One of the many things which has stuck in my craw over the years is the ease with which people take offense. When you really stop and think about the actual nature of taking offense it becomes a very silly emotion. In its most basic form it represents the refusal to understand the merit or the value of an idea and a thoughtless dismissal of … Continue reading The best offense is no offense
It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say that a large portion of our student body, particularly ones who were raised in Minnesota, identify as Lutheran when asked, even if they are not practicing Lutherans. If asked, I would identify as a Lutheran as well. But over the last few years, Gustavus and its many influences have challenged this. I freely admit that it … Continue reading A Lutheran love letter to atheism
Make Your Life Count. Gustavus’ catchphrase for its advertising campaign is still buzzing in our ears. It has changed people’s perception of the school (for good and bad in different circumstances, but this is not the point), and of us as students. The motto is our logo, our label. For those of you who don’t know, when the campaign first started, many students took issue … Continue reading Make your sellout count
Hello, boys and girls! The following informative presentation is brought to you by the fine people at Trojan! But not really. (Actually, sneaking into enemy territory with a present secretly full of ravaging warriors really doesn’t seem like the best image for a condom company.) Ahem. Anyway. You may have noticed a wonderful new television show gracing our airwaves lately. It’s a wild and raucous … Continue reading ACA, birth control and you
Americans, Minnesotans and Gusties are becoming increasingly dependent on technology. We use machines to cross continents, cell phones to contact relatives and meters to regulate pancreases. On the surface, this technology is thrilling and useful, but when taken out of context the overuse of machines is addictive and damaging. A study conducted by Chicago University ranked visiting Facebook and Twitter as the third most irresistible … Continue reading In the year 2012…
Nuclear power has been a dormant issue since its expansion stopped in the 1970s. But with the Nuclear Regulatory Committee’s recent decision to allow the construction of two new nuclear power plants the question of nuclear power has returned to the spotlight. Is this comeback of nuclear power a good thing, or should we be concerned? Many groups, including several environmental groups, oppose the use … Continue reading Nuclear power: a healthy glow?
I have a lot of respect for the great medical minds of the past few centuries. Great geniuses have given (first world) humanity the gift of extended, comfortable lives by grace of a careful understanding of the human body, chemistry and fungus. However, like with so many other miracles made possible by modern technology, ignorance mixed with excess has turned a gift into a hazard. The … Continue reading Say “ah” for easy As
In honor of the Overheard at Gustavus and Gustavus Memes Facebook groups to the Gustavus student community, here are some quotes that have never, and will never be overheard while walking around campus. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you fifty quotes never to be spoken amongst these sacred halls. 1. I hate Jen Fox. 2. Alisa Rosenthal has to be the easiest prof at … Continue reading Fifty things never heard at Gustavus
Cynicism is, I believe, the default worldview of many Americans. It is also, the laziest and, quite frankly, the most dangerous way to observe humans and human nature. It’s easy to see the actions of a few and extrapolate them across the entirety of mankind. However it’s also remarkably unhelpful. Cynicism probably took off in this country in the mid-1970s as a result of the … Continue reading Cynicism is sexy
Did you watch the Grammy’s this year? Adele kicked ass as predicted, Foo Fighters took home an armful of awards and some band named Bon Iver popped out of nowhere. Whitney Houston was mourned and the red carpet reeled in fashion horror at head-turner Nicki Minaj. And Chris Brown took home the R&B album of the year. I don’t really care about the award itself. … Continue reading The Twitter feed
