I’m sure everyone has noticed the dueling tablers outside the Caf. It’s the Tobacco Ban versus the Anti-Anti Smoking table. This is yet another admirable example of the Gustie passion for protest and petition-signing. Now, to be fair, I’ve only briefly discussed the issue with the tables, but I think I’ve got the gist of it, which has been dragged up repeatedly throughout Gustavus history. … Continue reading Smokin’ hot debate

Day to day I am faced with the dilemma of how to  communicate the necessity and immediacy of the accelerating climate disaster and the ongoing environmental degradation. Do I tell you to take off your shoes, burrow your toes, your fingers, your nose into the dirt, and relish the smell and feel of the earth as you did as an exploring, inquisitive child? Nature’s wonders … Continue reading Thoreau-ly consumed

Dogs and cats ran loose along the sidewalks of Gustavus. Students jumped for joy, running toward animals, and scooped them up by the handfuls like candy. All the worries of finals melted away. All of the anxiety of the night’s homework left. All of the stress from the daily struggles,  time management, and  lack of sleep ceased to matter. It was a good day for … Continue reading Reigning cats and dogs

It is amazing how low of a priority family can be for many college students. Of course, this must be put  into context. Students are physically distant from home and are heavily focused on school throughout the semester. I’m not saying that our families are becoming foreign to us — rather, we assume we know all there is to know about loved ones. After all, … Continue reading Roots and wings