Let’s be honest, I like it when things are about me. I like attention. Everyone does. If anyone says they “don’t like being the center of attention”, they’re lying. Seeking attention is a basic human instinct. But there are a few times when you have to give up on being the center of attention: other people’s birthday parties, funerals, and social justice movements that are … Continue reading It’s Not About You (and That’s Okay)

There are currently thousands upon thousands of refugees flooding into Europe from war torn parts of the Middle East, predominantly Syria. Many European countries have been trying to welcome refugees and provide them with safety and shelter. The recent terrorist attacks in Paris have called into question the flood of refugees that have been entering Europe, and in America a number of governors have tried … Continue reading Being Wary of Refugees

We as American citizens have 27 amendments to our Constitution that shape the foundation of our very nation. Some are longer than others, some apply to today’s world, others are moot points. The amendment that I believe is argued about the most, and also happens to be the shortest, is the second amendment: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free … Continue reading The Limitations of the 2nd Amendment

Earlier this year, I read an article from The New York Times that discussed a lack of funding that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) desperately needed to enforce a certain food safety law. This seems to be a common theme in the government these days; agencies and government programs being underfunded. Yet maybe we should consider giving a little more funding to an agency … Continue reading The Underfunded and Overworked FDA

Throughout the past twenty years technology has continued to amaze millions of people throughout the world. Today, most people have iPhones, Androids, or other types of smartphones. These smartphones were created to help reduce the need for a computer, and they have. But has their purpose gone too far? Let’s go back twenty years when the Internet was just starting out. In 1993, John Allen … Continue reading Technology: A Tool for Taking Over

In 1977, a neo-Nazi group announced its intentions to march through a predominantly Jewish community in Skokie, Illinois. The marchers intended to wear Nazi uniforms and display swastikas through a neighborhood where one in six people were Holocaust survivors. Speech doesn’t get much more hateful than that. Ultimately, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) controversially defended the group’s right to freedom of speech and freedom … Continue reading Protecting Hateful Speech

There’s something delicious about hometown drama after you’ve gone off to college. My high school years were hard enough without all the shenanigans going on in the hallways. But when my school started popping up in the local news last year, I gobbled the drama up from the safe distance of my dorm room. Like everyone else, apparently, I’m a sucker for a good tale … Continue reading (White) Rebel Without a Cause

Laws, we are told, apply equally to all citizens. If you break a law, you’ll get punished for it regardless of social standing, race, sexuality, religion, etc. Justice is blind. Or at least that’s what the government wants us to believe. Nevertheless, being a student on a private college campus, has forced me to realize that this is not the case. Through Campus Safety, Gustavus’ … Continue reading The Perks of Being a Collegiate Criminal