However, the president should not shoulder the blame on this issue because it is really a problem with Congress. Controversy surrounding Gitmo touches on a deeper issue of congressional responsibility, mainly the seemingly disproportionate power of the legislative branch and, consequently, the disproportionate blame on the executive.

In George W. Bush’s last year in office, he made a surprising promise: he promised to close Gitmo before the end of his term.  Obama made the same promise on the campaign trail.  One would think that the commander-in-chief would have jurisdiction over a military prison, but that is not the case.

Congressional demagogues from both sides of the aisle blocked the funding of prisoner transportation after Obama rolled out plans to shut down the camp within one year.  New detainees stopped coming to Gitmo and the administration drew up plans for detainee transfer to foreign countries.  Without funds to transport the prisoners, however, they stayed put.  Gitmo is now in limbo: It is not quite closed, and prisoners still cannot leave.

Unfortunately, Obama has taken most of the flak on this issue.  The media should be harpooning Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain, the men who fought for Gitmo to remain open.  Focusing on multiple people is harder, though, because they could share responsibility or provide different perspectives on the issue.  The president is one person that everyone can identify with, and therefore criticism flows freely upon him.

Accountability in the national system is complex and covers a range of issues.  For example, the sequester, which took effect last month, was designed to force both parties to the bargaining table to produce a budget.  That did not happen.  Citizens should blame Republicans in Congress for this failure, but news pundits still consider it a “failure of leadership” on Obama’s part.

Power in politics is derived from what Teddy Roosevelt called the “bully pulpit.”  While the president interacts with the media on a daily basis, members of Congress can wait for the perfect time to usurp the pulpit and push an issue.  Last week, CIA officials announced that chemical weapons had been used in Syria.  In order to please members of Congress, Obama implied earlier this year that chemical weapons would necessitate US intervention.  Now that they have reportedly been used, Obama is trying to verify the reports and take slow steps to alternate forms of aid so that intervention is not necessary.  Meanwhile, Republican Senators can have a field day with the press by attacking Obama.

Gun control offered another instance of congressional power gone wrong. Obama promised immediate action following the Sandy Hook shootings and issued several executive orders, while legislators in the Senate advocated for stronger background checks.  These proposed background checks, which garnered over 90 percent approval nationwide, were filibustered to death.  The minority that stopped the bill included Senators from small states like Wyoming and Alaska, whose population together is less than the capital of a larger state such as California. Yet these senators held strong influence on the issue.

We need to stop blaming the president for national problems.  Currently, our problems hinge on a few self-righteous demagogues in Congress.  We have ways to push greater congressional accountability.

Media outlets could cast greater scrutiny on the votes and moves of individual Representatives and Senators.  In the long run, legislators could introduce more comprehensive measures. Amendments to the Constitution could be passed allowing for recall elections on all members of Congress or barring congressmen from running for re-election.  Right now, we can all start critiquing members of Congress and what they are doing to the nation.

Seth Ellingson ’15 (ellingss@stolaf.edu) is from Powder Springs, Ga. He majors in political science and Russian.

Graphic Credit: Alli Livingston/Manitou Messenger

Last November, when the Minnesota marriage amendment was a hot-button topic both on campus and around the state, St. Olaf Votes No and its supporters became an influential presence at St. Olaf. When the votes were tallied on Election Day, 1,217 Oles voted against the marriage amendment, with only 141 voting in favor.

Despite the landslide, 10 percent of voting students did support the proposed marriage amendment, and many Oles expressed surprise that the percentage was so high.

Jonathan Sanchez ’15, Student Congregation’s CAN representative, attributes this surprise to the lack of dialogue about the issue on campus. He believes that it is time to begin a conversation that has, until now, been largely absent.

“Even though St. Olaf tends to be more liberal, Christians at St. Olaf are divided on the issue of homosexuality,” Sanchez said. “Instead of ignoring this, we decided to hold an event where Christians engage in an honest, open, respectful dialogue.”

The panel consisted of four Christian students – two identifying as heterosexual and two identifying as homosexual. Dan Dyer ’13, Maggie VanDerMolen ’14, Rachel Swenson ’13 and Kristen Svoboda ’13 discussed their perspectives on homosexuality in light of their Christian faiths. Sanchez clarified that, while all students were welcome and encouraged to attend, the panels would discuss homosexuality primarily from a Christian perspective.

Dyer and VanDerMolen argued that homosexuality is wrong according to Christianity and is not condoned by God, while Swenson and Svoboda asserted that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality in the Christian perspective. Svoboda, who believes that homosexuality is “not a sin” and “not a societal problem,” said that her interest in being a member of the panel stemmed from her belief that conversation is the best way to address challenges in a community.

“We can’t have conversations about homosexuality without realizing that we’re talking about real people,” Svoboda said. “We’re talking about our fellow Oles, our friends and our family members. We’re talking about me.”

VanDerMolen, alternatively, represented the belief that the Bible does not condone homosexuality.

“Coming to and maintaining this belief has been difficult,” said VanDerMolen, “and I will continue to struggle with what this means in terms of how I understand my friends’ and others’ lives, as well as my own. I appreciate that the panel provided a venue for an open, respectful dialog about various Christian perspectives on homosexuality and the theological views pertaining to it.”

Dyer and Swenson declined to comment.

While CAN believes in the importance of encouraging the dialogue about homosexuality and Christianity on campus, members are concerned about possible repercussions.

“I am concerned for the panelists,” Sanchez said. “I fear that what they say will be taken out of context and might be used against them later. I also fear that this event, instead of starting a dialogue, will cause tension and division among Christians.” He added that he expects this conversation to put pressure on relationships because many students have extremely strong feelings on the issue of homosexuality.

“I know that this event hits on an issue that is deeply personal and I worry about the wounds that it will bring up and the friendships that will be tested,” Sanchez said.

Ultimately, though, CAN organized Sunday’s panel because it believes that the importance and benefits of openly discussing Christianity and homosexuality outweigh the potential concerns.

“CAN hopes that students will realize that Christians do not all agree on this issue,” Sanchez said. “We hope that students will have a respectful dialogue regarding homosexuality that extends beyond this panel.”

In light of recent movements throughout the United States and around the world to enact marriage equality legislation and the debates that have ensued as a result, there is no time more relevant than now for such a dialogue to emerge.

Each artist has approached their fifth-year apprenticeship differently, which is shown through their final displayed pieces. Anders Nienstaedt ’12 explored the intersection between art and journalism and the pursuit of truth in a personal story. His work includes a 68-page printed book that is available for sale, two basswood sculptures of discarded trash, an audio loop of a recorded interview with two men and several wall pieces that illustrate the text from those same interviews.

Nienstaedt also collaborated with Anda Tanaka ’12 in an interactive piece in which audience members are invited to write and mail pre-stamped postcards. Tanaka’s other pieces on exhibit include mixed-media paintings on life-sized swatches of Tyvek and a sculpture of printed mice in a gold-leafed basket.

Sheila Novak ’12 focused on issues of compassion which come to life in her figurative and organic bronze sculptures and small intaglio prints.

“I am exploring how we are taught compassion for others as a moral,” Novak said. “The extent to which that moral is actually taken is much less than the lessons and ethics encourage and ask of us. I utilized the creative process as a way to nurture a more compassionate sensibility within myself.”

James Wilson ’12 focused on design and planning in his work.  Wilson’s pieces on display at the Guild include a large twenty-sided geometric sculpture that is supported at eye-level with a collection of metal planes radiating out and a low table made of walnut with crossed wooden struts underneath.

“I have been able to step away from my pieces and really lay out the composition and develop craft,” Wilson said. “I spend so much time outside of the studio really planning and thinking so that when I get in there, I can really go!”

Justina Ny ’12 exhibited dozens of ceramic vessels and plates, which sit on densely-packed rows of shelving. The work by Mat Butger ’12 revolves around photography, including images of a destroyed hotel in Northern Minnesota and a grid of smaller photos of trees and shadows. The Carleton intern, Arielle Rebek, also focuses on photography. Her work includes a series of self-portraits made using a pinhole camera and topographic map-style drawings.

The show serves as a reminder to the apprentices of how far they have come in the past year.

“As an artist, the apprenticeship has given me – and everyone, I think – freedom to explore our diverse interests while still being informed by St. Olaf’s vibrant, creative community,” Nienstaedt said. “I’m lucky to have peers this talented, kind and fun-loving. They are great friends.”

“A Minnesotan Goodbye” will be on display in the Main Gallery at the Northfield Arts Guild until May 18. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

When Student Government Association (SGA) leadership announced in early March that it would no longer fund the annual spring musical festival “as a result of consistently unsuccessful attempts” to “make Lutefest a fun and risk-free event,” student responses were mixed. Some were incensed. Some were relieved. Some, like me, were a little disappointed, but understanding.

I think Lutefest is fun, but I also understand why the administration and SGA feel that they cannot continue to throw money at an event they know becomes dangerous year after year. How can a school continue to condone a day that consistently results in vandalism and hospital visits? I get it.

But Dean Eaton-Neeb’s email informed students that “we are approaching the weekend that has, in recent history, included Lutefest and various activities that have often been associated with Lutefest.” The “various activities” to which she refers are, of course, drinking and—drinking. The email went on to say that the College had hired a professional security staff for Stav Hall, and that dorms buildings would be locked and res life staff would be on duty from Friday night through Sunday.

The email essentially informed students that the administration’s expectation was for Saturday to be a drunken mess. If private security is being hired, the expectation is that student behavior will necessitate it. If dorms are locked and residence life staff are on high alert, the expectation is that students will be hiding illicit substances and beverages within their dorm rooms. Students cannot be trusted with a music festival, but they are expected to be drunk and destructive anyway.

With this message, the administration effectively announced that even though the music is no longer, it expected the time-honored day-drinking tradition to continue. The College could not officially condone such an event, but it felt the need to unofficially do so in order to keep its students—and its property—safe.

What a dilemma.

On a larger scale, this is the same problem that arises from having a “dry campus” that isn’t actually dry. I refer to this phenomenon as the Big Drinking Lie.

On this alcohol-free campus, the majority of my friends and acquaintances drink alcohol on a regular basis. They do so in their dorm rooms and their houses. They keep bottles in their refrigerators and underneath their beds. They get together with their friends to drink on campus. And, as long as they do so without wreaking havoc in their corridors, res life staff leaves them in peace.

These same students, after a weekend of sneaky drinking, wake up on Monday morning, attend class, complete their homework, meet with groups to work on projects, study, engage in co-curricular activities and spend quality time with their friends. While there are always exceptions, most Oles seem to know how to drink responsibly and keep their priorities straight. So why the Big Drinking Lie?

Yes, money is an issue. It is always an issue, and it should be. It has to be. But while we are infinitely grateful to the generous (and, presumably, older and more conservative) donors, at what expense do we accept their money? Why do we continue to put up the dry campus facade?

Ultimately, last Saturday was just like any other Lutefest, with the exception of a positive, productive opportunity for student musicians to share their talents and the rest of the student body to share in community. The administration told students that, despite the cancellation of the festival, it still expected drinking and destruction. For the most part, I think, those expectations were met.

The truth is, Lutefest is not the problem. The real problem is twofold. The first piece is that some people are careless, selfish and disrespectful. In a community of responsible drinkers and non-drinkers, those few irresponsible ones have the power to turn a springtime festival into an event that becomes mortifying for the rest of us (security in the Caf—really?).

The second part of the problem is the Big Drinking Lie. A college filled with bright, caring, creative people who pride themselves on honor, honesty and community should be able to look at itself in the mirror. St. Olaf is not a dry campus, and pretending otherwise is now nothing more than a formality. An open, honest dialogue about alcohol in the St. Olaf community would lay the foundation for a healthier attitude toward drinking, open the door to a more trusting, adult relationship between the College and its students and affirm—not negate—St. Olaf’s honor.

Ashley Belisle ’15 (belsile@stolaf.edu) is from Hugo, Minn.  She majors in English and Spanish.

None of these factors were able to stop the St. Olaf Cycling team from claiming the Division II North Central Collegiate Cycling Conference at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities event in late April. If you haven’t been closely monitoring the progress of the St. Olaf Cycling team recently, you may have missed some incredible individual and group performances that have put St. Olaf Cycling at the top of its division. Due to consistently outstanding performances throughout the year, the team entered the championship as a strong favorite to claim the title.

“We basically had the title in the bag coming into the championship weekend,” team co-captain Sam Williams ’14 said.

After accruing a major lead over rivals University of St. Thomas and University of Northern Iowa, the team was confident heading into the event, knowing that a solid performance would clinch the title.

“But we did more than that. We had five podium finishes that weekend,” Williams said.

The result is even more remarkable when you consider the obstacles that the team faces on a daily basis.

“A lot of other schools have coaches who give them strict instructions on how to train. However, St. Olaf does not give us adequate funding to do this,” said co-captain Bridget Lillethorup ’15.

It seems peculiar that such a successful St. Olaf team should have to struggle harder than its competitors before the real race even begins. The team receives a fraction of the financial support of other college cycling teams – University of Iowa’s team is allocated four times more funding than St. Olaf’s.

The team aims to work hard to gain more support from St. Olaf, not only for the cycling club, but also for other club sports, in order to be able to focus more on their athletic pursuits rather than keeping the club financially viable.

“I’d like the school to acknowledge the potential we have here and embrace the opportunity to make a name for our school in the national spotlight,” Williams said.

When considering the imbalances in support, the team’s achievements become even more remarkable. Along with Lillethorup, team members Christian Ruud ’15, Anna Luckow ’15 and Emily Gotzsche ’16 all placed in the top  three in the overall season results. Despite the numerous challenges that lie ahead, the future of St. Olaf Cycling appears bright.

“Looking ahead just one year, I want to send at least two individuals to Nationals,” Williams said.

Luckow also recognizes the strong potential for growth that exists for St. Olaf Cycling.

“I want more people at our school to know about the cycling team and how successful we have been,” Luckow said. “People see us riding around, but they do not know that we are competitive and how big of a deal it really is.”

The team’s devotion to the sport and its persevering ethic are enough to make anyone proud to have them representing St. Olaf. As Division II Conference Champions, credibility might at long last be given.

“We’re a small club, our efforts are impressive and a little recognition would be nice not just for our club, but for all small organizations on campus,” Lillethorup said.

And just as other competitors are taking notice, St. Olaf may find the team too hard to ignore.

Image by Emma Johnson

Music

1. The 6th Annual Soundset Festival (May 26):

This annual hip-hop festival features many of today’s biggest rappers, both local and national. The 2013 lineup includes local favorites Atmosphere, P.O.S. and Brother Ali; national mainstays Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes; and up-and-comer Mac Miller. Last year’s Soundset also included many other attractions such as DJ sets, local artwork, skateboarding demonstrations and a car show. The daylong festival will take place on two main stages at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. Tickets are available either online at www.ticketweb.com or in person at Fifth Element in Minneapolis for $49.

2. The Avett Brothers with special guests Brandi Carlile, Dr. Dog and the Wheeler Brothers (June 29):

This alternative bluegrass band, best known for its hit single “I and Love and You,” is headlining at the Somerset Amphitheater in Somerset, Wis. They will be joined by alt-country singer Brandi Carlile, indie rock group Dr. Dog and folk-rock siblings the Wheeler Brothers for a daylong mini festival. Located about 40 minutes east of the Twin Cities, the Somerset Amphitheater houses sprawling campgrounds and a water park in addition to its permanent stage.

3. Summerfest 2013 (June 26-30, July 2-7):

This giant music festival in Milwaukee, Wis. spans over 11 days and features more than 800 acts on 11 different stages. This year’s lineup includes Fun., The Avett Brothers and Violent Femmes, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Tim McGraw, MGMT, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Trampled by Turtles and Cake, among others. Its sprawling grounds include several locations around Lake Michigan, promising a picturesque setting. The festival’s website also advertises 40 different food and beverage vendors, shopping and interactive exhibits. General admission for one day is $17, a “Weekday Value Pass” is $20 and a “Power Pass” (which gives you access to the entire festival) is $60. For more information, visit www.summerfest.com. If you plan to stay for multiple days, note that you will have to book a hotel – this festival does not have campgrounds.

4. Basilica Block Party (July 12-13):

Sponsored by local radio station Cities 97, this small music festival is a worthy alternative to The Current’s sold-out Rock the Garden. Taking place on three separate stages near the Basilica of St. Mary in downtown Minneapolis, this year’s lineup includes Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, the Goo Goo Dolls, Mayer Hawthorne, Matt Nathanson, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Cloud Cult and others. The day after the festival, the Move & Groove Family Fest comes to the Basilica. This event includes free daytime activities followed by a family concert at a lower price. If you order before May 31, tickets for the Block Party are $50 for one night and $90 for both; after June 1, the price goes up to $55 and $100, respectively. For more information about vending, parking, tickets and other merchandise, visit www.basilicablockpary.org.

Art

1. Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Tours (every Saturday and Sunday May 4 – Sept. 29):

Summer is definitely the best time to visit the Walker Art Center’s famous sculpture garden, which features Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s iconic “Spoonbridge and Cherry” and Frank Gehry’s “Standing Glass Fish.” One of the largest urban sculpture gardens in the country, this garden features 40 permanent installations in a beautiful section of downtown Minneapolis. While you’re there, be sure to check out the Walker’s ongoing exhibits which include conceptual artist Abraham Cruzvillegas’ “The Autoconstrucción Suites” and U.K. artists Karen Mirza and Brad Butler’s “The Museum of Non-Participation: The New Deal.” Mirza and Butler’s work challenges “current conditions of political involvement and resistance” through the use of film, text and performance. Sculpture garden tours are free, and student admission to the museum is $8.

2. “Photo Nation: Photography in the United States” at the Weisman Art Museum (through June 30):

While the Walker and the Minneapolis Institute of Art are better established, the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum (named for philanthropist and art patron Frederick R. Weisman) showcases distinctive collections ranging from American Modernist paintings to ancient Greek ceramics. “Photography in the United States” encapsulates the development of American photography from the 19th century to the present “as both a form of fine art and as a social tool.” This collection explores the journey this art form has taken in order to become legitimized by critics and viewers alike. Admission to the Weisman Art Museum is free.

Theater

1. “Pride and Prejudice” at the Guthrie Theater:

The Guthrie is Minnesota’s premier center for theater performance, consistently staging lavish and well-acted productions. Its great reputation allows the theater to attract some of the finest local and national talent, both on stage and behind the scenes. This July, Jane Austen’s classic novel “Pride and Prejudice” receives an adaptation on the Wurtele Thrust Stage from the Guthrie’s artistic director, Joe Dowling. Considering the Guthrie’s attention to production detail and Minnesota’s bustling theater scene, this production promises to be a worthy addition to the many stage and screen adaptations this beloved novel has garnered in the past. For more information, visit www.guthrietheater.org.

Wikipedia has run into problems from this public process multiple times throughout its history when “editors” used the medium to lash out at specific individuals such as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the Jonas Brothers. These past “hacks” were overtly aggressive and derogatory. This time though, the motives were less clear.

It’s possible that the editor did take women off the list of “Great American Novelists” as a malicious statement that female authors are inferior to their male counterparts.

More likely, it was one or a small group of content editors who realized they needed to create subcategories to prevent the “Great American Novelists” page from growing too large. The editors were probably not trying to be malicious.

However, due to the apparent lack of consideration, the insult was worse this time.

Perhaps the editors thought they were making a legitimate distinction between male and female American novelists. The editor, or editors, probably felt it made sense to divide the list by gender because that is how society raised us.

We even divide our colors by gender: pink for girls and blue for boys. We also have very strict gender-based restrictions on what toys children may use.

These restrictions are society’s way of telling people what is acceptable behavior  for each gender. For example, when a boy wants to play with a doll, we hand him an action figure and pretend there is a difference between the two.

Of course, there is a difference between dolls and action figures; one teaches girls the value of domesticity and the other comes with detachable weapons so that boys can learn to be big, strong and brave.

Such “innocent” factors bleed through into other aspects of society, as in the case of Cricket rifles. Before a 5-year-old child killed his 2-year-old sister with one this past week, Cricket’s manufacturer marketed its “My First Rifle” as something “girls and even Mom will love.”

It’s great that Cricket’s manufacturer recognizes that both girls and boys are equally capable of shooting their guns, but it seems that selling the “girl” gun with a hot pink stock is still reinforcing that supposed inherent distinction between boys and girls.

Despite the problems with arming individuals we don’t trust to safely use scissors or the oven, these youth will eventually survive childhood and become adults oblivious to these socially engineered divides.

For these Wikipedia editors, it did not make sense to create sub-categories based on qualities such as “American novelists over 5’6” or “American novelists with liver failure.” They grew up in a society that endorses gender differences, and until that changes, we will keep suffering from what Amanda Flipacchi, an American novelist, describes as, “small and easily fixable things…that make it harder and slower for women to gain equality.”

We live in a society that is more egalitarian toward women than probably any other time in our nation’s history. Yet, just because everything looks better than it did 50 or even 10 years ago does not mean that sexism is vanquished. The Wikipedia article was probably not a deliberate attempt to degrade the work of female novelists. The “American Women Novelists” subcategory was just one more symptom of our society, which is still not as equal as most of us pretend to believe.

Ben Taylor ’13 (taylorb@stolaf.edu) is from Hoosick Falls, N.Y. He majors in sociology/anthropology and environmental studies.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes will be the expansion of the Cage, which will include 70 new tables, better lighting and more electrical outlets. Renovations for the Cage involve shuffling office spaces in Buntrock, including the already relocated Buntrock information desk. These changes will take place this summer, but students will be able to stay on top of the renovations through the St. Olaf Web page.

Fall semester will also see the near-elimination of bottled water on campus, a move that will be implemented slowly over the summer.

After a referendum brought about by the group Take Back the Tap passed last year with 86 percent of participating students supporting the idea, St. Olaf and Bon Appétit sought to collaborate with the group to find options concerning bottled water that balanced institutional necessities while honoring the student vote.

In an email to students on April 25, Vice President Greg Kneser outlined the changes that will take effect by the fall semester. St. Olaf will eliminate bottled water from vending machines and the bag lunch line and will install water dispensers in bathrooms of residence halls and academic buildings.

After undergoing extensive renovations this fall, the Flaten Art Barn will reopen its doors. The new building, the brainchild of former St. Olaf professor and art department founder Arnold Flaten ’22, has been painstakingly recreated from the dimensions of the original Art Barn over the past five years.

“The timber frame for the building was built five years ago, and we only just now got around to putting it together,” Kneser said. “It will be used for classes, meetings and events and will eventually have an outdoor space as well. It’s going to be really cool – it’s a beautiful space.”

Additionally, Hilleboe Hall will become the first ‘green’ dorm on campus, housing students who will have their rooms Green Room Certified and will participate in environmental sustainability-related learning.

“Jim Farrell, Professor in History and Environmental Studies, approached me five to seven years ago about connecting housing and environmental issues,” said Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life Pamela McDowell, adding that recent funding has made the project possible for the 2013-2014 academic year.

McDowell said that there was significant interest in the new green dorm, as 60 percent of the rooms were filled at room draw, and now they are almost 100 percent filled.

Fall will also usher in the class of 2017. Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jeffrey McLaughlin said that there is no need for current Oles to be concerned that the incoming class will have a record enrollment as in past years.

“We are currently projecting about 750 new first-year students,” McLaughlin said. This number is significantly smaller than the current first-year class of 865 students. The incoming class will only be 42 percent male but boasts record enrollments of both international students and U.S. citizens who define themselves as multicultural.

“Our overall selection process was carefully focused to ensure that we did not enroll a class as big as our current first-year class,” McLaughlin said. “The increase in applicants, combined with our desire to have a smaller class, meant that we were more selective.”

McDowell said that she is not worried about finding housing for the new class, which has been a problem in past years. First years will be housed in Ellingson, Hoyme, Kildahl and Kittelsby, and McDowell does not believe any floors of Mohn will be used for first-years.

Another big change that students perhaps may not be aware of is the retirement of college treasurer Alan Norton.

“He’s the person that has been really consistent in making sure that finances work,” Kneser said. “He’s terrific. It’s a very big deal to the college [that he is retiring], and the search is on to replace him.”

The fall of 2013 will undoubtedly be ushered in with a bang, thanks to all of the exciting changes, both visible and beneath the surface, happening on campus.

The fifth-seeded St. John’s triumphed 5-2, sweeping the fourth-seeded Oles in doubles play. Partners Stephen Nolan ’15 and Andy Catania ’13 put up a fight in their tiebreaker but ultimately lost 8-10 to Johnnies Jack Hansen and Fabricio Moncada.

Captains Catania and Charlie Reinertsen ’13 earned the Oles their only two points with straight set wins in singles play.

“It’s always a grind out there,” Catania said.

After Nolan lost a grueling match at the top of the line-up to Moncada (6-4, 4-6, 4-6), it was up to Joey Kronzer ’16, Nico Gibb ’15 and Ben Carlson ’16, all of whom needed to win their singles matches in order for the Oles to advance in the playoffs.

When Kronzer lost, Gibb and Carlson ceased play.

The Johnnies lost to first-seeded Gustavus Adolphus College the following day. Gustavus won the tournament, pulverizing Carleton College 8-1 later that day.

The fifth-seeded women’s team lost to the fourth-seeded St. Thomas, losing all the doubles contests.

In singles, however, Lisa Hall ’16 and Julia Ellis ’13 each bested their opponents 6-1, 6-2.

Hall sought vengeance after losing to Tommie Shelby Henderson 15-17 in a super tiebreaker in early March. Facing her again, Hall came back with confidence.

“[Henderson] went to Lakeville South and I went to Lakeville North, so we have always been rivals,” Hall said. “Ever since high school, we have gone back-to-back. Going into the match, I wanted to give it my all because I knew it would be the last chance I could have this year to beat her. I knew that I had nothing to lose.”

After trailing in the first set, Kristi Kroker ’15 returned to win 7-5 against Tommie Kara Lefsrud. But Lefsrud battled back, taking the match with scores of 6-4 in both the second and third sets.

Erin Hynes ’15 fell fast to Bridget Noack (3-6, 0-6), so first-year Maya MacGibbon and junior Lizzie Carlson’s matches went unfinished.

The Tommies upset first-seeded St. Catherine University in the semifinals but ended up losing to Carleton College on Saturday, May 4.

Though their seasons are officially at a close, the men’s and women’s teams will take on Ole tennis alumni on May 11 at home.

The origins of Lutefest are much easier to trace. It rose from the ashes of Arbstock, which was described in the February 12, 1988, edition of the Manitou Messenger as “a joint concert-and-kegs function held on Carleton College’s grounds in the late spring.” The need for a new festival arose due to students’ destructive behavior.

In reference to Arbstock, Carleton’s Dean of Students Mark Govoni was quoted in the September 19, 2003, issue of the Manitou Messenger as saying, “We feel pretty good about our control over Carleton students and less confident about our control of St. Olaf students…I have no investment in improving the lives of St. Olaf students by allowing them to come over here and drink alcohol.”

St. Olaf Vice President Greg Kneser echoed this sentiment in the same article, stating, “St. Olaf students caused a disproportionate amount of incidents at the event which Carleton had to take care of.”

But St. Olaf’s tradition of late-spring binge-drinking did not begin with Arbstock. Beginning in the early 1970s, Oles indulged in Heathstock, named after the nearby creek where the festival was located. Student organizations supplied kegs and students brought their own beverages as they crossed nearby farms to reach the remote location.

According to the 1980 St. Olaf yearbook, Heathstock was the “one day that St. Olaf students blatantly broke the alcohol policy” and was canceled due to “budget concerns” and “problems policing the event.”

Thirty-three years later, I believe the St. Olaf administration is dealing with Lutefest in the same manner: dissolving the event and threatening students with disciplinary measures. President David Anderson ’74 may have been familiar with Heathstock, and Vice President Kneser fully admitted that Oles were the issue at Arbstock.

So why are they dealing with Lutefest in the same failed manner?

Let’s briefly pause to consider the ideology behind St. Olaf’s Honor Code. Implemented during exams, it functions on the basic premise employed by many professors even in homework assignments: increase expectations, and the quality of students’ performances will increase.

Now, let’s summarize the school’s dry campus policy: alcohol, even in casual amounts, detracts from the academic performance and general well-being of the student body. Students tend to be irresponsible, so Resident Assistants and Junior Counselors make hourly rounds as an enforcement measure. The “levels” within the disciplinary system seem to equate a casual glass of wine on a Wednesday with binge-drinking on a Saturday as being caught in either activity could result in a Level One alcohol violation.

I know, I know. Changing the dry campus policy might offend conservative, old donors who are out of touch with the social revolutions of the past several decades, and changing it could eliminate potential revenue.

I get that.

I also believe that Oles’ “rite of spring” partying functions as a rebellion against a vestigial alcohol policy that alienates a large percentage of St. Olaf’s future donors. I recognize that this partying has strained the college’s relationships with the larger community for at least forty years.

It’s no accident that Oles have been more of a problem than Carls at these events. Carleton’s social policies reflect St. Olaf’s academic policies: they expect responsibility from their students. On the other hand, our administration points fingers at us while sweeping the recycling bins overflowing with beer cans and empty bottles of Jack under its copper-plated, limestone rug.

But you can only repress something for so long before it finds its way to the surface; all of these festivals are proof of that. My solution? Other dry campuses have implemented wet dorms where of-age students can indulge responsibly. Another possibility could be converting a portion of the Pause into an ‘island’ or bar where students can legally drink.

Meanwhile, I believe the Zootefest movement has proven that the spirit of Lutefest isn’t going anywhere. It fell through this year due to bureaucratic inefficiency, but there’s an old saying about taking dogs out of fights that I think applies here.

Until meaningful action is taken regarding the alcohol policy, Lutefest – just like its namesake – continues to be a tradition so soaked in preservative (albeit ethanol instead of lye), that it will continue being consumed for years to come.

Chris Bowman ’13 (bowman@stolaf.edu) is from Bemidji, Minn.  He majors in English and biology.

Graphic by Emma Johnson