The big Why

There’s a big why in the world. Aristotle remarked that we never can know a thing until we know why it’s there. We can know its form, its composure, its construction, but until we know its function we cannot understand the thing. “Why,” it seems, is tantamount to our finding meaning and purpose in the world we live. Why is a hard question to ask. … Continue reading The big Why

Facing the fear

I distinctly remember walking back to my dorm on Sunday, March 5 around midnight. Apart from the crunch of my shoes in the newly fallen snow and the passing of Campus Safety vehicles, the college streets were perfectly silent. An eerie orange glow reminiscent of ‘50s horror movies reflected off the buildings and snow banks. I tried to keep in the open, well-lit parts of … Continue reading Facing the fear

Support victims of assaults

The events of the last two weeks have led the students of this rural, collegiate community to believe we are no longer immune to the outside world of violence. Although these acts were frightening, it was calming to hear the President, Ray Thrower and the St. Peter Police Department state how rare these occurrences were. In fact, assaults on campus have not happened for over … Continue reading Support victims of assaults

T-shirts and working conditions

The next time you wash all those T-shirts that have accumulated from various campus events and organizations, take a quick look at the tag. Which company made them?  Where? Most of mine say “Gildan” and are made in Honduras, Haiti or Nicaragua. Gildan is a Canadian company that produces a large volume of the t-shirts we buy. They work very hard to look like supporters … Continue reading T-shirts and working conditions

The art of superfanning

G-A-C. What? Great at cheering. What? That’s what being a Gustavus superfan is all about. Body paint, gorilla costumes, lion skins, banana suits and respectful cheers that in no way put down the opponent. What? That’s what we do. Gustavus superfans have been running rampant and shirtless through campus for weeks in conjunction with many outstanding playoff performances. Men’s Basketball competed in the MIAC finals, … Continue reading The art of superfanning

Let the madness begin

March is defined by a few things: the beginning of spring, St. Patrick’s Day and March Madness. This year, the NCAA is experimenting by expanding the field to 68 teams with four play-in games before the “second round” begins with the field of 64 college basketball teams set. What do sports fans love about March Madness? It’s easy. Expect the unexpected. There will always be … Continue reading Let the madness begin