President Trump’s decison to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords marked a depressing change of attitude in the rising young generation: a loss of hope. Climate change is arguably the most important issue to students, but the news is increasingly morbid. It does not appear reform is coming any time soon. Every “damning new…
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When are we going to take women’s sports seriously?
Over the weekend of January 26, the National Hockey League (NHL) put on their annual All-Star Weekend. Given that I am an avid hockey fan, I kept tabs on the process all weekend as we transitioned into a new semester. My thoughts on the NHL All-Star game are varied and complex and contain complaints for…
Opinion
Is President Brian Rosenberg Rich? A Brief Investigation
Anna Schmitz ’14 My phone lit up this morning with dozens of Whatsapp notifications as I sat in a work meeting and attempted to concentrate. When I left the meeting, I immediately checked my phone and saw that it was a group chat with my four closest friends from my 2014 Mac graduating class. But…
Opinion
Why did you become a Senator?
Why did you become a United States Senator, Joe Manchin? The question may sound aggressive, but I’m genuinely curious. What drew you to run for Senate in 2010, and again now? Was it, as your official website suggests, to do what is best “for West Virginia and the nation?” Or perhaps you wanted to come…
Opinion
Re-revolutionize Springfest
Two years ago, at the 2015 International Round Table, I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Chris Ward ’76. Mr. Ward is currently an executive at the consulting firm AECOM, based in New York City, but his background includes some far more important accolades and accomplishments. Namely — in his sophomore year at Macalester…
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Looking Up to a Pervert: My Memory of Garrison Keillor
How do I start this? I suppose the best way to venture to tell this story is by starting with what got me thinking about this in the first place. I always pick up a print copy of the paper on Fridays. I enjoy reading the thoughts and opinions of my peers as expressed through…
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Judging a book by its cover in the library
This year, the Macalester library unveiled a new project: the Idea Lab. The space was immediately repudiated by much of the student body. Why? Why would a major investment in the Macalester library that brought students new opportunities to collaborate, experiment and learn be so thoroughly rejected (at least at the level of public debate)?…
Opinion
A Defense of Patriotism
In the tense, convoluted and often outright absurd political world of today, certain terms have become separated from their actual meaning. In many circles, particularly at Macalester, it has become fashionable to detest the idea of patriotism, and in particular, patriotic sentiment within the United States. Although there are certainly problems of racial and economic…
Opinion
Personal Gender Pronouns are a necessity, not a formality
We don’t assume names by looking at people, so why should we assume pronouns?
Opinion
Opinion Roundup: convocation conversation
What did you think of the Convocation speaker, Daniel Gilbert? “He was cool, but I think he was kind of culturally biased. This idea of marriage, he kind of took it for granted that everyone thinks of it in the same way. I’m from the Netherlands, and there many people are still together, just not…