WRITING
Yearbook Feature: Valerie Wick
Published 2021-2022
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Whether performing as a pirate onstage in Peter and the Starcatcher or checking in on a friend, Valerie Wick’s true inspiration reveals itself through the people she touches with her work.
“I find a lot of joy in helping other people feel better, whether that be through recommending stuff that makes me happy or finding things that I think will make them happy,” she said.
Motivated by the wish to make other people’s lives better, Wick looks to stand-up comedy, creating visual art, and theatre arts to find her place in the world by helping others find theirs.
Wick experienced the importance of how a simple act of kindness could improve someone else’s day firsthand with people at her former middle school. “Their family situations were just not great, so it was really important to be happy and make sure that they were doing well and making sure that they were doing well and getting the food and water that they needed, and they had the internet that they need to get homework done,” she said. “That has been a point where I felt like I was helping them out, and they were getting stuff that they needed.”
Wick values the paths that other people take as her own inspiration. “I’m confused, I don’t know where I’m going to go for college or what I want to major in really,” Wick said, “Meeting people who didn’t have a set path but got to a place where they were happy… it’s nice to see that other people who didn’t have any idea where they were going to be get somewhere cool.”
This uncertainty further drives Wick to have a meaningful impact on those around her. “Making sure other people are doing well inspires me to do better for myself,” Wick said. No matter her path, it's certain that Wick will be a ray of positivity wherever she may go.
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Rubicon: Boosters provide extra protection for some; youth wait for vaccine
Published October 26, 2021
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The past few months of 2021 have brought several groundbreaking advancements in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. In August, the US FDA and CDC authorized booster shots for anybody who had been vaccinated by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 and had a compromised immune system, such as having a chronic illness. In September, the Pfizer vaccine got approval for individuals under 12, and the booster shot recommendation was updated to include more people, and the Pfizer vaccine was given approval for vaccinating individuals ages 5-11.
Booster shots have proven to be very helpful in the continuous prevention of COVID-19 since they were utilized. Data from testing and from earlier results in Israel (which has been giving out booster shots since July 30) shows that the dose is safe and that it raises antibody levels immediately, especially with people over 65. Officials in Israel also reported that older people who got the booster shot were almost 20 times less likely to get severe COVID-19.
This September the booster shot recommendation changed to include people over 65 or live in a long term care facility, over 50 and have an underlying health condition such as diabetes or heart disease, or if they were working or living in conditions with high risk of exposure to COVID-19.
In addition, it has been released that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been approved for people ages 5-11 the same month. 27% of COVID-19 cases at hospitals are in children this past month, as well as other countries such as Indonesia and Brazil also having high rates of children being infected with the virus. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, in total through September 23, 5.7 million COVID cases were recorded in children.
In regards to the new approval, many upper school students with siblings affected by this change are looking up to the future. “I feel like my whole family in general will be more comfortable with allowing my sisters to go hang out with friends and stuff,” 9th grader Cerena Karmaliani said, who has two younger twin siblings that are eleven. “I’ve gotten a little bit more freedom than they do right now, because I am vaccinated and they’re not.”
Approval for even younger individuals may be coming soon in addition to this, as results from vaccine trials on children ages 2 to 5 could come by the end of 2021.
Rubicon: Don't collect too many cookies
Published March 9, 2022
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Internet security is a concept that is ever-growing in importance in this day and age, especially seeing the current peoples’ increasing reliance on technology. Evidently, despite what good access to the internet can bring, it’s imperative to consider the potential threats this usage can have to one’s online safety.
One of the biggest and most well-known forms of harm is the use of cookies. You’ve probably seen and clicked ‘yes’ on websites asking you to allow them. The Federal Trade Commission defines cookies as “information saved by your web browser.” However, this definition overlooks the fact that cookies can be very damaging and can deface a user’s level of privacy and self-security on the internet when misused. Cookies can lead to many exploitative consequences, including harmful malware such as viruses that can be sent through cookies, the commercialization of personal data, or even instances of identity theft. This all puts a user’s data privacy at risk if they are not fully informed on what decision they are making when choosing to accept cookies.
It’s also important to realize that cookies often collect internet data without the user’s consent, usually for monetary purposes such as ad personalization. It’s common that one ‘accepts all cookies’ for convenience when browsing a website, but does clicking a button show all the functions of a cookie and what that could mean?
A 2010 publication by Cookie Central, a website dedicated to informing users of such data devices, states that even though cookies are readily ‘accepted,’ the formatting of the information often tells the user minimal about what is actually being stored. This can lead to the accidental exploitation of one’s data, proven in an InfoWorld Radosevich study that examined a bug within the popular internet browser Netscape. This browser allowed a website to access crucial confidential information passed between that site and the cookie file, including credit card numbers and passwords. Luckily, the bug was fixed before any serious harm was done, but this example shows what could happen to one’s data had it ever gotten into the wrong hands– and the scariest thing is, once the information is out there, there is no getting it back.
In a software update, Apple has allowed their users to turn off data tracking for advertisements, in which 62% of Apple users in the new update opted out of having their searches logged across their devices for commercial purposes. People don’t want their data collected when they know it is happening and will take action against it. This can’t be said about accepting cookies, which usually don’t state all of their purposes when they ask you to allow them, creating a situation where users do not fully know what cookies can do to their browser. The internet has always been a hub for information and convenience; it is only right that the people using the web should know what is going on inside it.
Rubicon: The book is better: check out The Art of Encanto
Published April 5, 2022
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Disney’s latest animated feature Encanto has taken the world by storm after its release on Disney Plus, including landing Academy Award nominations for the movie, song, and score. With an already fantastical, character-driven film to showcase, The Art of Encanto, available online for free, details just how much time and effort went into making this film happen. Portraying human emotion, Colombian culture, and character development with its majestic camera angles and colors alone, the book is an insightful showcase to people interested in art who want to learn something new about film production or design.
The Art of Encanto introduces you to the film’s Colombian background, including photographs of specific places that inspired aspects of the final product. The attention to detail in the character’s costumes, setting, and even their color schemes open the reader’s eyes to the creative process of how the movie was produced. An element where color and culture become immediately prominent is in the styling of the characters themselves. A single look at the lively Madrigal family will show you a cast whose identities are directly tied into their outfits. With each member of the family, their magical powers are displayed on their clothing through symbols and tell their story. Mirabel, the protagonist of the film and the only one in her family who was not given a gift, wears an embroidered skirt with different symbols representing all of her family members.
Artists and designers take readers through their art journey from clothing design to backgrounds, ranging from incredibly detailed environmental art to conceptual sketches of character expressions. On top of this, the quotes from the artists on how these characters and stories came to be over time add to the experience. The film production process isn’t all perfect; the messy storyboards convey movement with vivid lines and simplified expressions, while other artworks have handwritten notes over dozens of scrapped concept sketches, really letting readers gain introspect on how Encanto was created.
Truly one of the most stunning and insightful pieces of art in the book are the sections dedicated to the storyboarding of the musical sequences. The artists and directors bring up through the quotes laid beside the images how crucial it is to convey the character’s emotions and story through the songs. The artwork behind these memorable film moments shines through in the vivid color keys and storyboards, which often incorporate color and lighting into more complex scenes. One of the cultural aspects the artists brought into the film was the theme of nature, which is a pride for many Colombians, represented through the bold and brilliant colors of the flowers featured in its songs and environments.
Disney’s Encanto not only brings much-needed representation to Latin American culture but also uses the intricacies of Colombian history and traditions to show the darker and more nuanced themes that each character traverses throughout the film. Whether it’s the easter egg style hints in each character’s clothing or the beautiful, rickety, and mismatched style of the Madrigal’s home, the design elements of Encanto are unmatched in its meaning and remarkable prowess. The Art of Encanto is a must-read for any art enthusiast or anybody interested in learning more about film production. Readers of any artistic interest are sure to enjoy the artwork and lessons taught through the book and the film and remember, most importantly, that imperfections must come along for the ride.
Rubicon: Curiosity fuels long term projects
Published September 2023
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High school is treated as the time to experiment with new interests and within the US, a number of opportunities arise every year in which students are able to participate in. From Advanced Science Research to Advanced Technology Projects to the arts, students are offered the freedom to explore their interests on a large scale.
Junior Milan Mishra is working on a method for algae bloom monitoring using drones and machine learning. As a part of the Advanced Technology Projects class, his detector aims to automate the detection process by using the drone to take photos and analyze the images.
Mishra plans to finish within the next month or two to be able to present his final product at the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair later this school year.
“I became interested in the class as I’ve always seen people working on cool projects in past years, and I knew I wanted to have some sort of long-term project,” he said. (read more below)
Junior Adam Ebert has also been working on a device with real-life implementations: a robot that can locate a person or area while avoiding obstacles.
He plans for the robot, named FollowBot, to be used in the medical field and assist the elderly, as it can carry important objects and follow the user to a specific location. Having only started the project two weeks ago, Ebert expects the most challenging part to be the triangulation method or the way it locates objects, which is crucial to how the robot will work.
“It’s kind of just one of those issues where you first have to understand the math, you first have to do the math on paper, algebraically, and then you have to implement that into code. And if you didn’t know, computers don’t play nice with algebra,” he said.
Junior Ellie Putaski has been drafting a one-act titled “Still Here”, featuring several musical numbers that she hopes to direct. “Still Here” follows themes of nostalgia, growing up, and the fear of moving on as the main character meets her childhood best friend in her old hometown, who only she can see or remember.
“It’s been interesting doing research for styles of [instrumentals] and what I should include, as well as different characters. What key should it be in, time signature, stuff like that,” Putaski said.
In the future, Putaski wants to major in music for college. She views the one-act version of “Still Here” as a stepping stone to creating larger musical works.
Meanwhile, Ebert’s FollowBot project is a way for him to learn new skills.
“I’ve always been interested in electrical engineering and computer science, and so this kind of melds both really nicely,” he said.
Although the students work on different projects, they all have similar advice to give: start small, think it through, and take it one step at a time.
“Make sure that whatever you want to do is within your means, and that you like the topic enough so you won’t go crazy thinking about it for long periods of time,” Mishra said.
Although these projects are forecasted to take an extended amount of time, a highly anticipated end product will come as a result.
Rubicon: Mask up again to keep the community healthy
Published October 2023
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People have been dropping like flies these past few weeks. Disease spread is rising with the cold season, where people are more likely to get sick, something that’s been increasingly evident. Wearing a mask in class is a simple and effective way to combat this problem. While masks are generally associated with COVID-19 and the pandemic, it is a key part of stopping the spread of any infectious disease. The winter season has never been a better time to consider covering up.
Masking is proven to slow and prevent disease spread. According to studies analyzed by the Translational Psychiatry Journal on mask use, wearing a mask, especially for over two weeks, was proven to protect individuals and greatly reduce the spread of disease. The studies also showed that 71% of the respondents believed that wearing a mask would be effective at preventing disease spread, while 54% wore them to prevent infections.
Even though masking had previously become mandatory throughout the pandemic, protecting yourself with a mask has been a practice to protect and slow the spread of disease that is proven to work and is encouraged by health professionals. The CDC recommends in their guidance for mask use in influenza control that those affected with seasonal influenza viruses should wear a mask outside of isolation as well as other health procedures to protect others from the sickness. Other countries have already normalized mask-wearing, where an unwell person will wear a mask to protect themselves and others, such as in Asia where the outbreak of SARS in the early 2000s and air pollution over the decades have made masks a regular presence in public.
In addition to wearing masks, it’s important to follow other methods of staying healthy during the winter months, such as washing hands and covering coughs. Wearing a mask is merely one of many simple ways to help keep the school safe that anyone can do. Only by working together can disease spread be combatted this season.
Rubicon: Low COVID-19 vaccination participation aligns with infection rates
Published November 2023
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This year, more than seven million people have received their COVID-19 booster in the U.S., as seen in the data collected by the US Department of Health and Human Services from October. Back in 2022, however, 18 million people received the vaccine within six weeks of CDC approval, more than twice of what was received in 2023.
An up-to-date vaccination means that a person has received a vaccine dose from a 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. According to the MN Department of Health, as of October 19, the percentage of people who are up to date in the state of Minnesota is 4.8%. A large percentage of up-to-date recipients are from those who are older than 50, with 16.4% of the 65+ age group being vaccinated. Those in the 12-15 and 16-17 age groups each have only 1.3% of the population having received the vaccine this year.
Although the rate of COVID booster vaccines received is significantly lower this year and with teens, senior Cooper Olson believes that it is important for students to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the community. “I think that it’d be good for SPA students to prioritize getting a booster shot because there’s no reason not to make sure that everybody’s staying safe,” he said.
While it is possible for individuals to get COVID even after receiving the booster, the rate at which this happens is significantly lower once someone is up-to-date. In addition, actions such as mask-wearing have also been proven to reduce the spread of infection. The new 2023 vaccines have been updated to further target COVID variants as well.
Junior Scarlett Gibson has had COVID in the past and also recommends that people get the booster to lower the chances of getting and spreading the disease inside and outside of school. “I think it’s very important as someone who had COVID before,” she said. “Do it for yourself and others around you, or you’ll get sick.”
Booster shots have been proven to help prevent the spread of COVID in the past and in the present. Receiving the vaccine raises antibody levels in people immediately, greatly reducing the likelihood of getting the disease.
The CDC recommends vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech for everyone six months and older.
Rubicon: Visual Verses - Pitcher conveys emotion through ASL and music
Published November 2023
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Sophomore Violet Pitcher has always shared with her hands. Whether she is teaching about deaf culture to other members of the ASL Club or performing with her violin, Pitcher always strives to communicate her emotions in many physical forms.
Pitcher started ASL Club as part of her passion for learning languages. Her parents worked with a nonprofit organization that works with ASL, so she has been exposed to the deaf community from a young age. “I've heard I've overheard people talking like, ‘oh, I really want to learn ASL, and about deaf culture.’ And I think it's really important to spread awareness,” Pitcher said.
Aside from ASL, Pitcher also plays the violin, an instrument she has been learning since she was two and a half years old. Having played alongside her sisters in the Suzuki program for years, she sees violin as a large part of her life, noting how hard it is to learn and the feeling of accomplishment from learning hard pieces that she enjoys. “It can get really frustrating when...you keep messing up or keep tripping over. But I know I've had those moments of just pure joy when I finished a song and I know I've got it and it's memorized and down,” Pitcher said.
For Pitcher, the ASL Club is not only a place for people to learn sign language; she wants the club to share the diversity and inclusion present in the deaf community. She was inspired to create this environment after seeing the discrimination that deaf people face in a society that can predominantly hear. While the fluctuating attendance of club meetings makes it more difficult for Pitcher to be able to teach everyone at the same time, she aims to share deaf culture with ASL club members and the rest of the upper school.
Pitcher connects her love of playing violin with learning ASL as both involve the motion of hands to carry messages. “You need to have super soft flexible fingers to produce the sound that you're producing, and to communicate certain emotions,” she said about playing violin. Pitcher feels passionate about learning and teaching others about conveying ideas through gestures as she does when playing violin or communicating with ASL.
The link she has between violin and ASL is a thing Pitcher greatly values. She feels it is important for people to know how to share ideas with their physical gestures. “There's something really powerful about using your hands instead of your voice,” she said. “I find myself seeing the world in a new perspective through people who use their hands and their voices to communicate.”
Collecting soothes the soul and brings people together
Published February 2024
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Binders holding pages of clear card-holders. Shelves lined with figurines and keychains. A board full of magnets from every country. While it may seem like a mundane task to outsiders, starting a collection is a pastime that can bring happiness, build organization skills, and reduce stress. As a bonus, collectors get a slew of items to spend time with on their desks or in their drawers.
Collecting has a long and rich history over the years. Previous examples of popular collections included cabinets of curiosities, which were full of unusual items amassed by people in Renaissance Europe, or art patrons and collectors who paid artists to create paintings that have been kept and preserved for years. The activity has also existed as a hobby through generations, with collections passed on to children and grandchildren.
As a diverse, long-term hobby, collecting can be as flexible as necessary to fit into a busy schedule, different from other pastimes that may require more time in a shorter frame to appreciate.
The hobby also has many benefits to one’s well-being and happiness. Starting a collection can help fuel curiosity and creativity, as looking forward to finding or obtaining new things can enhance the opportunities to think further than before. A collection of items can also contribute to stress reduction and bring joy through the process of finding objects or looking at them, which often have aesthetic value to the collector. In addition, psychologist Carl Jung speculated that collecting originated from the ancient times of gathering and hunting, where keeping things would be beneficial to survival.
As such a widespread passion shared by many, collecting has garnered its own communities for its respective objects. For example, stamp collecting, known as philately, has a plethora of ways to engage with other collectors, showcase collections, or trade stamps online and offline. Having a collection of shared interests with someone else can open the door for potential new friendships and interactions, as a collection can often be a sign of how passionate someone is about a subject.
The benefits are far greater than collecting is given credit for, from the sense of community that the activity can bring to the enhancement of one’s mental health and happiness. Starting a collection is a fun hobby that can bring friends, both animate and inanimate, to one’s life.
Examining safety across educational institutes
Published February 2024
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There are about 100,000 public schools and more than 13,000 public school districts in the U.S., according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). On the other hand, there are over 30,000 private schools nationwide, with public and private schools offering different environments for students and families funding their education.
In terms of physical safety, one can find security measures such as cameras and staff in public and private schools. However, data from NCES shows that crime and violence happened half as often in private schools as in public schools. An evaluation done by the Institute of Educational Sciences on students in the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program found that students who attended a private school on vouchers were 35 percent more likely to report their school as being safe, and the parents of these voucher-holders were 36 percent more likely consider their children in "very safe" schools.
Private schools often have a smaller scale of the student population, contributing to the feeling of a tight-knit community.
Sophomore Taryn Karasti has been at the school since sixth grade, previously attending a public school. "At my public school, there were like 20 to 30 kids in class, so there wasn't a lot of opportunity to help students one-on-one," she said.
A study published in the Journal of School Choice reported that private schools were less likely to experience safety problems than public schools based on school size and enrollment factors. The study found private school students to be less likely to experience bullying, violence, and theft, with an 18 percent point average difference in gang-related activity as well.
In terms of her personal experience, "[I] did get bullied a lot in public school; if you weren't popular, you got bullied," said Karasti. "And it's definitely a safer space in private schools." She feels the students at SPA are better at resolving conflicts and working with the staff on problems than her experience at her public school.
Before coming to SPA in seventh grade, Huelster attended Hidden Rivers Middle School (formally Ramsey Middle School) in the public school system. "I feel like [in] elementary school, I still felt really safe there, and it was relatively big. But when I moved to Ramsey it was just so big… I just remember there being a lot of fights. I didn't necessarily feel unsafe, but I think I felt uncomfortable."
Huelster agreed that a smaller school environment helped her feel more at ease. "In a big environment, when you're with a lot of people, it's hard to know [those around you]... just being in a bigger crowd can feel overwhelming," Huelster said.
Huelster emphasized that a school's environment concerning safety does not reflect the institution's quality. However, she suspects she continues to hear about incidents from her friends in public schools because schools with a larger student body can be more prone to such events.
The Minnesota Report Card is one resource provided by the Minnesota Department of Education for viewing district and school safety data. The data encompasses multiple aspects of “safety,” expanding out from simply a physical sense and evaluating engagement and graduation rates, along with the degree of attention teachers pay to students. Visit the Minnesota Department of Education website to learn more.
Long-term project updates celebrate completion, share progress
Published March 2024
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September was the beginning of the school year and an opportunity for students to begin long-term projects that could progress alongside their high school journey. By the second semester, however, many of these projects are completed or are in their final stage; the experiences given from a long-term goal to the students become tools they can take with them on future endeavors.
Junior Ellie Putaski wrote and directed her original One Act musical, Still Here, which follows the story of Evelyn and her childhood friend Charlie whom only she can see, and explores themes of nostalgia and grief. The project was completed and performed as part of the Winter One Act performances on January 26.
After rounding out all of the show's elements, Putaski saw her long-term project at its completion the night it was finally performed, a moment that impacted her greatly. “By the end of it, I was in the back, absolutely just sobbing. Because, one, it's a sad story, but mainly it's the beginning of what I want to do with my life, and seeing it come to the stage and be executed so well and meaningfully was such a surreal experience,” Putaski said.
On the technology side, junior Adam Ebert has continued to work on his robotics project, which involves a robotic platform that aims to assist the ongoing staffing crisis in hospitals. The robot uses lidar (light detection and ranging), a method for detecting objects in an environment to track a person and help carry important equipment and objects to a destination. The project has stayed relatively consistent in design, as Ebert and his collaborator, senior Andy Wells, had to keep the constraints and possibilities in mind. However, their end goal will be determined by the outcome of the science fair, which has been their primary focus.
“If we get it to state or international, then it would be something we would focus much harder on reaching out to see if this theoretically could be deployed in a hospital setting,” said Ebert.
Looking forward, the students want to take the lessons learned from their long-term projects to apply to the realization of their upcoming ideas.
Both Ebert and Wells have plans after the completion of their robot; Ebert has a long list of other robotic concepts, while Wells wants to start early on his senior project. “[The project] is something that we are probably going to just polish off if we get further into the science fair, or just have fun with if we don't, and then we’ll try to just move on to other projects we all have. We both have dozens of projects lined up,” Ebert said.
Putaski hopes to use what she learned in creating a musical for the first time to expand on her projects in the future and in college, where she hopes she can use her experience to major in music. “There were times where I was like, ‘Oh, I really don't want to do this’,” she recalls. “I was still able to get it done and keep going. I was able to not fall out of love with music. I still love it so much.”
Nordic glides to state despite poor training conditions all season
Published March 2024
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While the ideal temperature for winter sports activity is seen as being below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, the weather this winter– which frequented the 50 and 60-degree range and became the highest average temperature on record– has made for a slightly more challenging ski season for the girls’ Nordic team, but a successful result at the state meet.
Sophomore Maren Overgaard, who joined the team in 7th grade, did not enjoy the conditions. “It's been kind of tricky navigating how much time we get on snow. So we've done a lot of extra dryland stuff and running,” she said.
Freshman Eleanor Mody reflected on the difficulty of finding a place to practice and the weather that persisted throughout most of the season. “At some points, we weren't even sure if we were going to have a state meet or even sections, that's how little snow there was,” Mody said.
At the section meet, the girls’ Nordic team did not qualify for state after losing the tiebreak, but six people were able to qualify individually. Freshman Paloma Good called the journey to state “fun and challenging,” noting how tight-knit the team felt throughout the entire experience. “Our team is very supportive and I enjoyed the time we spent together between races,” she said.
The warmer weather also means unpredictability for whether snowmaking is even available, as the temperature has to be under 30 degrees for the machines to create snow overnight. “We’re really limited on where we can go to ski because there's very few places that make snow, and then those places can't control the temperature,” Overgaard said.
Meanwhile, Good found that preparing for races was much easier due to the lack of protection from cold that needed to be added to her uniform. “Most years, I wear multiple layers of clothing under my uniform and have to worry about using hand and toe warmers. This year, the cold was not a problem so preparing for races was simpler,” said Good.
Even through the unprecedented heat, the team performed well at the competitive events. After taking all of the individual qualifying spots, Mody, alongside Captain Inga Wing, placed second in the state meet held Feb 14 and 15.
“We had so much fun, and it made me happy to see the season finally come together. Overall, I think we were able to make the season work pretty well despite the weather,” said Mody.
In the event of higher temperatures or no snow, the skiers suggest practicing other ways to stay fit, like roller skiing or strength training. “If snow isn't available, find ways to build your endurance whether that be biking or running, or some other sport,” Mody said.
Voting Rights Act aims to protect "freedom to vote"
Published April 2024
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On Apr. 18, the Minnesota Senate passed the Omnibus Elections Bill in a 35-32 vote, which included a Minnesota Voting Rights Act. Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL-Eagan) authored the bill, explaining that it “protects and expands the freedom to vote for people across the state, encourages voter participation, and prevents harassment of election workers.”
Minnesota had the highest voter turnout rate in the country in the 2016, 2018, and 2020 elections; according to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon’s website, 79.96% of eligible voters voted in the 2020 general election.
Despite these high levels of voter participation, a November 2023 ruling by the Eighth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals has made it more difficult for people to ensure their right to vote. That’s where the Minnesota Voting Rights Act comes in.
The Appeals Court’s decision removed the right for citizens to sue against discriminatory policies under Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting standards against a citizen’s race. The Minnesota Voting Rights Act will combat this decision by allowing citizens to protect their voting rights and sue against discriminatory voting practices within the state.
“I think the [Appeals Court] ruling is very, very controversial, but voting rights should be very much a guaranteed right for any citizen of the United States,” junior Cerena Karmaliani said. “And the fact that there is something threatening that is kind of disturbing.”
Similarly, sophomore Evan Morris believes the Minnesota Voting Rights Act will fortify voters’ rights, as long as it’s written properly. “I would want to be careful with making sure that all the fine details are streamlined … If it really is doing what it says, I think that could be a great way to help address some of the systemic issues that we have.”
Other protections, such as ensuring high schoolers the ability to pre-register to vote, were approved alongside the act in the Senate vote.
“I think that in Minnesota, there's not a problem yet,” said US History teacher Jon Peterson. “But it sounds like what the legislature is doing is saying that this could be a problem, and we want to get ahead of it ... so having a stronger law … would make a lot of sense.”
Next, the bill will return to the House of Representatives to approve the changes, and then the Gov. Tim Walz will make the final decision.
Ways to combat corporate downsizing
Published May 2024
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According to a survey conducted in 2022, over half of the respondents noticed a downsize in the product size of snacks, with an even larger percentage being concerned about the phenomenon. While the survey sees that people notice this most frequently in food items, this phenomenon, otherwise known as shrinkflation, has been rampant in commercial products due to companies looking for ways to save money. However, there are a few ways an average shopper can avoid paying more for less.
A simple way to combat shrinkflation is to check over the product on the next shopping trip. Before purchasing an item, turning the package around and checking the product’s prices and size will reveal the option that will give the most quantity over cost. Another way to see if a brand may be utilizing shrinkflation strategies is to check if the packaging has changed, which may indicate an updated product has been altered, becoming smaller.
University of Minnesota professor Metin Çakr believes that staying informed is the best way for consumers to avoid shrinkflation. “The best way from the consumer side to respond to [shrinkflation] is making sure that they check the labels and buy the product fully informed… that works best,” he said.
Business Insider recommends buying alternative brands or brands from retailers that are often cheaper and more resistant to changing the packaging and size of items. More advice includes keeping track of unit pricing by dividing the item’s cost by the product’s quantity or weight to make it easier to see which items are marked up for more money with the same amount.
Another cost-effective method of avoiding shrinkflation at the store is to buy in bulk. Shopping at stores like Costco or Sam’s Club where products can be purchased in large quantities for much cheaper will not only save money, such items will have a much lower chance of being shrinkflated by large corporations.
If enough people commit to shopping with avoiding shrinkflation in mind, brands will eventually notice that the practice of shrinkflation may not be increasing their income. Boycotting companies that engage in shrinkflation online and pushing for transparency with brands will also raise awareness about the issue.
“[Make] sure that you make your comparisons and buy the products that haven't downsized,” Çakr said. “That will be providing signals to manufacturers not to downsize because they'll be losing sets. Manufacturers are downsizing because it is successful. If it is not successful, they just won't do it.”
Love books? Shop local.
Published May 2024
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With the rise of new shopping avenues where anything can be ordered online and national chains like Barnes and Noble, independent bookstores have had to face more challenges than ever over the years. While it may seem more convenient to shop for books at a retail store, the value of visiting an independent bookstore goes beyond just buying the books. By supporting independent bookstores, students can contribute to their local community, receiving not only a book but also a reader-to-reader experience in the form of a bookseller.
Independent bookstores are vital contributors to the local community: creating jobs, supporting local authors, and building a unique and individual space with every bookstore, something that chain stores cannot provide as fully since every location is in the same format.
In addition, independent bookstores often hold community events and activities to interest people of all ages for reading, helping build community with their visitors.
Another benefit to visiting a local independent bookstore is the curated selection of books written by smaller or local writers that are often unavailable at larger chain stores. There’s also the unique experience of vintage or antique books in second-hand bookstores.
Shopping at independent bookstores is an important experience to learn about the importance of supporting local businesses and the value of human connection. Not only will going to an independent bookstore over a chain store offer a brand new selection of books to choose from, but buying them will be giving directly back to the community.
Independent bookstores play a vital role in neighborhoods. Find one near you and stop by.
Hanna dives into the world of local politics with McCollum
Published September 2024
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With the upcoming 2024 elections, junior William Hanna knew they had to involve themselves in politics over the summer break. From the third week of June to the second week of August, Hanna interned for the campaign of Betty McCollum, the congressional representative for Minnesota’s fourth district.
The task at hand for the summer focused on using the McCollum campaign’s resources to attach her name to local Democratic candidates.
“She wins by like 70% of the vote every single time, and so the biggest concern was not getting Betty elected, because that’s kind of a given in Minnesota politics,” Hanna said.
Activities done to help keep the Democratic majority in the State House and State Senate involved typical campaigning activities such as marching in parades and knocking on doors, but the internship also allowed Hanna to be able to experience the process on a personal level, such as meeting McCollum herself.
“We got to have lunch with her at a restaurant and just chat about stuff,” they said. “It was just really awesome to just be able to ask her about stuff, and talk to her because she’s so smart and so experienced, and hear how she thinks about things.”
The internship came with other educational opportunities due to the fact that it was part of a nationwide internship program, one of which was the ability to connect with like-minded people interested in politics in and outside of the state.
“It was really fun to have a group of people that were as engaged as I am, and to be able to volunteer with them,” Hanna said. “We had a group chat, and so we would all be out door-knocking at the same time… and every time one of us had a funny interaction, we just sent off a text, and then we’d all like, look at it and laugh.”
Hanna encourages students interested in politics to consider participating in an internship, citing how important the help of volunteers is in campaigns. “It can seem scary to get involved in politics, but you can make a big difference,” they said.
New female coaches empower student athletes to make a positive impact
Published September 2024
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Not new to SPA, MS science teacher Stacy Overgaard serves as the new head coach of Trojan (boys) Swimming and Diving and assistant coach of Sparks (girls) Swimming and Diving. This year, Overgaard returns to coaching both teams, having previously coached from 2001 to 2008.
“My philosophy is ‘anyone can contribute to the team’, regardless of how fast you start out,” she said.
Leslie Blakely is the new volleyball coach. Her experience includes coaching both high school and club for 10 years. Blakely finds her favorite aspect of coaching to be encouraging her athletes to be the best they can.
“As a woman, I find it very important for girls to participate in sports and have a coach who is there to mentor and support them,” she said.
Logan DuFord, a new coach for girl’s soccer, brings her connections with soccer to the SPA field. Before coaching, DuFord played on several collegiate teams, citing the varied experience as a major contribution to her approach to coaching.
“The opportunity to make a positive impact on their journey and witness their progress is what I cherish most about coaching,” she said.
Global stakes: foreign policy is a critical issue this election
Published October 2024
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While many of the heavily debated topics in the election have been domestic issues, equal emphasis has been placed on the country’s foreign interactions. From the two wars that the U.S. has had a heavy involvement in to international relations, voters are paying special attention to candidate stances.
Israel-Palestine
Tensions in the Middle East continue to stay relevant for voters and politicians alike as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. The U.S. has sent roughly $22.76 billion in military aid funds to Israel.
“Neither candidate is particularly vocal about changes to Middle East policy, which leaves the main difference to framing,” junior William Hanna said.
Harris has called for a two-state solution to the conflict, leaving both sides with territory, and has advocated for aid in Gaza, but also supports Israel’s right to defend itself. Meanwhile, Trump has expressed that he is not interested in a separate Palestinian state.
For voters, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has continued to worsen throughout the war, has been a large factor of discussion.
Junior Lucille Brooks feels that those able to vote should consider the conditions of these civilians. Since Oct. 7, at least 42,600 people in Gaza have been killed, which includes nearly 16,765 children, according to the Al Jazeera live data tracking casualties.
“So many people are dying, and we haven’t really had an accurate count in a while, but estimations are getting way up high, and it’s just really horrifying that both of our presidential candidates are condoning it,” Brooks said.
Climate Change
Compared to other foreign policy issues, the looming threat of the environment’s decline involves international cooperation to resolve a worldwide problem. As a foreign policy issue, the climate crisis has the potential to affect geopolitical relations between countries as debate arises over solutions, and potential border conflicts due to the physical effects of climate.
“[Climate change] transcends borders, ethnicity, and gender… while impacting everything from natural disasters to migration patterns and economic stability,” junior Evan Morris said. “I think that we should all keep this in the forefront of our minds this election season because we are the generation that will face the consequences.”
The presidential candidates differ on the issue. Harris supports Biden’s climate policies and sees the crisis as a threat, while Trump doubts that human involvement is responsible for climate change, and has talked about expanding fossil fuel production.
Ukraine War
The U.S. has been a firm supporter of Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in 2022, providing billions in aid for military support. While both candidates agree that it is in the U.S.’s best interest to end the war, they differ on how. Harris has advocated for and, as VP, represented the U.S. in aiding Ukraine until the war ends; Trump has said that he has no intentions of continuing to fund Ukraine if elected.
Hanna believes that Ukraine is an important foreign policy issue to consider in the upcoming election, especially toward democracy as a whole.
“If we cut our funding to Ukraine, which is what many Americans seem to want, Ukraine would likely be conquered in fairly short order,” they said. “It sets a dangerous precedent, especially for places like Taiwan.”
Taiwan, a now democratic country, was previously under authoritarian rule by the Republic of China.
As involved as the U.S. is in international relations, it is no surprise that voters have been vocal about knowing candidates’ stances and
plans for tackling foreign policy.
“People care about international issues out of … respect for the lives and situations of people around the world,” Hanna said. “I find it so crucial to stay tuned in to what’s going on in other parts of the world.”
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Movies to musicals: a history of adaptation
Published November 2024
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Since the existence of musical theater as an art form known to break the boundaries of genres from Greek theater to Italian opera, it is no surprise that many productions on Broadway are stage adaptations of existing films.
Movies, in comparison to other forms of media, are more closely tied to the stage, with their already visual narratives. The existence of movie musicals and movie adaptations of existing musical theater productions attest to this connection. In addition, adapting an already successful film with a recognizable title and a fanbase serves to easily attract commercial attention.
Though it may seem like every well-known film is getting a musical adaptation and vice versa, the phenomenon actually reaches further into the past. The first known retellings of this kind were both released in 1953, in which Nothing Sacred and Carnival in Flanders received Broadway adaptations. In the present day, shows performed on Broadway yearly have never failed to include film adaptations. The current highest-grossing Broadway show of all time is The Lion King, a stage musical based on the Disney movie of the same name, in which the animal characters are portrayed by people in costumes ranging from puppets to headpieces.
While similarities between the two mediums are initially apparent, the nature of theater itself allows for Broadway productions of films to shine in their own right. On a single stage, a musical must structure its plot without edited cuts or instant scene changes; the adaptation of Moulin Rouge! misses the fast-paced editing style of the original film as a result of being a stage production. Additionally, the runtime of musicals tends to average longer than movies, where adaptations often use the opportunity to delve deeper into subjects that were only briefly covered in a film; the stage adaptation of Mary Poppins elaborates on the backstories of the parents, and the musical version of Beauty and the Beast adds new songs to the existing film that expand on the characters’ development.
However, the changes that need to be made for a film to find a successful run on the stage are not always easy to come by, and the commercial safety that an already popular movie gives to its Broadway adaptation may have contributed to the oversaturation in adaptation media. Despite this, as entertainment continues to evolve, the enduring success of movie to musical adaptations demonstrates the transformative potential of a stage production.
Upcoming adaptations on Broadway include Elf, which the revival of the musical based on the 2003 movie opens November 17, and Death Becomes Her, a musical adapted from the 1992 film of the same name opening November 21.
Ignored identity: socioeconomic diversity is worth a conversation ​
Published January 2025
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Money plays a big role in social culture: students are seen walking into school with drinks in hand, taking a break during the day to grab Chipotle or Tono’s or leaving to carry expensive sports equipment to practice after class. However, conversations about different aspects of diversity rarely (if ever) extend to socioeconomic status.
Talking about money is hard for many reasons, especially for high schoolers. The money equation in their home is often something they have no control over, and the infinite range of financial situations that every student carries with them to school brings mixed reactions. When the topic is brought up, some are offended, while others may not care. The money conversation skirts awkwardly around a subject that deserves more nuance and understanding than the assumptions it is given by the greater student body.
The school’s financial aid philosophy, as it reads on the school’s website, is to provide access to the school and promote an understanding of socioeconomic diversity to its student body. Nearly a third of students received part of the $4.8 million financial aid budget for the 2024-2025 school year, yet conversation frequently assumes that everyone has the same relationship with money.
Students often perpetuate a false reality that everyone can afford everything they are offered. A choice to not attend a language exchange or semester away may spark unnecessary questions. A college decision is often assumed to be simply an outcome of academic achievements, but financial aid is a factor some students must prioritize over others.
Socioeconomic status is different from other conversations, as it is less visible than race or gender, but it does not deserve any less of a place in conversations about diversity. Economic diversity in the student body permeates traditional categories as everyone has a different experience and perception of their circumstance. However, even in situations where a student’s economic status might be easy to see, it usually isn’t addressed.
According to a 2019 report from The Century Foundation, an independent research organization, socioeconomic and racial diversity in the learning environment is associated with better educational outcomes and improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Diversity enhances the learning experience of all students, so it is imperative that we know how to talk about it.
When discussing socioeconomic diversity, assumptions about one’s financial situation create a community that is not representative of the entire student body. Discard the misconception that the prestige of a college exclusively reflects a student’s academic achievement, and use the opportunity to initiate meaningful discussion. Consider the environment and attitude around money that you’ve grown up with and how that affects your understanding. Seek to understand rather than overlook the school’s economic diversity.​
​Wilsons share love of performing arts, music, and creation
Published February 2025
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While many student siblings may share extracurriculars, few range as far as the musical talents of senior Coda Wilson and sophomore Anneli Wilson, whose activities range from performing, singing and playing their instruments alongside their musician family members.
"My first interaction with music, that I can remember, was listening to the ‘Jackson 5: The Ultimate Collection’ on our family's CD player in the living room," Coda Wilson said. Music has continued to be present in Wilson's life since then; in addition to listening to music, he currently takes piano and voice lessons, and participates in a musical theater workshop.
The family of the Wilson siblings has always had a musical background. Their grandfather was a musician, and their parents were music majors who met in college.
"My dad was one of the first few members of the vocal group, Cantus, and my mom is a violin and ukulele teacher," Coda Wilson said.
From a young age, the siblings were encouraged to interact with music, singing as a family at church and playing piano, an instrument Coda Wilson continues to play, whereas Anneli Wilson has moved to the cello.
The family also collaborates musically using both their voices and their instruments. Anneli Wilson recounts their family covering “Over The Rainbow” during the pandemic, in which the family recorded themselves playing their instruments and singing. Additionally, a cover of “ Hold You Dear” was produced for their mother last year. "My mom heard it, and she just started to think about how it related to our family. And she could hear all of us singing it," Anneli Wilson said.
The way in which the Wilsons interact has always been positive.
"There isn't a whole lot of pressure in my family to like, be exceptional at music. Learning how to play music, and … it being in my life for so long has filled my life," Anneli Wilson said. "Most of my extracurriculars are connected to music in some way, and it's just like a large part of my life." Anneli Wilson is a part of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony, a string trio, and musical theater.
Coda Wilson shares a similar sentiment, believing that the most important part of performing is one’s enjoyment of the music. “If you're performing something and enjoy it, the performance will benefit greatly from your enjoyment, and it'll be fun for you,” he said.
As rehearsals for the US musical approach, Coda and Anneli Wilson continue to pursue their musical activities through preparing for “Hadestown”.
​SASH-led assembly calls attention to harassment culture
Published March 2025
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Led by seniors Cerena Karmaliani and Serene Kalugdan, Students Against Sexual Harassment (SASH) has been collaborating with administration on the school's sexual harassment policy over the past year. The assembly on Feb. 25 covered details on the school's policy, presented consequences, had students discuss potential scenarios and provided resources from the conference SASH members attended.
The idea for the group has been in progress since last year, when three students, including Kalugdan and Karmaliani, attended a summit in Washington, D.C. The summit, alongside discussions in the Upper School Council and a previous senior project, helped them realize the benefits of having a club to lead conversation on the subject.
"Going to the summit, going and leading assemblies, [it] feels like a really important process for restoring a community or making a community stronger," Karmaliani said.
SASH hoped to attend the summit in Georgetown again this year but went to a local conference at the Sexual Violence Center instead due to budget reasons.
"We want [to attend] one summit with the outside community because sexual assault and harassment isn't a community-specific problem; it's a broader problem," Kalugdan said. While the content was aimed toward adults, Kalugdan and Karmaliani found the experience rewarding as it allowed students to interact with those outside their immediate circle.
"All of those hyperlinked resources that are available on those slides [were] given to us [at] the Sexual Violence Center, by people we met… we genuinely made connections with all of these communities and people," Karmaliani said. SASH hopes that the club will hold assemblies and attend summits yearly.
As SASH noticed many students approaching the club with questions, Kalugdan and Karmaliani decided to plan the assembly around establishing clarity on SPA's sexual harassment policy and the school support system.
"We hope that students can continue to go up to the leaders of SASH and confide in them, and also have somebody like the two of us, where they can go up to the Dean or go up to a counselor and have that support system at school," Karmaliani said.
Looking ahead, SASH plans to extend its impact into the LS and MS, working alongside established wellness curriculums. One goal involves extending support among male-identifying students. "Something that I'm excited for...is that this is the beginning of SASH. I'm excited that this is the beginning that everybody's excited about, but it also is really hard because we're just doing the small steps in the beginning," Kaludgan said.
As a new club this year, SASH will continue to work on spreading education and awareness in the future. The group welcomes all students to meet in the debate room during club days.
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​(A question for the ages: to boycott or not to boycott) Boycotts cause more harm to people than corporations
Published April 2025​
As companies continue rolling back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies after President Donald Trump’s executive order earlier this year, nationwide outrage against brands has become increasingly prevalent. While users on social media post about spending blackouts, economic resets and boycotting large corporations daily, the impact does not seem to translate to sales.
The primary goal of many current boycotts is to inflict economic damage toward corporations. Beyond theory, however, this is hard to accomplish. The unfortunate reality of many boycotts is that in most cases, only a small percentage of the population will truly participate. In turn, the financial loss faced by large companies is often not great enough to create a meaningful impact on the business.
Making an impact by boycotting brands is difficult because many large conglomerates have a wide variety of income sources. A small dent in financial gains from those protesting specific brands may go unnoticed under the large umbrella of products that a boycotting consumer may be unintentionally supporting through another source of a company’s income.
Boycotts can also have unintended consequences for the people and communities surrounding such companies. Oftentimes when a company is facing losses from a boycott, it will instead opt to lay off employees. Additionally, when corporations with multiple locations lose money, they more often than not begin by closing down stores in areas that need their resources the most.
Boycotts against retailers can also negatively impact businesses that have products on retailer’s shelves that shoppers participating in the current boycotts will want to support, including minority-owned businesses that will be affected by the decrease in sales. Several Black company founders have spoken out on social media about the boycott over Target’s DEI rollback, urging people to consider the consequences faced by Black-owned businesses.
The disconnect between actual purchasers of brands being boycotted and those who take to social media calling for change further contributes to the lack of significant losses these companies face. When boycotts and protests using purchasing power do not last for more than a day to a few weeks, the message sent is undermined through the lack of impact that the companies actually face. The Feb. 28 one-day blackout to protest company policies saw little to no change in sales at Amazon, whose sales were actually 3% higher than average.
The nature of social media has made it easier for boycotts to fall into the trap of performative activism–reducing the spread of informative content and meaningful change in favor of visibility on social media, which often does not translate to real change offline. Nuanced conversation is overlooked by an online algorithm that will amplify the outraged voices starting boycotts based on misinformation.
To promote real change offline and toward companies, support locations and organizations that align with your values. Diversifying shopping options will help reduce a public overreliance on the products of specific corporations and sustain local businesses for periods much longer than a day or week-long blackout will. Bring activism and conversation offline by giving money to the places where it does matter.
​Catching them all again; Pokémon's resurgence
Published April 2025
From schoolyard trades to mobile battles, Pokémon has evolved with each generation. On top of a constant stream of new Pokémon species and animated media furthering the story of the franchise’s world, the games continue to gain users through new platforms, genres and mechanics with each new release.
The Pokémon franchise began as a pair of role-playing games in 1996 and became a massive global phenomenon in the years following. The core concept revolves around the player catching and training the titular creatures, which one can then use to battle others. This idea is explored through various forms of media, including video games, animated series and a trading card game.
"It's a really complex concept, and there's a lot of ways to get into it, because you can watch the show and play the games and collect the cards. There's just a lot of outlets for it," senior Duncan Lang said.
While Pokémon has remained popular since its first rise to fame, a resurgence in Pokémon cards has taken place in the past few years– including at SPA. From nostalgic adults who grew up with Pokémon rekindling their childhood interest to popular streamers recording themselves opening packs for a new young audience, the trading card game has experienced increased traction.
The newest release in the franchise, Pokémon TCG Pocket, brings the cards to mobile by combining the traditional cards' familiar gameplay experience with a digital selection of collectible Pokémon cards with unique abilities to build decks and battle others.
For junior Echo Dayton, TCG Pocket is her first interaction with the franchise. "I get to live out this game that I didn't get to play when I was a kid," she said. "I was kind of worried, especially because I hadn't done anything with Pokémon before, that [the game] was gonna be really hard to figure out. But… it's very accessible. And there are just so many different things that you can do."
As with the physical game, TCG Pocket is enjoyed by many for its wide variety of unique cards. Free packs of cards are openable daily, and the game includes features that allow players to create collections and binders to showcase their favorite finds.
Junior Ethan He believes that this aspect of the new mobile game helps bring back a sentiment from the physical trading cards. "A lot of people only care about making their money with the real cards," he said. "It used to be [that] you collect them because it looks cool. And I think that's kind of brought back with the online version because you're not really selling your collection. You're just collecting.”
This combination of new twists to classic gameplay allows Pokémon to keep their media refreshing and beloved by many for years.
Sophomore Eli Perry first got into Pokémon when his parents got him his first pack of cards at age 4, and he has continued to enjoy the games since. “I still play because I just love the franchise,” he said. “It's important to me. It's been important to me for years. Like, I am buying the new Pokémon game as soon as it comes out.”
The next main game in the franchise, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, continues the franchise’s foray into open world gameplay and is set to release in late 2025 for the Nintendo Switch.
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​Melchert speaks fluent guitar
Published May 2025
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The strum of guitar strings has filled the sound of junior Josh Melchert’s life for several years, an instrument that has helped bring him not only connections, but the ability to connect as well.
Growing up with musician parents – a piano and cello instructor mother and a father who plays the drums — Melchert’s previous interactions with music involved playing the drums on his father’s kit before he branched out to take guitar lessons at age five.
“I feel like it’s given me an opportunity to meet so many new people and express myself to people. You know, like play actual shows now and play some gigs in front of real people. It’s opened a lot of doors for me,” he said.
Melchert’s guitar playing also finds its way into other aspects of his life, especially in interacting with and understanding others, a skill he considers integral to making music.
“Learning how to play in groups has taught [me that] you communicate non-verbally. You can communicate through music, through expressions and through gestures,” he said. “That has helped me with how I can talk to people in discussions and school … sometimes people understand stuff in different ways that you kind of have to figure out.”
The importance of connection and understanding became more clear to him through a formative memory of his musical journey, where he would be performing on the guitar in front of an audience for the first time during his first-grade talent show.
“I was super nervous to play guitar, and I was just gonna quit before the talent show,” he said. “I had a music teacher … he kind of gave me a pep talk, and he actually came up on stage with me and played with me. So that was kind of like a small moment and a small thing that someone did for me, but it had a huge impact on how I play guitar.”
Consistency over time is another hurdle in practicing an instrument, and Melchert acknowledges his past struggle with finding his musical direction and whether he wanted to continue at all. However, discovering his unique form of expression through the guitar has become his motivation to persevere.
“I think I like playing guitar because it is a way that I can express myself, because sometimes it’s hard to express yourself in words or in writing … it really represents myself and who I am, especially in improvising and stuff,” Melchert said. “That’s something that’s very powerful, and I think that’s something that I’ve been drawn to my entire life.”
For Melchert, the reward for years of practice has been the voice the guitar has given him, and he has never regretted the decision to keep playing.