We can all agree that we are paying too much, or not getting paid enough, by this institution. I pay almost double now than what I did for my first year (which was only two years ago, mind you) as tuition, fees and residence costs have gone up, while state and college financial aid has diminished. At the same time, faculty members are paid half … Continue reading Of students and teachers at Gustavus
Minnesota Nice is a definite piece of Gustavus culture. During my three years here, I have come to conclude that Minnesota Nice is perhaps a complete representation of Gustavian culture; the good and the bad aspects of Minnesota Nice define the Gustavian identity. But what exactly is “Minnesota Nice?” It is a term that can be used positively or derisively, alternately implying genuine politeness or … Continue reading Minnesota’s niceties: staring at the floor
It’s a gorgeous day atop the Hill, the Old Main clock ticks away steadily, and the question flies out of our mouths: Howareya? As the wind brushes up the autumn leaves, this salutation is immediately overtaken by a mission to beat the clock. Hanging in the air is a conversation about someone’s unique and present well-being. How do we treat the answer—as if we’ve heard … Continue reading Take a moment to breathe in the present
The printer purrs as the 50 page article your professor posted on Moodle is slowly churned out. Your GAC printing account quickly depleted, you walk back to your study area to begin reading. What happened to the good old days when printing was free at Gustavus? I understand that Gustavus and the rest of the world are trying to be more earth friendly and want … Continue reading Of printing and printers at Gustavus
You’re lying in your bed at around 9:30 am in that half-waking, half-sleeping state on the morning that you don’t have class until 11:30, trying to bring back that dream you were just having in which Dr. Zaius from Planet of the Apes revealed Michael Jackson’s death to be a giant hoax and then joined him onstage for a rendition of The Way You Make … Continue reading Damned Fire Drills Early In The Mornins
It took me a long time to learn how to read. In fact, I’m pretty sure I still don’t have it down. I remember having my parents read Roald Dahl books as a kid, and finally getting to chapter books in second grade, and I definitely thought I could read pretty well when I picked up Plato’s Republic for the first time in 9th grade. … Continue reading Learning How to Read
With a few weeks of school behind us and reams of homework to do, we could all use a break from the exhausting load of responsibilities placed upon us. Luckily, in just over a week, the college will grant us a vacation planted right in the middle between Monday and Friday. And by vacation, I mean the annually held, nationally renowned science forum known as … Continue reading H20 – Don’t Believe the Uncertainity!
As I began to write this column, I hesitated for a minute or 20. Questions flowed through my mind: What if I offend someone? What if my English professors are disappointed in my grammar? What if, at parties, my friends bring up something embarrassing that I wrote? What if I write a truly liberal piece, and a conservative writes back taking a crack at my … Continue reading Trust Yourself
Something I have noticed in the past few years has been the growing trend in the entertainment industry of showcasing sweet little girls as sinister figures of horror. There are of course earlier examples I can think of, the twins in matching Sunday dresses from The Shining for instance, but in the recent years few could deny that this practice has grown to mania proportions. … Continue reading Sinister Little Girls
I always love coming back to school. Everything is so green and vibrant, even if banana plants look a little out of place in Minnesota. The first-year class wanders about bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, wearing their lanyards around their necks and always looking a little lost in the caf. Each year my room gets better, and after you unpack, there’s really nothing like having all your … Continue reading Back to School
