Beyond the surface

According to a Gallup poll on March 29, 2021, titled U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time, it states “Americans’ membership in houses of worship continued to decline last year, dropping below 50% for the first time.” Looking at this percentage, I can see how truly blessed I am to have grown up … Continue reading

This week’s notable headlines

Rams beat Bengals to win Super Bowl LVI The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 at their home stadium– SoFi, in Inglewood California on Sunday. The game had fans on the edge of their seats as the Rams held control for much of the first half, with the Bengals coming back in the … Continue reading

College does not equal real life

Don’t get me wrong—when I moved into college as a freshman I was beyond excited. I was out of my hometown high school. I could finally be my own person and do my own things. I could sleep whenever I wanted and eat whatever I wanted and I felt free. As I finish up my … Continue reading

Will Americans emerge from this 2 year Covid Crisis less free?

Rules such as quarantines, forced closures, facility entry documents many times become expanded and semi-permanent. Taxes levied for declared emergencies become customary obligations. Temporary bureaucracies, created at the time of the emergency, are absorbed into business-as-usual bureaucracies. When the crisis is declared over, authorities find it difficult to return new powers to the shelf. National … Continue reading

How to make the most of your new-year resolutions

There’s nothing like the feeling of a fresh start. People love their new-year’s resolutions (although I don’t love having to wait for a treadmill). According to a Dec. 21, 2020,  History.com article, people have been making them, and breaking them, for roughly 4,000 years.  As I’ve grown older and more cognizant of patterns, I was … Continue reading

Finish strong at the finish line

“College is supposed to be tough.” I overheard this quote a few weeks ago from Lanny Frattare, my mentor and former voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates, when I walked past his classroom. He has a great point. College is supposed to be difficult.  Students aren’t entitled to a degree for just paying the price of … Continue reading

Q&A: The Faculty and Student Shared Reading Space

Professor Robert Randolph, professor of English, has started open readings for faculty, staff and students. Anyone is welcome to attend or share pieces such as poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction etc. According to Randolph, the only pieces that do not meet the event’s vibe are essays, music and visual art. On Thurs. Oct. 21, Randolph … Continue reading

Mindfulness: the solution to endless to-do lists

Work. Sleep. Repeat. It’s a never ending cycle that needs to be stopped. I’ll admit it. I’m a workaholic. I spend most of the week doing two things: working and thinking about what to work on next. I primarily credit my workaholic mentality to my fear of being viewed as a “slacker;” however, I think … Continue reading