the
SPECTRUM
“Your Voice in Print”
blakespectrum.org
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 20 | 2026
ISSUE VII
The Blake School
Visiting Author Anton Treuer
Educates & Enlightens
Submitted by Faith Zhao
Holocaust and Genocide Studies and American Narratives attended visiting author Treuer’s lecture on Feb. 13. Treuer spoke about the complex history of his father’s immigration story from Austria to the United States, following Germany’s annexation of Austria in 1938.
Ben Aviles | Co-Editor-in-Chief
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n Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, students and faculty worked with a Native American author and professor at Bemidji State University, Anton Treuer. Treuer focuses on the revitalization of Ojibwe culture and language. His works include “Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask” and “Where Wolves Don’t Die.” On Feb. 13, Treuer began the day at 7:30 with
a breakfast with faculty. He then spoke with Holocaust & Genocide Studies, American Narratives, Marine Biology, and AP US History classes. He also spoke to the entire student body in the Juliet Nelson Auditorium. On Feb. 14, he worked with faculty during their intercultural competency professional development day, delivering two presentations on Awakening Education: Fostering Success for All. Treuer has extensive experience working with
K-12 students across Minnesota. In his school visits, Treuer works to provide information and perspective. Alongside his cultural expertise, he said his Native and Austrian-Jewish heritage allows him to broaden and change stories and narratives. Treuer said he works to reshape the Native narrative: “Reducing Native history to traumas and tragedies is not quite accurate and not quite fair.” Instead, he tells stories of success. He said, “We own and acknowledge and
shine light on tragedies. But I try to offer a more holistic and complete picture of the Native experience.” Providing a new narrative complicates previous understandings of Natives. The process “opens up an invitation to humanize, rather than just group people, as victims or relics of the past.” Alongside a reshaping of narratives, Treuer wants to restructure a classroom experience. He works to recenter the learner and interpersonal connection. One of his mission’s
pillars is to “contribute to a different understanding, not just of Native people, but of the best way to do education.” This new education experience starts with the belief that “An educational experience for a young person should be a positive and empowering experience.” He said, “It often has not felt that way for minoritized students.” According to Treuer, an empowering experience begins with human connection: “The boundaries we put around groups and stuff are pretty artificial. Seeing
each person’s unique character and story is really helpful and really healing.” Treuer remains spirited about the future and the school. “The students at Blake are probably a lot more inspiring than most of the adults who get the mic in this country.” He surmised, “I know it’s dark times out there, whether you’re looking at climate change, politics, or race relations in this country right now, but there are a lot of good people doing a lot of good things. And I feel very hopeful.”
Quiz Bowl Team Competes at State Competitors find early success Faith Zhao | Creative Director
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n Thursday Feb. 12, the 12th-seeded Quiz Bowl team placed fourth at the State Playoffs, which consisted of large and highly competitive schools like Wayzata, Minnetonka, and Edina. “[Jonathan] Osters never had a team win
around state,” said Co-Captain Jack Dillon ‘26. “Every time we went around… we started eyeing the trophies in the center of the room and thinking every round we win, it’s getting a little bit bigger.” In the double elimination format, the team consisting of Dillon, Charlie Frenzel ‘28, Liam Schmalsteig ‘27, Andres Amador Fitzgerald ‘26, and Co-
Captain Hazel Alexander ‘27, first narrowly loses to fifth seeded Burnsville, but then went on a winning streak, defeating 13th seeded St. Thomas Academy, sixth-seeded Edina, and a rematch against Burnsville. Dillon said, “It was really fun because I’m pretty sure at least at some point, each of us was able to come up with something that we only knew because we’d just been studying it. And again,
that felt good because it’s one of those moments where you feel proud to know the thing.” After each winning round, the team not only celebrated, but they frequently highlighted and were greatly impressed at the sheer breadth of each other’s knowledge, complimenting that each members’ correct answer brought home the winning points. After the fifth round,
Submitted by Alexander
Quiz Bowl members Frenzel, Dillon, Alexander, Schmalsteig, and Amador Fitzgerald hold their fourth place State Playoffs trophy.
the schools left were firstseeded Minnetonka, second-seeded Eden Prairie, third-seeded Wayzata, and Blake. They fell to Wayzata. Despite the expected loss, the team still fought
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Sports: Page 6
Opinions: Page 7
great lengths to get fourth place. “The best part of [this] wasn’t even seeing the results. It was walking out with my team and the excitement together on that journey we’d [shared],” said Dillon.