Colleen Coleman-
This week’s Gustie of the Week is Eric Oberstar, a Senior Political Science and Philosophy double major from Richfield, MN. On campus, Oberstar is involved as Co-President of Model United Nations, Co-President of the Philosophy Club, a student social media worker for the Nobel Conference, and is a Student Leader in The Caf.
When looking at colleges, Oberstar was looking in the realm of small-town liberal arts colleges close to home. Gustavus’ campus and financial aid package were more enticing than other schools, and he settled on life at the Hill. At Gustavus, Oberstar remained undecided on his major for a while. He was drawn to Political Science since he’s always been interested in the subject and was drawn to Philosophy after taking classes with Lisa Heldke and was convinced by other philosophy majors to switch his minor into a major.
“I met Eric the spring of his first year when he took Modern Philosophy with me. Since then, he’s become my advisee, a student in several of my classes, and a student social media worker with me for the Nobel Conference. I know that Eric has been involved in a number of the best nerdy activities at Gustavus, including coordinating the student Philosophy Club and working on Model United Nations,” Professor in the Philosophy Department and Director of the Nobel Conference Lisa Heldke said.
Oberstar states that Model UN is something he’s proud of being a part of on campus. “I got kind of peer pressured into it by a couple of people my first year just because I didn’t have anything else to do. So, I went to a meeting, and then I just kept going to it. We’ve been doing a couple of conferences every year, which is really fun. Everyone’s always super nice, and I think it’s an organization that’s doing really well and I love being a part of it, and being Co-President is just really cool,” Oberstar said.
The campus itself and its professors are Oberstar’s favorite part about Gustavus. “Campus is just very beautiful, especially in the Arboretum, nice and quiet, something I like a lot,” Oberstar said. He also likes the workflow and environment that professors have at Gustavus: “I think all of the professors I’ve had have been really great, and especially in the Political Science and Philosophy departments where I’ve taken most of my classes, they’re always super understanding and accommodating, but still very rigorous with how they go about their teaching.”
Looking back on his time at Gustavus, Oberstar would advise a First-year to “find a couple of clubs and try them out, which I think is probably the most standard advice you could give someone, but I think it’s good to make friends that you’ll have for the rest of your college career,” Oberstar stated. “Even if you don’t stay in the club, either you’ll find some people that you like, or you at least put yourself out there. I’m not super extroverted, so that part was always really hard for me, but it’s easy because you’re situating yourself into a group that enjoys the same thing, so it’s easy to get to know people,” Oberstar said.
Coming up on graduating in December, Oberstar is looking to try and get a job in the Twin Cities metro, and hopefully go to graduate school somewhere in politics in the near future after working. His takeaway after graduation is that it is great to expand your horizons and put yourself in scenarios you would have never thought about before. “I think Gustavus has taught me that it’s always good to challenge yourself, even if you don’t need to. Academically, we do a good job of that here, but even putting yourself into social situations you aren’t the most comfortable with, or going to events you didn’t expect to and putting yourself out there always ends up being a good experience,” Oberstar said.
Eric Oberstar is a great example of what it means to be a Gustie. With his campus involvements as Co-President of both Model United Nations and Philosophy Club, his social media work for the Nobel Conference, and student leadership in the Caf, he demonstrates the model of the passionate and dedicated Gustavus student.