Opinions

In this, my last issue of Chips, last week of classes at Luther and last month as a college kid, I feel a deep sense of... regret.

In the midst of recent convocation speeches, congratulatory messages, academic receptions, end-of-year parties and “life transition” coaching sessions, I cannot help but feel out of place, out of body and out of gas.

In much of geek media, including many movies, comic books, video games, anime and table-top role-playing, the female characters are often packaged up into clean stereotypes. Before I put my foot in my mouth, let me add that this isn’t always the case—especially in stories of higher quality. But stereotypes are common nonetheless.

When I visit home, I often hear this familiar pair of questions: “So, do you take a lot of tests? Are they hard?” But, time and again, the answer is: “No, with the exception of finals and midterms, I rarely take tests at all.”

Have you ever considered the obstacles of completing college as a parent? This thought rarely crossed my mind until six odd months ago when I received a positive pregnancy test. Though filled with excitement and anticipation, I find myself questioning my ability to finish one last remaining semester next fall with my son due in August. Grappling with the how-to of my dilemma has become an enormous headache and cause for worry.

On January 22, I attended the memorial service for Ben Larson, who died in the Haiti earthquake. I didn’t know Ben, but even so, I felt compelled to mourn his death with those who loved him.

Weston Noble brought some light into the lives of a choir of prisoners this January. Noble worked with a choir of volunteers in Kansas City who performed a concert with a choir of prisoners as part of Art in Prisons, a program that began a few years ago to bring music and other artistic expressions to U.S. prisons.

“What they wanted to do was to bring some joy into the lives of people who are in prison,” Noble said.

Noble was asked to lead a choir of 250 volunteers from Kansas City and the surrounding suburbs who would perform in a joint concert with the choir of prisoners.

As the academic year draws to a close, I’ve begun to reflect on some of the factors which have made my first year at Luther such a unique, unforgettable experience: working as a football manager, professors who know me by my first name and the joys of living in a first-year residence hall.

Dear Luther folk
of every sort:
student, staff and teacher--
and all other mouths concerned
o’er Dining Service’ features

In numbers lies
the strength we need
before it is too late.
Click here to add your name, too,
if you care who serves your plate.

The time has come,
the bell has rung,

As campus begins preparations for next year, that also means Student Senate is looking for the next round of leaders to take up the reigns. Why should you run for Student Senate? Well here is why some current senators decided to run:

Here’s something that everyone on campus has an opinion about: Paideia. Since Paideia is under review, I feel obliged to review it myself, in a totally objective light.

After the passage of the historic healthcare reform bill, which may be the most important bill to be signed into law since the passage of civil rights, the nation has reached a boiling point. Violent and hateful rhetoric from right -ing extremists has increased to dangerous levels, and it needs to be addressed.

As campus begins preparations for next year, that also means Student Senate is looking for the next round of leaders to take up the reigns. Why should you run for Student Senate? Well here is why some current senators decided to run: