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

Though women have advanced monumentally in American society within the last century, there are still certain expectations we haven’t been able to overcome, particularly the notion of motherhood as our life’s ultimate fulfillment. Like many other girls who grew up in twenty-first century America, I was encouraged to follow my passions, go to college, earn a degree, and pursue a successful and fulfilling career. The … Continue reading Motherhood? Hard Pass.

Cartoons, anime, and claymation: these are all mediums of animated storytelling used in the modern media. For many, animated shows or movies are associated with children, and when they aren’t created for children, such as “The Simpsons “or “Family Guy”, they are considered crude or unintelligent. These assumptions cause many to believe that animated films and shows are not intellectually stimulating. However, this does not … Continue reading Cartoons: Not Just for Kids

Ihave never been much of a gamer. I can never stay interested long enough to get good at them, and I hate not being good at things. Generally, what happens when I try a new game is some version of the following sequence of events:  Joe pays $19.99 for game, and spends an afternoon struggling through the tutorial levels. Joe gets bored and puts the … Continue reading New High Score: Pride

Gustavus is a college that I deeply admire for so many reasons. The inclusion of all students and diversity of thought makes Gustavus a college that is rich with compassion. Gustavus is a safe college, and is not afraid to support its students. During this year’s presidential election, students felt passion to “get out the vote,” by using signs, going door to door, and openly … Continue reading The Final Stage of Grief: Acceptance

On Feb. 28, 1933, Germans awoke to an emergency decree revoking civil liberties. Overnight, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and association were abolished. The decree suspended federated state autonomy, and legalized phone-tapping and the interception of correspondence. The night before, the Reichstag was set on fire. Arriving on the scene of the burning government debate chamber, newly-appointed Chancellor Adolf Hitler immediately declared the … Continue reading An American Reichstag Fire