Global social issues like human trafficking, female genital mutilation (FGM), and child marriage are widely known about and I think there’s a worldwide consensus that they are problems and should be resolved to improve our societies. Even though the term “global” would seem to imply that every country around the world is affected by these issues in some way or another, these specific problems, among … Continue reading Uncovering “Silenced Crimes”
When the words “Habitat for Humanity” are mentioned many thoughts spring to mind like “free houses”, “decreasing homelessness”, or maybe even “fun spring break trips”. The reality is that many myths surround both the organization and the Spring Break trips, and the true value of the organization exists not in providing free houses (which it doesn’t) or in a fun experience for a week. Habitat … Continue reading Creating Habitat for Humanity
College is hard. To any college student, that is the most obvious statement of the century. Whether it’s the organic chemistry midterm that you’re pretty sure decimated your already barely passing grade, the research essay that you didn’t actually realize was a research essay until the night before it was due, or the one ten-point busy work assignment that you forgot to do that could’ve … Continue reading Maintaining Your Brain
On Monday, March 20, factions of The Gustavus Diversity Leadership Council and Bystander Intervention Committee, in cahoots with the theatre group I Am We Are, decided to pull an invisible theatre stunt. They hung up white supremacist posters on campus and then waited in secret to gauge students’ responses to the signs. When the students got upset at the signs, ripping them down, the committee … Continue reading Fake News: An Alternative Bias Incident
Anarchism is the great liberator of man from the phantoms that have held him captive; it is the arbiter and pacifier of the two forces for individual and social harmony.” -Emma Goldman Yes, that was a quote from a late nineteenth-century terrorist about how anarchy is great. No, I am not about to try to convince people to start throwing Molotov cocktails into Walmarts. What … Continue reading Anarchism for the anxious
Scrolling through social media these days is a chore of abject curiosity. From the random game posts asking for quest items, to the ranting relative talking about an issue from 30 years ago, navigating Facebook, twitter, snapchat, etc. can be quite the daunting task. However, nothing is more frustrating and nonsensical then a random friend from high school or college sighting a source they both … Continue reading Fake news is creating a dangerous climate online
Greek life and its affiliates are a system of organizations that are popular across collegiate campuses not only in the United States, but in other countries as well. For many students Greek life provides a strong social basis in a new community and a leaping point to get involved in service and activism, as well as offering contacts after college. So why would a community … Continue reading Greek Life is a necessary part of campus
The American education system fails its students every day as it teaches to sit down, shut up, and regurgitate what the teacher says. We are not educated for the purpose of learning, we are educated for the purpose of being tested. We are tested in the traditional sense of standardized examinations that fail to consider diversity of any kind, but also tested in our ability … Continue reading Fight the (Education) System
After White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, stood in front of the American people and inaccurately described the attendance at President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Kellyanne Conway quickly came to his and the entire administration’s defense. But she didn’t offer an apology or even a correction of facts. Instead, she used the term “alternative fact” to describe the falsehoods put forth by the administration. This statement … Continue reading “Democracy Dies in Darkness”
As a student of Gustavus Adolphus College, it was hard not to notice the increased energy throughout the campus last weekend. Whether it was the abnormal winter heat wave, the variety of athletic events happening throughout the day, or the fact that a few students were attempting to drink an entire case of beer, there was undoubtedly something different in the air. As I drove … Continue reading Making a Case for Community
