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Opinions This Week

A note from the editors

Depending upon what time you pick up this issue, this year's final edition of the Manitou Messenger, you will have no more than five class periods left in any given St. Olaf course until nothing but a few pesky finals stand between you and summer.   The majority of you will return to St.

Olaf Conservatives’ event misrepresented issue

On Friday, April 15, the St. Olaf Conservatives hosted an event called the "GPA Redistribution Petition." Citing only outside factors, such as income disparity, race and gender as detrimental to students' GPAs, the Conservatives satirically represented their views of the much-distorted taxing habits of liberals.

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U.S. goodbye to Bin Laden

When I tuned in to the live coverage on Sunday night after President Obama's speech, I was struck by the revelry of the people gathered around the White House celebrating the 9/11 mastermind's demise. Commentators compared it to VJ day at the end of World War II. The sight of people cheering at the death of a man, even an evil man, tugged at something in me.

One year later: BP spill was bad, still not the end of the world

On April 20, 2010, the BP-owned oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded, and hundreds of gallons of unrefined oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico every minute. BP, working with engineers across the world, tried everything to cap the gushing well.

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Rise of nuclear family risks waning relationship with elderly

Jogging in the bright sunshine, chatting on our cell phones and texting our friends, we pass right by the neighborhood nursing home. We don't really think about what goes on behind those doors, but the image that comes to my mind isn't pleasant.

Last week

A word from the editors

I cannot believe this is my last issue working at the Manitou Messenger. This year as executive editor has been the best one of my three-year tenure at the Mess because I've been able to get a perspective on how important every aspect of our paper is to create the publication I am so proud of each week.

Letter to the editor

In regards to the administration advising the Music Entertainment Committee (MEC) against co-sponsoring Weedstock, St. Olaf NORML (National Organization  for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) would like to share this response:

Learn to problem solve, not shut down Congress

After more than a week's worth of headlines proclaiming the imminent doom of a government shutdown, Congress got it together and agreed on a budget deal, averting the crisis for now.

The art of “tabula rasa,” or how I learned to be more impulsive

With the realization that the last month of my first year on campus is quickly drawing near, I must take into consideration all the adventures, or lack thereof, that have occurred so far during my time in Northfield territory.

The future will be here soon enough: how to live in the moment

I once had a boyfriend who refused to drive with me. Poor parking skills or a dangerous affinity for speed were not the issue – the problem was my radio-listening habits.

Hides and habitats

A Classics Cape-er: Emily Marie Sandquist '13      Tell us about yourself. I'm a Classics major, and I grew up in Iowa.  My family and I have lived in Singapore for the past three and a half years. How has moving from Singapore to Minnesota influenced the way you dress? We lived in Singapore during the all-time low temperature, 68 degrees, so now almost half of my clothing choices are because I'm freezing all the time.