The other big FTS difference: it’s where one class per week is led by a junior or senior Gustavus student, called a Peer MALT, for Peer Mentor, Academic Leader, and Teacher. It’s a thoughtful and engaging process for first-year students, and for the Peer MALTs as well. I know this because my positive experience with my own Peer MALT during my first year motivated me to become one myself. 

Among other things, my Peer MALT helped me get more involved on campus by encouraging me apply to be a Finance Student-at-Large for the Gustavus Student Senate. I would have never thought about this opportunity if not for her, and my time in the Senate has led to realizations about myself and the post-grad career I envision. 

Peer MALTs are chosen through a selective application process each spring. Some are encouraged to apply by professors or previous MALTs; others apply on their own whim. Selection ultimately comes down to availability of the students applying and the schedule of the courses available, as well as to student/professor preference pairings. The Peer MALT section of the FTS is about helping students be successful at Gustavus, academically and socially, as well as maintaining positive mental and physical wellbeing. 

Twice a week, the MALTs meet to discuss lesson plans, wins and difficulties in the classroom, and personal philosophies toward teaching. This “non-departmental learning course” counts as the PeerMALTs’ Challenge Seminar because of the various projects and techniques they use throughout the semester. 

Being a Peer MALT has brought a different perspective to my own education. Meeting with younger students is one of the things I look forward to the most every week. Each student has their own set of excitements and worries that I can respond to and incorporate into my lessons. Each Peer MALT gets up to three “MALT Choice” days where the MALT decides what to teach, with lessons ranging from Arboretum tours to how to use Career Center services.

Having a Peer MALT in the classroom is a great opportunity for students to ask all their questions, ranging from the funny and curious to the serious and personal. It allows students to let their guard down during the sometimes difficult transition from high school to college. One of the most engaging lessons I chose focused on the Campus Safety Office and its services, aside from their general practice of monitoring parking and issuing parking tickets. My students had questions ranging from Lost and Found to where and how to buy a parking permit. It was such a gratifying moment to leave the classroom that day knowing I had answered so many questions, soothed their worries, and celebrated their successes. Some of them were finally getting their car on campus later that month, which was a fun moment to celebrate, too!

Evolving from a PeerMALT’s student into a PeerMALT myself has opened my eyes to what it means to be part of a group, as a student and as a leader, and it has given me the opportunity to reflect on my experiences when I first got to Gustavus and recognize how far I have come. My FTS and initial Peer MALT experience even led to the declaration of my major, Classical Languages, which I chose in part because of the example my Peer MALT set about how much you can do with that degree. Without my FTS and my Peer MALT, my Gustavus experience would be far different than it is today, and I’m grateful for the opportunities the College offers to new students and the Peer MALTs who help guide them. 

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Halom ‘27 and Jolly ‘26, both music education majors, are a part of a number of official Gustavus ensembles, including Gustavus Wind Orchestra and Gustavus Jazz. Halom ‘27 plays tenor saxophone in his ensembles, while Jolly ‘26 plays horn in two ensembles and guitar in Gustavus Jazz. 

The two met in their time at GWO, working on the piece Noir together. This piece was unique, as it involved improvisation, with Halom ‘27 and Jolly ‘26 getting the parts. 

Halom ‘27 said “I have never really done any training thing with my improv, and improvising with another person was definitely new to me. It was a fun time working with Conor to improvise instead of doing my own thing.”

This was echoed by Jolly ‘26, who added “it improved my listening a lot because I can’t just be in my own bubble. I need to improvise my own thing based on what Dylan is playing, on a song that is not already all that easy to play and it was a fine balance.”

On improv for the piece, Halom ‘27 said “When I first got it, I threw a lot of notes out there and saw what I liked to do and had a general shape of what I was going to do and developed that over time. By the end every time I performed it it was similar but was still improv.”

Jolly 26’ mentioned “Noir in particular is less about the specific melodies and more about the atmosphere of what you are playing because you are setting a scene. The question was more of how I set a color for the piece rather than focusing on what I was playing at any given time.”

The pair found that working together on improvisation for Noir helped them foster skills to bring into their future careers.

“We are both going into music education,” said Halom ‘27, “so this is something that is very different. Hopefully when I am a band director I can program pieces that are cool and wacky like this and help students with improvising. It is weird things like this that I have now gone through that I can help prepare students for.”

“I get anxiety performing solo so performing this again and again on tour has helped me deal with that more and will help me help students with that more” added Jolly ‘26. “I have students who get bad nerves and so going through this experience myself will help with giving guidance.”

Along with working in Gustavus ensembles, the two are also involved in campus bands. Jolly ‘26 plays bass guitar for campus band Waking Hours, and both participate in the campus band Pyramid Scheme. They have had the opportunity to discover different sounds and avenues of music at Gustavus Adolphus College and are just getting started.

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Visit the Library Table at the Advising Day Information Fair!

Learn about: Library internships, graduate programs, careers in libraries & archives, and more!

“This internship introduced me to many different careers within
the library and helped me develop my skills for future careers.
Not only did I get to see the more visible careers, but I also got
to dive deeper into the behind-the-scenes careers too. I have
learned so much from being an intern in the library. Everyone is
so nice and is always willing to help with anything. It’s an
environment that I love to be in all the time!”
–Mia Eisenbacher ‘24, Spring 2024 Library Intern

For more information, visit our guide to Careers in Librarianship & Archives  or make an appointment with a librarian.

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Search Chair Suzanne Boda ’82

Gustavus Students, Faculty, and Staff,

As the air turns colder and the days grow shorter, the search for Gustavus Adolphus College’s 18^th President is proceeding as planned. Much has happened since I last provided an update in early September. I encourage you to review that message, which includes background information and a detailed explanation of the Search Committee’s work and process.

Thanks to the good work of our consultants Loren Anderson and Shannon McCambridge at AGB Search throughout the summer and early fall, our pool of applicants was both deep and incredibly talented. While reviewing applications, every member of our Search Committee carefully evaluated each candidate’s materials with a particular focus on how their professional background, experiences, and vision for the future aligned with the leadership agenda and desired attributes for presidential leadership outlined in the College’s Presidential Search Profile.

The Search Committee met on campus on October 10 to select our semifinalist candidates. I want to commend members of the Search Committee for their deep engagement, insight, and thoughtfulness. This is a talented, inquisitive, and forward-looking group, and I am proud to work alongside them as we go through this important process.

Following the selection of semifinalist candidates, the Search Committee conducted preliminary reference checks and hosted candidates for virtual interviews the week of October 28. The Search Committee then discussed each candidate in detail before selecting a small group of finalists who will participate in in-person interviews. Currently, AGB Search is running rigorous background checks on each of our finalist candidates while members of the Search Committee are conducting additional detailed reference checks.

As a reminder, the Gustavus Board of Trustees has determined that the Presidential Search will remain a fully confidential process that has been entrusted to the Search Committee. In today’s competitive and dynamic higher education environment, committing to a confidential process is one of the factors that led to our strong applicant pool. To that end, the finalist interviews will take place at an off-campus location and participation will be limited to the Search Committee, which includes representation from the student body, faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees.

I am pleased with our progress and with our process, and I want to express my gratitude to this community for the thoughtful input you provided that led to the development of our Search Profile. As a reminder, we have established an email address (presidentsearch@gustavus.edu) where your voice can be heard if you were unable to participate in listening sessions last spring. Please refer to the search prospectus and email this address should you wish to share any feedback.

Best Regards,

Suzanne

Suzanne Boda ‘82
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Chair-Elect, Gustavus Board of Trustees

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There will be an opportunity for giving this November on campus with a hat and mitten drive. Sponsored by the Community Engagement Center (CEC) and two student coordinators, Gusties are encouraged and invited to donate youth-sized hats and mittens that will go to families and children in need through the organization Head Start in St. Peter.

This event arose out of a perceived need from the annual Angel Tree giving event put on by the CEC. CEC Program Coordinator, Eavan McCormick was in charge of the Angel Tree project during her time as a student at Gustavus and found that many of the gift wish lists involved basic winter necessities.

“Living in Minnesota, we know that winters are… harsh. There is no reason that any child should have to go without a hat and gloves to school,” Student Coordinator and Junior Addison Andrix said.

Seasonal needs, such as proper winter clothing and gear, may get overlooked. However, McCormick noted that this event will hopefully help students appreciate what they have nearing the holidays.

“It’s easy to take things for granted, but it’s important to remember that not everyone has access to basic needs, even within our own communities,” McCormick said.

However, the donations go beyond the physical aspect for those receiving them.

“A hat and glove drive is more than just providing warm clothing for children, it’s about providing support for them as well,” Coordinator and Senior Lauren Maas said.

Head Start, which is a St. Peter organization, benefits from the annual Angel Tree drive and will receive the hats and mittens donated. However, the coordinators of this event are also looking to reach out to the St. Peter School District as well as other local organizations that work with youth.

“We chose to serve the St. Peter community because we wanted to think local. Often, when people think about donating it is to help people in other countries or far away (which is amazing), but we wanted to share our blessing with our neighbors,” Andrix said.

Donations can be donated through the dropboxes located in the CEC and Christ Chapel, with a QR code to fill out after donation. The coordinators are projecting a goal of 100 hats and pairs of gloves.

“We are asking that the donations are new so that when these children receive them, it can truly be theirs to use and love,” McCormick said.

The coordinators also designed the event to be an easier way to volunteer and give back, so gently used hats and mittens are also welcome.

“We recognize that it can be expensive to go out and buy presents or a new coat for a donation while you can find a hat or gloves for much cheaper,” Andrix said.

The project also has other, broader goals beyond the donation amount and the impact of acknowledgment and gratitude.

“Our goal is to share God’s endless love through acts of service, specifically serving those that live in the same community as us,” Andrix said. “We recognize that there are not a lot of one-time volunteer opportunities on campus and want to change that. Our hat and coat drive is our kick-off to start these volunteer opportunities…”

Students who are interested in more one-off volunteer opportunities are encouraged to reach out to McCormick, Andrix, and Maas through email, as more opportunities are projected to be coming and available soon.

Volunteering may be conducive to wellbeing and community as well. Andrix quoted Philippians 2:4 from the Bible:  “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.”

“At some point in your life you will most likely need help from someone. That might be holding the door open because your hands are full or it might be a warm meal and a bed to sleep in for the night,” Andrix said. “We are all so blessed to live on a beautiful campus that gives us the opportunity to give back so we need to take advantage of those chances before it is too late.

The donations will be due by Dec. 3rd, 2024 and students can engage with the coordinators through tabling outside of the CEC, Fridays 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. throughout November if they have any questions.

“…it helps bring the Gustavus community together to do good in the larger St. Peter community. By doing one small act of kindness, donating hats and gloves, we can work towards helping children in need of these items,” McCormick said. “The holiday season isn’t just about receiving gifts, but it should also be about giving back as you are able.”

The coordinators expressed their appreciation for Gustie support with this endeavor.

“We want to thank everyone who donates to the hat and glove drive to support the children in the surrounding community!” Maas said.

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It’s that time of the semester where we need to start planning for the next and register for classes. Many of us may feel stuck and do not know where to start. Luckily, there is Advising Day on Wednesday, November 13th, 2024. This is held so students can get their questions answered and focus on planning for what comes next, whether it be at Gustavus or not.

Advising Day is relatively new at Gustavus, as this is the second year that it is being held. This event happens once a semester in Fall and Spring. The events that are happening during Advising Day have been held in the past, just not on a designated day off from classes where students were encouraged to attend the events.

There are many events to go to during Advising Day such as the Advising Day Info Fair, which is happening from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Three Crowns Room, the Library, and Alumni Hall. Every department and program will be present. “Don’t miss it, if you’re only going to do one thing, go to the info fair,” Professor Kate Knutson, the Advising Day coordinator said. She highlights the fact that this is a one-stop-shop for every possible interest and questions that you may have.

The purpose of Advising Day is to “provide all students the opportunity each semester to learn about and take action on their academic, professional, and vocational goals. Students can meet with their academic advisor and connect with their peers through social and educational activities planned by departments and programs”  Director of the Academic Support Center, Tom McHugh said. It also gives students “time to deliberately think about future plans” Knutson said. It’s “very easy to ask questions” Academic advisor, Religion, and FTS Professor Casey Elledge said. It is basically a chance for students to plan out their future at Gustavus and beyond.

There are many different roles that come into play to execute this event. McHugh’s job is to work with students and faculty about questions they may have on advising, financial aid, and registration. This is connected to his main job on campus as the Director of the Academic Support Center, where he helps students every day with what is being focused on during Advising Day.

Elledge has one of the main roles in which students will interact with. As an advisor for an FTS and Religion he will talk with students who have questions and help “connect students’ interests and goals with courses in their major,” Elledge said. The advisor is a “resource” McHugh said in regard to how they help students.

Knutsons’ job is to coordinate the different departments and offices. She also puts on events such as Advising Day. These events are helpful to students, but “[are] only helpful if they go,” Knutson said, inciting the fact that students themselves need to put in some work as well.

As a student, especially a First-year, you may be wondering what your role in this is and how you should prepare. The role of the student “includes actively exploring possible majors, seeking referrals from their advisor, tracking their graduation requirements on MyGustavus, and actively researching opportunities for life after Gustavus,” McHugh said. Professor Elledge encourages students to “become more aware of the total context of academic life at Gustavus.” Students should come ready with curiosity and be prepared to explore different interests.

To prepare for this event, students should go to https://gustavus.edu/advisingday/ to get an idea of what events are happening and what they may like to go to. You can add events to your Google Calendar via the above website. Students should also be in contact with their advisor to see if they are meeting that day or not. One way to be prepared is to “bring questions that you already have about (the) college experience” and to think about “future goals, as well as connecting resources with future plans and goals,” Elledge said in regards to Advising Day advice.

It is also good to be planning for this day. Things like looking at the requirements for your majors and minors, especially if you are an “older student, as requirements may have changed,” Knutson noted.  It’s also a “good idea to assess motivation…reflect on developing skills (that you need or want),” Elledge said. By assessing your motivation, you can get a sense of if that is something that you can get through on your own or if you need an extra boost, or even if you need to change your course of action.

Even after reading all the above, you may still be lacking the motivation to go to these events. The Advising Day committee planned for that. They are giving out little incentives to help motivate students to show up, such as prizes and food/candy. As Elledge put it there will be “a ton of candy that will definitely throw off your diet…more candy than Halloween.” So, if the academic help isn’t enough motivation for you, maybe the boatload of candy will motivate you to come on down to Advising Day on Wednesday, Nov 13th.

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The Gustavus Swim Team is a certified powerhouse, having claimed the MIAC championship title for both Men’s and Women’s in the 2023-24 season. On Saturday, to open the 2024-25 season, the team was tasked with splitting up and traveling to two separate meets in Iowa. Half the team went to Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, whereas the other half visited Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Despite being in separate locations, the Gusties thrived, claiming victory at the meets on both the Men’s and Women’s sides.

The Gusties could not be slowed by a few hours on the road before popping out to the pool at Luther College. The Gusties quickly took control of the meet; in the opening event, the Women placed 1st and 2nd to start the battle out strong. Despite trading wins in events back and forth, Gustavus Women held strong in their lead against great competitors throughout the meet. Diver and Junior Gabriella Stoudt helped the team to a decisive victory, scoring 222.5 points, earning her the top score in the conference as well as her first MIAC Athlete of the Week honor. Top swims from the Women come from Senior Marit Isaacson, Junior Lindsay Sundby, Sophomore Stella Anderson Moye, as well as First-years Eloise Cooper and Geneva Fackler. Isaacson swam to victory in all three of her events; the 200 free in a 2:00.41, 200 back in 2:11.77, and anchoring the 400 free relay. Sundby also swept a win in both of her individuals. She took first place in the 100 breast with a 1:10.02 and 200 breast with a 2:36.34. The Gustie Women finished the meet with a win 162-135. The Gustavus Men also laid down the law to Luther, securing gold in every single event except for two. Out of the five high-point performance swimmers of the meet, Gustavus dominated the top four, featuring Fifth-year Peyton Richardson, Senior Nyden Hill, and Sophomores Braden Ripken and Logan Cyr. Richardson, a decorated fifth-year, earned his 5th MIAC Conference Athlete of the Week honor for his victory in his four events. He swam the 200 Medley Relay, helping earn the first gold for the men’s side of the meet, 100 back at 53.98, 100 fly at 51.46, and 200 fly at 2:04.16. Knowledgeable returners with championship titles under their belt alongside the aid of new additions to the team cinched the men’s meet win at a score of 186-111.

Hitting the road while the sky was still dark, the Gustie Men and Women who visited Morningside brought a strong force to the battle. The Women asserted dominance quickly, sweeping first in 10 out of the 13 total events. Out of the five highest point-scoring female swimmers, four of them were Gusties: Sophomores Nola Fisher and Felicia Symreng as well as Seniors Lissie Artley and Abby Arp. Fisher stood out with her sprints, highlighted by a 26.06 in the 50 free and 58.34 in the 100 free. Symreng showcased her talent in backstroke events, winning the 200 back with a time of 2:19.83. The Gustavus Women dominated Morningside, with a final score of 179-53. The Gustavus Men also highlighted their speed and depth. Electric performances by Sophomore Aiden Carlson and First-years Jacob Robischon and Fin Gustafson contributed to the team’s spirit and ultimate win. Carlson won both the 100 and 200 breast with a time of 1:03.65 and 2:24.79. Robischon claimed a victory in the 100 fly, clocking a 54.8. Gustafson took first in the 200 IM with a time of 2:08.37. The Gustavus Men took home the win with a score of 141-116.

With the wave of victory behind them from the past season and the excitement of a successful start to the season, the Gustavus Swim team is on track for another incredible season. A group of talented young First-years joins the veteran returners on a mission seeking to secure another MIAC Championship title. Last year as a First-year, Braden Ripken aided the team in a conference victory while earning the Freshman record in the 100 Breast and being a part of the 200 Medley relay that broke the school record. He believes the Gustavus Swim and Dive program is “a very strong team on the men’s and women’s side and we’re looking to repeat as MIAC champions for both and take it step further sending some new faces to nationals.” He believes this win can be attributed to the personality of the team, stating “I don’t think any team is as invested in each other as we are, we’re a tight group and we are gonna keep winning this season as a team.” Geneva Fackler, who is a current First-year with the top time in the conference in the 100 free, also commented on the outlook of the season, sharing “After this meet, I’m feeling pumped up for the rest of the season. I think that the talent this team has combined with our high energy and competitive drive will make for an incredible season filled with a lot of fun and surely a lot of Ws.” The camaraderie and shared passion for the sport in addition to the hard work and dedication to excellence is clear amongst the swim team. This weekend was just the beginning of another phenomenal season and the Gustavus swim team looks to seek another victory this Saturday as they face off in another meet, this time at home in the Vic Gustafson Pool.

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The Gustavus Women’s Soccer Team was eliminated from the playoffs this past Sunday in a 3-0 loss against Saint Mary’s. This was the Women’s first playoff appearance since 2021, and they finished the season with a record of  9-5-5. Saint Mary’s came into the game with an impressive 13-2-4 record and showed why they have been a force to be reckoned with in their win against Gustavus. For Gustavus, this marks the end of the 2024 soccer season, as well as the careers of many seniors.

The Cardinals applied pressure early on, firing two shots on the net in the first 15 minutes of action, and at the 15-minute mark of the first half, they sent one into the back of the net making the score 1-0.

At the 29-minute mark, the Gusties fired its first shot but it was wide, and the Cardinals’ notoriously good defense continued to perform. Then, six minutes later, Saint Mary’s buried another goal to take the 2-0 lead late in the first half.

The teams went scoreless for the last nine minutes of the half, so through 45 minutes of action the score sat at Saint Mary’s: 2, Gustavus: 0. The Gusties started to find their footing on offense in the second half as Junior Campbelle Waldspurger put three shots on net, including a narrow miss that tipped over the goal but alas, it was not meant to be.

Saint Mary’s added one final goal at the 82-minute mark of the game to seal the deal. Despite that 3rd goal, Senior Jordan Oelkers continued to make her final push for the Gustavus offense, but St. Mary’s defense thwarted the Gustie attack and at the end of the 90 minutes, Saint Mary’s had won 3-0.

“It’s always hard when something great comes to an end,” Head Coach Laura Burnett-Kurie said. “This season and this team will hold a special place in our hearts. The fight, grit, joy, and energy this group brought day in and day out will inspire us for years to come.”

Coach Burnette-Kurie also went on to address her seniors specifically, “To the seniors: It’s hard to put into words the impact you have had on this program over the last four years. So we will leave it with this: thank you. Thank you for your energy, your positivity, your fight and your belief. Thank you for making us better every day. You have made us proud and we love you.”

Senior Ellen Becken commented on her experience with the 2024 Gustavus Women’s soccer team: “This year, our team is special in the way that we are all on the same page, working towards a universal goal. All of us strive to make each other better, and we lift each other to success each practice and game. The environment we create as a team is so special, and especially this year I have loved being a part of such a great group.”

Oelkers, who fought till the bitter end in her final game against Saint Mary’s, echoed Becken’s sentiments stating, “We have created an environment where we can all thrive together while striving for the same thing: success (and fun!). This team is so special and amazing!”

The Gustavus Women’s Soccer Team had an outstanding season finishing with a winning record and making the playoffs. The entire team worked hard towards a common goal and made special bonds with each other that will last a lifetime. Great job Gusties and we can’t wait to see what next season brings!

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In their final game of the regular season, the #6 nationally ranked Gustavus Men’s Soccer team traveled up to Duluth to play the St. Scholastica Saints. The Saints came into the game looking to spoil the Gusties’ silverware hopes but this seemed unlikely as they are at the bottom of the MIAC. Coming into the game, the Gusties had their work cut out for them; they needed to win the game. The Gusties ended up toppling the Saints 5-0. Winning this game led the Gusties to share the MIAC regular season title with rivals St. Olaf.

The Gusties came out flying with their first goal coming just 9 minutes into the game. A gorgeous long ball by Fifth-year Brian Brown found Junior Spencer Skjeldestad who cut in from left to right and fired a curled ball to the back post securing Skjeldestad’s first goal of the season.

The Gusties continued their offensive onslaught with many offensive chances coming close to finding a second goal. A notable change happened just one minute after the first Gustie goal, when Sophomore Leo Runestad smashed a right-footed shot from about 15 yards out, which ricocheted off of the post and wide. The Gustie’s attack continued until the 22nd minute, when First-year Miles Redmond calmly laid the ball off to Fifth-year Owen Johnson; who attempted to take a shot but was deflected by the Saints defender. The opportunistic First-year, Caleb Avery, found himself running onto a bouncing ball in the box. He fired a half volley past three Saints defenders into the bottom right-hand corner making the score 2-0. The Gusties continued to put a great deal of pressure on the Saints defense for the rest of the half but they failed to find the back of the net.

The Gusties began the second half red hot with a goal in the 48th minute from Sophomore Joe Flory. The goal happened from a corner which was played into Flory by Johnson. Flory leaped up and over the Saints defenders and tucked it into the back of the net with his head making the score 3-0. Flory was not done here, just five minutes later it was Flory again who smashed the ball into the back of the net off of a beautiful arching pass from Sophomore Simon Woods. These two goals scored by Flory helped him to earn his first MIAC Offensive Player of the Week.

We caught up with Flory after the match to find out how he felt the game went: “The game against St. Scholastica was very fun. We knew the stakes going into the game and produced a performance to match the occasion. It was an honor to win the MIAC conference for the first time, but that was only the start for this season as we look to add more trophies to it. Winning MIAC Offensive Player of the Week really topped off a great weekend overall, I do have to credit that award to the two great assists from Owen and Simon. Looking into the postseason, I’m excited to keep our season going for as long as possible”.

Gustavus was able to muster one more goal before the end of the match. It came in the 81st minute. Another splendid lob was played over the top of the Saints’ defense by Woods and Sophomore Diego Paulin, who was able to reach it with his head. Paulin squared across the face of the goal to a crashing sophomore Darren Chukel who slammed it into the back of the net. After Chukel’s goal, the game quickly came to an end with the score of 5-0.

This marked another shutout for the Gustavus side who had prided themselves in their defensive efforts. Senior goalkeeper Egan Bedwell spoke after the game: “We knew coming into the game that the MIAC regular season was on the line. That had been a goal of ours all season so everyone was very excited for this game. We scored some really nice goals and kept them shutout which was a great way to end the regular season. Celebrating with the team afterward was super fulfilling but only wetted our appetite for upcoming title opportunities. I’m super excited for the postseason with these guys, we’re hungry for more!”

The Gusties are in good spirits as they look to Thursday, Nov. 7th where they will play a dangerous Carlton side in the MIAC Championship semifinal at Gustavus Adolphus College. Potentially, they may also play on Saturday, Nov. 9th for the MIAC Championship Tournament at Gustavus Adolphus College.

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On the Netflix reality show Hype House, TikTok stars complained about their experience with cancel culture. Nikita Dragun, after being accused of blackfishing (which is where one purposefully darkens their skin and/or changes features to appear as a minority), shared that she was canceled. People unfollowed her, brands didn’t want to collaborate with her, and she lost her career opportunities. Dragun shared this on her Netflix reality show, a large career opportunity where a major brand worked with and paid her, and she got plenty of exposure. This doesn’t make it sound like she was canceled. In fact, today she has 8.1 million followers on Instagram and 14 million on TikTok. Dragun isn’t the only influencer to slip through the cracks of accountability; several influencers who were forced to apologize for their negative actions were able to successfully keep their audience through their controversy.

Logan Paul made a “severe and continuous lapse in judgment” when he filmed dead bodies during one of his vlogs and posted it on YouTube. Because of this, YouTube temporarily suspended his pay and parents swore they wouldn’t allow their children to watch Paul anymore. So where is he today? He has 23.6 million followers on YouTube, with his most recent video having 6.9 million views, his podcast ImPAULsive has 4.74 million followers, and the launch of his energy drink, PRIME, was incredibly successful with stores selling out immediately. Some people sell PRIME on Etsy for thousands of dollars because the flavors were sold out of stores everywhere. It isn’t as if Paul was controversy-free after the vlog either; he has been accused of inflating the market for Pokemon, creating a crypto scam, and disrespecting the art of boxing. His brother, Jake Paul, was also plagued with controversy from online scams targeting children to climbing on top of a news van that was reporting on the negatives of his neighborhood. Mainstream media outlets have reported on his crimes, most recently fraud charges, and yet Jake Paul has successfully gone on a nationwide tour, has 20.8 million subscribers on YouTube, has a brand deal with Walmart, and is partnering with Netflix to stream a boxing match between him and Mike Tyson.

No matter the avenue that influencers take when apologizing, the result is the same. Colleen Ballinger was mocked across the internet for apologizing for grooming minors by releasing a ukulele song called ‘Toxic Gossip Train’. Yet today, she has 8.25 million YouTube subscribers on her main channel, 3.04 million on her vlog channel, and 10.5 million on her Miranda Sings channel, proving that even the worst apologies are accepted on the internet. In fact, apologies are not necessary to avoid true cancellation. Mr. Beast has been facing several allegations in the past two months such as running illegal lotteries, crypto scams, knowingly hiring sexual predators (on a channel whose audience is mostly children), workplace misconduct, lying about his charity, and even breaking the Geneva Conventions. Mr. Beast is also currently being sued by contestants of his reality show “Beast Games”. He didn’t release any form of statement until four days ago and still has not apologized to this day. However, even before his statement was released, he maintained 327 million YouTube followers and was consistently getting over 100 million views on every video.

Another influencer who has kept a majority of their audience without any statement about their controversy is Cody Ko. On Tana Mongeau’s podcast, ironically titled Canceled (with 2.41 million subscribers and a nationwide tour currently underway), Mongeau shared that Ko had a sexual relationship with her when he was 25 and she was only 17. Because she was under the age of consent, this relationship was not only creepy but also illegal. Since these allegations have hit the mainstream, Ko has not posted anything. Despite this, his most recent Instagram post comments are very positive towards him, saying that no one remembers the controversy, it doesn’t even matter, and people want another video from him. There was even one petition to un-cancel him. Even though his internet silence makes him seem canceled, he still has 5.81 million YouTube subscribers waiting for his return and has maintained a successful DJ career throughout, with him continuing to perform sets.

Influencers are not the only people who are unsuccessfully called to be canceled. Chris Brown, famous for his domestic violence against his then-girlfriend Rhianna, had two chart-topping singles when people called for his career to end. Today, he has more gold records than Elvis, is still selling out stadiums, and has 48.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Several musicians were able to continue their success after becoming infamous. Doja Cat has a history of using racial slurs, calling her own audience stupid, and frequenting online forums filled with hate speech. Most recently, she filmed a video wearing a shirt with an alt-right comedian and known Neo-Nazi on it. Yet, she still has 24.2 million Instagram followers and 52.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Ice Spice is another musician who has faced controversy after a six-part series was released on TikTok by one of her close friends depicting how she was mistreated on tour. Per the theme of this story, she still has a large following with 14.9 million monthly listeners.

Though Justin Timberlake was worried that his DWI arrest would “ruin the tour”, it seemingly had no effect. He still has 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has even added more tour dates. Timberlake is not unique in his ability to host a successful tour post-cancellation. Ellen DeGeneres was threatened with canceling a few years ago when several cases of workplace misconduct came out against her and The Ellen Show. After allegations that she fired employees after they took necessary medical leave, DeGeneres was able to go on tour and partnered with Netflix to release a new special letter this year. She also was able to keep her show and retained 137 million Instagram followers. DeGeneres was closer to being “truly canceled”, with her show being shut down, yet she lost more fans when she came out as a lesbian than she did after facing allegations of mistreating employees.

Whether someone is guilty or innocent is irrelevant, as the Deep V. Heard trial of 2022 uncovered. After Amber Heard claimed she was abused by her ex, Johnny Depp, his contract with Disney was terminated. However, a court of law found Heard guilty of defamation, and the court of public opinion considered Depp innocent of domestic abuse. In fact, many people viewed Heard as the true abuser. Still, Heard was recently invited to the Taormina Film Festival and was celebrated for her role in the film In the Fire, and her first movie post-trial, Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, made over $400 million globally. Depp has also bounced back from this controversy and is slated to star in the upcoming thriller Day Drinker. Cancel culture is equally ineffective no matter how guilty or innocent the party is.

Being canceled is something that celebrities have complained about in both traditional media and social media. In reality, though, it doesn’t exist. Just about anyone in entertainment has the ability to return successfully after a controversy. “#_____isoverparty” doesn’t actually mean anything. Cancellation is nothing but a buzzword disguised as the action of holding someone accountable. True accountability is only possible when someone holds themselves to that standard, and as a society, we have not been able to force that upon someone.

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Hello hello! I know it has been a while since all you fans have read an article from me, but that is because I have been focusing on my social and mental well-being. Luckily, I have had enough time open up within the next few weeks for me to write for the Weekly again. That is why I think it would be beneficial to share some insights about something I have found helpful over the last year and a half. I have been experimenting recently to help cope with seasonal depression and overall stress, and something I have discovered is ASMR.

ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, which is meant to describe a tingling, fuzzy sensation that occurs from specific sources of stimulation. For some people, this might be when a person is whispering in your ear, being touched gently on the back, or when you are getting a haircut. Many things can lead to the sensation of tingling, but what is most important is how it affects the body. The body’s response to tingling from ASMR might run from the top of your head to the tips of your toes and create a strong relaxing, calming feeling. It tricks the brain to release happy hormones as if you were being given a really good hug from family or a friend.

I know many people are starting to experience slights of seasonal depression, so for those who experience bad seasonal depression here, I think you should consider ASMR as a potential coping mechanism. But, firstly, I want to address certain connotations of what popular opinion thinks of when they hear ASMR. They either think of those people who do ASMR mukbangs and eat live octopus or, alternatively, people think of guys who put on their deep voice and say, “Hey baby girl. It’s time for bed.” The kind of ASMR I am talking about is not that kind of ASMR. Usually, the ASMR I watch consists of different roleplaying such as a friend playing with your hair, a doctor giving you a check-up, or a friend doing your makeup for a date; things that tend to create tingles or a relaxed sensation in real life. I am a person who never relaxes. Ever. It is such a difficult thing for my body to achieve, especially during bouts of seasonal depression. That is why I appreciate ASMR so much.

Somehow, these feelings can be translated over the internet. It is through a screen, but it creates the same calming feeling as if you were there in person. You can feel the results of a friend combing your hair or getting a pampered spa day via your screen. Being a really anxious person, this has made it easier for me to rest throughout the day and sleep when I am supposed to. I have had fewer nights staying up and overthinking everything. In fact, I’m not thinking about anything. I am being swayed to sleep by a soft voice that tells me everything’s okay – or going to be okay. Some specific ASMR artists that I would recommend are: @Chillbasmr, @ecuador.live, @restfulrambles, and @whispering.willow.asmr.

That is why I think it is definitely something that students should try if they are dealing with a lot of stress and sadness when the sky becomes gray during this time of year. Alternatively, it might be something to try if you are looking for a new form of media to enjoy during Thanksgiving Break. Don’t be shy, give it a try!

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I used to be able to read three books in a week – sometimes as many as five if I was feeling especially ambitious. But those were the days when life wasn’t particularly stressful, and I could read in any condition. As an over-achieving fifth grader, I read 500- to 800-page novels on the way to class almost every day. Picture a middle schooler carrying two five-subject notebooks, four folders that were all different colors, a pencil bag (that I still use to this day), and a Chromebook as she weaves around upperclassmen and through the halls with her nose in a young adult fantasy. I was that middle schooler. I could read during recesses, lunch hours, on car trips as my mom turned up the radio, during a busy and loud free class period, and even at my brothers’ peewee sporting events. And I don’t say this to try and sound like I’m “not like other girls,” like Harry Styles would pick me out from the crowd at his concert and fall in love with me. I say this because my skill of reading anytime and anywhere has run its course, and now I have to curate the perfect reading environment to read a single chapter, let alone an entire novel.

Sometimes, the perfect way to read a book completely depends on the book itself. For instance, you wouldn’t sit down at a desk with a handful of highlighters and sticky notes to read a fantasy romance novel. On second thought, maybe you would if you were one of those Bookstagram influencers who study Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros like it’s the Bible. From my experience, one would only do that if they were reading a textbook or a nonfiction book of some kind. The best way to get in the spirit of reading something like that is to pretend you are an academic weapon. Not only sit down at a desk, but pull out your laptop and play soft indie music in the background. For added bonus points, keep a pen or highlighter in your hand at all times. And if you must sit on a couch or a bed, somewhere too comfy to be considered nonfiction-worthy, then a mug of hot coffee or tea should balance out the vibes.

The vibes are always immaculate when reading a fantasy book or something that has action, science fiction, and/or romance.  To make things better, one should always be sitting or lying down on furniture no less comfy than a couch. Novels of those genres are typically anywhere between 400 and 1,000 pages. These authors expect you to stay in one spot for a while. Grab a snack before you sit down, and make sure your water bottle is filled. Also, use the bathroom before you get comfy because you won’t want to pause and empty your bladder when your favorite character is in a heated battle with their enemy. Trust me, it’s a very awkward situation when one of your favorite characters dies as you are holding in your pee. Crying and grieving over a fictional character while doing the potty dance is the unfortunate life of an experienced reader.

Another important factor when it comes to the perfect way to read a book is the season of the year. There are so many great ways a book can be read in any of the seasons, but you have to do it the right way. For example, it would be crazy behavior if you grabbed a book and cuddled in two to three blankets with a mug of hot cocoa just for it to be 96 degrees outside with the sun shining. If the only cold is coming from the air conditioner and it’s the middle of the summer, I would expect you to find a better summer reading spot. A go-to spot of mine is at the lakeside. Every year, my family departs from my grandma’s house (where we spend a week of vacation) to drive five minutes away to Shell Lake, Wisconsin, where we spend a day on the beach. Whether I’m sitting in a camp chair or on a blanket in the sand, being outside and enjoying the sun is the best way to read a book. The birds chirping, the waves crashing against the shore, music playing in the distance on somebody’s Bluetooth speaker, and the faint smell of hotdogs—it’s the only way to enjoy any genre of book underneath the summer sun. I think that if you’re not baking under the sun while you’re reading on a summer afternoon, then you’re doing it wrong.

We’re coming up on amazing book-reading weather. With the outside getting chillier and the leaves falling, we will soon find ourselves in a winter wonderland reality. Besides reading outside on a summer day, another great way to read a book is to cuddle up on the couch with a large, cozy blanket next to your decorated, lit-up Christmas tree. The best time is during the night (not too early!) so that it’s still light outside but not too late that you are too tired to read. With soft holiday music playing in the background and the promise of cookies in the air, I would consider this scene the best way to read a novel.

If you’re not a reader, then this message isn’t for you. But if you find yourself not being able to get back into the reading spirit, ask yourself which spot is the best spot for your book and the time of year. Carving out time to actually read your book is the hardest part, so don’t make the “where” hard, either. Keep it simple; keep it cozy.

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The Gustavus Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO) and Symphony Orchestra (GSO) have their Fall Concert from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. this Saturday, Nov 9th in Jussi Bjorling Hall. They are playing quite a few pieces, including previews of what they will play during the renowned Christmas in Christ Chapel concert later on this year. “The Gustavus Department of Music is proud to present the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra and the Gustavus Philharmonic Orchestra, in their fall concert,” the Gustavus website says.

First-year Jamy Randrup, who plays the violin in GSO, explained the difference between the two Gustavus ensembles. GSO, the symphony orchestra, is a lot larger: “we have the four stringed instruments and we also have wind, brass, and percussion. A philharmonic orchestra (GPO) is a lot smaller, and there’s a lot more emphasis on the string players themselves.”

Senior Marcus Nguyen, who plays viola in GSO, has been playing for 11 years. This is his first year in GSO after three years in GPO. “It’s quite fun to be able to play pieces that we will be doing for Christmas in Christ Chapel, but also pieces that we haven’t performed yet” Nguyen said, regarding the Fall Concert.

When speaking on her experience in GSO so far, Randrup said, “It’s been a really good opportunity for me to grow as a player because I’m surrounded by all these people who are so committed to their craft and passionate about their art. It’s a really fun ensemble to be a part of.”

The Fall Concert includes four pieces for GSO, including the Helios Overture, and a Dvo?ák symphony that is “ very famous and will probably be recognized by most of our audience,” Randrup said. The other two pieces include a few movements of a Bizet piece, and a piece titled “We Left Our Homes Behind” by Shelly Hanson. This piece, described as “truly so emotional” by Randrup, was composed by a professor at Macalester and depicts the journey of migrants who are fleeing their homes.

Dvo?ák’s “From the New World,” is Nguyen’s “favorite symphony of new time.” GSO is playing the first few movements of this piece at their concert. “Just yesterday I listened to the entire thing, front to back, just because it’s good. If you come and hear that, it might particularly inspire you to look into some music.” Nguyen said.

“When you find that there’s a very wide range… it provides a lot of open doors to other parts of classical music,” Nguyen continued. Listening to a few movements might inspire you to listen to the entire piece, sparking a passion for classical music. “I think that’s my favorite part about it,” Nguyen said.

The Fall concert for Gustavus Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras will be on Saturday, Nov. 9th  from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Jussi Bjorling Hall. “You’ll learn a lot from coming, and I think it would be a very good entry into classical music,” Nguyen said. “Don’t rule out classical music, it’s quite fulfilling. It’s relaxing, good for studying, and just enjoyable to listen to.” Supporting the Gustavus orchestras in just one concert could mean entering into a passion for classical music that you didn’t even know you had, or simply a discovery of some new study music that you love.

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This week’s Gustie of the Week is Professor in Classical Studies, Mary McHugh. McHugh is currently in her 19th year at Gustavus, teaching a variety of courses in Greek, Latin, Ancient Greek and Roman Art & Archaeology, FTS, and a new Challenge Seminar called Free Speech & Power.

Growing up in Wisconsin and Chicago, McHugh says “My late parents placed primary importance on our K-12 education, leaving it up to each of us to make the most of the opportunities we had. My dad was a skilled blue-collar laborer and my mom was a stay-at-home mother, who, after we had all grown up and left home, finished her Nursing degree.”

McHugh began her journey to Gustavus as a first-generation college student at Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts as a National Merit Semifinalist and Pell Grant recipient. She is the fourth of ten children, but the first to go to college. Entering college, McHugh intended to take the pre-med track but found a lot of joy in her ancient philosophy class her first semester. She ended up majoring in both Ancient Greek and philosophy: “a choice I have never regretted,” McHugh said.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to be or to do after I graduated with honors from Mt. Holyoke. I had a wide variety of jobs, from working with special needs children to bookseller to law firm secretary and paralegal and human resources assistant to purveyor of high-end cheeses and gourmet food,” McHugh said. However, she found that her humanities degree was never an obstacle in finding employment, and all of her interviewers had immense respect for it. While working at a large law firm in Boston, McHugh said she “realized that a career in law would not allow me the independence of thought I needed to have.”

She went on to graduate school studying Classics, earning her first Master’s Degree from Tufts University and her second Master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Critical to her studies was time at both the American School of Classical Studies in Athens and the American Academy in Rome. McHugh describes that time as “incredibly privileged experiences of in situ study that are irreplaceable for my understanding of the ancient world, my research, and my teaching.”

After graduate school, McHugh took her first job at Gustavus for a year as a Visiting Assistant Professor. She then had a brief stint teaching at Hamilton College in upstate New York before returning to Gustavus in a tenure-track position.

McHugh cites the students as the best part of Gustavus. “The people (administrators, faculty, staff, etc.) and the campus itself are tied for a close second place. I love our students’ intelligence, curiosity, and enthusiasm, both in the classroom and in the many activities that they engage in that make life so enriching and fulfilling,” McHugh said.

One of these students is Junior Mayssa Tweet, part of the select group of students who were fortunate enough to take McHugh’s Challenge Seminar last spring. Beyond McHugh’s incredible knowledge and expertise, Tweet noted how welcoming and personable she is. “She always remained open-minded and truly wanted each student to be successful in her class. She always made me feel like I mattered and she was always there to lend a listening ear and be understanding,” Tweet said. Senior Tanner Hopkins has taken three classes with McHugh and agreed that “she is very caring and passionate, which makes learning about her topics fun and interesting.”

One of McHugh’s colleagues, Professor of Religion Casey Elledge, has known McHugh for over 15 years. He describes her as “cheerful,  deeply thoughtful and knowledgeable and patient beyond measure.” It’s clear that McHugh has had an immeasurable impact throughout her years at Gustavus, inspiring students and staff alike.

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The Fall Jazz Showcase will be this Sunday, November 10th at 1:30 p.m. in Bjorling Recital Hall. The performance will feature Gustavus Jazz and Jazz Lab Collective, performing classic jazz standards and modern music with a jazz twist. This showcase will be the first time both jazz ensembles at Gustavus have performed at the same concert since before the pandemic.

Gustavus Jazz will perform well known pieces of many origins, such as the popular standard It Don’t Mean a Thing composed by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, Radiohead tune All I Need arranged by Sherisse Rogers, and jazz tune Ya Gotta Try…Harder by Sammy Nestico.

“I’m really looking forward to playing Ya Gotta Try… Harder because I played its predecessor Ya Gotta Try at state jazz, so I’m excited to perform the sequel this cycle,” Sophomore Dylan Halom, who will play tenor and baritone saxophones as well as clarinet for Gustavus Jazz for the showcase, said. Ya Gotta Try… Harder expands on its first iteration and has many swinging lyrical lines, lots of high energy, and improv solos.

“There’s a lot of variety in this week’s showcase, it’s the first time both jazz groups at Gustavus are playing in the same performance since the pandemic. It should be really fun, as there’s a lot of student soloists, upbeat, danceable, big band jazz music,” The Director of Gustavus Jazz,  Dr. Dave Stamps, said.

Jazz Lab Collective will play many jazz and blues tunes, such as So What by Miles Davis and arranged by George Russell, featuring lots of chord textures and impressionistic flair, the light shuffling Miss Missouri by Benny Carter, and many more.

“We have a variety of repertoire from diverse composers and arrangers, many of whom explored the blues in their own unique ways,” The Director of Jazz Lab Collective, Dr. JC Sanford, said. They will be performing the traditional song Second Line is a medium swing based on the early New Orleans style, as well as Better Git Hit in Your Soul by Charles Mingus, one of the most well known pieces of the world-renowned African-American jazz bassist, with brilliant walking bass lines and exciting melodies.

Jazz Lab Collective is a new ensemble this year, focusing on a variety of different jazz and blues pieces.  “We didn’t know how exactly this new ensemble would work this year, in terms of participation, so I’m excited to have a full sized big band,” Dr. Sanford said.

In their first performance together since the pandemic, the Fall Jazz Showcase will feature both Gustavus Jazz and Jazz Lab Collective this Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in Bjorling Recital Hall. The performance will have many different pieces for all audience members to enjoy, such as jazz standards, modern radio hits, and many more.

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The Marvel Studios franchise is one of television’s biggest and most expansive. Yet, in recent years with the high frequency of projects coming out, some fans have felt that Marvel has lost their touch. Instead of doing a huge film such as Avengers: Endgame per year, they have had many smaller projects and television shows in short periods of time. These smaller projects such as MoonKnight and She-Hulk have not created the same draw as former Marvel projects. They have flopped, to put it simply. My personal favorite Marvel project is Wandavision. I love the mise-en-scene of the different decades and the focus on a female protagonist. Therefore I, like many fans, was hopeful with the release of Agatha All Along that the Marvel drought of unsuccessful projects was over. Let me just say that Marvel has found their magic again; the drought is indeed over. Agatha All Along is a smash hit that has gained a new audience for Marvel. Let’s take a trip way down the road to unpack why it has been so successful.

To begin, let’s recap the plot of Agatha All Along. As I mentioned, this show is a spinoff of the highly successful Marvel show Wandavision, released in 2021. The show is centered around Agatha Harkness, an infamous witch who served as the villain in Wandavision. She is known as a witch that many are not fond of; “a witch without a coven” because she cannot be trusted. The audience watches as she attempts to get her powers back by taking a trip down the witches’ road. “Teen”, a character whose true identity is later revealed, finds Agatha in a world where she is powerless, set years after the end of Wandavision. He convinces her to take a trip down the road to gain their powers back. The witches’ road tests those who take the trip with a set of trials. If you complete the road, you should in theory receive whatever led you to take a trip down the road. They rally up some other witches who have lost their powers and the journey begins. One reason this show was so successful was the ensemble cast. It is fun to see all the different characters interact which leads to many humorous encounters. It also felt very easy to follow. My personal complaint with several of the recent Marvel shows is how complicated they are to comprehend a basic plot. There are still many elements of the show that reference more niche aspects of Marvel, like stories from the comics. These nods are not critical to the understanding of the show, yet add on to it for those true fans that are watching.

Now that the plot has been covered, just how is this show that different? It still contains superhumans and incredible special effects. This show reaches such a different audience because of the very different types of protagonists the show introduces. To start off, the show follows a woman. This is not unheard of for Marvel, but Agatha is a very unique character. She is unlikeable, messy, and cruel. Yet she is made a protagonist of an entire series. We also see “Teen” who is a young teenager take a leading role in the series. This is new territory for Marvel, especially with the addition of him being a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The character Rio is also very interesting; she is ominous and keeps the audience guessing who she is for most of the show. Rio and Agatha share a bond and clearly have a lot of unfinished business. That being said, even alluding to a non-heterosexual relationship is something Marvel has never done. These all being the reason Agatha All Along has struck a chord with such a different audience. Agatha All Along sheds light on the people who are never typically perceived as superheroes. When people think of Marvel films, they think of characters like Captain America and Iron Man, who are very obvious, strong, likable heroes. Agatha Harkness is unlikeable and has an endless list of flaws, but she is given a place that tells her backstory and gives her a heart. How the show depicts unlikable and underrepresented characters is subtle, but representation in any way is always important.

Finally, Agatha All Along is simply a whole lot of fun. The set design and different costumes in every episode are very campy and play into a fun, eerie vibe. It made the show feel a bit less dramatic and more an enjoyable watch. The creators of the show did an excellent job of blending emotional storytelling with humor and lighthearted moments. I think that it is safe to say Agatha All Along will always be a bright spot in Marvel history. I am hopeful and excited for the future of Marvel films and series. Who knows what will be next for them? It seems with their set of new protagonists and plot lines Marvel is on the up, or should I say they are down the witches’ road?

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Join the Library’s Student Advisory Board for an after-hours event with food, mafia, and more! The first 50 to sign up will participate in a scavenger hunt and be able to win prizes! See you there!

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Before jumping into her story, here are a few of her exciting upcoming performances: she will lead the Minnesota All-State Concert Band at the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) convention in February, in a performance at Orchestra Hall (Minneapolis), which is a culmination of a week of intense rehearsals over the summer and two days at the convention. She is guest conductor for a full program with the Minnesota Symphonic Winds in February, and will  join internationally renowned composer Julie Giroux at Lamar University (Texas) to collaborate with an honor band in March.

Miller started her music journey early. “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have music in my life,” she says. She began Suzuki piano at the age of four. Suzuki training teaches music like a language, and encourages learning by ear first before learning to read notation. When she began playing trumpet in junior high school, she ran into some obstacles because now she couldn’t rely on her ear as much and really needed to learn how to READ the music. “I am very stubborn, so it was tough at times,” she said.

She also had another love: science. For most of high school, she imagined pursuing the sciences in college, even spending two weeks at the U.S. Space Academy in Huntsville, AL as a sophomore. It wasn’t until late in her junior year that she changed her mind. “I really wanted to be an astronaut, but the chances of me working for NASA were very small,” she says. This was part of her reasoning for ultimately switching to a career in music. The other part of her reasoning was, “If I’m doing music, no matter what I’m doing, I think I can find a place where I can be happy.”

This college path then led her to one of her other passions, conducting. Her college band director turned her onto conducting, a realm where she could become a “conduit for the music.” “As a conductor you get to be inside of the music and really know every aspect of it, and that is so special” she says.

Dr. Miller took 6 years to complete her undergraduate degree because she did not combine education with her music degree until her senior year, and therefore had significant coursework left to complete. She does not regret the two extra years, however. In a classic liberal arts fashion, she says they gave her time to take classes she would not otherwise have had the opportunity to take, seek out additional performance opportunities, and expand her knowledge.

She then moved into her graduate and postgraduate careers, which included teaching high school in Spring Lake Park, MN, conducting and teaching music education at Ithaca College, serving as Assistant Conductor to the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (MA), and conducting the Williams College Wind Ensemble in Williamstown, MA. She has achieved an international reputation as a guest conductor, traveling to Thailand in September 2023 to conduct a Festival Band of 180 international students at the Bangkok International Band Festival.

Bringing diversity to the repertoire she programs is another extremely important aspect to Dr. Miller. “Our repertoire has traditionally been dominated by white male composers,” she says. “The progress that we’re making may feel slow at the moment, but if I think back to what my repertoire lists looked like when I was graduating college, I feel very good about the progress that is being made – at least at some institutions!” She also sees things in a different way because she experiences the world of conducting through the lens of womanhood. “It can be very frustrating to be labeled as a ‘female’ conductor because sometimes I feel pressured to represent all women, when in reality I am a conductor, full stop.” For instance, she has been invited to conduct at events where organizers were creating programs presenting only “women in music.” Organizers must use care, keeping open minds and ears, when contemplating such events. “In a few past such experiences, I’ve been made to feel less than … was I chosen because I was capable and qualified? Or was I chosen because I checked a convenient box? Because of how I’ve felt in those situations, I am extremely conscious in my programming of trying not to tokenize anyone.”

Such awareness of the complexities and paradoxes of music performance is what makes her stand out as a professor and mentor. “We can make a difference by playing music that matters because of the connections it has to the world around us. Yet sometimes music’s value is in the art itself, which is also important, because it teaches us about ourselves and what it means to be human.”

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And of course, go vote if you haven’t already :]

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The Gustavus Volleyball Team continued their reign of dominance, hitting the highway this past Saturday to head up to Saint Benedict. The Bennies had just picked up a couple of wins in their recent matches and confidence was high; however, the Gusties swiftly took the wind out of their sails. An expertly played game gave way to a 3-1 win for the Gusties, proving nothing can slow down the team’s dominance, not even a few hours on the road. Gustavus furthered their record to 17-9, bringing their MIAC conference to 8-0.

Gustavus Volleyball took to the Claire Lynch hall with gusto. In the first set, they crushed the first serve to take an early lead of 3-0. The teams battled back and forth for a few points until a breakaway streak from Gustavus led the team to 9-3, thanks to 3 straight kills from First-year Macie Malchow and Sophomore Sophia Deyak. The Gusties continued with the strong energy they initially brought to the court, maintaining the lead throughout the set. Seemingly unstoppable, the team pulled as far ahead as an 8-point advantage. The Bennies were not willing to give in so easily, scoring 4 points in a row in an attempt to reel in the Gusties. The attempt, however, was fruitless. In the final stretch of the game, Gustavus closed out the set 25-15 with a 5-1 run, aided by two kills from Junior Leah Berg.

As the second set began, Saint Benedict bounced back, determined to not go down without a fight. They opened with a scoring serve. Gustavus rose quickly but trailed the score of the Bennies until they tied up 5-5. After the tie, Gustavus reclaimed the lead. Saint Benedict stayed in hot pursuit, staying within 3 points of the Gusties for the majority of the game. The Bennies tied the game up at 21-21, tensions high as both teams looked to win the set. Gustavus snatched 2 kills and benefitted from an attack error to cinch the win 25-22, setting the team up with a 2-0 lead.

The third set was filled with fire from both teams. Gustavus rode on their previous wins, opening the set with a 3-0 lead initially. Saint Benedict was seemingly revitalized by their losses in the previous sets; they went on a consecutive 9-point streak to command the game 9-3. Gustavus responded with resilience, ripping a 7-3 streak of their own. Gustavus called some substitutions and time-outs, but ultimately Saint Benedict was playing for vengeance and won the set 25-14. This win marked the first conference set loss for the Gusties in 385 days.

There’s a reason why the Gustavus team had gone undefeated for so long, and they showcased it in the 4th set. Rattling out 6 consecutive points to begin established a strong lead for the Gusties. The Bennies meekly battled back, gaining 4 points, but still falling 2 points short of the Gustavus lead. Gustavus did not look back, storming on with an additional 5-point streak. The rest of the game was speckled with a few random points from Saint Benedict, and many consecutive points from your Gusties. Gustavus ran the score up and kept the high energy all the way through to finish the 4th set 25-14. With that decisive finish, the Gusties took the victory for the game against St Benedict, maintaining their undefeated conference record.

Volleyball is undoubtedly a team sport and the women work together cohesively to create electric chemistry on and off the court. All members showed grit and determination throughout the game. Fifth-year Kasie Tweet had a particularly excellent game. Following Tweet’s performance, she earned her second consecutive MIAC Athlete of the Week honor, making it her third of the season. Tweet stood out with 2 aces, 14 digs, and an astounding 37 assists. Junior Leah Berg also had an incredible performance in the Saint Benedict game with 13 kills.

The Gustavus Volleyball Team will play again on Friday the 1st and Saturday the 2nd of November. On Friday, they will host Augsburg on the Gustavus court, then follow up with a trip to play Bethel on Saturday. Bethel also remains undefeated in the conference, making it a game sure to be filled with a competitive atmosphere. Good luck, Gusties!

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The Gustavus Men’s Soccer Team achieved an impressive feat in last week’s games. The Gusties beat the University of Wisconsin-Superior 2-1 putting an end to their non-conference record in the regular season to an undefeated 6-0-1. Along with this win against UW-Superior, the Gusties also defeated a tough St. John’s team, 5-0.

Before the game against the Gusties, St. Johns hadn’t lost a game all season by more than one goal. The Johnnies set a difficult problem for the Gusties: although the Gusties have been able to consistently get results, they rarely were able to put away opponents. The Gusties attack shut down this idea. With a 5-0 scoreline, the Gusties were able to earn their largest margin of victory in this game.

The first goal of the game came in the 27th minute from Fifth-year Owen Johnson. The goal was created by a very quick press that caused a poor giveaway from the Johnnie defense. Junior Mason Gilliand played a lopping ball over the top of the Johnnie defense to a darting run made by Sophomore Leo Runestad, who then deceptively cut the ball back to Johnson, who fired it into the net, making the score 1-0.

Surprisingly, the Gusties struggled to maintain the lead with multiple chances being shot at the Gustavus goal with Goalie and Senior Egan Bedwell making a series of important stops. The Gusties’ defensive efforts were able to keep the scoreline 1-0 going into halftime.

After halftime, the Gusties came for blood, quickly generating many scoring opportunities in the Johnnies’ defensive third. The second goal came in the 58th minute from Sophomore Joe Flory. After a combination of Fifth-year Alexander Krumenaur and Johnson, Johnson laid the ball off to a cutting Flory run who took it the first time, calmly slotting it between the goalie’s legs, making the scoreline 2-0.

In the 72nd minute, the Gusties struck again. With his second assist of the game, Runestad slipped a through ball between the Johnnies center backs, allowing for Fifth-year Jared Hecht to get to the end of it. Hecht calmly slotted the ball past the Johnnies goalie, increasing the Gustie lead to 3.

The scoreline of the game was not the only significant achievement for the Gusties in this game; With his assist coming in the second half, Fifth-year Owen Johnson broke the all-time assist record for Gustavus Men’s Soccer with a staggering 43 assists (and counting). We caught up with Johnson after the game to ask how he felt about everything that had gone on in the game. Johnson said, “The St John’s game was definitely our most fun game all season. We were able to press them early on and set a high tempo that they couldn’t keep up with. That press led to my first goal and gave us some confidence going into the second half, where we picked up where we left off. My assist came from a great buildup from the team and a clean finish from Joe Flory. It was a super cool moment and I’m thankful to my teammates because without them I would never have even gotten close to the record!”

It was a game of firsts, as both Fifth-year Nicholas James and Senior Matt Carlson scored their first career goals for the program with the fourth and fifth goals of the game respectively. This was a huge moment for them as well as the team; everyone got to celebrate with them. Carlson talked about how he feels he has fulfilled an important role on the team, he said “After all the hours and hard work I’ve put in for the team the past four years, the goal felt amazing. This year I’m in a leadership role, the strength and conditioning coach, and a role of keeping a strong winning culture. We have a very talented group this year and the only team that can defeat us is ourselves. Although I work to contribute as much as I can on the field, most of my work is off the field.”

Nick James also had a similar sentiment about this game: “The St. John’s game was super fun. It was great to get my first collegiate goal, thanks to David Castillon, and to get a bunch of different guys into the game. The team this year is special, everyone is on the same page and there are good vibes all around.”

The Gusties went on the following week to draw with the current NCAA Championship holders, St. Olaf 3-3. Following this solid result, the Gusties defeated Bethel 1-0 who are third in the MIAC. The Gusties will play their final regular season game on Saturday, November 2nd at St. Scholastica at 3:30 p.m. Their current undefeated record is 13-0-3, which has them ranked #1 in the MIAC and #4 in the country. They hope to continue this undefeated streak into the MIAC and NCAA tournaments.

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This past weekend, the Gustavus Women’s Soccer Team picked up a crucial inter-conference win over the Bethel Royals, defeating them 3-1. The Gusties played on the road in Arden Hills, where they silenced the Bethel crowd. This victory marks Gustavus’ sixth consecutive win against Bethel, moving the team to an 8-4-5 record overall and 3-4-3 in MIAC play, edging them closer to the playoff race and continuing their streak against their rival.

The game started with Gustavus on the attack, as Junior Cambelle Waldspurger fired three shots on goal in quick succession. However, the Bethel goalie saved each attempt. 17 minutes into the game, Bethel had its first scoring opportunity and capitalized on it, sending the Bethel fans into a frenzy with the game’s opening goal.

Bethel held onto their 1-0 lead for over 20 minutes as the ball bounced across the field. At the 41-minute mark, Gustavus found the equalizer when Senior Lillian Selberg scored a crucial goal, assisted by fellow Senior, Jordan Oelkers. The teams entered halftime tied at 1-1, leaving the second half wide open and both teams hungry for a win.

As the second half began, both teams fought hard for the go-ahead goal, creating multiple chances on both sides, though shots were either narrowly missed or saved. In the 69th minute, Oelkers assisted Senior Ellen Becken, who fired the ball into the net to give Gustavus a 2-1 lead, deflating the Bethel crowd. Remarkably, Becken had been presenting at an academic conference in Las Vegas just 24 hours earlier, exemplifying the commitment of a true student-athlete.

With momentum on their side, Gustavus stayed aggressive, and only three minutes later, Becken passed to Oelkers, who buried the ball in the Bethel net, extending the lead to 3-1 and sending the Bethel fans into despair.

With an 18-minute cushion, Gustavus only needed to avoid any lapses to secure the win, and the Women’s Soccer Team held strong to shut down Bethel, clinching the 3-1 victory on the road.

Senior midfielder Callie Patraw said of the team, “This year’s team has an extremely special factor to it being that there are 10 seniors on the team. 1/3 of the team is seniors so that gives us extra motivation to continue the season and our college careers. More than every other year, the team has all been on the same page. Everyone has been extremely supportive of each other and we have learned how to work with each other’s emotions. People know how to calm each other down and when to hype each other up. This is just the most supportive team and that has allowed us to work so well together. Even though we started out the season slow, we stayed motivated to keep going and never let the scores or the rankings get us down.”

Gustavus has one regular season game remaining on the road in Duluth against St. Scholastica. With a record of 0-13-4, St. Scholastica will be motivated to avoid a winless season. Meanwhile, Gustavus also has motivation, as they must win this game to secure a spot in the MIAC playoffs, where they hope to carry their recent momentum.

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Television shows like The Bachelor and Survivor have been on television for quite some time. But for some odd reason, if anyone brings them up, no one will truly admit to being a fan of them. When someone says they really enjoy a reality show, the room suddenly becomes quiet. On a base level, these shows could be of a much higher quality and are meant to provoke arguments among castmates. Reality television shows are often considered a guilty pleasure because no one will admit to enjoying them. Yet there are enough viewers to keep these shows on the air and even produce spinoffs. Take The Bachelor for instance; there are many spin-offs all from one singular show. But why will no one admit to liking these shows?

To begin the search for why no one will admit to enjoying reality television, we must first find why people do watch reality television shows. While people may not admit to enjoying the show, people certainly do tune in. Reality shows in a general sense are meant to capture reality, as these shows are unscripted with no acting. Humans love the idea of authenticity and people being real, hence why these shows are so popular. People love television, but as a viewer, you know that it is all scripted and at the end of the day not real. Reality television gives people that sense of authenticity that everyone craves. Reality TV does not glamorize hard issues, and in some cases, it shows people at their worst. It is common to see people cry, fight, etc., on reality television shows all the time. I think this idea is the key to why people tune in. It is common to be shown “perfect people” by the media. These people often make us feel bad about ourselves. People turn to reality television when they do not want to think too critically about the world or watch perfect model actors fall in love. Rather, people watch reality television when they just want to curl up into a ball and decompress. The ironic thing is that often enough, reality TV is more scripted than it is advertised to be. There are normally some “plot points” created by the production team in order to create drama that is entertaining. Regardless, that is not what counts here. It is the idea that reality television is a comfort in people’s lives. When you sit down and watch Love Island, it is a mindless break at the end of the day.

But if people enjoy watching reality television, just why will no one admit to liking reality television? As I began to ponder this question, I reflected on my own experiences. I used to be an avid reality TV hater. Anytime a popular reality show was brought up, I would claim it was stupid. But in all honesty, I had never actually sat down and watched it. Or, from what I had seen from the show, I had never found it overly enjoyable. It was not until last school year when my roommate and I started watching The Golden Bachelor that I was excited to watch reality television. The show was funny and had an elimination factor so we were always on the edge of our seats waiting to see who was going to be booted off. When reflecting back on this, I now see that while I did enjoy the show itself, it was even more so the memories I made surrounded by the show. We would even make it into a “girls night”, inviting our friends over. We all ended up rooting for a certain contestant and it became such a fun part of the week. I discovered that watching reality television can be fun. I had finally realized why everyone had been tuning in and taking sides. But still, I thought if it is fun to watch these shows, why would no one admit to liking them?

Well, my conclusion is that since reality TV shows at a core level are not high quality, and have a trashy element people do not want these shows reflected onto them. When someone asks you “What is your favorite television show”, no one wants to answer “Love is Blind!” People want others to think highly of them, so they want to give a cool and intellectual indie limited series as their answer. People live their lives in fear of what others think of them. If you genuinely love trashy reality TV such as Jersey Shore,  tell people that you do. Your favorite does not have to be their favorite. And if you are looking for a “good enough” reason for that to be your favorite, just the fact that it brings you joy should be enough. In the end, television has good and bad qualities no matter the show; but if something brings you joy don’t hide it. Don’t just claim it is a guilty pleasure, embrace it! People do not admit to liking reality television because they are scared of what others will think, but I think everyone needs to change their perception. Let people enjoy what they want; if you prefer your Emmy award-winning limited series drama, then that’s cool too.

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Do you ever take those ridiculous (but very important) Buzzfeed quizzes where one of the questions is always “What is your favorite season?” I’ve completed a fair share of those quizzes because I’m always in the mood to know what dog I would be, which faction from Divergent I belong to (Abnegation), or which one of Sarah J. Maas’s characters would be my mate (Azriel). But why is there always a question about my favorite season? And why is it always Fall?

Sometimes, I feel a strange sense of guilt when choosing Fall. I’m not trying to sound too much like an “I’m not like other girls” type of girl, but isn’t it too basic? I feel like Fall is everyone’s favorite season. But that’s simply just because Fall is amazing. Everything that involves Fall is superior: Fall coffee drinks, Fall clothing, the Fall of the Roman Empire, The Fall of Jake Paul…everything Fall is the best.

One of the reasons that I hear the most about why Fall is the best season is because it means getting to wear the best outfits. It’s true: I only look my best when I can layer. There’s a reason why it’s called “sweater weather.” And there’s a reason why it rhymes—because it’s just ultimately superior. A crisp 55-degree evening in mid-October is my favorite time of the year. I can wear an oversized hoodie with leggings, fuzzy socks, and Birkenstocks with no judgment. With this fit on an average Fall day, I don’t have to anticipate sweating or freezing. I’m comfortable.

I will not lie; the pumpkin spice lattes are getting out of hand. But they’re also so good. There’s a reason why they are so popular. They taste as if you took all the leaves in your backyard, the scent of the Autumn air, and the vibes of Halloween in a blender and mixed them up into a drink.

Let’s speak more of those three things in depth. Leaves. They fall because it’s what they do best. They’re great by themselves and they’re even more great when they are in piles. The amount of serotonin I get from stepping on an orange leaf and crunching it into tiny, little pieces is almost concerning if it weren’t because everyone else gets the same happy feeling when they step on a leaf. It’s actually more concerning how disappointed I get when I step on a leaf, and it doesn’t do the crunch thing. But when the leaves are in a pile, you can jump into it! Many childhood memories were made by raking a backyard’s worth of leaves into a giant pile and jumping into the orange, yellow, and red oblivion of foliage. And don’t even get me started on the orange trash bags that look like carved pumpkins when you fill them up with leaves! They are so cute, and I smile and point every time as if I were passing a cow instead of an artificial Jack-o-Lantern.

The Autumn air always has a certain scent. Maybe it’s the crisp cold, or maybe it’s all the pumpkins and pumpkin lattes with powdered cinnamon. Suddenly, during the Fall, everyone smells like cinnamon sticks, pumpkin pie, and vanilla bean. Another reason why Fall is the best season is that Bath and Body Works puts all their hard work into every single candle, hand soap, and perfume.

Halloween is the ultimate reason why Fall is the best season. Between the costumes, horror movies, the spooky music, and the lack of shame when eating from a giant bowl of candy, we should just create a version of Halloween for every season. Or better yet, a Summer Thanksgiving, a Spring Thanksgiving, and a Winter Thanksgiving. Well, I guess Christmas is kind of like Winter Thanksgiving…so maybe not that. But Thanksgiving is another Fall holiday that reigns above others solely because there’s food involved. And not just food but a lot of food. I can’t think of another season where a person can get a cavity and up a pant size within a month’s time. I call that a good time.

Everything counts in the Fall. Listening to Christmas music before Halloween? That’s alright! We all get it. At this point, Christmas music belongs in Fall, anyway. Listening to spooky Halloween music just days away from Thanksgiving? That’s also okay! The sky gets dark by 5 p.m. on Fall nights, which calls for spooky music all the time. Everything goes when the leaves start turning brown. Even that video of that lady singing about Thanksgiving meals. Every November, I bust out that remixed song as a celebration of Fall.

A lot of people think it’s such a basic season because it’s hyped up too much. Girls are made fun of for taking pictures in pumpkin patches. But that’s just because pumpkin patches are cute and fun! Starbucks girlies also get a bad rep for their preference for Fall drinks. It’s just a fun season when the world becomes a bit more festive. Fall is not basic or overrated. Fall is perfect. And the sooner you start to understand that, the sooner you feel less guilty about choosing it as your favorite season on all those Buzzfeed quizzes.

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Voter turnout in the US has been increasing in recent years with the past three elections having the highest voter turnout rates in recent history. The Pew Research Center found that the 2018 election had the highest turnout of any midterm election since 1914, with a rate of 49%. The following presidential election had another record-breaking turnout rate of 66%, and the 2022 election, while the lowest turnout of these, had a turnout of 46%- still larger than any midterm election post-1970. More specifically, the voter turnout rate of college students has been increasing in recent years, from 52% in 2016 to 66% in 2020. Along with these increasing numbers begs the question: should students be showing up to the polls?

The traditional argument against voting is that low voter turnout rates show satisfaction with current institutions. After all, if citizens are not persuaded to vote to change things, they must be enjoying the way things are. According to this argument, students shouldn’t be forced to vote if they don’t feel the need to, so any student who is satisfied with their government’s actions should not waste their time at the polls, and instead focus on their studies. Low voter turnout can also create more stability within our society. When there is constant change in who is leading our country, the goals of our government change constantly with it, making it harder to pin down what direction our country is heading in. By this criteria, high student voting rates would be considered a negative.

The negative aspect of not voting is similar to the positive aspect of it- low voter turnout leads to limited change. If students don’t vote, then the issues they want the government to focus on probably won’t be seriously considered. Government policies are tilted towards the people who vote because they are the ones putting representatives in their positions of power. For example, the highest voter turnout rates are among the elderly population and, consequently, most of the US budget is geared towards social security and Medicare – programs designed to help the elderly. If students don’t vote, politicians don’t feel the need to invest in areas that help them, such as minimum wage and student loan debt.

It must also be considered that college students don’t have a lot of experience living in the adult world. Do we really want people who don’t know how taxes work to decide who should get tax cuts? While students are working hard to achieve their education, they have not completed it yet. Some would argue that anyone who hasn’t finished their college education should not vote because they could be misinformed. Students also have an incredibly busy schedule which leaves limited time for researching candidates and their plans. College should come first for students, therefore they shouldn’t waste their time with politics.

In the information age, it is nearly impossible to be completely in the dark about politicians and their positions, so is uninformed voting a real problem? Some would argue that while they haven’t lived in the adult world for very long, college students have enough experience from growing up in the US to form their own political opinions. Many high schools also require classes on government and politics, making students more than capable of being informed voters. While it is still important to research candidates and their plans for office before voting, college students are more than capable of handling this research. Many institutions also do not want students to have to choose between their education and their political duties and offer polling places on campus. At Gustavus, election information has been available around campus for the past month, and election day has an adapted schedule that gives students time to vote.

The biggest thing stopping students from voting in the 2024 election is the candidates. One study by Inside Higher Ed found that the most common reason students listed for not voting was distaste for the candidates. Because students don’t support either candidate, they in turn don’t look out for them. However, as voter turnout has increased among college students, more and more politicians have been forced to listen to student voices on the issues. Hopefully, as students have more of an impact on elections, the candidates will in turn try to positively impact students. Maybe then students will feel positively enough about one candidate to support them with their vote.

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“Do human beings ever realize life while they live it, every, every minute?” This question comes from the three-act play Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Our Town will be performed on November 7th through the 11th in the Gardner Lab Theatre. The Saturday matinee begins at 3:30 p.m., and the Sunday matinee is at 2:00 p.m. The evening shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday begin at 8:00 p.m.

Our Town has three acts titled, “The Daily Life”, “Love and Marriage”, and “Death and Eternity.” It follows the Webb and Gibbs families throughout their lives in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. “What starts as a simple illustration of a typical day in Grover’s Corners ends as a powerful reflection on how we can best live our lives and how we might regard the world and our place in it,” Senior Gavia Yount said.

Junior Julia Nelson plays the role of the Stage Manager, the omniscient narrator of Our Town. “A lot of art forms that are meant to talk about daily life aren’t reality, and are rather dramatized,” Nelson said. “Our Town is the most real any play can get because it talks about real situations and doesn’t put them lightly.” Even though it was written in the early 1900’s, the themes of Our Town are relatable to us today, as we live our own daily lives in an often unforgiving world.

Visiting Assistant Professor in Theatre and Dance and Director of Our Town, Matt Trucano, was described by Nelson as, “not only just a wonderful human being… but a wonderful director, talented, and genius.” Many other cast members had similar remarks about their experience working with Trucano. “When Our Town premiered in 1938, it was radical, experimental theater. We’re trying to harness that energy to find something new for the audience to connect to today,” Trucano said.

Our Town performs on the weekend after the presidential election. This show, especially in a time that feels so uncertain, puts into perspective that life continues moving even through uncertainty. “Thornton Wilder says that the play is about ‘the life of the village measured against the life of the stars’. Likely, votes will continue to be counted as we perform the play and there could be a sense of unease and uncertainty. Our Town is maybe the only play I can imagine watching or performing in such a consequential moment” Trucano said.

Film Major and Senior Lillian Grimm is the student director of Our Town. Grimm’s background and expertise with film helps bring the play to life unexpectedly and movingly. You’ll have to see it for yourself!

Our Town answers the question “What does it mean to be human?” Junior Caroline Butler said. Additionally, “what does it mean to be present? Why live in the moment? If life has meaning, what is it to each individual person?” Nelson added. This is a play that puts the short time we have on earth into perspective, exploring the intense concepts of love and mortality in a way that is incredibly simple and raw.

A lot of hard work from the cast and crew has gone into preparing Our Town. Trucano commented, “I’ve been so honored at the high level of commitment and enthusiasm from the actors, stage managers, crew, and designers. It has been really hard work (for everyone!) but we are starting to see the fruits of our labor. I’m so excited for the audience!”

Our Town will be performed from November 7th through the 11th in the Gardner Lab Theatre. Gustavus students get a free ticket with their student ID, and there are many opportunities to see the show! So go see Our Town “If you need that little break and reminder that life goes on through everything,” Sophomore Madison Walker said.

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