October 2020 Issue by SPA Publications

RUBICON

the

the student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave St. Paul, MN 55105 Volume 47. Issue 2. October 28, 2020

www.rubiconline.com

Election 2020: Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden Where do they stand on prominent topics? Lower drug prices?

YES

Continue building U.S.-Mexico border wall?

YES

Climate diplomacy?

YES

ILLUSTRATION: Noa Gross INFOGRAPHIC: Eloise Duncan INFORMATION: Reuters Reporting HEAD TO HEAD. President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, and Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, take similar and different stances on many different issues that are important to Americans as the presidential election approaches. ALI BROWNE

STAFF WRITER

In an election with record absentee ballot requests in Minnesota, an presidential race culminating on Nov. 3, major topics and the presidential candidates’ stances on them influence voters. President Donald J. Trump (R) and former Vice President Joe Biden (D) have differing views on many issues that concern new voters in the school community and throughout the country. Here is a guide to the candidates’ policies and stances on a few of those topics including climate, social justice movements, and the pandemic. Senior Noah Lindeman will not be able to vote in the upcoming election, but he has advice for his classmates who are eligible to vote. “Do your research and pick the best option for yourself and the people

you care about, too, because some things don’t affect you, but they will affect others greatly,” he said. The current pandemic is a pressing global issue, and many voters are paying close attention to the presidential candidates’ plans for handling the pandemic in the future. “The future president should start providing states, cities, and hospitals with more resources and start tracking the people with coronavirus so that they can identify and help stop the spread,” ninth-grader Awaale Osman said. According to the Biden-Harris campaign website, Biden wants to create a Pandemic Testing Board to guarantee free access to testing for all, increase the production of test kits and lab supplies, and distribute necessary material resources across the country. Biden

CAUTION: SPEECH ADVISORY Should trigger warnings for senior speeches be implemented? Two sides: one issue.

“

TEENAGERS CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OTHERS. THEY CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE.

”

Andrea Moerer also plans to double the number of drive-through testing sites to improve accessibility. According to the United States Department of Health & Human Services, President Trump has launched Operation Warp Speed, whose goal is to produce and deliver 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that could be available by January 2021. Part of Operation Warp Speed is a commitment to affordability when it comes to the dis-

tribution of countermeasures to COVID-19 and eventually, a vaccine. After the murder of George Floyd in May, the Black Lives Matter movement and police department funding have been the subjects of protestors and policy makers. “The Black Lives Matter movement is close to my heart because of how many of my friends are involved in it. I was just a few blocks away from the precinct when the night of the George Floyd riots ensued,” junior Lulu Priede said. Teenagers specifically have been very involved in the Black Lives Matter movement. “Teenagers care deeply about others. They care about the future. And in my perspective, this comes to racial equity and the environment,” Upper School history teacher Andrea Moerer said.

President Trump also does not support defunding the police. During a meeting with representatives from the National Association of Police Organizations, Vice President Mike Pence said, “This President and this administration will always back the blue.” However, the administration acknowledges that there is room for improvement and change. “Particularly in African American communities, we must redouble our efforts as a Nation to swiftly address instances of [police] misconduct,” President Trump said in a statement featured on the White House website. President Trump and his administration have prioritized the removal of undocumented immigrants and have called for Congress to fund the building of a wall on the southern border to end chain migration. ELECTION, pg. 2

VOLLEYBALL DURING COVID

IS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE FAIR?

MSHSL decides to start volleyball season late, with modifications due to pandemic.

The electoral college vote does not always represent the popular vote. How does it work and is it time to abolish it?

OPINION pg. 6 ISSUE INDEX

While Biden does not support defunding the police, he believes that the justice system cannot be fair until the systemic racism present in it is acknowledged and change begins. According to his website, Biden’s plans for handling this issue include using the U.S. Justice Department to address the systemic misconduct in police departments, eliminating mandatory minimums, decriminalizing the use of cannabis, and pairing social workers and other experts with police departments. Although Biden considers himself to be antiracist, in 2007 he referred to former president Barack Obama as “the first mainstream African American who is articulate, bright and clean” the statement received a lot of backlash. He later said the comment was taken out of context.

8-9 ... In-Depth 1-3 ... News 4-5 ... Opinions 6 ... Editorial 7 ... Health 10-11 ... Feature 12-13 ... A&E 16 ... Good Question 14-15 ... Sports

SPORTS pg. 15

GQ pg. 16 @TheRubiconSPA

NEWS THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

ELECTION

continued from pg. 1 Biden wants to reverse the Trump administration policies that separate parents from children at the border and prevent the creation of the wall that separates Mexico and the United States which he states in “The Biden Plan for Immigration” section of his website. Climate change is another topic that the candidates have different views on, a topic that tends to be especially important to younger voters. “Fighting climate change is important for many reasons,” sophomore Linnea Cooley said. “Marginalized communities everywhere are significantly more affected than wealthy and privileged individuals who are able to better escape its effects, and finding solutions to climate change is part of fighting the institutionalized racism in America and inequality on a global scale.” The Biden Plan For Climate Change includes reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, protecting biodiversity and rejoining the Paris Agreement which President Trump withdrew from in 2017. President Trump proposed The Affordable Clean Energy Rule which replaced the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan and requires states to develop a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in intervals that lead to an 80% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, President Trump has expressed skepticism regarding climate change. These are just a select few of the many issues that concern students in the SPA community and throughout the country. To both new and experienced voters, Priede has one piece of advice to share: “You may not want the specific leader you are voting for, but it’s the direction you’re stepping in that matters. I heard a saying a few months ago comparing it to taking the bus; sure you are trying to get to a specific destination- the bus isn’t going to take you right there, but it’s going to get you to the stop that’s as close as possible,” Priede said. President Trump and Biden have similarities within their policies and plans, but they also take very different stances on certain issues, which has created an intense political climate as the election approaches.

Elected-selected through the screen CLARA MCKOY STAFF WRITER

Upper School student-led organizations have faced many unexpected hurdles this year, prompting them to not only begin their work right away but find alternate ways to continue their influential role in the Upper School virtually. In the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Dean of Students Chantal Thornberry postponed Student Activities Committee, Upper School Council, Committee for Community Conduct, and Student Technology Committee elections due to distance learning. Instead of the normal spring elections, they took place this fall. The student body elected committee officers while in full distance learning, and they elected class representatives after the school opened into hybrid learning. The election setback affected each committee’s work timelines and essentially forced them to begin work right away. Although some of the committees have yet to have their first official meeting for the year, a few issues have already appeared in various groups surrounding their ability to function during a pandemic. “There’s less people so you have to kind of contribute more to create the same amount of things that many people did last year,” sophomore Ruby Fields said. Fields is the treasurer of the SAC. She ran unopposed and concluded that not as many people were interested in running for a position because they were overwhelmed with distance learning and wanted to focus on the consuming academic side of that. “I thought it was kind of strange that no one else was running, but that was probably because

SCREENSHOT: USC Meeting UPPER SCHOOL COUNCIL. USC meets on Google Hangout because student committees are not able to meet in person. “It’s definitely gonna be hard, especially as a newcomer to this organization, but, I don’t know, I think it’s gonna make it easier when [COVID-19] is all over,” 9th grade representative Orion Kim said. of the distance learning going on this year [and] that people wanted more time to focus on online learning, which can be more difficult,” Fields said. Ninth grader Orion Kim was elected as a class representative for 9th grade. He ran because he wanted to support those in his grade. “I wanted to do this organization mostly so I could help people and try to get what they want done,” he said. He’d been looking forward to the possibility of joining USC for a while, and with the unexpected turn of events, Kim emphasized the importance of communication, especially for new members on the committee such as himself. “I think it’s important to have a good communication system. So, have a good email—some kind of email setup to make sure all students are getting the information they need to succeed,” Kim said. Although the Upper School is now in a hybrid model, all events regarding committee meetings remain online. When asked about virtual SAC meetings, Fields explained that “last year it was a lot more organic,” because the conversa-

tions flowed easily. While connecting through the Google Meets platform, she felt as though “you can’t have as natural [of] conversations due to the delay” and the process of muting and unmuting. Kim noted that the virtual aspect of the meetings was specifically difficult as a new member of USC.

“

WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH BRAND NEW IDEAS INSTEAD OF DOING WHAT WE’VE DONE IN THE PAST. Ruby Fields

”

“It’s definitely gonna be hard, especially as a newcomer to this organization to adjust,” Kim said, “but, I don’t know, I think it’s gonna make it easier when [COVID-19] is all over.” Kim has a few specific ideas that he will advocate for while on USC, some of which arose with distance learning in mind. “A little more time off-screen, because sometimes, I’m sure it doesn’t just happen to me, it gives

me a lot of headaches, and I think it’s important that you have breaks, especially during a time like COVID where it’s so difficult to cope with everything,” Kim said. The Committee for Community Conduct is responsible for finding proactive ways to ensure students adhere to guidelines laid out in the Upper School Handbook. Amid the pandemic, an additional handbook called the Pandemic Supplementary Student Handbook was created. It covers everything from social distancing policies to health questionnaire procedures, and is an overview of information relevant to attending school during the pandemic. Senior Allison Audette, secretary of C3, brought up some possible challenges that may emerge because some students are doing distance learning, while others are on campus. “In the past years, we’ve done posters and things around the school, and [those things] would be difficult to reach people who aren’t at school,” she said. C3 will be looking into ways to effectively spread its ideas about creating a rule-abiding school environment even to those attending school

solely in a virtual format. SAC is unable to execute most of the activities they did in years prior due to safety concerns. This places a larger workload on its members because they are working from scratch to rethink events that don’t pose germ-spreading threats. “This year it’s been extra challenging, because we have to come up with brand new ideas instead of just doing what we’ve done in the past,” Fields said. SAC is currently considering partnering with the Film Club to create a drive-in movie type event on the Randolph campus fields. Despite the challenges of meeting virtually and the external force of the pandemic on the organizations, USC, SAC, STC, and C3 are prepared to put extra effort into the success of their elected groups this year. Audette mentioned she is a “very organized and responsible person, so I think it’s pretty easy for me to do my job.” Both Kim and Fields similarly acknowledged how qualified they are for their jobs, even in a time of unfamiliarity. SPA’s committees will continue to play their integral role in the community this school year, and they are prepared to do so.

Boom Island memorial dedicated to sexual assault survivors CARYS HARDY STAFF WRITER

RUBICONLINE PHOTO: William Schavee The memorial that includes mosaics is the first in the nation.

The Boom Island Memorial, located on Boom Island in the Twin Cities, is the first of its kind in the United States. Created by Sarah Super, the memorial is the first landmark to honor sexual assault survivors. The memorial officially opened on Saturday, October 10, 2020, during

a virtual dedication ceremony. Sarah created the memorial to honor sexual assault survivors after she was raped at knifepoint by her ex-boyfriend. Sarah hopes the memorial can be a safe place where survivors can come together to tell their stories and be supported by the community. She also wants the memorial

to be a call to break the silence of sexual assaults and rapes that have been present for far too long. The virtual dedication ceremony started promptly. Sarah Super immediately gave a call to action against police violence, justice for the Dakota people, and a need to bring the suffering of sexual violence victims out into the open.

“For far too long, the suffering of sexual violence victims, and survivors, has been forced into the shadows, swept under the rug. This memorial brings our suffering into the light, where we as a community courageously choose to see it.” Super said. read the full story at

RUBICON online

NEWS THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

Crime rises in Saint Paul

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Evelyn Lillemoe Billy’s on Grand was the location of a fatal shooting. HOBBS LILLYGREEN STAFF WRITER

St. Paul used to be a quiet, quaint area, but recently, violent crimes and robbings have changed its demeanor. From late summer until now, SPA students and the community living in the St. Paul area have seen an

increase in violence and crime. This increase of violence in just these recent months begs the question: what was the reason? Many SPA students live in St. Paul, some living just blocks away from Grand Ave. where much of this violent crime has

taken place, making them feel somewhat unsafe. Students have personal experiences with crime in St. Paul, and have knowledge of crimes that haven’t even made it to the news. “My mom’s car got broken into, there was glass everywhere, in the alley behind my house, a lady got robbed by five teenagers,” junior Sarina Charpentier said. So far in 2020, 25 homicides have occurred just in the St. Paul area, many of which took place around Grand Ave. One of the killings this month took place in front of Billy’s, a popular bar and local hotspot to hang out at on Grand Ave.

During this incident one man was injured, and another was shot dead. The 9-1-1 call, made at 3:30 a.m. on the night of the shooting, brought officers to the scene, with the first victim pronounced dead at the scene. A woman was shot and killed around 3:30 a.m. Sept. 3 on St. Paul’s East side. Officers arrived on the 800 block of Cork Ave. East and found the woman lying in the street suffering from gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Another homicide took place Sept. 12 on the 800 block of Lawson Ave. East around 4:00 p.m. Paramedics pronounced

the victim dead at the scene. Just a couple weeks later on Sept. 28, a person shot at police after a suspicious activity report on the East side of St. Paul. A man was digging in a trunk of a vehicle on the 900 block of Algonquin Ave. When the police came and tried to detain the suspect, he resisted, and was able to break free and fire a gun at the police. Luckily, there were no serious injuries. Many other crimes occurred during these months around the St. Paul area, including robberies, burglaries, breakins, and stolen vehicles. This violence has led to an increase in students’ worries about their own

safety, causing them to be more perceptive of things going on around them. “Older men and suspicious cars followed me,” sophomore Remy Frank said. “If I could carry a weapon, I would,” 9th grader Sam Zakaib said. As to why the violence in the St. Paul area has increased, the recent uptick in protests and social movements may be the answer. “I definitely think some of it has to do with the protests,” Frank said. “I think it just has to do with the social unrest, especially since Minnesota is the hub for Black Lives Matter movement,” Charpentier said.

Clubs go virtual, try recruiting new members online THINK “ IFOR BEING CLAIRE KIM

STAFF WRITER

Student protests against climate change, bake sales for LGBTQ+ organizations, game tournaments, and film showcases have all been activities offered by clubs and affinity groups in the past. With the onset of COVID-19, student group leaders and members have had to make major adjustments to their groups to run them effectively. It has been especially difficult for new students and 9th graders to get the full experience these groups have to offer, as both the club fair and tester club meetings have been online. One issue with these groups being online is that certain activities and events can’t be done the same way as when in person, or at all. For example, the spring Battle of the Bands, run by The

Music Lab, most likely will not be happening this year with COVID-19. Senior Isabelle Wolpert, founder and co-leader of the club, has found difficulty finding new ways for the club to interact while in a mostly online format. “We’ve definitely leaned more towards the discussion aspect, but we’re trying to find opportunities that keep us still active in the music community,” she said. In previous years, the annual club fair has been a chance for clubs to showcase information about themselves and for new students to browse and ask questions. This year, the pandemic pushed the club fair to an online format, making it harder for new Upper School students to interact with groups and their members. These changes in presentation

ONLINE, THEY’RE REALLY GOOD.

”

Amalia Laguna PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Isabelle Wolpert Senior Isabelle Wolpert, founder and co-leader of Music Lab, practices piano from home because the club members cannot play together in person. also made it more difficult for students to decide which student groups they would like to try out since all the information had to fit into a short video that might not have shown all the experiences the clubs have to offer. The Upper School student-led groups help develop connections between the student body

and provide a place for students with similar interests or identities to interact, and these connections and communications aren’t able to be exactly replicated through virtual meetings. “If it was in person I think there would have been a lot more communication and conversation,” 9th grader Baasit

Mahmood, member of the Asian Student Alliance affinity group, said. Despite the difficulties the online format has brought, clubs and affinity groups are finding ways to welcome new members and continue to create connections and experiences in these unprecedented times. People for Environmental Protection Club is working on a video about how to properly dispose of lunch in the hybrid

format involving all club members. Game Club has been playing games online so members can get to know each other during their time together. “I think for being online, they’re really good. It’s cool to have a lot more opportunities to meet new people,” 9th grader Amalia Laguna said. Although COVID-19 has had a heavy impact on Upper School life, many club and affinity group leaders have hopes and plans for the near future, and have put in extensive effort to effectively communicate and engage with the student body. Experiencing and managing these groups during the pandemic has required adjustments on everyone’s part, and will continue to change throughout the year.

Lunchroom protocols raise questions about COVID-19 safety

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Eloise Duncan Seniors Addie Morrisette and Isabel Toghramadjian sit one space apart during lunch. GEORGE PELTIER THE RUBICON

In person learning requires changes to how students go about their day in order to keep ev-

eryone safe. People have to stay socially distant for the safety of everybody. Signs on the floor and walls remind students to have their masks on and to stay socially distanced

from their peers. In the lunchroom, however, the rules are changed a bit. Masks are not required so students and faculty can eat, and the chairs are about four feet apart. Students are required to leave one chair in between them and the person next to them in order to spread people out, but still students feel that the combination of no masks and broken social distance rules is unsafe for everyone in the lunchroom. “Talking to the person next to me feels unsafe because the plexiglass doesn’t go out very

far.” said 9th grader Ingrid Johnson when asked if there was one thing she would change if she could make the lunchroom safety rules was extending the plexiglass. Benson said the gym is especially hard to talk to your friends because of the echo from the walls. With the new schedule, advisory and lunch are the only times of day to socialize with friends and lunch is the only time students can sit with whoever they want. “The gym starts quiet but gets louder quickly because everybody has to

talk over each other and through the plexiglass to hear,” 9th grader Leo Benson said. Sophomore Maverick Wolff thinks that despite the possible negatives to the lunch situation, the administration is doing the best they can to create a safe environment for everyone. “ Obviously it isn’t ideal but it’s important for the safety of the students and faculty. If we all follow the guidelines set by Dean Thornberry and others we should be safe,” Wolff said. Safety precautions around SPA are enforced

everywhere from chairs and tables spread 6 feet apart in classrooms to the one way hallways that keep students from congregating. For students, the lunchroom is a place to unwind with friends and it is easy to forget that we are in the middle of a pandemic when talking to friends. Faculty can’t remind every student to make sure a chair is in between them and their friend but for the safety of everybody at SPA we should do these small things to continue in a more normal school experience.

EDITORIAL THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

EDITORIAL CARTOON: Noa Gross FLY IN THE FACE OF DEBATE. The Vice Presidential debate Oct. 7 addressed complicated issues: health care, racial injustice, economic security, gender equality, Roe v. Wade, and more. But all most people remember is the fly that landed on Mike Pence’s head.

Laugh, yes. But look for truth too. EDITORIAL THE RUBICON STAFF Who hasn’t seen a meme of Mike Pence or a Trumpkin? Who doesn’t love Maya Rudolph’s portrayals of Kamala Harris on Saturday Night Live or seen the Mr. Rogers illustrations of Biden? Closely tied to understanding politics, political satire has been around as long as politics have existed. While humor can be used to provide insight, to critique a politician’s actions, or to question a political system, its intent must be to provoke a more meaningful understanding of politics. With near unlimited access to satire in the form of memes and other informal political com-

TAKE DELIBERATE STEPS TOWARD MORE MEANINGFUL POLITICAL CONVERSATION. mentary on social media, for better or for worse, many users’ feeds are inundated with these messages. Satire has historically been used to use irony and hyperbole to critique systems and leaders. There are many forms of satire that do this but a common form mimics other political views but takes an extreme stance and de-

scribes the view in detail until readers see the ridiculousness in the argument being critiqued. One of the most famous pieces of political satire in American history is Join or Die, a political cartoon of a snake cut into pieces with each piece labeled as one American colony. The piece is communicating the importance of colonial unity by saying that if the colonies are not united there will be dire consequences. Good pieces of satire will open readers’ eyes to a new perspective and make them think more critically about candidates, political arguments, and especially their own political beliefs. Today political satire is everywhere. It is in art, memes, skits, late night talk shows, and every

other form imaginable. While there is an abundance of satire pieces that force reflection and contemplation, much of the comedy is more surface level. Rather than critiquing a politician or political view, it is just for momentary entertainment as one scrolls through social media. There is nothing inherently wrong with surface level comedy but it is important to remember that this comedy can be harmful. In some cases this type of comedy can draw focus away from a politician’s views and policies. Politicians should be critiqued for their views, their policies, and their actions, not for a word they mispronounced or a fly that landed on their head. If these comedic moments are the

only thing being talked about understanding the impacts of that politician’s actions on real people is not prioritized. This harms any attempts at thoughtful discussion or political discourse. Though surface level humour is funny in the moment, it can have negative effects when it obscures important, pressing messages. On the other hand, satire that provokes contemplation and actively critiques a political view or action can be deeply insightful. The important part is that as a student body, we take deliberate steps towards more meaningful political comversation. Look for the deeper message, not just the laugh.

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 BEATS MANAGER NEWS EDITORS OPINIONS EDITORS HEALTH EDITOR IN DEPTH EDITOR FEATURE EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITORS GOOD QUESTION EDITOR ILLUSTRATOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Lucy Benson Evelyn Lillemoe Maren Ostrem Julia Baron Eloise Duncan, Catherine Hooley Jenny Ries, Colin Will Eve Sampsell-Jones Lizzie Kristal Adrienne Gaylord Lizzie Kristal John Becker, Hazel Waltenbaugh Salah Abdulkarim Noa Gross Nikolas Liepins

DIRECTOR OF RUBICONLINE CREATIVE DESIGN MANAGER PRODUCTION MANAGER SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AUREUS EDITOR -IN-CHIEF NEWS EDITORS OPINIONS EDITOR FEATURE EDITORS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS GK PODCAST SPORTS EDITORS RUBICON TV: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER RUBICON TV: ASSOCIATE PRODUCER PHOTO EDITOR ILLUSTRATOR

Elizabeth Trevathan Henry Burkhardt Elle Chen Lucia Granja Lara Cayci Annika Rock, Will Schavee Lynn Reynolds Liv Larsen, Zekiah Juliusson Tana Ososki, Alexandra Caldwell Gavin Kimmel, Grace Krasny Thomas Reinhart, Tommy Verhey Bobby Verhey Ivy Raya Jonas Bray Mimi Huelster

STAFF WRITERS

Ali Browne, McKinley Garner, Carys Hardy, Claire Kim, Anna Krebsbach, Hobbs Lillygreen, Zadie Martin, Clara McKoy, George Peltier, Henri Peltier, Milkii Tigro ADVISER

Kathryn Campbell, CJE PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANT

Megan Erickson

OPINIONS Disciplinary response to racism inadequate FAILING TO APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS RACIST BEHAVIOR CAUSES IT TO BE NORMALIZED. JOHN BECKER THE RUBICON

The use of derogatory statements often does not receive the disciplinary reaction that is deserved, as such statements are too often perceived as normal, perpetuating the cycle of racist ideals. For instance, a racial slur might be used toward an opponent during a game and it could be dismissed as due to the

ILLUSTRATION: Adrienne Gaylord A vague outline of disciplinary responses to racist behavior allows that behavior to continue without consequences. heat of the moment rather than being addressed. The regular occurrence of these statements prompts them to be normalized and overlooked. If the community is striving towards equity and inclusion, the administration must demonstrate

proper, tangible actions towards creating consequences for derogatory statements. When looking at the US Student Handbook, it is clearly labeled that derogatory statements have a zero-tolerance policy, however, known

THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020 instances of subtle racism generally have gone unpunished. Placing the complete blame upon the administration, however, is not enough. As a student body, when a derogatory statement is heard, one should bring it to the administration. Therefore, when SPA references suspension as the highest consequence for derogatory statements, and other exploitation, whether made electronically, verbally, or written it should be a concrete example of what will happen, not what could. This, however, is the assumption that racist language falls under the disciplinary response of suspension. When viewing the handbook, page 25, IV Diversity and Inclusion references a zero-tolerance policy as they are dedicated towards inclusiveness,

but no definition of the disciplinary response. The perpetual cycle of derogatory language will remain apparent unless strict policies are created to enforce the community values of inclusiveness. Rather than choosing to ignore the subtle racist remarks that are apparent throughout the community, the administration along with the student body must address the situation at the forefront. Rather than, acting at the moment, policies must be set in stone so the community understands the consequences of racially insensitive remarks. The perpetual cycle that is allowed through ignoring these remarks gives power to the users, therefore these remarks must be reported and acted upon immediately with transparency.

U.S. Postal Service is in danger; send them some love THE RUBICON

Sending mail is seen as part of “the olden days” for many young people today. However, the United States Postal Service is still as important as ever, especially since mail-in ballots for the presidential election are essential to democracy. The USPS is vital to the nation, connecting people from coast to coast. In 2019, it delivered 143 billion pieces of mail and reached over 160 million different addresses, according to the USPS. Though it is easy to take it for granted, the USPS is vital to every student as citizens of the United States. The USPS has long faced a major lack of funding, which is an imminent threat to the country. According to Daniel J. Richardson, part of the Congressional Research Service, the last time the USPS recorded

a net profit was in 2006. According to the United States Government Accountability Office, “USPS’s total unfunded liabilities and debt ($143 billion at the end of fiscal year 2018) have grown to double its annual revenue.” Part of the USPS’s decrease in money is due to the fact that it delivers less mail than it used to. According to Pew Research Center, it delivered 207.9 billion pieces of mail in 2000, a 31.4% decline from 2019. In April 2020, then Postmaster General Megan Brennan said that the USPS would run out of cash by the end of the fiscal year without help, anticipating “a $13 billion revenue loss directly to COVID-19 this fiscal year and a $54.3 billion additional losses over ten years,” according to a press release from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. This financial problem

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE NET PROFIT OVER TIME NET PROFIT IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS

ELOISE DUNCAN

5 0 -5 -10 -15

1997 2001 2005

2009 YEAR

2013

2017 2019

INFOGRAPHIC: Maren Ostrem The U.S. Postal Service has not had a positive net income since 2006, as reported by their website. This speaks to how dire the situation regarding USPS is. could be mitigated with help from the government, but the aid needed has not been given, despite the fact that the USPS is a government institution. The USPS is particularly vital to the country this year, since many will vote by mail for the presidential election. There has been speculation about the security of this possibility, with President Donald Trump and his

administration arguing that it will lead to fraud, and threatening to cancel mail-in ballots. Despite the worry about possible fraud, the USPS is necessary for those votes to be counted. The USPS, though available to every American, is not funded by taxpayer dollars, so it is important to support this organization in order to keep it accessible, and to allow everyone’s vote to

be counted in the upcoming election. There are many ways to help the institution that support both the USPS and those you love. Buy a pack of stamps and send letters to a loved one. Find a pen pal. Send letters to veterans, healthcare workers, government officials, etc. to show appreciation. Show USPS and its employees gratitude for all that they do for our nation.

POLICIES, MEMBERSHIPS AND AWARDS 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.

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THINKING OUT LOUD

Use privilege to promote equity JENNY RIES

THE RUBICON

Private school as an educational institution actively perpetuates societal inequities, particularly socioeconomic and racial inequities. They have historically ensured that privileged groups remain privileged, and widened the gap in access to opportunities for upward economic and social mobility, such as in access to higher education and high-paying careers. Resources are poured into private schools, even as public education in the same areas remains underfunded. As students at a private school, we are part of a system built to maintain existing power structures. We are the beneficiaries of this inequitable system. Yet many private school students and school communities are committed to advocating for societal equity. This raises the question, is it possible for someone to work to dismantle inequitable power structures, while not only benefiting from them, but also being part of a system built to maintain them? In fact, it is vital that we take part in this work. Individuals with privilege and access to historically exclusive spaces have a responsibility to advocate for equity where they are, whether that means taking action to make those spaces more inclusive, or recognizing when inequity is so deeply ingrained in an institution that demolishing and rebuilding is the only option.

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OPINIONS THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

TWO SIDES, ONE ISSUE

Speech trigger warnings: helpful or disruptive?

The current trigger warning system isn’t working EVE SAMPSELL-JONES THE RUBICON

Senior speeches-- a speech every senior gives about their life experiences-- are integral to St. Paul Academy’s culture, and the senior class should be able to share impactful speeches without causing harm to other students. It takes a lot of courage to speak to the entire school about something that’s important to you, and the community has to recognize that, but some speeches are about extremely sensitive topics, like mental illness and trauma, which can elicit a negative mental response from some. This response varies widely from person to person, but it can include flashbacks, panic attacks, and dissociation. It’s important that students be given a heads-up before a speech that has harmful content. This is where the trigger warning comes in. Trigger warnings are short notes before something with subject matter that may evoke a negative response in certain people. They’re not newfangled, modern concoctions to protect a society steeped in political correctness- they’re genuinely helpful alerts to help people go about their lives without being interrupted by a bad memory or thought pattern when they least expect it. Trigger warnings have appeared in one way or another for a long time.

ILLUSTRATION: Noa Gross WARNING. Student requests for content warnings before senior speeches with sensitive themes have been met with administrative action in the form of content summaries in the daily announcements.

For example, the header at the beginning of a show on Netflix with the show’s rating as well as the content causing that rating.

STUDENTS SHOULD BE GIVEN A HEADSUP BEFORE A SPEECH WITH SENSITIVE CONTENT. The trigger warning is rooted in science and has grown alongside our understanding of PTSD and mental illness in the modern era, after events like the wars of the 20th century and 9-11. According to a study by the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology, trigger warnings can “reduce stress among people with PTSD by allowing exposure to be controlled.” SPA needs these warnings before speeches because they take place in a school, an environment where everyone who attends is supposed to learn. It’s unfair and ableist if some students are perfectly capable of learning, but some can’t because they weren’t informed of content that would trigger them in a speech and then have a negative response that impedes their learning in their next class. SPA recently responded to complaints about trigger warnings, and a section was added to the

weekly newsletter containing topics that would be addressed in the senior speeches. However, this was ineffective and akin to mockery, as one topic that was included in the first week was “seeing the good in the world through service to others” while another was “seeking and finding support in the face of depression and thoughts of selfharm.” Students do not need to be warned before speeches about community service, but students do need to be warned if a speech is about depression and mentions selfharm and suicide. Support after speeches would also help- a space for students to take some time for themselves to recover before going back to class. However, a warning beforehand would be most beneficial- if not to encourage people to leave, then mentally preparing them for what’s to come. Psychology Today says, “Trigger warnings would simply allow them to mentally prepare for triggering content” SPA’s response to students’ requests for trigger warnings has been unhelpful so far, and the administration needs to do more to protect and take care of its students. The students have a right and a responsibility to tell the administration their thoughts so that the community can enact positive change that will help everyone. There is progress to be made here, and the student body must continue to fight for it.

CATHERINE HOOLEY THE RUBICON

Students have been requesting trigger warnings before senior speeches with sensitive content in order to protect members of the community who could be negatively impacted by unexpected exposure to a topic that makes them feel vulnerable or recall traumatic experiences. However, trigger warnings are not an effective option for addressing this. A trigger warning is a statement at the start of a speech that alerts the listener that the content could be distressing for some listeners. Topics containing information that could trigger the audience’s anxiety, PTSD, or anything that could damage their mental health would contain a trigger warning. Students request trigger warnings so they are either prepared to hear a triggering topic, or so that they can leave before the speech starts. They are said to be helpful to listeners so they can avoid the subject or avoid being blindsided by the sensitive topic covered during the speech. Although many students have requested this addition to the SPA senior speech system, minimal research shows that they are beneficial for a school setting. Trigger warnings are helpful for other content but are not necessarily the best solution for senior speeches. First-

Trigger warnings are unnecessary and disruptive

ly, trigger warnings are impractical for a school assembly. If the speaker were about to start the speech and quickly put a trigger warning, it would not be helpful. There would be no time for students to decide if they wanted to be present, and they would most likely have to listen anyway.

TRIGGER WARNINGS ARE NOT AN EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR ADRESSING THIS PROBLEM. A study by Clinical Psychological Science found that trigger warnings are not sufficient. They either make no difference or bring more attention to the subject, which can be damaging for readers or listeners. Students would still be present for the speech, and they would be aware that they are about to hear something that may be distressing, which could cause more anxiety. Or, the students who didn’t want to hear the speech would get up and leave, which is unlikely because it would be disruptive and attention would be drawn to the students. If students decided to leave before these speeches, there is a possibility that they would miss out on other speeches. Speeches are on topics

that seniors care deeply about and they work very hard on them, so having students leave during speeches may be upsetting for the speakers. If the speaker had to announce a trigger warning, it would create an uncomfortable situation for them. They might be discouraged from speaking about their experiences, and that is not what the school wants. If students have a powerful message or story to share, they should not feel like they are doing anything wrong by sharing it. Before speeches, counselors who are aware of any students who may have a problem with the topic can tell the students they have the option to sit out from the speech. The only problem with this is that many students may suffer that the counselors don’t know about. SPA also announced that an email will be sent out with all of the week’s speech topics. If a student is concerned and would like not to listen to a speech, they may speak to a counselor and let them know. This is a good solution to the trigger warning issue because students don’t have to disrupt the assembly. Although trigger warnings can be very helpful, they are not useful for this specific situation. The way SPA addressed student requests for trigger warnings was adequate.

HAVE AN OPINION? SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR Opinions are welcomed as Letters to the Editor and may be published in the print or online edition. Letters to the Editor should not exceed 350 words and may be edited for style. Letters can be submitted online any time through the form at rubiconline.com. The next deadline for the print issue is Nov. 15. Print letters should be submitted to EIC Lucy Benson at rubicon.spa@gmail.com.

HEALTH RACE TO A CURE PHASE ONE

vaccines being tested for safety and dosage

PHASE TWO

vaccines in additional safety testing

PHASE THREE

vaccines in effectiveness testing

PHASE FOUR

vaccines ready for limited usage

PHASE FIVE

vaccines ready for widespread distribution INFOGRAPHIC: Maren Ostrem The Food and Drug Adminstration reports the progress being made on COVID-19 vaccine trials.

THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

Vaccines: how they work, why it’s important LIZZIE KRISTAL THE RUBICON

Vaccines are a hot topic surrounding tackling COVID-19, but many misconceptions about them still exist. Not only is there a large amount of science behind vaccines, but social beliefs about their effects are just as involved in the process of approving a vaccine. A vaccine’s main purpose is to introduce the body’s immune system to the pathogen of a virus or bacteria. There will be just enough of this pathogen to trigger an immune response in which the body creates antibodies, the pathogen-specific defense system, but not enough to induce sickness within the host. This way, if the true pathogen strikes again, the body will already have a defense system in place and won’t get as infected. Not all vaccines work the same [VACCINES] way. There are over ten different types of vaccines, but they all serve similar NEED TO BE purposes. A common type is a live-attenuated vaccine, used for measles, EFFECTIVE chicken pox, and more. In this vacWITHIN cine, an asymptomatic and weak form of the live pathogen is inserted into AN ENTIRE the body. It gives lifelong immunity in one or two doses, but can’t be used POPULATION in people with weak immune systems due to the risk of getting sick. Inactivated vaccines are also a common form, used for polio, hepatitis A, and more. The cells of these pathogens are first killed with heat or chemicals and then are inserted. The immune system can still recognize it, but because the cells are dead, it poses less risk for bad immune systems. Inactivated vaccines require multiple shots or booster shots in order to keep the body familiar to it. Subunit or conjugate vaccines work to minimize the risk of infection for weak immune systems by only taking a specific protein from the pathogen, but still enough for the body to build antibodies. Not all viruses and bacterias can be separated this way, but it’s used for influenza, hepatitis B, and more. There are many more forms of vaccines, many of which are still in testing, and which have a COVID-19 vaccine in testing. While vaccinations must be effective within an individual, they also must be effective within a population. The idea of herd immunity ensures this. Herd immunity is when the majority of an entire population receives a vaccine, the virus or bacteria will die out because there won’t be enough hosts. Even people who don’t get vaccinated would benefit, which is important because

not everyone can get vaccinated. A study from the World Health Organization found that a 70% vaccination rate was enough to eliminate a pathogen in Gambia. Herd immunity is a vital way in which to measure how effective a vaccine is on a population. There’s a variety of obstacles to a majority of a population getting vaccinated. First, misconceptions are huge. In 1997, an prominent British medical journal The Lancet published an article linking the measles vaccine to autism. This has since been debunked, but measles cases rose from a few dozen a year to over 2,000 due to parents refusing to vaccinate their children. Additionally, national health systems, health care providers, and parents can stand in the way of proper vaccination. The simplest way to combat this is education on what a vaccine does and its true risks, not fake ones. While it’s very possible the immune response triggered by a vaccine can have small side effects for 1-2 days after vaccination, it won’t cause a full-blown infection of a virus unless there’s a previously weak immune system. The production of a COVID-19 vaccine is underway, but still very unpredictable. The New York Times describes its production in phases. First is preclinical testing; scientists give the vaccine to animals, like mice or monkeys, to see if it will trigger an immune response. 91 COVID-19 vaccines have made it here since production started in January. Next is phase one, where vaccines are tested safely on humans and dosage is looked at. 29 vaccines are in this phase. Phase two involves expanding safety trials to hundreds of people, and 14 vaccines are in this phase. Phase 3 expands into large-scale efficiency tests, involving thousands of people. 11 vaccines are in this phase. Next is the limited phase, in which vaccines have been approved for limited use. Five vaccines are in this phase. Last is approved, where vaccines are approved for wide-scale use. No vaccines are here yet. While the five COVID-19 vaccines in the limited phase look promising, Russia and China have created vaccines that rushed into that phase before waiting for the phase three results. China’s is already underway, being used by hundreds of thousands of people. While Russia’s are a little more behind, they’re close to reaching the same stage. Many are criticizing the rushed release though, since the skipping of phase three poses many potential risks for unknown side effects. While many things surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine is uncertain, one thing is for sure: it’s not too far away. After thorough testing and finding an effective vaccine, the population will experiment with herd immunity, hopefully giving good results. Scientists are working hard to produce a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

Increased screen time for class puts physical, mental health at risk ADRIENNE GAYLORD THE RUBICON

Alone in a room, slouched over a computer, staring at the cold light of a screen for hours upon hours is where the student body has found itself the last few months. With the introduction of online learning the amount of screen time students and faculty endure daily has skyrocketed. This uptick in sedentary time has had negative effects on the health of the hearts and minds of the people who will change the world. This increased screen time has had affects on many aspects of students’ health.

that just kind of makes me tired, and I just feel kind of stressed out,” Shaughnessy said. After seven hours in front of a computer, students still have more screen time ahead of them with digital homework, online extracurriculars, plus any time they might spend online to unwind. According to The Sleep Foundation, electronic devices emit an artificial blue light that can suppress the release of the body’s sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin. In turn, this can interfere with the body’s natural internal clock that signals when it’s time to sleep and wake up.”

SLEEP

VISION

9th graders Millicent Benson and Nora Shaughnessy have both noticed how distance learning has been draining their energy. “Being online makes me feel tired. At around 3 p.m. I’ll have tennis and

Recently there has been a surge in the popularity of blue light glasses that reduce the amount of blue light absorbed by the eyes. Unfortunately, since the product is so new there hasn’t been a lot of research done on their effectiveness.

ILLUSTRATION: Adrienne Gaylord Excessive screen time is linked to many health problems, including worsened vision and sleep. “The symptoms of digital eye strain are linked to how we use our digital devices, not the blue light coming out of them,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology said. Yet many people who use blue light glasses have said that they have alleviated their headaches, reduced eye strain, and helped them get a better night’s rest.

ACTIVITY One of the greatest effects the SPA community has noticed from online learning is the lack of physical activity. “I want to move around and go outside,” Benson said. According to the Mayo Clinic sitting for long periods of time is linked to a number of health concerns like increased blood pressure, high blood sug-

ar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Some teachers cut their classes off early, or set aside time during class for students to get up, get water, stretch, or go to the bathroom. Upper School English teacher Matt Hoven has begun taking his classes outside for a while on in-person days and encourages his distance learning students to do the same. Many students still believe there are changes that could make to our school days to lessen the effects of screen time and give more attention to our health. Shaughnessy stressed the need for more breaks and time to get water or grab a snack. “I feel like making the online classes shorter. Because I feel like an hour and 30 minutes is a really long time to just be sitting in front of a screen,” Benson said. There are some things members of the SPA community can do to re-

duce the negative effects of screen time.

“ BEING ONLINE

MAKES ME FEEL TIRED... I JUST FEEL KIND OF STRESSED OUT

”

Millicent Benson The AAO suggests following the “20-20-20” rule, in which one shifts their eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes. The Mayo Clinic advises standing while working. Through small actions one can prevent negative effects of screen time from getting them down. Stand up. Go for a bike ride. Put your computer above an active treadmill to get those steps in. All of these are viable options to help with screen fatigue.

IN DE THE RUBICON -

BLIND J

THE THIRD BRANCH

RUTH BADER GINSBURG

What is the purpose of the Supreme Court? EVELYN LILLEMOE THE RUBICON

The Supreme Court is currently undergoing a major change in light of the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A seat is open in the Supreme Court and tensions are high throughout the U.S. government as the Senate seeks to fill the position. The decisions being made right now will impact the lives of every American, so it is crucial to understand what is going on. There are three branches of government in the United States. The Supreme Court is a part of the judicial branch which plays the part of interpreting law. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the federal system. The judicial branch can declare laws made by the legislative branch and executive orders coming from the executive branch unconstitutional. On a more basic level, the Supreme Court hears and makes decisions on court cases. There are three ways a court case can be designated the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Original jurisdiction is the first and least common way. Original jurisdiction only applies to cases that affect Ambassadors and other public Ministers or cases in which one of the parties is a state. These cases do not have to go through any lower courts,

THE DECISIONS BEING MADE RIGHT NOW WILL IMPACT THE LIVES OF EVERY AMERICAN instead they go directly to the Supreme Court. The second way a case can reach the Supreme Court is through an appeal of a state supreme court. The third and most common way a case can get to the Supreme Court is through an appeal of a circuit court. Circuit courts are intermediate appellate courts that see cases in which a party feels a judge made an error on their case when their case went to trial. Some of the most influential Supreme Court cases in U.S. history include Roe v. Wade, which ruled on the right to abortion, Dred Scott v Sanford, which ruled that Black Americans were not considered American citizens, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which ruled that racially segregating schools is unconstitutional, and Marbury v. Madison which ruled that American courts can strike down laws and statutes that they find violate the constitution. Currently, the Supreme Court is composed of nine justices, one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Justices serve until they die, resign, retire, or are impeached and removed from office

by Congress. When one of those things happens, a new justice is nominated by the president and approved by the Senate. Once a nominee is approved, the Senate will begin to collect necessary documents and records to be presented at a hearing. Hearings consist of senators asking the nominee questions on who they are as a person and their perspective and opinion on different issues that might come up in cases the Supreme Court takes on. The justices’ political leanings are always extremely relevant to understanding the Supreme Court at a specific time. With nine justices, the number of conservative and liberal judges cannot be even. Before Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed, four of the judges leaned left and five leaned right. Regardless of the political leaning of the new justice, the court will have a conservative majority. Though the new justice will not overturn the right leaning majority, their presence will change the dynamics of the court. No matter who the new Supreme Court justice is, it is clear that they will have an impact on every American.

SPA THINKS

SEARCH FOR A NEW SCOTUS “I was immediately crushed to hear about the passing of RBG. She was such a great leader for women all across the US, and I will forever look up to her. I think that filling the now-vacant seat on the Supreme Court before the election is completely unjust, due to the Senate’s decision in 2016 where they refused to vote on Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland. Justice Ginsburg’s passing wish was to not be replaced until a new president was sworn into office, and to see that this is not being honored is truly disappointing.” -Eliana Mann

With RBG’s untimely de leaves the American peo very little in commo

Ruth Bader Ginsburg has left a long-standing legacy behind her in the fields of feminism, equality, and more. Her recent death has caused media speculation and political chaos surrounding possible replacements with slightly less emphasis on who she was and how she made an impact. Ginsburg was born in 1933 in Brooklyn, New York. She went to Cornell University for her undergraduate degree and followed at Harvard for law school. There, she was one of nine women in a class of 500 men. She soon transferred to Columbia Law School and continued her law career from there. In 1980, Jimmy Carter appointed her to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In 1993, Bill Clinton nominated her to become a Supreme Court Justice where she served as the first Jewish woman and second woman until her death in September 2020. At the time of nomination, Ginsburg was seen as a moderate judge and was more of a consensus-builder rather than a liberal perspective. Over time, the court shifted further right, pushing Ginsburg towards the left side of the court. Throughout her career as a Supreme Court Justice, she wrote many notable majority opinions and dissents from a liberal stance. In addition to marking women’s rights history by simply acting on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg assisted in many cases that furthered the idea of gender equality. In 1996’s United States v. Virginia, she wrote the majority opinion against the case in which the Virginia Military Institute didn’t accept female applicants, soon changing the rule and making a mark for gender equality in the military. Ginsburg was also prochoice and strongly advocated for a woman’s right on abortion, upholding the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Ginsburg also wrote majority opinions in cases about climate, specifically Friends of Earth Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services, saying that those affected by an industrial polluter could seek fines. In a 1999 case, Olmstead v. L. C., Ginsburg wrote the majority opinion for having mental illness fall under “disabilities” in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, prohibiting discrimination of people with mental illness. Ginsburg spread her views through many different fields of conflict, making clear changes in American policy and ideology. Ginsburg has debated in fields of criminal justice and racial justice. She was an inconsistent ally towards prisoners, generally siding with her liberal justices. On numerous occasions, she made prison-life slightly more difficult. While Ginsburg recognized the inequality and discrimination of race, she has made comments and court decisions that speak otherwise. For example, she criticized Colin Kapernick for kneeling during the National Anthem, later apologizing for her words. As time went on, Ginsburg took on a senior role in the Supreme Court, often writing letters of dissent when the liberal wing lost. She held a strong role in America’s court system and she will continue to be recognized as a powerful female who fought for the rights of others.

“In my opinion, the Supreme Court should be balanced. Their responsibility is updating and interpreting laws so there needs to be balance for positive output. Unlike with the house, they only have a handful of votes and each vote has a ton more power so if it skews they can just enforce their opinion.” -Aten-Wa Theba

LIZZIE

THE R

EPTH OCTOBER 2020

JUSTICE

eath, a rush to replacement ople with a nominee that has on with her pedecessor

E KRISTAL

RUBICON

UNBALANCED SCALES AMY CONEY BARRETT

Amy Coney Barrett was nominated by President Trump to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s spot on the Supreme Court. The Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings for this role Oct. 12, and she could very well become a Supreme Court Justice following the hearings. Barrett was born in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She went to law school at Notre Dame and later became a notable law professor there. She was highly acclaimed because of her teaching style, approaching law from the outside and sometimes critiquing it. In opposition, her role as a judge puts her within the system and would apply the law as it exists instead of examining it as an outsider. She currently sits on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, stretching across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. In 2018, Barrett was one of three finalists for the spot on the Supreme Court that Brett Kavanaugh currently occupies, so she has been on Trump’s radar for some time now. She didn’t initially receive this role, some say for her intense Catholic views. While her religion is a large part of her life and beliefs, Barrett has stated that religion or other personal convictions have no place in her or any other good judge’s decision making. Still, she is critiqued for having involved her religion in her career. She hasn’t made many recent bold legal moves because a spotlight has been on her for a while as she has been under consideration for a higher judge position. Barrett would stand on the right wing of the Supreme Court, making it a 6-3 majority for Republicans. She stands for strong Second Amendment gun rights. Last year, she dissented a Seventh Circuit majority not allowing a man with a felony mail fraud to bear arms. Her dissent stated that because a man has a felony, doesn’t make him a dangerous person, especially in the case of mail fraud. She has also written a dissent to the case Cook County v. Wolf which allowed the temporary blocking of a Trump policy that would put green card applicants who apply for public assistance at a disadvantage, stating the policy wasn’t unreasonable. A common worry surrounding the nomination of Barrett is that she would push for a reverse on Roe v. Wade ruling, which currently rules abortion legal. While she hasn’t made any recent statements confirming this fact, she signed an anti-abortion advertisement in 2006 for an Indiana newspaper. There are also worries that her religious beliefs would be at play in this topic as well. Barrett’s nomination would shift the Supreme Court to a larger Republican majority, changing a lot within the judiciary system. In addition to anger regarding that, Democrats are stating that because the upcoming election is so close and many states already have voting underway, her nomination wouldn’t be fair this soon. While that may or may not be the case, Barrett could very well replace Ginsburg. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved her nomination Oct. 22, with Democrats refusing to participate in the vote. A full senate vote was expected Oct. 26.

ILLUSTRATIONS: Noa Gross

What does the future of Democracy look like? HAZEL WALTENBAUGH THE RUBICON

The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves a vacancy on the Supreme Court and an opportunity for the conservative party to secure a 6-3 majority. With the presidential election right around the corner, President Donald Trump has already nominated a new justice: Amy Coney Barrett. This eliminates the power of a swing justice to tip controversial decisions one way or another, leaving many of the upcoming decisions up to the conservative majority. President Donald Trump nominated the newest member who, if confirmed, will replace Ginsburg’s spot in court. This will be Trump’s third nomination, leaving the court to what many believe is an unbalanced representation of national opinion. Due to this belief, there has been talk among democratic senators about reformation, although it has not officially gone to the legislation. Attempting to secure a judge on the court so close to the election has also met significant criticism. “I think that, regardless of your opinions about Amy Coney Barrett specifically, the push to elect a new justice within two months of the election sets a concerning precedent for trying to carry a presidential and senatorial legacy beyond their term,” junior Sam Zelazo said, “...Presidents

and senators are reelected every few years because political opinions can change within that time frame, so expanding your legacy in a more direct way, outside of, say, policy, means that the government no longer fully represents the people, but rather the personal interests of the person in charge.” A 6-3 conservative majority would drastically change the future of the court—many important and widely publicized cases from previous years could have had far different outcomes with an unbalanced conservative majority. For example, in the past, abortion was pronounced a human right in Roe v Wade, a ruling which, according to FiveThirtyEight agrees with the popular opinion. However, if Ginsburg’s position (of the majority opinion) was replaced by a conservative position, those decisions may lean right, ruling abortion illegal and therefore disagreeing with the popular opinion. This reflects the unbalanced representation many people (typically liberals) feel. Other popular opinions on things like gun rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and tax returns will not be accurately represented according to the majority in court. A few major upcoming cases are subject to change or fall towards the conservative majority with the replacement of Ginsburg. One example is Roe v. Wade, which refers to a women’s right to abortion. Another major

example is the Affordable Care Act—assuming Trump’s conservative nomination will fill Ginsburg’s spot, it is likely to be voted unconstitutional by the court, meaning Obamacare will disappear. US History and Social Studies teacher Aaron Shulow describes possible upcoming cases that may be drastically affected in the future; “The constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, which was upheld by a 5-4 vote that included the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the majority as well as challenges to the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade/Planned Parenthood v. Casey.” To combat this inaccurate representation of the American public, reformation to the appointed period served by justices is becoming a possibility. Right now, every member is appointed for life. Reformation of these rules might mean each justice is appointed for say 20 years instead, which some believe would make the court more balanced. This shift in power will stay in place until another justice retires, or is impeached. President Donald Trump’s first term is close to its end, but regardless Trump will still get to nominate the newest member of the Supreme Court. While some argue that this imbalance in the court may be unconstitutional, it has not been ruled out which leaves the future of the court up to the conservative party.

“I don’t think the Supreme Court should lean right or left; it should be balanced so that there isn’t bias when decisions are made. I don’t think a candidate should be pushed through before the election and I also don’t agree with the beliefs of President Trump’s nomination. At this point, if Amy Coney Barrett is pushed through, the only way to balance out the court would require court packing.”

“The replacement of Justice Ginsberg will have a profound effect on the coming years of the Supreme Court and its rulings. A staunch supporter of abortion rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, etc, is going to be replaced by someone with disparate values. That change will shift the court and its ruling for decades to come. All we can hope is that the new appointee will take the job with the required respect for the values that so define the American Constitution and the modern American character.”

-Julia Colbert

-Garrett Pauly

FEATURE THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

That’s debatable: Team unpacks presidential debates

A DIFFERENT PROCEDURE. Senior Michael Moran and sophomore Maryeva Gonzalez highlight points in a disorganized presidential debate: “In debate, judges usually flow both sides of the arguments,” Gonzalez said. “It would definitely be really hard to judge just based on the amount of overall disruption,” she said. COLIN WILL

It’s only natural for highly competitive debate students to seek inspiration from the most-watched debate series in the country: that between candidates for President. However, the first presidential debate, between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, little resembled a formal Public Forum-style debate. Held on Sept. 29 in Cleveland, the debate featured an unusual amount of disruptive behavior from both candidates. Senior Michael Moran, a debate team veteran, called it “kind of depressing.” He said, “The first twenty minutes were just hard to watch.” Moran referred to the dynamic of the debate as a “microcosm” of this entire campaign: “It’s all in Trump’s court and [Biden’s] sort of bashing his head with a tennis racket,” he said. Sophomore Maryeva Gonzalez agreed with Moran’s views on the debate, calling it “very, very disorganized.” Like Moran, she noticed the uneven dynamic between the candidates. “[President Trump’s] intention for this was to go on the offensive, although I feel like there’s a difference between dominating the conversation versus being just disruptive,” she said. President Trump gained a reputation for disruptive debate behavior during his first presidential campaign, back in 2016. “The 2016 [debates] were pretty terrible as well, but [...] you’ve got good moments out of it,” Moran said. “Is this really where we’re at?” Gonzalez believes President Trump also failed in the political mission he had in mind when he stepped onto the stage. “The goal was to get him ahead, I think, and probably kind of swing a lot of moderate voters rather than just kind of rally the people that he already has in his base,” she said “However, I feel like that definitely wasn’t the case.” She asserted that “Nobody won.” Senior Rashmi Raveendran also tore into the president, who stayed on the offense and forced Biden onto the defense. “They barely discussed political goals and spent more time insulting the other. I think [that] was Trump’s plan because he has no strong policies that he can defend THE RUBICON

and Biden had to interact with Trump’s mess.” While she disapproved of Trump as a candidate, saying that his debate performance “only emphasized how much of a disgrace he is to this country and the presidency.” She noted that Biden did not make a very effective display either. “He was there and managed the best he could, but there was nothing he said or did that thoroughly impressed me,” Raveendran said. From a debate perspective, Gonzalez noted Biden’s mixed performance. “Biden did well on not directly addressing the points that Trump was making all the time,” she said. “I think there were a couple moments where he stopped to address the audience, [which] in debate would be like the judge.” She thinks he could have spent more time reaffirming his own points while more aggressively rebutting Trump’s. Competitive debaters like to make their speeches cohesive enough that judges can flow their arguments: take brief notes on their structure to better understand who won. For the presidential debate, Gonzalez claims, that would be impossible. “In debate, judges usually flow both sides of the arguments. It would definitely be really hard to judge just based on the amount of overall disruption,” she said. Moran offers one possible explanation for the lack of coherent structure: the debate was never about policy at all, because the candidates didn’t want it to be. For Biden, “the crux of his campaign was that ‘Trump’s not a great guy, and I’m a better one.’ I don’t know if that’s a convincing argument for Joe Biden as much as it is against Donald Trump, but there you are,” Moran said. The second presidential debate was canceled because of a dispute over the virtual format necessitated by Trump’s positive COVID-19 test. Both candidates held Town Hall style specials on competing networks instead. A final debate Oct. 22 included revised rules and the moderator’s ability to mute mics, in the hopes of giving candidates a chance to make cohesive statements. National outlets reported Biden as the winner, with CNN reporting 53% voter approval for Biden and 35% voter approval for Trump. Whether it will be enough for voters to make informed decisions remains to be seen.

Halloween 2020: more trick than treat JENNY RIES

THE RUBICON

How spooky can the season be socially distanced? For senior Julia Scott, a modified Halloween is a minor change of plans amid many cancellations due to COVID-19. “I’m sad about the rest of the year and some other things not happening, but I’m kind of fine with [a modified] Halloween,” she said. “I’m probably still gonna buy candy and eat candy. That will be fun.” “I don’t really like Halloween to begin with. So COVID… didn’t really change my plans that much. I wasn’t really planning on doing anything,” junior Ruth Mellin said. Instead of worrying about her plans Mellin is

“

I DON’T THINK HALLOWEEN PARTIES SHOULD BE A THING.

”

Ruth Mellin

concerned about the risk of COVID-19 spread if students decide to have or attend Halloween parties this year, “I don’t think Halloween parties should be a thing at all,” she said. “I think that parties, not even Halloween parties, but parties in general, right now are just kind of a COVID disaster waiting to happen, because it’s just so many people there and it’s likely if they’re going to parties, they probably are not so-

cial distancing with other people. So I think it’s very likely that COVID could spread rapidly at Halloween parties.” As for trick-or-treating, Mellin said, “I think trick or treating could maybe work. It would have to be super careful about everything. And especially if you’re going in a big group, that’s not very safe.” Junior Henry Currie said, “I don’t think anybody’s gonna be really handing out candy or trick-or-treating this year.” Though many older students may not feel a big impact from a modified Halloween, a lot have felt that younger children would be affected. “I don’t think it’s gonna be a big change for me, I haven’t done trick-ortreating in the past few

years,” Currie said. However, “people a little bit younger… [will] miss a year of Halloween, which is a great holiday,” he said. Scott is also conscious of how younger children will be affected. “It’s fun to see the neighborhood kiddos running around in their costumes. I won’t really see that, which is kind of sad,” she said. Whether or not seeing friends in person is possible depends on the weather, which will determine whether outdoor social distancing is an option. However, students are finding safe ways to remain connected on Halloween regardless of the weather conditions. Currie said he would “maybe go outside with my friends for a little bit, probably not very much. I was thinking of playing

SCREEN CAPTURE Google Slides Advisory trick-or-treating was replaced with an at home pumpkin decorating challenge for faculty. The student body will vote on the pumpkins and have their own contest: matching which pumpkin was decorated by which teacher. some video games with them during the night.” Scott plans to be part of a group costume. “I’m probably gonna stay at home, but I’m making a costume and with some friends, we’re going as the cast of the Sharknado movies,” she said. “There are six Sharknado movies, and I am one of the many characters in those movies… I’m the

lead character’s son, and I wear what looks like a bicycle helmet with a shark fin stuck on top of it. And that is my costume.” Though many Halloween plans will be modified this year, students are adapting in order to remain connected, and maybe get some candy.

FEATURE THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

Kritta takes on new tech role

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY Angie Kritta US Technology Coordinator Angie Kritta sits on the stoop at home with her Great Dane puppy.

JENNY RIES

THE RUBICON

For new US Technology Coordinator Angie Kritta, this year was not only a shift from a distance to hybrid learning model; it was a shift from working at one school to another. Kritta came from her job as the middle school technology coordinator at Breck. When Kritta first took on this role, SPA was fully online, having not yet transitioned to hybrid learning.

“It was really weird to start school because nobody was here...it was hard to get to know teachers, as well, because they didn’t know who I was and I was in a new role, and so they were learning to ask for help from somebody that they didn’t know. I just had to make sure that I could reassure them that I knew what I was doing and that I was good at my job and reliable,” she said. The work that Kritta has taken on to support a community in hybrid is different from the work

she had previously been doing to support a community in online learning. “The distance learning and the hybrid teaching methods…that we’re in right now [are] definitely different. We were all in distance learning when I left Breck in the spring, so coming back and helping teachers on campus was different then what I had been doing, just troubleshooting off campus and distance learning before.” For Kritta, the hybrid model represents both challenge and potential: “That format is definitely more challenging, but I think it’s given us the opportunity to see what we can do without having to be in person. I think it opens up a lot of possibilities and a lot of opportunities, but it’s definitely more challenging. Just the whole technology piece, and teachers, besides teaching their curriculum, they also have to figure out the technology that goes with it. That’s a lot. It’s a lot to do.” Kritta mentioned the work with Owl cameras, placed in classrooms to

allow students and teachers participating virtually to be present in an in-person class, as a highlight of her time so far. “The Owls are pretty amazing in themselves, and I think helping teachers implement those...has been a great experience.” Kritta also mentioned some of the challenges that came with implementing new technology. “It was a whole new thing for teachers to have to do,” she said. “Making sure they have the confidence and the knowledge on how to do that, knowing I can be there to help them, reassure them and walk them through what they need to do. And then just, encouraging them to do it on their own, which they can.” The transition, moving from the online to the hybrid model, also proved to be challenging. “Everybody knew how to be in distance learning because we did that in the spring, and then the transition to go from distance learning to hybrid learning just required a lot more coordination. It was very busy, because

everybody needed to do it right away… [my job was] kind of just reassuring everybody that we’ve got the technology and we can help you make it work,” she said. “I think once we get into a routine I think that will be helpful, as well.” Kritta’s main goal for the year is to gain familiarity with the school community. She already has experience working with MS Technology Coordinator Tammy Brass, who she had met through various technology workshops, and Dean of Students, Chantal Thornberry, who she worked with at Breck. Now, she hopes to build relationships. “I know Mr. White was here for a long time, and the students were really comfortable coming and talking to him. I want to have an open door so I get to know students and teachers a little bit better,” she said. Want an excuse to have a conversation with Kritta? Ask her about her dog: she has a six-monthold Great Dane puppy.

TECH TIPS

Want the laptop to work in distance learning or hybrid? Kritta recommends students:

UPDATE FREQUENT PROGRAMS and OS REGULARLY DON’T DOWNLOAD OFF UNFAMILIAR WEBSITES TEST SOUND and CAMERA CHARGE REGULARLY and KEEP THE CHARGER NEARBY DON’T SET LAPTOPS ON THE FLOOR VISIT THE TECH DEPARTMENT TO LEARN NEW THINGS TO DO

Clean in. Clean out.

Pandemic protocols become habits in first month of hybrid

MADDY FISHER THE RUBICON

Hand sanitizer. Disposable wipes. Face masks. Students returned to campus in October through the implementation of hybrid learning schedule and campus safety protocols limiting possible COVID-19 exposure. The desire for this restoration of some semblance of normal introduced a new dilemma during the summer: how can school be safe enough to return? SPA administration worked to answer this question, along with a committee of teachers. US Science teacher Cathleen Drilling was one of the teachers placed on a

committee to discuss the school’s plans for the fall. “We spent a lot of time reading documents from the CDC and the state of Minnesota, and just kind of going through those things and looking for pieces in there that might apply to our school,” Drilling said. A significant amount of relevant information was released over the summer, making the planning process difficult. “There were so many teachers involved,” Drilling said. “All summer long they were reading and worrying for the community and wanting to make sure that what we settled on was the safest option as well as the best education possible.” Although obstacles were numerous, the committees and the administration gradually assembled a set of protocols in preparation for a return to campus. Safety measures including one-way hallways, HVAC updates, plexiglass barriers, desk cleaning procedures, so-

cial distancing stickers, and the creation of an additional lunchroom were all incorporated. After an initial three weeks of distance learning to make sure all pieces were in place, students and faculty returned to campus and the protocols were put to the test. As students become familiar with a hybrid schedule that is still adapting and safety protocols, discussions regarding safety are common. “I feel relatively safe,” sophomore Maya Sachs said. “It hasn’t been that debilitating—I can still hold really good conversations and be engaged in class just the same.” In spite of the safety provided by the new protocols, student life is not without its challenges. “The one-way hallways, while necessary, made it hard to orient myself,” Sachs said. “I also think that our [Owl] cameras are not working very well—that’s what I’ve been hearing from people still in distance learning—because ap-

parently they can’t really track where noise is coming from.” Some of the one way hallways on campus come with complications, and some students find the regularity of certain procedures unreliable. “I feel like everybody’s doing a good job making sure everybody stays six feet apart,” 9th grader Sandro Fusco said. “However, I do feel that they should be more consistent about using hand sanitizer. They do it sometimes, but not in every single class, which is a little confusing.” Drilling said the return comes with surprises for teachers too: “When we’re on campus, things go more smoothly and we can do more hands-on activities,” she said. “Every time we have our on-campus days, though, I have lost my voice by the end of the day because of how difficult it is to talk with a mask on. While I like being with students and I prefer that style of class, I think my personal physical exhaustion makes it

Sophomore Maya Sachs demonstrates how to mask up: fully covering nose and mouth. more difficult than I anticipated.” Regardless of the obstacles presented by this transition, the administration continues to aim to shield the community from the spread of the virus while ensuring an effective learning model. Improvements are already in progress—updates to the hallway direc-

tions occurred after the first week of the hybrid schedule and modifications happen in response to unforeseen challenges. A Coronavirus tracker was added to Veracross mid- October. As of press time, only one staff case has been reported on the Randolph Campus, with no on campus exposures.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

THEATER ON SCREEN

Performing on stage in a pandemic ILLUSTRATION: Mimi Huelster NOA GROSS

THE RUBICON

Since the abrupt halt of in-person schooling last year, the Huss stage has been empty. But on Dec. 11-12, cast of Under Milk Wood perform a fall play for the student body, live on stage but live streamed for viewers. US Theater Director Eric Severson has to balance COVID-19 restrictions while still creating a beautiful work of art: “My first commitment is to the safety of the cast and crew,” he said. In 1954, Dylan Thomas was commissioned by the BBC to create a radio play resulting in the production of Under Milk Wood. The play takes place in the fictional Welsh fishing village of

Llareggub, where viewers are introduced to the townspeople through their dreams. Unique is the size of its cast list: Under Milk Wood has 67 roles, meaning casting involved assigning students a minimum of two characters. Senior Grace Krasny has four roles: “Lily Smalls, First Neighbor Mrs. Dai bread number one, and the Voice. There’s a narrator voice that happens throughout the play, but it’s a lot of text, so everyone is the voice,” she said. Another main hurdle when devising the plan for the play was masks. Actors must wear masks at all times in the building, but in doing so, the audio quality of the production degrades. As a workaround, students will pre-record all their dialogue. “I am excited for the challenge of working with the actors on the audio recording because it will force them and challenge them to show

Twin Cities Museums team up for campaign

Weisman Art Museum @umntwincities on Instagram

MUSEUM HOURS Weisman Th-Sa 12-5 p.m. Mia Th-Su 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Walker Th 11 a.m.-9 p.m., F-S 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Su 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Paisley Park tickets purchase entry time

character, emotion, etc. solely through their voice and their words;” Severson said. “Then when we add in the staging, since they are masked, the actors’ challenge will be how to demonstrate and communicate that same level of character, emotion, etc., but through the movement of their bodies.” To create the finished product, students will act on stage with the audio track running simultaneously over the sound system in a recorded performance with no audience. Krasny is very aware of the new experiences this show will bring. “It’s gonna be a lot of facial acting, specifically with the eyes which I’m not necessarily nervous about

but it’s a new challenge” she said. Since SPA community members hoping to watch the show will be unable to physically attend, the final recorded version will be edited and streamed for anyone who wants to watch at 7 p.m. Dec. 11-12.

The play will be a first for everyone. “I have never staged a production to be filmed before, so I am treading in new water there but this is how we need

to create theater safely right now, so I am ready to take the risk… This is a total experiment and I pray it works,” Severson said.

THE RUBICON PHOTO: Noa Gross MASKED REHEARSAL. Cast members sit six feet apart while engaging in rehearsal.

MAREN OSTREM

Teens hooked on new craze Among Us

MANAGING EDITOR

The doors are open and the art is waiting. Seven months after its initial closure in March due to COVID-19, The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum reopened on Oct. 1. The Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Walker Art Center, and Paisley Park were closed from March to the beginning of July. Museums had continued to provide access to the arts virtually by posting virtual tours and events on their websites. The Weisman had their own virtual tour filmed. “We had a camera crew come in and do a virtual tour of the museum,” Associate Director at the Weisman Gwen Sutter said. When planning for reopening, the museums worked as a team to ensure every visitor and employee would be safe. “The Walker and MIA started getting ready to open in summer… we had conversations with them about some of the protocols they were doing,” Sutter said. In order to bring attention to the fact that these museums are now open, The Weisman, The Walker, Mia, and Paisley Park have joined forces in an ad campaign called InspireMSP. The ad campaign is made up of billboards, a television ad, and some print ads. “We were approached to be part of this campaign. It was basically to bring awareness that museums were coming back and that they were places to go and they were fairly safe places to go,” Sutter said. The television ad combined art from the different museums with Prince’s song “Nothing Compares 2 U.” The Weisman currently has five projects on view, including Young Americans which is made up of portraits of 20 to 30 years olds. Mia’s featured exhibits include Keep the Fire Alive Youth Mural Project, which was created by Keep the Fire Alive theater troupe, along with three other indigenous peoples groups. One of The Walker’s featured exhibitions include Design for Different Futures, which features various designers’ visions of possible futures.

JULIA BARON THE RUBICON

With technology transitioning to a dominant form of social interaction, video games and various technology platforms have risen to provide teenagers with an opportunity to connect with their peers. One of these is the game Among Us, which has gained enormous popularity in recent months as an avenue for social connection. The game is a multiplayer video game that can be played for free on IOS, Android, and PC, with 4-10 people competing against each other at a time. The players split up into two teams: spaceship crew members or alien imposters. The goal for crew members is to catch the imposters and complete tasks to prepare their spaceship for takeoff. The goal for the imposters is to keep their identity a secret

and kill members of the crew or frame them as the alien imposters. If a player is suspected to be an imposter, they can be voted off the game during a meeting in which players discuss in the chat section who they view as a suspect. Although Among Us was released by InnerSloth on June 15 2018, its popularity has blown up in recent months, with Gamespot reporting that the game garnered 41.9 million downloads just in September. Among Us has also made its way to SPA, with numerous students playing it after school before sports practices or with their advisory. “[Among Us] is really fun because I can play it with all my friends at once when we’re bored. It gets a little intense when we start accusing each other for no reason” junior Sarah Oppenheim said.

read the full story at

RUBICON online

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

Everything Pumpkin

SALAH ABDULKARIM THE RUBICON

These pancakes call for the perfect breakfast with syrup and coffee.

Serve a slice for any meal of the day for the perfect taste of fall.

Full with different spices that taste like the smell of fall, resisting the temptation to eat every last one of Allrecipies’ pumpkin pancakes was difficult to say the least. They were relatively easy to make and took a total of around 30 minutes to prepare. When preparing the pancakes, it’s important to mix the dry and liquid components thoroughly to reduce clumping and ensure the spices were well blended. Keeping the griddle or pan at a more moderate temperature helped the pancakes develop a fluffier consistency and a beautiful golden-brown outside. Serve with warmed maple syrup and enjoy the amazing flavor and texture. Overall, the recipe was worth it; the pancakes tasted like a combination of regular pancakes and a traditional pumpkin spice latte in one bite.

The pumpkin bread took the longest to make but by far tasted the best of all three recipes. This recipe is from Jenn Segal’s site onceuponachef.com. She is a chef and cookbook author but this particular recipe was passed down from her grandmother. When the pumpkin bread was removed from the oven, a refreshing blast of pumpkin and cinnamon filled the room. It brings together the nostalgic fall flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg as well as cloves which add a slightly more bitter taste to bring out the other spices. Most importantly, the bread was not dry; the slight moisture allowed it to hold shape while also bringing out the flavor of all the spices. This recipe takes about 90 minutes but the directions are pretty straightforward. A slice or two make a great on the go breakfast with a hot cup of coffee.

Autumn Pancakes

Spiced Pumpkin Bread

THE RUBICON PHOTOS: Salah Abdulkarim The pumpkin cookies are coated in a checkered layer of thick icing.

Simple and Flaky Cookies

Although slightly more messy and crumbly, Libby’s (verybestbaking. com) pumpkin cookies were the simplest to make of all three. A great fall treat for friends, family, and neighbors, this cookie was very basic and low effort. All in all it took around 30 minutes to prepare. The only fault of this recipe is that the proportions of components for the frosting lead to a very solid consistency that was difficult to lay down onto the cookie. It may be best to slightly reduce the amount of powdered sugar and slightly increase the amount of milk to thin out the frosting. The cookies are best fresh out of the oven with a glass of milk but are still just as soft and flaky on the inside after a few days.

Music programs adjust rehearsals for safety LUCY BENSON

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The usual hum and excitement that abounds in the Huss Center as students and their families pack in for Pops or the Spring Concert will not be a reality in the foreseeable future. Everything about such performances raises a myriad of red flags for contact and exposure in the age of COVID-19. It’s not just the concerts that must be reevaluated, the entire department must find creative new solutions, as they can no longer practice the way they used to. 9th grader Audrey Senaratna plays the flute in H winds, a class taught by US Director of Jazz Band Randy Reid. She explains how classes looked before the hybrid model: “When we were in distance learning, we would have check-ins with Mr. Reid every class, where we would play for him one-on-one so he could give us feedback,” she said. For wind instruments, like the flute, extra challenges arise in hybrid. Since players use their mouths to play, there is greater risk for spit and germ transmission. Band classes, choirs, and wind sections of the orchestra have to think about these things more since masks

must be taken off. While string instruments can practice together since masks can remain on while playing, the others must practice outside. “The biggest adjustment is for choir and for jazz ensemble that they can’t sing or play at school, unless they’re doing it outside,” US Orchestra Director Almut Engelhardt said. “That’s a huge adjustment. And they’re doing their very best but of course as we move into the colder seasons, that will be more of a challenge.”

APPRECIATE “IHOW EVERYONE IS DOING THEIR VERY BEST TO KEEP THINGS GOING.

”

Almut Engelhardt Junior Judah Thomas elaborated on what it was like for his Jazz Band class in the hybrid model. “We all stand [outside] in a circle around Mr. Reid and play one of the two songs we’ve received so far,” he said. But even then Senaratna didn’t feel that this

was as safe as she would hope. “I didn’t participate in this because I don’t feel comfortable taking off my mask at school,” she said. “Even though it was outside, you still have to blow through your instrument around other people. Thomas is similarly unenthused about the new formatting in the music program. “This format of band is sad because band prior to Corona was a super chill way to relax but now it has a very different feel,” Thomas said. “This is probably because the whole band can’t be in the same room at one time. The actual playing of the instruments I’d say is the only thing that is the same as in years past.” Choir has already put out a few videos this year. Senior Grace Krasny is in Summit Singers and Academy Choral. Krasny and other choir members recorded individual videos that Interim Choir Director Tim Kraack cut together to form an entire song. “Recording videos can be a little scary sometimes because you’re like, oh he can hear me and what I’m singing and I’m not like protected by my friends around me singing...It helps to get more

THE RUBICONLINE PHOTO: Elle Chen Jazz Band practices safely outside, all six feet apart. In the winter, rehearsals will get complicated. comfortable singing.” Though they have to practice outside, Krasny is happy for the opportunity to practice together at all. “You can hear other people while you’re rehearsing, I feel like that’s gonna be really cool, just because I haven’t done that since March,” she said. “So that’s going to be nice to have that back even if we’re outside.” Engelhardt added that orchestra, while able to practice together, is not exempt from challenges. “We get to play which is wonderful, but we have to keep very far apart and so we’re spreading through an entire Hall and when you’re trying

to be as synchronized as possible, you can hear yourself much more than the others were just the exact opposite of what should happen,” Engelhardt said. Engelhardt is appreciative of her students attitudes in a time when she feels the arts are under a lot of stress. “I appreciate how everybody is doing their very best to keep things going....the arts are in a very difficult spot, not just at the school but everywhere,” she said. “What’s going well is that the people show up to keep them going. And I think that’s huge, they show up not just, you know, physically, and they’re there

in the space but they’re willing to go off with all the adjustments and all the inconveniences and all the challenges to keep the arts going and I think that’s huge and it says a lot about the SPA community,” she said. As for their plans for an end of year showcase, the music department had to get creative. “We can’t have a pops concert this year, obviously, we will record the work with Stephanie Motta’s video making class, and they will make music videos with the music that we record,” Engelhardt said.

14 Ever-evolving safety protocols keep athletes in the game SPORTS

THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

FALL SPORT POLICIES

NOA GROSS

THE RUBICON

When governor Tim Walz first issued the stayat-home order to combat the spread of COVID-19, few people expected the fallout to so deeply affect every aspect of their lives. One thing that quickly disappeared was sports. In the initial stages of the pandemic, everything ground to an unwelcome halt. Six months later SPA Athletics is still facing the challenge of providing sports opportunities while ensuring, to the best of its ability, the safety of student-athletes and coaches. Will fall seasons wrapping up and football and volleyball ramping up, what happens if a teammate tests positive? Dawn Wickstrum, Director of Athletics, said that “It’s about the level of contact and when it happened.” Wickstrum, along with US Athletics Director Ken McNish, MS Athletics Director Taylor Tvedt, and the administrative teams developed protocols based on information from the Minnesota Department of Health, the CDC, and the Minnesota State High School League. They worked closely with Dr. Paul Anderson, an Occupational

DAILY HEALTH SCREEN: Athletes complete a daily health form and undergo temperature checks before practices or games. SPECTATORS: Attendance at games is limited to members of a player’s immediate family (two spectators per player for visiting teams) and masks worn at all times.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: Jane Lagos

CHECK IN: Upon arrival, attendees are asked who they are coming to see and the athletes is not allowed further guests. They are given temperature checks and paper bracelets to verify attendance at the game.

MASKED UP TO PLAY. If an athlete is exposed to COVID-19 the response will vary. “[It depends] on when the student-athlete was exposed, Athletic Director Dawn Wickstrum said, “and they would be away for either two weeks, or until their test came back.”

TEAM EVENTS: No buffet dinners, overnight retreats or travel.

Medicine doctor consulting on building plans, to develop sports health protocols. She said that outside team exposures, like a student coming into contact with someone on the weekend, “that would be a self-quarantine depending on when the student-athlete was exposed, and they would be away for either two weeks, or until their test came back.” If it’s a team exposure, it’s a different story: “If a kid was positive and came to practice, was having symptoms, and was around their teammates

the beginning of the season, and then team dinners throughout. But we weren’t able to do that because we can’t gather outside of practice,” she said. Despite the challenges the team faced, Toghramadjian had only good things to say about the team’s response to the new restrictions. “A big aspect of our team culture, is caring for one another. So, in practice if we were doing a hard workout around the track, we’d still see people encouraging one another from a safe distance,” she said. “I think that, given

and then tested positive, that would likely add in a scenario of a team having to quarantine.” Either exposure situation warrants a two week mandatory quarantine from practice and implementation of distance learning for the student. It all comes down to individuals adhering to policies: wearing a mask, staying socially distanced from others, and following the rules put in place to protect them and their teammates. Athletes have done a commendable job so far, with Wickstrum reporting the positive approach

teams have taken to new protocols. “I’m so proud of our student athletes, especially our coaches,” she said. As uncertainty still prevails, teams are making the most of their shortened seasons and distanced practices. Isabel Toghramadjian, captain Spartan Girls Cross Country, has had to make the most of a less than desirable senior season. “We didn’t have as many opportunities for team bonding outside of practice. Usually we would have a sleepover and a camping trip at

the circumstances, the way the team handled it was the best it could have been; if this had to be my last season, I’m glad that it was the way it was.” Wickstrum believes athletics participants make the best out of this strange year: “I hope that they can, in an uncontrollable situation, feel like there is a sense of control here. If we continue to make good decisions, we can continue to have athletics be part of our community in their student life experience. We’re all in this together, and I want [the students] to feel empowered.”

Athletes weigh the health risks of playing team sports in a pandemic LUCY BENSON

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Physical contact, close proximity, and high fives and congratulatory hugs, are all components of most sports. While skipping the high fives may be easier, it’s hard to eliminate the contact that comes with competitive athletics entirely. While SPA is taking extra precautions and deliberating over what sports would look like in the midst of a pandemic, it is hard not to wonder what potential risks student-athletes are taking and what the exposure level is. Senior Elaina Parsons felt that the level of risk was too high for her and her family to take, which is why she chose not to participate in volleyball as she usually would. “I decided that for me and my family it’s probably not the best way to keep us safe, and especially because my parents are on the older side. I didn’t

“

EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW SERIOUS [THIS] IS. Charlie Johnson

”

want to expose them to anything,” Parsons said. The current policy for volleyball is that in games players are not required to wear masks, but they must while on the bench. Aside from this fact, Parsons is otherwise unconvinced. “The whole thing just feels very unsafe to me. Like you’re all touching the same ball, it’s complete strangers that you don’t know,” she said. “At school at least I know the community that I’m coming into. If I play a random school I don’t know who they are and how I could get affected by them.” However, given the current global situation,

she doubts any precautions would make her feel safe enough to play. “I am overly cautious, like me and my family [are],” Parsons said. “For other people, that’s obviously different.” The school has made their own decisions about sports protocols, but have taken into account the advice of Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Anderson. Anderson feels that within sports teams his biggest concern is athletes gathering outside a school context. “It’s not necessarily the practices; it’s not necessarily the game, because these are all very carefully monitored. But it’s all the stuff around the edges that tends to be the time when people let their guard down,” he said. Many students still chose to participate in sports and hold on to some sense of normalcy. Junior Charlie Johnson

INFOGRAPHIC: Evelyn Lillemoe While sports like tennis, which happen outside on a measured court, are relatively low risk, sports like basketball, may have to suspend some activity to reduce risk based on the CDC risk assessment. is one student who feels safe in his sport, football. He described some of the precautions the team is taking: “We all get temperature checks before you walk in...we all wear masks right when we get to practice, but once we’re like in practice, we don’t wear masks. And then during games, we’re going to have like gators that will wear on the sidelines,” Johnson said. He acknowledges that while the sport is in close contact, he still feels safe. “Yes football is a sport where you’re right up against your guy and it’s a contact sport,” he said. “I feel like we’re doing a good job and the MSHSL

is very very very strict with their rules.” There is also a strong incentive for players to practice the COVID-19 protocols. “If one person tests positive on the team, the entire team is out for two weeks,” Johnson said. “And that’s like huge, especially because we only have a six week season. So if somebody tests positive in the last two weeks of the year we’re out for the playoffs too.” He says this motivates the team to be extra careful. “We’ve all been taking it super seriously... everybody understands how serious Coronavirus is and especially when it

pertains to the season,” he said. With so much uncertainty it seems there may be no right answer to whether or not one should participate in sports, though Anderson expressed confidence in SPA’s precautions. “[The plan] is extremely, extremely aggressive and well prepared, relative to other schools that I’ve seen. They have really done a lot of hard work to prepare their environment for safety... they used all of that to make sure that they had covered all their bases when it came to sports,” Anderson said.

SPORTS THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

RUBICONLINE PHOTOS: Liv Larsen HOME OPENER. Spartan Volleyball plays Minnehaha Academy in Briggs Gymnasium Oct. 21. (Left) Senior Tana Ososki prepares for an incoming serve. (Right) Sophomore Solvej Eversoll blocks a pass from the opposing team. (Above) Waves replace end of game handshakes.

Volleyball gets on the home court JULIA BARON THE RUBICON

Weeks after a traditional season would have started, volleyball players filled the gym for practice Sept. 28 in anxious anticipation of what a season during a pandemic would look like. This followed the MSHSL’s announcement the week before that volleyball could be played this fall in a modified season, a reversal of their decision from late August to move it to a spring season. For volleyball, a modified season will be 11-weeks long, consisting of 14 matches per team. Games started Oct. 8. This decision was made on the grounds that other fall sports that commenced in early September did not yield major outbreaks or reveal evidence of high transmission rates. Nevertheless, some Spartan volleyball players express concern about how they will stay safe, especially since it is the first indoor sport offered since the COVID-19 outbreak. Players are often within 6 feet of each other. Senior Karla Garcia is among the concerned. “I wasn’t very happy about [the decision]. Because masks are not required during games, I will be placed in a vulnerable spot. When I made the decision to play volleyball this year I was told that masks would be re-

quired during games; that is not the case,” she said. In their guidelines for the competition season, the MSHSL notes that all spectators, coaches, and players who are not actively participating must wear masks, but not players on the court. SPA requires mask-wearing for all players during practices, a higher level of caution than is required. Senior Ellie Rosso shares similar concerns to Garcia and is trying to weigh the risk that playing would bring to herself and her family members. “I am definitely apprehensive for the season considering COVID risk, but my family is taking into account the school protocols and trying to make the most reasonable judgments for what we are willing to risk or not,” Rosso said. The MSHSL addressed the risk factor in a statement released Oct. 13: “Even with these measures, the MSHSL cannot guarantee that students or other individuals participating in organized athletic activities will not be exposed to COVID-19. Participants and their parents/legal guardians should consider the risks before participating in any MSHSL activities.” Even with the risk factor identified by MSHSL, sophomore Solveig Eversoll remains confident in the decisions made for the safety of players. “I am a little apprehensive about the current rule

that masks aren’t required while playing games because it is an indoor sport and that does present more of a threat, but I trust the school and MSHSL’s decisions on what will end up happening during games,” Eversoll said. 9th grader Natalie Vogenthaler feels a similar level of confidence. “When MSHSL decided to bring volleyball back to the fall, I felt safe and good about it because during my club volleyball experiences during COVID-19, everyone did their best to social distance and masked to keep the numbers as low possible, so we could keep our season going,” Vogenthaler said. Garcia on the other hand is not confident that policies are thorough enough to keep the community safe and is unsatisfied with SPA’s policies, specifically regarding the wearing of masks. “SPA has the ability to set stricter rules about mask-wearing in our own community during games however there has been no communication about changing the SPA rules. I hope that SPA implements stricter rules not only for the safety of our team but for the safety of our community. I do not think it is okay to have outsiders coming into our community unprotected after all the provisions SPA has implemented to keep us safe,” Garcia said.

Wolfpack thrives despite new regulations

PHOTO REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION: AllSportPhotography Quarterback Judah Thomas (#20) launches the ball in the air for a reception. SALAH ABDULKARIM THE RUBICON

The Minnesota State High School League originally announced the football season would not take place this fall but reversed the decision Sept. 21. As of press

time the Wolfpack has a 1-1 record, a good start to their season but players are looking to improve as much as possible. The first game was Oct. 9 and their last game scheduled for Nov. 12, a notably shorter season compared to previous years. This

year they will play a total of six games; they hope to live up to their legacy and achieve a similar record as last year’s 12-1. While the team has adapted to an irregular season due to COVID-19, they have found it has little impact on the season.

Quarterback Judah Thomas explained how COVID-19 has impacted dynamics: “To be honest, I don’t think COVID has impacted our flow as much as it has for other sports. They did flip the decision about not having a season so our season did start late, but playing-wise we’ve only been impacted slightly...I’d say the only other impact I could think of is the spectator policy, but again, that doesn’t exactly impact our performance too much.” The team was ecstatic to hear the news that their season would take place and hope to make the best of their shortened season. “When I heard that the season would actually happen this year-It was a good day. I feel great about our team, we

are going to win sections for sure, no doubt. We trained hard this summer and we’ve got the drive this season, we’re working extra hard and holding each other to high standards...We still are a little bummed out that our season isn’t as long but it is what it is, we can’t change the situation,” Thomas said. 9th grader Ethan Carter joined the Wolfpack this year and is pleased with the friendly team culture. “The upperclassmen are extremely welcoming: they lead warm-ups, they hype us up for scrimmages and they make sure we stay included. We [JV] don’t practice with varsity because of COVID but it’s nice to see that despite that they’re making sure we feel comfortable and included,” he said.

Members of the Wolfpack are happy to participate in the seasons this year and believe that it will be a strong season despite minor inconveniences. Attendance for Wolfpack games has been limited due to COVID-19 regulations, for home games, the policy is as follows. There is a ticket list for all games this year, to attend spectators must be on the list. Each senior or junior player is allotted three tickets per home game and each sophomore, 9th, or 8th-grade player is allowed two tickets per home game. The Wolfpack’s next home game will be against Providence Academy Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at Blake.

GOOD QUESTION THE RUBICON - OCTOBER 2020

How does the Electoral College work? Is it a fair system? 12 3 7

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The electoral college is a complicated system that has always been used THE RUBICON in the United States, but though it affects presidential elections, not everyone knows how it works. As Nov. 3 approaches, the rising controversy over the electoral college resurfaces.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS. Colors indicate the majority political party affiliation of each state (BLUE=Democrat, RED=Republican) using data from the 2016 elections. The numbers indicate the Electoral College votes for the state. INFOGRAPHIC: Salah Abdulkarim

CATHERINE HOOLEY

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FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

I DON’T THINK THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF OUR COUNTRY.

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PRO OF THE SYSTEM: EVERY VOTER COUNTS “I think a pro is that it makes the candidates go into rural areas and areas they might not go [to campaign]” 9th grader Audrey Senaratna said, “so it helps them broaden their campaign.” Since the electoral college is 50 separate races for every state and the District of Columbia, candidates must campaign to the states rather than individuals. With the popular vote, candidates would campaign to people and places they know they could win. The electoral college makes swing states priorities for candidates because they must win the whole state, making for more widespread campaigning.

For each state, there is a decided number of electors. This number is determined by the number of people in the House of Representatives for each state, plus the number of senators. Every state has two state senators, but the house representation varies. For Spencer Burris- Brown CON OF THE SYSTEM: VOTES ARE NOT EQUAL example, Minnesota has eight representatives and two senators, so it has ten electoral votes. If a state has more representatives, it is a reflection of their larger population. California has the largest In the 2016 election, Donald Trump won the electoral vote while Hilary Clinton number of electoral votes because it has the largest concentration of people in the won the popular vote. Even though more individuals voted for Clinton, Trump U.S.: 39.78 million as of January according to California’s Department of Finance. became president due to 304 electoral votes in his favor. “I don’t think the electoral college is a good representation of our country. I THE UNFAITHFUL VOTE feel that it gives disproportionate representation to the smaller states, and turns a handful of swing states into the deciders of the entire election,” said 11th grader Electors are the people who get to vote for the president after the state popula- Spencer Burris-Brown. tion has voted. Electors are either Republicans or Democrats, but sometimes there are faithless electors, defined as electors who go against the popular vote. They SHOULD THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE BE HISTORY? betray the voters and the state population because the people thought they would represent their beliefs, when in actuality they voted against the state majority. When the system was created, it was much harder to count votes; there wasn’t the technology available. The electoral college was created as a compromise beONLY 50.1% VOTES CAN ELECT A PRESIDENT cause the founders could not agree on a way to vote. The voting system was not made for the whole country to express their votes; it was made for the people in There are 538 electoral votes total, but a candidate needs only 270 to win the power to vote how they want. election. The system uses the majority of the population’s votes to determine that US History teacher Aaron Shulow thinks it’s time for a change that incorporates state’s collective vote. The party with the majority of the votes will take all of the popular vote and ranked choice: “The United States should implement a system states’ votes, even if the individual votes were almost evenly divided. that seeks to hear every voice and count every vote in a more democratic and repreIn Minnesota, all 10 votes will be used in favor of one candidate because the sentative way. The popular vote for the overall country should determine who the electoral votes cannot be split to reflect the popular vote. president is because the president represents the entire country,” he said. Even if a candidate wins the popular vote, the other can win the race by collectThe majority of Americans agree: a study conducted by Pew Research Center in ing a larger number of electoral votes than the opposition. That is where the voting March showed that 58% of Americans believe the Constitution should be amended system becomes controversial; many citizens believe that the candidate who wins to abolish the electoral college and use the popular vote. the majority should become president.

VOTING BY THE NUMBERS

The number of times a President has been appointed by the electoral college despite losing the popular vote.

3 1 out of 5 adults would like to amend the Constitution to replace the Electoral College. (Source: GALLUP)

The number of votes each state receives in the case that no candidate gains the majority of electoral votes.