GUCCI. Ridley Scott makes sordid truth look good. In theaters Nov. 23

ENCANTO. Mirabel’s story is beyond magical. In theaters Nov. 24.

ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

25 GOING ON 30

After six years, fans are ready to welcome Adele’s new album GROWING UP WITH ADELE

FLICKR CC: Willem Alink

Jan. 28, 2008 Most streamed songs: 1. Make You Feel My Love 2. Chasing Pavements 3. Hometown Glory

@Adele on Twitter

Jan. 19, 2011 Most streamed songs 1. Someone Like You 2. Rolling In The Deep 3. Set Fire To The Rain

PHOTO: @adele on Instagram

Nov. 20, 2015

@Adele on Twitter

Nov. 19, 2021

Most streamed songs 1. Hello 2. When We Were Young 3. Send My Love

It has been six years since Adele’s last album ‘25’ was released. MILKII TIGRO Adele announced her new stuTHE RUBICON dio album ‘30’ weeks ago, but the official release is today. The album features 12 songs with three bonus tracks that will be ‘Wild Wild West’, ‘Can’t Be Together’ and ‘Easy on Me’, a duet with country singer Chris Stapleton, whom she had known since her early years of touring when she first released ‘19’. In her new upcoming album, Adele opens up about the things that have happened to her in the last few years and she shares vulnerable moments in her life like her divorce from ex-husband Simon Konecki in April 2019. Adele has not been one to shy away from sharing her most vulnerable moments in her life, one thing that makes her songs so powerful. Adele released the first single, ‘Easy on Me’ Oct. 15. ‘Easy on Me’ is a piano melody, which is not particularly different from her previous songs like ‘Love in the Dark’ and ‘When We Were Young’. The first single of ‘30’ was produced and co-written by American producer Greg Kurstin. The song represents forgiveness, regret, and nostalgia. In the chorus of the song: “Go easy on me baby / I was still a child / Didn’t get the chance to / Feel the world around me / I had no time to choose / What I chose to do / So go easy on me” Adele speaks to her son asking her for forgiveness as she also addresses her struggles with her marriage. The single has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks and went number one in the UK chart the first week of its release. The ‘Easy on Me’ music video currently has 161 million views on YouTube. While the sound of the new album is classic Adele, that dampens little of the excitement fans feel about hearing new music. The melodies of her songs have a sing-along quality, but the meaning behind them goes deep. The humanity of Adele’s songs connects to listers with universal truth sung from the heart.

RATING: 5/5

SETLIST

1. Strangers By Nature 2. Easy On Me 3. My Little Love 4. Cry Your Heart Out 5. Oh My God 6. Can I Get It 7. I Drink Wine 8. All Night Parking (w/Erroll Garner) (Interlude) 9. Woman Like Me 10. Hold On 11. To Be Loved 12. Love Is A Game

(Bonus Tracks) 13. Wild Wild West 14. Can’t Be Together 15. Easy On Me (w/Chris Stapleton)

ARTS OPINION

Astroworld tragedy exposes importance of concert safety precautions ELIANA MANN RUBICONLINE

Screams broke out in the crowd as the body heat of 50,000 enthusiastic concertgoers became suffocating. Fans of performer Travis Scott pushed up against one another, engulfed in a human wave moving too quickly and forcefully. Individuals were trampled and left lifeless on the ground. The electricity in the crowd had turned from exciting to dangerous, and yet, alarmingly, the Houston Astroworld music festival continued on into the night. As the story of the Nov. 5 concert broke across the country, headlines shared the tragic statistic: ten lives had been taken in the chaos, and dozens of others were left injured. Sadly, most of the victims were in their twenties, with some just nine and 14 years old. Though many details about the incident have yet to be determined as the Houston police and fire departments are currently conducting an investigation, the concert

should never have been so horrific. From the beginning of the day, when the festival began, reckless behavior ensued, including when fans trampled the entrance gates to the festival as seen in this video. Between 3,000 and 5,000 concert attendees reportedly entered without being scanned. Another video, also from a local Houston news station, displays a person being lifted out of the concert. They appear to be unconscious, or at least are not moving in the clip. Also shown is Scott, who seems to be continuing with the performance. (Viewer discretion is advised.) Scott has been known to encourage his fans, nicknamed “ragers,” to act wildly at his shows, creating a potentially dangerous atmosphere. For example, when tickets for the Astroworld festival sold out in May 2021, he tweeted (now deleted) to those who weren’t able to get a ticket, saying that they should sneak into the grounds anyway. Another example of this behavior came in 2015,

PHOTO: @travisscott on Instagram

UTOPIA. The colorful stage that Travis Scott performed on created an illusion of excitement and entertainment, but in reality that was not the case.

when he pleaded guilty to charges of reckless conduct following his performance at Lollapalooza, a music festival in Chicago. At that event, he encouraged audience members to climb over the barricades and onto the stage. According to the mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, there was more security at the festival than there was at the recent World Series games, with 505 event security staff members, 500 on-duty police officers, 76 off-duty police offi-

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IT IS CLEAR FROM THE DEADLY OUTCOME OF THE NIGHT THAT NOT ENOUGH WAS DONE. sophomore Eliana Mann

cers, and 91 armed private security officers. So why wasn’t this enough

to stop the concert, and in turn, stop deaths from occurring? While this is a difficult question to answer, and more information will hopefully be released in the coming days and weeks, one thing is for certain: the safety of concertgoers should always be the first priority. Though the Astroworld music festival website contains COVID-19 safety guidelines and frequently-asked questions regarding safety, it is clear from the deadly out-

come of the night that not enough was done in preparation to ensure a safe experience for everyone. A number of factors contributed to the incident, many of which could have been improved. The quantity of fans allowed in the festival should have been more closely and effectively regulated, so that there were not so many bodies crammed into one place. Additionally, whether or not Scott was aware of the stampede occurring in his audience, it should have been communicated with him in an efficient manner and the concert should have ended immediately. No performance should continue while people are unconscious and dying. The deaths of innocent individuals in a setting that is supposed to be centered around music and having a good time is unthinkable and musicians and other performers should take this as a lesson going forward. Safety is, and always will be, of the utmost importance.

SPORTS

“I LIKE HOW FAST-PACED AND COMPETITIVE LACROSSE IS”

THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

“I LOVE PLAYING HOCKEY BECAUSE IT MOTIVATES ME TO WORK Harder”

JULIA COLBERT, LACROSSE

GRETA MAGNUSON, HOCKEY

Why I

PLAY

HAZEL WALTENBAUGH sort of a family connection too.” THE RUBICON Freshman Ezra Straub Sports play a major enjoys soccer because of role in physical fitness the bonds formed with and mental well-being. teammates. “I love the Research has found that teamwork and the bondsports help with youth ing that comes with it. development, academYou all have one goal - to ic success, better mental win -but when we lose health, and a more confiwe still...stand by each dence and discipline. Sports can be a fun other,” he said. Freshman Mariam outlet to build relationMalik said volleyball ships, get away from schoolwork, and feel part helps her develop skills of a smaller, more inclu- and grow as a person: “I enjoy playing volleyball sive community. Senior Brody Rinde- because of the trust and laub started playing foot- teamwork involved. I can ball in third grade. “I like invest my time and enerthe brotherhood that it gy and learn new things builds and the friend- every time I play.” Junior Greta Magnuships. I like the physicalson plays in goal for co-op ity of it.” team United. “I love playRindelaub doesn’t ing hockey because...I get just like to play: “I watch to connect with new peofootball with my family ple that I might not have sometimes so there’s like

Thinking of joining a sport? These players tell you why you should join a team. gotten the chance to. It’s also very entertaining and just a fun way to exercise, ” she said. Junior Julia Colbert also loves how lacrosse pushes her to be a better athlete and work with people she might not otherwise know. “I started playing lacrosse for a club team in 6th grade after previously only playing for school. Now, I play year-round, Colbert said. “I like how fast-paced and competitive the game is. My favorite part of the sport is being able to meet new people through my club team and through the school co-ops.” “I also enjoy game days because it is nice to be able to just play, especially after a lot of practices,” she said.

Freshman Taylor Barkwell loves the difficulty of cross country. “I love running, especially long distances. I think my favorite part about running is how you feel like you are quite literally pushing yourself to death. A point where you feel so dead that you go numb. A cheesy way of saying that is runners high.” But even with the individual nature of races, it comes back to team: “The highlight of my season was running alongside my teammates at sections. It was a really hard race but we all did really well and I am so proud of my team,” she said. Sports participation continues to rise, with 57.4% of students playing at least one sport according to EdWeek.

“I LOVE THE TEAMWORK AND THE BONDING THAT COMES WITH SOCCER” “I LIKE THE BROTHERHOOD THAT FOOTBALL BUILDS AND THE FRIENDSHIPS”

EZRA STRAUB, SOCCER

BRODY RINDELAUB, FOOTBALL

“My favorite part about running is how you feel like you are quite literally pushing yourself to death” TAYLOR BARKWELL, CROSS COUNTRY

SPORTS THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021

Head Coach Willie Taylor brings optimism with new leadership

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I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I WANT TO MAKE THIS TEAM START TO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN DO IT, THAT THEY CAN WIN. coach Willie Taylor

TAYLOR BY THE NUMBERS

Consecutive state tournament appearances with Stillwater Area High School.

32-0

Central High School’s record during the 2007 season, led by coach Taylor.

Conference championships with Mounds View High School.

SOURCE: mshsca.org

CATHERINE HOOLEY THE RUBICON

Last year’s Spartan girls basketball team rostered only nine players and lacked experience. The challenging season ended with a rocky track record, but now a new coach is stepping in. Willie Taylor worked as head coach for Mounds View High School, Central High School in St. Paul and most recently, Stillwater Area High School. In the 2020-21 regular and postseason, Stillwater had an almost perfect record with 21 wins and one loss. Taylor’s first year as a head coach was 1991. As a coach at Mounds View he led the team to conference and section championships and state. Once he moved to Central, the school won nine conference championships in a row and multiple section wins. Perhaps his most impressive accomplishment was leaving Central with a perfect track record in 2007, winning all 32 games. He was admitted to the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009 for his tremendous leadership. Now, Taylor will coach the girl’s basketball program where his daughter, freshman Julia Taylor, attends school and his wife, Naomi Taylor works as Director of Intercultural Life. Taylor was planning on retiring from coaching, but after all these years, his favorite part of coaching still stands. “I enjoy building relationships and seeing people being happy from them proving that they’re gonna get to play,” he said.

MY PRO HERO

Besides his impressive past with coaching, Taylor doesn’t have an “all work no play” ideal. Director of Athletics Dawn Wickstrum said that in the interview, Taylor “was able to share a coaching philosophy that we felt had the best fit for SPA. He talked about how when student-athletes have fun, basically, the sky’s the limit… He understood that while working hard, you can also enjoy the ride.” One thing’s for sure, Taylor will make the team work hard. “He seems like a great coach and I can tell he’ll push me a lot to grow as a player,” freshman Natalie Waibel said. With the past track record, the team is heavy on spirit and having fun and Taylor will continue these traditions while also bettering the players. Junior Lindsay Browne, who captains the basketball team, said, “He definitely comes across as very positive and someone who wants all of the players to enjoy themselves during practices. I think he will create a good program culture of working hard but also having a lot of fun.” Taylor said that whatever the win-lose outcome of this season, “I want to make a difference. I want this team to start off believing that they can do it, that they can win.” But winning is definitely part of the plan. “I’m not saying I want to beat the top team, but I want them to be scared,” he said. The girls take the court Dec. 2 against Breck.

15 PHOTO: SPA Smugmug

INTERNATIONAL SENSATION. Sawyer Bollinger Danielson is one of 10 athletes selected to play on the US Youth Futsal National team, which will travel to Spain over Winter Break.

Futsal or soccer, Sawyer Bollinger Danielson has a foot on the ball ELIZA FARLEY

The grass of the soccer field, torn by hundreds of cleat-steps, springs under freshman Sawyer Bollinger Danielson’s stride. Sweat beads on her forehead, but she keeps her cool; after all, she’s run this course countless times. They’re down one to two, with only ten minutes left, but Sawyer knows they can make it through with some creative strategies. When all seems lost, she knows to think outside the box and adapt — a skill Bollinger Danielson has used many times in both sports and life. Bollinger Danielson has been playing soccer since childhood, with the support of her family and teammates along the way. This year, she’s been playing at higher levels than ever before, and as a midfielder on Spartan Varsity Soccer — a change from her usual position as a forward. As a member of Spartan Varsity Soccer, the Minnesota Thunder Academy soccer club, and the TC Sala futsal club, shifting between mindsets and strategies is essential. “For my club team, I play forward, and for varsity, I played midfielder, which is kind of different… uncomfortable at first,” she said. Nevertheless, as she played more and adjusted to her new placement, the growing pains eased. Sarah Oppenheim, Spartan striker, defines Bollinger Danielson’s one-of-a-kind presence on the team: “Sawyer is a very goofy personality, a very big personality…” She wasn’t scared of the seniors; she was able to jump into anything. Oppenheim added (with a laugh), “who gave this freshman the audacity?” The answer, of course, is Sawyer Bollinger Danielson. Despite hard work on multiple teams and her efforts to adapt to any circumstance, Bollinger Danielson remains modest about her achievements. “[Being called inspiring] kind of surprised me,” she said with a smile. “I don’t really feel like I do that yet.” But when she expertly darts and weaves through a crowd of defenders, switching her stride, catapulting the ball into the goal — she inspires all who watch her play. STAFF WRITER

Student athletes tell us about the professionals they emulate SALAH ABDULKARIM THE RUBICON

Everyone has someone they look up to, someone who they aspire to be like. Oftentimes, someone who draws inspiration from someone may not even have a personal relationship with them. Take for example professional athletes: whether it’s their backstory, their performance, online presence, or even just how they go about their day, fans learn a lot about who they are as a person. This can inspire fans to draw from a favorite athlete’s habits and implement it in their lifestyle and in their play. Ethan Carter has drawn inspiration from Sacramento King’s shooting guard Davion Mitchell, “I’ve played basketball for six years now. I love the sport because it brings out the competition in me and I also have a good time. Mitchell’s always outworking the next guy, he’s always giving 110% on the floor and I admire that,” he said. Carter has known of Mitchell since before his NBA career and has seen him progress: “I first heard of Davion Mitchell when Baylor [University] was playing in March Madness. Seeing him work his way up to the NBA taught me that you always have someone to outwork and there are a million other people out there that are better than you.” As a multisport athlete, on ultimate frisbee, alpine skiing, and frequenting the gym, Sophie Cullen has drawn a lot of inspiration from a personal trainer.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Ethan Carter submitted; Davion Mitchell on Wikimedia PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Sophie Cullen submitted; Krissy Cela @krissycela

ROLE-MODELS. Ethan Carter’s (lower left) inspiration is NBA player Davion Mitchell. “He’s always giving 110% on the floor and I admire that,” Carter said. Senior Sophie Cullen has drawn inspiration from personal trainer Krissy Cela. “Cela basically started from the bottom then did super well,” Cullen said.

“Krissy Cela basically started from the bottom then did super well, built her own fitness empire, and now has an app, and clothing line,” Cullen said. Cela’s content has allowed Cullen to grow as an athlete by challenging herself both physically and mentally. “I’ve learned a lot about how to squat properly, lift properly, do sets properly. Cela taught me the impor-

tance of resilience, determination, and believing in yourself.” Seeking inspiration from athletes who excel at their sport can stimulate growth and elevation of personal development. Professional athletes embrace values that provide valuable lessons to athletes of all ages and interests.

MUSIC THE RUBICON - NOVEMBER 2021 CHRISTMAS. Released in 2011, Canadian singer Michael Bublé’s holiday album featured collaborations with other artists such as Mariah Carey and Shania Twain. PHOTO: Michael Bublé

PHOTO: Discogs ELIS & TOM. The 1974 bossa nova album recorded by Elis Regina and Antonio is often considered one of the most iconic Brazilian albums, and is a part of the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame.

LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER. Released in 2018, South Korean boy band BTS focused on empowerment and love through pop songs.

BROL. Belgian artist Angèle’s debut album was self-released in 2018, from which Angèle’s chanson/pop music quickly gained popularity. PHOTO: @angele_vl on Instagram

PHOTO: Discogs SABOLAN. Ba Cissoko, a Guinean band, mixes electronic music with the kora, a traditional West African harp.

PHOTO: Big Hit Music

PHOTO: Wolfmother NEW CROWN. Although Australian hard rock band Wolfmother’s third album had mixed reviews from critics, it reached high popularity in the United States.

Music around the world: global sensations EVE SAMPSELL-JONES CHIEF VISUAL EDITOR

The world is filled with music: new releases dropped left and right, artists rising to the top with one song up their sleeve, and subgenre upon subgenre upon subgenre born. People pride themselves on their music taste, trying to listen to the music they believe is the best, but this can be so overwhelming as there is simply unlimited music out there. No one person is going to be able to listen to everything, but it’s still possible to explore and branch out. On an international level, the musical world has a lot to offer.

EXPLORING NEW MUSIC TYPES AND COMMUNITIES

Heavy metal? Pop? Yes, other countries have those, too: “The main metal band I listen to is Sabaton, a band formed in the early 2000s who sing about history, mainly war. I have been listening to them for about four

to five years now,” sophomore David Kopilenko said. “Another band I follow is Rammstein, a German metal band from the early nineties. I’d say I’ve been listening to them for about three years.” “I’ve been listening to Kpop for about two years now, and since then, I have been listening to a large variety of Kpop artists,” freshman Serene Kalugdan said. “I think that what sets Kpop apart from American pop is that the idea of Kpop is a blanket term to encompass the music, artists, culture, and community behind it.”

BREAKING MUSICAL RULES AND STANDARDS

Because of the dogma of Western music, people typically have a strict criteria of what sounds good or bad. However, through exploration of music from around the world, one can see that these rules are Eurocentric and arbitrary. Take,

for example, Bulgarian choral singing. It sounds strange to the Western ear upon first listen, because it seems contrary to the musical rules of the West. The heavy use of dissonance and outof-the-ordinary singing techniques could easily be dismissed but this music is beautiful to those who sing it, and to those who are open to hearing new things. “Music is known as a universal language,” Kalugdan added, “going beyond the surface level of simply understanding lyrics. There’s a huge stigma against Kpop because a lot of outsiders believe that they can’t like the music because they don’t understand what the artist is saying. For me, not knowing the lyrics of a song helps me appreciate and notice different themes and rhythms within a song.” International influence can also be found in the new music that people listen to on a daily

basis. For example, the incredibly popular pop artist Billie Eilish released her sophomore album Happier Than Ever earlier this year. The third track on this album is entitled “Billie Bossa Nova,” and offers a techno produced riff on the genre of Bossa Nova. Bossa Nova was developed in Brazil in the 1950s as samba and jazz mixed together. Of course, modern adaptations will never be pure to the older genres taken as inspiration, but music is cyclical. Styles come back around.

GLOBAL STYLES IN MODERN MUSIC

“[Billie Eilish] uses a lot of open major seventh chords, which is very, very particular to this style,” junior Clea Gaitas Sur said. “But she’s also added a more specific beat. Usually, Bossa Nova pieces are counted in clave. She’s added a more American, modern pop beat to it so she’s stylized it to be more accessible to Western pop

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I ALSO AM INTERESTED IN THE STORIES SOME OF THE SONGS TELL – IF THEY’RE FROM HISTORY OR ARE PERSONAL.

sophomore David Kopilenko

audiences… however, you can definitely tell that there’s influences from Latin music, particularly the Bossa Nova style.” “‘Billie Bossa Nova’ is more mysterious than her other songs. Her other songs are all mysterious and lowkey but I feel like this one is more her style and overall more chill,” sophomore Awaale Osman said. Though the American music industry is focused on very specific styles, the world as a whole is not. There is so much music to be explored, and people are more than will-

ing to do so. Music from around the world is alive and well, sometimes simmering under the surface, but often flourishing. It just takes a little bit of looking. “I listen to a lot of French indie pop, because it’s really helpful for studying because you don’t have to focus on the words but it’s still really nice sounding,” Gaitas Sur said. “Compared to English, there’s less focus on special effects and having cool filters on your voice. It feels more raw and more natural.” There has never been a better time to explore the treasure trove of music the world has to offer. Music that was once tucked away in obscure corners of the globe is now available with a few clicks of a button. So, take some chances on what’s out there. There might be some gems to build a playlist. FIND RECOMMENDED SONGS IN OTHER LANGUAGES HERE