Maybe you heard, the student-run consignment store, Charlie's Closet, is closing its doors. Reason: lack of business. This is unfortunate, considering its prime location on Center Street, right in the heart of downtown Vermillion. Charlie's Closet is just off Main, but is no doubt passed by a majority of the student population many days and nights of the week while heading to and from the bars and other services located downtown.… 3 Comments

Skateboarding: What a crime! The April 16 issue of The Volante had an interesting article discussing the stereotypical image of the skateboarder and the 'lifestyle' associated with this activity. I was a bit shocked to hear that skateboarding is not only frowned upon, but prohibited on USD campus.… Post the First Comment

Abortion. What an ugly word. It has so many ugly connotations: posters with unborn fetuses, radical evangelicals bombing clinics, women being deprived of very personal rights and inane, counterproductive opinion columns and message board discussions (by the way, I am truly amazed that the WBC geniuses didn't jump all over that gravy train).… 10 Comments

A prevelant topic of conversation during the last few weeks has been what upcoming graduates are going to do after May 10. Will they be entering the work force, nothing or continuing their education by going to graduate school? In today's job market, it is becoming increasingly vital to have some form of post-graduate education; masters, doctorate, etc.… Post the First Comment

Here on campus, somebody tied inane signs reading "hug me" to tree trunks while others sang Kumbaya on the old ice rink. But nothing really happened. Our little blue marble was still dirtier after Earth Day than it was the day before. Cars still put more carbon in the air, Exxon still dumped more oil into the sea and our freshmen still threw away more plastic six-pack holders without cutting the rings.… 5 Comments

There has never been so much at stake and never has it been so important that you get involved in the struggle for the survival of humanity. We seem to be on the brink of disaster in many ways. The planet is not dying; life on earth will in its amazing way continue to adapt to whatever circumstances we think up next.… Post the First Comment

"When were you all born? The '80s? Geez, do you know about the second World War then?" - Old Main "It's because you don't eat enough germs!" - Burgess/Norton "He smelled so good I literally wanted to climb inside his armpits." - Churchill-haines "They do not use Internet condoms to protect themselves!" - the commons "For once in my life, I wish I had a ball-gag.… Post the First Comment

IN THE KNOW: Starbucks is coming to Vermillion. Now you can get hosed buying gas and coffee. IN THE DARK: Those of you still driving to campus. At $3.50 a gallon, we wonder about your mental state and suggest you call the counseling center. Their number is 677-5777.… Post the First Comment

Go Coyote-eezs!! As in "Wile Coyote." As in "Coyote Ugly." It was my first USD football game as a typical, amateur freshman cheering for a school I was barely familiar with. I was immediately interrupted and corrected by an experienced Coyote fan: "It's YOTES.… Post the First Comment

I don't think I'm alone in saying "Thank God, summer break is almost here". I'll be done with finals on Tuesday, and while I won't be graduating this year, I have several friends who are finally getting to walk across that stage and on to the next part of their lives.… 3 Comments

It has taken me some time to come to the conclusion that the reason why Ron Paul is no longer a viable presidential candidate is because of his supporters (this column should have been written a month ago, but no one ever accused me of being timely). Consider however, that I am a fervent supporter of his candidacy and especially his ideas; so I say this with a lump in my throat.… 1 Comment

There seems to be a lot of people butt-hurt about my previous column. Too offensive for you, sunshine? Well, what offends me is spending a lifetime cursed with crippling worry over foreign and domestic affairs while a lunch table full of pigeons is talking about what happened on the O.… 7 Comments

After briefly scanning the regional news related to protests against a proposed hog farm near Wagner, I was excited to receive an urgent email from the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center requesting help at the site. According to this message there was an excessive display of police presence, including more than fifty police cars, snipers and riot gear, all for a nonviolent protest of a few dozen standing in a ditch.… 6 Comments

Finals are probably the worst time to think too hard about what you're doing with your life. Inevitably, if you ask yourself, "Is this really worth it?" the answer is probably going to be no. Unfortunately, it's also probably the time when you're most likely to ask yourself such a question.… 1 Comment