As students, we are coached to work diligently to “achieve” something, whether that be a prestigious internship, fellowship or job opportunity. We know we’re supposed to be racing toward that goal, but it’s easy to get lost along the way. What if we return from summer break, struck with the fear that our majors might not be the best fit for us? What if someone warns us that this career we’ve been daydreaming about isn’t the most financially secure option? What if, while walking across the … [Read more...]

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - The Second Amendment America's children are not being taught how to spell, determine the slope of an angle or to cite the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. Instead, America's children are learning to use textbooks as projectiles. They are learning how to fight. They are learning that fire alarms are just as useful for gunfire as … [Read more...]

It’s 11 a.m. You, like most AU students, have probably endured a whirlwind of a morning that began with a thrice-snoozed alarm, lectures, possibly a presentation or two and have ended here—in the audience of Reardon Auditorium. Of course, your first impulse after sinking into your cushy seat is to check your phone. Who knows what you could have missed on Twitter this morning while you were confined to the classroom? It’s only natural to scroll through social media, reply to a text or … [Read more...]

In 2016, a Pew Research Center survey found that 26 percent of American adults had not read a single book in the previous year. The survey results were broken down further by the research center, stating that men were less likely to have read a book than women and that people in lower income households were less likely to read than those with higher incomes. Younger adults were more likely to have read than older adults, with 23 percent of respondents in the 18-49 age range not having read … [Read more...]

An emergency alert notification was sent out to all of Hawaii on Saturday, Jan. 15., evoking panic and affecting everyone involved. The emergency alert read, “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” The warning was immediately deemed a mistake, and the governor of Hawaii claimed that an employee pushed the wrong button. The man intended to press “Test missile alert” instead of “Missile alert,” as the drop-down menu contained only these two … [Read more...]

In the last several weeks, the only things that have gotten me through are cheesy Christmas movies, staring at pictures of my dog and hot cocoa. Without these things, this semester would have done me in. Truly, I have never been so thankful to see a semester come to a close. The grown-up world is tiresome, and college is no exception. I am grateful for this place and for the people who make AU everything that it is. I am thankful that Christmas vacation is upon us, and I wish everyone a safe and … [Read more...]

Since the New York Times published its investigation into Harvey Weinstein on Oct. 5, more than 20 other entertainment industry leaders have been accused of sexual misconduct. Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey and former MSNBC and NBC News contributor Mark Halperin are just a few. The problem isn't just male-on-female harrassment or assault, though. Spacey has been accused by several men of assault. Former child star, Corey Haim, was known to be a victim of Hollywood pedophilia, though no one was … [Read more...]

Sports may seem inconsequential and frivolous to some, but the hometown pride that many people feel for their town’s sports teams is genuine. When the Cubs won the World Series last year, there was an eruption of joy coming from Chicago, Illinois and all other places that Cubs fans settled. Whether the link to the team was through family, through college years spent in the area or through a general affection for the Cubs, the joy expressed by the Cubs community was immense and was felt all … [Read more...]