What do The League of Nations, The Vietnam War, and George W. Bush’s search for weapons of mass destruction all have in common? All three of these were failed initiatives by presidents that stained the administrations that they were put forth by. Another one of these failures is the “War on Drugs” put forth by Ronald Reagan. Not only has this war failed to meet … Continue reading The Failed War On Drugs
Your vote doesn’t really matter. If that thought has ever passed through your mind then you’ve experienced voter apathy, and I don’t blame you. It can be hard to feel like your one vote matters, especially when your candidate loses. You may have been told that in all reality your vote actually does not matter in comparison to your money, but is that really the … Continue reading Your Vote and Money Don’t Matter
Greek recruitment season is upon us once again. Picture an opportunity to look around for a group of people who may share some of your values, have a good time, and work to encourage growth and service in our community. Throughout these next couple of weeks you will hear reason upon reason for why you should “Go Greek!” Here are a few additional ones you … Continue reading Why Not To Go Greek
You want to major in that?” “But what can you actually do with that?” “You know you’re gonna be poor, right?” If you’ve heard any of the following phrases from family, friends, extended relatives, or little old church ladies, you are victim of major-shaming. No, not major shaming (though it can feel that way after three hours of smiling and gritting your teeth through a … Continue reading Quit Major-Shaming Me
Every year at Gustavus, as most of the people reading this probably already know, a “Reading-in-Common” book is selected and assigned as summer reading to every incoming first-year student. There are a number of things I love about this tradition. I love the way it gives everyone a very obvious conversation-starter, at least if you’re a huge nerd like me. I love the way it … Continue reading Reading-in-Common and the Value of Book Clubs
Have you ever heard the saying “God has a plan for you?” Lately, I have been hearing it in conversations about people going through struggles. When something bad happens we sometimes find comfort in saying whatever happened is part of God’s plan, as sort of a cop-out. Believing God was somehow in charge of causing bad things to happen apparently makes things okay, makes the … Continue reading How God Works and His Plan for You
“Don’t be in such a hurry to condemn a person because s(he) doesn’t do what you do, or think as you think. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.” Malcolm X once said those very words and it’s a powerful and challenging reminder of how I show up and engage with others around me. This quote reminds me to check … Continue reading Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Many fans were upset with the way the big fight went. Most people expected a slugfest that would bring out the barbarian in us all. What most viewers don’t understand is, that is simply not how Floyd “Money” Mayweather fights. If you were expecting to see a Mike Tyson type of “I’m going to punch you into next week” then you were deeply disappointed. But … Continue reading The Fight That Didn’t Save Boxing
One of the jokes I am constantly faced with as an English major is the most annoying phrase “grammar Nazi.” This annoys me first and foremost because people who use this phrase are accidently comparing people in the world who strive for clarity in written communication and who, at times, may hold too tightly to proper grammatical structure with the kinds of people who commit … Continue reading The Importance of Proper Grammar
Music is my life. Not so much in that I play or perform it, but I love music, and I love listening to it. It’s how I relax and how I get pumped up to do stuff. I even use it help me focus, strangely enough. I can’t do homework without some kind of music playing in the background. It’s strange to see how much … Continue reading Assembly Line Music
