Editorials

As the pages of my final issue of Chips come to a close, I find myself trying to resist the feeling that I should have tried harder. As much as I may have accomplished during my undergrad years, I know there will always be more I could have done.

What I’m finally starting to realize, though, is that that’s okay.

Useless is a subjective term. Conquer it, make it your own.

I’ve been saying for months that all I want to do this summer is hang around Decorah and ride bikes, read some books and shoot some movies. And luckily, through what must surely have been some egregious oversight in the Dean’s Office I’ve been granted the opportunity to do just that, as they’re funding my documentary project. (Thanks! Much love, o giver of grant money!)

As a group of budding journalists, members of the Chips staff are excited to have been treated to two lectures on campus from incredible journalists this spring – first the world-renowned humanitarian and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, and this past week, Mark Oppenheimer, writer for The New York Times, Mother Jones, The Nation and The New Republic.

To the Luther College Student Body:

I am honored to be selected to serve Luther College as the 2012-2013 Student Senate President.

It’s certainly been a busy couple of weeks, however through canvassing and other campaign strategies, our team was able to bring forward many student voices on topics we hope to tackle for the upcoming year.

Much like reality TV, political campaigns often tease a compelling narrative from the mundane. Little is captivating as a hero triumphing in the face of adversity. Even President Obama, the most holy of holies to a young liberal like myself, can fall prey, which it seems he has this week.

“Hope is the thing that sustains us, keeps us moving forward, but it can also be the thing that gets in the way of us living right now.”

When one of my professors said this in class last week, it reminded me of my barely existent post-graduation plans. I’m far from above admitting that I’ve felt my share of graduation denial. In all sincerity, though, I think there’s something greater to be acknowledged than just an irresponsible lack of job-search ambition.

Debt is an ugly word. No one likes to be in it and it’s not fun to repay. Yet we’re surrounded by it—debates between presidential candidates revolve around the issue of our nation’s looming debt crisis, we hear parents discussing mortgages and car payments, those of us with credit cards may easily swipe our plastic only to cringe at the balance later and, perhaps the one that hits closest to home for most Luther students, we rack up piles of student loan debt each semester.