The Wake

On Oscar Sunday, I had the unique pleasure of attending the oldest and largest Oscar party outside of California, Hollywood 2004, at the Historic State Theater in Minneapolis. The event is a benefit for the Minnesota AIDS Project.Initially, I have to admit to a level of shock at entering the big event, because the glitz and glamour was definitely present in high volume. There were loads of people with too much time and money. I even remember overhearing one woman speaking of $3,800 as “nothing.” There were young men in underwear, holding wooden swords and painted gold, in the likeness …

Read more →

It’s about half way through the semester. I have done nothing that could really qualify as paying work in weeks. All my Christmas-gift money from Grandma and the parents is long gone, and I can see the pot at the end of the student loan rainbow. It’s empty.I know it would be foolish to spend money designated for rent and car payments on a night out. And my friends, being nearly penniless like myself, cannot subsidize a meal for us either. Well, not meals where a professionally trained chef prepares dishes that come out of the kitchen with immaculate presentations …

Read more →

It’s an exhibit that almost never was. As a part of an international exchange between galleries, the Nash was scheduled to put on a photography exhibit from Iran titled Persian Silver. However, considering the security involved bringing in anything from the Middle East, the photographs were held up in customs en route to the gallery, delaying the show. It seemed as though the walls at the newly relocated Nash gallery might remain bare, but a few phone calls from Senator Mark Dayton managed to free the artwork and get it moving towards its moment in the spotlight.According to Nicholas Shank, …

Read more →

Wild rice is a sacred plant to the Ojibwe in Minnesota. Some say prophecies told the Ojibwe to move westward, leading them here to the sustenance of wild rice. Others will tell you a man named Nanaboozhoo failed to bring home a deer for dinner one night; but later followed a duck to a lake full of wild rice, giving him food when there was nothing else to eat. As Winona LaDuke, Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe) member, has written, “We have always cared for the wild rice, as it is one of the greatest gifts given to our community.” But many Ojibwe …

Read more →

Birthright Israel sends Jewish young adults, ages 18 through 26, to experience Israel at a cost perfect for college students. Free. As a Jewish student, I couldn’t say no to the opportunity of a 10-day trip this past January. I found all it took to apply was a few minutes on Birthright’s website and a $250 deposit, refundable upon successful completion of the program. Before leaving, I read through an itinerary of lectures and guest speakers. My time studying journalism at the “U” has given me a sixth sense for propaganda. Despite my cynicism, the series of lectures …

Read more →

Hey Lonely. Tired of drinking yourself to sleep, alone in your studio apartment? Buck up already and ask that girl out from your psych lecture. Oh, I get it - you don’t have a car and can’t take her anywhere. Well, I’m here to save your ass with some ammo for your arsenal of love: obscure facts about the University! For practical purposes, let’s refer to the date as “her” because, let’s face it - most girls have better things to do than memorize worthless tidbits about campus. Unless they’re tour guides or something. Here’s the plan: take her on …

Read more →

As any student can tell, the University of Minnesota is an active campus full of student events, construction projects and technical research. With budget cuts every year it’s hard to imagine the University being able to function properly. But outside sources are always eager to lend a hand. Although invisible to some, corporate businesses have a large impact at the University and their influence can come in many forms. A Texas Instrument math building or a Coca-Cola student center might be possible in the future. But corporate authority is still restricted by University policy and only allowed …

Read more →

From now on, fantasy games aren’t just associated with the comic book, Magic card lovers who’ve served as punching bags for schoolyard bullies. Fantasy games have transcended the world of Dungeons and Dragons and entered into the testosterone-charged world of professional sports. The lucrative fantasy sports industry has slowly changed the way average fans watch their favorite sports. Now a college student has a reason to get up before noon on a Sunday. Blurry-eyed, hungover students slave over their computers trying to outthink their opponents all in the name of fantasy sports. On any given Sunday, over 15 million fantasy-sports players …

Read more →

When Aleksey Zharinov came to the United States three and a half years ago from his native Russia, he had few expectations and a great deal of questions. But he did know the United States had prominent tennis competition and, of course, his beloved Metallica. Zharinov, often called “The Tank” or “Russia” by his teammates and friends, is a senior sports management major from the city of Novosibirsk, Russia, roughly four hours from Moscow. Though many wouldn’t consider Russia’s frigid climate to be ideal for tennis, Zharinov developed into one of the best talents in the central …

Read more →