the
RUBICON
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022
GEOLOGISTS DISCOVER INVER GROVE METEOR SITE AVERY LIU
STAFF WRITER
Almost 500 million years ago, a meteor with a total area of 9 miles came hurtling towards a peaceful, ocean covered Minnesota. On Sept. 15, geologists from the University of Minnesota, who were creating a geological map of Dakota county, discovered this meteor crash site. They found disturbances in the rock almost 350 feet below the earth’s surface. This originally led to their discovery, according to Jim Cotter, a professor of geology at the U of M. Science teacher Joe Martin, who teaches the Space Science elective, said, “These things have been floating around for a long time. So we can learn about what the early solar system may have been made of and tell us about the formation of our solar system.” The disturbances that the geologists found were samples of a different type of rock called shocked quartz, which is a type of rock that needs an enormous amount of compression to form. The disturbed site was around 2.5 miles wide and could possibly have had a total area of nine miles. The discovery of this site could potentially have an impact on finding out more about the atmosphere and space in general. Big astronomical events like these have a way of bringing people together. “These [events] are among many things in astronomy that have a sense of making you feel like you’re a part of something. Not just something we’re reading about, but that its right here that something happened,” Martin said.
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the student newspaper of St. Paul Academy and Summit School 1712 Randolph Ave St. Paul, MN 55105 Volume 48, Issue 3
rubiconline.com
@therubiconspa
GOV. TIM WALZ (D)
SCOTT JENSEN (R)
ON WOMEN’S HEALTH: - supports abortion rights - offers legal protection to women who come to MN from other states for reproductive health services
ON WOMEN’S HEALTH: - said he would “try to ban abortion” with rape and incest exceptions ON CLIMATE CHANGE: - wants to lift state bans on building nuclear plants and “clean car” rules.
ON CLIMATE CHANGE: - 100% of MN electricity from renewable sources by 2040. GUNS: - supports background checks and removal of guns from people in crisis.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Hazel Waltenbaugh - Information from campaign websites
GUNS: - proposed gun control bills in the legislature, but has changed his stance to pro-gun.
RACE FOR GOVERNOR. Tim Walz (D-incumbent) and Scott Jensen (R) are the forerunners in a gubenatorial race of six candidates. Others: Steve Patterson (Grassroots), Hugh McTavish (Independent), James McCaskel (Legalize Marijuana Now), Gabrielle Prosser (Socialist).
Midterms at forefront of Minnesotans’ minds MN BY THE
NUMBERS
4.1
million eligible voters in the state
30,000 Number of election workers in Minnesota
80% percentage of voter turnout in 2020.
CLARA BAGNOLI
Senior Lindsay Browne’s 18th birthday was exciting for many reasons; the most important for her was the ability to vote. With early voting started and the official election day on Nov. 8, candidates travel the state in full campaigning mode. Senior George Peltier can’t seem to avoid it: “I see ads on TV, front lawns, stickers, t-shirts, online, and hear them on the radio,” he said. But he knows campaigning isn’t always the full story. “It is important to do research. A 5-minute Google search on reliable sites is plenty, in my opinion, to see who is running and what they stand for,” he said. A way to help out in elections without being able to vote is at the polls by volunteering on election day. Local student Zora is getting involved for the first time this year. “I’ll be helping to check people in and making sure they understand how to fill out their ballot,” she said. There is currently a national shortage of poll workers and according to a 2018 survey only 8% of poll workers are under the age of 25. Rhe midterms have been at the forefront of Political Discourse club meetings at school. Senior Maya Sachs, who leads the group, knows local elections are the most important to politics. “The midterms really dictate or encapsulate every other topic [we have discussed], because a lot of political issues, like all that is happening with policy, are happening on a state level.” Fellow student leader Cassie Zirps added that “Young people: we’re gonna be around the longest, right, so we’re the ones who [the election] is most important to.” STAFF WRITER
Faculty are also involved. History teacher Andrea Sachs engages in political campaigning. “The most effective way to persuade someone is still face-to-face contact [...] it’s good to remember that a lot of people are actually psyched when someone knocks on their door,” she said. Door-knocking is a popular form of voter outreach where volunteers or people in a campaign visit neighborhoods and either collect data about voters’ opinions or inform citizens about candidates’ policies. During the peak of the pandemic in the 2020 election, face to face campaigning was almost completely shut down. “There was a lot of phoning and there was a lot of text banks, but it’s really easy to ignore a text,” Sachs said. “I definitely recommend [door knocking] to students.” Voter turnout made history in 2020, with nearly 80% registered voter turnout according to the MN Secretary of State office. Vote registration can be completed even on Nov. 8 in person, and approximately 10% of Minnesota voters do this. Mock elections, bringing minors to the polls, and volunteering are all part of informing the citizens of the future. For Sachs, “It helps develops a habit [of voting].” All constitutional offices are up for reelection this year including Governor. Sachs encourages students to pay attention to one specific race: “The secretary of state is the person who kind of overseas elections in the state,” she said. “Making sure that we’re using our vote to support people who protect the integrity of our system,” Sachs said. Secretary of State incumbent Steve Simon (D) is up for reelection against challenger Kim Crockett (R).
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HerSpace hosts annual Love Your Body Day ELIZA FARLEY THE RUBICON
Eyes. Legs. Stomach. Hands. Boobs. These words adorn post-its on the outlined figure representing features people love about themselves. The product of an annual event, the female-identifying student affinity group HerSpace
BREAK THAT HABIT How do routines and behavior effect growth and success?
hosted Love Your Body Day, an event promoting body positivity. On Sept. 26. Student leaders Clara Ann Bagnoli and Audrey Leatham set up in Lower Schilling during x-period with the help of faculty advisor Nan Dreher. While the event was going on, students of all grades and genders stopped by to put up a
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post-it or two. The poster was covered in a rainbow of sticky notes by the time the event ended. It now hangs on an inward-facing window in the upper library where students can see it as they walk through the hallway. Dreher was pleased that Love Your Body Day attracted a varied group
SUPERSTITIONS Salt over the shoulder? Walking under ladders? What do students believe in?
IN THIS ISSUE:
of participants. “[Body positivity is] definitely an issue that is big for women, and we’re a female-identifying group… But also, at the same time, [Love Your Body Day is] something everyone in PHOTO: Eliza Farley the community can par- POST IT. Clara Bagnoli ticipate in,” Dreher said. hosted the table on Sept. 26 where students stopped to write a note continued on pg. 2 of body positivity.
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FALL SPORTS RECAP Season wrap up. State bids. How are the Spartans finishing in fall sports?
1-3 - News • 4-6 - Opinion • 7 - Good Question • 8-9 - In Depth
10-11 - Feature • 12-13 - A&E • 14-15 - Sports • 16 - Then and Now