The words “motivational speaker” and “comedian” rarely cross paths in the world today. More often than not, a motivational speaker is associated with “steps-to-success” programs, lengthy seminars and overly excited, dare I say corny, spokespeople. Historically, such connotations would rarely be found comical or cause one to guffaw.  However, history is about to change… “Regardless of if you choose to smoke, drink, or neither… Bellace … Continue reading Matt Bellace wants to get high

The next time you are in the basement of the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library, check out the computer by the first printer to your left. This is the favorite study spot of Senior History and Music Honors Major Hannah Wunsch. “I think I’ve written nearly every academic paper for the last four years at that computer,” the Omaha, NE native said. “And when you’re a … Continue reading Hannah Wunsch: Ending on a high note

As trumpets blare and cymbals crash, the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra will end another year of performances with its Season Finale on Saturday, May 30. The event,  held every year during Senior Week as a way of sending off the graduating class, will include an eclectic variety of works from Johannes Brahms to John Williams and will feature the winners of this year’s concerto and aria … Continue reading Symphony Orchestra to perform during Senior Week

Pack up your wide-brimmed hats and your elephant rifles: we’re going on a safari. Over the course of our trip, we will encounter just about every animal you have seen in The Lion King and on the Discovery Channel, climb an active volcano and interact with a culture that has never seen cell phones. Sound like fun … or are you still apprehensive about making it back alive? Continue reading Professor Cindy Johnson-Groh receives Fulbright grant

Dan Deacon is absurd. Consider the following: a grown man wearing a sparkly purple hat, oversized, thick-rimmed glasses and a Flintstones T-shirt that looks a size too small approaches you on the street and invites you to watch him and his band play. Would you follow him into a small, dark performance space attached to a seedy bar? What if he asked you to play a game resembling leap frog and London Bridge with a room full of strangers that leads out into the streets of Minneapolis? Deacon and countless fans found the answers to these questions and many more at his May 2 concert at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. Continue reading Dan Deacon breaks away from the ordinary performance

At Gustavus, there are many opportunities to raise awareness about various issues and help take action to improve them. Next week, the Tau Mu Tau sorority (TMs) will do just that with Suicide Awareness Week. “Suicide affects so many people, but most of the time you would never know whether someone is contemplating suicide, or whether someone is dealing with the loss of someone who … Continue reading TMT sorority sponsors Suicide Awareness Week

Within three weeks of arriving at Gustavus in the fall of 2007, Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance Henry MacCarthy had a whirlwind schedule. “We had to think up a set and costume design for columbinus in one week,” he explained.  The week after that, he cast students he had never met before, and the week after that he defended his dissertation on Caribbean Musical … Continue reading Associate Professor Henry MacCarthy: Miracle man on the run

If taking a trip to Don Pablo’s is the closest you’ve ever been to experiencing authentic Hispanic culture, you could probably benefit from a talk with Laura Jensen. You’d certainly be hard pressed to find a Gustie sophomore that is as passionate about the Hispanic culture and as committed to sharing it as Laura. It is her commitment to this purpose that has earned Laura … Continue reading Sophomore Laura Jensen receives scholarship for work with Hispanic culture

This Sunday, April 26, the Gustavus community will have the opportunity to participate in a cultural event not normally seen in this part of the world. Students and faculty are invited to join in the celebration of the annual Buddhist festival of Vesak, which is free of cost. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the Carlson International Center, participants will hear from a variety of speakers, … Continue reading Celebration of Buddhist festival of Vesak

She is the most decorated forensics speaker in the state of Minnesota. She practices ten hours a week. She qualified for Nationals in all six of her events this April, helping the Gustavus Forensics Team achieve 18th place in the country. But First-year Chloe Marie Radcliffe harbors a dark secret: “I can’t read analog clocks,” she said. “Oh, and I can’t whistle either, and I … Continue reading First-year Chloe Radcliffe: the champ with no sense of timing