As a self-declared religiously unaffiliated libertarian, I am frustrated by the lack of options available to me in the political arena. I don’t fit neatly in the lines of either the Democratic or Republican party, so I usually research candidates individually without consideration for their party affiliation. Over the past few years, however, I have felt increasingly isolated from the Republican party as their positions … Continue reading Rise of the religiously unaffiliated

When I started college three years ago, one of the biggest things I struggled with was studying. In grade school, my parents were always hounding me and at work I had a boss directing me. But in college I had liberty in pretty much everything I did. I could choose whether or not I did the reading, worked on homework, and even if I went … Continue reading I’ll write this title later

On Monday, Sept. 16, Mike Billington ‘02 from The University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center presented a pair of eagles to students, staff, and members of the public in Olin’s Auditorium on the Gustavus Adolphus Campus. This educational program was directed to the students of Dr. Richard Leitch’s Environmental Politics class and was sponsored by the Environmental Studies Department as well as the Margaret A. Cargill … Continue reading Lead bullets are poisoning bald eagles

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about our lives as stories. It’s a concept I learned as I spent the summer before my senior year of high school in Washington, D.C. at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. Our lives tell a story whether we realize it our not. Everyone has a story to tell. While in Washington, D.C., surrounded by 50 aspiring … Continue reading A story worth telling

It read, “Her resignation is effective immediately.” Chaplain Rachel Larson served the Gustavus community for 12 years, yet the only information released about her abrupt departure is a 190-word email that was sent to Gustavus students, faculty, and staff this summer announcing her resignation. Sent June 28, 2013, the day following the 764-word email announcing President Ohle’s retirement which described his 5 years of service … Continue reading Undeterred and unsatisfied

A friend of mine asked me a particularly interesting question towards the end of last spring semester. She told me that a mountain lion had been responsible for taking a baby directly from a backyard in California. This mountain lion (or puma or cougar) then dragged the baby off in what was to become a fatal attack. Now the question she asked me was, how do … Continue reading Where the wild things are no longer

This summer we all received the announcement that President Ohle would be resigning at the end of this year’s term, which means this fall the Presidential Search Committee will begin to look for our next president. It will be an ideal time for the Gustavus community to come together and begin discussing what values and characteristics we would like to see in the next leader … Continue reading We need a servant leader for president